Baptisme is a marke of Christes Church a seale and confirmation of our acception into the grace fauour of God for Christes sake For his innocencie his righteousnesse his holinesse his iustice is ours geuen vs of God and our sinnes and vnrighteousnesse by his obedience and abasing of him selfe to the death of the crosse are his whereof Baptisme is the signe seale and confirmation Baptisme is also a signe of repentaunce to testifie that we be borne to the waues of pearils and chaunges of life to the intent that we should die continually as loÌ„g as we liue from sinne and rise againe like new men vnto righteousnesse Rom. 6. The other Sacrament which is the supper and holy Maundie of our Sauiour Christ whereby the church of Christ is knowen I beleeue to be a remembraunce of Christes death and passion a seale and confirmation of his moste precious bodye geuen vnto death euen to the vile death of the crosse wherewith wee are redeemed and deliuered from sinne death hell and damnation It is a visible woorde because it worketh the same thing in the eyes which the worde worketh in the eares For like as the worde is a meane to the eares whereby the holy Ghost mooueth the heart to beleue Romanes 10. so this sacrament is a meane to the eyes whereby the holy Ghost moueth the hart to beleue it preacheth peace betweene God and man it exhorteth to mutuall loue and all godly life and teacheth to contemne the world for the life to come when as Christ shall appeare which now is in heauen and no where els as concerning his humane body Yet do I beleeue assuredly that his very body is present in his moste holy Supper at the contemplation of oure spirituall eyes and so verely eaten with the mouth of our faith For as soone as I heare these most comfortable and heauenly woordes spoken and pronouÌ„ced by the mouth of the Minister This is my body which is geuen for you when I heare I say this heauenly harmonie of Gods vnfallible promises and truthe I looke not vppon neyther doe I beholde breade and wine for I take and beleue the wordes simply and plainly euen as Christe spake them For hearing these wordes my senses be rapt and vtterly excluded for faith wholely taketh place and not flesh nor the carnall imaginations of our grosse fleshly and vnreuerent eating after the maner of our bodily foode whiche profiteth nothinge at all as Christe witnesseth Iohn 6 but with a sorrowfull and wounded conscience an hungry and thirsty soule a pure and faithfull mind do fully embrace beholde and feede and looke vppon that most glorious body of Christ in heauen at the right hande of God the father very God and very man which was crucified and slaine and his bloud shed for our sinnes there nowe making intercession offering and geuing his holy body for me for my body for my raunsome for my full price and satisfaction who is my Christ and all that euer hee hath and by this spirituall and faithfull eating of this liuelye and heauenlye breade I feele the moste sweete sâ—ppe and taste of the fruites benefites and vnspeakeable ioyes of Christes deathe and passion fullye disgested into the bowelles of my soule For my minde is quieted from all worldly aduersities tormoylinges and trouble my conscience is pacified from sinne deathe hell and damnation my soule is full and hathe euen enough and will no more for all things are but losse vile dounge and drosse vayne vanitie for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesu my Lord and Sauiour Thus nowe is Christes flesh my very meate in deede and hys bloud my very drinke in deede I am become flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones Nowe I liue yet not I but Christe liueth in me yea I dwell in him and he in mee for thorough faithe in Christe and for Christes sake we are one that is of one consente minde and fellowshippe with the Father the Sonne and the hol Ghost Iohn 17. Thus am I assured and fullye perswaded and on this rocke haue I builded by Gods grace my dwelling and resting place for body and soule life and death And thus I commit my cause vnto Christe the righteous and iust iudge who will an other day iudge these debates and controuersies whome I humbly beseeche to cast his tender and mercifull eyes vppon the afflicted and ruinous Churches and shortly to reduce them into a godly and perpetuall concorde Amen Thus do I beleeue and this is my faith and my vnderstanding in Christ my Sauiour and his true and holy religion And thys whosoeuer is ashamed to doe among this adulterous and sinnefull generation of hym shall the sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his father with the holy Angels Robert Samuel William Allen Martyr NExt after the suffering of Robert Samuel aboute the beginning of September was burned William Allen in Walsingam labouring man seruaunte sometime to Iohn Houghton of Somerton He being broughte before the Bishop and asked the cause why he was imprisoned aunsweared that he was put in prison because he woulde not followe the Crosse saying that he woulde neuer go on Procession Then being willed by the Bishoppe to returne againe to the Catholicke Churche he aunsweared that he would turne to the Catholicke Churche but not to the Romishe Church and said that if he saw the King and Quene and all other folowe the crosse or kneele downe to the crosse he would not For the which sentence of condemnation was geueÌ„ against him the 12. of August and he burned at Walsingham about the beginning of September who declared suche constancie at hys Martyrdome and hadde suche credite wyth the Iustices by reason of hys vprighte and well tried conuersation among them that he was suffered to goe vntied to hys suffering there being fastened with a chaine stoode quietly without shrinking vntill he dyed The Martyrdome of Roger Coo of Melforde in Suffolke Shereman first examined before the Byshop of Norwich and by him condemned Anno 1555. August 12. ROger Coo broughte before the Bishop first was asked why he was imprisoned Coo· At the Iustices commaundement Bishop There was some cause why Coo. Heere is my accuser let hym declare And his accuser sayde that hee woulde not receyue the Sacrament Bish. Then the Bishop sayde that he thought he had transgressed a lawe Coo. But Coo answered that there was no law to transgresse Bish. The Bishop then asked what he sayd to the law that then was Coo. He answered how he had bene in prison a long time and knew it not No sayd his accuser nor wilt not My Lord aske him when he receiued the Sacrament Coo. When Coo heard him say so he sayde I pray you my Lord let him sit downe and examine me him selfe Bish. But the Bishoppe woulde not heare that but sayde Coo why will ye not receiue
dissolution of my Body and soule should be expired and therefore know ye that I had before mine eies onely the feare of God and christian charity toward you which moued me to write for of you hereafter I looke not in this worlde either for pleasure or displeasure If my talke shall doe you neuer so much pleasure or profit you cānot promote me nor if I displease you ye cannot hurte me or harme me for I shall be out of your reach Now therfore if you feare God can be content to heare the talke of him that seeketh nothing at your hands but to serue God and to do you good harken what I say I say vnto you as S. Paule sayth to the Galathians I wonder my Lordes what hath bewitched you that yee so sodenly are fallen from Christ vnto Antichrist from Christes Gospell vnto mans traditions from the Lorde that bought you vnto the bishop now of Rome I warne you of your perill be not deceiued except you wil be foūd willingly cōsēters vnto your own death For if ye think thus We are lay men this is a matter of religion we folowe as we are taught and led if our teachers and gouernors teach vs lead vs amisse the fault is in thē they shall beare the blame My Lordes this is true I graunt you that both the false teacher and the corrupt gouernour shall be punished for the death of theyr Subiecte whom they haue falsely taught and corruptly ledde yea and his bloud shall be required at theyr handes but yet neuerthelesse shall that Subiecte dye the deathe hymselfe also that is he shall also be damned for his owne sinne for if the blinde leade the blinde Christ sayth not the leader onely but he sayth both shall fall into the Ditch Shall the Sinagogue and the Senate of the Iewes trowe ye which forsooke Christ and consēted to his death therfore be excused because Annas and Cayphas with the Scribes and Pharesies and theyr Cleargy did teache them amisse yea and also Pilate theyr Gouernour and the Emperours Lieuetenaunt by his tyranny did without cause put him to death Forsooth no my Lordes no. For notwithstanding that corrupt doctrine or Pilates washing of his handes neither of both shall excuse either that Sinagogue and Seigniory or Pilate but at the Lordes hand for the effusion of that innocent bloud on the latter day all shall drinke of the deadly whippe Ye are wittye and vnderstande what I meane therfore I will passe ouer this and return to tell you how ye are fallen from Christ to his aduersarye the Bishop of Rome And least my Lords ye may peraduenture think thus barely to call the Bishop of Rome Christes aduersary or to speake it in playne termes to call him Antichrist that it is done in mine anguish and that I doe but rage and as a desperate man doe not care what I say or vpon whō I doe rayle therefore that your Lordshippes may perceiue my minde and thereby vnderstand that I speake the wordes of the trueth and sobriety as Saynt Paule sayde vnto Festus bee it knowne vnto your Lordshippes all that as concerning the Bishoppe of Rome I neither hate the person nor the place For I ensure your Lordshippes the liuing Lorde beareth me witnesse before whome I speake I do thinke many a good holye man many Martyrs and Sayntes of God haue sitte and taughte in that place Christes Gospell truely which therefore iustly may be called Apostolici that is true Disciples of the Apostles and also that Church and Congregation of Christians to be a right Apostolicke churche yea and that certayne hundreth yeares after the same was firste erected and builded vppon Christ by the true Apostolicall doctrine taught by the monthes of the Apostles themselues If ye will know how long that was and how many hundreth yeares to be curious in poynting the precise number of the yeares I will not be too bolde but thus I say so long and so manye hundreth yeares as that Sea did truely teache and preach that Gospell that Religion exercised that power and ordered euery thing by those Lawes and rules whiche that Sea receiued of the Apostles and as Tertullian saith the Apostles of Christ and Christ of God so long I say that Sea might wel haue bene called Peter and Paules chaire and Sea or rather Christes chaire the bishop thereof Apostolicus or true disciple and Successor of the apostles a Minister of Christ. But since the time that that Sea hath degenerated frō the trade of trueth and true Religion the which it receiued of the Apostles at the beginning and hath preached an other Gospell hath set vppe an other Religion hath exercised an other power and hath taken vpon it to order and rule the Church of Christ by other straunge Lawes Canons and Rulers then euer it receiued of the Apostles or the Apostles of Christ whiche thinges it doth at this daye and hath continued so doing alas alas of too too long a time since the time I say that the state and condition of that Sea hath thus bene chaunged in truth it ought of dutye and of righte to haue the names chaunged both of the Sea and of the sitter therein For vnderstand my Lords it was neither for the priuiledge of the place or person thereof that that Sea and Byshop thereof were called Apostolicke but for the true trade of Christs religion which was taught and mainteined in that Sea at the first and of those godly men And therfore as truely and iustlye as that Sea then for that true trade of religion and consanguinity of doctrine with the Religion and doctrine of Christes Apostles was called Apostolicke so as truely and as iustly for the contrariety of religion and diuersity of doctryne from Christ and his Apostles that Sea and the Bishoppe thereof at this day both ought to be called and are in deed Antichristian The Sea is the seate of Sathan and the Bishop of the same that mainteineth the abhominations therof is Antichrist himselfe in deede And for the same causes this Sea at this day is the same whiche S. Iohn calleth in his reuelation Babilon or the Whore of Babilon and spirituall Sodoma and Egyptus the Mother of Fornication and of the abhominations vpon the earth And with this Whore doth spiritually medle and lieth with her and committeth most stincking and abhominable adultery before God all those kinges and Princes yea and all nations of the earth which doe consent to her abhominations and vse or practise the same that is of the innumerable multitude of them to rehearse some for example sake her dispensations her pardons and pilgrimages her inuocation of Saynts her worshipping of Images her false counterfayt religion in her Monkery and Fryerage and her traditions whereby Gods lawes are defiled as her Massing and false Ministring of Gods word and the Sacramentes of Christ clean cōtrary to Christes word
not cease with continuall prayer to labour for you desiryng almighty GOD to encrease that which he hath long sith begonne in you of sober lyfe and earnest zeale towardes his Religion In fayth as sayth Sainct Paule she that is a true widowe and frendlesse putteth her trust in GOD continuyng day and night in Supplication and prayer but she that liueth in pleasure is dead euen yet aliue And verely a true widowe is she that hath maryed Christ forsakyng the vanities of the worlde and luste of the fleshe For as the maryed woman careth howe to loue please and serue her husband so ought the widowe to geue all her hart and soule thoughtes and wordes studies and labours faythfully to loue GOD vertuously to bryng vp her children and houshold and diligently to prouide for the poore and oppressed Therefore Sainct Paule first instructeth a widow how to behaue her selfe that is Not to liue in pleasure then to watche vnto prayer as the onely meanes to obtayne all our desires stedfastly laying vppe all our trust in GOD as Dauid right well sayeth First eschew euill then doe good Of Anna the prayse was written that shee neuer went out of the Temple but serued GOD with fastyng and prayer night and day so well had she espoused Christ. Iudith ware a smocke of heare continuyng in fastyng and had good report of all men The next care that belongeth to a widowe is that she bryng vppe her children and houshold godly in the nourture and information of the Lorde Whereof Saincte Paule sayeth If any haue Children or Nephewes lette them learne firste to rule their owne house Godly and to recompence their elders The incontinencie and coueteousnesse of Phinees and Ophny not corrected by Ely their Father prouoked GODS vengeaunce vppon him and all his kynred The ouer tender loue of Absolon expelled Dauid from his kyngdome The vnrebuked sinnes of Ammon encouraged Absolon to flea his brother most manifest examples agaynste the parentes for the offences of their Children Contrarywise how greatly might Hannah reioyce ouer Samuell her Sonne whome she had brought vppe in the house of the Lorde What thankes might Tobias wife giue for her Sonne Toby How happy was Salomō to be taught by the prophet Nathan But aboue all widowes thrise blessed was the happy mother of the vij Sonnes that so had instructed them by the feare of GOD that by no tormentes they would shrincke from the loue of his truth Of the last parte Saincte Paule sheweth that a widowe shoulde bee chosen If shee haue nourished her Children if shee haue been liberall to straungers if shee haue washed the Sainctes feete and if shee haue ministred to them in aduersitie Herein it is euident howe earnestly Saincte Paule would haue widowes bent towardes the poore for that as though they onely had been therefore meete hee appointed onely widowes to minister to the Sainctes and to gather for the poore Whiche vse also continued almost throughout the primitiue Churche that widowes had the charge and gatheryng for the poore men and straungers Of your neighboures I neede not to put you in remembraunce seeynge you dayly feede them with good Hospitalitie by whiche meanes also many foreners are of you relieued but of the poore Almes houses and miserable prisoners here in London many lacking their libertie wythout cause some vnder the colour of Religion some onely kept for fees and some on priuate mennes displeasure Alas that Christe so hungereth and no man will feede hym is so sore opprest with thyrst and no man will geue him to drinke destitute of all lodgyng and not relieued naked and not cloathed sicke and not visited imprisoned and not seene In tyme past menne could bestowe large summes of money on copes vestimentes and ornamentes of the Churche Why rather follow we not S. Ambroses example whiche solde the same to the reliefe of the poore or Chrysostomes commaundement which willeth first to decke and garnish the liuing temple of God But alas suche is the wickednesse of these our last dayes that nothing moueth vs neyther the pure doctrine the godlines of life nor good examples of the auncient Fathers If in any thing they erred if they haue written anye thynge that serueth for sectes and dissension that will their charitable children embrace publishe and mayntayne with sworde Fagot and fire But all in vayne they stryue agaynst the streame For though in despite of the truth by force of the oers of crafty perswasion they maye bringe themselues into the hauen of hell yet can they not make all menne bebeleue that the bankes moue whilest the shippe sayleth nor euer shall be able to turne the directe course of the streame of Gods truth Our Lord Iesus Christ strengthen you in al pure doctrine and vpright liuing and geue you grace vertuously to bring vp your children and family and carefully to prouide for the poore and oppressed Amen At Newgate the 20. of Ianuary Ann. 1556. Your assured Bartlet Greene. An other certayne writing of M. Bartlet Greene. BEtter is the day of death sayth Salomon then the daye of birth Man that is borne of woman liueth but a shorte tyme and is replenished with many miseries but happye are the dead that dye in the Lord. Man of woman is borne in trauell to liue in misery manne thorough Christe dothe dye in ioye and lyue in felicitie He is borne to dye and dyeth to liue Straight as he cōmeth into the world with cryes he vttereth his miserable estate straight as he departeth with songes hee prayseth God for euer Scarse yet in his cradle 3. deadly enemies assault him after death no aduersary may annoy him Whilest hee is here he displeaseth God when he is dead he fulfilleth his will In this lyfe here he dyeth through sinne in the life to come he liueth in righteousnesse Through many tribulations in earth he is still purged with ioye vnspeakeable in heauen is he made pure for euer Here he dyeth euery houre there hee liueth continuallye Here is sinne there is righteousnes Here is tyme there is eternitie Here is hatred there is loue Here is payne there is pleasure Here is miserye there is felicity Here is corruption there is immortalitie Here we see vanitie there shall we behold the maiestie of god with triumphant and vnspeakeable ioy in glory euerlasting Seeke therefore the thinges that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God the father vnto whom with the sonne and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen Yours in Christ Bartlet Grene. Diuers other letters and matters there were beside which this seruaunt of God did write as namely certayn notes extractes in Latine out of the Doct. other authours for his memory wherby is declared how studious he was in the searching and knowledge of the law of God although his profession was the temporall lawe Where I would 〈◊〉 God
denye to be lye or betraye the innocencye of that heauenlye doctrine or to bee ashamed to confesse and stande to the defence of the same seeing that Christe planted it with hys moste precious bloude and all good menne haue more esteemed the true and infallible woorde of GOD then all thys transitorye worlde or their owne mortall liues And I beleeue this doctrine of the Patriarkes Prophetes Christe and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfecte to instructe and teache mee and all the holy Church of our dueties towardes God the Magistrates and our neighbours Firste and principallye I do assuredly beleeue wythout any doubting that there is one Deitie or Diuine essence and infinite substaunce which is both called and is in dede God euerlasting vnbodilye vnpartible vnmeasurable in power wisedome and goodnesse the maker and preseruer of all thinges as well visible as inuisible and yet there be three distincte persones all of one Godheade or Diuine beynge and all of one power coequall consubstantiall coeternell the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghoste I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. As touching God the Father of heauen I beleeue as muche as holye Scripture teacheth mee to beleeue The Father is the firste persone in Trinitie first cause of our saluation which hathe blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christe whych hathe chosen vs before the foundations of the worlde were layde that wee shoulde be holye and wythout blame before hym who hath predestinate vs and ordained vs to bee his childrenne of adoption thorough Christe Iesu. In hym as it is sayde we liue wee mooue and haue oure being he nourisheth feedeth and geueth meate to euery creature And in Iesus Christe his onely sonne our Lorde I beleue that the woorde that is the Sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie did take mannes nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Marie So that there be in hym two natures a Diuine nature and an humaine nature in the vnitie of parson inseparable conioyned and knitte in one Christe truely God and truely man the expresse and perfecte Image of the inuisible God wherin the will of God the Father shineth apparantly and wherein man as it were in a glasse may beholde what he ought to doe that he maye please God the Father Borne of the Virgine Marie truelye sufferinge his Passion crucified deade and buryed to the entent to bring vs againe into fauoure wyth God the Father almightie and to be a sacrifice hoste and oblation not onely for originall sinne but also for all actuall sinnes of the whole generation of mankinde For all the woorkes merites deseruings doinges and obedience of man towards God althoughe they be done by the spirite of God in the grace of God yet being thus done be of no validitie worthine nor merite before God except God for his mercy and grace accoumpte them woorthye for the woorthinesse and merytes of Christ Iesus The same Christ went downe to the helles and truely rose againe the thirde day and ascended into the heauēs that he might there stil raigne and haue dominion ouer all creatures and from thence shall come c. I beleue in the holy Ghost coequall with God the Father and the Sonne and proceeding from them bothe by whose vertue strength and operation the true Catholicke Church which is the Communion and societie of Saintes is guided in all truthe veritie kept frō al errors fals doctrine the deuill all power of sinne Which Church is sanctified and halowed with the precious bloude and spirite of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche hathe also her signe and mark that she heareth and foloweth the voice of her only and true pastour Christ and no strangers This church also is the house of God the congregation of the liuing God the piller of truth the liuely body of Christe a Church both in name and in deede I beleue the remission of sinnes by the only meanes and merites of Christes death passion who made vnto vs of God that onely sacrifice and oblation offered once for all and for euer for all them that be sanctified I beleue the resurrection of the body whereby in the last day al men shal rise again from death the soules ioyned againe to the bodies the good to euerlasting life the wicked to euerlasting pain and punishmēt And nothing may more certainly stablish confirme our faith that we shall rise againe immortal both in body soule thē the resurrection of Christ our Sauiour and first fruites of the deade Nowe that Christe our head is risen we beynge hys body and members must follow our head Death hell and sinne cannot sunder nor plucke vs from him For as the Sonne can not be deuided nor sundred from the Father nor the holy Ghost frō them bothe no more maye wee beinge the faithfull members of Christ be separated from Christ. And for a confirmation of our resurrection Christ would be seene after his resurrection in hys most glorious body his woundes being handled and felte speaking and teaching eating and drinking c. Wee looke sayeth S. Paul for Iesus Christ our Sauiour which shall trāsfigure our vile bodies conform them to his glorious body by the same power and vertue wherwith he is able to subdue all things euen like as the graine of wheate sowen in the grounde is first putrified and brought as into a thing of noughte yet after that it springeth vp freshly with a more goodly colour forme and beautie then it had before The body is sowne in corruption and riseth in incorruption it is sowen in dishonour and riseth in honour Thus I verely know and assuredly beleue the resurrection of oure bodies and to haue life eternall by Christ and for Christes sake Verely verely I say vnto you sayth Christ he that heareth my woorde and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into damnation but is escaped frō death to life It is Christe that died once for oure sinnes and is risen againe neuer more to die it is he that swallowed vp death hath cast it vnder his feete for euer What now can death do vnto vs Verelye nothing els but for a little time separate oure precious soules from oure wretched bodies that diuine substaunce from a masse of sinne that eternall life from a body of death and so send our soules oute of this miserable wretched and sorrowfull lyfe combred with all calamities vnto that moste blessed felicitie and ioyes eternall As concerning the holy and reuerende Sacraments of Christes Churche which be in number two the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord I beleeue them to be as S. Paul calleth them confirmations or seales of Gods promises whiche haue added to them a promise of grace and therfore they are called visible signes of inuisible grace The Sacrament of
it remayned in the sea of Rome This if you shall confesse with vs acknowledge with all the realme your errours and false assertions then shall you doe that whiche we most desire then shall we rest vppon the first part of our Commission then shall we receiue you acknowledge you one of the Churche and according to the authoritie geuen vnto vs minister vnto you vpon due repentaunce the benefite of absolution to the whiche the Kyng and Queene their Maiesties were not ashamed to submit them selues although they of them selues were vnspotted and therefore needed no reconciliation yet lest the putrification and rottennesse of all the body myght be noysome and do damage to the head also they as I sayd most humbly submitted them selues to my Lorde Cardinall his grace by hym as Legate to the Popes holynes to bee partakers of the reconciliation but if you shall stubburnely perseuer in your blindnes if you wyll not acknowledge your errours if you as you stande nowe alone wyll be singular in your opinions if by schisme and heresie you wyll styll diuide your selfe from our Churche then must wee proceede to the seconde part of the Commission which we would be loth to do that is not to condemne you for that wee can not doe that the temporall sworde of the Realme and not wee will do but to separate you from vs acknowledge you to be none of vs to renounce you as no member of the Churche to declare that you are filius perditionis a lost chylde and as you are a rotten member of the Churche so to cut you of from the Church and so to commit you to the temporall Iudges permittyng them to proceede agaynst you accordyng to the tenor of their lawes Therefore M. Latimer for Gods loue consider your estate remember you are a learned man you haue taken degrees in the Schole borne the office of a Byshop remember you are an olde man spare your body accelerate not your death especially remember your soules health quiet of your conscience consyder that if you shoulde dye in this state you shall be a stinkyng sacrifice to God for it is the cause that maketh the Martyr and not the death consyder that if you dye in this state you dye without grace for without the Churche can be no saluation Let not vayne glory haue the vpper hande humiliate your selfe captiuate your vnderstandyng subdue your reason submit your selfe to the determination of the Churche doe not force vs to doe all that we may doe let vs rest in that parte whiche wee most hartely desyre and I for my part then the Byshop put of his cap agayne with all my hart exhort you After the Byshop had somewhat paused then M. Latimer lift vp his head for before he leaned on his elbowe and asked whether his Lordshyp had sayd and the Byshop answered yea Lati. Then will your Lordship geue me leaue to speake a worde oâ— two Linc Yea M. Latimer so that you vse a modest kynd of talke without raysing or tauntes Lati. I beseech your Lordshyp licence me to sit downe Linc. At your pleasure M. Latimer take as much ease as you wyll Lati. Your Lordshyppe gentlye exhorted mee in manye woordes to come to the vnitie of the Churche I confesse my Lorde a Catholicke Churche spread throughout all the worlde in the whiche no man may erre without the whiche vnitie of the Churche no man can be saued but I knowe perfectly by Gods woorde that this Churche is in all the worlde and hath not his foundation in Rome only as you say and me thought your Lordshyp brought a place out of the Scriptures to confirme the same that there was a iurisdiction geuen to Peter in that Christe bad hym regere gouerne his people In deede my Lord sainct Peter did well and truely his office in that he was byd regere but since the Byshoppes of Rome haue taken a new kynd of regere In deede they ought to regere but how my Lord not as they will them selues but this regere must be hedged in and digged in They must regere but secundum verbum dei they must rule but accordyng to the worde of God But the Byshops of Rome haue turned regere secundum verbum dei into regere secundum voluntatem suam they haue turned the rule accordyng to the woorde of GOD into the rule accordyng to their owne pleasures and as it pleaseth them best as there is a booke set foorth whiche hath diuers poyntes in it and amongest other this poynt is one whiche your Lordshyppe went about to proue by this woorde regere and the argument whiche he bryngeth foorth for the proofe of that matter is taken out of Deuteronomie where it is sayde if there ryseth anye controuersie amonge the people the Priestes Leuitici generis of the order of Leuiticus shall decide the matter secundum legem dei accordyng to the lawe of GOD so it muste be taken This booke perceyuing this authoritie to be geuen to the Priestes of the olde lawe taketh occasion to proue the same to be geuen to the Byshops and other the Cleargy of the new law but in prouyng this matter where as it was sayde there as the Priestes of the order of Leuiticus shoulde determine the matter accordyng to Gods law that accordyng to Gods law is left out and onely is recited as the Priestes of the order of Leuiticus shall decide the matter so it ought to be taken of the people a large authoritie I ensure you What gelding of Scripture is this what clippyng of Gods coyne With the which termes the audience smiled This is muche like the regere whiche your Lordshyp talked of Nay nay my Lordes we may not geue such authoritie to the Clergie to rule all thynges as they wyll Let them keepe them selues within their commission Now I trust my Lord I do not rayle yet Linc. No M. Latimer your talke is more like tauntes then rayling but in that I haue not red the booke which you blame so much nor knowe not of any suche I can say nothyng therein Lati. Yes my Lorde the booke is open to be red and is intituled to one whiche is Bishop of Glocester whom I neuer knew neither did at any tyme see him to my knowledge With that the people laughed because the Byshop of Glocester sat there in commission Then the Byshop of Glocester stoode vp and sayd it was his booke Lati. Was it yours my Lorde In deede I knewe not your Lordshyp neither euer did see you before neither yet see you now through the brightnes of the Sunne shining betwixt you and me Then the audience laughed agayne and Maister Latimer spake vnto them saying Why my maisters this is no laughyng matter I aunsweare vppon lyfe and death Vae vobis qui redetis nunc quoniam flebitis The Byshoppe of Lincolne commaunded silence and then sayde Linc. M. Latimer if you had kept
poore afflicted Church Which thing shal surely redound to your euerlasting ioy and comfort as you shall most effectually feele or euer it be long though the wicked of the world iudge farre otherwise Ah mine owne hartes and most dearely beloued brethren Cauell Ambrose and both the Spurges blessed be the Lord on your behalfe and praysed be his name which hath geuen you such a glorious victory Full valiant haue you shewed your selues in the Lords fight ful faithfully in your paynefull seruice Faint not but go on forward as ye haue most godly begun for great shall your reward be at the end of this your trauell Ah my good faythfull brethren all what shall I say or what shall I write vnto you but euen the same that good Elizabeth did say to her godly kinswoman Mary the blessed mother of Christe Happy art thou quoth that good woman which hast beleued for al thinges which the Lord hath spoken to thee shal be fulfilled So I say to you my deare heartes in the Lorde happy are ye all yea twise happy shall ye bee for euermore because yee haue stedfastly beleued the most sweete promises which god the father hath made vnto you with his owne mouth in that he hath promised you which are the faythfull seede of the beleuing Abraham that ye shall be blessed euer world without end The promises of God your sweet father as ye do beleue so do ye beare record that God is true The Testymony wherof ye haue full worthily borne to the worlde shortly will full surely seale the same with your bloud yea euen to morow I do vnderstand Oh constant Christians oh valiant souldiers of the high captayne Iesus Chryste who for your sake hath conquered the deuill death sinne hel hath geuē you full victory ouer them for euermore Oh worthy witnesses and most glorious martyrs whose inuincible fayth hath ouercome that proude sturdye bragging Prince of the world al his wicked army ouer whom ye shall shortly triumph for euermore Ah my sweet harts the euerlasting treasures are full surely layd vp for you in heauen The immercessible and moste glorious crowne of victory is already made and prepared for you to be shortly clapt vpon all your happy heades The holy Aungelles of your heauenly father are already appoynted to conducte your sweete soules into Abrahams bosome All the heauēly host reioyseth already for that they shall shortly receiue you with ioy felicitie into their blessed fellowship Selah Reioyce with double ioy and bee glad my deare brethren for doubtles ye haue more cause then can be expressed But alas I that for my sinnes am left behinde may lye and lament with the holy Prophet saying Woe is me that the dayes of my ioyfull rest are prolonged Ah cursed Satan which hath caused me so sore to offend my most deare louing father whereby my exile and banishmente is so much prolonged Oh christ my deare aduocate pacifie thy fathers wrath which I haue iustly deserued that he may take me home to him in his sweete mercye Oh that I might now come home vnto thee with my blessed brethren Wel thy will O Lord be effectuously fulfilled for it is onely good and turneth all thinges to the best for suche as thou in thy mercies hast chosen And now farewell my deare heartes most happy in the Lord. I trust in my good God yet shortly to see you in the celestiall citie wherof vndoubtedly the Lord hath already made you free citizens Though ye be yet with vs for a litle time your very home is in heauē where your treasure doth remayne with your sweet Lord and Redeemer Iesus Christe whose calling you haue heard with the eares of youre heartes and therefore yee shall neuer come into iudgement but passe from death to life Your sinnes shall neuer be remembred be they neuer so many so greeuous or so great for your sauiour hath cast them all into the bottome of the sea he hath remoued them from you as farre as the East is from the West and his mercy hathe muche more preuayled ouer you then is distaunce betweene heauē and earth and he hath geue you for an euerlasting possession of the same al his holinesse righteousnesse and iustification yea and the holy Ghost into your harts wherwith ye are surely sealed vnto the daye of redemption to certifie you of your eternall election and that yee are hys true adopted sonnes whereby yee may boldly crye vnto God Abba deare father for euermore so that now no creature in heauen earth nor hell shall be able to accuse you before the throne of the heauenly king Satan is now cast out from you he himselfe is iudged and hathe no parte in you He will once more byte you by the heele and then he hath don for at that time you shall squise his head through your owne good Christ and so haue you finall victory for euermore In ioyfull triumphe whereof yee shall sweetly ascend into the place of eternall rest whether youre eldest brother christ is gone before you to take possession for you and to prepare your place vnder the holy aultar with Cranmer Latimer Ridley Rogers Hooper Saunders Farrar Taylour Bradford Philpot with many other who will be full glad of your comming to see sixe moe of their appoynted number that their bloud may so muche the sooner be reuenged vpon them that dwell on the earth Thus I make an ende committing you all to Gods most mercifull defence whose quarrell yee haue defended whose cause ye haue promoted whose glory yee haue sette forth and whose name ye haue constantly confessed Farewell for a while my deare hartes in the Lord I wil make as much haste after you as I may All our deare brethren salute you They pray for you and prayse God for you cōtinually Blessed be the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours sayth the holy Ghost and their workes follow them Your owne Iohn Careles a most vnprofitable servaunt of the Lord. Pray pray pray ¶ In the pag. 1742. ye heard before the letter of Thomas Whittel written to Iohn Careles wherin he yeldeth great thankes vnto him for the singular ioy and consolatiō receiued by his letters The copie of which letters sent vnto him if any be disposed to peruse here vnder foloweth to satisfie his desire ¶ To M. Greene M. Whittel and certaine other prisoners in Newgate condemned and ready to be burnt for the testimonie of our Lord Iesus THe euerlasting peace in Iesus Christe the continual comfort of his most pure and holy spirite be with you my most deare and faithfull brethren and sisters of Newgate the Lordes appointed sheepe vnto the slaughter to the good performaunce of the great and notable worke of the Lord which he hath so graciously begon in you al that the same may redoūd to the setting forth of his glory to the commoditie of his
Christ was borne for mee and that he suffered death for me and that I shall be saued from my sinnes by his bloudshedding so receiuing the Sacrament in that remembraunce then I beleue I do receiue wholly Christ God and maÌ„ mistically by fayth this is my beliefe Chich. Why then it is no body without fayth Gods word is of no force as you count it Wood. My Lorde I haue tolde you my minde without dissimulation more you get not of me without you will talke with me by the Scriptures and if you will do so I will beginne anew with you proue it more plainly thre or foure maner of wayes that you shall not say nay to that I haue sayd your selfe Then they made a great laughing and sayd Thys is an Hereticke in deede it is time he were burned Which wordes moued my spirite and I sayde to them Iudge not least you be iudged For as you iudge me you shall be iudged your selues For that you call heresy I serue God truely with as you all shall well know when you shal be in hell and haue bloud to drinke and shal be compelled to say for payne This was the maÌ„ that we iested on whose talke we thought foolishnes and his end to be without honour but now we may see how he is counted among the Sayntes of GOD and we are punished These wordes shall you say being in hell if you repent not with speed if you consent to the shedding of my bloud wherefore looke to it I geue you counsell Priest What you be angry me thinkes Now I will saye more to you then I thought to haue done You were at Baxill a twelue moneth agone sent for the Parson talked with him in the Churchyard and would not goe into the church for you sayd it was the Idols temple Yea I was with mine olde Lorde when he came to the Kinges Bench to you and you sayd many stout wordes to him Wood. That I sayde I sayde and where you sayde I was angrye I take God to my recorde I am not but am zelous in the truth speake out of the spirite of God with chearefulnes Priest The spirite of God hough hough hough thinke you that you haue the spirit of God Wood. I beleue surely that I haue the spirite of GOD I praise God therfore and you be deceiuers mockers and scorners before God and be the childreÌ„ of hel all the sort of you as farre as I can see And therwith came in D. Story poynting at me with his finger speaking to the bishop in Latin saying at length Story I can say nothing to him but he is an hereticke I haue heard you talke this houre and a halfe and can heare no reasonablenes in him Wood. Iudge not lest you be iudged for as you iudge you shal be iudged your selfe Story What be you a preaching you shal preach at a stake shortly with your felowes My Lord trouble your self no more with him With these wordes one brought woorde that the Abbot of Westminster was come to dyne with the Byshop and many other gentlemen and women Then there was rushing away with speed to meet him Then sayd Doctor Story to my keeper Story Cary him to the Marshalsee againe and let him be kept close and let no body come to speake with him Wood. And so they departed Then one of the priestes begon to flatter with me and sayd for Gods sake remember your selfe God hath geuen you a good wit you haue read the scriptures well haue borne them wel in memory It were great pity you should do amisse Wood. What a flatterer be you to say my wit is good and that I haue red the scriptures well but euen now you said I was an heretike despised me If I be an heretike I can haue no good wit as you haue coÌ„fessed But I think your owne conscieÌ„ce doth accuse you God geue you grace to repent if it be his will Priest I cal it a good wit because you are expert in all questions Wood. You may call it a wicked wit if it agree not with gods word Then one cried Away away here commeth strangers So we departed I came againe to the Marshalsee with my Keeper ¶ The third examination of Richard Woodman copied with his owne hand before D. Langdall parson of Buxted in Sussex and Chaplaine to my Lord Montague and M. Iames Gage at my Lord Montagues house beside S. Mary Oueries in Southwarke the 12. day of May Anno. 1557. THe 1â— day of May the Marshal came to the Marshalsee sent for me to speake with him When I came before him had done my dutie he asked my name what countrey man I was I shewed him both Then he asked me when I was abroad in the city To whom I answered if it shal please your maistership I was abroad in the citie on Monday was seuennight Marshall What made you abroad Wood. The B. oâ— Chichester sent for me to talke with mee at home at his house beside S. Nicholas shambles Mar. Were you abroad no otherwise then so Wood. No forsooth I was neuer abroad since I was sent hither but then For I haue nothing to do abroad vnlesse they send for me Mar. This is a marueilous matter I promise you I was not so rebuked these 7. yeares as I was for you within these 3. dayes It is reported that you were abroad in the citie at certaine Tauernes spake seditious wordes both in the Tauernes and Streetes as you went Wood. Syr the trueth is I was in neuer a house or Tauerne whiles I was abroad but in the bishops house as my keeper can will I am sure testify nor I neuer talked with any man in the streetes as I came but with my keeper sauing with one man in deede of the Parishe of Framfield in Sussex where M. Iames Gage dwelleth His name is Rob. Smith being one of my most enemies who stood in a waine as we came by and was vnlading of Cheese me thought but a litle way from the Marshalsee In deede I bade him God speede and asked him howe he did and he sayd well he thanked me and he asked me how I did and I sayd well I prayse God that was all the talke that we had these wordes were spoken as I came by him I promise you sir I stoode not still while I spake theÌ„ as my keeper can tell and I thinke these words were no seditious wordes but might be spoken well enough I thinke or els it were very strayt Marshall Then it is to bee thought that that man reported otherwise then it was I am gladde it is as you say Well make you ready for you must go forth straight way where you shall be examined of that and of other thinges where you shal aunswere for your selfe Go make hast for I will â—ary till you be ready Wood. So I departed
that Iudas receiued bread which is no heresy vnlesse you tell what more then bread Wood. Is it heresy to say that Iudas receiued more then bread I sayd he receaued more then bare bread for he receiued the Sacrament that was prepared to shewe foorth the Lordes death and because he presumed to eat without sayth he eat the deuill withall as the wordes of Christ declare after he eate the soppe the Deuill entred into hym as you cannot deny Winc. Hold him a booke I will haue you aunswere dyrectly whether Iudas did eate the body of Christ or no. Wood. I will answere no more for I am not of your Dioces wherfore I will haue nothing to do with you Winc. No you be in my Dioces and you be of my Dioces because you haue offended in my Dioces Wood. I am not of your Dioces although I am in your Dioces and I was brought into your Dioces against my will and I haue not offended in your Dioces if I haue tell me wherein Winchester Here is your owne hand writing the whiche is heresie These be the wordes I cannot find say you that it is the body of christ to any before it be receiued in faith How say you is not this your owne hand writing Wood. Yea I do not deny but it is mine owne hand wryting but when or where was it written or where wer the woâ—des spoken Before the Commissioners and here is one of them Maister Roper the words were spoken before you Were they not Roper Yes in deed that they were Woodman I am sure you will not deny them for you haue written the wordes euen as you spake them Wood. No sir in deed I will not deny but that I spake theÌ„ and I am glad that you haue seene it For you may see by that whether I lye or not Roper In deede the wordes be written word by word as we spake them Winchest Well here you affirme that it is your owne deede How say you now Will you be sorie for it and become an honest man Wood. My Lord I trust no man can say but that I am an honest manne and as for that I maruell that you wil lay it to my charge knowing that my Lorde of London dyscharged me of all matters that were layde agaynst me when I was released of him Winc. You were released and it might fortune it was not layd to your charge then therfore we lay it to your charge now because you be suspected to be an hereticke and wee may call you before vs and examine you vpon your faith vpon suspicion Wood. In deede S. Peter willeth me to render account of my hope that I haue in God and I am contented so to do if it please my Bishop to heare me Chichester Yes I pray you let vs heare it Wood. I do beleue in God the father almighty maker of heaueÌ„ of earth and of al things visible inuisible and in one Lord Iesus christ my sauiour very God and man I beleue in God the holy Ghost the comforter of al Gods elect people and that he is equall with the father and the sonne I beleue the true Catholicke church and all the sacraments that belongeth thereto Thus I haue rendered accompt of my hope that I haue of my saluation Winch. And how beleue you in the blessed sacrament of the aulter And with that word they all put of their cappes to that abhominable Idoll Wood. I pray you be contented for I will not aunswere to any mo questions for I perceaue you go about to shed my bloud Winch. No hold him a booke If he refuse to sweare he is an Anabaptist and shall be excommunicated Wood. I will not sweare for you excommunicate me if you will For you be not meete to take an oth for you laid heresies to my charge in yonder pulpite the whiche you are not able to proue wherfore you bee not meete to take an othe of any man And as for me I am not of your Dyoces nor will haue any thing to doe with you Winchester I will haue to do with thee and I saye thou art a strong hereticke Wood. Yea all trueth is heresie with you but I am content to shew you my minde how I beleue on the sacrameÌ„t of the body and bloud of Iesus Christe without flattering For that you looke for I am sure But I will meddle no â—urther But what I holde my selfe of it I will not meddle of any other mans beliefe on it N Harp Why I am sure al mens fayth ought to be alike Wood Yea I graunt you so that all true Christians faith ought to be alike But I will aunswere for my selfe N. Harp Well let vs heare what you say to it Wood. I do beleue that when I come to receaue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ if it be truly ministred according to Christes institutioÌ„ I comming in fayth as I truste in God I will whensoeuer I come to receiue it I beleuing that Christ was borne for me that he suffered death for the remission of my sinnes and that I shal be saued by his death and bloud shedding and so receaue the Sacramente of bread and wine in that remembraunce that then I doe receiue whole Christ God and man mistically by fayth This is my beliefe on the sacrament Then they spake all at once saying mistically by faythe The fat prieste What a foole art thou mistically by faythe thou canst not tell what mistically is Wood If I be a foole so take me But God hathe chosen such fooles of this world to confound such wife things as you are The fat priest I pray thee what is mistically Wood. I take mistically to be the fayth that is in vs that the world seeth not but God onely Winch. He cannot tell what he sayth Aunswere to the Sacrament of the aulter whether it be not the body of Christ before it bee receaued and whether it be not the bodye of Christ to whom soeuer receaueth it Tell me or els I will excommunicate thee Wood. I haue sayd as much as I will say excommunicate me if you will I am none of your Dioces The Bishop of Chichester is mine Ordinary Let him do it if you will needs haue my bloud that it may be required at his haÌ„ds Chichest I am not consecrated yet I tolde you when you were with me Wood. No in deede your kine bringe foorth nothing but Cow calues as it chaunceth now Meaning thereby that he had not his Bulles from Rome Then they were al in a great rage with me and called me al to nought and sayd I was out of my wâ—t because I spake feruently to euery mans question all the whiche I cannot remember but I sayd So Festus sayd to Paule when he spake the words of sobernes and truth out of the spirite of God as I do But as ye haue iudged me
taught What can I do more Consider with your selues that I haue done it for the confirmation of Gods trueth Pray that I may continue vnto the end The greatest part of the assault is paste I prayse my God I haue in all my assaultes felt the present ayde of my God I geue him most harty thankes therefore Looke not backe nor be ye ashamed of Christes Gospell nor of the bonds I haue suffered for the same thereby ye may be assured it is the true word of God The holy ones haue bene sealed with the same marke It is no time for the losse of one man in the battell for the campe to turne backe Vp with mennes hartes blowe downe the dawbed walles of heresies Let one take the Banner and the other the Trumpette I meane not to make corporall resistaunce but pray and ye shall haue Elias defence and Elizeus company to fight for you The cause is the Lordes Nowe my brethren I can write no more time will not suffer and my harte with panges of death is assaulted but I am at home with my God yet aliue Pray for me salute one another with the holy kisse The peace of god rest with you all Amen From Newgate prison in haste the day of my condemnation Iohn Rough. An other letter of Iohn Rough written vnto the Congregation two dayes before he suffered THe spirite of all consolation be with you ayde you and make you strong to runne to the fight that is layde before you wherewithall God in all ages hath tryed hys elect and hath found them worthy of himselfe by copling to theyr head Iesus Christ in whome who so desireth to liue Godly the same must needes suffer persecution For it is geuen vnto them not onely to beleeue but also to suffer And the Seruaunt or Scholer can not be greater then his Lord or Mayster but by the same way the head is entered the members must folow no life is in the members which are cutte from the body likewise we haue no life but in Christ for by him we liue moue and haue our being My deare sonne now departing this life to my great aduauntage I make chaūge of mortality with immortality of corruption to put on incorruption to make my body like to the corne cast into the ground which except it die first it can bring forth no good fruite Wherefore death is to my great vauntage for therby the body ceaseth from sinne and after turneth into the first originall but after shall be chaunged and made brighter then the Sonne or Moone What shall I write of this corporall death seeing it is decreed of God that all men shall once die happy are they that die in the Lord which is to dye in the fayth of Christ professing and confessing the same before many witnesses I prayse my God I haue passed the same iourney by manye temptations the deuill is very busye to perswade the world to entise with promises and fayre wordes which I omitte to write least some might thinke I did hunt after vayne glorye whiche is farthest from my hart Lastly the daunger of some false brethren who before the Byshop of London purposed to confesse an vntrueth to my face yet the God that ruled Balaam moued theyr hartes where they thought to speake to my accusation hee made them speake to my purgation What a iourney by Gods power I haue made these eight dayes before this date it is aboue flesh and bloud to beare but as Paule sayth I may do all thinges in hym which worketh in me Iesus Christ. My course brethrē haue I run I haue fought a good fight the crowne of righteousnes is layd vp for me my daye to receiue it is not long too Praye Brethren for the enemye doth yet assaulte Stande constaunt vnto the ende then shall you possesse your Soules Walke worthely in that vocation wherein you are called Comfort the Bretheren Salute one another in my name Be not ashamed of the Gospell of the Crosse by me preached nor yet of my suffering for with my bloud I affirme the same I go before I suffer first the bayting of the Butchers Dogges yet I haue not done what I should haue done but my weaknes I doubt not is supplied in the strēgth of Iesus christ and your wisedomes learning will accept that small talent which I haue distributed vnto you as I trust as a faythfull stewarde and if what was vndone impute that to my frayltye and ignoraunce and with your loue couer that which is and was naked in me God knoweth ye all are tender vnto me my hart bursteth for the loue of you Ye are not without your great pastor of your soule who so loueth you that if men were not to bee sought out as God be praysed there is no want of men he would cause stones to minister vnto you Cast your care on that Rock the wind of temptation shall not preuayle fast and praye for the dayes are euill Looke vp with your eyes of hope for the redemption is not farre off but my wickednesse hath deserued that I shall not see it And also that which is behind of the bloud of our brethren which shall also be layd vnder the aulter shall crye for your reliefe Time wil not now suffer me to write longer Letters The spirite of God guid you in and out rising sitting couer you with the shadow of his winges defend you agaynst the tyrannye of the wicked and bring you happely vnto the Porte of eternall felicitye where all teares shall be wyped from your eyes and you shall alwayes abyde wyth the Lambe Iohn Rough. ¶ Margaret Mearing Martyr IT is declared that in the companye of Iohn Roughe was burned one Margaret Mearyng who as the Register maketh mention was at one time and day brought wyth the sayde Rough foorth to examination where the Byshop hauynge no priuate matters to charge her withall did the eightenth daye of December obiecte agaynste her those common and accustomable Articles mentioned before pag 1585. To which she aunswered as followeth FIrst that there is here in earth a catholicke Churche and that there is the true fayth of Christ obserued and kept in the same Church 2 Item that there were onely two sacramentes in the Church namely the sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Christ and the sacrament of Baptisme 3 Item that she was baptised in the fayth beliefe of the sayd Church renouncing there by her Godfathers and Godmothers the Deuill and all his workes c. 4 Item that when she came to the age of fouretene yeares shee did not knowe what her true beliefe was because shee was not then of discretion to vnderstande the same neyther yet was taught it 5 Item that she had not gone from the catholicke fayth at any time but she sayde that the Masse was abhominable before the sight of God and before the sight of all true Christian people and that it is the
they had sore laboured for vnlesse they made frendes to buy it with money of the sayd Sheriffe so cruel and greedy was he and his officers vpon such things as were there left Wel now this innoceÌ„t man is dead his goods spoiled his wife and children left desolate and comfortlesse and all things is hushte and nothing feared of any parte yet the Lord who surely doth reuenge the guiltles bloud would not stil so suffer it but began at the length to punish it him selfe For in the haruest after the sayde Grimwood of Hitcham one of the witnesses before specified as hee was in his labour staking vp a goffe of corne hauing hys health and fearing no pearill sodenly his bowels fell out of hys body and immediately most miserably he died suche was the terrible Iudgement of God to shâ—we his displeasure against this bloudy act and to warne the rest by these hys iudgements to repentance The Lorde graunt vs to honour the same for his mercies sake Amen This foresaid Fenning who was the procurer of this tyrannie against him is yet aliue and is nowe a minister which if he be I pray God he may so repent that fact that he may declare himselfe hereafter such a one as may well aunswere to his vocation accordingly But since we haue heard that he is no chaungeling but continueth still in his wickednes therfore presented before the woorshipfull Mayster Humerston Esquire and Iustice of Peace Coram for that he had talke with some of his friendes as he thoughte how many honest women to their great infamy were in the Parish of Wensthaston wherein he is now Uiâ—are resident wherfore he was commaunded the next sonday ensuing to aske all the Parish forgiuenes vpoÌ„ his knees openly in seruice tyme which he did in Wensthaston Church beforesayd moreouer the abouesayd Fenning is reported to be more lyke a shifter then a Minister To these examples also may be added the terrible iudgment of God vpon the Parson of Crondall in Kent who vpon Shrouesonday hauing receiued the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole came to his Parish and exhorted the people to receiue the same as he had done himselfe saying that he stoode now so cleare in coÌ„science as wheÌ„ he was first borne cared not now if he should dye the same houre in the clearenes of conscience whereupon being sodenly stricken by the hand of God leaning a little on the one syde immediately shronke down in the Pulpit so was found dead speaking not one word more Read before pag. 1560. Not long before the death of Queene Mary dyed Doctour Capon Bishop of Salisbury About the which tyme also followed the vnprepared death of Doctour Geffrey Chancellour of Salisbury who in the midst of his buildings sodainly being taken by the mighty hand of God yelded his lyfe which hadde so little pittye of other mens lyues before Concerning whose crueltye partly mention is made before pag. 2055. As touching moreouer this foresayde Chauncellour here is to be noted that he departing vpon a Saterday the next day before the same he hadde appoynted to call before him .90 persons and not so fewe to examine them by Inquisition had not the goodnes of the Lord and his tender prouidence thus preuented him with death prouiding for his poore seruauntes in tyme. And now to come from Priests to Lay men we haue to finde in them also no lesse terrible demonstrations of Gods heauy iudgement vpon such as haue beene vexers and persecutours of his people Before in the story of M. Bradford .1624 mention was made of Maister Woodroffe who being theÌ„ Sheriffe vsed much to reioyce at the death of the poore Saints of Christ and so hard he was in his office that when Mayster Rogers was in the cart going toward Smithfield and in the way his childreÌ„ wer brought vnto him the people making a laue for them to come Maister Woodroffe bad the carmans head should be brokeÌ„ for staying his cart But what happened He was not come out of his office the space of a weeke but he was stricken by the sodaine hand of God the one halfe of his body in suche sorte that he lay be nummed and bedred not able to moue himself but as he was liâ—ted of other and so contynued in that infirmity the space of 7. or 8. yeares tyll his dying day pag. 1624. Lykewise touching Rafe Lardyn the betrayer of George Eagles it is thought of some that the sayd Rase afterward was attached himselfe arraegned and hanged Who being at the barre had these woordes before the Iudges there and a greate multitude of people This is most iustly fallen vpon me saythe he for that he hadde betrayed the innocent bloud of a good iust man George Eagles who was here condemned in the time of Queene Maryes raygne thorough his procurment who sold hys bloud for a little money Not much vnlyke stroke of these seuerally was shewed vpon W. Swallow of Chemlford his wife also vpon Rich. Potto Iustice Browne cruel persecutors of the sayd George Egles concerning whose story Reade before pag. 2009. Amonge other persecutours also came to our handes the cruelty of one Maister Swingfield an Aldermans Deputye about Thamis streete who hearing 〈◊〉 Angelles wyfe a midwyfe that kepte her selfe from their Popishe Church to be at the labour of one Mistres Walter al crooked Lane ende tooke three other with him and besette the house about and tooke her and caryed her to Boners officers bigge with childe 28. weekes gone who layd her in Lollardes Tower where as the same daye shee came in thorough feare and a fall at her taking she was deliuered of a man childe could haue no woman with her in that needefull tyme. Lying there 5. weekes she was deliuered vnder suertyes by friendship and Doctor Story hearing thereof charged her with fellony and so sent her to Newgate The cause was for that she had a womaÌ„ at her house in her labour that dyed and the child also and so he charged her with their death But when Syr Roger Cholmley hearde her tell her tale he deliuered her and not much more then 10. weekes after if it were so long dyed the sayd Maister Swingfield and the other three that came to take her Because some there be and not a few which haue such a great deuotion in setting vp the Popish Masse I shal desire theÌ„ to marke well this story following There was a certain Bailiffe of CrowlaÌ„d in Lincolnshire named Burton who pretending an earnest frendship to the Gospel in king Edwards dayes in outward shew at least although inwardly he was a Papist or Atheist and wel knowen to be a man of a wicked adulterous life set forth the kinges proceedinges lustely till the time that king Edward was dead and Queene Mary placed quietly in her estate Then perceiuing by the first proclamation concerning Religion how the world was lyke to turne
most miserably died Who commonly when he woulde affirme any thing were it true or false vsed to say If it be not true I pray God I rotte ere I die Witnesse the Printer heereof with diuers other With these I mighte inferre the sodeine death of Iustice Lelond persecutor of Ieffray Hurst mentioned before pag. 2076. Also the death of Robert Baulding stricken with Lightning at the taking of William Seamen whereuppon hee pined away and died the storie of the which W. Seaman see pag. 2035. Likewise the wretched end of Beard the promoter Moreouer the consuming away of Rob. Blomfielde persecutor of William Browne specified pag. 2065. Further to returne a little backewarde to king Henries time here might be induced also the example of Ihon Rockewoode who in his horrible ende cried all to late with the same woordes which he had vsed before in persecuting Gods poore people of Calice pag. 1055. Also the iudgement of God vpon Lady Honor a persecutor and of George Bradway a false accuser both bereft of theyr wittes page 1227. And what a notable spectacle of Gods reuengyng iudgement haue wee to consider in Syr Rafe Ellerker who as hee was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlyp whom they most wrongfully put to death so shortly after the sayd Syr Rafe Ellerker being slaine of the Frenchmen they all too mangling him after they had cutte off hys priuie members woulde not so leaue hym before they myght see hys heart cutte oute of hys bodye pag. 1229. Doctor Foxlorde Chauncellor to bishop Stokesley a cruell persecutor died sodeinly read pag. 1055. Pauier or Pauie Towne Clearke of London and a bitter enemie to the Gospell hanged him selfe pag. 1055. Steuen Gardiner hearing of the pitiful end of Iudge Hales after he had drowned himself taking occasiō thereby called the following and professiō of the Gospel a doctrine of desperation But as Iudge Hales neuer fell into that inconuenience before hee had consented to Papistrye so who so well considereth the ende of Doctour Pendleton which at hys death ful sore repented that euer he had yeelded to the doctrine of the Papists as he did and likewise the miserable ende of the moste parte of the Papistes besides and especially of Steuen Gardiner him selfe who after so longe professinge the doctrine of Papistrie when there came a Bishop to him in his deathbed and put him in remembraunce of Peter denying his Maister he aunswearing againe sayd that he had denied with Peter but neuer repented with Peter and so both stinckingly vnrepentantly died will say as Steuen Gardiner also hym selfe gaue an euident exāple of the same to all men to vnderstand that Poperie rather is a doctrine of desperation procuring the vengeaunce of almighty God to them that wilfully do cleaue vnto it Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Syr Thomas More in Kyng Henryes time after they hadde brought Iohn Frith Baifield and Baynham and diuers other to theyr death what great reward wanne they therby with almighty God Did not the sworde of Gods vengeaunce light vpon their owne neckes shortly after and they them selues made a publicke spectable at the tower hil of bloudy deathe which before had no compassion of the liues of others Thus ye see the saying of the Lord to be true Hee that smiteth with the sword shall pearish with the sword So was Heliodorus in the old time of the Iewes plagued by Gods hand in the Temple of Hierusalem So did Antiochus Herode Iulian Ualerianus the Emperour Decius Maxentius with infinite others after they had exercised theyr crueltye vppon Gods people feele the like striking hand of God them selues also in reuenging the bloud of his seruaunts And thus much concerning those persecutors as well of the Clergy sort as of the laity which were stricken and died before the death of Quene Mary With whom also is to be numbered in the same race of persecuting Byshops which died before Quene Mary these bishops folowing Bishops Coates Bishop of Westchester Parfew Bishop of Harford Glinne Bishop of Bangor Brookes Bishop of Glocester King Bishop of Tame Peto Elect of Salisburie Day Bishop of Chichester Holyman Bishop of Bristow Now after the Queene immediately followed or rather waighted vpon her the death of cardinal Poole who the next day departed Of what disease although it be vncertaine to many yet to some it is suspected that hee tooke some Italian Physicke which did him no good Then folowed in order Bishops Iohn Christopherson B. of Chichester Hopton B. of Norwich Morgan B. of S. Dauids Iohn White B. of Winchester Rafe Baine B. of Lichfield and Couentrie Owen Oglethorpe B. of Carlile Cuthert Tonstall B. of Durham Thomas Rainolds elect of Herford after hys depriuation died in prison Besides these Bishops aboue named first died at the same time D. Weston Deane of Westminster afterwarde Deane of Windsore chiefe disputer against Cranmer Ridley and Latimer M. Slerhurst maister of Trinitie colledge in Oxforde who died in the Tower Seth Holland deane of Worcester and Warden of Alsoule Colledge in Oxforde William Copinger Monke of Westminster who bare the great Seale before Steuen Gardener after the death of the sayde Gardener made him selfe Monke in the house of Westminster and shortly after so fell madde and died in the Tower Doctor Steward Deane of Winchester ¶ To beholde the woorking of Gods iudgements it is wonderous In the first yeare of Quene Marie when the Clergy was assembled in the Conuocation house and also afterwarde when the Disputation was in Oxford against Doctor Cranmer Ridley and Latimer he that had seene then Doctor Weston the Prolocutoure in his ruffe howe highly he tooke vpon him in the Schooles and how stoutly he stoode in the Popes quarell against simple and naked truth full litle would haue thought and lesse did he thinke him self I dare say that his glory and lofty lookes shoulde haue bene brought downe so soone especiallye by them of hys owne Religion whose part he so doughtely defended But such is the rewarde and ende commonly of them who presumptuouslye oppose them selues to striue against the Lord as by the example of this Doctorly prolocutor right wel may appeare For not long after the disputation aboue mentioned against Bishop Cranmer and hys fellowes God so wrought against the sayd Doctour Weston that hee fell in great displeasure wyth Cardinall Poole and other Bishops because hee was vnwilling to geue vp his Deanery and house of Westminster vnto the Monkes and religious men whom in deede he fauoured not although in other things he maintained the Churche of Rome Who notwithstanding at last through importunate sute gaue vp Westminster was deane of Windsore Where not long after he was apprehended in adulterie and for the same was by the Cardinall put from all hys spirituall liuings Wherefore he appealed to Rome and purposed to haue fledde out of the Realme but was taken by the way and committed
God To holde you in hys hand Fare well my children from the world Where ye must yet remayne The Lorde of hostes be your defence Till we do meete againe Fare well my loue and louing wife My Children and my frendes I hope to God to haue you all When all thinges haue their endes And if you doe abide in God As ye haue now begonne Your course I warrant will be short Ye haue not farre to runne God graunt you so to end your yeares As he shall thinke it best That ye may enter into heauen Where I do hope to rest Written at the request of a Lady in her booke IF you will walke the way That Christ hath you assignde Then learne this little verse Which I haue left behinde Be feruent in the truth Although it beare the blame And eke apply your youth To sticke vnto the same That when the age is come And death beginneth to call The truth may be your staffe To stay you vp withall And though it bryng rebuke And cause you kisse the crosse Yet is it a reward To all that suffer losse For here we doe lay out The thinges that be but vayne But we are sure to reape The thinges that doe remayne For all that ye do lose Is but a sinnefull slime And lyke vnto a Rose That taryeth but a tyme. But if ye carry Christ And walke the perfect way Ye shall possesse the gold That neuer shall decay And all your fathers goodes Shal be your recompense If ye confesse the worde With double diligence Not onely for to heare His pure and perfite word But also to embrace The fire and eke the sword And if ye keepe this path And do not runne a croke Then shall ye meete the man That write this in your booke In that eternall Ioye That alwayes shall remayne Thus fare well faythfull frend Till we do meete agayne Legem pone TEache me O Lorde to walke thy waies My liuing to amend And I shall keepe it all my dayes Euen to my liues end Geue me a minde to vnderstand So shall I neuer starte But I shall keepe all thy preceptes Euen wholly with mine hart Make me to go a perfect pace In that I haue begonne For all my loue and my delight Is in thy wayes to runne Encline my hart vnto thy wayes Set thou thereon my thought And let me not consume my dayes To couet that is naught O quicken me in all thy wayes The world for to despise And from all fond and foolish toyes Turne thou away mine eyes O plant in me thy perfect word Which is to me so deare Lay vp thy lawes within my hart To keepe me still in feare And robbe me of that great rebuke Which I do feare full sore For all thy iudgementes and thy law Endure for euermore Behold O Lord in thy preceptes Is all my whole delight O quicken me in all my wayes That I may walke aright To hys brother AS nature doth me binde Because thou art my bloud According to my kinde To geue thee of my good That thou mayest haue in minde How I haue runne my race Although thou bide behynde But for a little space I yeaue thee here a pearle The price of all my good For whiche I leaue my life To buy it with my bloud More worth then all the world Or ought that I can note Although it be yclad In such a simple cote For when I had obtayned This pearle of such a price Then was I sure I gayned The way for to be wise It taught me for to fight My flesh for to despise To sticke vnto the light And for to leaue the lyes In sending out my seede With bondes and bitter teares That I might reape with Ioye In euerlasting yeares And haue for all my losse My trauayle and my payne A thousand tymes and more Of better goodes agayne And for because the good That hath bene gotte and gayned And that the Lordes elect Hath euermore obtayned Is closed in this booke Which I do geue to thee Wherein I haue my parte As thou thy selfe mayest see In which I hope thou hast A stocke also in store And wilt not cease to sayle Till God haue made it more I will thee to beware Be sure thou keepe it well For if thou do it lose Thy part shal be in hell And here I testifie Before the liuing God That I detest to doe The thinges that are forbod And as in iudgemente is My body to be brent My hart is surely sette Therewith to be content And sith it is his will To put in me his power Vpon his holy hill To fight agaynst this whore Full well I am content If he allowe it so To stand with all my might The whore to ouerthrow Euen with a willing minde The death I will outface And as I am assured The battayle to embrace That they which heare the truth How I haue past the pike May set aside theyr youth And learne to do the like And though it be my lotte to let her suck my bloud Yet am I well assured it shall do her no good For she is set to kill The thinges she thinkes accurst And shall not haue her fill of bloud vntill she burst And when that thou shalt see or heare of my disease Pray to the liuing God that I may passe in peace And when I am at rest and rid out of my paine Then will I do the like for thee to God agayne And to my woefull wyfe and widow desolate Whome I doe leaue behynd In such a simple state And compassed with teares and morninges many one Be thou her staying staffe when I am dead and gone My mouth may not expresse the dolours of my minde Nor yet my heauines to leaue her here behinde But as thou art my bone my brother and my bloud So let her haue thy hart if it may do her good I tooke her from the world and made her like the crosse But if she hold her owne she shall not suffer losse For where she had before a man vnto her make That by the force of fire was stranged at a stake Now shall she haue a king to be her helpyng hand To whom pertayne all thinge that are within the land And eke my daughter deare whome I bequeath to thee To be brought vp in feare and learne the A.B.C. That she may grow in grace and ruled by the rod To learne and lead her lyfe within the feare of God And alwayes haue in minde thy brother beyng dead That thou art lefte behynde a father in my stead And thou my brother deare and eke my mothers sonne Come forth out of all feare and do as I haue done And God shall be thy guide and geue thee such encrease That in the flames of fire thou shalt haue perfect peace Into eternall ioy and passe out of all payne Where we shall meete with mirth and neuer part agayne If thou wilt do my daughter good Be mindfull
Coo. He aunswered him that the Bishoppe of Rome had chaunged Gods ordinaunces and geuen the people bread and wine in the steade of the Gospell and the beliefe of the same Bish. Howe prooue you that Coo. Our Sauiour sayde My fleshe is meate in deede and my bloude is drinke in deede He that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloud abideth in me and I in him and the breade and wine doth not so Bish Well Coo thou doest sclaunder our holy fathers Did not Christ take bread geue thankes and brake it and said This is my body Coo. Yes sayde hee and so he went further wyth the texte saying Which shall be geuen for you doe this in remembrance of me Bish. You haue sayde the truth Coo. Then Coo replyed further and sayde Christe willed to doe this in remembraunce of hym and not to saye thys in the remembraunce of hym neyther did the holy Ghoste so leade the Apostles but taughte them to geue thankes and to breake breade from house to house and not to saye as the Bishop sayde Bish. How prooue you that Coo. It is written in the 2. of the Acts. Then the Bish. chaplayne sayd it was true Bish. The Bish. asked hym if he could his beliefe Coo. He answered yea and so sayd part of the Creede and theÌ„ after he said he beleued more for he beleued the x. commaundements that it was meete for all such as looke to be saued to be obedient vnto them Bish Is not the holy church to be beleeued also Coo. Yes if it be builded vpon the word of God Bish. The Byshop sayd to Coo that he had charge of hys soule Coo. Haue ye so my Lord Then if ye go to the Deuill for your sinnes where shall I become Bish. Do you not beleue as your father did Was not he an honest man Coo. It is written that after Christ hath suffred There shal come a people with the Prince that shal destroy both Citie and Sanctuary I pray you shew me whether this destruction was in my fathers tyme or now Bish. The B. not answering his question asked hym whether he would not obey the kyngs lawes Coo. As farre as they agree with the word of God I will obey them Bish. Whether they agree with the worde of God or not we be bound to obey them if the kyng were an Infidel Coo. If Sydrach Mysaach and Abednago had so done Nabuchaâ—â—nosor had not confessed the liuyng God Bish. Then the B. told hym that these 22. yeares wee haue bene gouerned with such kyngs Coo. My L. why were ye then dumme and did not speake or barke Bish. I durst not for feare of death and thus they ended ⧠But after this done it was reported that I raiâ—ed wherfore I called it to memory wrote this my railing that light should not be taken for darknesse nor sinne for holynes and the deuill for God who ought to be feared honoured both now and euer Amen This Roger Coo an aged father after his sundry troubles and conflictes with his aduersaries at length was committed to the fire at Yexford in the countie of Suffolk where he most blessedly ended his aged yeares An. 1555. Mens Septemb. ¶ Thomas Cobbe of Hauerhill butcher Martyr OUer and besides this foresayd Roger Coo Wil. Allen Iames Abbes of Stokennayland Robert Samuell and other moe in the same yeare vpon the 12. of August was also with them condemned Thomas Cobbe of Hauerhill Butcher executed in the moneth of September aforesayd Who beyng brought and examined by Michaell Dunnyngs the bloudy Chauncellour of Norwich first whether he beleeued that Christ is really and substantially in the Sacrament of the aultar aunswered that the body of Christ borne of the blessed virgin was in heaueÌ„ and otherwise he sayd he would not aunswere because hee had read it in the Scripture that Christ did ascende and dyd neuer descend since and therefore sayd that he had not learned in the Scripture that Christ should be in the Sacrament Furtheymore beyng demanded whether he would obey the lawes of the realme of England made for the vnitie of fayth or no he aunswered that his body should be at the King and Queenes commaundement so farre as the law of God would suffer c. In fine the sayd Tho. Cobbe beyng condemned the same xij day of August with the other his fellowmartyrs was burned in the towne of Tetford An. 1555. Mens Septemb. * The Martyrdome of George Catmer Robert Streater Anthony Burward George Brodbridge and Iames Tutty NOwe from Northfolke and Suffolke to returne agayne into the Diocesse of Caunterbury we haue to entreat of fiue worthy Martyrs whose bloud in the same yeare and moneth of September was spilt for the true testimony of Christ and his Gospels cause The names of the which fiue Martyrs were these George Catmer of Hyth Robert Streater of Hyth Anthony Burward of Calete George Brodbridge of Bromfield Iames Tutty of Brenchley Who vppon the 3. day of August were brought before Thornton the foresaid Bish. of Douer and his complices and there were both iointly and seuerally examined vpon certaine Articles touching the Sacrament of their aultar auricular confession and other such lyke To the which the sayd Catmer being first examined made aunswere on this wise Christ quoth he sitteth in heauen on the right hand of God the Father and therefore I do not beleue him to be in the Sacrament of the aultar but he is in the worthy receiuer spiritually the Sacrament as you vse it is an abhominable Idoll Next vnto hym was called forth Rob. Streater who beyng also asked whether he dyd beleue the reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the aultar sayd that he dyd not so beleeue for you doe maintayne heresie and Idolatry quoth he in that ye teach to worship a false God in the Sacrament enclosed in a boxe It is you that are the malignant Church for in your Church there are twenty thyngs vsed agaynst the law of God The like obiection was articulate also against Anthony Burward who also sayd that their Sacrament was made an Idoll After hym was George Brodbridge demanded what he sayd to those Articles Who aunswered that hee would not be confessed of a priest because he could not forgeue his owne sinnes and further sayd that in the Sacrament of the aultar there is not the real body of our sauiour Christ but bread geuen in the remembrance of him Moreouer as for your holy bread your holy water and your Masse I do quoth he vtterly defie them And last of all did also Iames Tutty make confirme their sayd former aunswers And therefore they were all fiue condemned to be burned as heretikes and so were they all in one fire at Canterbury aforesayd about the 6. day of September theÌ„ next followyng * The burnyng of fiue Martyrs at Caunterbury ¶ Thomas Hayward and Iohn Goreway Martyrs ALthough the
worde because I am not woorthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so doyng but adde sinne to sinne What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell as Christ himself beareth witnesse Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods cōmandements When I am prouoked to pray the enemy may say vnto me I am not worthy to pray therfore I shall not pray so in lyke maner of all the commandements I shall not forbeare swearing stealing murthering because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God These be the delusions of the Deuill and Sathans suggestions which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of euery mans gift agaynst all assaults of the Deuill At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment I was called into a by chamber next to my prison to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers chaplains seruants except it were an old priest I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question He proceded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church which had continued so many yeares As for our church as hee called it it was not knowen he sayd but lately in kyng Edwards tyme. I professe my selfe to be a member of that church said I that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng said I though it beare no glorious shew before the world beyng euer for the most part vnder the Crosse and affliction contemned despised and persecuted My Lord on the other side contended that they were the Church Glouer So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem saying Templum Domini templum Domini The Church the Church c. Bish. And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried hold thy peace I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience to hold thy peace callyng me a proud arrogant heretike Glouer I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions I refused to aunswer him in corners requiryng that I myght make my answer openly He sayd I should aunswer hym there I stood with hym vpon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym Then I lifted vp my hart to God that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word Bish. The first question was this how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church Glo. The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper Bish. No more sayd he Glo. To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce a sure hope trust and confidence in the death of Christ to such ministers I grant that they haue authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word the remission of sinnes Here interruptyng me he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt because that matter was of no great waight or importāce although he in so doing did me wrong for I called it not a Sacrament Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr confession I sayd no. Bish. Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament Glouer I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacrifice nor Sacrament because sayd I you haue takē away the true institution which when you restore agayne I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor Moe examinations he had no doubt with the Byshop in the publike Consistory when he was brought forth to be condemned which also he would haue left vnto vs if either length of lyfe or laysure of tyme or haste of execution had permitted hym to finish that he intended but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do neither yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become Onely this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of hys concernyng the goyng to his death I can report that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord M. Rob. Glouer after he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world it so happened that two or three dayes before his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vpon hym Wherupon he fearing in himself lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred signifieng vnto hym how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne willed and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was yet seing his cause was iust and true he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same to play the man nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he sayd he was right certayne and sure therfore desired hym when so euer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should begin to touch his hart that then he would shew some signification thereof wherby he might witnesse with hym the same and so departed from hym The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome as hee was goyng to the place and was now come to the sight of the stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes that he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen saying in these words Austen he is come he is come c. that with such ioy and alacritie as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly
which in like cases was wonte to be the onely remedy against stiffe necked and stubborne persons that is you must be hampered by the lawes compelled eyther to obey whether ye will or no or els to suffer that which a rebell to the lawes ought to suffer Doe you not knowe that whosoeuer refuseth to obey the lawes of the realme he bewrayeth himselfe to be an enemye to hys countrey Do you not know that this is the redyest waye to stirre vp sedition and ciuill warre It is better that you should beare your owne sinne then that through the example of your breache of the common lawes the common quyet should be disturbed How can you say you will be the Queenes true subiect when as you do openly professe that you will not keepe her lawes O heauenly father the father of all wisedome vnderstanding and true strength I beseeche thee for thy onelye sonne our sauiour Christes sake looke mercifully vppon me wretched creature and send thine holy spirite into my brest that not onely I may vnderstand according to thy wisedome howe this pestilent and deadly darte is to bee borne of and with what aunswere it is to be beaten back but also when I must ioyne to fight in the field for the glory of thy name that then I being strengthned with the defense of the right hand may manfully stand in the confession of thy fayth and of thy truth and continue in the same vnto the end of my lyfe thorough the same our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen Now to the obiection I graunt it to bee reasonable that he whiche by wordes and gentlenes cannot be made yeld to that is right and good shoulde be brideled by the straite correction of the lawes that is to say he that wyll not be subiecte to Gods word must bee punished by the lawes It is true that is commonly sayd He that wil not obey the Gospell must be tamed and taught by the rigour of the law But these thinges ought to take place agaynst him whiche refuseth to doe that is right and iust according to true godlines not against him which cannot quietly beare superstitions but doth haâ—e and detest from his age such kinde of proceedinges and that for the glorye of the name of God To that whiche ye say a trangressour of the common lawes bewrayeth himselfe to be an enemye of his countrey surely a man ought to looke vnto the nature of the lawes what maner of lawes they be which are broken For a faythful Christian ought not to thinke alike of all maner of lawes But that saying ought onely truely to be vnderstanded of suche lawes as be not contrarye to Gods word Otherwise whosoeuer loue their countrey in truth that is to say in God they will alwayes iudge if at any time the lawes of God and man be then contrarye to the other that a man ought rather to obeye God then man And they that thinke otherwise and pretend a loue to their countrey forasmuche as they make their countrey to fight as it were agaynst God in whome consisteth the onely stay of that country surely I do thinke that such are to be iudged most deadly enemies and traytours to theyr countrey For they that fight agaynst God whiche is the safety of their countrey what doe they els but go about to bryng vpon theyr countrey a present ruine and destruction But they that doe so are worthy to be iudged enemyes to their countrey and betrayours of the Realme Therefore c. But this is the redyest way ye say to stir vp sedition to trouble the quiet of the common wealth therefore are these things to be repressed in tyme by force of lawes Beholde Sathan doth not cease to practise hys olde guiles and accustomed subâ—leties Hee hath euer thys darte in a redines to hurle agaynst hys aduersaryes to accuse them of sedition that he may bryng them if he can in danger of the higher powers For so hath hee by his ministers alwayes charged the Prophetes of God Achab sayde vnto Elias art thou he that troubleth Israell The false Prophetes also complayned to theyr Princes of Hieremy that hys wordes were seditious and not to be suffered did not the scribes and Pharisies falsely accuse Christ as a seditious person and one that spake agaynst Cesar Did they not at the last cry if thou let this man go you are not Cesars frend The Oratour Tertullus how doth he accuse Paule before Felix the high Deputie We haue found this man sayth he a pestilent fellow a stirrer of sedition vnto all the Iewes in the whole world c. But I praye you were these men as they were called seditious persons Christ Paule and the Prophetes God forbid But they were of false men falsely accused And wherefore I praye you but because they reproued before the people their giles superstition and deceites And when the other coulde not beare it and would gladly haue had them taken out of the way they accused him as seditious persons and troublers of the common wealthe that being by this meanes made hatefull to the people and Princes they might the more easely be snatched vpp to be tormented and put to deathe But howe farre they were from all sedition their whole doctrine lyfe and conuersation doth well declare For that which was obiected last of all that he cannot be a faythful subiect to hys prince which professeth openly that he will not obserue the lawes which the Princes hath made here I would wish that I might haue an indifferent Iudge one that feareth God to whose iudgement in this cause I promise I will stand I aunswere therefore a man ought to obey hys Prince but in the Lord and neuer agaynst the Lord. For he that knowingly obeyeth his Prince agaynst God doth not a duety to the Prince but is a deceauer of the Prince and an helper vnto him to worke his owne destruction Hee is also vniust whiche geueth not the prince that is the princes and to GOD that is GODS Here commeth to my remembraunce that notable saying of Ualentinianus the Emperoure for choosing the Bishop of Millayne Set him saith he in the Bishoppes seate to whome if we as man do offend at any tyme wee may submitte our selues Policarpus the most constaunt Martyr when he stoode before the chiefe Ruler and was commaunded to blaspheme Christ and to sweare by the fortune of Cesar. c. he aunswered with milde spirite wee are taught sayth he to geue honour vnto Princes and those powers which be of God but such honour as is not contrary to Gods religion Hither vnto ye see good father how I haue in words onely made as it were a florishe before the fight whiche I shortly looke after and how I haue begonne to prepare certayne kindes of weapons to fight agaynst the aduersary of Christ and to inuse with my selfe how the daâ—â—s of the olde enemy may bee borne of and after what sorte
theyr Pardons which causeth many a man to sinne in trust of them For as for those malefactours which I nowe rehearsed you shall not finde one amongest a hundreth but that he wil cry out both of these bookes and also of them that haue them yea will be glad to spend the good whiche he hath wrongfullye gotten vpon Fagots to burne both the bookes and them that haue them And as touching these men that were latelye punished for these bookes there is no man I heare say that can lay any word or deede agaynst them that shoulde sound to the breaking of any of your graces lawes this onely except if it be yours and not rather theyrs And be it so that there be some that haue these bookes that bee euill vnruely and selfe willed persons not regarding Gods lawes nor maÌ„s yet these bookes be not the cause therof no more then was the bodily presence of Christ and his wordes the cause that Iudas fell but theyr owne froward mind and carnal wit which shoulde be amended by the vertuous example of lyuing of their Curates by the true expositioÌ„ of the scripture If the lay people had suche Curates that would thus doe theyr office these bookes nor the Deuill himselfe coulde not hurte them nor make them to goe out of frame so that the lacke of good Curates is the destruction and cause of al mischiefe Neyther doe I write these thinges because that I will either excuse these menne lately punished or to affirme al to be true writteÌ„ in these books which I haue not all read but to shew that there can not such inconuenience folow of them and specially of the scripture as they would make men beleue should folow And though it bee so that your Grace maye by other bookes and namely by the Scripture it selfe know perceiue the hipocrite Wolues clad in sheepes clothing yet I thinke my selfe bounde in conscience to vtter vnto your grace such thinges as God put in mind to write And this I do God so iudge me not for hate of any person or persons liuing nor for that that I thinke the word of GOD should go forth without persecution if your Grace hadde commaunded that euery man within your Realme should haue it in his mothers tongue For the Gospell must needes haue persecution vnto the time that it bee preached throughout all the world which is the last signe that Christe shewed to his Disciples that should come before the daye of iudgement so that if your grace had once commaunded that the scripture shoulde be put forth the deuill would set forth some wyle or other to persecute the trueth But my purpose is for the loue that I haue to God principally the glory of his name which is only known by his word and for the true allegiaunce that I owe vnto your Grace and not to hide in the grounde of my hart the talent geuen me of God but to chaffer it forth to other that it may encrease to the pleasure of God to exhort your grace to auoid and beware of these mischieuous flatterers and their abhominable wayes and counsels And take heed whose counsels your grace doth take in this matter for there be some that for feare of losing of their worldly worship and honor will not leaue theyr opinion which rashly and that to please menne withall by whome they had great promotion they tooke vpon them to defend by writing so that now they thinke that all theyr felicity which they put in this life should be mard and their wisedome not so greatlye regarded if that whiche they haue so slaunderously oppressed should be now put forth and allowed But alas let these men remember S. Paul how feruent he was agaynst the truth and that of a good zeale before he was called he thought no shame to suffer punishment great persecutions for that which he before despised called heresy And I am sure that theyr liuing is not more perfect then S. Paules was as concerning the outward workes of the law before he was conuerted Also the king and Prophete Dauid was not ashamed to forsake his good intent in building of the Temple after that the Prophet Nathan had shewed him that it was not the pleasure of god that he should build any house for him and notwithstanding that Nathan had before allowed praysed the purpose of Dauid yet he was not ashamed to reuoke and eat his words againe when he knew that they were not according to Gods will and pleasure Wherefore they be sore drowned in worldly wisedome that thinke it agaynst theyr worship to knowledge theyr ignoraunce whom I pray to God that your grace may esâ—ye and take heede of theyr worldly wisedome whiche is foolishnes before God that you may do that that God coÌ„maundeth and not that seemeth good in your owne sighte without the word of God that your grace may be founde acceptable in his sight and one of the meÌ„bers of his church and according to the office that he hath called your Grace vnto you may be found a faythfull minister of his giftes and not a defender of his fayth for hee will not haue it defended by man or mans power but by his wordes onely by the whiche he hath euermore defended it and that by a way farre aboue mans power or reason as all the stories of the Bible maketh mention Wherefore gracious king remember your selfe haue pity vpon your soule and thinke that the daye is euen at hand when you shall geue accountes of your office and of the bloud that hath bene shedde with your sworde In the which day that your grace may stand stedfastly and be not ashamed but to be cleare and readye in your reckoning to haue as they say your Quites est sealed with the bloude of our Sauiour Christ whiche onely serueth at that day is my dayly prayer to him that suffered death for our sinnes which also prayeth to his father for grace for vs continually To whom be all honour and prayse for euer AmeÌ„ The spirit of God preserue your Grace Anno Domini 1530. 1. die Decembris In this Letter of Mayster Latimer to the king aboue prefixed many thinges we haue to consider First his good conscience to God his good will to the king the duety of a right Pastour vnto trueth his tender care to the common wealth and especially to the Church of Christ. Further we haue to consider the abuse of Princes courtes how kinges many times be abused with flatterers and wicked couÌ„sellers aboute them and especially wee maye note the subtle practises of prelates in abusing the name and authority of kinges to set forth theyr owne malignaunt proceedinges We may see moreouer and rather maruell at in the sayde letter the great boldnes and diuine stoutnes in this man who as yet being no Bishop so freely and playnely without all feare of death aduentring his owne life to
whore in the fornication of her whorish dispensations pardons Idolatrye suche like abhominations so shall ye drinke with her except ye repent betime of the cuppe of the Lordes indignation and euerlasting wrath which is prepared for the beast his false prophetes and all theyr partakers For he that is partner with them in theyr whoredome and abhominations must also be partner with them of theyr plagues and on the latter day shall be throwne with them into the lake burning with Brimstone and vnquenchable fire Thus fare ye wel my Lords all I pray God geue you vnderstanding of his blessed will and pleasure and make you to beleue and embrace the truth Amen * An other farewell to the Prisoners in Christes Gospelles cause and to all them whiche for the same cause are exiled and banished out from theyr owne countrey choosing rather to leaue all worldly commodity then theyr mayster Christ. FArewell my dearely beloued brethren in Christ bothe ye my felow prisoners and ye also that be exiled and banished out of your countryes because ye will rather forsake all worldly coÌ„modity then the Gospell of Christ. Farewell all ye together in Christ farewell and be mery for ye know that the triall of your fayth bringeth forth patience and pacience shall make vs perfecte whole and sound on euery side and such after triall ye knowe shall receiue the crowne of lyfe according to the promise of the Lorde made to his dearely beloued let vs therefore be pacient vnto the comming of the Lord. As the husbandmanne abideth pacientlye the former and latter rayne for the encrease of his croppe so let vs bee paciente and plucke vp our hartes for the comming of the Lord approacheth apace Let vs my deare brethren take example of pacience in tribulation of the Prophetes which spake likewise Gods word truely in his name Let Iob be to vs an example of pacience the end which the Lord suffered which is full of mercy and pitty We know my brethren by Gods worde that our fayth is muche more precious then any corruptible golde and yet that is tryed by the fire euen so our fayth is therfore tried likewise in tribulations that it may be found when the Lord shal appeare laudable glorious and honorable For if we for Christs cause do suffer that is gratefull before God for thereunto are we called that is our state and vocation wherewith let vs be content Christ we know suffered for vs afflictions leauing vs an example that we shoulde folow his footesteps for he committed no sinne not was there any guile found in his mouth when he was rayled vpon and all to reuiled he rayled not agayne when he was euill entreated he dyd not threaten but committed the punishment therof to hym that iudgeth a right Let vs euer haue in freshe remembraunce those wonderfull comfortable sentences spokeÌ„ by the mouth of our Sauior Christ Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you persecute you speake all euill against you for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so did they persecute the Prophets which were before you Therfore let vs alway beare this in our mindes that if any incommodity doe chaunce vnto vs for righteousnes sake happy are we whatsoeuer the world doth thinke of vs. Christ our mayster hath tolde vs before hand that the brother should put the brother to death the father the sonne and the children should rise agaynst their pareÌ„ts and kill them and that Christes true Apostles should be hated of all men for his names sake but he that shall abide paciently vnto the end shal be saued Let vs then endure in all troubles paciently after the example of our Mayster Christ and be contented therewith for he suffered being our mayster and Lord how doth it not then become vs to suffer For the disciple is not aboue his mayster nor the seruaunt aboue his Lord. It may suffice the disciple to be as his maister and the seruaunt to be as his Lord. If they haue called the Father of the family the Mayster of the householde Belzebub howe much more shall they call so them of his householde Feare them not then sayth our Sauiour for all pâ—iuityes shall be made playne there is nowe nothing secret but it shall bee shewed in light Of Christes wordes let vs neither be ashamed nor afrayd to speake them for so Christ our mayster commaundeth vs saying that I tell you priuily speake openly abroade and that I tell you in your eare preach it vpon the house toppe And feare not them which kill the body for the soule they cannot kill but feare hym which can cast both body and soule into hell fire Know ye that the heauenly Father hath euer a gracious eye and respect towarde you and a Fatherly prouidence for you so that without his knowledge and permission nothing canne doe you harme Let vs therefore cast all our care vpon him and hee shall prouide that whiche shall be best for vs. For if of two small sparrowes whiche both are sold for a mite one of them lighteth not on the grounde without your father and all the heares of our head are numbred feare not them sayth our Mayster Christ for yee are more worth then many small sparrowes And let vs not sticke to confesse our Mayster Christe for feare of daunger whatsoeuer it shal be remeÌ„bring the promise that Christ maketh saying whosoeuer shall confesse me before men him shall I confesse before my father whiche is in heauen but whosoeuer shall denye me him shall I likewise denye before my father which is in heauen Christ came not to geue vnto vs here a carnall amity and a worldly peace or to knitte his vnto the world in ease and peace but rather to separate and deuide them from the world and to ioyne them vnto himselfe in whose cause we must if wee will bee his forsake father and mother and sticke vnto him If wee forsake him or shrinke from him for trouble or deathes sake which hee calleth his crosse he will none of vs we cannot bee hys If for his cause we shall lose our temporall liues here wee shall finde them agayne and enioy them for euermore but if in his cause we will not be contented to leaue nor loose them here then shall we loose them so that we shall neuer finde them again but in euerlasting death What thoughe our troubles here bee paynefull for the time and the sting of death bitter and vnpleasaunt yet we know that they shall not last in comparison of eternity no not to the twinckling of an eye that they pacieÌ„tly taken in Christes cause shall procure and gette vs vnmeasurable heapes of heauenly glory vnto the which these temporall paines of death and troubles compared are not to be estemed but to be reioyced vpon Wonder
not sayth S. Peter as though it were any straunge matter that ye are tryed by the fire he meaneth of tribulation which thing sayth he is done to proue you nay rather in that ye are partners of Christes afflictions reioyce that in his glorious reuelation ye may reioyce with mery hartes If ye suffer rebukes in Christes name happy are ye for the glory and spirit of God resteth vpon you Of them God is reuiled and dishonored but of you he is glorified Let no manne be ashamed of that he suffereth as a Christian and in Christes cause for nowe is the time that iudgement and correction must beginne at the house of GOD and if it begin first at vs what shall be the end of those thinke ye which beleue not the Gospell And if the righteous shall bee hardlye saued the wicked and the sinner where shall he appeare Wherefore they which are afflicted according to the wil of God let thē lay downe and commit theyr soules to him by well doing as to a trustye and faythfull maker This as I sayde maye not seeme straunge to vs for we know that al the whole fraternity of Christes Congregation in this worlde is serued with the like and by the same is made perfect For the seruent loue that the Apostles had vnto their maister Christ and for the great commodities and increase of all godlines which they felt by theyr fayth to insue of afflictions in Christes cause thirdly for the heapes of heauenly ioyes which the same doe get vnto the godly which shall endure in heauen for euermore for these causes I saye the Apostles of their afflictions did ioy and reioyced in that they were had and accounted worthy to suffer contumelies rebukes for Christes name And Paul as he gloried in the grace fauor of God whervnto he was brought stoode in by fayth so he reioyced in hys afflictions the heauenlye and spirituall profites which he numbred to rise vpon them yea he was so farre in loue wyth that that the carnall man lothed so much that is with Christes crosse that he iudged himselfe to know nothing els but christ crucified he will glory he sayth in nothing els but in Christes crosse yea and he blesseth all those as the onely true Israelites elect people of God with peace and mercy whiche walketh after that rule and after none other O Lord what a wonderfull spirit was that that made Paule in setting forth of himselfe agaynst the vanity of Satans Pseudopostles and in his clayme there that he in Christes cause did excell and passe them all what wonderfull spirite was that I saye that made him to reckon vppe all his troubles his laboures hys beatinges his whippinges and scourginges his shippewrackes his daungers and perilles by water and by land his famine hunger nakednesse and colde with many moe and the dayly care of all the congregations of Christ among whom euery mans payne did pearce his heart and euery mannes griese was grieuous vnto him O Lord is this Paules primacye whereof hee thought so much good that he did excell other Is not this Paules sayinge vnto Timothy his owne scholer and doth it not perteyn to who so euer will be Christes true souldiours beare thou sayth he affliction like a good souldiour of Iesu Christ This is true if we dye with him he meaneth Christ we shall liue with him if we suffer with him we shall raigne with him if we deny him he shall denye vs if we be faythlesse he remayneth faythfull he cannot denye himselfe This Paule would haue knowne to euery bodye for there is none other way to heauen but Christ and his way all that will liue godly in Christ shall sayth S. Paule suffer persecution By this way went to heauen the Patriarches the Prophets Christ our Mayster his Apostles his Martyrs and all the godly since the beginning And as it hath bene of olde that hee which was borne after the flesh persecuted him which was born after the spirite for so it was in Isaacks time so sayde S. Paule it was in his time also And whether it be so or no now let the spirituall man the selfe same man I meane that is indued with the spirit of almighty God let him be iudge Of the crosse of the Patriarches as ye may read in theyr storyes if ye reade the booke of Genesis ye shall perceiue Of other S. Paule in few wordes comprehendeth much matter speaking in a generality of the wonderfull afflictions death and tormentes which the men of GOD in Gods cause and for the truth sake willingly and gladly did suffer After much particuler rehearsall of many he sayeth other were racked and despised and would not be deliuered that they might obteyne a better resurrection Other agayne were tried wyth mockinges and scourginges and moreouer with bondes imprisonment they were stoned beweene asunder tempted fell were slayne vpon the edge of the sword some wandred to fro in sheepes pilches in goates pilches forsaken oppressed afflicted such godly men as the world was vnworthy of wandring in wildernesse in mountaynes in caues and in dennes and all these were commended for theyr fayth And yet they abide for vs the seruauntes of God and for those theyr brethren which are to bee slayne as they were for the word of Gods sake that none be shut out but that we may all go together to meete our Mayster Christ in the ayre at his comming and so to be in blisse with him in body and soule for euermore Therefore seing we haue so muche occasion to suffer and to take afflictions for Christes names sake paciently so many commodities thereby so waighty causes so many good examples so great necessitye so pure promises of eternall life and heauenlye ioyes of him that cānot lye Let vs throw away whatsoeuer might let vs all burden of sinne and all kinde of carnality and paciently and constantly let vs runne for the best game in this race that is set before vs euer hauing our eyes vpon Iesus Christ the ringleader Capitayne and Perfiter of our fayth which for the ioye that was set before him endured the crosse not passing vpon the ignominy and shame thereof and is set now at the right hande of the throne of GOD. Consider this that he suffered such strife of sinners agaynst himselfe that yee shoulde not geue ouer nor faynt in your mindes As yet brethren we haue not withstand vnto death fighting agaynst sinne Let vs neuer forget deare Brethren for Christes sake that Fatherly exhortation of the wise that speaketh vnto vs as vnto his children the Godlye wysedome of God saying thus My sonne despise not the correction of the Lord nor fall not from him when thou art rebuked of hym for whom the Lord loueth him doth he correct and scourgeth euery childe whom he receiueth What childe is he whom the father doth not chasten If ye
bee free from chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and no children Seing then when as we haue had carnall parents which chastened vs we reuerenced them shall not we much more be subiect vnto our spirituall father that we might liue And they for a litle time taughte vs after theyr owne mind but this father teacheth vs to our commodity to geue vnto vs his holinesse Al chastisment for the present tyme appeareth not pleasaunt but paynefull but afterward it rendereth the fruite of righteousnesse on them which are exercised in it Wherefore let vs bee of good cheere good Brethren and let vs plucke vppe our feeble members that were fallen or beganne to faynt hart handes knees and all the rest and let vs walke vpright and straight that no limping no◠〈…〉 bring vs out of the way Let vs looke not vpon the thinges that be present but with the eyes of our fayth let vs stedfastly behold the thinges that be euerlasting in heauen and so choose rather in respecte of that whiche is to come with the chosen members of Christ to beare Christes Crosse then for this short life time to inioy all the riches honours and pleasures of the broade worlde Why should we Christians feare death Can death depriue vs of Christ which is all our coÌ„â—ort our ioy and our life Nay forsooth But contrary death shall deliuer vs from this mortall body whiche lodeth and beareth downe the spirite that it cannot so well perceiue heauenly thinges in the which so long as we dwell wee are absent from God Wherefore vnderstanding our state in that we be Christians that if our mortall body which is our earthly house were destroied we haue a building a house not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen c. therefore wee are of good cheere and know that when we are in the body we are absent from GOD for we walke by fayth and not by cleare fight Neuerthelesse we are bolde and had rather be absent from the bodye and present with GOD. Wherefore we striue whether we be present at home or absent abroad that we may alwayes please him And who that hath true fayth in our Sauior Christ whereby he knoweth somewhat truely what Christ our Sauiour is that he is the eternall sonne of God life light the wisedome of the father all goodnesse all righteousnesse and whatsoeuer is good that heart canne desire yea infinite plentye of all these aboue that that mans hart canne either conceiue or thinke for in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godheade corporally and also that he is geuen vs of the Father and made of GOD to be our wisedome our righteousnesse our holâ—nesse and our redemption who I say is he that beleueth this in deede that woulde not gladly bee with his mayster christ Paul for this knowledge coueted to haue bene loosed from the body and to haue beene with Christ for that he counted it muche better for himselfe and had rather to be loosed then to liue Therefore these wordes of Christe to the thiefe on the Crosse that asked of him mercy were full of comfort and solace This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise To dye in the defence of Christes Gospell it is our bounden duety to Christ and also to our neighbour To Christ for he dyed for vs and rose agayne that he might be Lord ouer all And seing he dyed for vs we also sayth S. Iohn shoulde ieopard yea geue our life for our Brethren And this kinde of geuing and loosing is getting and winning in deede for hee that geueth or looseth his life thus getteth winneth it for euermore Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord and if they dye in the Lordes cause they are most happy of all Let vs not then feare death which can do vs no harme otherwise then for a momeÌ„t to make the flesh to smart but that our fayth whiche is surely fastened and fixed vnto the worde of GOD telleth vs that we shall be anon after death in peace in the handes of GOD in ioye in solace and that from death we shall go straight vnto life For Saynt Iohn sayeth he that liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye And in an other place he shall depart from death vnto life And therefore this death of the Christian is not to be called death but rather a gate or entraunce into euerlasting life Therefore Paule calleth it but a dissolution and resolution and both Peter and Paul a putting of this Tabernacle or dwelling house Meaning thereby the mortall body as wherein the soule or spirite doth dwell here in this worlde for a small time Yea this death may be called to the Christian an end of all miseries For so long as we liue here we must passe through many tribulations before we canne enter into the kingdome of heauen And nowe after that death hath shot his bolt all the christian mans enemies haue done what they canne after that they haue no more to doe What coulde hurte or harme poore Lazarus that lay at the rich mannes Gate His former penury and pouerty his misery beggery and horrible sores and sickenesse For so soone as death had stricken him with his dart so soone came the aungels and caryed him straight vp into Abrahams bosome What lost he by death who from misery and payne is set by the ministery of Aungels in a place both of ioy and solace Farewell deare brethren farewell and let vs comforte our hartes in all troubles and in death with the worde of God for heauen and earth shall perish but the word of the Lord endureth for euer Farewell Christes dearely beloued spouse here wandering in this world as in a straunge land farre from thine owne couÌ„try coÌ„passed about on euery hand with deadly enemies which cease not to assault thee euer seeking thy destruction Farewell farewell O ye the whole and vniuersall congregation of the chosen of God here liuing vpon earth the true churche militant of Christ the true misticall body of Christ the very house holde and family of God and the sacred temple of the holy ghost Farewell Farewell O thou litle flocke of the highe heauenlye pastour Christ for to thee it hath pleased the heauenlye father to geue an euerlasting and eternall kingdome Farewell Farewell thou spirituall house of God thou holy and royall priesthood thou choseÌ„ generatioÌ„ thou holy nation thou wonne spouse Farewell Farewell N. R. ¶ An other treatise of B. Ridley wherein is conteyned first a lamentation for the chaunge of Religion in England then a comparison betwene the doctrine of the Gospell and the Romish religion with wholesome instructions in the end to all christians how to behaue themselues in time of tryall ALas what misery is thy church brought vnto O lord at this day Where of late the worde of the Lord was truely preached was read and heard in euery towne in euery Church
constant martyr Who the xviii day of December in the middest of the fiery flames yelded his soule into the handes of the almighty God and full like a lambe gaue vp his breath his body being consumed into ashes Thus hast thou gentle reader the lyfe and doyngs of this learned and worthy souldiour of the Lord Iohn Philpot with all his examinations that came to our handes first penned and written with his owne hand beyng meruaylously reserued from the sight and hands of hys enemies who by all maner meanes sought not onely to stop hym from al writing but also to spoyle and depriue him of that which he had written For the which cause he was manye tymes stripped and searched in the prison of his keeper but yet so happily these his writinges were conueyed and hid in places about him or els hys keepers eies so blinded that notwithstanding all this malicious purpose of the Bishops they are yet remayning and come to light A prayer to be sayd at the stake of all them that God shall account worthy to suffer for his sake MErcifull God and father to whome oure sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reason of death found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christe on whome Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength Most benigne holy spirite whiche in the middest of all Crosses and death diddest comfort the Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorowes and terrors haue mercy ⧠The martirdome of maister Iohn Philpot Archdeacon with the manner of his kneeling and praying at the stake vpon me miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neare the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of manifold horrible olde and new transgressions which to thyne eyes O Lorde are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto me for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine owne onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respecte of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare me measuring me with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiesty contemning thy dayly calles yet let thy mercy whiche is aboue all thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towardes me through and for the mediation of Christ our sauiour And for whose sake in that it hathe pleased thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritye and trueth taught by him to geue my life therefore to which dignitie I do acknowledge dear God that ther was neuer any so vnworthy and so vnmeet no not the theef that hāged with him on the Crosse I most hūbly therfore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly ayde helpe assiste me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christe thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paule and all others whiche for thy names sake haue suffered affliction and death I may finde so present with me thy gracious consolations that I may by my deathe glorifie thy holy name propagate and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hartes of the heauy confirme thy Church in thy veritie conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart foorth of thys miserable world where I do nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy wherof now geue and encrease in me a liuely truste sense and feelinge wherethrough the terrours of death the tormentes of fire the panges of sinne the dartes of Sathan and the dolours of hel may neuer depresse me but may be driuen away thorough the working of that most gracious spirite which now plenteously endue me withall that through the same spirite I may offer as I nowe desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight Deare Father whose I am and alwayes haue bene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the world was made to whome I commend my selfe soule and body family and frendes countrey and all the whole Churche yea euen my very enemies accordynge to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to geue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word agayn with godly peace to the teaching setting forth of the same Oh dear father now geue me grace to come vnto thee Purge and so purifie me by this fire in Christes death and Passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy God nowe and euermore world without end Amen ¶ Letters of Mayster Philpot. ¶ A letter which he sent to the christian congregation exhorting them to refrayne from the Idolatrous seruice of the papists and to serue God after his word IT is a lamentable thing to behold at this present in England the faithles departing both of men women frō the true knowledge vse of Christes sincere religion which so plētifully they haue bene taught do know their own consciences bearing witnes to the veritie thereof If that earth be cursed of God which eftsoones receiuing moisture pleasant dewes from heauen doth not bring forth fruite accordingly how much more greuous iudgemēt shal such persons receiue which hauing receiued from the father of heauē the perfect knowledge of his word by the ministery therof do not shew forth Gods worship after the same If the Lord wil require in the day of iudgemēt a godly vsury of all maner of talentes which he sendeth vnto men women how muche more wil he require the same of his pure religion reuealed vnto vs which is of al other talents the chiefest most pertayning to our exercise in this life if we hide the same in a napkin and set it not forth to the vsurye of Gods glory and edifying of his church by true confessiō God hath kindled the bright light of his Gospel which in times past was suppressed hid vnder the vile ashes of mās traditiōs and hath caused the brightnes therof to shine in our harts to the end that the same might shine before men to the honor of his name It is not onely geuen vs to beleue but also to confesse declare what we beleue in our outwarde couersation For as S. Paule writeth to the Romaynes The beliefe of the hart iustifieth and toe acknowledge wyth the mouth maketh a man safe It is al one before God not to beleue at al not to shew forth the liuely works of our belief For Christe sayth Either make the tree good and his fruites good or ells make the tree euill and the fruites euill because a good tree bringeth forth good fruites So that the person which knoweth his maysters will and doth it not shal be beaten with many stripes And not all they
the Catholicke Churche that the Pope is head of There is an other Church But as touching that I aunswere you are sure of that as the Donatistes were for they sayd that they hadde the true Church and that the name of the true Christians remayned onely in Aphricke where onely theyr sedicious sect was preached and as you thinke so thought Nouatus that all they that did acknowledge theyr supreame head at the Sea of Rome were out of the Church of Christ. But here saynt Cyprian defending Cornelius agaynst Nouatus Libro secundo Epistola Sexta sayth on this wise Ecclesia vna est quae cum sit vna intus foris esse non potest So that if Nouatus were in the true Churche then was not Cornelius who in deede by lawefull succession succeeded Pope Fabian Here S. Cyprian entendeth by the whole processe to proue and concludeth thereupon that the true Churche was onely Rome Gather you then what will folow of your fall But you will say peraduenture that ye fell not by heresy and so sayde the Arrians alledging for themselues that they had scripture and going about to perswade their schisme by Scripture for in deed they had more places by two forty which by theyr torture semed to depend vpon Scripture thē the Catholickes had So did the Martians prouoke theyr heresy to Scripture But those are no Scriptures for they are not truely alledged nor truely interpreted but vntruely wrested and wronge according to theyr owne fantasies And therefore were they all iustly condemned for theyr wrong taking of the Scriptures and the Churche replieth agaynst them saying Qui estis vos quando quid agitis in meo non Mei The Churche sayeth what make you here in my heritage From whence came you The Scripture is my inheritage I am right heire therof I holde it by true succession of the Apostles for as the Apostles required mee to holde so do I holde it The Apostles haue receiued me and put me in my right and haue reiected you as bastardes hauing no title thereunto Also ye will denie that you haue fallen by Apostasie by breaking your vow so Vigilantius sayd in so much that he would admitte none to his ministerye but those that had theyr wiues bagged with children What now Shall we say that Vigilantius did not fall therefore Did not Donatus and Nouatus fall because they sayed so and brought Scripture for theyt defence Then let vs beleeue as we list pretending well and say so nay there is no manne so blinde that will saye so For excepte the Church which condemneth them for theyr saye so doe approue vs for to doe so then will shee condemne you also So that your denyall will not stande And therefore I tell you remember from whence you haue fallen and howe low ye shall fall if you holde on as you doe beginne But I trust you will not continue but to reuoke your selfe in time and the remedy foloweth· Age poenitentiam prima opera fac for by such meanes as ye haue fallen ye must rise agayne First your hart hath fallen then your tongue and your penne and besides your owne damage hath caused many more to fall Therfore first your hart must turne and then shall the tongue and the penne be quickely turned Sin minus veniam tibi cito mouebo Candelabrum tuum de loco suo I neede not to teache you a methode to turne you knowe the ready way your selfe But I would God I coulde but exhorte you to the right and trueth then the way should soone be found out For if ye remember howe many he haue brought by abhominable heresy into the way of perdition I doubt not but very cōscience would moue you as muche for them as for your selfe to come againe And so would you spare neither tongue nor penne if hart were once reformed for as touching that poynt the holye Ghost toucheth theyr hartes very neare by the mouth of his holy Prophet Ezechiel when he requireth the bloud of his flocke at the Priestes handes for lacke of good and wholesome foode how much more should this touch your guilty hart hauing ouermuch diligence to teach them the waye of perdition and feeding them with baggage and corrupt foode whiche is heresye Qui conuertere fecerit peccatorem ab errore vitae suae saluam faciet animam suam a morte operiet multitudinem peccatorum suorum He that shall conuert a sinner from hys wicked life shall saue his soule from death and shall couer the multitude of sinnes So that if it be true that hee who conuerteth a Synner saueth a soule then the contrarye must needes be true that he that peruerteth a soule and teacheth him the way of perdition must needes be damned Origenes super Paulū ad Romanos The damnation of those that preacheth heresy doth encrease to the day of iudgement The more that perishe by hereticall doctrine the more grieuous shall theyr torment bee that minister suche doctrine Berengarius who seemed to feare that daunger prouided for it in his life time but not without a troubled and disquiet conscience He did not onely repent but recant and not so much for himselfe as for them whome he had with most pestilent heresyes infected For as he lay in his death bedde vpon Epiphany daye he demaunded of them that were present is this quoth he the day of Epiphany appearing of the Lord They aunswered him yea Thē quoth he this day shall the Lord appeare to me either to my comfort eyther to my discomfort This remorse argueth that he feared the daunger of them whom he had taught and ledde out of the faith of Christ. Origenes vpon him sayth in this wise Although hys owne bloud was not vpon his head for that he did repent and was sory for his former errors yet being conuerted he feared the bloud of them whom hee had infected and who receiued hys doctrine Let this moue you euen at the last poynt In so much as your case is not vnlike to Beringarius let your repentaunce bee like also And what shoulde staye you tell me from this godlye returne feare that ye haue gone so farre ye may not returne nay then I may saye as Dauid sayde Illic trepidauerunt vbi non erat timor Ye feare where you haue no cause to feare For if ye repent and be hartely sory for your former heresy and apostacy ye neede not to feare For as God of his part is mercifull gracious to the repentaunt sinner so is the Kyng so is the Queene mercifull which ye may well perceiue by your owne case since ye might haue suffered a great whiles agoe for treason committed agaynst her highnesse but that ye haue bene spared reserued vpon hope of amendement which she conceiued very good of you but now as it seemeth is but a very desperate hope And what do you thereby Secundum duritiem
king standeth accursed in mainteining his owne lawes Therfore in consideration that the king and Queene take theyr power of him as though god should geue it to them there is no true subiect vnlesse he be abrogate seing the crowne is holden of him being out of the Realme The Bishop of Rome is contrary to God and iniurious to his lawes for God commaunded all men to be diligent in the knowledge of his law and therefore hath appoynted one holiday in the weeke at the least for the people to come to the Church and heare the word of God expounded vnto them and that they might the better vnderstād it to heare it in their mother toung which they know The Pope doth contrary for he willeth the seruice to bee had in the latine tongue which they doe not vnderstande God woulde haue it to bee perceiued the Pope will not When the Priest geueth thanks God would that the people should do so to and God will them to confesse altogether the Pope will not Now as concerning the Sacrament I haue taught no false doctrine of the sacramēt of the aultar For if it can be proued by any doctor aboue 1000. yeares after Christ that Christes body is there really I will geue ouer My booke was made 7. yeares agoe and no man hath brought anye authors agaynst it I beleue that who so eateth and drinketh that sacrament Christ is within them whole Christ his Natiuity Passion Resurrection and Ascention but not that corporally that sitteth in heauen Now Christ commaunded all to drinke of the Cuppe The Pope taketh it away from the laye men and yet one sayth that if Christ had dyed for the Deuill that he shoulde drinke thereof Christ biddeth vs to obey the king etiam discolo The Bishop of Rome biddeth vs to obey him therfore vnlesse he be Antichrist I cannot tell what to make of him Wherfore if I should obey him I can not obey Christ. He is like the Deuill in his doinges for the Deuil said to Christ if thou wilt fall downe and worship me I wyll geue thee all the kingdomes of the world Thus hee tooke vpon him to geue that which was not his owne Euen so the Bishop of Rome geueth Princes theyr crownes being none of his owne for where Princes either by election either by succession either by inheritage obtein their crown he sayth that they should haue it from him Christ sayth that Antichrist shall be And who shall he be Forsoothe he that aduaunceth himselfe aboue all other creatures Now if there be none already that hath aduaūced himselfe after suche sorte besides the Pope then in the meane time let him be Antichrist Story Pleaseth it you to make an end Cranmer For he wil be the Uicar of Christ he will dispēse with the olde and newe Testament also yea and with Apostacy Now I haue declared why I cannot with my conscience obey the Pope I speake not this for hatred I beare to him that now supplieth the roome for I know him not I pray God geue him grace not to folowe his auncestors Neyther say I this for my defence but to declare my conscience for the zeale that I beare to Gods word troden vnder foote by the Byshop of Rome I cast feare aparte for Christ sayde to his Apostles that in the latter dayes they should suffer much sorow and be put to death for his names sake feare them not sayth he but feare him whyche when he hath killed the body hath power to cast the soule into the fire euerlasting Also Christ sayth that he that wyll liue shall die and he that loseth his life for my names sake he shall finde it agayne Moreouer he sayd confesse mee before men and be not afrayd if you do so I wyll stand with you if you shrincke from me I will shrincke from you This is a comfortable and a terryble saying thys maketh me to set all feare aparte I say therefore the Byshop of Rome treadeth vnder foote Gods lawes and the kinges The Pope would geue Bishoprickes so woulde the king But at the last the king gat the vpper hande and so are all Bishops periured first to the Pope and then to the king The Crowne hath nothing to doe with the Cleargy For if a Clarke come before a Iudge the Iudge shal make processe agaynste him but not to execute any Lawes For if the Iudge should put him to execution then is the king accursed in mayneteyning his owne Lawes And therfore saye I that he is neyther true to GOD neyther to the king that first receiued the Pope But I shall hartely pray for such Councellours as may informe her the truth for the King and Queene if they be well infourmed wyll do well Mart. As you vnderstand then if they maynteyne the Supremacy of Rome they cannot mainteine England too Cranmer I require you to declare to the king and queene what I haue sayde and how theyr othes doe stand with the Realme and the Pope S. Gregory sayth he that taketh vppon him to be head of the Uniuersall Churche is worse then the Antichrist If any man can shew me that it is not agaynst Gods word to holde his styrrop when hee taketh his horse and kisse his feet as kinges do then will I kisse his feete also And you for your part my Lord are periured for now ye sit Iudge for the Pope and yet ye did receiue your Byshopricke of the king You haue taken an othe to be aduersary to this Realme for the Popes lawes are contrary to the lawes of the Realme Glocester You were the cause that I did forsake the Pope and did sweare that he ought not to be supreame head and gaue it to king Henry the eight that he ought to be it and this you made me to do Cranmer To this I aunswere sayd he You report me il and say not the trueth and I will proue it here before you all The trueth is that my Predecessour Byshop Warrham gaue the Supremacy to King Henry the eight and sayde that he ought to haue it before the Bishop of Rome and that Gods word would beare him And vpō the same was there sent to both the vniuersityes Oxford and Cambridge to know what the word of GOD would do touching the Supremacy and it was reasoned vpon and argued at length So at the laste both the Uniuersityes agreed and set to theyr Seales and sent it to king Henry the eight to the Courte that he ought to be supreme head and not the Pope Whereupon you were then Doctour of Diuinitye at that time and your consent was thereunto as your hand doth appeare Therefore you misreport me that I was the cause of your falling away from the Pope but it was your selfe All this was in Byshop Warrhams time and whilest he was aliue so that it was three quarters of a yeare after ere euer I hadde the Byshopricke of Caunterbury
present doe testifie that they neuer sawe in any chylde more teares then brast oute from hym at that time all the Sermone while but specially when he recited hys Prayer before the people It is marueilous what commiseration and pitye mooued all mennes hearts that behelde so heauie a countenaunce and suche aboundance of teares in an olde man of so reuerende dignitie Cole after he had ended his Sermon called backe the people that were ready to departe to prayers Brethren sayde he least any man should doubt of thys mans earnest conuersion and repentaunce you shall heare hym speake before you and therefore I pray you master Cranmer that you will now perfourme that you promised not long agoe namely that you woulde openly expresse the true and vndoubted profession of your faith that you may take away all suspition from men and that all men may vnderstand that you are a Catholicke in deede I wil doe it sayde the Archbyshop and wyth a good will who by and by rising vppe and putting of hys cappe beganne to speake thus vnto the people I desire you well beloued brethren in the Lorde that you will praye to God for mee to forgeeue me my sinnes whyche aboue all menne both in noumber and greatnesse I haue committed But among all the rest there is one offence which of all at thys time doth vexe and trouble me wherof in processe of my talk you shall heare more in hys proper place and then putting hys hande into hys bosome hee drewe foorth his Prayer which hee recited to the people in thys sense The Prayer of Doctour Cranmer Archbyshop GOod Christen people my dearly beloued brethren and sisters in Christ I beseech you most hartely to pray for me to almighty God that he wil forgeue me al my sinnes and offences which be many without number and great aboue measure But yet one thing grieueth my conscience more then all the rest whereof God willing I entende to speake more heereafter But howe great and howe many soeuer my sinnes be I beseeche you to pray God of hys mercy to pardon and forgeue them all And heere kneling downe he sayd O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the worlde O holy Ghoste three persones and one God haue mercye vppon me moste wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both againste heauen and earth more then my tounge can expresse Whether then may I goe or whether should I flie To heauen I may be ashamed to lifte vp mine eyes and in earth I finde no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lorde doe I runne to thee doe I humble my selfe saying O Lorde my God my sinnes be great but yet haue mercye vppon me for thy great mercy The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or fewe offences Thou diddest not geue thy sonne O heauenly father vnto death for smal sinnes onely but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as I do here at this present Wherefore haue mercye on mee O God whose propertie is alwayes to haue mercy haue mercy vpon me O Lord for thy great mercy I craue nothing for mine owne merites but for thy names sake that it maye be hallowed thereby and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake And nowe therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. And then he rising sayde Euery man good people desireth at that time of their death to geue some good exhortation that other maye remember the same before theyr death be the better thereby so I beseche God graunt me grace that I may speake some thyng at thys my departing whereby God may be glorified and you edified First it is an heauy case to see that so many folke be so much doted vpon the loue of this false world and so carefull for it that of the loue of God or the world to come they seeme to care very little or nothing Therefore this shal be my first exhortation that you sette not your mindes ouer much vpon thys glosing world but vpon God and vpon the world to come and to learne to know what this lesson meaneth whych s. Iohn teacheth that the loue of this world is hatred against God The seconde exhortation is that next vnder God you obey your King and Queene willingly and gladly without murmuring or grudging not for feare of them onely but much more for the feare of God knowing that they be Gods ministers appoynted by God to rule and gouerne you and therefore who soeuer resisteth them resisteth the ordinance of God The third exhortatiō is that you loue altogether lyke brethren and sisters For alasse pitie it is to see what contention and hatred one Christen man beareth to an other not taking cache other as brother and sister but rather as strangers and mortall ennemies But I pray you learne and beare well away this one lesson to doe good vnto all men asmuch as in you lieth and to hurt no man no more then you would hurt your owne naturall louing brother or sister For thys you maye be sure off that who soeuer hateth any person and goeth about maliciously to hinder or hurte hym surely and wythout all doubte God is not wyth that man although he thinke himself neuer so much in Gods fauour The fourth exhortation shall be to them that haue great substance riches of this world that they will well consider and weigh three sayinges of the Scripture One is of our Sauiour Christ him selfe who sayeth It is harde for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen A sore saying and yet spoken of hym that knoweth the truth The second is of S. Iohn whose saying is thys Hee that hath the substaunce of this worlde and seeth hys brother in necessitie and shutteth vp his mercy from him howe can he saye that hee loueth God The third is of S Iames who speaketh to the couetous riche man after thys maner Weepe you and howle for the miserie that shall come vpon you your riches do rotte your clothes be mothe eaten your golde and siluer doeth canker and rust and their rust shall beare witnesse against you and consume you like fire you gather a hoarde or treasure of Gods indignation against the last day Let them that be riche ponder well these three sentences for if they had occasion to shew their charitie they haue it now at this present the poore people being so many and victuals so deare And now for as much as I am come to the last end of my life whereupon hangeth al my life past and all my life to come either to liue with my maister Christe for euer in ioy or els to be in paine for euer with wicked Deuilles in hell I see before mine eyes presently either heauen ready to receiue me or els hell ready to swallow me vppe I shall
which conteineth worthy matter agaynst the Romish authority Unto the which booke you made a Preface inueying largely agaynst the Bishop of Rome reprouing hys tyranny and falshood calling his power false and pretēced The booke is extant and you cannot deny it Then was the Bishoppe somewhat abashed and looking vpō such as were presēt spake very gētly saying Lo here is a goodly matter in deed My Lord of Winchester being a great learned man did write a booke agaynst the supremacy of the Popes holynes and I also did write a preface before the same booke tending to the same effect And thus did we because of the perilous world that then was For then was it made treason by the Lawes of this realme to mainteine the Popes authority and great daunger it was to be suspected a fauourer of the See of Rome and therefore feare compelled vs to beare with the time for otherwise there had bene no way but one You know when any vttered his conscience in mainteining the Popes authority he suffered death for it And then turning his tale vnto Tyms he sayd But since that time euen sithence the cōming in of the queenes maiesty when we might be bold to speake our conscience we haue acknowledged our faults and my Lord of Winchester himselfe shamed not to recant the same at Paules Crosse. And also thou thy selfe seest that I stande not in it but willingly haue submitted my selfe Do thou also as we haue done My Lord quoth Tyms that which you haue written agaynst the supremacy of the pope may be wel approued by the scriptures But that which you now do is against the word of God as I can well proue Then an other I suppose it was Doctor Cooke sayd Tyms I pray thee let me talke with thee a little for I thinke we two are learned alike Thou speakest much of the scripture and yet vnderstandest it not I will tell thee to whom thou mayest be compared Thou art like to one which intending to goe on hunting riseth vp earely in the morning taketh his houndes and forth he goeth vp to the hils and downe into the vallyes he passeth ouer the fieldes ouer hedge and ditch he searcheth the woods and thickets thus laboureth he all the whole day without finding any game At night home he cōmeth weery of his trauell not hauing caught any thing at all and thus fareth it by thee Thou labourest in reading of the Scriptures thou takest the letter but the meaning thou knowest not and thus thy reading is as vnprofitable vnto thee as hūting was vnto the man I spake of euen now Syr quoth Tyms you haue not well applyed your similitude for I prayse God I haue not read the scriptures vnprofitably but God I thanke hym hath reuealed vnto me so much as I doubt not is sufficient for my saluation Then said the Bishop You brag much of knowledge yet you know nothing you speake much of scripture you know not what scripture is I pray thee tel me How knowest thou that thing to be the worde of God whiche thou callest Scripture To this aunswered Rob. Drakes that he did know it to be the word of God for that it doth shew vnto thē theyr saluation in Christ and doth reuoke call backe all mē frō wicked life vnto a pure and vndefiled conuersation The bishop replied that the heathē writers haue taught precepts of good liuing as wel as the scripture yet theyr writings are not estemed to be Gods word To this answered Tyms saying the olde Testament beareth witnes of those things which are writtē in the new for quoth he there is nothing taught in the new Testament but it was foreshewed in the law and Prophets I will denye all quoth the Bishop I wyll denye all what sayest thou then Then Robert Drakes alledged a sentence in Latin out of the Prophet Esay in the 59. chap. of his prophecy Spiritus meus qui est in te c My spirit whiche is in thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede from hence forth euen for euer meaning therby to proue that he which had the spirit of God could thereby discerne and iudge truely which was Gods word but before he could explicate his minde he was interrupted by the bishop who spake vnto Doctor Pendleton saying Mayster Doctor I pray you say somewhat vnto these folkes that may do them some good Then D. Pendleton as hee leaned nere vnto the Bishop couered his face with both his handes to the end he might the more quietly deuise what to say but other talke was presently ministred so that for that time he sayd nothing And thus much William Alesbury witnesse hereof being present thereat so farre as he heard hath faythfully recorded and reported What more was spokē and there said for they made not yet an end a good while after because he departed then out of the house he doth not know nor dyd not heare Then the bishop after this and such like communicatiō thus passed betwene them proceding at length in forme of law caused both his articles and aunsweres to the same there and then to be openly read the summe of which hys confession recorded and left by his owne hand writing tēded to this effect as foloweth * The Articles for the which William Tyms of Hockley in Essex was condemned in the Consistory in Paules the xxviij day of March with his aunsweres and confession vpon the same FFrst I did truely confesse and beleeue that I was baptised in the true Catholicke Church of Christ for when I was baptised there was the Element and the word of God according to Christes institution And my Godfathers and Godmother did promise for me and that I shoulde forsake the Deuill and all his workes and that I shoulde keepe Gods commaundements and beleue al the articles of the Christian fayth the which I doe beleue at this day and with Gods help I trust to do while I liue for it was not the wickednes of the Minister that made the Sacrament of none effect c. Item I confessed two Sacramentes and but two in Christes true Churche that is the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and that Christ is present with his sacraments as it pleaseth him Item I confessed that Christe hath a visible Churche wherin the word of God is truely preached and the sacramentes truely ministred Item I confessed the See of Rome to be as the late bishop of Winchester hath written in his bookes De vera obediencia to the which I sayde vnto the Bishop of London that he had made a godly Preface also Iohn Bale hath plainly declared in his book called the Image of both churches euen so much as I beleue therof Item
English seruice so causing vs to sinne against our redemption For such as willingly and wittingly agaynst their consciences shall so do as it is to be feared many one doth they are in a miserable state vntill the mercy of God turn them which if he do not we certainly beleeue that they shall eternally be damned and as in this world they deny Christes holy word and Communion before men so shal christ deny them before his heauenly father and his Aungelles And where as it is verye earnestly required that we should go in Procession as they call it at whiche time the Priest say in Latine such thinges as we are ignoraunt of the same edifieth nothing at all vnto godlinesse And wee haue learned that to follow Christes Crosse is an other matter namely to take vp our Crosse and to follow chryst in pacient suffering for his loue tribulations sicknes pouertie prison or anye other aduersitie whensoeuer Gods holy wil pleasure is to lay the same vppon vs. The tryumphant Passion and death of Christ wherby in his own person he conquered death sinne hell and damnatioÌ„ hath most liuely bene preached vnto vs and the glory of Chrystes crosse declared by our Preachers whereby wee haue learned the causes and effectes of the same more liuely in one Sermon then in all the Processions that euer wee went in or euer shall go in When wee worshipped the diuine Trinitie kneelyng and in the Letanie inuocating the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost asking mercye for our sinnes and desiring such petitions as the neede of oure frayle estate and thys mortall life requireth we were edified both to know vnto whom all Christian praiers should be directed and also to know that of Gods hand we receaue all thinges as well to the saluation of our soules as to the reliefe of our mortall necessities And we humbly beseech the Queenes maiestie that the same most holye prayers may bee continued amongest vs that our Ministers praying in oure mother tongue and wee vnderstanding their prayers and petitions may aunswere Amen vnto them At euening seruice we vnderstoode our Ministers prayers we wer taught admonished by the scriptures then read whiche in the latine Euensong is all gone At the ministration of holy baptisme we learned what league and couenauâ—t God had made with vs and what vowes and promises we vpon our part had made namely to beleue in him to forsake Satan and his workes to walke in the way of Gods holy word commandemeÌ„tes The Christian Catechisme continually taught called to remembraunce the same wheras before no man knew any thing at all And many good men of lx yeares that hadde bene godfathers to xxx children knew no more of the godfathers office but to wash their handes ere they departed the Church or els to fast fiue Fridayes bread and water O mercifull God haue pittie vpon vs. Shall we be altogether cast from thy presence We may well lament our miserable estate to receaue such a commaundement to reiect and cast out of our Churches all these most godly praiers instructions admonitions and doctrines thus to be compelled to deny God and Christ our Sauiour hys holy word al his doctrine of our saluation the candle to our feete and the light to our steppes the bread comming downe from heauen that geueth life whiche who so drinketh it shall be in him a well spring streaming vnto eternall life wherby we haue learned all righteousnes al true Religion al true obedience towardes our gouernours al charitie one towardes an other all good workes that god would vs to walk in what punishment abideth the wicked and what heauenly rewarde God will geue to those that reuerently walke in his wayes and commaundementes Wherefore right honourable Commissioners wee can not without impietie refuse and caste from vs the holye word of God which we haue receaued or condemne anye thing set forth by our most godly late king Edward hys vertuous proceedinges so agreable to Gods worde And our most humble suite is that the coÌ„maundement may be reuoked so that we be not constrayned thereunto For we protest before God we thinke if the holy word of God had not taken some roote amongest vs we could not in tyme past haue done that poore duety of ours which wee did in assisting the Queene our most deare soueraigne agaynst her Graces mortall foe that then fought her destruction It was our bounden duetie and wee thanke God for the knowledge of his worde and grace that we then did some part of our bounden seruice And we meekely pray and beseeche the Queenes Maiestie for the deare passion of Iesus Christ that the same word be not takeÌ„ away out of her Churches nor from vs her louyng faythfull and true subiectes lest if the like necessitie should hereafter chaunce which God for his mercies sake forbid and euer saue and defeÌ„d her grace and vs all the want of knowledge of due remembrauÌ„ce of Gods word may be occasion of great ruine to an infinite number of her graces true subiectes And truely we iudge this to be one subtile part of the deuil enemy to all godly peace and quietnesse that by takyng Gods word from among vs and plantyng ignoraunce he may make a way to all mischief and wickednes by banishyng the holy Gospell of peace he may bring vpon vs the heauy wrath of God with all maner of plagues as death straunge sicknes pestilence morren most terrible vprores commotions seditions These thyngs did the Lord threaten vnto the Iewes for refusing his word saying Goe and thou shalt say vnto this people Ye shall heare in deede but ye shall not vnderstand ye shall playnly see and not perceiue Harden the hart of this people stop their eares and shut their eyes that they see not with their eyes heare not with their eares and vnderstand not with their hartes and conuert and be healed And I said how loÌ„g Lord And he aunswered Vntill the Cities be destroyed vtterly wasted without habiters and the houses without men till the laÌ„d also be desolate lye vnbuilded And the Prophet Micheas considering the contempt of Gods word amoÌ„g the Israelites threatned them thus When the day that thy preachers warned thee of commeth thou shalt be wasted away And let no man beleue his frend or put confidence in his brother Keepe the doore of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome for the sonne shall put his father to dishonour and the daughter shal rise agaynst her mother the daughter in law agaynst the mother in the law and a mans foes shal be eueÌ„ they of his owne houshold The same plague threatned Christ vnto the Iewes for refusing his peace profered them in the Gospel and he wept on the Citie Ierusalem which murdered the Prophetes and stoned such as were sent vnto her The same plagues we are afrayd will also fall vpon vs. For whereas
there is the reall substance of the body of Christ Fort. And I aunswered him that it is the greatest plague that euer came into England Bish. Why so Fort. I sayd if I were a Bishop and you a poore man as I am I would be ashamed to aske such a question For a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learne Bish. I am appoynted by the law to teach so are not you Fort. And I sayd Your lawe breaketh out very well for you haue burned vp the true Bishops and preachers and mainteined lyers to be in theyr steed Bish. Now you may vnderstand that he is a traytour for he denyeth the higher powers Fort. I am no traytour for S. Paule sayth All soules must obey the higher powers and I resist not the higher powers concerning my body but I must resist your euill doctrine wherwith you would infect my soule A Doct. Then sayd a Doctor my Lord you doe not well let him aunswere shortly to his articles Bish. How sayst thou make aunswere quickly to these articles Fort. S. Paule sayth Christ did one sacrifice once for all and set him downe on the right hand of his father triumphing ouer hell and death making intercession for sinnes Bish. I aske thee no suche question but make aunswere to this article Fort. If it be not GOD before the consecration it is not God after for God is without beginning and without ending Bish. Then sayd he lo what a stiffe hereticke is this He hath denyed altogether how sayest thou Is it idolatry to worship the blessed sacrament or no. Fort. God is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and trueth Bish. I aske thee no such question answere me directly Fort. I answere that this is the God Mauzzim that robbeth God of his honor Bish. It is pity that the grounde beareth thee or that thou hast a toung to speak Thē sayd the scribe here are a great many more articles Bish. Then sayde the Bishop Away with him for he hath spoken to much ¶ An other examination of I. Fortune ANd when I came to mine examination agayne the bishoppe asked me if I would stand vnto mine answere that I had made before and I sayd yea for I had spoken nothing but the truth And after that he made a great circumstance vpon the Sacrament Then I desired him to stand to the text he read the Gospell on Corpus Christi day whiche sayd I am the breade which came downe from heauen beleuest thou not this And I sayd yea truely And he sayd why doest thou deny the Sacrament Because your doctrine is false sayd I. Then sayd he how can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture And I sayd Christ sayd I am the bread and you say the breade is he Therefore your doctrine is false sayd I. And he sayd doest thou not beleue that the bread is he And I sayd no. Bish. I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fort. Hold that fast my Lord for that is the best Argumēt that you haue yet Bish. Thou shalt be burned like an hereticke Fort. Who shall geue iudgement vpon me Bish. I will iudge an hundred such as thou art and neuer be shriuen vpon it Fort. Is there not a lawe for the spiritualty as well as for the temporaltye and Syr Clement Higham sayde yes what meanest thou by that Fort. When a man is periured by the law he is cast ouer the barre and sitteth no more in iudgement And the Byshop is a periured man and ought to sit in iudgement of no mā Bish. How prouest thou that Fort. Because you tooke an oth by king Henries dayes to resist the Pope So both spirituall and temporall are periured that here can be no true iudgement Bish. Thinkest thou to escape iudgement by that no for my Chaūcellor shall iudge thee He took no oth for he was out then of the Realme M. Hygham It is time to weede out such felowes as you be in deed Bysh. Good fellowe why beleuest not thou in the Sacrament of the aultar Fort. Because I finde it not in Gods booke nor yet in the Doctors If it were there I would beleue it with al my hart Bysh. How knowest thou it is not there Fort. Because it is contrary to the second cōmaundement and seing it is not written in Gods booke why do you thē robbe me of my life Then the Bishop hauing no more to saye commaunded the Bailiffe to take him away And thus much touching the examinations of this man Now whether he died in fire or otherwise preuented with death as I sayd before I am vncertayne In the Registers of Norwich this I do finde that his sentence of condemnation was drawne and Registred but whether it was pronounced in the said Register it is not expressed according as the vsuall maner of the Notary is so to declare in the end of the sētēce Neuertheles this is most certayne that he neuer abiured nor recanted howsoeuer it pleased the Lord by death to call him out of this world ¶ The death of Iohn Careles in the Kynges Benche ABout this time the first day of Iuly amongest diuers other prisoners which dyed the same yeare in the Kinges Bench was also one Iohn Careles of Couentry a weauer Who though he were by the secret iudgemēt of almighty God preuented by death so that he came not to the full Martyrdome of his body yet is he no lesse worthy to be counted in honor place of Christes martyrs then other that suffered most cruell torments aswell for that he was for the same truthes sake a long time imprisoned as also for his willing mind zelous affection he had thereunto if the Lord had so determined it as well may appeare by his examinatiō had before Doct. Martin Which examination because it conteineth nothing almost but wrangling interrogations and matters of contentiō wherin Doctour Martin would enter into no communication about the articles of his accusation but onely vrged him to detect his felowes it shall not be greatly materiall therfore to expresse the whole but onely to excerpt so much as perteining to the question of predestination may bring some fruit to the Reader ¶ The effect of Iohn Careles examination before Doctour Martin briefly declared FIrst Doctour Martin calling Iohn Careles to hym in his Chamber demaunded what was his name To whom when the other had answered that his name was Iohn Careles then began Doctour Martin to descant at his pleasure vpon that name saying that it would appere by his conditions by that time he had done with him that he would be a true careles man in deed And so after other by talke there spent about much needelesse matter then he asked him where he was borne Careles Forsooth sayth he at Couentry Mart. At Couentry what so farre man How camest thou hither Who sent thee to the kinges Bench to prison Carel. I was
same agayne in a more ample and glorious sort Thus in hast as it doth appeare I am constrayned to make an end committing you all to Gods most mercifull defence who euer haue you in his blessed keping desiring you all to remember me in your godly and faythfull prayers as I will not forget you in mine by Gods grace The blessing of God be with you all my deare brethreÌ„ and sisters All our brethren and fellowe prisoners here haue them most hartily commended vnto you and pray for you without ceasing God sende vs a merry meeting in hys kingdome Amen By your brother and vnfayned louer Iohn Careles prisoner abiding his moste mercifull will and pleasure Pray pray pray ¶ To my deare and faythfull brother William Tymmes prisoner in Newgate THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ with the continuall ioy comfort strength of his sweete spirite be multiplied and dayly more and more encreased in your good hart my most faithfull and deare brother Tymmes to the full quieting of your conscience and beating backe of all the fiery dartes of the wicked that you may shortlye receaue the glorious crowne of victorye and in the same triumph ouer all your enemies for euermore Amen I cannot expresse the exceeding great ioy and consolation of my poore hart considering the marueilous works of God most graciously wrought vppon you not onely in prouing you and trying your fayth by his great and huge crosses both inwardly and outwardlye but also in geuing you so great consolation constancie in the middes of the same Faithfull is God true of his promises who hathe sayd That he wil neuer suffer his chosen children to be tempted aboue theyr strength but in the middes of their temptation will make an outscape for them by such meanes as maye make to his glory their euerlasting consolation My deare heart great cause haue you to be of good coÌ„fort for I see in you as liuely a token of Gods euerlasting loue and fauoure in Iesus Christ as euer I perceiued in any man In respect wherof I do euen with my hart loue honor reuerence you beseeching God for his glorious names sake in the bowels bloud of our Lord onely sauiour Iesus Christ to finish his good worke in you as I doubt not but he wil do according to his infallible promises yea I am well assured therof for asmuch as you haue so effectually receiued his holy spirit into your hart as a pledge and sure seale of your eternall redemption a testimony of your adoption in Christ Iesu. For which cause Satan so sore enuieth you that he hath nowe bent all his fierce Ordinaunce againste you thinking thereby vtterly to destroy the inuincible fort of you fayth founded moste firmely vpon the vnmoueable rocke Christ against the whiche the deuill sinne nor yet hell gates shall neuer preuaile Selah Therefore mine own bowels in the Lorde be not discoÌ„forted for this your conflict which doubtlesse shal greatly encrease your crowne of glory triumphe and victorye but take a good hart vnto you and buckle boldly with Sathan both in himselfe and his subtle members It is the very Diuine ordinaunce of God that all his regenerate children shall be tempted proued and tryed as we see by the example of our sauiour Christe who as soone as hee was baptised was strayt wayes led of the holy Ghost into the wildernes there to bee tempted of the Deuill But there got he such a glorious victory of Satan that hee coulde neuer since finally preuaile against any of his poore members but in euery assault that hee maketh either inwardly or outwardly he getteth a foyle and taketh shame so that nowe hee rageth with all the spite possible speciallye because hee knoweth his time is but short S. Iames testifieth that he is but a very coward that will soone flee if he be faithfully resisted And as for his tempting tooles the Lord hathe made them manifest vnto vs so that he cannot deceiue vs though he assault vs for as S. Paule sayth His very thoughtes are not vnknowne to vs as it doth in you largelye appeare praysed be the Lordes name therfore You see deare brother that now to molest you suche as you are that be euen passing from this vale of misery he hath but two wayes or two peeces of Ordinaunce to shoote at you with the which he cannot hurt you because you haue two Bulwarkes to defend you The first of these terrible Gunnes that Satan hath shot at you is the very same that he continually shooteth at me that is to say fear and infidelity for the vglesomnes of death and horrour of my sinnes whiche be so many greeuous and great But this pellet is easily put away with the surer shield of faith in the most precious death and bloudshedding of our dear Lord and onely Sauiour Iesus Christ whome the father hath geuen vnto vs wholy to be ours for euermore and with him hath geuen vs all things as Paule saith so that though we be neuer so great sinners yet Christ is made vnto vs holines righteousnes and iustificatioÌ„ He hath clothed vs with all his merites mercies and most sweete sufferinges hath taken vnto him all our miserie wretchednes sinne and infirmitie So that if any should nowe be condemned for the same it must needes be Iesus Christ whiche hath taken them vpon him But in deede hee hath made satisfactioÌ„ for them to the vttermost iote so that for his sake they shall neuer be imputed to vs if they were a thousaÌ„d times so many moe as they be This doe you moste effectuously feele and know deare brother a great deale better then I can tell you blessed be God therfore And now Satan seeing that he cannot preuayle wyth his boysterous battery agaynst this Bulwarke of faythe which doth so quench all his fiery dartes that they can doe you no harme but rather do you good seruice to caste you downe vnder the mighty hand of God that hee may take you vpp by his onely grace and power and so you maye render him all the glory by Iesus Christ whiche thinge the enimie cannot abide in no wise therefore hee shooteth of his other Peece most pestilent to prouoke you to put some part of your trust and confidence in your selfe and in your own holines and righteousnes that you might that way â—ob God of his glory Christe of his honour and dignitie of his death But blessed be the Lorde God you haue also a full strong Bulwarke to beat backe this pestiferous peller also euen the pure law of God whiche prooueth the best of vs all damnable sinners in the sight of God if he would enter into iudgement with vs according to the seueritie of the same and that euen our best works are polluted and defiled in such sort as the prophet describeth theÌ„ With which maner of speaking our free wil Phariseis
are much offended for it felleth all mans righteousnes to the ground I had like to haue sayd to the bottome of hell extolleth onely the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ whiche is allowed before God and is freely geuen to al those that firmely beleue as blessed be God you doe Ah my good brother Tymmes Sathan hath put hys hand in a wrong boxe when he beginneth to tempte you either to vayne glory or mistrust for you are an old beaten souldier and haue had good experience of these manner of temptations both by your selfe and other whome you know well were the beloued of God Bee of good cheare therefore deare hart be of good cheare for now Satā hath wrought all his malice he hath done all that hee can and hath shot of all his last Peeces wherwith he had thought to haue done most mischiefe but now he seeth hee cannot preuaile the strong tower of your fayth being so inuincible he will plucke vp all his tentes and get him to some other place to practise the like assaultes and then will the Aungels of God come and minister vnto you the moste sweete heauenly consolations of the holy Ghost To hym therefore who is able to do exceeding aboundantly aboue all that euer we can desire or thinke I do most hartily cōmit you with all the reste of youre godly prison fellowes who comfort strengthen and defend you with his grace mighty operation of his holye spirit as hee hath hitherto done that you hauing a most glorious victory ouer the subtle serpent and all his wicked seede may also receaue the crowne of glory and immortalitie prepared for you before the foundations of the world were layde and is so surelye kept for you in the handes of him whose promise is vnfallible that the Deuill sinne death or hell shall neuer be able to depriue you of the same The blessing of God bee with you now for euermore Amen Pray pray pray for me Your owne for euer Iohn Careles * To my good sister M.C. THe peace of God in Iesus Christ the eternal comforts of his sweete spirite be with you my deare and faithful sister to the ful accomplishment of that good worke which hee hath most graciously begon in you that the same may be effectuall to the setting forth of his glory and to your euerlasting consolation in him Amen My louing and faythful Sister in the Lord I thanke you for all your louing kindnes shewed vnto me in youre feruent and faithfull prayers and for your most godly and comfortable letter wherby you do not only much encrease my ioy and comfort but also put me in remembraunce of my duetie towardes you Blessed be the Lord our God which of his great merhath so beautified his Church in these our dayes that euen vnto many godly women hee hathe geuen most excellent giftes of knowledge and vnderstanding of his truth so that they are not onely well able to enforme their owne consciences in all thinges necessarye to saluation but also moste sweetly to comfort their sorrowfull brethren sisters that susteine any trouble for the testimony of Gods trueth yea that which is more euen in the middest of their great cōflictes of conscience Of which most happy number of godly and vertuous women my deare hart you are one and that of the chiefest being plentifully endued with the gifts of Gods most gracious spirite as it doth full wel appeare in your dayly doinges God onely haue the prayse therefore For asmuch then as God hath geuen you the gift to write I shall moste hartily desire you to let me heare from you sometimes be it neuer so little for truely I take great cōfort and courage thereby specially in my poore conscience whiche is sore assaulted of subtile Satan and in a manner oppressed of my sinnes Pray deare sister that GOD may geue me true hartie and earnest repentaunce increase my fayth for they are bothe the good giftes of God onely and farre passe the reache of my power to take at my pleasure Therfore deare sister if you wil helpe me to begge the same of our deare louing father I am sure that he both cā and will geue them in his good time As for the feare of death or terrour of the fire I most hartily thanke my good God I feele it not onely it is mine owne sinnes and vnthankfulnes which holdeth hard battayle wageth strōg warre against me which onely goeth about to separate me from my good captayne Christ that I shoulde not enioye his glorious victory but God being on my side as I am sure hee is that cannot continually preuayle agaynst me Though God for a time permitte Satan to take his pleasure on me as he did vpon Iob yet I doubt not but in the end all shall turne to my profite through the merites of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ to whose most mercifull defence I commit you deare Sister with al the rest of the Lordes elect Farewell in Christ. Yours vnfaynedly Iohn Careles Pray pray pray pray * To my deare brother T. V. THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continuall comfortes of his most pure and holy spirite be with you my most deare frend and faythfull brother U. to the increase of your fayth and comfort of your sorrowful spirite which is to the father a sweete sacrifice through chryst for whose sake he will neuer despise your humble and contrite hart but doth fauourably accept the same and wil in most ample wise performe the desire thereof to his glorye your eternall comfort in him In the mids of my manifold crosses troubles wherin I am constrayned to flee vnto God for refuge succour by earnest faithful prayer I cannot forget you my deare hart in the Lord but esteeming your state for mine owne I do poure forth my complaynt for you as I do for my selfe rather more as I thinke present neede doth require desiring most hartily to heare the good successe of the same in you The lord God for his great mercies sake accomplish my desire as I doubt not but he wil when he seeth it good and most to his glory and to your comforte and commoditie Oh that I might once see you so merry in Christ as you haue iust cause to be that you might say with Dauid Awake my glory awake Lute and Harpe bring forth the Psalter with the merry song that I might sing a newe song of prayse and thankesgeuing vnto the Lord for the light of his fauourable coūtenaunce his helpe and deliueraunce Oh that would refresh me as a most precious oyle and gladden my poore heart whiche is assaulted with sorrow moe wayes then one I doubt not but the same shal by your meanes receiue much comfort though for a time it doth mourne with you that we may be made both glad together yea that with such gladnes as shal continue for
all other his benefites Ah my deare heart in the Lord well is me that euer I was borne that God of his great mercy and infinite goodnes hath vsed me most miserable wretche at any tyme as his instrument to minister any thing vnto you eyther by wordes or writing that might bee an occasion of your ioy and comfort in the Lorde and a prouoking of you to prayse and thankesgeuing vnto GOD for the same as your moste louing and godly letter seemeth to importe Oh happy am I that the Lorde hath appoynted me vnto so good a ground to sowe his seede vppon but muche more happie are you whose heart the Lorde hath prepared made so meete to receiue the same so effectuously geuing therto the sweete showers and heauenly dewes of his grace and holy spirit that it may bring forth fruite in due season accordingly the increase whereof we shall shortly reape together with perfect ioye and gladnes and that continually Therefore my deare brother I say vnto you as good Elizabeth did to her deare cosin Mary Happy are you and happy shall you be for euermore because you haue beleued The most sweet and faythfull promises of your redeemer Iesus Christ you haue surely layd vp in the treasury of your hart His comfortable callinges you haue faythfully heard his faythfull admonitions you haue humbly obeyed and therefore you shall neuer come into iudgement your sinnes shall neuer be remembred for your sauiour hath cast them all into the bottome of the sea he hath remoued them from you as farre as is the East from the West and hath geuen you for an euerlasting possession his iustification holynesse so that now no creature neyther in heauen nor in earth shal be able to accuse you before the throne of the heauenly king Sathan is nowe iudged he is nowe cast out from you hee hath no part in you you are wholy geuen vnto Christ whyche wil not loose you your stedfast fayth in him hathe ouercome that sturdy and braggyng Prince of the worlde Christ hath geuen you the finall victory ouer hym and al hys army that they shall neuer hurt you What woulde you haue more Oh my deare heart howe great treasures are layde vp in store for you and how gloryous a Crowne is alreadye made and prepared for you And albeit the holy Ghost doth beare wytnesse of all these thinges in your heart and maketh you more sure and certain thereof then if you had all the outward oracles in the worlde yet I being certaynly perswaded and fully assured by the testimony of Gods spirite in my conscience of youre eternall and sure saluation in our sweete Sauioure Iesus Christe haue thought it good yea and my bounden duety not onely at thys tyme to wryte vnto you and to shew my ioyfull hart in that behalfe but also by the word and commaundement of Christ to pronounce and affirme in the name and worde of the heauenly king Iehouah and in the behalfe of his sweete sonne Iesus chryst oure Lorde to whom all knees shall bow whom all creatures shall worshippe and also by the impulsion of the holy Ghost by whose power and strength all the faythfull bee regenerate I doe I say pronounce to thee my deare brother T. V. that thou art already a Citizen of heauen The Lord thy God in whom thou doest put all thy trust for his deare sonnes sake in whom thou doest also vndoubtedly beleue hath freely forgeuen thee all thy sinnes clearely released all thyne iniquities and full pardoned all thine offences bee they neuer so many so grieuous or so great and will neuer remember them any more to condemnation As truely as he liueth he will not haue thee dye the death but hath vtterly determined purposed and eternally decreed that thou shalte lyue with him for euer Thy sore shall bee healed and thy woundes bounde vpp euen of himselfe for his owne names sake He doth not nor will not looke vpon thy sinnes in thee but he respecteth and beholdeth thee in Christ in whome thou art lyuely graffed by faith in his bloud and in whome thou art most assuredly elected and chosen to be a sweete vessell of his mercy and saluation and wast thereto predestinate in him before the foundation of the world was laid In testimony and earnest whereof he hath geuen thee his good and holye spirite which woorketh in thee faith loue and vnfained repentance with other godly vertues contrary to the corruption of thy nature Also he hath commanded me this day although a most vnwoorthy wretch to be a witnesse hereof by the ministery of hys holy woord grounded vpon the truth of his most faithfull promisses the which thou beleeuing shalt liue for euer Beleeuest thou this my deare heart I knowe well thou doest beleeue The Lorde increase thy faith and geue thee a liuely feeling of all hys mercies wherof thou art warranted and assured by the testimony of the holy Ghost who confirme in thy conscience to the vtter ouerthrowing of Sathan and those his most hurtfull dubitations wherby he is accustomed to molest and vexe the true children of God all that I haue sayde and by Gods grace I will as a witnesse thereof confirme and seale the same with my bloud for a most certaine truthe Wherefore my good brother praise the Lord with a ioyful heart and geue him thankes for this his exceeding great mercy casting away all dubitation and wauering yea all sorow of heart and pensiuenesse of minde for this the Lord your God and most deare and louing father commandeth you to doe by me nay rather by his owne mouth woord pronounced by me But now my deare brother after that I haue done my message or rather the Lordes message in deede I coulde finde in my heart to wryte 2. or 3. sheetes of paper declaring the ioy I beare in my heart for you mine owne bowels in the Lord yet the time being so short as you do well know I am heere constrained to make an ende desiring you to pardone my slacknesse and to forgeue my great negligence towardes you promising you still that so long as my poore life doth last my prayer shal supply that my pen doth wāt as knoweth the almighty God to whose most merciful defence I doe heartely commit you and all other his deare children as wel as though I had rehearsed them by name desiring them most heartely to remember me in their hearty and dailye prayers as I know right well they doe for I feele the daily comfort and commodity therof therfore I neither wil nor can forget them nor you or any such like The blessing of God be with you al. Amē Yours for euer vnfainedly Iohn Careles A letter of thankes to a faithfull frend of his by whom he had receiued much comfort in his inward troubles BLessed be God the father of all mercye for the great comfort and Christian consolation which he hath so mercifully ministred vnto
your fall shall tourne to hys glorye and youre profite For if you hadde not by this prooued the experience of your owne strength or rather your owne weakenes you would haue stande too muche in your owne conceite or perchaunce haue glorified in your selfe and haue despised and condempned other weake personnes that haue committed the like offence Therfore now you may see what the best of vs all can do if God leaue vs to our selues Which thing ought to moue you to be diligent to call earnestly vpon God for his grace and the strength of his holy spirite without the which we are not able to stande one houre to be most thankefull for the same when you haue it and then to be more circumspecte in time to come Therefore deare sister seeing that you haue done otherwise then the word of God and your owne cōscience would allow yet deare hart do you not thinke that God therfore wil cast you cleane away but know that he hath mercy enough in store for al them that truely repent and beleeue in him although the sinnes of them were as many in number as the sandes in the sea and as great as the sinnes of the whole worlde It is a greater sinne to mistrust the mercye and promises of God then to commit the greatest offence in the world Therefore good sister beware in any wise that you doe not once mistrust the promises of Gods mercy towardes you but knowe for a very surety that all youre sinnes be vtterlye forgeuen you for Christes sake be they neuer so many so grieuous or so great But now deare heart take heede and beware that you doe not cloake that sinne and increase the same daily in communicating with the wicked in their Idolatrie and deuelish doinges at their denne of theeues Do not I say deare sister come at any of their Antichristian seruice least by little and little you vtterly lose a good conscience and at length esteeme it for none offence as alas a great nomber doth at this day to the great pearill of theyr soules The Lorde be merciful vnto them and geue them grace to repent in time and tourne to the Lorde and then they shal be sure to finde mercy at the Lordes hand as doubtles you haue done praised be his name therefore Ah my deare sister you may nowe see the wordes of Christe verified vppon your selfe that a mans greatest foes shall be they of his owne household for your husband hath gotten you to do that which all the tyrants in the world could neuer haue made you to doe Doubtlesse he may be sory for it God geue him grace to repent or els without doubt it will be laid to his charge one day when he would not by his will heare it for all the goods in the worlde Well I thinke my brother Tymmes will wryte him a letter shortly that shall touche his conscience if hee haue anye conscience at all But now againe to you dere sister The thing that is done can not be vndone and you are not the first that hath offended neither are you so good and so holy as hath at a time slipt forth of the way Therfore I would not haue you to be so much discomforted as I heare saye you be as thoughe God were not able to forgeue you your offence as he was to forgeue his deare Saints that offended him in times past or as though God were not as mercifull nowe as euer he was Where as in very deede There is with the Lord as the Prophet sayth mercy and plentiful redēption and his mercy farre surmounteth all his workes and he neuer faileth any that put their whole trust and confidence in him howe great an offender or howe wicked a trespasser so euer he bee No he maketh their falles and backeslidings manye times to tourne to their profite and commoditie and to the settynge foorth of his glorye As doubtlesse deare sister yours shall doe if you put your whole faith hope and trust only in his infinite and eternall sweete mercies Oh what a suttel crafty lying serpent is that Sathan our old enemie that when he seeth that he can not make vs to continue in our wickednes to do him seruice would then bring vs into a doubting and mistrusting of the mercye of God whyche is the greatest offence that can be yea infidelitye is the roote and originall of all other sinnes Therefore my sweete sister geue no place to that cruell aduersary of mankinde who hath bene a lier and a murtherer from the beginning but stedfastlye beleeue the Lord who hath sent you word by me his most vnworthy seruāt that all your sinnes be pardoned forgeuen and cleane released for Iesus Christes sake our only Lorde and Sauiour To whome with the father and the holy Ghost be all honour glory praise thankes power rule and dominion for euer for euer Amen Farewell my deare sister and be of good cheare Beleeue in the Lorde and you shall liue for euer The Lord increase your faith Amen Amen Your poore brother and daily faithfull Oratour Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. Pray for me An other letter of Iohn Careles to A.B. a faithfull Minister of the Lorde containing certaine frutefull precepts of Matrimonie I Beseech the same euerlasting Lord my deare and faithful brother that blessed yong Tobias with his wife Sara brought them together in due time with reuerence and feare preserue and blesse you both and your seede after you that they may encrease the number of the faithful by thousandes and thousandes And as the Lord of his great mercy and fatherly prouidēce hath bene alwaies carefull for you and nowe hath for your comforte accomplished his good worke in coupling you with a faithfull mate so see that you be thankefull for his prouidence towardes you that it may euery way in you be an encrease of loue godlinesse yea of Christian ioye and gladnesse in these sorrowfull dayes but yet so that you mourne with the true mourners of Syon and be sorie yet in measure for the hurt of the same Pray also in faith for her prosperity that the Lord may builde vp the walles of Hierusalem againe Oh that the Lord would turne Syons captiuity as the riuer into the South Then shoulde our hearts be made glad and oure mouthes filled with laughter Then woulde the heathen hypocrites say the Lord hath done much for them Oh the Lord hath done great things for vs already wherof let vs heartely reioyce and praise his name therefore For though we nowe sowe wyth teares yet shall wee be sure to reape with gladnesse and as wee now goe foorth weeping bearing foorth good seede so shall we come againe with ioy and bring our sheaues full of corne Yea the death of the Martyrs which is most precious in hys sighte shal be the life of the Gospell spite of the Papists hearts Pray for me deare heart that I may
number of Sacraments some graunting one sacrament that is the body of Christ hanging vpon the crosse some moe some lesse c. yet in the principal matter touching the doctrins of saluation for faith to stay vpon and in disagreing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish church they moste agreed Concerning the not praying to saints and for the deade in Purgatorie for not creepynge to the crosse for faith onely to iustifie for taking of an oth such other like he graunted as the other had done This father Archer by his occupation a Weauer of the towne of CraÌ„broke of the age of 50. yeres was attached and imprisonned by syr Iohn Gilforde knighte And thus haue yee the cause and imprisonment of these 5. godly prisoners Now as touching the cruelty of theyr death for that yee shal not surmise the suspicion or relation thereof to proceede of my selfe ye shall heare theyr own testimonie and certification by their owne letter thrown out of the prison concerning the vnmercifull dealing of the Catholicke tyrantes in famishing them as is aforesayde The woordes and copye of theyr letter is this The copie of a Letter wrytten and cast out of the Castle of Cant. by the prisoners there in bands for Gods word declaring how the Papistes went aboute to famishe them to death of the which companie fiue were famished amongest them all ready BE it knowen to all men that shall read or heare redde these our letters that we the pore prisoners of the Castle of Canterburie for Gods truth are kept and lie in cold yrons our keepers wil not suffer any meat to be brought to vs to comfort vs. And if any man do bring any thyng as bread butter cheese or any other foode the saide keeper wil charge them that so bring vs any thing except mony or raiment to carie it with them againe or els if he do receiue any foode of any for vs he doeth keepe it for himself and he and his seruaunts do spend it so that we haue nothing thereof and thus the keeper keepeth away our victuals from vs. In so muche that there are 4. of vs prisonners there for Gods truthe famished already and thus is it his minde to famish vs all and we thinke he is apoynted thereunto of the Bishops and priestes and also of the iustices so to famish vs and not onely vs of the saide Castel but also all other prisoners in other prisons for the lyke cause to be also famished notwithstanding we wryte not these our letters to that entent we moughte not aforde to be famished for the Lord Iesus sake but for this cause and entent that they hauing no law so to famish vs in prison should not doe it priuely but that the murtherers heartes should be openly knowen to all the world that all menne may know of what church they are who is their father Out of the Castel of Canterburie The trouble and vexation of good people in the Diocesse of Lichfield THese foresayde monethes of September Nouember and December as they were troublesome to diuers other places and especially to the Dioces of Canterburie by reason of the Archdeacon aboue named so likewyse they brought no little busines in the countrey of Lichfield and Couentrie by a cruel bishop there called Rafe Bane and a more cruell Chauncellor named Doctour Draycot through the fierce inquisition of whome great stirre was there amonge the people being called to examination for theyr Faith and many caused to beare fagottes Who althoâ—h they were not put to the torment of death yet because it may appeare what a number there is in the countrys of England abroade which in theyr hearts haue a misliking of the Popes Romish lawes and religion if for fear they durst vtter theyr mindes I thought to make a rehearsall of theyr names which in the foresayde Diocesse of Couentrie and Lichfielde were taken in suspicion and examined for theyr Religion And first amongst them that were detected and inioyned to the popish penance that is to beare a fagot candel and beades about in procession were Agnes Forman detected examined and by witnesse conuicted and bare a fagot the 12. of Septemb. Likewise Margery Kirry Thomas Norreis Thomas Stiffe William Kayme Robert Katrenes Thomas Smith Iohn Borsley the younger Iteâ— Iohn Waterhouse against whom came in witnesse and accusers Richarde Caterbanke I. Edge William Smith Robert Cooke laying against him for seldome coÌ„ming to the Churche for geuing no reuerence at the leuation of the Sacrament but looking vpon his booke for not kissing the paxe c. Robert Bissel Leonard West Richard Baily of the parish of Whiteacre These were depriued Nicholas Cartwright Doctor Richard Iurdian Priest Edmund Crokel Priest Thomas Whitehead Priest William Taylour Priest Anselme Sele Priest Richard Slauie Priest maryed Edward Hawes Priest maried Robert Aston Priest depriued Henry Tecka Priest depriued Rob. Mossey priest maried depriued Beside these were diuers other which in like sort were detected accused and examined although they bare no fagot but were dimissed as Richard Kempe Iohn Frankling William Marler Ielius Dudley Eustache Bysacre William Shene Antonie Afterwittel Tho. Steilbe Henry Birdlim William Mosley Iohn Leeche Iohn Richardson Anthony Iones alias Pulton Thom. Wilson Thomas Lynacres and Hugh Lynacres hys sonne Isabel Parker Martine Newman William Enderby Cicely Preston Thomas Saulter Ihon Stamford shomaker Richard Woodburne Thomas Arnall Shoomaker Iohn Robinson Hugh More Shoomaker Iohn Adale Thomas Arche Fraunces Warde Iohn Auines Richard Foxal Thomas Underdoune Rich. Weauer The next moneth following being October came vnder examination Ioyce Lewes gentlewoman of whome we deferre to speake vntil the next yeare at what time she was burned These forenamed persones with many moe folowing in the next yeare after although they did subscribe and relent through feare of death yet for thys cause I doe heere recite them that by them it myght appeare what a number there were not onely in the countrey of Lichfield but also in other parties in heart set against the Popes procedings if that feare rather then conscience had not compelled them to the contrary ⧠The conclusion of this XI Booke with a briefe storie of Syr Iohn Cheeke c. ANd thus haue yee the whole persecution of thys yere declared which was the yeare of our Lord 1556. and the fourth of Quene Maries raigne with the names and causes of all them which suffered Martyrdome within the compasse of the sayd yeare the number of all which slayne Martyred in diuers places of England at sundry times this yere came to aboue 84. persons whereof many were women wines widowes and maidens besides them which otherwise by secreate practise were made awaye or driuen out of goodes and houses or out of the Realme or els within the realme were put to penaunce and coacted by forceable violence to recante saue onely that I haue omitted the story of Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight
leaped downe hauing no shoes on So I tooke downe a lane that was ful of sharpe synders and they came running after with a great crie with theyr swordes drawne crying Strike him strike hym Which woordes made me looke backe and there was neuer a one nigh me by a 100. fote and that was but one for all the rest were a great way behinde And I tourned about hastily to goe my way and stepped vppon a sharpe Sinder with one foote sauing of it I stepped in a great miery hole and fell downe withall and ere euer I coulde arise and get away he was come in with mee His name is Parker the wilde as he is counted in all Sussex But if I had had on my shooes they had bene like to haue gone away arrandlesse if there had beene 500. more if I hadde caught the plaine grounde once to the which I had not a stones cast But it was not Gods will for if it hadde I shoulde haue scaped from them all if there had bene tenne thousand of them Then they tooke me and led me home again to put on my shooes and suche geare as I had neede off Then sayde Iohn Fancouer Nowe your maister hath deceiued you You sayd you were an Angel and if you had bene an Angell whye did you not flee away from vs Then sayde I what be they that euer heard me say that I was an Aungel It is not the first lie by a thousande the they haue made of mee Angels were neuer begotten of men nor borne of women but if they had saide that they had heard me saye that I doe trust I am a Saint they hadde not said amisse What do you thinke to be a Saint Yea that I do and am already in Gods sight I trust in God for he that is not a Saint in Gods sight already is a deuil Therefore he that thinketh scorne to be a Saint let him be a deuil And with the woord they had brought me to mine owne doore where met with me my father and willed me to remember my self To whom I answeared I praise God I am wel remembred wherabout I go This way was appoynted of God for me to be deliuered into the handes of mine ennemies but woe vnto him by whom I am betraied It had bene good for that man that he had neuer ben borne if he repent not with speede The Scriptures are nowe fulfilled on me For the father shall be against the sonne and the brother shall deliuer the brother to death as it is this daye come to passe Then sayd one He doth accuse his Father a good childe in deede I accuse him not but say my minde for there was no man knewe me at home but my father my brother and one more the which I dare saye woulde not hurt me for all the good in this towne There was one George Bechinge that marryed one of my sisters he thoughte that I had meant him that he had betraied me and he said Brother I would you shuld not thinke that I was the cause of your taking To whō I answered that I ment him not I meant one that was nearer of my bloud then he was Then said one of Lause that had bene a gospeller stood from them when I was brought to a sessions to Lause and he said I thought you would haue ben an honest man when you were at Lause and I offered Hussey the sheriffe to be bound for you that you shuld go home to your wife and come to him againe Then I remembred what he was and saide Be you the Peauterer And he saide Yea. Then saide I It is happened to you according to the true Prouerbe as sayeth S. Peter The dogge is tourned to his vomit againe and the sowe that is washed to wallow in the mire and the ende of all suche will be worse then the beginning Then his mouth was stopped so that he had nothing to say All this while I stoode at my doore without for they would not let me goe in So I put on my shooes and my cloathes and then they putte on an harnesse aboute mine armes made of a dogs slip which reioyced my heart that I was counted woorthy to be boūd for the name of God So I tooke my leaue of my wife and children my father other of my friendes neuer thinking to see them more in this world For it was so thought of all the country that I should not liue 6. daies after my taking for they had so reported But yet I knew it was not as they would vnlesse God wold graunt it I know what God can do but what he wil do I know not but I am sure he wil worke al things for the best for them that loue and feare him So we dranke and went our way and came to Firle about 3. of the clocke And thus much touching the causes effecte of the troubles of Rich. Woodman Nowe let vs see his examinations which follow in this order The first examination of Rich. Woodman before Doctor Christopherson Bishop of Chichester Doctor Story Doctor Cooke and other FIrst you shal vnderstād that I was sent from the sheriffes to London the 12. day of Aprill in the yere of our Lord. 1557. and afterwarde vppon the 14. daye of the same moneth I was brought before the Bishop of Chichester and doctor Story and doctor Cooke So the sheriffs man deliuered my warrant and me to the bishop Then the bishop asked me what my name was My name quoth I is Richard Woodman Chichester I am sory for you and so are all the worshipfull men of your Countrey For it hath bene reported to me that you haue bene a man of good estimation in all the Countrey amongest the poore and riche till nowe of late Wherefore looke wel vpon your selfe your wife and children your Father and other of your frends and be ruled Thinke not your selfe wiser then all the Realme Be enfourmed and you shal haue theyr fauors all as muche as euer you had Wood. You haue charged me with many things wherin I haue neuer offended and if you will geue mee leaue I will shewe you Chichester Yes I pray you say your minde Wood. If it please you you haue charged me as thoughe I made my selfe wiser then all the Realme God doeth knowe I stande to learne of euerye man that will or can teache me the truthe And where as you say I haue beene wel estemed both of the poore and riche God doth know I knowe not that I haue geuen any iust offence either to rich or poore And as for my wife and children God doeth know how I loue them in him and my life also My life my wife and my children are all in Gods handes and I haue them all as I had them not I trust according to S. Paules woords But if I had x. M. pound of gold I had rather forgoe it all then them
his word as you doe howe dare you for your life to take vpon you to preache teach the people vnderstand not what you say For I protest before GOD you vnderstande not the scriptures but as far as naturall reason can comprehēd For if you did you would be ashamed to speake as you do Lang. Wherein haue I spoken amisse take heede you haue a toy in your head wil make you dispayre I dare say you can not tell what you say Wherefore reproue you me as you do Wood. Because you blaspheme GOD and as for dispayring take heed to your selfe For I can not see but you be out of your wit alreadye· and as for me I prayse God I can tell what I say and what you haue sayd the whiche shall turne to your shame if you wil talke the Scriptures with me So when hee perceiued that I spake earnestlye and challenged hym to talke by the woorde his colour began to chaunge and his fleshe beganne to tremble and quake And I sayd Proue your sayinges true if you can for I will proue them false by Gods helpe You sayd All children or other that be not baptised with water all shall be damned I dare not say so for all the good in the worlde And you brought in the saying of Christ for your warrant In the xvi of Marke it is written Who so beleueth and is baptised shal be saued which words be very true and who so beleueth not shal be damned Which words be very true also He sayeth He that beleueth not shal be damned Yea S. Iohn sayeth He that beleueth not is condemned already because he beleueth not But neither of these two scriptures nor no other scriptures in all the newe Testament sayth that he that is not baptised shal be damned or is damned already But if he beleue not he shal be damned and is damned already as is aforesayd Then he woulde haue interrupted me would haue layd to my charge that I was an Anabaptist But I wold geue him no place to speake but sayd Let me make an end and then say what you can You shall haue as much to doe by Gods helpe with this matter as euer you had to aunsweare thing in your life You knowe I am sure it is no maner to plucke a tale out of a mans mouth nor it is not the order of reasoning as you know that better then I can tell you Then Doctor Langdale bade me say on Wood. My saying was that they that beleue not shall be damned and be dāned already But I dare not say for all the goods vnder heauen that all they that receiue no materiall baptisme by the water shall be damned as you haue sayd yet I would you should not gather of these wordes that I denye Baptisme as you were aboute to laye to my charge or euer I had halfe told my tale But I would not haue you nor no man so rash in iudgement to cōdemn the thing that they are not able to proue by the worde to make it seme to the simple that the outward washing of the water were the cause of fayth Langd Why is it not so will you denye it Howe say you Will you denye it I say the childe hath no fayth before it is baptised and therefore the baptising bringeth the fayth How say you to it Make me a playne answere to this question Wood. Nowe I perceiue you goe about nothing els but to take vauntage of my wordes But by Gods helpe I will aunswere you so that you shall well see your sayings vntrue And yet I will not speak mine owne wordes but the wordes of the holy Ghost out of the mouth of the prophets and Apostles and then aske them whether they wil deny it You sayd that fayth commeth by Baptisme had by the vse of material water I must be so bold to aske you where Iacob was baptised before he had fayth S. Paule sayth in the ninth chapter to the Romanes Or euer the childrē were borne or euer they had done eyther good or bad that the purpose of God which is by election might stand not by the reason of workes but by the grace of the caller the elder shall serue the younger Iacob I haue loued and Esau I hated How think you had this childe fayth or euer he were borne or no answere to this if you can Lang. What you speake of the olde Lawe Iacob was not christened but circumcised I speake of Baptisme and you are gone from baptising to the time of Circumcision answere me to the baptising And me thinke by your talk you deny originall sinne and free will by the wordes that you brought in of S. Paule For if children can bee saued without baptisme then it must needes follow that children haue no originall sinne the which is put away in the baptising But I thinke you know not what originall sinne is nor free will neyther me thinke by your talke Wood. Yes I prayse God I thinke I can tell them all better then you can me thinke euē by your words First I pray you what free will hath man to doe good of himselfe Tell me this first then I will answere to all your other questions that you haue obiected agaynst me Lang. I say that all men haue as much free will nowe as Adam had before his fall Wood. I pray you how proue you that Lang. Thus I prooue it that as sinne entred into the world by the meanes of one that sinned all men became sinners the whiche was by Adam so by the obedience of man righteousnesse came vpon all men that had sinned sette them as free as they were before theyr fall the whiche was by Iesus Christ. Rom. v. Wood. Oh Lorde what an ouerthrowe haue you geuen your selfe here in originall sinne and yet can not see it For in prouing that we haue free wil you haue denied quite original sinne For here you haue declared that we be set as free by the death of Christ as Adam was before his fall I am sure Adam had no originall sinne before his fall If we be as free nowe as he was then I maruell wherefore Paul complayned thrise to God to take away the sting of it God making him aunswere and saying My grace is sufficient for thee These wordes with diuers other approueth originall sinne in vs but not that it shall hurt Gods electe people but that his grace is sufficient for all his But you saye in one place it is not without baptisme and in an other place you put it away quite by the death of Christ and in verye deed you haue spokē truer in the matter thē you be aware of For all that beleue in Christ are baptised in the bloude of Christ that he shed on the Crosse in the water that he swet for payne putting away of our sinnes at his death And yet I say with Dauid in the
To this he aunswereth that Baptisme is not administred at this present so as it was in the Apostles tyme for that it is not ministred in the English tongue 2. Item we articulate that the church of God doth beleue and hold that in the sacrament of thankesgeuyng after the words of consecration pronounced of the priest the true and naturall body of Christ is present really He answereth that he beleueth not that in the sacrament is conteined the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ saying this is the marke that ye shoote at 3. Item we articulate that the church holdeth and beleeueth that confirmation is a sacrament in the church and that by imposition of hands of a Bishop commeth grace He aunswered that he knoweth not whether that confirmation be a Sacrament or not and whether the Bishop geueth grace or not hee knoweth not the order and fashion of ministration 4. Item we articulate that penaunce is a Sacrament in the Church and that by auricular confession and absolution pronounced by the priest sinnes be forgeuen He answered negatiuely denying sinnes to be forgeuen by absolution pronounced of a priest and that it is not necessarye for a man to recite all his sinnes to a priest 5. Item we articulate agaynst thee that the Church doth beleeue and hold the same authoritie to bee now in the Churche which Christ gaue to his Apostles He answered negatiuely for that the Churche hath not the same power and strength to worke 6. Item we articulate that the Church beleueth and holdeth that the order of ministers now beyng in the church of Christ is instituted of Christ himselfe He answered that he beleueth not the bishops to be the successors of the Apostles for that they be not called as they were nor haue that grace 7. Item we articulate that the churche beleeueth and holdeth the Pope to be supreme head in the Church and the Vicare of Christ in earth He answered that it is not the Pope but it is the deuill that is supreme hed of the church which you speake of 8. Item we articulate that the church doth hold and beleeue that it is necessary to be baptised He denied not the same 9. Item we articulate that the church doth hold and beleeue that there is purgatory and that the soules of the dead bee relieued with the almes and prayers of the liuyng He answereth and sayth as touching purgatory hee will not beleeue as their church doth beleeue 10. Item we articulate that the church holdeth and beleueth that Matrimony is a sacrament of the Church He aunswered that he will not say that Matrimony is a Sacrament but to bee a sacrate order and signe of an holy thyng c. Moreouer hapning into the mention of Martine Luther he sayd that the sayd Martine Luther dyed a good christen man whose doctrine and lyfe he did approoue and allowe Thus haue ye the articles ministred by the Bishop also the answers of the sayd M. Benbrige vnto the same for the which he was then condemned and after brought to the place of Martyrdome by the shiriffe called sir Rich. Pecksall where as he stāding at the stake began to vntie hsi pointes and to prepare himselfe Then hee gaue hys gowne to the keeper beyng belyke his fee. His Ierkin was laid on with gold lace faire and braue which he gaue to Sir Richard Pecksall the high shiriffe His cap of veluet he tooke of from his hed and threw it away Then lifting his mynd to the Lord he made his prayers That done beyng now fastened to the stake D. Seaton willed him to recant and he should haue his pardon but when he saw it preuailed not to speake the said dreamyng and doltish Doct. willed the people not to pray for him vnlesse he would recant no more then they woulde pray for a dog M. Benbrige standyng at the stake with his handes together in such maner as the Priest holdeth hys handes in his memento the sayd D. Seaton came to hym agayne and exhorted hym to recant vnto whome he sayde away Babilonian away Then sayd one that stoode by Sir cut out his tongue an other beyng a temporall man rayled on hym worse then Doct. Seaton did a great deale who as is thought was set on by some other The burning of Thomas Benbrige Gentleman The vniust execution and Martyrdome of foure burned at S. Edmunds Bury IN this yeare aforesaide which was the last of Queene Maries raigne D. Hopton beyng B. of Norwich and D. Spenser bearing the roume of his Chauncellor about S. Iames tyde at S. Edmunds bury were wrongfully put to death foure christian martyrs to wit Iohn Cooke a Sawyer Rob. Myles aliâs Plummer a Shereman Alexander Lane a Wheelewright Iames Ashley a Bacheler The examination of these forenamed persones beyng seuerally called before the B. of Norwich Sir Edward Walgraue with others was partly vppon these articles followyng First sir Edward Walgraue called Ioh. Cooke to him and said How fortuneth it that you go not to church Iohn Cooke sayd I haue bene there Sir Edward said what is the cause that you goe not thither now in these dayes Iohn Cooke said because the sacrament of the aultare is an abhominable Idol and saith he the vengeaunce of God will come vpon all them that do maintaine it Sir Edward said O thou ranke traitor if I had as good commission to cut out thy tong as I haue to sit here this day thou shouldst be sure to haue it cut out Then cōmanded he the Constable to haue him away saying hee was both a traitor and a rebell Then he called Rob. Myles and said How fortuneth it that you go not to the church Rob. Myles answered because I will follow no false Gods Then said the B. who told thee that it is a God Then said Myles Euen you and such as you are Then the B. commaunded him aside to appeare before hym the next day Then he called Alexan. Lane before him asked him how it chanced that he would not go to the church He sayd that his conscience would not serue him so to doe Then sir Edward said How doest thou beleeue Then said Lane euen as it is written in Gods booke Then sir Edward commanded him to say his beliefe Then the said Lane being somewhat abashed said his beliefe to these words which he missed vnwares Borne of the virgin Mary Then sir Edward said What was he not born of the virgin Mary Yes sayd Lane I would haue said so Foure burned at S. Edmondsbury Nay said sir Edward you are one of Cookes scholers and so commanded him away and to come before him the next day After the lyke maner they passed also with Iames Ashley whom they warned the next day likewyse to appeare before them againe So in fine they appearing againe had
talking with his friendes he fell downe sodeinly dead not much mouing any ioynt And thus was his end from such God vs defend ¶ William Wood of Kent THe examination of William Woode Baker dwelling in the Parish of Strowd in the County of Kent before Doctor Kenall Chauncellour of the Dioces of Rochester Doctor Chadsey the Maior of Rocher and M. Robinson the Scribe the 19. day of October and in the secōd yeare of Queene Mary in S. Nicholas Church in Rochester M. Robinson William Wood you are presented because you will not come to the Church nor receiue the blessed sacrament of the Aultar Howe say you haue you receiued or haue you not Wood. I haue not receiued it nor I dare not receiue it as you do now minister it Kenall Thou Hereticke what is the cause that thou hast not receyued the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar and at this word all they put off theyr cappes and made low beisaunce Wood. There be three causes that make my conscience afeard that I dare not receiue it The first Christ did deliuer it to his xij Apostles and sayd Take eat And drinke ye all of this c. and ye eate and drinke vppe all alone The seconde cause is you hold it to be worshipped contrary to Gods comaūdements Thou shalt not bow downe nor worship The third cause is you minister it in a straunge toung contrary to S. Paules doctrine I lad rather haue fiue wordes wyth vnderstanding then ten thousand with tounges by reasō wher of the people be ignoraunt of the death of Christ. Kenall Thou hereticke wilt thou haue any playner wordes then these Hoc est corpus meum Take eat this is my body wilt thou deny the Scripture Wood. I will not deny the holy Scripturs GOD forbid but with my hart I do faythfully beleue them Saynt Paule sayth God calleth those thinges that are not as though they were And Christ sayth I am a Vyne I am a doore Saynt Paule sayth The Rocke is Christ All which are figuratiue speaches wherein one thing is spoken and an other thing is vnderstanded Robins You make a very long tale of this matter Learne Wood learne Kenall Nay these heretickes will not learne Looke howe this heretike glorieth in himselfe Thou foole art thou wiser then the Queene and her Counsell and all the learned men of this Realme Wood. And it please you Mayster Chauncellour I thinke you would be loth to haue such glory to haue your life and goodes taken away and to be thus rayled vppon as you rayle vppon me But the seruaunt is not greater then his Mayster And where you do mocke me and saye I am wiser then the Queene and her Counsell S. Paule sayth The wisedome of the wise of this world is foolishnesse before God and he that will be wise in this world shall be accounted but a foole Kenall Doest not thou beleue that after these wordes spoken by a priest Hoc est corpus meum This is my body there remayneth no more bread and Wine but the very fleshe bloud of Christ as he was borne of the virgin Mary really and substantially in quantity and quality as he did hāg vpon the Crosse Wood. I pray you M. Chaūcellour geue me leaue for my learning to aske you one question and I will aunswere you after Kenall It is some wise question I warrant you Wood. God spake to the Prophet Ezechiell saying Thou sonne of man take a rasour and shaue of the heare of thy head of thy beard and take one part and cast into the ayre take the second part and put it into thy coat lap and take the third part cast it into the fire this is Ierusalem I pray you M. Chaūcellour was this heare that the Prophet did cast into the fire or was it Ierusalem Kenall No it did signify Ierusalem Wood. Euen so this word of Christ This is my body is not so to be vnderstanded that Christes carnall naturall reall body is in the same in quantity and quality as it was borne of the virgin Mary and as he was crucified vpon the crosse is present or inclosed in the sacramēt but it doth signify Christes body as S. Paule sayth So oft as ye doe eat of this bread and drinke of this cup you shall shew forth the Lordes death til he come What should the Apostle meane by this word till he come if he were here carnally naturally corporally and really in the same quantity and quality as he was borne of the virgine Mary and as he did hang on the crosse as you say but Saynt Paule saith You shall shew the Lordes death till he come This doth argue that he is not here as you would haue vs to beleue Doctour Chadsey I will proue that Christ is here present vnder the forme of bread but not in quantity and quality Kenall sayde yes he is here present in quantitye and quality Chadsey He is here present vnder a forme and not in quātity and quality Yes sayd Kenall No sayd Chadsey I will proue him here in quantity and qualitie sayde Kenall I will proue the contrary sayd Chadsey And these two doctors were so earnest in this matter the one to affirme the other to deny contending raging so sore one at the other that they fomed at the mouth one was ready to spit in an others face so that in a great fury and rage the two Doctors rose vp from the iudgemēt seat and Doctor Kenall departed out of the Churche in greate rage and fury immediatly Wood. Behold good people they would haue vs to beleue that Christ is naturally really in quantity quality present in the Sacramēt and yet they can not tell themselues nor agree within themselues how he is there At these wordes the people made a great shout and the Maior stood vp and commaunded the people to be quiet to keep silence And that God that did deliuer S. Paul out of the handes of the high Priests by the contention that was betwene the Phariseis and the Saduces did euen so deliuer me at that time out of the mouthes of the bloudy Papistes by the meanes of the contention of these two Doctors Blessed be the name of the Lord which hath promised to laye no more vpon his then he will make them able to beare and in the midst of temptation he can make a way for his whome and when it pleaseth him to escape out of all daungers Many other like examples of Gods helpyng hande haue bene declared vpon his elect Sayntes and Children in deliuering them out of daunger by wonderfull and miraculous wayes some by one meanes some by an other What a notable worke of Gods mightye hand was seene in Simon Grinaeus mentioned in the Commentary of Melancthon vpon Daniell Who hauing a sodeine warnynge by a certaine olde man who was not seene after nor knowen then of any what he was auoided the peril
place where he had fastned the girdle beyng so low that his hips well nere touched the floore his legs lying a crosse and his armes spred abroad And this was the maner of his hangyng hauyng his Agnus Dei in a siluer tablet with his other idolatrous trash in the window by him And thus being dead and not thought worthy to be interred in the Churchyard he was buried in a Lane called Foskew Lane This heauy and dreadfull ende of Henry Smith although it might seeme enough to gender a terrour to all yong popish students of the law yet it did not so worke with all but that some remayned as obstinate still as they were before Amongst whom was one named Williams a student of the Inner Temple who beyng sometyme a fauourer of the Gospell fell in like maner from that to be an obstinate Papist a despitefull railer agaynst true religion and in conclusion was so hote in his catholike zeale that in the midst of his railing he fell starke madde and so yet to this present day remaineth The Lord of his mercy turne him to a better mynd and conuert him if it bee hys pleasure Amen The miserable ende of Twyford is here no lesse to bee remembred a busie doer sometymes in K. Henries dayes by Boners appointment in settyng vp of stakes for the burnyng of poore Martyrs Who when he sawe the stakes consume away so fast yea sayd hee will not these stakes hold I will haue a stake I trow that shall hold and so prouided a big tree and cuttyng of the top set it in Smith field But thanks be to God or euer the tree was all consumed God turned the state of Religion and hee fell into an horrible disease rottyng alyue aboue the ground before he died Read more of hym pag. 1258. But because the story both of hym and of a number such other lyke is to bee founde in sundry places of this history sufficiently before expressed it shall be but a double labour agayne to recapitulate the same ⧠Ye haue heard before pag. 1911. of the condemnation and Martyrdome of a certain boy called Tho. Drowry condemned by Williams Chauncellour of Gloucester contrary to all right and counsaile of the Register then present called Barker Now what punishment fell after vpon the said Chancellor followeth to be declared ¶ The strange and fearefull death of the same Doctor Williams WHen God of his inestimable mercy hauing pitie of vs and pardoning our sinnes for hys sonnes sake Christ Iesu had now taken from vs that bloudy Princesse and sent vs this iewel of Ioy the Queenes maiestie that now raigneth and long might she raigne ouer vs and that the commissioners for restitution of religion wer comming toward Glocester The same day D. Williams the Chauncellour dined with W. Ienings the Deane of Gloucester who with all his men were booted redy at one of the clocke to set forward to Chipping Norton aboute xv miles from Gloucester to meete the Commissioners which were at Chipping Norton and sayd to him Chancellor are not thy bootes on Chanc. Why should I put them on To go with me quoth the Deane to meet these commissioners Chanc. I will neither meet them nor see them Deane Thou must needs see them for now it is past xij of the clocke and they will be here afore iij. of the clocke and therfore if thou be wise on with thy bootes and let vs goe together and all shall be well Chanc. Go your wayes M. Deane I will neuer see them As I sayd W. Ienings the Deane set forward wyth his company toward the Commissioners and by and by commeth one vpon horsebacke to the Deane saying M. Chancellor lyeth at the mercy of God and is speachlesse At that worde the Deane with his company pricked forward to the Commissioners and tolde them the whole matter and communication betwene them two as aboue And they sent one of their men with the best wordes they could deuise to comfort him with many promises But to be short albeit the Commissioners were now nerer Glocester then the Deane and his company thought making very great hast especially after they hadde receyued these newes Yet Doct. Williams though false of religion yet true of his promise kept his vngracious couenaunt with the Deane for he was dead or they came to the citie and so neuer saw them in deed Wherefore to passe ouer our owne domesticall examples of English persecuters plaged by Gods hand wherof this our present story doth abound I will stretche my penne a little further to adioyne withall a few like examples in forraine countries ⧠Foraine Examples HOfmeister the great Archpapist and chiefe maisterpiller of the Popes fallyng Church as hee was in hys iourney goyng toward the Councell of Ratisbone to dispute agaynst the defenders of Christes gospel sodainly in his iourney not farre from Ulmes was preuented by the stroke of Gods hand and there miserably died with horrible roring and crying out Ex Illyrico de vocabulo fidei What a pernitious and pestilent doctrine is this of the papists which leadeth men to seeke their saluation by merites and workes of the lawe and not by faith onelye in Christ the sonne of God and to stay themselues by grace And what inconuenience this doctrine of doubting desperation bringeth men to at length if the playne word of God will not sufficiently admonish vs yet let vs be warned by examples of such as haue bene either teachers or followers of this doctrine and consider well what ende commonly it hath and doth bring men vnto To recite all that may be sayd in this behalfe it were infinite To note a few examples for admonitions sake it shal be requisite In the Uniuersitie of Louane was one named Guarlacus a learned man brought vp in that Schoole who at length was reader of Diuinitie to the Monkes of s. Gertrudes order Where after he had stoutly mainteyned the corrupt errors of such popish doctrine at last falling sicke when he perceiued no way with him but death he fell into a miserable agonie and perturbation of spirite crying out of his sinnes how wickedly he had liued and that he was not able to abide the iudgement of God and so casting out wordes of miserable desperation saide his sinnes were greater then that he could be pardoned and in that desperation wretchedly he ended his lyfe Ex Epistola Claudij Senarclaei ad Bucerum ante histor de morte Diazij Another like example we haue of Arnoldus Bomelius a young man of the sayd Uniuersitie of Louane well commended for his fresh flourishing wit and ripenesse of learnyng who so long as he fauoured the cause of the gospell and tooke part with the same agaynst the enemies of the truth he prospered and went well forward but after that he drew to the company of Tyleman maister of the Popes Colledge in Louane and framed hymselfe after the rule of his vnsauourie doctrine
824. Dauid Beaton Archbishop of s. Andrewes in Scotland shortly after the beginning of M. George Wisard how hee by the iust stroke of God was slaine and wretchedly ended his lyfe within his owne Castle in the discourse of his story is euident to see who so listeth further to read of that matter pag. 1272. Ioannes Sleidanus in his 23. booke maketh relatiâ—â— of Cardinall Crescentius the chiefe President and moderator of the Councell of Trident ann 1552. The story of whom is certain the thing that hapned to him was straÌ„ge and notable the exaÌ„ple of him may be profitable to others such as haue grace to be warned by other meÌ„s euils The narration is this The 25. day of March in the yere aforesaid Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trident was sitting all the day long vntill darke night in writing letters to thâ— Pope After his labour when night was come thinking to refresh himselfe he began to rise and at his rising beholde there appeared to hym a mighty blacke dogge of a huge bignes his eyes flamyng with fire and his eares hanging low downe welneere to the ground to enter in and straite to come toward hym so to couch vnder the boord The Cardinall not a little amased at the sight thereof somewhat recouering himselfe ralled to his seruauntes which were in the outward chaÌ„ber next by to bring in a candle and to seeke for the dog But when the dog could not be found neither there nor in no other chamber about the Cardinall thereupon striken with a sodaine conceit of mynd immediately fell into such a sicknes wherof his Phisitions which he had about hym with all their industry and cunnyng coulde not cure hym And so in the towne of Uerona died this popish cardinall the Popes holy Legate and President of this couÌ„cel wherein his purpose was as Sleidane saith to recouer and heale againe the whole authoritie and doctrine of the Romish see and to set it vp for euer There were in this Councell beside the Popes Legates and Cardinall of Trident lxij Bishops Doctours of Diuinitie xlij And thus was the ende of that Popishe Councell by the prouident hand of the almighty dispatched and brought to naught Ex Sleidano Li. 23. This Councell of Trident being then dissolued by the death of this Cardinal was afterward notwithstanding recollected againe about the yeare of our lord 1562. against the erroneous proceedings of which Councel other writers there be that say enough So much as pertaineth only to story I thought hereunto to adde concernyng two filthy adulterous bishops to the sayd Councel belonging of whome the one haunting to an honest mans wife was slaine by the iust stroke of God with a Borespeare The other Bishop whose haunte was to creepe through a window in the same window was subtilly taken and hanged in a grinne layed for hym of purpose and so conueied that in the mornyng hee was seene openly in the streete hangyng out of the windowe to the wonderment of all that passed by Ex protestatione Concionatorum Germa aduersus conuentum Trident. c. Amongst all the religious order of Papists who was a stouter defender of the Popes side or a more vehement impugner of Martin Luther then Iohn Eckius who if his cause wherein he so trauailed had bene godly had deserued no doubt great fauour and condigne retribution at the hands of the Lord. Now for so much as we cannot better iudge of him then by his ende let vs consider the maner of his departing hence and compare the same with the end of M. Luther In the which M. Luther beyng such an aduersarye as he was to the Pope and hauyng no lesse then al the world vpon him at once first this is to bee noted that after all these trauailes the Lord gaue him to depart both in great age and in his owne natiue countrey where he was born Secondly he blessed him with such a quiet death without any violent hande of any aduersary that it was counted rather a sleepe then a death Thirdly as the death of hys body was myld so his spirit mynde continued no lesse godly vnto the end continually inuocating and calling vpon the name of the Lord and so commending his spirite to hym with feruent prayer he made a blessed and an heauenly ending Fourthly ouer and besides these blessings almighty God did also adde vnto him such an honourable buriall as to many great Princes vnneth happeneth the like And this briefly concernyng the ende of M. Luther as ye may read before more at large pag. 863. Now let vs consider and conferre with this the death of Iohn Eckius and the maner thereof which we find in the English translation of the history of Iohn Carion fol. 250. in these words expressed This yere saith he died at Ingold state Doctor Eckius a faithful seruant and champion of the Pope and a defender of the abhominable Papacie But as his lyfe was full of all vngodlines vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pitifull in so much that his last wordes as it is noted of many credible personnes were these In case the foure thousand guildens were ready the matter were dispatched c. Dreamyng belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Some say that the Pope had granted him a certaine Deanry which he should haue redeemed from the Courte of Rome with the foresayd summe Now what a heauenly ende this was of M. Eckius I leaue it to the Readers iudgement In the Citie of Andwerpe was as they terme hym there a Shoulted that is to say the next Officer to the Markgraue one named Iohn Uander Warfe a Bastard sonne of a stocke or kinred called Warfe of good estimation amongest the chiefest in Antwarpe Who as he was of nature cruell so was he of iudgement peruerse and corrupt and a sore persecutor of Christes flocke with greedines seekyng and sheddyng innocent bloud and had drouned diuers good men and women in the water for the which he was much commended of the bloudy generation Of some he was called a bloudhound or bloudy dog Of other he was called Shildpad that is to say Sheltode for that hee beyng a short grundy and of little stature did ride commonly with a great broad hat as a churl of the countrey This man after he was weary of his office wherein he had continued aboue xx yeres he gaue it ouer and because he was now growen rich and welthy he entended to passe the residue of his lyfe in pleasure and quietnes During which tyme about the second yeare after hee had left his office he came to Antwarpe to the feast called our Ladies Oumegang to make mery which feast is vsually kept on the Sonday followyng the assumption of our Lady The same day in the after noone about foure of the clock he being wel loden with wine rode homewards
electis Salutem Esdr. 4. ¶ Hoc Seculum fecit altissimus propter multos futurum autem propter paucos ¶ The almighty Lorde hath made this worlde for many but the world or life or come but for a few MOst certayne it is dearely beloued that Christes elect be but few in comparisō of that great number which go in the broad way to euerlasting perdition whiche lyfe after the flesh louing this present euill world deny God in word and deed whose eies are blinded and their harts hardened Most certaine it is also that our Sauior Iesus Christ hath and knoweth his owne whose names are written in the booke of life redemed with the most precious bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ. So that the eternall Father knoweth them which be his The almighty and eternall God graunt that we may haue the testimony of our conscience and the spirit of god to beare record with our spirites that we be his elect children walking in the spirite not fulfilling the lustes of the flesh but as Christes members hauing Christ Iesu fixed before our eyes he being to vs the true way the infallible verity the eternall life Christ hath geuē vs example let vs folow him as deare children for Gods delight is to beholde his Saintes which be in the earth Let vs put on the whole armour of God and walke in the light in these euill dayes in the whiche Sathan in his Aungels seeketh whom he may deuour The almighty Lorde deliuer vs from the mouthes of those vnshamefast dogs They truely seeke ours and not vs vnto the Lord. Esdras sayth and writeth truely the world is made for them and they for the world Dearly bought let vs remember Christ which sayth I haue chosen you out of the world you shal be hated of al worldly men Did euer the couetous Idolaters Oppressors or Whoremongers loue vs Nay they loue Masse Mongers which say peace peace when there is no peace Nay either then flatter the eares or els they say no thing as dum dogges not able to barke of whom be you ware of for though they come in sheepes clothing they be rauening Wolues whose damnation sleepeth not from whose captiuitye the holy will of God saue and preserue you Amen Dearely beloued we hauing the record of our conscience that we be very members in Christes body separate from that malignant Antichristes Church Let vs reioyce in conscience and in the Lord hauing heauenly hope in al his promises which be eternall and most sure to vs in Christ our Sauiour who looseth none of all them whom the eternall Father hath geuen him but at his appearing to be our mercifull Iudge shall rayse vs vppe at that last day for the trumpe of God shall blow and be heard of all Adams posterity sounding Venite ad iuditium Come vnto iudgement come and be iudged Let vs therfore be prepared hauing the wedding garment yea the whole armour of God the mariage garment cleare Lampes that is pure hartes and burning heauenly light in the same Let vs prepare our selues richly to restore to our Lord and Mayster our talentes with the increase of heauenly liuing and occupying then without all doubt we shall heare that most blessed wish of our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ who shall then say reioyce good seruauntes I will make you Stewardes ouer many thinges Enter into the euerlasting rest and kingdome whiche hath bene prepared for you from the beginning This is the Kingdome of Iesus Christ whiche at this present is in Babilon and banished to the desert the troublesome waters of Sathan in the Antichrist and his shauelings spiewed out of Christs mouth The Lord be our ayde auenger and deliuerer when his holy will is Amen Dearely bought with the most precious bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ that we be not deceiued by the Antichrist let vs ponder wey marke and study the heauenly doctrine of our Sauiour Christ in his last Supper the text is Bene dixit dixit bene gratias egit he spake heauenly and well he gaue thankes he tooke bread brake it gaue it to his Disciples saying take eate this Sacramentall bread and me the breade of life whiche came downe from heauen which geueth life to the worlde take true fayth heauenly hope kindled with christen charitie thankes geuing for my death let these heauēly vertues enter in your soules then enter I. This is my body This is the true eating of my body which is geuen to the death of the crosse for the ransome and sinnes of Gods elect Likewise after supper he tooke the cup hee spake well gaue thankes and gaue it them saying drinke ye all of this drinke I say by this infallible veritie and euerlasting word ioyned and anexed with this cup my bloud which is shed from before the beginning of the world for many in remission of sins he or shee that thus dwelleth in me and I in him eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Sainct Augustine sayth why preparest thou thy tooth and belly beleeue and thou hast eaten Sainct Barnarde saith when fayth hope christian loue and thankes geuing for Christes death enter in a Christian Christ entereth and agayn S. Augustine sayth vpon these wordes of Christ you shal alwayes haue the poore with you but me shall ye not haue alwayes with you The Church had him but a few dayes touching his humanitie nowe they haue him by fayth with these eyes they do not see him O Iesus Christ thou sonne of the liuing God whiche art in the bosome of thy father God with God the very Image of God the father eternall geue vs victory ouer this Antichrist in thy most precious bloud Be faythfull to the ende and oure sauiour shall crown vs in glory let vs sanctify the name of God in thought word and deede I say vnto the Papist and will not flatter our God is in heauen whome they will not see And is no such little prety mattere as their God the Pope faineth him to be Pray for all the preachers of the veritie that God may geue vs grace and constancie They sing and say they haue him in a string tye not the dog so for feare of hanging To all the faythfull whose names in generall in the booke of lyfe by Christ are written all The godly thought and patient minde doth liberty in prison finde Who so to patience can attayne shall finde in prison is no payne Thrall trouble bownd or free as pleaseth God so shall all be Wherefore I neuer will forsake what pleaseth God lay on my backe Iohn Meluine preacher and priprisoner in Newgate ¶ A note concerning the trouble of Iulius Palmer lately come to my handes To his assured friend and brother in Chryst Mayster Perry preacher at Beuerstone geue these MAyster Perry after my harty commendations in the Lord Iesus Christ vnto you and your wife c. wheras you haue written vnto me
euill world according to the will of God our father to whome be praise for euer and euer Amen Oh my brethren of Hadley why are ye so soone turned from them which called you in the grace of Christ vnto an other doctrine whiche is nothing els but that there be some which trouble you and entēd to peruert the gospell of the Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. Neuerthelesse though these shoulde come vnto you that haue bene your true preachers and preache an other way of saluatiō then by Iesus Christes death and passion hold them accursed Yea if it were an Aungell came from heauen and woulde tell you that the sacrifice of Christes body vpon the crosse oute for all euer for all the sinnes of all those which shal be saued were not sufficient accursed be he If he were an aungell or what soeuer he were that would say that our seruice in English were not right Gods seruice but will better allow that moste wicked mumming that you nowe haue Those what soeuer they be except they doe repent allow the Gospell of Iesus Christ they shall neuer come into that kingdome that Christ hath prepared for those that be his Wherefore my dearly beloued brethren of Hadley remember you well what you haue bene taught heretofore of the Lorde Gods true and simple Prophetes that onely did wish your health and consolation Do not my good brethren I pray you forget the comfortable worde of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe Come vnto me all you that are troubled and loden with the daungers that yeare in these stormy dayes and heare my wordes and beleue them and you shal see the vnspeakable comfort that you shal receue The Lord is my shepheard sayth the Prophet Dauid so that I cā want nothyng He feedeth his sheepe in greene pastures and leadeth thē vnto cleare and holsome waters of comfort I am that good Shepheard sayth our Sauiour Iesus Christe for I geue my lyfe for my sheepe and I knowe my sheepe and my sheepe know me but my sheepe will not know an hyerling for hee careth not but onely for his God the belly and so seeketh the destruction of theyr soules Therefore beware of hirelinges you that count your selues the sheep of Iesus Christ. Be sure that ye know his voyce and obey it and be not deceiued through straunge voyces but goe from them and earnestly abide by your professiō that you haue made in your baptisme and shrinke not from it For if you do you shall declare your selues to be a vayne people and without vnderstanding And for this cause doth God plague his people and suffereth them to be deceiued with false Prophets wicked men I pray you note what that Prophet Esay sayth to the people of those dayes because they were slipping from the Lord theyr God which had done so maruellous workes for them as you well do know in the historyes of the Bible Heare O heauen sayeth he and harken thou earth for the Lord hath spoken I haue nourished and brought vppe children but they haue done wickedly agaynst me The Oxe hath knowne hys owner and the Asse his maysters Cribbe but Israel hath receiued no knowledge My people hath no vnderstanding Alas for this sinnefull nation a people of great iniquity a froward generation vnnaturall children They haue forsaken the Lorde they haue prouoked his wrath are gone backeward Harken also what the Prophet Hieremy sayth Be astonyed ye heauens be afrayde and ashamed at suche a thing sayeth the Lorde for my people hath done two euilles They haue forsaken me the well of the waters of life and digged them brokē pittes that can hold no water Is Israel a bond seruaunt or one of the householde of the Lord Why then is he so spoiled Why then do they roare and cry vpō him as a Lyon Understand those thinges now in these dayes that the Prophet spake of thē O my brethren of Hadley Why commeth this plague vpon vs that we haue now in these dayes and other times Harken what the Prophets say commeth not this vpon thee because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God Thyne owne wickednesse shall reproue thee and thy turning away shall condemne thee that thou mayst know and vnderstand how euill and hurtful a thing it is that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and not feared him sayth the Lord God of hostes the holy one of Israell that is to say he that maketh Israell holy And vnderstande by Israell the children of God and those things that were spoken to the carnall Israel are spoken vnto vs that are or should be the spirituall Israell Grace be with you all Amen Yours Iohn Alcock Prisoner for Gods word in Newgate at London * The second Epistle of Iohn Alcock MY Brethren of Hadley note well what S. Paul said in the x. chap. to the Corinth Brethren I would you should not be ignoraunt of this that our fathers were all vnder the cloud and all passed through the Sea and were baptised vnder Moyses in the cloud and in the sea dyd all eate one spirituall meate and dronke of one spirituall drinke They dronke of that spiritual rocke that foloweth them which rocke was Christ neuerthelesse in manye of them had God no delight for they were ouer smittē in the wildernesse These are examples vnto vs tha◠we should not lust after euill thinges as they lusted that is to say we should stand forth to defend the verity of God which we do right well alas were it not for losse of goodes we do so much lust after them that we will rather say there is no God then we will professe his word to be truth to the losing of our goodes And our Sauiour Christ sayth he that is not content to forsake Father and Mother Wife and children house and lande corne and cattell yea and hys owne life for my truthes sake is not meete for me And if we bee not for our Lorde God then we muste needes be meete for the Deuill and we must needes be seruauntes to one of them If we bee not ashamed of the Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ but earnestly confesse it to the vttermost of our power thē are we sure to be confessed of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ and that before the Angels in heauen to be his seruants But if we will so lust to keepe our goodes and rather deny hym then to loose our goodes then doth it folow whose seruantes we are Therefore my deare brethren of Hadley beware that you doe not consent to any thing agaynst your conscience For if you do beware of Gods great wrath I exhort you therfore my beloued brethren in the Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ to stand fast in your profession and become not manifest runne awayes from the truth of our Lord God but stick earnestly to it and doubt not but our Lord God wil
1424 Articles decreed vpon in the CouÌ„sell of Constance 644 Articles of peace betwene EnglaÌ„d and Scotland 368.379 Articles of Iohn Hus to be inquired of 650 Articles agaynst Winchester with his aunsweres to the same 1350 1351.1352 Articles ministred to 7. Godly martyrs taken at Islington by Bishop Boner 2037.2038 Articles set vp vpon church dores agaynst king Henry the 4. 518.519 Articles of the studentes of Paris agaynst the Friers 408.409 Articles gathered out of Ioh. Hus his bookes and falsly wrested by the Papistes 613.614.615 Articles of Cardinall Poole to bee inquired of in his visitation 1969 Articles of Winchester agaynst D. Barnes with his reply 1198 Articles agaynst Iohn Hus obiected in the Counsel of ConstaÌ„ce 600 Articles of the Parliamente of Fraunce agaynst the Pope 353 354 Articles of Iohn Wickeliffe condemned in the Counsell of Constance 449.450 Articles deuised by king Henry 8. for reformation of Religion 1094.1095.1096 Arthur his trouble and persecucioÌ„ 998.999 Arundell Archbyshop of Caunt and the Byshop of London persecutors of the Gospel .507 proued a traytor by parliament .512 banished the land ibid. Arundell Bishop of Caunterbury his death 2103 A S. Asclepiades bishop of Antioch coÌ„fessor .55 Martyred 61 Ashes prohibited to be vsed in time of Lent 1299 Ashdons wife martyr her story 1983.1984 Ashwednesdaye at Basill of Gods owne making 872 Assembly of the Nobles at Chesterfield where they were ouerthrowne 335 Assembly of the Nobles at Salisbury 198 Assirius a riche senatour Martyr 75 A T. Athalas martyr plucked in sonder 98 Atkins Martyr his story Martyrdome for the trueth of Christes Gospell at Rome 2151.2152 Athens razed to the ground by the Turkes 742 Athelwolphe sonne of king Egbert 136 A. V. Aucocke his trouble for the Gospel dyed in prison and buryed in the fieldes 1561. Audley Lord his pittie vppon the persecuted with his iudgement of the popish priestes 1228. Aue Maria a salutation no praier 1741. Augustine Packington the Byshop of Londons marchaunt 1019. Auies 10. for one Pater noster 1601. Auinion taken by the Pope and French king 271. Auington martyr his story 1914. Aultar where it is howe to be taken and who is the true aultar 1991.1992 Auies tolling by whome inuented 710. Aultars taken downe and why .1331 with reasons prouing the same ibid. Aurelius Ambrosius hys comming into England 113. Aurelius Martyr 65. Aurelianus his merueilous abstinence and death 75. Aurelianus mouer of the ix persecution agaynst the Christians 75.76.77 Auricular confession not grounded vpon the word of God 27.493.75.1105 Auricular confession why instituted why to be detested 1653. Auricular confession with the abuses thereof 1172. when it began and by whom .1172.1404 Reproued .493 the minister of Lust .508 Not necessary 540. Austen Barnher seruaunt to M. Latimer and a good minister 1654. Austen sent into England by Gregory .116 his questions to the Pope wherein he desireth to be resolued .116 Aunsweres to the same questions 117. Austen made Archbishop hys letany miracles and story .116 hys great and excessiue pride 119. Authority of the Church 1824 Authority of the Church alledged agaynst Heretickes and why 1616 Authority of Councelles aboue the Pope 593 Authors writing of the myâ—acles of certayne Martyrs suspected 4 5 Authors of the Turkes story 757 Authors of the Canon law reproued .493 found contrary to theÌ„selues 495 Authors disagreement aboute the liues and times of certayne martyrs 38 A Z. Azades an Euenuche and a courtier Martyred for the truth 98 B ante A. BAbilas bishop of Antioch Martyr his godly story life and constant Martyrdome for the truth 61. Backster her noble story 664. Bagley priest and Martyr his story and martyrdome 666. Bakers and Millers punishment first inuented 339. Baiazetes the 2. the x. Emperour of the Turkes 744. Baiazetes the 4. Turkish Emperour his story .738 ouercome of Tamerlanes 739. Baifield Martyr his story .1021 articles ministred agaynst hym with his aunswers to the same .1021.1022 his condemnation degradation and martyrdome 1203.1204 Baker Martyr his story Martyrdome 2058. Baldwine elect Archb. of Canterbury his strife with the monks 239. Bane doctor a cruell persecutor of Gods saints 1954. Bangor Abbey built 119. Baulding a persecuter strikeÌ„ with lightning 2101. Baptisme abuses .28 how abused by the papists .1693 water therof geueth not the holy ghost ibi Baptising in riuers not in fontes vsed 119. Baptisme without bishoppyng is sufficient and saueth .1306 how to be ministred to Infidels .1842 how to the children of the Christians ibid. Baptisme in the mother tongue to be administred 1104.1105 Baptisme of water no cause of fayth 1994. Baptisme may be ministred to any singular person .1816 not in the fayth of the promisers .1810.1818 of great antiquitie in the church .1840 is of God and not of men ibid. ought to be ministred to the English people in english 1904 Baptisme in the faith of the true church of Christ and not in the tottering faith of the promisers 1813.1818 Baptisme vsed amongest the olde Romains without so many foolish ceremonies as it is now pestered withall 119. Baptising of bels and of dead men 6.159.861 Barnes doctor his story trouble for the Gospell .1192 he beareth a fagot and flieth into Germany .1193 sent as Embassador .1194.1203 his death and martyrdome 1199.1200 Barbara finall widow her story martyrdom with 6. others 1980 1981. Barnes of the Popes destroyed 275. Barons of England their warre with K. Henry the 3. 331.332.333.334 Barons their supplication in the behalfe of Iohn Hus. 605. Barriers and Turney sport turned into bloudshed 338. Barton Chancellor of Oxford 434 Bartholomew the apostle crucified and beheaded 32. Barber his recantation at Oxford 1207. Bartholomew Cornemonger hys persecution and trouble 642. Bamford Martyr his story 1602. Bartholomews built 191. Barton persecuted 641. Bartholomeus Cassaneus plaged of God 2107. Bartholomew a Bookebinder Martyr 955. Barthelet Greene GentlemaÌ„ martyr his story .1844.1851 His apprehension ibid. his letter to M. Philpot .1852 his examination condemnation and confession .1853.1854.1855 his letters 1855.1856 his martirdom 1858 Barwike recouered from out of the handes of the Scots 340.341 Barwike yelded vp to K. Edward the 3. who appointed captaines ouer it 376. Barwike geuen to the Scottes by K. Henry .6 712. Basill reformeth religion 871. Basill graunteth safeconduct to the Christian Bohemians for their commyng to the Councell 657.675 Basill Citizens wise behauiour at the Councell 682. Basilides of a persecutor made a most constant Martyr 54. Bassianus Emperour surnamed Carocalla 57 Bassinet doctor his orations 946. Basset his story and persecution 1039. Baineham Martyr his tragicall story 1027. his condemnation constant martyrdome 1028.1029.1030 Badby his persecution examination and martyrdome 521.522 Battaile betwene Edmund Ironside and king Canutus stayed by an Oration 162. Battaile bloudy betwene 2. Popes for S. Peters chaire 169. Battaile at Barnet 715. Battaile at Tewkesbury 716. Battaile of Prince Edward with Erle Simon at Eusham 333. Battaile betweene the K. of England
for her godly zeale to the truth detestatioÌ„ of papistry 2145.2146 Crosse in this life a token of Gods election .1652 oughte paciently to be borne of euery true Christian man .1835 what fruit it bringeth ibid. Crosbowmaker his story 1229. Creed not made al by the Apostles 684.685 Crosmans wife her trouble deliuery 2073 Cromwell his notable Story his rare commendation .1177 hys voyage to Rome with his actes there .1178 receiued into the Cardinalles seruice complayned of to the king made knight M. of the Roles and Earle of Essex .1179 he was a great suppressor of Abbeyes 1181. his Oration to the Byshoppes .1182 his curtesy to his olde frendes .1186 appreheÌ„ded and crimes laid agaynst him 1187. his death 1190 Cromwell the onely preferrer of Boner 1088 C V. Cup debarred in the administratioÌ„ of the Lordes supper 1778 Custome for woll raysed 388 Custome letteth Edwine to bee Christened 121 Custome and Ueritye a Dialogue betwene them 1388 Custome without truth agaynst truth what 121 Custome of sinne a perilous and daungerous matter 1932 Cuspinianus girdeth the pope 304 Cutbert Symson his story .2031 his fingers grated thorow wyth an arrow racked .2032 his visioÌ„ 2033. articles ministred agaynst him .2033 his martirdome 2034 Cutbert Archbishop of Caunterbury his synodall decrees 128 Cuthlake a Popish Saint .125 his lying miracles ibid. Cursse of the pope hurteth not but rather profiteth the godly 545.546 Cursing with booke bell and candle 202.1038 Curssinges of Papistes taken for great blessinges 1038 Curde Martyr burned at Northhampton 202â— C Y. Cyprian his Apollogy for the christians 68 Cyprian banished for the Gospell and writeth to the chrisâ—iaâ—s out of exile exhorting them to constancy in the trueth .66 his countrey and education he was elect Byshop of Carthage his modestye patience visions and moste constaunt Martyrdome for the truth of Christes Gospell .69 his Sentences 70 Cyprians diuers of that name 71 D. A. DAbney his trouble happy deliuerance 2071. Dale a popishe promoter eaten wyth lice 2101. Dale troubled for the gospels truth and dyed in prison 2045.2046 Dalaber his story 1195.1196.1197.1198 Damiâ—ta taken of the Christians 273.268 Damasus the 2. Pope 168. Damasus subdued of the Sarazens 737. Damlip persecuted in Calice .1223 his martyrdome 1229. Danes and their story 135. they inuade England ibid. Danes driuen froÌ„ Norfolke Chester and diuers other places .142 at the last expelled England 163. Danes by conspiracy slayne thorough out all England 161. Danes field at Merton 141. Dane gilt released 199. Dane gilt 160. Dante 's an Italian writer against the Pope 390. Dandalus submitteth himselfe for his crueltie 368. Daruell Gatheren a filthy idoll in Wales 1100. Daughter compelled to set fire to her father 774. Dangerfield and his wife theyr tragicall history 1953. Dauies a childe vnder 12. yeares of age condemned for the sixe articles and preserued 2073. Dauid of Wales 119. Dauid king of Scottes inuadeth England and is taken prisoner 386. Dauid beaten a persecutor his fearfull dâ—ath 1272. Dauids stocke feared of the Empyre of Rome .40.48 is sought for and murthered ibid. Day martyr his story 2037 D. E. Dead men excommunicate by the Pope 393. Death of Martyrs the life of the Gospell 1932. Death of Charles 9. frenche kyng with the Cardinall of Lorayne 2154. Death of Hus and Hierome of Prage reuenged 656. Death of king Lucius 107. Debnam hanged for taking downe Douer Court Roode 1031. Decius Emperoure a persecutor 59.60 Decius a tyraunt a cruell persecutor of poore Christians his death 66. Declaration of the preachers in prison 1469. Decretall Epistles confuted 58. Decree that no secular man should geue any spiritual liuing 169. Decree beginning ego Ludouicus proued false 5. Decrees of the councell of Basill godly 696. Decrees of Fabianus forged 60 Decrees of Anselme 194. Decrees of Laterane councell in Rome 230. Decree of Spyres resisted by the Protestantes 872. Decrees of Pope Urbanus 185. Dedication of Churches 53. Dedication of Churches 1404. Degradation of an archbishop wiâ—h the order and ridiculous manner thereof 2133.2134.2135 Degradation froÌ„ the order of deaconship subdeaconship Benet and Colet exorcising readership dorekeeper or sextonship 2134.2135 Degradation of Thom. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury 2133.2134.1883 Degradation ridiculous of the popes best maner 517. Degradation of M. Hooper 1768. Degradation popishe the manner thereof 879. Deicham why so called 115. Degrees in the Church distincted 21. Degrees of Mariage forbid by the Pope 859. Degrees prohibited by the lawes of God to mary in 1053 Defence of Richard Hunne against Syr Thomas More and Alanus Copus 811. Defence of the Lord Cobham agaynst Ala. Copus 568. Defence of M. Bilney agaynst sir Thomas More 1008.1009 Deposition concerning the murthering of Richard Hunne 810. Defence of Wickliffe by Ioh. Hus in Prage 451.452 Defence of the Garnesey story agaynst M. Harding 1946.1947 1948. Defender of the fayth no meete title for any man 1754. Defection of the Romish Church from the old fayth and church of Rome 23.29 Demaundes for the Papistes to aunswere vnto 17. Denyers returne agayne to theyr former profession 37. Denie Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1912. Denis Burgis Martyr his story 1983.1994 Denley martyr his story and martyrdome 1683.1684.1686.1688 Denton burned in his owne house 2103. Deposition agaynst M. Bilney 1000. Derifall his story and martyrdom 1914.1915.1916 Description of Lollardes Tower with the sondry kindes of tormentes therein 1703. Descension of Christ into hell 873 Deuotion without knowledge is hurtfull 1114. Deuill and the pope alike 1890. Deuenish martyr 2033.2034 Deuill tame his story 2108. D. I. Diadumenus Emperour 57. Dialogue betweene Tho. Bilney and frier Brusiard 1002. Dialogue betweene custome and truth 1388. Dicke Adams his confession of the truth at the gallows dehortation from papistry 2145 Didacy a crafty Fryer temptyng Iohn Hus. 600. Didimus a good christian souldier martyr preseruer of Theodora her chastitie 63. Diet of Norenberge 854. Difference betweene Byshoppes and Priestes how it is come 1066. Difference betweene the Churche of Rome that nowe is and the Churche of Rome that was 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.12.14.20.281.107 Difference betweene Priests and Monkes 150.1181 Difference betweene the Greeke Churche the Romayn church 286.287.186 Difference about the celebration of Easter 44.45.54 Difference betweene the law and the Gospell 26. Difference betweene Peter and the Pope 1120. Difference betweene Christes naturall body and the sacrament thereof 1145. Difference betweene the Papistes and the Protestantes in the reall presence of the Lordes supper 1761 Dignities ecclesiasticall in the haÌ„ds of strangers valued 429 Dighton murtherer of his Prince 728 Dionisius Corinthius an ecclesiasticall writer 53 Dionisius willed by God to flie persecution 62 Dionisius Areopagita hys booke de Hierarchia suspected 53 Dionisius bishop of Alexandria with others banished his story .72 his death 73 Dionisius bishop of AlexaÌ„dria writeth to Fabius 61 Dionisius Alexandrinus his Epistle to Germanus 62. Dines Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Dioclesian Emperor a tyrant raiser
cruelty .1703 his sodeine and fearefull kind of death 2036 E. A. EAster day in strife for the obseruation therof .54 disputed of 123.124 Eating of Christe what it is 494. Eating of whitemeate in lent set at libertie 1210 Eastland martyr his story .2037 his articles obiected against him 2038. his condemnation and coÌ„stant martyrdome 2039. Eares of Christians slayne for the Gospell ix sackes full 339. Earle of Kent put guiltlesly to death 376. Earle of Notingham made Duke of Northfolke 514. Earle of Warwicke flyeth into France and hys returne agayne into England 713. Earle Henry of Richmond hys ariuance in Wales .728 his huge warres with king Richard 729 Earle Simon his pride after victory gott 333. Earle Symon with other slayne in the battayle at Eusham 334. Earle of Warwicke with the Lord Mountacute slayne 715. Earthquake morayne and pestilence in England 198. Earthquake at Wickliffes examination 436. E. C. Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction abused in the romishe churche 5.6 Ecclesiasticall persons subiecte to the temporall power 6. Ecclesiasticall persons exempt by the Pope from all subiection to kinges and princes 192. Ecclesiasticall promotions in the handes of straungers valued 429. Eckius the popes stout champion hys end 2107. Eckius hys reasons for the supremacie 847. agaynst M. Luther 850.851.845.849 agaynst Carolostadius .847 his reasons for the authoritie of the Romyshe Churche 2. E. D. Edwardes three that were kinges before the conquest 159 Edward .1 king of England hys lyfe and story .339 he and hys Barons at strife .349 peace coÌ„cluded betwixt them with theyr petitions to the king .350 hee denyeth first fruites to the pope .352 hys death and epitaphe 366. Edward .2 his bloudy murther of his nobles .371 taken and imprisoned 373. Edward 2. his raygne his lyfe and story 366. Edward 3. crowned 374. marieth the Earle of Henault his daughter called Philip. 375. Edward 3. his letter to the Deane and chapter of Paules agaynst Iohn Stafford Archbishop of Caunterbury 383. Edward 3. his letters to the King and nobles of Fraunce .377.38.367 taketh the king of France prisoner 388. contendeth wyth the Pope and restrayneth hys bulles from comming into England 389. Edward 3 denyeth the popes prouisions and reseruations .383 his voyage into Fraunce defieth the French king .384 his acts there .385 he claymeth the crowne of France .383 bewitched of a woman by the helpe of a frier .425 his death 428. Edward 4. crowned 713. maryed to Elizabeth Gray ibid. taken prisoner by the Earle of of Warwicke ibid. had victory in 9. battayles hym selfe being presente 717. hys sonne borne at Westminster in Sanctuary 714. Edward 4 his warres and contention with the Erle of Warwike .713 hys death 727. Edward called the martyr his story 157. proued a bastard ibid. Edward called the Martyr murthered of his stepmother her seruant 159 Edward the confessor hys story 164. Edward proued a bastard wroÌ„gfully made king 158.157 Edward borne in bastardy of Elfled king Edgars concubine 156 Edward 5. and his lamentable history 727. Edward 6. his raigne his rare coÌ„mendations and vertues .1295.1296 deliuereth the bible to the bishops .1294 reformeth religion 1297.1298 sendeth for learned men into the realme .1296 setteth forth Gods word .1298 calleth a parliament .1299 setteth forth the booke of common praier .1301 represseth superstitioÌ„ .1302.1303 aunswereth the rebels in Deuonshire and Cornewall .1305 hys death 1395. Edward 6. his instruction geuen to Sir Anth. Seintleger knight of his priuy chamber beyng of a corrupt iudgement in the Sacrament of the Eucharist 2139.2140 Edward Seymor erle of Hereford made duke of Somerset protector of the realme and gouernour of the kings person 1296 Edward Plantagenet beheaded 731. Edward prince slayne 716 Edward sonne of K. Hen. 3. wounded with a poisoned knife 337 Edward the elder his story 146 Edward the confessor his Shrine 336. Edward duke of Somerset Lord Protector his trouble 1367 Edward Burton not suffred to be buried in christian buriall 1715 Edward Benet preserued by gods prouidence 2075 Edward Freese Martyr his story 1027 Edward Grew his trouble and deliuery 2065 Edward Sharp martyred at Bristow 1953 Edgore his terrible death 2104 Edwine hindered from being christened by custome .121 his miraculous conuersion baptised in Yorke ibid. Edwine king of Britain his trouble and miraculous calling to the fayth 120 Edwine king an enemy to monks suspended and dieth 152 Edwine king of Northumberland enemy to Monkes 114 Edelburge poysoned her husband 132 Edenborough won from the Englishmen by the Scottes 368.379 Edina taken of the Turkes their barbarous cruelty shewed vpon the poore christians there 752 Edrike a traitor executed 162 Edgar his story .152 his actes and noble exploites .154.155.156 A great builder and repairer of monasteries ibid. his blemishes .155 his lawes .779 his death 156 Edgar his oration to the Clergy 169. Edmund king of Eastangles called S. Edmund his story 114.115.140 Edmund king murthered on hys priuy 162 Edmund Ironside 162 Edmund Archbishop of Caunterbury canonized a Saynte .280 condemned in Rome in a thowsand markes 285 Edmund Peerson his accusation agaynst Bayfield 1048 Edward Prince born of Q. Iane 1087 Edmund Poole Martyr his story and martyrdome 1912 Edmund Hurst Martyr his story 1914.1915 Edmundus king of England 150 Edmund Allin Martyr his story persecution examination and martyrdome 1979.1980 EdmuÌ„d Stafford bringer in of the Popes bulles 430 EdmuÌ„d Boner a furtherer of printing the Bibles at Paris .1191 made Bishoppe of London ibid. became a notable Papist 1192.1194.1296.1397.1349.1487 E G Egbert king of Kent taken Prisoner 130 Egbertus crowned king his victory agaynst the Danes 135 Egbert of a king made a Monke 131 Egesippus an ecclesiasticall writer 53 Egelred king his coronation life described 160 Egfride made king of Northumberland 124. Egges eating made heresye of the Papistes 1043 E. L. Eleanor Cobham her defence agaynst Alanus Copus .702 proued no traytor ibid. Election of the Byshop of Rome geuen to the Emperoure .159 resteth only in the emperor .298 confirmed ratified to be in the Emperours iurisdiction 299. Election of Bishops in the power of euery king in hys own country till Hildebrandes time 300. Election of ministers in the olde tyme not without the consent of the people 1105. Electors of the Emperour 7. and who be they 160. Election of the Bishop of Rome in whome it consisteth 5. Election or predestination wyth notes vpoÌ„ the same 1657.1658 Election standeth vpon grace not merites .1994 vpon the fewest number not the most 1996. Eldadus Byshop of Glocester 113. Elfricus archbishop of Caunterbury his bookes proued antentique .1139 his bookes agaynst transubstantiaâ—ion 1140. Eleuation of the sacrament by Honorius brought in 1403. Eleuation and odoration by whom inuented 1149.1152 Elfleda proued a Nunne and her childe a bastard 156. Elizabeth Barton called the holye mayd of Kent with her conspirators executed 1054. Elizabeth a blind mayd martyr her story and martyrdome 1914 Elizabeth Cooper Martyr burned at Norwiche her story and martyrdome
844. Pardon 's bought and sold. 498. Pardon 's deceauable 3. manner of wayes 494. Pardons of 40. dayes for bringing fagottes to burne good men 983 Parker Archbishop of Cant. witnesse at the burning of Bilney 1012. Parker martyr 1794. Parâ—s Uniuersitie began 143. Parliamentes theyr inconstancie mutable instabilitie 1720. Parliament at Burie 706. Parliamentes in the reigne of king Richard .2 agaynst the Pope 512. Parliament at Yorke by king Edward the 3. 421. Parma taken of the Pope and hys frendes .314 besieged of the Emperour ibid. Parliament sommoned in Fraunce agaynst the Pope with complayntes greeuous and articles infinite agaynst his pâ—ling exactions 353.354.355.356 Parliament at NorthamptoÌ„ 375. Parliament at Salisbury 376 Parliament at Paris by Phillip king of Fraunce 343. Parliament in Fraunce agaynst the Pope 353.354 Parliament of king Edward .6 1299. Parliamentes and theyr authorityes 1187. Parliament of Queene Mary with the actes and statutes therin determined 1410.1466 Parliamente in Queene Maryes dayes vnlawfully called 2117 Parliament of K. Henry .8 995 Parliament at Oxford 279 Parsons of the Romaines in Enland despoyled of theyr rentes corne 275 Paschalis first beginner of Popish transubstantiation 1147 Paschalis Pope his atyre and maner of coronation .196 he setteth the sonne agaynst the father ibid. Pater â—osteâ— in strife in Scotland .1274 brought into the Masse 1403 Patriarch of Constantinople obteyned of Mauritius the Emperour to bee called by the name of vniuersal Patriarch and resisted by Gregory Byshop of Rome 13 Patriarches 4. equall in power and authority 1062 Patriarches 4. appoynted by the councell of Nice and why 9 Patriarches 4. in Augustines time 1759 Patricke Pachingham Martyr .1683 his story and martirdome 1684.1687 Patricke Hamelton his story burned in Scotland his articles coÌ„demnation and martyrdome 974 Patrickes places 976 Patricke Patingham his christian confession sent out of Newgate to certeine of his frendes 2141 2142 Pattins of glasse borne before the Priest 57 Paulus Phagius and Bucer their bookes and â—ones burnt in CaÌ„bridge at the visitation there holden by the appoyntment of the Cardinall 1956 Paule and Peter suffer death vnder Nero Domicius for the gospell of Christ. 31 Paule his epistles to seuen Churches 35 Paule the Apostle his doctrine reduced to 5. poyntes 16. Paule the Apostle conuerted wheÌ„ 30. Paule neuer a member of the deuil 609. Paule thappostle beheaded vnder Nero hys wordes to hys wife going to execution 34. Paule manifesteth his doctrine before Nero is condemned and suffered 35. Palles deare at Rome 172. Palle geuen by the Pope howe 172.179 the price of Palles ibid. Palle of Anselme brought to CaÌ„terbury 185. Paule Crawe a Bohemian martir 667. Paule 1. Pope mayntayned images against the Emperour 130. Paules steeple set on fire by lightning 704. Paules Churche in London built by whome 133.114 Paulinus a good bishop conuerted king Edwine to the faythe of Christ. 121 Pauier town clerke of London an vtter enemy to the Gospell hanged himselfe 1055. Pax brought into the Masse 1403 Paynter martyred 1279. Pauie towne clarke of London persecutor hanged himself 2101 P E. Peace of the Church howe long it endured 76. Peace betweene king Henry the 3. and hys nobles 331. Pearne hys sermon agaynst Bucer and Paulus Phagius in Camb. 1962. Pecocke Bishoppe of Chester hys story 709. Peckham archbishop of Canterb. 349 Peeke hys story and martyrdome for the Gospell of Iesus Christ. 1131. Pelagius the 2. Bishop of Rome withstoode the councell of ConstaÌ„ce in the title of vniuersality 12. Penance enioyned kyng Edgar by Dunstane 156 Penance of diuers persons 731 Penance or repentance wyth the errors thereof after the papists 26 Penance popish the maner thereof 804 Penance of poore men for not bringing Lâ—tter to my L. horses 555 Penance of Thomas Pie Iohn Mendham Iohn Beuerley and Iohn Skilley 663 Penance of poore women for pledgyng maistresse Ioyce Lewys 2013 Penance enioyned Leicester abiurates 506 Penance of kyng Henry 2. for the death of Becket 227 Penance or repentance deuided into three partes· 26 Penalties of the 6. articles 1135 Penalties for Priestes that haue wyues 195 Penda king of the Mercians slain 122 Penitentiarius Asini. 390 Pensions out of the cathedrall and conuentuall churches to the Pope 336 Pepper her story and martyrdome 1914.1915 Persecution commeth by no chance 100 Persecuters plagued of God 58 Persecution the viij with the cause thereof 68 Persecution ceaseth for a time 51 Persecution by hunger and pestilence 84 Persecution hoat and grieuous amongest the Christians 61.62 Persecution coÌ„meth by Gods prouidence and not by chaunce 1646 is an infallible token and marke of the true Church 1753 PersecutioÌ„s in the primitiue churche tenne .34 the firste was sterred vp by Nero Domicius .34 The second by Domicius Emperour .35 The third by Traianus Emperour .39 The fourth vnder Marcus Antonius .42 The fifte vnder Seuerus Emperour .54 The sixt vnder Maximinus the Emperour .59 The seuenth vnder Deâ—ius .59 The eighth vnder Emelianus and others .68 The ninth vnder Aurelianus Emperour .75 The tenth vnder Dioclesian whiche was a most bloudy persecutor 77 PersecutioÌ„ in Angrogne Lucerne S. Martin and Perouse 955 Persecution in Antioche Pontus Alexandria and other places 79 Persecution in Couentry 776.777 Persecution in Chichester 2024 Persecution in England 79 Persecutions 4. in England before Austen 115 Persecuting Byshops in Queene Maries dayes comprehended in a summe 2101.2102 Persecutors of Gods people punished of God 2199.2100.2102 2104.2106.2108.2112 Persecution grieuous in Ipswich 2089.2090 Persecution in the East ceaseth til the time of Wickliffe 85 Persecution in the Emperours Campe. 78 Persecution in Europe in Lyons in Fraunce and Uienna 46 Persecution in Fraunce described in a Tablâ— 897 Persecution in Germany 874.875 886 Persecution in Kent vnder Chichesley 642 Persecution in Lincolne Diocesse 982.983.984 Persecution in the diocesse of Lincolne in a table 821.822 Persecution in Lichfield and Couentry and of the trouble of good men and women there 1955 Persecution in London dioces about the sixe articles 1202 Persecution in London dioces .802 798. with their seuerall articles obiected 799.803 Persecution in Nichomedia exceeceeding bloudy 78. Persecution in Scotland 1266.1267 Persecution in Spayne Fraunce and sondry other places 79. Persecution in Suffolke 1912.1913 Persecution of the Waldensis 230 Persecution in Windsor 1211 Periury of the Papistes 271. Periury terrible punished .55 punished in Duke Elfred 147. Peregrinus martyr 52. Perris Concubine to king Edw. 3. 425. Pernam Martyr 1914.1215 Perkin Werbeck fayning himselfe to be king Edwardes sonne 799 36 Perouse greuously persecuted 955.956 Perotine Massâ—y Martyr her story and martyrdome 1943.1944 Antony Persons martyr hys story 1213.1218.1220 Peter of Herford a Burgundian a rich Bishop 330. Peterpence first inuented .114 stopped by king Henry the 8. 1053.48 Peterpence graunted to the pope thorow the whole land of England 136.51 Peter Pence and other taxes forbid to be payd at Rome by king Edward the 2.370 howe they came vp ibid. Petrus de rupibus
protestation agaynst the Pope 344.345 William Flower martyr his story and persecution 1574. his communication with Robert Smith 1574. articles obiected agaynst him .1575 hys sentence of condemnation with depositions agaynst him .1576 his constant martyrdome 1577. William Foster famished in Caunterbury for the Gospell 1954. William Gie troubled for the Gospell and whipped in Bridewâ—ll 2144 William Hastlen gunner in the Castle of high Bulloyne his trouble for hys zeale to Gods truth with his examinations answers and happy deliueraunce 2137.2138 William Harries martyr hys story 2037. William Henry of Tenterden examined 644. William Hierome his story 1192. William Hoker martyr 2058. William Halcot gentleman a fauourer of the Gospel his trouble for bringing Doctour Cranmer a booke into Bocardo 2135. William Holte a Iudas 1032. William Hierome his story 1192.1197 his martirdome 1199.1200 William Halliwell martyr 1914.1915 William Hayle martyr .1689 burned at Barnet 1702. William Hunter hys notable godly history 1536. William Hunter hys letter to hys mother 2150. William Liuing persecuted and dedeliuered by Gods prouidence 2063. William Longspathe an Englishe Captayne goeth with the french armie into holy lande .293.265 his ventrous actes and attemptes there atchieued .295.296 slayne in battayle 295. William Leiton Martyr 1131. William Mainard martyr his story and martyrdome 1983.1984 William Maulden his story and deliuery 2082 William Crossebowmaker his story 1229. William Mauldon prentice scourged for the Gospell and rebuketh a lewd fellow for mockyng the word of God 2102.2013 William MouÌ„t with Alice Mount his wife theyr story trouble persecution condemnation and martyrdome 2005.2007.2008 William Minge imprisoned for the Gospell dyed in prison 1665. William Morant Martyr his story 1976. William Nicholl Martyr hys story and Martyrdome 2034.2035 William Northburgh Confessor to king Edward 3. hys letters describing the actes of king Edward in Fraunce 385. William Plane hys story 1467 William Plane committed to the Tower and racked for hys fauour borne to the Gospell .2128 deliuered and set at libertie hys death ibid. William Pigot his story 1542. William Pikes or Pikers his story and martyrdome 2042. William Purcas martyr his story and martyrdome 2007.2008 William Rufus 184. his hardines .189 his death ibid. William Seaman martyr hys story 1035. his martyrdome 2036. William Sparow martyr his story and Martyrdome 2025.2026.2027 William Sarton burned at Bristow 2149. William Sautre his story .516 hys articles agaynst him his aunsweres and processe agaynst hym ibid. his degradation and martirdome 518. William Sleach his death 1914. William Adherall hys deathe and buriall 1914. William Smith a zelous preacher at Calice .1224 his story 1226. William Smith Bishoppe of Lincolne a persecutor 820. William Steuens hys trouble for the Gospell 1227. William Sweeting martyr .804 hys articles and martyrdome 818. William Swinderby his story 464 Williams a Smith scourged 2062 William Taylour his trouble and apprehension with his articles obiected agaynst him .658 hys godly martyrdome 659. William Tell. 866. William Tilsworth martyr 774. William Tindall his lyfe story and martirdome .1075.1078 his supplication to the king and nobles with his letters 1079.1080 William Tyms Martyr his godly letter to a certayne friend 2142. William Thorpe his godly history his preface to his examinations .527 cast into prison and is comforted of the Lord .542 his Testament conteining a complaynt of vicious priestes ibid. his ende vncertayne 543. William Tyms Deacon and martyr 1895. his examination answeres .1896 his letters 1898.1899.1900.1901 William Waterer William Lowick William Hay William Prowting martyrs 1970. William Wattes his trouble and deliueraunce 2071. William Warlwast the kinges ambassadour to the Pope his Oration 193. William White confessor his story .2054 his examination and happy deliueraunce 2055. William Wiseman dyed in prison burned in the field 1794.1795 William De weauer martyr burnt at Gaunt 2108. William Wickam Byshop of Winchester depriued 426. William White Priest his persecusecution 661. his articles martyrdome 662. William Wood of Kent his deliuery from Persecution 1077. William Woode hys trouble for the gospell and sondry deliueraunces by the singular prouideÌ„ce of God 2146.2077 William Wolsey Martyr his story examination and godly Martyrdome 1715.1716 William Byshop of Ely Chancellour of England made Legate of England and Scotland 236. William Bishop of Ely and Hugh Bishop of Duresme made ouerseers of the Realme in absence of the king .236 his story 246. deposed resigneth his castles and clotheth himselfe in womans apparrell .247 taken for an harlot cast into a darke seller in stead of a prison released receiued into Paris with procession for mony writeth to the Pope and king 247.248 William Wolsey Martyr hys story and Martyrdome 1715.1716 Williams Doctor and Chauncellour of Gloucester his terrible end 2015. Williams a lawier striken mad for his mocking of the truthe 2105. Wight martir his story and martirdome 2042. Wiche martyr hys story and martyrdome taken for a Saincte 701. Wilfrida archbishop of Yorke 124 Wife of Peter Martyr her cruell handling at Oxford of the Papistes 1968.1969 Wilfride king Edgar his Leaman 155. Wilsons wife martyr her story and martyrdome 1980.1981 Wilmot scourged for the Gospell 2058. William Gardiner martyr hys tragicall history .1364 he plucketh the Cardinalles idoll out of hys handes at masse .1365 is wounded and brought before the kyng ibid. his cruell and pacient martyrdome 1366 Wife of one Prest burned at Exeter for the Gospell of Christ. 2149. Wife of one Michaels troubled for the Gospell 2144. Winchesters reasons agaynst the supremacy of the pope that Romish Antichrist 1058. Winchester his story .1339 an enemy to Christes Gospell .1245.283 depriued .1359.1360 hys contrarietie both to hymself and others .1792.1791.1792 alloweth the sacrament in both kindes 1789. dissaloweth masses for satisfaction supremacie of the pope 1789. is agaynst images chauntres ceremonies .1790.1791 his death 1785. Winchester and Wrisley complayned of the gospellers to the king 1214 Winchester Church built 133. Windsor castle recouered out of the handes of straungers 331 Windsor castle inlarged 384. Windsore persecuted 1211.1212 Winson in Suffolke persecuted 1912. Wimbletons sermons at Paulus Crosse. 547. Wimshurst his trouble and deliuery 207. Winchcombe church built by whoÌ„ 130. Wilfull pouertie abhorred 414. Wischart gentlemaÌ„ hys story trouble and martyrdome .1267 hys examinations and aunsweres .1268 his prayer and martyrdome 1271. Wittenberge writeth to the Pope in the behalfe of Martine Luther 845.149 W O. Woodman martyr his story .1983.1984 his apprehension .1985 his examinations .1986.1988.1989.2002 hys condemnation and Martyrdome 2003. Woode hys trouble for the Gospell wyth hys sondry deliueraunces 2146.2147 Wood Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1914. Woodroffe a cruell Sheriffe hys bloudy tyranny to Gods seely Martyrs is punished of God 1624.2100 Women burned at Exceter in Q. Marâ—es dayes for the Gospell 2049.2050.2051 Woman Pope 137. Workes excluded from the glory of iustifâ—yng 23. Workes of supererogation 26.264 Workes iustifie not 23.978.979.1117 Workes and the law with the errors of the Papistes touchyng the same 25.26 Workes
the Sea The summe of his money cast into the Sea restored him agayne An other 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 Seas 〈…〉 vpon a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—hippe 〈◊〉 dayes 〈◊〉 two 〈◊〉 in the Sea May. 31. 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Beâ—ch 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 〈◊〉 6. â— Martyrs 〈…〉 Eâ— Regist. Aâ—â—swere 〈◊〉 Thomas â—arland Aunswere of Iohn Oswald Iune 23. 2. Martyrs burnt at Lewes Iune 23. William Adhâ—rall Iune 25. Iohn Clement Iune 26. A marchaunteâ— seruaunt Iune 27.13 Martyrs suffering at Stratford the Bowe Aunswere to their articles Aunswere to the 2. article Aunswere to the 3 article Aunswere to the 4. article Aunswere to the .5 article Aunswere to â—he 6. article Aunswere to the 7. Article To the 8. article heir answeares To the 9. article their aunsweres Henry 〈◊〉 W. Hallâ—â—well Rafe Iackson Laurence Pernam Iohn Derisall Edmund Hurst Thomas Bowyer George Searles Lion Cauch Henry Adlington Anno 1556. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Ex Regist. A letter or Apologye of the Martyr purging themselues of the false sclaunder of M. Fecknam Vniforme agrement in ther fayth The profession of their Baptisme Sacramentes of the Church The visible Church The Sea of Rome The Masse Transubstantiation denyed 13. of these were Martyrs as is before sayd Iune 14. Rafe Bane B. of Couentrye and Lichfield a cruell persecuter Marying in Lent punished Iune 26. Thomas Iohnson for swearing by the holy Masse did pennauce Thomas Flyer slayne in Gods quarrell Iune 27. Thomas Parret Iune 26. Martyn Hunt Iohn Norice Confessours Iune 30. Roger Bernard Martyr Roger Bernard refuseth auricular confession Note the Catholicke charitye of this prelate An other examinatioÌ„ of Roger Bernard One of the Garde taketh Bernard to schoole A wholesome company of Caterpillers Roger Bernard condeÌ„ned by the Bishop of Norwich Bernard taken by Tamages men Iune 30. Adam Foster Martyr George Reuet Thomas Mouse Syr Iohn Tyrrell persecutors Gods stroke vpon wilful persecutors A youngâ— man 〈…〉 Clarke agaynst his conscience Anno 1556. Iuly 〈…〉 straunge token 〈◊〉 dyed 〈◊〉 strange 〈◊〉 The Lordes 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Martyr Robert Kereth a persecutor 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Bernard Adam Foster Robert Lawson at Bâ—ry Anno 1â—â—6 Iune â—◠〈◊〉 examiâ—â—â—ion of 〈…〉 before â— Parker 〈◊〉 M. Foâ—â—er The Sacrament of the Aultar M. Foster threatneth Iohn Fortune to be whipped Psal. 49. The Pope likened to a Belwether or a Master Bee Poysoned Popes Ceremonyes of the Church Math. 15. Gal. 4. Math. 15. It is pitty that popish prelates cannot lye An other examination of Iohn Fortune Sacrament of the Aultarr Catholicke prelates obsequious to higher powers so long as they make for their dignity but when they do otherwise then they excommunicate them Heb. 10. Dan. 11. Other talke betweene Iohn Fortune and the B. of Norwich Iohn 6. The B. of Norwich charged with periâ—ry The death of Iohn Fortune Iuly 1. The death of Iohn Careles prisoner in the Kinges Bench. Iohn Careles examined before D. Martyn The effect of Iohn Careles examination How Iohn Careles was brought to the Kinges Bench. Iohn Careles examineâ— vpon predestinatâ—â—n Doct. Marâ—â—â— declareth his Commission Why Doct. Martyn woulde not 〈…〉 the Sacrament Careles opinion of Gods election Doctour Martyn 〈◊〉 Careles iudgement of Godâ— election A wrong fayth of Predestination beleeâ—â—ng to be elected in respect of good 〈◊〉 D. Martyn pretendeth fauor to Careles More variety in the Popes 〈◊〉 Church then is amongest the Protestantes Doctour Martin taketh his leaue gently of Careles Iohn Careles dyed in prison and was buryed in the fieldes A letter of Iohn Careles to M. Philpot. 1. Reg. 1. Iohn Careles raysed vp by the Lord out of great heauines This comfort receaued of M. Philpot read in M. Philpots letters pag. 1726. Ierem. 10. Ierem. 26. Ierem. 1. Ierem. 1â— Math. 7. The circumspect behauiour of M. Philpot Iohn Careles aduise to M. Philpot Psal. 68. I. Careles care turned into ioy Gods gracious worke through M. Philpots letter Iohn Careles drunken with ioy of the spirite 2. Reg. 6. Careles accused to the Councell by certayne backe friendes in Couentrye Note how comfortably the Lord worketh in 〈◊〉 prisoned Saintes Gods prouidence towad his people An other 〈◊〉 of Iohn Careâ—â—â— to his wyfe Here is a 〈◊〉 marke 〈…〉 Chriâ—â—â—an forsaâ—iâ—g wyfe 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈◊〉 Christes 〈◊〉 Math. 10. Good counâ—â—â—â— geuen 〈…〉 wyfe 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 Lord. The 〈◊〉 duety 〈◊〉 â—ringing 〈…〉 chilâ—â—en A sweete letter of Iohn Careles to M. Bradford a little before his Martirdome He mourneth for the losse and lacke of M. Bradford in the Church He reioyceth for the honour of M. Bradfords Martyrdome Iohn Careles taketh his leaâ—e of M. Bradford Testimony of Gods spirite Iohn Careles doth Gods message to Master Bradford Power and practise of the keyes of the Gospell A comfortable letter of M. Bradford to Iohn Careles Practise of the keyes of the Gospell An other letter of Iohn Carles to the constant brethren in Newgate condemned Example of true loue charitye among the Martyrs The enemyes not able to withstand the wisedome of God in his Saintes but compelled to bydde them hold their peace Iohn Careles longeth to dye a Martyr in the Gospells causâ— Of the Martyrs 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Tyms read before pag 1895. 〈…〉 both the Spurges 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 pag. â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—19 Psal. 103. Triumph of Martyrs Gen. 3. Apoc. 11. An other letter of Iohn Careless wherein he doth animate Grene Whittell and the rest of that company vnto their Martyrdome Apoc 11. To dye in the Lord and for the Lord. Of this Barthelet Grene read before pag. 1846. Luke 12. Of this Thomas Whittell read before pag. 1833. Luke 21. Apoc. 16. Of Ioane Warner read before pag. 1850. He meaneth Elizabeth Foster pag. 1750. Math. 25. Iohn 5. B. Boner called the slaughter slaue of England Psal. 60. 4. Reg. 2. An other letter of Iohn Careles priuately written to his bâ—dfellow W. Tyms Gods children neuer tempted aboue their strength He confirmeth W. Tyms being condemned to the day of his Martyrdome It is the nature of Gods children to be tempted Math. 4. Sathans tempting tooles 2. Cor. 2. Two principal pelletâ— of Sathan whereby he assaulteth Gods seruauntes 1. Feare of sinne and death and infâ—delity of Gods 〈◊〉 Remedy agaynst feare and infideâ—â—tye Anno 1556. Iuly The second 〈…〉 Remedy agaynst the â— Peller Eâ—ay 64. An other 〈◊〉 of Iohn Careâ—â—â— to M. Coâ—ton a faythfull 〈◊〉 and fauourer of the Gospel Gods great 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Note how God sometyme geueth comfort by weaker vessels Iohn Careles nothing touched with feare of death or of the fire but onely of his sinnes An other letter of Iohn Careles wherein he comforteth the afflicted minde of a certayne good brother mourning for lacke of Gods feeling Psalm 57. Psalm 45. Comfort for a sicke conscience Math. 9. Psalm 42. Gods loue goeth not by our deseruinges but by fayth in Iesus Christ onely is the cause why his father loueth vs. Why God somtyme hydeth himselfe from vs. Heb. 12. Eccle.
Dangerfield apprehended his owne in house Ioane the wyfe of W. Dangerfield taken with her young infant out of childbed and had to prison Dangerfield made to beleeue falsely that his wyfe had recanted Dangerfield vppon hope of his wiues recaÌ„tation consented to the Bishop The wyfe lamented the fall of her husbaÌ„d Dangerfield lamenteth his promise made to the Bishop The prayer of Dangerfield to God The death of the husband The young infant famished in prison The Martyrdome of the mother The death of the olde woman M. Bridges persecuted the same tyme for Gods word and witnes of this story Anno 1557. Septem October â—â— In Martâ—â—dome of a Sâ—â—maker 〈◊〉 Northaâ—â—ton Octâ—ber 18. 〈◊〉 dyed 〈◊〉 Castle of Câ—â—chester 〈…〉 Hooke 〈◊〉 〈…〉 DuÌ„ning 〈◊〉 persecutors Persecution in Kent â—â— Martyrs 〈◊〉 confessâ—â—â— together 〈◊〉 Canterbury Carying about the Crosse. Necessitye alwayes excused in matters indifferent W. Foster apprehended by Syr Thomas Moyle Mother Potkins Martyr troubled by W. Robertes Alice Potkins in Christ but one yeare olde The aunswere of Iohn Archer Martyr Syr Iohn Gilford committed Father Archer to prison The prisoners letter declaring how they were handled and famished in prison Doctour Bane Doctor Draycot his Chauncellor in Lichfield cruell persecutours Anno 1556. Ianuary The names of them that bare fagottes in the Dioces of Lichfield and Couentrye The names of them which were troubled there and bare no fagottes Ioice Lewes Martyr read hereafter The conclusion of the 11. booke 84. Martyrs and aboue in this yeare 1556. put to death in this realme A briefe declaration of M. Cheekes recantation Astrologye Anno 1557. The cause why the reformation was taken in hande The comming of the Inquisitors and of their entertainment M. Christopherson M. of Trinitye Colledge Bishop elect of Chichester An Oration Gratulatory at their comming thither Watson aunswereth to the Oration Ianuary 9. Ianuary 10. S Maryes and S. Michaels interdicted because of Martyn Bucer and Paulus Phagius buryall Anno 1556. Ianuary Commendation of Martin Bucer Ianuary 11. The Oration of Maister Stokes publike Orator of the Vniuersitye Cardinal Polus The aunswere of M. Scotte Bishop of Cheâ—ter to 〈◊〉 Oration 〈◊〉 Iohn 〈◊〉 The Commiâ—â—ion assigned by tâ—e Cardinall and â—ay The causes â—eclâ—red 〈◊〉 more commended 〈…〉 A Masse at the Kinges Colledge Ormanet Datarye Pecocke preacheth at Saint Maryes The citation of the Maisters of the Colledges Robert Brasseâ—s exception Alterâ—ation betweene D. Brassie and D. Scot B. of Chester Inquisition at the common schooles Ianuary 12. Inquisition at the Kynges Colledge The maner of receiuing the Inquisitors wheÌ„ they went to make Inquisition Note the ambitious pâ—mpe of these Papistes The Commissioners represent the Pope Here was a foule fault commiâ—ted that these men came in without Procession D. Brassey excuseth himselfe for the â—lacknes of his ProcessioÌ„ M. Brassey maketh exception agayne Doctour Scots aunswere to M. Brassey The Popes authoritye swalloweth vp al other priuileges The Legates saluting first their God The othe refuseâ— of some in the kinges Colledge and why The consultation of the Maister vpon 〈…〉 my vp of M. Bucer Inquisition to be made of M. Bucers doctrine Martin Bucers buâ—iall agaynst the holy Canon lawes Causes why Mart. Bucer and Paulus Phagius bodyes ought to be taken vp Andrew Perne Vice chauncellour made factor for the Vniuersitye in the case of M. Bucer Phagius M. Christophersons testimony of Perne A Supplication putte vp to the Inquisitors by the Vniuersitye Note this â—â—ate of coÌ„ueyance The Sentence of condemnation agaynst Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius copied out by the Datarye Grace asked in the congregatioÌ„ for the taking vp of Martin Bucer 〈◊〉 14. Ianuary 15. 〈◊〉 17. Witnesses sworne agaynst M. Bucer Ianuary 18. Other witnesses sworne agaynst Maister Bucer A Relicke giuen by Ormanet to Trinity Colledge Ormanet in a pelting chafe with M. Dale A commaundement for bringing in of hereticall bookes Graciously considered Ianuary 26. An high matter in a low house The Oration of Doctour Scotte Bishop of Chester before the pronouncing of the Sentence of condemnation What dissembling is here in thesâ— Pope holy Catholickes Tyranny couered with the visor of mercy Sathan transforming himself into an Aungell of light O Lord God as though this were the doing of the Vniuersity and not your owne The Wolfe pretendeth to be a Lambe As though the Cardinall sent you not downe before you came to the Vniuersitye Bucer and Phagius falsely accused of hipocrisie by false hipocrites The Sentence of condemnation agaynst Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius Agaynst Martyn Bucer Agaynst Paâ—lus Phagius Paulus Phagius 〈…〉 Oeâ—â—lampadiâ—â— Bucer Melaâ—cthoÌ„ 〈…〉 Pernes Serâ—â—â— against Bâ—cer D. Pernes accusation against M. Bucer 〈…〉 noted D. Perne Shamefull of D. Perne agaynst M. Bucer D. Perne speaketh agaynst his ownâ— conscieÌ„ce in rayling against M. Bucer Verses agaynst M. Bucer and Phagius The Sentence of condemnatioÌ„ sent to London with the Commissioners letters A writte for burning of heretickes Watsons SermoÌ„ vpon Candlemas day Mary and Ioseph went a procession with waxe candels or els D. WatsoÌ„ sayth false A question to be spurred to D. Watson The sodayne sownde of Christopherson The day assigned for burning M. Bucer and Paulus Phagius bodyes The taking vp of M. Bucer and Paulus Phagius The burning of Martyn Bucer and Paulus Phagius The talke of the countreyfolke of the burning of M. Bucer and Paulus Phagius Watsons Sermon at the burning of Bucer and Phagius As though in these dayes of Queene Mary had bene raysed no subsidies at all Watson sclaunde◠〈…〉 Watson and Scot had both subscribed to the doctrine of the Gospell in the raigne of K. Edward the 6. The reconciling of the Churches that were interdicted A solemne Procession of the Vniuersitye and of the townesmen The order of Procession in Cambridge Oâ—manet Câ—lâ— proâ—â—â—ded Doctours The departing of â—he 〈◊〉 Swineâ—â—â—nes saying as conâ—â—â—ing the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Inquiâ—â—â—rs The Oration of Acworth Anno 1557. Ianuary Anno 1557. Maye 〈◊〉 SermoÌ„ 〈◊〉 Iames 〈◊〉 Anno 1557. February Stephen Gardiner of Winchester â—ande somtyme Maior of the towne Anno 1557. Aprill Iurates sworne agaynst Peter Martyrs wyfeâ— Cardinal Poole earnest in burning dead mens bodyes D. Marshall Deane of Frideswides Peter Martyrs Wiues bones agayne reduced out of the DuÌ„ghill and layd in a decent monument Great ingratitude shewed to Peter Martyr M. Iames Caldfield The bones of Peter Martyrs wyfe coupled with the bones of S. Frideswide Anno 1556. February· Articles of the Cardinall to be enquired in his visitation of Kent Articles of Cardinall Poole to be inquired vpoÌ„ touching the Laitye Anno. 1557. Ianuary â—â—â—uary 15. 〈◊〉 Marâ—â—â—dome of 〈…〉 the Dioces of Canterbury The names 〈◊〉 the Martyrs Concerning their articles read before pag. 1â—72 The cause of 〈◊〉 Martyrdome Examples how kinges Princes the power of the world bend themselues agaynst Christ and his worde and yet could neuer preuayle A terrible proclamation of K. Phillip and Q.
childe 〈◊〉 Baptiâ—me So the word bread and the receauer 〈◊〉 the Sacrament of the Lordes body The fayth of the receiuer maketh it the body If Iudas did eate the body of Christ theÌ„ must he be saued Whether bread remayne in the Sacrament The true confession of Richard Woodman touching the Sacrament Sap. â— The zeale of Gods spirite in Richard Woodman D. Story commeth in D. Story commaundeth Richard WoodmaÌ„ agayn to the Marshalsey The third examination of Richard Woodman before D. Langdale and M. Iames Gage May. 12. False lyes and lewde reportes Woodman warned to appeare Woodman taketh his leaue of his fellowes Woodman deliuered to one of the Lord Mountagues men Religion esteemed by auncitors Grandfathers and by place Multitude not to be followed in doing euill To doe as most men doe and to doe as a man ought to doe are two things Hard trusting any man in thiâ— world Woodmanâ— blamed foâ— aunswerinâ— with Scriptures D. Langdales talke with Richard Woodman vpon what occasion by whose procurement Woodman charged with his owne hand writing Richard Woodmans writing â—et vpon the the Church dore vpon what occasion Woodman required of M. Sheriffe and other his frendes to talke with D. Langdale D Langdale Paâ—â—on of Buxsteede where Woodmanâ— father dwelt Woodmans friendes desirous to heare him and D. Langdale talke together 〈◊〉 Byâ—hop was 〈◊〉 Christoâ—â—erson Wâ—odman 〈…〉 D. Langdale to 〈…〉 â—â—odman 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 cause 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—â—mned 〈◊〉 Doctour â—â—â—â—dale 〈…〉 â—â—ptisme 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈…〉 by D. Langdale 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 Richard Wood-mad chargeth D. Langdale with ignorance in the scriptures Fayth not Baptisme saueth Not lacke of Baptisme but lacke of fayth condemneth Baptising of water is not the cause of fayth The Catholicks do hold the contrary A Catholicke paradoxe The purpose of Gods election standeth by grace and not by reason of workes Doctor Langdales ArgumeÌ„t Children dying without Baptisme may be saued Ergo children haue no originall sinne Absurde doctrine Aunswere This righteousnes by Iesus Christ commeth vpon all men not in taking away imperfections of nature but in not imputing the imperfections of man to damnation We are made free by the death of Christ not from falling but from damnation due by the lawe for our falling Originall sinne Iohn 3. Psal. 23. Perfect doctrine Iames. 1. Iohn 3. Phil. 2. Adams free will nothing Fayth was before baptisme D. Langdale seemeth to be put to silence Children dying without baptisme are not therefore damned speaking absolutely Children beare not the offences of their fathers 1. Pet. 3. Gene. 6 * Nay rather in the fayth of their Parentes Neyther is it the fayth of the Godfathers and Godmothers that sanctyfieth the child but their dilligence may helpe him in seeing him catechised False doctrine of D. Langdale Fyrste where he sayth the keeping of the law is altogether Secondly that the keping of the lawe standeth in the outward signes Thirdly that children dying before Baptisme are damned Fourthly that childreÌ„ be baptised in the fayth of their Godfathers and Godmothers c. Many called but fewe chosen Luke 12. Gods elecâ—â—on stanâ—eth not by 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 but by the fewest â—ath 7. Luke 12. 〈◊〉 3. Math. 2. 〈◊〉 Argumentes 〈…〉 to be 〈…〉 taketh 〈◊〉 agaynst â—â—odman 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Iames 〈…〉 talke with Woodâ—â—n D. Langâ—â—le comâ—â—â—ayneth to 〈◊〉 Gage of Woodman causeles Woodman falsely beâ—â—ed D. Langdale denieth originall sinne yet accuseth Woodman for the which he is culpable himselfe Woodman knoweth no Sacrament of the Aultar vnlesse they take Christ to be the Aultar Woodmans iudgement of the Sacrament D. Langdale seeketh a knot in a rushe Whether the Sacrament be be the body of Christ before it be receaued Luke â—2 Eating goeth before the wordes of consecrating D. Langdale driuen to his shiftes D. Langdale afrayd to aunswere to Richard Woodman The Catholicks hold that Iudas did eate the body of Christ. Argument Who so euer eateth the fleshe of Christ hath euerlasting lyfe Iohn 6. Iudas did eate the fleshe of Christ Ergo Iudas hath euerlasting lyfe S. Paules words misalleaged by D. Langdale 1. Cor. 11. Making no difference of the Lordes body expounded * Christ speaketh of eating his fleshe simply without any determination of vnworthynes that is simply who soeuer beleueth in Christ he shal be saued neyther is any vnworthines in beleeuing in Christ. Note well the working of this mans charitye to doe for a man more at request then for any compassion of the partye Lewde tales and false lyes raysed vpon Woodman The 4. examination of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester c. This olde Byshop of Chichester was Doct. Daye Vntrue For B. Boner deliuered him of his owne accorde at the burning of Philpot vpon other causes False and vntrue Syr Edward Gage Shrieffe of Sussex Woodman charged with false matter Winchester 〈◊〉 in iâ—dging Richard Woodman cleareth himselfe of recantation The honest dealing of B Boner with Woodman herein This was Doct. Day The cause and maner how Woodman was â—eliuered by B. Boner Wherefore Woodman appealed to his Ordinary The cause why Woodman was first apprehended Rich. Woodman and his fellowe prisoners falsely accused and belied of the B. of Winchester in the pulpit Speaking to the curate in the pulpit made heresie Woodman cleareth himselfe from breach of the Statute Note the prety shift of this Catholick Prelate WoodmaÌ„ falsly taken to speaâ—e agaynst Priestes mariage A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry Richard Woodman sauing him selfe from his enemyes by theyr owne lawe The fift examination of Richard WoodmaÌ„ before the B. of Winchester and diuers other Iune 15. Anno. 1557. The wordes of the statute No breach of this Statute why The Priest scannetâ— vpon the meaning of Woodman See how neerly these men seeke matter agaynst him whereby to trap him Luke â—â— Wâ—odman charged with his aunsweres before the Commissioners at his last examination D. White B of Winchester bent to haue the bloud of Woodman Richard Woodman appealeth from the B. of Winchester to his owne Ordâ—nary Woodman refuseth to sweare or aunswere before Winchester being not his Ordinary * The Bishops Argument The deuill is maister in helâ— Woodman felt a burning hell in his 〈◊〉 Ergo the deuill was Woodâ—â—â— Maister * Aunswere Hell is takeÌ„ in Scripture two wayes 〈◊〉 for the place where damned spiâ—â—â— and soules be tormented for euer 〈…〉 this lyfe or els for Gods correcâ—â—â— and anguish of the soule in this life 〈◊〉 somtime is felt so sharpe that it â—â—â—embled to hell it selfe As where 〈◊〉 The Lord bringeth to hell and 〈◊〉 out agayne c. Tob. 13. The 〈◊〉 of hell haue found me c. Psal. â—â— 1. Cor. â— Rich. Woodman agayne refuseth to sweare or aunswere before the Bishop being not his Ordinary A charitable commaundemeÌ„t of a Catholicke Prelate vnder paine of excommunication no man to say God strengthen him The
51. Psalme In sinne was I borne and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me but in no suche sinne that shall bee imputed because I am borne of God by fayth as Sayncte Iohn sayth Therefore I am blessed as sayth the Prophet Because the Lorde imputeth not my sinne and not because I haue no sinne but because God hath not imputed my sinnes Not of our owne deseruing but of his free mercy he hath saued vs. Where is now your free will become that you spake of If we haue free will then our saluation commeth of our owne selfe not of God the which is a great blasphemy agaynst God and his word For Saynt Iames sayth Euery good gift and euery perfect gift commeth from aboue from the father of light with whō is no variablenes neither is he chaunged into darcknesse Of his owne will he begate vs. For the winde bloweth where it lusteth and we heare the soūd therof as sayth S. Iohn But we cannot tell from whence it commeth neither whether it goeth Euen so is it with euery one that is borne of God For S. Paule sayth It is God that woorketh in vs the will and also the deed euen of good will Seing then that euery good and perfect gift commeth from aboue lighteth vpon whom it pleaseth God and that he worketh in vs both the will and the deede me thinke all the reste of our owne will is little worthe or nought at all vnles it be to wickednes So me think here be places enough to proue that a man hath no free will to doe good of himselfe with a hundred places moe that I could recite if time did serue And as for originall sinne I thinke I haue declared my mind therin how it remaineth in man whiche you can not denye vnlesse you deny the word of God Now if you will suffer me I will proue my saying of Iacob and Esau that I brought in to proue that faith was before baptisme and you refused it because you sayd Iacob was not baptised If you will geue me leaue you shall see what I can say therin for me think you think my talke long This I sayd because I saw he was sore offended at my sayinges Lang. Saye what you canne For it auayleth me to saye nothing to you For I was desired to sende for you to teache you and there will no wordes of mine take place in you but you goe about to reproue me Saye what you will for me Wood. I take not vpon me to teach you but to aunswere to such thinges as you lay vnto my charge and I speake not mine owne minde but the minde of the holy Ghoste written by the Prophetes and Apostles Wyll you geue me leaue to aunswere briefly in that matter that you may report to other what I holde And he sayd he was contēted But I thinke it was for nothing but to haue caughte vauntage of my wordes Wood. First if you be remembred you said that if my child had dyed without baptisme if I had bene the cause that it had not bene baptised the child should haue bene damned and I too How say you Lang. Yea that you should Wood. That is moste vntrue For the Prophete sayeth The father shall not beare the childes offences nor the childe the fathers offences but the soule that sinneth shall dye What could the child haue done withal if it had died without baptism the childe coulde not do withall How say you vnto this And I am sure that which I brought in in the olde Law to proue that fayth is before baptisme is not disagreeable vnto the word For Circūcision was a figure of baptisme And that I may bring to proue baptisme by as wel as S. Peter did for he brought in Noes sloude whiche was a long time before Iacob Esau to proue baptisme saying While the Arke was a preparing wherein few that is to saye eight soules were saued by water like as Baptisme also nowe saueth vs not in putting away of the filth of the flesh but there is ◠good conscience consenting to God Here Peter proueth that the water had not saued Noe and the other seuen no more then it saued all the rest if it had not bene for theyr fayth which fayth now saueth vs not in putting away of the filthy sinne of the fleshe by the washing of the water but by a good conscience consenting vnto God But you sayd If they be baptised with the water if they dye before they come to yeares of discretion they be al saued the which S. Peter is cleane agaynste vnlesse you graunt that children haue fayth before they be baptised Nowe I aske you what consent of conscience the children haue being infantes For you say they beleue not before they bee Baptised Ergo then they consent not to be Baptised because they beleue not And by this it followeth that none shal be saued althogh they be baptised I would fayne see how you can aunswere to this Lang. You are the most peruerse man that euer I knewe You wote not what you say The children are baptised in theyr Godfathers and Godmothers fayth and that is the good conscience that S. Peter speaketh of and the Christening is the keeping of the law that S. Paule speaketh of saying neither is Circumcision any thing worth nor vncircūcision any thing worth but keping of the lawe is altogether Like as the Circumcision was the keping of the old law so is baptisme the keeping of the new law Wood. Ah me thought if you would talke with me you should be fayne to bring in the old law to mainteine your sayinges by for all that you refused it when I brought it in But yet it serueth not for your purpose so muche as you think for For here you haue confessed that neither circumcision auayleth nor vncircūcision the which you your selfe haue coupled with Baptisme prouing that none of them both preuaileth but keping of the law is altogether the which law is kept you say by the outward signes the which is nothing so for Abrahā beleued God that was counted to him for righteousnes And this was before he was Circumcised So the children beleue before they be either Circumcised or Baptised according to my first saying of Iacob and Esau Iacob I loued but Esau I hated These wordes declared that Iacob hadde fayth in hys mothers wombe also Iohn Baptist was sanctified in his mothers wombe and therfore it was counted to them for righteousnesse and I am sure if they had dyed before they had eyther receiued Circumcision or Baptisme as concerning the outward deed they should haue bene saued For Gods giftes and callinges are such that he cannot repent him of them But by your saying he doth both repent and chaūge For you say keeping of the outwarde law is altogether But a bad excuse is as good as none at all And where you sayd the children
be Baptised in their Godfathers and Godmothers fayth they being all vnbeleuers in what fayth is that childe baptised then in none at all by your owne saying Whiche woordes made him stampe and stare Lang. What then you woulde count that there were very few beleeuers if there be not one of three that beleeueth You enter into Iudgement agaynst the people Belike you thinke there be none that beleue well vnlesse they be of your minde In deed then Christes flocke were a very litle flocke Wood. In deede these bee Christes woordes in the 12. of Luke the which we may see to be very true Yea you sayd if there were not one amongest three that were very few But there is not one amongest three hundred for any thing that I can see For if there were there would not be so many that would seeke their neighbors goodes lyues as there be Lang. Is the flocke of Christ such a litle flock as you speak of you may call it a great flock How many be there of thē Can you tell me Wood. A prety question I promise you it is that you aske me as though I did make my selfe equall with God No no you shal catch no such vauntage of my words nor I know not how many there be But I will tell you as nigh as I can For therefore you looke I am sure that I should enter into Iudgement Lang. Yea I pray you tell me as much as you can seing you be so cunning Wood. You shall see my iudgement in it by and by First the Prophet Follow not a multitude to do euill for they must go the wrong way For the most go the wrong way There is one poynt to know them Thē christ sayth in the 7. of Mat. Broad is the way wide is the gate that leadeth into destruction and many there be that go in thereat and strayte is the gate and narrow is the waye that leadeth vnto life and few there be that finde it And in the xii of Luke it is written which words were spoken of Christ Come you little flocke it is my fathers will to geue you a kyngdome The third poynt is this In the thyrd of Mark and second of Mathewe You saythe Christe shall knowe the tree by the frutes A good tree bringeth foorth good fruites and a badde tree tree bringeth forth bad fruites So by fruites I know them For euery tree that bringeth not foorth good fruites must be hewn downe and cast into the fire into hell I thinke Christ meant and your fruites declare that you be one of them Thus haue I proued foure wayes that the people that shal be saued is but a small companye in comparison of the rest But if that be not enough for the proofe thereof I haue twenty wayes more to proue it by and you were neuer the nere of your purpose Lang. What a naughty man are you you would make the patientest mā in the world angry with you I thinke your talke is nothing but pryde and vayneglorye with frumpes and mockes and dispising iudging of men It was time such a fellow were taken in deede Suche a one is enough to trouble a whole country I thinke he is blest of GOD that tooke you for you are not meete to be in a common wealth Wood. With diuers other such like wordes that I cannot recite they came out so thicke with stamping and staryng and chasing as though he had bene out of his witt I held my peace vntil he had made an end of his tormētors talk and then I spake Wherein haue I sayd amisse or haue I not answered you vnto euery question that you haue demaunded of me What fault can you finde in one word that I haue sayd I dare say you can finde none I maruayle why you take on thus agaynst me hauing no cause so to doe Lang. No no you haue not aunswered me to original sin you deny originall sinne Wood. With these wordes came in at the dore M. Iames Gage And I thinke hee stoode at the dore a good whyle before he came in and that Doctour Langdall sawe hym For his face was to the dore ward and my face was from it Gage Ah Woodman me thinke mayster Doctor and you cannot agree Wood. Yes sir me thinke we agree very well Lang. Without doubte sir he is the naughtiest man that euer I talked with in all my life for he will haue his owne way in all thinges Gage Woodman leaue that pride Do not trust so muche to your own wit Harken to this man This is a learned man I tell you He is knowne to be learned For els hee shuld not be allowed to preach before the Queenes maiesty and I dare say he will tell thee nothing nor will thee to doe nothing but that he will do himselfe and I dare say he will not go to the Deuill to bring the thether How say you M. Doc. Thou mightest think vs mad if we would hurt our selues to hurte thee No I promise thee my brother neither I nor no gentleman in the Country I think of my conscience but would thou shouldst doe as well as their owne bodyes and soules as a great many of them haue sayd to thy face whilest thou wast at my brothers the which thou canst not deny Wood. Sir I can saye none otherwise but I was gently entreated at your brothers both with meate and drynke gentle wordes both of you and him and diuers other gētlemen and I am sure you nor they can say that you foūd me vnreasonable at any time For I sayde I was contented to learne of them that were able to teache me and so I am as God knoweth and here M. Doctour I think can say no otherwise for I dare say he can find no fault in the talke that we haue had Lang. No mary I can finde nothing els in you I promise you mayster Gage if you had bene here you woulde haue sayd so your selfe He tooke me vp in deede and sayd he maruailed how I durst preach For he sayde I vnderstoode not the scripture but as farre as naturall reason comprehended as though he vnderstoode all and I nothing With diuers other such like words he made a great complaint to him on me sayd to mayster Iames Gage he would make you beleue that I could finde no faulte in in him Yes iwis he denieth originall sinne Gage Yea doth he so by S. Mary that is a great matter Woodman leaue that pride That pride wil come to naught Can ye liue without sinne Wood. Sir now I perceiue he will soone lye on me behinde my backe when hee will not sticke to lye before my face He sayth I denied originall sinne and it was he hymselfe as I will let you be iudge in the matter For as hee went about to proue that man hath free will he sayd wee were set as free by the death of christ as Adam was before
his fall which wordes proue playnely that we haue no original sin And I tooke him withall sayd had Adam originall sinne before hys fall and then hee coulde not tell what to say but cauilled with wordes and sayd he meant not so and therefore I maruell he is not ashamed to make such lies to my face These wordes made them both astonyed Gage M. Doctour he sayd euen now you coulde finde no fault in all his talke I will bid you aske him a question that I will warrant you shall finde faulte enough I pray you aske hym howe he beleeueth in the Sacramente of the Aultar I thinke hee will make but a bad accompte thereof Wood. Yes I wil make accompt good enough of that by Gods helpe Lang. Well how say you to the sacrament of the aultar Wood. I say I know no such sacrament vnlesse Chryst be the aultar that you meane Gage Lo I told you you should soone finde fault in him if you came to that poynt with him You shuld haue begun with that first and neuer haue talked with him about other thinges What know ye not the sacrament of the aultar Wood. No sure I know no such vnlesse christ be the aultar that you meane for Christ is the aultar of al goodnes And if you meane Christ to be the aultar of the sacrament you speake of you shall soone heare my minde and beliefe therein Lang. Well we meane Christe to be the aultar Say your minde and go briefly to worke for I thinke it almost dinner Gage I pray you go roundly to worke that you may make an end before dinner Woodman Yes you shall soone heare my minde therin by Gods helpe I doe beleue that whensoeuer I come to receaue the sacrament of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ being truely ministred according to Christes Institution I beleuing that Christ was borne of the virgine Mary that he was crucified on the crosse and shed his bloude for the remission of my sinnes and so take and eate the sacrament of bread and wine in that remembraunce that then I doe receiue wholy Christ God and manne mistically by fayth This is my beliefe of the sacrament the whiche no man is able to disproue Gage By S. Mary I can finde no fault in this How say you Maister Doctour Lang. Sir you see not so much in it as I do For he goeth craftely to worke I tell you as I haue heard For though he haue graunted that the faythfull receauer receaueth the body of Christe God and man yet hee hath not graunted that it is the body of Christe before it bee receaued as you shall see by and by I warrant you by hys owne wordes How say you is it the body of Christ as soone as the words be spoken by the Prieste or not for these wordes will try hym more then all the rest Wood. Doth the worde say that it is his body before it is receiued if it do I will say so to Gage Why then you shall agree well inough if you wyll be tryed by the word Wood. Yes forsooth that I will God forbid els Gage Why the worde sayth it is his body before it is eaten Wood. Those words would I fayne heare but I am sure they be not in the Bible Lang. No that you shall see by and by M. Gage quoth he turned to the xxii of Luke there he read WheÌ„ supper was done Christ tooke bread gaue thankes and brake it and gaue to his Disciples and sayd take eate this is my body Then they spake both at once Here he saith it is his body Wood. M. Gage I doe not deny but he called it his body but not before eating as I saide before Wherefore I pray you marke the wordes Christ sayd Take eate I pray you Sir marke these wordes that he sayd Take and eate and theÌ„ he said it was his body So you see eating goeth before For he sayd eate this is my body So according to the verye worde I doe beleue it is his bodye Whiche wordes made them both astonied Lang. Why then by your saying Iudas eate not the body of Christ. How say you did he not Wood. Nay I ask you Did he Lang I aske you Wood. And I aske you Lang. And I aske you Woodman Mary and I aske you And I bid you answer if you dare for your life For what soeuer you aunswere vnlesse you say as I haue sayd you will damne your own soule For M. Gage I protest before God I would you should do as well as myne owne owne soule and body it lamenteth my hart to see how you be deceaued with theÌ„ they be deceauers all the sorte of them He cannot answer to this but either he must proue Iudas to be saued or els he must proue that it is no bodye before it bee receiued in fayth as dou shall well perceiue by Gods helpe if he dare to aunswere the question Gage Yes I dare say he dareth What you neede not to threaten him so Wood. Then let him aunswere if he can Then he sayd he knew what I woulde saye to him therefore he was much in doubt to answere the question Lang. Mayster Gage I will tell you in your eare what words he will aunswere me or euer I speake to him Wood. Then he told M. Gage a tale in his eare sayde Lang. I haue told M. Gage what you will say Gage Yea and I will tell the truth for both parties Wood. Well how say you did Iudas eate the body of christ or not Lang Yea I say Iudas did eate the body of Christ. Wood. Then it must needes fâ—llowe That Iudas hath euerlasting life For Christ sayth in the 6. of Iohn Who so eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloud hath eternall lyfe and I will rayse him vp at the last day If Iudas did eate Chrystes body I am sure you cannot deny but that he did both eat hys flesh and drynke his bloud and then is Iudas saued by Christes owne wordes Therefore nowe you are compelled to say that it was not christes body or els that Iudas is saued Gage Surely these be the verye wordes that M.D. tolde me in mine eare that you would say to hym Wood. Well let vs see how well he can auoyd this argument Lang. Iudas is damned and yet he eate the body of christ but he eate it vnworthely and therefore he is damned Wood. Where finde you that Iudas did eate the bodye of Christ vnworthely Lang. They be S. Paules wordes i. Corinth xi chap. Wood. M. Gage I desire you for gods sake marke my wordes well what I saye If S. Paule speake anye suche wordes there or in anye other place if there be anye suche wordes written in al the whole Bible that euer any man eate the bodye of Christ vnworthely then say that I am the falsest man that euer you heard speake with tongue But in