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
My body into dust Yet am I sure to saue a soule When death hath done hys worst And though I leaue a little dust Dissolued out of bloud I shall receaue it safe agayne When God shall see it good For my redeemer I am sure Doth liue for euermore And sitteth high vpon the heauens For whome I hunger sore Euen as the Deare with deadly wounds Escaped from the spoyle Doth hast by all the meanes he may To seeke vnto the soyle Of whome I hope to haue a crowne That alwayes shall remayne And eke enioy a perfect peace For all my woe and payne The God that geueth all encrease And seeketh still to saue Abound in thee that perfect peace Which I do hope to haue And I beseech the liuing God To hold thee in hys handes And wish thee euen with all my hart The blessing of my bandes Which I esteeme of hier price Then pearle or precious stone And shall endure for euermore When earthly thinges are gone For though the fire doe consume Our treasure and our store Yet shall the goodnes of the Lord Endure for euermore And where thou art a friend to him That is to me full deare That God of might make the amendes When all men shall appeare That hath shewed mercy to the meeke And rid them out of payne And thus the Lorde possesse thy spirite Till we do meete agayne If thou wilt haue a recompence Abide still in obedience ¶ The exhortation of Robert Smith vnto his children commonly set out in the name of maister Rogers GEue eare my children to my words Whome God hath dearely bought Lay vp my law within your harte And print it in your thought For I your father haue foreseene The frayle and filthy way Which flesh and bloud would follow fayne Euen to theyr owne decay For all and euery liuing beast Their crib do know full well But Adams heyres aboue the rest Are ready to rebell And all the creatures on the earth Full well can keepe their way But man aboue all other beastes is apte to go astray For earth and ashes is his strength His glory and his rayne And vnto ashes at the length Shall he returne agayne For flesh doth florish like a flower And grow vp like a grasse And is consumed in an houre As it is brought to passe In me the Image of your yeares Your treasure and your trust Whome ye do see before your face Dissolued into dust For as you see your fathers fleshe conuerâ—ed into clay Euen so shall ye my children deare Consume and weare away The sonne and moone and eke the starres That serue the day and night The earth and euery earthly thing Shal be consumed quite And all the worship that is wrought That haue bene heard or seene Shall cleane consume and come to naught Ar it had neuer bene Therefore that ye may follow me Your Father and your frend And enter into that same lyfe Which neuer shall haue end I leaue you heare a little book For you to looke vpon That you may see your Fathers face When I am dead and gone Who for the hope of heauenly thinges While he dyd here remayne Gaue ouer all his golden yeares In prison and in payne Where I among myne iron bandes Enclosed in the darcke A few dayes before my death Did dedicate this worke To you myne heyres of earthly thinges Which I haue left behynde That ye may read and vnderstand And keepe it your minde That as you haue bene heyres of that Which once shall weare away Euen so ye may possesse the parte Which neuer shall decay In following of your fathers foote In truth and eke in loue That ye may also be his heyres For euermore aboue And in example to your youth To whome I wish all good I preache you here a perfite fayth And seale it with my bloud Haue God alwayes before your eyes In all your whole ententes Commit not sinne in any wise Keepe his commaundementes Abhorre that errant whoore of Rome And all her blasphemies And drincke not of her decretals Nor yet of her decrees Geue honour to your mother deare Remember well her payne And recompence her in her age In lyke with loue agayne Be alwayes ayding at her hand And let her not decay Remember well your fathers fall That should haue bene her stay Geue of your portion to the poore As riches doth arise And from the needy naked soule Turne not away your eyes For he that will not heare the cry Of such as are in neede Shall cry himselfe and not be heard When he would hope to speede If God haue geuen you great encrease And blessed well your store Remember ye are put in trust To minister the more Beware of foule and filthy lust Let whoredome haue no place Keepe cleane your vessels in the Lord That he may you embrace Ye are the temples of the Lord For ye are dearely bought And they that do defile the same Shall surely come to nought Possesse not pride in any case Build not your neastes to hye But haue alwayes before your face That ye be borne to dye Defraud not him that hyred is Your labours to sustayne But geue him alwayes out of hand His penny for hys payne And as ye would that other men Agaynst you should proceede Do ye the same agayne to them When they do stand in neede And part your portion with the poore In mony and in meate And feede the faynted feeble soule With that which ye should eate That when your meÌ„bers lacketh meate And clothing to your backe Ye may the better thinke on them That now do liue and lacke Aske counsell at the wise Geue eare vnto the end Refuse not you the sweete rebuke Of hym that is your frend Be thankefull alwayes to the Lord With prayer and with prayse Desire you him in all your deedes For to direct your wayes And sinne not like that swinish sorte Whose bellies beyng fed Consume theyr yeares vpon the earth From belly vnto bed Seeke first I say the liuing God Set him alwayes before And then be sure that he will blesse Your basket and your store And thus if you direct your dayes According to this booke Then shall they say that see your wayes How lyke me you do looke And when you haue so perfectly Vpon your fingers endes Possessed all within your booke Then geue it to your frendes And I beseeche the liuing God Replenish you with grace That I maye haue you in the heauens And see you face to face And though the sword haue cut me off Contrary to my kinde That I could not enioy your loue According to my minde Yet do I hope when that the heauens Shall vanish like a scrole I shall receaue your perfect shape In body and in soule And that I may enioy your loue And ye enioy the land I do beseeche the liuing
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
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
comely a person to them that were there present as one should lightly see and where as in his clothes he appeared a withered and crooked silke olde man he now stood bolt vpright as comely a father as one might lightly behold Then M. Ridley standyng as yet in hys trusse sayde to his brother it were best for me to goe in my trusse still No quoth hys brother it will put you to more payne and the trusse will do a poore man good Whereunto Maister Ridley sayd be it in the name of God and so vnlaced hymselfe Then beyng in his shirt he stoode vpon the foresayd stone and held vp hys handes and sayd Oh heauenly Father I geue vnto thee most harty thankes for that thou hast called me to bee a professour of thee euen vnto death I beseech thee Lord GOD take mercy vpon this Realme of England and deliuer the same from all her enemies Then the Smith tooke a chaine of iron and brought the same about both D. Ridleis and M. Latimers middles and as he was knockyng in a staple D. Ridley took the chayne in his hand and shaked the same for it did gird in his belly and lookyng aside to the Smith sayd good felow knocke it in hard for the flesh will haue hys course Then his brother did bring hym gunpouder in a bag and would haue tied the same about hys necke M. Ridley asked what it was His brother said gunpouder Then sayd he I take it to be sent of God therefore I will receyue it as sent of hym And haue you any sayd he for my brother meanyng M. Latymer Yea sir that I haue quoth hys brother Then geue it vnto hym sayd he betyme least ye come to late So hys brother went and caried of the same gunpouder vnto M. Latymer In the meane tyme D. Ridley spake vnto my L. Williams and sayd My L. I must be a suter vnto your lordship in the behalfe of diuers poore men and especially in the cause of my poore Sister I haue made a supplication to the Queenes Maiestie in their behalfes I beseech your Lordship for Christes sake to bee a meane to her grace for them My brother here hath the Supplication and wyll resort to your lordship to certifie you hereof There is nothing in all the world that troubleth my conscience I praise God this onely excepted Whiles I was in the Sea of London diuers poore men tooke Leases of me and agreed with me for the same Now I heare say the B. that nowe occupieth the same roume wil not allow my graunts vnto them made but contrary vnto all law and conscience hath taken from them their liuynges and will not suffer them to enioy the same I beseech you my Lord be a mean for them you shall doe a good deed and God wil reward you Then brought they a fagot kindled with fire and layd the same downe at D. Ridleys feete To whome Maister Latymer spake in this maner Be of good comfort maister Ridley and play the man wee shall this day light such a candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shall neuer be put out And so the fire beyng geuen vnto them when D. Ridley saw the fire flamyng vp toward hym he cryed wyth a wonderfull lowd voyce In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum Domine recipe spiritum meum and after repeated this latter part often in English Lord Lord receyue my spirit M. Latymer crying as vehemently on the other side Oh Father of Heauen receyue my soule who receyued the flame as it were embrasing of it After as he had stroked hys face with hys hands as it were bathed them a little in the fire he soone died as it appered with very litle payne or none And thus much concerning the end of this old and blessed seruaunt of God M. Latymer for whose laborious trauails fruitfull lyfe constāt death the whole Realme hath cause to geue great thankes to almighty God But M. Ridley by reason of the euill makyng of the fire vnto hym because the wooden fagots were laid about the gosse and ouer high built the fire burned first beneath beyng kept downe by the woode Which when he felt hee desired them for Christs sake to let the fire come vnto him Which when hys brother in law heard but not well vnderstood entendyng to ridde hym out of his payne for the which cause he gaue attendance as one in such sorow not well aduised what he did heaped fagots vpon hym so that he cleane couered hym which made the fire more vehement beneath that it burned cleane all hys neather parts before it once touched the vpper and that made him leape vp and downe vnder the fagots and often desire them to let the fire come vnto him saying I cannot burne Which in deed appeared well for after hys legs were consumed by reason of his struglyng through the payne whereof he had no release but only his contentation in God he shewed that side toward vs clean shirt and all vntouched with flame Yet in all this torment he forgate not to call vnto God still hauyng in his mouth Lord haue mercy vppon me intermedling this cry let the fire come vnto me I can not burne In which paynes he laboured till one of the standers by with his bill pulled of the fagots aboue and where he saw the fire flame vp hee wrested himselfe vnto that side And when the flame touched the gunpouder hee was seene stirre no more but burned on the other side fallyng downe at M. Latymers feete Which some said hapned by reason that the chaine loosed other sayd that he fell ouer the chaine by reason of the poise of his body and the weakenes of the neather limmes Some say that before he was like to fall from the stake he desired them to holde him to it with their billes Howsoeuer it was surely it moued hundredes to teares in beholding the horrible sight For I thinke there was none that had not cleane exiled all humanitie and mercy which would not haue lamented to behold the fury of the fire so to rage vpon their bodies Signes there were of sorrowe on euery side Some tooke it greuously to see their deaths whose lyues they held full deare Some pitied their persons that thought theyr soules had no neede thereof His brother mooued many men seyng his miserable case seeyng I say hym compelled to such infelicitie that he thought then to doe hym best seruice when he hastened hys ende Some cryed out of the lucke to see his endeuor who most dearely loued hym and sought his release turne to hys greater vexation and encrease of payne But who so considered their preferments in tyme past the places of honor that they sometyme occupied in this common wealth the fauour they were in with their princes and the opinion of learnyng they had could not chuse but sorow with teares to see so great
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
doctrine to be error and heresie and the olde lawes of Antichriste are allowed to returne with the power of theyr father agayne what can be hereafter looked for by reason to the man of God and true christian abiding in this realme but extreame vyolence of death or els to denye his mayster I graunt the hartes of Princes are in Gods handes and whether soe-euer he will he can make them to bowe and also that christian princes in olde tyme vsed a more gentle kinde of punishment euen to them whiche were heretickes in deede as degradation and deposition out of theyr roumes and offices exile and vanishment out of theyr domynions and countryes and also as it is read the true Bishoppes of Christes Church were sometime intercessors for the heretickes vnto Princes that they would not kill them as is read of S. Augustine But as yet Antichristes kingdome was not so erected at that time nor is nowe accustomed so to order them that will not fall downe and worship the beast and his Image but euen as al the world knoweth after the same maner that both Iohn Daniell hath prophesied before that is by violence of death and Daniell declareth farther that the kinde of death accustomablye should be by sword fire and imprisonment Therefore if thou O man of God doest purpose to abide in this realm prepare and arme thy selfe to dye for both by Antichristes accustomable lawes and these prophecies there is no appearaunce or likelihood of any other thing except thou wilt deny thy mayster Christ which is the losse at the last both of body and soule vnto euerlasting death Therefore my good brother or sister in Christ whatsoeuer thou bee to thee that canst and mayst so doe that counsayle that I thinke is the best safegard for thee both for thy body and most suretie for thy soules healthe is that whiche I shall shew thee hereafter But first I warne thee to vnderstand me to speake to hym or her which be not in captiuitie or called already for to confesse Christ but are at libertye abroade My councell I say therefore is this to flye from the plague and to get the hence I consider not onely the subtleties of Sathan and how hee is able to deceiue by hys false perswasions if it were possible euen the chosen of GOD and also the great frayltie whiche is oftentymes more in a man then he doth know in himselfe whiche in the tyme of temptation then will vtter it selfe I doe not onely consider these thinges I saye but that our mayster Christ whose life was and is a perfecte rule of the Chrystian mans life that hee himselfe auoyded oftentimes the furie and madnes of the Iewes by departing from the country or place Paule likewise when hee was sought in Damasco and the gates of the citty were layd in wayt for him was conueighed by night being let downe in a basket out at a windowe ouer the wall and Helias the Prophet fledde the persecution of wicked Iesabell and Chryste our sauiour sayth in the Gospell When they persecute you in one citie flie vnto an other and so did many good great learned vertuous men of God which were great and stout chaÌ„pions neuerthelesse and stoute confessors and mayntayners of Christ and his truth in due time and place Of suche was the great Clarke Athanasius But this is so playnâ— to be lawfull by Gods worde and examples of holy men that I neede not to stand in it Hauing this for my ground I say to thee O man of God this seemeth to me to be the most sure way for thy sauegard to depart and fly farre from the plague and that swiftly also for truely before God I thinke that the abhomination that Daniel Prophesied of so long before is nowe set vpp in the holye place For all Antichristes doctrine lawes rites and relygion contrary to Christ and to the true seruing and worshipping of God I vnderstand to be that abhomination Therfore now is the time in England for those wordes of Christ Tunc inquit qui in Iudea sunt fugiant ad montes TheÌ„ sayth he marke this Christes then for truely I am perswaded and I trust by the spirite of God that this then is commaunded Then sayth Christ they that be in Iewry let them flye into the mountaynes and he that is on the house top let hym not come downe to take away any thing out of his house and he that is abroad in the fielde let hym not retourne to take hys clothes Woe be to the great bellied women and to them that geue sucke but pray sayth Christ that youre flight be not in Winter nor on the Sabboth day These wordes of Christe are misticall and therefore haue neede of interpretation I vnderstand all those to be in Iewry spiritually which truely confesse one true liuing God and the whole truth of his word after the doctryne of the Gospell of Christ. Such are they whom Christ here biddeth in the time of the raigne of Antichristes abhomynations to flye vnto the mountaynes whiche signifieth places of safegard all such thinges which are able to defeÌ„d from the plague That he biddeth hym that is in the house top not to come downe and hym that is in the field not to returne to take with hym his clothes hee meaneth that they shoulde speede them to get them away betyme leaste in theyr tarying and trifling about worldly prouision they be trapped in the snare ere euer they be aware and caught by the backe and for gain of small worldly things endanger and cast themseues into great perilles of more waighty matters And where he sayth woe be to the great bellied woman and to them that geue suck women great with child and nigh to their lying downe and to be brought to bed are not able to trauell nor also those women whiche are brought to bed and now geueth their babes suck By these therefore Christ spiritually vnderstandeth all suche to be in extreame daunger whiche this worde woe signifieth all suche I say as are so letted by any maner of meanes that they no wayes be able to â—lye from the plague And where Christ sayth pray you that your flight be not in the winter nor on the sabboth day in winter the common course of the yeare teacheth vs that the wayes be foule therfore it is a hard thing then to take a farre iourney for many incommodities and daungers of the wayes in the tyme of the yeare and on the Sabboth day it was not lawful to iourney but a little way Now Christ therefore meaning that wee should haue neede both to speede oure iourney quickly which cannot be done in Winter for the incommodities of the wayes and also to go farre which cannot be done on the Sabboth day he biddeth vs therefore pray that our flight be not in winter nor on the Sabboth day that is to pray that wee may flye in tyme and also farre enough from the
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
sub hoc pane corpus domini accipimus Zwinglius controlling hym sayd sub signo panis corpus domini accipimus and the other controlled him in like case Greene. Then M. Greene proued theyr opinions of the sacrament to be one in effect being rightly weighed and though theyr words dyd not sound al one yet they meant one thing and theyr opinions were all one as he proued by diuers other examples Feck Then Fecknam desired hym that he woulde not so wilfully caste himselfe away but to be rather conformable to reason and that my Lord Byshoppe there present would be good vnto hym and would graunt him respite if hee woulde demaund it for a fortnight or three weeks and that hee shoulde choose anye learned man whome he would and shoulde goe with hym home to his house and that hee whome he would choose woulde willingly take the paynes to reade and conferre the Doctoures wyth him and open the Doctours myndes meaninges vnto hym Boner Then Boner sayd that hee was proud and an obstinate boy and therfore hee bad Fecknam to holde hys peace and to call him no more M. Greene for sayd hee you ought not to call an hereticke maister Pendle After this Doctor Pendleton alledged to hym this text out of the xxii of Luke Ex hoc non manducabo illud donec impleatur in regno Dei Here sayd he you muste confesse your opinion to be false ells you must saye that Christ was a lyer for Christ sayde I will eate no more of this while it bee fulfilled in my fathers kingdome If Christ did eate no more the bread wheÌ„ he spake these wordes then must you say that he was a lyer for hee dyd eate bread after with hys Disciples before he ascended But if you say he dyd eate hys body then and after but breade it will not agree with the Scriptures nor with goâ—d reason Greene. Then Greene aunswered and sayd that thys was spoken by anticipation as one of theyr owne Byshops which is now dead did say Pendle Then Doctour Pendleton sayd that that was no sufficient discharge nor no sufficient aunswere for him in this case for sayd he it is well knowne that that bishop was of a contrary opinion to you and that he dyed a good christian man Greene. To whiche wordes Greene sayd I do not cal hym to witnesse in this case as though he were a sufficient man to proue my saying to bee true in this matter but I doe alledge hym agaynst you as Paule did the scripture whiche he found grauen in the aultar of the Atheniens agaynst themselues ignoto Deo These with many other wordes were betweene them which I doe ouerpasse because it were to longe to stande vpon recitall of euery thing Last of all the Byshop asked him if he would recant He sayd nay he would not But my Lord sayd he in old tyme there were no men put to death for theyr conscience vntill such time as Byshoppes found the meanes to make it death to beleue contrarye to them but excommunication my Lorde was the greatest penaltie which men hadde for theyr conscience yea in so muche that S. Augustine wrote and commaunded that no man should be put to death for his opinion Boner Then Boner sayd that when saincte Augustine sawe what inconueniences followed of that commaundement he wrote agayne to the Temporall rulers commaundyng them to punishe their bodyes also Greene. But sayde Greene hee bad not put them to death Boner He bad punish them quoth Boner Greene. Yea sayd Greene but not put them to death Bo. That they should be punished quoth Boner again This talke ended he asked Greene if he woulde recant and returne to theyr Romishe mother Whiche when hee denyed the Bishoppe pronounced the sentence difinitiue agaynst hym and so committed him to the Sheriffes of London who caused him to be carried to Newgate And as he was goyng thether ther met with him two gentlemen being both his speciall frendes minding belike to comfort this theyr persecuted brother but at theyr meeting theyr louing and friendly hartes not able anye longer to hide themselues were manifested by the aboundaunce of theyr pittifull teares To whom when Greene sawe them he sayd in these or like wordes Ah my friends is this your comfort you are come to geue me in this my occasion of heauinesse Must I who needed to haue comfort ministred to me become now a comforter of you And thus declaring his moste quiet and peaceable minde and conscience he chearefully spake to them and others vntil he came to the prison doore into the which he ioyfully entred and there remayned alwayes either in praier whervnto he much gaue himselfe or els in some other godlye meditations and exercises vnto the xxviii day of Ianuary when hee with hys other aboue mentioned brethren went most chearefully vnto the place of their tormentes often repeating as well by the waye as also at the stake these Latine verses following Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee haue I none The truth I loue and falsehoode hate by thee my guyde alone During the tyme of hys imprisonment in Newgate diuers of hys frendes had accesse vnto him to whome he gaue sundry godly exhortations wherewith they were not only well contented but for better remeÌ„brance aswel of the same his instructions as also of hys own good and godly person they desired him to write somewhat in their bookes which request he willingly graunted as in maner here ensueth These verses were written in a booke of mayster Hussey of the Temple Behold thy selfe by me such one was I as thou And thou in tyme shalt be euen dust as I am now Bartlet Greene. ¶ These verses were also written in a booke of mayster William Fleetwood of the same house My resting roode is founde vayne hope hap a dew Loue whome you list with chaÌ„ge death shall me rid froÌ„ you Bartlet Greene. Amonges others diuers and singular good vertues of this good manne especially in him was to bee noted such a modest nature so humbly thinking of himselfe as in few men is to be found euer deâ—ecting hymselfe vnder that was in him and euer seeming to be lesse then he was so that nothing lesse hee coulde abide then to heare of hys prayse or commendation as well declareth not onely his letter written to M. Philpot wherin he doth earnestly expostulate with hym for slaundring hym with prayse of his witte and learning and other manifold vertues of great excellency but also by his owne speache and aunsweres in his examination wherein he casteth from hym all knowledge of learning and cunning when notwithstanding he had more in hym then to anye mennes eyes dyd appeare So great and admirable was this gift of modesty grafted in the nature of
to the Tower of London and there remained vntill Queene Elizabeth was proclaimed Queene at whych time he being deliuered fell sicke and dyed The common talke was that if he had not so sodēly ended his life hee woulde haue opened and reuealed the purpose of the chiefe of the Cleargy meaning the Cardinall whyche was to haue taken vp K. Henries body at Windsore and to haue burned it And thus much of doctor Weston The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of deathe were depriued and committed to prisones the Catalogue of whose names heere followeth In the Tower Nicholas Death Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chauncellour Thomas Thurlby B. of Ely Thomas Watson B. of Lincolne Gilbert Burne B. of Bath and Welles Richard Pates B. of Worcester Troublefield B. of Exetor Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Westminster Iohn Boxal Deane of Windsore and Peterborough Of Dauid Poole B. of Peterborough I doubte whether he was in the Tower or in some other prisone Ran away Goldwell B. of S. Asse Maurice Elect of Bangor Edmunde Boner B. of London in the Marshalsea Thomas Wood B. Elect in the Marshalsea Cutbert Scothish of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Louane and there died In the Fleet. Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpesfield Archdeacon of London and Deane of Norwich Nicholas Harpesfield Archd. of Cant. Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Hūtington W. Chadsey Archdeacon of Midlesex ¶ Concerning which Doctour Chadsey here is to be noted that in the beginning of king Edwards raigne he recanted and subscribed to 34. Articles wherein hee then fully consented and agreed with his owne hand wryting to the whole forme of doctrine approoued allowed then in the church as well concerning iustification by faith only as also the doctrine of the two sacramentes then receaued denying as well the Popes supremacie transubstantiation Purgatory Inuocation of Saints eleuation and adoration of the Sacrament the sacrifice veneration of the Masse as also all other like excrements of Popish superstition according to the kings booke then set foorth Wherefore the more maruel it is that he being counted such a famous and learned Clearke would shew himselfe so fickle and vnstable in hys assertions so double in hys doinges to alter hys Religion according to time and to maintein for truth not what he thought best but what he myght most safely defend So long as the state of the lord Protectour and of hys brother stoode vprighte what was then the conformitie of this D. Chadsey hys owne Articles in Latine wrytten and subscribed wyth hys owne hand doe declare which I haue to shewe if he will denye them But after the decay of the kings vncles the fortune of them turned not so fast but his Religion turned withall and eftsoones he tooke vppon hym to dispute agaynste Peter Martyr in vpholding Transubstantiation at Oxforde which a little before with his owne hād wryting he had ouerthrowen After this ensued the time of Queene Mary wherein doctor Chadsey to shew hys double diligence was so eger in his commission to sit in iudgement to bring poore mē to their death that in the last yeare of Quene Mary when the Lord Chauncellor Syr Thomas Cornwalles Lorde Clinton diuers other of the Counsell had sent for hym by a special letter to repaire vnto London out of Essex he wryting againe to the bishop of London sought meanes not to come at the Counsels bidding but to continue still in his persecuting progresse The Copie of whose letter I haue also in my handes if neede were to bring foorth Mention was made not long before of one William Mauldon who in king Henries time suffered stripes and scourgings for confessing the veritie of Gods true religion It happened in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth that the sayd W. Mauldon was bound seruaunt with one named Maister Hugh Aparry then a wheat taker for the Quene dwelling at Grenewich Who being newly come vnto him and hauing neuer a booke there to looke vpon being desirous to occupie himself vertuously loked about the house and founde a Primer in English whereon hee read in a winters euening Whiles he was reading there sat one Iohn Apowel that had ben a Seruing man about 30. yeres of age borne toward Wales whom the said M. Hugh gaue meat and drink vnto til such time as he could get a seruice And as the foresayd William Mauldon read on the Booke the sayde Iohn Apowell mocked hym after euery worde with contrary gaudes and flouting wordes vnreuerently in so muche that he coulde no longer abide him for grief of hart but turned vnto him and sayd Iohn take heede what thou doest Thou doest not mocke mee but thou mockest God For in mocking of his word thou mockest hym and thys is the word of God though I be simple that read it and therfore beware what thou doest Then Mauldon fell to reading agayne and still hee proceeded on in hys mocking and when Mauldon had redde certayne Englyshe Prayers in the ende he redde Lorde haue mercye vppon vs Christe haue mercye vpon vs. c. And as Mauldon was reciting these wordes the other with a start sodenly sayd Lord haue mercy vpon me With that Mauldon tourned and sayde what ailest thou Iohn He sayee I was afraide Whereon wast thou afraide said Mauldon Nothing now sayd the other and so he would not tel hym After thys when Mauldon and he went to bedde Mauldon asked him whereof he was afraide He sayde when you red Lord haue mercye vppon vs Christ haue mercy vppon vs me thought the haire of my head stoode vpright with a great feare which came vpon me Then sayd Mauldon Iohn thou mayest see the euill spirite could not abide that Christ should haue mercy vppon vs. Wel Iohn said Mauldon repent and amend thy life for God will not be mocked If we mocke and iest at his woord he will punish vs. Also you vse rebauldry woordes and swearing verye much therfore for Gods sake Iohn amend thy life So I will sayd he by the grace of God I pray God I may Amen said the other with other words and so went to bed On the next day about 8. of the clocke in the morning the foresaid Iohn came running downe out of his chamber in his shirt into the Hall and wrasteled with hys mistresse as he would haue throwen her downe Wherat she shriked out and her seruauntes holpe her and tooke hym by strength and caried him vp vnto his bed bound him downe to his bed for they perceiued plainely that he was out of his right minde After that as he lay almoste day and night his toung neuer ceased but he cried out of the deuill of hell and hys woordes were euer stil O the deuill of hell now the deuill of hell I would see the deuill of hell thou shalt see the deuil of hel there he was there he goeth with other words but
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
commoÌ„ly of English women 〈◊〉 1. Tim. â— Ghosâ—â—ly 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 of â—â—ristian 〈◊〉 1. Peter 4. Iohn 12. 1. Cor. 1. Luke 17. Example of Lots wyfe Nothing vseâ— in Q. Maâ—yâ—s 〈…〉 The first note prouing the Church of the Papistes not to be the true Church 2. Note Iohn 10. 3. Note Actes 7. 4. Note to know the Church 5. Note Iohn 5 6. Note to know the Church Ephes. 5. Compare the proceedinges doinges of the Popes Church with the true members of Christs Church and you shall see what they are The Church of the valiant Papistes compared to Nemrod and why The Popes Church standeth all in lying and murdering 3. Reg. 18. Luke 9. The Popes Church vnder payne of damnation is to be auoyded Apoc. 2. Phil. 1. He exhorteth to be bolde in Christ. Math. 13. Worldly Christians resembled to Aesops Cocke Worldly allurements motions of drawing backe by Gods grace with standed Experience of the Lordes assistance in confirming his seruantes M. Glouer coÌ„mitted to the Iayle before any cause was declared Gods mighty consolation vpon Rob. Glouer in prison M. Glouer weepeth for ioy in prison M. Glouer couÌ„selled to put in bondes Rober Glouer refuseth to enter into bondes Worldly persuasions not receiued M. Glouer agâ—yne visited with Gods holy comfort M Glouer reasoning with himselfe M. Glouer taketh courage al 〈◊〉 and daungerâ— set aside M. Glouer resolued in himselfe to abyde the vttermost for the Gospells cause The Papistâ— proceede with M. Glouer agaynst the lawes of the realme Commaundement geuen to the Sumner agaynst Iohn Glouer and not agaynst Robert Glouer This Byshops name was Doct. Banes M. Warren of Couentry persecutor of Rob. Glouer A lesson for all persecutors Luke 16. R· Glouer brought before Banes B. of Lichfield and Couentrye M. Robert Glouer M. of Art in Cambridge R. Glouer charged for not comming to the Church The Bishop refuseth to be iudged by the primatiue Church Robert Glouer and his fellow prisoners remoued from Couentry to Lichfield in the face of the open market Iephcot the Chauncellours seruaunt Papistes keepe no promise Iephcot Persey cruell and straite agaynst M. Glouer Talke betweene M. Glouer and the Chancellor in prison * The Church geueth witnes which be the true bookes and writings of the Apostles as also the olde Sinagogue of the Iewes doth witnes which be the true bookes of the holy Prophetes yet it followeth not thereby that the Iewes haue authority ouer the Scripture The comforts sweete feelinges of M. Glouer in prison M. Glouer assaulted by the enemy in prison concerning vnworthynes Actes 24. Rom. 11. Rom. 4. Iohn 2. Gods election bound to no worthines or person Rom. 10. Psalme 145. It is no arrogaÌ„cye to presume vpon Gods promise Psalm 50. Robert Glouer replyeth against the tentation of the enemy in that he is a sinner M. Glouer brought agayne before the Bishop Reasoning betwene M. Glouer and the Byshop * The true Church is alwayes builded vp on the doctrine of the Apostles which though it appeare not alwaies alyke in outward â—â—ght the faulte is in the tyme not in the Church Tymes do alter and with the tymes the outward face of the Church may alter sometymes appearing more sometymes lesse sometymes very little sometymes nothing at all according as the persecution is Neuertheles the truth of the church abydeth alwayes one Neyther doth it goe by number of meÌ„ but by soundnes of truth Many agreeing in one may make an vnitye but the veritye of the word maketh the Church whether it be in few or in many The first question Power by Gods word in the ministery to remit sinnes 2. questioâ— 3. question Robert Glouer destitute foâ—â— tyme of the Lords comfort The Lord for a tyme may withdraw his comfortes but at leÌ„gth he visiteth his seruantâ— R. Glouer receaueth agayne coÌ„fort of the Lord. Cornelius Bongey Martyr Articles obiected to Cornelius Bongey Hâ—s Aunsweres to the articles Iohn Glouer William Glouer after their deaâ—h condemned and cast out for heretickes A new search made for Iohn Glouer The prouidence of God agayne in sauing Iohn Glouer Agnes Glouer wyfe to Iohn Glouer apprehended D. Dracot not suffering Iohn Glouer to be buryed in the Churchyearde Iohn Glouer after his death iudged of Doct. Dracot to be a damned soule Testimony of this story The maner of handling the body of WilliaÌ„ Glouer after his death Bernard a Popish Curate of Weme Iohn Thorlyne agaynst the burying of W. Glouers brother The letter of Raufe Bayne B. of Chester for the not burying of W. Glouers body The dead corpeâ— of W. Glouer dragged with horse into the field M. Edward Burton not suffered to be buryed in Christian buriall the same day when Q. Elizabeth was crowned Oliuer Richardine in Hartford West Martyr William Wolsey Robert Pigot Martyrs Richard Euerard extreame agaynst WilliaÌ„ Wolsey W. Wolsey commaunded to the Iayle D. Fuller Christopherson D. Yong come to conferre with Wolsey Wolsey putteth a question to the 〈…〉 D. Watsons booke of Sermons or Homelyes D. Fuller agayne resorteth to W. Wolsey The Chauncellour geâ—eth leaue to Wolsey to depart W. Wolsey layd in the Castle of Wisbich Rob. Pigot Painter presented for not coÌ„ming to the Chuâ—ch Talke betweene Syr Clement Higham Iudge and Rob. Pigot Rob. Pigot brought to the Iayle where W. Wolsey 〈◊〉 Anno 1555. October Wolsey and Pâ—got returned to Eley to prison Tho. Goodâ—â—â—e Biâ—â—hop of Eley The Bishops Câ—â—playne a FrenchmaÌ„ 〈◊〉 the prisoners in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Woâ—sey called to iudgment in the Bâ—shops 〈◊〉 Wolseys aunswere to Sâ—â—xton M. Christopherson writeth what he would haue Pâ—got conâ—â—â— of the â—acrâ—ment 〈◊〉 refuseth to 〈◊〉 to Christophersons 〈◊〉 M. Peacoke appoynted to preach at tâ—e burning of Wolsey and Pigot â— Wolsey 〈◊〉 himselfe to be â—ound in all pointes of the scripture belonging to his 〈…〉 The MartyrdoÌ„e of W. Wolsey and Rob. Pigot at Eley Anno 1555. Octob. 16. Bookes burned with Wolsey Pigot The natures of Wolsey and Pigot described The zelous spirite of William Wolsey W. Wolsey desirous of Martirdome Wolsey calleth the day of his Martirdome his glad day Thomas Hodilo Berebruer of Cambridge witnes of this story Richard Denton first conuerter of Wolsey Money sent by Wolsey to Denton Wolsey exhorting Richard Denton to persist in the truth Denton afraydâ— of burning Richard DentoÌ„ burned in his owne house which before would not burne for Christ. Anno. 1564. Aprill 18 Doct. Nicholas Ridley Martyr Nicholas Ridley borne in Noâ—thumberland Nicholas Ridley learned at Newcastle Nicholas Ridley mayster of Pembroke hall in Cambridge Nicholas Ridley made D. of Diuinitye Nicholas Ridley king Henryes Chapleine Nicholas Ridley made Bishop of Rochester Nicholas Ridley made Byshop of LondoÌ„ The fruitefull dilligence of B. Ridley in preaching Gods word B. Ridley of great memory and reading B· Ridley comely of proportion and complexion The fayre conditions of Byshop Ridley tender to his kinred yeâ— not otherwise then truth and right
snares for your Brethren on this manner This is now the third snare you haue layd for me First to make me confesse that the Churche of Englande is not the church of Christ SecoÌ„dly to say it is not knowne· Thirdly to say the church of God is not vniuersall but particular and this is not the office of a bishop For if an innocent had come in your way you would haue done your best I see to haue entangled him Harps Well frend quoth one of my Lordes Chapleynes you are no innocent as it appeareth Smith By the grace of God I am that I am this grace in me I hope is not in vayne Boner Well quoth my Lord laughing tell me how sayst thou of the church Smith I tolde you whereupon the true Chrch is builded and I affirme in England to be the congregation of God and also in Omnem terram as it is written Theyr sounde is gone forth into all landes and that this is the afflicted persecuted Church which ye cease not to imprison slay kyll And in Corinth was not all the congregation of God but a number of those holy and elect people of God For Paul neither Peter were present at Corinth when they wrote yet were they of the Church of God as many thousandes moe which also communicate in that holy spirit Boner What call ye Catholick and what call you church Smith Catholique is vniuersall and Church is a congregation knit together in vnity Then after much like vâ—â—ne talke it was layde to my charge that my felowe and I spake one thing Whereof I praysed God and was sent agayne to a garden Where after a while as my Brother Harwood and I had bene together commeth one of my Lords Chapleynes that much desired to common with me demaunding first if I were not a prisoner Smith I am in this fleshe a Prisoner and subiecte to my Mayster and yours but I hope yet the Lordes free man through Christ Iesu. Doct. I do much desire to talke with you louingly for because ye are a man that I muche lament with many other sweet wordes To which I aunswered Sub melle latet venenum And after much ado about his God I coÌ„pelled him to say that it must needs enter into the belly so fal into the draught To which he answered Doct. What derogation was it to Christ wheÌ„ the Iewes spit in his face Smith If the Iewes being his enemies did but spit in his face and we being his frends throw him into the draught which of vs haue deserued the greatest damnation Then by your argument he that doth iniury to Christ shal haue a most plenteous saluation Doct. Then start he away and would haue his humanity incoÌ„prehensible making a comparison betwene our soule and the body of Christ bringing in to serue his turne whiche way Christ came in among his disciples the dores being shut Smith Although it be sayd that when he came the doores were shut yet haue I as much to proue that the doores opened at his coÌ„ming as ye haue to proue he came through the dore For that mighty God that brought the Disciples out of prisons which yet wheÌ„ search came were fouÌ„d shut was able to let Christ in at the dore although it were shut and yet it maketh not for your purpose for they saw hym heard him and felt him and so can we not say ye doe neyther is he in more then in one place at once At which aunswere when he had made many scoffinges he departed away from me and we were caryed vnto my Lordes Hall where we were bayted of my Lordes band almost all the day vntill our keeper seing theyr misorder shut vs vp all in a fayre Chamber while my Lord went into his Synagogue to condemne M. Denly and Iohn Newman Then brought they vp my Lorde Maior to heare our matter aboue in the chamber and I first of all was called into the chamber where my Lord intended to sup Where my Lord Maior being set with the Bishop and one of the Sheriffes wine was walking on euery side I standyng before them as an outcast which made me remember how Pilate Herode were made frendes but no man was sory for Iosephes hurt But after my Lords had well druÌ„ke my arâ—icles were sent for read and he demaunded whether I sayd not as was written Smith That I haue sayde I haue sayde and what I haue sayd I do meane vtterly Boner Well my Lorde Maior your Lordship hath hearde somewhat what a stout hereticke this is and that his Articles haue deserued death Yet neuertheles for so much as they report me to seeke bloud and call me bloudy Boner where as God knoweth I neuer sought any mans bloud in all my life I haue stayed him from the Consistory thys day whither I might haue brought him iustly and yet here before your Lordship I desire him to turne and I will with all speed dispatch him out of trouble and this I professe before your Lordship and all this audience Smith Why my Lord do ye put out this fayre visor before my Lord Maior to make him beleue that ye seeke not my bloud to cloke your murthers through my stoutnesse as ye call it Haue ye not had my brother Tomkins before you whose hand when you had burned most cruelly ye burnt also his bodye and not onely of him but of a greate many of the members of Christ men that feared God and liued vertuously and also the Queenes Maiestyes moste true subiectes as theyr goodes and bodies haue made manifest and seing in these Sayntes ye haue shewed so little mercy shall it seeme to my Lord and this audience that ye will shew me more fauour No no my Lorde But if ye meane as ye say why then examine ye me of that I am not bound to aunswere you vnto Boner Well what sayst thou by the Sacrament of the aultar is it not the very body of Christ fleshe bloud bone as it was borne of the virgin Smith I haue aunsweared that it is none of Gods order neither any Sacrament but mans owne vayne inuention and shewed him the Lordes institution But when he was so earnest before the audieÌ„ce declaring that we knew nothing brynging out his Hoc est corpus meum to laye in my Dishe I prooued before the audience that it was a dead God declaring the destinction appoynted betwene the two creatures of bread and wine and that a body with out bloud hath no life At which Harpsfield found himselfe much offended and tooke the tale out of my Lords mouth saying Harps I will approoue by the Scriptures that ye blaspheme God in so saying for it is geuen in two partes because there is two thinges shewed that is to saye his body and his Passion as sayth S. Paule and therefore is the bread his body and the wine the representatioÌ„ of his death and bloud shedding
them in any wise Their leauen is not good Their salte is all vnsauery And vnder good ententes They mayntayne all their knauery And murder Innocentes They seeke to sit in Christes seate And put him out of place And make all meanes that may be made His doynges to deface They keepe him downe with bils batâ— That made the blinde to see They make a God for myce and Rattes And say the same is he They shew like sheepe sweate like Wolues Their baytes be all for bloud They kill and slay the simple soules And rob them of ther good The darke illusions of the deuill Haue dimned so their eyes That they cannot abide the truth To sturre in any wise And if ye keepe the perfect path As I haue hope you doe Ye shall be sure to haue suche shame As they may put you to For all that leade a godly life Shall surely suffer losse And eke the world will seeke theyr shame And make them kisse the crosse Ye shal be killed sayth Christ Your sorrowes shall not cease And yet in your afflictions I am your perfect peace For in the worlde ye shall haue woe Because ye are vnknowne And for because ye hate the world The world will loue his owne Be feruent therefore to the death Agaynst all their decrees And God shall surely fight for thee Agaynst thine enemies Commit your cause vnto the Lord Reuenge not any euill And thou shalt see the wicked want When thou shalt haue thy will For all afflictions that may fall That they can say or doe They are not sure of the wealth We shall attayne vnto For I haue seene the sinners spread Theyr braunches like a bay And yet ere one could turne his head Were withered cleane away Beware that mony make ye not In riches to aryse Agaynst the goodnes of the Lord Among the worldly wise For many mischiefes it hath made That may not be exprest And many euils it hath begonne Which may not be redrest For money maketh many one In riches to rebell And he that maketh gold a God He hath a soule to sell. It maketh Kinges to kill and slay And wast their wittes in warre In leauing of the Wolfe at home To hunt the Foxe a farre And where they should see iustice done And set their realme in rest By mony they be made a meane To see the poore opprest It maketh Lordes obey the lawes That they doe ill and nought It maketh Bishops suck the bloud That God hath dearely bought And where they shuld be faythfull friends And father to the flocke By money they do turne about Euen like a weather Cock The Prieste doth make a mony meane To haue agayne his whoores To put away his wedded wife And children out of doores It holdeth backe the husbandman Which may not be forborne And will not suffer him to sow And cast abroad his corne In like case it doth let agayne When that the seede they sowe It choketh vp the corne agayne So that it cannot growe The husband he would haue a wife With nobles new and olde The wife would haue the husband hangd That she might haue his gold It maketh murthers many a one And beareth much with bloud The childe would see the parentes slayne To sease vppon their good And though it be a blessed thing Created in the kinde It is a necessary euill Annexed to the mind For who so playeth with the pitch His fingers are defiled And he that maketh gold a God Shall surely be beguiled Be frendly to the fatherles And all that are opprest Assist them alwayes out of hand And see them set at rest In all your doinges and your deedes Let mercy still remayne For with the measure that ye meate Shall ye be mette agayne Be alwayes lowly in your life Let loue enioy her owne The highest trees are seldome sure And soonest ouerthrowne The Lyons lacke and suffer sore In hunger and in thurst And they that doe oppresse the poore Continue still accurst The Bee is but a little beast In body or in sight And yet she bryngeth more encrease Then other Crow or Kyte Therefore beware in any wise Keepe well your watche alway Be sure of oyle within your lampe Let not your light decay For death despiseth them that lacke And hateth them that haue And treadeth downe the riche and poore Together in the graue Exhort your Children to be chast Rebuke them for their ill And let them not at any wise Be wedded to theyr will Laugh not with them but keep them low Shew them no mery cheare Least thou doe weepe with them also But bryng them vp in feare And let your light and liuing shyne That ye be not suspect To haue the same within your selfe For which they are correct Be meeke and modest in a meane Let all your deedes be done That they which are without the law May see how right ye runne Keepe well the member in your mouth Your tongue see that ye tame For out of little sparkes of fire Proceedeth out a flame And as the poyson doth expresse The natures of the Tode Euen so the tongue doth manifest The hartes that feareth God For therewith blesse we God aboue And therewith curse we men And therby murders doe aryse Through women now and then And seeing God hath geuen a tongue And put it vnder power The surest way is for to set A hatch before the doore For God hath set you in a seate Of double low degree Fyrst vnto God and then to man A subiect for to be I write not that I see in you These thinges to be suspect But onely set before your face How sinne should be correct For flesh and bloud I know ye are As other women be And if ye dwell in flesh and bloud There is infirmitie Receaue a warning willingly That to thy teeth is tolde Accompt the gift of greater price Then if he gaue thee gold A wiseman sayth Salomon A warning will embrace A foole will sooner as sayth he Be smitten on the face And as your members must be dead From all thinges that are vayne Euen so by Baptisme ye are borne To liue with Christ agayne Thus fare well free and faythfull frend The Lorde that is aboue Encrease in thee â— perfect fayth And leade thee in his loue And as I pray with perfite loue And poure out bitter teares For you and all that are at large Abroad among the bryers Euen so I pray thee to preferre My person and my bondes Vnto the euerlasting God That hath me in his handes That I may passe out of this ponde Wherein I am opprest Inclosed in a clod of clay That here can haue no rest That as he hath begon in me His mercies many one I may attayne to ouertake My brethren that be gone That when the death shall do his worst Where he shall point a place I may be able like a man To looke him in the face For though he catch away my cloke
by the copie heereof appeareth A letter sent to Boner Bishop of London from sir Richard Southwel knight PLeaseth it your Lordship to vnderstand that the Lord Rich did about seuen or eight weekes past send vppe vnto the Counsaile one Wil. Andrew of Thorpe within the Countie of Essex an arrogant heretike Their pleasure was to commaund me to commit him vnto Newgate where he remaineth and as I am infourmed hathe infected a noumber in the prisone wyth hys heresie Your Lordshippe shall doe verye well if it please you to conuent him before you and to take order with him as his case doth require I knowe the Counsaile meant to haue wrytte heerein ⧠The picture describing the straight handling of the cloase prisonners in Lollardes Tower vnto your Lordship but by occasion of other businesse the thing hath bene omitted Wherfore knowing their good pleasure I did aduise the keeper of Newgate to waite vpon you with these fewe lines And so referring the rest to your vertuous consideration I remaine your good Lordships to coÌ„maund this 12. of Iune 1555. Richard Southwel Thys William Andrewe being twise broughte before Boner to examination there manfully stode in the defence of hys Religion At length through straite handlynge in the Prison of Newgate there he lost his life which els hys aduersaries woulde haue taken away by fire and so after the popish manner he was cast out into the fielde and by night was priuily buried by the handes of good men and faithfull brethren The Martyrdome of Rob. Samuel Preacher suffering for the true defence of Christes Gospell MAister Foster Iustice dwelling at Cobdock in the Countie of Suffolke and a little from Ipswiche being in continuall hatred against the truthe and the professours of the same did not onely not cease day nor nighte to studie howe to bring those in thrall and captiuity that were honest and godly inclined to religion but also what soeuer they were that once came in hys clawes they easily escaped not without clogge of conscience or els losse of life so greedy was he of bloude Among many whom he had troubled there was one Samuel in king Edwardes dayes a very godly and righte faithfull preacher of Gods woorde who for his valiante and constante behauiour in his sermons seemeth worthy of high admiration He was minister at Barfolde in Suffolke where he taught faithfully fruitfully that flocke which the Lord had committed to hys charge so long as the time woulde suffer hym to doe hys duetie At the laste being remooued from the Ministerie and put from hys Benefice as manye other good Pastoures were beside when hee coulde not auoide the raging violence of the time yet woulde he not geue ouer his care that he had for hys flocke but woulde teache them priuilye and by stealth when he coulde not openly be suffered so to doe At what time order was taken by the Queene to be published by the Commissioners that all Priestes whiche had married in kinge Edwardes dayes putting theyr wiues from them should be compelled to returne againe to theyr chastitie and single life This Decree woulde not Samuel stande vnto for that hee knewe it to be manifestly wicked abhominable but determining with himselfe that Gods lawes were not to be broken for mannes traditions kept hys wife still at Ipswiche and gaue his diligence in the meane time to the instructing of other whyche were about him as occasion serued At laste maister Foster hauing intelligence heereof beinge a greate doer in those quarters foreslacked no time nor diligence but eftsoones sendeth out his espialles abroade laying hard waite for Samuel that if he came home to his wife at anye time they myghte apprehend him and carie him to prison In conclusion when suche as shoulde betraye hym espied him at home with his wife they bringing woorde to the Officer came immediately flocking about hys house and besette it wyth a great companie and so tooke hym in the nyght season because they durste not doe it in the daye time for feare of trouble and tumult althoughe good Samuell did nothing withstand them at all but mekely yeelded himselfe into their clouches of his owne accord When they had thus caughte hym they put hym into Ipswiche Gaile where he passed his time meekely among his godly brethren so long as hee was permitted to continue there Howâ—eit not long after being taken from thence he was carryed through malice of the wicked sorte to Norwiche where the sayde bishop Doctour Hopton whether he or Doctour Dunnings his Chauncelloure full like vnmercifull Prelates exercised greate crueltie againste hym as in deede they were men in that time of persecution as had not their matches for straitnes and cruell tormenting the bodies of the Saintes among all the rest beside and specially through the procuring of Dunnings For althoughe the other were sharpe enough in their generatioÌ„ yet could they be satisfied with imprisonment and death and would goe no further Neyther did I euer yet heare of anye besides these which so farre exceeded all bounds of pitie and compassion in tormenting their pore brethren as this Bishoppe did in suche sorte that many of them hee peruerted and broughte quite from the truthe and some from theyr wittes also The B. therefore or els his Chancellor thinking that he mighte as easily preuaile with Samuel as he had done with other before kept him in a very straite prison at his first comming where he was chained bolte vpright to a greate post in such sort that standing only on tiptoe he was faine to stay vp the whole paise or waight of his bodye thereby And to make amends for the cruelty or paine that he suffered they added a farre more greuous torment keping him without meate and drinke whereby he was vnmercifully vexed through hunger and thirst sauing that he had euery day allowed 2. or 3. mouthfuls of bread and 3. sponefuls of water to the ende rather that he might be reserued to farther torment then that they woulde preserue hys lyfe O worthy constancie of the Martyr O pitilesse hearts of papists worthy to be complained of and to be accused before God and nature O the woÌ„derfull strength of Christ in his members Whose stomacke though it had ben made of Adamant stone would not haue relented at these intollerable vexations and extreme paines aboue nature How oftentimes would he haue druÌ„ken his owne water but hys body was so dried vp wyth this long emptinesse that he was not able to make one drop of water At the laste when he was brought foorth to be burned which was but a trifle in comparison of those paynes that he had passed certaine there were that hearde hym declare what straunge things had happened vnto hym during the time of his imprisonment to wit that after he had bene famished or pined with hunger two or three daies together he then fell into a sleepe as it were one
your spirites which are hys as S. Paule sayth 1. Cor. 6. For he hath made all boughte all and dearely paide for all as S. Peter sayeth With his owne immaculate body hath he cleane discharged youre bodyes from sinne death and hell and with his most precious bloud paid your ransome and full price once for all and for euer Nowe what harme I pray you or what losse sustaine you by this Why are you O vaine men more afraide of Iesus your gentle saueour his gospell of saluation then of a legion of cruell deuils going about with false delusions vtterly to destroy you both bodies soules Thynke you to be more sure then vnder your captaine Christ Doe you promise your selues to be more quiet in Sathans seruice then in Christes religion esteme you more these transitory and pernitious pleasures then God and all his heauenly treasures Oh palpable darknes horrible madnes wilful blindnes wtout comparison too much to be suffred any longer We see and wil not see we know wil not know yea we smarte and will not feele and that our owne conscience well knoweth Oh miserable and brainlesse soules which would for foolish pleasures slipperye wealth loose the royall kingdome and permanent ioyes of God wyth the euerlasting glory which he hath prepared for them that truely loue hym and renounce the world The children of the world liue in pleasure and wealth and the deuill who is their God and prince of this world kepeth their wealth which is proper vnto them and letteth them enioy it But let vs which be of Christe seeke and enquire for heauenly things which by Gods promise and mercy in Christ shall be peculiar vnto vs. Let I say the Crecians Epicures and such other beastly Belials and carnall people passe for things that be pleasant for the body and doe appertaine to this transitorie life Yet shall they once as the kingly Prophet sayth runne about the Citie of God to and froe howling like dogges desiring one scrappe of the ioyes of Gods elect but all too late as the rich glutton did Let vs therfore passe for those things that doe pertaine to the spirite and be celestiall We must be here sayth Paule not as inhabitours and home dwellers but as straungers not as straungers onely but after the minde of Paule as painful souldiers appoynted of our gouernour to fight against the gouernour of darkenesse of this worlde against spirituall craftinesse in heauenly things The time is come we must too it the iudgement must begin first at the house of God Began they not first with the greene and sappie tree and what followed then on the dry braunches Ieremie speaking in the persone of God sayeth In the Citie wherein my name is inuocate will I begin to punish but as for you meaning the wicked you shall be as innocentes and not once touched for the dregges of Gods wrath the bottome of all sorrowes are reserued vnto them in the ende but Gods houshold shall drinke the flower of the cup of hys mercye And therfore let vs say with Ezechias Play the men shrinke not let vs comfort our selues for the Lorde is with vs our helper and fighteth for vs. The Lord is sayth he with you when you be with him and when you seeke him he will be found of you and againe when you forsake him he will forsake you Wherfore we ought not to be dismaid or discourage our selues but rather to be of good comforte not to be sad but merry not sorrowful but ioyfull in that God of his goodnesse will vouchsafe to take vs as his beloued children to subdue our sinful lustes our wretched flesh and bloud vnto his glory the promoting of his holy word and edifying of his church What if the earthly house of this our habitation Paule meaning the body be destroyed We know assuredly we shall haue a buildinge of God not made wyth handes but euerlasting in heauen with such ioyes as faith taketh not hope toucheth not nor charitye apprehendeth not They passe all desires and wishes Gotten they maye be by Christ esteemed they can not be Wherefore the more affliction and persecution the woorde of God bringeth the more felicitye and greater ioy abideth in heauen But the worldly peace idle ease wealthy pleasure and this present and pleasant transitory life and felicity which the vngodly foolishly imagine to procure vnto themselues by persecuting and thrusting away the gospel shall turne vnto theyr owne trouble at last vnto horrible destruction mutations of realmes and countries and after this life if they repent not vnto their perpetuall infelicitie perdition and damnation For they had rather with Nabal and his temporal pleasures descend to the deuil then with pore Christ and his bodely troubles ascend vnto the kingdom of God his father But an vnwise man sayeth the Psalmist comprâ—hendeth them not neither doth the folish vnderstand them 〈◊〉 these bloudy persecutors grow vp florish like the flower and grasse in the field But vnto this end do they so florish that they might be cut downe caste into the fire for euer For as Iob sayth Their ioy lasteth but the twinkling of an eie and death shall lie gnawing vpon them as doth the flockâ— vppon the pasture yea the cruell worme late repentaunce as S. Marke sayeth shall lie gnawing tormenting and accusing their wretched conscience for euermore Let vs therfore good Christians be constant in obeying God rather then men For although they slay our sinful bodies yea rather our deadly enemies for Gods veritie yet they can not do it but by Gods sufferance and good will to his praise and honour and to our eternall ioye and felicitie For our bloud shed for the Gospel shall preache it wyth more fruite and greater furtheraunce then did oure mouthes liues and wrytings as did the bloude of Abell Steuen wyth many other moe What though they laughe Christ his worde to scorne which sit in the chaire of peruerse pestilent scorners To whome as to the wise Gentiles of the world the Gospel of Christ is but foolishnes as it was to the Iewes a sclaunder and a stumblinge stone whereat they now being fallen haue prouoked the wrath and vengeance of God vpon them These are the dayes of vengeaunce sayeth Luke that all thinges wrytten may be fulfilled And surely it shall be no lesse then a huge storme of euils that shal come vpoÌ„ vs because that a long and a cursed obstinate maliciousnes of vs hath gone before crying in the eares of the Lorde God of hostes who so many times and so many wayes haue bene prouoked with the vnspeakeable richesse of his goodnesse his pacience and long suffering to amendement and haue neuerthelesse contemned the same and proceeded forward to worse and worse prouoking and stirring the presence of Gods maiestie vnto anger Now therfore sayth God by the mouth of his prophet I wil come vpon
thee and I will send my wrath vpon thee vpon thee I say O Englande and punish thee according to thy wayes and rewarde thee after all thyne abhominations Thou hast kindled the fire of Gods wrath and hast stirred vp the coales For thou waste once lightned and hadst tasted of the heauenly gifte and wast become partaker of the holy ghost haddest tasted of the good word of God Yea it is yet in thy mouth sayth the Prophet Alas O Englād thou knewest thy Lorde and maisters wil but diddest nothing thereafter Thou must therefore sayeth hee suffer many stripes and many sharpe strokes and walke on in the glittering and hot flame of thine owne fire and in the coles that thou hast kindled This commeth to thee from my hande saith the Lorde namely That thou shalt sleepe in sorrowe yea euen so thou shalt The plain truth telleth the tale the immutable iustice of the euerliuing God and the ordinarie course of his plagues from the beginning confirmeth the same The ioy of our heart sayeth Ieremie is gone oure glory is fallē away our mery singing is turned into mourning the garland of our head is fallen Alas and weale away that euer we sinned so sore Wo worth all abhominations and wickednesse wo woorth cloked hypocrisie woe worth our carnall liberty wo worth our most cursed idolatrie For because of these things sayth the Lorde ye shall perish with sword hunger and pestilence Wherfore let all the wicked enemies of Christe and all the vnbeleuers look to be tormented and vexed with al hellish furies and cleane wythout hope at Gods accompting day which know not God in Christ to be their very righteousnesse their life their onely saluation alone sauiour nor beleeue not in him They must sayth S. Iohn needes abide and pearish wyth their sinnes in death and in eternall damnation But we be the children of Saintes as the elder Toby did aunswer and looke for an other life which God shall geue to all them which chaunge not theyr faith nor shrinke not from him Reioyce therefore ye Christian afflicted brethren for they can not take our soules and bodies out of the handes of the almighty which be kept as in the bosome of our most swete and louing father and if we abide fast in Christ and turn not away like weathercocks surely we shall liue for euer Christ affirmeth the same saying My sheepe heare my voyce I knowe them they hearken vnto me and to no straungers and I geue them euerlasting life for they shall not be lost nor no manne shall plucke them oute of my handes no nor yet this flattering world with all his vaine pleasures nor any tyranne with his great threates stout bragges can once mooue them oute of the way of eternall life What consolation and cōfort may we haue more pleasant and effectuous then thys God is on our side fighteth for vs he suffereth he smarteth and is afflicted wyth vs. As the world can doe nothing against his might neyther in taking away or diminishing of his glory nor putting him from his celestiall throne so can it not harme nor hurte any one of hys children without his good will For we are members of his body oute of hys fleshe and of hys bones and as deare to him as the apple of his eye Let vs therefore with an earnest faith set fast hold and sure feeling vpon the promises of God in the gospell let vs not be sundred from the same by any temptation tribulation or persecution Let vs consider the verity of God to be inuinsible inuiolable immutable Promising and geuing vs his faithfull souldiours life eternal It is he onely that hath deserued it for vs it is his onely benefite of his only mere mercy vnto him only must we render thāks Let not therefore the vaine fantasies and dreames of men the foolish gauds and toyes of the world nor the crafty delusions of the deuil driue and separate vs from our hope of the crowne of righteousnes that is layd vp in store for vs against the last day Oh that happy and merry last day I meane to the faithfull when Christ by his couenaunt shall graunt and geue vnto them that ouercome and keepe hys woordes to the ende that they may ascend and sitte in seate with him as he hath ascended sitteth on throne with hys father The same body and soule that is now wyth Christ afflicted shall then be with Christ glorified now in the butchers hands as shepe apoynted to die then sitting at Gods table with Christ in his kingdom as Gods honorable and deare children where we shall haue for earthly pouertie heauenly riches for hūger and thirst saturitie of the pleasant presence of the glory of God for sorrowes troubles and colde yrons celestiall ioyes and the company of aungels and for a bodely death life eternal Oh happy soules Oh precious death and euer more blessed right dear in the eyes of God to you the spring of the Lord shal euer be florishing Then as sayth Esay the redeemed shal returne and come againe into Sion praising the Lorde and eternall mercies shal be ouer their heads they shall obtaine mirth and solace sorrowe and woe shal be vtterly vanquished yea I am he sayeth the Lord that in all things geueth you euerlasting consolation To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be glory and praise for euer Amen Robert Samuel An other letter wrytten to the Christian congregation by Robert Samuel wherein he declareth the confession of his faith The beliefe of the hert iustifieth and the knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe Rom. 10. Feare not the curse of mē be not afraid of their blasphemies and reuilings for wormes and mothes shal eat them vp like cloth and woolle but my righteousnesse shall endure for euer and my sauing health from generation to generation Esay 51. COnsidering with my selfe these pearillous times pearishing daies and the vnconstante and miserable state of man the decay of our faith the sinister reporte and false sclaunder of Gods most holy word these vrgent causes in conscience do constraine me to confesse and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christes holy Religion as S. Peter teacheth me saying be readye alwayes to geue an aunswere to euerye man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenes and feare hauing a good conscience that when they backbite you as euill doers they may be ashamed for asmuche as they haue falsly accused your good conuersation in Christ. As touching my doctrine for that little talent that God hath geuen mee God I take to recorde mine owne conscience and mine auditorie knoweth that I neither in doctrine nor maners willingly taughte any other thinge then I receiued of the holye Patriarckes Prophetes Christe and hys Apostles For it were not onely sinne but also the verye parte of a cursed miscreant to
Fynden in Darbyshyre and to M. Rob. Glouers wife by whose credible information we receiued the same Not much vnlike vsage was practised also by these catholicke children of the mother Churche vpon the body of Will the third brother WhoÌ„ after it had pleased almighty god about the same seasoÌ„ to cal out of this vale of misery the good disposed people of the Towne of Weme in Shropshyre where he dyed brought the bodye vnto the Parishe Church entending there to haue it buried But one Bernerd being then Curate of the sayd Church and is yet as I heare say to this day to stoppe the buriall therof rode to the bishop named Raufe Bayne to certify him of the matter and to haue his aduise therein In the meane time the body lying there a whole daye in the night time one Rich. Morice a Taylour woulde haue enterred him But then came Iohn Thorlyne of Weme with other moe woulde not suffer the body to be buryed expressing to vs the contrary examples of good Toby for as he was religious in buriyng the dead so this man putteth religioÌ„ in not burying the dead so that after he had layne there two dayes one night commeth the foresayd Bernerd the Curate with the Bishops letter the contentes of which letter beyng copied out word for word here foloweth * A copy of the Byshops Letter written to the Parish of Weme VNderstanding that one Glouer an heretick is dead in the parish of Weme whiche Glouer hath for all the time of my being in this country bene knowne for a rebellion agaynst our holy fath and Religion a Contemner of the holy Sacramentes and ceremonies vsed in holy Churche and hath separate himselfe froÌ„ the holy Communion of all good Christian men nor neuer required to be reconciled to our mother holy Church nor in hys last dayes did not call for his ghostly father but dyed without all rites belonging to a Christian man I thought it good not only to commaund the Curate of Weme that he shoulde not be buried in Christian mans buriall but also will and commaunde all the parish of Weme that no manne procure helpe nor speake to haue him buried in holy ground but I do charge and commaund the Church Wardens of Weme in speciall and all the parishe of the same that they assist the sayd Curate in defending and letting and procuring that he bee not buried neither in the Churche nor within the wanybles of the Churchyarde and likewise I charge those that brought the body to the place to cary it away agayne and that at theyr charge as they will aunswere at theyr perill At Ecclesch this 6. of September an 1558. By your Ordinary Radulph Couentry and Liechfield By the vertue of this foresaid letter so it fel out that they which brought the corps thither were fayne at their owne charges to carye it backe agayne But for so muche as the body was corrupted and smelt so strongly that vnneth any man might come nere it they were forced to draw it with horses vnto a bromefield and there was he buried Witnesses of the godly end of the sayde William Glouer dying in the true fayth and confession of Christe Mayster Nowell Deane of Liechfielde George Wilestone and hys wife Tho CoÌ„stantine Roger Wydouse Iohn Prynne George Torpelley c. The like example of charitable affection in these catholicke churchmen is also to be sene and noted in the burying of one mayster Edward Bourton Esquire who in the same Diocesse of Chester departing out of this worlde the verye day before Queene Elizabeth was crowned required of his frendes as they would aunswere for it that his bodye should be buryed in his Parishe Churche which was S. Chaddes in Shrousbury so that no Massemonger should be present therat Which thing being declared to the Curat of that Parish named sir Iohn Marshal the body being withall brought to the buriall vpon the same day wheÌ„ the Queene was crowned the Curate being therwith offended sayd playnely that he should not be buried in the church there Whereunto one of his frendes named George Torpelley answering againe said that God would iudge him in the last day c. Then the priest Iudge God saith he or Deuill the body shall not come there And so they buryed him in his owne garden Where he is no doubt as neare the kingdome of heauen as if he had bene buried the middest of the Church Moreouer in the sayd County of Salop I finde that one Olyuer Richardyne of the Parish of Whitchurch was burned in Hartford Weste Syr Iohn Ygone being Sheriffe the same time Whiche seemeth to be about the latter yeare of king Henry viij Whose name because it was not mentioned before I thought here to geue some litle touch of him hauing now in hande to speake of the persecution within the Diocesse of Couentry and Liechfield ¶ The Martyrdome of William Wolsey and Robert Pygot Paynter AFter the sufferyng of Mayster Robert Glouer Cornelius Bongey at Couentrye followeth next the condemnation of other two blessed Martyrs which were iudged and condemned at Eley by Iohn Fuller the Bishops Chauncellour of Eley Doctor Shaxâ—on his Susâ—ragane Robert Steward Deane of Eley Iohn Christopherson Deane of Norwich c. an 1555. October 9. the names of which martyrs were William Wolsey and Robert Pygot dwelling both in the Towne of Wisbich whiche William Wolsey being a constable dwelling and inhabiting in the Towne of Well was there brought to death by the meanes and procurement of one Richard Euerard GentlemaÌ„ a Iustice appoynted for those dayes who extremely handled the same William Wolsey and bounde him to the good abearing causing him to put in sureties vpon his good behauior vntill the next general Sessions holden within the I le of Eley and so the sayd Wolsey being dispatched of his office and brought in trouble remoued his house dwelling place comming to dwell in the Towne of Wisbiche Then being called agayne at the nexte Sessions hee was still constrayned to put in new sureties which at the leÌ„gth he refused to do so was commaunded to the Iayle at the Syse holden at Eley in lent In the Easter weeke folowing there repayred to conferre with him D. Fuller the Chauncellor with Christopherson and one D. Young who layde earnestlye to hys charge that he was out of the catholicke fayth willing him to meddle no further with the scriptures theÌ„ it did become such a lay man as he was to do The said William Wolsey staÌ„ding still a great while suffering them to say their pleasures at the last answered in this wise Good M. Doctor what did our Sauiour Christ meane when he spake these wordes written in the 23. Chapter of S. Mathewes Gospell Wo be vnto you Scribes and Phariseis ye hipocrites for ye shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men ye your selues goe not in neither suffer ye them that come to enter in Yea sayeth
be many that fitte farre of I maruelled at this that I was biddē speak out and began to misdeme and gaue an eare to the chimney and syr there I heard a penne walking in the chimney behinde the cloth They had appoynted one there to write all mine answeres for they made sure that I should not starte from them there was no startinge from them God was my good Lord and gaue me aunswere I could neuer elles haue scaped it The question to him there and then obiected was this whether he thoughte in his conscience that he hath bene suspected of heresye This was a captious question There was no holding of peace would serue for that was to graunt himselfe faulty To answere it was euery way full of daunger But GOD which alwaye geueth in neede what to aunswere helped him or elles as he confesseth himselfe he had neuer escaped theyr bloudy handes Albeit what was his answere he doth not there expresse And thus hitherto you haue heard declared the manifolde troubles of this godly preacher in the time not onely of his being in the Uniuersitye but especially at his benefice as partly by his owne wordes aboue mentioned and partly by his owne letters hereafter folowing may better appeare In these so harde and daungerous straites and suche snares of the bishops hard it had bene for him and unpossible to haue escaped and continued so long had not the almighty helping hand of the highest as he styrred him vp so haue preserued him through the fauoure and power of his Prince who with muche fauour embraced him and with his mere power sometime rescued and deliuered him out of the crooked clawes of his enemies Moreouer at length also through the procurement partly of Doctour Buttes partly of good Cromwell whose story ye had before he aduaunced him to the degree and dignity of a Bishop making him the bishop of Worcester which so cōtinued a fewe yeares instructing his Dioces according to the duty of a diligent and vigilant Pastor with wholesome doctrine and example of perfecte conuersation duly agreeing to the same It were a long matter to stand particularly vpon such things as might here be brought to the commendation of his paynes as study readines and continuall carefulnes in teaching preaching exhorting visiting correcting and reforming either as his ability could serue or els the time woulde beare But the dayes then were so daungerous and variable that he could not in all thinges do that he would yet what he might doe that he perfourmed to the vttermost of his strength so that althoughe hee could not vtterly extinguish al the sparkling relicks of old superstition yet he so wrought that though they could not be taken away yet they should be vsed with as little hurt with as much profite as might be As for exāple in this thing as in diuers other it did appeare that whē it coulde not be auoyded but holy water holy bread must nedes be receiued yet he so prepared and instructed them of hys Dioces with such informations and lessons that in receiuing therof superstition shoulde be excluded and some remembrance taken thereby teaching and charging the Ministers of his Dioces in deliuering the holy bread and holy water to say these wordes folowing ¶ Wordes spoken to the people in geuing them holy water Remember your promise in Baptisme Christ his mercy and bloudshedding By whose most holy sprinkeling Of all your sinnes you haue free pardoning ¶ What to say in geuing holy bread Of Christes body this is a token Which on the crosse for our sinnes was broken Wherefore of your sinnes you must be forsakers If of Christes death ye will be partakers By this it may be considered what the diligent care of this Bishop was in doyng the duety of a faythfull Pastor among his flocke And moreouer it is to be thoughte that he would haue brought more thinges elles to passe if the time then had aunswered to his desire for he was not ignorant how the institution of holy water and holy bread not onely had no ground in scripture but also how full of prophane exorcismes and coniurations they were contrary to the rule and learning of the Gospell Thus this good man behaued hymselfe in his Dioces but as before both in the Uniuersity and at his benefice he was tost and turmoyled by wicked and euill disposed persons so in hys Bishopricke also he was not all cleare and voyde of some that sought his trouble As among many other euill willers one especially there was and that no small person which accused him then to the king for his sermons The story because he sheweth himselfe in a Sermon of his before K. Edward I thought therfore to vse his owne wordes which be these In the kinges dayes that dead is a great many of vs were called together before him to say our mindes in tertayne matters In the end one kneeleth downe and accuseth me of sedition and that I had preached sedititious doctrine A heauy salutatiō and a hard poynt of such a mans doing as if I should name ye would not thinke it The king turned to me and sayd What say you to that syr Then I kneled downe and turned me first to my accuser and required him Sir what forme of preaching would you appoynt me in preaching before a king woulde you haue mee preache nothing as concerning a Kinge in the kinges Sermon haue you any commission to appoint me what I shal preach besides this I asked him diuers other questions and he would make me none aunswere to any of them all he had nothing to say Then I turned me to the king and submitted my selfe to his grace and sayd I neuer thought my selfe worthye nor I neuer sued to be a Preacher before your grace but I was called to it and would be willing if you mislike me to geue place to my betters for I graunt there be a greate many more worthye of the roome then I am And if it be your graces pleasure so to allowe them for Preachers I coulde be content to beare theyr bookes after them But if your grace alow me for a Preacher I woulde desire your grace to geue me leaue to discharge my conscience geue me leaue to frame my doctrine according to my audience I had bene a very dolte to haue preached so at the borders of your realme as I preach before your grace And I thanke almighty GOD which hath alwayes bene my remedy that my sayinges were well accepted of the king for like a gracious Lord he turned into an other communication It is euen as the Scripture sayth Cor Regis in manu Domini i. The Lord directed the kinges hart Certayne of my frendes came to me with teares in theyr eyes and told me they looked I shoulde haue bene in the Tower the same night Besides this diuers other conflictes and combats this godly Bishop susteined in
not to be a materiall Worme that is a liuing beast but it is a metaphor but that is neither to nor fro For a fire it is a worme it is a payne it is a torment it is an anguishe it is a griefe a misery a sorow a heauinesse inexplicable intolerable whose nature and condition in euery poynt who can tell but he that is of Gods priuy counsell sayth S. Austen God geue vs grace rather to be diligent to keepe vs out of it then to be curious to discusse the property of it for certayne we be that there is litle ease yea none at all but weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth whiche be two effectes of extreme payne rather certayne tokens what payne there is then what maner payne there is No Purgatory He that sheweth the state and condition of it doth not denye it But I had leauer be in it then in Lollers tower the Bishoppes prison for diuers skils and causes First in this I might dye bodily for lacke of meat and drinke in that I could not Item in this I might dye ghostly for feare of payne or lack of good counsell there I could not Item in this I might be in extreme necessity In that I coulde not if it be perill of perishing Item in this I might lacke charity There I could not Item in this I might lose my pacience In that I could not Item in this I might be in perill and daūger of death in that I could not Item in this I might be without surety of Saluation in that I could not Item in this I might dishonor God In that I could not Item in this I might murmur grudge agaynst God In that I could not Item in this I might displease God In that I could not Item in this I might be displeased with God In that I coulde not Item in this I might bee iudged to perpetuall prison as they call it in that I could not Item in this I might be craftily handled In that I could not Item in this I might be brought to beare a fagotte In that I could not Item in this I might be discontented with GOD In that I could not Item in this I might be separated and disseuered from Christ In that I could not Item in this I mighte bee a member of the Deuill In that I could not Itē in this I might be an inheritor of hell In that I could not Item in this I might pray out of charity and in vayne in that I could not Item in this my Lord and his Chapleines might manacle me by night In that they could not Item in this they might strangle me and say that I had hanged my selfe In that they could not Item in this they might haue me to the Consistory and iudge me after theyr fashion From thence they could not· Ergo I had leuer to be there then here For though the fire be called neuer so hoat yet and if the bishops two fingers can shake away a piece a friers cowle an other part and scala coeli altogether I wil neuer found Abbay Colledge nor Chauntrey for that purpose For seing there is no payne that can break my charity break my pacience cause me to dishonour God to displease God to be displeased with God cause me not to ioy in God nor that canne bring me to daunger of death or to daunger of desperation or from surety of saluation that canne separate me from Christ or Christ from me I care the lesse for it Iohn Chrisostom sayth that the greatest payne that damned soules haue is to be separate and cut of from Christ for euer which payne he sayth is greater then many helles which paynes the soules in Purgatory neither haue nor can haue Consider M. Morice whether prouision for Purgatorye hath not brought thousandes to hell Debts haue not bene payd restitution of euill gotten landes goods hath not bene made christen people whose necessities we see to whō whatsoeuer we do Christ reputeth done to himselfe to whom we are bounden vnder payne of damnation to doe for as we would be done for our selfe are neglecte and suffered to perish last wils vnfulfilled and broken Gods ordinaunce set aside and also for Purgatory foūdations haue bene taken for sufficient satisfaction so we haue trifled away the ordinaunce of God and restitutions Thus we haue gone to hell with Masses Diriges and ringing of manye a bell And who can pull Pilgrimages from Idolatrye and purge Purgatorye from Robbery but hee shall bee in perill to come in suspition of Heresye with them so that they may pill with Pilgrimage and spoyle with Purgatory And verely the abuse of them cannot be taken away but great luker and vauntage shall fall away from them whiche had leuer haue profite with abuse then lacke the same with vse and that is the waspe that doth sting them and maketh them to swell And if Purgatory were purged of all that it hath gotten by setting aside restitution and robbing of Christe it woulde be but a poore Purgatorye So poore that it should not be able to feed so fatte and tricke vp so many idle and slothfull lubbers I take God to witnes I would hurt no man but it greeueth me to see such abuse continue without remedy I cannot vnderstand what they meane by the Popes pardoning of Purgatorye but by way of suffrage and as for suffrage vnlesse he do his duety and seeke not his owne but Christes glory I had leauer haue the suffrage of iacke of the skullery which in his calling doth exercise both fayth and charitye but for his Masse And that is as good of an other simple Priest as of him For as for authoritye of keyes is to loose from guiltinesse of sinne and eternall payne due to the same according to Christes word and not to his own priuate will And as for Pilgrimage you woulde wonder what iuggling there is to gette money withall I dwell within a halfe mile of the Fosseway and you woulde wonder to see how they come by flockes out of the West countrey to many Images but chiefely to the bloud of Hailes And they beleue verely that it is the verye bloud that was in Christes bodye shedde vppon the Mount of Caluerye for our saluation and that the sighte of it with theyr bodily eye doth certify them and putteth them out of doubte that they bee in cleane life and in state of saluation without spot of sinne which doeth bolden then to many thinges For you would wonder if you shoulde common with them both comming and going what faythes they haue For as for forgeuing theyr enemies and reconciling theyr Christian brethren they can not away withall for the sight of that bloud doth quite them for the time I read in Scripture of two certifications one to the Romanes Iustificati ex fide pacem habemus i. We being iustified by fayth haue peace with God If I see the bloud of Christe with the eye
October An. 1555. VPon the Northside of the towne in the ditch ouer against Baily Colledge the place of execution was appoynted and for feare of any tumult that might aryse to let the burnyng of them the L. Williams was commaunded by the Queenes letters and the householders of the Citie to be there assistant sufficiently appoynted when euery thyng was in a readines the prisoners were broght forth by the Maior and Bailiffes M. Ridley had a faire blacke goune furred and faced with foines such as he was woont to weare beyng Bish. and a tippet of veluet furred likewyse about his necke a veluet night cap vpon his hed a corner cappe vpon the same goyng in a paire of slippers to the stake going betweene the Maior and an Alderman c. After hym came M. Latimer in a poore Bristow freeze frocke all worne with hys buttened cap and a kerchiefe on his hed all redy to the fire a new long shroud hanging ouer his hose downe to the feete which at the first sight stirred mens hearts to rue vpon them beholdyng on the one side the honour they sometyme had on the other the calamitie whereunto they were fallen M. Doctor Ridley as hee passed towards Bocardo lookyng vp where M. Cranmer did lye hopyng belike to haue seene hym at the glasse window and to haue spoken vnto hym But then M. Cranmer was busie with Frier Soto his fellowes disputyng together so that he could not see hym through that occasion Then M. Ridley lookyng backe espied M. Latymer commyng after Unto whome he sayd Oh be ye there Yea sayd M. Latymer haue after as fast as I can follow So he following a prety way of at lenth they came both to the stake one after the other where first D. Ridley entring the place maruelous earnestly holding vp both his hands loked towards heauen then shortly after espying M. Latimer with a wonderous cheerefull looke ranne to hym embraced and kissed hym and as they that stoode neare reported comforted hym saying be of good heart brother for GOD will either asswage the fury of the flame or els strengthen vs to abyde it With that went he to the stake kneeled downe by it kissed it most effectuously prayed and behynd him M. Latymer kneled as earnestly callyng vpon God as he After they arose the one talked with the other a little whyle tyll they which were appoynted to see the execution remooued themselues out of the sunne What they sayd I can learne of no man Then Doctor Smith of whose recantation in K. Edwards tyme ye heard before began his Sermon to them vpon this text of Saint Paule in the xiij chapiter of the first Epistle to the Corrinthians Si corpus meum tradâ—m igni charitatem autem non habeo nihil inde vtilitatis capio That is If I yeld my body to the fire to be burnt haue not Charitie I shall gayne nothyng thereby Where in he alledged that the goodnesse of the cause and not the order of death maketh the holynes of the person Which he confirmed by the examples of Iudas and of a woman in Oxford that of late hanged her selfe for that they and suche lyke as he recited might theÌ„ be adiudged righteous which desperately sundered their lyues from their bodies as he feared that those men that stood before hym would do But he cryed stil to the people to beware of them for they were heretikes and dyed out of the Church And on the other side he declared their diuersities in opinions as Lutherians Oecolampadians Zuinglians of which secte they were he sayd and that was the worst but the old church of Christ and the Catholike fayth beleeued far otherwyse At which place they lifted vp both their handes and eyes to heauen as it were callyng God to witnes of the truth The which countenaunce they made in many other places of his Sermon where as they thought hee spake amisse He ended with a very short exhortation to them to recant and come home agayne to the church and saue their lyues and soules which els were condemned His sermoÌ„ was scant in all a quarter of an houre Doctor Ridley sayd to Maister Latymer will you beginne to aunswer the Sermon or shall I Maister Latimer sayd begin you first I pray you I will sayd Maister Ridley Then the wicked Sermon beyng ended Doctor Ridley and Maister Latymer kneled down vpon their knees towardes my Lord Williams of Tame the Uicechancellor of Oxford and dyuers other Commissioners appointed for that purpose which sate vpon a forme therby Unto whome Maister Ridley sayd I beseech you my Lord euen for Christes sake that I may speake but two or three wordes and whylest my Lord bent hys head to the Maior and Uicechauncellour to know as it appeared whether he myght geue hym leaue to speake the Bailiffes and Doctour Marshall Uicechancellour ranne hastily vnto hym and with theyr handes stopped hys mouthe and sayd Maister Ridley if you will reuoke your erroneous opinions and recant the same you shall not onely haue libertie so to doe but also the benefite of a subiect that is haue your lyfe Not otherwyse sayd Maister Ridley No quoth Doctor Marshall therefore if you will not doe so then there is no remedy but you must suffer for your desertes Well quoth M. Ridley so long as the breath is in my body I will neuer deny my Lord Christ and hys knowen truth Gods will be done in me And with that he rose vp and sayd with a lowde voyce Well then I commit our cause to almighty God which shall indifferently iudge all To whose saying Maister Latymer added hys olde Posie Well there is nothyng hidde but it shall bee opened and he sayd he could aunswere Smith well enough if he myght bee suffered Incontinently they were commaunded to make them ready which they with all mekenesse obeyed Maister Ridley tooke his gown and his tippet and gaue it to his brother in law M. Shepside who all his tyme of imprisonment although he might not bee suffred to come to hym laye there at his owne charges to prouide him necessaries which from tyme to tyme he sent him by the Sergeant that kept hym Some other of hys apparell that was little woorth he gaue away other the Bailifs tooke He gaue away besides diuers other small thynges to Gentlemen standyng by and diuers of them pitifully wepyng as to sir Henry Lea he gaue a new grote and to diuers of my L. Williams gentlemen some napkins some nutmegs and races of ginger his Diall and such other thyngs as he had about hym to euery one that stoode next hym Some plucked the pointes of his hose Happy was he that might get any rag of hym M. Latymer gaue nothyng but very quietly suffered his keper to pull of his hose and his other aray which to looke vnto was very simple and beyng stripped into hys shroud he seemed as
to be euill and euill good lyght to be darknesse and darknesse lyght superstition to be true religion and Idolatry to be the true worship of God and that which is in substance the creature of bread and wyne to bee none other substaunce but onelye the substaunce of Christ the liuyng Lord both God and man And with this their falshoode craft they can so iuggle and bewitch the vnderstanding of the simple that they dare auouch it openly in Courte and in Towne and feare neyther hangyng nor headyng as the poore theeues of the borders doe but stout and strong lyke Nembroth dare condemne to bee burned in flamyng fire quicke and alyue whosoeuer wil go about to bewray their falshood The kynd of fight against these Churchrobbers is also of another sort and kynd then is that which is agaynst the theeues of the borders For there the true men go forth agaynst them with speare and launce with bow and hyll and all such kynd of bodily weapons as the true mē haue but here as the enemies be of another nature so the watch men of Christes flocke the warrioures that fight in the Lordes warre must be armed fight with another kynd of weapons and armour For here the enemies of GOD the souldiours of Antichrist although the battaile is set foorth agaynst the Church by mortall men beyng flesh and bloud and neuerthelesse members of their father the deuill yet for that their graund maister is the power of darknesse their members are spirituall wickednes wicked spirites spirits of errors of heresies of all deceit and vngodlinesse spirits of Idolatry superstition hypocrisy which are called of S. Paule Principates and powers Lordes of the world rulers of the darkenes of this world spirituall subtleties concernyng heauenly thyngs and therfore our weapons must be fitte and meete to fight agaynst such not carnall nor bodily weapons as speare launce but spirituall and heauenly we must fight agaynst suche with the armour of God not entendyng to kill their bodies but their erroures their false craft and heresies their idolatry superstition and hypocrisie and to saue as much as lyeth in vs both their bodies and soules And therfore as s. Paul teacheth vs we fight not against flesh and bloud that is we fight not with bodily weapon to kil the man but with the weapons of God to put to flight his wicked errors vice to saue both body and soule Our weapons therfore are faith hope charitie righteousnes truth patience prayer vnto God our sword wherwith we smite our enemies we beat and batter and beare downe all falshood is the worde of God With these weapons vnder the banner of the crosse of Christ we do fight euer hauing our eye vpon our graund maister Duke and captaine Christ then we reckon our selues to triumphe to win the crowne of euerlasting blisse when enduryng in this battail without any shrinking or yeldyng to the enemies after the example of our graund capitaine Christ our maister after the example of his holy prophets Apostles Martyrs when I say we are slaine in our mortal bodies of our enemies are most cruelly without all mercy murdered down like a many of sheepe And the more cruell the more painful the more vile spiteful is the kind of the death whereunto we bee put the more glorious in God the more blessed and happy we reckon without all doubts our martyrdome to be And thus much dere louers friends in God my coūtreyman kinsfolke I haue spoken for your comfort lest of my death of whose life you looked peraduenture sometymes to haue had honestie pleasures commodities ye might be abashed or thinke any euill wheras ye haue rather cause to reioyce if ye loue me in deed for that it hath pleased God to cal me to a greater honor and dignitie thē euer I did enioy before eyther in Rochester or in the sea of London or euer should haue had in the Sea of Durham whereunto I was last of all elected named yea I count it greater honour before God in deede to dye in hys cause whereof I nothing doubt then is any earthly or temporal promotion or honor that can be geuen to a man in this world And who is he that knoweth the cause to be Gods to be Christes quarel of his Gospell to be the common weale of all the elect and chosen children of God of all the inheritours of the kyngdome of heauen who is he I say that knoweth this assuredly by Gods worde and the testimony of hys owne conscience as I thorough the infinite goodnesse of GOD not of my selfe but by his grace acknowledge my selfe to doe who is hee I saye that knoweth this and both loueth and feareth GOD in deed and in truth loueth and beleeueth his maister Christ and his blessed Gospel loueth his brotherhoode the chosen children of God and also lusteth and longeth for euerlasting lyfe who is he I say agayne that would not or can not finde in his hart in this cause to be content to die The Lord forbidde that any such should bee that should forsake this grace of God I trust in my Lord God the GOD of mercies the Father of all comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord that he which hath put this mynd will affection by his holy spirit in my hart to stand against the face of the enemy in his cause and to chuse rather the losse of al my worldly substance yea and of my lyfe too then to deny his known truth that he will comfort me ayde mee and strengthen me euermore euen vnto the end and to the yeldyng vp of my spirit soule into hys holy hands whereof I most hartily beseech his most holy sacred Maiestie of his infinite goodnes and mercy through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Now that I haue taken my leaue of my countriemen and kinsfolke and the Lord doth lend me lyfe and geueth me laisure I will bid my other good friends in God of other places also farewell And whom first or before other then the Uniuersitie of Cambridge wheras I haue dwelt longer found more faithfull and hartie friendes receyued more benefits the benefits of my naturall parents onely excepted then euer I did euen in myne own natiue countrey wherein I was borne Farewel therfore Cambridge my louyng mother and tender nurse If I should not acknowled thy manifold benefits yea if I should not for thy benefits at the least loue thee agayne truly I were to be counted to vngrate vnkynde What benefites hadst thou euer that thou vsest to geue bestow vppon thy best beloued children that thou thoughtest too good for me Thou didst bestowe on mee all thy schoole degrees of thy common offices the Chaplaynship of the vniuersitie the office of the Proctorship of a common Reader of thy priuate commodities emoluments in colledges what was it that
was brought before the Bish. of Douer and Nich. Harpesfield or some other deputed in their roume long before the other two videlicet the xvj day of September and there had propounded vnto hym such ordinarie Articles as it seemeth as was commonly ministred by Boner to those of hys iurisdiction beyng willed for that present to depart and to deliberate with hymselfe vpon the matter agaynst the next tyme of his appearance he made aunswer that hee would no otherwyse say by Gods grace then hee had already sayde which was this As touchyng the Sacrament of Christes bodye I do beleeue quoth he to be left vnto hys Churche wyth thankes geuyng in commemoration of hys death passion vntill his commyng agayne So that it is left in remembraunce of hys body and not by the wordes of consecration to be made his body really substantially and the same body that was borne of the virgin Mary I vtterly do deny that After this besides sundry other tymes the third day of October the sayd Ioh. Web Gregory Roper George Parke were brought all three together before the sayd Iudge who there and then agreeyng and stedfastly allowyng the former aunswere made before by Maister Webbe were by the bloudy Prelates adiudged heretikes and therefore about the ende of the same month of October or els as I otherwyse finde in the latter ende of Nouember they together were taken and brought out of prison to the place of Martyrdom Who by the way goyng toward the stake sayd certaine Psalmes mournefully Roper was a yonger man of a fresh colour courage complexion the other two were somewhat more elderly all goyng in white linnen with their gownes vpon Roper at his commyng to the stake puttyng of hys gowne fet a great leape So soone as the flame was about hym the sayd Roper put out both hys armes from hys bodye lyke a Rood and so stood stedfast continuyng in that maner not pluckyng his armes in tyll the fire had consumed them and burnt them of And thus these foresayde Martyrs of Christ beeyng brought as I sayde to the stake and there compassed about with a chayne were burnt and consumed all thre together in one fire at Canterbury abidyng most patiently their torments and countyng themselues happy blessed of the lord that they were made worthy to suffer for Christes Gospels sake * William Wiseman THe 13. of Decemb. in the Lollards Tower died William Wiseman a Clothworker of London where hee ⧠The order and maner of burying in the Fields such as dyed in prison and namely of William Wiseman was in prison and bands for the Gospel worde of God How and whereupon he deceased it is not fully certaine Some thought that either through famine or ill handling of some murtheryng papists he was made away By reason whereof the Crouner named Iohn Gibbes Gentleman with an enquest of twelue men were fayne to sit vpoÌ„ hym who although to the outward apperance were sayd to finde nothyng in hym els but onely Gods visitation yet what other priuy causes there might be of hys death the Lord knoweth I haue not to say After the sayd William was departed as is sayde in the Tower the holy Catholike church men cast hym out into the fieldes commanded that no man should bury him according as theyr deuout maner is to do with all such as dye in lyke sort whoÌ„ they account as prophane and worthy of no buriall but to be cast to dogs and birdes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Poet sayeth And yet all this their mercilesse commaundement not withstandyng some good Tobies there were which buried hym in the euenyng as commonly they did all the rest throwen out in lyke sort whom they were woont priuily by night to couer and many tymes the Archers in the fields standyng by and singing together Psalmes at their buriall ¶ Iames Gore IN the same month about the 7. day of Decemb. deceased also Iames Gore in the prison at Colchester layed there in bands for the right and truth of Gods word ⧠The processe and historie of M. Iohn Philpot examined condemned and Martyred for the maintenance and defence of the Gospels cause against the Antichristian Sea of Rome NExt foloweth the constant Martyrdome of M. Iohn Philpot of whome partly ye heard before in the beginning of Queene Maries time in prosecutyng the disputation of the Conuocation house He was of a worshipfull house a knights sonne borne in Hamshire brought vp in the new Colledge in Oxford where he studied the Ciuill lawe the space of 6. or 7. yeares besides the study of other liberall artes especially of the tongs wherein very forwardly he profited namely in the knowledge of the Hebrue tong c. In witâ—he was pregnaÌ„t and happy of a singuler courage in spirit feruent in religion zelous and also well practised and exercised in the same which is no small matter in a true deuine of nature and condition plaine and apert far from all flatterie farther from all hypocrisie and deceitfull dissimulation What his learnyng was hys owne examinations penned of hys owne hand can declare From Oxford desirous to see other countries as occasion serued thereunto he went ouer into Italy and places thereabouts where he commyng vpon a tyme from Uenice to Padua was in daunger through a certayne Franciscan Frier accompanying hym in hys iourney who coÌ„myng to Padua sought to accuse hym of heresie At length returnyng to England hys countrey agayne as the tyme ministred more boldnes to hym in the dayes of King Edward he had diuers conflictes with Gardiner the bishop in the Citye of Winchester as appeareth by dyuers of Winchesters letters and hys examinations Wherof read before After that hauyng an aduauson by the sayd B. he was made there Archdeacon of Winchester vnder D. Pomet who then succeeded Gardiner in that Bishoprike Thus duryng the tyme of K. Edward he continued to no small profite of those parties thereabout When that blessed king was taken away Mary hys sister came in place whose study was wholy bent to alter the state of religion in the wofull realme of England first she caused a Conuocation of the Prelates learned men to be congregate to the accomplishment of her desire In the which Conuocation M. Philpot beyng present accordyng to hys roume and degree with a few other susteined the cause of the Gospel manfully agaynst the aduersary part as is aboue recited for the which cause not withstandyng the liberty of the house promied before hee was called to accompt before B. Gardiner the Chauncellour then beyng hys Ordinary by whome he was first examined although that examination came not yet to our handes From thence agayne he was remooued to Boner and other Commissioners with whom he had dyuers sundry conflictes as in hys examination here followyng may appeare ¶ The first examination of M. Iohn Philpot before the Queenes
to put you in remembraunce therof to wil you with the wise man to prepare your selues to temptatioÌ„s to beware that ye which yet do stand by the goodnes of God may not fall from your liuely knowledge and hope It is an easie thing to begin to do wel but to coÌ„tinue out in well doing is the onely property of the children of God and such as assuredly shal be saued For so sayth our Sauiour in his Gospel Blessed are they that perseuere to the ende Let not therefore this certaintye of your saluation which is coÌ„tinuance in the sincerity of faith slide froÌ„ you Esteme it more then al the riches pleasures of this world for it is the most acceptable treasure of eternall life This is that precious stone for the which the wise marchant man after the Gospell doeth sell all that he hath bieth the same God in the 3. of the Apocal. doth signifye to the church that there shall come a time of temptation vpon the whole world to trye the dwellers on the earth FroÌ„ the danger of which temptation al such shal be deliuered as obserue his worde which worde there is called the worde of patience to geue vs to vnderstande that we must be ready to suffer all kinde of iniuries and sclaunders for the profession thereof Therfore God coÌ„mandeth vs there to hold it fast that no man might berefte vs of our crowne of glorye and S Peter telleth vs now we are afflicted with diuers assaies as it is need it should so be That the triall of our faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth and yet is tried by fire might redound to the laud glory and honour of Iesus Christ. S. Paule to the Hebrues sheweth vs that Christe our Sauiour was in his humanitie made perfect by afflictions that we being called to perfection in him might more willingly susteine the troubles of the worlde by the which God geueth all them that be exercised in the same for his sake his holinesse And in the 12. chap. of the said Epistle is wrytten My sonne refuse not the correction of the Lord nor shrinke not when thou art rebuked of him for the Lord doth chastice euery sonne whome he receiueth c. Christ in the Gospell of S. Iohn biddeth his disciples to looke after afflictions saying in the worlde yee shall haue trouble but in me yee shall haue ioy And therefore in the middest of their trouble in the 21. of S. Luke hee biddeth them looke vp and lift vp their heads for your redemption sayeth he is at hand And in the 22 he sayth to all suche as be afflicted for him You are those that haue abidden with me in my temptations and therefore I appoynt vnto you a kingdom as my father hath appoynted for me to eate and drinke vpon my table in my kingdome O howe glorious be the crosses of Christe which bring the bearers of them vnto so blessed an ende Shall we not be glad to be partakers of such shame as may bring vs to so high a dignitie God open their eyes to see al things as they be and to iudge vprightly Then doubtlesse we would thinke with Moises that it is better to be afflicted with the people of God then to be counted the king of Egypts sonne Then should we ioyfully say with Dauid in all our aduersities and troubles It is good O Lord thou hast brought me lowe to the ende I might learne thy righteousnesse Therefore S. Paule woulde not glory in any other thyng of the worlde but in the crosse of Christ in other his infirmities We haue the commaundement of Christe daily to take vppe his crosse and follow him We haue the godly ensamples of all his apostles and holy martyrs which with great ioy and exultation haue suffered the losse of landes goods and life for the hope of a better reward which is laide vp for all those in heauen that vnfainedly cleaue to the gospel and neuer be ashamed therof Great is the felicitye of the world to the outwarde man and very pleasant are the transitory delights therof but the rewarde of the rightuous after the word of God doth incomparably excell them all in so much that S. Paul to the Rom. doth plainly affirme that all the tribulations of this world can not deserue that glory which shall be shewed vpon vs. Let vs therfore good brethren and sisterne be mery glad in these troublesome daies the which be sent of God to declare our faith and to bring vs to the ende and fruition of that which we hope for If we woulde enter into the Lordes Sanctuarie and behold what is prepared for vs we could not but desire the Lord to hast the day of our death in the which we might set forth by true confession his glory Neither should we be afraide to meete our aduersaries which so earnestly seeke our spoile and death as Christ did Iudas and that wicked route which came to appreheÌ„d him saying I am he whom ye seeke It is commaunded vs by the Gospel not to feare them that canne kill the bodye but to feare God who can cast both body and soule into hel fire So muche wee are bounde to obserue this commaundement as anye other which God hath geuen vs. The Lorde encrease our faith that we feare God more then man The Lord geue vs such loue towards him his truth that we may be content to forsake all followe him Nowe wil it appeare what we loue best for to that we loue we will sticke There is none to be counted woorthy a Christian except he can finde in his heart for Christes sake if the confession of his truth doth require it to renounce al which he hath and followe him and in so doing he gaineth an hundreth folde more in this life as our Sauiour sayde to Peter and heere after is assured of eternal life Beholde I pray you what he loseth whâ—ch in this life receiueth a 100. for one with assuraÌ„ce of eternall 〈◊〉 O hapy exchaunge Perchaunce your outward man will say if I were sure of this great recompence here I could be glad to forsake all But where is this 100. folde in this life to be founde Yes truely for in stead of worldly richesse which thou doest forsake which be but temporall thou hast found the euerlasting richesse of heauen which be glory honour and praise both before God aungels and men and for an earthly habitation hast an eternall mansion with Christ in heauen for euen now thou art of the citie and housholde of the Saints with God as it is verified in the 4 to the Philippians For worldly peace which canne last but a while thou doest possesse the peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding and for the losse of a few frends thou art made a felowe of the innumerable companye of heauen and a perpetuall frend of all those
hym at hys cōmandement but to your Masse sayd I I haue small affectiō At which aunswer he was displeased sore sayd I should be fedde with bread and water And as I followed hym through the great hall he turned backe and beat me with his fist first on the one cheeke and then on the other as the signe of my beatyng did many dayes appeare And then he led me into a little salthouse where I had no straw nor bed but lay two nightes on a table and slept soundly I thanke God Then vpon the Friday next after I was brought to my L. and he then gaue me many fayre words and said he would be good to me And so he goyng to Fulham committed me to Doct. Harpsfield that he and I in that after noone should common together and drewe out certayne Articles whereunto if I would subscribe I shoulde bee dismissed But D. Harpsfield sent not for me til night and then perswaded me very sore to forsake my opinions I answered I held nothing but the truth therfore I could not so lightly turne therefrom So I thought I should at y◠time haue had no more ado but he had made a certaine bill whiche the Register pulled out of his bosom red it The bill in deed was very easily made and therefore more daungerous for the effect therof was to detest all errours and heresies against the sacrament of the aultar and other sacramentes to beleue the fayth of the catholicke church and liue accordingly ¶ The copy of this bill here mentioned if it please the gētle reader to peruse so as it came to our hands we haue hereunto adioyned written and conteined in theyr owne wordes as foloweth to be sene ¶ The Bill of submission offered to Thomas Whittell to subscribe I Thomas Whittell Prieste of the Dioces of London knowledge and confesse with my mouth agreeing wyth my hart before you reuerend father in God Edm. bishop of London my Ordinary that I do detest and abhorre all maner of heresies and errours agaynst the Sacrament of the aulter or any of the Sacramentes of the Church whiche heresies and errours haue heretofore bene condemned in any wise by the catholicke church and I do protest and declare by these presents that I do both now hold and also entēd by gods grace alwayes hereafter to hold obserue and keepe in all poyntes the Catholicke fayth and beliefe of Christes Church according as this church of England being a member of the sayd Catholicke Church doth now professe and keepe and in no wise to swerue decline or go from the sayd faith during my naturall life submitting my selfe fully and wholly to you reuerend father my sayd Ordinarye in all thinges concerninge my reformation and amendement at all times In witnesse whereof I the sayde Thomas Whittell Prieste haue hereunto subscribed my name written c. To this Bill I did in deed set to my hand being much desired and counselled so to do and the flesh being alwaies desirous to haue libertye I considered not throughly the inconuenience that might come thereupon and respite I desired to haue had but earnestlye they desired me to subscribe Now when I had so done I had litle ioy thereof For by and by my mind and conscience tolde me by Gods worde that I had done euill by such a sleighty meanes to shake of the sweete Crosse of Christ and yet it was not my seking as God he knoweth but altogether came of them O the crafty subtlety of Sathan in his members Let euery man that God shall deliuer into theyr hands take good heede and cleaue fast to Christ for they will leaue no corner of his conscience vnsought but will attempt all guilefull and subtle meanes to corrupt him to fall both frō God and his trueth But yet let no man dispayre of Gods help for Peter did fall and rise agayne And Dauid sayeth A righteous man though he fall he shall not bee cast away for the Lorde vpholdeth him with his hande For I for my part haue felt my infirmities and yet haue I found Gods present helpe and comfort in time of neede I thanke hym therfore The night after I had subscribed I was sore greeued and for sorrowe of conscience coulde not sleepe For in the deliueraunce of my body out of bondes whiche I mighte haue had I could finde no ioy nor comfort but still was in my conscience tormented more and more being assured by Gods spirit and his word that I through euill councell aduisement had done amisse And both with disquietnesse of minde and with my other cruell handeling I was sickly lying vpon the ground when the keeper came and so I desired him to pray Doctour Harpsfield to come to me and so he did And when he came and the Register with him I told him that I was not well at ease but especially I told him I was greued very much in my conscience and minde because I had subscribed And I sayd that my conscience had so accused me through the iust iudgement of God and hys word that I had felt hell in my conscience and Sathan ready to deuoure me and therefore I pray you M. Harpsfield sayd I let me haue the bill agayne for I wyll not stande to it So he gentlye commaunded it to be fetched and gaue it mee and suffered mee to pull out my name whereof I was right glad when I had so done although death should folow And hereby I had experience of gods prouidence and mercy towardes me who trieth his people and suffereth them to fall but not to be lost for in the middest of this temptation and trouble he gaue me warning of my deed and also deliuered me his name be praysed for euermore Amen Neither deuill nor cruell tyrant can plucke any of Christes sheepe out of his hand Of the which flock of Christes sheepe I trust vndoubtedly I am one by meanes of hys death and bloudshedding which shall at the last day stand at his right hand and receiue with other his blessed benediction And now being condemned to dye my conscience and minde I prayse God is quiet in Christ and I by hys grace am very well willing and content to geue ouer this body to the death for the testimony of his truth pure religion agaynst Antichrist and all his false Religion doctrine They that report otherwise of me speake not truely And as for Fountayne I saw not him all that while By me Thomas Whittell Minister ¶ Concerning the troubled mind of this Godly man and tearing of his name out of the bill here followeth the report of the same written in the letters both of the sayde Harpsfield and also of Iohnson the Register beyng then present thereat and reporters of the same vnto the bishop as in theyr letters hereto annexed is to be sene * The Copy of Nich. Harpsfieldes Letter touching Mayster Whittell written to Boner Byshop
he styrred vp his seruauntes the Bishops and Pharises to kill his body wherby notwithstanding the Deuill loste his title and interest whiche hee had to mans soule and man by his precious passion and death was raunsomed from the Deuil death and Hell to immortality life euerlasting and so when Sathan thought to haue wonne all in killing of Christ he lost all and so shall he doe in vs if wee abide constaunt◠and strong in the fayth of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe vnto the ende God graunte it for his mercyes sake in Christ. Blessed are all they that put theyr trust in him Amen Wherefore my hartely beloued brethren and sisters be of good comfort through Iesus Christ for he that is in vs is stronger then he that is in the world Therfore draw ye neare to God and he will drawe neare to you Resist the Deuill and he will as Iames sayth flee frō you Beware of the leuen of the Phariseis Touch not pitch least ye be defiled therewith Eate no Swines flesh for it is agaynst the law I meane defile not your selues neither inwardly nor outwardly with this false and wicked religion of Antichrist for it is nothing els but pitche and Swines fleshe Beware of the beastes marke least ye drinke of the cup of Gods wrath If God haue geuen you knowledge faith dissemble not therewith Denye not the knowne veritye before men least Christ deny you before his Father Come away from Babilon as Iohn biddeth you and touche no vncleane thinge but separate your selues from the company of the vngodly as Paule commaundeth you Whatsoeuer ye haue done amisse heretofore now repent amend for with the Lorde there is mercy and plenteous redemption The thirde thing and note which I gather out of the forsayd wordes of Peter is this that he sayth Reioyce because ye are pertakers of Christes Passion Our sufferinges my welbeloued are Christes sufferinges and that iniury that is done to vs for his sake he reckoneth it to be done to himselfe as he sayd to Paule Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Therefore we ought to reioyce in our sufferinges as Paule writeth whiche we suffer with Christ and one with another as Peter sayeth and so to fulfill that whiche is behinde of the Passions of Christ in our flesh whiche Christ hath by his Passion fully redeemed and saued vs in his owne person how be it hys electe must suffer with hym and for him vnto the worldes ende that he may be glorified in them and they thereby corrected and cleansed from sinne in this worlde and bee made more meete Temples for the holy Ghoste and also obteyne a greate rewarde in heauen for theyr suffering for righteousnesse sake according to his promise And therfore I saye my Brethren reioyce in the Lorde alwayes and agayne I say reioyce Let vs reioyce in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to vs and we to it And why shoulde wee so greatly reioyce in the Crosse of Christ which we now suffer Because sayth Peter when his glory appeareth we may be mery and glad And this is the fourth note that I gather out of his wordes aboue written Wherein is set out the reward of suffering not to be had in this worlde but at his comming to iudgement when we shal be raysed agayne and then shal they that haue sowne in teares reape in ioy as Christ sayth Blessed are they that weepe here for they shall laughe Blessed are ye when men hate you and thrust you out of theyr companye raylinge on you and abhorring your name as an euill thing for the sonne of mans sake reioyce ye in that day and be gladde for your reward is greate in Heauen Wherefore my dearely beloued through the hope of this heauenly ioy and rewarde which he that can not lye hath promised whiche ioye is so greate that no eare hath heard no eye hath sene nor the hart can thinke where we shall dwell for euer in the heauenly City the celestiall Ierusalem in the presence of God the Father Iesus Christ our Mediatour as Paul sayth and in the company of innumerable Angels and with the spirites and soules of all faythfull and iust men reioyce and be glad and seing ye be called to so great glory see that ye make your election and vocation sure by good workes and specially by sufferinge aduersitye for the Gospelles sake for it is geuen vs of GOD sayth Paule not onely to beleue in Christ but also to suffer for his sake Continue in prayer and praye for me that I may ende my course with ioy Haue Brotherly loue amongest your selues whiche is a token that ye be Christes Disciples Edify and comfort one an other in the word of the Lord and the God of peace and loue be with you alwayes Amen For your liberality and kindnesse shewed vppon the Prisoners and afflicted people of GOD in thys time of persecution the Lorde wyll reward you when he commeth to reward euery man according to theyr deedes and will not leaue a cuppe of colde water bestowed vpon his faythfull people vnrewarded God make you riche in all grace that ye alwayes hauyng sufficient maye be riche vnto all manner of good woorkes The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of GOD and the felowship of the holy ghost be with you alwayes Amen Your brother now in bondes for the Gospell Thomas Whittell * To my louing and faythfull brother Iohn Careles Prisoner in the kinges bench THe same fayth for the which Abraham was accounted iust Mary blessed whereby also all iust men liue the Lord GOD our louing father encrease and stablish in you and me to the obteining of eternal life in our alone and sweet Sauior Iesus Christ. Amen I can not worthely and sufficiently prayse GOD my hartely beloued brother for the consolation and ioy that I receiued by reason of your louing letters repenting me much that I being so long so neare you did not enterprise to styrre vppe familiarity and communication betweene vs by writing to mutuall consolation in Christe For what is there vpon earth wherein to reioyce where all thinges are transitory and vayne yea manne himselfe respecting this life but as Dauid sayeth the Saynctes that dwell vpon the earth and such as excell in vertue But here now I consider that if the felowshippe loue and ioye of faythfull men and children of God being as wee nowe be in double bondage the body within clay walles and the soule within these frail earthly bodies be so greate and comfortable how vnspeakeable will these ioyes be when we shall be deliuered from all corruption into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God Where we shal be present together continuallye in our glorified bodies beholding the face of our father presently whō now we see but in the glasse of fayth with his deare sonne
Christ our redemer brother and the blessed company of Aungels and all faithfull saued soules Of the incomparable good thinges and heauenlye treasures layd vp for vs in heauen by Christ Iesu. For the obteining wherof we ought to set light by all temporall griefes and transitorye afflictions so much the more in that our good God is faythfull will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our strength that namely in the end of our life when the tree where it falleth lieth styll as the preacher sayth when euery one causa sua dormit causa sua resurget for els before the ende he suffereth his sometime to fall but not finally to peryshe as Peter sinked vpon the Sea but yet was not drowned and sinned grieuouslye vpon the land thorow infirmity denying his Mayster but yet found mercy for the righteous falleth oftentimes And Christes holye Apostles are taught to â—ay remitte nobis debita nostra Yea though the righteous fall sayth Dauid he shall not be cast away for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand Oh the bottomlesse mercy of God towardes vs miserable sinners He vouchsafe to plant in my heart true repentaunce and fayth to the obteining of remission of all my sinnes in the mercies of God and merites of Christ his sonne and therto I pray you say Amen Oh my hartely beloued it grieueth me to see the spoyle hauocke that Saule maketh with the congregation of Christe but what remedy This is Gods will and ordinaunce that his people shall here both be punished in the fleshe and tryed in theyr fayth as it is written Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth them out of all for by a strayt path and narrowe doore must we enter Whether Into the ioyfull kyngdome of heauen therefore blessed are you and other that suffer persecution for Christes sake for the professing of the same Pray for me my felowes good brother that we may fight a good fight that we may keepe the fayth and ende our course with ioyfull gladnesse for now the time of our deliueraunce is at hand The Lord guide defend and keep vs and you and al his people in our iourney that we may safely through a shorte death passe to that long lasting life Farewell my deare and louing brother and felowe souldiour in Christ farewell I say in him who receiue our soules in peace when they shall depart from these tabernacles and he graunte vs a ioyfull resurrection and a mery meeting at the last day continuall dwelling together in his eternall heauenlye kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Yours with my poore prayer other pleasure can I do you none Thomas Whittell Minister * To my deare brethren M. Filles and Cutbert MY deare and welbeloued brethren in Christ Mayster Filles and Cutbert I wish you all welfare of soule body Welfare to the soule is repentance of sinne faythfull affiaunce in Christ Iesus a godly life Welfare to the body is the health of the same with all necessary thinges for this bodely life The soule of man is immortall and therefore ought to be well kept least immortality to ioy should turne to immortality of sorow As for the body be it neuer so well kept and much made of yet shortly by nature will it perish and decay But those that are engraffed incorporated into Christe by true fayth feeling the motion of Gods holy spirite as a pledge of theyr election and inheritaunce exciting and styrring them not onely to seek heauenly thinges but also to hate vice and embrace vertue will not onely doe these thinges but also if need requyre will gladly take vp theyr Crosse and folow their capteine their king theyr Sauior Iesus Christ as his poore afflicted church of England now doth agaynst that false and Antichristian doctrine and religion now vsed specially that blasphemous Masse wherin Christs supper and holy ordinaunce is altogether peruerted abused contrarye to his institutioÌ„ to Paules procedinges so that that which they haue in theyr Masse is neither Sacrament of Christ nor yet sacrifice for sinne as the Priestes falsely pretend It is a sacrament that is as S. Augustine saith a visible sign of inuisible grace when it is ministred to the communicants according to Christes example and as it was of late yeres in this realm And as for sacrifice there is none to be made now for sinne for Christ with one sacrifice hath perfited for euer those that are sanctified Beware of false Religion and mens vayne traditioÌ„s and serue God with reuerence and godlye feare according to the doctrine of his Gospell whereto cleaue ye that yee may be blessed though of wicked men ye bee hated and accursed Rather drink of the cup of Christ with his church then of the cuppe of that rosecoloured whore of Babilon which is full of abhominations Rather striue ye to go to heauen by the path which is strait to flesh and bloud with the litle flock then to goe in the wide waye folowing the enticementes of the world and the flesh which leadeth to damnation Like as Christ suffered in the flesh sayeth S. Peter so arme ye your selues with the same minde for Christ suffred for vs leauing vs example to folow his footsteps Blessed are they that suffer for his sake great is their reward in heauen He that ouercommeth sayth S. Iohn shall eat of the tree of life he shall haue a crowne of life not be hurt of the second death he shall be clothed with white araye not be put out of the booke of life Yea I will confesse his name sayth Christ before my father and before his Aungels he shal be a piller in the house of God and sitte with me on my seat And thus I bidde you farewell myne owne Brethren and deare felowes in Christ. Whose grace and peace be alway with you Amen This world I do forsake To Christ I me betake And for his Gospell sake Paciently death I take My body to the dust Now to returne it must My soule I know full well With my God it shal dwel Thomas Whittell ¶ An other Letter of M. Thomas Whittell written to a certayne Godly woman OH my deare and louing sister in Christe be not dismayde in this storme of persecution for Paule calleth the Gospell the word of the Crosse because it is neuer truely taught but the crosse and cruell persecution immediately and necessarily doeth folow the same and therfore it is a manifest token of Gods truth and hath bene here and is still abroade and that is a cause of the rage and crueltye of Sathan agaynste Christe and his members which must bee corrected for theyr sinnes in this worlde theyr fayth must be tried that after triall and pacient suffering the faythfull may receiue the crowne of glorye Feare not therefore my welbeloued but proceede in the knowledge and feare of God
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
Whome after that he hadde praised in the beginning of hys sermon for their perseueraunce in the true woorshipping of God he then deuided his whole sermon into 3. partes according to the solemne custome of the Schooles entending to speake firste of the mercy of God secondly of his Iustice to be shewed and last of all howe the Princes secretes are not to be opened And proceeding a little from the beginning he tooke occasion by and by to tourne his tale to Cranmer and wyth many hote woordes reprooued him that once he being endued with the fauour and feeling of wholesome and Catholicke doctrine fell into the contrary opinion of pernicious error which he had not only defended by wrytings and all hys power but also allured other men to doe the like wyth great liberalitye of giftes as it were appoynting rewardes for errour and after hee had allured them by all meanes did chearish them It were too long to repeat all things that in long order were there pronounced The summe of this tripartâ—â—e declamation was that he saide Gods mercy was so tempered with his iustice that he did not altogether require punishment according to the merites of offenders nor yet sometimes suffered the same altogither to go vnpunished yea though they had repented As in Dauid who wheÌ„ he was bidden chuse of 3. kindes of punishments which hee would and he had chosen pestilence for 3. dayes the Lord forgaue him halfe the tyme but did not release all And that the same thing came to passe in him also to whom although pardon reconciliation was due according to the Canons seeing hee repented from his errours yet there were causes why the Queene and the CouÌ„cel at this time iudged hym to death of which least he should maruell too much he should heare some First that being a traytor he had dissolued the lawfull matrimonie betweene the Kinge her father and mother besides the driuing oute of the Popes authoritye while he was Metropolitane Secondly that he had ben an heretike from whom as from an author and onely fountaine all heretical doctrine schismaticall opinions that so many yeres haue preuailed in Englande did first rise and spring of which hee had not bene a secrete fauorer only but also a most earnest defender euen to the ende of his life sowing them abroad by wrytings and argumeÌ„ts priuately and openly notwithout great ruine and decay of the catholicke church And further it seemed meete according to the lawe of equalitie that as the death of the Duke of Northumb. of late made euen wyth Thomas More Chauncellour that dyed for the Churche so there shoulde be one that shoulde make euen with Fisher of Rochester and because that Ridley Hooper Ferrar were not able to make eueÌ„ wyth that man it seemed meete that Cranmer shoulde be ioyned to them to fill vp this part of equalitie Besides these there were other iust and weighty causes which seemed to the Queene and the Councel whych was not meete at that time to bee opened to the common people After this turning his tale to the hearers he bad al men beware by this maÌ„s example that amoÌ„g men nothing is so high that can promise it selfe safetie on the earth and that Gods vengeance is equally stretched against al men and spareth none therfore they should beware learne to fear their Prince And seeing the Queenes maiestie woulde not spare so notable a man as this much lesse in the like cause she would spare other men that no man should thinke to make thereby anye defence of his errour either in richesse or any kinde of authoritie They had nowe an example to teache them all by whose calamity euery man might consider hys owne fortune who from the toppe of dignitie none being more honorable then he in the whole realme and next the King was faln into so great miserie as they myght nowe see being a man of so high degree sometime one of the chiefest Prelates in the Church and an Archbishop the chiefe of the Counsell the seconde persone in the Realme of long time a man thought in greatest assuraÌ„ce hauing a King on his side notwythstanding all hys authority and defence to be debaced froÌ„ high estate to a lowe degree of a Counsellour to become a caitiffe and to be set in so wretched a state that the poorest wretche woulde not chaunge condition with hym briefly so heaped wyth misery on all sides that neyther was left in hym any hope of better fortune nor place for worse The latter parte of hys Sermone he conuerted to the Archbishoppe whome hee comforted and encouraged to take hys death wel by many places of Scripture as with these and suche like bidding hym not mistruste but hee shoulde incontinently receyue that the theâ—e did to whom Christe sayde Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso That is Thys day thou shalt be wyth mee in Paradise And out of S. Paule hee aâ—â—ued hym against the terrour of the fire by this Dominus fidelis est non sinet vos tentari vltra quà m ferre potestis That is The Lorde is faithfull which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue youre strengthe by the example of the three children to whome God made the flame to seeme lyke a pleasaunt dewe adding also the reioysing of S. Andrewe in hys crosse the pacience of S. Laurence on the fire assuring hym that God if he called on hym and to such as die in hys faith eyther woulde abate the furie of the flame or geue hym strength to abide it Hee glorifyed God muche in hys conuersion because it appeared to be onely his woorke declaring what trauell and conference had beene with hym to conuert hym and all preuailed not till that it pleased God of hys mercye to reclaime hym and call hym home In discourâ—ynge of whych place he muche commended Cranmer and qualified hys former doynges thus tempering his iudgement and talke of hym that while the time sayde he he slowed in richesse and honour he was vnwoorthy of his life and nowe that he myght not liue he was vnwoorthy of death But least he shoulde carie with him no comfort he would diligently labour he sayde and also he did promise in the name of all the Priests that were present that immediately after hys death there shoulde be Diriges Masses and funerals executed for hym in all the Churches of Oxforde for the succour of hys soule Cranmer in all thys meane tyme wyth what greate griefe of minde hee stoode hearing thys Sermon the outwarde shewes of hys bodye and countenaunce did better expresse then any man can declare one while lifting vppe hys handes and eyes vnto heauen and then agayne for shame letting them downe to the earth A manne myghte haue seene the verye image and shape of perfecte sorrowe liuely in hym expressed More then twentie seuerall times the teares gushed out aboundantly dropped downe marueilously from hys Fatherly face They whych were
therefore declare vnto you my very faith how I beleeue wythout any colour or dissimulation for nowe is no time to dissemble whatsoeuer I haue sayd or wrytten in time past First I beleeue in God the Father almightye maker of heauen and earth c. And I beleue euery Article of the Catholicke faith euery woord and sentence taught by our Sauiour Iesus Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the newe and olde Testament And nowe I come to the great thinge that so muche troubleth my conscience more then any thing that euer I did or sayd in my whole life and that is the setting abroad of a wryting contrary to the truth which now here I renounce and refuse as things wrytten with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart and written for feare of death and to saue my life if it might be and that is all suche billes and papers which I haue wrytten or signed with my hand since my degradation wherein I haue wrytten many thinges vntrue And for asmuche as my hand offended wryting cōtrary to my heart my hand shall first be punished therfore for may I come to the fire it shal be first burned And as for the Pope I refuse hym as Christes ennemie and Antichrist with all his false doctrine And as for the sacrament I beleeue as I haue taught in my booke against the Bishop of Winchester the whych my booke teacheth so true a doctrine of the sacrament that it shall stand at the last day before the iudgement of God where the Papisticall doctrine contrary thereto shal be ashamed to shewe her face Here the standers by were all astonied maruailed were amased did looke one vpon an other whose expectation he had so notably deceiued Some began to admonish hym of hys recantation and to accuse him of falshoode Briefly it was a world to see the doctours beguiled of so great an hope I thinke there was neuer crueltie more notably or better in time deluded deceiued For it is not to be doubted but they looked for a glorious victorie and a perpetuall triumph by this mans retractation Who assoone as they heard these things began to lette downe their eares to rage frette and fume and so much the more because they coulde not reuenge their griefe for they coulde nowe no longer threaten or hurt him For the most miserable manne in the world can die but once and where as of necessity he must needes die that day though the papists had bene neuer so well pleased now being neuer so much offended with him yet coulde hee not be twise killed of them And so when they coulde doe nothing els vnto him yet least they shoulde say nothinge they ceassed not to obiect vnto him his falshoode and dissimulation Unto which accusation he answered Ah my maisters quoth he do not you take it so Alwayes since I liued hitherto I haue bene a hater of falshood and a louer of simplicitie and neuer before this time haue I dissembled and in saying this al the teares that remained in his body appeared in hys eyes And when he began to speake more of the sacrament and of the papacie some of them beganne to cry out yalpe and baule and specially Cole cried out vppon him stop the heretickes month and take him away And then Cranmer beinge pulled downe from the stage was ledde to the fire accompanied wyth those Friers vexing troubling and threatning him most cruelly What madnesse saye they hath brought thee againe into this error by which thou wilt draw innumerable soules with thee into hel To whom he answeared nothyng but directed all his talke to the people sauing that to one troubling hym in the way hee spake and exhorted him to gette hym home to hys studie and applye hys booke diligently saying if he did diligently cal vpon God by reading more he should get knowledge ⧠The description of Doctour Cranmer howe he was plucked downe from the stage by Friers and Papists for the true Confession of hys Faith ⧠The burnyng of the Archbishop of Caunterbury Doctor Thomas Cranmer in the Towneditch at Oxforde with his hand first thrust into the fire wherewith he subscribed before Then the Spanish Friers Iohn Richard of whom mention was made before began to exhort him and playe their partes with him a freshe but with vayne and lost labour Cranmer with stedfast purpose abidyng in the profession of his doctrine gaue his hand to certaine old men and other that stood by biddyng them farewell And when he had thought to haue done so likewyse to Ely the sayd Ely drewe backe his hande and refused saying it was not lawfull to salute heretickes and specially such a one as falsly returned vnto the opinions that he had forsworne And if he had knowen before that hee would haue done so he would neuer haue vsed his company so familiarly and chid those sergeants and Citizens whiche had not refused to geue hym their hands This Ely was a priest lately made and student in Diuinitie beyng thē one of the fellowes of Brasennose Then was an iron chaine tied about Cranmer whom when they perceyued to be more stedfast then that he could be mooued from hys sentence they commaunded the fire to be set vnto hym And when the woode was kindled and the fire began to burne neere hym stretching out his arme he put hys right hand into the flame which he held so stedfast immoueable sauing that once with the same hand he wiped his face that all men might see hys hande burned before his body was touched His body did so abide the burning of the flame with such constancy and stedfastnes that standyng alwayes in one place without moouyng of his body he seemed to mooue no more then the stake to which hee was bound his eyes were lifted vp into heauen and oftentymes he repeated hys vnworthy right hand so long as his voyce would suffer hym and vsing oftē the words of Steuen Lord Iesus receiue my spirite in the greatnesse of the flame he gaue vp the Ghost This fortitude of mynd which perchaunce is rare and not found among the Spaniards when Frier Ioh. saw thinkyng it came not of fortitude but of desperation although such maner of examples which are of the like constancy haue bene common here in England ranne to the L. Williams of Tame crying that the Archb. was vexed in mind and died in great desperation But he which was not ignorant of the Archbishoppes constancy beyng vnknowen to the Spaniards smiled only and as it were by silence rebuked the Friers folly And this was the ende of this learned Archb. whom least by euill subscribyng he should haue perished by well recantyng God preserued and least he should haue lyued longer with shame and reproofe it pleased God rather to take him away to the glory of his name and profit of his Church So good was the Lord both to hys
while her husbande was in prison Where the keepers wife named Agnes Penycote had secretlye heated a key fire hoate and laid it in grasse on the backeside So speaking to Alice Coberley to set her the key in all haste the said Alice went with speed to bring the key and so taking vp the key in hast did pitiously burne her hand Wherupon she crying out at the sodein burning of her hand Ah thou drabbe quoth the other thou that canst not abide the burning of the key howe wiâ—e thou be able to burne the whole body and so she afterward reuoked But to returne agayne to the story of Coberley who being somewhat learned and being at the stake was somewhat long a burning as the wynde stoode After his bodye was skorched with the fire and hys leafte Arme drawne and taken from hym by the violence of the fyre the fleshe beinge burnt to the whyte boare at length he stouped ouer the cheyne and wyth the ryghte hande being somewhat starckned knocked vpon his brest softly the bloud and matter issuing out of his mouth Afterward when all they thought he had bene deade sodenly he rose right vp with his body agayne And thus muche concerning these three Salisbury Martyrs ¶ A discourse of the death and Martyrdome of sixe other Martyrs suffering at London whose names here folow ABout the xxiij day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1556. were burned in Smithfielde at one fire these sixe constaunt Martyrs of Christ suffering for the profession of the Gospell viz. Robert Drakes Minister William Tyms Curate Richard Spurge Shereman Thomas Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller They were al of Essex and so of the dioces of London and were sent vp some by the Lord Rich and some by others at suÌ„dry times vnto Stephen Gardiner B. of Winchester then Lord Chauncellor of England about the 22. day of March an 1555. Who vpon small examination sent them some vnto the kinges Benche and others vnto the Marshalsea where they remained almost all the whole yere vntill the death of the sayd Bishop of Winchester and had during that time nothing said vnto them Wherupon after that Doctor Heath Archbishop of Yorke was choseÌ„ to the office of Lord Chauncellorshippe foure of these persecuted brethren being now wery of this theyr long imprisonmeÌ„t made theyr supplication vnto the said D. Heath requiring his fauour and ayd for their deliueraunce the copy whereof ensueth * To the right reuerend father Tho. Archb. of Yorke Lord Chauncellour of England MAy it please your honorable good Lordship for the loue of God to tender the humble sute of your lordships poore Orators whose names are subscribed which haue lien in great misery in the Marshalsea by the space of x. monethes and more at the commaundement of the late Lord Chauncellour to their vtter vndoing with theyr wiues children In consideration wher of your Lordships sayd Oratours do most humbly pray and beseeche your good Lordship to suffer them to be brought before your honour and there if any man of good conscience can lay any thing vnto our charge we trust either to declare our innocency agaynst theyr accusations or if otherwise theyr accusations can be proued true and we faulty we are ready God helping vs with our condigne punishments to satisfy the law according to your wise Iudgement as we hope ful of fatherly mercy towardes vs and all men according to your Godly office in the which we pray for your Godly successe to the good pleasure of GOD. Amen This Supplication was sent as is sayd and subscribed with the names of these 4. vnder folowing Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell * Richard Spurge VPon the receipt and sight hereof it was not long after but Syr Richard Read Knight then one of the Officers of the Court of the Chauncery 16. day of Ianuary was sent vnto the Marshalsea to examine the sayd foure prisoners therefore beginning first with Richard Spurge vpon certaine demaundes receiued his answeres therunto the effect whereof was that he with others were complayned vpon by the Parson of Bocking vnto the Lorde Rich for that they came not vnto theyr Parish Church of Bocking where they inhabited and therupon was by the sayd Lord Rich sent vnto the late Lord Chauncellour about the xxij day of March last past videl an 1555. And farther he sayd that he came not to the Church sithens the first alteration of the English seruice into Latin Christmasse day then a tweluemoneth only except that because he misliked both the same and the Masse also as not consonant and agreing with Gods holy word Moreouer he required that he might not be any more examined vpoÌ„ the matter vnles it pleased the Lord ChauÌ„cellour that then was to know his fayth therein which to him he would willingly vtter * Thomas Spurge THomas Spurge being then next examined made the same aunswere in effect that the other had done confessing that he absented himselfe from the church because the word of God was not there truely taught nor the Sacramentes of Christ duely ministred in such sort as was prescribed by the same word And being farther examined of his beliefe concerning the sacrament of the aultar he said that if any could accuse him thereof he would then make aunswere as God had geuen him knowledge therein ¶ George Ambrose THe like answere made George Ambrose adding moreouer that after he had read the late Byshop of Winchesters booke intituled De vera obedientia with Boners preface thereunto annexed inueying both against the authority of the Bishop of Rome he did much lesse set by theyr doinges then before ¶ Iohn Cauell IOhn Cauell agreyng in other matters with them aunswered that the cause why hee did forbeare the comming to the Churche was that the Parson there had preached two contrary doctrines For firste in a Sermon that hee made at the Queenes first entrye to the crowne he did exhort the people to beleue the Gospell for it was the truth and if they did not beleue it they shoulde be damned But in a second Sermon he preached that the Testament was false in forty places which contrariety in him was a cause amongest other of his absenting from the Church ¶ Robert Drakes ABout the fourth day of Marche next after Robert Drakes also was examined who was ParsoÌ„ of ThuÌ„dersley in Essex and had there remayned the space of three yeares He was first made Deacon by Doctour Taylour of Hadley at the commaundement of Doctour Cranmer late Archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury And within one yeare after which was the thyrd of the reigne of kyng Edward he was by the sayd Archbyshop and Doctour Ridley Bishop of London admitted Minister of Gods holy word Sacramentes not after the order then in force but after such order as was after established was presented vnto the sayd benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich at the
Christe videlicet that in the blessed sacrament of the aultar vnder forme of breade and wine there is not the very body and bloude of our Sauiour in substance but onely a token and memoriall thereof and that the very body and bloude of Christ is in heauen and not in the sacrament 4 Item that she hath bene and yet is amongst the parishioners of Tunbridge openly noted and vehemently suspected to be a sacramentarie and hereticke Her personall answeres to the said Articles TO the whych foresayde articles her aunsweares were these First that shee was and is of the sayd parishe of Tunbridge in the Dioces of Rochester 2 That al persons which do preach and hold otherwise and contrary to that which the holy catholicke churche of Christ doth are to be reputed for excommunicate and heretickes adding wythall that neuerthelesse she beleeueth not the holy Catholike church to be her mother but beleueth only the father of heauen to be her father 3 Thirdly that shee hath and yet doeth verely beleeue hold and affirme in the Sacrament of the Aultare vnder fourmes of bread and wyne not to be the very body and bloud of our Sauiour in substance but onely a token and remembraunce of hys death to the faithfull receiuer and that his body and substaunce is onely in heauen and not in the Sacrament 4 Lastly as touching howe shee hath beene or is noted and reputed among the parishners of Tunbridge shee sayd shee could not tell howbeit shee beleeued shee was not so taken and reputed Examination and condemnation of Iohn Harpole and Ioane Beach THe lyke matter and the same foure Articles were also the same present time and place ministred to Iohn Harpole by the foresayde byshop Maurice who after the like aunsweares receiued of hym as of the other before adiudged and condemned them both together to deathe by one fourme of sentence according to the tenor course of their seueral sentence which ye may read before in master Rogers storie And thus these ij Christian Martyrs coupled in one confession being condemned by the bishop suffered together at one fire in the towne of Rochester where they together ended their liues about the first day of this present moneth of Aprill Iohn Hullyer Minister and Martyr NExte after these ensueth the Martyrdome of Iohn Hullyer Minister who first being brought vp in the Schoole of Eaton was afterwarde Scholler and then Conducte in the Kings Colledge at Cambridge and in the same Uniuersitie of Cambridge suffered vnder Doctour Thurlby Bishop of Elye and hys Chauncelloure for the syncere setting out of the lyght of Gods gracious Gospell reuealed in these oure dayes In whose behalfe thys is to be lamented that among so many fresh wittes and stirring pennes in that Uniuersitie so little matter is leaft vnto vs touching the processe of his iudgement and order of hys suffering whych so innocently gaue hys lyfe in suche a cause among the middest of them By certayne letters whych hee hym selfe leafte behinde him it appeareth that hee was zealous and earnest in that doctrine of truthe whych euerye true Christian man oughte to embrace His Martyrdome was about the second day of this present moneth of Aprill ¶ Letters of M. Iohn Hullier Minister A Letter of Iohn Hullier to the Christian congregation exhorting them faithfully to abide in the doctrine of the Lord. IT standeth now most in hand O deare Christians all them that looke to bee accounted of Christes flocke at that great and terrible day when a separation shal be made of that sort that shal be receiued from the other which shal be refused faithfully in this time of great afflictions to heare our master Christes voice the only true shepheard of our soules whych sayeth Who so euer shall endure to the ende shall be safe For euen nowe is that great trouble in hande as heere in England we may wel see that our Sauiour Christ spake off so long before which shoulde followe the true and sincere preachinge of his Gospell Therefore in thys time wee must needes eyther shewe that wee be hys faithfull Souldiours and continue in hys battaile vnto the ende putting on the armoure of God the buckler of faith the brest plate of loue the helmet of hope and saluation and the sworde of his holy woorde whiche wee haue heard plentifully wyth all instaunce of supplication and prayer or els if we do not woorke and labour with these we are Apostataes and false souldiours shrinking moste vnthankefully from our gracious and soueraigne Lorde and Captaine Christe and leaning to Beliall For as hee sayeth plainely Who so euer beareth not my crosse and foloweth me he can not be my disciple And no man can serue two maisters for either he must hate the one and loue the other or els he shall leane to the one and despise the other The which thing the faithfull Prophete Helias signified when hee came to the people and sayde Why halte yee betweene two opinions If the Lorde be God followe hym or if Baal be hee then folowe him Nowe let vs not thinke but that the same was recorded in wryting for oure instruction whome the endes of the worlde are come vppon as the Apostle Saint Paule sayeth What so euer thyngs are wrytten aforehande they are wrytten for our learning If Christe be that onely good and true shepheard that gaue his life for vs then lette vs that beare his marke and haue our consciences sprinkled with his bloude followe altogether for our saluation hys heauenly voyce and calling according to oure profession and first promise But if we shall not so do certainly say what we can although we beare the name of Christe yet we be none of hys sheepe in deede For he sayeth very manifestly My sheepe heare my voyce and followe me a straunger they will not followe but will flee from him for they knowe not the voyce of a straunger Therefore lette euery man take good heede in these perillous dayes whereof we haue had so much warning aforehande that he be not beguiled by the goodly outward shewe and appearance as Eue was of our olde subtile enemie whose crafte and wylinesse is so manifolde and diuers and so full of close windings that if he can not bring hym directly and the plaine straight way to consent to his suggestions then he will allure him and winde him in by some other false wayes as it were by a traine that hee shall not perceiue it to deceiue him wythall and to steale from him that goodly victorie of the incorruptible and eternall crowne of glorye which no man els can haue but he that fighteth lawfully as at thys present day if hee can not induce him thorowly as other doe to fauor his deuelish religion and of good wil and free heart to helpe to vpholde the same yet he will enueagle him to resorte to hys wicked and whorish schoolehouse and at the least
wise to be conuersant and keepe company wyth hys congregation there and to holde his peace and say nothing what soeuer he thinke so that he be not a diligent souldiour and a good labourer on Christes side to further his kingdome by that subtile meanes flattering him that hee shall bothe saue his life also his goods and liue in quiet But if we looke well on Christes holy will and Testament we shal perceiue that he came not to make any suche peace vppon earth nor yet that he gaue any such peace to his Disciples I leaue peace wyth you sayeth he my peace I geue you not as the world geueth it geue I vnto you Let not your hart be troubled nor fearefull These thinges haue I spoken vnto you that in me ye should haue peace In the worlde yee shall haue affliction but be of good cheare I haue ouercome the world The seruaunt is not greater then his Lord and maister If they haue persecuted me they shall also persecute you If any man come to me and hateth not his owne father and mother wife children sisters yea and moreouer his owne life it is not possible for him to be my disciple Blessed be yee that nowe weepe for ye shall laughe and woe be vnto you that nowe laugh for ye shal mourne weepe He that wil finde his life shall loose it Therfore the God of that true peace and comfort preserue and keepe vs that we neuer obey such a false flattering which at length will pay vs home once for all bringing for temporal◠peace and quietnesse euerlasting trouble vexation and disquietnesse for these vaine and transitory goodes extreme losse and vtter damage of the eternal treasure and inheritance for this mortall life depriuation of the most ioyfull life immortall finally the entrance into endlesse death most miserable vnmeasurable pain and torment both of body and soule Now conferring these 2. scholemasters together lette vs consider the thing wel and determine with our selues whych way we oughte to take not to take the common broade way which seemeth heere moste pleasant and that the most parte of people take Surely I iudge it to be better to goe to Schoole wyth our maister Christe and to be vnder his Ferula and rodde although it seeme sharpe and grieuous for a time that at the lengthe we may be inheritors wyth him of euerlasting ioy rather then to keepe cōpany wyth the deuils schollers the adulterous generation in his schoole that is all ful of pleasure for a while and at the ende to be paide with the wages of continuall burning in the moste horrible lake whiche burneth euermore with fire and brimstone without any end What shal then these vaine goodes and temporall pleasures auaile Who shall then helpe when we crie incessantly woe woe alasse and weale away for vnmeasurable paine griefe and sorrowe O let vs therefore take heede betime and rather be content to take paynes in this worlde for a time that wee maye please God Our Sauiour Christe the true teacher sayeth Euery braunche that bringeth not foorth fruite in mee my Father will take away It is also not wrytten in vaine The children of the vngodly are abhominable children and so are they that kepe company wyth the vngodly What doeth he els I pray you that resorteth to the ministration and seruice that is moste repugnant and contrary to Christes holy Testament there keeping still silence and nothing reproouing the same but in the face of the world by hys very deede it selfe declareth hymselfe to be of a false fearefull dissembling fained and vnfaithfull heart and to haue layde awaye from hym the armour of light discouraging as muche as lieth in hym all the residue of Christes hoste and geuing a manifest offence to the weake and also confirming encouraging and reioysing the hearts of the aduersaries in all theyr euil doing By which example he doeth shewe him selfe neyther to loue God whome he seeth to be dishonoured and blasphemed of an Antichristian minister nor yet his neighbour before whome he should rebuke the euill as it is expresly commaunded in Gods holy lawe where it is sayd Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour that thou be ar not sinne for hys sake Wherefore let such a one neuer fantasie to deceiue him selfe that his name is registred in the booke of life to haue the stipend of Christes souldiour except he do the duety and performe the parte of a faithfull and ryghte true souldioure as other haue done before For such fearfulnesse commeth not from God as testifieth S. Paule saying God hath not geuen vs the spirit of feare but of power and loue Be not ashamed sayth he to testifie our Lorde but suffer aduersitye also with the Gospell through the power of God which saued vs and calling vs with an holy calling To be now fearful when most nede is that we should be of strong hearts is vtterly the reiecting of the feare of God and plaine vnfaithfulnesse and disobedience to the expresse commandement of our sauior Christ which sayth in his holy gospel Feare not them that kill the body c. For what faithfulnesse doe we expresse towards hym when he sayeth thus to vs and yet we declare in our doynges the very contrarye being euer fearefull euen as the vnbeleeuing Israelites whiche vnfaithfully feared Gods ennemies the heathen Cananites where as he had oftentimes geuen them commaundement by hys true Prophet Moses to do the contrary For the which cause all the whole number of that secte were destroyed in processe of time in the wildernesse and enioyed not the pleasant land of promise Which was a bodily figure shewed before and now agreeing to the promise of the heauenly inheritāce which shal be geuen to none other but onely to al such as with loue vnfained be wholy bent wythout any fear of man to fulfil Gods holy will and pleasure But all they that pertain to the liuely faith to the winning of the soule wil faithfully sticke to the commandement trusting moste firmly and faithfully that he that gaue the same wil also geue strēgth plentifully to performe it euen in the weakest vesselles of all euen as we haue heard and seene by many and diuers examples he onely be praised therefore S. Peter sayeth Feare not though they seeme terrible vnto you neither be troubled but sanctifie the Lorde God in your hearts Onely sayeth S. Paule let your conuersation be as it becommeth the gospell of Christe Continue in one spirit and in one soule labouring as we doe to maintaine the faith of the gospell in nothing fearing your aduersaries which is to them a token of damnation and to you of saluation and that of God for vnto you it is geuen that not onely yee shoulde beleeue in Christe but also suffer for his sake Wherefore let vs be ryght well assured that we shall yeelde a moste straite reckening and accompte if we transgresse
Church and to your owne euerlasting comfort in him So be it Ah my deare hartes and most faithful brethren and sisters in the Lord what high laudes and prayse yea what humble continuall thankes am I bound to geue to God our father for you on your most happy behalfe who so mightely hath magnified him selfe in you thus farre forth in geuing you his holy mighty spirit to the constant confessing of Christes veritie euen to the cruel condēnation I doubt not but he will do the same to the death Oh happye and blessed are you that euer you were borne that the Lord will vouch you worthy of this great dignitie to dye for his sake Doubtles it is the greatest honour that God can geue you in this lyfe Yea if they be so blessed of God that dye in the Lord as the holy ghost saith they be how much more blessed and happy then are you that die not only in the Lord but also for the Lord. Oh that it were the good wyll of God that the good houre were now come that I might goe with you Ah that my sinnes made me not vnworthy of such an excellent dignitie Be thankfull deare harts be thankfull reioyce in the Lord for mighty is his mercy towardes you and great is your reward in heauen the which you like faithful persōs haue plucked to you with a godly violēce of an inuincible faith Oh worthy warriours of the most high captaine Oh cōstant confessors of the euerlasting veritie how glorious a crown of victory shal you shortly receiue which is prepared for all such as do continue to the ende Oh you sweete saintes of the Lorde how precious shal your death be in his sight Oh how deare are your soules to your redeemer in whose hand they shall most ioyfully rest and the paynes of death shall neuer touch you Oh how blessed shall you be when Christ shall appeare at the which time you shall receaue your bodyes againe full of immortalitie Oh howe ioyfull shall you be when Christ according to his promise shall knowledge you before his father and his holy aungels as you haue most constantly confessed him to be your Lord and onely sauiour before men Oh blessed Greene thou meek and louing lamb of the Lord how happy art thou to be appoynted to dye for hys sake A full daintie dish art thou for the Lords own tooth Fresh and Greene shalt thou be in the house of the Lord thy fruites shal neuer wither nor decay Although thou go here forth sowing thy good fruites with teares the time shal come that thou shalt reape with ioy and gladnes the fruites of euerlasting life and that without ceasing Be mery therfore and feare not for it is thy fathers will to geue thee a kingdome wherunto he hath chosen thee before the foundations of the world were layd Oh happy Minister thou mā of God how glad maiest thou be of Gods most gracious fauour which hath preuented thee in the day of thy tryall Oh happy Peter whose part thou hast wel playd therfore thy reward and portion shall be like vnto his Now hast thou good experience of mans infirmitie but much more proofe and tast yea sense feeling of Gods aboundant bottomles mercy Although Satan desired to sift thee yet Christe thy good Captayne prayed that thy fayth should not fayle Gods strengthe is made perfect by thy weakenes his grace is sufficient for thee his deare childe Thine example did so incourage and strength thy poore brethren that God is euery waye glorified by thee and shortly will he glorifie thee with himself with that glory whiche he hath prepared for thee his electe deareling before the world was made Therfore reioyce be glad for thou hast good occasion in finding such fauour in his sight This is most true Oh my other brethren whom I do not know neyther haue I heard muche of you happy are you that euer you were borne and blessed be our God which hath geuen you such victory ouer the bloudy beast shortly shall you be clothed in large white garmentes and fyne raynes of righteousnes and so shall you follow the Lambe on mount Syon with new songes of mirth and melodye for your deliuerie forth of Satans power tiranny God for euermore bee blessed for you and strengthen you to the end as I doubt not but he will for hee neuer fayled them that put their trust in him O my deare and faithfull sister Ioane Warner what shall I say to thee Thy triall hath bene great thy victory in Christ hath bene notable Thou hast ouercome many a sharpe shower and storme Shortly shalt thou ariue at the hauen of quiet rest and receiue a reward due to a constant martyr Thou shalt go home to thy heauenly father and possesse for euer the inheritance which Christ hath purchased for thee where thy earthly parentes be still looking for thee which haue triumphed ouer Antichrist most victoriously Oh blessed parentes of happy Children which haue shewed such an example as the like hath bene seldome seen I salute thee deare sister of like constant mind whose constant example is worthy of continual memory Praysed be god for you mine own sweet sisters which hath made you to play such wise virgins parts He hath plentifully poured the oyle of his spirite into the lampes of your faythe so that the light thereof shall neuer be extinct You shal enter with your bridegrome into euerlasting ioy wherunto you were chosen in him from the beginning Oh my deare brethren and sisters you blessed saynts of the Lord how much how deeply am I bounde to prayse God for you both day night Pray pray for me my deare hartes for the render mercy of God that I may bee made worthy to folow your trace Oh that I had runne the race of my life as farre as you haue done yours and were as nigh my iorneys end as you be vnto yours But alas I lie like the lame man at the pooles side by Salomons porch euery man goeth into the place of health before me But God will appoynt me one one daye to put me in I truste my Lord of Londōs Colehouse is emptie al his officers idle Therefore they must shortly fetch more sheepe to the shambles for he is the common slaughter slaue of all England But happy are you that are passed through the pikes deliuered out of his hands and from al the angels of the darknes of this world which long tempted you in the wildernes of the same but now shall the angels of God come and minister vnto you for they are your seruantes to hold you vp in your handes that you shal not hurt your foot no nor one heare of your head shall pearish They shal cary you vp to heauen in a fiery chariot thoughe you leaue your Mantell behinde you for a time till God restore the
through the fatall death of blessed K. Edw. followed the woefull ruine of religion in the raygne of Queene Mary his sister In which alteration notwithstanding the general backsliding of the greatest part and multitude of the whole realme into the olde papisme agayne yet this poore blind woman continuing in a constant conscience proceeded still in her former exercise both being zelous in that shee had learned and also refusing to communicate in religion with those which taught contrary doctrine to that she before had learned in king Edwardes time as is aboue declared For the which she was called and conuented before the foresayd Bishop and D. Draycot with diuers other called in to beare witnesse * Articles ministred vnto her THe Articles ministred to her and wherewith she was charged were these First that she did hold the Sacrament of the Aultar to be but onely a memory or representation of Christes bodye and materiall bread and wyne but not his naturall body vnlesse it were receaued And that it ought not to be reserued from time to tyme ouer the Aultar but immediately to be receaued c. Item that she did hold in receiuing of the sacramente of the Aultar she did not receaue the same body that was borne of the virgine Mary and suffered vppon the Crosse for our redemption c. Item she did hold that Christe at his last supper dyd not blesse the bread that he had then in hys handes but was blessed hymselfe and by the vertue of the wordes of consecration the substaunce of the bread and wyne is not conuerted and turned into the substaunce of the body bloud of Christ. Item shee did graunt that shee was of the parishe of Alhallowes in Darby c. Item that all and singular the premisses are true and notorious by publike report and fame c. Whereunto she aunswered that she beleued therein so much as the holye scriptures taught her and according to that she had heard preached vnto her by diuers learned mē Whereof some suffered imprisonment and other some suffered death for the same Doctrine Amongest whome she named beside other Doctour Taylour whome she sayde took it of hys conscience that the doctrine which he taught was true and asked of them if they would doe so in lyke case for their doctrine whiche if they woulde not she desired them for Gods sake not to trouble her being a blynde poore and vnlearned woman wyth anye further talke saying by Gods assistaunce that she was ready to yeld vpp her lyfe in that fayth in suche sorte as they shoulde appoynt And yet notwithstanding being Prest by the sayd byshoppe and Doctor Draycot with many argumentes of Christes omnipotency as why was not Christe able as well to make the bread his bodye as to turne water into wyne rayse Lazarus from death and suche other lyke arguments and many times being threatned with greuous imprisonmentes tormentes death The poore woman thus being as it wer half astonied through their terrors threates and desirous as it seemed to prolong her lyfe offered vnto the Bishop then present that if he would before that company take it vpon his conscience that the doctrine which he would haue her to beleue concerning the sacrament was true and that he would at the dreadful day of iudgement aunswere for her therein as the sayd Doct. Taylor in diuers of his sermons did offer she would thē further aunswere them Whereunto the Bishop aunswered hee woulde But Doctor Draycot his Chauncellour hearyng that sayde My Lord you knowe not what you doe you maye in no case aunswere for an hereticke And immediately hee asked the poore woman whether she would recant or no sayd she should aunswere for her selfe Unto whose sayings the Bishop also reformed himselfe The poore woman perceauing this aunswered again that if they refused to take of theyr conscience that it was true they woulde haue her to beleue shee would answere no further but desired them to do theyr pleasure and so after certayne circumstances they pronounced sentence agaynst her and deliuered her vnto the Bayliffes of the sayd Towne of Darby afore named Who after they hadde kept her about a moneth or fiue weekes at length there came vnto them a writte De heretico comburendo by vertue whereof they were appoynted by the sayd Byshoppe to bryng her to the Paryshe Churche of all Sayntes at a day appoynted where Doct. Draycot should make a Sermon When the daye and time was come that this innocent Martyr shoulde suffer first commeth to the Church Doct. Draycot accompanyed with diuers gentlemen as Mayster Tho. Powthread M. Henry Uernon M. Dethick of Newall and diuers others This done all things now in a readines at last the poore blinde creature and seruant of God was brought and set before the Pulpit where the sayd Doct. being entred into his sermon and there inueiyng agaynst diuers matters which he called heresies declared vnto the people that that woman was condemned for denying the blessed sacrament of the Aulter to be the very body and bloud of Christ really and substancially and was thereby cut off from the body of the Catholick church and sayd that she was not onely blinde of her bodily eyes but also blind in the eyes of her soule And he sayd that as her body shuld be presently consumed with materiall fire so her soule shoulde be burned in hel with euerlasting fire as soone as it should be seperated from the body and there to remayne world without end and sayd it was not lawfull for the people to pray for her and so with many terrible threates he made an end of his sermon and commāded the Bayliffes and those gentlemen to see her executed And the sermon thus ended eftsoones the blessed seruant of God was caried away from the sayd Church to a place called the windmill Pit neare vnto the sayd Towne and holding the foresayd Roger Wast her brother by the hand she prepared herselfe and desired the people to pray wyth her and sayde such prayers as she before had learned cryed vpon Christ to haue mercy vpon her as long as life serued In this meane season the sayde D. Draycot went to hys Inne for great sorrow of her death and there layd him downe and slept during all the tyme of her execution and thus much of Ioane Wast Now for so muche as I am not ignoraunt faythfull reader that this and other storyes more set forth of the Martyrs shall not lack carpers and markers enow ready to seeke all holes and corners how to diffame the memory of GODS good Saynctes and to condemne these hystoryes of lyes and vntruthes especially hystories wherin they see their shamefull actes and vnchristian crueltye detected and brought to lyghte therfore for better confirmation of thys historye aboue written and to stop the mouthes of such Momes thys shall be to admonish all and singular readers hereof that the discourse of this
seu quomodo libet alias contra haben legen libros haereticos statutis interdicimus After the sentence thus read the Byshop commaunded their bodies to be digged out of their graues and beyng disgraded from holy orders deliuered them into the handes of the secular power For it was not lawfull for such innocent persons as they were abhorryng from all bloudshed and detestyng all desire of murder to put any man to death ¶ The effect of Doctor Pernes Sermon against M. Bucer OVer and besides this oration sentence of D. Scot came in also D. Perne Vicechancellour with his sermon tendyng to the same effect to the deprauyng of Maister Bucer taking for his theame the place of the 132. Psalme Behold how good pleasant a thyng it is c. Where beginning first with the commendation of concord and of the mutual knittyng together of the myndes he alledged that it was not possible to hold together vnlesse the concorde were deriued out of the hed the which he made to be the B. of Rome and that it also rested in the same After he had made a long protestatiō hereof he passed forth to Bucer vpon whom he made a shamefull railyng saying that his doctrine gaue occasion of diuision in the common wealth that there was not so grieuous a mischiefe which by his meanes had not bene brought into the realme Although all men myght perceyue by the bookes hee had compiled what manner of Doctrine it was yet notwythstanstyng he sayde he knewe it more perfectly hymselfe then any dyd and that hee had learned it aparte at the Authours hande hymselfe For at such tyme as they had communication secretly amōg themselues Bucer sayd he would oftentymes wishe he myght be called by some other name then by the name he had for this purpose as though knowyng himselfe guiltie of so grieuous a crime he might by this meanes escape vnknown to the worlde and auoyd the talke that went among men of hym Moreouer among other thyngs he told how Bucer held opinion which thyng he should confesse to hym his own selfe that God was the author and welspring not onely of good but also of euill and that whatsoeuer was of that sort flowed from him as from the headspring and maker therof The which doctrine he vpheld to be sincere howbeit for offending diuers mens consciences he durst not put it into mens heads Many other thyngs hee patched together of lyke purport and effect as of the supremacie of the Bish. of Rome of the mariage of Priests of diuorcements and of shamefull vsurie also as though he had deemed the same lawfull to be vsed among christen people with diuers other of the lyke sort In all which his allegations considering how lewdly without all shame he lied vpō Bucer as his writyngs euidently declare he dyd not so much hinder hys name with railyng vpon hym as win vnto hymselfe an inexpiable infamy by forging so shameful leesings vpon so worthy a man But what needeth witnesse to prooue hym a lyer hys owne conscience shall make as much agaynst hym as a number of men It was reported for a truth and that by his owne familiar friends testified that the said D. Perne himselfe eiter immediately after hys Sermon or els somewhat before he went to it strikyng himselfe on the brest and in a maner weepyng wished at home at his house with all his heart that God would graunt his soule might euen then presently depart and remaine with Bucers For he knewe well enough that his life was such that if any mans soule were worthy of heauen he thought his in especially to bee most worthy Whiles he was thus talking to the people in the meane tyme the leaues of the Churche doores were couered ouer with verses in the which the yong men to shew their folly which scarse knew hym by sight blased Bucers name with most reprochfull Poetrie These thynges beyng dispatched Perne as thoughe he had sped his matter maruelously well was for hys labour of curtesie bidden to dinner to Trinitie Colledge by the Commissioners Where after the Table was takē vp they caused the sentence of condemnation to be copied out with all speede which beyng signed with the B. of Chesters seale the next day followyng was for a triumph sent to London with diuers of those verses and slaunderous Libels Besides this they sent also their owne letters wherein they both aduertised the Cardinall how farre they had proceeded in that matter and also desired hys Grace that he would cause to be sent out of hand to Smith the Maior of the Towne the Commaundement commonly called a Writte for the burnyng of Heretikes For vnlesse hee had the Queenes warrant to saue hym harmelesse hee would not haue to do in the matter and that which remained to be done in that case could not be dispatched till that Warrant came Whiles this pursiuant went on his iourny they willed to be brought vnto them the bookes that they commāded before to be serched out For they determined to throw them into the fire with Bucer and Phagius About the same tyme D. Watson takyng occasion vppon the day because it was a high feast in the which was woont to bee celebrated the memoriall of the Purification of the blessed Uirgin made a Sermon to the people vpon that Psalme We haue receyued thy mercye O Lord in the middest of thy Temple c. In the which Sermon he spake much reproche of Bucer and Phagius and of their doctrine He sayd that these men all the heretikes of our time that were of the same opinion the which for the most part he said were budded out of Germany amōg other things which they had perniciously put into mens heds taughte to cast away all Ceremonies Whereas notwithstandyng the Apostle hymselfe commanded all thyngs to be done in due order And vpon that deed of the blessed Uirgin and Ioseph which was done by them as vpon that day it was manifestly apparant that they with our Sauiour beyng then a little babe obserued these rites and ceremonies for catholike men to teach For he sayd that they came to the Temple the same tyme with waxe Candles in their hands after the maner of procession as they terme it in good order with much reuerence and deuotion and yet we were not ashamed to laugh and mocke at these things with the heretikes and schismatikes As he was tellyng his tale of Christ Mary and Ioseph one of them that heard hym a pleasaunt mery conceited fellow turnyng himselfe to him that stood next him and if it be true quoth he that this man preacheth which of them I pray you if a man might spurre him a question bare the crosse before them for that might not be missing in such solemne ceremonies Not onely this man iested at the Preachers folly but diuers other also laughed at his manifest vnshamefastnes in preaching these
a sufficient witnes what we may iudge of all the rest of the body For certes my brethren the thing is not to be dissembled that cannot be hidden We applieng our selues to those most filthy tymes haue most shamefully yelded like faint harted Cowards which had not the stomackes to sustaine the aduersities of pouerty banishment and death Which in our liuyng and conuersatioÌ„ kept neither the constancy taught vs by philosophy nor yet the patience taught vs by holye scripture which haue done all things at the commaundement of others And therefore that which the Poete although in another sence hath trimly spoken may well be thought to haue bene truly prophesied vpon vs. The tymes and seasons changed be And changed in the same are we Diuers of them that were of a pure and sincere iudgement as conceruyng religion beyng driuen from hence distroubled the rest that remained tasted and felt of the inhumanity of them in whose hands the authoritie of doing things here consisted although to say the truth I haue vsed a gentler terme then behooued For it is not to bee accompted inhumanitie but rather immanitie beastly cruelty the which when they had spent all kynds of tormeÌ„ts and punishments vpon the quicke when they had cruelly taken from such as constantly perseuered life from others riches honors and all hope of promotion yet they coulde not be so satisfied but that incensed and stirred with a greter fury it began to outrage euen agaynst the dead Therfore where as in euery singuler place was executed a singular kynd of cruelty in so much that there was no kynd of cruelnes that could be deuised but it was put in vre in one place or other this was proper or peculiar to Cambridge to exercise the cruelty vppon the dead which in other places was extended but to the quicke Oxford burnt vp the right reuerend fathers Cranmer Ridley and Latymer the noble witnesses of the cleare light of the Gospell Moreouer at London perished these two lanternes of light Rogers and Bradford In whome it is hard to say whether there were more force of eloquence and vtterance in preaching or more holynes of lyfe and conuersation Many other without number both here and in other places were consumed to ashes for bearyng record of the truth For what City is there that hath not flamed I saye not with burning of houses and buildings but with burnyng of holy bodies But Cambridge after there were no more left alyue vpon whom they might spue out their bitter poyson played the mad Bedlem against the dead The dead men whose liuyng no man was able to finde faulte with whose doctrine no man was able to reprooue were by false and slanderous accusers indited contrary to the lawes of God and man sued in the law condemned their sepulchres violated and broken vp their carcasses pulled out and burnt with fire A thyng surely incredible if wee had not seene it with our eyes and a thing that hath not lightly bene heard of But the haynousnes of this wicked act was spred abroad as a common talke in euery mans mouth and was blowen and dispersed through all Christendome Bucer by the excellency of hys wit and doctrine knowen to all men of our countreymen in maner craued of many others intreated sent for to the intent he might instruct our Cambridge men in the sincere doctrine of the christen religion beyng spent with age and hys strength vtterly decayed forsooke his owne countrey refused not the tediousnesse of the long iourney was not afrayd to aduenture hymselfe vpon the sea but had more regard of the dilatyng and amplifieng of the Church of Christ than of all other thyngs So in conclusion he came euery man receyued and welcommed hym afterward he liued in such wyse as it might appeare he came not hither for his owne sake but for ours For he sought not to driue away the sicknesse that he had taken by the troublesome trauaile of his long iourney and albeit his strength were weakened appalled yet he regarded not the recouery of hys health but put hymselfe to immoderate labour and intollerable payne onely to teach and instruct vs. And yet toward this so noble and worthy a person while he lyued were shewed all the tokens of humanitie and gentlenesse reuerence and curtesy that could be and when he was dead the most horrible crueltie and spight that might be imagined For what can be so commendable as to grant vnto the liuyng house and a bidyng place and to the dead burial Or what is he that will find in his heart to geue entertainement to cherish that person in his house with all kynde of gentlenes that he can deuise vpon whom he could not vouchsafe to bestow buriall when he is dead Agayne what an inconstancy is it with great solemnity and with much aduauncement and commendation of his vertues to bury a man honourably and anone after to breake vp his tomb and pull him out spitefully and wrongfully to slander him beyng deade who duryng his lyfe tyme alway deserued prayse All these things haue happened vnto Bucer who whilest hee lyued had free accesse into the most gorgeous buildyngs and stately pallaces of the greatest Princes when he was dead could not be suffred to enioy so muche as his poore graue Who beyng layd in the ground nobly to his eternall fame was afterward to hys vtter defacing spightfully taken vp and burned The which thynges albeit they did no harme to the dead for the deade carcasses feele no payne neyther doth the fame of godly persons depend vpon the report of vulgar people and the lyght rumours of men but vpon the rightfull censure iust iudgement of God yet it reprooueth an extreme cruelnesse and vnsatiable desire of reuengemeÌ„t in them which offer such vtter wrong to the dead These persons therefore whome they haue pulled out of their graues and burned I beleue if they had bene alyue they would haue cast out of house and home they would haue driuen out of all mens company and in the ende with most cruell tormentes haue torne them in peeces beyng neuerthelesse Alientes beyng Straungers and beyng also fetched hether by vs oute of such a countrey where they not onely needed not to feare any punishment but contrary wise were alwayes had in much reputation as well among the noble and honourable as also among the vulgare and common people But yet how much more gentle then these men was Byshop Gardiner otherwyse an earnest defender of the Popishe doctrine Who agaynst his owne countreymen let passe no crueltie wherby he might extinguish with fâ—re sword the light of the Gospell and yet he spared Forreiners because the right of them is so holye that there was neuer nation so barbarous that would violate the same For when he had in his power the renowmed Clearke Peter Martyr then teachyng at Oxford he would not kepe hym to punish hym but as I haue heard reported when hee
should go his way he gaue hym wherewith to beare hys charges So that the thyng which he thought he might of right do to his owne countreymen he iudged vnlawfull to do to strangers And whom the law of God coulde not withhold from the wicked murthering of his owne countreymen hym did the lawe of man bridle from killyng of straungers the whiche hath euer appeased all barbarous beastlynesse and mitigated all cruelty For it is a poynt of humanitie for man and man to meete together and one to come to an other though they be neuer so far separated set asunder both by sea by land without the which accesse there can be no entercourse of merchaÌ„dise there caÌ„ be no conference of wits which first of al engendred lerning nor any commoditie of societie long to continue To repulse them that come to vs and to prohibite theÌ„ our countries is a poynt of inhumanitie Now to entreat them euill that by our sufferaunce dwel among vs and haue encrease of household and household stuffe it is a poynte of wickednesse Wherefore this crueltie hath farre surmounted the cruelty of all others the which to satisfie the vnsatiable greedinesse thereof drewe to execution not onelye straungers brought hether at our entreataunce and sending for but euen the withered and rotten carcasses digged out of their graues to the intent that the immeasurable thurst which coulde not be quenched with shedding the bloud of them that were aliue might at the least be satisfied in burning of dead mens bones These my bretheren these I say are the iust causes which haue so sore prouoked the wrath of God agaynst vs because that in doing extreme iniury to the dead we haue bene prone and ready but in putting the same away we haue bene slow and slacke For verely I beleue if I may haue liberty to saye freely what I thinke ye shall beare with me if I chaunce to cast forth any thing vnaduisedly in the heat and hasty discourse of my Oration that euen this place in the whiche we haue so often times assembled being defiled with that new kinde of wickednesse such as man neuer heard of before is a let and hindraunce vnto vs when we call for the helpe of God by meanes whereof our prayers are not accepted which we make to appease the Godhead to win him to be sauorable vnto vs agayne The bloud of Abell shed by Cain calleth and crieth froÌ„ the earth that sucked it vp likewise the vndeserued burning of these bodyes calleth vpon God almighty to punish vs and cryeth that not onely the Authours of so greate a wickednesse but also the Ministers thereof are vnpure the places defiled in which these thinges were perpetrated the ayre infected which we take into our bodyes to the intent that by sundry diseases and sickenesses we may receiue punishment for so execrable wickednesse Looke well about ye my deare brethreÌ„ and consider with your selues the euils that are past ye shall see how they tooke theyr beginning at Bucers death following one in anothers necke euen vnto this day First and formost wheÌ„ we were euen in the chiefest of our mourning and scarcely yet recomforted of our sorrow for his death the sweating sickenesse lighted vpon vs the whiche passed swiftly thorow all Englande and as it were in haste dispatched an innumerable company of men Secondly the vntimely death of our most noble king Edward the sixt whose life in vertue surmounted the opinion of all men and seemed worthy of immortality happened contrary to mens expectation in that age in which vnlesse violence be vsed fewe do dye The conuersion of Religion or rather the euersion and turning therof into papistry The incursioÌ„ and domination of straungers vnder whose yoke our neckes were almost subdued The importunate cruelty of the Byshops agaynst the Christians which executed that wickednesse for making satisfaction whereof we are gathered together this daye These are the thinges that ensued after his death but after his burning ensued yet greeuouser thinges Namely newe kinde of plagues and contagious diseases vnknowne to the very Phisitians whereby eyther euerye mans health was appayred or els they were brought to theyr graues or elles very hardly recouered bloudy battelâ—es without victory whereof the profite redounded to the enemy and to vs the slaughter with great losse The which thinges doe euidently declare that God is turned from vs and angry with vs and that he geueth no eare to our prayers and that he is not moued with our cries and sighes but that he looketh that this our meeting and assembly shoulde be to this end that for as muche as we haue violated theyr coarses we should doe them right agayne so that the memoriall of these most holy men may be commended to posteritye vnhurted and vndefamed Wherefore amende yet at length my brethren which hytherto by reason of the variablenesse and vnconstancy of the times haue beene wauering and vnstedfast in your hartes shew your selues chearefull and forwarde in making satisfaction for the iniury you haue done to the dead whome with so greate wickednesse of late ye endomaged and defiled not by censing them with the perfumes of those odours and spices now worne out of vre and put to flight but with a true and vnfained repeÌ„tance of the hart and with prayer to the intent that the heauenly Godhead prouoked by our doinges to be our enemy may be our huÌ„ble submission be entreated to be fauorable and agreable to all our other requestes When Acworth had made an ende of his Oration M. Iames Pilkinton the Queenes reader of the diuinity lecture going vp into the Pulpite made a Sermon vpon the 111. Psalme the beginning whereof is Blessed is the maÌ„ that feareth the Lord. Where intending to prooue that the remembraunce of the iust man shall not perishe and that Bucer is blessed that the vngodly shall fret at the sight therof but yet that all theyr attemptes shall bee to no purpose to the entent this saying may be verifyed I will cursse your blessinges and blesse your curssinges he tooke his beginning of hys owne person that albeit he were both ready and willyng to take that matter in hande partly for the worthinesse of the matter it selfe and inespecially for certayne singuler vertues of those persons for whome that Congregation was called yet notwithstanding he sayde he was nothing meet to take that charge vpon him For it were more reason that he which before had done Bucer wrong should now make him amendes for the displeasure As for his owne part he was so farre from working any euill agaynst Bucer eyther in worde or deede that for theyr singular knowledge almost in al kind of learning he embraced both him and Phagius with all hys harte But yet hee somewhat more fauoured Bucer as with whom he had more familiarity and acquayntaunce In consideration whereof although that it was scarce conuenient that he at that time should speake yet notwtstanding he was
them for troubling the countrey any more And so I was brought to the Marshalsea where I now am mery God be praised therfore loking for iudgement of my flesh for they intende to dispatch me shortly if God will geue them leaue but God hath theyr hearts in his hāds and they can do nothing to me but as God wil geue them leaue Wherefore I commit my cause to God onely and I am sure there shall not one haire of my head pearish without my heauenly fathers wil althogh I bide neuer so much trouble Iob pearished not for all his trouble although God gaue the deuil leaue to trouble and try him diuers many waies as God hath suffered his members to trouble and trie mee diuers and many waies I praise God They shall as little preuaile against my faith I haue no mistrust as the deuil preuailed not against Iob whatsoeuer they doe with my goodes life or body For he that kept Iob in al his trouble neither slombreth nor slepeth but keepeth me all his electe that whether we liue or die it shall be to the praise and glory of God For if we liue we liue at the Lordes wil and if we die we die to the Lordes will so whether we liue or die we are the Lordes blessed be his name therefore Wherfore dere brethren and sisters to whom this my wryting shall come be of good cheare and feare not what man can do vnto you For they can but kill the body but feare him that hath power to kill both body and soul. And yet once againe I bid you be of good cheare For the Sheriffe with diuers other Gentlemen and Priests whilest I was at the Sheriffes house said to me that all the heretikes in the coūtrey hong on me as the people did in times past vpon S. Augustine or S. Ambrose or such like Wherfore said they looke well on it you haue a great thing to aunswer for To the which I answered I pray God lay nothing more to my charge then he will doe for heresie as I am sure he will not For he hath set my sinnes as far from me as it is from the East to the West So that I am sure they shall neuer come neare to mee anye more Yea that they call heresie wee serue God withall And I am sure there is no man nor woman that hangeth on me but on God But yet that is their imaginations and thoughtes that if they might winne me to them they should winne a great many likewise and thinking to kill mee if they can not win me as I trust in God and am sure they shall neuer by Gods grace if it were possible to kill me x. times for I am so linked to Christ in a chaine by Faith that it is vnpossible for men to loose vs a sunder neither for life nor death I praise my Lord God therfore And no dout their full intent and purpose is to kill me thinking thereby to make other afraide Which death of my body were best of al for me if God were so pleased But if I may liue for the comfort of other his name be praised therefore I knowe what he can doe but what he will do I know not But if death be offred me so that I can not refuse it without displeasing of God I trust in God I shal not offēd my brethren in receiuing of death but shall be rather an occasion of the strengthening of their faith by chusing receiuing of it and that with ioy For as Christ hath geuen hys life for vs so ought we to geue our liues for the defence of the gospel and comfort of our brethren And whereas the byshop sayeth he will prooue vij sacraments be you oute of doubt he shal neuer be able to doe it no more then he hath prooued other arguments with me already Thus fare ye well frō the Marshalsey where I now am as a sheepe appoynted to be slaine God be praised therefore The second examination of Richard Woodman before the bishop of Chichester two of his Chapleines and D. Story at the last came to vs the xxvij day of Aprill FIrst I was sent for to the Marshalsey by Doctor Storie and was caried to his house besides S. Nicholas Shambles and when I had spoken to him he sent me to the bishop of Chichester and sayde he would come to him his selfe straight way and when we were in the Bishops Hall we had not taried long but the Bishop sent for me and when I came before him I did my duetie to him as much as I could Chich. Then said the Bishop You be welcome howe doe you nowe Wood. Well I praise God thanking your Lordship for the gentle talke that you hadde with me at my last departing from you Chich. Well goodman Woodman I haue sent for you of loue good wil that I bare to you to talke with you and I would haue you to tel me your minde in few woordes For in dede the last time that I talked with you our talke was so long that I fell into a great drieth thereby haue bene the worse in my body euer since Wherefore I praye you shew me your minde briefly in those particular matters that I shall demaunde of you according to your promise that you made when you were with me the last time How say you will you Wood. Yea forsooth I wil answere to any thing that you shall demaund of me by Gods helpe as wel as I can Chich. Howe say you by the vij Sacramentes for there we leaft off and there we will begin againe You sayde then there were but two How say you now to it wil you denie all sauing two Wood. I say now as I sayd then You sayd there be vij sacraments and I said I knew but two but if you could approue seuen by Gods word when I came before you again I must needes graunt thē And you said if you could not proue them by Gods word I should not beleue thē now I am come to see how well you can proue thē Here-wit◠he was moued and all his Chapleines Chich. By GOD and my troth I weene he thinketh I can not proue them How say you to the sacrament of Matrimony Wood. Why my Lorde Saynt Paule sayeth to Timothy A bishop should be faultles and you vse much swearing which is a greate fault in a Byshop of all other that should be an example to the flocke Then he and his Prelates were in a great rage with me because I reproued hym for his swearing Chich. What I perceiue this man is worse then he was the last day what he taketh vpō him to teach me to speak as though I could not tell what I had to do Priest So me thinketh my Lorde he is a stout fellowe in deed as we haue seene Wood. Yea I am stout because I do that I am commaūded I
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
fantastically as you teach vs to take them for then should we conspire with certaine heretickes called the Nestorians for they denie that Christ hadde a true naturall body and so me thinke you doe my Lord. If you wil affirm his body to be there as you say he is then must you needes also affirme that it is a fantasticall bodye and therfore looke to it for Gods sake and let these wordes go before Take yee and eate ye without which wordes the rest are sufficient but when the worthy receiuers do take and eat euen then is fulfilled the words of our Sauiour vnto him or euery of them that so receiueth Boner Ah I see well thou canste not vnderstand these woordes I will shewe thee a Parable If I should set a peece of beefe before thee and say eate is it no beefe And then take part of it away send it to my cooke and he shal change the fashion thereof and make it looke like breade What wouldest thou saye that it were no Beefe because it hath not the fashion of beefe Rafe Let me vnderstand a little further my Lorde shall the Cooke adde nothing therunto nor take nothing there from Boner What is that to the matter whether he do or no so long as the shape is changed into an other likenesse Rafe Ah will you so my Lord your Sophistrie will not serue the truth wil haue the victorie neuerthelesse as Esay sayth He that restraineth himselfe from euill must be spoyled And Amos hath suche like woordes also For the wise must be faine to holde their peace so wicked a time it is sayth he Neuertheles he that can speake the truth and will not shall geue a strait accounts for the same A Doctor By my Lords leaue here me thinks thou speakest like a foole Wilt thou be a iudge of the scripture Nay thou must stand to learne and not to teache for the whole congregation hath determined the matter long agoe A priest No by your leaue we haue a Church and not a congâ—egation You mistake that worde master Doctor Rafe Then sayd I to my fellowe prisoners standing by My brethren doe yee not heare howe these men helpe one an other Let vs doe so also But we neuer came all in together after that time but seuerallye one after an other Then was I caried away for that time The xix daye of May I was brought before the Bishop of Rochester and Chichester with others B Rochest Were you a companion of George Eagles otherwise called Trudgeouer My Lord of London telleth me that you were his fellow companion Rafe I know him very well my Lord. Rochest By my faith I had him once and then hee was as dronke as an Ape for he stonke so of drinke that I coulde not abide him and so sent him away Rafe My Lorde I dare saye you tooke your markes amisse It was either your selfe or some of your own companie for he did neither drinke Wine Ale nor Beere in a quarter of a yeare before that time and therefore it was not he forsooth The rest of mine examinations you shal haue when I am condemned if I can haue any time after my comming into Newgate the which I trust shall touch the matter a great deale more plainly for the pithie matters are yet vnwrytten Thus fare you well good frendes all Yea I say farewel for euer in this present world Greete yee one an other and be ioyfull in the Lord. Salute the good widowes among you with all the rest of the congregation in Barfold Dedham and Colchester This promise of hys being either not perfourmed for that he might not thereto be permitted or els if he did wryte the same not comming to my hands I am faine in the rest of his examinations to follow the only report of the Register who witnesseth that the 15. day of May. An. 1557. in the Byshops palace at London he was examined vppon certaine interrogatories the contents wherof be these FIrst that he was of the parish of Muchbentley and so of the Diocesse of London Secondly that the 10. daye of Ianuarie then last past M. Iohn Morant preaching at Paules the said Rafe Allerton did there openly submit himselfe vnto the Churche of Rome with the rites and Ceremonies thereof Thirdly that he did consent and subscribe aswell vnto the same submission as also to one other bil in the which he graunted that if he should at any time turn againe vnto his former opinions it shoulde be then lawfull for the Bishop immediately to denounce and adiudge hym as an hereticke Fourthly that he had subscribed to a bill wherein hee affirmed that in the sacrament after the woordes of consecration be spokâ—n by the Priest there remaineth still materiall bread and materiall wine and that he beleueth that the bread is the breade of thankesgeuing and the memoriall of Christes death and that when he receiueth it he receiueth the body of Christ spiritually in his soule but materiall bread in substaunce Fiftly that he had openly affirmed and also aduisedly spoken that which is contained in the sayde former fourth article last before specified Sixthly that hee hadde spoken against the Bishop of Rome wyth the Church and Sea of the same and also against the seuen Sacraments and other Ceremonies and ordinaunces of the same Churche vsed then wythin thys Realme Seuenthly that hee had allowed and commended the opinions and faith of M. Cranmer Ridley Latimer and others of late burned within this Realme and beleeued that theyr opinions were good and godly Eightly that he hadde diuers times affirmed that the religion vsed within this realme at the time of his apprehension was neither good nor agreeable to Gods woord and that he coulde not conforme himselfe thereunto Ninthly that he had affirmed that the booke of Common prayer sette foorth in the raigne of king Edward the vj. was in all partes good and godly and that the sayd Rafe and his company prisoners did daily vse amongst themselues in prison some part of the booke Tenthly that hee had affirmed that if hee were out of prison he would not come to Masse Mattins nor Euensong nor beare Taper Candle or Palme nor goe in procession nor would receiue holy water holy breade ashes or paxe or any other ceremonie of the Churche then vsed within this Realme Eleuenthly that he had affirmed that if he were at libertie he would not confesse his sinnes to any Priest nor receiue absolution of him nor yet would receiue the Sacrament of the altar as it was then vsed Twelfly that he had affirmed that praying to saints and prayers for the deade were neither good nor profitable and that a man is not bounde to fast and praye but at his owne wil and pleasure neither that it is lawful to reserue the Sacrament or to woorship it Thirtenthly that the sayd Allerton hath according to these his affirmations abstained refused to come vnto his parishe Churche euer
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
Roger Holland THe last examination of Roger Holland was when he with his fellow prisoners were brought into the consistorie there excommunicated all sauing Roger redy to haue their senteÌ„ce of iudgement geuen with many threatning words to feare them withall the Lord Strange syr Tho. Iarret M. Eagleston Esquier and diuers other of worship both of Cheshire Lankeshire that were Rog. Hollands kinsmeÌ„ and friends being there present which had beene earnest suters to the Bishop in hys fauour hoping of his safetie of life Nowe the Bishop hoping yet to winne him with his faire and flattering woordes began after this maner Boner Rog. I haue diuers times called thee before home to my house and haue conferred with thee and being not learned in the latine toung it doth appeare vnto me thou art of a good memorie of a very sensible talke but something ouerhastie which is a naturall disease to some men And surely they are not the worst natured men For I my selfe shall now and then be hastie but mine anger is soone past So Roger surely I haue a good opinion of you that you wil not with these lewd fellowes cast your selfe headlong from the church of your parents your frendes that are here very good catholikes as it is reported vnto me And as I meane thee good so Roger play the wisemans part and come home with the lost sonne and say I haue runne into the church of schismatikes and heretikes from the catholicke church of Rome and you shall I warrante you not only finde fauor at Gods hands but the Church that hath authoritie shall absolue you and put newe garments vppon you and kill the fatling to make thee good cheare withall That is in so doing as meate doth refresh and chearish the minde so shalt thou finde as much quietnesse of conscience in comming home to the church as dyd the hungry sonne that had ben fed afore with the hogs as you haue done with these heretikes that seuer them selues from the church I giue them a homely name but they be worse putting his hand to his cap for reuereÌ„ce sake then hogs For they know the church and will not followe it If I shoulde saye thus muche to a Turke hee woulde I thinke beleue me But Roger if I did not beare thee and thy friendes good will I woulde not haue sayde so muche as I haue done but I would haue let mine Ordinarie alone with you At these wordes his frendes that were there gaue the Bishop thankes for his good will and paines that he had taken in his and theyr behalfe Boner Wel Roger how say you nowe Do you not beleeue that after the Priest hath spoken the words of consecration there remaineth the body of Christ really corporally vnder the formes of bread and wine I meane that selfe same body that was borne of the virgine Mary that was crucified vpon the crosse that rose againe the third day Holland Your Lordship sayth the same body which was borne of the virgin Marie which was crucified vpon the Crosse which rose againe the third day but you leaue out which ascended into heauen and the Scripture sayeth he shall there remaine vntil he come to iudge the quicke and the deade Then he is not contained vnder the formes of bread and wine by Hoc est corpus meum c. Boner Roger I perceiue my paines and good will will not preuaile and if I shoulde argue with thee thou art so wilâ—ul as all thy fellowes be standing in thine owne singularitie foolish conceit that thou wouldest still talke to no purpose this 7. yere if thou mightest be suffered Aunswer whether thou wilt confesse the reall corporall presence of Christes body in the Sacrament or wilt not Holland My Lord although that God by his sufferaunce hath nere placed you to set forth his truth and glory in vs his faithful seruantes notwithstanding your meaning is farre from the zeale of Christ and for all your words you haue the same zeal that Annas and Caiphas had trusting to their authoritie traditions and ceremonies more then to the woorde of God Boner If I should suffer hym he would fall from reasoning to railing as a franticke heretike Lord Straunge Roger sayth the Lord Straunge I perceiue my Lorde woulde haue you to tell him whether you will submit your selfe vnto him or no. Boner Yea sayeth Boner and confesse this presence that I haue spoken of With this Roger turning him to the Lorde Strange and the rest of his kinsmen and frendes very chearefully kneled downe vpon his knees and said God by the mouth of his seruant S. Paul hath said Let euery soule submit him selfe vnto the higher powers and he that resisteth receiueth hys owne damnation and as you are â— Magistrate appoynted by the will of God so do I submit my selfe vnto you and to all such as are appoynted for Magistrates Boner That is well sayde I see you are no Anabaptist Howe saye you then to the presence of Chrâ—stes bodye and bloud in the Sacrament of the altare Holland I say and I beseeche you all to marke and beare witnes with me for so you shal doe before the iudgement seate of God what I speake for heere is the Conclusion And ye my deare frendes turning him to his kinsmen I pray you shew my father what I doe say that he may vnderstand I am a christian man I say and beleeue and am therein fully persuaded by the scriptures that the Sacrament of the Supper of oure Lorde ministred in the holye Communion according to Christes institution I beinge penitent sorie for my sinnes and minding to amend and lead a new life and so coÌ„ming worthely vnto Gods bord in perfect loue charity do there receiue by faith the body bloud of Christ. And though Christ in his humane person sitte at the right hand of his father yet by saith I say his death his passion his merites are mine and by faithe I dwell in him and he in me And as for the Masse transubstantiation the worshipping of the Sacrament they are meere impietie and horrible idolatrie Boner I thought so much sayth Boner suffering him to speake no more how he wold proue a very blasphemous hereticke as euer I heard Howe vnreuerently doeth hee speake of the blessed Masse and so read his bloudy senteÌ„ce of condemnation adiudging him to be burned All this while Roger was verye patient quiet and when he should depart he sayd my lord I besech you suffer me to speake 2. words The B. wold not hear him but bad him away Notwtstanding being requested by one of his frendes he sayd speake what hast thou to say Holland Euen now I told you that your authority was from God and by his sufferance and now I tel you God hath heard the praier of his seruaÌ„ts which hath ben powred forth with feares for his afflicted sainctes which daily you persecute as now you
reputation nor preachere wherefore hee would desire him to let them be punished a day or two and so to let them goe at the least Iohn Dale who was no priest and therfore seeyng he had so long sitten in the cage he thought it punishment enough for hys tyme. When the person heard this he was exceeding mad and in a great rage called them pestilent heretikes vnfitte to lyue in the common wealth of Christians Wherefore I beseech you Sir quoth he accordyng to your office defēd holy church and helpe to suppresse these sectes of heresies c. which are false to God and thus boldly set themselues to the euill example of other against the Queenes gracious proceedyngs Sir Henry Doyle seeyng he coulde do no good in the matter fearing also his perill if he should too much meddle in this matter made out the Writte and caused the Constables to cary them foorth to Bury Gaole For now were all the Iustices were they neuer so mightye afrayde of euery shauen crowne and stood in as much awe of them as Pilate dyd stande in feare of Annas and Cayphas and of the Pharisaicall broode which cried Crucifie hym Crucifie hym If thou let hym goe thou art not Caesars friend ¶ The burnyng of Richard Yeoman After that Iohn Dale was dead Rich. Yeoman was remooued to Norwich prison where after straite and euill keping he was examined of his faith and religion Then he boldly and constantly confessed himself to be of the faith and confession that was set forth by the late king of blessed memory holy K. Edward the 6. and from that he would in n◠wyse vary Beyng required to submit himself to the holy father the Pope I defie him quoth he all hys detestable abhominations I will in no wise haue to doe with him nor any thing that appertaineth to him The chief articles obiected to him were his mariage the masse sacrifice Wherfore when he continued stedfast in confession of the truth he was condemned disgraded not only burnt but most cruelly tormented in the fire So ended hee hys poore miserable lyfe and entred into the blessed bosom of Abraham enioying with Lazarus the comfortable quietnes that God hath prepared for his elect saintes ¶ The story of Iohn Alcocke THere was also in Hadley a yong man named Ioh. Alcocke which came to Hadley seking worke for he was a Shereman by his occupation This yong man after the Martyrdome of D. Tailor taking of Rich. Yeomā vsed first in the church of Hadley to read the seruice in English as partly is aboue touched At length after the comming of person Newal he being in Hadley church vpon a sonday when the Person came by with procession would not once mooue his cap nor shew any signe of reuerence but stood behind the font Person Newal perceiuing this whē he was almost out of the church dore ran back again and caught him and called for the Constable Then came Rob. Rolfe with whom this young man wrought and asked M. Person what hath he done that ye are in such a rage with hym He is an heretike and a traitor quoth the Person and despiseth the Queens procedings Wherfore I command you in the Queenes name haue hym to the stockes see he be forth commyng Wel quoth Rolfe he shal be forth comming proceede you in your busines and be quiet Haue him to the stockes quoth the Person I am Constable quoth Rolfe and may baile him and will baile him he shall not come in the stocks but he shal be forth comming So went the good Person forth wyth his holy procession and so to Masse At after noone Rolfe said to this yong man I am sory for thee for truly the person will seek thy destructiō if thou take not good heed what thou answerest him The yong man aunswered Sir I am sory that it is my lucke to be a trouble to you As for my selfe I am not sory but I do commit my selfe into Gods handes and I trust he will geue me mouth and wisedome to answer according to right Well quoth Rolfe yet beware of him For hee is malicious and a bloudsucker beareth an old hatred against me and he wil handle you the more cruelly because of displeasure against me I feare him not quoth the yong man He shall doe no more to me then God wil geue him leaue and happy shal I be if God wil call me to die for his truths sake After this talke they then went to the person who at the first asked hym Fellow what saiest thou to the sacrament of the aulter I say quoth he as ye vse the matter ye make a shame full idoll of it and ye are false idolatrous priests all the sort of you I told you quoth the person he was a stout heretike So after long talk the person committed him to ward and the next day rode he vp to London and caried the yong man with him and so came the yong man no more againe to Hadley but after long imprisonment in Newgate where after many examinations and troubles for that he would not submit himselfe to aske forgeuenes of the Pope and to be reconciled to the Romish religion he was caste into the lower dungeon where with euill keping sickenes of the house he died in prison Thus died he a Martyr of Christes veritie which he hartily loued constantly cōfessed receiued the garland of a well foughten battaile at the hand of the Lord. His body was cast out buried in a dunghil For the Papists would in all things be like thēselues Therfore would they not so much as suffer the dead bodies to haue honest and conuenient sepulture ¶ Thomas Benbrige Gentleman and Martyr wrongfully condemned and put to death by the cruell Papists for the defence of the Gospell of Christ Iesu. THoms Benbrige a Gentleman single and vnmaried in the Dioces of Winchester although hee might haue liued a pleasaunt and a Gentlemans lyfe in the wealthy possessions of this world yet to follow Christ had rather enter into the straite gate of persecution to the heauenlye possession of lyfe in the Lordes kingdome then here to enioy pleasures present with vnquietnes of consciēce Wherfore manfully standing against the Papists for the defence of the sincere doctrine of Christes Gospell hee spared not hymselfe to confirme the doctrine of the Gospell For the which cause he beyng apprehended for an aduersary of the Romish religion was forthwith had to examination before D. White Bish. of Winchester where he susteined sundry conflictes for the truth agaynst the sayd Bishop hys Colleagues The Articles of the Bishoppe ministred to hym with his aunswers to the same annexed be here followyng ¶ Articles ministred to M. Benbrige with his answers followyng the same FIrst we articulate against you that the Church of God ministreth rightly according to the rite Apostolicall
laded hys goods that they might attache them and chiefly to detract the tyme vntill the Alguisiel or Sergeant of the sayd Inquisition might come and apprehende the body of the sayd Nicholas Burton which they dyd incontinently Who then wel perceauyng that they were not able to burden nor charge him that he had written spoken or done any thyng there in that countrey against the Ecclesiasticall or Temporall lawes of the same Realme boldly asked them what they had to lay to his charge that they did so Arrest hym and bad them to declare the cause and he would aunswere them Notwithstanding they aunswered nothing but commaunded him with cruell threatnyng woordes to hold his peace and not to speake one word to them And so they caryed hym to the cruell and filthy common prison of the same Town of Cadix where he remayned in yrons 14. dayes amongst theeues All which time he so instructed the poore prisoners in the word of God according to the good talent which God had geuen hym in that behalfe and also in the Spanyshe tongue to vtter the same that in short space he hadde wel reclaymed sundrye of these superstitious and ignoraunt Spanyardes to embrace the word of God and to reiecte theyr popish traditions Which being knowne vnto the officers of the Inquisition they conueyed hym laden with yrons from thence to a citty called Siuill into a more cruell and straighter prison called Triana where the sayd fathers of the Inquisition proceeded agaynst him secretly according to theyr accustomable cruell tyranny that neuer after he could be suffered to write or to speake to anye of his nation so that to this day it is vnknowne who was hys accuser Afterward the the xx day of December in the foresayd yeare they brought the sayde Nicholas Burton with a great number of other prisoners for professing the true Christian Religion into the Cittye of Siuill to a place where the sayde Inquisitours sate in iudgement whiche they called the Awto with a Canuas coate wherupon diuers partes was paynted the figure of on huge Deuill tormenting a soule in a flame of fire on his head a coppyng tanke of the same worke ⧠The maner of the Popish Spaniardes in carying Nicholas Burton a blessed Martyr of Christ after most spitefull sort to the burning And immediately after the sayd sentences geuen they were all caryed from thence to the place of execution wyth out the citty where they most cruelly burned him for whose constant fayth God be praysed This Nicholas Burton by the way and in the flames of fire made so chearfull a countenaunce embracing death with all pacience and gladnesse that the tormentors and enemies which stoode by sayd that the Deuill hadde hys soule before he came to the fire and therefore they sayd his senses of feeling were past him It happened that after the Arrest of thys Nicholas Burton aforesayd immediately all the goodes and Marchaundise whiche he brought with him into Spayne by the way of trafficke were according to their common vsage seised and taken into the Sequester amonge the whiche they also rolled vp much that appertayned to an other English Marchaunt wherwith he was credited as Factour Wherof so soone as newes was brought to the Marchant aswell of the imprisonment of hys Factoure as of the Arrest made vppon his goodes hee sent his Atturney into Spayne with authoritie from hym to make clayme to his goods and to demaund them whose name was I. Fronton Citizen of Bristow When his Atturney was landed at Siuill and hadde shewed all hys Letters and writinges to the holye house requiring them that such goodes might be deliuered into his possession aunswere was made him that hee must sue by Bill and retayne an Aduocate but all was doubtlesse to delay him and they forsoothe of curtesie assigned hym one to frame his supplication for him and other such bils of petition as he had to exhibite into theyr holye Courte demaunding for eche Bill viii Rials albeit they stoode him in no more stead then if he had put vp none at al. And for the space of three or foure monthes this fellow missed not twise a day attending euery morning and afternoone at the Inquisitours Palace suing vnto them vppon hys knees for hys dispatche but specially to the Byshoppe of Tarraâ—on who was at that very time chiefe in the Inquisâ—tion at Siuill that he of hys absolute authoritie woulde commaund restitution to be made thereof but the bootie was so good and so great that it was very hard to come by it agayne At the length after hee had spent whole 4. monthes in sutes and requestes and also to no purpose hee receaued this aunswere from them that he must shewe better euidence and bring more sufficient certificates out of EnglaÌ„d for proofe of his matter then those whiche he had already presented to the Courte Whereupon the party forthwith posted to London and with all speede returned to Ciuill agayne with more ample and large letters testimonialles and certificates according to theyr request and exhibited them to the Court. Notwithstanding the Inquisitours still shifted hym off excusing themselues by lacke of leysure and for yâ— they were occupyed in greater and more weighty affayres and with suche aunsweres delayed hym other foure monthes after At the last when the party had wellnigh spent all hys money and therefore sued the more earnestly for hys dyspatch they referred the matter wholy to the Byshop Of whom when he repayred vnto him he had this aunswere that for himselfe he knew what he had to do howbeit hee was but one man and the determination of the matter appertayned vnto the other Commissioners as well as vnto him and thus by posting passing it from one to an other the party could obtayn no end of his sute Yet for his importunitie sake they were resolued to dispatche hym it was on this sort One of the Inquisitours called Gasco a man very well experienced in these practises willed the party to resort vnto hym after dinner The fellow being glad to heare these newes and supposing that his goodes should be restored vnto hym and that he was called in for that purpose to talk with the other that was in prison to conferre with him about theyr accomptes the rather through a little misunderstanding hearing the Inquisitour cast out a word that it shoulde be needeful for him to talk with the prisoner and being therupon more then halfe perswaded that at the lengthe they ment good fayth did so and repayred thether about the euening Immediately vppon his comming the Iayler was forthwith charged with him to shut hym vp close in such a certayne prison where they appoynted hym The party hoping at the first that he hadde bene called for about some other matter and seeing himselfe contrary to his expectation cast into a darcke dungeon perceyued at the length that the worlde went with hym farre otherwise then he supposed if would
them for the Sermon Wherunto they made but a small answer Then the Sheriffe made a Bill and so feared the men that 2. or 3. of them set to their hands and one of them neuer ioyed after but it was a griefe to him till he died Then did they take men with them vnto the Parsones house and in the night they tooke him and wyth watchmeÌ„ kept him vntill it was day Then should he haue bene caried the next day to the Counsell but the said Rob. Blomefield was taken so sicke that hee was like to die so that he could not carie him for his life Then the sayd sheriffe sent him to Ipswich againe and there he was for a time Then hee was sent to Burie prison from thence to the Councel and then into the Flete and so he lay in prisone from the beginning of haruest till it was nigh Christmasse and he sayd God gaue him â—uche answeres to make when he was examined that hee was deliuered with quietnes of conscience And hauing his libertie he came againe vnto the foresayd Towne and because he would not goe to Masse his liuing was taken away and he his wife were constrained to flie heere and there for his life conscience In the last yeare of Queene Maries raigne God did take him out of this life in peace Where moreouer is to be noted that this Robert Blomfield aboue named immediately after he had apprehended the saide Browne fell very sicke And though at that time he was a welthy man and of a great substance beside his land which was better then twentie pound a yeare after thys time God so plagued his housholde that hys eldest sonne died and his wife had a pining sickenesse till she departed this life also Then maried he an other a richer widow but all wold not helpe and nothing would prosper For hee had a sore pining sicknesse being full of botches and sores whereby he wasted away both body and goodes till he died So when he died he was aboue ix â—core pounds in det and it was neuer heard of any repentaunce he had But a litle before his death he bragged threatned a good man one Symon Hariston to putte him foorth to the Officers because he did weare no Surplis when he sayd seruice Wherefore it is pitie suche baites of Poperie are lefte to the enemies to take Christians in God take them away or els from them for God knoweth they be the cause of much blindnesse and strife amongest men Furthermore out of the sayde Towne were constrayned to flye Robert Boele and Iohn Trapne because they woulde not goe to Masse and receiue their Sacrament of the aultare Elizabeth Young YE heard before in the treatise of the scourging of Thomas Grene how he was troubled and beaten by doctour Storie for a certaine booke called Antichriste which he receiued of a woman because in no case he woulde detect her This woman was one Elizabeth Young who comming from Emden to England brought with her diuers bookes and sparsed them abroad in London for the which shee being at length espied and laied fast was broughte to examination 13. times before the Catholicke Inquisitours of heretical prauitie O. the which her examinations nine haue come to our handes Wherein how fiercely she was assaulted how shamefully shee was reuiled how miserably handled and what answeres she made vnto the aduersaries in her owne defence and finally after all this how she escaped and passed through the pikes being yet as I heare say aliue I thought to geue the reader here to see and vnderstande The first examination of Elizabeth Young before maister Hussie WHo examined her of many thinges First where she was borne and who was her father and mother Elizabeth Young Syr all this is but vaine talke and very superfluous It is to fil my head with fantasies that I shoulde not be able to aunswere vnto suche thinges as I came for Ye haue not I thinke put me in prison to know who is my father and mother But I pray you goe to the matter that I came hether for M. Hussie Wherfore wentest thou out of the realme Elizabeth To keepe my conscience cleane Hussie When wast thou at Masse Eliz. Not this three yeares Hussie Then wast thou not there iij. yeares before that Eliz. No Syr nor yet iij. yeares more before that for and if I were I had euill lucke Hussie How old art thou Eliz. Fourty and vpwardes Hussie Twentie of those yeares thou wentest to Masse Eliz. Yea and twentie more I may and yet come home as wise as I went thether first for I vnderstand it not Hussie Why wilt not thou go to the Masse Elizabeth Syr my conscience will not suffer me For I had rather that all the world should accuse me then mine owne conscience Hussy What and if a louse or a flea sticke vpon thy skinne and bite thy flesh thou must make a conscience in the taking her off is there not a conscience in it Elizabeth That is but an easie Argument to displace the Scriptures and especially in such a part as my saluation dependeth vppon for it is but an easie conscience that a man can make Hussy But why wilte thou not sweare vpon the Euangelist before a Iudge Eliz. Because I know not what a booke oth is Hussy Then he began to teach her the booke oth Eliz. Syr I do not vnderstand it and therefore I wil not learne it Hussy Then sayde hee thou wilt not vnderstand it and with that rose vp and went his way Her second examination before Doctour Martin WHo sayd to her Woman thou art come from beyoÌ„d the sea and hast brought with thee bookes of heresie and treason and thou must confesse to vs who translated them Printed them and who sent them ouer for once I knowe thee to be but a messenger and in so doynge the Queenes highnesse will be good to thee for shee hath forgeuen greater things then this thou shalt find as much fauour as is possible But if thou be stubborne and wilte not confesse thou wilt be wondrous euill handled for we know the truth already but thus we do only to see whether thou wilt be true of thy woord or no. Eliz. Syr ye haue my confession and more then that I can not say Martin Thou must say more and shalt say more Doest thou thinke that we wil be full answeared by this examination that thou hast made Thou rebell whoore and traitorly heretike thou dost refuse to sweare vpon the Euangelist before a Iudge I heare say Thou shalt be racked inch meale thou traitourly whoore and hereticke but thou shalt sweare afore a Iudge before thou goe yea and thou shalt be made to confesse how many bookes thou hast sold and to whom Eliz. Syr I vnderstand not what an oth is and therfore I will take no suche thing vppon me And no man hathe boughte any bookes of mee
brought them ouer to sell for gaine D. Cooke Let her heade be trussed in a small line make her to confesse Martin The booke is called Antichrist and so may it be wel called for it speaketh against Iesus Christ the Queene And besides that shee hathe a certaine sparke of the Anabaptists for she refuseth to sweare vpon the iiij Euangelistes before a Iudge For I my selfe and M. Hussy haue had her before vs foure times but we can not bring her to sweare Wherfore my Lord Chauncellor would that shee should absteine fast for she hath not fasted a great while For she hathe laine in the Clincke a good while where she hath had too much her libertie Then said the bishop why wilt thou not sweare before a Iudge that is the right trade of the Anabaptists Eliz. My Lord I wil not sweare that this hand is mine No sayd the bishop and why Eliz. My Lorde Christ sayeth that what soeuer is more then yea yea or nay nay it commeth of euill And moreouer I know not what an oth is and therefore I wil take no such thing vpon me Then saide Cholmley xx pounde it is a man in a woman clothes xx pound it is a man Boner Thinke you so my Lord Cholm Yea my Lord. c. Eliz. My Lord I am a woman Bish. Sweare her vpon a booke seeing it is but a question asked Then said Cholmley I will lay twentie pounde it is a man Then D. Cooke brought her a booke commanding her to lay thereon her hande Eliz. No my Lorde I will not sweare for I knowe not what an oth is But I say that I am a woman and haue children Bish. That know not we wherefore sweare Cholmley Thou yll fauoured whore lay thy hande vpon the booke I will lay on myne and so he laied his hande vpon the booke Eliz So will not I mine Then the Bishop spake a woorde in Latine out of S. Paule as concerning swearing Elizab. My Lorde if you speake to mee of S. Paule then speake English for I vnderstand you not The bish I dare sweare that thou doest not Eliz. My Lord S. Paul saith that fiue wordes spoken in a language that may be vnderstand is better then manye in a foreine or strange tongue which is vnknowen Doctor Cooke Sweare before vs whether thou be a man or a woman Eliz. If ye wil not beleue me then send for women into a secrete place and I will be tried Cholm Thou art an ill fauored whore Then said the Bishop How beleeuest thou in the Sacrament of the altar Eliza. My Lorde if it will please you that I shall declare mine owne faith I will The bish Tell me how thou beleeuest in the sacrament of the altar Eliza. Will it please you that I shall declare my Faithe And if it be not good then teach me a better and I wil beleeue it D. Cooke That is well sayd declare thy faith Eliz. I beleeue in God the Father almighty the Sonne and the holy Ghost three persons and one God I beleue all the Articles of my Crede I beleeue al things wrytten in the holy Scripture and all thinges agreeable wyth the Scripture geuen by the holy Ghoste into the Churche of Christ set forth and taught by the church of Christ. I beleue that Iesus Christ the only sonne of God that immaculate Lamb came into the world to saue sinners that in him by him throughe him I am made cleane frō my sinnes and without him I coulde not I beleeue that in the holy sacrament of Christes body and bloud which he did institute and ordaine and left among his Disciples the nyght before he was betraied whē I do receiue his Sacrament in faith and spirite I do receiue Christ. Bish. No more I warrant you but the sacramēt of Christes body and bloud receiued but in spirit and faith wyth those heretiques Cholm Ah whoore spirite and faith whoore Eliz. This sacrament neuer man coulde or did make but only he that did which no man could do Mart. Then thou must allowe that grasse is a sacrament for who could make grasse but he only Eliz. Syr he hathe suffered and made a sufficient Sacrifice once for all and so hath he made hys Sacrament sufficient once for all for there was neuer man that could say Take eate this is my body that is broken for you but only Iesus Christ who had his body broken for the sinnes of the world which Sacrament he hath left here amongst vs for a testimonial of his death euen to the worldes ende Mart. Who taught thee this doctrine did Scorie Eliz. Yea Bishop Scorie and other that I haue heard Bish. Why is Scory Bishop now Eliz. If that doe offende you call him Docteur Scorie if yee will Roper I knew when he was but a poore Doctour Mart. What doe ye call Scorie Eliz. Our Superintendent Bish. Loe their Superindent Mart. And what are ye called Eliz. Christes congregation Bish. Lo Christes congregation I warrant you Doctor Cooke What liuing hath Scorie Eliz. Sir as farre as I do know he liueth by his owne for I know no man that geueth him ought Recorder Yes I warrant you he hath enough sent hym out of England Eliz. Syr I know no such thing Cholm Harke whore harke harke how I do beleeue Eliz. My Lord I haue tolde you my beliefe Cholmley Harke thou yll fauoured whoore howe I doe beleeue When the Priest hath spoken the wordes of Consecration I do beleue that there remaineth the very body that was borne of the virgine Marie was hanged on the crosse was deade and buried and descended into hell and rose againe on the thirde day and ascended to heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God The same body when the priest hath spoken the woords commeth down and when the priest lifteth vp his body on this wise he lifting vp his handes sayd there it is Eliz. I haue tolde you also how I do beleeue Mart. Away with her Cholmley Ah euill fauoured whore nothing but spirit and faith whore Mart. Away with her we haue more to talke withall Then was shee caried into the Colehouse and searched for bookes and then put into the stockhouse and her knife girdle and aporne taken from her The fifth examination before the Bishop of Londons Chancellour c. THen was she brought out of the stockhouse brought before the bishops Chauncellour who required of her what age shee was of Eliz. Sir fortie yeares and vpwardes The Chauncellour Why thou art a woman of a faire yeares what shouldest thou meddle with the Scriptures it is necessary for thee to beleeue and that is inoughe It is more sitte for thee to meddle with thy distaff then to meddle with the Scriptures What is thy beliefe I woulde heare it for it can not be good in that thou art brought into prison Eliz. Syr if it will please you to heare
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
the state of your own person but of your kingdome also To what end became the enterprise of the Duke of Guise in Italy goyng about the seruice of the enemy of God and purposing after his returne to destroy the Vallies of Piemont to offer or sacrifice them to God for his victories The euent hath well declared that God can turne vpsidedowne our counsailes and enterprises as he ouerturned of late the enterprise of the Constable of Fraunce at S. Quintins hauyng vowed to God that at his returne he would go and destroy Geneua when he had gotten the victory Haue you not heard of L. Ponchet Archbish. of Toures who made sute for the erection of a Court called Chamber Ardente wherein to condemne the Protestantes to the fire who afterwardes was striken with a disease called the fire of God whiche began at his feete and so ascended vpward that he caused one member after another to be cut off and so died miserably without any remedy Also one Castellanus who hauyng enriched himselfe by the Gospell and forsaking the pure doctrine thereof to returne vnto his vomite again went about to persecute the Christians at Orleans by the hand of God was striken in his body with a sickenes vnknowen to the Phisitions the one halfe of his body burnyng as whote as fire and the other as colde as Ise and so most miserably crying and lamentyng ended his lyfe There be other infinite examples of Gods iudgements worthy to be remembred as the death of the Chauncellour and Legate du Prat which was the first that opened to the Parliament the knowledge of heresies and gaue out the first Commissions to put the faythfull to death who afterwarde died in his house at Natoillet swearyng and horribly blasphemyng GOD and hys stomacke was founde pierced and gnawen a sunder wyth wormes Also Iohn Ruse Counsailor in the Parliament comming frō the Court after he had made report of the processe agaynst the poore innocentes was taken with a burnyng in the lower parte of his belly and before he could be brought home to his house the fire inuaded all his secret partes and so hee died miserably burnyng all his belly ouer without any signe or token of the acknowledging of God Also one named Claude de Asses a Counsailour in the sayd Courte the sayde day that he gaue his opinion and consent to burne a faythfull Christian albeit it was not done in deede as he would haue it after he had dyned committed whoredome with a seruaunte in the house and euen in doyng the acte was striken with a disease called Apoplexia whereof he dyed out of hande Peter Liset chiefe President of the sayd Courte and one of the authors of the foresayd burnyng chamber was deposed frō his office for beyng known to be out of his right wit and bereaued of his vnderstandyng Also Iohn Morin Lieuetenaunt Criminall of the Prouost of Paris after he had bene the cause of the death of many christians was finally striken with a disease in his legs called the Wolues whereby he lost the vse of them died also out of his wits many dayes before denieng and blaspheming God Likewise Iohn Andrew Bookebinder of the Pallace a spie for the President Liset and of Bruseard the kings sollicitor died in a fury and madnes The Inquisitor Iohn de Roma in Prouence his flesh fell from hym by peece meale so stinkyng that no man might come nere hym Also Iohn Minerius of Prouence which was the cause of the death of a great number of men women and children at Cabriers at Merindol died with bleeding in the lower partes the fire hauing take his belly blaspheming and despising of God besides many other wherof we might make recital which were punished with the like kynd of death It may please your maiesty to remember your self that ye had no sooner determined to set vpon vs but new troubles were by and by moued by your enemies with whom ye could come to no agreement which God would not suffer for as much as your peace was grounded vpon the persecution which ye pretended against Gods seruauntes As also your Cardinals can not let through their crueltie the course of the Gospell which hath taken such roote in your realme that if God should geue you leaue to destroy the professors thereof you should bee almost a kyng without subiects Tertullian hath well sayde that the bloud of Martyrs is the seed of the Gospell Wherfore to take away all these euyls commyng of the riches of the papistes which cause so much whoredome Sodomitrie and incest wherein they wallowe lyke hogs feeding their idle bellies the best way were to put them from their lands and possessions as the old sacrifising Leuits were according to the expresse commaundement which was geuen to Iosua For as long as the ordinance of God tooke place and that they were voyde of ambition the puritie of religion remayned whole and perfect but when they began to aspire to principalitie riches and worldly honours then began the abhomination of desolation that Christ found out It was euen so in the Primatiue church for it flourished continued in all purenesse as long as the Ministers were of smal wealth and sought not their particuler profite but the glorye of God onely For since the Popes began to be princelike and to vsurpe the dominion of the Empire vnder the colour of a fals donation of Constantine they haue turned the Scriptures from their true sense and haue attributed the seruice to themselues which we owe to God Wherefore your Maiestie may seise with good right vpon all the temporalties of the benefices and that with a safe conscience for to employ them to their true right vse First for the findyng and maintainyng of the faithfull Ministers of the word of God for such liuyngs as shall be requisite for them accordyng as the case shall require Secondly for the entertainment of your Iustices that geue iudgement Thirdly for the relieuyng of the poore and maintenance of Colledges to instruct the poore youth in that which they shall be most apte vnto And the rest which is infinite may remayne for the entertainment of your owne estate and affaires to the great easement of your poore people which alone beare the burthen and possesse in maner nothyng In this doyng an infinite number of men and euen of your Nobilitie which lyue of the Crucifix should employ themselues to your seruice and the common wealths so much the more diligently as they see that ye recompence none but those that haue deserued where as now there is an infinite number of men in your kingdome which occupy the chiefest greatest benefices which neuer deserued any part of them c. And thus much touching the superfluous possessions of the Popes Lordly Clergie Now procedyng further in this exhortation to the king thus the letter importeth But when the Papists see that they haue
stroke of gods iust reuenge the same king by credible report of storâ— is sayd to dye of bleeding not onely at his eares and nose but in all other places of his bodye where bloud might haue any issue Unto these afore recited historyes of king Henry and hys two Sonnes might also be added the death of the Emperour Charles the fift Who in like maner beyng an enemy and a great terrour to the Gospell was cut of like wise for doing any more hurt to the Church muche about the same time an 1558. which was but three monethes before the death of Queene Mary and ten monethes before the death of the sayd Henry the 2. Touching the death of which Charles and Henry Fraunces this Epitaph folowing was written in Latine verses and printed in the French story booke aboue alledged Consilijs Christum oppugnans fraudibus ingens Regum ille terror Carolus Ipsis ridiculus pueris furiosus excors Totus repentè corruit Tuque Henrice malis dum consultoribus vtens Sitis piorum sanguinem Ipse tuo vecors inopina caede peremptus Terram imbuisti sanguine Henrici deinceps sectans vestigia patris Franciscus infoelix puer Clamantem Christum surda dum negligit aure Aure putrefacta corruit Versuti fatui surdi haec spectacula Reges Vos sapere vel mori iubent Not long after Anne du Bourges death the President Minard who was a sore persecutour and the condemner of the sayd Anne du Bourg as he returned from the Pallace or Counsell chamber to his owne house beyng vpon his Mule euen hard by his house was slayne with a Dag but who was the doer thereof or for what cause hee was slayne for all the inquisition and dilligent searche that coulde be made it was neuer knowne Amongst many other examples worthy to be noted let vs also consider the end of the K. of Nauarre brother to the worthy Prince of Condy who after he had susteined a certayne time the cause of the Gospell at length being allured by the flattering words of the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother and vpon hope to haue his landes restored againe which the king of Spayne reteyned from him was contented to alter his religion and to ioyne side with the Papists and so being in camp with the Duke of Guise at the siege of Roane was there shot in with a pellet After which wound receiued being brought to a towne three miles from the campe called Preaux hee did vehemently repent and lament his backsliding from the Gospell promising to God most earnestly that if hee might escape that hurt he woulde bring to passe that the Gospell should be preached freely through all Fraunce Notwithstanding within fiue or sixe dayes after he dyed Neyther did the Duke of Guise himselfe the greate Archenemy of God and his Gospell continue in life long after that but both he with the whole triumuirat of France that is three the greatest captayns of popery were cut off for doyng any more hurt to wit the Duke of Guise before Orleance the Constable before Paris the Marshal of S. Andrew before Dreux ¶ Of the Emperour Sigismundus Amongest others here is not to bee past ouer nor forgotten the notable examples of Gods iust scourge vppon Sigismundus the Emperour of whoÌ„ mentioÌ„ is made before in the condemnation of Iohn Husse Hierome of Prage pag. 596. After the deathe and wrongfull condemnation of which blessed martyrs nothing afterward went prosperously with the sayd Emperour but all contrary so that both he dyed without issue in his warres euer weÌ„t to the worst And not long after Ladislaus his daughters sonne king of Hungary fighting agaynst the Turk was slayne in the fielde So that in the tyme of one generation al the posteritie ofspring of this Emperor perished Besides this Barbara his wife came to suche ruine by her wicked leudnes that she became a shame and slaunder to the name state of all Queenes Whereby all Christian princes and Emperours may sufficiently bee admonished if they haue grace what it is to defile themselues with the bloud of Christes blessed sayntes and Martyrs ¶ A note of Christopher Parker CHristopher Parker called Parker the wilde mentioned before in this booke of Monumentes pag. 1986. who being a persecuter of Richard Woodman did manacle his handes with a corde did cast himselfe into a pond and so drowned himselfe at Herstnonceux in Sussex the 8. of September 1575. * The story of one Drayner of Kent commonly called Iustice Nyne hooles I May not in this place omit the tragedy of one Drayner of Smarden in the Counâ—y of Kent Esquire who bearing grudge against one Gregory Doddes Parson of the sayde towne for reprouing his vicious lyfe sent for hym by two men which tooke hym brought him before him where he was had into a Parlour as it were to breakfast In which behinde the doore he had placed one Roger Mathew secretly to beare witnes what he shuld say no more being in sight but the sayd Drayner one of hys men who willed and perswaded him to speake freely his minde for that there was not sufficient record of his wordes to hurt him But the Lord kept his talke without perill wherby the sayd Drayner sent hym to the next Iustice called M. George Dorell who perceiuing it to be done more of malice theÌ„ otherwise deliuered him vpon sureties to appeare at the next Sessions at Cant. and at length was banished the Countrey This sayd Drayner afterward being chosen Iustice to shew himselfe diligent in seeking the trouble of his neighbors made in the Rodeloft nyne hooles that he might looke about the church in Masse tyme. In which place alway at the sacring therof he would stand to see who looked not or held not vp his hands therto which persoÌ„s so not doing he would trouble punish very sore Wherby he purchased a name ther is called to this day Iustice nine holes who now God be thanked is Iohn out of office glad of his neighbors good will It so fell out that since this was published the sayde Drayner came to the Printers house with other associate demaunding Is Foxe here To whome aunswere was geuen that maister Foxe was not within Is the Printer within quoth Drayner It was aunswered yea Wherevpon being required to come vp into his house was asked what his will was Mary sayth he you haue printed me false in your booke Why sayth the Printer is not your name M. Drayner otherwise called Iustice nine holes It is false sayth he I made but v. with a great Augure and the Parson made the rest It was answered I haue not read that a Iustice shoulde make him a place in the Roode loft to see if the people held vppe theyr handes He sayd where as you alleadge that I did it to see who adored the sacrament or who not it is vntrue for
I set as litle by it as the best of you all In deede sayth the Printer so we vnderstand now for you being at a supper in Cheapside among certaine honest company and there burdened with the matter sayd then that you did it rather to looke vpon fayre wenches then otherwise He being in a great rage sware to the purpose saying Can a man speake nothing but you must haue vnderstaÌ„ding therof But sayth he did I any man any hurt It was aunswered that hee meant litle good to M. Doddes aforesayd especially procuring a secret witnesse behinde his doore to catche some wordes that might tend to Doddes destruction Whiche thing Drayner sware as before was not true To whoÌ„ the printer replied that it was most true for that the party there secretly hidden hath since vpon his knees asking forgeuenesse for his intent confessed the same to Doddes himselfe I will hang that knaue sayth he And so he departed in a rage and since is deceased whose death order therof I referre to the secret Iudge ¶ A Lamentable History of Iohn Whiteman Shoomaker who suffered most cruell tormentes at Ostend in Flaunders for the testimony of Iesus Christ and the truth of his Gospell an 1572. IOhn Whiteman Shoomaker being about the age of 49. yeares borne in Tinen a towne in Brabant After hys comming ouer into England dwelt in Rye in the County of Sussex maryed xxiij yeares alwayes a professour of the Gospell as well in the time of the freedome therof as in time of persecution About Candlemas in the yeare 1572. vnknowne to his frendes in Rye vnderstanding of shipping in Rye which was ready bound for Ostend in Flaunders went aboorde the Saterday morning and arriued at Ostend that night where he lodged wyth one of his kinsmeÌ„ there dwelling The next day being Sonday in the morning he accompanyed with his sayd kinsman tooke his iourney as it were to haue passed hither into the countrey When they were about three mile on theyr way out of the Towne sodeynely Whitman stayd and would go no further but immediatly returned back againe to Ostend whither so soone â—s he was come it being seruice tyme in theyr Church he forthwith addressed himselfe thither and at the time of the heaue offering stept to the sacrificer and tooke from ouer his head his Idoll saying these words in the Dutch tongue· Is this your God and so breaking it cast it downe vnder his feet and trode theron Forthwith the people in an vprore came to lay holde on him and hardly in the Church escaped he death by the souldiers there present but being rescued by some to the intent to be further examined and made a publicke spectackle he was carryed immediatly to prison Upon the next day being monday the Iudges other Counsellers being assembled he was brought forth into the common hall and examined of hys fact the intent the counsell and abettors thereof and also of his fayth where he very coÌ„stantly in defence of his christian fayth great detestation of Idolatry demeaned him selfe in such sort that he wrong teares from the eyes of diuers both of the chiefe others present So was he committed agayne to prison The next day being Tuesday he was brought out agayne before the Iudges into the same place And being examined as before he no whit abated but increased in his coÌ„stancy WhereupoÌ„ senteÌ„ce was geueÌ„ vpoÌ„ him to haue his hand cut of and his body scorched to death after to be haÌ„ged vp So the day folowing being wednesday he was brought out of prisoÌ„ to the towne hal standing in the market place all thinges beloÌ„ging to execution being made ready there Which when they were al ready the hangman went into the hall with a cord tyed the hands of Whitman came out leadyng him thereby so soone as Whitman was out of the house he made such hast as it wer ran to the place of execution that he drew the hangman after him There was a post set vp with sparres froÌ„ the top therof aslope downe to the ground in maner of a Tent to the end that he shoulde be onely scorched to death not burned When he was come to the place the hangmaÌ„ commaunded him to lay downe hys right hand vppon a block which he immediately with a hatchet smote of the good man stil coÌ„tinuing constaÌ„t the hangman stept behind him bid him put out his tonge which he forthw t did as far as he could out of his mouth through the which he thrust a loÌ„g instrument like a Packe needle and so let it sticke Then the Iudges standing by in the common Hall read agayn his fact and sentence Wherunto hee coulde make no aunswere his tongue haÌ„ging out of his head so was he stripped out of his Cassocke his hose being put of in prison put wtin his Tent made fast with two chaynes and fire and put round about which broyled and scorched his body most miserably al blacke he not being seene but heard to make a noyse within the Tent. When he was dead hee was caryed out to be haÌ„ged vpon a gybbot beside the town Spectatores praesentes Cutbert Carr Bartholomeus Bellington Nautae Rienses ¶ Admonition to the Reader concerning the examples aboue mentioned IT hath bene a long perswasion gendred in the heades of many men these many yeares that to ground a mans fayth vpoÌ„ Gods word alone and not vpon the See and Churche of Rome following all the ordinaunces and constitutions of the same was damnable heresie and to persecute such men to death was hygh seruice done to God Whereupon hath risen so great persecutions slaughters and murders with such effusion of ChristeÌ„ bloud through all partes of Christendome by the space of these 70. yeares as hath not before bene seene And of these men Chryst himselfe doth full well warne vs long before true prophesiyng of such times to come when they that flea his Ministers and seruantes shuld thinke themselues to do good seruice vnto God Ioh. 16. Now what wicked seruice and howe detestable before God this is which they falsly perswade themselues to be godly what more euident demonstrations can we require then these so many so manifest so terrible examples of Gods wrath pouring down from heauen vpon these persecuters whereof part we haue already set forth for to comprehend all which in number are infinite it is vnpossible Wherfore although there be manye whiche will neyther heare see nor vnderstand what is for theyr profite yet let al moderate wel disposed natures take warning in time And if the playne word of God will not suffice theÌ„ nor the bloud of so many martirs wil moue theÌ„ to embrace the truth and forsake errour yet let the desperate deathes horrible punishments of their own papistes perswade theÌ„ how perillous is the end of this daÌ„nable doctrine of papistry For if these papistes which make so much
hee was a man altogether cast away in this worlde if hee did not looke wisely to himselfe And yet though his cause were neuer so daungerous he might somewhat in relenting to aucthoritie and so to geue place for a time helpe both hym selfe out of trouble and when oportunitie and occasion should serue preferre his cause which he then went about to defend declaring farther that he had many welwillers and friendes whiche woulde stande on his side so farre forth as possible then were able and durst do adding hereunto that it were great pitty that he being of such singuler knowledge both in the Latine Greeke both ready and rype in all kind of learning and that namely aswell in the Scriptures as in the auncient Doctours should now sodeinly suffer all those singuler giftes to perishe with him without little commoditie or profite to the world and lesse comfort to his wife and children and other his kinsfolkes friendes And as for the veritie of your opinion in the sacrament of the body and bloud of our sauiour Christ It is so vntimely opened here among vs in England that you shall rather do harme then good wherefore be wyse and be ruled by good counsell vntill a better oportunitie may serue This I am sure of quoth the gentleman that my Lord Cromwell and my Lorde of Caunterbury much fauouring you and knowyng you to bee an eloquent learned young man and nowe towardes the felicitie of your lyfe young in yeares olde in knowledge and of great forwardnes and likelihoode to be a most profitable member for this Realme will neuer permitte you to susteyne any open shame if you will somewhat bee aduised by theyr Counsayle on the other side if you stand stiffe to your opinion it is not possible to saue your lyfe For like as you haue good friendes so haue you mortall foes and enemies I most hartily thanke you quoth Mayster Frith vnto the generall both for your good will and for your counsayle by the which I well perceaue that you minde well vnto me howbeit my cause and conscience is suche that in no wise I may not nor cannot for no worldly respect without daunger of damnation starte aside and flye from the true knowledge and doctrine whiche I haue conceyued of the supper of the Lorde or the Communion otherwise called the sacrament of the aultar for if it be my chance to be demaunded what I thinke in that behalfe I must needes saue my knowledge and my conscience as partly I haue written therein already though I should presently lose xx lyues if I had so many And this you shall well vnderstand that I am not so furnished eyther of Scriptures or auncient Doctors Scholemen or other for my defence so that if I may be indifferently heard I am sure that mine aduersaryes cannot iustly cōdemne me or mine assertion but that they shall condemne with me both S. Augustine and the most parte of the olde writers yea the very Byshoppes of Rome of the oldest sorte shall also say for me defend my cause Yea mary quoth the gentleman you say well if you might be indifferently heard But I muche doubt thereof for that our Mayster Christ was not indifferently hearde nor shoulde bee as I thinke if he were nowe present agayne in the worlde specially in this your opinion the same beeing so odious vnto the worlde and wee so farre off from the true knowledge thereof Well well quoth Fryth then vnto the Gentleman I know very wel that this doctrine of the Sacrament of the Aultar which I holde and haue opened contrarye to the opinion of this Realme is very hard meate to be digested both of the Cleargye and Layety thereof But this I will say to you taking the gentleman by the hand that if you liue but twenty yeares more whatsoeuer become of me you shall see this whole Realme of mine opinion concerning this Sacrament of the Aulter namely the whole estate of the same though some sort of men perticularly shall not be fully perswaded therein And if it come not so to passe then account me the vaynest man that euer you heard speake with tongue Besides this you saye that my death woulde bee sorrowfull and vncomfortable vnto my frendes I graunt quoth he that for a small tyme it would so be But if I should so mollify qualifye and temper my cause in such sort as to deserue onely to be kept in prison that would not onely be a much long griefe vnto me but also to my friendes woulde breede no small disquietnesse both of body and of minde And therfore all thinges well and rightly pondered my deathe in this cause shall bee better vnto me and all mine then life in continuall bondage and penuryes And almightye GOD knoweth what he hath to doe with his poore seruaunt whose cause I now defend and not mine owne from the which I assuredly doe entend GOD willing neuer to start or otherwise to geue place so long as God will geue me life This communication or like in effecte my Lorde of Caunterburyes Gentleman and Fryth had comming in a Whery vpon the Thames frō the Tower to Lambeth Now when they were landed after some repast by them taken at Lambeth the Gentleman the Porter and Fryth went forward towardes Croydon on foote This Gentleman still lamenting with himselfe the harde and cruell destiny towardes the sayde Fryth namely if hee once came amongst the bishops nowe also perceiuing the exciding constancye of Fryth deuised with himselfe some waye or meanes to conuey him cleane out of theyr handes and thereupon considering that there was no mo persons there to conuey the Prisoner but the Porter and himselfe he tooke in hand to winne the Porter to his purpose Quoth the Gentleman vnto Perlebeane the Porter they twayne priuately walking by themseues wythout the hearing of Fryth you haue heard this man I am sure and noted hys talke since he came from the Tower Yea that I haue righte well marked him quoth the Porter and I neuer hard so constant a man nor so eloquent a person You haue heard nothing quoth the gentleman in respecte of his both knowledge and eloquence if he might liberally either in Uniuersity or pulpit declare his learning you woulde then much more maruell at his knowledge I take him to be suche a one of his age in all kind of learning and knowledge of tonges as this Realme neuer yet in mine opinion brought forth yet those singuler giftes in him are no more considered of our Byshops then if he were a very Dolte or an Idiot yea they abhorre him as a deuill therfore couet vtterly to extinguish him as a member of the Deuill without any consideration of gods speciall gifts Mary quoth the Porter if there were nothing els in him but the consideratiō of his personage both comly and amiable of naturall disposition gentle meek and humble it were pity that he should be cast away Cast away quoth the
deuide a sonder the soule from the body 2141 Iudgementes of the papistes concerning heretickes of three sorts 1278.1286 Iustices of peace exhorted 1302. Iudgementes of the fathers vppon these wordes hoc est corpus meum 1394. Iua or Iue king of the West Saxons 125. Iuleddo a vertuous widow martyr her story and martyrdome 1622. Iustices become iuglers 1755. Iudgement of God Ciuill iudgment vnlike 1805. Iudge a persecutour plagued by Gods iudgement 2107.2109 Iulius a senator conuerted to christ 52. baptised with al his houshold and martyred being beaten to death with cudgels 52. Iudges corrupted a fearfull and terrible example thereof 196. Iulius Pope hys abhominable Sodometrie and filthines of lyfe hys blasphemy for a pecocke .1560 hys death funerall and collects ibid. Iulian Cardinall the popes warriour in Boheme hys bloudy crueltie .656 hys Oration at the councel of Basill to the Bohemians 657.675 Iudiciall law of Moses whether now in force or not 488 Iurisdiction vsurped of the Pope receyued into England but of late yeares 514 Iulian cardinall of S. Angell hys Epistle to Eugenius Bishop of Rome 697 Iulius 2. Pope his periury cast the keyes of S. Peter into Tyber is deposed 735 Iudge Hales his trouble .1410 committed to the Tower .1467 hys tragicall story .1532 would haue killed hymselfe .1533 at the last drowned hymselfe ibid. Iubilie first began at Rome 342 Iurisdiction of the Romish church examined 4 Iurisdiction of the Pope resisted in France 4 Iustices of Assises deuided into 6. circuites 227 Iue kyng made himselfe a monke hys lawes to his subiects 127 Iulian Liuyng her trouble for the Gospell deliuered by Gods prouidence 2063.2064 Iustification by fayth and not by the law 44.1116.977.980 Iurisdiction of the Pope 1 Iulitta her story her exhortation to the people her constant martyrdome 95 Iudas lips 508 Iudas whether he receiued the body of Christ or not 1950 Iudas called Thaddeus put to death 32 Iustus with hys brother Onam Martyrs 41 Iustinus a godly Martyr .44 hys worthy praises constant martyrdome 45 K A. KAlender of the Pope conteineth a double abhomination in it 582 Katherine the virgin her story farced with false lying miracles .95 her prophesies of reformatioÌ„ of the churche 419 Katherine Dowager Queene diuorced from king HeÌ„ry .8.1054 1055. her death 1082 Katherine Parre maried to Kyng Henry .8 her trouble for the gospel .1218.1219 1242. her extreme sickenes .1243 her miraculous deliuery out of all her troubles 1244 Katherine Haward maried to king Henry .8.1210 her death ibid. Katherine Duchesse of Suffolke her tragicall story and lamentable extremity susteyned for the gospell 2078.2079.2080.2081 Katherine Knight alias Katherine Timley Martyr her story examination condemnation Martyrdome for the truth of Christs Gospell 2053.2054 Katherine Hut Martyr her story and constant martyrdome 1910 Katherine Allen Martyr her story and Martyrdome 1979 Katherine Cawches her trouble Martyrdome 1943.1944 K E. Keyes mistaken in the Popes Canons 492 Keyes of Christes Kingdome 491 492 Keyes of the Churche what they are 1106. and to whom they are geuen 1039.675 Kenulphus king of the West Saxons slayne 129 Kerbie Martyr his story 1231 Kenelmus king of Mercia slayne 114 Kenilworth deâ—â—â—e 335 Kenilworth besieged ibid. Kent persecuted 642.1276 K I. Kinges of Britayne from Lucius to the Saxons 108. Kinges of England proued by ancient records to be supreme head and gouernors next vnder God ouer the Churche of Englande and other theyr dominions 340. Kinges of Englande chiefe gouernours as well in causes ecclesiasticall as temporall 8. Kinges the vicares of Christ vpon earth 166. Kinges three doe homage to Kyng Edgar 155. Kynges of Eng. commonly troubled wyth archbishops 350. Kinges of Persia called Sapores 97. Kinges of England before the Conquest were gouernours as well in causes Ecclesiasticall as temporall 779. Kings making themselues monks 127.134 Kynges called Christes vicares by the Popes themselues 7. Kinges may and ought to depose wicked Popes in case they deserue it 546. Kinges may take away temporalties from the clergy in case they abuse the same 457. Kinges made slaues vnder the pope 241. Kinges duety to punish the clergy 418. Kinges of the Saxons from Egbert to Wil. Conquerour 135. Kings 7. rulyng in England 109 Kinges making themselues religious persones whether they doe well or not 115 Kings in tymes past had authoritie in spirituall causes 147 Kings of the Saxons rulyng in england described in a table 110 King of England carefull for the chusing of the Archb. of Cant. 236 King of England hys penance for the death of Becket 227. King Arthur of England 113 King of Fraunce his voyage to the holy land .292 hys acts there atchieued .293.294 his ouerthrow by the Infidels .295 hys ransom 276.296 King of Scotland doth homage to the king of England 340 King of Portingale deposed 200 King Alfrede his lyfe and commeÌ„dation 143 King Edward the elder 146 King Edward called the Martyr prooued a bastard 157 K. Edmund his story raign 150. King Iohn his raigne .247 diuorced from his wyfe his letters to the Pope .250.251 is accused of the Pope .253 is poysoned by a monke 256 King Iohn offring hys crowne to Pandulphus Legate 787 King Edward 6. hys instruction geuen to Sir Anthony Seintleger knight of his priuy chaÌ„ber beyng of a corrupt iudgement of the Eucharist 2139.2140 King Henry 3. reconciled to his nobles and banisheth forreiners from the Court 280 King Iue his voyage to Rome where he became a Monke 127 King Oswold hys story charitie pitie deuotion and death 122 King Offa and Kenredus make themselues monks 129 King Phillip arriueth at South-hampton 1471 King Richard and the Kyng of France concluded to conquer the holy land 235 King Richard his voyage to the holy land with his actes by the way 243. â—44 King Richard 1. his three daughters .249 hys death ibid. Kinigilsus kyng of Westsaxons coÌ„uerted to Christ. 122 King what he is his institutioÌ„ 677 Kingdome of Christ feared of the Romaine Emperors 48 Kingdome of the world compared with the kyngdom of the Pope 19 Kingdom of Christ in this world 30 Kingdom of Northumberland ceaseth 131 Kingdom of Mercia ceaseth 132 Kissing of the Popes feet by Emperors 129 King and Debnam hanged for takyng down the Rood of Douercourt 1031 King Martyr his story and death for the Gospell 1976 Kyng Martyr buried in the fields 1689.1702 K N. Kneelyng to the sacrament forbid in Councels 1390 Kneuet Lady her trouble and deliuerance 2072 Knightes of the Rhodes their first originall 200 Knights of s. Iohns order in England began 367 Knight his story 1542 L A. LAcedemonians their wonderfull constaÌ„cy 681 Lacye gentlewoman her trouble and deliuery 2073 Lactea via where and what it is 1296 Lady Elizabeth her miraculous preseruation in Queene Maries dayes 2091.2092.2093.2094.2095.2096.2098 Lady honor persecuter strikeÌ„ mad 2101 Lady Eleanor Cobham her defence against Alanus Copus 702 Lady Iane for her zeale to the truth brought in hatred with the Lady
maiesticall maner therof 750 R O. Robert De Artois a noble man of France exciteth king Edward the 3. to make claym to the kingdome of Fraunce 376. Robert Brakenbery true to hys Prince 728. Robert Braybroke byshop of LoÌ„don 443. Robert Bacon a bloudy and cruelâ— enemy to the Sayntes of Godâ— 1912. Robert Barnes hys story 1192. Robert Cosin Martyr hys story 818. Robert Chapell his trouble and persecution .641 abiured ibid. Robert Dynes Martyr his story and Martyrdome 2042. Robert Drakes hys story .1895 hys examination and death 1896.1897.1898 Robert Edgore hys death 2103.2104 Robert Farrar of London a sore enemy filthy talker by the good Lady Elizabeth 2097. Robert Grosthead made Byshop of Lincolne 279. Roberts Gentlewoman her trouble and deliueraunce 2073. Robert Grosthead Byshoppe of Lincolne his coÌ„mendatioÌ„ books trouble and death .325 hys articles agaynst the Pope 325. Robert Glouer Martyr and his Brother theyr trouble persecution and death 1709.1710.1711 1712.1713 Robertus Gallus his Prophesies agaynst the Pope 322 Robert Harrison Martyr 1277 Robert Kyng Robert Debnam hanged for takynge downe the Roode of Douer Courte 1031 Robert Kylwarby Archbyshoppe of Caunterbury 336 Robert Lambe with other moe Martyrs 1267 Robert Lawson Roger Bernard Martyrs theyr Storyes 1917 1918.1919 Robert Miles aliâs PluÌ„mer martyr his story 2047 Robert Milles Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Robert Packington murthered 1130 Robert Parson of Heggeley hys examination and aunsweres 641 Robert Pigot Martyr his Story examination and constaunt martyrdome 1715.1716 Robert Smith Martyr .1689 his examinations and answeres .1691.1692.1693.1694 his Godly Letters to diuers of hys Frendes 1696.1698.1699.1700.1701.1702 Robert Samuell Martyr his story and death .1703.1604 hys letters 1705.1706 Robert Twing spoyled of his benefice by the Papistes 276 Robert Streater Martyr 1708 Robert Southam Martyr his story martyrdome 2037.2038 2039 Robert Williams scourged 2062 Roger Acton knight why executed as a traytor 587 Roger Byshop of London excommunicated the Popes Usurers 278 Roger Clarke Martyr his Story and Martyrdome 1231.1232 Roger Holland Martyr .2037.2038.2039 his examination and aunsweares .2039.2040 his death and martyrdome 2039 2042 Roger Mortimer earle of Marsh executed 376 Roger Cooe his examination condemnatioÌ„ and martyrdome 1707 1708 Rogers burned in Northfolke 1241 Roger Onley proued not guilty of treason 703 Rogers his story and martyrdome 1484. his examinations and answeares .1485.1486 hys condemnation .1488 his admonition to the Byshoppes out of prison .1489.1490 his Propheticall sayinges .1492 hys constaunt martyrdome for the truth 1493 Rockewood Persecutor hys death 2101 Rood of Paules in London set vp with Te Deum solemnly song 1472 Roode sette vppe in Lankeshyre 1474 Rhodes besieged .744 and wonne of the Turkes 748 Rodolphe Archbishop of Caunterbury 198 Rogation dayes in olde time without superstition 128 Rochester besieged of the Barons 332 Rome why aduaunced aboue other Cittyes .18 sacked destroyed 987 Rome full of all abhominations .697 not the Catholicke Church and why 1803 Rome not supreame head ouer other Churches 1759 Rome described in her Colours 322 Rome how it beganne to take head ouer other Churches 120 Rome proued to be Babilon .478 Antichristes neast 562 Romaynes punished by their owne Emperours for contemningâ— Christ and his true Religion 31. Romaynes olde theyr fayth 20 Romanes 23. brought into England to be beneficed 287 Romanus his lamentable history death 89 90 Romeshot confirmed by Canutus 163 Romish prelats displaced by queene Elizabeth and good Bishoppes placed in theyr stead 2125 Rowland Taylour Doctour and Martyr his life and story .1518 cited .1519 appeareth before Winchester theyr conference together .1520 depriued of his benefice 1521 Rounde Table built in Windsour 384 Rough Martyr his story and martyrdome 2028.2031.2034 Rollo a Dane first Duke of Normandy 141 Roper Martyr his story persecution and death 1794 Rochtailada Martyr his Story 391 Rose his trouble for the Gospell .2082 his examinations .2083.2084.2085 his deliuery 2086.2087 Rose Allin her story .2005 her hand burned by Edmund Tyrill 2006 2007 Rose Minister with 30. godly persons taken in Bowchurch at the Communion 1480 Rota an Office in the Courte of Rome full of all abhomination 857 Roy burned in Portingall for the Gospell 1398.1027 Roth Martyr his story and martyrdome 2013.2014.2015.2016.2017.2018.2019 R V. Rubricke of the 5. woundes after the Papistes 1398 S A. SAbinus publisheth the Emperors decree 82 Sabinianus Bishop of Rome 120 Sabina Martyr his story 4 Sacrament called breade of Saynt Paule of the Chanon of the masse it selfe and of the fathers 534 Sacrament defined .1183 why called the body of Christ. 1392 Sacrament of the Lordes bodye called breade of Saynt Cyprian 62 Sacrament hath two thinges in it to be noted 500 Sacrament is not to be considered in nature but what it is in mistery 1432 Sacrament in one kind contrary to the worde of God practise of the primitiue Church and Fathers in all ages 1150.1151 Sacramentall mutation in the Lordes Supper what and howe 1761 Sacrament hath both commaundement and promise annexed 1611 Sacramentes are confirmations of Gods grace towards his people 1707 Sacrament made an Idoll by the Papistes 28 Sacramentes take theyr names of those thinges whiche they represent .1129 not Christes body in deede but in representation onely 1130 Sacramentes without theyr vse are no Sacramentes .1809.1815 ministred in one kinde by the papistes .1820.1821 abused ibid. oughte to bee ministred in bothe kindes and not in one as the papistes do 1890 Sacrament neither chaunged in substaunce nor accidence .1380 they are seales of Gods grace towardes vs. 1431 Sacrament of the Aultar no Sacrament 1977 Sacrament of the aultar ouerthroweth the Lordes supper 1626 Sacramente of the Aultare who brought in 544 Sacrament of Penance 544 Sacrifice of Christ once offered sufficient for all 1432 Sacrifice propiciatory of the masse is derogatory to Christes death and passion 1761 Sacrifice of the Church and Sacrifice for the Church 1615 Sacrifice of Christ not many tymes offered but once for all 484 Sadoletus Cardinall his desperate death 2106 Safe conducte graunted to Iohn Hus. 596 Sagaris Martyr 4 Saladine slayeth Christian Captaynes and is put to flight hymselfe 245.246 Salisbury the first Byshop therof 183 Sanctus his notable constancy and cruell martyrdome 46 All Sayntes day first instituted with the day of all soules 137 Sayntes not to be called vppon or prayed vnto 1108.1109 Sayntes are not to be worshipped 1741 Sayntes of the Popes Traytors 579 Saynt Stephen the Ringleader of all Christes holy Martyrs 32 Saynt Iohns Gospell translated into English by Beede 127 Saynt Iohn of Beuerleyes miracles reproued 125 Saynt Iames the Apostle Martyred 32 Saynt Edmond Chanon of Salisbury Canonized a Saynt 270 San Romayne his story and constant martyrdome for the trueth 928.929.930 Saynt Peters body clothed in siluer in Rome 130 Saynt Martin persecuted 955 Saynt Bridget 419 Saynt Elizabeth her Story 273.268 San Beneâ—o 931 Sarton burned at Bristow for the truth of Christes Gospell 2149 Saunders his life and
.720 diuorced from his wife and dispensed withall by the Pope 723. Ulstanus archbishop of Yorke 151 V N. Uniuersities iudgementes agaynst the mariage of king Henry 8. with his brothers wife 1049. Uniuersitie of Oxford remoued to Northampton 331. Uniuersitie of Oxford their testimony of Wickliffe 448. Uniuersitie of Oxford by whome it began .144 testimony thereof of Iohn Wickliffe 448. Uniuersitie of Paris when it began 143. Uniuersitie of Oxford conquered of the townes men and the schollers expulsed 393. Uniuersalitie and succession no sufficient reason to proue the true Church by 1825 Uniuersalitie alleadged 1426. Uniuersall defined by time place and person 21. Uniformitie in outward ceremonies a thing not muche required in the primitiue Churche 56. Unwritten verities 1107.1183 Unitie none in the Popes churche to be found 241. Unitie what it is and wherein it consisteth 1067. Unitie in Baptisme not inough 1750. Unitie the papistes would not haue disturbed 1748. Uncertainty of the Popes doctrine 1748.1749 V O. Uow of chastitie brought in 175.194 Uowes of Priestes hauing vowed single life a thinge whiche of of themselues they are not able to performe ought not to stand 1175. Uowes 3. made of king Henry 199. Uowes making .545 making and keeping of them ibid. Uowsions and pluralities of benefices 5. Uolusianus his Epistles in defence of Priestes lawfull mariage 1154.1155.1156.1158 Uortiger causeth his king to bee murthered 265. Uortigerne burned in hys tower 113. Uoyage to the holy land 185. Uoyage agaynst the Turkes 233. V R. Urban the Pope complayneth that no promotion would fall vppon hym .414 beheaded 509. Urbanus the first bishop of Rome martired 58. Urbane excommunicated the Emperour Henry 4. 189 Urbanus and Clemens striuing for the papacy 186. Ursula with vi thousand virgines martyrs 108. V S. Usury in the Popes Church 655. Usurers of the Popes in London 325. Usurers brought into England by the Pope 273 Ustazares his story 97. his constaÌ„t martyrdome 98. V T. Utopia one of M. Mores phantasies 576. Uter Pendragon a King of Brytayne 113. W A. WAddon priest Martyr 661. Wade martyr 1689.1702 Wade Martyr hys story and martyrdome for the Gospell 1678.1679 Wallace his trouble persecution martyrdome 1272.1273 Walter Brute his story .475 hys processe and articles against him 476.477 his godly declarations 478.479 hys great submission 501 Walter archbishop of Caunterbury absolued by the pope for money 273. Waltram Bishop of Margburgh hys Epistle to Ludouicus 189. Waldenses howe they began theyr trouble and persecution .230.954 955.956 their doctrine and articles 230.235.236 Wall fell downe at the coronation of the pope and slewe many nobles 351. Waltam Bishoppe of Salisbury a makebate a brawler 513. Walter Mille Martyr hys story .1274 his examination condemnation and martyrdome 1275. Wales subdued to Englande and Scotland how long in length 57. Walter Appleby martyr hys story 1979. Wardall her memorable story 1940 Warlwast ambassadour of Kyng Henry 1. to the pope hys oration before the Pope 193. Warre betwene king Henry 3. and his nobles 331.332.333.335 Warre betwene king Henry 3. and Earle Marshall 279 Warre betweene king Edward .3 and the Scottes 375. Warre agaynst the Bohemians 656. Warres stirred vp by the pope .494 how lawfull 508. Warres moued by the Pope and papistes 203. Warre by the frenche king and the pope agaynst Tholouse 269. Warres of Christians what .846 how lawfull how vnlawfull ibid. Warres betweene Englande and Scotland 369. Warre betweene king Edward the first and the king of Scots 340 Warre betweene Ladislaus and the Turke 741.730 Warham Archbishop of Caunterbury his death 1121. Wardship first graunted to the king 269. Warran alias Lashford her story and martyrdome 1844.1857 Warne hys confession of hys fayth and christian beliefe 1580.1581 Warne her story 1689. Wast a blinde woman in Darby martyr 1951.1952 Wattes hys trouble and deliueraunce 2071. Wattes Martyr his story sent vp to Boner articulate agaynst coÌ„demned martyred 1594.1595.1596 Watchword of the Saxons 113. Watson Doctor hys superstitious and lying Sermon vppon Candlemas day in Cambridge 1962 hys other rayling sermon at the burning of Bucer and Paulus Phagius bones 1963.1964 Water mixt with Wine in the chalice not inferred by scripture 1146. Waterson whipped in Bridwell for the Gospell 2144. Water coniured and the maner therof 1405. Water mixt with wine in the chalice by Alexander 39 Waterer Martyr his story martyrdome 1970. W E. Webbe Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1794. Webbe hys trouble for the Gospell 1601. Wedding garment what it it is 490 Welchmen theyr rebellion .330 their skirmishe at Oxford 328. Wesalis his story persecuted .724 his articles .725 reuoketh hys opinions 726 Weapons of a christian Warriour 1773 Westminster Church by whome erected and built 133. Weston Doctor condemner of christes blessed Martyrs Cranmer Ridley and Latimer at Oxford 1729. Weston Doctor hys Downfall takeÌ„ in adultry appeleth to Rome and dyeth 2102 Weselus Groningensis a learned man 730. Wendy Doctor of Phisicke senâ— to Queene Katherine 1243. Wendenmuta martyr 885. Went his story and Martyrdome 1857.1858 W H. White Priest and martyr his story 1844. articles agaynst him ibid. beaten on the face by Boner .1845 his condemnation martyrdome 1848.1846 hys letters to hys friendes 1847.1848 White Battayle in Yorkshyre 370. Whitchurch Printer 1191. White Martyr his story 1556. hys condemnation .1557 hys Martyrdome 1559 Whitâ—ington Chauncellor a cruell persecutor slayne with a Bull. 775.776 W I. Wiattes insurrection in Kent 1418 beheaded at tower hill .1419 Wicked councell what hurt it doth 68. Wicked eate not the flesh of Christ nor drinke his bloud truely 1363 1375.1611 Wicked couÌ„cell about princes what mischiefe it bringes 1753 Wicked company hurtfull prouoketh to sinne proued by an excellent example 36 Wicked eate not the body and bloud of Christ truely 1977. Wickliffe his story .423 his bookes and Articles condemned in the councell of Constance .449.450 his boanes burnt after his death 463. hys bookes howe brought into Bohemia .464 his booke called Wickliffes Wicket 815. William Allen Martyr 1707. William Andrew buried in the fields 1702. William Bowes Doctor Londons spye 1212. William Byshoppe of Norwiche a cruell persecutor 660. Wiiliam Burgate Martyr 2058. William Bongeor Martir his story martyrdome at Colchester 2007.2008 William Browne troubled and deliuered through Gods mercifull prouidence 2065. William Coberley martyr his story 1894. William Coker William Hopper Will. Stere and 3. other burned together in one fire at Caunterbury 1688. William Carder Martyr his story 1276. William Courtney Bishop of LoÌ„don .427 his death 509. William Craishfield martyr his story and martyrdome 2010.2011 William CoÌ„querour bastard Duke of Normandy landeth at Hastinges 166. is crowned king of EnglaÌ„d 171. his othe to obserue the lawes of king Edward but goeth from them .166 his death 182 William de le Pole Duke of Suffolke cause of Duke Humfreyes death 705. William Dangerfield and Ioane his wife their trouble and persecution .1953 their tragicall history ibid. William de Plesiano his
to continue and to stand fast Math. 1â— Apoc. 3. The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 1. Heb. 2. Iohn 16. Luke 2â— Luâ—e 2â— The fruite that commeth by bearing of the Crosse. The delightes of the world nothing comparable to them that are to come Consideration of the ioyes to come The note of a true christian 1. Tim 2. Psal. 3. He exhorâ—eth tâ— be 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 To be patiâ—â—â— and not murmure 〈◊〉 Gene. 22. How to sacrificâ— our Isaac to God Remedyes agaynst the temptations of the Deuill and the world Christes temptations mistically applyed An other letter of Iohn Philpot to M. Harrington his friend Iohn 21. Reward greater then the price Godly Matrimony how to be vsed He bewayleth the state of England Plagues prophesied to England though the Gospell be restored agayne Good lucke forshewed in restoring agayne the Gospell Philpoâ— Scarffe Experience of Gods comfortâ— in the tiâ—â— of affliction 〈◊〉 wheâ— thâ—y prison mens bodies they set their souleâ— at libertyâ— An other letter of M. Philpot to a certayne godly Lady Agaynst faint harted Gosspellers 〈◊〉 16. Perfect ioy 〈◊〉 ComparisoÌ„ 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 Gods Saintes shal 〈…〉 ludâ—es agaynst 〈…〉 The Gospel triumpheth by the death of Martyrs An other 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Philpot to the Lady Vane Lady Vane 〈◊〉 benefactor to Gods 〈◊〉 Marke 9. A perfect Christen man how he is knowen Rom. 8. The tyme of tribulation better for a Christian then the tyme of ioy An other letter of M. Philpot to the same Ladye Experience of Christ comforting his Saintes in their persecution An other letter of M. Philpot. By this Senacharib he meaneth the death of the Bishop of Winchester He expresseth the great ioy which Gods prisoners feelâ— in ther suffringes Iohn Philpot neuer so mery in all his lyfe before A letter of M. Philpot stablishing A certaine brother in the matter of baptising of infantes 1 Cor. 11. Prooâ—e by testimonyes and Scriptures Baptisme of infantes of olde Antiquity in the Church Euery thing abused in the Popes Church is not to be reiected but the Antiquity therof to be searched and to be reduced agayne to the same The people of God is to be iudged by his free promise not by their confession Gene. 17. Math. 5 Math. 10. Math. 19. Math. 18. Math. 28. Argumentes pâ—ouing the baptisme of children to be of God and that the Apostles baptised childreÌ„ Actes 10. An other Argument 1. Cor. 1. 1. Cor. 1. An other Argument In Sacramentes 2. thinges to be considered Actes 20. An other reason Another reason Rom. 8. Another reason Math. 10. Obiection Iohn 4. Another reason Coloss. 2. Another reason Iosua 5. Another reason Another reason Arguâ—â—â—â— of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen who was 200. yeares after Christ. S. Austen S. Hierome 400. after Christ. Verba Iohannis CoÌ„stantinopol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyprian 250. after Christ. August contra Donatiâ—â— aâ— Cyrillus Math. 18. Righteousnes and acceptation is onely by imputacion and mere grace 1. Cor. 7. * Marke 1. Math. 28. The place of Mathew 28. he that beleeueth and is baptised opened In the fiâ—st câ—â—uerting of â—â—fidels beleeuing ought to 〈◊〉 before baptiâ—ing but where 〈◊〉 the pâ—rceiued Gods grace and Sacramentes goe 〈◊〉 by age but as well be children of the faithâ—â—â—â— receaâ—â—â—â— at the fathers 〈◊〉 childâ—eâ— of chrisâ—â—â—â— paâ—ents be receaued 〈◊〉 baptisme Cathecumenius a much to say 〈◊〉 Nouecies beginners in Christes fayth 2. Cor. 14. Concerning the party to whom this letter was written note that he was conuerted and afterward dyed in the same faith as this letter did perswade him Your deedes declare and beare witnes to the same Sacrifice of the Masse Sea of Rome Sacrament of the Altar Aunswere to the 1. article To the 2 article To the 3 article To the 4. arâ—icle The fayth which they were baptised in was in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost beleeuing the articles of the Creede with promise made to abrenounce the Deuill the flesh and the woâ—ld of the which sayth their godfathâ—rs and godmothers were suretyes for them and in this fayth they continue still As for other ceremonyes abuses of the Church they neuer made any promise in their baptisme To swarue from the corruptions of the Sea of Rome and Sacrifice of the Masse is not to goe from the Catholicke Church of Christ. To the 6. article The Catholicke Church and the church of Rome are 2. thinges To the 7. article The Masse dissonant from the word of the Gospell The Masse full of Idolatry Iohn Went repenteth his going to Masse To the 8. article Of this Ioane Warne read before pag. 1878. To the 9. article Thomas Whittell Martyr Edmond Alabaster after a promoter and persecuter Tho. Whittell reporteth of the maner of his handling with B. Boner Tho. Whittell beaten on the face by Boner Episcopum non perâ—â—â—sorem esse oporteâ— Tit. 1. Tho. Whittell conuented before D. Harpsfield A letter of M. Harpsfield declaring how Tho. Whittell rent his subscription out of the Bishops Register He meaneth of the returne agayne of Tho. Whittell This young woman was Ioane Warren otherwise named Ioane Lashford who was burned also with the same Whittell An other letter of Iohnson touching the sayd Tho. Whittell Touching Ioane Lashford The last examination of Tho. Whittell EleuatioÌ„ of the SacrameÌ„t cause of Idolatry B. Boners argument He was baptised in the fayth of the Catholicke Church Ergo he was baptised in the fayth of Rome Tho. Whitell degraded Whittelâ— words to B. Boner Causes why the administration of the Popish Sacrament is to be reproued A letter of Tho. Whittell written to Iohn Careles His iudgement and experience of Popish Prelates The burden of a troubled conscience He writeth 〈◊〉 the examinations of M. Philâ—â—◠〈◊〉 16. 1. 〈◊〉 1. 1. Peter 2. Math. 10. 1 Peter 4. 〈◊〉 11. Apoc 12. 〈◊〉 can 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 persecuted 〈◊〉 onely 〈◊〉 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 Apoâ— 2. 〈◊〉 115. 〈◊〉 13. A letter of 〈◊〉 Whittell to the true professorâ— of the Citye of London Rom. 4. Luke 1. 4 Notes Rom. 8. Gene. 22. Iob. 1. Rom. 9. 2. Corin. 11. Actes 16. Genesis 4. 2. Machab. 6. Actes 7. Math. 17. Iames. 5.4 Psalm 6. Luke â— The crosse trieth the good people from the bad Lirach 2. Preach 12. Coloss. 3. Philip. 3. The 2. note Persecetion no strange thing in the Church 3. Regum 4. Regum 2. Mac. 6.7 Act. 14. Iohn â— Romans 8. 1. Cor. 15. Example of Gods Martyrs going before Iohn 10. Heb. 13. 2. Peter 2. 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 3. Iude. 1. Exod. 10. 1. Iohn 5. 2. Cor. 10. Math. 4. Where Sathan could not bring Christ to fall downe and worship him he 〈◊〉 the Phariseys 〈◊〉 kill him Iames. â— Math. 1â— Apo. 13 14. Apoâ— 18. â— Cor. â— Psal. 126. The 3. 〈◊〉 Act. â— Col. 1. Math 6 Phil. 3. Gal. 6. The 4. none Luke â— * 1. Cor. â— * Heb. 2. 1. Peter 1. Phiâ— 1. Iohn 14. Math.
halfe in a slumber at which time one clad all in white seemed to stande before hym which ministred comfort vnto him by these wordes Samuel Samuel be of good cheare and take a good heart vnto thee For after this day shalt thou neuer be either hungry or thirsty Which thing came euen to passe accordingly for speedily after he was burned and from that time till he should suffer he fealt neither hunger nor thirst And this declared he to the ende as he sayde that all men might beholde the wonderfull workes of God Many moe like matters concerning the great comforte he had of Christe in his afflictions he could vtter he sayde besides this but that shamefastnes and modestie would not suffer him to vtter it And yet if it had pleased God I would he had bene lesse modest in that behalfe that the loue and care that Christe hathe of his might haue the more appeared therby vnto vs by such present argumentes for the more plentifull comfort of the godly though there be sufficient testimonies of the same in the holy scriptures already No lesse memorable it is and woorthy also to be noted concerning the 3. ladders which he tolde to diuers he sawe in his sleepe set vp toward heauen of the which there was one somewhat longer then the rest but yet at length they became one ioyning as it were all three together Thys was a forewarning reuealed vnto him declaring vndoutedly the martyrdome first of him selfe and then the death of two honest women which were brought foorth suffered in the same towne anone after As this godly martyr was going to the fire there came a certaine maide to him which tooke him aboute the necke and kissed him who being marked by them that were present was sought for the next day after to be had to prisone and burned as the very party her self informed me Howbeit as God of his goodnes wold haue it she escaped their fiery handes keeping her selfe secreate in the towne a good while after But as this maide called Rose Nattingham was marueilously preserued by the prouidence of God so there were other two honest women did fall into the rage and furie of that time The one was a Bruers wyfe the other was a Shoomakers wife but both together nowe espoused to a newe husband Christ. With these two was thys maid aforesaid very familiar and wel acquainted who on a time geuing counsail to the one of them that shee shoulde conuey her selfe away while she had time and space seeing she could not away with the Quenes vniust procedings had thys answer at her hands againe I know well sayth shee that it is lawfull enough to flee away which remedy you may vse if you list But my case standeth otherwise I am tied to an husbande and haue besides a sorte of yong children at home and then I know not how my husband being a carnall man wil take my departure from him therefore I am mineded for the loue of Christ and his truthe to stande to the extremitie of the matter The cruel burning of Robert Samuel Martyr The report goeth amoÌ„g some that were there present and saw him burne that his body in burning did shine as bright white as new tried siluer in the eyes of them that stoode by as I am infourmed by some which were there and did beholde the sight Letters of Robert Samuel Preacher A letter or exhortation to the pacient suffering of afflictions for Christes cause A Man knoweth not hys time but as the fishe is taken with the Angle and as the birdes are caught with the snare euen so are men caughte and taken in the perillous time when it commeth vppon them The time commeth the day draweth neare Ezechiel 7. Better it were to dye as the Preacher sayeth then to liue and see the miserable workes which are done vnder the Sunne suche sodaine and strauÌ„ge mutations such wofull hainous and lamentable diuisions so fast approcheth and none or verye fewe thorowly repenteth Alas for this sinfull nation a people of great iniquity sede of vngratiousnes corrupting their wayes They haue forsaken the Lord they haue prouoked the holy one of Israel to anger are gon backward Who now liueth not in such securitie and rest as though all daÌ„gers were cleane ouerpast Who now blindeth and buffeteth not Christe with seest me and seest me not Yea who liueth not nowe in suche felicitie worldlye pleasures and ioyes wholy seeking the world prouiding craftily shifting for the earthly clod all carnal appetites as thoughe sinne were cleane forgotten ouerthrowne and deuoured Like hoggish Gergesites nowe are we more afraide and ashamed of Christe oure Messias fearing the losse of oure filthy pigges I meane our transitory goods and disquieting of our sinfull and mortall bodies in this short vncertaine and miserable life then of a Legion of Deuils seducing and driuing vs from hearing reading and beleeuing Christ Gods eternal sonne and his holy worde the power to saue our soules vnto vanities lies and fables and to this bewitching world Oh perilous aboundance of goods too much saturity of meates wealth and quietnes which destroied wyth so many soules those goodly cities Sodom Gomorre Ieroboam so long as he was but a pore man not yet aduanced to his dignity liued in the lawes of God without reprehension but broughte once to wealth prosperous estate hee became a wicked and moste shamefull Idolater And what made the couetous yong maÌ„ so loth to folow Christ when he was bidden to forsake but worldly wealth which hee then enioyed Woe be vnto these false elusions of the world baites of perdition hookes of the deuil which haue so shamefâ—lly deceiued and seduced full many froÌ„ the right path vnto the Lorde into the high waies of confusion and perpetuall perdition We might nowe woorthily deare Christians lament bewaile our heauie state miserable coÌ„dition and sorowfull chaunce yea I say we might well accuse our selues and with Iob cursse these oure troublous wicked and bloudy last dayes of thys worlde were it not that wee both see and beleeue and finde in Gods sacred booke that a remnaunt God hath in all ages reserued I meane the faithful as many as haue bene from the beginning of the worlde exercised whetted and pullished with diuers afflictions troubles and tossings cast and dashed againste all pearils and dangers as the very drosse and outcastes of the earth and yet wil in no wise halte betweene God and Baall for God verily abhorreth two men in one he can not awaye with them that are betweene both but casteth them away as a filthy vomite Christe will not parte spoyle wyth his mortall enemie the deuil he wil haue all or lose all he will not permit the deuill to haue the seruice of the body and he to stand contented with the heart and minde but he will be glorified both in your bodies and in
generall CouÌ„cell and his picture burned Wood. If he were an heretick I thinke he vnderstoode it not so in deed but I am sure all Christians ought to vnderstand it so Chich. O what vayne glory is in you as though you vnderstood all thing other men nothing Heare me I will shew you the true vnderstanding both of the aultar the offering on the aultar We haue an aultar sayd Paul that ye may not eate of meaning thereby that no man might eat of that which was offered on the aultar but the Priest For in Paules time all the liuing that the Priest had the people came offered it on the aultar mony or other thinges and when the people came to offer it and then remeÌ„bred that they had any thing agaynst their brother theÌ„ they left their offering vpon the aultar and went were reconciled to theyr brother and they came agayne and offred their gift and the Priest had it This is the true vnderstanding of the place that you haue rehersed wherefore you be deceiued Wood. My Lord that was the vse in the olde law Christ was the ende of that But in deede I perceiue by Paules wordes the sacrifice was offered in Paules time yet that maketh not that it was wel done but he rebuked it Wherfore it seemeth to me that you be deceiued Chich. Who shall be iudges betwixt vs in this matter Wood. The xij of Iohn declareth who shall be iudge in the last day Chich. You meane the word shall iudge the word Howe can that be Wood. Saynct Peter sayth The Scripture hath no priuate interpretation but one scripture must be vnderstand by an other Chich. And you will vnderstande it one way and I wyll vnderstand it an other way and who shal be Iudges betwixt vs then Wood. The true church of God is able to discusse al doubtes to whom I referre it Chich. I am glad you say so if you will say so in deed Wood. My Lord I neuer meant otherwise Chich. The Church of God doth allow the Sacrament of the aultar Wood. What do you offer now vpon the aultar Chich. We offer vp in the blessed Sacramente of the Aultar the body of Christ to pacifye the wrath of God the Father and therewith they put off their cappes all to that abominable Idoll Wood. Saynt Paule sayth to the Hebrues in the x. chap. We are sanctified by the offering of the body of Iesus Christ vpon the crosse once for all and euery Priest is dayly ministring oftentimes offereth one maner of offering which can neuer take away sinnes and that is the offering that you vse to offer As farre as I can see you be priestes after the order of Aaron that offered vp Sacrifice for their own sinnes and the sinnes of the people Chichest Nay Aarons sacrifice was with bloud whiche signifieth the death of Christe the whiche was ended vpon the Crosse by his bloudshedding but we are Priestes after the order of Melchisedech the whiche offered breade to the king in remembraunce and signified the geuing of Christes body in bread wine at his last supper the whiche he gaue to his disciples commaunded it to be vsed to the end of the world This is the sacrifice that we offer according to his word Woodman Me thinke you haue made the matter verye playne to me that as Christ was the ende of all Sacrifices so was he the beginning of the Sacramentes willing them to be vsed in the remembraunce of him to the worldes end Chichest What in remembraunce of hym and not hym selfe as his worde sayth Take eate this is my body It is not the signe onely but the thing it selfe How say you is it not his body after the words be spoken by the priest How say you goe briefly to worke for I can not long tary with you Wood. My Lord if you will answere me to one sacrameÌ„t I will answere you to another Chich. Yes I am very well contented with that Wood. If you say the words of baptisme ouer the water there be no childe there is there true baptisme Chich. No there must be the water the worde and the child and then it is baptisme Wood. Uerye well Then if a childe bee Baptised in the name of the Father and of the Sonne it is not truely baptised Chich. No the childe muste bee baptised in the name of the father of the sonne the holy ghost or els it is not truly baptised Wood. Then there may be nothing added nor takeÌ„ away from the Sacraments may there Chich. No sayd the Bishop Wood. Now my Lord I will answere to you if it please you Chich. Well how say you Take eat this is my body is it not Christes body as soone as the wordes be sayd Wood. My Lorde I will aunswere you by your owne wordes that you aunswered me whiâ—h is true the water the word and the childe all these together make baptisme the bread wine and the word make the Sacrament the eater eating in true fayth maketh it his body Here I proue it is not Christes body but to the faythfull receiuer For he sayd Take eat this is my body He called it not his body before eating but after eating And Saynt Augustine sayth Crede manducasti Beleue and thou hast eaten And Saynt Iohn sayth He that beleueth in God dwelleth in God and God in him wherfore it is vnpossible to dwell in God and to eat his body without a true fayth Priest Then the fayth of the receiuer maketh it his body not his word by your saying I pray you what did Iudas eate Wood. Iudas did eat the sacrament of Christ and the deuill withall Priest He eat the body of Christ vnworthely as S. Paule sayth Wood. Nay S. Paule sayth no such thing He speaketh not of eating of his body vnworthely but of the sacrament vnworthely For he sayth Who soeuer eateth of this bread drinketh of this cup vnworthely eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he maketh no difference of the Lordes body and not because he eateth the Lordes body If Iudas had eat Christes body it must needes folow that Iudas is saued For Christ sayth in the sixt of Iohn Who so euer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him vp agayne at the last day Priest My Lord this man is an interpreter after his own minde Chich. I see it is but folly to talke with you it is but lost labour How say you Doe you not beleue that after the wordes be sayd there remayneth neither bread nor wyne but the very body of Christ really make me a playne aunswere for I will talke no more with you Wood. I will make you no directe aunswere howe I beleue of the true Sacrament I doe beleue that if I come to receiue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ truely ministred beleuing that
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