THE seconde Volume OF THE ECCLEsiasticall Historie conteining the ACTS AND MONVMENTS of Martyrs with a Generall discourse of these latter Persecutions horrible troubles and tumultes stirred vp by Romish Prelates in the Church with diuers other things incident especially to this Realme of Englande and Scotland is partly also to all other forreine nations appertaining from the time of Kâ—ng HENRY the VIII to Queene ELIZABETH our gracious Ladie nowe raigning Newly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 IOHN FOXE 15â—â— AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Day dwelling ouer Aldergate Cum 〈…〉 ⧠Here folovveth the second Volume AND THE VII BOOKE BEGINNING WITH THE REIGNE OF KING HENRYE THE EIGHT Anno. 1509. AS touching the ciuil state and administration of the Common wealth and likewise of the state of the Churche vnder the raign of king Henry 7. how he entred first in possession of y e crowne how the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were in hym conioyned through marriage with Elizabeth the eldest daughter to King Edwarde 4. by the prudent counsail of Iohn Morton then Bishop of Ely Notes summarely collected and repeated of things done in the tyme of K. Henry the seueÌ„th after Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinall howe long the sayd King reigned and what persecution was in his time for lacke of searche and knowledge of Gods word both in the diocesse of Lincolne vnder bishop Smith who was erector of the house of Brasen nose in Oxforde as also in the diocesse of Couentrie and other places moe and further what punishment and alteration God commonly sendeth vpon cities and realmes publique for neglecting the safety of his flocke sufficiently in the former booke hath bene alredy specified Wherin many things more amply might haue ben added incideÌ„t in the raigne of this Prince which we haue for breuitie pretermitted For hee that studieth to comprehend in story all things which the common course vse of life may offer to the wryter may sooner finde matter to occupye himselfe then to profite other Otherwise I myght haue inferred mention of the seditions tumult of Perkin Werbecke wyth his retinue Anno 1494. also of Blackheath field by the Blacke smith An. 1496. Perkin Werbeck which fained himself to be K. Edwards sonne I myght also haue recited the glorious commendation of Georgius Lilius in his Latine Chronicle testifying of King Henrie 7. howe hee sent three solemne Oratours to Pope Iulius 2. to yeelde his obedience to the sea of Rome An. 1506. and likewise howe Pope Alexander 9. Pius 3. and Iulius 2. sent to the sayde king Henry 7. three sundrie famous Ambassadours whith tree swordes and three cappes of maintenance Blacke heathe fielde electing and admitting hym to be the chiefe defendor of the faith The commendation of which facte howe glorious it is in the eyes of Georgius Lilius and Fabian that I leaue to them This I suppose that when Kyng Henry sent to Pope Iulius three Orators wyth obedience if he had sent him thre thousand harquebuziers to furnish his fielde against the French king fighting at Rauenna hee had pleased pope Iulius much better If Georgius Lilius had bene disposed to illustrate his story with notes this had bene more worthy the noting Ex Masseo lib. 20. howe Ludouike 12. French king calling his Parliament moued this question against Pope Iulius whether a Pope might inuade any Prince by warlike force wythout cause and whether the prince might withdraw hys obedience from that Pope or not And it was concluded in the same Parliament wyth the king against the Pope Also it was concluded the same time which was in the raigne of this king Henry 7 that the * Pragmatica sanctio was a practising or a determination of a certaine parliament in Fraunce against the Bishop of Rome in defeÌ„ce of certaine matters of religion concluded in the couÌ„cel of Basill Pragmatical sanction should be receiued in ful force and effect through all the realme of Fraunce And for so muche as wee are fallen into the mention of Georgius Lilius this in hym is to be found not vnworthy noting howe after the burning of Thomas Norice aboue mentioned pag. 775. at the citie of Norwich that the same yeare followed such a fire in Norwich that the whole Citie well neare was therewith consumed Ex Geor. Lilio Like as also after the burning of the foresayde good aged father in Smithfield A note of Gods plagues folowing the burning of his people the same yeare which was 1500. we reade in the Chronicle of Fabian a great plague to fall vppon the Citie of London to the great destruction of the inhabitantes therof Wherein agayne is to be noted as is aforesayd that according to the state of the church the disposition of the common wealth commonly is guided eyther to be wyth aduersitie afflicted or els in prosperitie to flourish But after these notes of King Henry 7. nowe to the storie of king Henry 8. This king Henry 7. finishing his course in the yeare abouesayd which was 1509. had by Elizabeth hys wife aboue named The children ofspring of king Henry .7 foure men children and of women children as many Of whome 3. onely suruiued to wit prince Henry Lady Margarete and Lady Mary Of whome King Henry the eight after hys father succeded Lady Margaret was marryed to Iames the fourth king of Scottes Lady Margaret maried to king Iames 4. of Scotland Lady Margaret maried to the K. of Castile Prince Arthur maried to Lady Katherine daughter to the Spanishe king The death of Prince Arthur K. Henry marieth Lady Katherine his brothers wyfe Ladie Mary was affied to Charles king of Castile Not long before the death of king Henry prince Arthur his elder sonne had espoused Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinandus being of the age of 15. yeares and shee about the age of 17. and shortly after hys mariage wythin 5. monethes departed at Ludlowe and was buried at Worcester After whose decease the succession of the Crowne fell next to king Henry the 8. being of the age of 18. yeres who entred hys raigne the yeare of our Lorde 1509. and shortly after maried with the foresayde Katherine his late brother Prince Arthurs wife to the end that her dowry being great shoulde not be transported out of the lande In the which his marriage being more politique then Scripture like he was dispensed wyth by pope Iulius at the request of Ferdinandus her father The raigne of this king continued with great noblenes and fame Blind dispeÌ„satioÌ„s of the Pope the space of 38. yeres During whose time and raigne was greate alteration of things as well to the ciuile state of the Realme as especially to the state Ecclesiasticall and matters of the Church appertaining For by him was exiled and abolyshed out of the Realme the vsurped power of the Byshop of Rome Idolatrye and superstition somewhat repressed Images and pilgrimages defared Abbeys and monasteries pulled downe Sectes of religion
men of his Realme were sore agreeued with the cruell demainour of the Prelates Ordinaries which touched theyr bodies and goodes so neare that they of necessitie were inforced to make their humble sute by their speaker vnto hys grace to take such order and redresse in the case as to his high wisedome myghte seeme most conuenient c. Unto this request of the commons although the King at that time gaue no present graunt but suspended them with a delay yet notwythstanding this sufficiently declared the grudging mindes of the temporal men against the spiritualtie lacking nothing but Gods helping hande to woorke in the kings heart for reformation of suche things whych all they did see to be out of frame Neyther did the Lordes diuine prouidence faile in time of neede Gods helping hand in time of neede but eftsones ministred a ready remedy in time expedient He saw the pride and cruelty of the spirituall clergy grown to such an height as was intollerable He sawe againe and heard the groning hearts the bitter afflictions of hys oppressed flocke his truth decaied his religion prophaned the glorie of his sonne defaced his church lamentably wasted wherfore it was high time for his high Maiestie to looke vppon the matter as he did in deede by a straunge wonderous meanes whych was through the kings diuorsement from Lady Katherine Dowager and marying with lady Anne Bullen in this present yeare which was the first occasion and beginning of all this publike reformation which hath followed since in this Churche of England to thys present day according as ye shall heare The mariage betwene king Henry VIII and Queene Anne Bullen and Queene Katherine diuorced IN the first entrie of this kings raigne yee hearde before pag. 800. howe after the death of Prince Arthur Queene Annâ— maryed and Lady Katherine diâ—orced the Ladie Katherine Princes Dowager and wife to Prince Arthur by the consent bothe of her father and of his and also by the aduise of the nobles of thys realme to the ende her downe might remaine stil within the realme was espoused after the decease of her husbande to hys nexte brother which was this king Henrie K. Henry maryeth his brothers wife This mariage seemed very straunge and hard for one brother to marie the wife of an other But what can be in thys earth so harde or difficulte wherewyth the Pope the omnipotent Uicare of Christe can not by fauour dispense if it please him The pope which then ruled at Rome was Pope Iulius the second by whose dispensation The Pope dispenseth for the brother to mary the brothers wife thys mariage which neither sense or nature wold admit nor Gods lawe woulde beare was concluded approoued and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any dout or scruple the space neare of 20. yeares till about the time that a certaine doubt began first to be mooued by the Spanyards themselues of the Emperours counsaile An. 1523. at what time Charles the Emperour being here in England promised to marye the Lady Mary daughter to the Kynge of England with the which promise the Spanyardes themselues were not well contented The Spaniardeâ— first doubted of the kings mariage obiecting this among many other causes that the saide Ladie Marie was begotten of the king of England by his brothers wife Wherupon the Emperour forsaking that mariage did couple himself with Lady Isabel daughter to king Emanuell of Portugall Which Mariage was done in the yere of our Lorde 1526. After thys Mariage of the Emperour the next yeare following King Henrie being disappoynted thus of the Emperour entred talke or rather was laboured too by the French Ambassadours for the sayde Lady Mary to be maried to the Frenche kinges sonne Duke of Orliance Upon the talke whereof after long debating at length the matter was put of by a certaine doubt of the President of Paris casting the like obiection as the Spanyardes had done before that was The secoÌ„d doubt whether the Lady Mary was rightly borne whether the Maryage betwene the king the mother of this Lady Mary which had bene his brothers wife before were good or no. And so the mariage twise vnluckely attempted in like sorte brake of againe and was reiected whych happened in the yere of our Lord. 1527. The king vpon the occasion hereof casting many things in his minde began to consider the cause more depely first with himselfe after with certaine of hys nearest counsaile Two perplexityes in the kings minde wherein two things there were which chiefly pricked hys minde wherof the one touched his conscience the other coÌ„cerned the state of his Realme For if that Mariage wyth his brothers wife stode vnlawfull by the law of God then neither was his conscience cleare in reteining the mother nor yet the state of the realme firme by succession of the daughter Cardinall Wolsey a helper to the kinges diuorce It happened the same tyme that the Cardinall which was then nearest about the king had falleÌ„ out with the Emperour for not helping him to y e Papacy as ye before haue heard for the which cause he helped to set the matter forward by all practise he might Thus the king perplexed in his conscience and carefull for y e common wealth and partly also incited by the Cardinall coulde not so rest but inquired further to feel what the word of God learning woulde say vnto it Neither was the case so hard after it began once to come in publicke question but that by the worde of God and the iudgements of the best learned clerkes and also by the censure of the chiefe Uniuersities of all Christendome to the number of .x. and moe it was soone discussed to be vnlawfull All these censures The iudgements of 10. or 12. Vniuersityes agaynst the kinges maryage Orleance Paris Tolouse Angiewe Bononye Padua The facultye of Paris Bytures Oxforde Cambridge bookes and writinges of so manye Doctors Clerks and Uniuersities sent from all quarters of Christendome to the king albeit they might suffice to haue full resolued and did in deede resolue the kinges conscieÌ„ce touching this scruple of his mariage yet would not he streight way vse that aduauntage whiche learning dyd geue him vnles hee had withall the assent as well of the Pope as also the Emperour wherein he perceaued no litle difficultie For the Pope he thought seing the mariage was authorised before by the dispensation of his predecessour would hardly turne hys keyes about to vndoe that which the Pope before him had locked much lesse would he suffer those keyes to be foyled or to come in anye doubt which was like to come if that mariage were prooued vndispensable by Gods woorde which his predecessour thorough his plenary power had licenced before Againe the Emperour he thought would be no lesse hard for his part on the other side for as much as the sayd Lady Katherine was the Emperours neare aunt and a Spaniarde
iudgemeÌ„t vnto the godly and discrete reader Not forgetting yet by the way if that the report shoulde be true vpon so iust an occasion to charge that catholique clergy their wicked lawes with a more shameles tirannie vncharitable cruelty theÌ„ before For if they nothing stay theyr bloudy malice towards such as so willingly submit themselues vnto their mercies what fauour may the faithfull and constant professours of Christ looke for at their haÌ„ds I might here also aske of them how they folow the pitiful and louing admonitioÌ„ or rather precept of our Sauiour Christ whose true and only Church they so stoutly bragge to be who in the 17. chapt of S. Luke sayth Though thy brother sinne against thee seuen times in a day No mercy in the popes Church and seuen times in a day turne to thee saieng It repenteth me thou shalt forgiue him But what go I about to allure them vnto the folowing of the rule and counsaile of him vnto whose worde and Gospell they seeme most open and vtter enemies Wherefore not purposing to stay any longer thereupon I will leaue theÌ„ vnto the righteous reuengemeÌ„t of the Lord whereunto let vs now heere adioine the story of one Iohn Browne a good Martir of the Lord burnt at Ashford about this fourth yeare of King Henry the eight whose story heereunder foloweth ¶ Iohn Browne father to Richard Browne which Richard was in prison in Canterbury and should haue bene burned with two more besides himselfe the next day after the death of Queene Mary but by the proclaiming of Queene Elizabeth they escaped Ioh. Brown burned in Asheforde about the 4. yeare of king Henry 8. THe occasion of the first trouble of this Iohn Browne was by a priest sitting in Grauesend barge I. Brown being y e same time in the barge came sate hard by hym wherupon after certain coÌ„municatioÌ„ the Priest asked him doest thou know said he who I am thou sitst too neere me thou sitst on my clothes No sir said he I know not what you are I tell thee I am a Priest What sir are yee a Person or Uicar or a Ladies Chaplen No quoth he againe I am a soule priest I sing for a soule saith he Do ye so sir quoth the other that is well done I pray you sir quoth he where find you y e soule when you go to Masse I can not tel thee said the Priest I pray you where do you leaue it sir wheÌ„ the Masse is done I can not tell thee sayde the Priest Neither can you tell where you finde it when you go to Masse nor where you leaue it when the Masse is done how can you then haue the soule said he Go thy waies said y e Priest thou art an heretike and I will be euen with thee So at the landing the Priest taking w t hym Water More and William More two Gentlemen breethren rode straightwaies to the Archb. Warham wheruppon the said Iohn Browne within three daies after his wife being churched the same day Chilten of wey a Baily arrant and one Beare of Wilselborough with 2. of the Byshops seruantes set him vpon the horse and so carried him away he bringing in a messe of pottage to the boord to his guests was sent for and hys feete bound vnder his own horse so brought vp to Cant. neither his wife nor he nor any of his knowing whether he went nor whether he should And there continuing froÌ„ Lowsonday to y e friday before Whitsonday not knowing to his wife all this while where he was He was set in the stockes ouer night and on the morrow went to death and was burned at Ashford an 1517. The same night as he was in the stocks at Ashford where he his wâ—â—e dwelt his wife then hearing of him came sate by him al y e night before he should be burned to whom he declaring y e whole story how he was handled shewed told how y t he coulde not set his feete to the ground for they were burned to the bones and told her how by the two Bishops Warham Fisher his feet were heat vpon the whote coales burnt to the bones to make me said he to deny my Lord which I will neuer do for if I should deny my Lord in this world he would hereafter denie me I pray thee said he therefore good Elizabeth continue as thou hast begon and bring vp thy childreÌ„ vertuously in the feare of God so y e next day on Whitsonday eueÌ„ this godly Martir was burned StaÌ„ding at y e stake this praier he made holding vp his hands O Lord I yeeld me to thy grace Graunt me mercy for my trespasse Let neuer the feend my soule chase Lord I will bow and thou shalt beate Let neuer my soule come in hell heate Into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord of truth and so he ended Ex testimonio Aliciae Browne eius filiae cuius mariti nomen dicebatur strat in paâ—rochia S. Pulchri At the fire the said Chilten the Bayly Arrant bade cast in his children also for they would spring sayd he of hys ashes This blessed Martyr Iohn Browne had borne a fagot seauen yeares before in the daies of King Henry the 7. As it is the propertie of SathaÌ„ euer to malice the prosperous estate of the Saintes of God true professours of Christ so ceasseth he not continually to styrre vp his wicked meÌ„bers to the effectuall accomplishyng of that which his enuious nature so greedily desireth if not alwayes openly by colour of tyrannicall lawes yet at the leastwise by some subtill practise of secret murther Which thing doth most playnly appeare not onely in a great number of the blessed Martyrs of Christes Churche mentioned in this booke but also and especially in the discourse of this lameÌ„table history that now I haue in hand concernyng the secrete cruell murderyng of Richard Hunne whose story here consequently ensueth decerped and collected partly out of the Registers of London partly out of a Bill exhibited and denounced in the Parliament house ¶ The story of Richard Hunne THere was in the yeare of our Lord. Richard Hunne martir 1514. one Richard Hunne marchauÌ„t Taylour dwelling within the Citie of London freeman of the same who was esteemed during his lyfe worthely reputed and taken not onely for a man of true dealyng and good substaunce but also for a good Catholicke maÌ„ This Richard Hunne had a child at nourse in Middlesex in the Parish of S. Mary Matsilon which dyed Anno. 1514. by the occasion wherof one Thomas Drifield Clerke beyng Parson of the sayd Parish sued y e sayd Richard Hunne in the spirituall Court for a bearyng sheete which the sayd Thom. Drifield claymed vniustly to haue of the sayd Hunne for a mortuary for SteueÌ„ Hunne sonne of the sayd Richard Hunne which SteueÌ„ beyng at nourse in the sayd Parish dyed being of
the inquest THe fift and the sixte day of December in the sixte yeare of the raigne of our soueraigne Lord king Henry the eight William Barnewel Crowner of London the day and yeare abouesaid with in the ward of Castelbaynard of London assembled a quest whose names afterward do appeare and hath sworne them truely to inquire of the death of one Richard Hunne which lately was found deade in the Lollardes Tower within Paules Church of London whereupon all we of the inquest together went vp into the sayde Tower where we found the body of the sayd Hunne hanging vppon a staple of iron in a gyrdle of silke with fayre countenaunce his head fayre kemmed and his bonet right sitting vpon his head with his eyne and mouth fayre closed without any staring gaping or frowning also without any driueling or spurging in any place of his body whereupon by one assent all we agreed to take downe the deade bodye of the sayd Hunne and as soone as we beganne to heaue the body it was loose whereby by good aduisement we perceiued that the gyrdle had no knot about the staple but it was double cast and the linckes of an iron chayne which did hang on the same staple were layde vpon the same gyrdle whereby he did hang Also the knot of the gyrdle that went about his necke stood vnder his left eare which caused his head to leane towardes his right shoulder Notwithstanding there came out of his nostrels two small streames of bloud to the quantitye of foure droppes Saue onelye these foure droppes of bloud the face lippes chinne doublet coller and shyrt of the sayd Hunne was cleane from any bloud Also we fynde that the skinne both of his necke and throate beneath the gyrdle of silke was frette and faled away with that thing which the murtherers had broken his necke withall Also the handes of the sayd Hunne were wrong in the wristes wherby we perceiued that his handes had bene boâ—d Moreouer we find that within the sayd prison was no mean wherby a man might hang himselfe but onely a stoole which stoole stoode vpon a bolster of a bed so tickle that any manne or beaste might not touch it so litle but it was ready to fall Whereby wee perceiued that it was not possible that Hunne might hang himselfe the stoole so standing Also all the gyrdle from the staple to his necke as wel as the part which went about his necke was too litle for his head to come out therat Also it was not possible that the soft silken gyrdle shoulde breake his necke or skinne beneathe the gyrdle Also we finde in a corner somewhat beyond the place where he did hange a great parcell of bloud Also we finde vpon the left side of Hunnes Iacket froÌ„ the brest downeward two great streames of bloud Also within the flap of the left side of his Iacket we finde a great cluster of bloud and the Iacket folden down thereupon which thing the sayd Hunne could neuer fold nor doe after he was hanged Whereby it appeareth playnely to vs all that the necke of Hunne was broken and the great plenty of bloud was shed before he was hanged Wherefore all we finde by God and all our consciences that Richard Hunne was murdered Also wee acquite the sayd Richard Hunne of his owne death Also there was an end of a waxe candle whiche as Iohn Belringer sayth he lefte in the prison burning with Hunne that same Sunday at night that Hunne was murthered which waxe candle we founde sucking vpon the stockes fayre put out about seuen or eight foote from the place where Hunne was hanged which candle after our opinion was neuer put out by him for many likelyhoods which we haue perceiued Also at the going vp of mayster Chauncellor into the Lollardes tower we haue good proofe that there lay on the stockes a gowne either of Murrey or Crimosin in grayne furred with shankes Whose gowne it was we could neuer proue neither who bare it away All we finde that Mayster William Horsey Chauncellour to my Lord of London hath had at his commaundement both the rule and guiding of the sayd prisoner Moreouer all we finde that the sayde maister Horsey Chauncellor hath put Charles Ioseph out of his office as the sayd Charles hath confessed because he woulde not deale and vse the sayde prisoner so cruelly and doe to him as the Chauncellour woulde haue had him to do Notwithstanding the deliuerance of the keies to the Chauncellour by Charles on the Saturday at night before Hunnes death and Charles riding out of the towne on that sonday in the morning ensuing was but a conuention made betwixt Charles and the Chauncellour for to colour the murther For the same sonday that Charles rode forth he came agayne to the town at night and killed Richard Hunne as in the depositions of Iulian Littel Thomas Chicheley Thomas Simondes and Peter Turner do appeare After colouring of the murther betwixte Charles and the Chauncellour conspired the Chauncellour called to him one Iohn Spalding Belringer of Paules and deliuered to the same Belringer the keyes of the Lollardes tower geuing to the sayde Belringer a great charge saying I charge thee to keepe Hunne more straitely then he hath bene kept and let him haue but one meale a day Moreouer I charge thee let no body come to him without my licence neyther to bring him shirt cappe kirchiefe or any other thing but that I see it before it come to him Also before Hunne was caryed to Fulham the Chauncellour commaunded to be put vpon Hunnes necke a great coller of iron with a greate chayne which is too heauy for any man or beast to weare long to endure Moreouer it is well proued that before Hunnes death Proufes of Hunnes death the sayd Chauncellour came vppe into the sayd Lollardes tower and kneeled downe before Hunne holding vp his hands to him praying him of forgeuenesse of all that he had done to him and muste do to him And on sonday folowing the Chauncellour commauÌ„ded the Penitensary of Paules to go vp to him and say a Gospell and make for him holy water and holy bread and geue it to hym which so did and also the Chauncellor commaunded that Hunne should haue his dinner And the same dinner time Charles boye was shut in prison with Hunne which was neuer so before and after dynner when the Belringer fet out the boy the Belringer sayd to the same boy come no more hither with meat for him vntill tomorow at noone for my maister Chauncellour hath commaunded that he shall haue but one meale a day and the same night folowing Richard Hunne was murdered which murther could not haue bene done without consent and licence of the Chauncellor and also by the writing and knowledge of Iohn Spalding Belringer for there could no man come into the prison but by the keies being in Iohn Belringers keeping Also as by my Lord of LondoÌ„s booke doth appeare Iohn Belringer is a
poore innocent manne Wherefore all we doe perceiue that this murther coulde not bee done but by the commaundement of the Chauncellour and by the witting and knowing of Iohn Belringer Charles Ioseph within the tower of Lond. of his owne free will vnconstrayned said that maister Chauncellor deuised wrote with his owne hand all such heresyes as were layde to Hunnes charge Witnes of Charles Ioseph Sumner recorde Iohn God Iohn True Iohn Pasmere Richarde Gibson with many other Also Charles Ioseph sayth that when Richard Hunne was slayne Iohn Belringer bare vp the steyre into Lollardes tower a waxe candle hauing the keyes of the doore hanging on his arme and I Charles went next to him and maister Chauncellour came vppe last and when all wee came vppe wee found Hunne lying on his bed and then maister Chauncellour sayd lay handes on the theefe and so all we murdered Hunne then I Charles put the gyrdle about Hunnes neck and then Iohn Belringer and I Charles did heue vp Hunne and Mayster Chauncellour pulled the gyrdle ouer the staple and so Hunne was hanged ¶ The Deposition of Iulian Littel late seruaunt to Charles Ioseph by her free will vnconstrayned the 6. yere of our soueraigne Lord king Henry the eight within the Chappel of our Lady of Bethlem shewed to the Inquest The witnes of Iulian Littell against Charles Ioseph FFrst Iulian sayth that the wednesday at night after the death of Richard Hunne Charles Ioseph her Mayster came home to his supper then Iulian sayd to him Mayster it was tolde me that ye were in prison Charles aunswered It is mery to turne the penny and after supper Charles trussed vp a parcel of his goodes and with helpe of Iulian bare them into Maister Porters house to keepe and that done Charles sayd to Iulian Iulian if thou wilt be sworne to keepe my counsell I wyll shew thee my mind Iulian aunswered yea if it be neyther felony nor treason Then Charles tooke a booke out of his purse and Iulian sware to him therupon then sayd Charles to Iulian I haue destroyed Richard Hunne Alas mayster said Iulian how he was called an honest man Charles aunswered I put a wyer in his nose Alas sayd Iulian nowe be ye cast away and vndone Then sayd Charles Iulian I trust in thee that thou wilt keepe my counsell and Iulian aunswered yea but for Gods sake Mayster shyft for your selfe and then Charles sayde I had leuer then a hundred pound it were not done but that is done can not be vndone Moreouer Charles sayd then to Iulian. Upon Sonday when I rode to my cosin Baringtons house I taryed there and made good cheare all day til it was night and yet before it was midnight I was in London and had killed Hunne and vpon the next day I rode thyther aagayne and was there at dinner and sent for neighbors and made good cheare Then Iulian asked Charles where set you your horse that night you came to towne and wherefore came ye not home Charles aunswered I came not home for feare of bewraying and then Iulian asked Charles who was with you at the killing of Hunne Charles aunswered I will not tell thee and Iulian saith that vpon the Thursday folowing Charles taried all day in his house with great feare and vpon Friday folowing early in the morning before day Charles went forth as he sayd to Paules and at his comming in agayne he was in a great feare saying hastely get me my horse with greate feare and haste made him ready to ride and bade Mayâ—â—er Porters lad leade hys horse into the field by the backeside and then Charles put into his sleeue hys Mase or Masor with other plate borowed of mayster Porter both golde siluer but howe much I am not sure and Charles went into the field after his horse and Iulian brought hys bouget after hym Also vpon friday in Christmas weeke folowing Charles came home late in the night and brought with him three Bakers and a Smyth of Stratforde and the same night they carryed out of Charles house all hys goodes by the fieldes side to the Bell in Shordich and early in the morning conueyed it with Cartes to Stratford Moreouer Iulian sayth that the Saterday at night before the death of Hunne Charles came home and brought with him a gurnard saying it was for Hunne Charles boy called to Iulian that there was also ordeyned a piece of fresh Salmon which Iohn Belringer had Also Charles said to the said Iulian were not this vngracious trouble I could bring my Lord of LondoÌ„ to the doores of heretiques in London both of men and women that bene worth a thousand pound But I am afrayd that the vngracious midwife shall bewray vs all Also Charles sayd vnto maistres Porter in likewise more larger saying of the best in London whereto maistres Porter aunswered the best in London is my Lorde Maior then Charles sayde I will not scuse him quite for that he taketh this matter hoate Whereas Charles Ioseph sayth he laye at Neckehyll with a harlot a mans wife in Baringtons house the same night and there abode vntill the morrowe at eleuen of the clock that Richard Hunne was murthered wherupon he brought before the kinges Counsell for his purgation the foresayd Baude Baringtons wyfe and also the foresayde Harlot which purgation we haue proued all vntrue as right largely may appeare aswel by the deposition of Iulian Littel Thomas Chichesley Taylor Tho. Symondes Stationer of Rober Iohnsonne and his wife of Iohn Spalding Belringer Also of Peter Turner sonne in lawe of the foresayde Charles Ioseph who sayde before to an honest woman a waxe chaundelers Wyfe The witnes of Peter Turner that before this day seuenth night Hunne should haue a mischieuous death c. Also of Iohn Enderbye Baker to whome Iohn Spalding himselfe declared these wordes That there was ordeined for Hunne so grieuous penaunce that when men heare of it they shal haue great maruel therof c. Besides the deposition moreouer of Alen Creswel wax chauÌ„delor The witnes of Iohn-Spalding himselfe and Richard Horsenayle Bayliffe of the Sanctuary towne called Godsture in Essex Which testimonyes depositions hereafter folow * The Deposition of Alen Creswell waxechaundeler THe sayde Alen sayeth that Iohn Graunger seruaunt with my Lord of London in my L. of Londons kitchin at such time as the said Alen was seruing of Hunnes coffeÌ„ that GrauÌ„dger told to him that he was present with Ioh. belringer the same sonday at night that Rich. Hunne was found dead in the morow when the keepers set him in the stocks in so much the sayd Hunne desired to borow the kepers knife the keper asked him what he would do with his knife he answered I had leuer kil my selfe then to be thus entreated This deposition the sayd Alen will prooue as far forth as any christian man may saying that GrauÌ„dger shewed to him these wordes of his owne
was compelled to abiure All these aboue named in one key of doctrine religion did hold concord together agaynst whō were obiected 5. or 6. especiall matters to witte Consent of doctrine for speaking agaynst worshipping of saynts agaynst pilgrimage agaynst inuocatiō of the blessed virgin agaynst the sacramēt of the Lords body for hauing scripture bookes in English which bookes especially I finde to be named as these the booke of the 4. Euangelistes a booke of the Epistles of Paule and Peter the Epistle of S. Iames a booke of the Apocalips and of Antichrist of the 10. Commaundementes and Wickeliffes wicker with such other like ¶ Iohn Stilman Martyr IT would aske a long tractation tedious to recite in order the greate multitude and number of good men women Anno. 1518. beside these aboue rehearsed which in those dayes recanted and abiured about the beginning of king Henryes raigne and before Iohn Stilman Martyr Wickliffes Wicket among whō yet notwithstanding some there were whom the Lord reduced againe made strong in the profession of his truth and constant vnto death of which number one was Iohn Stilman by name who about the xxiiij day of Sept in the yeare of our Lord. 1518. was apprehended and brought before Richard Fitziames then B. of Lond. at his manor of Fulham and by him was there examined and charged that notwithstanding his former recantation oth and abiuration made about xi yeres then past before Edmund Byshop of Salisbury as well for speaking against y e worshipping praying and offering vnto Images as also for denying the carnal and corporal presence in y e sacrament of Christes memoriall yet sithens that time he had fallen into the same opinions againe and so into the daunger of relapse and further he had highly commended and praysed Iohn Wickliffe affirming that he was a saint in heauen and that hys booke called y e Wicket Ex Regist. Fitziames Lond. was good and holy Soone after hys examination he was sent from thence vnto the Lollardes tower at London and the xxij day of October then next ensuing was brought openly into the consistory at Paules and was there iudicially examined by Thom. Hed the byshops vicare generall vpon the contentes of these articles followyng 1. First I obiect vnto you that you haue confessed before my Lord of London and me D. Hed his vicar generall that about xx yeares past one Steuen Moone of the Dioces of Winchest Articles laid agaynst Ioh. Stilman With whom you abode 6. or 7. yeares after did teach you to beleeue that the going on pilgrimage and worshipping of images as the Lady of Walsingham and others were not to be vsed * Yeares of Antiquitie to be noted A godly Martyr Richarde Smart burned at Salisbury ann 1503. Wickliffes Wicket And also that afterwards one Richard Smart who was burned at Salisbury about 14. or 15. yeares past did read vnto you Wickliffes Wicket and likewise instructed you to beleeue that the sacrament of the altar was not the body of Christ all whiche thinges you haue erroneously beleued 2. Item you haue diuers times read the said book called Wickleffes Wicket and one other booke of the x. Commaundementes which the sayd Richard Smart did geue you and at the tyme of your first apprehensiō you did hide thē in an old oke and did not reuele them vnto the bishop of Salisbury before whom you were abiured of heresie about xi yeares since where you promised by oth vpon the Euangelistes euer after to beleue and hold as the Christē fayth taught and preached and neuer to offend agayne in the sayd heresies or any other vpon payne of relapse And further you there promised to performe all such penaunce as the sayd Bishop of Salisbury did enioyne you who thē enioyned you vpon the like payne not to depart his Dioces without hys speciall licence 3. Item it is euident that you be relapsed aswel by your own confession as also by your deedes in that about two yeares after your abiuration you went into the sayd place where you had hidden your books and then taking them away with you you departed the foresayd dioces without the licence of the Bishop and brought them with you to London where nowe being tached and taken with them vpon great suspicion of heresie you are brought vnto the Bishop of London By reason of whiche your demeanor you haue shewed by your impenitent and dissembled conuersation from your errours and also your vnfaithful abiuration and disobedience vnto the authoritie of our mother holy Church in that you performed not the penance in whiche behalfe you be voluntarily periured and also relapsed in that you departed the sayd dioces wythout licence 4. Item you be not onely as afore is sayd impenitent disobedient voluntarily periured relapsed by this your foresayd hereticall demeanor but also sithens your last attachment vpon suspicion of heresie you haue maliciously spoken erroneous and damnable wordes affirming before my Lord of London your Ordinary and me iudicially sitting at Fulham that you were sorye y t euer you did abiure your said opinions and had not suffered then manfully for them for they were and be good and true and therfore you will now abide by them to die for it And furthermore you haue spoken against our holy father the pope and hys authoritie damnably saying that he is Antichrist and not the true successor of Peter or Christes vicar on earth and that his pardons and indulgences which he graunteth in y e sacrament of penaunce are nought and that you will none of thē And likewise y t the colledge of Cardinals be limmes of the sayd Antichrist and that all other inferiour prelates and Priestes are the sinagogue of Sathan Wickliffes Wicket And moreouer you sayd that the doctors of the Churche haue subuerted the truth of holy Scripture expounding it after their own mindes and therfore theyr workes be nought and they in hell but that wickleffe is a Sainct in heauen and that the booke called his Wicket is good for therein he sheweth the truth Also you did wish that there were xx thousand of your opinion against vs Scribes and Pharisies to see what you would doe for the defēce of your fayth Al which heresies you did afterwardes erroneously affirme before y e Archbishop of Caunterbury and then said that you would abide by thē to dye for it notwithstanding his earnest perswasions to the contrary and therefore for these premisses you be euidently relapsed and ought to be committed vnto the secular power ¶ The burning of Iohn Stilman ¶ Thomas Man Martyr NExt to Iohn Stilman aboue mentioned followeth in this blessed order of Martyrs the persecution and cōdemnation of Thomas Man Tho. Man Martyr Who the 29. day of Marche in the yeare of our Lord. 1518. was burned in Smithfield This Tho. Man had likewise bene apprehended for y e profession of Christes Gospell about 6. yeares before the 14. day
Iacob yet vnderstand good Reader that it was written in very deede to Iohn Frith as is aboue tolde thee For the more proofe and euidence whereof read Frithes booke of the Sacramente and there thou shalte finde a certayne place of this Epistle repeated word for word beginning thus I call God to record against the day we shall appeare before our Lorde Iesus to geue a reckening of oure doings that I neuer altered one sillable of Gods word against my conscience c. Which Epistle Iohn Frith hymselfe witnesseth that he receaued from Tyndall as in hys testimonie aboue appeareth ¶ The death of the Lady Katherine and of Queene Anne THe same yeare in the which W. Tyndall was burned which was the yeare of our Lord 1536. in the begynning of the yeare Anno. 1536. first died Lady Katherine Princes Dowager in the moneth of Ianuary The death of Lady Katherine 〈◊〉 Dowagar After whome the same yeare also in the moneth of May next following followed the death also of Queene Anne who had now bene married to the King the space of three yeares In certeine records thus we finde that the Kyng being in his Iustes at Greenewich sodenly with a fewe persons departed to Westminster and the next daye after Queene Anne his wife was had to the Tower The death of Queene Anne with the Lord Rochford her brother and certayne other and the xix day after was beheaded The wordes of this worthy and Christian Lady at her death were these Good Christen people I am come hether to die for according to the Law and by y e Lawe I am iudged to death and therefore I will speake nothing against it The wordes of Queene Anne at her death I am come hether to accuse no man nor to speake any thing of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die but I pray God saue the King and sende him long to raigne ouer you for a gentler or a more mercifull Prince was there neuer and to me he was euer a good a gentle and soueraigne Lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause I require them to iudge the best And thus I take my leaue of the world and of you all and I hartely desire you all to pray for me O Lord haue mercy on me To God I commend my soule And so she kneeled downe sayeng To Christ I commend my soule Iesu receiue my soule repeating the same diuers times till at length the stroke was geuen and her head was striken off And this was the end of that godly Lady and Queene Godly I call her Queene Anne beheaded CommendatioÌ„s of Quene Anne for sundry respectes whatsoeuer the cause was or quarell obiected against her Fyrst her last wordes spoken at her death declared no lesse her sincere fayth and trust in Christ then dyd her quiet modestie vtter forth the goodnesse of the cause and matter whatsoeuer it was Besides that to such as wisely can iudge vpon cases occurrent this also may seeme to geue a great clearing vnto her that the King the third day after was maried in his whites vnto an other Certaine this was that for the rare and singular giftes of her minde so well instructed and geuen toward God with suche a feruent desire vnto the trueth and setting foorth of sincere Religion ioyned wyth like gentlenes modestie and pitie toward all men there hath not many suche Queenes before her borne the Crowne of England Principally this one commendation she left behinde her that during her life the Religion of Christ most happely florished and had a right prosperous course Many things might be written more of the manyfolde vertues and the quiet moderation of her milde nature how lowly she would beare not onely to be admonished The milde nature of Queene Anne in taking admâ—nition but also of her owne accorde woulde require her Chapleynes playnely and freely to tell whatsoeuer they sawe in her amisse Also how bountifull shee was to the poore passing not only the common example of other Queenes but also the reuenues almost of her estate in so much that the almose which she gaue in three quarters of a yeare in distribution is summed to the number of xiiij or xv thousand pounds Beside the great peece of money which her grace intended to impart into foure sundry quarters of the Realme as for a stocke there to be employed to the behoofe of poore artificers and occupyers Agayne The great Almose of Queene Annne what a zelous defender she was of Christes Gospell all the world doth knowe and her actes doe and will declare to the worldes ende Amongst which other her actes this is one that shee placed M. Hugh Latymer in the Byshopricke of Worcester and also preferred Doctor Shaxton to his Byshopricke being then accompted a good man Furthermore what a true fayth she bare vnto the Lorde this one example may stande for many for that when King Henry was with her at Wodstocke and there being afrayde of an olde blinde prophesie for the which neyther he nor other Kings before him durst hunt in the sayde parke of Woodstocke nor enter into the Towne of Oxford at last thorough the Christian and faithfull counsayle of that Queene he was so armed against all infidelitie that both he hunted in the foresayde parke and also entred in the Towne of Oxford and had no harme But because touching the memorable vertues of this worthy Queene partly we haue sayd something before partly because more also is promised to be declared of her vertuous life the Lord so permitting by other who then were about her I will cease in this matter further to proceede This I can not but meruayle why the Parlament holden this yeare that is the xxviij yeare of the King which Parliament three yeares before had established and confirmed this Mariage as most lawfull shoulde now so sodeinly and contrary to their owne doings Statuâ— An. 28. Hen. 8. cap. 7. repeale and disable the sayd Mariage agayne as vnlawfull beeyng so lawfully before contracted But more I meruayle why the saide Parliament after the illegitimation of the Mariage enacted not contented with that should further proceede and charge her with such carnall desires of her body as to misuse her selfe with her owne naturall brother the Lorde Rochford and others Parliamentâ— not alwayes constant being so contrary to all nature that no naturall man will beleeue it But in this Acte of Parliament did lie no doubt some great mistery which heere I will not stand to discusse but onely that it may be suspected some secrete practising of the Papistes here not to be lacking considering what a mightie stoppe she was to their purposes and proceedings and on the contrary side what a strong Bulwarke she was for the maintenance of Christes Gospell and sincere religion which they then in no case could abide By reason wherof it may easily be considered that this Christian and deuout Debora could lacke no enemies
amongst such a number of Philistians both within the Realme and without Agayne neither is it vnlike but that Stephen Winchester being then abroade in Ambassie was not altogether asleepe The suspition whereof may be the more coniecturall for that Edmund Boner Archdeacon of Leicester and then Ambassadour in Fraunce succeeding after Stephen Winchester did manifestly detect him of plaine Papistrie as in the sequeale of their stories when wee come to the time more ample the Lord graunting shall be expressed And as touching the Kings minde and assent The lawfulnes of Queene Annes succession defended although at that time through crafty setters on he seemed to be sore bent both against that Queene and to the disheriting of his owne daughter yet vnto that former will of the King so set against her then I will oppose againe the last will of the King wherein expressely and by name he did accepte and by plaine ratification did allow the succession of hys Mariage to stand good and lawfull Furthermore Defence of Queene Anne agaynst priuy backbyters to all other sinister iudgements and opinions whatsoeuer can be conceiued of man against that vertuous Queene I obiect and oppose againe as in stede of aunswere the euident demonstration of Gods fauour in mainteining preseruing aduaunsing the offspring of her body the Lady ELIZABETH nowe Queene whome the Lord hath so meruailously conserued from so manifold daungers so royally hath exalted so happely hath blessed with such vertuous patience and with such a quiet reigne hetherto that neither the reigne of her brother EDVVARD nor of her sister Mary to her is to be compared whether we consider the number of the yeares of their reignes or the peaceablenes of their state In whose royall and florishing regiment we haue to behold not so much the naturall disposition of her mothers qualities as the secrete iudgemente of God in preseruing and magnifieng the fruite and offspring of that godly Queene And finally as for the blasphemous mouth both of Cardinall Poole Paulus 〈◊〉 can finde no whoredome in all Rome but must come and 〈◊〉 matter where none 〈◊〉 in England The Protestantes of Germanye forsake king Henry for the death of Queene Anne The wily practises of the Papists and of Paulus Iouius that Popish Cardinall who measuring belike other womeÌ„ by his curtesanes of Rome so impudently abuseth his penne in lieng and rayling against this noble Queene to aunswere agayne in defence of her cause to that Italian I obiect and oppose the consent and iudgement of so many noble Protestants and Princes of Germany who beeing in league before with King Henry and minding no lesse but to haue made him the head of their confederation afterward hearing of the death of this Queene vtterly brake from him and refused him onely for the same cause But all this seemeth as is said to be the drift of the wilie Papistes who seeing the Pope to be repulsed out of England by the meanes chiefly of this Queene and fearing alwayes the succession of this Marriage in time to come thought by sinister practise to preuent that perill before whispering in the Kings eares what possibly they could to make that Matrimonie vnlawfull and all for the disheriting of that succession Againe Stephen Gardiner who was a secret worker against that mariage and a perpetuall enemie against Lady Elizabeth being then abroade with the French Kyng and the great Maister of Fraunce ceased not in his letters still to put the King in feare that the foreine Princes and powers of the world with the Pope woulde neuer be reconciled to the King neither should he be euer in any perfect securitie vnlesse he vndid againe such actes before passed for the ratification of that succession Which thing when they had now brought to passe after their owne desire that both now the Queene was beheaded Gods prouidence still disapointeth the papistes The king maried Lady Iane. and Elizabeth the Kings daughter disherited they thought all things to be sure for euer But yet Gods prouidence still went beyond them and deceaued them For incontinently after the suffering of Queene Anne the King within three dayes after maryed Lady Iane Semer of whome came King Edward as great an enemie to Gods enemie the Pope as euer his father was and greater too In the meane time as these troublous tumultes were in doing in England Paule the third Bishop of Rome for his part was not behind to helpe forward for his own aduantage Who seeing his vsurped kingdome feate to be darkened in the countreys of Germany The feate of the beast darckned Apoc. 16. also in EnglaÌ„d thought it high time to bestirre him and therefore to prouide some remedy against further daungers appointed a general Councel at Mantua in Italy requiring all kings and princes either personally to be there or else to sende their Ambassadours vnder faire preâ—enses as to suppresse heresies and to restore the Church and to warre agaynst the Turke c. This Bull was subscribed with the hands of 26. Cardinals and set vp in diuers great Cities that it might be knowne and published to the whole world Unto the which Bull firste the Protestants of Germany doe aunsweare declaring sufficient causes why they refused to resort to that Councell being indicted at Mantua in the Popes owne Countrey Whose declaration with theyr causes graue and effectuall Ex Ioan. Sledano Lib. 10. being set forth in print and in the English tongue although they were worthy heere to be inserted yet for breuitie and more speede in our story I will pretermit the same and only take the Oration or answere of our King heere Wherein he likewise rendereth reasons and causes most reasonable why he refuseth to come or to send at the Popes call to his Councell indicted at Mantua Whose Oration or Protestation because it conteineth matter of some wâ—ight and great experience I thought heere good to expresse as foloweth ¶ A Protestation in the name of the King and the whole Counsaile and Cleargy of England why they refuse to come to the Popes Councell at his call SEing that the Bishop of Rome calleth learned men froÌ„ all parties The kinges protestation why he senâ—eth not to â—he Popes Councell conducting them by great rewards making as many of them Cardinals as he thinketh most meet and most ready to defend fraâ—des and vntruthes we could not but with much anxietie cast with our selues what so great a preparance of wits should meane As chance was wee gessed euen as it folowed We haue ben so long acquainted with Romaine subtilties and popish deceites that we wel and easely iudged y e Byshop of Rome to intend an assemble of his adherents and men sworne to thinke all his lusts to be lawes We were not deceiued The Popes craftes espyed Paule the Byshop of Rome hath called a Councell to the which he knewe well either fewe or none of the Christen Princes coulde come Both the time
after whose birth Queene Iane his mother the second daye after dyed in childbed left the king agayne a widower which so continued the space of two yeres together Upon the death of whiche Queene Iane Prince Edward borne and vppon the birth of prince Edward her sonne these two verses were made which follow Phoenix Iana iacet nato Phoenice Queene Iane dyed in childe-bed dolendum Secula Phoenices nulla tulisse duas Here is by the waye to be vnderstand that during all this season since the time that the king of Englande had reiected the pope out of the Realme both the Emperour These verses were thought to be made by M. Armigyl Wade y e French king and the king of Scottes with other forreine potentates which were yet in subiection vnder the Pope bare no him do great good fauour inwardly what soeuer outwardly they pretended Neither was here lacking pryuy setters on nor secret working among themselues how to compasse vngracious mischiefes if God by cōtrary occasions had not stopped their intended deuises For first y e Pope had sent Cardinall Poole to the French king to stir him to warre agaynst the realme of England Secondly where as the Frenche king The Pope stirreth warre agaynst England by Cardinall Poole The Emperour the French king and the king of Scottes set agaynst the king of England by treaty of perpetuall peace was bound yearly to paye to the king of England at the first dayes of May and Nouember about xcv thousand crownes of the summe and odde mony and ouer that 10000. crownes at y e sayd ij termes for recōpēce of salt due as the treates therof did purporte that pension remayned now vnpayed iiij yeares and more Furthermore the Emperour and the Frenche K. both reteined Grancetor a traiterous rebell against the king condemned by Act of Parliament with certayn other traitors moe and yet would not deliuer him to the king at his earnest suite and request The Frenche king also digressing from his promise and treaty made alliance wyth the Bishop of Rome Clement in marying the Dolphine to hys Niece called Katherine de Medicis The sayd Frenche kyng moreouer contrary to his contracte made married his daughter to the king of Scottes All which were preiudiciall and put the kinge no doubt in some feare and perplexity though otherwise a stout and valiant Prince to see the Pope the Emperour the French king and king of Scottes so bent against him And yet all this notwithstanding the Lord stil defended the iustnes of his cause against them all For although the French king was so sette on by the Pope and so linked in mariage with the Scots and sacked nothing now but only occasion to inuade the realme of England yet notwythstanding he hearing now of the birth of Prince Edwarde the kinges sonne by Queene Iane and vnderstandinge also by the death of the sayde Queene Iane that the Kyng was a widower and perceiuing moreouer talk to be that the king would ioyne in mariage with the Germains began to waxe more calme and colde and to geue much more gentle wordes and to demeane him selfe more curtuously labouring to mary the Queene of Nauare hys sister to the king The Ambassadors resident then in France for the king were Ste. Gardiner with Docto◠Thirleby c. Whyche Steuen Gard. what he wrought secreately for the Popes deuotion I haue not expressely to charge him Whether he so did or what he did the Lord knoweth all But thys is certaine that when D. Boner Archedeacon then of Leicester was sente into Fraunce by the Kinge throughe the meanes of the Lord Cromwell to succeede Steuen Gardinar in Ambassie which was about the yeare of our Lord 1538. he found such dealing in the sayd Bishop of Winchester as was not greatly to be trusted beside the vnkynde partes of the sayde Byshop againste the foresayde Boner Anno. 1538. comming then from the King and Lorde Cromwell as was not to be liked Long it is to recite from the beginning few men peruenture woulde beleeue Doct. Boner the kyngs Ambassadour in Fraunce the brawling matters the priuie complaints the contentious quarels and bitter dissentiōs betwene these two and especially what despightful contumelies D. Boner receiued at the hands of Winchester For vnderstande good Reader that this doctor Boner all this while remained yet as he seemed a good man Doct. Boner in the beginning a fauourer of the truth and a Lutherane and was a great furtherer of the kinges proceedings and a fauourer of Luthers doctrine and was aduanced only by the Lorde Cromwel Whose promotions here to reherse first he was Archdeacon of Leycester persone of Bledon of Dereham Cheswike and Cheriburton Then was made Byshop of Hereford and at last preferred to be Bish. of London The chiefe of which preferments and dignities were conferred vnto him only by the meanes and fauour of the L. Cromwel L. Cromwel the onely setter vp of Doct. Boner who was then his chiefe and only patrone and setter vp as the said Boner himselfe in al his letters doth manifestly protest and declare The Copies of which his letters I could heere produce and exhibite but for prolonging my story with superfluous matter Yet that the worlde and all posteritie may see how the comming vp of D. Boner was onely by the Gospell howsoeuer he was after vnkind vnto the Gospell this one letter of his Doct. Boners cōming vp was by the Gospell which I wil heere inferre written to the Lorde Cromwel out of Fraunce may stand for a perpetuall testimonie the tenour whereof here ensueth * A letter of Doctor Boner the kings Ambassadour resident in Fraunce sent to the Lord Cromwell declaring the order of his promotions and comming vp MY very singular especiall good Lord as one most bounden I most humbly commende mee vnto your honourable good Lordship Out of Boners owne hand writing And wheras in times passed in hath liked the same without any my desertes or merites euen only of your singular exceding goodnes to bestowe a great deale of loue beneuolence and good affection vpon me so poore a man and of so small qualities expressing in deede sondry wayes the good effectes therof to my great preferment I was very much bounde thereby vnto your honourable good Lordshippe and thought it alway my duetie as in deede it was both to beare my true hart againe vnto your Lordship D. Boner cōfesseth himselfe much bound to the L. Crōwell and also remembring suche kindnes to doe vnto the same all such seruice pleasure as might then lie in my smal power to do But where of your infinite inestimable goodnes it hath further liked you of late first to aduance me vnto the office of Legation from such a Prince as my soueraigne Lorde is vnto the Emperour and French king and next after to procure and obtayne mine aduauncement to so honourable a promotion as the Byshoprike of Hereford
Counsell to the intent to haue it punished without fauor euen with the extremity of the law Item that none of the kings subiects shall reason dispute or argue vpon the sacrameÌ„t of the aulter vpon paine of losing theyr liues No man to dispute of the Sacrament goodes and cattels without all fauor onely these excepted that be learned in Diuinitye they to haue theyr liberty in theyr scholes and appoynted places accustomed for such matters Item that holy bread and holy water procession kneling Holy bread and holy water with other rites of the Church established and creeping on good Friday to the crosse and Easter day setting vp of lights before the Corpus Christi bearing of candles on Candlemas day Purification of women deliuered of child offering of Crisomes keeping of the foure offering dayes paying theyr tithes and such like ceremonyes must be obserued kept till it shall please the king to chaunge or abrogate any of them This article was made for that the people was not quieted and conteÌ„ted many of them with the ceremonies then vsed Finally all those Priestes that be maryed and openly knowne to haue theyr wiues Maryed priestes punished or that hereafter do inteÌ„d to marry shall be depriued of all Spirituall promotion from doyng any duety of a Priest and shall haue no manner of office dignity cure priuiledge profit or commodity in any thing appertaining to the Clergy but from thence forth shal be taken Difference to be taught betwene things commauÌ„ded of God and ceremonyes vncommaunded had and reputed as lay persons to all purposes and intentes and those that shall after thys proclamation marry shall runne in his graces indignatoÌ„ and suffer punishment and imprisonment at his graces will pleasure Item he chargeth all Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons Deacons Prouostes Parsons Uicars Curates other Ministers and euery of them in their own persons within their cures diligently to preach teach open and set forth to the people the glory of God trueth of his word and also considering the abuses superstitions that haue crept into the hartes and stomackes of many by reason of their fond ceremonies he chargeth them vpon payn of imprisonment at his graces pleasure Thomas Becket noted of stubbernesse not onely to preach and teach the word of God accordingly but also sincerely and purely declaring the difference betwene things commauÌ„ded by God and the â—ites and ceremonies in theyr church then vsed least the people therby might grow into further superstition Item for as much as it appeareth now clearely that Thomas Becket sometime Archbishop of Caunterbury stubbernely withstanding the wholesome lawes established agaynst the enormityes of the Clergy by the kynges highnesse noble Progenitour King Henry the second for the common wealth rest and tranquility of thys Realme of his froward minde fledde the Realme into FrauÌ„ce and to the Bishop of Rome maynteyner of those enormityes to procure the abrogation of the sayd Lawes whereby arose much trouble in this sayd Realme and that his death which they vntruely called Martyrdome happened vpon a rescue by him made and that as it is written he gaue opprobrious wordes to the Gentlemen which then counselled him to leaue hys stubbernenesse and to auoyde the commotion of the people risen vppe for that rescue and he not onely called the one of them bawde but also tooke Tracie by the bosome and violently shook hym and plucked hym in such maner that he had almoste ouerthrowne him to the pauement of the church so that vpon this fray one of theyr companye perceiuing the same strake him and so in the thronge Becket was slayne and further that his canonization was made onely by the Byshop of Rome because he had bene a champion to mayntayne his vsurped authority and a bearer of the iniquitye of the Clergy For these and for other great and vrgent causes long to recite the kinges Maiesty by the aduise of hys Counsell hath thought expedient to declare to hys louyng subiectes that notwithstanding the sayd canonization Tho. 〈◊〉 a rebell rather then a Sainct there appeareth nothing in his life and exterior conuersation wherby he should be called a Saynt but rather estemed to haue bene a rebell and traytor to his Prince Therefore his grace straytly chargeth and commaundeth that from henceforth the sayd Thomas Becket shall not be esteemed named reputed and called a Saynt but Bishop Becket and that his Images and Pictures thorow the whole Realme shal be pluckt downe and auoyded out of all Churches Chappels and other places and that from henceforth the dayes vsed to be festiuall in his name shall not be obserued nor the seruice office Antiphons Collectes prayers in his name read The canonization of Tho. Becâ—â—â— rased but rased put out of all the bookes that all their festiuall dayes already abrogated shal be in no wise solemnized but his graces ordinaunces and iniunctions therupon obserued to the inteÌ„t his graces louing subiectes shal be no longer blindly ledde abused to commit Idolatry as they haue done in tymes passed vpoÌ„ payne of his maiestyes indignation imprisoÌ„ment at his graces pleasure Finally his grace straightly chargeth and commaundeth that his subiects do keep and obserue all and singuler his iniunctions made by his maiesty vpon the payn therin conteined Here foloweth how religion began to goe backeward TO many which be yet aliue can testify these thinges it is not vnknowne how variable the state of ReligioÌ„ stood in these daies The variable changeâ— and mutations of religion in king Henryes dayes how hardly and with what difficulty it came forth what chaunces and chaunges it suffered Euen as y e king was ruled and gaue â—are sometime to one some time to an other so one while it went forward at an other season as much backeward agayne and sometime cleaâ— altered changed for a season according as they could preuayle which were about the king So long as Queene Anne liued the Gospell had indifferent successe After that she by sinister instigation of some about the king was made away the cause of the gospell began again to incline but that the Lord then stirred vp y e Lord Cromwell oportunely to helpe in that behalfe Who no doubt did much auayle for the encrease of Gods true Religion much more had brought to perfection The course of the Gospell interrupted by malicious enemyes if the pestilent aduersaryes maligning the prosperous glory of the Gospel by coÌ„trary practising had not craftily vndermined him and supplanted his vertuous procedings By the meanes of which aduersaries it came to passe after the taking away of the sayd Cromwel that the state of Religion more and more decayed during all the residue of the raygne of king Henry Among these aduersaries aboue mentioned y e chief captain was Steuen Gardiner bishop of Wint. who with his confederats and adherentes disdayning at the state of the L. Cromwel and at the
burned and these heretikes after the sermon to goe thryse about the fire and to cast in theyr fagots Now while the sermon was a doing D. Barnes and the stilliard men were commanded to knele downe aske God forgeuenes the catholike church and cardinals grace and after that hee was commaunded at the ende of the sermon to declare that he was more charitablier hādled then he deserued or was worthy hys heresies were so horrible and so detestable and once againe kneeled downe on hys knees and desiring the people of forgeuenesse and to praye for him and so the cardinal departed vnder a canapie with all his mitred men with him till he came to the second gate of Paules and then he tooke his mule and the mitred men came backe againe Then these poore men being commanded to come downe from the stage whereon the sweepers vse to stande when they sweepe the Church the Byshops sate them downe againe and commanded the knight marshall and the Warden of the Fleete with theyr company to carie them aboute the fire and so were they brought to the bishops and there for absolution kneeled downe Where Rochester stode vp and declared vnto the people how many dayes of pardon and forgeuenes of sinnes they had for beyng at that Sermone Dayes of pardon geuen for hearing a Popishe Sermon and there did assoyle D. Barnes wyth the other and shewed the people that they were receiued into the church agayne This done the Warden of the Fleete and the Knyght Marshall were commanded to haue them to the Fleete againe and charged that they should haue the libertie of the Flete as other prisoners had and that theyr frends myght resort vnto them and there to remaine till the Lorde Cardinals pleasure was knowen After that Barnes there in the Fleete had cōtinued the space of halfe a yeare at length beyng deliuered was committed to be free prisoner at the Austen friers in London When those Caterpillers and bloudy beasts had there vndermined hym they complained againe to their Lord cardinall Wherupon he was remoued to the Austen Fryers of Northampton there to be burned Yet he himself vnder stāding nothing therof but supposing still y t he shuld there remaine and continue in free prison at last one M. Horne who had brought hym vp and was his speciall frende hauing intelligence of the writte which should shortly be sent downe to burne him gaue him counsaile to faine him selfe to be desperate and that hee shoulde wryte a letter to the Cardinal and leaue it on his table where he lay and a paper by to declare whether he was gone to drown hymself to leaue his clothes in the same place Doct. Barnes fayned himselfe to be drowned and there an other letter to be left to the Maior of the towne to search for hym in the water because hee had a letter written in parchment about hys necke closed in waxe for the Cardinall whyche would teach all men to beware by hym Uppon thys they were 7. dayes in searching for hym but hee was conueyed to London in a pore mans apparel and so taried not there but tooke shipping and went by long Seas to Antwerpe and so to Luther and there fell to studie till hee had made aunswere to all the Bishops of the Realme and had made a Booke intituled Acta Romanorum pontificum And an other booke wyth a supplication to king Henrie Immediatly it was tolde the Cardinall that he was drowned and he sayde Perit memoria eius cum sonitu But thys did lyghte vppon hymselfe shortly after whyche wretchedly dyed at Leicester In the meane season D. Barnes was made strong in Christ Doct. Barnes sent Ambassadour from the king of Denmarke to king Henry into England and got fauour both of the learned in Christe forreine Princes in Germanye and was great wyth Luther Melancthon Pomeran Iustus Ionas Hegendorphinus and Aepinus and with the Duke of Saxon and the king of Denmarke which king of Denmarke in the time of More and Stokesley sent hym wyth the Lubeckes as an Ambassadour to king Henry the viij He lay wyth the Lubeckes Chauncellor at the Stilliard Syr Tho. More then Chancelour woulde fayne haue entrapped him Syr Thomas More sought the death of Doct. Barnes but the king would not let him for Cromwell was his great frende And ere he went the Lubeckes he disputed wyth the Bishops of this realme in defence of the truth and so he departed agayne wythout restrainte wyth the Lubeckes After hys going againe to Wittemb to the Duke of Saxon and to Luther hee remained there to set forwardes hys workes in Printe that he had begon from whence hee returned againe in the beginning of the raigne of Queene Anne Doct. Barnes returned agayne into England in the tyme of Queene Anne as other did continued a faythfull preacher in this Citie being all her time wel entertained and promoted After that he was sent Ambassador by K. Henrye the 8. to the Duke of Cleue for the marriage of y e Lady Anne of Cleue betwene the king and her and was wel accepted in that Ambassade and in all hys doings Doct. Barnes sent Ambassadour by king Henry to the Duke of Cleue vntil the time that Ste. Gardiner came out of Fraunce but after he came neither religion prospered nor the Queenes maiestie nor Cromwell nor the preachers who after the marryage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue neuer ceased vntill hee had grafted the mariage in an other stocke by the occasion wherof he began his bloudy broyle For not long after Doctor Barnes with hys brethren were apprehended and caryed before the kyngs maiestie to Hampton courte and there he was examined Where the kynges maiestie seeking the meanes of his safety to bring Wintc and hym agreed at Wynchesters request graunted him leaue to go home with the bishop to cōferre with him and so he did But as it happened they not agreeing Gardiner and his cōpartners sought by al subtil meanes how to entangle and to entrappe them in further danger which not long after was brought to passe For by certaine complaintes made to the kinge of them they were enioyned to preache 3. sermones the next Easter folowing at the Spittle At the which sermones besides other reporters whych were thether sent Ste. Gardiner also was there present sitting with the Maior either to beare recorde of theyr recantation or els as the Phariseis came to Christ to trippe them in their talke if they had spokē any thing awry Whē these 3. had thus preached their Sermons among whome Barnes preaching the first sermon and seeing Ste. Gardiner there present humbly desired him in the face of al the audience if he forgaue hym to holde vp hys hande and the sayd Gardiner thereupon held vp his finger yet notwithstanding shortly after by the meanes of the sayd reporters they were sent for to Hampton Courte who from thence were caryed to the tower by Syr
sitting in Smithfield Hetherto we haue entreated of this good woman Now it remayneth that we touch somewhat as concernyng her ende and Martyrdome After that she beyng borne of such stocke and kynred that she might haue liued in great wealth and prosperitie if she would rather haue followed the world then Christ now had bene so tormented that she could neyther lyue long in so great distresse An. Askew brought â—â—to the 〈◊〉 neyther yet by her aduersaries be suffered to die in secret the daye of her execution beyng appoynted she was brought into Smithfield in a chayre because she could not goe on her feete An. Askew 〈◊〉 vpon the racke by meanes of her great tormentes When she was brought vnto the stake she was tyed by the middle with a chayne that held vp her body When all things were thus prepared to the fire D. Shaxton who was then appoynted to preach â—â—axton â—reached at Anne 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 began his Sermon Anne Askew hearyng and answering agayne vnto him where he sayd wel confirmed the same where he sayd amisse there sayde she he misseth and speaketh without the booke The Sermon beyng finished the Martyrs standyng there tyed at three seuerall Stakes ready to theyr Martirdome beganne theyr prayers The multitude and concourse of the people was exceedyng the place where they stoode beyng rayled about to keepe out the prease Upon the Benche vnder Saint Bartlemewes Church sate Wrisley Chauncellour of England the old Duke of Norfolke the olde Earle of Bedford the Lord Mayor wyth dyuers other moe Before the fire should be set vnto them one of the Benche hearyng that they had gunnepouder about them and beyng afrayde least the fagots by strength of the gunnepouder would come â—lieng about their eares began to be afraid but the Erle of Bedford declaring vnto him how y e gunpouder was not laid vnder the fagots but onely about theyr bodies to rydde them out of their paine which hauyng vente there was no daunger to them of the fagottes so diminished that feare Anne Askew refuseth the kinges pardon Then Wrisley Lord Chauncellour sent to Anne Askew letters offring to her the kyngs pardon if she would recant Who refusing once to looke vpon them made this answer agayne that she came not thether to deny her lord and Maister Then were the letters likewise offered vnto the other who in lyke manner followyng the constancie of the woman denied not onely to receyue them Iusâ—titia iniusta but also to looke vpon them Whereupon the Lord Mayor commaundyng fire to be put vnto them cryed wyth a lowde voyce Fiat iustitia And thus the good Anne Askew with these blessed Martyrs beyng troubled so many maner of ways and hauing passed through so many torments hauyng now ended the long course of her agonies beyng coÌ„passed in with flames of fire as a blessed sacrifice vnto God she slept in the lord an 1546. leauyng behynd her a singular example of christian constancy for all men to follow John Lacels Iohn Adams and Nicholas Belenian The Martyrdome of Anne Askew Io. Lacels Io. Adams Nich. Belenian THere was at the same time also burnt together wyth her one Nicholas Belenian priest of Shropshire I. Adams a Taylor and Iohn Lacels Gentleman of the court and houshold of king Henry It happened well for them that they dyed together with Anne Askew For albeit that of themselues they wer strong and stout men yet through the example and exhortation of her they beyng the more boldened receyued occasion of greater comfort in that so paynefull and dolefull kynd of death who beholdyng her inuincible constancie and also stirred vp thorough her perswasions did set apart all kynd of feare Thus they confirming one another with mutual exhortations taried looking for the tormenter and fire which at the last flaming round about them consumeb their blessed bodies in happy Martyrdome in the yeare of our saluation 1546. about the month of Iune There is also a certayne letter extant which the sayd I. Lacels briefly wrote beyng in prison touchyng the sacrament of Christes body and bloud wherin he doth both coÌ„fute the errour of them which being not contented wyth the spirituall receyuing of the sacrament wil leaue no substance of bread therin and also confuteth the sinister interpretation of many therupon The tenor of which letter is as here vnder followeth The copy of the letter of Iohn Lacels written out of prison SAint Paule because of sectes and dissention among the Corinthians The letter of M. Iohn Lacels written out of prison wrote his epistle vnto them and in lyke case pertaining to my conscience I doe protest my whole hart in the blessed supper of the Lord wherein I trust in God to bryng nothyng for me but I shall be able wyth Gods holy worde to declare and manifest the same And herein I take occasion to recite the saying of saint Paule in the sayd Epistle the xi chapter That which I deliuered vnto you â— Cor. 11. I receyued of the Lorde For the Lorde Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed tooke breade gaue thankes and brake it and sayd take ye eate ye this is my body which is broken for you Here me seemeth S. Paule durst not take vpon hym hys Lord and maisters authoritie Wherefore as at Gods hand the breaking of the most innocent and immaculate body and bloud of Christ is the quietnes of all mens consciences the onely remedy of our sinnes and the redemption of mankynd which is called in the scripture the dailye offering so the Masse whiche is the inuention of man whose author is the Pope of Rome as it doth appeare in Polydore Uirgill and many others is the vnquietnesse of all Christendome The blasphemy wickednes of the Masse a blasphemy vnto Christes bloud and as Daniel calleth it the abhominable desolation as the Scripture shall hereafter more manifest it S. Paule was belyke to learne of the Romaines church A prophesie the manner of the consecration as they call it wyth the breathyng ouer the hoste and other ceremonies besides that he durst not take vpon him to say Hoc est corpus meum S. Paule did not take vpon him in the person of Christ to say Hoc est corpus meum as our Priestes doe But this I will admitte it was the Lord Iesus that made the supper which also did finish it and made an end of the onely acte of our saluation not onely here in this world but with his father in heauen as he declareth hym selfe that he will drinke no more of this bitter cuppe tyll he drinke it new in his fathers kingdom where all bitternes shall be taken away Now if any man be able to finish the acte of our Sauiour in breakyng of hys body and sheadyng of his bloude here and also to finish it with the father in heauen then let hym say it But I thinke that if men will looke vpon saint Paules wordes well
purpose of this Bishop of suche like bloudy aduersaries practising thus against the Queene proceeding of gods gospel as ye haue heard putteth me in remembraÌ„ce of such an other like story of his wicked working in like manner a litle before but much more pernitious pestilent to the publick church of Iesus Christ then this was daungerous to the priuate estate of the Queene Whyche storie likewise I thought heere as in conuenient place to be adioyned notified to be knowen to all posteritie according as I haue it faithfully recorded and storied by hym which heard it of the Archbishop Cranmers own mouth declared in order and forme as foloweth * A discourse touching a certaine pollicie vsed by Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester in staying king Henrie the 8. from redressing of certaine abuses of ceremonies in the church being Ambassadour beyonde the seas Also the communication of king Henrye the 8 had wyth the ambassador of France at Hampton Court concerning the reformation of religion as wel in France as in Englande Anno 1546. Mens August IT chanced in the time of K. Henrie the 8. when his highnes did lastly not many yeres before his death conclude a league betwene the Emperor the French king and himselfe that the B. of Winchester SteueÌ„ Gardiner by name was sent in Ambassage beyonde the seas for that purpose In whose absence the Archbishop of CaÌ„terbury Thomas Cranmer attending vpon the kings Court sought occasion somwhat to further the reformation of the corrupt religion not yet fully restored vnto a perfection SteueÌ„ Gardiner Ambassadour For lyke as the sayd Archb. was alwaies diligent and forward to prefer and aduaunce the sincere doctrine of the Gospel so was that other byshop a contrary instrument coÌ„tinually spurning against the same in whatsoeuer coast of the worlde he remained For euen now he being beyond y e seas in y e temporal affaires of y e realme forgate not but fouÌ„d the meanes as a most valiant champion of the B. of Rome to stop and hinder aswel the good diligence of the sayd Archbishop Winchester a great hindâ—rer of the course of the Gospell as the godly disposition of the kings Maiestie in that behalfe whych thus chaunced Whilest the sayde B. of Winchester was nowe remaining beyond the seas about the affaires aforsaide y e kings maiesty and the saide Archbishop hauing conference together for reformatioÌ„ of some superstitious enormities in the Church amongst other things the king determined forthwith to pull downe the Roodes in euery churche The kinges conference with D. Cranmer about reformation of the Ghurch Rood loftes Ringing on Alhallow night and to suppresse the accustomed ringing on Alhalow night wyth a few such like vaine ceremonies And therefore when the said Archb. taking his leaue of the king to go into Kent his dioces his highnes willed him to remember that he shuld cause 2. letters to be deuised for me quoth the King to be signed the one to be directed vnto you my Lorde and the other vnto the Archbishop of Yorke wherein I will commaund you both to send forth your precepts vnto all other Byshops wythin your prouinces Lettets of reformation to be sent by the king to see those enormities and Ceremonies reformed vndelaidly that we haue communed off So vppon this the kings pleasure knowen when the Archbishop of Canterburye was then come into Kent hee caused his Secretarye to conceiue and write these Letters according to the kings minde and being made in a readinesse sent them to the Courte to Syr Anthony Denie for hym to get them signed by the king when maister Denie had mooued the king thereunto the king made answere I am now otherwayes resolued for you shal send my Lorde of Canterburye worde that sithence I spake with hym about these matters I haue receiued letters from my Lord of Winchester nowe being on the other side of the Sea about the conclusion of a league betweene vs The kinges minde altered by Wint. the Emperor and the Frenche king he wryteth plainely vnto vs that the league wil not prosper nor go forward if we make any other innouation change or alteration either in Religion or ceremonies Reformation of Religion stopped by Steuen Gardiner then heretofore hath ben already commensed and done Wherefore my Lorde of Canterburye must take patience heerein and forbeare vntill we may espye a more apt and conuenient time for that purpose Which matter of reformation began to be reuiued again at what time the great Ambassador from the French king came to the kings Maiestie at Hampton Courte not long before his death Anno. 1546. Where then no Gentleman was permitted to waite vpon his Lord and maister This Ambassadour was admirall of Fraunce whose name was Mounsieur de Annebault he came to Hampton Court the 20. day of Aug. an 1546. The matter of reformation againe renued a little before the kinges death The kinges bancket for the French Ambassadour wythout a veluet coate and a chaine of golde And for that entertainment of the Ambassadour were builded in the parke there 3. very notable great and sumptuous banketting houses At the which it was purposed that the sayd Ambassadour should haue bene 3. sundry nightes very richly banketted But as it chaunced the French kings great affaires were then sodenly such that thys Ambassadoure was sent for home in post hast before he had receiued halfe the noble entertainement that was prepared for him so that he hadde but the fruition of the first banketting house Now what princelike order was there vsed in the furniture of y e banket as well in placing of the noble estates namely the kings Maiestie and the French Ambassadour w t the noble men both of England and Fraunce on the one parte and of the Queenes highnesse and the Ladye Anne of Cleeue with other noble women Ladyes of the other part as also touching the great sumptuous preparation of both costly and fine dishes there out of number spent it is not our purpose heere presently to entreate thereof but onely to consider the note of the conference and communication had the first night after the sayd baÌ„ket was finished Secrete communicatioÌ„ betwene the king the French Ambassadour and the Archb. of Cant. betweene the kings Maiestie the sayde Ambassadour and the Archbishop of Canterburye the kings highnesse standing openly in the banketting house in the open face of all the people and leaning one arme vpon the shoulder of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other arme vppon the shoulder of the Ambassadour touching the establishing of godly religion betweene those two Princes in both theyr realmes As by the report of the sayd Arch. vnto hys secretarie vppon occasion of his seruice to be done in king Edwards visitation then being register in the same visitation The testimony and credite of the story relation was made on that behalfe in thys sorte When the sayd visitation was put
stand that standeth not with the Lord Which thing as in example of all ages is to be seene so in this late proclamation deuised by the bishops is in like maner exemplified The which proclamation though it was sore terrible for the time yet not long after Mans deuise agaynst the Lord ouerthrowen by reason of the kings death whoÌ„ the Lord shortly therupon took to his mercy it made at length but a castle come downe So that where the prelates thought to make theyr Iubile it turned them to the Threnes of Ieremy Such be the admirable workings of the Lord of hostes whose name be sanctified for euer This I do not inferre for any other purpose but onely for the workes of the Lord to be seene premonishing thee good Reader withall that as touching the king who in this Proclamation had nothing but the name onely here is nothing spoken but to his laude and prayse Who of hys owne nature disposition The praise of K. Henry 8. was so inclinable and forward in all things vertuous and commendable that the like enterprise of redresse of religion hath not lightly bene sene in any other Prince christned As in abolishing the stout and almost inuincible authority of the Pope in suppressing monasteries in repressing custome of Idolatry pilgrimage c. Which enterprises as neuer king of England dyd accomplish though some beganne to attempt them before him so yet to this day we see but few in other Realmes dare folow the same If Princes haue alwayes theyr Counsell about them that is but a common thing If some time they haue euill counsell ministred that I take to be the fault rather of such as are about them Much superstition purged by king Henry then of princes themselues So long as Queene Anne Tho. Cromwell B. Cranmer M. Denny D. Buts with such like were about him could preuaile with him what organe of Christes glorye did more good in the Church then he as is apparant by such monuments instrumentes and actes set forth by him in setting vp the Bible in the church in exploding the pope with his vile pardons in remouing diuers superstitious ceremonies in bringing into order y e inordinate orders of friers sectes in putting chantry priests to theyr pensions in permitting white meate in Lent in destroying Pilgrimage worship in abrogating idle superfluous holydaies both by act publicke and also by priuate letters sent to Boner tending after this effect ¶ By the king The kinges brief to Boner RIght reuerend father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greet you well And whereas considering the manifolde inconueniences which haue ensued and dayly do ensue to our subiectes by the great superfluity of holy dayes we haue by the assentes and consentes of all you the Byshops Abrogation of holy dayes and other notable personages of the Clergy of this our Realme in ful congregation and assembly had for that purpose abrogated and abolished suche as be neither Canonicall ne meete to bee suffered in a common wealth for the manifolde inconueniences which do ensue of the same as is rehearsed and to the intent our determination therein may be duely obserued and accomplished we haue thought coÌ„uenient to commauÌ„d you immediately vpon the receit hereof to addresse your commaundementes in our name to all the curates religious houses and colledges within your dioces with a copye of the act made for the abrogation of the holy dayes aforesayd a transumpt whereof ye shall receiue herewith commaunding theÌ„ and euery of them in no wise eyther in the Church or otherwise to indict or speake of any of the sayd dayes and feastes abolished wherby the people might take occasion either to murmure or to contemne the order taken therin and to continue in theyr accustomed idlenes the same notwithstanding but to passe ouer the same with such secret silence as they may haue like abrogation by disuse as they haue already by our authority in conuocation And forasmuch as the time of haruest now approcheth our pleasure is ye shall with such diligence and dexterity put this matter in execution as it may immediatly take place for the benefite of our subiectes at this time accordingly without fayling as ye wil aunswere vnto vs for the contrary Geuen vnder our Signet at our Monastery of Chertesey the 11. day of August Thus while good Counsell was about him and could be heard K. Henry according as his CouÌ„cell was about hym so was he lead he did much good So agayne when sinister and wicked Counsell vnder subtile and craftye pretences had gotten once the foot in thrusting truth verity out of the Princes eares how much Religion and all good thinges went prosperously forward before so much on the coÌ„trary side all reuolted backward agayn WherupoÌ„ proceded this Proclamation aboue meÌ„tioned concerning the abolishing and burning of English bookes Which proclamation bearing the name of the kinges maiesty but being y e very deed of the bishops no doubt had done much hurt in the church among the godly sort bringing theÌ„ either into great dauÌ„ger or els keping theÌ„ in much blindnes had not the shortnes of the kinges dayes stopped the malignant purposes of the foresayd Prelates The death of K. Henry 8. causing the king to leaue that by death vnto y e people which by his life he would not grauÌ„t For within 4. monethes after Anno 1547. the proclamatioÌ„ coÌ„ming out in August he deceased in the beginning of Ianuary in the 38. yeare of his raigne an· 1547. leauing behinde him three children who succeded him in his kingdome K. Edward Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth of whom it remaineth now to prosecute by the permission and sufferance of Christ our high Lord and Prince in the proces of this hystory according as the order of theyr succession and Actes done by them in the church shall require after that fyrst I shall haue prosecuted certayne other matters by the way according to my promise here to be inserted ¶ The History touching the persecution in Scotland with the names and causes of such blessed Martyres which in the same country suffered for the truth after the time of Patricke Hamelton THus hauing finished the time and rase of kyng Henry the eight it remayneth nowe according to my promise made before here to place adioyne so much as hath come to our handes touching the persecution of Scotland and of the blessed Martyrs of Christ which in that couÌ„try likewise suffered for the true religion of Christ testimony of theyr fayth To proceede therefore in the historye of these Scotland matters Read 〈◊〉 pag. 956. next after the mention of Dauid Straton and M. Nicholas Gurlay with whom we ended before pag. 956. the order of time woulde requyre nexte to inferre the memory of syr Iohn Borthwike Knight Syr Iohn Borthwiâ—â—â— knight 〈◊〉 condemâ—ned of 〈◊〉 being â—â—â—â—sent 〈◊〉 picture 〈◊〉 in Scoâ—â—land An. 154â— commonly
to reuoke one sillable of these Articles which they haue condemned And now as they doe curse and excommunicate me for their damnable heresie so I againe likewise doe curse and excommunicate them for the holy veritie of God Christ which is only the Iudge of all iudge and determine this matter betwene vs whether of these two excommunications hys or mine shall stande and preuaile before him Amen In storying the life of Luther Rea◠〈◊〉 pag. 849. before pag. 849. it was declared how the sayd Luther in the beginning first being reiected of the Cardinall Caietanus appealed from y e cardinall vnto the Pope When that would not serue neither could not any tollerable submission of Luther to y e pope be receiued but that the P. with his Cardinals contrary to all equity and conscience wold nedes procede against him and against the expresse truth of Gods word thinking by meere authoritie to beare downe the veritie as he had vsed before to do Luther folowing the iustnes of his cause Read afoâ—â— pag. 812. was then compelled to appeale from the Pope to the next generall councell and so did as before you may read pag. 812. Which was 2. yeares before the Popes Bull agaynst Luther came out The tenour of which appellation before omitted I thought here to exhibite wherby the reader considering the great change of religion and state of the church which since hath ensued may also perceiue y e true originall cause and occasion howe it first began by what order degrees it after encreased what humility and submission first on Luthers part was shewed and again what insolencie wrong and violence on the Popes part was declared And further where Pope Leo in his Bull aboue prefixed seemeth to pretend certaine conditions of fauour charity and money offred to Luther in the beginning how false vain that is by this present appeale may appeare The copie wherof as it was drawen by the publike notarie and exhibited is this as in forme here followeth The tenour and forme of the Appeale of Martine Luther from Pope Leo to the next generall Councell IN nomine Domini Amen The appeale of 〈◊〉 Luther 〈◊〉 the pope 〈◊〉 the next â—â—â—nerall coâ—â—â—cell Anno a natiuitate eiusdem .1518 indictione sexta die vero solis vigesima octaua mensis Nouemb. Pontificatus sanctissimi in Christo patris Domini nostri Domini Leonis diuina prouidentia Papae decimi anno sexto in mea Notarij publici testiumque infra scriptorum ad hoc specialiter vocatorum rogatorum praesentia constitutus c. The effect of the sayd Appeale of Luther in English THe effect of the appeale aforesayde is this Luthers aâ—â—peale from the pope English That for somuche as the libertie of appealing is prouided for a remedie to relieue the oppressed from iniurie and violence of the superiour it was therefore lawful for Martine Luther so to do especially being manifold waies iniuried and molested by the See of Rome and other the Popes confederates as hee in the sayde appeale declareth For at firste whereas he modestly disputing of the errors and abuses of the Popes pardons did somwhat withstand the impudeÌ„t rauen and blasphemies of them that come about with the Popes pardons to poll and rob the people he was therefore openly railed vpon and defamed by them in their publike sermones to be an heretike and consequently vppon the same accused to Pope Leo for an heretike by Marius the Popes Proctor and others Then was obteined of the Pope a commission to cite vp the sayde Luther to appeare at Rome before the Cardinalles by Hieronymus and Syluester Prieras hys mortall ennemies where as he could by no way appeare wythout manifest danger of his life both by the way and also in the citie of Rome For the consideration whereof Duke Ih. Fridericke Prince Electour and the Lantgraue entreated for hym to haue his cause indifferently to be heard and to be committed to two parties that were equall and not partiall yet notwithstanding the sute of these princes and the contrary labour of the Cardinals whiche were his capitall aduersaries so preuailed at Rome that the cause of Luther was still detained in their owne handes and contrary to all indifferencie was committed to the hearing of the Popes Legate then in Germanie called Cardinalis Sancti Sixti Who being no lesse enemie against Luther then the other and notwithstanding that Luther obediently appeared at his call and with humble protestation submitted himselfe to be aunswered by the Scriptures and referred himselfe to the iudgement of the Sea of Rome and of four Uniuersities to witte Basill Friburge Louane and Paris yet contrary to all equitie shewing forth no Scripture nor reason reiecting his gentle protestation submission and honest offer with all other his requests and sutes he would needes forthwith haue him to reuoke his errours threatning and menasing him most cruelly and commanded him no more to come in his sight Whereupon Luther being thus proudely reiected of the Cardinall Luther appeal 〈◊〉 the Câ—â—dinall to the pope made his appeale from the sayde Cardinall to Pope Leo being better informed This appellation also being contemned of the Pope who would neither come to any agreement nor take any reasonable condition nor shew Luther his errours by the scripture nor yet referre the matter by learning to be decided but would needes perforce proceede against him by meere authoritie and oppression at Rome Luther then seeing there was no other refuge or remedie for his owne defence and seeing moreouer the truth of Gods worde to lie vnder foote by might and authoritie oppressed so that none durst almost confesse the same M. Luther appealeth from the pope to the next generall Councell and that the poore flock was so misled in errours and vaine opinions to the seduction of their soules for these and other such causes he being necessarily thereunto compelled commensed thys Appeale from the Pope misinformed to the nexte generall Councell that should be calling for the helpe of the publick notarie and testimonie also of sufficient witnesses requisite in that behalfe accordingly ¶ The death of K. Henry the viij with the maner thereof ANd thus closing vp this eight booke with the death of King Henry the 8. I will now the Lorde Christ assisting me with his grace proceede next to the time reigne of King Edward his sonne The 〈◊〉 and maner of the kings death after that first I shall intermitte a few wordes touching the death of the sayde Kyng Henry his father and the maner of the same Who after long languishing infirmitie growing more and more vppon him lay from S. Steuens day as is aboue mentioned to the latter end of Ianuary His Phisicians at length perceiuing that he would away Of the Act that â—one shoulde speake of the kinges death Vid. Stat. 〈◊〉 Henr. 8. and yet not daring to discourage him with death for feare of the Act past before
holynes with these wordes Exue te stola luctus vexationis indue te decore qui a deo tibi est in gloria sempiterna nominabitur enim tibi nomen tuum a deo sempiternuÌ„ pax iustitiae honor pietatis Tum auteÌ„ dicetur circumspice vide collectos filios tuos ab oriente sole usque in occideÌ„tâ—m verbo sancto gaudentem That is Put of the stoole of sorow and vexation and put on comlinesse whiche thou hast of God in euerlasting glory For thy name shall be named of God euerlasting peace of righteousnes and honor of godlines then it shall be sayd looke about and see thy sonnes gathered together from the sonne rising to the going downe of the same reioysing in the holy worde There is nothing truely to speake of thy children gathered together in the West which prepare theÌ„selues to meet theyr mother which they had rather see theÌ„ her apparelled that I may vse the wordes of the prophet in that garment of righteousnes wherwith God adorned her in times past This one thing remayneth that your holines ioy and the ioy of all the vniuersall Church maye be perfited which together with vs her vnworthy children ceaseth not to pray to God for it The almighty God preserue your holines long to continue in health for the profite of his church FroÌ„ London the last of Nouember 1554. Your most humble seruaunt Reginald Poole Cardinall December 2. Upon the Sonday folowing being the 2. of December the Byshop of Wynchester Lorde Chauncellour of England preached at Paules Crosse at whiche Sermon was present the King and Cardinall Poole A Sermon of Steuen Gardiner preached at Paules Crosse. Hee tooke for hys Theame this parte of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romaynes the 13. chap. This also we know the season brethren that we should now awake out of sleep for now is our saluation nearer then when we beleued c. Some notes whereof as they came to my hands faithfully gathered as it appeareth by sundry copyes I haue here thought good to set forth A dreaming SermoÌ„ of the B. of Winchester First he shewed how the saying of S. Paul was verified vpon the gentiles who had a long time slept in darke ignorance not knowing god therfore S. Paul quoth he to stir vp theyr heauy dulnesse willed them to wake out of theyr long sleepe because theyr saluation was nearer then when they beleued In amplifying this matter comparing our times with theyrs he took occasioÌ„ to declare what difference the Iewish Sacramentes had from those of the Christians wherein he vsed these wordes Euen as the Sacramentes of the Iewes did declare Christ to come so doth our sacraments declare Christ to be already come but Christ to come and Christ to be come is not al one For now that he is come the Iewes sacrameÌ„ts be done away and ours only remayne which declare y t he is already come is nearer vs then he was to the fathers of the old law for they had him but in signes but we haue him in the Sacrament of the aultar euen his very bodye Wherefore nowe also it is time that we awake out of our sleepe who haue slept or rather dreamed these xx yeares past as shall more easely appere by declaring at large some of the propertyes and effectes of a sleepe or dreame And first as men intending to sleep do separate themselues froÌ„ company and desire to be alone euen so haue we seperated our selues from the sea Apostolick of Rome and haue bene alone 〈…〉 very 〈…〉 as it 〈◊〉 in ghostly dreames no Realme in Christendome like vs. Secondly as in sleep men dreame sometime of killing sometime of maiming sometime of drowning or burning sometime of such beastlinesse as I will not name but wyll spare your eares so haue we in this our sleepe not onely dreamed of beastlines but we haue done it in deede For in this our sleepe hath not one brother destroyed an other Hath not halfe our money bene wiped away at one tyme And agayn those that would defend their conscience were slayne and others also otherwise troubled besides infinite other thinges which you all know as well as I whereof I report me to your owne consciences Farther in a mans sleepe all his senses are stopped so y t he can neither see smell nor heare euen so wheras the ceremonies of the church were instituted to moue and stirre vp our senses they being taken away were not our senses as ye would say stopped and we fast a sleepe Moreouer wheÌ„ a man would gladly sleepe he will put forth the candle least peraduenture it may let his sleepe awake hym So of late all such writers as did holde any thing with the Apostolick Sea were condemned Who putteth out the candell 〈◊〉 they which 〈◊〉 Gods word forbid the Scriptures that should geue vs light and forbiddeÌ„ to be read and Images whiche were * They forbid lay mens bookes but you forbid the booke of God lay mens bookes were cast downe and broken The sleep hath continued with vs these xx yeares and we all that while without a head For when King Henry did first take vpon him to be head of the church it was theÌ„ no Church at all After whose death King Edward hauing ouer him Gouernors and Protectours which ruled as them listed coulde not be head of the Churche but was onely a shadow or signe of a head and at length it came to passe that we had no head at all no not so much as our 2. Archbishops For on the one side the Queene being a woman could not be head of the Church Then 〈◊〉 Christ 〈…〉 head at 〈◊〉 to geue 〈◊〉 to his Church vnlesse 〈◊〉 Popes 〈◊〉 also be clapt on 〈◊〉 Churcheâ— shoulderâ— and on the other side they both were conuicted of one crime so deposed Thus while wee desired to haue a supreame head among vs it came to passe that we had no head at all When the tumult was in the North in the time of king Henry the â— I am sure the king was determined to haue geuen ouer the supremacy agayne to the Pope but the houre was not then come and therefore it went not forward least some would haue sayd that he did it for feare After this M. Kneuet and I were sent Ambassadors vnto the Emperor to desire him that he would be a meane betwene the popes holines and the king to bring the king to the obedience of the sea of Rome but the time was neyther yet come For it might haue bene sayd that it had bene done for a ciuill pollicy Agayne in the beginning of Kyng Edwardes raigne the matter was mooued but the tyme was not yet for it would haue bene sayd that the king being but a child had bene bought and solde Neither in the beginning of the Queenes raigne was the houre come For it would haue bene sayd that it was done in a
into a pyt or ditche and earnestly perswaded by some of her ignoraunt neighbours to go on Pilgrimage to S. Laurēce for helpe for her child sayd that neither S. Laurence Against inuocation of dead Images nor any other S. could helpe her child therfore none ought to goe on Pilgrimage to any Image made with mās hād but one-to vnto almightie God for Pilgrimages were nothyng worth sauing to make the Priestes rich Vid. plura inferius VNto Iohn Houshold Robert Rascall Iohn Houshold c. and Elizabeth Stamford as well the Article against the Sacrament of the altar was obiected as also that they had spoken agaynst praying to Saintes had despised the authoritie of the Byshop of Rome and others of his Clergy Against trāsubstantiation and authoritie of the Pope But especially Iohn Houshold was charged to haue called thē Antichristes and whooremongers and the Pope him selfe a strong strumpet and a common bande vnto the world who with his Pardōs had drowned in blindnes all Christian Realmes and that for money ALso among diuers other ordinary Articles propounded agaynst George Browne George Brown these were coūted very heynous hereticall First that he had sayd that he knew no cause why the Crosse should be worshipped Against adoration of the crosse seyng that the same was an hurt payne vnto our Sauiour Christ in the tyme of his Passion and not any ease or pleasure alledging for example that if he had had a frend hanged or drowned he would euer after haue loued that gallowes or water by the which his frend dyed rather worse for that thē better An other obiection was that he had erroneously obstinately and maliciously said for so are theyr words that the Church was too rich Against immoderate riches of the popes clergy This matter I may tell you touched somewhat the quicke and therefore no maruell though they counted it erroneous and malicious for take away their gaine and farewell their religion They also charged him to haue refused holy water to be cast about his chamber and likewise to haue spoken against priests with other vaine matters Iohn Wikes THe greatest matter wherewith they burdened Iohn Wikes was that he had often and of long time kept company with diuers persons suspected of heresie as they termed them and had receiued them into his house and there did suffer and heare them sundry times reade erroneous and hereticall bookes cōtrary to the faith of the Romish Church and did also himselfe consent vnto their doctrine and had many times secretly conueyed them from the taking of such as were appointed to apprehend them Ioh. Southacke Rich Butler c Vide inferius Against the real presence LIke as the greatest number of those before mentioned so were also Iohn Southake Richard Butler Iohn Samme William King Robert Durdant and Henrye Woolmā especially charged with speaking words against the real presence of Christes body in the Sacrament of the Altar and also against Images and the rest of the seauen Sacraments Howbeit they burdened the last v. persons with the reading of certaine English hereticall bookes accounting most blasphemously the Gospel of Iesus Christ writtē by the 4. Euangelists to be of that number as appeareth euidently by the 8. article obiected by Tho. Benet Doctour of lawe and Chancelour and vicare general vnto Rich. Fitziames then Bish. of London against the sayd Rich. Butler The very words of which article for a more declaration of truth I haue thought good heere to infert which are these Reading of Englishe bookes Also we obiect to you that diuers times and especially vpon a certaine night about the space of three yeares last past in Robert Durdantes house of Yuercourt neare vnto Stanes you erroneously and damnably read in a great booke of heresie of the sayd Robert Durdants all that same night certaine chapters of the Euangelists in English conteining in them diuers erroneous and damnable opinions and conclusions of heresie in the presence of the sayde Robert Durdant Iohn Butler Robert Carder Ienkin Butler William King and diuers other suspect persons of heresie then being present and hearing your sayd erroneous lectours and opinions Of these men see more hereafter in the table following To the same effect and purpose tended the tenour of some of the Articles propounded against the other foure Whereby as also by others like before specified we may easily iudge what reuerence they which yet will be counted the true and onely Churche of Christ did beare to the word and Gospell of Christ who shamed not to blaspheme the same with most horrible titles of erroneous and damnable opinions and conclusions of heresie But why should we maruel thereat seeing the holy Ghost in sundry places of the Scripture doth declare that in the latter daies there should come such proud and cursed speakers which shal speake lies through hypocrisy and haue their consciences marked with an hot yron Let vs therefore now thanke our heauenly father for reuealing them vnto vs and let vs also pray him that of his free mercies in his sonne Christ Iesus he would if it be to his glory eyther turne and mollifie all such harts or else for the peace and quietnes of his Church he woulde in his righteous iudgement take them from vs. About this time Richard Fitziames ended his life After whose death The death of Richard Fitziames bishop of London Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of London Cutbert Tunstall afterwards Byshop of Durham succeeded in the Sea and Bishoprike of London who soone vpon his first entrie into the roome minding to follow rightly the footesteps of his predecessour caused Edmund Spilman priest Henry Chambers Iohn Higgins and Thomas Eglestone to be apprehended and so to be examined vpon sundry like Articles as before are expressed and in the end either for feare of his crueltie and the rigour of death The reall presence denied or else through hope of his flattering promises such was their weakenesse he compelled them to abiure and renounce their true professed faith touching the holy Sacrament of Christes body and bloud which was that Christes corpall body was not in the sacrament but in heauen and that the Sacrament was a figure of his body and not the body it selfe MOreouer about the same time there were certaine articles obiected against Iohn Hig aliâs Noke aliâs Iohnson by the saide Bishops vicar generall Amongst which were these Against a priest to haue two benefices First that he had affirmed that it was as lawfull for a tēporall mā to haue two wiues at once as for a priest to haue two benefices Also that he had in hys custody a booke of the foure Euangelistes in English and did often reade therein and that he fauoured the doctrines opinions of Martin Luther Testimony touching M. Luther openly pronouncing that Luther had more learning in his litle finger then all y e doctours in England in their
behind him The death of Duke Fridericke for that he liued a single life and was neuer maried wherfore after him succeeded Iohn Fridericke D. of Saxony Mention was made a little before page 859. of the Ministers of Strausburgh which because of their Mariage Disceptatiō betweene the Senate of Strausburgh and Cardinall Campeius about married ministers were in trouble and cited by the Bishop to appeare before him and thereto be iudged without the precinct of the Citie of Strausburgh wheras there had bene a contrary order taken before betweene the Bishop and the Citie that the Bishop should execute no iudgement vpon any but vnder some of the Magistrates of the said City of Strausburgh Whereupon the Senate and Citizens taking into their hands the cause of these maried Ministers in defence of their owne right and liberties wrote as is sayd to their Byshop of Strausburgh and caused the iudgement thereof a while to be stayed By reason whereof the matter was brought at lēgth before Cardinall Campeius Legate sent by Pope Clemēt to the assemble of Norenberge an 1524. The chiefe doer in this matter was one Thomas Murnerus a Franciscane Frier who had commenced a greeuous complaint against the Senate and Citie of Strausburgh before the foresayde Cardinall Campeius Murnerus a Frier an accuser of maried ministers The Senate of Strausburgh purgeth themselues to Cardinall Campeius Wherefore the Senate to purge themselues sent their Ambassadours thus clearing their cause and aunswering to theyr accusation That they neither had bene nor would be any let to the Byshop but had signified to him before by theyr letters that whatsoeuer he could lay against those maried Priests consonant to the lawe of God they woulde be no stay but rather a furtherance vnto him to proceede in hys action But the Senate heerein was not a little greeued that the Bishop contrary to the order and compact which was taken betweene him and them did call the sayde Ministers out of the liberties of their Citie For so it was betweene them agreed that no Ecclesiasticall person should be adiudged but vnder some iudge of their owne Citie But now contrary to the said agreement the Bishop called those Ministers out of their liberties The Bishop of Strausburgh breaketh the agreement made the liberties of the Citie and so the Ministers claiming the right and priuiledge of the Citie were condemned their cause being neither heard nor knowne And now if the Senate should shew themselues any thing more sharpe or rigorous vnto those Ministers in claiming the right of the Citie the people no doubt woulde not take it well but happely woulde rise vp in some commotion against them in the quarell and defence of their fraunchises and liberties And where it is obiected that they receaue Priests and men of the Clergy into the fredome and protection of their Citie to this they answered that they did nothing herein but which was correspondent to the auncient vsage and maner of the Citie before and moreouer that it was the Byshops owne request desire made vnto them so to do To this the Cardinall againe aduising well the letters of the Bishop The answer of Campeius to the ambassadours The Popes prelates be lawles and can breake no order whatsoeuer they doe The ambassadours reply against the Cardinall the whole order of the matter which was sent vnto him declared that he right wel vnderstood by the letters sent that the Ministers in deede as the Ambassadours sayd were called out from the freedome liberties of the Citie and yet no order of law was broken therein for as much as the Bishop said he had there no lesse power and authoritie then if he were his owne Uicare delegate and therefore he desired them that they woulde assist the Bishop in punishing the foresayd Ministers c. After much other talke and reasoning on both partes wherein the Ambassadours argued in defence of their freedome that the iudgement should not be transferred out of the Citie among other cōmunication they inferred moreouer and declared how in the Citie of Strausburgh were many yea the most part of the Cleargy which liued viciously and wickedly with their strumpets harlots whom they kept in their houses Holy matrimony punished wicked whoredome escapeth to the great offence of the people shame to Christes Church and pernitious example of other and yet the Bishop would neuer once stirre to see any punishing or correction thereof Wherefore if the Senate said the Ambassadours should permit the Bishop to extend his crueltie and extremitie against these married Ministers for not obseruing the Bishop of Roomes law and leaue the other notorious whoremaisters whiche brake the law of God to escape vnpunished doubtles it would redound to their great danger and perill not onely before God but also among the commons of their Citie readie to rise vpon them To this Campeius aunswered what composition or bargaine was betwixt the Bishop and thē Campeius answereth he knew not but surely the Acte of the one was manifest and needed no great triall in law of prouing and confessing and therefore they were sequestred and abandoned from the communion of the Church ipso facto As for the other sorte of them which keepe harlots and concubines although said he it be not well done Ipso facto that is vpon the very doing of the acte without any further iudgement or triall by the lawe yet doth it not excuse the enormitie of their Mariage Neither was he ignorant but that it was the maner of the Bishops of Germany for money to winke at Priests lemans and the same also was euil done in deede and farther that the time should come when they shall be called to an accompt for the same but yet neuerthelesse it is not sufferable that Priestes therefore shoulde haue wiues And if comparison should be made sayd he much greater offence it were a Priest to haue a wife then to haue and keepe at home many harlots His reason was this For they that keepe harlots sayd he as it is naught that they do A fitt reasō for a carnall Cardinall better it is to haue many concubines then one wife .. Touching the Greeke church how vntruely this Cardinall speaketh turne to the pag. 187. The Ambassadours reply so do they acknowledge their sinne the other perswade themselues to do well and so continue stil without repentance or conscience of their fact All men said he can not be chaste as Iohn Baptist was yet can it not be proued by any example to be lawfull for Priests professing chastitie to leaue their single life and to marrie no not the Greekes themselues which in rites be differing from vs do geue this libertie to their owne Priestes to marry wherefore he prayed them to geue their ayde to the Bishop in this behalfe Whereunto the Ambassadours replyed againe sayeng that if he would first punish the whoremasters then might the Senate assist him
affiance to be put in them The burning of Henry Voes and Iohn Esch Friers Augustines Henry being demaunded amongst other things whether Luther had seduced him or no yea said he euen as Christ seduced his Apostles He said also that it was contrary to Gods law that y e Clergy should be exempted frō the power iurisdictiō of the magistrate ordeined of God for such as were ordeined in office by the bishops haue no power but onely to preach the worde of God and to feede their flocke therewithall After their death their monasterie was dissolued at Antwarpe The President wherof by the Papistes called Iacobus Lutherianus after diuers and many troubles afflictions was forced to recant at Bruxels but afterward his mind being renued by y e holy ghost embracing that againe which before he had renounced he fled vnto Luther Ex 6. tomo M. Lutheri fol. 397. Henry Sutphen Monke put to death in Diethmar THe next yeare after the burning of those two Christian martyrs at Bruxels aboue mentioned Henry Sutphen Martir with like tyrannie also was martired burned without all order of iudgment or iust condemnation about the Citie of Diethmar in y e borders of Germany one Henry of Sutphen monke an 1524. of whom mention is partly touched in the Commentaries of Ioh. Sledan Lib. 4. but his historie is more amply described of Luther Ex Comment Sled Lib. 4. of Paulus Eberus in his Calēdar of Ludou Rabus Crispinus and other This Sutphen had bene before with M. Luther and afterward cōming to Antwarpe was frō thence excluded for the Gospell and so came to Breme not to y e intent there to preach but for that he was minded to go to Wittenberge beeing driuen from Antwarpe as is abouesaide Who beeing at Breme was there required by certaine godly Citizens of Breme to make one or two briefe exhortations vpon the Gospel Wherunto through the earnest loue and zeale that was in him he was easily allured perswaded He made his first Sermon vnto the people the sonday before Saint Martins daye Henry Sutphen preacheth at Breme When the people heard him preache the word of God so sincerely they desired him againe the second tyme and were so in loue with his doctrine that the whole parish required him to tary amōgst them to preach the Gospell which thing for feare of daunger for a time he refused When the religious rout had vnderstanding hereof specially the Canons Monkes and priests they went about with al endeuour to oppresse him thrust both him out of the citie and also the Gospel of Christ for that was their chiefe seeking Monkes and Priestes conspire against Henrye whereupon they went vnto the Senate desiring that such an heretique might be banished the towne which in his doctrine preached against y e catholike Church Upon the complaint of the Canons the Senate sent for the wardens and head men of the parish where Henry had preached who being come together the Senat declared vnto them the cōplaint of the Canons and al the other religious men Wherunto the citizens of Breme taking their preachers part The Citizēs of Breme excuse their preacher answered that they knew none other but that they had hired a learned and honest man to preach vnto thē which should teach them sincerely truly the word of God Notwithstanding if the Chapterhouse or any other man could bring testimoniall or witnes that the Preacher had taught any thing which either sauored of heresie or were repugnant to the word of God they were ready they said with the Chapterhouse to persecute him for God forbid that they shoulde mainteine an heretique But if contrarywise the Canons of the Chapter-house and the other Religious men will not declare and shew that the preacher whome they had hyred had taught any errour or heresie but were set only of malice by violence to driue him away they might not said they by any meanes suffer the same Whereupon they desired the Senate with all humble obedience that they woulde not require it of them but graunt them equitie and iustice sayeng The Mōkes and priestes cōplaine agayne of the preacher to the Archbishop of Breme that they were minded to assist their preacher always and to pleade his cause This answere the Senate commanded to be declared to the Chapterhouse When as the religious sort vnderstoode that they coulde preuaile little or nothyng wyth theyr words bursting out in a furie they began to threaten and there withall went straight vnto the Archbyshop to certifie him how y e Citizens of Breme were become heretikes would no lōger obey their religious sort with many other lyke thynges in their complaynt so that it was to be feared least the whole Citie shortly should be seduced When the Byshop heard tell of these thyngs The preacher cited to appeare before the Archbishop straightwayes he sent ij which were of his counsell vnto Breme requiryng that Hēry should be sent vnto him without delay Whē they were demaūded why they would haue him sent they aunswered because he preached agaynst the holy Church Being agayne demaūded in what pointes or articles they had nothyng to say One of these counsellers was the Byshops Suffragan False accusatiō a naughty pernitious hypocrite which sought all meanes possible to cary away the sayd Henry captiue Finally they receiued this aunswere of the Senators that for somuch as the preacher being hyred by the Church wardens The Senate denieth to send the preacher to the Bishop had not hetherto bene cōuict for an hereticke that no mā had declared any erroneous or heretical article that he had taught they sayd they could by no meanes obteine of the Citizēs that he should be caryed away Wherefore they earnestly desired the Byshop that he would speedely send his learned mē vnto Breme The Senate of Breme require a disputatiō of the Archbishop to dispute with him if he were cōuinced they promised without any delay that he should be iustly punished and sent away if not they would in no wise let him departe Whereunto the Suffragan aunswered with a great protestation requiryng that he might bee deliuered into his handes for the quietnesse of the whole countrey takyng God to his witnesse that in this behalfe he sought for nothyng els but onely the commoditie of his countrey But for all this they could preuayle nothyng for the Senate continued still in their former mynde The Suffragan◠would not confirme their children for anger Wherupō the Suffragan beyng moued with anger departed from Breme and would not confirme their children When he came vnto the Byshop he declared the aunswere of the Senate and what he had heard and learned of the Priestes and Monkes there Afterward whē dayly newes came Whē the prelat◠cannot preuayle by power they fall to practise that the preacher did still more more preach teach more heynous matter agaynst the religious rout
articles where he with great daunger of his life did very much good Henry taketh his iourney to Meldorph Finally they should promise to the congregation in his name that when he had perfourmed his enterprise he woulde straight returne againe They being perswaded with these words cōsented vnto him stedfastly hoping that they of Diethmar should be conuerted vnto the true faith which people aboue all other haue alwaies bene most geuen to Idolatrie Hauing prepared all things toward his setting foorth the xxij day of October he tooke his iourney and came to Meldorphe whither he was sent for wheras he was ioyfully receiued of the parish priest and other as soone as he was come thither Albeit he had not yet preached the Diuell with his members by and by began to freat and fume for anger Aboue all other one Augustine Torneborch Prior of the Blacke friers began to fume who went out of hand vnto maister Iohn Swicken his companion and Commissary to the Officiall of Hamburge to take counsell what was to be done least they should loose their kingdome The Prior of of the Blacke Fryers with the 48. Presidentes conspireth the death of Henry Finally it was decreed by them aboue all things to withstand the beginnings that he should not haue licence to preach for if by any meanes it happened that he preached and the people should heare him it was to be feared that the wickednes and craft of the Priestes and Monkes should be opened which being made manifest they knew plainely that it would be but a folly to resist remembring what had happened lately before in Breme This determination had the Prior the next day early in the morning for he had not slept well all night for cares wente wyth great speede vnto Heyda to speake with the 48. Presidēts of the countrey vnto whome with great complaintes he shewed how that a seditious felow a Monke was come from Breme which would seduce all the people of Diethmar as he had done the Bremers The chiefe doers of thi◠conspiracye There was moreouer that did assist this Prior maister Gunterus Chauncelour of that countrey and Petrus Hannus both enemies vnto the Gospell These two stoutly assisted the Prior perswading the other 46. being simple and vnlearned men that they should obteine great fauour and good will of the Bishop of Breme if they would put this hereticke monke to death When these poore vnlearned men heard these words they decreed that this Monke shoulde be put to death neither heard nor seene much lesse conuict Furthermore this Prior obteined letters from the 48. Presidents vnto the parish priest commanding him vnder great penaltie that he shoulde put the Monke out of his house and commaunde him to depart without preaching With these letters he came speedily vnto Meldorphe Nicolas Boyes parish priest of Meldorph commaūded to put away Henry and deliuered the letters ouernight vnto the parish Priest trusting that by their threatnings and commandement the sayd Henry should be feared from preaching diligently watching whether he did preach or not When as the parish priest had read ouer the letters he marueyled not a little at that proud commaundement for that it had not bene heard of before that the xlviij Presidents should meddle with Ecclesiasticall matters and that it had bene of long time vsed that the ruling therof should be in the hands of the parish priest and long time before it was decreed by the whole prouince and customably vsed that in euery church y e parish priest should haue free libertie to receiue or put out the preacher These letters the parish priest deliuered vnto Henry which when he had diligently looked ouer he answeared that for so muche as he was come being sent for by y e whole cōgregatiō to preach the Gospell of Christ he would satisfie that vocation because he saw it would be acceptable vnto the whole cōgregation and that he ought rather to obey the word of God then mā Also y t if it pleased God that he should lose his life in Diethmar there was as neare a way to heauen The constācy of Henry in his vocation as in any other place for that he doubted nothing at all y t once he must suffer for y e Gospels sake Upon this courage and boldnes the next day Henry went vp into the Pulpit and made a Sermon expounding the place of Paul which is Rom. 1. Testis est mihi Deus c. That is God is my witnes and the Gospell of the day After the Sermon was done the whole congregation being called together the Prior deliuered the letters that were sent by the 48. Presidents the tenor whereof was this that they of Meldorph should be fined with a fine of a thousand gildrens if they suffered the Monke to preach and commaunded moreouer that they should send ambassadours vnto Heida with full power and authoritie When they heard these letters read they were much moued because they were so charged contrary to the custome of the countrey for so much as euery parish priest hath alwaies had authority according to his discretion to choose or put away the preacher Briefly they all determined with one voice to keepe Henry for their preacher and to defend him for when they had heard the Sermon they were greatly offended with the Prior. After dinner Henry preached againe Henry preacheth at Meldorph The Citizens of Meldorph write in defence of their preacher expoūding y e place of S. Paule Rom. 15. Debemus nos qui potentes sumus c. We ought which are strong c. The next day the Citizens of Meldorphe sent their messengers vnto Heyda offering to aunsweare in all causes before all men for their preacher whome they had receiued Besides that the messengers declared what christian godly Sermons they heard him preach The parish priest also wrote letters by the said Legates vnto the 48. rulers wherin he excused himselfe that it was neuer his mind nor the intent of the said Henry to moue sedition but only sincerely to preach y e word of God and offred himselfe ready to answer for the said Henry to al mē whensoeuer he should be called most earnestly desiring them not to geue credite vnto y e Monks which being blinded with hatred auarice had fully determined to oppresse y e truth saieng moreouer that it was against all reason that a man should be condemned before the truth be tried out and his cause declared and if after due inquisitiō had he should be cōuict then he should suffer cōdigne punishment This submission with y e publique testimoniall was nothing esteemed or regarded neither was there any answeare geuen therunto but euery man repined murmured thereat Last of all one Peter Dethleues one of the Seniors answered Good counsaile of Peter Dethleues that albeit there were diuers dissensions in euery place about the Christian faith and that they as men ignorant could not redresse the same yet this
other cause but onely for the true confession of Iesus Christ This good Pastour considering with him selfe the lawes and doctrine of the church of Rome to swarue from the truth of Christ especially in restraining mariage to the end that he would not defile himselfe wyth fornication he maryed a mayd of his such a one as feared God by whom afterward he had many fayre children About this time the people of the countrey had raysed a great commotion A commotion of the Boures who in theyr rage went vnto monasteries and priestes houses as if they had taken in hand some pilgrimage and spared nothing that they could find to eat That which they could not eat they eyther cast vnderfeet or caryed it away with them One company of this rustical sort lodged themselues in the house of this good Priest for they made no difference betwene the good the bad These roysters tooke from him all that they could finde leauyng nothing behinde them in so much as they tooke away the very hose from his legges for all that he could doe albeit that he gently entreated them shewing that it was theft a hanging matter that they did yet they continued styll in theyr madnes like beastes As they were departing out of the house the good priest could not refrain himselfe from weeping saying vnto thē I tell you before these your vnordinate dooynges will redound to some great mischiefe to your selfe For what madnes is this what meaneth this rage and tumult wherein you keepe no order or equity neither haue any respect betwene frend and foe Who thus styrreth you vp what coūsell do you folow or to what end do you this Like theues you spoyle what so euer you can lay handes vpon And thinke you not but these thinges which you now rob rauen and steale you shal be compelled hereafter to restore agayn to your great detrimēt What sedition did euer come to good end Crueltie sedition neuer commeth to good ende You pretend the Gospell and haue no peace of the Gospell either in your mouthes or in your hartes These excesses sayd he ye neuer learned of me which euer haue taught you the true word of God This your Gospel sayth he is rather the Gospell of the deuill then of God which vexeth al the world with violence and wrong spoyling and robbing without regard The Gospel teacheth no rebellion The true Gospel of Iesus Christ teacheth you to do good vnto all men to auoyde dissentiōs and periury This I say vnto you that in these your doinges you offend God and prouoke his iust vengeance to plague you which will neuer suffer these euilles to escape vnpunished You finde written in the Gospell That which thou wouldest not shoulde be done to thee do not to other You offend also all the nobilitye and your lawfull magistrates whom you are sworne and bound vnto It is no small matter I tel you to rayse vp sedition to styrre vp other and to disturbe the state of the common wealth and when this tumult shall be ceased what then shall your noble men do shal they not rifle you as fast of your goodes make themselues rich and then shall one of you betray an other These with such other words he stood preaching vnto them almost naked but al this would not preuayle with those men who after all these gentle admonitions and fayre wordes departed out of his house geuing him foule language and calling him olde Dotarde Amongest all other one more wicked then the residue sayde vnto hym in this maner O mayster Curate we haue bene long deceyued by your selling of masses by fearing vs with Purgatory by your Diriges and Trentals and so haue we bene spoyled wherfore we do nothing now but requyre agayn the mony which you robbed vs of and so mocking scorning him they departed After that this sedition of the Pesantes was partly appeased theyr armour being layd away and they taken vnto grace after that also diuers of the principals of that conspiracy were taken here and there in the villagyes and executed this good pastor fearing no such thing for the true and sincere preaching of the Gospell whereat many tooke great indignation was taken in the night by certayn souldiers which bound him hand and foote with a great rope before his wife and children and so set him vpon a horse Religion the cause onely why good men be troubled of the wicked and ledde him away to Friburge What grieuous sighes teares sorrowe and lamentation was there It would haue mooued any hart were it as hard as a Flynt to a dolefull compassion especially to see the barbarous and despightfull rebukes tauntes and extreme cruelty shewed by these proude Popishe Souldiours agaynst the innocent Priest Such beastly Tyrauntes the world is neuer without Such Godly ministers we haue had but a few The people hearing this pitifull noyse and lamentatiō in the night came runing out not the men but onely the women whom the souldiers willed to go home again and that theyr men should come forth and keepe the towne but theyr men durst not appear Then from Friburge shortly after they conueyed him to Ensissheim After they had long kept this man in prison and that he had endured most terrible tormēts as well by the priuy members as in other partes they iudged him to death If you will know y e cause what they had to lay to his charge it was onely this y t he had maryed a wife secretely in hys owne house with a few witnesses Crueltie without cause Other crimes they had none to obiect agaynst him neither that he was a seditious and wicked man or that he had cōmitted any other offence albeit they had gathered diuers wicked persons out of sūdry places to picke out of hys Sermons the order and maner of his behauiour When he was led vnto the place of execution he aunswered gentlye and quietly vnto all them that came to comfort hym But there were diuers Monkes and Priestes which troubled hym very sore with theyr foolish babling as he was striuing in hys spirite agaynst the horrour of death and making hys prayer vnto almightye GOD seeking nothing els but to turne him away from his harty and earnest contemplation But he desired them that they woulde holde theyr peace saying that he had already confessed his sinnes vnto the Lord Iesus nothing at all doubting but that he had receiued absolution and forgeuenesse of them all And I sayd he shall this day be an acceptable sacrifice vnto my Sauiour Iesus Christ for I haue done no suche thing wherefore I am now condemned whiche might displease my Lorde God who in this behalfe hath geuen me a good and quiet conscience Nowe therefore let them which thyrst for innocent bloud and shed the same diligently aduise themselues what they do and that they offend euen hym vnto whom it perteineth truely to iudge the hartes of men for it is
perceiuing that I would not be wel contented if he should not tel me The Popes clergy caÌ„not abiâ—e honest mariage to dye for it declared vnto me some part of the cause that is to say that there was certaine heretickes whyche spake against our holy mother the churche and amonge other errours they maintained yea to death that all Bishoppes Priests pastors ought to be maried or els to be gelded and hearing this I was maruellously offended and euer since I did hate them to the death And also it was enioyned vnto me by penaunce that I should endeuour with al my power to putte these heretickes to death After these friuolous talkes there was great trouble and debate amongst them and many threatnings which were too long here to describe Querebant Principes sacerdotum â—t scribae que modo interficerent Iesum Luke 22. Then the President Chassance and the CouÌ„cellers parted aside and the Gentlemen went on the other part The Archbishop of Arles the Bishop Aix and diuers Abbots Priors and others assembled them selues together to coÌ„sult how this Arrest might be executed with all speede entending to raise a newe persecution greater then that of Iohn the Iacobine Monke of Rome For otherwise sayd they our state and honour is like to decay We shall be reprooued contemned and derided of all menne And if none should thus vaunt and set themselues against vs but these pesantes and such lyke it were but a smal matter but many Doctours of Diuinitie and men of the religious order diuers Senatours and Aduocates many wise and well learned men also a great parte of the nobilitie if we may so say and that of great renoume Note how-the Popes church is led not with any conscieÌ„ce of truth but onely with loue of liuinges yea euen of the cheefest Peeres in all Europe begyn to contemne and despise vs counting vs to be no true pastours of the church so that except we see to this mischiefe and prouide for remedie betime it is greatly to be feared least not onely wee shall be compelled to forsake our dignities possessioÌ„s and liuings which we now wealthely enioy but also the church being spoiled of her pastors and guides shall hereafter come to a miserable ruine and vtter desolation Thys matter therefore now requireth great diligeÌ„ce and circumspection and that withall celeritie Then the Archbishop of Arles not forgetting his Spanish subtilties and pollicies gaue his aduise as foloweth Against the nobilitie we must sayde he take heede that we attempt nothing rashly but rather we must seeke all the meanes we caÌ„ how to please them for they are our shield our fortresse and defence And albeit we knowe that many of them doe both speake thinke euill of vs and that they are of these new gospellers yet may we not reprooue them to exasperate them in any case but seeing they are too much bent against vs already we must rather seeke how to win them and to make them our frendes againe by giftes and presents and by this pollicie we shall liue in safetie vnder their protection But if wee enterprise any thing againste them sure we are to gaine nothing thereby as we are by experience already sufficiently taught It is well sayd sayth the Byshop of Aix but I canne shew you a good remedy for this disease A butcherly religion which worketh all by bloud We must go about withall our endeuor power and policie and al the frends we canne make sparing no charges but spending goodes wealth and treasure to make suche a slaughter of the Merindolians and rusticall pesantes that none shal be so bold hereafter what soeuer they be yea although they be of the bloud royal once to open their mouthes against vs or the Ecclesiasticall state And to bring this matter to passe wee haue no better way then to withdrawe our selues to Auinion in the which Citie we shal finde many Bishops Abbots and other famous men which will with vs Cathedra Pestilentie employ their whole endeuor to maintaine and vphold the maiestie of our holy mother the Church This counsaile was well liked of them all Wherupon the sayd Archbishop of Arles and the Bishop of Aix went withall speede to Auinion there to assemble out of hand the Bishops and other men of authoritie and credite to entreate this matter In thys pestilent conspiracie the Bishop of Aix a stoute champion and a great defender of the traditions of men taking vppon hym to be the chiefe Oratour beganne in manner as followeth O Yee fathers and brethren An oration of Cateline that is the oration of the Bishop of Aix seditious bloudy Your oblations be against the Scripture Your pilgrimage is Idolatry Your charity is gone in deed wheÌ„ ye seeke so the bloud of your bretheren Your estimation is Pharisaicall Your iurisdictioÌ„ is tyrannicall Your ordinaÌ„ces serue not to Christes glory but your owne yee are not ignoraunt that a great tempest is raised vp against the little barke of Christe Iesus nowe in great danger and ready to pearish The storme commeth from the North whereof all these troubles proceede The seas rage the waters rushe in on euery side the windes blowe beate vpon our house and wee without speedy remedy are like to sustaine shippewracke and losse of alltogether For oblations cease pilgrimage and deuotion waxeth colde charitie is cleane gone our estimation and authoritie is abased our iurisdiction decaied and the ordinaunces of the churche despised And wherefore are we sette and ordained ouer nations and kingdomes but to roote out and destroy to subuert and ouerthrow whatsoeuer is against our holy mother the Churche Wherefore let vs now awake lette vs stande stoutly in the right of our owne possession that we may roote out from the memorie of men for euer the whole route of the wicked Lutheranes those Foxes I say whiche destroye the vineyard of the Lorde those great Whales which goe aboute to drowne the little barke of the sonne of God We haue already wel begonne and haue procured a terrible Arrest against these cursed heretickes of Merindoll nowe then resteth no more but onelye the same to be put in execution Let vs therefore employe oure whole endeuour that nothyng happen whych may lette or hinder that we haue so happely begon and lette vs take good heede that our gold and siluer do not witnesse agaynst vs at the day of iudgement if we refuse to bestowe the same The day shall come when men shal thinke they do a good sacryfice to God in putting you to death Iohn 16. that we may make so good a sacrifice vnto God And for my parte I offer to wage furnishe of mine owne costes and charges a 100. men well horsed with al other furniture to them belonging and that so long vntill the vtter destruction and subuersion of these wretched and curssed caitiffes be fully performed and finished This Oration pleased the whole multitude sauing one doctor of
hee was apprehended and put in prysonne by Iames Beton Archbyshop of Saint Andrews Who shortlye after caused a certaine Fryer named Walter Laing to heare hys confession To whom when Henry Forest in secreate confession had declared hys conscience howe hee thoughte maister Patrike to bee a good man and wrongfully to be put to deathe that his articles were true and not hereticall the Frier came and vttered to the Byshoppe the confession that hee hadde heard The Fryer vttereth the cōfessiō of Henry Forest. which before was not throughly knowne Whereupon it followed that his confession being brought as sufficiēt probation againste hym hee was therfore conuented before the Councel of the clergy and Doctors and there concluded to be an heretick equal in iniquitie with maister Patrick Hameltō there decreed to be geuen to the seculare Iudges to suffer death When the daye came of his death and that hee should first be degraded and was brought before the Cleargye in a greene place being betwene the castle of S. Andrewes and another place called Monymaill assoone as he entred in at the doore and sawe the face of the clergy perceiuing wherunto they tended he cryed wyth a loude voyce saying Fie on falshoode Fie on false Friers Phie on false Fryers reuealers of confession after this day let no man euer trust any false Friers contemners of Gods woorde and deceiuers of men And so they proceeding to degrade him of hys small orders of Benet and Collet he sayd wyth a loud voyce take from me not onely your owne orders but also youre owne baptisme meaning thereby whatsoeuer is besides that which Christ himselfe instituted whereof there is a great rablement in Baptisme Then after his degradation they condemned him as an heretike equall wyth M. Patrike aforesayd and so he suffered death for his faithful testimony of the truth of Christ and of his Gospell at the Northchurche stile of the Abbey Church of S. Andrewe to the entent that all y e people of Anguishe might see the fire and so might be the more feared from falling into the like doctrin whych they terme by the name of heresie Ex Scripto testimonio Scotorum Iames Hay bishop of Rose and commissioner of Iames Beton Archbishop of S. Andrews M. Iohn Spens Lawyer Iames Hamelton brother to M. Patrike Katherine Hamelton A wife of Lieth Dauid Straton M Norman Gurlay Wythin a yeere after the martyrdome of Henry Forest or there about Iames Hamelton Katherine Hamelton his sister A wife of Leith persecuted Dauid Stratō Norman Gurley Martyrs was called Iames Hamelton of Kynclitgowe his sister Katherine Hamelton the spouse of the captaine of Dunbar also an other honest woman of Lieth Dauid Straton of the house of Lawristonne and M. Norman Gurlay These were called to the Abbey Church of Halyrowdhouse in Edenburghe by Iames Hay Bishoppe of Rose commissioner to Iames Beton Archbyshoppe in presence of King Iames the fift of that name who vppon the daye of theyr accusation was altogether clad in red apparell Iames Hamelton was accused as one that maintained the opynions of M. Patrick hys brother To whome the Kynge gaue counsaile to depart and not to appeare for in case hee appeared hee coulde not helpe him because the Byshops hadde perswaded hym that the cause of heresie dyd in no wise appertain vnto him and so Iames fledde and was condemned as an heretike all hys goodes and lands confiscate and disposed vnto others Catherine Hamelton his Sister appeared vpon the scaffolde and being accused of an horrible heresie to witte that her owne woorkes coulde not saue her shee graunted the same and after long reasoning betweene her and M. Iohn Spens the Lawyer shee concluded in this manner worke here worke there what kinde of working is all this A great heresie in the Popes church that no workes can saue vs but the workes of Christ. I knowe perfectly that no kinde of workes can saue me but only the workes of Christ my Lord and Sauiour The kyng hearing these words turned hym about and laught and called her vnto him and caused her to recant because shee was his aunt and shee escaped The woman of Leith was detected heereof that when the midwife in time of her labour bad her saye our Ladye helpe mee Shee cried Christe helpe mee Christe helpe mee in whose helpe I truste A great heresie to say◠Christ helpe 〈◊〉 our Ladye Shee also was caused to recant and so escaped without confiscation of her goods because she was maried Maister Norman Gurley for that he fayde there was no such thing as Purgatory and that the Pope was not a Byshop but Antichriste Agaynst Purgatorye and had no iurisdiction in Scotland Also Dauid Straton for that hee sayde there was no Purgatorie but the Passion of Christe and the tribulations of thys worlde and because that when M. Robert Lowson Uicare of Eglesgrig asked hys tieth fishe of hym hee did caste them to him out of the boate so that some of them fel into the Sea therefore he accused hym as one that shoulde haue sayde that no tithes should be payed These two because after great sollicitation made by the kynge they refused to abiure and recant were therefore condemned by the Byshop of Rose as heretickes and were burned vpon the greene side betweene Leith and Edenburgh to the entent that the inhabitants of Fiffe seeing the fire might be stricken with terrour and feare not to fall into the lyke Ex eodem Scripto ¶ And thus muche touching those Martyrs of Scotland which suffered vnder Iames Beton Archbishop of S. Andrewes After whom succeeded Dauid Beton in the same Archbyshoprike vnder whom diuers other were also martired as hereafter God willing in their order shall appeare Iohn Lōgland Byshop of Lincolne Rowland Vicare of great Wickam the Byshops Chaplen Thomas Harding an aged father dwelling at Chesham in Buckinghamshire At Chessham in Buckingham An. 1532. Thom. Harding dwelling at Chesham in the Countie of Buckingham with Alice his wife was firste abiured by William Smith Byshop of Lincolne an 1506. with dyuers other moe which the same time for speaking agaynst Idolatrie and superstition were taken and compelled some to beare fagots some were burned in the cheeke with hote irons some condemned to perpetuall prison some thrust into Monasteries and spoyled cleane of all theyr goodes some compelled to make pilgrimage to the great blocke otherwise called our Lady of Lincolne some to Walsingam some to Saint Romuld of Buckingham some to the roode of Wendouer some to S. Iohn Shorne c. of whōe mention is made in the Table before beginning pag 821. Of this Thomas Harding much rehearsall hath bene made before Tho. Harding martir as in the pages 821.822.823 First this Thomas Harding with Alice his wife being abiured and enioyned penance with diuers other moe by William Smith Bishop of Lincolne afterward by the sayd Byshop was released againe in the yeare of our
tuum Pasce gregem tuum vt cum venerit Dominus The wordes of Tho. Bilney to Doct. Warner inueniat te sic facientem That is Feede your flocke feede your flocke that when the Lord commeth he may finde you so doing and farewell good M. Doctour and pray for me and so he departed without any answere sobbing and weeping And while he thus stood vpon the ledge at the stake certayne Friers Doctours and Priors of theyr houses beyng there present as they were vncharitably and malitiously present at his examination and degradation The Fryers 〈◊〉 Bilny 〈◊〉 for them c. came to him and sayd O M. Bilney the people be perswaded that we be the causers of your death and that we haue procured the same and thereupon it is like that they will withdraw theyr charitable almes from vs al except you declare your charity towards vs and discharge vs of the matter Whervpon the sayd Tho. Bilney spake with a loud voyce to the people and sayd I pray you good people be neuer y e worse to these men for my sake as though they should be the authors of my death It was not they and so he ended Then the officers put reed and Fagots about hys body and set fire on the reed which made a very great flame which sparcled and deformed the visour of his face he holding vp his handes and knocking vpon his brest crying sometimes Iesus sometimes Credo Which flame was blowne away froÌ„ him by the violence of the winde which was that day 2. or 3. dayes before notable great in which it was sayd that the fieldes were maruellously plagued by the losse of corne and so for a litle pause The pacient death Martyrdome of M. Bilney he stoode without flame the flame departing recoursing thrise ere the wood tooke strength to be the sharper to consume him and theÌ„ he gaue vp the ghost and his body being withered â—owed downeward vpon the chayne TheÌ„ one of the officers with his halbard smite out the staple in the stake behinde him suffered his body to fall into the bottome of the fire laying wood on it and so he was consumed Thus haue ye good readers the true history Martyrdome of this good man that is Saint Bilney of blessed Saint Bilney as M. Latimer doth call him without any recaÌ„tation testified and ratified by the authority abouesayd By the which authority and party being there present yet aliue it is furthermore constantly affirmed that Bilney not only did neuer recant but also that he neuer had any such bill or script or scrolle in his hand to read either softly or apertly as M. More per licentiaÌ„ Poeticam would beare vs downe M. Moâ—â—s false report refuted Wherfore euen as ye see M. More deale in this so ye may trust him in the residue of his other tales if ye will ¶ Mayster Stafford of Cambridge AS the death of this Godly Bilney did much good in Northfolke where he was burnt so his diligeÌ„t trauel M. Bilney the cheife 〈…〉 Apostle of Cambridge in teaching and exhorting other and example of life correspondent to his doctrine left no small fruite behinde him in Cambridge beyng a great meanes of framing that Uniuersity drawing diuers vnto Christ. By reason of whoÌ„ and partly also of an other called M. Stafford the word of God begaÌ„ there most luckely to spread and many toward wittes to florish In the company of whom was M. Latimer D. Barnes D. Thistell of Penbroke hall M. Fooke of Benet Colledge and M. Soude of the same Colledge D. Warner aboue mentioned with diuers other moe This M. Stafford was then the publicke reader of the Diuinity lecture in that Uniuersity Who as he was an earnest professour of Christes Gospell so was he as diligeÌ„t a folower of that which he professed as by this exaÌ„ple here folowing may appeare For as the plague was then sore in Cambridge The notable zeale of M. Stafforde in sauing a damnable Priest and amongest other a certaine Priest called Syr Henry Coniurer lay sore sicke of the sayd plague M. Stafford hearyng therof and seing the horrible daunger that his soule was in was so moued in conscience to helpe the dauÌ„gerous case of the Priest that he neglecting his owne bodely death to recouer the other from eternall damnatioÌ„ came vnto him exhorted and so labored him that he would not leaue him before he had conuerted him and saw his coniuring books burned before his face Which being done maister Stafford went home and immediatly sickened shortly after most christianly deceased Ex fideli testimonio D. Ridlei Edmund Episcoporum Lond. Concerning which M. Stafford this moreouer is to be noted how that M. Latimer being yet a feruent and a zealous Papist M. Latimer asketh M. Stafford forgeuenes standing in the Schooles when M. Stafford read bad the Scholers not to heare him and also preaching agaynst him exhorted the people not to beleue hym and yet the sayd Latimer confessed himselfe that he gaue thankes to God that he asked him forgeuenesse before hee departed And thus much by the way of good M. Stafford who for his constant and godly aduenture in such a cause may seeme not vnworthy to goe with blessed Bilney in the fellowship of holy and blessed Martyrs ¶ The story of M. Symon Fish BEfore the time of M. Bilney and the fall of the Cardinall M Symon Fishe author of the booke called the supplication of Beggars I should haue placed the story of SimoÌ„ Fish with the booke called the Supplication of Beggars declaring how and by what meanes it came to the kynges hand and what effect therof folowed after in the reformation of many thinges especially of the Clergy But the missing of a few yeares in this matter breaketh no great square in our story though it be now entred here which shold haue come in sixe yeares before The maner and circumstaunce of the matter is this After that the light of the gospell working mightely in Germany began to spread his beames here also in England great styrre alteration folowed in the harts of many so that colored hipocrisy and false doctrine paynted holynes began to be espyed more and more by the reading of Gods word The authority of the Bishop of Rome and y e glory of his Cardinals was not so high but such as had fresh wits sparcled with Gods grace began to espy Christ from Antichrist that is true sincerity from counterfait religion In the number of whom was the sayd M. Simon Fish a gentleman of Brayes Inne It happened the first yeare that this Gentleman came to LondoÌ„ to dwel which was about the yeare of our Lord 1525. that there was a certayne play or interlude made by one M. Roo of the same Inne gentlemaÌ„ in which play partly was matter agaynst the Cardinall Wolsey And where none durst take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ to play that part which
out of Wales was brought to the gallowes and there also with the foresayd Frier as is sayde was set on fire Whome the Wealshmen muche worshipped and had a Prophecye amongest them that this Image shoulde set a whole forrest on fyre Which prophecy tooke effect for he set this Fryer Forest on fire and consumed hym to nothing The Fryer when he saw the fire come and that present death was at hand he caught hold vpon the lader and would not let it go but so vnpaciently took his death as neuer any man that put his trust in God at any time so vngodly or vnquietly ended his life In the month of October Nouember the same yere shortly after the ouerthrow of these images and pilgrimages folowed also the ruine of the Abbeis religious houses which by the speciall motion of the Lord Cromwel or rather and principally by the singuler blessing of almighty God were suppressed being geuen a litle before by acte of Parliament into the kinges hand wherupoÌ„ not onely the houses were rased but theyr possessions also disparcled among the nobility in such sort The ruyne dissolutioÌ„ of Abbeyes â—onasteryes in England as all friers monkes Chanons Nunnes and other sectes of religion were then so rooted out of this Realme from the very foundation that there semeth by Gods grace no possibility hereafter left for the generation of those straunge weedes to grow here any more according to the true verdict of our Lord and Sauior Christ in his Gospell saying Euery plantation being not planted of my father Math. 15. shal be plucked vp by the rootes c. ¶ The history of the worthy Martir of God Iohn Lambert otherwise named Nicolson with his troubles examinations and aunsweres as well before the Archbishop of Caunterbury Warham and other Bishops as also before K. Henry 8. by whom at length he was condemned to death burned in Smithfielde Ann. 1538. IMmediatly vpon the ruine and destruction of the monasteries Anno 1538. the same yeare in the month of Nouember followed the trouble and condemnation of Iohn Lambert y e faythfull seruaunt of Iesus Christ and Martyr of blessed memory This Lambert being borne and brought vp in Northfolke was first conuerted by Bilney and studied in the Uniuersity of Cambridge Where after that he had sufficiently profited both in Latin and Greeke and had translated out of both tongues sondry things into the English tongue being forced at last by violence of the time he departed from thence to the partes beyond the seas to Tyndall and Frith Lambert â—â—eacher to the Englysh 〈◊〉 at Antwerpe and there remained the space of a yeare and more being preacher and Chapleine to the Englishe house at Antwerpe till he was disturbed by sir Thomas More and by the accusation of one Barlow was caried froÌ„ Antwerpe to London Lambert brought froÌ„ Antwerpe to London where he was brought to examination first at Lambeth then at the Bishops house at Oxford before Warham y e Archb. of Cant. and other aduersaries hading 45. articles ministred agaynst him wherunto he rendred answere agayne by writing The which answeres for as much as they conteine great learning may geue some light to the better vnderstanding of the common causes of religion now in controuersy I thought here to exemplify the same Lambert accused by one Baâ—â—ow as they came right happely to our handes The copy both of the articles and also of his aunsweres here in order foloweth ¶ Articles to the number of 45. layd to Lambert IN primis whether thou wast suspecte or infamed of heresy Articles agaynst Iohn Lambert 2. Whether euer thou hadst any of Luthers bookes and namely sith they were condemned how long thou kepst them and whether thou hast spent any study on them 3. Whether thou wast constitute priest and in what Dioces and of what bishop 4. Whether it be lawfull for a Priest to mary a wife and whether a priest in some case be bouÌ„d by the law of God to mary a wife 5. Whether thou beleuest that whatsoeuer is done of man whether it be good or ill commeth of necessity 6. Whether the sacrament of the aulter be a sacrament necessary vnto saluation and whether after the consecration of the bread and wine done by the priest as by the minister of God there is the very body and bloud of Christ in likenes of bread and wine 7. Item what opinion thou holdest touching the Sacrament of Baptisme whether thou doest beleue that it is a sacrament of the Church and a necessary sacrament vnto saluation and that a Priest may baptise and that the order of baptising ordeined by the church is necessary and wholsome 8. Item whether you beleue that matrimony be a sacrament of the church necessary to be obserued in the church that the order appointed by the Church for the solemnising therof is allowable and to be holden 9. Item whether thou doest beleue orders to be a sacrameÌ„t of the church Sacrament of orders and that saying of masse ordeined by the Church is to be obserued of Priestes whether it be deadly sinne or not if it be omitted or contemned and whether the order of Priesthoode were inuented by mans imagination or ordeined by God 10. Item whether penaunce be a sacrament of the Church and necessary vnto saluation Sacrament of penance and whether auricular confession is to be made vnto the priest or is necessary vnto saluation and whether thou beleuest that a ChristiaÌ„ is bouÌ„d besides contrition of hart hauing the free vse of an apte or meet priest vnder necessity of saluation to be confessed vnto a Priest and not vnto any lay man be he neuer so good and deuout whether thou beleuest that a Priest in cases permitted vnto him may absolue a sinner beyng contrite and confessed from his sinnes and enioine him wholsome penaunce 11. Item whether thou doest beleue and holde Sacrament of confession that the sacrament of confirmation extreme vnction be sacrameÌ„ts of the church and whether that they doe profite the soules of them which receiue them and whether thou beleuest the foresayde seuen sacramentes to geue grace vnto them that do duly receiue them 12. Whether all thinges necessary vnto saluation are put in holy Scripture Vnwritten verities and whether things onely there put be sufficient and whether some thinges vpon necessity of saluation are to be beleued and obserued which are not expressed in Scripture 13. Whether thou beleuest that Purgatory is and whether that soules departed be therin tormented and purged Purgatory 14 Whether holy martyrs apostles and confessors departed from this world ought to be honored and called vpon Praying to Saintes and prayed vnto 15. Whether the Sayntes in heauen as Mediatours pray for vs 16. Whether thou beleuest that oblations pilgrimages may be deuoutly and meritoriously done to the sepulchres and reliques of sayntes Pilgrimage 17. Whether
Masses What man in all the primitiue Churche more then 4. hundreth yeares after the Apostles time did euer so say or thinke at what tyme there were no suche priuate Masses vsed Priuate Masses But afterwarde in the processe of the Article folowe other blinde sophistications to make the people beleeue that they should receiue by them diuine consolations and benefites And why doe they not plainely declare what consolations and benefites those be By application of masses is ment when the passiâ— and merites of Christ is applied to any by the vertue of the Masse The Bishops here do name no application and merite for they knowe that they can not be defended Yet they dally wyth glosing wordes whereby they may winde out and escape if any should improue their application And yet notwithstanding they would haue this their application to be vnderstanded and beleeued of the people They woulde haue this Idolatrous perswasion confirmed to witte that thys sacrifice doth merite vnto others remission A poena culpa release of all calamities and also gaine luker in common trafficke and to conclude whatsoeuer els the carefull heart of man doth desire The lyke Sophistication they vse also where they say that Priests mariage is against the law of God They are not ignoraunt what S. Paule sayth Priestes mariage 1. Tim. 3. A Bishop oughte to be the husband of one wife and therefore they know right well that Mariage is permitted to Priestes by the law of God But because nowe they say they haue made a vowe they goe craftely to worke and doe not say that priests for their vowes sake can not marrie but plainely geue out the Article after this sorte that Mariage of Priestes is vtterly against the lawe of God Againe what impudencie and tyranny do they shew moreouer when they compell mariages to be dissolued and command those to be put to death whych will not put away their wiues and renounce theyr matrimony Wher as the vow of Priests if it had any force at all should extend no further but onely to put them from the ministerie if they would mary And this no doubt is the true meaning of the Councels and Canons O cursed Byshops Winchester cuâ—â—â—ning in the arte of iugling called deceptio visus O impudent and wicked Winchester who vnder these colourable fetches thincketh to deceiue the eyes of Christ and the iudgements of all the godly in the whole worlde These things haue I wrytten that you may vnderstand the crafty sleights and so iudge of the purpose and pollicie of these Byshops The worde of God ought simply to be handled without all sophistryâ— For if they woulde simply and hartely search for the truth they would not vse these craftie collusions and deceitfull iugglings This Sophistication as it is in all other affaires pernitious and odious so aboue al things most specially it is to be auoyded in matters of Religion wherein it is a heynous impiety to corrupt or peruert the pure word of God And heereof the Deuill whiche is called Diabolus specially taketh his name because he wrasteth the word of God out of mennes hearts by such false iuggling and sophistical cauillations And why do not these Bishops as well plainely vtter and confesse that they will abide no reformation of doctrine and Religion in the Church for that it shall make against their dignitie pompe pleasure Why do not their adherents also and such as take their part plainly say that they will retaine still thys present state of the Churche for their owne profite tranquilitie and maintenaunce Thus to confesse The cloked hipocrisie of false Papistes were true and plaine dealing Now whiles they pretende hypocritically a false zeale and loue to the truth and sincere Religion they come in w t their blinde sophistications wherwith they couer their errours for their Articles set forth in thys act be erroneous false impious how glorious soeuer they seme outwardly Wherfore it were to be wished that these bishops would remember Gods terrible threatning in the prophet Esay Wo to you sayeth he which make wicked lawes Esa 10. Esa. 5. What wil you doe in the day of visitation and calamitie to come c. Woe vnto you that call euill good c. Now to come more nere to the matter which we haue in hande this cannot be denied but that long and horrible darkenes hath bene in the church of Christ. Mans traditions counted for Gods seruice Mens traditions not onely haue bene a yoke to good mens consciences but also which is much worse they haue bene reputed for Gods holy seruice to the great disworship of God There were vowes thyngs bequeathed to churches diuersitie of garments choice of meats long babling prayers pardoÌ„s image worship manifest idolatry committed to saints the true worship of God and true good workes not knowen Briefly little difference there was betwixte the Christian and heathen religion as stil is yet at Rome to this present day to be sene The true doctrine of repentance of * remission of sinnes whych commeth by the faith of Christ of iustification of faith of the difference betweene the lawe and the gospell of the right vse of the SacrameÌ„ts was hid and vnknowen The keyes were abused to the maintenance of the Popes vsurped tyrannie Ceremonies of mens inuention were much preferred before ciuile obedience and dueties done in the common wealth Unto these errours moreouer was ioyned a corrupte life The filthy life of the Clergy for lackee of mariage full of all lecherous and filthy lustes by reason of the law forbidding Priestes to marrie Out of thys miserable darknes God something hath begon to deliuer his church through the restoring againe of true doctrine For so wee must needes acknowledge that these so great and long festred errors haue not ben disclosed and brought to light by the industry of man This restoring of the Gospell is onely of God and not of man but thys light of the Gospel is onely the gift of God who nowe againe hath appeared vnto the Church For so doth the holy Ghost prophecie before how in the later times the godly should sustaine sore perillous conflicts with antichrist foreshewing that he should come enuironed with a mighty and strong army of Bishoppes hypocrites and Princes that he should fighte agaynste the truth and slay the godly And that now all these things are so come to passe it is most euident and caÌ„ not be denied The tirannie of the byshop of Rome hath partly brought in errors into y e church partly hath confirmed them nowe maintaineth the same with force and violence as Daniel well foreshewed And muche we reioyced to see you deuided froÌ„ him By the 6. Articles all errours and traditions are maintayned hoping and trusting well that the Church of England would now florish But your Byshops be not deuided from the Romish Antichrist his Idolatrie errours and vices they
for the second time being duely conuicted it was made felonie as the other were In this constitution if the Lord Cromwell and other good men of the Parliament might haue had their wyll there is no doubt but the first crime of these concubinarye Priests as well as the second had had the same penaltie as the other vj. Articles had and should haue bene punished with death But Steuen Gardiner with his felowe Byshops who then ruled all the roste so basted this extraordinarie Article with their accustomed shiftes that if they were taken and duely conuicte for their not castè nor cautè at first time it was but forfaite of goodes Also for the second conuiction or atteinder they so prouided that the next yeare folowing that punishment and paine of death by Acte of Parliamente 〈◊〉 an 〈…〉 c. 10. was cleane wiped away and repealed And why so Because sayeth the Statute that punishment by payne of deathe is very sore and much extreme therefore it pleaseth the Kyng wyth the assente of the Lordes that that clause aboue written concerning felonie and paynes of deathe and other penalties and forfaitures for and vpon the first and seconde conuiction or atteynder of anye Prieste or woman The Acte aâ—ainst the â—horedome 〈◊〉 Priestes 〈◊〉 â—fter what 〈◊〉 for anye suche offences of whoredome or aduoutrie aforesayde shall be from hencefoorth voyde and of none effecte c. So that by this statute it was prouided for all suche votaries as liued in whoredome and adulterie for the first offence to lose his goodes and all his spirituall promotions except one For the second to forfaite all that he had to the King For the third conuiction to susteyne continuall imprisonment In these vngodly proceedings of the Popes Catholicke Clergie two things we haue to note The maniâ—est impiety â—f the popes â—octrine â—isclosed 1. First the horrible impietie of their doctrine directly fighting against the expresse authoritie of God his word forasmuch as that which God permitteth they restrayne that which he biddeth they forbid Habeat sayeth he non habeat say they taking exceptions agaynste the worde of the Lord. That which he calleth honorable and vndefiled they call heresie that which he cuÌ„mendeth and instituteth they punish with paynes of death Not onely the Priestes that marry but them also that say or cyphre that a Prieste may marry at the first they kill as felons Neither can any Miserere take place for chaste and lawfull wedlocke where as coÌ„trariwise a spirituall man may thrise defile his neighbours wife or thrise defloure his Brothers daughter and no felonie at all layde to his charge What is this in plaine words to say but that it is lesse sinne thrise to commit aduoutry then once to marry 2. The seconde is to be noted how these paynted hypocrites doe bewray their false dissembled dealinges vnawares with whome a man might thus reason Tell vs you Priests and votaries Dilemma â—gainst 〈◊〉 that will not marry which so precisely flie the state of Matrimonie intende you to liue chaste and are able so to do without wiues or do you keepe your selues chaste honest without them and without burning or not If ye be not able why then mary you not why take you not the remedy appointed of God Why make you those vowes which you can not performe or why do you not breake them being made falling thereby in daunger of breakyng Gods commandemeÌ„t for keeping your owne If you be able and so do intend to coÌ„tinue an honest and a continent conuersation without wiues then shall I aske of you according as Doct. Turner grauely truely layeth to your charge why do you so carefully prouide a remedie by your lawes aforehand for a mischiefe to come whiche you may auoide if ye list Doct. Turâ—eâ— huntyng â—he Romish Foxe vnlesse eyther ye listed not to stand though ye might or else saw your owne infirmitie that you could not though ye would And therefore fearing your owne weake fragilitie you prouide wisely for your selues aforehand that where other shall suffer paines of death at the first for well doing you may fall thrise in abhominable adultery and yet by the law haue your liues pardoned And heere commeth out your owne hypocrisie by your selues bewrayed For where as you all confesse that you are able to liue chaste if ye wil without wiues this moderation of the lawe prouided before against your aduouterous incontinencie playnely declareth that eyther ye purpose willingly to fal or at least ye feare and stand in doubt not to be able to stand And why then do you so confidently take such vowes vpon you standing in such doubt and feare for the performance thereof And be it to you admitted that all do not fall but that some keepe their vow The Paâ—istes beâ—â—ay their 〈…〉 though some viciously run to other mens wiues and daughters then here againe I aske you seeing these vicious whorehunters and aduouterous persons amongst you do liue viciously as you can not deny and may do otherwise if they list as you coÌ„fesse what punishmeÌ„t then are they worthy to haue which may liue coÌ„tinent and wil not neither yet will take the remedy prouided by God but refuse it Which beyng so then what iniquitie is this in you or rather impietie inexcusable against God and man to procure a moderation of lawes for such The impiety of the Papistes inexcusable and to shew such compassion and clemeÌ„cie to these so heynous adulterers whorehunters and beastly fornicators that if they adulterate other mens wiues neuer so oft yet there is no death for them and to shew no compassion at all nor to finde out any moderation for such but at the very first to kill theÌ„ as felons and heretickes which honestly doe mary in the feare of God or once say that a Priest may mary How can ye heare be excused O you children of iniquitie What reason is in your doyng or what truth in your doctrine or what feare of God in your harts You that neither are able to auoyde burnyng pollutioÌ„ without wedlocke nor yet will receaue that remedy that the Lord hath giuen you how will you stand in his face wheÌ„ hee shall reuele your operations and cogitations to your perpetuall confusion vnlesse by tyme ye conuert and repent And thus beyng ashamed of your execrable doyngs I cease to defile my penne any further in this so stinkyng matter of yours leauyng you to the Lord. It was declared before Read afore pag. 1130. pag. 1136. that what tyme these vi Articles were in hand in the Parliament house Cranmer then beyng Archbyshop of Canterbury onely withstoode the same disputyng iij. dayes agaynst them whose reasons and Arguments I wish were extant and remaynyng After these Articles were thus passed and concluded the kyng who alwayes bare especiall fauour vnto Cranmer perceiuyng him to bee not a litle discomforted therewith sent all the Lordes of the Parlament and
much vnlike so in matters of religion and in discerning truth from falshood their zeale seemed not much discrepant Although the light of the Gospell did not so fully then shine out as in the time of this latter Duke the Lord be praysed therfore yet the wisedome and towardnes of y e other Duke also touching the same was not vtterly vnworthy of his commendation A false miracle detected by Duke Humfrey of Glocester For the more manifest declaration whereof amongest many other his godly doinges we may take for example the prudent and famous acte of that noble Duke in descerning and trying out the false lying miracle and popish hipocrisie of the blinde begger at S. Albons mentioned in his story before pag. 679. For the whiche cause and for his dilligent studye in reforming that and such other blinde abuses of fayned Religion he was the more hated of the spiritualtie and suche as Winchester then was Finally as thys Lorde Protector Duke of Somerset the kinges vncle by certayne of the Counsayle was then accused arraigned cōdemned for the trespasse as it was geuen forth of felonie although I neuer heard he murdered or robbed any so the other vncle of king Henry the 6. was made away The testimonye of M. William Tindall of good Duke Humfrey The happy successe of the Duke of Somerset in his victoryes Of whose decease thus writeth Mayster W. Tindall in his practise of Prelaets At y e last they found the meanes to contriue a drift to bring their matters to passe made a Parliamēt far from the Citizens of Londō where was slayne the sayd good Duke the onely wealth of the Realme and y e mighty shield which so long had kept it from sorowe which shortly after his death fell vpon thē by heapes But the Chronicles sayth he cannot tel wherfore he dyed nor by what meanes Neuertheles this they testifie that he was a vertuous man godly and good to the common wealth But to leaue Duke Humfrey and to return to the maners and vertues of the Duke of Somerset whiche before we were about to describe as he was a gentle and courteous Duke at home so was he no lesse fortunate a Captain in warfare abroad Gods chastisement vpon the Duke of Somerset Under whose gouernment guidyng not onely diuers rebellious commotions were happily suppressed here at home but also abroad in the expedition of Scotland such a victory was geuen him of God that w t the losse scarse of sixe hundred of his own men there were of the enemies as good or little lesse then x. thousand slayn and put to flight and euen the very same day and tyme in the which all the Idolatrous Images were here burnt at London And yet al these warres notwithstanding wherunto he was agaynst his will compelled he was a man of nature singularly geuen to peace as may be seene by the sweete and peaceable exhortation by him set forth in print before and sent to the realme of Scotland But as there is nothing in this worlde so perfect in all respectes which is not blotted or darckned with some spot of vice adioyned withal so amongst the manifold commēdations of this Duke one thinge there was too whiche both desteyned his honour and estimation much and also more empayred and hindered his owne life safety which was that he in condescending to the death of his brother followed too rashly the perswasion of certayne whosoeuer they were for that matter lacked not perchaunce some singular fetche and pollicie of some more craftely then godly disposed persons as many good men haue supposed But what soeuer of that matter is to be deemed credible it is that the said Duke in suffering or procuring this death of his brother not only endamaged himselfe weakened his own power but also prouoked the chastisement of Gods scourge and rod which did so light vpon him Furthermore as touching the death and decay of the Lord Henry Earle of Surrey who suffered also at the Tower next before the Lord Admirall the Lorde Protectours brother because the casting of him was so neare to the death of King Henry The beheading of the Earle of Surrey as I know not vpon whome or what cause the same did proceede so I passe it ouer and leaue it to the Lord. Notwithstanding as for the Duke of Somerset whatsoeuer his other vices and vertues were this is certayne that his ende the Lord so working wyth him was constant in Christes truth as his life was before a great maintenance of the same Moreouer on the xxvj day of February in the same yeare was sir Rafe Uane Syr Rafe Vane Syr Myles Partrige Syr Michael Stanhop and Syr Thomas Arundell suffered at Tower hyll sir Miles Partrige both hāged at the Tower hill And sir Michaell Stanhop sir Thomas Arundell beheaded vppon the scaffold all which four were condemned by the saide Acte of vnlawfull assemblie and as accessaries vnto the Duke of Somerset Not long after the death of the Duke of Somerset in the next yeare folowing deceassed the King himselfe about the moneth of Iune whereof more shall be said the Lord graunting in his due order and course heereafter In the meane season before we come to close vp the latter end and story of this good King the place heere present seemeth not vnfitte to intermixt by the way a few other things before Religion hindered by discorde hapning within the time of his reigne namely concerning matters incident of the Church of Religiō Which state of Religion begā wel to grow to come happely forward during this Kings daies had not the vnhappy troubles of the outward state amongst the Lords not agreeing within themselues disquieted the good towardnes of things begon But the malice of the diuell how subtilly worketh it if men could see it So long as the Lordes agreed in concord among themselues Winchester and Boner with all that faction was cut short and began to condescend to good cōformitie But afterward perceauing the states and nobles of the Realme to be amōg themselues diuided and y e Lord Protectour the Kings vncle displaced and his brother the Admirall before beheaded and the yong King now left in that case they begā vpon some hope to take more hart vnto them Discorde what decay it worketh in a common wealth till at last it came to passe as they themselues desired And thus though nothing else will leade vs yet experience may teach vs what discorde worketh in publicke weales and contrary what a necessary thing concord is to the aduancemēt especially of Gods matters apperteining to his Church Examples whereof in this Kings daies be not farre to seeke For as touching the successe of the Gospell of peace D. Smyth Chadsey Standish Younge Oglethorpe reclaymed from their errours while publicke peace and the Gospel did ioine together marueilous it was how errour Popery were in themselues confounded and ashamed
you shall not speake but when I commaund you Then quoth Philpot I had rather be absent altogether Thus they reasoning to and fro at length about the 13. of December Q. Mary to take vp the matter sendeth her commaundement to Boner Byshoppe of London that he should dissolue and breake vp the conuocation Decembâ—â— The copie of which commaundement here followeth The precept of the Queene to Boner Bishop of London for the dissoluing of the foresayde Conuocation MAria c. Reuerendo in Christo patri Domino Domino Edmundo London Episcopo salutem Q. Mary breaketh 〈◊〉 the Conuocation Cum praesens coÌ„â—â—catio Cleri Cantuariensis prouinciae apud SaÌ„ctum Paulum London iam modo tenta instans existit certis tamen vrgentibus causis considerationibus nos specialiter mouentibus de aduisamento Consilij nostri ipsam praesentem conuocationem duximus dissoluendam Et ideo vobis mandamus quòd eandem praesentem conuocationem apud sanctum Paulum praedictum debito modo asque aliqua dilatione dissoluatis dissoluiue faciatis prout conuenit significantes ex parte nostra vniuersis singulis Episcopis nec non Archidiaconis Decanis omnibus alijs personis Ecclesiasticis quibuscunque dictae Cantuariensis Prouinciae quorum interest vel interesse poterit quod ipsi eorum quilibet huic mandato nostro exequendo intendentes sint obedientes prout decet Teste meipsa apud Westmonasterium 13. die Decembris Anno regni nostri primo During the time of this disputation the 20. day of NoueÌ„ber y e Maior of Couentrie sent vp vnto y e Lordes of the CouÌ„sel Baldwine Clarke I. Carelesse Tho. Wilcockes and Richard Estlin for their behauiour vpon All halowe day last before Whereupon Carelesse and Wylcocks were committed to the gatehouse and Clarke and Astelyn to the Marshalsey The same day there was a letter directed to Sir Christopher Heydon and Sir William Farmer knight for the apprehension of Iohn Huntingdon preacher for making a rime against D. Stokes and the sacrament Who appearing before the counsell the 3. of December next after was vpon his humble submission and promise to amend aswel in doctrine as liuing againe suffered to depart In the daies of king Henry This Lord Courtney was sonne to the Mâ—â—â—ques of Exâ—â—ceter and also of king Edward raigning after him diuers noble men Bishops and other were cast into the Tower some charged with treason as Lord courtney and the Duke of Northfolke whose sonne Lorde Henry Earle of Surrey had bene the same time beheaded a worthy ingenious gentlemen for what cause or by whom I haue not hear to deale this is certaine that not many yeres after his death folowed the beheading of both the L. Semers and at last of the Duke of Northumberland also some for y e Popes supremacie SteueÌ„ Garâ—diner Byshop of Winchester made Lorâ— Chauncellor of England and suspicious letters tending to sedition as Tonstal B. of Durham and other for other things all which continued there prisoners til Q. Maries comming in Unto whome the saide Q. eftsoones graunted their pardone and restored them to theyr former dignities Amongst whom also was Gardiner B. of Winchester whom she not onely freed out of captiuitie but also aduaunced him to be high chancelor of Englande Furthermore to the L. Courtney she shewed such fauour The Lord Courtney made Earl of Deuonshyre that shee made him Earle of Deuonshire in so muche that there was a suspition amongst many that she would marie him but that prooued otherwise The same time Bonner also had bene prisonner in the Marshalsey whome likewise Queene Mary deliuered restored to the Bishopricke of London againe displacing Doct. Ridley with diuers other good Bishops moe as is aboue mentioned as Cranmer from Canterb. the Archbyshoppe of Yorke likewise Poynette from Winchester Iohn Hooper from Worcester Barlow from Bath Harley from Hereforde Taylor from Lincolne Ferrar from S. Dauids Couerdale from Excester Scorye from Chichester c. with a great number of Archdeacons Deanes and briefly all suche beneficed men which either were married or woulde constantly adheere to theyr profession All which were remooued from their liuings 〈…〉 intruâ—â—d by Q. â—â—ry and other of the contrary secte sette in the same as Cardinall Poole who was then sent for Gardiner Heath White Daye Troublefield c. And as touching Cranmer of whome mention was made before for so much as there was a rumor spreade of hym the same time at London that he hadde recanted and caused Masse to be sayde at Caunterburye for purging of hymselfe hee published abroade a declaration of hys truthe and constancie in that behalfe protestinge that hee neyther had so done 〈…〉 Peter 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 agaynst all men nor mineded so to doe adding moreouer that if it woulde so please the Queene he wyth Peter Martyr and certaine other whome he would chuse would in open disputation sustaine the cause of the doctrine taught and set foorth before in the time of king Edward againste all persons whomesoeuer But while he was in expectation to haue this disputation obtained he with other bishops wer laid fast in the Tower and P. Martir permitted to depart the realme and so wenâ— he to Argentine After this in the moneth of Nouemb. the Archbyshop Cranmer notwithstaÌ„ding he had earnestly refused to subscribe to the kings wil D. Cranmer with the Lady 〈◊〉 arrâ—â—gâ—â—d of treason in the Guildhall Archbishop Cranmer quit of treason in disheriting his sister Marye â—lledging many graue and pithy reasons for her legitimation was in Guild hall of London arraigned and attainted of treason with the L. Iane and three of the Duke of Northumberlandes sonnes which at the intreatye of certayne persons were had againe to the Tower and there kept for a time All which notwithstanding Cranmer beinge pardoned of treason stoode onely in the action and case of doctrine whyâ—h they called heresie whereof hee was ryghte glad and ioyfull This being done in Nouember the people and especially the Churchmen perceiuing the Queene so eagerlye set vpon her olde religion they likewise for theyr partes to shewe themselues no lesse forwarde to serue the Queenes appetite as the manner is of the multitude commonlye to frame themselues after the humour of the Prince and time present began in their Quiers to set vp the pageants of s. Katherine Going about of S. Katherin and S. Nicholas and of S. Nicholas and of their processions in Latine after all their olde solemnitie with their gaye gardeâ—iance and gray amiâ—es And when the month of December was come the Parliament brake vp but first of all such statutes were repealed which were made either of Premunire or touched anye alteration of religion and administration of Sacramentes vnder king Edward In the which parliament also communication was mooued of the Queenes mariage wyth king Phillip the Emperors sonne In this meane while
Suffolke with his brethren departed from his house at Shene and tooke hys voyage into Leycester shyre After whome was sent the Earle of Huntington to take hym and bring hym to London who proclaimed the said Duke traytor by the way as he râ—ade As touching the rising of master Wyate with Syr W. Cobham and others in Kent and there comming to London in the moneth of Februarie also of the Queenes comming to the Guilde Hall and her Oration there made and after of the taking of the said Wyat and his company likewise of the apprehension of the Duke of Suffolke with his brother Lord Iohn Gray and the next day after of beheading of Lord Gildford and Lady Iane which was the 12. day of February and how the day before which was 11. of the sayd moneth Lord William Haward and sir Edwarde Hastings were sent for the Ladie Elizabeth and how the same Sonday Syr Harrye Iseley M. Culpeper The Lady Elizabeth sent for The byshoâ— of Winchâ—â—ster preacheth and M. Winter were committed to the Tower the B. of Winchester the same daye being the 11. of Februarie preaching before the Queene and perswading her to vse no mercy towarde these Kentishmen but seuere execution all whyche was in the moneth of February because most of these matters haue bene briefly touched before or els may be founde in other Chronicles I wil cease to make any further story of them hauing somwhat notwithstanding to declare touching the rainment and death of the Duke of Suffolke Uppon Saterday beinge the 17. day of Februarye the Duke of Suffolke was arraigned at Westminster and the same day condemned to die by his Peres the Earle Arundel was chiefe Iudge for this day The Duke of Suffolke arraigned Uppon the Sonday following which was the 18. day of the sayd moneth Sessions was kept in London whych hath not before bene sene to be kept vpon the Sonday Upon the monday the 19. of Februarie the Lord Cobhams 3. sonnes and 4. other men were arraigned at Westminster of whiche sonnes the youngest was condemned whose name is Thomas and the other two came not at the barre and the other 4. were condemned Upon the Tuesday being the 20. of February The Lord Iohn Graâ— arraygned the Lord Iohn Gray was araigned at Westminster and there condemned the same day and other 3. men whereof one was named Nailer Upon the Wedensday the 21. of Februarie the L. Thomas Gray and sir Iames Croft were broughte throughe London to the Tower with a number of horsemen Sir Nicholas Throgmorton committed to the Tower Upon the Thursday being the 22. of Februarie syr Nicholas Throgmorton was committed to the Tower Uppon the Friday being the 23. of Februarie 1554. the Duke of Suffolke was beheaded at the Tower hil the order of whose death heere followeth The godly ende and death of the Duke of Suffolke beheaded at Tower hil An. 1554. Febr. 23. ON Friday the 23. of February 1554. about 9. of y e clocke in the fore noone the Lorde Henrie Gray duke of Suffolke was broughte foorth of the Tower of London vnto the Scaffolde on the Tower hill The order and maner of the Duke of Suffolkes death D. Weston the Duke Ghostly â—â—ther agaiâ—â—â— the Dukeâ— will Weston 〈◊〉 back by the Dukes 〈◊〉 The word of the Duâ—â— to the people wyth a greate company c. and in his comming thither there accompanied him Doctor Weston as his Ghostly father notwythstanding as it should seeme against the will of the sayde Duke For when the Duke went vp to the Scaffolde the sayd Weston being on his left hand preased to goe vp wyth hym The Duke with his hand put him downe againe of the staires and Weston taking holde of the Duke forced hym downe likewise And as they ascended the second time the Duke againe put him downe Then Weston sayde that it was the Queenes pleasure he shoulde so doe Wherewyth the Duke casting hys handes abroade ascended vppe the Scaffolde and paused a pretie while after And then he sayde Maisters I haue offended the Queene and her lawes and thereby am iustly condemned to die and am willing to die desiring all men to be obedient and I praye God that thys my death may be an ensample to all men The godly fayth and confession of the Duâ—â— at his deaâ—â— beseeching you all to beare mee witnesse that I die in the faithe of Christe trusting to bee saued by his bloude onely and by no other trumperie the whych died for me and for all them that truely repent and stedfastly trust in him And I do repent desiring you all to pray to God for me that when you see my breathe departe froÌ„ me you wil pray to God that he may receiue my soule And then he desired all men to forgeue him saying that the Queene had forgeuen him Then M. Weston declared with a loude voyce that the Queenes Maiestie had forgiuen him With that diuers of the standers by said with meetely good and audible voice such forgiuenes God send thee meaning Doctor Weston Then the Duke kneeled downe vpon his knees and sayd the Psalme Miserere mei Deus vnto the end holding vp his hands and looking vp to heauen And when he had ended the Psalme The Duke 〈◊〉 he sayd In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum c. Then he arose and stoode vp and deliuered his cap and his skarffe vnto the executioner Then the sayd executioner kneeled downe and asked the Duke forgiuenes And the Duke sayd God forgiue thee I do when thou doest thine office I pray thee do it wel and bring me out of this world quickly The Duke 〈…〉 and God haue mercy to thee Then stood there a man and sayd my Lord how shal I do for the money that you do owe me And the Duke sayd alas good felow I pray thee trouble mee not now but go thy way to my officers Then he knit a kercher about his face and kneeled downe and said Our father which art in heauen c. vnto the ende And then he saide Christ haue mercy vpon me The end of the Duke of Sufolke and layd downe his head on the blocke and the executioner tooke the Axe and at the first chop stroke off his head and held it vp to y e people c. The same day a number of prisoners had their pardon and came through the Citie with their halters about theyr neckes They were in * The number of these are 240. which with 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 passed through 〈◊〉 citty to Wâ—stminster and had their pardon Priestes diuorced number about two hundreth Upon the Saterday the 24. of February Syr William Sentlow was committed as prisoner to the maister of the horse to be kept This Syr William was at this time one of the Lady Elizabeths Gentlemen Upon the Sonday beeing 25. of February Syr Iohn Rogers was committed to the Tower In this weeke all suche Priestes
in Parliamente that none shoulde speake anye thing of the Kings death the Act being made onely for Southsayers and talkers of prophesies moued them that were about the King to put him in remembrance of his mortall state and fatall infirmitie Which when the rest were in dread to do M. Deny who was specially attendant vpon hym boldly comming to the King told him what case he was in to mans iudgement not like to liue and therefore exhorted him to prepare himselfe to death calling himselfe to remembrance of his former life and to call vpon God in Christ betime for grace and mercy as becommeth euery good Christian man to do Although the K. was loth to heare any meÌ„tion of death yet perceiuing the same to rise vpon the iudgement of hys Phisicians and feeling his owne weakenes he disposed himselfe more quietly to harken to the wordes of his exhortation and to consider his life past Which although he much accused yet said he is the mercy of Christ able to pardon me all my sinnes though they were greater then they be M. Deny being glad to heare him thus speake required to know his pleasure whether he would haue any learned man sent for to conferre withall and to open hys mind vnto To whome the King aunswered againe that if he had any he would haue D. Cranmer who was then lying at Croydon And therefore M. Denye asking the King whether he woulde haue him sente for I will first said the King take a little sleepe and then as I feele my selfe I will aduise vpon the matter After an houre or two the King awaking and feeling feeblenes to encrease vpon him commanded D. Cranmer to be sent for but before he could come y e king was speachles and almost senseles Notwithstanding perceiuing D. Cranmer to be come he reaching his hande to D. Cranmer did hold him fast but could vtter no word vnto hym and scarse was able to make any signe Then the Archbyshop exhorting him to put his trust in Christ and to call vpon his mercy desired him though he could not speake yet to geue some token with his eyes or with hand as he trusted in the Lord. Then the King holding him with his hand did wring his hand in his as hard as he could and so shortly after departed after he had reigned in this land the terme of 37. yeares and 9. monethes The kings children leauing behinde him three children Edward Mary and Elizabeth Moreouer for so much as mention is inserted in thys place of the good inclination of King Henry in his latter dayes to the reformation of religion Talke betweene Thom. Cranmer Archbishop of Cant. and the Duke of Suffolk about Ste. Gardiner by the occasion hereof it commeth also to minde somewhat likewise to adde by way of appendix touching the talke betweene the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer and the Duke of Suffolke Charles Branden as coÌ„cerning the Kings purpose and intent conceaued against the Bishop of Winchester Steuen Gardiner in that he could neuer allowe any reformation in religion in this realme and namely beeing offended with this that men should vse in their talke The Lord as well as our Lord. The sayd Duke sayd vnto the sayd Archbyshop We of the Counsell had him once at a good lift and should well haue dispatched him from his authoritie if the Kings Maiestie our Maister had stayed himselfe from admitting him to his presence as then hys highnes was content that we should throughly haue sifted and tried him It was my Lord quoth the Duke to the Archbishop at that time when Gardiner his Secretarie was attached and suffred for defending the Popes authoritie For then I and certaine of the Counsell hauing conference with the Kings Maiestie for that matter his highnesse was fully perswaded that the Bishops Secretarie being in such speciall fauour with his Maister would neuer stande so stiffe in defence of the Bishop of Romes vsurped power and authoritie Stephen Gardiner appoynted by the king to to be had to the Tower without his said maisters both aduise knowledge and perswasion For already quoth the King he played but a homely part with me when he was Ambassadour to the Pope concerning my cause of diuorce And therefore quoth the King to me send for him my Lord incontinently and by assistance of two or three moe of the Counsell whome you thinke good let him be committed to the Tower to aunswere to suche thynges as may bee obiected agaynst hym Thys communicatioÌ„ was in y e euening so that we purposed to haue executed the kinges pleasure and commaundement y e next morning How beit our talke was not so secrete but that some of his friendes of the priuy chamber then suspecting the matter where he had many frends sent him word ther of Who incontinently repayred to the kings presence Ste. Gardiner priuily commeth to the king and finding some matter to minister vnto y e king his highnesse sayd to the bish We doe marueile that your secretary hath thus notoriously offended agaynst vs our lawes It is surely though that you are not all cleare in this offeÌ„ce but that you are of the same opinion with him therefore my Lord be playne with me King Henry layeth to Winchesters charge and let me know if you be y e way infected or no If you will tell me the trueth I will rather pardon the fault but if you halt or dissemble with me looke for no fauour at my hand With this monition Winchester fell downe vppon hys knees besought his maiesty of mercy and pardon Winchester confesseth his popery to the king manifestly confessing y t he of long time had bene of that opinion w t his sayd secretary and there bewayling himselfe promised from that day forward to reform hys opinion become a new man Well quoth y e king this way you haue of me that which otherwise you should neuer haue obtayned I am content to remitte all thinges past and pardon you vpon your amendment The next morning I had worde how the matter was handled whereupon I came to his highnes sayde Your Maiestie hath preuented our commission whiche I and other had from your grace concerning my Lord of Winchesters coÌ„mitting to the tower Wot you what quoth the K. hee hath confessed himselfe as giltie in this matter as hys man K. Henryes nature to pardon them that come to him and confesse their fault and hath with muche sorrowe pensiuenes sued for my pardon And you know what my nature and custome hath bene in such matters euermore to pardon them that will not dissemble but confesse their fault Thus wilâ—ly and politickely he got himselfe out of our hands But if I had suspected this I would haue had him in the tower ouer night and stopped his iourny to y e court Well sayd my Lord of Caunterbury hee was euermore to good for you all Moreouer as touching this foresaid