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 haÌged with him on the Crosse I most huÌbly 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 froÌ the true knowledge vse of Christes sincere religion which so pleÌtifully 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 iudgemeÌt shal such persons receiue which hauing receiued from the father of heaueÌ 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 iudgemeÌt 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 confessioÌ God hath kindled the bright light of his Gospel which in times past was suppressed hid vnder the vile ashes of maÌs traditioÌs 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
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 froÌ 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 wheÌ I do receiue his Sacrament in faith and spirite I do receiue Christ. Bish. No more I warrant you but the sacrameÌt 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
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 comparisoÌ 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 geueÌ 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 heaueÌly 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
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 comprâhendeth them not neither doth the folish vnderstand them ãâã 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
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 heaueÌs 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 froÌ 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 punishmeÌt And nothing may more certainly stablish confirme our faith that we shall rise againe immortal both in body soule theÌ 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 froÌ 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 traÌsfigure 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 froÌ 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
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 loÌg 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 pronouÌced 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 sâppe 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
be many that fitte farre of I maruelled at this that I was biddeÌ 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 coÌtinued 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 exaÌple in this thing as in diuers other it did appeare that wheÌ 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 salutatioÌ 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
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 noâ ãâ¦ã 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 coÌâort 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 holânesse 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 momeÌt 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 couÌtry coÌpassed 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
present doe testifie that they neuer sawe in any chylde more teares then brast oute from hym at that time all the Sermone while but specially when he recited hys Prayer before the people It is marueilous what commiseration and pitye mooued all mennes hearts that behelde so heauie a countenaunce and suche aboundance of teares in an olde man of so reuerende dignitie Cole after he had ended his Sermon called backe the people that were ready to departe to prayers Brethren sayde he least any man should doubt of thys mans earnest conuersion and repentaunce you shall heare hym speake before you and therefore I pray you master Cranmer that you will now perfourme that you promised not long agoe namely that you woulde openly expresse the true and vndoubted profession of your faith that you may take away all suspition from men and that all men may vnderstand that you are a Catholicke in deede I wil doe it sayde the Archbyshop and wyth a good will who by and by rising vppe and putting of hys cappe beganne to speake thus vnto the people I desire you well beloued brethren in the Lorde that you will praye to God for mee to forgeeue me my sinnes whyche aboue all menne both in noumber and greatnesse I haue committed But among all the rest there is one offence which of all at thys time doth vexe and trouble me wherof in processe of my talk you shall heare more in hys proper place and then putting hys hande into hys bosome hee drewe foorth his Prayer which hee recited to the people in thys sense The Prayer of Doctour Cranmer Archbyshop GOod Christen people my dearly beloued brethren and sisters in Christ I beseech you most hartely to pray for me to almighty God that he wil forgeue me al my sinnes and offences which be many without number and great aboue measure But yet one thing grieueth my conscience more then all the rest whereof God willing I entende to speake more heereafter But howe great and howe many soeuer my sinnes be I beseeche you to pray God of hys mercy to pardon and forgeue them all And heere kneling downe he sayd O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the worlde O holy Ghoste three persones and one God haue mercye vppon me moste wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both againste heauen and earth more then my tounge can expresse Whether then may I goe or whether should I flie To heauen I may be ashamed to lifte vp mine eyes and in earth I finde no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lorde doe I runne to thee doe I humble my selfe saying O Lorde my God my sinnes be great but yet haue mercye vppon me for thy great mercy The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or fewe offences Thou diddest not geue thy sonne O heauenly father vnto death for smal sinnes onely but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as I do here at this present Wherefore haue mercye on mee O God whose propertie is alwayes to haue mercy haue mercy vpon me O Lord for thy great mercy I craue nothing for mine owne merites but for thy names sake that it maye be hallowed thereby and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake And nowe therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. And then he rising sayde Euery man good people desireth at that time of their death to geue some good exhortation that other maye remember the same before theyr death be the better thereby so I beseche God graunt me grace that I may speake some thyng at thys my departing whereby God may be glorified and you edified First it is an heauy case to see that so many folke be so much doted vpon the loue of this false world and so carefull for it that of the loue of God or the world to come they seeme to care very little or nothing Therefore this shal be my first exhortation that you sette not your mindes ouer much vpon thys glosing world but vpon God and vpon the world to come and to learne to know what this lesson meaneth whych s. Iohn teacheth that the loue of this world is hatred against God The seconde exhortation is that next vnder God you obey your King and Queene willingly and gladly without murmuring or grudging not for feare of them onely but much more for the feare of God knowing that they be Gods ministers appoynted by God to rule and gouerne you and therefore who soeuer resisteth them resisteth the ordinance of God The third exhortatioÌ is that you loue altogether lyke brethren and sisters For alasse pitie it is to see what contention and hatred one Christen man beareth to an other not taking cache other as brother and sister but rather as strangers and mortall ennemies But I pray you learne and beare well away this one lesson to doe good vnto all men asmuch as in you lieth and to hurt no man no more then you would hurt your owne naturall louing brother or sister For thys you maye be sure off that who soeuer hateth any person and goeth about maliciously to hinder or hurte hym surely and wythout all doubte God is not wyth that man although he thinke himself neuer so much in Gods fauour The fourth exhortation shall be to them that haue great substance riches of this world that they will well consider and weigh three sayinges of the Scripture One is of our Sauiour Christ him selfe who sayeth It is harde for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen A sore saying and yet spoken of hym that knoweth the truth The second is of S. Iohn whose saying is thys Hee that hath the substaunce of this worlde and seeth hys brother in necessitie and shutteth vp his mercy from him howe can he saye that hee loueth God The third is of S Iames who speaketh to the couetous riche man after thys maner Weepe you and howle for the miserie that shall come vpon you your riches do rotte your clothes be mothe eaten your golde and siluer doeth canker and rust and their rust shall beare witnesse against you and consume you like fire you gather a hoarde or treasure of Gods indignation against the last day Let them that be riche ponder well these three sentences for if they had occasion to shew their charitie they haue it now at this present the poore people being so many and victuals so deare And now for as much as I am come to the last end of my life whereupon hangeth al my life past and all my life to come either to liue with my maister Christe for euer in ioy or els to be in paine for euer with wicked Deuilles in hell I see before mine eyes presently either heauen ready to receiue me or els hell ready to swallow me vppe I shall
poore afflicted Church Which thing shal surely redound to your euerlasting ioy and comfort as you shall most effectually feele or euer it be long though the wicked of the world iudge farre otherwise Ah mine owne hartes and most dearely beloued brethren Cauell Ambrose and both the Spurges blessed be the Lord on your behalfe and praysed be his name which hath geuen you such a glorious victory Full valiant haue you shewed your selues in the Lords fight ful faithfully in your paynefull seruice Faint not but go on forward as ye haue most godly begun for great shall your reward be at the end of this your trauell Ah my good faythfull brethren all what shall I say or what shall I write vnto you but euen the same that good Elizabeth did say to her godly kinswoman Mary the blessed mother of Christe Happy art thou quoth that good woman which hast beleued for al thinges which the Lord hath spoken to thee shal be fulfilled So I say to you my deare heartes in the Lorde happy are ye all yea twise happy shall ye bee for euermore because yee haue stedfastly beleued the most sweete promises which god the father hath made vnto you with his owne mouth in that he hath promised you which are the faythfull seede of the beleuing Abraham that ye shall be blessed euer world without end The promises of God your sweet father as ye do beleue so do ye beare record that God is true The Testymony wherof ye haue full worthily borne to the worlde shortly will full surely seale the same with your bloud yea euen to morow I do vnderstand Oh constant Christians oh valiant souldiers of the high captayne Iesus Chryste who for your sake hath conquered the deuill death sinne hel hath geueÌ you full victory ouer them for euermore Oh worthy witnesses and most glorious martyrs whose inuincible fayth hath ouercome that proude sturdye bragging Prince of the world al his wicked army ouer whom ye shall shortly triumph for euermore Ah my sweet harts the euerlasting treasures are full surely layd vp for you in heauen The immercessible and moste glorious crowne of victory is already made and prepared for you to be shortly clapt vpon all your happy heades The holy Aungelles of your heauenly father are already appoynted to conducte your sweete soules into Abrahams bosome All the heaueÌly host reioyseth already for that they shall shortly receiue you with ioy felicitie into their blessed fellowship Selah Reioyce with double ioy and bee glad my deare brethren for doubtles ye haue more cause then can be expressed But alas I that for my sinnes am left behinde may lye and lament with the holy Prophet saying Woe is me that the dayes of my ioyfull rest are prolonged Ah cursed Satan which hath caused me so sore to offend my most deare louing father whereby my exile and banishmente is so much prolonged Oh christ my deare aduocate pacifie thy fathers wrath which I haue iustly deserued that he may take me home to him in his sweete mercye Oh that I might now come home vnto thee with my blessed brethren Wel thy will O Lord be effectuously fulfilled for it is onely good and turneth all thinges to the best for suche as thou in thy mercies hast chosen And now farewell my deare heartes most happy in the Lord. I trust in my good God yet shortly to see you in the celestiall citie wherof vndoubtedly the Lord hath already made you free citizens Though ye be yet with vs for a litle time your very home is in heaueÌ where your treasure doth remayne with your sweet Lord and Redeemer Iesus Christe whose calling you haue heard with the eares of youre heartes and therefore yee shall neuer come into iudgement but passe from death to life Your sinnes shall neuer be remembred be they neuer so many so greeuous or so great for your sauiour hath cast them all into the bottome of the sea he hath remoued them from you as farre as the East is from the West and his mercy hathe muche more preuayled ouer you then is distaunce betweene heaueÌ and earth and he hath geue you for an euerlasting possession of the same al his holinesse righteousnesse and iustification yea and the holy Ghost into your harts wherwith ye are surely sealed vnto the daye of redemption to certifie you of your eternall election and that yee are hys true adopted sonnes whereby yee may boldly crye vnto God Abba deare father for euermore so that now no creature in heauen earth nor hell shall be able to accuse you before the throne of the heauenly king Satan is now cast out from you he himselfe is iudged and hathe no parte in you He will once more byte you by the heele and then he hath don for at that time you shall squise his head through your owne good Christ and so haue you finall victory for euermore In ioyfull triumphe whereof yee shall sweetly ascend into the place of eternall rest whether youre eldest brother christ is gone before you to take possession for you and to prepare your place vnder the holy aultar with Cranmer Latimer Ridley Rogers Hooper Saunders Farrar Taylour Bradford Philpot with many other who will be full glad of your comming to see sixe moe of their appoynted number that their bloud may so muche the sooner be reuenged vpon them that dwell on the earth Thus I make an ende committing you all to Gods most mercifull defence whose quarrell yee haue defended whose cause ye haue promoted whose glory yee haue sette forth and whose name ye haue constantly confessed Farewell for a while my deare hartes in the Lord I wil make as much haste after you as I may All our deare brethren salute you They pray for you and prayse God for you coÌtinually Blessed be the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours sayth the holy Ghost and their workes follow them Your owne Iohn Careles a most vnprofitable servaunt of the Lord. Pray pray pray ¶ In the pag. 1742. ye heard before the letter of Thomas Whittel written to Iohn Careles wherin he yeldeth great thankes vnto him for the singular ioy and consolatioÌ receiued by his letters The copie of which letters sent vnto him if any be disposed to peruse here vnder foloweth to satisfie his desire ¶ To M. Greene M. Whittel and certaine other prisoners in Newgate condemned and ready to be burnt for the testimonie of our Lord Iesus THe euerlasting peace in Iesus Christe the continual comfort of his most pure and holy spirite be with you my most deare and faithfull brethren and sisters of Newgate the Lordes appointed sheepe vnto the slaughter to the good performaunce of the great and notable worke of the Lord which he hath so graciously begon in you al that the same may redouÌd to the setting forth of his glory to the commoditie of his
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 chauÌge 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 brethreÌ 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 streÌgth 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
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 defeÌd 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 nâ 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. YeomaÌ 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 wheÌ 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 destructioÌ 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 coÌfessed 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 theÌselues 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 conscieÌce 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
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 HeÌry .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 deâââe 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 commeÌdation 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 chaÌber 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. â44 King Richard 1. his three daughters .249 hys death ibid. Kinigilsus kyng of Westsaxons coÌuerted 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 constaÌcy 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
.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 constaÌt 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 coÌdemned 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 Whitâington 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 couÌcell 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 LoÌdon .427 his death 509. William Craishfield martyr his story and martyrdome 2010.2011 William CoÌquerour bastard Duke of Normandy landeth at Hastinges 166. is crowned king of EnglaÌd 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
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 SecoÌdly 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 vââne 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 coÌpelled 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 incoÌprehensible 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 coÌming 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 fouÌd 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 druÌke my arâicles 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 audieÌce 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
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 conuerâed 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 meÌbers 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
And as hee neuer ceaseth to be man so doth he neuer lose the similitude of man hys body there hath hys liniamentes hee leaueth them not so hath that body there hys highnesse and shrinketh not and hys manly shape he altereth not at any tyme. He is in that he tooke of the virgin Mary a naturall man in all conditions except sinne And what he tooke of hys blessed Mother by the workyng of the holye Ghost he tooke it for euer and will not exchaunge the same for anye other He tooke the shape of a man with the substaunce of hys manhoode in one sacred wombe There were they coupled together by the holy ghost neuer to be deuyded a sunder He retayneth the one with the other in seperablye As he will not altar the substaunce of hys fleshe into the substaunce of bread no more will hee altar the shape of hys bodye into the forme of bread There cannot be a greater absurditie agaynst the truth then to thinke that he would leaue the shape that he tooke in the virgins womb being an accident vnto hys manhoode and ioyne vnto the same a wafer cake baken in an ouen or betwene a payre of yrons As he is in heauen very man one onely mediatour betwene God and man euen the man Chryst Iesus hee it is that is the propitiation for our sinnes Be bolde therefore to confesse thys most pure and Apostolicall doctrine and also that all fauoure mercy and forgeuenesse commeth onely by him He onely of God the father was made for vs all wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption All these are the giftes of God the father freely geuen vnto vs by Christ Iesus God and man through fayth in his bloud and not by the merites of men Giftes they are I say freely geuen vnto vs of fauoure wythout our deserte by beleeuing and not by deseruing To this doe the lawe and the Prophetes beare witnesse This doctrine haue all the blessed Martyrs of Christes church wytnessed wyth theyr bloude to bee true To thys trueth haue all the consciences of all true beleuers subscribed euer since the Ascension of Christ. This witnesse is not of man but of God What better quarrell can ye theÌ haue to geue your liues for then the trueth it selfe That man that geueth his lyfe for the truth taketh the rediest way to lyfe He that hath the Popes curse for the truth is sure of Christes blessing Well then my brethren what shall now lette but that ye goe forward as ye haue begon Nay rather runne wyth the runners that ye maye obtayne the appoynted glorye Holde on the right waye looke not back haue the eye of youre heart fixed vppon GOD and so runne that ye may get holde of it Cast awaye all your worldly pelfe and worldly respects as the fauour of friendes the feare of men sensuall affection respect of persons honour prayse shame rebuke wealth pouertie riches landes possessions carnall fathers and mothers wife and children with the loue of your own selues and in respect of that heauenly treasure ye loooke for let al these be denyed vtterly refused of you so that in no coÌditioÌ they do abate your seale or quenche youre loue towardes God In this case make no acoÌpt of theÌ but rather repute theÌ as vile in comparison of euerlasting life Away with them as thornes that choke the heauenly seede of the Gospel where they be suffered to grow They are burdens of the fleshe which encomber the soule exchaunge them therefore for aduauntage Doth not he gayne that findeth heauenly and immortall treasure for earthly corruptible riches Loseth that man any thing whiche of his carnall father and mother is forsaken when therefore he is receaued of God the father to be his childe and eyre in Christ Heauenly for earthly for mortall immortall for transitory thinges permaneÌt is great gaynes to a Christian conscience Therefore as I beganne I exhort you in the Lorde not to be afrayd Shrinke not my brethren mistrust not God bee of good comforte reioyce in the Lord hold fast your fayth and continue to the end Deny the world and take vp your crosse and follow him whiche is your loadesman and is gone before If you suffer with him yea you shall raygne with him What way can you glorifie the name of your heauenly father better then by sufferyng death for his sonnes sake What a spectacle shal it be to the world to beholde so godly a fellowship as you seruauntes of God in so iust a quarrell as the Gospell of Christ is with so pure a conscience so strong a fayth and so liuely a hope to offer your selues to suffer most cruell tormentes at the handes of Gods enemyes and so to end your dayes in peace to receaue in the resurrection of the righteous life euerlasting Be strong therfore in your battayle The Lord God is on your side and his truth is your cause and against you be none but the enemies of the crosse of Christe as the serpent and his seede the Dragon with hys tayle the marked men of the Beast the ofspring of the Pharisees the congregation malignant the generation of Vipers murtherers as theyr father the deuill hath bene from the beginning To conclude such are they as the Lorde God hath alwayes abhorred and in all ages resisted and ouerthrowne God from whome nothing is hid knoweth what they are Hee that searcheth the heartes of men he hath found them out to be crafty subtill full of poyson proud disdainefull stiffenecked deuourers raueners and barkers against the truth filthy shamelesse and therefore doth the spirite of God by the mouthes of hys holy Prophetes and Apostles call them by the names of Foxes serpentes Cockatrices Lyons Leopardes Bulles Beares Wolues Dogs Swine Beasts teachyng vs therby to vnderstaÌd that their natural inclinatioÌ is to deceaue poison and destroy as much as in them lyeth the faythfull and elect of God But the Lord with his right arme shal defend his little flocke agaynst the whole rabblement of these worldlings which haue conspired against him he hath numbred all the heares of his childrens heades so that not one of theÌ shal pearish without hys fatherly wil. He kepeth the sparrowes much more will he preserue them whom he hath purchased with the bloud of the immaculate Lambe Hee will keepe them vnto the houre appointed wherein the name of God shal be glorified in his saynctes In the meane tyme let them woorke theyr willes let them enuy let them maligne let theÌ blaspheeme let them curse banne betray whippe scourge hang and burne for by these meanes God will try his elect as gold in the furnace and by these fruites shall they also bring themselues to be knowen what they be for all their sheepes skinnes For as he that in suffering paciently for the Gospell of God is thereby knowne to be of Christ euen so in likewise is
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 coÌmaund 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 Howâeit 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 woÌderfull 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 druÌken 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
worde because I am not woorthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so doyng but adde sinne to sinne What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell as Christ himself beareth witnesse Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods coÌmandements When I am prouoked to pray the enemy may say vnto me I am not worthy to pray therfore I shall not pray so in lyke maner of all the commandements I shall not forbeare swearing stealing murthering because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God These be the delusions of the Deuill and Sathans suggestions which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of euery mans gift agaynst all assaults of the Deuill At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment I was called into a by chamber next to my prison to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers chaplains seruants except it were an old priest I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question He proceded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church which had continued so many yeares As for our church as hee called it it was not knowen he sayd but lately in kyng Edwards tyme. I professe my selfe to be a member of that church said I that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng said I though it beare no glorious shew before the world beyng euer for the most part vnder the Crosse and affliction contemned despised and persecuted My Lord on the other side contended that they were the Church Glouer So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem saying Templum Domini templum Domini The Church the Church c. Bish. And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried hold thy peace I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience to hold thy peace callyng me a proud arrogant heretike Glouer I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions I refused to aunswer him in corners requiryng that I myght make my answer openly He sayd I should aunswer hym there I stood with hym vpon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym Then I lifted vp my hart to God that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word Bish. The first question was this how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church Glo. The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper Bish. No more sayd he Glo. To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce a sure hope trust and confidence in the death of Christ to such ministers I grant that they haue authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word the remission of sinnes Here interruptyng me he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt because that matter was of no great waight or importaÌce although he in so doing did me wrong for I called it not a Sacrament Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr confession I sayd no. Bish. Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament Glouer I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacrifice nor Sacrament because sayd I you haue takeÌ away the true institution which when you restore agayne I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor Moe examinations he had no doubt with the Byshop in the publike Consistory when he was brought forth to be condemned which also he would haue left vnto vs if either length of lyfe or laysure of tyme or haste of execution had permitted hym to finish that he intended but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do neither yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become Onely this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of hys concernyng the goyng to his death I can report that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord M. Rob. Glouer after he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world it so happened that two or three dayes before his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vpon hym Wherupon he fearing in himself lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred signifieng vnto hym how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne willed and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was yet seing his cause was iust and true he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same to play the man nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he sayd he was right certayne and sure therfore desired hym when so euer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should begin to touch his hart that then he would shew some signification thereof wherby he might witnesse with hym the same and so departed from hym The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome as hee was goyng to the place and was now come to the sight of the stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes that he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen saying in these words Austen he is come he is come c. that with such ioy and alacritie as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly
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 CoÌstantine 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 Shaxâon his Susâragane 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 leÌgth 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 staÌding 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
heart as I graunt I haue fealt sometimes before O good brother blessed be God in thee and blessed be the time that euer I knewe thee Farewell farewell Your brother in Christ Nicholas Ridley Brother farewell To the brethren remaining in captiuitie of the flesh and dispearsed abroad in sundry prisones but knit together in vnity of spirit and holy Religion in the bowels of the Lorde Iesu. GRace peace mercye be multiplied among you What worthy thankes can we render vnto the Lorde for you my brethren namely for the great coÌsolation which through you we haue receiued in the Lorde who notwithstanding the rage of Sathan that goeth about by all maner of subtill meanes to beguile the worlde and also buâlâ laboreth to restore and set vp his kingdome againe that of late began to decay and fall to ruine ye remaine yet stil ãâã as men surely grounded vpon a strong rocke And nowe albeit that sathan by his souldiors and wicked ministers daily as we heare draweth numbers vnto hym so that it is sayd of him that he plucketh euen the very starres out of heauen whiles hee driueth into some men thâ feare of death and losse of all their goods and sheweth and offereth to other some the pleasaunt baites of the worlde namelye richesse wealth and all kinde of delightes and pleasures faire houses great reuenues âat benefices and what not and all to the intent they should fall downe worship not the Lorde but the Dragon the olde Serpent whych is the deuil that great beast and his image and should be inâiced to commit fornication with the strompet of Babilon together wyth the kings of the earth wyth the lesser beast and with the false Prophetes and so to reioyce and be pleasant wyth her and to be drunken wyth the wine of her fornication yet blessed be God the Father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe which hath geuen vnto you a manly courage and hath so strengthened you in the inwarde man by the power of his spirite that you can contemne as well all the terrours as also the vaine flatteringe allurementes of the worlde esteeming them as vanities mere trifles things of nought Who hath also wroughte planted and surely stablished in your hearts so stedfast a fayth and loue of the Lorde Iesus Christe ioyned with such constancie that by no engines of Antichriste be they neuer so terrible or plausible yee will suffer any other Iesus or any other Christ to be forced vpon you besides him whom the Prophetâ haue spoken of before the Apostles haue preached the holy Martyrs of God haue coÌfessed and testified with the effusion of their bloud In thys Faith stand ye fast my brethren and suffer not your selues to be brought vnder the yoke of bondage and superstition any more For ye know brethren howe that our sauiour warned his beforehand that such shoulde come as would poynt vnto the world an other Christ and woulde set him out wyth so many fals myracles and with such deceiueable and subtill practises that euen the very electe if it were possible should be therby deceiued such strong delusion to come did our Sauiour geue warning of before But continue ye faithful and constant and be of good comfort remember that our graund captaine hath ouercome the world for he that is in vs is stronger then he that is in the world and the Lorde promiseth vnto vs that for the elects sake the daies of wickednes shall be shortned In the meane season abide ye endure with patience as ye haue begun endure I say and reserue your selues vnto better times as one of the heathen Poetes said cease not to shew yourselues valiant Soldiours of the Lorde and helpe to maintaine the trauelling faith of the Gospell Yee haue neede of patience that after ye haue done the wil of God ye may receiue the promises For yet a very litle while and he that shall come will come and wil not tarie and the iust shall liue by faith but if anye withdrawe him selfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him sayth the Lorde But we are not they which doe withdrawe oure selues vnto damnation but beleeue vnto the saluation of the soule Let vs not suffer these woordes of Christ to fall out of our hearts by any manner of terrours or threatnings of the worlde Feare not them which kil the body the rest ye know For I wryte not vnto you as to menne which are ignoraunt of the truth but which know the truthe and to this ende onely that we agreeing together in one faith may take comfort one of an other and be the more confirmed and strengthened thereby We neuer had a better or more iust cause either to contemne our life or shed our bloud we can not take in hande the defence of a more certaine cleare and manifest truthe For it is not any ceremonie for the which we contend but it toucheth the very substance of our whole Religion yea euen Christ him selfe Shall we either can we receiue and acknowledge any other Christe in steade of hym who is alone the euerlasting sonne of the euerlasting Father and is the brightnesse of the glory and liuely image of the substaunce of the Father in whome onely dwelleth corporally the fulnesse of the Godhead who is the onely waye the truth and the life Let such wickednesse my brethren lette such horrible wickednesse be farre from vs. For althoughe there be that are called Gods whether in heauen either in earth as there be many Gods and many Lordes yet vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whome are al things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whome are all things and wee by him but euery man hath not knowledge This is life eternal sayth S. Iohn that they know thee to be the onely true God and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ. If any therfore would force vpon vs any other GOD besides him whom Paule and the Apostles haue taughte let vs not heare him but let vs flee froÌ him and hold him accursed Brethren ye are not ignorant of the deepe and profouÌd subtleties of Satan for he will not cease to raunge about you seking by all meanes possible whom he may deuour but play ye the men and be of good comfort in the Lorde And albeit your enemies and the aduersaries of the truth armed with all worldly force and power that may be doe set vppon you yet be not ye faynt harted nor shrinke not therfore but trust vnto your Captayne Christ trust vnto the spirit of truth trust to the truth of your cause which as it may by the malice of satan be darckened so can it neuer be cleane put out For we haue high prayse be geuen to God therfore most playnely euidently and clearely on our side all the Prophets all the Apostles and vndoubtedly all the auncient Ecclesiastical writers which haue writtan vntill
is an earnest worde of Ire Wherfore hell fire is appoynted for it that is the most payne of the three punishments Now you haue heard that to these diuers offences of Ire and killyng be appoynted punishments according to their degrees for looke as the offence is so shall the paine be if the offence be great the payne shall be accordyng if it be lesse there shal be lesse paine for it I would not now that you should thinke because that here is but three degrees of punishmentes spoken of that there bee no more in hell no doubt Christ spake of no more here but of these three degrees of punishmentes thinkyng they were sufficient enough for example wherby we myght vnderstand that there be as diuers and many paynes as there bee oâfenses and so by these three offences and these three punishmentes all other offences and punishments may bee compared with an other yet I would satisfy your mynds further in these three termes of iudgement counsaile and hell fire Where you might say what was the cause that Christ declared more the paynes of hell by these termes then by any other termes I tolde you afore that he knew well to whome he spake them these termes were naturall and well knowen amongest the Iewes and Phariseies Wherefore Christ taught them with their owne termes to the intent they might vnderstand the better his doctrine and these termes may bee likened vnto three termes which we haue common and vsuall amongst vs that is to say the sessions of enquirance the sessions of deliuerance and the execution day Sessions of enquirance is lyke vnto iudgement for when sessions of enquiry is then the Iudges causeth xij men to geue verdite of the felons crime whereby he shall be iudged to be endited sessions of deliueraunce is much lyke counsayle for at sessions of deliueraunce the Iudges go amongest themselues to counsaile to determine sentence agaynst the fellon Execution day is to be compared vnto hel fire for the Iews had amongest themselues a place of execution named hell fire and surely when a man goeth to hys death it is the greatest payne in this world wherefore you may see that there are degrees in these our termes as there is in those termes these euill disposed affections and sensualities in vs are alwayes contrary to the rule of our saluation What shall we doe now or imagine to thrust downe these Turkes and to subdue them It is a great ignominy and shame for a Christian man to be bond and subiect vnto a Turke Nay it shall not bee so wee will first cast a Trumpe in their way and play with them at cardes who shall haue the better let vs play therefore on this fashion with this carde Whensoeuer it shall happen these fowle passions and Turkes to ryse in our stomackes agaynst our brother or neighbour eyther for vnkynd wordes iniuries or wrongs which they haue done vnto vs contrary vnto our mynd straight wayes let vs call vnto our remembraunce and speake this question vnto our selues Who art thou The answer is I am a christian man TheÌ further we must say to our selues What requireth Christ of a christian man Now turne vp your trump your hart hartes is trumpe as I sayd before and cast your trumpe your heart on this carde and vppon this carde you shall learne what Christ requireth of a Christian man not to be angry ne mooued to Ire agaynst hys Neighbour in mynde countenaunce nor other wayes by word or deed Then take vp this carde with your hart and lay them together that done you haue won the game of the Turke wherby you haue defaced and ouercome by true and lawfull play but alas for pitie the Rhodes are wonne and ouercome by these false Turkes the strong Castle Fayth is decayed so that I feare it is almost impossible to winne it agayne The great occasion of the losse of this Rhodes is by reason that Christian men doth so daily kill their own nation that the very true number of Christianitie is decayed which murther and killyng one of another is encreased specially two wayes to the vtter vndoyng of Christendome that is to say by example and silence By example as thus When the Father the Mother the Lord the Lady the Maister the Dame be themselues ouercome with these Turkes they be continuall swearers adulterers disposers to malice neuer in patience and so forth in all other vices Thinke you not when the Father the mother the Maister the Dame bee disposed vnto vice or impatience but that their children and seruants shall encline and be disposed to the same No doubt as the chylde shall take disposition naturall of their father and mother so shal the seruaunts apply vnto the vices of their Maisters and Dames if the heads be false in theyr faculties and crafts it is no meruayle if the children seruaunts and apprentices do enioy therein This is a great and shameful maner of killyng Christian men that the Fathers the Mothers the Maisters and the Dames shall not alonely kyll themselues but all theyrs and all that longeth vnto them and so this way is a great number of christian linage murthered and spoiled The second maner of killyng is silence By silence also is a great number of christen men slayne which is on this fashion although that the father mother maister dame of themselues be wel disposed to liue according to the law of God yet they may kil their childreÌ and seruants in suffryng them to do euill before their own faces and do not vse due correction accordyng vnto theyr offences the maister seeth his seruaunt or apprentice take more of his neighbour then the Kings lawes or the other of hys facultie doth admit hym or that hee suffereth hym to take more of hys neighbour then he hymselfe would be content to pay if he were in lyke condition thus doyng I say such men kill willyngly their children and seruants and shall goe to hell for so doyng but also their fathers and mothers maisters and dames shall beare them company for so sufferyng them Wherefore I exhort all true Christian men and women to geue good example vnto your children and seruauntes and suffer not them by silence to offend euery man must bee in hys owne house accordyng to Saint Augustines mynde a Bishop not all onely geuyng good ensample but teach accordyng to it rebuke and punish vice not sufferyng your children seruauntes to forget the lawes of GOD you ought to see them haue their Beliefe to know the Commaundements of God to keepe their holy dayes not to loose theyr tyme in idlenesse if they doe so you shall all suffer payne for it if God be true of hys saying as there is no doubt thereof and so you may perceyue that there be many one that breaketh this carde Thou shalt not kill and playeth therwith oftentymes at the blynde trompe whereby they bee no winners but great loosers but who bee those now a dayes
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
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 tradâm 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
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 constaÌt 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
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 meÌ 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 couÌtreyman 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 theÌ 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
in euery village yea and almost in euery honest mans house alas now it is exiled and banished out of the whole realme Of late who was not taken for a louer of Gods word for a reader for a ready hearer for a learner of the same And now alas who dare beare any open countenaunce toward it but such as are content in Christes cause and for his wordes sake to stand to the daunger and losse of all that they haue Of late there was to be found of euery age of euery degree and kinde of people that gaue theyr diligeÌce to learne as they could out of Gods word the articles of the christian fayth the commaundementes of God and the Lordes prayer The babes and young children were taughte these thinges of theyr parentes of theyr maisters weekly of theyr Curates in euery church the aged folke whiche had bene brought vp in blindnes and in ignoraunce of those things which euery christian is bouÌd to know wheÌ otherwise they could not yet they learned the same by ofteÌ hearing theyr children and seruantes repeating the same but now alas and alas agayne the false Prophets of Antichrist which are past all shame do openly preach in pulpittes vnto the people of God that the Catechisme is to be counted heresy wherby theyr olde blindnes is brought home agayn for the aged are afraid of the higher powers and the youth is abashed and ashamed euen of that which they haue learned though it be Gods woord and dare no more meddle Of late in euery congregation throughout all EnglaÌd was made prayer and petition vnto God to be deliuered from the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities from al false doctrine and heresy now alas Sathan hath perswaded England by his falshoode craft to reuoke her olde godly prayer to recant the same prouoke the fearefull wrath and indignation of God vpon her owne pate Of late by strayt lawes and ordinances with the consent of the nobles and commonalty and full agreement counsel of the prelates and clergy was banished hence the beast of Babilon with lawes I say and with othes all meanes that then could be deuised for so godly a purpose but now alas all these lawes are troden vnder foote the Nobles the Commonalty the Prelates and Cleargy are quite chauÌged and all those othes though they were made in iudgement iustice truth and the matter neuer so good doth no more hold then a bond of Rushes or of a Barley straw nor publicke periurye no more feareth them then a shadow vpon the wall Of late it was agreed in Englande of all handes according to Paules doctrine and Christes commauÌdemeÌt as Paule sayth playnly that nothing ought to be done in the Church in the publicke congregation but in that touÌg which the Congregation could vnderstand that all might be edefied thereby whether it were Common Prayer Administration of the Sacramentes or any other thing belonging to publicke Ministerye of Gods holy and wholesome word but alas all is turned vpside downe Paules doctrine is put apart Christs commaundement is not regarded For nothing is heard commonly in the Church but in a straunge tongue that the people doth nothing vnderstand Of late al men and women were taught after Christes doctrine to pray in that touÌg which they could vnderstaÌd that they might pray with hart that whiche they shoulde speake with theyr toung now alas the vnlearned people is brought in that blindnes again to think that they pray when they speak with theyr toung they can not tell what nor wherof theyr hart is nothing mindefull at all for that it can vnderstand neuer a whit therof Of late the Lordes Supper was duely ministred and taught to be made common to all that were true Christians with thankesgeuing and setting foorth of the Lordes death passion vntill his returning agayne to iudge both quicke and dead but now alas the Lordes table is quite ouerthrowne and that whiche ought to be common to all godly is made priuate to a fewe vngodlye without any kind of thankesgeuing or any setting foorth of the Lordes death at all that the people is able to vnderstand Of late all that were endued with the light and grace of vnderstanding of Gods holy misteries did blesse God which had brought them out of that horrible blindnes and ignorance wherby in times past being seduced by sathans subtleties they beleued that the Sacrament was not the Sacrament but the thing it self wherof it is a SacrameÌt that the creature was the Creator and that the thing whiche hath neither life nor sense alas suche was the horryble blindenesse was the Lord himselfe which made the eye to see and hath geuen all senses and vnderstandinge vnto man but now alas Englande is returned agayne lyke a Dogge to her owne vomitte and spuing and is in worsse case theÌ euer she was For it had bene better neuer to haue knowne the trueth then to forsake the truth once receiued and knowne and now not onely that light is turned into darcknesse and Gods grace is receiued in vayne but also lawes of death are made by high Courte of Parliament maysterfully to mainteine by sword fire and al kind of violence that haynous Idolatry wherein that adoration is geuen vnto the liuelesse and dumbe creature which is only due vnto the euerliuing God yea they say they can and do make of bread both manne and GOD by theyr transubstantiation O wicked mention and Sathans owne broode Of late was the Lordes cuppe at his Table distributed according to his owne coÌmaundement by his expresse wordes in his Gospell as well to the Laity as to the clergy which order Christes Churche obserued so many hundreth yeares after as all the auncient Ecclesiasticall writers doe testify without contradiction of any one of them that can be shewed vnto this day but now alas not only the Lords commaundement is broken his cup is denied to his seruauntes to whom he commaunded it shoulde be distributed but also with the same is set vp a new blasphemous kinde of sacrifice to satisfye and paye the price of sinnes both of the dead and of the quicke to the great intollerable contumely of Christ our sauior his death passion which was and is the one only sufficient and euerlasting auayleable sacrifice satisfactorye for all the Electes of God from Adam the first to the last that shall be borne in the end of the world Of late the commaundement of God Thou shalte not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor any similitude or likenes of any thing in heauen aboue or in earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth thou shalte not bowe downe to them nor worship them This commaundement of God I say was grauen almost euery where in Churches was learned of euery body both young olde whereupon Images that prouoked the simple and ignorant people vnto Idolatrie as
shrining of reliques from any kinde of wickednes if you will pay well for it cleare absolution a poena culpa with thousandes of yeares yea at euery poore Bishops hand and suffragan ye shall haue halowing of Churches Chappels aulters superaulters chalices and of all the whole housholde stuffe and adornameÌt which shal be vsed in the church after the Romish guise for all these thinges must be estemed of such high price that they may not be done but by a consecrate bishop onely O Lorde all these thinges are suche as thy Apostles neuer knew As for coniuring they call it halowing but it is coÌiuring in deede of water and salt of christening of belles and such like thinges what neede I to speake for euerye priest that can but read hath power they say not onely to do that but also hath suche power ouer Christes body as to make both God and man once at the least euery daye of a wafer cake After the rehearsall of the said abhominations and remembraunce of a number of many moe which the Lorde knoweth irketh me to thinke vpon and were to longe to describe when I consider on the other side the eternall word of God that abideth for euer and the vndefiled law of the Lord which turneth the soule from all wickednes and geueth wisedome vnto the innocent babes I meane that milk that is without all guile as Peter doth call it that good word of God that word of trueth whiche must be grauen within the hart and then is able to saue mens soules that wholesome seede not mortall but immortall of the eternal and euerliuing God wherby the man is borne a new and made the childe of God that seed of God wherby the man of God so being borne can not sinne as Iohn sayeth hee meaneth so long as that seede doth abide in him that holy scripture which hath not bene deuised by the wit of man but taught from heauen by the inspiratioÌ of the holy ghost which is profitable to teache to reprooue to correct to instruct and geue order in all righteousnesse that the man of God may be whole sound ready to performe euery good worke when I say I consider this holy and wholesome true word that teacheth vs truely our bounden duety towardes our Lorde God in euerye poynt what his blessed will and pleasure is what his infinite great goodnes and mercy is what he hath done for vs how he hath geueÌ hys owne onely dearely beloued sonne to death for our saluation and by him hath sent vs the Reuelation of his blessed will and pleasure what his eternall word willeth vs both to beleue and also to doe and hath for the same purpose inspired the holy Apostles with the holy ghost sent them abroad into all the world and also made them other disciples of Christ inspired by the same spirite to write leaue behinde them the same thinges that they taught which as they did proceed of the spirit of trueth so by the confession of all them that euer were endued with the spirite of God were sufficient to the obteining of eternall saluation and likewise when I consider that al that man doth professe in his regeneration when he is receiued into the holy catholicke church of Christ and is now to be accouÌted for one of the liuely meÌbers of Christes owne body all that is grouÌded vpon Gods holy word and standeth in the profession of that fayth obedience of those commaundements whiche are all conteined and comprised in Gods holy word furthermore when I consider whom our Sauiour Christ pronouÌceth in his gospell to be blessed and to whom Moses geueth his benedictioÌs in the law what wayes the law the Prophets the Psalmes and all holy Scriptures both newe and olde doth declare to be the wayes of the Lorde what is good for man to obteine and abide in Gods fauor which is that fayth that iustifieth before God and what is that charity that doth passe and excell all whiche be the properties of heauenly wisedome and whiche is that vndefiled religion that is allowed of GOD which thinges Christ himself called the weighty matters of the law what thing is that which is onely auayleable in Christ what knowledge is that that Paule esteemed so much that he counted himself onely to know what shall be the maner of the extreme iudgement of the latter day who shall iudge by what he shall iudge what shall be required at our handes at that fearefull day howe all thinges must be tried by the fire and that that onely shal stand for euer which Christes wordes shall allow which shal be the iudge of all flesh to geue senteÌce vpon all flesh and euery liuing soule either of eternall damnation or of euerlasting saluation from which sentence there shall be no place to appeale no witte shal serue to delude nor no power to withstand or reuoke when I say I consider all these thinges and conferre to the same agayne and agayne all those wayes wherein standeth the substaunce of the romishe religion wherof I spake before it may be euident and easy to perceaue that these two wayes these two religions the one of Christ the other of the Romishe sea in these latter dayes be as farre distaunt the one from the other as light and darckenes good and euill righteousnes and vnrighteousnes Christ and Beliall He that is hard of beliefe let him note and weigh well with himselfe the places of holy Scriptures which be appoynted in the margent wherupon this talk is grounded by Gods grace he may receyue some light And vnto the contemner I haue nothing now to say but to rehearse the saying of the Prophet Esay which Paule spake to the Iewes in the end of the Actes of the Apostles After he hadde expounded vnto them the trueth of Gods word and declared vnto them Chryst out of the Lawe of Moses and the Prophetes from morning to night all the day long he sayd vnto them that would not beleue Well sayd he spake the holy Ghost vnto our fathers saying go vnto this people and tell them ye shall heare with your eares and not vnderstande and seeing you shall behold and not see the thing for the hart of this people is waxed grosse and dulle and wyth their eares they are hard of hearing and they haue shut together their eyes that they shoulde not see nor heare with theyr eares nor vnderstand with their hartes that they might returne and I should heale them sayth the Lord God All as Englande alas that this heauy plague of GOD shoulde fall vpon thee Alas my dearely beloued country what thing is it now that may doe thee good Undoubtedly thy plague is so great that it is vtterly vncurable but by the bottomlesse mercy and infinite power of almightye God Alas my deare country what hast thou done that thus hast prouoked the wrath of God and caused him to poure out his vengeaunce
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 chaÌpions 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 defeÌd 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 âlye 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
shall be made manifest and appeare in glorye then shall the Children of God appeare what they be euen like vnto Christ for this oure weake body shall bee transfigured and made like vnto Christes glorious body and that by the power wherby he is able to subdue vnto himselfe al thinges Then that which is now corruptible shall be made incorruptible that nowe is vile shall then bee made glorious that is now weake shal rise then mighty and strong that is grosse and carnall shall be made fine and spirituall for then we shal see and haue the vnspeakable ioy and fruâtion of the glorious maiestie of our Lord euen as he is Who or what then shall let vs to ieoparde to ieopard yea to spende this lyfe whiche wee haue here in Christes cause in our Lorde God his cause O thou therefore man of God thou yâ art loden so letted like vnto a great bellied woman that thou canst not flie the plague yet if thou lust after suche things as I haue spoken of stand fast what soeuer shall befall in thy maysters cause and take this thy letting to flye for a calling of God to fight in thy mayster Christ his cause Of this be thou certaine they can do nothing vnto thee whiche thy father is not aware of or hath not foreseene before they can do no more theÌ it shal please hym to suffer them to do for the furtheraunce of his glory edifying of his Church and thine owne saluation Let theÌ then do what they shall seeing to thee O man of God all thinges shall be forced to serue and to worke with thee vnto the best before God O be not afrayd and remember the end All this whiche I haue spoken for the comforte of the lamentable case of the man whome Christ callethe greate bellied woman I meane to bee spoken of likewyse to the captiue and prisoner in Gods cause for suche I counte to be as it were already summoned and pressed to fight vnder the banner of the crosse of Chryste and as it were souldiours allowed and taken vp for the Lordes warres to do their Lorde and mayster good and honourable seruice and to sticke to him as men of trusty seruice in hys cause euen vnto death and to thinke their lyfe lost in his cause is to win it in eternal glory for euermore Therfore now to conclude and to make an end of thys treatise I say vnto all that loue God our heauenly father that loue Christ Iesus our redeemer and sauioure that loue to follow the wayes of the holy Ghost whiche is our comforter and sanctifier of all vnto al that loue Christs spouse and bodye the true catholicke Churche of Christe yea that loue lyfe and theyr owne soules health I say vnto al these hearken my deare breathren and sisters all you that be of God of all sortes ages dignities or degrees hearken to the word of our sauiour Iesus Christ spoken to his Apostles and meant to all his in S. Mathewes Gospel Feare not them whiche kill the body for they cannot kil the soule but feare hym more which may destroy and cast both body and soule into hell fire Are not two small sparrowes sold for a mite and one of them shall not fall or light vpon the ground without your father All the heares of your head be numbed Feare them not you are muche more worthe then are the litle sparrowes Euery one that confesseth me before men him shal I likewise confesse before my Father which is in heauen But who soeuer shall deny me before men I shall deny him likewise before my father which is in heauen The Lord graunt vs therfore of his heauenlye grace and strengthe that here wee maye so confesse him in thys world amongst this adulterous and sinneful generation that he may confesse vs agayne at the latter day before hys father whiche is in heaueÌ to his glory and our euerlasting comfort ioy and saluation To our heauenly Father to our sauiour and redemer Iesus Christ and to the holy Ghost be all glory and honour now and for euer Amen Thus with the deathe and martyrdome of these two learned Pastorsr and constant souldiours of Christ mayster Latimer and B. Ridley you haue dyuers of theyr letters and other writinges of theirs expressed with the Farewels also of B. Ridley wherein he tooke hys leaue of the world taking hys iourny to the kingdome of heauen Diuers and sondry other treatises of his remayne also in my hand both in Latine and English to be remembred by the leaue of the Lorde in time and place conuenient The death and end of Stephen Gardiner Byshop of Winchester THe next moneth after the burning of Doctor Ridley and mayster Latimer which was the moneth of Nouember Stephen Gardiner Byshop and Chauncelloure a man hated of God and all good men ended hys wretched lyfe Concerning the quallities nature and disposition of which man for somuch as somewhat hath bene declared before in the storye of kinge Edwardes raygne I shall neede therefore the lesse now to stand greatly vpon the same First this Uipers byrd crept out of the towne of Bery in Suffolke brought vp most parte of his youth in Cambridge his wit capacitie memorye and other indumentes of nature not to bee complayned of if he hadde wel vsed and rightly applyed the same wherein ther was no great want of Gods part in hym if hee had not rather hymselfe wanted to the goodnes of his gifts Through this promptnes actiuitie towardnes of hys he profited not a little in such studyes as he gaue hys head vnto as first in the law ciuil then in languages and such other like especially in those artes and faculties which had any prospect to dignitie and preferment to be hoped for Besides other ornaments or helpes of nature memory chiefly seemed in hym very beneficiall rather then dilligence of study To these giftes and quallities were ioyned agayne is great or greater vices which not so much followed hym as ouertooke him not so muche burdened hym as made hym burdenous to the whole realme Hee was of a proude stomacke and high minded in hys owne opinion and conceit flattering himselfe to much in wit crafty and subtile towarde his superiour flattering and faire spoken to hys inferiours fierce agaynst hys equall stoute and enuious namely if in iudgement and sentence he any thyng withstoode hym as appeared betweene the good Lorde CroÌwell and hym in the raygne of kyng Henry being of like hauâinesse of stomacke as the Poets wryte of Pelides Cedere nescius Who although would geue no place to men yet notwtstanding I wish he woulde haue geuen place to truth according as he semed not altogether ignorant of the truth What his knowledge was therin it is euident partly to vnderstand as wel by his book De vera obedientia as also by his sermon before king Edward also by his aunsweres to the Councell the same time and
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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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 witâhe was pregnaÌt 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 coÌmyng 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
which say Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of God but he that doth the will of the father And whosoeuer in the tyme of tryall is ashamed of me sayth Christ and of my wordes of him the sonne of man will be ashamed before his father After that wee haue built our selues into the true church of God it hath pleased him by geuing vs ouer into the hands of the wicked sinagoges to proue our building to haue it knowne as wel to the world as to our selues that we haue bene wise builders into the true church of God vpon the rock not on the sand therefore nowe the tempest is risen and the stormes doe mightily blow agaynst vs that wee might notwithstanding stand vpright and be firme in the Lord to his honor and glory and to our eternall felicitie There is no newe thing happened vnto vs for with such taÌpests dangerous weathers the church of God hath continually bene exercised Nowe once agayne as the Prophet Aggeus telleth vs The Lord shaketh the earth that those might abide for euer which be not ouerthrowne Therefore my dearely beloued be stable and immoueble in the word of God and in the faythfull obseruation therof and let no man deceiue you with vayn words saying that you may keepe your faith to your selues and dissemble with Antichrist and so liue at rest and quietnes in the world as most men doe yelding to necessitie Thys is the wisedome of the fleshe but the wisedome of the fleshe is death and enmitie to God as our sauiour for ensaÌple aptly did declare in Peter who exhorted Christ not to goe to Ierusalem to celebrate the Passouer and there to be slayn but counselled him to looke better to himselfe Likewise the worlde woulde not haue vs to forsake it neither to associate our selues to the true churche which is the body of Christ whereof we are liuely members and to vse the sacramentes after Gods word with the danger of our liues But we must learne to answere the world as Christ did Peter and say Go behynd me Sathan thou fauourest not the thinges of God Shall I not drinke of the cup whiche the father geueth me For it is better to bee afflicted and to be slayne in the church of God then to be counted the sonne of the king and the sinagogue of false religion Death for righteousnes is not to be abhorred but rather to bee desired which assuredly bringeth with it the crowne of euerlasting glory These bloudy executioners do not persecute Christes martyrs but crowne them with euerlasting felicitie we were borne into this world to be witnesses vnto the truth both learned and vnlearned Now since the time is come that we must shew our fayth and declare whether we will be Gods seruauntes in righteousnes holines as we haue bene taught are bouÌd to follow or els with hipocrisie to serue vnrighteousnes let vs take good heed that we be found faithfull in the Lords couenaunt and true members of hys Churche in that which through knowledge we are engraffed from the whiche if we fall by transgression with the common sort of people it will more straightly be required of vs then many yet doe make accompt therof We cannot serue two maysters we may not halt on both sides and thinke to please God we must bee feruent in Gods cause or els hee will cast vs out from him For by the first commaundement wee are commanded to loue God with all our hart with all our mind with all our power and strength but they are manifest transgressours of this commaundement which with their heart mynde or bodely power doe communicate with a straunge religion contrary to the word of God in the papisticall Sinagogue which calleth it selfe the Church and is not As greatly do they offend God now which so doe as the Israelites did in tymes past by forsaking IerusaleÌ the true churche of God and by going to Bethell to serue God in a congregation of theyr owne setting vp and after theyr own imaginations and traditions for the which doyng God vtterly destroyed all Israell as all the Prophetes almost doe testifie This happened vnto them for our ensample that we might beware to haue any fellowship with any like congregation to our destruction God hath one Catholicke church dispersed throughout the world and therfore we are taught in our Creed to beleue one Catholicke Churche to haue communion therwith which catholicke churche is grounded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and of the Apostles and vpoÌ none other as S. Paule witnesseth to the Ephesians Therfore whersoeuer we perceaue any people to worship God truly after the word there we may be certayne the churche of Christe to bee vnto the whiche we ought to associate oure selues to desire with the Prophet Dauid to prayse God in the middest of this churche But if we hehold through iniquitie of time segregations to be made with counterfayt religion otherwise then the word of God doth teach wee ought then if we be required to be companions therof to say agayne with Dauid I haue hated the Sinagogue of the malignant and will not sit with the wicked In the Apocalips the church of Ephesus is highly commended because she tried such as said they were Apostles and were not in deede therfore would not abide the company of them Further God commanded his people that they shuld not seek Bethel neither enter into Gilgal where idolatry was vsed by the mouth of his Prophet Amos. Also wee must consider that our bodyes be the teÌple of God whosoeuer as S. Paule teacheth doth prophane the teÌple of God him the Lord wil destroy May we theÌ take the teÌple of Christ make it the meÌber of an harlot All strange religion and Idolatry is counted whoredome with the Prophetes and that more detestable in the sight of God then the aduoutrous abuse of the bodye Therfore the Princes of the earthe in the reuelation of S. Iohn be sayd to go a whoring wheÌ they are in loue with false religion and follow the same How then by any meanes may a christian man thinke it tollerable to be present at the popish priuate Masse which is the very prophanation of the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and at other idolatrous worshippings and rites which be not after the word of God but rather to the derogation therof in setting mans traditions aboue Gods preceptes since God by his word iudgeth all straunge religion whiche is not according to his institutioÌ for whoredom aduoutry Some fondly think that the presence of the body is not materiall so that the hart doe not consent to theyr wicked doings But suche persons litle consider what S. Paule writeth to the Corinthians commaunding them to glorifie God as well in body as in soule Moreouer wee can doe no greater iniury to the true Church of Christ
Gods spirite in vs accordyng to the rule of the Gospell he that coÌformeth not him selfe to the same in godly conuersation may iustly treÌble doubt that he is none of the elect children of God but of the viperous generation and a child of darkenesse For the children of light will walke in the workes of light and not of darkenes though they fall they do not lye still Let all vayne excusations be set a part and whiles ye haue light as Christ commaundeth beleue the light and abide in the same lest eternall darkenesse ouertake you vnwares The light is come into the world but alas men loue darkenesse more theÌ the light God geue vs his pure eyesalue to heale our blindnes in this behalfe O that men and women would be healed and not seeke to be wilfully blinded The Lord open their eyes that they may see how dauÌgerous a thyng it is to decline from the knowledge of truth contrary to their conscience But what sayd I conscience many affirme their conscience will beare them well enough to do all that they do and to go to the Idolatrous Church to seruice whose coÌscieÌce is very large to satisfie man more then God And although their conscience can beare them so to do yet I am sure that a good conscience will not permit them so to doe which caÌ not be good vnlesse it be directed after the knowledge of Gods word and therfore in Latin this feelyng of mynde is called Conscientia which souÌdeth by interpretation as much as with knowledge And therfore if our conscience be led of her selfe not after true knowledge yet we are not so to be excused as S. Paul beareth witnes saying Although my coÌscience acseth me not yet in this I am not iustified And he ioineth a good coÌscience with these 3. sisters charitie a pure heart vnfayned fayth Charitie keepeth Gods commaundements a pure hart loueth and feareth God aboue all vnfayned fayth is neuer ashamed of the profession of the Gospell whatsoeuer damage he shal suffer in body therby the lord which hath reuealed hys holy will vnto vs by hys word graunt vs neuer to be ashamed of it and geue vs grace so earnestly to cleaue to hys holy word and true church that for no maner of worldly respecte we become partakers of the workes of hipocrisie which God doth abhorre so that we may be found faythfull in the Lords Testament to the end both in hart word and deede to the glory of God and our euerlasting saluation Amen Ioh. Philpot prisoner in the Kinges Benche for the testimony of the truth 1555. * To hys deare frend in the Lord Iohn Careles prisoner in the kinges Benche MY dearely beloued brother Careles I haue receaued youre louing letters full of loue and compassion in somuch that they made my hard hart to weepe to see you so carefull for one that hath bene so vnprofitable a member as I haue bene and am in Christes church God make me worthy of that I am called vnto and I pray you cease not to pray for me but cease to weep for him who hath not deserued such gentle teares and prayse God with me for that I now approch to the company of them whose want you may worthily lament God geue your pittiful hart his inward consolation In deede my deare Careles I am in thys world in hell and in the shadow of death but he that hath brought me for my desertes downe vnto hell shall shortly lift me vpp to heauen where I shall looke continually for your commyng others my faythfull brethren in the kinges Benche And though I tell you that I am in hell in the iudgement of this world yet assuredly I feele in the same the consolation of heauen I prayse God and thys lothsome and horrible prison is as pleasaunt to me as the walke in the garden of the kinges Bench. You know brother Careles that the way to heauen out of this life is very narrow and wee must striue to enter in at a narrowe gate If God do mitigate the ouglenes of myne imprisonment what will he do in the rage of the fire whereunto I am appoynted And this hath happened vnto me that I might be hereafter an ensample of comfort if the like happen vnto you or to any other of my deare brethren with you in these cruell dayes in the which the deuill so rageth at the faythfull flock of Chryst but in vayne I trust against any of vs who be perswaded that neither lyfe neither death is able to seperate vs from the loue of Christs Gospell which is Gods high treasure committed to your brittle vessels to glorifie vs by the same God of hys mercye make vs faythfull stewardes to the end and geue vs grace to feare nothing what soeuer in hys good pleasure we shal suffer for the same That I haue not written vnto you eâst the cause is our strayt keepyng and the want of light by night for the day serueth vs but a while in our darke closet This is the first letter that I haue writteÌ since I came to prison besides the report of mine examinations and I am fayne to scribble it out in hast Commend me to al our faythfull brethren and bid theÌ with a good courage looke for theyr redemption frame themselues to be harty souldiours in Christ. They haue taken his prest money a great while and now let them shew themselues readye to serue hym faythfully and not to fly out of the Lordes campe into the world as many do Let them remeÌber that in the Apocalips the fearfull be excluded the kingdome Let vs be of good cheare for our Lord ouercame the world that wee shoulde doe the like Blessed is the seruaunt whome when the Lord commeth he findeth watching O let vs watch and pray earnestly one for an other that we be not led into teÌptation Be ioyful vnder the crosse prayse the Lord coÌtinually for this is the whole burnt sacrifice which the Lord delighteth in CoÌmeÌd me to my father Hunt and desire him to loue and continue in the vnitie of Christs true Church which he hath begon and then shal he make me more more to ioy vnder my crosse with him Tel my brother Clements that he hath coÌforted me much by his louing token in significatioÌ of an vnfayned vnitie with vs let him encrease my ioy vnto the end perfectly The Lord of peace be with you al. Salute al my louyng frends M. Mering M. Crooche with the rest and specially M. Marshal his wife with great thaÌks for his kindnes shewed vnto me Farewel my deare Careles I haue dalied with the deuil a while but now I am ouer the shoes God sende me well out Out of the Colehouse by your brother Iohn Philpot. An other letter to Iohn Careles profitable to be read of all them which mourne in repentaunce for theyr sinnes THe God
be Pray I beseech you that I may be stil careles in my careful estate as you haue cause to be carelesse in your easier condition Be thaÌkful and put away all care and then I shall be ioyfull in my straite present care Commend me to all our brethren and desire them to praye for me that I may ouercome my teÌptations for the deuil rageth against me I am putte in the stockes in a place alone because I would not answer to such articles as they would charge me wtall in a corner at the bishops appoyntment and because I did not come to Masse when the bish sent for me I will sic all the dayes of my life in the stockes by Gods grace rather then I wil consent to the wicked generation Praise God be ioyfull that it hath pleased him to make vs worthy to suffer somwhat for his names sake The deuil must rage for 10. daies Commend me to maister F. and thanke him for his lawe bookes but lawe neither equitie wil take any place among these bloud thirsty I would for your sake their vniust dealing were noted vnto the parlament house if it might auaile God shorteÌ these euil daies I haue answered the bish meetely plaine already and I said to him if he wil cal me in open iudgement I wil answer him as plainly as he will require otherwise I haue refused because I feare they will condemne me in hugger mugger The peace of God be with you my dear brother I canne wryte no more for lacke of light and that I haue wrytten I can not reade my selfe and God knoweth it is wrytten farre vneasily I pray God you may picke out some vnderstanding of my minde towards you Wrytten in a Colehouse of darkenesse oute of a paire of paynefull stockes by thine owne in Christ. Iohn Philpot. An other letter of M. Philpot to certaine godlye women forsaking their owne countrey for the Gospell full of frutefull precepts and lessons for all good women THe spirite of truthe reuealed vnto you my dearely beloued by the Gospell of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe be continually abiding with you and augmented into a perfect building of you into the liuely temple of God through the mighty operation of hys power Amen I reade in the Euangelistes of certaine Godly women that ministred vnto Christ folowing him in the daies of his Passion and neuer forsoke him but being dead in his graue brought oyl to annoynt him vntill that he had shewed himselfe vnto them after his resurrection and bidden them shewe vnto his Disciples which at his Passion were dispearsed and tell them that he was riâen and that they shoulde see him in Galile To whome I may iustly compare you my louinge Sisters in Christe who of late haue seene him suffer in his meÌbers and haue ministred to theyr necessity annoynting them with the comfortable oyle of your charitable assistance euen to the death and now since yee haue seene Christ to liue in the ashes of them whome the tyrans haue ãâã he willeth you to go away vpon iust occasion offred you and to declare to our dispearsed brethren and sisters that he is ãâã and liueth in his electe members in Englande and by death doth ouercome infidelitye and that they shall see him in Galile which is by forsaking this world and by a faithful desire to passe out of this world by those waies which he with his holy Martyrs hath gone on before God therfore entire sisters directe your way as he did Abraham Tobias vnto a strange land God geue you health both of body and soule that ye may go from vertue to vertue and grow from strength to strength vntil yee may see face to face the God of Syon in his holy hil with the innumerable companye of hys blessed Martyrs and Saintes Let there be continuall ascensions vnto heauen in your hearts Let there be no decrease of any vertue which is already planted in you Be as the light of the iuste such as Salomon saith increaseth to the perfect day of the Lord. Let the strength of God be commended in your weake vessels as it is Be examples of faith and sobrietie to al that ye shal come in company with all Let your godly conuersation speake where your toung may not in the congregation Be swift to heare and slow to speake after the counsell of S. Iames. Be not curious about other mens doings but be occupied in praier and coÌtinual meditation with reuerent talking of the word of God wythout contention amongst the Saintes Lette your faith shine in a straunge countrey as it hath done in youre owne that your father which is in heauen may be glorified by you to the ende This farewel I send you not as a thing nedefull which know already what your duety is be desirous to performe the same but as one that would haue you vnderstand that he is mindeful of your godly conuersation wherof he hath had good experieÌce and therfore wryteth this to be as a perpetual memorial betwixt you and him vntil our meeting together before God where we shall ioy that we haue here louingly put one an other in memory of our duetie to performe it Farewell againe mine owne bowels in Christ and take me with you where soeuer you goe and leaue your selues wyth me that in spirite we may be present one with an other Commende me to the whole congregation of Christe willing them not to leaue their countrey without witnesse of the Gospell after that we al be slaine which already be stalled vp and appoynted to the slaughter and in the meane season to praye earnestly for our coÌstancie that Christ may be glorified in vs and in them bothe by life and death Farewel in the Lord. Yours for euer Iohn Philpot. An exhortation to his owne sister constantly to sticke to the truth which she had frutefully professed GOd the eternall Father who hath iustified you by the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ and called you to hallow his name through a good conuersation and profession of life he sanctifie you with daily encrease of vertue faith by his holy spirit that you may appeare a vessell of sanctification in the middest of this wicked peruerse generation to the laud and praise of the Gospel Amen I haue occasion mine owne deare sister to praise God in you for 2. causes the one that to your habilitie you are ready to shew your self a naturall louing sister to me your poore afflicted brother as by your geÌtle tokens you haue eftsoones testified being absent as also presently visiting me which wel declareth that you be a very naturall sister in dede and to be praised in this behalfe But in the other that you be also a sister to me in faith after Christes Gospell I am occasioned to thanke God so muche the more howe much the one excelleth the other and the spiritual consanguinitie is more perdurable then that which is of flesh bloud
lawes which doe threaten a greate ruine vnto Englande O that the Lorde woulde tourne his iust iudgements vppon the authours of the truce breaking betweene God and vs that they myghte be broughte lowe as Nabuchodonosor was that his people might be deliuered and his glorye exalted God graunte that that good lucke which you hope shortly to come vppon the house of God be a true prophecie and not a well wishing onely Ah Lorde take away thy heauie hande from vs and stretch it out vpon thine ennemies these hypocrites as thou hast begon that they may be confounded O let not the weake pearish for want of knowledge through our sinnes Although thou kill vs yet will we put our trust in thee Thus deare heart you teache me to pray with you in wryting God heare our praiers and geue vs the spirite of effectuall prayer to poure out our harts coÌtinually together before God that we may find mercy both for our selues and for our afflicted brethren and sistern I can not but praise God in you for that pitifull heart that taketh other folkes calamities to heart as your owne Blessed be they that mourne for suche shall be comforted God wipe away all teares from your pitifull eies and sorrow froÌ your merciful heart that you may as doutles you shal do shortly reioyce with his elects for euer You haue so armed me to the Lordes battell both inwardly and outwardly that except I be a very coward I can not faint but ouercome by death You haue appointed me to so good and gracious a General of the field to so victorious a Captaine and to so fauorable a Marshall that if I should not goe on lustely there were no spectacle of heauenlye manhode in me I wil present your coate armour before my Captaine and in the same I trust by him to ouercome The Scarffe I desire as an outward signe to shew our enemies who see not our glorious ende neither what God worketh inwardly in vs thorough the blindnesse of their hearts that they persecute Christes crosse in vs whereby he hath sealed vp the truthe of his Gospell by his death vnto vs that we by our death if neede be myghte confirme the same and neuer be ashamed whatsoeuer torment we doe suffer for his names sake and our weake brethren seeing the same mighte be more encouraged to take vp Christes crosse and to followe him God geue vs grace to doe all thinges to his glory Amen c. The world wondreth how we can be mery in such extreeme misery but our God is omnipotent which tourneth misery into felicity Beleue me deare sister there is no such ioy in the worlde as the people of Christ haue vnder the crosse I speake by experience therfore beleue me and feare nothing that the world can do vnto you For when they imprison our bodies they sette our soules at liberty with God When they cast vs downe they lift vs vp yea when they kill vs then doe they bring vs to euerlasting life And what greater glorye can there be then to be at conformitie with Christ which afflictions do worke in vs. God open our eies to see more and more the glorye of God in the crosse of Iesus Christe and make vs woorthy partakers of the same Let vs reioyce in nothing with S. Paul but in the crosse of Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified vnto vs and wo to the worlde The crosse of Christ be our standard to fight vnder for euer Whiles I am thus talking with you of our common coÌsolation I forget howe I trouble you with my rude and vnordinate tediousnesse but you must impute it to loue which can not quickely departe from them whome hee loueth but desireth to poure himselfe into their bosomes Therefore though your flesh woulde be offended as it might iustly be at such rudenesse yet your spirit will say nay which taketh all thing in good part that commeth of loue And now I am departing yet will I take my leaue ere I goe and woulde faine speake somewhat that might declare my sincere loue to you for euer farewell O elect vessell of the Lorde to the comfort of hys afflicted flocke farewell on earth whome in heauen I am sure I shall not forget Farewell vnder the crosse most ioyfully and vntil we meete alwaies remember what Christe sayeth Be of good cheare for I haue ouercome the world c. God poure his spirit abundantly vpon you mine owne deare bowels in Christ vntil you may come to see the God of all Gods with his electes in the euerlasting Syon I send to you the kisse of peace with the which I do most entirely take my leaue of you at this present It is necessary we depart hence or els we could not be glorified Your heart is heauy because I say I must depart from you It is the calling of the mercifull father wherewithal you are conteÌt and so am I. Be of good comfort holde out your buckler of faith for by the strength therof we shal shortly mete in eternal glory to the which Christ bring both vs Amen Amen The 10. of December 1555. Death why should I feare thee since thou canst not hurt me But rid me from miserie vnto eternall glorie Dead to the world and liuing to Christ your owne brother sealed vp in the veritie of the Gospel for euer Iohn Philpot. An other letter of M. Philpot wrytten to the same Lady being a great supporter of hym I Can not but most hartily geue God thaÌks for these hys gifts in you whose brightnes many beholding that are weake are muche encouraged to seeke God likewise to cleaue to him hauing the ensample of so faithful and constant a gentlewoman before their eyes If the Queene of the South shall rise with the men of Christes generation and condemne them for that she came from the end of the world to heare the wisedome of Salomon then shal your sincere and godly conuersation thus shining in this dangerous time of the trial of christes people being a womaÌ of a right worshipfull estate and wealthy condition condemne in the latter day a great many of these faint harted gospellers which so soone be gone backe and turned from the truth at the voyce of a handmaiden seeing that neyther the feare of imprisonment neither the possessions of the world wherwtal you are sufficiently indued aboue a great many can separate you from the loue of the truthe which God hath reueled vnto you Wherby it appeareth that the seede of Gods word which was sown in you fel not neitheir in the high way neither amoÌg the thorns neither vpoÌ the stones but vpon a good ground which is blessed of god and bringeth forth fruit with great affliction an 100. fold to the glory of God and the encrease of his church c. In consideration wherof S. Iames biddeth vs highly to reioyce when soeuer we fall into many temptations knowing that it is but the
hym at hys coÌmandement but to your Masse sayd I I haue small affectioÌ 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 yâ 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 geÌtle 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 enteÌd 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 froÌ 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
tribulations that being founde constant to the end he may crowne his owne giftes in them in heauen highly reward theÌ Whether I trust to goe before looking for you to followe my faythfull frend that we maye sing perpetuall praise to our louing Lord God for victory ouer Sathan and sinne won for vs by Iesus Christ God and man our onely and sufficient Sauiour and Aduocate Amen Farewell and pray in fayth Yours Thomas Whittell Minister and nowe condemned to dye for the Gospels sake 1556. Ianuary 21. ¶ All my felowes salute you Salute all our faythful brethren with you ¶ To my deare frend and brother Iohn Went and other his prison felowes in Lollardes Tower HE that preserued Ioseph prisoner in Egypt fed Daniel in the Lions denne and deliuered Paul Peter and the Apostles out of prison vouchsafe of his goodnes to keep feed and deliuer you my good brother Went with the other our felow souldiors your prison felowes as may be most to his glory to your consolatioÌ and the edification of his Church I cannot but praise God most earnestly when I heare of your constancy in the fayth and ioye in the crosse of Christ which you now beare and suffer together with many other good members of Christ which is a token that by Christ you are counted worthy the kingdome of God as Paule sayth And though the world counteth the yoake and crosse of Christ as a most pernicious and hurtfull thing yet we which haue tasted how frendly the Lord is cannot but reioice in this persecution as touching our selues in as much as the cause for the which we suffer is the Lordes cause and not ours at whose hand if we endure to the end we shall receiue through his liberall promise in Christ not onely a greate reward in heauen but also the kingdome of heauen it selfe also in the meane season be sure to bee defended and cared for so that we shall lacke no necessarye thinges neither a heare of our heades shall perishe without his knowledge Oh what is he that would mistrust or not gladly serue so louing a father O how vnhappy are they that forsake him and put theyr trust in man But how blessed are they that for his loue and for his holy woordes sake in these troublesome dayes doe committe theyr soules and bodyes into his handes with wel doing counting it greater happines and riches to suffer rebuke with Christ and his Church theÌ to enioy the pleasures of this life for a litle short seasoÌ This crosse that we nowe beare hath bene common to all the faythfull from Abell hitherto and shal be to the end because the Deuill hauyng great wrath agaynst God and his Christ can not abide that hee should for his manifolde mercies bee lauded and magnified and Christ to be taken and beleued vpon for our onely and sufficient redemer Sauiour and aduocate and therefore because we will not deny Christ nor dissemble with out fayth but openly protest and professe the same before the world he seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp his wicked members to persecute and kill the bodies of the true Christians as S. Iohn sayth the Deuill shall cast some of you into prison And Dauid sayth I beleued and therfore haue I spoken but I was sore troubled This notwithstanding goe forward deare brethren as ye haue begon to fight the Lords battel considering Christe the Captayne of your warre who will both fight for you geue you victorye and also highlye rewarde your paynes Consider to your comfort the notable and chiefe shepheardes and souldiours of Christe whiche are gone before vs in these dayes I meane those learned and godly Bishops Doctours other ministers of Gods word whose fayth and examples we that be inferiours ought to folowe as S. Paule sayth Remember them that haue declared vnto you the worde of God the ende of whose conuersation see that ye look vpon and folow theyr faith The grace blessing of God with the ministery of his holy Angels be with you for euer Amen All my prison felowes greete you From the Colehouse this 4. of December By your poore brother Thomas Whittell an vnworthy Minister of Christ nowe his prisoner for the Gospels sake Amen ¶ To all the true professors and louers of Gods holy Gospell within the City of London THe same faith for the whiche Abraham was counted righteous and Mary blessed the Lorde GOD encrease and make stable in your hartes my deare and faithfull brethren sisters of London for euer and euer Amen Dearely beloued be not troubled in this heat which is now come amongest you to try you as though some straunge thing had happened vnto you but reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christes passions that when his glory appeareth ye may be mery and glad c. Out of these wordes of S. Peter I gather most specially these 4. notes First the persecution happeneth to Christes Church for their triall that is for the probation and proofe of their fayth Which fayth like as it is knowne with God in the depth of our hartes so will he haue it made manifest to the whole worlde through persecution that so it may euidently appeare that hee hath such a Churche and people vpon earth which so trusteth in hym and feareth his holy name that no kinde of persecution paynes nor death shal be able to seperate them from the loue of hym And thus was Abraham tried and Iob tempted that their fayth whiche before laye hid almost in their hartes might bee made knowne to the whole world to be so stedfast and stronge that the deuill naturall loue nor no other enemie coulde bee able to bereaue them thereof Whereby also GOD was to be magnefied who both tryeth his people by many tribulations and also standeth by them in the middest of their troubles to deliuer them by lyfe or death as he seeth best like as he assisted Loth and deliuered hym out of his enemies handes Ioseph out of the handes of his Brethren and out of Prison Paule from his enemies in Damasco and the Apostles out of the Stockes and Prison These with many mo he deliuered to lyfe And also he deliuered Abell Eleazar Steuen and Iohn Baptist with other manye by deathe and hathe also by the tryall of their fayth made them good presidentes and examples to vs and all that come after to suffer affliction in the like cause as Saynt Iames sayeth Take my brethren sayth he the prophets for an ensample of suffering aduersity and of long pacience which spake vnto you in the name of the Lord beholde we count them happy which endure Yâ haue heard of the pacience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lord made with him for the Lord is very pitifull and mercifull Also the Lorde tryeth vs to let vs see our owne hartes and thoughtes that no Hypocrisy or AmbitioÌ deceiue vs that the strong
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 constauntâ 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 froÌ 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 whoÌ now we see but in the glasse of fayth with his deare sonne
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 goâd 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 remeÌbrance 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 chaÌge 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 deâecting 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
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 coÌtrary 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 theÌ 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 ofteÌ 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 wiâe 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 suÌdry 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 imprisonmeÌt 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 ChauÌcellour 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 ThuÌdersley 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 CauÌterbury 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
member as I haue bene also of so small acquintance but such is the mercifull goodnes of God so to moue your hartes with charity towards me And as he hath moued your hartes so to doe euen so I beseech God to geue you power to forsake refuse al thinges the which be displeasant in his sight to do al things which be requisite to a ChristiaÌ send you grace to go forwardes in the same as you haue godly begon neither fearing fire nor sword And my most deare hartes remember well the simple playne doctrine the which I haue taught you also writteÌ vnto you which was the trueth for a testimony of the same I trust that you shall shortly heare or els see that I wil seale the same with my bloud And in the meane time I desire you al to remember me in your praiers as I know you do as with Gods helpe I will doe for you that God for his deare sonne Christes sake will so finish the dayes of our pilgrimage that we may rest together with AbrahaÌ Isaac Iacob in the euerlasting kingdome of heaueÌ to the which I beseech the eternall God for his Christes sake to bring both you and all yours Amen By me William Tyms ¶ An other Letter of William Tyms to his sister Colfoxe and Agnes Glascocke GRace peace from God the father of al mercy through the merites of our deare sauiour Iesus Christ be perceiued felt in the harts of you my dearely beloued sisters in the Lord by the mighty working of the holy Ghost the comforter both now and euermore Amen My most dear and entyrely beloued sisters in the Lord after my most harty commendatioÌs according to my most bouÌden duty I do as I am accustomed or at least bouÌd to doe that is I geue you warning of your enemies which be the Papistes and take good heed to them for they serue a crafty mayster yea and as S. Peter saith he slepeth not but goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whoÌ he may deuour For your old familiar frendes or worldly companions when they see that you will not runne to the Idols Temple with them it will seeme a straunge thing vnto them that ye runne not to the same excesse of ryot as S. Peter sayth and therfore they will speak euill of you rayle on you and persecute you But my deare sisters let it not trouble you for it is but to try you and let it not seeme a straunge thing vnto you But when they doe so remember wherefore it is and for whose sake euen because you wil not forsake God as they doe For the hatred they beare you is for the word of God and then it is Gods cause and I tell you hee will reuenge it And therefore if ye bee rayled on and troubled for his sake thinke your selues most happy For if you suffer with the Patriarches Prophetes and Apostles then shall you be sure to be partakers of the same ioy that they are in Yea you haue heard by the worde of God howe cruelly the tyrauntes alwayes haue persecuted the true members of Christ as he himselfe hath promised that they shall do vnto the end of the word By the way I will bring to your remembraunce the holy Martyr S. Stephen who for fauouring maynteyning and defending the same doctrine that we now suffer for was called a blasphemer and stoned to death at Ierusalem And Christes Apostles were diuerslye afflicted the world ouer for the same by this viperous generation Antipas the faythfull witnes of Christ was slayne at Pergamus Iasan for receiuing of Paule and Silas with other disciples teachers of the Gospel was brought before the couÌsell at Thessalonica and accused for a seditious traytor agaynst Cesar. No maruell therefore though at this daye we be vexed on the same sort mainteining the same cause fauoring the teachers therof Is there any other reward folowing the true seruantes of God now theÌ hath bene afore times No surely for so hath Christ promised And if they haue persecuted him needes must they persecute his members if they haue called the mayster of the house Belzebub so will they do his houshold You shall be hated of all men sayth Christ for my names sake It is no new thing my deare hartes to see the true meÌbers of Christ handled as in our dayes they be as it is not vnknown to you how they be cruelly entreated blasphemed wtout any reasonable cause For heretickes must they be taken which folow not theyr traditions And then they may as wel cal christ an heretick for he neuer alowed their dirty ceremonyes He neuer went a procession with a Cope Crosse or Candlesticke He neuer censed Image nor sang Latine seruice He neuer sate in confession He neuer preached of Purgatory nor of the popes pardoÌs He neuer honored sayntes nor prayd for the dead He neuer said masse mattins nor euensong He neuer coÌmaunded to fast Fryday nor Uigil Lent nor AdueÌt He neuer halowed church nor chalice ashes nor palmes candles nor bels He neuer made holy water nor holy bread with such like But suche dumbe ceremonies not hauing the expresse coÌmauÌdement of God he calleth the leauen of the Phariseis and daÌnable hypocrisy admonishing his disciples to beware of theÌ He curseth al those that addeth to his word such beggerly shadowes wiping their names cleane out of the booke of life S. Paule sayth they haue no portion with Christ whiche wrap themselues agayne with such yokes of bondage Therefore my deare hartes seeing that our good God hath by the light of his holy word deliuered vs froÌ al such darck blind dumbe beggerly traditions of men stand fast in the libertye wherewith Christ hath made you free and wrap not your selues againe in the yoke of bondage But let vs alwayes be ready looking for the comming of oure Lord sauior Iesus Christ which as S. Peter sayth will come as a theefe in the night And as our Captayne Chryst sayth If the good man of the house knew what houre the theefe would come he would surely watche Therfore my deare harts be of good comfort although the worlde neuer rage so sore agaynst you And for youre comfort make wel the great mercy of God who according to his promise for the weaknes of our nature hath so asswaged the heate of the fire that our deare brethren which are gone before vs to the sight of all men haue found it rather to be ioy then payne And thinke you surely that God wil be as mercifull vnto you as he hath bene vnto them and say with S. Paule Who shall seperate vs from the loue of God shall tribulation or anguish or persecution eyther hunger either nakednes either perill either sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long c. Therfore my deare sisters if to saue your liues any dissembling
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 temporalâ 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 coÌpany 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 inheritaÌce 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 streÌgth 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
there is the reall substance of the body of Christ Fort. And I aunswered him that it is the greatest plague that euer came into England Bish. Why so Fort. I sayd if I were a Bishop and you a poore man as I am I would be ashamed to aske such a question For a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learne Bish. I am appoynted by the law to teach so are not you Fort. And I sayd Your lawe breaketh out very well for you haue burned vp the true Bishops and preachers and mainteined lyers to be in theyr steed Bish. Now you may vnderstand that he is a traytour for he denyeth the higher powers Fort. I am no traytour for S. Paule sayth All soules must obey the higher powers and I resist not the higher powers concerning my body but I must resist your euill doctrine wherwith you would infect my soule A Doct. Then sayd a Doctor my Lord you doe not well let him aunswere shortly to his articles Bish. How sayst thou make aunswere quickly to these articles Fort. S. Paule sayth Christ did one sacrifice once for all and set him downe on the right hand of his father triumphing ouer hell and death making intercession for sinnes Bish. I aske thee no suche question but make aunswere to this article Fort. If it be not GOD before the consecration it is not God after for God is without beginning and without ending Bish. Then sayd he lo what a stiffe hereticke is this He hath denyed altogether how sayest thou Is it idolatry to worship the blessed sacrament or no. Fort. God is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and trueth Bish. I aske thee no such question answere me directly Fort. I answere that this is the God Mauzzim that robbeth God of his honor Bish. It is pity that the grounde beareth thee or that thou hast a toung to speak TheÌ sayd the scribe here are a great many more articles Bish. Then sayde the Bishop Away with him for he hath spoken to much ¶ An other examination of I. Fortune ANd when I came to mine examination agayne the bishoppe asked me if I would stand vnto mine answere that I had made before and I sayd yea for I had spoken nothing but the truth And after that he made a great circumstance vpon the Sacrament Then I desired him to stand to the text he read the Gospell on Corpus Christi day whiche sayd I am the breade which came downe from heauen beleuest thou not this And I sayd yea truely And he sayd why doest thou deny the Sacrament Because your doctrine is false sayd I. Then sayd he how can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture And I sayd Christ sayd I am the bread and you say the breade is he Therefore your doctrine is false sayd I. And he sayd doest thou not beleue that the bread is he And I sayd no. Bish. I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fort. Hold that fast my Lord for that is the best ArgumeÌt that you haue yet Bish. Thou shalt be burned like an hereticke Fort. Who shall geue iudgement vpon me Bish. I will iudge an hundred such as thou art and neuer be shriuen vpon it Fort. Is there not a lawe for the spiritualty as well as for the temporaltye and Syr Clement Higham sayde yes what meanest thou by that Fort. When a man is periured by the law he is cast ouer the barre and sitteth no more in iudgement And the Byshop is a periured man and ought to sit in iudgement of no maÌ Bish. How prouest thou that Fort. Because you tooke an oth by king Henries dayes to resist the Pope So both spirituall and temporall are periured that here can be no true iudgement Bish. Thinkest thou to escape iudgement by that no for my ChauÌcellor shall iudge thee He took no oth for he was out then of the Realme M. Hygham It is time to weede out such felowes as you be in deed Bysh. Good fellowe why beleuest not thou in the Sacrament of the aultar Fort. Because I finde it not in Gods booke nor yet in the Doctors If it were there I would beleue it with al my hart Bysh. How knowest thou it is not there Fort. Because it is contrary to the second coÌmaundement and seing it is not written in Gods booke why do you theÌ robbe me of my life Then the Bishop hauing no more to saye commaunded the Bailiffe to take him away And thus much touching the examinations of this man Now whether he died in fire or otherwise preuented with death as I sayd before I am vncertayne In the Registers of Norwich this I do finde that his sentence of condemnation was drawne and Registred but whether it was pronounced in the said Register it is not expressed according as the vsuall maner of the Notary is so to declare in the end of the seÌteÌce Neuertheles this is most certayne that he neuer abiured nor recanted howsoeuer it pleased the Lord by death to call him out of this world ¶ The death of Iohn Careles in the Kynges Benche ABout this time the first day of Iuly amongest diuers other prisoners which dyed the same yeare in the Kinges Bench was also one Iohn Careles of Couentry a weauer Who though he were by the secret iudgemeÌt of almighty God preuented by death so that he came not to the full Martyrdome of his body yet is he no lesse worthy to be counted in honor place of Christes martyrs then other that suffered most cruell torments aswell for that he was for the same truthes sake a long time imprisoned as also for his willing mind zelous affection he had thereunto if the Lord had so determined it as well may appeare by his examinatioÌ had before Doct. Martin Which examination because it conteineth nothing almost but wrangling interrogations and matters of contentioÌ wherin Doctour Martin would enter into no communication about the articles of his accusation but onely vrged him to detect his felowes it shall not be greatly materiall therfore to expresse the whole but onely to excerpt so much as perteining to the question of predestination may bring some fruit to the Reader ¶ The effect of Iohn Careles examination before Doctour Martin briefly declared FIrst Doctour Martin calling Iohn Careles to hym in his Chamber demaunded what was his name To whom when the other had answered that his name was Iohn Careles then began Doctour Martin to descant at his pleasure vpon that name saying that it would appere by his conditions by that time he had done with him that he would be a true careles man in deed And so after other by talke there spent about much needelesse matter then he asked him where he was borne Careles Forsooth sayth he at Couentry Mart. At Couentry what so farre man How camest thou hither Who sent thee to the kinges Bench to prison Carel. I was
time out she intended no lesse but honestly to be brought to bed and to nurse vp her childe neither caryng for shame of the world nor fearyng anye sclaunder to the Gospell Whereby may be argued that no suche intent of murder was euer in her thoughte For how is it like that shee whiche had gone so longe with childe almost to the full time of her deliueraunce neuer thought nor wrought any hurt to the infant al that while shoulde nowe goyng to her owne death mynde more hurte to her childe then she did before hopyng her selfe to liue Secondly how knoweth M.H. to the contrarye but that she was knowne in the towne to be with childe and went boldly abroad without note of any shame before the time she came in trouble Whiche being true shame then could be no cause why she should conceale her child more now after her condemnation then she did before she was condemned Thirdly admitte the case it was not knowne before what aduauntage thereby should ryse to her beyng nowe appoynted to dye by concealing her being with childe She should haue eschued sayth M.H. the publike shame and obloquie of the worlde in that none should haue knowen her to be with childe First what shame was it for a maryed wife to be noted to be with childe Agayne what gayne had that bene to her to auoyde the shame and fame of the world which hadde not to liue in the worlde being now condemned to dye Fourthly how is it like that for shame shee meant to conceale that from the world which both knew she shuld not liue in the worlde and also suffer that kinde of death whereby her childe could not be hidden from the sight of the worlde though she had gone about her self neuer so much to conceale it Fiftly how is it to be thought that any woman going to suche a sharpe punishment of fire to bee consumed would let for any worldly shame to reschue her owne life from so bitter torment at least so long as she might beside the safegard also of her childe if by any meanes she hadde knowne any remedy Sixtly for so much as M. Harding doth so haynouslye charge her with the wilfull murdering of her owne naturall childe let all indifferente consciences thys consider with themselues what was the cause that moued her so willinglye to recant as shee did but partly to saue her owne life and especially the poore innocent Whereby it is manifest to be vnderstanded what a motherly affection she had to saue her infant if the fathers of the spiritualtie had not bene so cruell agaynst all order of law to cast both her and her childe away all this her sayd recantation not withstanding Seuenthly and lastly when M.H. hath inueyed al that euer he can agaynst this poore Perotine yet is all the same but a by matter from this principall purpose pretented supposing thereby through his deprauing of her to iustifie and excuse the Pope holye Clergy which wrought her death Which will not bee For what soeuer her lyfe was besides yet for so much as the cause of her death condemnation was neither for their whoredome nor murder but onely and merely for Religion whiche deserued no death I therefore hauing in my story no further to deale as I sayd before so doe I say agayne that the cause of her condemning was wrongfully her deathe was cruell the sight of the babe was ruefull the proceding of the Iudges was vnlawfull the whole story is pittifull and of al thys the priestes and Clergye were the authors principall All which being considered and well expended M.H. I trust may stand sufficiently contented Or if hee thinke murder to be a thing whiche ought not as it ought not in deede lightly to bee passed ouer let him then finde out murder where it is and tell vs truely without affection of partialitie where the true murder lyeth whether in the poore woman whiche together with her childe was murdered or in them which without all law and conscience brought them both to death Briefly and finally to conclude with this manne what soeuer the woman was she is now gone To bite so bitterly agaynst the dead it is little honesty And thoughe the accusation had in it some truth yet this accusatioÌ here needed not Now the same being false it is to much vnmercifull At least being doubtfull and to him vnknown charytie would haue iudged the best Humanitie woulde haue spared the dead And if he coulde not foorde her his good word yet he might haue left her cause vnto the Lord whiche shall iudge bothe her and him To pray for the dead he findeth in his Masse but to backbite the dead he neyther findeth in his Masse Mattens nor Euensong And no doubt but in hys Dirige commendations he commeÌdeth many one lesse deseruing to be commeÌded then this woman let Catholicke affection be set aside And thoughe the merites of her cause deserued not his commendations yet did she neuer deserue at M. Hardinges handes to geue her suche a Kyrieleson as they saye after her departure Cruelty she suffered enough aliue thoughe M. H. hadde not added this cruell inuectiue to her former afflictions wherein notwithstanding he hurteth not her but hurtethe peraduenture himself neither so much destaineth her honesty as he blemisheth his owne It hath bene the maner of learned men in time past with theyr defending oration euer to be more ready then to accuse And if they dyd at anye tyme accuse yet neuer but enforced neyther did they accuse any but such onely as were aliue and that neyther but in such matters wherein eyther the common wealth or themselues were vehemently touched Now if this greue hym so greatly that in my storye I haue termed her to be a martyr let him consider the cause wherfore she suffered which was neyther for felony murder nor whoredome but onely for the religion in K. Edwardes time receaued and when hee hath confuted that religion I shall crosse her out of the booke and fellowship of Martyrs In the meane time my exhortation shall be this to M. Harding First that if he will needes become a writer in these so furious and outragious dayes of ours he will season hys veyne of writing with more mildenes and charitie not to geue such example of rayling to others Secondly that hee will moderate hys iudging condemning of other with more equitie and indifferencie and not to be so rash and partiall For if shee be to be accompted a murderer which so carefully went about by recantation to saue both her selfe and her childe from the fire what is to be sayd of them which condemned her so cruelly and caused both her and the infant to be burned notwithstanding that she for safegard of theyr lyues had as I sayd recanted And yet so partiall is hee that in all this inuectiue crying out so intemperately agaynst the woman and the childe that
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 meÌ 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 theÌ 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 commaÌded 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 protestatioÌ 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 amoÌg 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 vpoÌ 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 takeÌ 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 commaÌded 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 amoÌg 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 tormeÌts 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 reuengemeÌt 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 fâre 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 merchaÌdise 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 battelâes 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 repeÌtance of the hart and with prayer to the intent that the heauenly Godhead prouoked by our doinges to be our enemy may be our huÌble 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
me to my Lord Chamberlaine that was then to the Queene Sir Iohn Gage shewyng him that I baptised children and married folks with many such lyes to bryng me into their hands agayne Then the Commissioners sent out certaine Citations to bring me to the Court My L. Chamberlain had directed out 4. or 5. Warrantes for me that if I had come there I should haue bene attached and sent to prisoÌ straite way Which was not Gods will for I had warnyng of their laying await for me and came not there but sent my deputie he brought me word that the Bailifs waited for me there but they mist of their pray for that tyme wherevpon they were displeased Then within 3. dayes after my L. sent 3. of his men to take me whose names were Deane Ieffrey and FraÌces I beyng at plough with my folkes right in the waye as they were commyng to my house least mistrusting theÌ of all other came to them and spake to them asking theÌ how they did And they sayd they arested me in the Kyng and Queenes name and that I must goe with them to their Maister the L. Chamberlaine Which wordes made my flesh to tremble and quake because of that sodayne But I answered them that I would go with them Yet I desired them that they would go to my house with me that I might breake my fast and put on some other geare and they said I should Then I remembred my selfe saying in my hart Why am I thus afraid they can lay no euill to my charge If they kill me for well doyng I may thinke my self happy I remembred how I was contented gladly before to dye in that quarell and so had continued euer since and should I now feare to dye God forbid that I should for then were all my labour in vayne So by and by I was perswaded I praise God considering it was but the frailty of my flesh which was loth to forgo my wife childreÌ and goods for I saw nothing but present death before mine eyes And as soone as I was perswaded in my mynd to die I had no regard of nothing in this worlde but was as mery and glad and ioyfull I prayse GOD as euer I was This battaile lasted not a quarter of an houre but it was sharper then death it selfe for the tyme I dare say So when I had my breakfast I desired them to shew me their warrant thinkyng thereby I should haue seene wherfore I was arested to the intent I might the better answer for my self wheÌ I came before their maister And one of them answered they had not their warraÌt there Which words made me astonied and it was put in my mynde by God that I neede not to goe with them vnlesse they had their warrant Then said I to them that is meruaile that you will come to take a man without a warrant It seemeth to me that you come of your owne mind to get thaÌke of your maister for in deed I heard say sayd I that there was 4. or 5. warrants out for me but they were called in agayne because I had certified my L. and the Commissary by a letter that I sent to the Commissaries court that I was not faulty in that they layd to my charge which was for baptising of children and marying of folks the which I neuer did for I was neuer minister appointed to do any such thyng wherfore set your hartes at rest I will not go with you said I vnlesse you will cary me by force and if you will do so at your owne aduentures And so I rose from the boord and stepped into my chamber meanyng to goe from them if I could possible seeyng God had made the way so open for me I ment to play Peters part with them but God would not it should be so but sent a feare amongst them that as soone as I was gone into my chaÌber ere euer I could come out againe they were gone out of my house When I saw that I knew it was Gods doyng to set me at liberty once againe Yet I was compelled to speake to them and said If you haue a warrant I desire you for Gods sake to shew it me and I wil go with you with all my hart if not I desire you to depart in Gods peace and the kings for surely I will not go with you without the order of the law for I haue bene too simple in such things already For before I was sent to prison first I went to the Iustices to two Sessions without any warrant or coÌmandement but had word by one of their men I went gently to them they sent me to prison and kept me there almost a yere and thre quarters without all right or equitie as it is openly known not hearing my cause iustly debated And it semeth to me that I should be thus euil haÌdled and therefore I will not go to none of them all henceforth without the extremitie of the law Then one of them answered me and said we haue not the warrant here but it is at home at my house the worst is you can but make vs fetch it Then I said Fetch it if you wil but if you come in my house before you haue it at your owne aduenture So I shut my doore and went my way out of the other doore So they got helpe to watch my house while one of them fet the Constable and many moe thinking to haue had me in my house and to haue takeÌ me in my house caried me away with a licence but I was gone before as god would haue it Notwithstanding they sought euery corner of my house but could not preuaile I mistrusted they would search it again that night and kept me abroad and in deed there came seuen of his men the Constable and searched my house And when they sawe that they could not meete with me they were redy to rent their coats that I had scaped them so knowing they should haue such a checke of their maister When I heard that they had sought so for me againe I perceiuyng that they were greedy of their pray came home and my wyfe told me all thyngs Then I supposed that they would lay all the countrey for me and the sea coast because I should not go ouer and theÌ I thought that they would not mistrust that I would dare bee nigh home So I tolde my wyfe that I woulde make my lodgyng in a woode not past a flight shotte from my house as I did in deede euen vnder a tree and there had my Bible my penne and myne inke and other necessaries and there continued a sixe or seuen weekes my wife bringing me meate daily as I had neede Yea I thought my selfe blessed of God that I was counted worthy to lye in the woodes for the name of Christ. Then there came word into the countrey that
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 haÌds 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 couÌtrey 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 offeÌd 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 froÌ 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 theÌ And you said if you could not proue them by Gods word I should not beleue theÌ now I am come to see how well you can proue theÌ Here-witâ 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 vpoÌ 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 commauÌded 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 woâdes 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 sacrameÌt of the body and bloud of Iesus Christe without flattering For that you looke for I am sure But I will meddle no âurther 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 haÌds 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 wât 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
No they did not murmure but they were the Infidels saith he for the Disciples were satisfied with those wordes I sayd Did not Christ say thus as hee taught at Capernaum whereas his Disciples murmured saying This is an hard saying Who can abide the hearyng of it Iesus perceiuing their thoughtes sayd Doth this offend you Then he raged and sayd Oh thou wrastest the text for thine owne purpose For the disciples did neuer murmure but the vnbeleuers as thou art I sayd Yes but I perceiue you know not the text Then sayd he with much raging I will laye my head thereon it is not so Then sayd I I haue done with you Then sayd he What shall I tell my Lord of you If you haue nothing to tell him youre errand shal be the sooner done sayd I. And so we departed Then on Friday I was brought forth to receiue iudgement Then the Chauncellor said vnto me Are you a new man or are you not I aunswered and sayd I trust I am a new man born of God God geue grace you be so sayd he So he rehearsed all my examination sayd How say you are not these your wordes I sayd Yes I will not deny them Then he sayd to Doctour Pore standing by I praye you talke with him Then he alledging to me many fayre flattering wordes sayd Take eate this is my body How say you to this Do you not beleue that it is Christes bodye speake I sayd Haue you not my minde Why do you trouble me He sayd What did Christ geue you was it breade or was it not I sayd Christ tooke bread and gaue thanks and gaue it and they tooke bread and did eate And Saincte Paule maketh it more manifest where he sayth So oft as yee shall eate of this bread and drinke of this cuppe yee shall shew forth the Lordes death vntill hee come Saincte Paule sayth not here as you say for he sayth So ofte as you shall eate of thys bread He doth not saye body So they intendinge that I should go no further in the text sayd Tush you goe about the bush Aunswere me to the first question Let vs make an end of that What say you to the bread that Christe gaue Let mee haue your mind in that I aunswered I haue sayd my mind in it Then the Chancellor sayde No wee will haue youre mind in that I aunswered I haue sayd my minde in it Then the Chancellor No we will haue your mynde more playnly For wee intend not to haue many wordes with you I said My faith is fully grounded and stablished that Christ Iesus the Easter Lamb hath offered his blessed body a sacrifice to God the father the price of my redemptioÌ For by that onely sacrifice are all faythfull sanctified he is our onely aduocate and mediatour and hee hath made perfect our redemption This hath hee done alone wythout any of your dayly oblations Then Doctour Brigges starte vp and sayd Truthe your wordes are true in deede You take well the litterall sense but this you must vnderstand that like as you sayd that Christ offered his body vpon the Crosse whiche was a bloudy sacrifice and a visible sacrifice so likewise wee dayly offer the selfe same body that was offered vppon the crosse but not bloudy and visible but inuisible vnto God the father Doe you offer Christes body I sayd Why then chrystes sacrifice was not perfect But Christ is true when all men shal be lyers Then he sayd Thou shalt not feare him that hath power to kill the body but thou shall feare hym that hathe power to kill both body and soule I aunswered sayd It is not so But the text is thus Thou shalt not feare them that haue power to kill the body and then haue done what they can But thou shalt feare him that hath power to kill both body and soule and cast them both into hel fire and not them He aunswered and sayd Yes for it is the Church I aunswered and sayd Why Christ sayth I geue my lyfe for the redemption of the worlde No manne taketh my lyfe from me saythe hee but I geue it of myne owne power and so I haue power to take it agayne Therefore Christ the sonne of god did offer his blessed body once for al. And if you wil presume to offer his body dayly then your power is aboue Christes power With that he chafed and sayd What shal wee haue doctrine Ye are not hereto appointed Then the Chauncellor stoode vp and sayde will yee turne from this wicked error and be an example of goodnes as you haue bene an example of euill for by youre wicked reading you haue perswaded simple women to be in this error and ye shall haue mercy And I said it is of God that I do craue mercy whom I haue offended and not of you Then sayde the Chauncellor When were you at youre parishe Churche These two yeares and more you haue stand excommunicate Wherfore you are condemned And so I was condemned Thus hast thou gentle Reader the examinations of this godly young man set forth and written with hys own hand who not long after his condeÌnation was by the Sheriffes and Officers there brought to the stake where with much pacience and constancie he entered his blessed Martirdome At the burning of whiche Christian Martyr one Thomas Carman the same tyme was apprehended by what occasion it is not yet to vs fully certayne whether it was for words or for praying with him or for pledging him at his burning concerning which Thom. Carman his story hereafter followeth in his order and place further to be seene ¶ One Fryer and a certayne godly woman burned at Rochester who was the sister of George Eagles ABout the same time and month one named Fryer with a woman accompanying him who was the sister of George Eagles in the like cause of righteousnes suffered the like martyrdome by the vnrighteous papistes whose tyranny the Lord of his mercy abate cut shorte turning that wicked generation if it be his will to a better minde * The apprehension and death of Maistres Ioyce Lewes the wife to Thomas Lewes of Manceter most constantly suffering for Gods word at Lichfield MAistresse Ioyce Lewes a gentlewoman borne was delicately brought vp in the pleasures of the world hauing delight in gay apparell such like foolishnes with the which follyes the most part of the Gentlefolkes of England were then and are yet infected who was maried first to one called Appelby afterwarde to Thomas Lewes of Manceter In the beginninge of Queene Maryes tyme she went to the Church and heard masse as others did but when she heard of the burning of that moste godly learned M. Laurence Saunders who suffered in Couentry she began to take more heede to the matter and enquired earnestly of such as she knew feared God the cause of hys death and when she perceaued it was because hee refused
is the Masse a sacrifice Unto which a D. answered that sate by him it is a sacrifice both for the quicke and the dead Then sayd I no it is no sacrifice for s. Paul saith that Christ made one sacrifice once for all and I doe beleeue in none other sacrifice but only in that one sacrifice that our Lord Iesus Christ made once for all Then sayd the D. that sacrifice that Christ made was a wet sacrifice and the Masse is a dry sacrifice Then sayde I that same drye sacrifice is a sacrifice of your own making it is your sacrifice it is none of mine Then sayd the Chancellor he is an heretike he denieth the sacrament of the aulter Then sayd I will ye know how I beleeue in the holy supper of our Lord And he sayd yea Then sayd I I beleue that if I come rightly worthily as God hath commaunded me to the holy supper of the Lorde I receiue him by fayth by beleeuyng in hym But the bread beyng receiued is not God nor the bread that is yonder in the pixe is not God God dwelleth not in teÌples made with hands neither will be worshipped wyth the works of mens hands And therfore you do very euill to cause the people to kneele down and worship the bread for God did neuer bid you hold it vp aboue your heades neither had the Apostles such vse Then sayd the Chauncellour he denyeth the presence in the sacrament Write this Article also He is a very heretike Then sayd I the seruant is not greater then his maister For your predecessors killed my maister Christ the Prophets and Apostles and holy vertuous men nowe you also kil the seruants of Christ so that al the righteous bloud that hat hath bene shed euen from righteous Abell vntill this day shall be required at your hands Well said the Chancellor haue him away Another examination of Spurdance before the Bishop in his house THe B. sayd sirrha doest thou not beleue in the catholike fayth of holy Church And I sayd I beleue Christes catholike church Yea sayd he in Christes church of the which the Pope is the head Doest thou not beleeue that the Pope is supreme hed of the catholike church And I sayd no. I beleue not that he should bee aboue the Apostles if hee take them to be his predecessors For when there came a thought among the Apostles who shuld be the greatest when their maister was gone Christ aunswered them vnto their thoughtes The Kinges of the earth beare domination aboue other but ye shall not so doe for hee that will be greatest among you shall become seruaunte vnto you all How is it then sayde I that hee will climbe so high aboue his fellowes And also wee were sworne by my Maister King Henries tyme that wee should to the vttermost of our power neuer consent to hym again And therefore as he hath nothyng to doe here in Englande so neyther in his owne countrey more then a Bishop hath in his Dioces Yea sayd the B. what of that We were then in error sinne now we are in the right way agayne and therefore thou must come home again with vs and knowledge thy fault and become a christian man and be sworne vnto the Pope as our supreme head Wilt thou be sworne vnto the Pope How sayst thou Then I sayd no I warrant you by the grace of God not as long as I liue For you cannot prooue by the scripture that the Pope is head of the church and may do therin what him list No sayde he yes I trowe For as the Belweather whiche weareth the Bell is head of the flocke of sheepe euen so is the Pope the head of the Church of Christ. And as the Bees in the hiue haue a maister Bee when they are gone out to bring them home againe to the hiue euen so the Pope when we be gone astray and wandered from the fold from the hiue c. then is ordeined our head by succession of Peter to bring vs home againe to the true church as thou now my good fellow hast wandred long out of the way like a scattered sheepe c. Heare therefore that Belwether the maister bell c. come home with vs to thy mother the true church againe Unto whom I aunswered My Lord all this is but naturall reason no scripture but since ye cannot prooue the Pope to be authorised by scripture ye aunswer not me as I thought ye would Ha sayd he I see well ye be stout and will not be answered therfore ye shall be compelled by law whether ye will or no. My Lord sayd I so did your forefathers intreat Christ and his Apostles They had a law and by their lawe they put hym to death and so likewyse you haue a law which is tyrannie by that would ye inforce me to beleue as you doe But the Lord I trust will assist me agaynst all your beggerly ceremonies and make your foolishnesse knowen to all the world one day Then sayd he when were ye at church went in procession and did the ceremonies of the church And I sayd neuer since I was borne No sayd he How old are you And I sayd I thinke about xl Why said he how did you vse your selfe at Church xx yeres ago I sayd as you do now And euen now said he you sayd you did not the Ceremonies since you were borne No more I did sayd I since I was borne a newe as Christ sayd vnto Nicodemus except ye be borne a newe ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heauen Then sayd a D. that sate by he is a very Anabaptist for that is their opinion playne No sir you say falsely sayd I for I am no Anabaptist for they denye Children to bee Baptised and so doe not I. Well sayd the B. why doest thou not go to the church and do the ceremonies And I sayd because they be contrary to Gods worde and lawes as you your selfe haue taught but nowe you say it is good agayne and I thinke if there were a returne to morrow you would say that is false again which you hold now Therfore I may well say there is no truth in you Then sayd the B. thou art a stubborne fellow and an heretike and a Traitor No sayde I I am no Traitour for I haue done I thinke better seruice to the crowne imperiall of England then you If you had done so good seruice said he you would be obedient to the lawes of the Realme So I am sayd I. There is no man alyue I thanke God to accuse me iustly that euer I was disobedient to any ciuill lawes But you must consider my Lord that I haue a soule and a body my soule is none of the Queenes but my body and my goods are the Queenes And I must geue God my soule and all that belongeth vnto it that is I must do the law and commandements
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 senteÌce 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 reuereÌce 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 wilâul 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 Chrâstes 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 coÌming 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 senteÌce 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 seruaÌts which hath ben powred forth with feares for his afflicted sainctes which daily you persecute as now you
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 âuche 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 âcore 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 beyoÌd 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
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 secoÌd 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 comauÌdements 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 reasoÌ 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 haÌg vpon the Crosse Wood. I pray you M. ChauÌcellour 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. ChauÌcellour 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 sacrameÌt 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 quaÌtity 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 iudgemeÌt 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 SacrameÌt 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
Mathew Butler sworne for the purpose ¶ The names of such as fled out of the Towne and lurked in secret places S. Mary Tower Robert Partriche Rose Nottingham daughter of William Nottingham the elder S. Laurence Anne Fenne seruaunt to Robert Nottingham Andrewe Yngforbye his wife and daughter Thomas Thompson shomaker supposed to haue receiued but twise these 17. yeares Marten Algate lockesmith his wife S. Margarets William Pickesse Tanner Iohn Whoodles Couerlet weauer and his wife William Harset Bricklaier Thomas Fowler Shomaker W. Wright his wife at the Wind mill Laurence Waterwarde late Curate borne in a towne called Chorley in Lankeshire S. Nicholas Widowe Swaine Mathew Birde and his wife Stephen Greenwich and his wife Wil. Colman seruant to the sayde Stephen Robert Colman and his wife Roger Laurence alià s Sparow Iohn Carelton Sadler William Colman Iames Hearst his wife S. Peters Richard Houer apprentise with Nicholas Nottingham Rich. Hedley a seller of hereticall bookes S. Stephens Iames Bockyng Shoomaker his wyfe Iohn Rawe late seruant to Iames Ashley William Palmer seruants to Steuen Grene Shomaker Rich. Richman seruants to Steuen Grene Shomaker Iohn Deersley seruants to Steuen Grene Shomaker Rich. Richman Shoomaker his wife daughter to mother Fenkell Midwyfe S Cleâââtes Mistresse Tooley who departed to Darsham in Suff. Agnes Wardal the elder widowe Robert Wardal her sonne Iohn Shoomaker and his wife The names of such as haue not receiued the Sacrament S. Clementes Robert Bray Iohn Nottingham Agnes Wardal wife of Robert Wardal Nicholas Nottingham Richard Mitchel William Iordane his wife Richard Butteral Robert Browne S. Peters Iohn Reade Thomas Spurdance Iohn seruaunt to Stephen Grinleffe S. Stephens Robert Scolding S Margarets Iohn Greenewich and his wife S. Nicholas Thomas Sturgeon Mariner Iohn Finne his wife S. Mary ãâã Robert Branstone brother and seruaunte to William Branstone S. Mary Tower Marten Iohnson who lieth bedrede Agnes his keeper seruaunts to Rob. Nottingham Bent Alceede seruaunts to Rob. Nottingham S Laurence Robert Sylke his sonne S. Mary at Elmes Iohn Ramsey and his wife now in prisone Names of such as obserue not Ceremonies S. Clementes Robert Cambridge refused the Paxe Robert Brage his wife refused to suffer anye childe to be dipped in the Font. Ioane Barber widowe refused to beholde the eleuation of the sacrament Thomasine her Daughter refused to beholde the eleuation of the sacrament Mistresse Ponder mother to Ioane Barber in the same fault Tie a Mariner his wife S. Mary at Elmes Richarde Hawarde refused the Paxe at Masse in S. Laurence M. Lyons at Masse at Saint Mary Stoke refused the Paxe S. Peters Mother Fenkel refuse to haue Childrenne dipped in Fontes Ioan Warde alias Bentleys wife refuse to haue Childrenne dipped in Fontes S. Stephens Mother Beriffe Midwife refuseth to haue childreÌ dipped in Fontes S. Nicholas George Bushe his wife reiected the Hoaste after receit of it Names of priestes wiues that haue accesse to their husbandes Rafe Carleton his wife Curate of S. Mathewes and S. Mary at Elmes Elizabeth Cantrel wife to Rafe Cantrel Iane Barker wife to Roberte Barker Prieste late of Burie Latimer his wife curate of S. Laurence and S. Stephens William Clearke his wife late Curate of Barkeham and S. Mary at Elmes Names of mainteiners against this complaint Robert Sterop Customer to Queene Marie Gilbert Sterop deputie to Edwarde Grimstone Esquier for his Butlerage Maister Butler the elder Searcher Maistresse Tooly swellynge by muche ritchesse into wealth Margaret Bray who also presumeth vppon the office of a Midwife not called S. Clementes Ioane Barber widowe practisinge muche wholesome counsell S. Mary keye Mistresse Birde practisinge muche wholesome counsell Bastian Mannes wife and him selfe more riche then wise Their requests to punish and conuent certaine whose ensample might reuerse other from their opinions as To conuent Richard Birde gailer who by euill counsel doth animate his prisoners of his secte Also for that he with his wife did checke vs openly with vnseemely woordes tending almost to a tumult To conuente Thomas Sadler for certaine woordes spoken to Iohn Bate the Crier of the towne the sixte of Maye That it might please the Bishop to wish his Commissarie and Officiall to be vpright and diligente in theyr office and to appoynt a Curate of more abilitie to feede his cure wyth Gods woorde That none may be suffred to be midwiues but such as are Catholicke because of euill counsell at suche times as the necessitie of womennes trauaile shall require a number of women assembled That Rafe Carleton Curate may be conuented whether by corruption of mony he hath ingrossed his boke of any that are there named and hathe not receyued in deede as it is reported The myraculous preseruation of Lady Elizabeth nowe Queene of England from extreme calamitie and danger of life in the time of Q. Marie her sister BUt when all hath beene sayde and tolde what soeuer canne be recited touching the admyrable woorking of Gods present hande in defending and deliuering any one person oute of thraldome neuer was there since the memorie of oure fathers any example to be shewed wherein the Lordes mightye power hathe more admirably blessedly shewed it selfe to the glory of his owne name to the comforte of all good heartes and to the publicke felicitie of thys whole Realme then in the myraculous custodie and outscape of this our soueraigne Lady now Queene then Ladye Elizabeth in the straighte time of Queene Marye her sister In which Storie first we haue to consider in what extreme miserie sicknes feare and pearil her highnes was into what care what trouble of minde and what danger of death shee was brought Firste with great routes and bands of armed men and happie was he that might haue the carying of her being fetched vp as the greatest traytour in the world clapped in the Tower and againe tossed from thence from house to house from prison to prison from post to piller at length also prisoner in her own house and garded with a sort of cutte throtes whych euer gaped for the spoyle whereby they might be fingering of somewhat Secondly to consider againe we haue all thys notwtstanding howe straungely or rather myraculously from daunger shee was deliuered what fauour and grace shee founde with the almightye who when all helpe of man and hope of recouerie was past stretched out his mighty protection and preserued her highnesse and placed her in this Princely seate of rest and quietnesse wherein nowe shee sitteth and long may shee sit the Lorde of his glorious mercy graunt we beseeche him In which storie if I should sette foorth at large and at full all the particulars and circumstances thereunto belonging and as iust occasion of the historie requireth besides the importunate length of the storie discoursed peraduenture it might mooue offence to some being yet aliue and truth might gette me hatred Yet notwithstanding I intend by the grace of Christ therein to vse suche breuitie and moderation
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 sodeÌly 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 HuÌtington 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 haÌd 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 meÌ 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
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 froÌ 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 froÌ 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 weÌt 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 Counây 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 persoÌs 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 vnderstaÌding 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 âs 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 coÌstantly 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 coÌstancy WhereupoÌ senteÌce was geueÌ vpoÌ him to haue his hand cut of and his body scorched to death after to be haÌged vp So the day folowing being wednesday he was brought out of prisoÌ to the towne hal standing in the market place all thinges beloÌging 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 coÌtinuing constaÌt 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 loÌg 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 haÌging 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 haÌged 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 daÌnable 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 coÌdemne 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 froÌ 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 consideratioÌ 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
fallen vpon this Realme for sinne and with vnfayned hartes to turne to GOD who as he hath scourged vs with lesse plagues then we deserued so calleth vs agayne by his vndeserued and vnspeakeable mercy vnto repentaunce and amendement of our liuing It is doubtles now high time to turn vnfaynedly to God and to correct our sinnefull liuinges and to remember what S. Iohn Baptist sayd The Axe is now set to the root of the tree and euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewne downe and caste into the fire For this may all men assure themselues of both rich and poore high and low olde and yong that the almighty zelous and righteous God will not suffer the sinnefull and wicked life of the vngodly vnrepeÌtant that contemne his mercy nowe profered vnto them to be vnpunished but as he hath from the beginning of the world shewed himselfe a righteous Iudge and punisher of wickednes euen so will he do stil now God expulsed our first parentes Adam and Heua from Paradise and layd vpon them and vpon vs all these miseries sickenesses calamities and death that we dayly feele and miserably are oppressed withal God in Noahs dayes drowned the whole world onely eight persons were preserued God burnt vp Sodom and Gomor with fyre and brimstone froÌ heauen and destroyed those Cityes and all the Countrey about God gaue ouer Hierusalem called the holy Citty of God and deliuered his owne people the Iewes into perpetuall captiuitye If we seeke the cause of these punishmentes was it not sinnefull liuing vnrepentant harts What should I recite the calamities of other lands seyng Gods iudgementes hath not bene vnexecuted vpon this Realme of England for sinnefull liuing The olde Brytaynes were with Cadwallader theyr king constrayned to flye and leaue this land because of pestilence famyne what miseries destructions brought the Danes in with them and what troubles susteyned the inhabitauntes of this Realme afore the same were agayne driueÌ out What bloudshed was here in king William Conquerors daies were not the noble men slayne and gentlemen brought into bondage were not their matrons defiled and theyr daughters geuen to be kitchen drudges vnder the Normandes proud Ladyes were not theyr landes houses possessions diuided by lote vnto straungers Their golde and siluer wherein they trusted was the bayte that theyr enemyes hunted after what a plague was the ciuill war betwene the kinges and Barons what horrible bloudshed was in this Realme till at the last Gods mercifull prouidence ended those miseries by the happy ioyning of the 2. regall houses together in the mariage of king Henry 7. What miseries haue chaunced in our time we haue not onely sene and heard but we haue felt them and God be praised had our partes of them Doubtles this all hath chaunced for the sinnes of the people as the Prophet Ieremy playnely teacheth saying who is a wise man that vnderstandeth this And to whome shall the word of the Lords mouth come that he may preach it forth why hath the land perished and is burnt like a wildernesse so that no man may passe through it And the Lord sayth because they haue forsaken my law which I haue geuen them they haue not hearde my voyce and haue not walked in them and haue gone after the vanity of theyr owne harts And after Baalim the Images of Baall which they haue learned of theyr fathers we see here playnely the conteÌpt of Gods word and of the preachers of the same walking after theyr couetous mindes and leudnesse of theyr hartes and folowing of their idolatrous inuentions brought the wrath of God vpon the people as witnessed also Iesus Syrach saying because of vnrighteous dealing wrong blasphemies and diuers deceites a Realme shal be translated froÌ one people to an other And a litle after he sayth the Lorde hath brought the congregations of the wicked to dishonour and destroyd them vnto the ende God hath destroyd the seates of proud Princes and set vp the meek in their stead God hath withered the root of the proud nations and planted the lowly amoÌg them God hath ouerthrowne the Landes of the Heathen and destroyed them vnto the ground He hath caused them to wither awaye He hath brought them to nought and made the memoriall of them to cease from the earth But what auaileth it to read such threates of God if we beleue them not Or if we beleue them to be Gods threates and despise theÌ Doubtlesse the Lorde is righteous a ielous God a Punisher of of sinne as he sayth himselfe I punish the sinnes of the fathers vpon theyr childreÌ vnto the third and fourth generatioÌ of them that hate me God geue vs grace to remember this and with speedye and vnfayned repentaunce to turne vnto God I say vnfayned repentaunce and not alas as we haue done in times past like hypocrites to dissemble with God and man making Gods holy worde nothing els but a cloke to couer our malice couetousnesse whoredome pride excesse glotony wrath enuy hatred murder with all other wicked liuing most detestable in the sight of God If men will well consider themselues they haue long enough dissembled and heaped the wrath of God heauy enough vpon theyr heades It is now high time to become a new people to amend in deed and to folow the counsell of the holy Ghost saying vnto vs by the Prophet Hieremy Why do mortal men murmur agaynst God let them murmur agaynst theyr own sinnes Let vs search our owne wayes and let vs seek and returne vnto the Lorde Let vs lift vp our hartes and handes vnto the Lord in heauen for we haue done wickedly and prouoked the Lord to wrath and therefore wilt thou not be entreated Doubtles the Lord will not be entreated except men very earnestly turne vnto him we haue felt in our selues and seene before our eyes that when GOD striketh no man can be able to abide the heauy stroke of his fist Hee hath hitherto corrected vs with mercy as a father let vs thanke him returne vnfaynedly so will he not extend his wrath as a Iudge His will is that we should returne liue not perish with the wicked I liue sayth the Lord and will not the death of a sinner but that he be conuerted and liue Here the godly othe certifieth vs of forgeuenes requireth an vnfayned conuersion vnto God that t s that men acknowledge in hart theyr wicked liuing be sory that euer they haue with wicked lyuyng offended agaynst that so good and louing a father and truste to haue forgeuenes through Christes bloud and fully and firmely set theyr hartes to serue GOD and to walke the wayes of his commaundementes all the dayes of theyr life Then shall we be the true Christians built vpon the corner stone Christ not wauering or chaunging at euery puffe of winde not seeking an Epicurish life in all voluptuous and vaine vanitie not
commoÌly of English women ãâã 1. Tim. â Ghosââly ãâ¦ã and ãâã of ââristian ãâã 1. Peter 4. Iohn 12. 1. Cor. 1. Luke 17. Example of Lots wyfe Nothing vseâ in Q. Maâyâs ãâ¦ã 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 coÌmitted 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 couÌselled to put in bondes Rober Glouer refuseth to enter into bondes Worldly persuasions not receiued M. Glouer agâyne visited with Gods holy comfort M Glouer reasoning with himselfe M. Glouer taketh courage al ãâã 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 arrogaÌcye 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 ââght 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 foââ tyme of the Lords comfort The Lord for a tyme may withdraw his comfortes but at leÌgth he visiteth his seruantâ R. Glouer receaueth agayne coÌfort of the Lord. Cornelius Bongey Martyr Articles obiected to Cornelius Bongey Hâs Aunsweres to the articles Iohn Glouer William Glouer after their deaâh 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 ãâ¦ã D. Watsons booke of Sermons or Homelyes D. Fuller agayne resorteth to W. Wolsey The Chauncellour geâeth leaue to Wolsey to depart W. Wolsey layd in the Castle of Wisbich Rob. Pigot Painter presented for not coÌming to the Chuâch Talke betweene Syr Clement Higham Iudge and Rob. Pigot Rob. Pigot brought to the Iayle where W. Wolsey ãâã Anno 1555. October Wolsey and Pâgot returned to Eley to prison Tho. Goodâââe Biââhop of Eley The Bishops Cââplayne a FrenchmaÌ ãâã the prisoners in the ãâã ãâã and Woâsey called to iudgment in the Bâshops ãâã Wolseys aunswere to Sââxton M. Christopherson writeth what he would haue Pâgot conâââ of the âacrâment ãâã refuseth to ãâã to Christophersons ãâã M. Peacoke appoynted to preach at tâe burning of Wolsey and Pigot â Wolsey ãâã himselfe to be âound in all pointes of the scripture belonging to his ãâ¦ã The MartyrdoÌe 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 Noâthumberland 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
to continue and to stand fast Math. 1â Apoc. 3. The ãâã of ãâã 1. Pet. 1. Heb. 2. Iohn 16. Luke 2â Luâe 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 exhorâeth tâ be ãâ¦ã in ãâã To be patiâââ and not murmure ãâã 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 tiââ of affliction ãâã wheâ thây prison mens bodies they set their souleâ at libertyâ An other letter of M. Philpot to a certayne godly Lady Agaynst faint harted Gosspellers ãâã 16. Perfect ioy ãâã ComparisoÌ ãâ¦ã the ãâã this ãâã Gods Saintes shal ãâ¦ã ludâes agaynst ãâ¦ã The Gospel triumpheth by the death of Martyrs An other ãâã of ãâã Philpot to the Lady Vane Lady Vane ãâã benefactor to Gods ãâã 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. Prooâe 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 pâouing 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 Arguââââ of ãâã ãâã Origen who was 200. yeares after Christ. S. Austen S. Hierome 400. after Christ. Verba Iohannis CoÌstantinopol ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Cyprian 250. after Christ. August contra Donatiââ 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 fiâst cââuerting of ââfidels beleeuing ought to ãâã before baptiâing but where ãâã the pârceiued Gods grace and Sacramentes goe ãâã by age but as well be children of the faithââââ receaââââ at the fathers ãâã childâeâ of chrisââââ paâents be receaued ãâã baptisme Cathecumenius a much to say ãâã 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. arâicle 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 woâld of the which sayth their godfathârs 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 perâââsorem 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 SacrameÌt 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 ãâã the examinations of M. Philâââ ãâã 16. 1. ãâã 1. 1. Peter 2. Math. 10. 1 Peter 4. ãâã 11. Apoc 12. ãâã can ãâ¦ã to ãâã persecuted ãâã onely ãâã ãâ¦ã this ãâã Apoâ 2. ãâã 115. ãâã 13. A letter of ãâã 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 ãâã the Phariseys ãâã kill him Iames. â Math. 1â Apo. 13 14. Apoâ 18. â Cor. â Psal. 126. The 3. ãâã 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 amoÌg 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 strauÌge 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 daÌgers 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 shamefâlly 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 coÌdition 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 CouÌcell 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 remeÌbred 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 sacrameÌt 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 whiâh 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 coÌfessed But I think your owne conscieÌce 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 âary till you be ready Wood. So I departed