which also wyll not further the glory of GOD. And now because I perceiue you haue an entire zeale and desire of my deliueraunce out of this captiuitie and worldly myserie if I shoulde not beare you a good hart in God againe me thinke I were to blame Sir howe nigh the day of my dissolution and departure out of this worlde is at hand I can not tell the Lordes wyll be fulfilled how sone soeuer it shall come I knowe the Lordes wordes must be verified on me that I shall appeare before the incorrupt Iudge and be countable to him of all my former lyfe And although the hope of his mercies is my shootanker of eternall saluation yet am I perswaded that who soeuer wittingly neglecteth regardeth not to cleare his conscience he can not haue peace with God nor a liuely fayth in his mercy Conscience therefore moueth me considering you were one of my familie and one of my houshold of whom then I thinke I had a speciall cure and of all them which were within my house which in deede ought to haue bene an example of godlynes to all the rest of my cure not only of good life but also in promotyng of Gods worde to the vttermost of their power but alas now when the tryall doth seperate the chaffe from the corne how small a deale it is God knoweth which the wind doth not blow away this conscience I say doth moue me to feare lest the lightnesse of my familie shall be layde to my charge for lacke of more earnest and diligent instruction which should haue ben done But blessed be God which hath geuen me grace to see this my default and to lament it from the bottome of my hart before my departyng hence This conscience dooth mooue me also now to require both you and my friende Doctor Haruy to remember your promises made to me in tymes past of the pure settyng foorth and preachyng of Gods worde and his truth These promises although you shall not neede to feare to be charged with them of me hereafter before the worlde yet looke for none other I exhort you as my friendes but to be charged with them at Gods hand This conscience and the loue that I beare vnto you byddeth me now say vnto you both in Gods name feare GOD and loue not the world for GOD is able to caste both body and soule into hell fyre When his wrath shall sodaynely be kindled blessed are all they that put their trust in hym And the saying of sainct Iohn is true All that is in the world as the lust of the fleshe the lust of the eyes and the pride of lyfe is not of the father but of the worlde and the worlde passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the wyll of God abydeth for euer If this gyfte of grace whiche vndoubtedly is necessarily required vnto eternall saluation were truely and vnfainedly graffed and firmely stablished in mens hartes they would not be so light so sodenly to shrinke from the maintenance and confession of the truth as is now alas seene so manifestly of so many in these dayes But here peraduenture you woulde knowe of me what is the truth Syr Gods woorde is the truth as sainct Iohn sayth and that euen the same that was heretofore For albeit man doth vary and change as the Moone yet Gods worde is stable abydeth one for euermore and of Christ it is truely sayd Christ yesterday and to day the same is also for euer When I was in office all that were esteemed learned in Gods word agreed this to be a truth in Gods word written that the common prayer of the Churche should be had in the common tongue You know I haue conferred with many and I ensure you I neuer founde man so farre as I do remember neither old nor new gospeller nor papist of what iudgement soeuer he was in this thing to be of a contrary opinion If then it were a truth of Gods word thinke you that the alteration of the world can make it an vntruth If it can not why then do so many men shrynke from the confession maintenance of this truth receyued once of vs all For what is it I pray you els to confesse or deny Christe in this worlde but to mainteyne the truth taught in Gods word or for any worldly respect to shrink from the same This one thing haue I brought for an ensample other thinges be in like case which now particulerly I neede not to rehearse For he that wil forsake wittingly either for feare or gayne of the world any one open truth of Gods word if he be constrained he wyl assuredly forsake God and al his truth rather then he wyl endaunger hym selfe to loose or to leaue that he loueth better in deede then he doth God and the truth of his word I like very well your plaine speaking wherein you say I must eyther agree or dye and I thinke that you meane of the bodyly death which is common both to good and bad Sir I knowe I must dye whether I agree or no. But what folly were it then to make such an agreement by the which I could neuer escape this death which is so common to all and also incurre the gylt of death and eternall damnation Lord graunt that I may vtterly abhorre and detest this damnable agreement so long as I lyue And because I dare say you wrote of friendshyp vnto me this short earnest aduertisement and I thynke veryly wishing me to lyue and not to dye therefore bearyng you in my hart no lesse loue in GOD then you doe me in the worlde I say vnto you in the worde of the Lord and that I say to you I say to all my friendes and louers in God that if you do not confesse maintayne to your power knowledge that which is grounded vpon Gods worde but will eyther for feare or gayne of the worlde shrinke and play the Apostata in deede you shall dye the death you know what I meane And I beseeche you all my true frendes louers in God remember what I say for this may be the last time peraduenture that euer I shall write vnto you From Bocardo in Oxford the .viij. day of Aprill 1555. M. Grindal now Archbishop of Canterbury being in the tyme of exile in the citie of Frankford wrote to D. Ridley thē prisoner a certaine Epistle wherin first he lamenteth his captiuitie exhorting him withall to be constant Secondly he certifieth him of the state of the English exiles being dispersed in Germany and of the singuler prouidence of God in stirring vp the fauour of the Magistrates and rulers there towardes them Thirdly he writeth to know his minde and will concerning the printing of his booke agaynst Transubstantiation and of certayne other treatises and his disputations Wherunto Bishop Ridley answereth agayne in order as foloweth ¶ The aunsweare of
proued London What say you then to the second scripture howe couple you that by the word to the other Phil. The text it selfe declareth that notwithstanding Chryst did abase himself in our humayne nature yet he is stil one in Deitie with the Father And this S. Paule to the Hebrues doth more at large set foorth And as I haue by the scriptures ioyned these two scriptures together so am I able to do in all other Articles of fayth which we ought to beleue and by the manifest word of God to expound them London How can that be seing saynct Paule sayth that the letter killeth but it is the spirite that geueth life Philpot. S. Paul meaneth not the worde of God written in it selfe killeth which is the word of life and the faythfull testimonie of the Lord but that the worde is vnprofitable and killeth him that is void of the spirite of God although he be the wisest man of the world and therfore S. Paule sayd That the Gospell to some was a sauour of life vnto lyfe and to some other a sauour of death vnto death Also an example hereof we haue in the vi of Iohn of them who hearing the worde of God without the spirite were offended thereby wherefore Christ sayd The flesh profiteth nothing it is the spirite that quickeneth London What do you vnderstand that of S. Paule and of S. Iohn so Philpot. It is not mine owne interpretation it is agreable to the word in other places and I haue learned the same of auncient fathers interpreting it likewise And to the Corinthians as it is written Animalis homo non percipit ea quae sunt spiritus Dei spiritualis dijudicat omnia The natural man perceiueth not the thinges that bee of the spirite of God but the spirituall man whiche is indued with the spirite iudgeth all thinges London You see my Lordes that this man will haue but hys owne minde and will wilfully cast away himselfe I am sory for him Phil. The words that I haue spoken be none of mine but of the Gospell wheron I ought to stand And if you my lord of London can bring better authoritie for the faythe you would draw me vnto then that which I stand vpoÌ„ I wil gladly heare the same by you or by any other in this realm Wherfore I kneeling down besought the Lords to be good vnto me a poore Gentleman that would fayne lyue in the world if I might and to testifie as you haue heard me to say this day that if any man can approue that I ought to be of any other maner of faith then that of which I now am and can proue the same sufficiently I will be neyther wilâ—ull neither desperate as my Lorde of London woulde make you beleue me to be Rich. What countrey man be you are you of the Philpots of Hampshyre Phil. Yea my Lorde I was Sir Peter Philpots sonne of Hampshyre Rich. He is my neare kinsman wherefore I am the more sory for him Phil. I thanke your Lordship that it pleaseth you to chalenge kinred of a poore prisoner Rich. In faith I would go an hundreth miles on my bare feete to do you good Cham. He may do well enough if he liSt S. Iohn M. Philpot you are my countryman I woulde be glad you should do well Rich. You said euen now that you would desire to mayntaine your beliefe before ten of the best in the realme You did not well to compare with the Nobilitie of the Realme But what if you haue tenne of the best in the Realme to heare you will you be tryed by them Phil. My Lord your Lordshippe mistaketh me to thinke that I challenge tenne of the best of the Nobilitie in thys realme It was no part of my minde but I meant of the best learned on the contrary side Rich. Wel I take your meaning What if meanes be made to the Queenes maiestie that you shall haue your request will you be iudged by them Phil. My Lord it is not meete that a man shoulde be iudged by his aduersaries Rich. By whom then would you be iudged Phil. I will make your honours iudges that shal be hearers of vs. Rich. I dare be bolde to procure for you of the Queenes maiestie that you shall haue tenne learned men to reason with you and twenty or forty of the Nobility to heare so you wil promise to abide theyr iudgement How say you will you promise here afore my Lordes so to do Phil. I will be contented to be iudged by them Rich. Yea but wil you promise to agree to theyr iudgemeÌ„t Phil. There be causes why I may not so do vnlesse I wer sure they would iudge according to the word of God Rich. O I perceaue you wil haue no man iudge but your selfe and thinke your selfe wiser then all the learned men of this Realme Phil. My Lorde I seeke not to be myne owne iudge but am conteÌ„t to be iudged by other so that the order of iudgement in matters of religion be kept that was in the primatiue Church which is first that Gods wil by his word was sought and thereunto both the spiritualty and temporaltie was gathered together and gaue theyr consentes iudgement such kind of iudgement I will stand to London My Lordes he would make you beleeue that hee were profoundly seene in auncient writers of the iudgementes of the primatiue Church and there was neuer any such maner of iudgement vsed as he now talketh of Phil. In the Epistles of S. Ciprian I am able to shewe it you London A I tell you there is no such thing fet me Cyprian hether Phil. You shall finde it otherwise when the booke commeth And D. Chedsay his Chaplayne whom he appointed to fet his booke whispered the Bishop in his care and fet not the booke by likelihoode that he should haue susteined the reproche thereof if the booke had bene fet Well my Lord quoth I mayster Doctor knoweth it is so or els he would haue fet the booke ere this Rich. You woulde haue none other iudge I see but the worde Phil. Yes my Lord I will be tryed by the word by such as will iudge according to the word As for an example if there were a controuersy betweene your Lordship and an other vpon the words of a statute must not the words of the statute iudge and determine the controuersie Rich. No mary the Iudges of the law may determine the meaning therof Load He hath brought as good an example agaynst hym selfe as can be And here the B. thought he had good handfast against me and therefore enlarged it with many wordes to the iudgement of the Church The Lordes Hee hath ouerthrowne himselfe by his owne argument Phil. My Lords it seemeth to your honours that you haue great aduauntage of me by the example I brought in to expresse my cause but if it be pondered throughly it maketh wholy
which say Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of God but he that doth the will of the father And whosoeuer in the tyme of tryall is ashamed of me sayth Christ and of my wordes of him the sonne of man will be ashamed before his father After that wee haue built our selues into the true church of God it hath pleased him by geuing vs ouer into the hands of the wicked sinagoges to proue our building to haue it knowne as wel to the world as to our selues that we haue bene wise builders into the true church of God vpon the rock not on the sand therefore nowe the tempest is risen and the stormes doe mightily blow agaynst vs that wee might notwithstanding stand vpright and be firme in the Lord to his honor and glory and to our eternall felicitie There is no newe thing happened vnto vs for with such tāpests dangerous weathers the church of God hath continually bene exercised Nowe once agayne as the Prophet Aggeus telleth vs The Lord shaketh the earth that those might abide for euer which be not ouerthrowne Therefore my dearely beloued be stable and immoueble in the word of God and in the faythfull obseruation therof and let no man deceiue you with vayn words saying that you may keepe your faith to your selues and dissemble with Antichrist and so liue at rest and quietnes in the world as most men doe yelding to necessitie Thys is the wisedome of the fleshe but the wisedome of the fleshe is death and enmitie to God as our sauiour for ensāple aptly did declare in Peter who exhorted Christ not to goe to Ierusalem to celebrate the Passouer and there to be slayn but counselled him to looke better to himselfe Likewise the worlde woulde not haue vs to forsake it neither to associate our selues to the true churche which is the body of Christ whereof we are liuely members and to vse the sacramentes after Gods word with the danger of our liues But we must learne to answere the world as Christ did Peter and say Go behynd me Sathan thou fauourest not the thinges of God Shall I not drinke of the cup whiche the father geueth me For it is better to bee afflicted and to be slayne in the church of God then to be counted the sonne of the king and the sinagogue of false religion Death for righteousnes is not to be abhorred but rather to bee desired which assuredly bringeth with it the crowne of euerlasting glory These bloudy executioners do not persecute Christes martyrs but crowne them with euerlasting felicitie we were borne into this world to be witnesses vnto the truth both learned and vnlearned Now since the time is come that we must shew our fayth and declare whether we will be Gods seruauntes in righteousnes holines as we haue bene taught are boūd to follow or els with hipocrisie to serue vnrighteousnes let vs take good heed that we be found faithfull in the Lords couenaunt and true members of hys Churche in that which through knowledge we are engraffed from the whiche if we fall by transgression with the common sort of people it will more straightly be required of vs then many yet doe make accompt therof We cannot serue two maysters we may not halt on both sides and thinke to please God we must bee feruent in Gods cause or els hee will cast vs out from him For by the first commaundement wee are commanded to loue God with all our hart with all our mind with all our power and strength but they are manifest transgressours of this commaundement which with their heart mynde or bodely power doe communicate with a straunge religion contrary to the word of God in the papisticall Sinagogue which calleth it selfe the Church and is not As greatly do they offend God now which so doe as the Israelites did in tymes past by forsaking Ierusalē the true churche of God and by going to Bethell to serue God in a congregation of theyr owne setting vp and after theyr own imaginations and traditions for the which doyng God vtterly destroyed all Israell as all the Prophetes almost doe testifie This happened vnto them for our ensample that we might beware to haue any fellowship with any like congregation to our destruction God hath one Catholicke church dispersed throughout the world and therfore we are taught in our Creed to beleue one Catholicke Churche to haue communion therwith which catholicke churche is grounded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and of the Apostles and vpō none other as S. Paule witnesseth to the Ephesians Therfore whersoeuer we perceaue any people to worship God truly after the word there we may be certayne the churche of Christe to bee vnto the whiche we ought to associate oure selues to desire with the Prophet Dauid to prayse God in the middest of this churche But if we hehold through iniquitie of time segregations to be made with counterfayt religion otherwise then the word of God doth teach wee ought then if we be required to be companions therof to say agayne with Dauid I haue hated the Sinagogue of the malignant and will not sit with the wicked In the Apocalips the church of Ephesus is highly commended because she tried such as said they were Apostles and were not in deede therfore would not abide the company of them Further God commanded his people that they shuld not seek Bethel neither enter into Gilgal where idolatry was vsed by the mouth of his Prophet Amos. Also wee must consider that our bodyes be the tēple of God whosoeuer as S. Paule teacheth doth prophane the tēple of God him the Lord wil destroy May we thē take the tēple of Christ make it the mēber of an harlot All strange religion and Idolatry is counted whoredome with the Prophetes and that more detestable in the sight of God then the aduoutrous abuse of the bodye Therfore the Princes of the earthe in the reuelation of S. Iohn be sayd to go a whoring whē they are in loue with false religion and follow the same How then by any meanes may a christian man thinke it tollerable to be present at the popish priuate Masse which is the very prophanation of the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and at other idolatrous worshippings and rites which be not after the word of God but rather to the derogation therof in setting mans traditions aboue Gods preceptes since God by his word iudgeth all straunge religion whiche is not according to his institutiō for whoredom aduoutry Some fondly think that the presence of the body is not materiall so that the hart doe not consent to theyr wicked doings But suche persons litle consider what S. Paule writeth to the Corinthians commaunding them to glorifie God as well in body as in soule Moreouer wee can doe no greater iniury to the true Church of Christ
in Christ may pray that he fall not but endure to the ende and that those that fall through fearefull infirmity might speedely repent and rise agayne with Peter and also that the weake ones mighte bewayle theyr weakenes and crye with Dauid haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heale me for all my bones are vexed Of this opening of the heart by persecution spake holy Simion to Mary Christes mother when he sayde the Sworde that is the Crosse of persecution shall pearse thy Soule that the thoughtes of many hartes may be opened For like as a king that should go to battell is cōpelled to looke in his cofers what treasure he hath and also what number and puisaunce of menne and weapons hee hath so that if he himselfe be vnready and vnarmed to bicker with hys enemye he surceaseth and taketh truice for a time euen so wee by persecutions haue our heartes opened that wee maye looke therein to see what fayth in Christ we haue and what strength to withstand the enemies and to beare the Crosse that if we be riche in these treasures we might reioyce and valiauntly go to Battell or if we want these thinges with all speede to call and crye vppon him which geueth all good giftes to those that aske them Item the crosse trieth the good people from the bad the faythfull from the worldlinges and hipocrites and also cleanseth and scoureth the faythfull hartes from all corruption and filthinesse both of the flesh and the spirit And euen as yron except it be often scoured will soone waxe rusty so except our sinnefull hartes and flesh be often scoured with the whetstone of the Crosse they will soone corrupt ouergrowe with the ruste of all filthinesse and sinne And therefore it is meete and good for vs as the wise man sayeth that as gold siluer are tryed in the fire so should the hartes of acceptable men be tried in the fornace of aduersity Abide the triall deare frendes that yee may obteyne the Crowne of life Fighte manfully in this the Lordes cause that ye may obteyne a glorious victorye here and receiue a greate rewarde in heauen hereafter As yee are called Christians and woulde be angry to be called Iewes or Turkes so declare your Christianity by folowing the steps of Christ whose name ye beare suffer with hym and for his Gospelles sake rather then to denye him or to defile your fayth and conscience with false worshipping of Romish religion Take vp your Crosse my deare hartes now when it is offered you and go vp with Christ to Ierusalem amōgest the Bishoppes Priestes and Rulers if God call you thereto and they will anone sende you to Caluery from whence dying in the cause of the Gospell wherein our good Preachers and Brethren haue geuen theyr liues your soules I warrant you through Christ Iesu shall ascend to God that gaue them and the body shall come after at the last day and so shal ye dwell with the Lord for euer in vnspeakeable ioy and blisse O blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake as Christes people in this Iewish Englande nowe doth for theyrs is the kingdome of heauen O my beloued set your mindes on this kingdome where Christ our head and king is considering that as the brute beast tooketh downewardes with the face towardes the earth so man is made contrariwise with his face looking vpward towardes the heauens because his conuersation should be in heauen and heauenlye thinges and not vpon the earth and earthly thinges and S. Paule sayth set your mindes on thinges whiche are aboue where Christ is And agayne he sayth our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for our Sauiour who will chaunge our vile bodyes and make them like to his glorious body Oh the glorious estate that we be called vnto The Lord preserue vs harmeles to his eternal kingdome through Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen The second thing that I note in the foresayde wordes of Peter is that he calleth persecution no straunge thinge And trueth it is for which of the Prophetes were not persecuted with Christ and his Apostles and some of them in the end cruelly killed for the truthes sake Cain killed Abell Isaac was persecuted of Ismaell Iacob was hated of Esau Ioseph was prisoned and set in the Stockes the Prophet Esay was cut in two with a Saw Ieremy was stoned Micheas was buffeted and fed with bread and water Helias was sore persecuted Eleazar and the woman with her 7. sonnes were cruelly killed What Christ and the Apostles suffered it is well knowne So that by many tribulations as Paul sayth we must enter into the kingdome of Heauen All the holy Prophetes Christ and hys Apostles suffered such afflictions not for euill doing but for preaching Gods word for rebuking the world of sinne and for theyr fayth in Iesus Christ. This is the ordinance of GOD my Frendes this is the high way to heauen by corporall death to eternall life as Christ sayth he that heareth my woordes and beleeueth in him that sent mee hath eternall life and shall not come into iudgement but is escaped from death to life Let vs neuer feare death which is killed by Christ but beleue in him and liue for euer as Paule sayth There is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesu which walke not after the fleshe but after the Spirit And agayne Paule sayth Death where is thy styng Hell where is thy victory Thankes be to God which hath geuen vs victory through Iesu Christe Besides this ye haue seene and dayly doe see the bloud of your good Preachers and Brethren which hath bene shed in the Gospelles cause in this sinnefull Sodome this bloudy Ierusalem this vnhappy City of London Lette not theyr bloud be forgotten nor the bloud of your good Bishop Ridley who like a Shepheard to your comforte exāple hath geuen his life for his sheepe good S. Paule sath remember them that haue spoken to you the word of God and looke vpon the end of theyr conuersation and folow theyr fayth The Deuill euer stirreth vp false teachers as he hath done now ouer all Englande as Peter Paule and Iude prophesied it should be to poyson and kill our soules with the false doctrine And where he fayleth of his purpose that way then mooueth he his members to persecute the seely carcases of the Saynctes because they will not denye nor dissemble theyr pure fayth in our liuing Christ and confesse a dead breadye Christ and honour the same as Christ God and man contrary to Gods commaūdement This is the working of Sathan who knowing hys owne iust damnation woulde all mankinde to be partakers wyth him of the same such a mortall hatred beareth he agaynst GOD and his people And therefore when this wicked Tempter coulde not kill Christe with subtle tentation to fall downe and worship him then
wherein the word of God is preached and the holy Sacraments truely ministred visible to the wicked world although it be not credited by the death of Saints confirmed as it was in the tyme of Helias the Prophet as well as now 3. Item the sea of Rome is the sea of Antichrist the congregation of the wicked c. whereof the Pope is head vnder the Deuill 4. Item the Masse is not onely a prophanation of the Lordes Supper but also a blasphemous Idoll 5. Item God is neither spiritually nor corporally in the Sacrament of the aultar and there remaineth no substance in the same but onely the substance of bread and wyne For these the Articles of our beliefe we beyng condemned to die do willingly offer our corruptible bodies to bee dissolued in the fire all with one voyce assentyng and consentyng therunto and in no one poynt dissentyng or disagreeyng from any of our former Articles Apparant also let it be and knowen that being of the former Articles before the bloudy Bishop examined the sayde day and tyme we affirmed to beleeue all that he or they would approoue by the Scriptures But he sayd that he would not stand to proue it with heretikes but sayd they themselues were the holy church and that we ought to beleeue them or els to bee cut of lyke withered branches ¶ Their names subscribed to the same Rafe Iackson Henry Adlington Lyon Cawch Wil. Hallywell George Searles Iohn Routh Iohn Derifall Henry Wye Edmund Hurst Laurence Parnam Tho. Boyer Elizabeth Pepper Agnes George Tho. Freeman Wil. Stannard Wil. Adams * Trouble and businesse in the Diocesse of Lichfield IN the Diocesse of Lichfield about the 14. of Iune in the same yeare Iohn Colstocke who was lately come from London before and now dwelling at Welington though he suffred no Martyrdome yet susteined some trouble beyng attached and examined by the B. named Rafe Bane for hys Religion especially for two poynts in holding agaynst the realtie of Christ in the Sacrament and against Auricular confession to be made to the Priest For the which cause beyng compelled to recant he was enioyned in the church of S. Cedde to beare a fagot before the crosse bare-headed hauyng in the one hand a Taper and in the other a payre of beades c. Amongst diuers other which in the same diocesse and the same tyme were suspected troubled for the lyke was Tho. Flyer of Uttoxater Shomaker Nich. Bail of Uttoxater Capper Tho. Pyot of Chedall Item Henry Crimes for marying his wife on Palme sonday euen c. Some other also there were which had the like penance enioyned them as Tho. Iohnson about the 26. day of this moneth of Iune because he sware by the holy Masse before the B. sittyng in iudgement who for the same was driuen to goe before the Crosse with hys Taper and beades c. Concerning the which Tho. Flyer aboue named being a godly and a zealous man this furthermore is to bee noted and not vnworthy of gratefull memory that where as in the Towne of Uttoxater commaundement was directed vnto him amongst others from the Ordinary for pullyng downe monuments of superstition and namely the Roode loft he beyng one of the churchwardens or Side-men on a tyme had talke vpon the same with certayne of his neighbours where one wished them ill to chieue that should go about such an acte What wordes passed els amongest them ministryng matter of further prouocation it is not perfectly known In fine the sayd Flier beyng offended and afterward metyng with him that had vsed such wordes before began to common with hym of the matter but in the ende the man so little repented him of those sayings that hee added yet more fierce words and at length strokes also in such wise that at that conflict the sayd Tho. Flyer was slayne and yet so was the matter handled such amends was made with money by the murtherer and hys friends to the sayd Fliers wyfe that he suffred little or nothyng for the same saue onely that he was banished that towne and sworne and bound neuer to come in it so long as the sayde Fliers wyfe should lyue ¶ Three men dead in the prison of the Kings Bench. AFter the burning of these in Stratford the same moneth died in the prison of the Kings Bench in Southwarke one Tho. Parret and was buried in the backside the 27. day of the moneth abouesayd Also Martin Hunt as is reported in the same prison was famished the 29. day At which tyme likewyse died in the same prison as I find recorded one Iohn Norice and after the same sort as the other was buried on the backeside of the sayd prison the day aboue mentioned ¶ The story of three Martyrs sufferyng at S. Edmondesbury AFter the death of the aforesayd Tho. Parret Martine Hunt and Iohn Norice were three martyred at S. Edmondsbury in Suffolke in one fire whose names are here vnder specified Roger Bernard Adam Foster Robert Lawson ¶ The first examination of Roger Bernard before D. Hopton B. of Norwich WHen Roger Bernard came before the Bish. first he was asked whether hee had bene with the Priest at Easter to be shriuen whether he had receiued the blessed Sacrament of the aultar or no. Unto whome Roger Bernard answered no I haue not bene with the Priest nor confessed my selfe vnto hym but I haue confessed my sinnes vnto almighty God I trust he hath forgeuē me wherfore I shall not need to go to the priest for such matters who cannot helpe hymselfe Bish. Surely Bernard thou must needes goe and confesse thy selfe vnto hym Rog. That shall I dot do by Gods grace while I liue Bish. What a stout boyly heretike is this how malipertly he answereth Rog. My L. it grieueth me no whit I thanke God to be called heretike at your hands for so your forefathers called the Prophetes and Confessours of Christ long before this tyme. At these words the B. rose vp in a great heat and bad Bernard follow hym Then the B. went and kneeled before that they call the Sacrament of the aultar and as hee was in his prayers kneelyng he looked backe and asked Bernard why he came not and did as he did Unto whom Bernard aunswered I cannot tell why I should so doe Why quoth the Bish. thou lewd felow whom seest thou yonder pointyng to the pixe ouer the aultar Rog. I see no body there Do you my Lord Bish. Why naughty man doest not thou see thy maker Rog. My maker No I see nothyng but a fewe cloutes hangyng together on a heape With that the Byshop rose vp sore displeased and commaunded the Gaoler to take hym away and to lay irons enough on hym For quoth he I will tame hym or he go from me I trow so and so he was caried away ¶ The second examination of Roger Bernard before the sayd Bishop THe next
denye to be lye or betraye the innocencye of that heauenlye doctrine or to bee ashamed to confesse and stande to the defence of the same seeing that Christe planted it with hys moste precious bloude and all good menne haue more esteemed the true and infallible woorde of GOD then all thys transitorye worlde or their owne mortall liues And I beleeue this doctrine of the Patriarkes Prophetes Christe and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfecte to instructe and teache mee and all the holy Church of our dueties towardes God the Magistrates and our neighbours Firste and principallye I do assuredly beleeue wythout any doubting that there is one Deitie or Diuine essence and infinite substaunce which is both called and is in dede God euerlasting vnbodilye vnpartible vnmeasurable in power wisedome and goodnesse the maker and preseruer of all thinges as well visible as inuisible and yet there be three distincte persones all of one Godheade or Diuine beynge and all of one power coequall consubstantiall coeternell the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghoste I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. As touching God the Father of heauen I beleeue as muche as holye Scripture teacheth mee to beleeue The Father is the firste persone in Trinitie first cause of our saluation which hathe blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christe whych hathe chosen vs before the foundations of the worlde were layde that wee shoulde be holye and wythout blame before hym who hath predestinate vs and ordained vs to bee his childrenne of adoption thorough Christe Iesu. In hym as it is sayde we liue wee mooue and haue oure being he nourisheth feedeth and geueth meate to euery creature And in Iesus Christe his onely sonne our Lorde I beleue that the woorde that is the Sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie did take mannes nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Marie So that there be in hym two natures a Diuine nature and an humaine nature in the vnitie of parson inseparable conioyned and knitte in one Christe truely God and truely man the expresse and perfecte Image of the inuisible God wherin the will of God the Father shineth apparantly and wherein man as it were in a glasse may beholde what he ought to doe that he maye please God the Father Borne of the Virgine Marie truelye sufferinge his Passion crucified deade and buryed to the entent to bring vs againe into fauoure wyth God the Father almightie and to be a sacrifice hoste and oblation not onely for originall sinne but also for all actuall sinnes of the whole generation of mankinde For all the woorkes merites deseruings doinges and obedience of man towards God althoughe they be done by the spirite of God in the grace of God yet being thus done be of no validitie worthine nor merite before God except God for his mercy and grace accoumpte them woorthye for the woorthinesse and merytes of Christ Iesus The same Christ went downe to the helles and truely rose againe the thirde day and ascended into the heauēs that he might there stil raigne and haue dominion ouer all creatures and from thence shall come c. I beleue in the holy Ghost coequall with God the Father and the Sonne and proceeding from them bothe by whose vertue strength and operation the true Catholicke Church which is the Communion and societie of Saintes is guided in all truthe veritie kept frō al errors fals doctrine the deuill all power of sinne Which Church is sanctified and halowed with the precious bloude and spirite of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche hathe also her signe and mark that she heareth and foloweth the voice of her only and true pastour Christ and no strangers This church also is the house of God the congregation of the liuing God the piller of truth the liuely body of Christe a Church both in name and in deede I beleue the remission of sinnes by the only meanes and merites of Christes death passion who made vnto vs of God that onely sacrifice and oblation offered once for all and for euer for all them that be sanctified I beleue the resurrection of the body whereby in the last day al men shal rise again from death the soules ioyned againe to the bodies the good to euerlasting life the wicked to euerlasting pain and punishmēt And nothing may more certainly stablish confirme our faith that we shall rise againe immortal both in body soule thē the resurrection of Christ our Sauiour and first fruites of the deade Nowe that Christe our head is risen we beynge hys body and members must follow our head Death hell and sinne cannot sunder nor plucke vs from him For as the Sonne can not be deuided nor sundred from the Father nor the holy Ghost frō them bothe no more maye wee beinge the faithfull members of Christ be separated from Christ. And for a confirmation of our resurrection Christ would be seene after his resurrection in hys most glorious body his woundes being handled and felte speaking and teaching eating and drinking c. Wee looke sayeth S. Paul for Iesus Christ our Sauiour which shall trāsfigure our vile bodies conform them to his glorious body by the same power and vertue wherwith he is able to subdue all things euen like as the graine of wheate sowen in the grounde is first putrified and brought as into a thing of noughte yet after that it springeth vp freshly with a more goodly colour forme and beautie then it had before The body is sowne in corruption and riseth in incorruption it is sowen in dishonour and riseth in honour Thus I verely know and assuredly beleue the resurrection of oure bodies and to haue life eternall by Christ and for Christes sake Verely verely I say vnto you sayth Christ he that heareth my woorde and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into damnation but is escaped frō death to life It is Christe that died once for oure sinnes and is risen againe neuer more to die it is he that swallowed vp death hath cast it vnder his feete for euer What now can death do vnto vs Verelye nothing els but for a little time separate oure precious soules from oure wretched bodies that diuine substaunce from a masse of sinne that eternall life from a body of death and so send our soules oute of this miserable wretched and sorrowfull lyfe combred with all calamities vnto that moste blessed felicitie and ioyes eternall As concerning the holy and reuerende Sacraments of Christes Churche which be in number two the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord I beleeue them to be as S. Paul calleth them confirmations or seales of Gods promises whiche haue added to them a promise of grace and therfore they are called visible signes of inuisible grace The Sacrament of
daunger to libertie of life then as one passing out of the world by any paines of death Such was the change of the meruailous workyng of the Lordes hand vpon that good man ¶ Cornelius Bongey felow Martyr with Mayster Robert Glouer IN the same fire with him was burned also Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Couentrey and condemned by the sayd Radulph Byshoppe of Couentry and Liechfield As concerning the Articles which were to him obiected the effect therof was this Firste it was articulate agaynste him that these three yeres last in the City of Couentry and Liechfield other places about he did hold mainteyne argue and teach that the Prieste hath no power here to absolue any sinner from his sinnes Secondly that by Baptisme sinnes be not washed away because he sayd that the washing of the flesh purgeth the flesh outwardly and not the soule Thirdly that there be in the Church onely two sacramentes that is Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Fourthly that in the sacrament of theyr popish aulter was not the reall body bloud of Christ but the substance of bread wine there remayning stil because S. Paul calleth it bread and wine c. Fiftly that he within the compasse of the sayd yeares time did hold maintayne and defend that the Pope is not the head of the visible church here in earth c. Sixtly that he was of the dioces and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Couentry and Liechfield c. Seuēthly that the premises are true manifest and notorious and that vpō the same there hath bene is a publick voice and fame as well in the places aboue rehearsed as in other quarters also about c. ¶ His aunsweres Unto the which articles he aunswering agayne to the first he graunted and to euery part therof meaning after the Popish maner of absolution The second he graunted first after reuoked the same To the thyrd also he graunted adding withall that in scripture there be no more conteined To the fourth touching the sacrament he graunted to euery part therof To the fift concerning the Pope likewise Also to the sixt he graūted and likewise to the seuenth Upon these articles and his answeres to the same the sayd Radulph the Bishop read the sentence and so cōmitted him also after the condemnation of Mayster Roberte Glouer to the seculer power Thus this foresayd Cornelius falsely condēned by the Bishop before mentioned suffered at the same stake wyth the Christian Martyr Mayster Robert Glouer at Couentry about the xx day of September ¶ The burning of Mayster Robert Glouer and Cornelius Bongey at Couentry ¶ Here foloweth the story of Iohn Glouer and William Glouer how they were excommunicate and cast out after theyr death and buried in the fieldes NOwe that wee haue discoursed the storye of Mayster Robert Glouer something also woulde bee touched of his other two brethrē Iohn and William Glouer Who albeit they were not called to finishe theyr course by lyke kinde of Martyrdome in the fire as the other did yet because for theyr constaunt profession of Gods Gospell vnto the latter ende they were exempted after theyr death cast out of the same Church as the other was I thought them not vnworthy therefore in the story to be ioyned together which in one cause and the same profession were not sūdered one from the other And first concerning Mayster Iohn Glouer the eldest brother what inward stormes and agonies he susteined by the ghostly enemy partly ye heard before described nowe what his bodily enemies wrought against him remaineth to be declared Whose rage and malice although god so restrained that they coulde litle preuayle agaynst him so long as his life endured yet after his decease hauing power vpon him what they did ye shall now vnderstand After the Martyrdome of mayster Robert Glouer although Iohn Glouer seing his brother to be apprehended for him had small ioy of his life for the great sorow of his hart wherewith he was sore oppressed and would gladly haue put himselfe in his Brothers stead if frendes had not otherwise perswaded with him shewing that in so doyng he might intangle himselfe but should doe his brother no good He thus in great care and vexation endured yet notwithstanding rubbing out as well as he could til at lēgth about the latter end of queene Mary there was a new search made for the sayd Iohn Glouer Whereupon the Sheriffes with theyr vnder Officers and seruauntes being sent to seek him came into his house where he and his wife were It chaūced as he was in his chamber by himselfe the Officers brusting into the house and searching other roomes came to the Chamber doore where this Iohn Glouer was Who being within and holding the latch softly with his hand perceiued and heard the Officers buskeling about the doore amongest whome one of the sayd officers hauing the string in his hand was ready to draw and plucke at the same In the meane time an other comming by whose voice he heard and knew bad them come away saying they had bene there before Whereupon they departing thence wēt to search other corners of the house where they found Agnes Glouer his wife who being had to Liechfilde there examined before the bishop at length after much ado was constrayned to geue place to their tyranny Ioh Glouer in the meane time partly for care of his wife partly through cold taken in the woodes where he did lye tooke an Agew whereupon not long after he left this life which the cruell Papistes so long had sought for Thus by the mighty protectiō of the almighty Lord how Iohn Glouer was deliuered and defended frō the handes of the persecuting enemies during all the time of hys life ye haue hearde Nowe what befell after his death both to him to William his brother it is not vnworthy to be remēbred Who after that he was dead buried in the churchyard without Priest or Clerke D. Dracot then Chauncellour sixe weekes after sent for the parson of the Towne demaunded howe it chaunced that hee was there buryed The parson aunswered that he was then sicke and knewe not of it Then the Chauncellour commaunded the parson to go home and to cause the body of the said Iohn Glouer to be taken vp to be cast ouer the wall into the hie way The Parson agayne answered that he had bene 6. weekes in the earth so smelled that none was able to abide the sauor of him Well quoth D. Dracot then take this byll and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soule and a twelue moneth after take vp his bones for then the fleshe will be consumed and cast thē ouer the wall that cartes and horses may tread vpon them and then will I come hallow againe that place in the churchyard where he was buried Recorded by the Parson of the towne who tolde the same to Hugh Burrowes dwelling at
doe offende me in the Masse I will rehearse vnto you those thinges whiche be moste cleare and seeme to repugne most manifestly agaynst Gods worde And they be these The straunge tongue the want of the shewynge of the Lordes death The breaking of the Lordes commaundement of hauing a communion the sacrament is not coÌ„municated to all vnder both kindes according to the word of the Lord. The signe is seruilely worshipped for the thing signified Christes Passion is iniuried for asmuch as this Masse sacrifice is affirmed to remayne for the purging of sinnes to be shorte the manifolde superstitions and triflyng fondnesse whiche are in the Masse and aboute the same Better a few thinges well pondered then to trouble the memory with to much you shall preuayle more with praying theÌ„ with studying though mixture be best For so one shall alleuiate the tediousnes of the other I entend not to contend much with them in wordes after a reasonable account of my fayth geuen for it shall be but in vayne They will say as theyr fathers sayd when they haue no more to say We haue a law and by our law he ought to dye Be ye steadfast and vnmoueable sayeth Saynt Paule and agayne persistito stand fast And how oft is this repeated if ye abide if ye abide c. But we shall be called obstinate sturdy ignorant heady and what not So that a man hath need of much pacience hauing to do with such men But you knowe howe greate a crime it is to separate your selfe from the communion or felowship of the Churche and to make a schisme or diuision you haue bene reported to haue hated the secte of the Anabaptistes and alwayes to haue impugned the same Moreouer this was the pernitious errour of Nouatus and of the Heretickes called Cathari that they woulde not communicate wyth the Church I know that the vnity of the Church is to be reteyned by all meanes the same to be necessary to saluation But I doe not take the Masse as it is at this day for the communion of the Churche but a Popishe deuise whereby both the commaundement and institution of our Sauiour Christ for the ofte frequenting of the remembraunce of his death is eluded the people of God are miserablye deluded The sect of the Anabaptistes and the heresy of the Nouatians ought of right to be condemned for as muche as without any iust or necessary cause they wickedly separated themselues from the communion of the congregation for they did not alleadge that the Sacramentes were vnduely ministred but â—urning away theyr eyes from theÌ„selues wherewith according to Saynt Paules rule they ought to examine themselues and caâ—ing theyr eyes euer vpon others either Ministers or Communicantes with them they alwayes reprooued something for the whiche they absteined from the Communion as from an vnholy thing I remember that Caluin beginneth to confute the Interim after this sort with this saying of Hilary The name of peace is beautifull and the opinion of vnitye is fayre but who doubteth that to be the true and onely peace of the Church which is Christes I would you had that litle booke there should you see how much is to be geuen to vnity Saynt Paule when he requireth vnitye he ioyneth straight with al secundum Iesum Christum according to Iesus Christ no further Diotrephes nowe of late did euer harpe vpon vnity vnity Yea Syr quoth I but in verity not in popery Better is a diuersity then an vnitye in Popery I had nothing agayne but scornefull giers with commaundement to the Tower But admitte there be in the Masse that peraduenture might be amended or at least made better yea seing you will haue it so admit there be a fault if you do not consent therto Why do you trouble your selfe in vayne do not you know both by Cyprian and Augustine that communioÌ„ of sacramentes doth not defile a man but consent of deedes If it were any one trifling ceremony or if it were some one thing of it selfe indifferent although I woulde wishe nothing should be done in the Churche which doth not edify the same yet for the continuance of the common quietnesse I coulde be content to beare it But forasmuche as thinges done in the masse tend openly to the ouerthrow of Christes institution I iudge that by no meanes either in word or deed I ought to consent vnto it As for that which is obiected out of the Fathers I acknowledge it to be wel spoken if it be well vnderstanded But it is meant of them which suppose they are defiled if any secret vice be either in the ministers or in them that communicate with them is not ment of them which doe abhorre superstition and wicked traditions of men and will not suffer the same to be thrust vpon themselues or vpon the Church in stead of Gods word and the truth of the Gospell The very marowe bones of the masse are all together detestable and therefore by no meanes to be borne withal so that of necessity the mending of it is to abolish it for euer For if you take away oblation and oration which doe hang vpon consecration and transubstantiation the moste papistes of them all will not set a button by the masse as a thing which they esteme not but for the gayne that foloweth thereon For if the English communion whiche oâ— late was vsed were as gaynefull to them as the Masse hath bene heretofore they would striue no more for theyr masse from thence groweth the griefe Consider into what dauÌ„gers you cast your selfe if you forsake the chuch you cannot but forsake it if you refuse to go to masse For the Masse is the Sacrament of vnity without the Arke there is no saluation The church is the Arke and Peters ship Ye know this saying wel enough He shall not haue God to be his Father which acknowledgeth not the church to be his mother Moreouer without the church sayth S. Augustine be the life neuer so wel spent it shall not inherit the kingdome of heauen The holy Catholicke or vniuersall church which is the communion of saintes the house of God the City of God the spouse of Christ the body of Christ the piller and stay of the trueth this Churche I beleeue accordinge to the Creede This Church I doe reuerence and honour in the Lord. But the rule of this Church is the word of God according to which rule we goe forwarde vnto life And as many as walk according to this rule I say with S. Paul peace be vpon them and vpon Israell which perteyneth vnto God The guid of this church is the holy ghost The markes whereby this church is knowne vnto me in this darâ—ke worlde and in the middest of this crooked and froward generatioÌ„ are these The sincere preaching of Gods holy worde the due administration of the Sacramentes charitye and faythfull
their sophistical Sophismes and fallacies you knowe that false thinges may haue more apparence of truth then thinges that be most true therefore Paule geueth vs a watcheÌ„ worde Let no man deceiue you with likelines of speache Neither is it requisite that with the contentious ye shulde follow strife of wordes which tend to no edification but to the subuersion of the hearers and the vayne braggyng and ostentation of the aduersaries Feare of deathe doth most perswade a great number Be well ware of that argument for that perswaded Shaxton as manye menne thought after that he had once made a good profession openly before the iudgement seate The flesh is weake but the willingnes of the spirite shal refresh the weakenesse of the fleshe The number of the cryars vnder the aultar must needs be fulfilled if we be segregated thereunto happy be wee That is the greatest promotion that God geueth in thys world to be such Phillippians to whome it is geuen not only to beleue but also to suffer c. But who is able to do these thinges Surely all our habilitie all our sufficiencye is of God He requireth and promiseth Let vs declare our obedience to his wil when it shal be requisite in the ryme of trouble yea in the middest of the fire When that number is fulfilled which I weene shal be shortly then haue at the papists when they shal say peace al things are safe when Christ shal come to keep his great Parliament to the redresse of al things that be amisse But he shal not come as the papistes fayne him to hide himself and to play bo piepe as it were vnder a peece of bread but he shal come gloriously to the terrour and feare of all Papistes but to the great consolation and comfort of all that wil here suffer for him Comfort your selues one an other with these wordes Lo syr here I haue blotted youre paper vaynely and played the foole egregiously but so I thought better theÌ„ not to doe your request at this time Pardon me and praye for me pray for me I say pray for me I saye For I am some time so feareful that I would creep vnto a mouse hoale some time God doth visite me agayne with his comforte So he commeth and goeth to teache me to feel to know mine infirmitie to thintent to geue thankes to him that is worthy least I shuld rob hym of hys duety as many do almost al the world Fare you well What credence is to be geueÌ„ to papists it may appeare by their racking writhing wrinching and moÌ„strously iniuryng of Gods holy scripture as appeareth in the popes law But I dwell here now in a schole of obliuiousnesse Fare you well once agayne and be you steadfast and vnmoueable in the Lord. Paule loued Timothy meruelous well notwithstanding he sayth vnto him Be thou partetaker of the afflictions of the Gospell and agayne Harden thy selfe to suffer afflictions Bee faythfull vnto the death and I wyll geue thee a Crowne of life sayth the Lorde * Here followeth the letters of the reuerend Byshop and Martyr Nicholas Ridley * A letter sent from Bishop Ridley and his prison fellowes vnto M. Bradford and his prison fellowes in the Kynges Benche in Southwarke an 1554. WEll beloued in Christ our sauiour we all with one hart wish to you with all those that loue God in deede and truth grace and health and especially to oure dearely beloued companions which are in Christes cause and the cause both of theyr brethren and of theyr own saluation to put their neck willingly vnder the yoke of Christes crosse How ioyfull it was to vs to heare the reporte of Doctour Taylour and of hys godly confession c. I ensure you it is hard for me to expresse Blessed be God whiche was and is the geuer of that and of all godly strength and stomacke in the tyme of aduersitie As for the rumours that haue or doe goe abroad eyther of our relenting or massing we trust that they whiche knowe God and their duety towardes theyr brethren in Christ will not be too light of credence For it is not the slaunderers euill tongue but a mans euil deede that can with God defile a man and therefore with Gods grace ye shall neuer haue other cause to do otherwise then ye say ye do that is not to doubt but that we wiâ—l by Gods grace continue c. Like rumour as yee haue heard of our comming to London hath bene here spread of the comming of certayne learned men prisoners hither from London but as yet wee knowe no certaintie whether of these rumours is or shal be more true Know you that wee haue you in our dayly remembraunce and wishe you and al the rest of our foresayd companions well in Christ. It shuld do vs much comfort if we might haue knowledge of the state of the rest of oure most dearely beloued which in this troublesome tyme do stand in Christes cause and in the defence of the truth thereof Somewhat we haue heard of mayster Hoopers matter but of the rest neuer a deale We long to heare of father Crome Doctor Sandys M. Saunders Ueron Beacon Rogers c. wee are in good health thankes be to God and yet the maner of our entreating doth chaunge as sowre ale doth in summer It is reported to vs of our keepers that the Uniuersitie beareth vs heauily A cole chaunced to fall in the night out of the chimney and burnt a hole in the floore and no more harme was done the Balyffes seruauntes sittyng by the fire An other night there chaunced as mayster Bailiffes told vs a dronken fellow to multiply wordes and for the same he was set in Bocardo Upon these things as is reported there is risen a rumour in the towne and country about that we should haue broken the prison with such violence as if mayster Bayliffes had not playde the prettye men we should haue made a scape We had out of our pryson a wall that we might haue walked vpon and our seruauntes had libertie to goe abroad in the towne or fieldes but now both they and we are restrayned of both My Lord of Worcester passed by through Oxford but he did not visite vs. The same day beganne our restraynt to be more and the booke of the Communion was taken from vs by the Bayliffes at the Maiors commaundement as the Bayliffes did report to vs. No man is licensed to come vnto vs afore they might that woulde see vs vppon the wall but that is so grudged at and so euill reported that we are now restrayned c. Sir blessed be god with all our euill reportes grudges and restrayntes we are merry in God and all our cure and care is and shall be by Gods grace to please and serue him of whom we look and hope after this temporal and momentany miseries to haue eternall ioye and perpetuall felicitie with Abraham
vehementibus quamlibet sinceris puris quimus Quare prohibeat deus ne in hac dierum malitia qui debent ipsi potius praedicare praecepit enim nobis inquit Petrus praedicare vel volentes potentes praedicare praepediant contra illud noli prohibere eum benefacere qui potest vel cauponantes praedicare compellant sic miseram plebeculam in superstitione fallaci fiducia damnabiliter detineÌ„tes Quin deus potius misereatur nostri vt cognoscamus in terra viam tuam ne videamur in quos illud quadret digne noÌ„ cogitationes meae cogitationes vestrae neque viae meae viae vestrae dicit dominus Hinc ego nudis sententijs subscribere non audeo domine cum primis obseruande quia popularis superstitionis diutius duraturae quoad possum authorculus esse nolo ne mei ipsius damnationis simul sim author Quod si dignus essem qui tibi coÌ„silium darem colendissime pater sed cohibeo me quaÌ„ sit prauum intollerabile hominis cor detur vel coniectare Neque sane quisquam nouit quae sunt hominis nisi spiritus hominis qui est in eo Non me superbia detinet vlla ab illa subscriptione toties a tua dominatione cum maxima mei animi molestia rogata Non potest non esse impium patribus proceribus ecclesiae non obtempeâ—are sed videndum interim illis quid quibus imperent cum in loco deo quam hominibê° obedire oportet magis Sic dolet mihi caput reliquum corpus languet vt nec venire nec haec rescribete licet emendare Sed tua dominatio si non iudicium meum certe studium spero probabit Valeat dominatio tua In this foresayd Epistle as ye heare he maketh mention of certayne articles or propositions whereunto hee was required by the Bishops to subscribe The copy and effect of those articles or nude propositions as hee calleth them be these ¶ Articles deuised by the Bishops for M. Latymer to subscribe vnto I Beleeue that there is a purgatory to purge the soules of the dead after this lyfe That the soules in Purgatorie are holpen wyth the Masses prayers and almes of the liuyng That the Saints do pray as Mediatours now for vs in heauen That they are to be honoured of vs in heauen That it is profitable for Christians to call vppon the Saintes that they may pray as Mediatours for vs vnto God That pilgrimages and oblations done to the Sepulchres and Reliques of Saints are meritorious That they which haue vowed perpetual chastitie may not marry nor breake their vow without the dispensation of the Pope That the keyes of bindyng loosing deliuered to Peter do still remaine with the bishops of Rome his successors although they lyue wickedly and are by no meanes nor at any tyme committed to lay men That men may merite and deserue at Gods hand by fasting prayer and other good works of pitie That they which are forbidden of the Bishoppe to preach as suspect persons ought to cease vntill they haue purged themselues before the sayde Bishops or theyr Superiors and be restored agayne That the fast whiche is vsed in Lent and other fastes prescribed by the Canons and by custome receiued of the Christians except necessity otherwise require and to be obserued and kept That God in euery one of the seuen Sacramentes geueth grace to a man rightly receiuing the same That consecrations sanctifyinges and blessinges by vse and custome receiued in the Churche are laudable and profitable That it is laudable and profitable that the venerable Images of the Crucifix and other Sayntes should be had in the Church as a remembraunce and to the honour and worship of Iesus Christ and his Sayntes That it is laudable and profitable to decke to clothe those Images and to set vp burning lightes before them to the honor of the sayd Sayntes To these Articles whether he did subscribe or no it is vncertayne It appeareth by his Epistle aboue written to the Byshoppe that he durst not consent vnto them where he writeth in these wordes His ego nudis sententijs subscribere non audeo quia popularis superstitionis diutius duraturae quoad possum autorculus esse nolo c. But yet whether he was compelled afterwarde to agree through the cruell handling of the Byshoppes it is in doubt By the wordes and the Title in Tonstalles Register prefixed before the Articles it may seeme that he subscribed The wordes of the Register bee these Hugo Latimerus in sacra Theologia Bacch in vniuersitate Cantab. coram Cant. Archiepiscopo Iohan Lond. Episcopo reliquáque concione apud Westmonst vocatus confessus est recognouit fidem suam sic sentiendo vt sequitur in his artic xxi die Martij Anno. 1531. If these wordes be true it may bee so thought that he subscribed And whether he so did no great matter nor maruell the iniquitye of the time being such that either he must nedes so do or els abide the Bishoppes blessing that is cruell sentence of death which he at that time as himselfe confessed preachinge at Stamforde was lothe to susteine for such matters as these were vnlesse it were for Articles necessary of his beliefe by whiche his wordes I coniecture rather that he did subscribe at length albeit it was longe before he coulde be brought so to do Yet this by the waye is to be noted concerning the crafty and deceitfull handling of these Bishoppes in his examinations what subtle deuises they vsed the same time to entrappe him in theyr sâ—ares The trueth of the story he sheweth forth hymselfe in a certayne Sermon preached at Stamforde ann 1550. October 9. his wordes be these I was once sayeth he in examinatioÌ„ before fiue or sixe Bishops where I had much turmoyling euery weeke thrise I came to examinations and many snares and traps were layde to get something Now God knoweth I was ignoraunt of the Lawe but that God gaue me answere and wisedome what I should speake it was God in deed for els I had neuer escaped them At the last I was brought forth to be examined into a chamber hanged with arras where I was wont to be examined but nowe at this time the chamber was somewhat altered For where as before there was wonte euer to be a fire in the chimney now the fire was taken away and an arras hanged ouer the chimney and the table stood nere the chimneis end There was amongest these Bishoppes that examined me one with whom I haue bene very familier and tooke him for my great frend an aged man and he sate nexte the table end Then amongest all other questions he put forth one a very subtle and crafty one and such a one in deed as I could not thinke so great daunger in And when I should make aunswere I pray you M. Latimer sayd one speake out I am very thicke of hearing and here
geuen him by the scorneful Papistes was cast agayne into the Tower where he being assisted with the heauenly grace of Christ susteined most pacient imprisonment a long time notwithstanding the cruel and vnmercifull handlinge of the Lordlye Papistes whyche thought then theyr kingdome would neuer fall yet he shewed hymselfe not onely pacient but also chearefull in and aboue all that which they could or woulde worke agaynst him yea such a valiaunt spirit the Lord gaue him that he was able not onely to despise the terriblenesse of prisons tormentes but also to deride and laugh to scorne the doinges of his enemies As it is not vnknowne to the eares of many what he aunswered to the Lieuetenaunt beynge then in the Tower For when the Lieutenauntes man vpon a time came to him the aged Father kept without fire in the frosty winter and wellâ—ye starued for colde merely bad the man tell his Mayster that if he did not looke the better to him perchaunce he would deceiue him The Lieutenaunt hearing this he thought hymselfe of these wordes and fearing least that in deede he thought to make some escape beganne to looke more straightly to his Prisoner and so comming to him beginneth to charge him with his wordes reciting the same vnto him whiche his man had told him before how that if he were not better looked vnto perchaunce he would deceiue them c. Yea Mayster Lieutenaunt so I sayd quoth he for you looke I thinke that I shoulde burne but except you let me haue some fire I am like to deceiue your expectation for I am like here to starue for cold Many such like answeres and reasons mery but sauery comming not from a vayne minde but from a constant and quiet reasoÌ„ proceded from that man declaring a firme and stable hart litle passing for all this great blustering of theyr terrible threates but rather deriding the same Thus Mayster Latimer passing a long time in the tower with as much pacience as a manne in his case coulde do from thence was transported to Oxforde with Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Caunterbury and Mayster Ridley Byshop of London there to dispute vpon Articles sent downe from Gardiner Bishop at Winchester as is before touched the maner and order of whiche disputations betwene them and the Uniuersitye Doctours is also before sufficiently expressed Where also is declared how and by whome the sayd Latimer with his otherfelow Prisoners were condemned after the disputations and so committed agayne to the Prison and there they conâ—umed from the Moneth of Aprill aboue mentioned to this present Moneth of October where they were most godly occupied either with brotherly conference or with feruent prayer or with fruitfull writing Albeit M. Latimer by reasoÌ„ of the feblenes of his age wrote least of them all in this latter time of his imprisonment yet in prayer he was feruently occupyed wherin oftentimes so long he continued kneeling that hee was not able to rise without helpe and amongst other things these were three principall matters he prayed for First that as God had appoynted him to be a preacher of his worde so also he woulde geue him grace to stand to his doctrine vntill his death that he might geue his harte bloud for the same SecoÌ„dly that God of his mercy would restore his gospell to Englande once agayne and these wordes once agayne once agayne he did so inculcate beat into the eares of the Lord God as though he had sene God before hym and spoken to him face to face The third matter was to pray for the preseruation of the Queenes Maiesty that now is whome in his prayer he was wont accustomably to name and euen with teares desired God to make her a comfort to his comfortles realme of England These were the matters he prayed for so earnestlye Neither were these thinges of him desired in vayne as the good successe thereof after following did declare for the Lord most graciously did graunt all those his requestes First concerning his constancy euen in the most extremity the Lord graciously assisted him For when he stoode at the stake without Bocardo gate at Oxford and the tormentors about to sette the fire to him and to the learned and Godly Byshop Mayster Ridley he lifted vp his eyes towardes heauen with an amiable and comfortable countenaunce saying these wordes Fidelis est Deus qui non sinit nos tentari supra id quod possumus God is faythfull whiche doth not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our strength and so afterwarde by and by shedde his bloude in the cause of Christ the whiche bloud ranne of his hart in suche aboundaunce that all those that were present being godly dyd maruell to see the most part of the bloud in his body to bee gathered to hys hart and with such violence to gush out his body being opened by the force of the fire by the whiche thing God most graciously graunted his request whiche was that he might shed his hart bloud in the defence of the Gospell How mercifully the Lord heard his second request in restoring his Gospell once agayne into this Realme these present dayes can beare record And what then shall England say now for her defence whiche being so mercifullye visited and refreshed with the word of God so slenderlye and vnthankfully considereth either her own misery past or the great benefite of God nowe present The Lorde be mercifull vnto vs. Amen Agayne concerning his third request it seemeth likewise most effectuously grauÌ„ted to the great praise of God the furtherance of his Gospell and to the vnspeakable coÌ„fort of this Realme For whether at the request of his praiyr or of other Gods holy Sayntes or whether God was moued with the cry of his whole Church the truth is that when all was deplorate and in a desperate case and so desperate that the enemies mightily florished and triumphed Gods word was banished Spanierdes receiued no place left for Christes seruauntes to couer theyr heades sodenly the Lord called to remembraunce his mercye and forgetting our former iniquity made an end of al these miseries and wroughte a maruellous chaunge of thinges at the chaunge whereof the said Queene Elizabeth was appointed and annoynted for whome this graye headed father so earnestly prayd in his imprisonment through whose true naturall and imperiall Crowne the brightnesse of Gods word was set vp agayne to confound the darcke and false visoured kingdome of Antichrist the true temple of Christ reedified the Captiuitye of sorowfull Christians released which so long was wished for in the prayers of so manye good men specially of this faythfull and true seruaunt of the Lord M. Latimer The same God which at the requestes of his holy and faythfull Sayntes hath poured vpon vs such benefites of his mercy peace and tranquility assiste our most vertuous and Christian Princesse and her Subiectes that wee may euery one in his state
haue robbed and spoyled all this heauenly treasure away I may well complayne on these thyngs and cry out vpon them with the Prophet saying Deus venerunt gentes in haereditatem tuam c. Psal. 72. O Lord God the Gentiles Heathen nations are come into thy heritage They haue defiled thy holy Temple and made Ierusalem an heape of stones that is They haue broken beaten down to the ground thy holy Citie This Heathenish generatiō these thieues of Samaria these Sabei and Chaldei these robbers haue rushed out of their dennes and haue robbed the Church of England of all the foresayd holy treasure of God they haue caried it away and ouerthrown it and in stead of Gods holy worde the true and right administration of Christes holy Sacramentes as of Baptisme and others they mixte theyr ministerie with mens foolish fantasies and many wicked and vngodly traditions withall In stead of the Lordes holy Table they geue the people with much solemne disguising a thyng which they cal their Masse but in deed and in truth it is a very masking and mockerie of the true Supper of the Lord or rather I may call it a crafty iuglyng whereby these false theeues iuglers haue bewitched the myndes of the simple people that they haue broght them from the true worship of god vnto pernicious idolatry and make them to beleeue that to be Christ our Lord and Sauiour which in deed is neither God nor man nor hath any lyfe in it selfe but in substance is the creature of bread and wyne and in vse of the Lordes Table is the Sacrament of Christes bodye and bloud and for this holy vse for the whiche the Lord hath ordained them in hys table to represent vnto vs his blessed body torne vpon the crosse for vs and his bloude there shed it pleased him to call them his body bloud whiche vnderstanding Christ declareth to be his true meanyng when he sayth Do this in the remembraunce of me And agayne Saint Paule likewyse doth set out the same more plainly speaking of the same Sacrament after the words of the consecration saieng As often as ye shall eat of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall set forth he meaneth with the same the Lordes death vntill his commyng agayne And here agayne these thieues haue robbed also the people of the Lordes cup contrary to the plaine words of Christ written in his Gospell Nowe for the common publike prayers whiche were in the vulgare tongue these theeues haue brought in agayne a strange tongue whereof the people vnderstande not one worde Wherein what doe they els but robbe the people of their Diuine seruice wherein they ought to pray together with the minister and to pray in a strange tong what is it but as Saint Paule calleth it barbarousnesse childishnes vnprofitable folly yea and plaine madnesse For the godly Articles of vnitie in religion for the wholesome Homelies what doe these Thieues place in the stead of them but the Popes Lawes and Decrees lying Legends fayned fables and miracles to delude and abuse the simplicitie of the rude people Thus this robbery and theft is not onely committed nay sacriledge and wicked spoyle of heauenly thyngs but also in the stead of the same is brought in and placed the abhominable desolation of the tyrant Antiochus of proud Senacherib of the shamelesse faced kyng and of the Babilonicall beast Unto this robbery this theft and sacrilege for that I cannot cōsent nor God willyng neuer shall so long as the breath is in my body because it is blasphemy agaynst God hygh treason vnto Christ our heauenly kyng Lord Maister our onely Sauiour and redeemer it is playne contrary to Gods word and to Christes Gospell it is the subuersion of all true godlinesse and agaynst the euerlastyng saluation of myne owne soule and of all my brethren and sisters whom Christ my Sauiour hath so dearely bought wyth no lesse price then with the effusion and shedyng foorth of hys most precious bloud Therfore all ye my true louers in God my kinsfolke and countreymen for this cause I say knowe ye that I am put to death which by Gods grace I shall willingly take with hearty thankes to God therefore in certayne hope without any doubtyng to receyue at Gods hande agayne of his free mercy and grace euerlastyng lyfe Although the cause of the true man slayne of the thiefe helpyng hys neighbour to recouer hys goods agayne and the cause wherfore I am to be put to death in a generality is both one as I sayd before yet know ye that there is no small difference These thieues agaynst whom I do stand are much worse then the robbers and thieues of the borders The goodes which they steale are much more precious and their kynds of fight are far diuers These thieues are worse I say for they are more cruell more wycked more false more deceitfull and crafty for those wyll but kill the body but these will not sticke to kill both body and soule Those for the generall theft and robbery be called are in deed theeues and robbers but these for their spirituall kynd of robbery are called Sacrilegi as ye would say Church robbers They are more wicked for those goe about to spoyle men of worldly thynges worldly riches gold and siluer worldly substance these go about in the wayes of the deuill their ghostly father to steale from the vniuersall Church and perticularly from euery man all heauenly treasure true faith true charity hope of saluation in the bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ yea to spoil vs of our sauior Iesus Christ of his gospel of his heauēly spirit of the heauenly heritage of the kingdom of heauē so derely purchased vnto vs with the death of our maister and Sauiour Christ. These be the goodes and godly substance whereupon the christian before God must liue and without the which he cannot lyue These goods I saye these theeues these Church robbers go about to spoile vs of The which goods as to the man of God they excell and farre passe all worldly treasure so to withstand euen vnto the death such theeues as go about to spoyle both vs the whole Church of such goods is most high and honourable seruice done vnto God These church robbers be also much more false crafty and deceitfull then the theeues vpon the borders for these haue not the craft so to commend their theft that they dare auouch it and therefore as acknowledging themselues to be euill they steale commonly vpon the nyght they dare not appeare at iudgements and Sessions where Iustice is executed and when they are taken and brought thether they neuer hang any man but they bee oft tymes hanged for theyr faults But these Church robbers can so cloke colour their spiritual robbery that they can make the people to beleeue falshood to be truth and truth falshood good
thou madest me not partner of First to be scholer then to be fellow after my departure from thee thou calledst me againe to a maistership of a right worshipful colledge I thanke thee my louing mother for al this thy kindnes and I pray God that his lawes and the sincere gospell of Christ may euer bee truly taught and faithfully learned in thee Farewell Pembroke Hall of late myne owne Colledge my cure and my charge what case thou art in now God knoweth I know not wel Thou wast euer named sithens I knew thee which is now 30. yeares agoe to bee studious well learned and a great setter forth of Christes gospell and of Gods true word so I found thee blessed be God so I left thee in deed Wo is me for thee myne own deare Colledge if euer thou suffer thy selfe by any meanes to be brought from that trade In thy Orchard the wals buts and trees if they could speake would beare me witnes I learned without booke almost all Paules epistles yea and I weene all the Canonicall epistles saue only the Apocalyps Of which study although in time a great part did depart from me yet the sweete smell thereof I trust I shall cary with me into heauen for the profite thereof I thinke I haue felt in all my lyfe tyme euer after I ween of late whether they abide now or no I cannot tell there was that did the lyke The Lord graunt that this zeale loue toward that part of gods word which is a kay true commentary to all holy scripture may euer abyde in that Colledge so long as the world shall endure From Cambridge I was called into Kente by the Archbishoppe of Caunterbury Thomas Cranmer that most Reuerend Father and man of God and of hym by and by sent to be Uicare of Herne in East Kent Wherefore farewell Herne thou worshipfull and wealthy Parishe the first Cure whereunto I was called to minister Gods word Thou hast heard of my mouth oft tymes the worde of GOD preached not after the popish trade but after Christes Gospell Oh that the fruite had aunswered to the seede And yet I must knowledge me to bee thy debter for the doctrine of the Lordes Supper whiche at that tyme I acknowledge God had not reueled vnto me but I blesse God in all that godly vertue zeale of Gods worde which the Lord by preachyng of his word did kindle manifestly both in the heart and in the lyfe and works of that Godly woman there my Lady Phines the Lord graunt that hys worde tooke lyke effect there in many other moe Farewell thou cathedrall church of Caunterbury the Metrapolitike sea whereof once I was a member To speake things pleasant vnto thee I dare not for daunger of conscience and displeasure of my Lord God and to say what lyeth in my hart were now to much I feare were able to do thee now but little good Neuerthelesse for the friendship I haue found in some there and for charity sake I wish thee to be washed clean of all worldlines and vngodlines that thou mayst be found of God after thy name Christes church in deed and in truth Farewell Rochester sometyme my Cathedrall sea in whom to say the truth I did find much gentlenesse and obedience and I trust thou wilt not say the contrary but I did vse it to Gods glory and thyne owne profit in God Oh that thou hadst and mightst haue continued and gone forward in the trade of Gods lawe wherein I dyd leaue thee then thy charge and burden should not haue bene so terrible and dangerous as I suppose verily it is lyke to be alas on the latter day To Westminster other aduertisement in God I haue not now to say then I haue sayd before to the Cathedrall church of Cant. so God geue thee of his grace that thou mayest learne in deed and in truth to please hym after his owne lawes and thus fare you well Oh London London to whome now may I speake in thee or whom shall I bid farewell Shall I speake to the Prebendaries of Paules Alas all that loued Gods word were the true setters forth therof are now as I heare say some burnt and slaine some exiled and banished and some holden in hard prison and appointed daily to be put to most cruel death for Christes gospel sake As for the rest of them I know they could neuer brooke me well nor I could neuer delight in them Shall I speake to the Sea thereof wherein of late I was placed almost and not fully by the space of iij. yeres But what may I say to it being as I heare say I am deposed and expulsed by iudgement as an vniust vsurper of that roume O iudgement iudgement Can this bee iust iudgement to condemne the chiefe minister of gods word the pastour and bishop of the dioces and neuer bring him into iudgement that hee might haue heard what crymes were layd to his charge nor neuer suffer him to haue any place or tyme to aunswer for himselfe Thinkest thou that hereafter when true Iustice shall haue place thys iudgement can euer be allowed either of God or of man Well as for the cause and whole matter of my deposition the spoil of my goods which thou possessest yet I referre it vnto God which is a iust iudge and I besech God if it be his pleasure that that which is but my personall wrong bee not layd to thy charge in the latter daye this onely can I pray for O thou now wicked and bloudy Sea why doest thou set vp agayne many aultars of Idolatry which by the word of God were iustly taken away Why hast thou ouerthrowen the Lordes Table Why doest thou dayly delude thy people maâ—king in thy Masses in stead of the Lordes holy Supper which ought to be commoÌ„ aswell sayth Chrysostom yea the Lord himselfe to the people as to the priest How darest thou denye to the people of Christ contrarye to his expresse commaundement in the Gospell his holye Cuppe Why bablest thou to the people the commoÌ„ prayer in a straunge tongue wherein S. Paule commaundeth in the Lordes name that no man should speake before the Congregation except it shoulde bee by and by declared in theyr common tongue that all might bee edified Naye harken thou Whoorishe Bande of Babylon thou wicked lyaâ—â—e of Antichrist thou bloudy Woolfe why slayest thou downe and makest hauocke of the Prophetes of GOD Why marthe rest thou so cruelly Christes poore seely sheep which will not heare thy voyce because thou art a straunger and will folowe none other but theyr owne Pastoure Christ his voyce Thinkest thou to escape or that the Lord will not require the bloud of his sayntes at thy handes Thy GOD which is the worke of thy handes and whom thou sayest thou hast power to make that thy deafe and dumbe God I say will not in deede nor
not sayth S. Peter as though it were any straunge matter that ye are tryed by the fire he meaneth of tribulation which thing sayth he is done to proue you nay rather in that ye are partners of Christes afflictions reioyce that in his glorious reuelation ye may reioyce with mery hartes If ye suffer rebukes in Christes name happy are ye for the glory and spirit of God resteth vpon you Of them God is reuiled and dishonored but of you he is glorified Let no manne be ashamed of that he suffereth as a Christian and in Christes cause for nowe is the time that iudgement and correction must beginne at the house of GOD and if it begin first at vs what shall be the end of those thinke ye which beleue not the Gospell And if the righteous shall bee hardlye saued the wicked and the sinner where shall he appeare Wherefore they which are afflicted according to the wil of God let thē lay downe and commit theyr soules to him by well doing as to a trustye and faythfull maker This as I sayde maye not seeme straunge to vs for we know that al the whole fraternity of Christes Congregation in this worlde is serued with the like and by the same is made perfect For the seruent loue that the Apostles had vnto their maister Christ and for the great commodities and increase of all godlines which they felt by theyr fayth to insue of afflictions in Christes cause thirdly for the heapes of heauenly ioyes which the same doe get vnto the godly which shall endure in heauen for euermore for these causes I saye the Apostles of their afflictions did ioy and reioyced in that they were had and accounted worthy to suffer contumelies rebukes for Christes name And Paul as he gloried in the grace fauor of God whervnto he was brought stoode in by fayth so he reioyced in hys afflictions the heauenlye and spirituall profites which he numbred to rise vpon them yea he was so farre in loue wyth that that the carnall man lothed so much that is with Christes crosse that he iudged himselfe to know nothing els but christ crucified he will glory he sayth in nothing els but in Christes crosse yea and he blesseth all those as the onely true Israelites elect people of God with peace and mercy whiche walketh after that rule and after none other O Lord what a wonderfull spirit was that that made Paule in setting forth of himselfe agaynst the vanity of Satans Pseudopostles and in his clayme there that he in Christes cause did excell and passe them all what wonderfull spirite was that I saye that made him to reckon vppe all his troubles his laboures hys beatinges his whippinges and scourginges his shippewrackes his daungers and perilles by water and by land his famine hunger nakednesse and colde with many moe and the dayly care of all the congregations of Christ among whom euery mans payne did pearce his heart and euery mannes griese was grieuous vnto him O Lord is this Paules primacye whereof hee thought so much good that he did excell other Is not this Paules sayinge vnto Timothy his owne scholer and doth it not perteyn to who so euer will be Christes true souldiours beare thou sayth he affliction like a good souldiour of Iesu Christ This is true if we dye with him he meaneth Christ we shall liue with him if we suffer with him we shall raigne with him if we deny him he shall denye vs if we be faythlesse he remayneth faythfull he cannot denye himselfe This Paule would haue knowne to euery bodye for there is none other way to heauen but Christ and his way all that will liue godly in Christ shall sayth S. Paule suffer persecution By this way went to heauen the Patriarches the Prophets Christ our Mayster his Apostles his Martyrs and all the godly since the beginning And as it hath bene of olde that hee which was borne after the flesh persecuted him which was born after the spirite for so it was in Isaacks time so sayde S. Paule it was in his time also And whether it be so or no now let the spirituall man the selfe same man I meane that is indued with the spirit of almighty God let him be iudge Of the crosse of the Patriarches as ye may read in theyr storyes if ye reade the booke of Genesis ye shall perceiue Of other S. Paule in few wordes comprehendeth much matter speaking in a generality of the wonderfull afflictions death and tormentes which the men of GOD in Gods cause and for the truth sake willingly and gladly did suffer After much particuler rehearsall of many he sayeth other were racked and despised and would not be deliuered that they might obteyne a better resurrection Other agayne were tried wyth mockinges and scourginges and moreouer with bondes imprisonment they were stoned beweene asunder tempted fell were slayne vpon the edge of the sword some wandred to fro in sheepes pilches in goates pilches forsaken oppressed afflicted such godly men as the world was vnworthy of wandring in wildernesse in mountaynes in caues and in dennes and all these were commended for theyr fayth And yet they abide for vs the seruauntes of God and for those theyr brethren which are to bee slayne as they were for the word of Gods sake that none be shut out but that we may all go together to meete our Mayster Christ in the ayre at his comming and so to be in blisse with him in body and soule for euermore Therefore seing we haue so muche occasion to suffer and to take afflictions for Christes names sake paciently so many commodities thereby so waighty causes so many good examples so great necessitye so pure promises of eternall life and heauenlye ioyes of him that cānot lye Let vs throw away whatsoeuer might let vs all burden of sinne and all kinde of carnality and paciently and constantly let vs runne for the best game in this race that is set before vs euer hauing our eyes vpon Iesus Christ the ringleader Capitayne and Perfiter of our fayth which for the ioye that was set before him endured the crosse not passing vpon the ignominy and shame thereof and is set now at the right hande of the throne of GOD. Consider this that he suffered such strife of sinners agaynst himselfe that yee shoulde not geue ouer nor faynt in your mindes As yet brethren we haue not withstand vnto death fighting agaynst sinne Let vs neuer forget deare Brethren for Christes sake that Fatherly exhortation of the wise that speaketh vnto vs as vnto his children the Godlye wysedome of God saying thus My sonne despise not the correction of the Lord nor fall not from him when thou art rebuked of hym for whom the Lord loueth him doth he correct and scourgeth euery childe whom he receiueth What childe is he whom the father doth not chasten If ye
bee free from chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and no children Seing then when as we haue had carnall parents which chastened vs we reuerenced them shall not we much more be subiect vnto our spirituall father that we might liue And they for a litle time taughte vs after theyr owne mind but this father teacheth vs to our commodity to geue vnto vs his holinesse Al chastisment for the present tyme appeareth not pleasaunt but paynefull but afterward it rendereth the fruite of righteousnesse on them which are exercised in it Wherefore let vs bee of good cheere good Brethren and let vs plucke vppe our feeble members that were fallen or beganne to faynt hart handes knees and all the rest and let vs walke vpright and straight that no limping no◠〈…〉 bring vs out of the way Let vs looke not vpon the thinges that be present but with the eyes of our fayth let vs stedfastly behold the thinges that be euerlasting in heauen and so choose rather in respecte of that whiche is to come with the chosen members of Christ to beare Christes Crosse then for this short life time to inioy all the riches honours and pleasures of the broade worlde Why should we Christians feare death Can death depriue vs of Christ which is all our coÌ„â—ort our ioy and our life Nay forsooth But contrary death shall deliuer vs from this mortall body whiche lodeth and beareth downe the spirite that it cannot so well perceiue heauenly thinges in the which so long as we dwell wee are absent from God Wherefore vnderstanding our state in that we be Christians that if our mortall body which is our earthly house were destroied we haue a building a house not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen c. therefore wee are of good cheere and know that when we are in the body we are absent from GOD for we walke by fayth and not by cleare fight Neuerthelesse we are bolde and had rather be absent from the bodye and present with GOD. Wherefore we striue whether we be present at home or absent abroad that we may alwayes please him And who that hath true fayth in our Sauior Christ whereby he knoweth somewhat truely what Christ our Sauiour is that he is the eternall sonne of God life light the wisedome of the father all goodnesse all righteousnesse and whatsoeuer is good that heart canne desire yea infinite plentye of all these aboue that that mans hart canne either conceiue or thinke for in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godheade corporally and also that he is geuen vs of the Father and made of GOD to be our wisedome our righteousnesse our holâ—nesse and our redemption who I say is he that beleueth this in deede that woulde not gladly bee with his mayster christ Paul for this knowledge coueted to haue bene loosed from the body and to haue beene with Christ for that he counted it muche better for himselfe and had rather to be loosed then to liue Therefore these wordes of Christe to the thiefe on the Crosse that asked of him mercy were full of comfort and solace This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise To dye in the defence of Christes Gospell it is our bounden duety to Christ and also to our neighbour To Christ for he dyed for vs and rose agayne that he might be Lord ouer all And seing he dyed for vs we also sayth S. Iohn shoulde ieopard yea geue our life for our Brethren And this kinde of geuing and loosing is getting and winning in deede for hee that geueth or looseth his life thus getteth winneth it for euermore Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord and if they dye in the Lordes cause they are most happy of all Let vs not then feare death which can do vs no harme otherwise then for a momeÌ„t to make the flesh to smart but that our fayth whiche is surely fastened and fixed vnto the worde of GOD telleth vs that we shall be anon after death in peace in the handes of GOD in ioye in solace and that from death we shall go straight vnto life For Saynt Iohn sayeth he that liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye And in an other place he shall depart from death vnto life And therefore this death of the Christian is not to be called death but rather a gate or entraunce into euerlasting life Therefore Paule calleth it but a dissolution and resolution and both Peter and Paul a putting of this Tabernacle or dwelling house Meaning thereby the mortall body as wherein the soule or spirite doth dwell here in this worlde for a small time Yea this death may be called to the Christian an end of all miseries For so long as we liue here we must passe through many tribulations before we canne enter into the kingdome of heauen And nowe after that death hath shot his bolt all the christian mans enemies haue done what they canne after that they haue no more to doe What coulde hurte or harme poore Lazarus that lay at the rich mannes Gate His former penury and pouerty his misery beggery and horrible sores and sickenesse For so soone as death had stricken him with his dart so soone came the aungels and caryed him straight vp into Abrahams bosome What lost he by death who from misery and payne is set by the ministery of Aungels in a place both of ioy and solace Farewell deare brethren farewell and let vs comforte our hartes in all troubles and in death with the worde of God for heauen and earth shall perish but the word of the Lord endureth for euer Farewell Christes dearely beloued spouse here wandering in this world as in a straunge land farre from thine owne couÌ„try coÌ„passed about on euery hand with deadly enemies which cease not to assault thee euer seeking thy destruction Farewell farewell O ye the whole and vniuersall congregation of the chosen of God here liuing vpon earth the true churche militant of Christ the true misticall body of Christ the very house holde and family of God and the sacred temple of the holy ghost Farewell Farewell O thou litle flocke of the highe heauenlye pastour Christ for to thee it hath pleased the heauenlye father to geue an euerlasting and eternall kingdome Farewell Farewell thou spirituall house of God thou holy and royall priesthood thou choseÌ„ generatioÌ„ thou holy nation thou wonne spouse Farewell Farewell N. R. ¶ An other treatise of B. Ridley wherein is conteyned first a lamentation for the chaunge of Religion in England then a comparison betwene the doctrine of the Gospell and the Romish religion with wholesome instructions in the end to all christians how to behaue themselues in time of tryall ALas what misery is thy church brought vnto O lord at this day Where of late the worde of the Lord was truely preached was read and heard in euery towne in euery Church
shrining of reliques from any kinde of wickednes if you will pay well for it cleare absolution a poena culpa with thousandes of yeares yea at euery poore Bishops hand and suffragan ye shall haue halowing of Churches Chappels aulters superaulters chalices and of all the whole housholde stuffe and adornamēt which shal be vsed in the church after the Romish guise for all these thinges must be estemed of such high price that they may not be done but by a consecrate bishop onely O Lorde all these thinges are suche as thy Apostles neuer knew As for coniuring they call it halowing but it is cōiuring in deede of water and salt of christening of belles and such like thinges what neede I to speake for euerye priest that can but read hath power they say not onely to do that but also hath suche power ouer Christes body as to make both God and man once at the least euery daye of a wafer cake After the rehearsall of the said abhominations and remembraunce of a number of many moe which the Lorde knoweth irketh me to thinke vpon and were to longe to describe when I consider on the other side the eternall word of God that abideth for euer and the vndefiled law of the Lord which turneth the soule from all wickednes and geueth wisedome vnto the innocent babes I meane that milk that is without all guile as Peter doth call it that good word of God that word of trueth whiche must be grauen within the hart and then is able to saue mens soules that wholesome seede not mortall but immortall of the eternal and euerliuing God wherby the man is borne a new and made the childe of God that seed of God wherby the man of God so being borne can not sinne as Iohn sayeth hee meaneth so long as that seede doth abide in him that holy scripture which hath not bene deuised by the wit of man but taught from heauen by the inspiratiō of the holy ghost which is profitable to teache to reprooue to correct to instruct and geue order in all righteousnesse that the man of God may be whole sound ready to performe euery good worke when I say I consider this holy and wholesome true word that teacheth vs truely our bounden duety towardes our Lorde God in euerye poynt what his blessed will and pleasure is what his infinite great goodnes and mercy is what he hath done for vs how he hath geuē hys owne onely dearely beloued sonne to death for our saluation and by him hath sent vs the Reuelation of his blessed will and pleasure what his eternall word willeth vs both to beleue and also to doe and hath for the same purpose inspired the holy Apostles with the holy ghost sent them abroad into all the world and also made them other disciples of Christ inspired by the same spirite to write leaue behinde them the same thinges that they taught which as they did proceed of the spirit of trueth so by the confession of all them that euer were endued with the spirite of God were sufficient to the obteining of eternall saluation and likewise when I consider that al that man doth professe in his regeneration when he is receiued into the holy catholicke church of Christ and is now to be accoūted for one of the liuely mēbers of Christes owne body all that is groūded vpon Gods holy word and standeth in the profession of that fayth obedience of those commaundements whiche are all conteined and comprised in Gods holy word furthermore when I consider whom our Sauiour Christ pronoūceth in his gospell to be blessed and to whom Moses geueth his benedictiōs in the law what wayes the law the Prophets the Psalmes and all holy Scriptures both newe and olde doth declare to be the wayes of the Lorde what is good for man to obteine and abide in Gods fauor which is that fayth that iustifieth before God and what is that charity that doth passe and excell all whiche be the properties of heauenly wisedome and whiche is that vndefiled religion that is allowed of GOD which thinges Christ himself called the weighty matters of the law what thing is that which is onely auayleable in Christ what knowledge is that that Paule esteemed so much that he counted himself onely to know what shall be the maner of the extreme iudgement of the latter day who shall iudge by what he shall iudge what shall be required at our handes at that fearefull day howe all thinges must be tried by the fire and that that onely shal stand for euer which Christes wordes shall allow which shal be the iudge of all flesh to geue sentēce vpon all flesh and euery liuing soule either of eternall damnation or of euerlasting saluation from which sentence there shall be no place to appeale no witte shal serue to delude nor no power to withstand or reuoke when I say I consider all these thinges and conferre to the same agayne and agayne all those wayes wherein standeth the substaunce of the romishe religion wherof I spake before it may be euident and easy to perceaue that these two wayes these two religions the one of Christ the other of the Romishe sea in these latter dayes be as farre distaunt the one from the other as light and darckenes good and euill righteousnes and vnrighteousnes Christ and Beliall He that is hard of beliefe let him note and weigh well with himselfe the places of holy Scriptures which be appoynted in the margent wherupon this talk is grounded by Gods grace he may receyue some light And vnto the contemner I haue nothing now to say but to rehearse the saying of the Prophet Esay which Paule spake to the Iewes in the end of the Actes of the Apostles After he hadde expounded vnto them the trueth of Gods word and declared vnto them Chryst out of the Lawe of Moses and the Prophetes from morning to night all the day long he sayd vnto them that would not beleue Well sayd he spake the holy Ghost vnto our fathers saying go vnto this people and tell them ye shall heare with your eares and not vnderstande and seeing you shall behold and not see the thing for the hart of this people is waxed grosse and dulle and wyth their eares they are hard of hearing and they haue shut together their eyes that they shoulde not see nor heare with theyr eares nor vnderstand with their hartes that they might returne and I should heale them sayth the Lord God All as Englande alas that this heauy plague of GOD shoulde fall vpon thee Alas my dearely beloued country what thing is it now that may doe thee good Undoubtedly thy plague is so great that it is vtterly vncurable but by the bottomlesse mercy and infinite power of almightye God Alas my deare country what hast thou done that thus hast prouoked the wrath of God and caused him to poure out his vengeaunce
daunger to fall in like perill again there he maketh them perfite to be without danger paine or perill after that for euermore But this hys loue towards thē howsoeuer the worlde doth iudge of it is al one both when he deliuereth when he suffereth thē to be put to death He loued as well Peter and Paul whē after they had according to hys blessed will pleasure and prouidence finished their courses and done theyr seruices appoynted them by hym here in preaching of his Gospel the one was beheaded and the other was hanged or crucified of the cruell tyraunt Nero as the Ecclesiasticall hystory sayth as when hee sent the Aungell to bringe Peter out of prison and for Paules deliuery he made all the dores of the prison to flye wide open and the foundation of the same like an earthquake to tremble and shake Thinkest thou O thou man of God that Chryst our sauiour had lesse affection to the first martyr Stephen because he suffered his enemies euen at the first conflicte to stone him to death No surely nor Iames Iohns brother which was one of the three that Paule calleth Primates or Principals amongst the Apostles of Christ. Hee loued him neuer a whit the worse thē he did the other although he suffered Herode the tyrauntes sword to cut of his head Nay doth not Danyell say speaking of the cruelty of Antichristes time Et docti in populo docebunt plurimos ruent in gladio in flamma in captiuitate rapina dierum c. Et de eruditis ruent vt conflentur eligantur dealbentur c. That is and the learned hee meaneth truely learned in Gods lawe shall teache many and shall fall vppon the sworde and in the flame that is shall bee burned in the flaming fire and in captiuitie that is shall bee in prison and be spoyled and robbed of theyr goodes for a longe season And after a little in the same place of Daniell it followeth and of the learned there be whiche shall fall or be ouerthrowne that they may be knowne tryed chosen made white he meaneth be burnished scoured a new picked and chosen and made fresh and lustye If that then was foreseene for to be done to the godly learned and for so gracious causes let euery one to whom any such thing by the will of God doth chaunce be mery in God and reioyce for it is to Gods glory and to his owne euerlasting wealth Wherefore well is he that euer he was borne for whom thus graciously God hath prouided hauing grace of God and strength of the holy Ghost so stand steadfastly in the height of the storme Happy is he that euer hee was borne whome God his heauenly Father hath vouchsafed to appoynt to glorifie him and to edifie hys Churche by the effusion of hys bloud To dye in Christes cause is an high honour to that whiche no man certaynly shall or can aspire but to whō God vouchsafeth that dignitie For no man is allowed to presume for to take vnto hym selfe any office of honour but he which is thereunto called of God Therfore Ioh. saith well speaking of them which haue obtayned the victorye by the bloud of the Lambe and by the worde of hys testimony that they loued not theyr liues euen vnto death And our sauiour Christ sayth He that shall lose his life for my cause shall finde it And this manner of speach pertayneth not to one kinde of Christians as the worldly dothe wickedly dreame but all that doe truelye pertayne vnto Christ. For when Christe had called vnto hym the multytude together with hys Disciples he said vnto thē mark that he sayde not this to the Disciples and Apostles onely but he sayd it to al who soeuer wil follow me let him forsake or deny hymselfe and take vp his crosse and followe me for who soeuer will saue his lyfe shall lose it he meaneth who soeuer will to saue hys life both forsake or leaue hym and his truth and whosoeuer shall lose his lyfe for my cause and the Gospels sake shall saue it For what shall it profite man if he shall winne the whole world and lose his owne soule hys owne lyfe or what shall a manne geue to recompence that losse of his owne lyfe and of hys own soule Who soeuer shal be ashamed of me my words that is to confesse me and my Gospell before this adulterous and sinful generation of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of hys Father with the holy Aungels Know thou O man of God that all thinges are ordayned for thy behoufe and to the furtheraunce of thee towardes thy saluation All thinges saith Paule worketh with the good to goodnes euen the enemies of God such kind of punishmentes whereby they goe about to destroy them shall be forced by Gods power might fatherly prouidence for to do them seruice It is not as the wicked thinketh that pouerty aduersitie sickenes tribulation yea paynfull death of the godly be tokens that God doth not loue them but euen cleane the contrary as all the whole course of scripture doth euidently declare for then he would neuer haue suffered hys most dearly beloued the Patriarkes to haue had such troubles his Prophetes his Apostles his martyrs and chiefe Champions and mayntayners of hys truth and Gospell so cruelly of the wicked to haue bene murdered and slayn Of the which some were racked as the Apostle sayth and woulde not be deliuered that they might receaue a better resurrection Some were tryed by mockinges scourginges yea moreouer by bondes and imprisonment they were stoned they were hewen and cut a sunder they were tempted they were slayne with the sword they wandered vp and down in sheepes skinnes and Gotes skinnes beyng forsaken afflicted and tormented such men as the world was not worthy to haue wādring in wildernes in moūtaynes in Dennes and Caues of the earth All these were approued by the testimony of fayth and receaued not the promise because God did prouide better for vs that without vs they should not be consummated They tary nowe for vs vndoubtedly longing for the day but they are commaunded to haue pacience yet saith the Lord a litle while vntill the number of theyr fellow seruauntes bee fulfilled and of theyr brethren whiche are yet to be slayne as they were Now thou O man of God for our Lordes sake let vs not for the loue of thys lyfe tary then to long and bee occasion of delay of that glorious consummation in hope and expectation wherof the departed in the Lord and the whiche also the liuing endued with Gods spirite ought so earnestly to desire and to grone for with al the creatures of God Let vs all with Iohn the seruaunt of God cry in our harts vnto our sauiour Christ Veni Domine Iesu come Lorde Iesu come For then when Christ which is our life
Gods Saintes to death so this Bishoppe for his part bent all his deuises and had spent all his pouder in assayling the roote and in casting such a platforme as he himselfe in wordes at his death is said to confesse to buyld his popery vpoÌ„ as he thought should haue stand for euer and a day But as I sayd before of vncertayne thinges I can speake but vncertaynely Wherefore as touching the maner and order of his death how rich he died what wordes he spake what litle repentaunce he shewed whether he died with his tongue swolne and out of his mouth as did Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Caunterbury or whether he stonke before he dyed as Cardinall Wolsey did or whether he dyed in dispayre as Latomus and others did c. All this I referre either to their reportes of whom I hearde it or leaue it to the knowledge of them whiche know it better Notwithstanding here by the way touching the death of this foresayde B. I thought not to ouerpasse a certaine hearesay which not long since came to me by information of a certaine worthy credible Gentlewoman an other Gentleman of the same name and kinred which Mistres Monday beyng the wyfe of one M. Monday Secretary sometime to the old L. Thomas D. of Northfolke a present witnes of this that is testified thus openly reported in the house of a worshypfull Citisen bearyng yet office in this Citie in wordes effect as foloweth The same day when as B. Ridley and M. Latimer suffered at Oxford being about the .19 day of October there came to the house of Ste. Gardiner the old D. of Norfolke with the foresaid M. Monday his secretary aboue named reporter hereof The old aged Duke there wayting tariyng for his dinner the B. being not yet disposed to dine deferred the time to .3 or .4 of the clocke at after noone At length about .4 of the clocke commeth his seruaunt posting in all possible speede from Oxford bringing intelligence to the B. what he had heard seene of whom the sayd B. diligently enquiring the truth of the matter and hearing by his man that fyre most certainely was set vnto them commeth out reioysing to the Duke Now sayeth he let vs go to dinner Whereupon they beyng set downe meate immediately was brought and the Bishop began merely to eat But what folowed The bloudy Tyraunt had not eaten a few bitteâ— but the soden stroke of God his terible hande fell vpon him in such sort as immediatly he was taken from the table and so brought to his bedde where he continued the space of 15. dayes in such intollerable anguish and tormentes that all that meane while during those .15 dayes he could not auoyde by order of vrine or otherwyse any thing that he receiued whereby his body being miserably inflamed within who had inflamed so many good Martyrs before was brought to a wretched end And thereof no dout as most like it is came the thrustyng out of his tongue from his mouth so swolne and blacke with the inflamation of his body A spectacle worthy to be noted and beholden of all such bloudy burnyng persecutors But to proceede farther in the sequell of our storie I coulde name the man but I abstayne from names who being then present and a great doer about the sayd Winchester reported to vs concerning the sayde Byshop that when Doctor Day B. of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with woordes of Gods promise and with the free iustification in the bloud of Christe our Sauiour repeating the Scriptures to him Winchester hearyng that what my Lorde quoth he will you open that gappe now then farewell altogether To me and such other in my case you may speake it but open this window vnto the people then farewell altogether Moreouer what D. Boner then saw in him or what he heard of him what wordes passed betweene them about the tyme of his extremitie betwixt him and him be it If Boner did there beholde any thing which might turne to his good example I exhort him to take it and to beware in time as I pray God he may Here I could bring in the friuolous Epitaph which was made of his deth deuised of a Papist for a Popish Bysh. but I pretermit it in steede thereof I haue here â—â—ferred certayne gatheringes out of his Sermons wordes and writinges wherein may appeare first what an earnest and vehement enemie he was to the Pope if he woulde haue bene constant in him selfe then how inconstantly he varied froÌ„ himselfe and thirdly how he standing vpon a singularity of his owne wit wauering also from other Papistes in certaine poyntes In the gathering whereof albeit there be some paines tediousnes also in readyng yet I thought not to pretermit the same vppon certayne considerations namely for that so many yet to this day there be whiche sticke so muche to Gardiners wit learnyng religion taking him for such a doughty piller of the Popes church To the intent therefore that such as hetherto haue bene deceiued by him may no longer be abused therein if they will either credit his owne wordes workes Sermons writinges disputations or els will be iudged by his owne witnesses of his owne party producted we haue here collected such manifest probations which may notoriously declare how effectuously first he withstode the Popes supremacie and likewyse afterward may declare manifest contrariety and repugnaunce of the said Gardiner first with other writers and lastly with him selfe first beginning with his Sermon preached before Kyng Edward The summe and effect of which Sermon briefly collected by M. Udal here vnder foloweth to be seene ¶ The summe and effect of the Sermons which Gardiner B. of Winchester preached before King Edward An. 1550. MOst honorable audience I purpose by the grace of God to declare some part of the Gospell that is accustomably vsed to be read in the Church as this day And for because that without the speciall grace of God neither I can speake any thyng to your edifying nor ye receiue the same accordingly I shal desire you all that we may ioyntly pray altogether for the assistance of his grace In which praier I commend to almighty God your most excellent Maiestie our soueraigne Lord King of Englande France Ireland and of the Church of England Ireland next and immediately vnder God here on earth the supreme heade Queene Katherine Dowager my Lady Maries grace my Lady Elizabethes grace your Maiesties most deare sisters my Lorde Protectours grace with all others of your most honorable CouÌ„saile the spiritualtie and temporaltie and I shall desire you to commend vnto God with your praier the soules departed vnto God in Christes faith and among these most specially our late soueraigne Lorde King Henry the eighte your maiesties most noble father For these and for grace necessary I shall desire you to say a Pater noster and so foorth The Gospell
corporall not carnall not naturall not sensible not perceptible but onely spirituall pag. 181. l. 18. c. l. 25. p. 223. l. 21. Confutation We receyue Christ in the Sacrament of his fleshe and bloud if we receiue hym worthily p. 190. l. 7. p. 197. lin 27. Confutation When an vnrepentant sinner receyueth the Sacramēt he hath not Christes body within hym p. 256. l. 18. Confutation He that eateth verily the flesh of Christ is by nature in Christ and Christ is naturally in hym pag. 18. li 51. Confutation An euill man in the sacrament receiueth in deed Christes very body p. 18. l. 24.25 Euill men eat verily the flesh of Christ p. 2561. l. 24.25 c. Confutation Christ geueth vs to be eaten the same flesh that he took of the virgin Mary p. 274. l. 25. We receyue not in the Sacrament Christes flesh that was crucified p. 276. l. 1. Confutation S. Augustines rule in his booke De doctrina Christiana pertaineth not to Christes supper p. 132. l. 40. S. Augustine meaneth of the Sacrament ibidem and p. 10. l. 44. Confutation Reason in place of seruice as beyng inferior to fayth wyll agree with the fayth of Transubstantiation well enough p. 300. l. 12. Confutation And as reason receyued into faithes seruice doth not striue with transubstantiation but agreeth well with it so mans senses be no such direct aduersaries to transubstantiation as a matter wherof they cannot skill for the senses cannot skill of substances p. 307. l. 11. c. Thine eyes say there is but bread and wyne thy taste sayeth the same thy feelyng and smellyng agreefully with them Hereunto is added the carnal mans vnderstanding which because it taketh the beginning of the senses procedeth in reasonyng sensually In the deuils sophistry fo 6. The Churche hath not forborne to preach the truth to the confusion of mans senses and vnderstandyng fol. 15. It is called bread because of the outward visible matter p. 327. lyne When it is called bread it is ment Christ the spirituall bread p. 320. l. 41. And the Catholike fayth teacheth that the fraction is in the outward signe and not in the body of Christ p. 165. lyne 1. and pag. 392. lyne 47. and in the Deuils Sophistry fol. 17. That which is broken is the bodye of Christ p. 392. lyne 49. The inward nature of the bread is the substance p. 323 lyne 14. Substance signifieth in Theodoret he sayth the outward nature p. 404. l. 40. The substances of bread and wyne be visible cretures p. 322. l. 30. and 323. l. 32. Accidents be the visible natures and visible elements p. 1406. l. 16. and 25. c. Christ is our satisfaction wholy and fully hath payd our whole debt to God the Father for the appeasyng of hys wrath agaynst vs p. 92. l. 6.7 The act of the priest done accordyng to Gods cōmandement must needs be propitiatory and ought to be trusted on to haue a propitiatory effect p. 437. l. 13. The sacrifice of our Sauiour Christ was neuer reiterate p. 416. l. 8. Priests do sacrifice Christ p. 431. l. 16. And the catholike doctrine teacheth the daily sacrifice to be the same in essence that was offered on the Crosse p. 439. l. 11. The Nestorians graunted both the Godhead manhood always to be in Christ continually p. 348. l. 11.12 The Nestorians denied Christ conceyued GOD or borne God but that he was afterward God as a mā that is not borne a bishop is after made a bishop So the Nestorians sayd that the Godhead was an accession after by merite and that he was conceyued only man p. 347. l. 47 50.51 and p. 148. l. 47. Christ vseth vs familiarly as he dyd hys Apostles p. 93. l. 21. Christ is not to be sayd conuersant in earth pag. 114. lin 11. c. ¶ Certaine things that Winchester granted vnto CHrist declared eatyng of hymselfe to signify beleeuing p. 29. l. antepenultima Confutation Christ must be spiritually in man before he receiue the Sacrament or els he cannot receyue the sacrament worthily p. 54. l. 44. p. 160. l. vltima p. 196. l. 3. p. 105. l 32. How Christ is present p. 69. l. 29. c. p. 81. l. 12. p. 181. li. 26. p. 65. l. 15. By faith we know only the beyng present of Christes most precious body not the maner thereof p. 70. l. 15. When we speake of Christes body we must vnderstād a true body which hath both forme and quantitie p. 81. l. 5. lin 35. Although Christs body haue all those truths of forme quantitie yet it is not present after the maner of quantitie ibidem l. 8.9 The demonstratiue this may bee referred to the inuisible substance p. 120. l. 42 All the old prayers and ceremonies sound as though the people did communicate with the priest p. 165. l. 46. The maner of Christs beyng in the Sacrament is not corporall nor carnall not natural not sensible not perceptible but only spirituall p. 181. l. 19. c. l. 25. p. 223. l. 21. When the vnrepentant sinner receiueth the sacrament he hath not Christes body within hym p. 256. l. 18. We eat not Christ as he sitteth in heauen raignyng p. 276. l. 18. The worde Transubstantiation was first spoken of in a generall Councell where the B. of Rome was present p. 284. l. 11. In the sacrifice of the church Christs death is not iterated but a memory daily renued of the death so as Christes offeryng on the crosse once done and consummate is now only remembred p. 440. l. 40. c. To these notes places of D. Ridley let vs also adioyne other 12. places or Articles of the lyke affinitie taken out of his booke called the examination of the proud hunter noted in the later end of D. Turners secōd course By these Articles it may appeare how this Bishop swarueth no lesse from the sound truth of Christes Gospell then he dyd in the other both from hymselfe and also from other hys fellow brethren of hys owne Catholike mother church of Rome The Articles in summe are these ¶ Twelue new found Articles of Steuen Gardiners Creede taught in hys booke called the examination of the hunter 1. THe ceremonies and traditions which the Bish. of Rome hath ordeyned and are now allowed in England are the pale of the church of England fol. 7. 2. The Popes ceremonies and traditions are good and politike lawes wherby God hath enclosed the kings subiects vnder hys maiestie alone ibidem 3. As king Richard an euill man made a good politicke law for the body common welth of England so can the Pope an euill man make good lawes and wholesome doctrine for mans soule and Christes church fol. 23. 4. Whatsoeuer is good spoken and vsed by mā is much more of God then Christes
book abroad of the report of the disputation to the contrary in the which there is neuer a true worde And where as you require to be satisfied of the sacrament I will shew you the trueth therof both by the scriptures and by the Doctors Philpot. It is a shrewed lykelihoode that you will conclude with any truth since you haue begonne with so many vntruthes as to say that I was aunswered whiles I had any thyng to say and that I wept for lacke of matter to say and that the booke of the reporte of the disputation is nothing true God be praysed there were a good many of Noble men Gentlemen and worshipfull men that heard and saw the doings therof which can testifie that you here haue made an vniust report before these honorable Lords And that I wept was not for lacke of matter as you slauÌ„der me for I thank God I haue more matter theÌ„ the best of you all shall euer be able to answere as litle learning as I haue but my weeping was as Christes was vpon Hierusalem seeing the destruction that should fall vppon her and I foreseeing then the destruction whiche you thorough violence and vnrighteousnesse which you there declared would worke agaynst the true Churche of Christ and his faythfull members as this daye beareth witnesse was compelled to weepe in remembraunce of that whiche I with infinite more haue felt and shall feele Al these words I did then speake out being interrupted by my Lord Rich saying that I shoulde suffer hym to proceede out in his matter and afterwardes I shuld haue leysure to aunswere him in euery Article But he promysed more then he could performe as the end did wel declare for he had not the consent of the spiritualtie to his promise which now rule the rost God shorten their cruell dayes for his electes sake And therfore I adde this which I had purposed to haue spoken if then I might haue bene suffered least any that perfectly know not the thinges done in the Conuocation house and now layd to my charge if they shoulde not be aunswered by me might recken Doctour Chadseys sayinges to bee true And as concerning the booke of the report of the disputations I wrote the same it is true in euery argument as M. Deane of Roochester and M. Cheyney Archdeacon of Herford yet being aliue and within the realme can testifie Chadsey You haue of scriptures the foure Euangelistes for the probation of Christes reall presence to be in the sacrament after the wordes of consecration with S. Paule to the Corinthians whiche all saye Hoc est corpus meum This is my body They say not as you woulde haue me to beleue this is not the bodye But specially the 6. of Iohn prooueth the same most manifestly where Christ promised to geue his body which hee performed in his last supper as it appeareth by these wordes Panis quem ego dabo caro mea est quam ego dabo pro muÌ„di vita The bread whiche I wyll geue is my flesh which I wil geue for the life of the world Phil. My Lord Rich with your leaue I must needes interrupt him a litle because he speaketh open blasphemy against the death of Christ for if that promise brought in by s. Iohn was performed by Christ in his last supper theÌ„ needed he not to haue dyed after he had geuen the sacrament Rich. Let maister Doctour make an end of his argumeÌ„ts and afterward obiect to him what you can Chadsey You must note that there is twise Dabo in thys saying of S. Iohn the first is referred to the sacrament of the auâ—tar the second to the sacrifice vpon the crosse and besides these manifest scriptures there bee many auncient Doctors proouing the same as Ignatius Irenaeus S. Cyprian whose authoritie he recited at large which I do omitte because I was not permitted to answere the same Rich. Now aunswere and obiect to him what you can you shal be heard Phil. My Lord the chiefest ground where he with the rest of his side do ground theÌ„selues agaynst vs be these words This is my body with a false pretence of the omnipotency of God And before I will come to the particular aunsweres of all that he hath alledged for that your Lordships may the better vnderstand me what I meane and whereuppon I stand I will require mayster Doctor to aunswere me one question But first of all I do protest to your honours that I thinke as reuerently of the sacrament as a christian maÌ„ ought to do and that I acknowledge the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christe ministred after Christes Institution to bee one of the greatest treasures and comfortes that he left vs on the earth and contrariwise it is most discomfort and abhominable not being ministred as it ought to be as it is vsed now a dayes And now to my question which is this whether these wordes onely Hoc est corpus meum This is my body spoken by a priest ouer the bread and wine may make the body and bloud of Christ as you suppose or no Chedsey Staggering what he might say at last hee sayd that these wordes alone pronounced by the Priest be sufficient to make the bread and the wyne the very bodye and bloud of Christ really Philpot. That is blasphemy to say and agaynst al the scriptures and Doctours who affirme that the forme and substance in consideration must be obserued whiche Christ vsed and did institute as S. Cyprian sayth In sacrificio quod Christus est non nisi Christus sequendus In the sacrifice whiche is Christ onely is Christ to be followed And by the lawe it is forbidden to adde or take away from Gods word And S. Peter sayth If anye man speake let him speake as the worde of God Wherfore whosoeuer sayth that these wordes onely This is my body do make a presence of christ without blesse take and eate which be three as substanciall poyntes of the Sacramente as Thys is my bodye is he is highly deceiued Therfore S. Austen sayth Accedat verbum ad elementum fit sacramentum Let the word be ioyned to the element and it be commeth a sacrament So that if the entier worde of Christes Institution be not obserued in the ministration of a Sacrament it is no sacrament as the sacrifices which the ten tribes did offer at Bethell to God were not acceptable because they were not in all poyntes done according to Gods word Wherfore except blessing be made after the word whiche is a due thankesgeuing for our redemption in Christ and also a shewing forth of the Lordes death in such wise as the congregation may be edified and moreouer a taking and eating after Christes commaundement except I say these three partes be first performed which is not done in the Masse these wordes This is my bodye which are last placed in the Institution of
when he had done hee deliuered him to the Sheriffes and so two officers brought him thorough the Byshops house into Pater noster rowe there his seruaunt met him and when he saw him he said Ah deare mayster Then M. Philpot sayd to his man content thy self I shall do well enough for thou shalt see me agayne And so the Officers thrust him away had his mayster to Newgate And as hee went he sayde to the people Ah good people blessed be God for this day and so the Officers deliuered him to the keeper Then his man thrust to go in after his mayster and one of the Officers sayd vnto him hence fellow what shouldest thou haue And he sayd I would goe speake with my Mayster M. Philpot then turned him about and sayde to him to morow you shall speake with me Then the vnder keeper said to Mayster Philpot is this your man And he sayd yea So he did licence his man to go in with him and M. Philpot and his maÌ„ were turned into a litle chamber on the right hand and there remained a litle time vntil Alexander the chief keeper did come vnto hym who at his entring greeted him with these words Ah sayd he hast not thou done well to bringe thy selfe hether Well sayde M. Philpot I must bee content for it is Gods appointmeÌ„t I shal desire you to let me haue your gentle fauour for you and I haue bene of olde acquayntaunce Well sayd Alexander I will shew thee gentlenes and fauour so thou wilt be ruled by me Then sayd M. Philpot I pray you shew me what you would haue me to do He sayd if you would recaÌ„t I will shew you any pleasure I can Nay sayd M. Phil. I wil neuer recant whilest I haue my life that which I haue spoken for it is a most certayne truth and in witnesse hereof I will seale it wyth my bloud Then Alexander sayd This is the saying of all the whole packe of you heretickes Whereupon hee commaunded him to be set vpon the block and as many irons vpon his legges as he might beare for that he would not follow hys wicked minde Then the Clarke tolde AlexaÌ„der in his eare that maister Philpot hadde geuen hys man money And Alexander sayd to his man what money hath thy mayster geuen thee His man said my mayster hath geuen me none No sayd Alexander hath he geueÌ„ thee none that will I know for I will search thee Do with me what you list search me all that you can quoth hys sâ—ruaunt Hee hath geuen me a tokeÌ„ or two to send to hys frends as to hys brother and sister Ah sayd Alexander to M. Philpot Thou art a mayntayner of heretickes Thy man should haue gone to some of thyne affinitie but he shal be known wel enough Nay sayd M. Philpot I do send it to my frendes There he is let him make aunswere to it But good mayster Alexander be so much my frend that these irons may be taken of Well sayd Alexander geue me my fees and I will take them off if not thou shalt weare them still Then sayd Mayster Philpot sir what is your fees he sayd foure pound was his fees Ah sayd mayster Philpot I haue not so muche I am but a poore man and I haue bene long in prison What wilt thou geue me then said Alexander Syr sayd he I will geue you twenty shillings and that I will send my man for or elles I will lay my gowne to gage for the time is not long I am sure that I shal be with you for the bishop sayd vnto me that I shuld be soone dispatched Then sayd Alexander vnto him what is that to me with that he departed from him and commaunded hym to be had into Limbo and so his commaundement was fulfilled but before he could be taken from the blocke the clark would haue a grote Then one Wittrence Steward of the house took hym on his backe and caryed him downe hys manne knewe not whether Wherfore mayster Philpot sayd to his man go to maister Sheriffe and shew hym how I am vsed and desire maister Sheriffe to be good vnto me And so hys seruaunte went strayghtway and tooke an honest manne with him And when they came to mayster Sheriffe whiche was Maister Macham and shewed him howe mayster Phil. was handled in Newgate The Sheriffe hearyng this tooke his ring of from his finger and deliuered it vnto the honest man whiche came with M. Philpots man and bad him go vnto Alexander the keeper coÌ„manded him to take of his irons and to handle him more gentlye and to geue his man again that which he had taken from him And when they came agayn to the sayd AlexaÌ„der told their message from the Sheriffe Alexander tooke the ring and said Ah I perceaue that mayster Sheriffe is a bearer with him all such heretickes as he is therfore to morow I wil shew it to his betters Yet at x. of the clocke he went into Mayster Philpot where he lay and tooke of his irons gaue him such things as he had taken before from hys seruant Upon Tuesday at supper being the 17. day of December there came a messenger from the Sheriffes and bad M. Philpot make him ready for the next day he should suffer and be burned at a stake with fire M. Philpot aunswered and sayd I am ready God graunt me strength and a ioyfull resurrection And so he went vnto his chamber and poured out his spirit vnto the Lord God geuing him most harty thankes that he of his mercy had made hym worthy to suffer for his truth In the morning the Sheriffes came according to the order about viii of the clocke and calleth for him he most ioyfully came downe vnto them And there his man dyd meete him and sayd A deare maister farewell His mayster sayd vnto him serue God and he will helpe thee And so he went with the Sheriffes vnto the place of execution and when he was entring into Smithfield the way was foule two officers tooke him vp to beare him to the stake Then he sayd merily what will you make me a Pope I am content to goe to my iourneys end on foote But first comming into Smithfield he kneeled down there saying these wordes I will pay my vowes in thee O Smithfield And wheÌ„ he was come to the place of suffering he kissed the stake saide shall I disdayne to suffer at this stake seeing my redeemer did not refuse to suffer most vile death vpon the Crosse for me And then with an obedient hart full meekely he sayd the Cvi Cvii and Cviii. Psalms and when he had made an end of all hys prayers he said to the officers What haue you done for me euery one of theÌ„ declared what they had don he gaue to euery of theÌ„ mony Then they bound hym vnto the stake and set fire vnto that
constant martyr Who the xviii day of December in the middest of the fiery flames yelded his soule into the handes of the almighty God and full like a lambe gaue vp his breath his body being consumed into ashes Thus hast thou gentle reader the lyfe and doyngs of this learned and worthy souldiour of the Lord Iohn Philpot with all his examinations that came to our handes first penned and written with his owne hand beyng meruaylously reserued from the sight and hands of hys enemies who by all maner meanes sought not onely to stop hym from al writing but also to spoyle and depriue him of that which he had written For the which cause he was manye tymes stripped and searched in the prison of his keeper but yet so happily these his writinges were conueyed and hid in places about him or els hys keepers eies so blinded that notwithstanding all this malicious purpose of the Bishops they are yet remayning and come to light A prayer to be sayd at the stake of all them that God shall account worthy to suffer for his sake MErcifull God and father to whome oure sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reason of death found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christe on whome Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength Most benigne holy spirite whiche in the middest of all Crosses and death diddest comfort the Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorowes and terrors haue mercy ⧠The martirdome of maister Iohn Philpot Archdeacon with the manner of his kneeling and praying at the stake vpon me miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neare the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of manifold horrible olde and new transgressions which to thyne eyes O Lorde are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto me for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine owne onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respecte of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare me measuring me with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiesty contemning thy dayly calles yet let thy mercy whiche is aboue all thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towardes me through and for the mediation of Christ our sauiour And for whose sake in that it hathe pleased thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritye and trueth taught by him to geue my life therefore to which dignitie I do acknowledge dear God that ther was neuer any so vnworthy and so vnmeet no not the theef that hāged with him on the Crosse I most hūbly therfore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly ayde helpe assiste me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christe thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paule and all others whiche for thy names sake haue suffered affliction and death I may finde so present with me thy gracious consolations that I may by my deathe glorifie thy holy name propagate and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hartes of the heauy confirme thy Church in thy veritie conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart foorth of thys miserable world where I do nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy wherof now geue and encrease in me a liuely truste sense and feelinge wherethrough the terrours of death the tormentes of fire the panges of sinne the dartes of Sathan and the dolours of hel may neuer depresse me but may be driuen away thorough the working of that most gracious spirite which now plenteously endue me withall that through the same spirite I may offer as I nowe desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight Deare Father whose I am and alwayes haue bene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the world was made to whome I commend my selfe soule and body family and frendes countrey and all the whole Churche yea euen my very enemies accordynge to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to geue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word agayn with godly peace to the teaching setting forth of the same Oh dear father now geue me grace to come vnto thee Purge and so purifie me by this fire in Christes death and Passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy God nowe and euermore world without end Amen ¶ Letters of Mayster Philpot. ¶ A letter which he sent to the christian congregation exhorting them to refrayne from the Idolatrous seruice of the papists and to serue God after his word IT is a lamentable thing to behold at this present in England the faithles departing both of men women frō the true knowledge vse of Christes sincere religion which so plētifully they haue bene taught do know their own consciences bearing witnes to the veritie thereof If that earth be cursed of God which eftsoones receiuing moisture pleasant dewes from heauen doth not bring forth fruite accordingly how much more greuous iudgemēt shal such persons receiue which hauing receiued from the father of heauē the perfect knowledge of his word by the ministery therof do not shew forth Gods worship after the same If the Lord wil require in the day of iudgemēt a godly vsury of all maner of talentes which he sendeth vnto men women how muche more wil he require the same of his pure religion reuealed vnto vs which is of al other talents the chiefest most pertayning to our exercise in this life if we hide the same in a napkin and set it not forth to the vsurye of Gods glory and edifying of his church by true confessiō God hath kindled the bright light of his Gospel which in times past was suppressed hid vnder the vile ashes of mās traditiōs and hath caused the brightnes therof to shine in our harts to the end that the same might shine before men to the honor of his name It is not onely geuen vs to beleue but also to confesse declare what we beleue in our outwarde couersation For as S. Paule writeth to the Romaynes The beliefe of the hart iustifieth and toe acknowledge wyth the mouth maketh a man safe It is al one before God not to beleue at al not to shew forth the liuely works of our belief For Christe sayth Either make the tree good and his fruites good or ells make the tree euill and the fruites euill because a good tree bringeth forth good fruites So that the person which knoweth his maysters will and doth it not shal be beaten with many stripes And not all they
then to seeme to haue forsaken her and disalow her by cleauing to her aduersary whereby it appeareth to others which be weake that we allow the same so contrary to the word do geue a great offence to the church of God and do outwardly sclaunder as much as menne may the truth of Christ. But woe be vnto hym by whom any such offence commeth Better it were for him to haue a milstone tyed about his necke and to bee caste into the bottome of the sea Such be traytors to the truth like vnto Iudas who with a kisse betrayed christ Our god is a gelous God and cannot be content that we should be of any other then of that vnspotted church whereof he is the hed onely and wherin he hath planted vs by baptisme Thys gelousy which God hath towards vs will cry for vengeance in the day of vengeance against al such as now haue so large consciences to do that which is contrary to Gods glory and the sinceritie of hys worde excepte they doe in time repent and cleaue vnseperable to the Gospel of christ how much soeuer at this present both men and women otherwise in theyr owne corrupt iudgement do flatter theÌ„selues God willeth vs to iudge vprightly and to allow follow that which is holy and acceptable in hys sight and to abstayne from all maner of euill and therfore Christ coÌ„maundeth vs in the Gospell to beware of the leauen of the Phariseis which is hipocrisie S. Paule to the Hebrues sayth if any man withdraw hymselfe from the fayth his soule shal haue no pleasure in hym therefore he sayth also That we are none suche as doe withdraw our selues into perdition but wee belong vnto sayth for the attaynment of life S. Iohn in the Apocalips telleth vs playnly that none of those who are written in the book of lyfe doe receaue the marke of the beast which is of the Papisticall Sinagogue eyther in theyr foreheades or els in theyr hands that is aparantly or obediently S. Paule to the Philippians affirmeth that wee may not haue any fellowship with the works of darkenes but in the middest of this wicked and froward generation we ought to shyne lyke lightes vpholding the word of truth Further hee sayth that wee may not touch anye vncleane thing Which signifieth that our outward conuersation in forreigne thinges ought to be pure and vndefiled as well as the inward that with a cleane spirite and rectified body we might serue God iustly in holines and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Finally in the 18. of the Apocalips God biddeth vs playnely to depart from this Babilonicall Synagogue not to be partakers of her trespasse S. Paule to the Thessalonians commaundeth vs in the name of the Lorde Iesus Chryst to withdraw our selues from euery brother that walketh inordinately and not according to the institution whych he had receaued of hym Ponder ye therfore well good brethren sisters these scriptures whiche be written for your crudition and reformation wherof one iot is not written in vayne which bee vtterlye agaynste all counterfait illusion to bee vsed of vs with the papysts in theyr phantastical religion and be aduersaryes to all them that haue so light coÌ„sciences in so doing and if they do not agree wyth thys aduersary I meane the word of God which is contrary to theyr atteÌ„pts he will as it is signified in the Gospell deliuer them to the Iudge which is Chryst and the Iudge will declare them to the executioner that is the deuill the deuil shal commit theÌ„ to the horrible prison of hell fire where is the portion of al hypocrites with sulphure and brimstone wyth waylyng gnashyng of teech world wythout ende But yet manye wyll say for theyr vayne excuse God is mercifull and hys mercy is ouer al. But the scripture teacheth vs that cursed is he that sinneth vpon hope of forgeuenes Truth it is that the mercy of God is aboue all his workes yet but vpon such as feare him for so is it written in the Psalmes The mercy of God is on theÌ„ that feare him and on such as put theyr trust in him Wher we may learn that they only put theyr trust in God that feare hym to feare God is to turne from euil and to do that is good So that such as do looke to be partakers of Gods mercy may not abide in that which is known to be manifest euil and detestable in the sight of god An other sort of persons doe make them a cloke for the rayne vnder the pretence of obedience to the Magistrates whome we ought to obey although they bee wicked But such must learne of Christ to geue to Caesar that is Cesars and to God that is due to God and with saint Peter to obey the hyher powers in the Lord albeit they bee euill if they commaund nothing contrary to Gods word otherwise we ought not to obey theyr commaundementes although we shoulde suffer death therefore as wee haue the Apostles for our example herein to follow who aunswered the magistrates as we ought to do in this case not obeying their wicked preceptes saying Iudge you whether it be more righteous that we should obey man rather then God Also Daniell chose rather to be cast into the denne of Lions to be deuoured theÌ„ to obey the kings wicked coÌ„mandements If the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch There is no excuse for the transgression of Gods worde whether a man do it voluntarily or at commaundement although great damnation is to theÌ„ by whom the offence commeth Some other there be that for an extreme refuge in their euil doings do ruÌ„ to gods predestinatioÌ„ electioÌ„ saying that if I be elected of god to saluation I shal be saued whatsoeuer I do But such be great tempters of GOD and abhominable blasphemers of GODS holy election and cast them selues downe from the pinacle of the temple in presumption that God may preserâ—â— them by his aungels through predestination Suche verily may recken themselues to be none of Gods elect children that will doe euill that good may ensue whose damnation is iust as S. Paule sayth Gods predestination and election ought to be with a simple eye coÌ„sidered to make vs more warely to walke in good godly coÌ„uersation according to Gods word not to set cocke in the hoope and put all on Gods backe to do wickedly at large for the elect childreÌ„ of God must walk in righteousnes holynes after that they be once called to true knowledge For so sayth S. Paule to the EphesiaÌ„s That God hath chosen vs before the fouÌ„datioÌ„s of the world were layd that we should be holy blameles in his sight Therfore S. Peter willeth vs through good workes to make our vocation electioÌ„ certaine to our selues which we know not but by the good workyng of
sub hoc pane corpus domini accipimus Zwinglius controlling hym sayd sub signo panis corpus domini accipimus and the other controlled him in like case Greene. Then M. Greene proued theyr opinions of the sacrament to be one in effect being rightly weighed and though theyr words dyd not sound al one yet they meant one thing and theyr opinions were all one as he proued by diuers other examples Feck Then Fecknam desired hym that he woulde not so wilfully caste himselfe away but to be rather conformable to reason and that my Lord Byshoppe there present would be good vnto hym and would graunt him respite if hee woulde demaund it for a fortnight or three weeks and that hee shoulde choose anye learned man whome he would and shoulde goe with hym home to his house and that hee whome he would choose woulde willingly take the paynes to reade and conferre the Doctoures wyth him and open the Doctours myndes meaninges vnto hym Boner Then Boner sayd that hee was proud and an obstinate boy and therfore hee bad Fecknam to holde hys peace and to call him no more M. Greene for sayd hee you ought not to call an hereticke maister Pendle After this Doctor Pendleton alledged to hym this text out of the xxii of Luke Ex hoc non manducabo illud donec impleatur in regno Dei Here sayd he you muste confesse your opinion to be false ells you must saye that Christ was a lyer for Christ sayde I will eate no more of this while it bee fulfilled in my fathers kingdome If Christ did eate no more the bread wheÌ„ he spake these wordes then must you say that he was a lyer for hee dyd eate bread after with hys Disciples before he ascended But if you say he dyd eate hys body then and after but breade it will not agree with the Scriptures nor with goâ—d reason Greene. Then Greene aunswered and sayd that thys was spoken by anticipation as one of theyr owne Byshops which is now dead did say Pendle Then Doctour Pendleton sayd that that was no sufficient discharge nor no sufficient aunswere for him in this case for sayd he it is well knowne that that bishop was of a contrary opinion to you and that he dyed a good christian man Greene. To whiche wordes Greene sayd I do not cal hym to witnesse in this case as though he were a sufficient man to proue my saying to bee true in this matter but I doe alledge hym agaynst you as Paule did the scripture whiche he found grauen in the aultar of the Atheniens agaynst themselues ignoto Deo These with many other wordes were betweene them which I doe ouerpasse because it were to longe to stande vpon recitall of euery thing Last of all the Byshop asked him if he would recant He sayd nay he would not But my Lord sayd he in old tyme there were no men put to death for theyr conscience vntill such time as Byshoppes found the meanes to make it death to beleue contrarye to them but excommunication my Lorde was the greatest penaltie which men hadde for theyr conscience yea in so muche that S. Augustine wrote and commaunded that no man should be put to death for his opinion Boner Then Boner sayd that when saincte Augustine sawe what inconueniences followed of that commaundement he wrote agayne to the Temporall rulers commaundyng them to punishe their bodyes also Greene. But sayde Greene hee bad not put them to death Boner He bad punish them quoth Boner Greene. Yea sayd Greene but not put them to death Bo. That they should be punished quoth Boner again This talke ended he asked Greene if he woulde recant and returne to theyr Romishe mother Whiche when hee denyed the Bishoppe pronounced the sentence difinitiue agaynst hym and so committed him to the Sheriffes of London who caused him to be carried to Newgate And as he was goyng thether ther met with him two gentlemen being both his speciall frendes minding belike to comfort this theyr persecuted brother but at theyr meeting theyr louing and friendly hartes not able anye longer to hide themselues were manifested by the aboundaunce of theyr pittifull teares To whom when Greene sawe them he sayd in these or like wordes Ah my friends is this your comfort you are come to geue me in this my occasion of heauinesse Must I who needed to haue comfort ministred to me become now a comforter of you And thus declaring his moste quiet and peaceable minde and conscience he chearefully spake to them and others vntil he came to the prison doore into the which he ioyfully entred and there remayned alwayes either in praier whervnto he much gaue himselfe or els in some other godlye meditations and exercises vnto the xxviii day of Ianuary when hee with hys other aboue mentioned brethren went most chearefully vnto the place of their tormentes often repeating as well by the waye as also at the stake these Latine verses following Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee haue I none The truth I loue and falsehoode hate by thee my guyde alone During the tyme of hys imprisonment in Newgate diuers of hys frendes had accesse vnto him to whome he gaue sundry godly exhortations wherewith they were not only well contented but for better remeÌ„brance aswel of the same his instructions as also of hys own good and godly person they desired him to write somewhat in their bookes which request he willingly graunted as in maner here ensueth These verses were written in a booke of mayster Hussey of the Temple Behold thy selfe by me such one was I as thou And thou in tyme shalt be euen dust as I am now Bartlet Greene. ¶ These verses were also written in a booke of mayster William Fleetwood of the same house My resting roode is founde vayne hope hap a dew Loue whome you list with chaÌ„ge death shall me rid froÌ„ you Bartlet Greene. Amonges others diuers and singular good vertues of this good manne especially in him was to bee noted such a modest nature so humbly thinking of himselfe as in few men is to be found euer deâ—ecting hymselfe vnder that was in him and euer seeming to be lesse then he was so that nothing lesse hee coulde abide then to heare of hys prayse or commendation as well declareth not onely his letter written to M. Philpot wherin he doth earnestly expostulate with hym for slaundring hym with prayse of his witte and learning and other manifold vertues of great excellency but also by his owne speache and aunsweres in his examination wherein he casteth from hym all knowledge of learning and cunning when notwithstanding he had more in hym then to anye mennes eyes dyd appeare So great and admirable was this gift of modesty grafted in the nature of
king standeth accursed in mainteining his owne lawes Therfore in consideration that the king and Queene take theyr power of him as though god should geue it to them there is no true subiect vnlesse he be abrogate seing the crowne is holden of him being out of the Realme The Bishop of Rome is contrary to God and iniurious to his lawes for God commaunded all men to be diligent in the knowledge of his law and therefore hath appoynted one holiday in the weeke at the least for the people to come to the Church and heare the word of God expounded vnto them and that they might the better vnderstād it to heare it in their mother toung which they know The Pope doth contrary for he willeth the seruice to bee had in the latine tongue which they doe not vnderstande God woulde haue it to bee perceiued the Pope will not When the Priest geueth thanks God would that the people should do so to and God will them to confesse altogether the Pope will not Now as concerning the Sacrament I haue taught no false doctrine of the sacramēt of the aultar For if it can be proued by any doctor aboue 1000. yeares after Christ that Christes body is there really I will geue ouer My booke was made 7. yeares agoe and no man hath brought anye authors agaynst it I beleue that who so eateth and drinketh that sacrament Christ is within them whole Christ his Natiuity Passion Resurrection and Ascention but not that corporally that sitteth in heauen Now Christ commaunded all to drinke of the Cuppe The Pope taketh it away from the laye men and yet one sayth that if Christ had dyed for the Deuill that he shoulde drinke thereof Christ biddeth vs to obey the king etiam discolo The Bishop of Rome biddeth vs to obey him therfore vnlesse he be Antichrist I cannot tell what to make of him Wherfore if I should obey him I can not obey Christ. He is like the Deuill in his doinges for the Deuil said to Christ if thou wilt fall downe and worship me I wyll geue thee all the kingdomes of the world Thus hee tooke vpon him to geue that which was not his owne Euen so the Bishop of Rome geueth Princes theyr crownes being none of his owne for where Princes either by election either by succession either by inheritage obtein their crown he sayth that they should haue it from him Christ sayth that Antichrist shall be And who shall he be Forsoothe he that aduaunceth himselfe aboue all other creatures Now if there be none already that hath aduaūced himselfe after suche sorte besides the Pope then in the meane time let him be Antichrist Story Pleaseth it you to make an end Cranmer For he wil be the Uicar of Christ he will dispēse with the olde and newe Testament also yea and with Apostacy Now I haue declared why I cannot with my conscience obey the Pope I speake not this for hatred I beare to him that now supplieth the roome for I know him not I pray God geue him grace not to folowe his auncestors Neyther say I this for my defence but to declare my conscience for the zeale that I beare to Gods word troden vnder foote by the Byshop of Rome I cast feare aparte for Christ sayde to his Apostles that in the latter dayes they should suffer much sorow and be put to death for his names sake feare them not sayth he but feare him whyche when he hath killed the body hath power to cast the soule into the fire euerlasting Also Christ sayth that he that wyll liue shall die and he that loseth his life for my names sake he shall finde it agayne Moreouer he sayd confesse mee before men and be not afrayd if you do so I wyll stand with you if you shrincke from me I will shrincke from you This is a comfortable and a terryble saying thys maketh me to set all feare aparte I say therefore the Byshop of Rome treadeth vnder foote Gods lawes and the kinges The Pope would geue Bishoprickes so woulde the king But at the last the king gat the vpper hande and so are all Bishops periured first to the Pope and then to the king The Crowne hath nothing to doe with the Cleargy For if a Clarke come before a Iudge the Iudge shal make processe agaynste him but not to execute any Lawes For if the Iudge should put him to execution then is the king accursed in mayneteyning his owne Lawes And therfore saye I that he is neyther true to GOD neyther to the king that first receiued the Pope But I shall hartely pray for such Councellours as may informe her the truth for the King and Queene if they be well infourmed wyll do well Mart. As you vnderstand then if they maynteyne the Supremacy of Rome they cannot mainteine England too Cranmer I require you to declare to the king and queene what I haue sayde and how theyr othes doe stand with the Realme and the Pope S. Gregory sayth he that taketh vppon him to be head of the Uniuersall Churche is worse then the Antichrist If any man can shew me that it is not agaynst Gods word to holde his styrrop when hee taketh his horse and kisse his feet as kinges do then will I kisse his feete also And you for your part my Lord are periured for now ye sit Iudge for the Pope and yet ye did receiue your Byshopricke of the king You haue taken an othe to be aduersary to this Realme for the Popes lawes are contrary to the lawes of the Realme Glocester You were the cause that I did forsake the Pope and did sweare that he ought not to be supreame head and gaue it to king Henry the eight that he ought to be it and this you made me to do Cranmer To this I aunswere sayd he You report me il and say not the trueth and I will proue it here before you all The trueth is that my Predecessour Byshop Warrham gaue the Supremacy to King Henry the eight and sayde that he ought to haue it before the Bishop of Rome and that Gods word would beare him And vpō the same was there sent to both the vniuersityes Oxford and Cambridge to know what the word of GOD would do touching the Supremacy and it was reasoned vpon and argued at length So at the laste both the Uniuersityes agreed and set to theyr Seales and sent it to king Henry the eight to the Courte that he ought to be supreme head and not the Pope Whereupon you were then Doctour of Diuinitye at that time and your consent was thereunto as your hand doth appeare Therefore you misreport me that I was the cause of your falling away from the Pope but it was your selfe All this was in Byshop Warrhams time and whilest he was aliue so that it was three quarters of a yeare after ere euer I hadde the Byshopricke of Caunterbury
also you ought to washe the feete one of an other Exemplum dedi vobis i. I haue geuen you example This was a precept yet hath the churche altered it lest the simple people should not thinke a rebaptization in it So because sayd the Apostle Accepi à Domino quod tradidi vobis Dominus noster qua nocte tradebatur c. i. I haue receyued of the Lord the same whyche I haue deliuered to you that our Lorde the same night in whiche hee was betrayed c. Notwithstanding that this was a precept that the sacrament should be ministred after supper the church hath altered it commanded it to be receiued fasting And where Christ did breake the breade wee receaue the whole hoste Christ ministred sitting at the table we staÌ„ding at the altar It was also commaunded in the xv of the Actes that Christian men should absteyne à suffocato sanguine i. FroÌ„ strangled and bloud But the Church perceiuing it to bee a precept but for a tyme hath altered ix Christ commaunded to keep holy Diem Sabbati The Sabboth day and the church hath altered it to Sonday If then the church may change thinges that be so expressed in the scriptures she may also chaunge the forme of receauing of lay menne vnder bothe kindes for diuers occasions First because in carying to the sicke the bloud may not be shed lost or misused And next that no occasion might be geuen to hereticks to thinke that there is not so muche vnder one kinde as vnder both But why woulde you haue it vnder bothe kyndes I pray you els but onely to peruert and contrarye the commandement of the church For when you had it vnder both kindes you beleued in neither And wee hauing but one beleue both kinds Now sir as concerning the sacrament of the altar where you say you haue a number of Doctors of your side and we none of our side that is to say to confirme the reall presence of Christ in the sacrament of the altar in deede one to stop your mouth I thinke it not possible to finde Neuerthelesse where your request is to haue one shewed vnto you and then you will recant I will shew you two S. Augustine Super. 33. Psalme ferebatur manibus suis I finde not how this is true in Dauid sayth hee litterallye that he was borne in hys owne handes but in Chryste I finde it litterally when hee gaue his body to his Apostles at hys last supper Agayn S. Ciprian De Coena Domini sayth Panis quem dominus noster discipulis suis porrigebat non effigie sed natura mutatus omnipoteÌ„tia verbi factus est caro What can be more plain theÌ„ this yet to your expositioÌ„ it is not plain enough But geue me your figuratiue significatiue and such other like termes and I will defend that Christ hath not yet ascended no nor yet that he was encarnate c. Wherfore â— can doe no other but put you in the number of theÌ„ whoÌ„ Chrisostome spake of in this wise saying Audi homo fidelis qui coÌ„tra haereticum contendis si Pharisaei conuicti non placati haeretici c. Heare O thou Christian man wyâ—te thou do more then Christ could do Christ confuted the Phariseis yet coulde hee not put them to scilence Et fortior es tu Christo And art thou stronger then Christ Wilt thou goe about to bring them to silence that will receaue no aunswere as who should saye thou canste not Thus muche haue I sayd not for you M. Cranmer for my hope that I conceaued of you is now gone and past but in somewhat to satisfie the rude and vnlearned people that they perceiuing your arrogant lying and lying arrogancie maye the better eschew your detestable and abhominable schisme And thus ended the Prelate his worshipful tale After whome Doctor Story taketh the matter and thus inferreth in wordes as followeth Maister Cranmer you haue made a goodly processe concerning your hereticall othe made to the king but you forget your othe made to the Sea Apostolicke As concerning youre othe made to the kinge if you made it to hym onely it tooke an end by his death and so it is released if you made it to his successors well sir the true successours haue the Empyre and they will you to dissolue the same and become a member of Christes Church agayne and it standeth well with charitie To this the Archbishop aunswered agayne sayth the Reporter but what his answere was that he suppresseth and returneth to the words of D. Story who imperiouslye turning his speach agayne to the Archbishop sayd as followeth Holde your peace sir and so shall it right wel become you considering that I gaue you liceÌ„ce before to say your phansie Your othe was no othe for it lacked the three poyntes of an othe that is to say Iudicium Iustitiam Veritatem These with the like words to the same effect being vttered by D. Story seeking to breake vp and make an end of that session he eftsoones called for witnesses to bee producted who shuld be sworne vpon the book to vtter declare the next day what soeuer they knew or could remeÌ„ber to be inferred against Doct. Cranmers heresie The names of the witnesses were these Doct. Marshall Commissary Deane of Christes church Doctor Smith vnder Commissary Doct. Tresham Doct. Crooke M. London M. Curtop M. Warde M. Serles After the depositions of whiche witnesses being taken Doct. Story admonished the archbyshop permitting him to make hys exceptioÌ„s if he thought any of the sayd witnesses to be refused Who theÌ„ would admit none of theÌ„ all being men periured and not in Christian religion For if to sweare sayd he agaynst the Pope were vnlawful they should rather haue geuen theyr liues then their othe But if it were lawfull then are they periured to defende hym whome they forsware before Neuerthelesse this answere of the Archb. being lightly regarded as little to the purpose appertayning hee was commaunded agayne to the place from whence he came Who at hys departynge out like as at his first comming in shewed lowe obedience to Doct. Martin and to Doct. Story the Queenes CoÌ„missioners Then Doct. Story poynting him to the Byshop of Glocester sayd that he ought rather to geue reuerence vnto him So the reuerend archb departing without anye obeysaunce exhibited to the Byshop all the other rose vp departed euery one to hys owne And thus brake vp the session for this day about two of the clocke at after noone And thus much hitherto concerning the summary effect of this Action or session with the Orations discourses articles commenced agaynst the Archbishop of Canterb. also with the reasons and answers of the sayd Archbishop to their obiections and interrogatoryes Touching which his aunsweres for somuch as they being recited by report of a papist as is aforesayd seeme to bee not
member as I haue bene also of so small acquintance but such is the mercifull goodnes of God so to moue your hartes with charity towards me And as he hath moued your hartes so to doe euen so I beseech God to geue you power to forsake refuse al thinges the which be displeasant in his sight to do al things which be requisite to a Christiā send you grace to go forwardes in the same as you haue godly begon neither fearing fire nor sword And my most deare hartes remember well the simple playne doctrine the which I haue taught you also writtē vnto you which was the trueth for a testimony of the same I trust that you shall shortly heare or els see that I wil seale the same with my bloud And in the meane time I desire you al to remember me in your praiers as I know you do as with Gods helpe I will doe for you that God for his deare sonne Christes sake will so finish the dayes of our pilgrimage that we may rest together with Abrahā Isaac Iacob in the euerlasting kingdome of heauē to the which I beseech the eternall God for his Christes sake to bring both you and all yours Amen By me William Tyms ¶ An other Letter of William Tyms to his sister Colfoxe and Agnes Glascocke GRace peace from God the father of al mercy through the merites of our deare sauiour Iesus Christ be perceiued felt in the harts of you my dearely beloued sisters in the Lord by the mighty working of the holy Ghost the comforter both now and euermore Amen My most dear and entyrely beloued sisters in the Lord after my most harty commendatiōs according to my most boūden duty I do as I am accustomed or at least boūd to doe that is I geue you warning of your enemies which be the Papistes and take good heed to them for they serue a crafty mayster yea and as S. Peter saith he slepeth not but goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whō he may deuour For your old familiar frendes or worldly companions when they see that you will not runne to the Idols Temple with them it will seeme a straunge thing vnto them that ye runne not to the same excesse of ryot as S. Peter sayth and therfore they will speak euill of you rayle on you and persecute you But my deare sisters let it not trouble you for it is but to try you and let it not seeme a straunge thing vnto you But when they doe so remember wherefore it is and for whose sake euen because you wil not forsake God as they doe For the hatred they beare you is for the word of God and then it is Gods cause and I tell you hee will reuenge it And therefore if ye bee rayled on and troubled for his sake thinke your selues most happy For if you suffer with the Patriarches Prophetes and Apostles then shall you be sure to be partakers of the same ioy that they are in Yea you haue heard by the worde of God howe cruelly the tyrauntes alwayes haue persecuted the true members of Christ as he himselfe hath promised that they shall do vnto the end of the word By the way I will bring to your remembraunce the holy Martyr S. Stephen who for fauouring maynteyning and defending the same doctrine that we now suffer for was called a blasphemer and stoned to death at Ierusalem And Christes Apostles were diuerslye afflicted the world ouer for the same by this viperous generation Antipas the faythfull witnes of Christ was slayne at Pergamus Iasan for receiuing of Paule and Silas with other disciples teachers of the Gospel was brought before the coūsell at Thessalonica and accused for a seditious traytor agaynst Cesar. No maruell therefore though at this daye we be vexed on the same sort mainteining the same cause fauoring the teachers therof Is there any other reward folowing the true seruantes of God now thē hath bene afore times No surely for so hath Christ promised And if they haue persecuted him needes must they persecute his members if they haue called the mayster of the house Belzebub so will they do his houshold You shall be hated of all men sayth Christ for my names sake It is no new thing my deare hartes to see the true mēbers of Christ handled as in our dayes they be as it is not vnknown to you how they be cruelly entreated blasphemed wtout any reasonable cause For heretickes must they be taken which folow not theyr traditions And then they may as wel cal christ an heretick for he neuer alowed their dirty ceremonyes He neuer went a procession with a Cope Crosse or Candlesticke He neuer censed Image nor sang Latine seruice He neuer sate in confession He neuer preached of Purgatory nor of the popes pardōs He neuer honored sayntes nor prayd for the dead He neuer said masse mattins nor euensong He neuer cōmaunded to fast Fryday nor Uigil Lent nor Aduēt He neuer halowed church nor chalice ashes nor palmes candles nor bels He neuer made holy water nor holy bread with such like But suche dumbe ceremonies not hauing the expresse cōmaūdement of God he calleth the leauen of the Phariseis and dānable hypocrisy admonishing his disciples to beware of thē He curseth al those that addeth to his word such beggerly shadowes wiping their names cleane out of the booke of life S. Paule sayth they haue no portion with Christ whiche wrap themselues agayne with such yokes of bondage Therefore my deare hartes seeing that our good God hath by the light of his holy word deliuered vs frō al such darck blind dumbe beggerly traditions of men stand fast in the libertye wherewith Christ hath made you free and wrap not your selues againe in the yoke of bondage But let vs alwayes be ready looking for the comming of oure Lord sauior Iesus Christ which as S. Peter sayth will come as a theefe in the night And as our Captayne Chryst sayth If the good man of the house knew what houre the theefe would come he would surely watche Therfore my deare harts be of good comfort although the worlde neuer rage so sore agaynst you And for youre comfort make wel the great mercy of God who according to his promise for the weaknes of our nature hath so asswaged the heate of the fire that our deare brethren which are gone before vs to the sight of all men haue found it rather to be ioy then payne And thinke you surely that God wil be as mercifull vnto you as he hath bene vnto them and say with S. Paule Who shall seperate vs from the loue of God shall tribulation or anguish or persecution eyther hunger either nakednes either perill either sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long c. Therfore my deare sisters if to saue your liues any dissembling
English seruice so causing vs to sinne against our redemption For such as willingly and wittingly agaynst their consciences shall so do as it is to be feared many one doth they are in a miserable state vntill the mercy of God turn them which if he do not we certainly beleeue that they shall eternally be damned and as in this world they deny Christes holy word and Communion before men so shal christ deny them before his heauenly father and his Aungelles And where as it is verye earnestly required that we should go in Procession as they call it at whiche time the Priest say in Latine such thinges as we are ignoraunt of the same edifieth nothing at all vnto godlinesse And wee haue learned that to follow Christes Crosse is an other matter namely to take vp our Crosse and to follow chryst in pacient suffering for his loue tribulations sicknes pouertie prison or anye other aduersitie whensoeuer Gods holy wil pleasure is to lay the same vppon vs. The tryumphant Passion and death of Christ wherby in his own person he conquered death sinne hell and damnatioÌ„ hath most liuely bene preached vnto vs and the glory of Chrystes crosse declared by our Preachers whereby wee haue learned the causes and effectes of the same more liuely in one Sermon then in all the Processions that euer wee went in or euer shall go in When wee worshipped the diuine Trinitie kneelyng and in the Letanie inuocating the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost asking mercye for our sinnes and desiring such petitions as the neede of oure frayle estate and thys mortall life requireth we were edified both to know vnto whom all Christian praiers should be directed and also to know that of Gods hand we receaue all thinges as well to the saluation of our soules as to the reliefe of our mortall necessities And we humbly beseech the Queenes maiestie that the same most holye prayers may bee continued amongest vs that our Ministers praying in oure mother tongue and wee vnderstanding their prayers and petitions may aunswere Amen vnto them At euening seruice we vnderstoode our Ministers prayers we wer taught admonished by the scriptures then read whiche in the latine Euensong is all gone At the ministration of holy baptisme we learned what league and couenauâ—t God had made with vs and what vowes and promises we vpon our part had made namely to beleue in him to forsake Satan and his workes to walke in the way of Gods holy word commandemeÌ„tes The Christian Catechisme continually taught called to remembraunce the same wheras before no man knew any thing at all And many good men of lx yeares that hadde bene godfathers to xxx children knew no more of the godfathers office but to wash their handes ere they departed the Church or els to fast fiue Fridayes bread and water O mercifull God haue pittie vpon vs. Shall we be altogether cast from thy presence We may well lament our miserable estate to receaue such a commaundement to reiect and cast out of our Churches all these most godly praiers instructions admonitions and doctrines thus to be compelled to deny God and Christ our Sauiour hys holy word al his doctrine of our saluation the candle to our feete and the light to our steppes the bread comming downe from heauen that geueth life whiche who so drinketh it shall be in him a well spring streaming vnto eternall life wherby we haue learned all righteousnes al true Religion al true obedience towardes our gouernours al charitie one towardes an other all good workes that god would vs to walk in what punishment abideth the wicked and what heauenly rewarde God will geue to those that reuerently walke in his wayes and commaundementes Wherefore right honourable Commissioners wee can not without impietie refuse and caste from vs the holye word of God which we haue receaued or condemne anye thing set forth by our most godly late king Edward hys vertuous proceedinges so agreable to Gods worde And our most humble suite is that the coÌ„maundement may be reuoked so that we be not constrayned thereunto For we protest before God we thinke if the holy word of God had not taken some roote amongest vs we could not in tyme past haue done that poore duety of ours which wee did in assisting the Queene our most deare soueraigne agaynst her Graces mortall foe that then fought her destruction It was our bounden duetie and wee thanke God for the knowledge of his worde and grace that we then did some part of our bounden seruice And we meekely pray and beseeche the Queenes Maiestie for the deare passion of Iesus Christ that the same word be not takeÌ„ away out of her Churches nor from vs her louyng faythfull and true subiectes lest if the like necessitie should hereafter chaunce which God for his mercies sake forbid and euer saue and defeÌ„d her grace and vs all the want of knowledge of due remembrauÌ„ce of Gods word may be occasion of great ruine to an infinite number of her graces true subiectes And truely we iudge this to be one subtile part of the deuil enemy to all godly peace and quietnesse that by takyng Gods word from among vs and plantyng ignoraunce he may make a way to all mischief and wickednes by banishyng the holy Gospell of peace he may bring vpon vs the heauy wrath of God with all maner of plagues as death straunge sicknes pestilence morren most terrible vprores commotions seditions These thyngs did the Lord threaten vnto the Iewes for refusing his word saying Goe and thou shalt say vnto this people Ye shall heare in deede but ye shall not vnderstand ye shall playnly see and not perceiue Harden the hart of this people stop their eares and shut their eyes that they see not with their eyes heare not with their eares and vnderstand not with their hartes and conuert and be healed And I said how loÌ„g Lord And he aunswered Vntill the Cities be destroyed vtterly wasted without habiters and the houses without men till the laÌ„d also be desolate lye vnbuilded And the Prophet Micheas considering the contempt of Gods word amoÌ„g the Israelites threatned them thus When the day that thy preachers warned thee of commeth thou shalt be wasted away And let no man beleue his frend or put confidence in his brother Keepe the doore of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome for the sonne shall put his father to dishonour and the daughter shal rise agaynst her mother the daughter in law agaynst the mother in the law and a mans foes shal be eueÌ„ they of his owne houshold The same plague threatned Christ vnto the Iewes for refusing his peace profered them in the Gospel and he wept on the Citie Ierusalem which murdered the Prophetes and stoned such as were sent vnto her The same plagues we are afrayd will also fall vpon vs. For whereas
gently But when the Frier offered hym hys hand he castyng his eye aside as though he had not seene it found matter of talke to another standyng by and so auoyded it which thyng was well marked of some not without great grudge of stomacke After they were set and had well eaten the Frier with a pleasaunt looke offeryng hym the cup sayd Propino tibi inuenis erudite i. I drinke to you learned yong man Palmer at that word blushyng as red as scarlet aunswered Non agnosco nomen domine i. I knowledge no such name O sir. And therewith takyng the cup at his hand he set it downe by hym as though he would haue pledged him anone after but in the end it was also well marked that he did it not When diner was done beyng sharply rebuked of the sayd Bursar hys friend for hys so vnwise vnciuile and vnseemely behauiour as he termed it he made aunswer for hymselfe and sayd Oleum eorum non demulcet sed frangit caput meum i. The oyle of these men doth not supply but breaketh my hed Another tyme which was also the last tyme of his beyng at Oxforde not long before hys death one Barwike an old acquaintaunce of hys beyng sometyme Clarke of Magdalenes and then fellow of Trinitie colledge a rank papist began to reason with hym in his friendes chamber aforesayd and perceiuyng hym to be zealous and earnest in the defence of the veritie he sayd vnto hym in the hearing of M. Thomas Parry and others there present Wel Palmer well now thou art stoute and hardie in thine opinion but if thou were once brought to the stake I beleeue thou wouldest tell me another tale I aduise thee beware of the fire it is a shrewd matter to burne Truely sayth Palmer I haue bene in daunger of burning once or twise and hitherto I thanke GOD I haue escaped it But I iudge verily it will be my end at the last welcome be it by the grace of God In deed it is a hard matter for them to burne that haue the mynd and soule linked to the body as a thiefes foote is tied in a payre of fetters but if a man be once able through the helpe of Gods spirite to seperate and deuide the soule from the body for him it is no more masterie to burne then for me to eate this piece of bread Thus much by the way concerning his plainnes with out dissimulation and how he feared not openly to shewe hymselfe more grieued in hart to heare the worde of God blasphemed then to suffer any worldly paynes Now let vs proceed in our story and faithfully declare both the occasion and maner of his death Within short space after hee had yelded vp his fellowship in Oxford he was through Gods prouidence who neuer fayleth them that first seeke his glory placed scholemaister by Patent in the Grammer schoole of Readyng where he was well accepted of all those that feared God and fauoured his word as well for his good learning and knowledge as also for his earnest zeale and profession of the truth But Sathan the enemie of all godly attemptes enuying his good proceedyngs and prosperous successe in the same would not suffer hym there long to be in quiet Wherfore he stirred vp against hym certayne double faced hypocrites which by dissimulation crafty insinuatiō had crept in to vnderstand hys secrets vnder the pretence of a zeale to the gospell Which men he suspecting no deceit right ioyfully imbraced making them priuy of al his doyngs For as he hymselfe was then feruently enflamed with the loue of heauenly doctrine so had hee an incredible desire by all means possible to allure and encourage others to the profession of the same These faithful and trustie brethren so soone as they had found good oportunitie spared not in his absence to rifle his study of certayne godly bookes and writyngs amongest the which was his replication to Morwines verses touching Winchesters epitaph and other arguments both in Latin and English written by him against the popish procedings and specially against their vnnaturall brutish tyranny executed toward the Martyrs of God When they had thus done they were not ashamed to threaten hym that they would exhibite the same to the Counsayle vnles he would without delay depart out of their coastes and geue ouer the schole to a friend of theirs The truth of this story appeareth in part by a letter written with hys owne hand out of pryson eight dayes before he was burned which because it is of certaine credite and came to our handes therefore we are the bolder to auouche it for a truth Thus then was this sillie yong man for the sauegard of his lyfe forced to depart vppon the sodayne from Readyng leauyng behynd hym in the handes of his enemies his stuffe and one quarters stipende and so he tooke hys iourney toward Esham where hys mother then dwelt hopyng to obtaine at her hands certaine Legacies due to hym by his fathers last will which he should haue receyued certaine yeares before and taking his iourney by Oxford he requested certain of his friends to accompany him thither His mother vnderstandyng his state and errande by M. Shipper and his brother whom he had sent before to entreat for him as soone as she beheld him on his knees askyng her blessing as he had bene accustomed to do thou shalt sayd she haue Christes curse and myne wheresoeuer thou go He pausing a little as one amased at so heauy a greetyng at length sayde O mother your owne curse you may geue me which God knoweth I neuer deserued but Gods curse you cannot geue me for hee hath already blessed me Nay sayth she thou wentest from Gods blessing into the warme sunne when thou wast banished for an heretike out of that worshipfull house in Oxforde and now for the lyke knauery art driuen out of Readyng too Alas mother sayth he you haue bene misse informed I was not expelled nor driuen away but freely resigned of myne accorde And hereticke I am none for I stande not stubbornly agaynst any true doctrine but defend it to my power And you may be sure they vse not to expel nor banish but to burne heretikes as they terme them Well quoth she I am sure thou doest not beleeue as thy father and I and all our forefathers haue done But as we were taught by the new lawe in K. Edwards dayes which is damnable heresie In deed I confesse sayd he that I beleeue that doctrine which was taught in K. Edwards tyme which is not heresie but truth neither is it newe but as olde as Christ and his Apostles If thou be at that poynte sayth she I require thee to departe from my house and out of my sight and neuer take me for thy mother hereafter As for money and goodes I haue none of thyne thy father bequeathed nought for heretickes Fagots I haue to burne thee
but neuer without his white miniuer hoode such doctrine as was shamefull to heare saying Masse and carying about the pixe in high processions Furthermore leadyng the boy S. Nicholas with his miniuer hood about the streetes for apples and belly cheere And who so would not receiue him he made them heretikes and such also as would not geue his fagot to the bonfire for Queene Maries child And thus continued he at Ipswich the most part of Queene Maries dayes molestyng there good men some for not goyng to the Churche some for not beyng confessed some for not receiuyng c. till at length toward the end of Queene Mary he came to London and in this Queens time began to shewe himselfe againe a perfect protestant And thus much of Argentine Ex testimon Petri Moonaei ¶ The trouble of Peter Moone and his Wife and of other Godly Protestantes at Byshop Hoptons visitation in Ipswich IN the yeare of our Lord God 1556. The sceane or visitation being kept before Whitsontide in the Towne of Ipswich in Suffolcke by Doctour Hopton being then Byshop of Norwich and Myles Dunninges being then his Cauncellour diuers and sondry godly Protestantes through the accusation of euill men where sore troubled presented before him among whom were accused one Peter Moone a Taylor and Anne his wife for theyr disobedience to the law in not shewing theyr readinesse to come to the Church and to be partaker of such Romish obseruances as at that time were vsed And first the sayd Peter Moone was commaunded to come before the Bishop where he was examined of three sondry Articles to wit 1. Whether the pope were supreme head 2. Whether King Philip and Queene Mary were right inheritors to the crowne 3. And whether in the Sacrament of the aulter was the very body of Christ substācially and really there present Unto the which the sayde Peter being timerous and weake fearing more the face of man then the heauy wrath of God affirmed and in maner graunted vnto the demaūdes Whereupon the Bishop being in good hope that although he had not come to the Church nor receiued theyr Sacrament of the Aultar nor bene ready to doe his duetye as the law had commaunded yet there shewing his mind sayd that he liked well the man for such as haue bene sayd he earnest in euill thinges will also be earnest in that that is good and godly if once they be wonne Thus as this Spirituall father was commending his carnall child and rather preferring him to hell fire thē vnto the sincere word and commaundementes of GOD it chaunced amongest many others in the chamber was one of the portmen of the same towne named Smart an earnest member of theyr Romish law doing of a very conscience that he did who after the death of Queene Mary lyued not many yeares but rendred his life in godly repentaunce protesting that if God should suffer him to liue he woulde neuer be the man he had bene before what lawes so euer should come agayne so that before the time of hys sicknes he frequenting earnestly the Sermons in the same Towne by diuers godly learned woulde weepe as it had bene a childe being notwithstanding of courage as stout a manne as any was in Ipswich Such is the maruellous mercy of God in calling to his kingdome whom when he pleaseth This portman aforesayd perceiuing the Bishop thus as it were at an end with the sayd Moone and so he lyke to be discharged sayd vnto the Bishop my Lord in deed I haue a good hope in the man and that he will be conformable but my Lord he hath a perrillous woman to his wife For I will tell you my Lorde she neuer came to Churche yet since the Queenes reigne except it were at Euensong or when shee was Churched And not then vntill Masse were done Wherfore your good Lordship might do a good deed to cause her to come before you and to see if ye coulde do any good And therefore I beseech your good Lordshyp to commaund him to pray her to come before your Lordshippe At the which words Moone was somewhat styrred in that he sayde commaunde him to pray her to come before your Lordship And he sayd vnto him vnder my Lordes correction I speake I am as able to cōmaund her to come before my Lorde as ye are to commaund the worst boy in your house Yea my Lord sayd the other I cry your Lordship mercy I haue informed your Lordship with an vntroth if this be so But if he be so able as he saith he might haue commaunded her to haue come to Church in all thys time if it had pleased him Well sayde the Bishop looke ye come before me agayne at afternoone and bring your wife with you I will talke with her As my Lordes dinner at that time was seruing vppe Moone departed and taryed not to take parte thereof hauing such an hard breakefast geuen him before to digest At afternoone Moone delayed and wayted his time bethinking whē he might most conueniently come especially whē his accuser his wiues shoulde not haue bene there And accordinge to the commaundement came with his wife which was not so secretly but his accuser had knowledge thereof and came with all expedition in such poste speede that in a maner he was windlesse entring into the bishops chamber The Bishoppe hearing that Moone and his wife were come called for them and sayd to Moone is this your wife Moone Yea my Lord sayd he O good Lord sayd the Byshop how a man may be deceiued in a woman I promise you a man would take her for as honest a woman by all outward appearaunce as can be Why my Lorde sayde Moones wife I trust there is none that can charge me with any dishonesty as cōcerning my body I defy all the worlde in that respect Nay quoth the Bishop I meane not as concerning the dishonesty of thy bodye but thou hadst bene better to haue geuen the vse of thy body vnto xx sundry men thē to doe as thou hast done For thou hast done as much as in thee lyeth to plucke the King and the Queenes maiesties out of theyr royal seates through thy disobedience in shewing thy selfe an open enemy vnto Gods lawes theyr proceedinges Then began the Bishop to examine the said Moone agayne with the aforesayd Articles and his wife also And hearing her husband relēt did also affirme the same whiche turned vnto either of them no small trouble of minde afterwarde but yet neither were they like thus to escape but that in the meane time Dunning the Bishops Chaūcellour came vp in great haste and brought newes to the Bishop that there were such a number of hereticks come of which some came from Boxford some from Lanham about from the Cloth Country that it would make a man out of his wittes to heare them and there are amōg them both heretickes and Anabaptistes sayd
number of Sacraments some graunting one sacrament that is the body of Christ hanging vpon the crosse some moe some lesse c. yet in the principal matter touching the doctrins of saluation for faith to stay vpon and in disagreing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish church they moste agreed Concerning the not praying to saints and for the deade in Purgatorie for not creepynge to the crosse for faith onely to iustifie for taking of an oth such other like he graunted as the other had done This father Archer by his occupation a Weauer of the towne of CraÌ„broke of the age of 50. yeres was attached and imprisonned by syr Iohn Gilforde knighte And thus haue yee the cause and imprisonment of these 5. godly prisoners Now as touching the cruelty of theyr death for that yee shal not surmise the suspicion or relation thereof to proceede of my selfe ye shall heare theyr own testimonie and certification by their owne letter thrown out of the prison concerning the vnmercifull dealing of the Catholicke tyrantes in famishing them as is aforesayde The woordes and copye of theyr letter is this The copie of a Letter wrytten and cast out of the Castle of Cant. by the prisoners there in bands for Gods word declaring how the Papistes went aboute to famishe them to death of the which companie fiue were famished amongest them all ready BE it knowen to all men that shall read or heare redde these our letters that we the pore prisoners of the Castle of Canterburie for Gods truth are kept and lie in cold yrons our keepers wil not suffer any meat to be brought to vs to comfort vs. And if any man do bring any thyng as bread butter cheese or any other foode the saide keeper wil charge them that so bring vs any thing except mony or raiment to carie it with them againe or els if he do receiue any foode of any for vs he doeth keepe it for himself and he and his seruaunts do spend it so that we haue nothing thereof and thus the keeper keepeth away our victuals from vs. In so muche that there are 4. of vs prisonners there for Gods truthe famished already and thus is it his minde to famish vs all and we thinke he is apoynted thereunto of the Bishops and priestes and also of the iustices so to famish vs and not onely vs of the saide Castel but also all other prisoners in other prisons for the lyke cause to be also famished notwithstanding we wryte not these our letters to that entent we moughte not aforde to be famished for the Lord Iesus sake but for this cause and entent that they hauing no law so to famish vs in prison should not doe it priuely but that the murtherers heartes should be openly knowen to all the world that all menne may know of what church they are who is their father Out of the Castel of Canterburie The trouble and vexation of good people in the Diocesse of Lichfield THese foresayde monethes of September Nouember and December as they were troublesome to diuers other places and especially to the Dioces of Canterburie by reason of the Archdeacon aboue named so likewyse they brought no little busines in the countrey of Lichfield and Couentrie by a cruel bishop there called Rafe Bane and a more cruell Chauncellor named Doctour Draycot through the fierce inquisition of whome great stirre was there amonge the people being called to examination for theyr Faith and many caused to beare fagottes Who althoâ—h they were not put to the torment of death yet because it may appeare what a number there is in the countrys of England abroade which in theyr hearts haue a misliking of the Popes Romish lawes and religion if for fear they durst vtter theyr mindes I thought to make a rehearsall of theyr names which in the foresayde Diocesse of Couentrie and Lichfielde were taken in suspicion and examined for theyr Religion And first amongst them that were detected and inioyned to the popish penance that is to beare a fagot candel and beades about in procession were Agnes Forman detected examined and by witnesse conuicted and bare a fagot the 12. of Septemb. Likewise Margery Kirry Thomas Norreis Thomas Stiffe William Kayme Robert Katrenes Thomas Smith Iohn Borsley the younger Iteâ— Iohn Waterhouse against whom came in witnesse and accusers Richarde Caterbanke I. Edge William Smith Robert Cooke laying against him for seldome coÌ„ming to the Churche for geuing no reuerence at the leuation of the Sacrament but looking vpon his booke for not kissing the paxe c. Robert Bissel Leonard West Richard Baily of the parish of Whiteacre These were depriued Nicholas Cartwright Doctor Richard Iurdian Priest Edmund Crokel Priest Thomas Whitehead Priest William Taylour Priest Anselme Sele Priest Richard Slauie Priest maryed Edward Hawes Priest maried Robert Aston Priest depriued Henry Tecka Priest depriued Rob. Mossey priest maried depriued Beside these were diuers other which in like sort were detected accused and examined although they bare no fagot but were dimissed as Richard Kempe Iohn Frankling William Marler Ielius Dudley Eustache Bysacre William Shene Antonie Afterwittel Tho. Steilbe Henry Birdlim William Mosley Iohn Leeche Iohn Richardson Anthony Iones alias Pulton Thom. Wilson Thomas Lynacres and Hugh Lynacres hys sonne Isabel Parker Martine Newman William Enderby Cicely Preston Thomas Saulter Ihon Stamford shomaker Richard Woodburne Thomas Arnall Shoomaker Iohn Robinson Hugh More Shoomaker Iohn Adale Thomas Arche Fraunces Warde Iohn Auines Richard Foxal Thomas Underdoune Rich. Weauer The next moneth following being October came vnder examination Ioyce Lewes gentlewoman of whome we deferre to speake vntil the next yeare at what time she was burned These forenamed persones with many moe folowing in the next yeare after although they did subscribe and relent through feare of death yet for thys cause I doe heere recite them that by them it myght appeare what a number there were not onely in the countrey of Lichfield but also in other parties in heart set against the Popes procedings if that feare rather then conscience had not compelled them to the contrary ⧠The conclusion of this XI Booke with a briefe storie of Syr Iohn Cheeke c. ANd thus haue yee the whole persecution of thys yere declared which was the yeare of our Lord 1556. and the fourth of Quene Maries raigne with the names and causes of all them which suffered Martyrdome within the compasse of the sayd yeare the number of all which slayne Martyred in diuers places of England at sundry times this yere came to aboue 84. persons whereof many were women wines widowes and maidens besides them which otherwise by secreate practise were made awaye or driuen out of goodes and houses or out of the Realme or els within the realme were put to penaunce and coacted by forceable violence to recante saue onely that I haue omitted the story of Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight
of diuine seruice 13 Item if there be any that doe practise or exercise any artes of Magike or Necromancy or do vse or practise any Incantations Sorceries or witchcraft or be vehemently suspected therof 14 Item whether any be maried in the degrees of affinity or consanguinitye prohibited by the Lawes of holye church or that do mary the banes not asked or do make any priuy contractes 15 Item whether in the time of Easter last any were not confessed or did not receiue the blessed sacrament of the aultar or did reuerētly behaue themselues in the receiuing thereof 16 Item whether any do keepe any secret conuenticles preachinges lectures or readinges in matters of religion contrary to the lawes 17 Item whether any do now not duly keep the fasting and embring dayes 18 Item whether the aultars in the Churches be consecrated or no. 19 Item whether the Sacrament be caryed deuoutly to them that fall sicke with light and with a little Sacring Bell. 20 Item whether the common scholes be well kept and that the scholemaisters be diligent in teathing and be also Catholicke and men of good and vpright iudgemēt that they be examined and approued by the Ordinary 21 Item whether any do take vpon them to minister the goodes of those that be dead without authority from the Ordinary 22 Itē whether the poore people in euery parish be charitably prouided for 23 Item whether there do burne a Lampe or a Candle before the sacramēt And if ther do not that then it be prouided for with expedition 24 Item whether infantes children be brought to be confirmed in conuenient time 25 Item whether any do keepe or haue in theyr custody any erroneous or vnlawfull bookes 26 Item whether any do withhold any mony or goodes bequeathed to the amending of the high wayes or any other charitable deede 27 Item whether any haue put away theyr wyues or any wiues do withdraw thēselues from theyr husbandes being not lawfully diuorced 28 Item whether any do violate or breake the sondaies and holy dayes doing theyr daily labors exercises vpon the same 29 Item whether the Tauernes or Alehouses vpon the sondayes and holy dayes in the time of Masse matins and Euensong do keepe open theyr doores and do receiue people into theyr houses to drink and eat and therby neglect theyr dueties in comming to the church 30 Item whether any haue or do depraue or contemne the authority or Iurisdiction of the Popes holynes or the See of Rome 31 Item whether any Minstrels or any other persons do vse to sing any songes against the holy sacramēts or any other the rites and ceremonies of the church 32 Itē whether there be any hospitals within your parishes whether the foundations of them be duely truly obserued and kept And whether the charitable contributions of the same be done accordingly 33 Item whether any goodes plate iewels or possessions be taken away or withholden from the sayd Hospitals and by whom ¶ A History of tenne Martyrs condemned and burned within the Dioces of Caunterbury for the testimony of Iesus Christ and trueth of his Gospell MEntion was made a little before of the persecution in Kent pag. 1860. Where we declared that fiftene were in the Castle of Canterbury imprisoned and cōdemned for Gods word Of the which fiftene moreouer we shewed declared fiue to be famished vnto death within the said castle and buryed by the high waye about the beginning of Nouember The other tenne in the first month of the next yeare folowing which was the yeare of our Lord. 1557. were committed vnto the fire and there cōsumed to ashes by Thornton called Bishop or Suffragane of Douer otherwise called Dicke of Douer and by Nicholas Harpsfield the Archdeacon of the sayd Prouince The names of these tenne godly and Christian Martyrs be these Iohn Philpot of Tēterden W. Waterer of Bedingden Stephen Kempe of Norgate W. Haye Hythe Thomas Hudsonne of Salenge Mat. Bradbridge of Tenterden Thomas Stephens of Bedingden Nich. Finall of Tenterden W. Lowicke of Crābroke W. Prowting of Thornhā What the ordinarye articles were commonly obiected to them of Canterbury Dioces is before rehearsed Pag. 1672. saue onely that to some of these as to them that folowed after as the time of theyr persecution did growe so theyr articles withall did encrease to the number of two twenty conteining such like matter as serued to the mainteinaunce of the Romish See To these articles what theyr answeres were likewise needed here no great rehearsall seeing they all agreed together though not in the same fourme of woordes yet in much like effecte of purposes first graunting the Churche of Christ and denying the Church of Rome denying the seuen Sacramentes refusing the Masse and the hearing of Latine Seruice praying to Saynctes iustification of works c And though they did not al answere vniformely in some smaller thinges as theyr learning serued them yet in the most principall and chiefest matters they did not greatly discord c. ¶ The burning of sixe Martyrs at Caunterbury Of these tenne Godly Martyrs of Christe sixe were burned at Canterbury about the fiftene of Ianuary that is Kempe Waterer Prowting Lowike Hudson and Haye Other two that is Stephēs and Philpot at Wye about the same moneth Other two which were Finall Bradbrige were burned both together at Ashford the xvj of the same The next moneth folowing whiche was Februarye came out an other bloudy Commission from the king and Queene to kindle vp the fire of persecution as though it were not hoate enough already the contentes of whiche Commission I thought here not to pretermit not for lack of matter whereof I haue too much but that the Reader may vnderstand how kinges princes of this world like as in the first persecutions of the primitiue Church vnder Ualerianus Decius Maximian Dioclesian Licinius c. so now also in these latter perillous dayes haue set out all theyr maine force and power with lawes policy authorit to the vttermost they coulde deuise agaynst Christe and his blessed gospel And yet notwithstāding al these lawes constitutions Iniunctions and terrible proclamations prouided agaynst Christ and his Gospell Christ yet styll continueth his gospel florisheth truth preuaileth kings and Emperors in their owne purposes ouerthrown their deuises dissolued theyr counselles confounded as exāples both of this of all times ages do make manifest But now let vs heare the intent of this Commission in tenor as foloweth ¶ A bloudy Commission geuen forth by King Philip and Queene Mary to persecute the poore members of Christ. PHilip and Mary by the grace of God king Queene of England c. To the right reuerend Father in God our right trusty welbeloued Counsellour Thomas B. Elye and to our right trusty welbeloued Williā Windsore knight L. Winsore Edw. North knight L. North and to our trusty welbeloued Counsellours Io.
they brought in a false Ordinarye to sit vpon him so they pretended false articles agaynst him whiche were no part of his examinations but of their deuising to haue his bloud Sixtly and lastly hauing no other groūd nor iust matters agaynst him but onely for saying these wordes that which I sayd I haue sayde they red the sentence of death vpon him And this was the dealing of these men whiche needes will be reputed for Catholicke fathers of the spirituality succeders of the Apostles disciples of Christ pillers of the holy Churche and leaders of the people Of whose doynges and proceedinges howe agreable they are to the example of Christ and his Apostles I leaue to discusse referryng the iudgement hereof to them which know the institution of Christes religion and doctrine Now least peraduēture the disordered misrule of these Christmas Lordes will not be credited vppon the simple narration of the story yee shall heare the whole discourse of this processe registred by the hand of the Martyr hymselfe who as he could tell best what was done so I am sure would not testifie otherwise then trueth was according as you shall heare by his owne declaration here following ¶ The declaration of Steuen Gratwicke concerning his owne story and condemnation VPon the xxv day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1557. I. Stephen Gratwick came before the Bishop of Winchester D. White into S. Georges Churche in Southwarke at eight of the clocke in the morning and then hee called me before him and sayd vnto me B. Winchester Stephen Gradwick how standeth the matter with thee now Art thou contented to reuoke thy heresies the which thou hast mayntayned and defended here within my Dioces oftentimes before me and also vppon Sonday last ye stoode vp in the face of the whole Churche mayntayning your heresies so that you haue offended with in the libertie of my Dioces and now I being your Ordinary you must aunswere to me directly whether you will reuoke them or not the which I haue here in writing and if so be that you wil not reuoke them then I will excommunicate you and therefore note well what you doe for now I read here the Articles agaynst you And so whē he had ended he bad me answer vnto them Grat. My Lord these articles whiche you haue here obiected agaynst me are not mine but of youe owne making For I neuer had any of mine examinations written at any time and therefore these be the obiections that you laye agaynst me as a snare to get my bloud Wherefore I desyer your lawfull fauour to allow my lawfull appeale vnto myne Ordinary for I haue nothing to do with you And whereas you do burden me that I haue offended within your Dioces it is nothing so for I haue not interprised neyther to preache nor teache within your Dioces but was apprehended by mine own Bishop sent prisoner into your Dioces by the consent of the Coūsell mine own Ordinary therefore I so being in your Dioces you haue no cause to let my lawfull appeale And with that there came the Bishop of Rochester was receaued at the B. of Winchesters hands with much gladnes according to their determinate purpose before inuented And so followed the Archdeacon of Canterbury And then the Bishop agayne start vp as a man halfe rauished of his wittes for ioye embracing him with many gētle wordes and sayd that he was very glad of his comming making himselfe ignorant thereof as he thought it should appeare to me Then sayd Winchester B. Win. Syr I am very glad of your cōming For here I haue one before me who hath appealed vnto you being his Ordinary Then sayd the Archdeacon of Canterbury Arch. Cant. I know this man very well He hath bene diuers times before me And then I aunswered and sayd Gratw My Lorde I am not of his Dioces not by fiue miles for his Dioces reacheth on that parties but to the Cliffes of Lewes I dwelled at Bright Hempson fiue miles beyond in the Dioces of the Bishop of Chichester and therefore I am not of his Dioces Then the the Bishop of Winchester the B. of Rochester and the Archdeacon of Canterbury cast their heades together laughed and thē they sayd my Ordinary wold be here by and by so they sent forth for a counterfayte in steede of mine Ordinary and then I saw them laugh and I spake vnto them and sayd Grat. Why do ye laugh are ye confederate together for my bloud and therein triumph you haue more cause to looke waightely vpon the matter For I stand here before you vpon life and death But you declare youre selues what you are for you are lapped in Lambes apparell but I would to God ye had coates according to your assemblye here which is scarlet gownes for I do here perceiue you are bent to haue my bloud And then came rushing in their counterfayted Bishop who was the hyred seruaunt to deliuer me into the hands of the high Priest the Bishop hearyng him come with haste enquired of his man who was there and he sayd my lord of Chichester Then the Bish. with hast rose vp and sayd Wint. Ye are most hartily welcome and required him to sit downe and then sayd the Bishop of Winchester to me Loe here is your Ordinary What haue you nowe to saye vnto him Grat. I haue nothing to say vnto him If he haue nothing to say vnto me I pray you let me depart Then aunswered my Counterfeyt Ordinary and sayd Counterf Here you stand before my Lords and me in triall of your fayth and if you bring the trueth wee shall by compulsion geue place vnto you as it is to be proued by the word and your doctrine to be heard and placed for a truth Grat. Then I demaunded of him whether hee meant by authoritie or by the iudgement of the spirite of GOD in his members And he aunswered me by authoritie as well as by the spirite Grat. Then I sayd Nowe will I turne your own Argument vpon you for Christ came before the high priests Scribes and Phariseis bringing the truth with him beyng the very truth hymselfe which truth cannot lye yet both he and his truth was condemned and took no place with them And also the Apostles and all the Martyrs that dyed since Christ therefore I turne your owne argument vpon you aunswere it if you can Counterf Then he with a great hast of coller sayd vnto the Bishop of Winchester obiect some Articles agaynst hym for he is obstinate and would fayne get out of our handes therefore holde him to some particular so that other aunswere could I not haue of his argument Wint. Then the Bishop of Winchester began to reade hys obiections of his owne making agaynst me and bad me aunswere vnto them And I sayd Grat. No except you would set the law apart because I see you are
his word as you doe howe dare you for your life to take vpon you to preache teach the people vnderstand not what you say For I protest before GOD you vnderstande not the scriptures but as far as naturall reason can comprehēd For if you did you would be ashamed to speake as you do Lang. Wherein haue I spoken amisse take heede you haue a toy in your head wil make you dispayre I dare say you can not tell what you say Wherefore reproue you me as you do Wood. Because you blaspheme GOD and as for dispayring take heed to your selfe For I can not see but you be out of your wit alreadye· and as for me I prayse God I can tell what I say and what you haue sayd the whiche shall turne to your shame if you wil talke the Scriptures with me So when hee perceiued that I spake earnestlye and challenged hym to talke by the woorde his colour began to chaunge and his fleshe beganne to tremble and quake And I sayd Proue your sayinges true if you can for I will proue them false by Gods helpe You sayd All children or other that be not baptised with water all shall be damned I dare not say so for all the good in the worlde And you brought in the saying of Christ for your warrant In the xvi of Marke it is written Who so beleueth and is baptised shal be saued which words be very true and who so beleueth not shal be damned Which words be very true also He sayeth He that beleueth not shal be damned Yea S. Iohn sayeth He that beleueth not is condemned already because he beleueth not But neither of these two scriptures nor no other scriptures in all the newe Testament sayth that he that is not baptised shal be damned or is damned already But if he beleue not he shal be damned and is damned already as is aforesayd Then he woulde haue interrupted me would haue layd to my charge that I was an Anabaptist But I wold geue him no place to speake but sayd Let me make an end and then say what you can You shall haue as much to doe by Gods helpe with this matter as euer you had to aunsweare thing in your life You knowe I am sure it is no maner to plucke a tale out of a mans mouth nor it is not the order of reasoning as you know that better then I can tell you Then Doctor Langdale bade me say on Wood. My saying was that they that beleue not shall be damned and be dāned already But I dare not say for all the goods vnder heauen that all they that receiue no materiall baptisme by the water shall be damned as you haue sayd yet I would you should not gather of these wordes that I denye Baptisme as you were aboute to laye to my charge or euer I had halfe told my tale But I would not haue you nor no man so rash in iudgement to cōdemn the thing that they are not able to proue by the worde to make it seme to the simple that the outward washing of the water were the cause of fayth Langd Why is it not so will you denye it Howe say you Will you denye it I say the childe hath no fayth before it is baptised and therefore the baptising bringeth the fayth How say you to it Make me a playne answere to this question Wood. Nowe I perceiue you goe about nothing els but to take vauntage of my wordes But by Gods helpe I will aunswere you so that you shall well see your sayings vntrue And yet I will not speak mine owne wordes but the wordes of the holy Ghost out of the mouth of the prophets and Apostles and then aske them whether they wil deny it You sayd that fayth commeth by Baptisme had by the vse of material water I must be so bold to aske you where Iacob was baptised before he had fayth S. Paule sayth in the ninth chapter to the Romanes Or euer the childrē were borne or euer they had done eyther good or bad that the purpose of God which is by election might stand not by the reason of workes but by the grace of the caller the elder shall serue the younger Iacob I haue loued and Esau I hated How think you had this childe fayth or euer he were borne or no answere to this if you can Lang. What you speake of the olde Lawe Iacob was not christened but circumcised I speake of Baptisme and you are gone from baptising to the time of Circumcision answere me to the baptising And me thinke by your talk you deny originall sinne and free will by the wordes that you brought in of S. Paule For if children can bee saued without baptisme then it must needes follow that children haue no originall sinne the which is put away in the baptising But I thinke you know not what originall sinne is nor free will neyther me thinke by your talke Wood. Yes I prayse God I thinke I can tell them all better then you can me thinke euē by your words First I pray you what free will hath man to doe good of himselfe Tell me this first then I will answere to all your other questions that you haue obiected agaynst me Lang. I say that all men haue as much free will nowe as Adam had before his fall Wood. I pray you how proue you that Lang. Thus I prooue it that as sinne entred into the world by the meanes of one that sinned all men became sinners the whiche was by Adam so by the obedience of man righteousnesse came vpon all men that had sinned sette them as free as they were before theyr fall the whiche was by Iesus Christ. Rom. v. Wood. Oh Lorde what an ouerthrowe haue you geuen your selfe here in originall sinne and yet can not see it For in prouing that we haue free wil you haue denied quite original sinne For here you haue declared that we be set as free by the death of Christ as Adam was before his fall I am sure Adam had no originall sinne before his fall If we be as free nowe as he was then I maruell wherefore Paul complayned thrise to God to take away the sting of it God making him aunswere and saying My grace is sufficient for thee These wordes with diuers other approueth originall sinne in vs but not that it shall hurt Gods electe people but that his grace is sufficient for all his But you saye in one place it is not without baptisme and in an other place you put it away quite by the death of Christ and in verye deed you haue spokē truer in the matter thē you be aware of For all that beleue in Christ are baptised in the bloude of Christ that he shed on the Crosse in the water that he swet for payne putting away of our sinnes at his death And yet I say with Dauid in the
to receaue the Masse she began to be troubled in consciēce waxed very vnquiet because her house was euen hard by M. Iohn Glouers house of whome mention was made before pag. 1614. and 1620. a man of blessed memory and of a singular example of his vnfayned godlines and manifold troubles whiche he suffered for the Gospell shee did oftentimes resort to him and desired him to tel her the faultes that were in the Masse and other thinges that at that time were vrged as necessary to saluation Now he perceiuing both her vnquiet minde also the desire she had to know the truth dyd most dilligently instruct her in the wayes of the Lord approuing vnto her out of Gods holy word that the Masse with all other papisticall inuentions was odious in Gods sight and besides this reproued her for that she delighted in the vanities of this world so much By the which godly counsell geuē by him it happened that she began to waxe weery of the world throughly sorrowfull for her sinnes being inflamed with the loue of God desirous to serue him accordyng to hys word purposing also to flee from those thinges the whiche did displease the Lord her God And because she had learned the masse to be euil abhominable she began to hate it And when at a time she was compelled by the furiousnes of her husband to come to the Churche at the same tyme when the holy water was cast shee turned her backe towardes it and shewed her selfe to be displeased with their blasphemous holy water iniurious to the bloud of christ Whereupon she was accused before the Bishop for the despising of theyr sacramentals Immediately a Citation was sent for her to her husbandes house to appeare before the bishop incontinently The Summer that brought the Citation deliuered it to her husband who looking vpō it perceauing what it was was moued with anger willing the sumner to take the Citation with him agayne or els he woulde make him to eate it The Sumner refused to take it agayne for he thought no man durst haue bene so bold to trouble him But in the ende Lewes compelled the sayd sumner to eate the Citation indeed by setting a daggar to his hart when hee had eaten it he caused him to drinke to it so sent him away But immediately after the sayd Lewes with his wife were commaunded to appeare before the B. where the sayd Lewes by by submitted himself desired the Bish. to be good to him excusing himselfe after the best fashion he could Wherupon the B. was content to receiue his submission with condition that his wife shoulde submit her selfe also But shee stoutly told the byshop that by refusing of the holy water she had neither offended God nor any part of hys lawes At the which words the bish being greeuously offended because she was a Gentlewomā he would not take her at the worst as he sayd he gaue her one monthes respite binding her husband in an hundred pound to bring her again vnto him at the monthes end and so they were both let go When they came to their owne house the sayde Maystresse Ioyce Lewes gaue her selfe to most dilligent praier and inuocating of the name of God resorting continually to the aboue named man of God Maister Iohn Glouer who did most dilligently instruct her with Gods worde willing her in any wise not to meddle with that matter in respect of vayne glory or to get her selfe a name shewyng her the great daungers shee was like to cast her selfe in if shee shoulde meddle in Gods matters otherwyse then Christ doth teach When the moneth was nowe almost expired and the time at hand that shee shoulde be brought before the Bishop her husband being aduertised by the sayde Mayster Iohn Glouer and others not to carry her to the Byshop but to seeke some wayes to saue her or if the worst should come to be content to forfeit so much money rather then to cast his own wife into the fire He answered hee woulde not loose or forfeit anye thinge for her sake and so lyke a murtherer of his owne wife caryed her to the bloudye B. where she was examined and found more stout then shee was before death was threatned And to begin withal she was sent to such a stincking prison that a certayn mayde which was appoynted to keep her companye did sownd in the same prison Being thus kept in prison and oftentimes examined and euer founde stoute at the length shee was brought in iudgement pronounced an hereticke worthy to be burned When the Bishop reasoned with her why she would not come to the masse and receiue the sacramentes and sacramentals of holy Church she answered Because I find not these thinges in Gods worde which you so vrge and magnifie as thinges moste needefull for mens saluation If these thinges were in the same word of God commended I would with all my hart receiue esteeme and beleue them The Bishoppe aunswered if thou wilt beleeue no more then is in the scripture concerning matters of religion thou art in a damnable case At the whiche wordes she was wonderfully amased and being moued by the spirite of God tolde the Bishop that hys wordes were vngodly and wicked After her condemnation she cōtinued a whole twelue moneth in prison because she was committed to the Sheriffe that was of late chosen who coulde not be compelled to put her to death in his tyme as he affirmed for y◠which thing after her death he was sore troubled and in daunger of his life All that time shee was in prison her behauiour was such both in wordes and deedes that al they that had any sparke of godlines or ciuile honesty did greatly lamēt her case that she should be put to death Now when the tyme did drawe neare the which God had appoynted for her deliueraunce the writte De comburendo as they terme it beyng brought down from London she desired certaine of her frends to come to her with whom when they came shee consulted how shee might be haue her self that her death might be more glorious to the name of God cōfortable to his people and also most discomfortable vnto the enemies of God As for death sayd shee I do not greatly passe when I behold the amyable countenance of Christ my deare Sauiour the vglesome face of death doth not greatly trouble me In the which time also shee reasoned most comfortably out of Gods worde of Gods election and reprobation In the euenyng before the daye of her suffering two of the priests of the close of Lichfield came to the vnder Sheriffes house where shee laye and sent worde to her by the Sheriffe that they were come to heare her confession for they would be sory shee shoulde dye without it She sente them word agayne shee had made her confession to Christ her sauiour at whose hands she was sure to haue forgeuenes of her sinnes
As concerning the cause for the whiche she should dye she had no cause to confesse that but rather geue vnto God most humble prayse that he did make her worthy to suffer deathe for his worde And as concerning that absolution that they were able to geue vnto her being authorised by the pope she did defie the same euen from the bottome of her hart The which thing when the priests heard they said to the Sheriffe Well to morow her stoutnes will be proued and tryed For although perhaps shee hath now some friendes that whisper her in her eares to morow will we see who dare be so hardy as to come neare her and so they went theyr wayes with anger that theyr confession and absolution was nought set by All that night she was wonderfully chearefull mery with a certaine grauitie in so much that the maiestie of the spirit of God did manifestly appeare in her who did expel the feare of deathe out of her heart spending the tyme in prayer reading talking with them that were purposely come vnto her for to comfort her with the word of God About three of the clocke in the morning Satan who neuer sleepeth especially when death is at hand began to stirre himselfe busily shooting at her that fierye darte the whiche he is wont to doe agaynst all that are at defiaunce with him questioning with her how shee coulde tell that she was chosen to eternal life and that Christ dyed for her I graunt that he dyed but that he dyed for thee howe canst thou tell with this suggestion when shee was troubled they that were about her did councell her to follow the example of Paule Galathians 2. where he sayth Which hath loued me and geuen hymselfe for me Also that her vocation and calling to the knowledge of Gods word was a manifest token of Gods loue towards her especially that same holy spirite of God working in her hart that loue and desire towardes God to please him and to bee iustified by him through Christ c. By these and like perswasions especially by the comfortable promises of Christ brought out of the scripture Satan was put to flight and she conforted in Christ. About eight of the clocke maister Sheriffe came to her into her chamber saying these wordes Maistres Lewes I am come to bring you tidings of the Queenes pleasure the whiche is that you shall liue no longer but one houre in this world therefore prepare your selfe therunto 〈◊〉 stādeth you in hand At which wordes being so grosely vttered and so sodaynly by such an officer as he was she was somewhat abashed Wherefore one of her friendes and acquayntaunce standing by sayde these words Maistresse Lewes you haue great cause to prayse GOD who wyll vouchsafe so speedily to take you out of this worlde and make you worthy to be a witnesse to his truth to beare record vnto Christ that he is the onely sauiour After the which words spoken thus she sayde maister Sheriffe your message is welcome to me and I thanke my God that he will make me worthye to aduenture my life in his quarrell And thus maister Sheriffe departed and within the space of one houre he came agayn cum gladiis fustibus and when he came vp into the chamber one of her friendes desired him to geue him leaue to goe with her to the stake to comfort her the whiche the Sheriffe graunted at that time but afterwardes he was sore troubled for the same when she was dead Nowe when shee was brought throughe the towne with a number of bill menne a great multitude of people being present she being led by two of her frends whiche were M. Michaell Reniger and M. Augustine Bernher she was brought to the place of execution and because the place was farre off and the throng of the people great and she not acquaynted with the fresh ayre being so long in prison one of her frendes sent a messenger to the Sheriffes house for some drinke and after she had prayed three seuerall times in the whiche prayer she desired God most instantly to abolish the idolatrous Masse and to delyuer this realme from Papistry at the end of the whiche prayers the most parte of the people cryed Amen yea euen the Sheriffe that stoode harde by her readye to cast her in the fire for not allowing the Masse at this her prayers sayde with the rest of the people Amen when she had thus prayed she tooke the cup into her handes saying I drynke to all them that vnfaynedly loue the Gospell of Iesus Christ and wish for the abolishment of Papistry When she had dronken they that were her frends dranke also After that a great number specially the women of the towne dyd drynke wyth her which afterward were put to open penaunce in the Churche by the cruel Papistes for drinking with her When she was tyed to the stake with the chayne shee shewed such a cheerefulnes that it passed mans reason beyng so well coloured in her face and being so patient that the most part of them that had honest hartes did lament and euen with teares bewayle the tyranny of the Papistes When the fire was sette vppon her she neither struggled nor sturred but onely lifted vp her handes towardes heauen being dead very speedely for the vnder Sheriffes at the request of her friendes had prouided such stuffe by the whiche shee was sodenly dispatched out of this miserable worlde This amongest other thinges may not bee forgotten that the Papistes had appoynted some to rayle vppon her openly and to reuile her both as shee went to the place of Execution and also when she came at the stake Amongest others there was an olde Prieste whiche hadde a payre of writing tables to note bothe the names of the women that dranke of her cuppe as before you heard and also described her friendes by their apparell for presentlye hee could not learne their names and afterwardes enquyred for their names and so immediately after processe was sente out for them bothe to Couentrye and other places but God whose prouidence sleepeth not did defende them from the handes of these cruell tyrauntes Unto the whiche God with the sonne and the holy Ghost bee honour and glory for euer Amen * The Martyrdome of Rafe Allerton Iames Austo Margery Awstoo and Richard Roth burned at Islington IN searching out the certayne number of the faythfull Martyrs of God that suffered within the tyme raygne of Queene Mary I finde that about the 17. day of September wer burned at Islingtō nigh vnto London these 4. constant professours of christ Rafe Allerton Iames Awstoo Margery Austoo his wife and Richard Roth. Amongest the which it first appeareth that this Rafe Allerton was more then a yeare before his condemnation apprehended and brought before the Lorde Darcy of Chich. and was there accused aswell for that he woulde not consent and come vnto the
fantastically as you teach vs to take them for then should we conspire with certaine heretickes called the Nestorians for they denie that Christ hadde a true naturall body and so me thinke you doe my Lord. If you wil affirm his body to be there as you say he is then must you needes also affirme that it is a fantasticall bodye and therfore looke to it for Gods sake and let these wordes go before Take yee and eate ye without which wordes the rest are sufficient but when the worthy receiuers do take and eat euen then is fulfilled the words of our Sauiour vnto him or euery of them that so receiueth Boner Ah I see well thou canste not vnderstand these woordes I will shewe thee a Parable If I should set a peece of beefe before thee and say eate is it no beefe And then take part of it away send it to my cooke and he shal change the fashion thereof and make it looke like breade What wouldest thou saye that it were no Beefe because it hath not the fashion of beefe Rafe Let me vnderstand a little further my Lorde shall the Cooke adde nothing therunto nor take nothing there from Boner What is that to the matter whether he do or no so long as the shape is changed into an other likenesse Rafe Ah will you so my Lord your Sophistrie will not serue the truth wil haue the victorie neuerthelesse as Esay sayth He that restraineth himselfe from euill must be spoyled And Amos hath suche like woordes also For the wise must be faine to holde their peace so wicked a time it is sayth he Neuertheles he that can speake the truth and will not shall geue a strait accounts for the same A Doctor By my Lords leaue here me thinks thou speakest like a foole Wilt thou be a iudge of the scripture Nay thou must stand to learne and not to teache for the whole congregation hath determined the matter long agoe A priest No by your leaue we haue a Church and not a congâ—egation You mistake that worde master Doctor Rafe Then sayd I to my fellowe prisoners standing by My brethren doe yee not heare howe these men helpe one an other Let vs doe so also But we neuer came all in together after that time but seuerallye one after an other Then was I caried away for that time The xix daye of May I was brought before the Bishop of Rochester and Chichester with others B Rochest Were you a companion of George Eagles otherwise called Trudgeouer My Lord of London telleth me that you were his fellow companion Rafe I know him very well my Lord. Rochest By my faith I had him once and then hee was as dronke as an Ape for he stonke so of drinke that I coulde not abide him and so sent him away Rafe My Lorde I dare saye you tooke your markes amisse It was either your selfe or some of your own companie for he did neither drinke Wine Ale nor Beere in a quarter of a yeare before that time and therefore it was not he forsooth The rest of mine examinations you shal haue when I am condemned if I can haue any time after my comming into Newgate the which I trust shall touch the matter a great deale more plainly for the pithie matters are yet vnwrytten Thus fare you well good frendes all Yea I say farewel for euer in this present world Greete yee one an other and be ioyfull in the Lord. Salute the good widowes among you with all the rest of the congregation in Barfold Dedham and Colchester This promise of hys being either not perfourmed for that he might not thereto be permitted or els if he did wryte the same not comming to my hands I am faine in the rest of his examinations to follow the only report of the Register who witnesseth that the 15. day of May. An. 1557. in the Byshops palace at London he was examined vppon certaine interrogatories the contents wherof be these FIrst that he was of the parish of Muchbentley and so of the Diocesse of London Secondly that the 10. daye of Ianuarie then last past M. Iohn Morant preaching at Paules the said Rafe Allerton did there openly submit himselfe vnto the Churche of Rome with the rites and Ceremonies thereof Thirdly that he did consent and subscribe aswell vnto the same submission as also to one other bil in the which he graunted that if he should at any time turn againe vnto his former opinions it shoulde be then lawfull for the Bishop immediately to denounce and adiudge hym as an hereticke Fourthly that he had subscribed to a bill wherein hee affirmed that in the sacrament after the woordes of consecration be spokâ—n by the Priest there remaineth still materiall bread and materiall wine and that he beleueth that the bread is the breade of thankesgeuing and the memoriall of Christes death and that when he receiueth it he receiueth the body of Christ spiritually in his soule but materiall bread in substaunce Fiftly that he had openly affirmed and also aduisedly spoken that which is contained in the sayde former fourth article last before specified Sixthly that hee hadde spoken against the Bishop of Rome wyth the Church and Sea of the same and also against the seuen Sacraments and other Ceremonies and ordinaunces of the same Churche vsed then wythin thys Realme Seuenthly that hee had allowed and commended the opinions and faith of M. Cranmer Ridley Latimer and others of late burned within this Realme and beleeued that theyr opinions were good and godly Eightly that he hadde diuers times affirmed that the religion vsed within this realme at the time of his apprehension was neither good nor agreeable to Gods woord and that he coulde not conforme himselfe thereunto Ninthly that he had affirmed that the booke of Common prayer sette foorth in the raigne of king Edward the vj. was in all partes good and godly and that the sayd Rafe and his company prisoners did daily vse amongst themselues in prison some part of the booke Tenthly that hee had affirmed that if hee were out of prison he would not come to Masse Mattins nor Euensong nor beare Taper Candle or Palme nor goe in procession nor would receiue holy water holy breade ashes or paxe or any other ceremonie of the Churche then vsed within this Realme Eleuenthly that he had affirmed that if he were at libertie he would not confesse his sinnes to any Priest nor receiue absolution of him nor yet would receiue the Sacrament of the altar as it was then vsed Twelfly that he had affirmed that praying to saints and prayers for the deade were neither good nor profitable and that a man is not bounde to fast and praye but at his owne wil and pleasure neither that it is lawful to reserue the Sacrament or to woorship it Thirtenthly that the sayd Allerton hath according to these his affirmations abstained refused to come vnto his parishe Churche euer
one time wyth the rest examined and brought before the sayde Byshop who aunswered no lesse in his Maysters cause then the other and therfore had the like rewarde that the other had which was the Byshops bloudy blessing of condemnation and deliuered also to the Seculare power who kept him with the other vntill the day of slaughter which hasted on and was not long after Thomas Hudson was of Ailesham in Norfolke by his occupation a Glouer a very honest poore manne hauing a wife and three children and laboured alwayes truly and dilligently in hys vocation being of thirtye yeares of age and bearing so good a will to the Gospell that he in the dayes of king Edward the 6. two yeares before Q. Maryes raygne learned to read Englishe of Anthony Thomas Norgate of the same Towne wherin he greatly profited about the tyme of alteration of Religion For when Queene Mary came to raygne and had chaunged the seruice in the Churche putting in for wheate draffe and darnill and for good preaching blasphemous crying out agaynst truthe and godlinesse he then auoyding all theyr ceremonies of superstition absented hymselfe from hys house and went into Suffolkl a longe tyme and there remayned trauelling from one place to an other as occasion was offered At the last hee returned backe agayne to Northfolke to his house at Aâ—lesham to comfort his wyfe and children being heauy and troubled with hys absence Nowe when he came home and perceiued hys contynuance there would be daungerous he and hys wife deuised to make hym a place among hys fagottes to hide him selfe in where he remayned all the day in steede of hys chamber reading and praying continually for the space of halfe a yeare and his wife lyke an honest woman being carefull for hym vsed her selfe faythfullye and dillygently towards him In the meane time came the Uicare of the Town named Berry who was one of the Byshoppes Commissaries a very euill manne and inquired of this sayd Thomas Hudsons wife for her husband Unto whom he answered as not knowing where hee was Then the sayde Berry rated her and threatned to burne her for that shee would not bewraye her husbande where hee was After that when Hudson vnderstoode it hee waxed euerye day more zelous then other and continually read sange Psalmes to the wonder of many the people openlye resorting to him to heare hys exhortations and vehement prayers At the last he walked abroad for certayne dayes openly in the Towne crying out continually agaynst the Masse and all theyr trumpery and in the ende commyng home in hys house he sate him downe vpon hys knees hauyng his book by hym reading and singing Psalmes continually without ceassing for three dayes and three nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof for Berry commanded openly to watche for hym and the Constables vnderstanding the same went cruelly to catche hym in the breake of the day the xxii of the moneth of Aprill Anno 1558. Now when Hudson saw them come in he sayd Now myne houre is come Welcome frendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to lyfe in Christ I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enhable me thereto for hys mercyes sake For his desire was and euer he prayed if it wer the Lordes will that hee might suffer for the Gospell of Christ. Then they tooke him and lead him to Berry the Commissarye whiche was Uicar of the towne and the sayde Berrye asked him first where hee kepte hys Church for foure yeares before To the whiche the sayde Hudson answered thus where so euer he was there was the church Doest thou not beleue sayth Berry in the sacramente of the aultar What is it Hudson It is wormes meate my beliefe saythe hee is in Christ crucified Berry Doest thou not beleeue the Masse to putte awaye sinnes Hudson No God forbidde it is a patched monstre and a disguised Puppet more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple At whiche wordes Berry stamped fumed and shewed himself as a mad man and sayd well thou villayn thou I wil write to the B. my good Lord and trust vnto it thou shalt be handled according to thy desertes Oh sir sayde Hudson there is no Lorde but God though there be many Lordes and many Gods With that Berry thrust hym backe with hys hand And one Richard Cliffar standing by sayde I pray you sir bee good to the poore man At which wordes Berry was more mad then before and woulde haue had Cliffer bound in a recognysaunce of 40. poundes for hys good abearyng bothe in worde and deede whiche his desire tooke no effecte Then he asked the sayd Hudson whether he would recant or no. Unto whiche wordes Hudson sayde the Lorde forbid I had rather dye many deathes then to do so Then after long talke the sayde Berry seeing it booted not to perswade with him tooke hys penne and inke and wrote letters to the Bishop thereof and sent this Hudson to Norwiche bound like a theefe to him whiche was 8. miles from thence who with ioy and singing chere weÌ„t thether as mery as euer he were at anye tyme before In prison he was a month where hee dyd continually read inuocate the name of God These three Christians and constaunt Martyrs William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson after they were as ye haue heard condemned the xix day of May. 1558. were caryed out of prison to the place where they should suffer whyche was without Byshoppes gate at Norwich called Lollards Pit And being al there they made their humble prayers vnto the Lorde That beyng done they rose and went to the stake and standing al ther with their chaynes about them immediately this sayde Thomas Hudson commeth foorth from them vnder the Chayne to the great wonder of many whereby diuers feared and greatly doubted of hym For some thought hee would haue recanted other iudged rather that he went to aske a further day and to desire conference and some thought he came forth to aske some of hys parentes blessing So some thought one thinge and some an other but hys two companions at the stake cryed out to him to comforte him what they coulde exhorting him in the bowelles of Christ to be of good cheare c. But this sweete Hudson felt more in hys heart and conscience then they could conceaue in him For alas good soule hee was compassed God knoweth with great dolour and griefe of minde not for hys death but for lacke of feeling of his Christ and therefore beyng verye carefull he humbly fell downe vppon his knees and prayed vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord who at the last according to hys olde mercies sent him comfort and theÌ„ rose he with great ioy as
do vs. But this I dare be bold in God to speake which by his spirit I am moued to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time you shal not molest his church And this shal you in short time well perceiue my deare brethrē to be most true For after this day in this place shall there not be anye by hym put to the triall of fire and fagot And after this daye there was neuer none that suffered in Smithfielde for the testimonie of the gospell God be thanked After these woordes spoken saith Boner Roger thou art I perceiue as madde in these thy heresies as euer was Ioan Butcher In anger and fume thou woldest become a railing Prophet Thoughe thou and all the sorte of you would see me hanged yet I shall liue to burne yea I wil burne all the sort of you that come in my handes that wil not worship the blessed sacrament of the altare for all thy pratling and so he went his way Then Roger Holland began to exhort his frendes to repentance and to thinke wel of them that suffered for the testimonie of the Gospel and with that the B. came back charging the keeper that no man shoulde speake to them without his licence and if they did they should be cōmitted to prison In the meane season H. Pond and Roger spake stil vnto the people exhorting them to stande in the truthe adding moreouer that God woulde shorten those cruel and euil daies for his elect sake The day they suffred a proclamation was made that none should be so bold to speake or talke any word vnto them or receiue any thing of them or to touche them vpō payne of imprisonment without either bale or mainprise wyth diuers other cruell threatninge woordes contained in the same Proclamation Notwithstanding the people cryed out desiring God to strengthen them and they likewyse still praied for the people and the restoring of his woorde At length Roger embracing the stake and the reedes said these woordes Lord I most humbly thanke thy Maiestie that thou hast called mee from the state of death vnto the lighte of thy heauenlye worde and nowe vnto the fellowship of thy Sainctes that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of hoastes And Lord into thy handes I commit my spirite Lord blesse these thy people and saue them from Idolatrie and so ended his life looking vp into heauen praying and praising God with the rest of his fellowe Sainctes For whose ioyfull constancie the Lord be praised The Martyrdome of vj. which suffered at Brainforde for the true testimonie of Iesus Christ. NOt long after the death of the fore named vij godlye Martyrs that suffered in Smithfielde were vj. other faithfull witnesses of the Lordes true Testament Martyred at Braynforde vij miles from London the xiiij day of Iuly 1558. which sayd sixe were of that companie that were apprehended in a close harde by Islington as is aboue specified and sent to prisone Whose names and articles proponed to them with their answers vnto the same hereafter followeth Robert Milles. Stephen Corton Robert Dynes Stephen Wight Iohn Slade William Pikes or Pikers a Tanner These vj. forenamed Martyrs gentle Reader hadde their articles ministred to them by Thomas Darbishire Boners Chancellor at sundrye times as Robert Mules the 20. day of Iune Stephen Wight the 21. day of the said moneth Ste. Cotton and Iohn Slade the 22. day Robert Dines and William Pikes the 23. day At which said times though they were seuerally examined yet had they all one maner of articles ministred to them yea th◠selfe same Articles that were ministred to Iohn Holiday Hēry Pond and their companie aforesayd Which sayde articles I leaue the reader to looke for in page 1967. and think it not necessarye anye more to rehearse them but onely to proceede with their aunsweres to the same which briefly and in summe hereafter followeth The answeres of the forenamed persons to the Articles aforesayd 1 TO the first Article they all graunted the same and added thereto for going to Church that Robert Milles and Stephen Wight came not there for 3. quarters of a yere before and Iohn Slade William Pikes not since the Queenes raigne Stephen Cotten not for a twelue moneth before and Rob. Dynes not for two yeares before The 2.3.4.5 and 6 Articles they all answeared in effecte as the forenamed Iohn Holiday Henry Ponde and their companye did pag. 1931 sauing they added that as their rites customes ceremonies are against the worde of God so will they obserue and keepe no parte of the same Stephen Wight added further that he receiued not their Sacrament of the aultar for two yeres before nor Iohn Slade and William Pikes since Queene Maries raigne nor Stephen Cotton for a twelue moneth before nor Robert Dines for three yeres before To the 7. article they all graunted the same in euerye parte like vnto the aforenamed Henry Pond and his companye page 1931 sauing Rob. Dines added that it was no part of his beliefe To the 8. Article they all graunted the same in euery part as the forenamed William Holliday and his companye page 193◠but Robert Milles added therto that he wil not come to church nor allowe their religion so long as the crosse is crepte too and worshipped and Images are in the Church Iohn Slade affirmed in effecte as Robert Milles did adding further that there be not 7. Sacraments but 2. Sacraments which is Baptisme the Supper of the Lord. Stephen Cotton woulde no further allowe the Popish religion then it agreeth with Gods woorde and Robert Dines affirmed in effect the like to Stephen Cotton also To the 9. and 10 articles Robert Milles Iohn Slade Steuen Cotton answered that they do not allow the popish seruice then set foorth because it is against the truthe and in a straunge language which the common people vnderstand◠not Robert Dines and William Pikes will neither allow nor disallowe the Latine seruice because they vnderstād it not And Steuen Wight would make no directe aunswer to the articles at all and to the 11.12.13 and 14. articles we finde no answeres recorded of the said Steuen Wight but of the rest of his fellowe prisoners wee finde answers to those articles which hereafter followe To the 11. article Robert Milles Iohn Slade and Steuen Cotton answered that concernīg the bookes faith and religion specified in this article they doe allowe them so farre foorth as they agree with Gods word c. Robert Dines would make no answer thereto because he thoughte himselfe vnmeete to iudge thereof and William Pikes doeth not remember that hee hathe misliked the seruice and the faith and religion set foorth in king Edward the sixt his time To the 12. they graunt that if they might receiue the sacrament as they did in king Edward the sixt daies they would with all their heart so doe To
till he come and therefore I meruaile ye blushe not before all this people to lye so manifestly as ye doe With that Gascoine held his peace made her no answer for as it seemed he was ashamed of his doyngs Then the Chancellor lift vp his hed of from his cushion and commanded the Gaoler to take her away Dry. Now sayd she ye be not able to resist the truth ye coÌ„maund me to prison agayne Well the Lord in the end shal iudge our cause and to hym I leaue it Iwisse iwisse this geare will go for no payment then So went she with the Gaoler away The second examination of Alice Dryuer THe next day she came before them agayne the Chancellor then asked her what she said to the blessed sacrament of the aulter Dry. I will say nothing to it for you will neither beleeue me nor your selues For yesterday I asked you what a sacrament was and you sayde it was a signe and I agreed therto sayd it was the truth confirming it by the scriptures so that I went not from your owne words now ye come and aske me agayne of such a sacrament as I told you I neuer red of in the scriptures Spens Thou lyest naughty woman we did not say that it was a signe Dry. Why maisters be ye not the meÌ„ that you were yesterday will ye eat your owne wordes Are ye not ashamed to lie before all this multitude here present who heard you speake the same Then stoode vp D. Gascoine said she was deceyued for there were three churches the malignant church the church militant and the church triumphaÌ„t So he would â—ame haue made matter but he could not tell which way Dry. Sir is there mention made of so many Churches in the scripture Gasc Yea. Dry. I pray you where find you this word Church written in the scripture Gasc It is written in the new Testament Dry I pray you sir shew the place where it is written Gasc I cannot tell the place but there it is With that she desired him to looke in his Testament Then he fombled sought about him for one but at that tyme he had none that he knew well enough though he seemed to search for it At the last she said Haue ye none here sir Gasc No. Dâ—y I thought so much in deede that ye were little acquainted withall Surely you be a good Doctor You say you sit here to iudge accordyng to the law and howe can you geue iudgement haue not the booke of the law with you At which words Gascoine was out of countenance and asked her if she had one Dry. No sayd she Gasc Then sayd he I am as good a doctor as you Dry. Well sir I had one but you tooke it from me as you would take me from Christ if you could and since would ye not suffer me to haue any booke at all so burnyng is your charitie But you may well know I thanke God that I haue exercised the same Els could I not haue answered you to Gods glory be it spokeÌ„ as I haue Thus she put them all to silence that one looked on another and had not a word to speake Dry. Haue you no more to say God be honoured You bee not able to resist the spirit of God in me a poore woman I was an honest poore mans daughter neuer brought vp in the vniuersitie as you haue bene but I haue driuen the plough before my father many a tyme I thanke God yet notwithstandyng in the defence of Gods truth and in the cause of my maister Christ by his grace I will set my foote against the foote of any of you all in the maintenance and defence of the same and if I had a thousand lyues it would go for payment thereof So the Chancellour rose vp and red the sentence in Latine of condemnation and committed her to the secular power so went she to prison agayne as ioyful as the bird of day praysing and glorifiyng the name of God ¶ Alexander Gouche Martyr AT which tyme Alexander Gouch also was examined who was taken with her as before is said whose examination here after followeth This Alexander Gouch was examined chiefly of the Sacrament other ceremonies of the popish church And as for that his beliefe was that Christ was ascended into heauen and there remayneth that the Sacrament was the remembraunce of his death and passion and for refusing the Masse and the Pope to be supreme hed of Christs Church for these causes was he condemned died with Alice Dryuer at Ipswich the 4. of Nouember which was the Monday after All Saintes 1558. D. Myles Spenser beyng Chancellor they both endyng their lyues with earnest zeale nothing fearyng to speake their conscience wheÌ„ they were commaunded to the contrary These two godly personnes beyng come to the place where the stake was set by 7. of the clocke in the morning notwithstandyng they came the selfe same mornyng from Melton Gaole which is vj. myles from Ipswich beyng in their prayers and singyng of Psalmes both of them together Sir Henry Dowell then beyng Shiriffe was very much offended with them and wylled the Bailiffes of Ipswich to bidde them make an ende of their Prayers they kneelyng vpon a broome fagot one of the Bailiffes whose name was Richard Smart commaunded them to make an ende saying On on haue done haue done make an ende nayle them to the stake yet they continued in prayer Then sir Henry sent one of his men whose name is Rich. Coue that they should make an end Then Gouch stood vp and sayd vnto the Shiriffe I pray you M. Shirife let vs pray a litle while for we haue but a little tyme to lyue here Then said the Bailife Come of haue them to the fire Then the sayd Gouch and Alice Driuer sayde Why M. Shiriffe and M. Bayliffe wyll you not suffer vs to pray Away said sir Henry to the stake with them The Martyrdome of Alexander Gouch and Driuers wyfe Then diuers came tooke them by the handes as they were bound standing at the stake The shiriffe cryed laye hands on them lay hands on them With that a great nuÌ„ber ran to the stake The shirife seyng that let them all alone so that there was not one taken There was one Bate a Barbour a busie doer about theÌ„ who hauing theÌ„ a freese gowne vpon hym sold it immediately saying it stunke of heretikes with other foule wordes moe After this within three or foure weekes Gods hand was vpon hym and so he dyed very miserably in Ipswich The Martyrdome of three which were burned at Bury for the true testimony of Iesus Christ. ALthough our history hasteth apace the Lord be praysed to the happy death of Queene Mary yet she died not so soone but some there were burned before and moe should haue bene burnt soone after them if Gods
theirs God is my father God is my mother God is my Sister my Brother my Kinsman God is my frend moste faythfull ¶ The cruell burning of a woman at Exeter Touching the name of this woman as I haue nowe learned she was the wife of one called Prest dwelling in the Dioces of Exeter not farre from Launceston ¶ The Persecution and Martyrdome of three godly men burnt at Bristow about the latter yeares of Queene Maries reigne IN writing of the blessed Sayntes which suffered in the bloudy dayes of queene Mary I had almost ouerpassed the names and story of three godly Martyrs whiche with theyr bloud gaue testimony likewise to the gospell of Christ being condemned and burnt in the town of Bristow The names of whom were these Richard Sharpe Thomas Benion Thomas Hale First Richarde Sharpe Weauer of Bristowe was brought the 9. day of Marche an 1556. before M. Dalbye Chauncellour of the Towne or City of Bristow and after examination concerning the sacrament of the aultar was perswaded by the sayde Dalbye and others to recant and the 29. of the same moneth was enioyned to make his recantation before the Parishioners in his parish Churche Which whē he had done he felt in his cōscience such a tormenting hell that he was not able quietly to worke in his occupation but decayed and chaunged both in colour and liking of his body Who shortly after vpon a sonday came into his parish Church called Temple after high masse came to the queere doore sayd with a loud voyce Neighbors beare me recorde that yonder Idoll and poynted to the aultar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied my Lord GOD. Then the Constables were commaunded to apprehende him but none stepped forth but suffered him to goe out of the Church After by night he was apprehended and caried to Newgate shortly after he was brought before the sayd Chauncellor denying the sacrament of the aultar to be the body bloud of Christ sayd it was an Idoll and therfore was cōdemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby He was burnt the 7. of May. 1557. and dyed godly paciently and constantly confessing the articles of our fayth ¶ Thomas Hale Martyr THe Thursday in the night before Easter .1557 came one M. Dauid Herris Alderman Iohn Stone to the house of one Thomas Hale a Shoomaker of Bristowe caused him to rise out of his bedde brought hym foorth of his dore To whō the said Tho. Hale said You haue sought my bloud these two yeares now much good do it you with it Who being committed to the watchmen was caried to Newgate the 24. of April the yere aforesaid was brought before M. Dalby the Chancelor committed by him to prison after by him condemned to be burnt for saying the sacrament of the altar to be an Idoll He was burned the 7. of May with the foresayd Rich. Sharpe godly paciently and constantly embracing the fire with his armes Two Godly Martyrs burned at Bristow Richard Sharpe Thomas Hale were burned both together in one fire and bound backe to backe Thomas Benion THomas Benion a Weauer at the commaundement of the Commissioners was brought by a Constable the thirtenth daye of August 1557. before Mayster Dalbye Chauncellour of Bristow who committed him to pryson for saying there was nothing but bread in the Sacrament as they vsed it Wherefore the twenty day of the sayd August he was condemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby for denying fiue of theyr Sacramentes and affirming two that is the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptisme He was burnt the seuen and twenty of the sayd moneth and yeare and dyed godly Thomas Benion burned at Bristow constantly and patiently with confessing the articles of our christian fayth ¶ The Martyrdome of fiue constant Christians which suffered the last of all other in the time of Queene Mary THe last that suffred in Queene Maries time were fiue at Caunterburye burned about sixe dayes before the death of Queene Mary whose names follow here vnder written Iohn Corneford of Wortham Christopher Browne of Maydstone Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Katherine Knight otherwise called Katherine Tynley an aged woman These fiue to close vp the finall rage of queene Maries persecution for the testimony of that word for whiche so many had died before gaue vp theyr liues meekly and paciently suffering the violent malice of the Papistes Which Papists although they then might haue either well spared them or els deferred theyr death knowing of the sicknesse of Queene Mary yet such was the implacable despite of that generation that some there be that say the Archdeacō of Canterbury the same time being at London vnderstanding the daunger of the Queene incontinently made al post hast home to dispatch these whom before he had thē in his cruell custody The matter why they were iudged to the fire was for beleuing the body not to be in the sacrament of the aulter vnlesse it be receiued saying moreouer that we receiue an other thing also beside Christes body which we see and is a temporall thing according to S. Paule The thinges that be sene be temporall c. Item for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue Christes body Because no man hath the sonne except it be geuen him of the father Item that it is Idolatry to creepe to the crosse and S. Iohn forbidding it sayth Beware of Images Itē for confessing that we should not pray to our Lady and other Sayntes because they be not omnipotent For these and such other articles of Christian doctrine were these fiue committed to the fire Agaynst whom whē the sentence shoulde be read and they excommunicate after the maner of the papistes one of them Iohn Cornford by name styrred with a vehemēt spirit of the zeale of god proceeding in a more true excōmunication agaynst the papistes in the name of them all pronounced sentēce against them in these wordes as folow In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite the authority of his holy catholick Apostolick church we do geue here into th◠handes of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of all those blasphemers hereticks that do mainteine any error agaynst his most holy word or do cōdemne his most holy truth for heresy to the mainteinaunce of any false Churche or fayned Religion so that by this thy iuste iudgement O most mighty God against thy aduersaries thy true religion may be knowne to thy great glory and our comfort and to the edifying of al our natiō Good Lord so be it Amen This sentence of excommunication beyng the same time openly pronounced and registred proceeding so as it seemeth from an inwarde fayth and hartye zeale to Gods trueth and
execution done vpoÌ„ the same which for that he had not done the matter he sayd was great and therfore wylled him to look well vnto it how he would aunswere the matter And thus began he fiercely to lay to his charge Wherin note gentle Reader by the way the close and couert hypocrisy of the Papistes in theyr dealinges Who in the forme and stile of their owne sentence coÌ„demnatory pretend a petition vnto the seculer power In visceribus Iesu Christi vt iuris rigor mitigetur atque vt parcatur vitae That is That the rigour of the law may be mitigated and that their life may be spared And how standeth this now with their owne doinges and dealinges when this Chauncellour as ye see is not onely contented to geue Sentence agaynst them but also hunteth here after the Officer not suffering him to spare them although he would What dissimulation is this of men goyng and doyng contrarye to their owne wordes and profession But let vs returne to our mattâ—â— agayne The Sheriffe hearing the ChauÌ„cellours wordes and seeing him so vrging vpon him tolde him agayne that he was no babe which nowe was to be taught of hym If he had any writ to warrant and discharge him in burning those men then he knew what he had to do Why saith the Chauncellour did not I geue you a writ with my hande and 8. moe of the Close set vnto the same Well quoth the Sheriffe that is no sufficient discharge to me and therfore as I told you if ye haue a sufficient writ and warrant froÌ„ the superiour powers I know then what I haue to do in my office otherwise if you haue no other writ but that I tell you I wil neither burne them for you nor none of you all c. Where note agayne good Reader how by this it may be thought and supposed that the other poore Saintes and Martyrs of God such as had bene burned at Salisburye before were burned belike without any authorised or sufficient writ from the superiours but onely vpon the information of the Chauncellour and of the Close through the vncircumspect negligence of the Sheriffes which shoulde haue looked more substantially vpon the matter But this I leaue and referre vnto the Magistrates Let vs returne to the story agayne Doct. Geffrey the Chauncellour thus sent away from the Sheriffe went home and there fel sicke vpon the same for anger belike as they signified vnto me whiche were the partyes themselues both godly and graue persons who were then condemned the one of them which is Richarde White being yet aliue The vnder Sheriffe to this Syr Anthony HuÌ„gerford aboue named was one M. Michell likewise a right and a perfect godly man So that not long after this came down the writ to burne the aboue named Rich. White Iohn Hunt but the vnder Sheriffe receiuing the said writ sayd I will not be guilty quoth he of these mens bloud immediately burnt the writing and departed his way With in 4. dayes after the Chauncellour dyed Concerning whose death this coÌ„meth by the way to be noted that theâ—e 2. foresaid Iohn Hunt and Richard White being the same time in a lowe and darcke Dungeon being Saterday toward euening according to theyr accustomed maner fell to euening prayer Who kneeling there together as they should begin theyr prayer sodeÌ„ly fel both to such a strauÌ„ge weeping tendernes of hart but how they could not tell that they could not pray one word but so coÌ„tinued a great space brusting out in teares After that night was past and the morning come the first word they heard was that the Chauncellour theyr great enemy was dead The tyme of whose death they found to be the same houre wheÌ„ as they fell in such a sodeyne weeping The Lord in all his holy workes be praysed Amen Thus muche concerning the death of that wicked Chauncellour This Richard White and the sayd Iohn Hunt after the death of the Chauncellour the Byshop also being dead a litle before continued still in prison til the happy coÌ„ming in of Queene Elizabeth and so were set at liberty * The Martyrdome of a young lad of eight yeares olde scourged to death in Bishop Boners house in London IF bloudy tormâ—ntes and cruell death of a poore innocent suffering for no cause of his owne but in the trueth of Christ and his Religion do make a Martyr no lesse deserueth the child of one Iohn Fetty to be reputed in the Catalogue of holy Martirs who in the house of Bishop Boner vnmercifuly was scourged to death as by the sequele of this story here folowing may appeare Amongest those that were persecuted miserably imprisoned for the profession of Christes Gospell yeâ— mercifully deliuered by the prouidence of God there was one Iohn Fetty a simple and godly poore man dwelling in the parish of Clerkenwell was by vocation a Taylor of the age of 42. yeres or therabout who was accused and complained of vnto one Brokenbury a priest a parson of the same parish by his own wife for that he would not come vnto the church be partaker of theyr Idolatry superstition therfore through the sayd priestes procurement he was appreheÌ„ded by Rich. Tanner his felow constables there and one Martin the Hedborough Howbeit immediatly vpoÌ„ his appreheÌ„sion his wife by the iust iudgemeÌ„t of God was stricken mad and distract of her wits which declared a maruelous exaÌ„ple of the iustice of God agaynst such vnfaythfull and most vnnaturall treachery And although this example perhaps for lack of knowledge instruction in such cases little moued the consciences of those simple poore meÌ„ to surcease their persecutioÌ„ yet natural pity towards that vngratefull woman wrought so in theyr harts that for the preseruation sustentatioÌ„ of her her 2. children like otherwise to perishe they for that present let her husband alone and would not cary him to prison but yet suffered him to remayne quietly in his own house During whiche time he as it were forgetting the wicked and vnkinde fact of his wife did yet so cherish and prouide for her that within the space of three weekes through Gods mercifull prouidence she was well ameÌ„ded and had recouered agayne some stay of her wits and senses But suche was the power of Sathan in the malicious hart of that wicked woman that notwithstanding his geÌ„tle dealing with her yet she so soone as she had recouered some health did agayne accuse her husband whereupon he was the second time apprehended and caryed vnto Syr Iohn Mordaunt Knight one of the Queenes Commissioners and he vppon examination sent him by Cluny the Bishops Sumner vnto the Lollardes Tower where he was euen at the first put into the paynefull stockes and haâ— a dish of water set by him with a stone put into it To what purpose God knoweth except it were to shew that he shuld look for
talking with his friendes he fell downe sodeinly dead not much mouing any ioynt And thus was his end from such God vs defend ¶ William Wood of Kent THe examination of William Woode Baker dwelling in the Parish of Strowd in the County of Kent before Doctor Kenall Chauncellour of the Dioces of Rochester Doctor Chadsey the Maior of Rocher and M. Robinson the Scribe the 19. day of October and in the secōd yeare of Queene Mary in S. Nicholas Church in Rochester M. Robinson William Wood you are presented because you will not come to the Church nor receiue the blessed sacrament of the Aultar Howe say you haue you receiued or haue you not Wood. I haue not receiued it nor I dare not receiue it as you do now minister it Kenall Thou Hereticke what is the cause that thou hast not receyued the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar and at this word all they put off theyr cappes and made low beisaunce Wood. There be three causes that make my conscience afeard that I dare not receiue it The first Christ did deliuer it to his xij Apostles and sayd Take eat And drinke ye all of this c. and ye eate and drinke vppe all alone The seconde cause is you hold it to be worshipped contrary to Gods comaūdements Thou shalt not bow downe nor worship The third cause is you minister it in a straunge toung contrary to S. Paules doctrine I lad rather haue fiue wordes wyth vnderstanding then ten thousand with tounges by reasō wher of the people be ignoraunt of the death of Christ. Kenall Thou hereticke wilt thou haue any playner wordes then these Hoc est corpus meum Take eat this is my body wilt thou deny the Scripture Wood. I will not deny the holy Scripturs GOD forbid but with my hart I do faythfully beleue them Saynt Paule sayth God calleth those thinges that are not as though they were And Christ sayth I am a Vyne I am a doore Saynt Paule sayth The Rocke is Christ All which are figuratiue speaches wherein one thing is spoken and an other thing is vnderstanded Robins You make a very long tale of this matter Learne Wood learne Kenall Nay these heretickes will not learne Looke howe this heretike glorieth in himselfe Thou foole art thou wiser then the Queene and her Counsell and all the learned men of this Realme Wood. And it please you Mayster Chauncellour I thinke you would be loth to haue such glory to haue your life and goodes taken away and to be thus rayled vppon as you rayle vppon me But the seruaunt is not greater then his Mayster And where you do mocke me and saye I am wiser then the Queene and her Counsell S. Paule sayth The wisedome of the wise of this world is foolishnesse before God and he that will be wise in this world shall be accounted but a foole Kenall Doest not thou beleue that after these wordes spoken by a priest Hoc est corpus meum This is my body there remayneth no more bread and Wine but the very fleshe bloud of Christ as he was borne of the virgin Mary really and substantially in quantity and quality as he did hāg vpon the Crosse Wood. I pray you M. Chaūcellour geue me leaue for my learning to aske you one question and I will aunswere you after Kenall It is some wise question I warrant you Wood. God spake to the Prophet Ezechiell saying Thou sonne of man take a rasour and shaue of the heare of thy head of thy beard and take one part and cast into the ayre take the second part and put it into thy coat lap and take the third part cast it into the fire this is Ierusalem I pray you M. Chaūcellour was this heare that the Prophet did cast into the fire or was it Ierusalem Kenall No it did signify Ierusalem Wood. Euen so this word of Christ This is my body is not so to be vnderstanded that Christes carnall naturall reall body is in the same in quantity and quality as it was borne of the virgin Mary and as he was crucified vpon the crosse is present or inclosed in the sacramēt but it doth signify Christes body as S. Paule sayth So oft as ye doe eat of this bread and drinke of this cup you shall shew forth the Lordes death til he come What should the Apostle meane by this word till he come if he were here carnally naturally corporally and really in the same quantity and quality as he was borne of the virgine Mary and as he did hang on the crosse as you say but Saynt Paule saith You shall shew the Lordes death till he come This doth argue that he is not here as you would haue vs to beleue Doctour Chadsey I will proue that Christ is here present vnder the forme of bread but not in quantity and quality Kenall sayde yes he is here present in quantitye and quality Chadsey He is here present vnder a forme and not in quātity and quality Yes sayd Kenall No sayd Chadsey I will proue him here in quantity and qualitie sayde Kenall I will proue the contrary sayd Chadsey And these two doctors were so earnest in this matter the one to affirme the other to deny contending raging so sore one at the other that they fomed at the mouth one was ready to spit in an others face so that in a great fury and rage the two Doctors rose vp from the iudgemēt seat and Doctor Kenall departed out of the Churche in greate rage and fury immediatly Wood. Behold good people they would haue vs to beleue that Christ is naturally really in quantity quality present in the Sacramēt and yet they can not tell themselues nor agree within themselues how he is there At these wordes the people made a great shout and the Maior stood vp and commaunded the people to be quiet to keep silence And that God that did deliuer S. Paul out of the handes of the high Priests by the contention that was betwene the Phariseis and the Saduces did euen so deliuer me at that time out of the mouthes of the bloudy Papistes by the meanes of the contention of these two Doctors Blessed be the name of the Lord which hath promised to laye no more vpon his then he will make them able to beare and in the midst of temptation he can make a way for his whome and when it pleaseth him to escape out of all daungers Many other like examples of Gods helpyng hande haue bene declared vpon his elect Sayntes and Children in deliuering them out of daunger by wonderfull and miraculous wayes some by one meanes some by an other What a notable worke of Gods mightye hand was seene in Simon Grinaeus mentioned in the Commentary of Melancthon vpon Daniell Who hauing a sodeine warnynge by a certaine olde man who was not seene after nor knowen then of any what he was auoided the peril
hand and after that hee had prayed a good space he shut his eyes and holding his Bible before hym earnestly prayed to God that it might fall open where a most fit text should be for hym to intreat of The Bible as God would haue it fell open vpon the first chapter of Iosua where he found so conuenient a piece of Scripture for that tyme that the lyke he coulde not haue chosen in all the Bible His texte was thus Responderuntque ad Iosue atque dixerunt Omnia quae precepisti nobis faciemus quocunque miseris ibimus sicut obediuimus in cuÌ„ctis Mosi ita obediemus tibi tantum sit Dominus Deus tuus tecum sicut fuit cum Mose qui contradixerit ori tuo non obedierit cunctis sermonibus quos preceperis ei moriatur tu tantum comfortare viriliter age Who shall consider what was concluded by such as named themselues by the state and withall the Auditorie the tyme and other circumstaÌ„ces he shall easily see that this text most fitly serued for the purpose And as God gaue the text so gaue he hym suche order and vtterance as pulled many teares out of the eye of the biggest of them In the tyme of his Sermon one of the Gard lift vp to hym into the Pulpit a Masse booke and a Graile whiche sir George Haward with certaine of the Gard had taken that night in M. Hurlestons house where lady Mary had bene a little before and there had Masse The Duke with the rest of the nobilitie required Doct. Sandes to put hys sermon in writyng and appointed M. Leauer to goe to London with it and to put it in print D. Sandes required one day and a halfe for writyng of it At the tyme appoynted he had made it ready and M. Leauer was ready booted to receiue it at his handes and cary it to London As he was deliuering of it one of the Bedles named M. Adams came weping to hym and prayed hym to shift for hymselfe for the Duke was retired and Queene Mary proclaimed Doctor Sandes was not troubled herewithall but gaue the sermon written to M. Layfield M. Leauer departed home and he went to dinner to one M. Mores a Bedle his great friend At the dinner maistresse Moores seyng him mery and pleasant for he had euer a mans courage and could not be terrified dranke vnto hym saying M. Uicechancellor I drinke vnto you for this is the last tyme that euer I shall see you And so it was for she was dead before D. Sandes returned out of Germany The Duke that night retyred to Cambridge and sent for Doct. Sandes to go with hym to the Market place to proclaim Queene Mary The Duke cast vp his cap with others and so laughed that the teares ranne downe hys cheekes for griefe He told D. Sandes that Queene Mary was a mercifull woman and that he doubted not thereof declaryng that he had sent vnto her to know her pleasure and looked for a generall pardon Doctor Sandes answered my life is not deare vnto me neither haue I done or sayd any thyng that vrgeth my conscience For that which I spake of the state I haue instructions warranted by the subscription of xvj Counsailors Neither can speach bee treason neither yet haue I spoken further then the worde of God and lawes of this Realm doth warrant me come of me what God will But be you assured you shall neuer escape death for if she would saue you those that nowe shall rule will kill you That night the Gard apprehended the Duke and certaine Groomes of the Stable were as busie with Doctor Sandes as if thâ—y would take a prisoner But Sir Iohn Gates who lay then in Doctor Sandes his house sharply rebuked them and draue them away Doct. Sandes by the aduise of Sir Iohn Gates walked into the fields In the meane tyme the Uniuersitie contrary to all order had met together in consultation and ordered that D. Mouse and D. Hatcher should repaire to D. Sandes lodgyng and fee away the statute booke of the Uniuersitie the keys and such other things that were in his keepyng so they did for D. Mouse beyng an earnest Protestant the day before and one whom Doct. Sandes had done much for now was he become a Papist and his great enemy Certaine of the Uniuersitie had appointed a congregation at after noone As the Bell rang to it D. Sandes commeth out of the fieldes and sending for the Bedles asketh what the matter meaneth and requireth them to waite vppon hym to the Schooles accordyng to their duetie So they did And so soone as D. Sandes the Bedles goyng before hym came into the Regent house tooke his chaire One M. Mitch with a rabble of vnlearned Papists went into a by schoole and conspired together to pull hym out of his chaire and to vse violence vnto hym D. Sandes began his Oration expostulatyng with the Uniuersitie chargyng them with great ingratitude declaring that hee had sayd nothing in his sermon but that he was ready to iustiâ—â—e and that their case was all one with his For they had not onely concealed but consented to that whiche hee had spoken And thus while hee remembred vnto them howe beneficiall he had ben to the Uniuersitie and their vnthankfulnes to him agayne in commeth M. Mitche with hys conspirators about xx in number One layeth hand vpon the chaire to pull it from hym another told hym that that was not hys place and another called hym traitor Wherat he perceuyng how they vsed violence beyng of great courage groped to his dagger and had dispatched some of them as gods enemies if D. Bill and D. Blith had not fallen vpon hym and prayed hym for Gods sake to holde his handes and be quiet and patiently to beare that great offred wrong He was perswaded by them and after that tumult was ceased he ended his Oration hauing some money of the Uniuersities in his handes he there deliuered the same euery farthyng He gaue vp the bookes reckonings and keyes pertainyng to the Uniuersitie and withall yelded vp his Office praying God to geue to the Uniuersitie a better Officer and to geue them better and more thankefull hartes and so repaired home to his own Colledge On the morrowe after there came vnto hym one M. Gerningham and one M. Thomas Mildmay Gerningham tolde hym that it was the Queenes pleasure that two of the Gard should attend vpon hym that hee must be caried prisoner to the Tower of London with the Duke M. Mildmay sayd he meruailed that a learned maÌ„ would speake so vnaduisedly agaynst so good a Prince and wilfully run into such danger D. Sandes aunswered I shal not be ashamed of bonds But if I could do as M. Mildmay can I needed not feare bondes For he came downe in payment agaynst Queene Mary and armed in the field and now he returneth in payment for Queene Mary before a traitor and now a great friend
pernicious counsaile layed agaynst another were turned to a net to catche hymselfe accordyng to the Prouerbe Malum consilium consultori pessimum After the death of this Gardiner followed the death also and droppyng away of other her enemies whereby by little and litle her ieoperdy decreased feare diminished hope of comfort began to appeare as out of a darke cloud and albeit as yet her grace had no full assurance of perfect safetie yet more gentle intertainment daily did grow vnto her till at length to the moneth of Nouember and xvij day of the same three yeares after the death of Ste. Gardiner followed the death of Queene Mary as hereafter God graunting shall be more declared Although this history followyng bee not directly appertaining to the former matter yet the same may here not vnaptly be inserted for that it doth discouer and shew forth the malicious heartes of the Papistes toward this vertuous Queene our soueraigne Lady in the tyme of Queene Mary her sister which is reported as a truth credibly tolde by sundry honest persones of whome some are yet alyue and doe testifie the same The matter wherof is this Soone after the sâ—urre of Wiate and the troubles that happened to this Queene for that cause it fortuned one Robert Farrer a Haberdasher of London dwelling nere vnto Newgate market in a certaine mornyng to be at the Rose tauerne from whence he was seldome absent and falling to his common drinke as he was euer accustomed and hauing in his company three other companions lyke to himselfe it chaunced the same tyme one Laurence Shiriffe Grocer dwelling also not farre from thence to come into the said Tauerne and finding there the sayde Farrer to whom of long time he had borne good will sate down in the seat to drinke with him and Farrer hauyng in hys full cups and not hauing consideration who were present began to talke at large namely against the Lady Elizabeth and said that Gill hath bene one of the chiefe doers of this rebellion of Wiat and before all be done she and al the heretikes her pertakers shall well vnderstand of it Some of them hope that she shal haue the crowne but she and they I trust that so hope shall hop hedlesse or be fried with Fagots before she come to it The aforesaid Laurence Shiriffe Grocer beyng then seruaunt vnto the sayd Lady Elizabeth and sworne vnto her grace could no longer forbeare his olde acquaintance and neighbour Farrer in speaking so vnreuerently of his Mistres but sayd vnto him Farrer I haue loued thee as a neighbour and haue had a good opinioÌ„ of thee but hearing of thee that I now heare I defie thee and I tel thee I am her graces sworne seruaunt and she is a Princesse and the daughter of a noble kyng and it euill becommeth theâ— to call her a Gill for thy so saying I say thou art a knaue and I will complain vpon thee Do thy worst said Farrer for that I said I will say againe and so Shiriffe came from his company Shortly after the said Shirife taking an honest neighbour with him went before the Commissioners to complaine the which Commissioners â—ate then at Boner the Bishop of Londons house beside Paules and there were present Boner then beyng the chiefe Commissioner the L. Mordant sir Iohn Baker D. Darbishiere Chauncellour to the Bishop Doctour Story Doctour Harpsfield and other The aforesayd Shiriffe commyng before them declared the maner of the sayd Rob. Farrers talke agaynst the Lady Elizabeth Boner answered peradueÌ„ture you tooke him worse then he ment Yea my L. sayd D. Story if you knew the man as I do you would say there is not a better Catholike nor an honester man in the Citie of London Well sayd Sheriffe my Lord she is my gracious Lady and mistres and it is not to be suffered that such a varlet as he is should call so honorable a princes by the name of a Gil And I saw yesterday in the Court that my Lord Cardinall Poole meeting her in the Chamber of presence kneeled downe on his knees and kissed her hand I saw also that King Philippe meeting her made her such obeisance that his knee touched the grouÌ„d and then me thinketh it were too much to suffer suche a varlet as this is to call her Gill and to wish them to hop headlesse that shall wish her grace to enioy the possession of the crowne when God shall sende it vnto her as in the righte of her inheritaunce Yea stay there quoth Boner When God sendeth it vnto her let her enioy it But truely sayde he the man that spake the woordes that you haue reported meant nothing against the Ladie Elizabeth your Mistresse and no more doe we but he like an honest and zealous man feared the alteration of Religion whiche euerye good manne ought to feare and therefore sayde Boner good man goe your wayes home and reporte well of vs towarde youre Mistresse and we will send for Farrer and rebuke him for his rash and vndiscrete woordes and we trust he will not doe the like againe And thus Sheriffe came awaye and Farrer had a flappe with a foxe taile Nowe that yee may be fully informed of the aforesaid Farrer whom D. Story praised for so good a man ye shal vnderstande that the same Farrer hauing two daughters being handsome maidens the Elder of them for a summe of money he him selfe deliuered to Syr Roger Cholmley to be at his commandement the other he sold to a Knight called Syr William Good dolphin to be at his commandement whom he made his lackie and so caried her with hym being apparelled in mans apparel to Bolein and the sayd Farrar followed the Campe. He also was a greate and a horrible blasphemer of God and a common accuser of honest and quiet men also a common dronkarde And nowe I referre the life of these Catholickes to your iudgement to thinke of them as you please But of this matter enough and too much Now let vs retourne where we left before which was at the deathe of Quene Marie After whose decease succeeded her foresayd sister Ladie Elizabeth into the right of the crown of England who after so long restrainement so great daungers escaped suche blusterous stormes ouerblowne so manye iniuries digested and wronges sustained by the mightye protection of our mercifull God to our no small comforte and commoditie hath ben exalted and erected out of thrall to Libertie out of daunger to Peace and quietnesse from dread to Dignitie from miserie to Maiestie from mourning to Ruling Briefly of a prisonner made a Princesse and placed in her throne Royal proclaimed now Quene with as many glad hearts of her subiects as euer was any King or Queene in this Realme before her or euer shall be I dare say heereafter Touching whose florishing state her Princely reigne and peaceable gouernment with other things diuers and
they had sore laboured for vnlesse they made frendes to buy it with money of the sayd Sheriffe so cruel and greedy was he and his officers vpon such things as were there left Wel now this innoceÌ„t man is dead his goods spoiled his wife and children left desolate and comfortlesse and all things is hushte and nothing feared of any parte yet the Lord who surely doth reuenge the guiltles bloud would not stil so suffer it but began at the length to punish it him selfe For in the haruest after the sayde Grimwood of Hitcham one of the witnesses before specified as hee was in his labour staking vp a goffe of corne hauing hys health and fearing no pearill sodenly his bowels fell out of hys body and immediately most miserably he died suche was the terrible Iudgement of God to shâ—we his displeasure against this bloudy act and to warne the rest by these hys iudgements to repentance The Lorde graunt vs to honour the same for his mercies sake Amen This foresaid Fenning who was the procurer of this tyrannie against him is yet aliue and is nowe a minister which if he be I pray God he may so repent that fact that he may declare himselfe hereafter such a one as may well aunswere to his vocation accordingly But since we haue heard that he is no chaungeling but continueth still in his wickednes therfore presented before the woorshipfull Mayster Humerston Esquire and Iustice of Peace Coram for that he had talke with some of his friendes as he thoughte how many honest women to their great infamy were in the Parish of Wensthaston wherein he is now Uiâ—are resident wherfore he was commaunded the next sonday ensuing to aske all the Parish forgiuenes vpoÌ„ his knees openly in seruice tyme which he did in Wensthaston Church beforesayd moreouer the abouesayd Fenning is reported to be more lyke a shifter then a Minister To these examples also may be added the terrible iudgment of God vpon the Parson of Crondall in Kent who vpon Shrouesonday hauing receiued the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole came to his Parish and exhorted the people to receiue the same as he had done himselfe saying that he stoode now so cleare in coÌ„science as wheÌ„ he was first borne cared not now if he should dye the same houre in the clearenes of conscience whereupon being sodenly stricken by the hand of God leaning a little on the one syde immediately shronke down in the Pulpit so was found dead speaking not one word more Read before pag. 1560. Not long before the death of Queene Mary dyed Doctour Capon Bishop of Salisbury About the which tyme also followed the vnprepared death of Doctour Geffrey Chancellour of Salisbury who in the midst of his buildings sodainly being taken by the mighty hand of God yelded his lyfe which hadde so little pittye of other mens lyues before Concerning whose crueltye partly mention is made before pag. 2055. As touching moreouer this foresayde Chauncellour here is to be noted that he departing vpon a Saterday the next day before the same he hadde appoynted to call before him .90 persons and not so fewe to examine them by Inquisition had not the goodnes of the Lord and his tender prouidence thus preuented him with death prouiding for his poore seruauntes in tyme. And now to come from Priests to Lay men we haue to finde in them also no lesse terrible demonstrations of Gods heauy iudgement vpon such as haue beene vexers and persecutours of his people Before in the story of M. Bradford .1624 mention was made of Maister Woodroffe who being theÌ„ Sheriffe vsed much to reioyce at the death of the poore Saints of Christ and so hard he was in his office that when Mayster Rogers was in the cart going toward Smithfield and in the way his childreÌ„ wer brought vnto him the people making a laue for them to come Maister Woodroffe bad the carmans head should be brokeÌ„ for staying his cart But what happened He was not come out of his office the space of a weeke but he was stricken by the sodaine hand of God the one halfe of his body in suche sorte that he lay be nummed and bedred not able to moue himself but as he was liâ—ted of other and so contynued in that infirmity the space of 7. or 8. yeares tyll his dying day pag. 1624. Lykewise touching Rafe Lardyn the betrayer of George Eagles it is thought of some that the sayd Rase afterward was attached himselfe arraegned and hanged Who being at the barre had these woordes before the Iudges there and a greate multitude of people This is most iustly fallen vpon me saythe he for that he hadde betrayed the innocent bloud of a good iust man George Eagles who was here condemned in the time of Queene Maryes raygne thorough his procurment who sold hys bloud for a little money Not much vnlyke stroke of these seuerally was shewed vpon W. Swallow of Chemlford his wife also vpon Rich. Potto Iustice Browne cruel persecutors of the sayd George Egles concerning whose story Reade before pag. 2009. Amonge other persecutours also came to our handes the cruelty of one Maister Swingfield an Aldermans Deputye about Thamis streete who hearing 〈◊〉 Angelles wyfe a midwyfe that kepte her selfe from their Popishe Church to be at the labour of one Mistres Walter al crooked Lane ende tooke three other with him and besette the house about and tooke her and caryed her to Boners officers bigge with childe 28. weekes gone who layd her in Lollardes Tower where as the same daye shee came in thorough feare and a fall at her taking she was deliuered of a man childe could haue no woman with her in that needefull tyme. Lying there 5. weekes she was deliuered vnder suertyes by friendship and Doctor Story hearing thereof charged her with fellony and so sent her to Newgate The cause was for that she had a womaÌ„ at her house in her labour that dyed and the child also and so he charged her with their death But when Syr Roger Cholmley hearde her tell her tale he deliuered her and not much more then 10. weekes after if it were so long dyed the sayd Maister Swingfield and the other three that came to take her Because some there be and not a few which haue such a great deuotion in setting vp the Popish Masse I shal desire theÌ„ to marke well this story following There was a certain Bailiffe of CrowlaÌ„d in Lincolnshire named Burton who pretending an earnest frendship to the Gospel in king Edwards dayes in outward shew at least although inwardly he was a Papist or Atheist and wel knowen to be a man of a wicked adulterous life set forth the kinges proceedinges lustely till the time that king Edward was dead and Queene Mary placed quietly in her estate Then perceiuing by the first proclamation concerning Religion how the world was lyke to turne
most of the Deuill of hell Thus he lay without amendment about 6. daies that his maister and all his houshold was weary of that trouble and noyse Then his maister agreed with the keepers of Bedlem and gaue a peece of money and sent hym thether It seemeth that he was possessed with an euill spirit from the which God defend vs all This is a terrible example to you that be mockers of the word of God therfore repent amend lest the vengeance of God fall vpon you in like maner Witnes heereof William Mauldon of Newington The same William Mauldon chaunced afterwarde to dwel at a Towne 6. miles from London called Waltamstow where his wife taught yong children to read which was about the yeare of our Lorde 1563. and the 4. yeare of Queene Elizabeths raigne Unto this schoole amongest other children came one Benfieldes daughter named Dennis about the age of twelue yeares As these children sate talking together they happened among other talke as the nature of children is to be busy with many things to fall in communication of God and to reason among them selues after their childish discretion what he should be Whereunto some answered one thing some an other Among whom when one of the children had sayd that he was a good olde father the foresayd Denis Benfielde casting out impious woordes of horrible blasphemie what he sayd shee is an olde doting foole What wretched and blasphemous wordes were these yee heare Nowe marke what followed When William Mauldon heard of these abhominable woordes of the girle hee willed his wife to correcte her for the same Which was appoynted the nexte day to be done But wheÌ„ the next morow came her mother would nedes send her to the market to London the wenche greatly intreating her mother that she might not go being marueilously vnwilling thereunto Howebeit thorough her mothers compulsion shee was forced to goe and went And what happened Her businesse being done at London as she was returning againe homewarde and being a little past Hackney sodenly the yong girle was so stricken that all the one side of her was black and she speachles Wherupon immediately she was caried backe to Hackney and there the same night was buried Witnes of the same storie William Mauldon and his wife also Benfielde her father and her mother which yet be all aliue A terrible example no doubt both to old and young what it is for children to blaspheme the Lord theyr God and what it is for parentes to suffer their young ones to grow vp in such blasphemous blindnes not to nurture them betime in the rudimeÌ„ts of the christian Catechisme to know first their creation and then their redemption in Christ our Sauiour to feare the name of God and to reuerence his Maiestie For els what do they deserue but to be taken away by â—â—eathe whiche contemptuously despise him of whome they take the benefite of life And therefore let all young maides boyes and yong men take example by this wretched seely wench not only not to blaspheme the sacrede Maiestie of the omnipotent God their creator but also not once to take his name in vaine according as they are taughte in hys commaundementes Secondly let all Fathers Godfathers and Godmothers take this for a warning to see to the instruction and Catechising of their children for whom they haue bounde them selues in promise both to God and to hys Churche Which if the Father and godfather the Mother and godmothers had done to this younge girle verely it maye be thought this destruction had not fallen vpon her Thirdly al blinde Atheists Epicures Mammonists belly Gods of this worlde and sonnes of Beliall hypocrites infidelles and mockers of Religion which saye in their hearts there is no God learne also hereby not only what God is and what he is able to doe but also in thys miserable creature here punished in this world to behold what shall likewise fall on them in the world to come vnlesse they will be warned betime by such examples as the Lord God doth geue them Fourthly and lastly heere may also be a spectacle for all them which be blasphemous and abhominable swearers or rather tearers of God abusing his glorious name in suche contemptuous and despitefull sort as they vse to do Whome if neither the woorde and commaundemente of God nor the calling of the preachers nor remorse of conscience nor rule of reason nor theyr wytheringe age nor hory haires will admonish yet let these terrible examples of Gods districte Iudgement somewhat mooue them to take heede to them selues For if thys young maiden who was not fully 12. yeares old for her vnreuerent speaking of God and that but at one time did not escape the stroke of Gods terrible hande what then haue they to looke for which being men growen in yeares and stricken in age being so often warned preached vnto yet cease not continually with theyr blasphemous othes not only to abuse his name but also most coÌ„tumeliously and despitefully to teare him as it were and all his partes in peeces About the yeare of our Lorde 1565. at Bryhtwell in the County of Backshyre vppon certaine communication as touching the right reuerende Martyrs in Christ Byshop Cranmer Bishop Ridley and maister Hughe Latimer there came into an house in Abyngdon one whose name is Leuar being a Plowman dwelling in Bryhtwel afore sayd and sayd that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when he was burned And also in despite sayd that he had teeth like a horse At which time and hour as neare as could be gathered the sonne of the sayde Leauer moste wickedly hanged him selfe at Shepton in the Countie aforesayd within a mile of Abingdon These wordes were spoken in the hearing of me Thomas Ienens of Abyngdon Did not Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterburie geue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died him self before him being so stricken in his toung that neither he could swallow nor speake for a certain space before his death pag. 588. Frier Campbell the accuser of Patricke Hamelton in Scotlande what a terrible ende hee hadde reade before pag. 957. Haruey a Commissarie that condemned a poore man in Calice was shortly after hanged drawen and quartered pag. 1229. William Swallow the cruell tormentor of George Egles was shortly after so plagued of God that al the hair of his heade and nailes of his fingers and toes went off his eyes welneare closed vppe that hee coulde scante see Hys wife also was stricken wyth the falling Sickenesse wyth the whych Maladie shee was neuer infected before pag. 2010. Likewise Richard Potto an other troubler of the sayd George Egles vppon a certaine anger or chafe with hys seruauntes was so sodenlye taken with sicknesse that falling vpon his bed lyke a beast there he died neuer spake woorde pag. 2010. Richard Denton a shrinker from the Gospel while he refused to suffer the fire in
in the euening an 1568. and as it is reported by those that sawe him reelyng too and fro lyke a drunkard with his hat in hys hand and commyng by a ditch there tumbled in headlong into the ditch Some say that the horse fell vppon him but that is not lyke This is true the horse more sober then the maister came home leauyng his maister behynde him Whether he brake his necke with the fall or was drowned for the water was scarsly a foote deepe it is vncertayne but certaine it is that he was there found dead Thus he beyng found dead in the ditch the Crowner as the manner is sate vpon him and how the matter was handled for sauyng his goods the Lord knoweth but in the end so it fell out that the goods were saued and the poore horse indited for his maisters death The neighbours hearing of the death of this man and considering the maner thereof said it was iustly fallen vpon him that as he suffered the poore man to lie and dye in the ditch nere vnto hym so his end was to die in a ditch likewise And thus hast thou in this story Christian brother and Reader the true image of a rich glutton poore Lazarus set out before thine eyes whereby we haue all to learne what happeneth in the ende to suche voluptuous Epicures and Atheistes which beyng voyde of all senses of Religion and feare of God yelde themselues ouer to all prophanitie of lyfe neither regardyng any honestie at home nor shewyng any mercy to their needye neighbour abroad Christ our Sauiour saith Blessed be the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy but iudgement without mercy shal be executed on them which haue shewed no mercy c. And S. Iohn sayth He that seeth his brother haue neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in hym c. Agayne Esay against such prophane drunkards and quaffers thus crieth out Wo be vnto them that rise vp early to follow drunkennesse and to them that so continue vntill night till they bee set on fire with wyne In those companies are Harpes and Lutes Tabrets and Pipes and wine but they regard not the workes of the Lord and consider not the operation of his hands c. Woe be vnto them that are strong to spue out wyne and expert to set vp dronkennesse The punishments of them that be dead be wholsome documents to men that be aliue And therfore as the story aboue exemplified may serue to warne all Courtiers and Yeomen of the Gard so by this that followeth I would wish all gentlemen to take good heed and admonition betime to leaue their outrageous swering and blaspheming of the Lord their God In the tyme and raigne of K. Edward there was in Cornewall a certaine lusty yong Gentleman which dyd ride in company with other mo GentlemeÌ„ together with their seruaunts beyng about the number of xx horsemen Amongst whom this lusty yonker entring into talke began to sweare most horribly blasphemyng the name of God with other ribauldry words besides Unto whome one of the company who is yet aliue and witnes hereof not able to abide the hearing of such blasphemous abhominatioÌ„ in gentle wordes speaking to him said he should geue answere and account for euery idle word The Gentleman taking snuffe therat Why sayd he takest thou thought for me take thought for thy winding sheete Well quoth the other amend for death geueth no warning for as soone commeth a lambes skin to the market as an olde sheepes Gods wouÌ„des sayth he care not thou for me raging still after this maner worse worse in words till at length passing on theyr iourny they came riding ouer a great bridge staÌ„ding ouer a piece of an arme of the sea Upon the which bridge this Gentleman swearer spurred his horse in such sort as he sprang cleane ouer with the man on his backe Who as he was going cryed saying horse man and all to the deuil This terrible story happening in a Towne in Cornewall I would haue bene afrayde amongest these storyes here to recite were it not that he which was then both reprehender of his swearing witnes of his death is yet aliue and now a Minister named Heynes Besides this also bishop Ridley theÌ„ bishop of London preached and vttred euen the same fact and example at Paules Crosse. The name of the Gentleman I could by no meanes obteyne of the party witnes aforesayd for dread of those as he sayd which yet remaine of his affinity 〈◊〉 kinred in the sayd country Hauing now sufficiently admonished first the Courtyers then the gentlemen now thirdly for a briefe admonition to the Lawyers we will here insert the strange end and death of one Henry Smith student of the law This Henry Smyth hauing a Godly Gentleman to his father an auncient protestant dwelling in Camden in Glocester shyre was by him vertuously brought vp in the knowledge of Gods word sincere religion wherin he shewed himselfe in the beginning suche an earnest professor that he was called of the Papistes pratling Smith After these good beginnings it folowed that he coÌ„ming to be a student of the law in the middle Temple at London there through sinister coÌ„pany of some especially as it is thought of one Gifford began to be peruerted to popery afterward going to Louane was more deepely rooted grouÌ„ded in the same and so continuing a certayne space amoÌ„g the papistes of a yong protestant at leÌ„gth was made a perfect papist In so much that returning from theÌ„ce he brought with him pardoÌ„s a Crucifixe with an Agnus dei which he vsed coÌ„monly to weare about his necke had in his chamber images before which he was woont to pray Besides diuers other Popish trashe whiche he brought with hym from Louane Now what ende followed after this I were loth to vtter in story but that the fact so lately done this present yeare ann 1569. remayneth yet so fresh in memorie that almost all the Citie of London not onely can witnesse but also doth wonder thereat The end was this Not long after the said Henry Smith with Gifforde his companion was returned from Louane beyng now a foule gierer and a scornfull scoffer of that religion which before he professed in his chamber where he lay in a house in S. Clements parish without Temple barre in the Euening as he was goyng to bedde and his clothes put off for he was found naked he had tied his shirt which he had torne to the same purpose about his priuy places and so with his owne girdle or ribond garter as it seemed fastned to the bedpost there strangled himselfe They that were of his Quest and other which saw the maner of hys hanging and the print where he sate vpon his bed side do record that he tâ—rust himselfe downe from his beddes side where he sate the
leaue it to the reporte of them which in this matter know more then I here will vtter But notwithstanding al these cracks and threatnings of the king to see what the Lord can doe in making hygh kinges to stoupe euen the same day when the king was in his most rage agaynst these good men almightye God taking the cause in hand to fight for his Church so turned the matter that he made the great enemy of hys both with his mouth and with his hand to worke his own destruction with his mouth in commaunding with his hanâ— in geuing him the Lance into hys hand which the same day gaue him his deathes wound as by the sequele hereof in reading ye may vnderstand ¶ The stroke of Gods hand vpon Henry .2 French king KIng Henry being in the ParliameÌ„t house which was kept at the Fryer Augustines at Paris because the Pallace was in preparing agaynst the mariage of hys daughter and his sister and hauing heard the opinion in religioÌ„ of Anne du Bourg Counsaylour in the lawe a man eloquent and learned he caused the sayd Anne du Bourg and Loys du Faur Counsaylours to be taken prisoners by the Constable of Fraunce who apprehended them and delyuered them into the handes of the Countye of Mongommery the which caryed them to prison Agaynst whom the king being wrathfull and angry among other talke sayd to the sayd Anne du Bourg These eyes of mine shall see thee burnt And so on the 19. of Iune Commission was geuen to the Iudges to make his Proces During this meane while great feastes and banquets were preparing in the Courte for ioy and gladnes of the mariage that should be of the kinges daughter and sister agaynst the last day of Iune saue one So when the day tyme aboue prefixed was come the king employed all the morning in examining as wel the Presidentes as Counsaylours of the sayde Parliament agaynst these prisoners and other theyr companions that were charged with the same doctrine which being done they went to dinner The king after he had dyned for that he was one of the defendauntes at the Tourney which was solemnly made in S. Anthonies Streate neare to the prison where the foresayde Prisoners were committed hee entred into the Lystes and there in iusting as the manner is had broken many Staues right valiauntly as could be runnyng as well agaynste the Countye of Montgommery as other moe Whereupon he was highly commended of the lookers on And because he had done so valiauntly and was thought nowe to haue done enough hee was desired to cease with praise But he being the more inflamed with hearing of hys prayse woulde needes runne an other course wyth Montgommery who then refusing to runne agaynst the king and kneling vpon his knees for pardon not to run the king being egerly set commanded him vpon his allegeance to runne and as some affirme did also him selfe put the staffe in his hand vnto whose handes he had committed the foresayd prisoners a little before Montgommery thus being enforced whether he would or no to run agaynst the king addressed hymselfe after the best wyse to obey the kinges commaundement Whereupon he and the king met together so stoutly that in breaking theyr Speares the king was striken with the counter blowe so right in one of hys eyes by reasonne that the visour of his Helmet so sodenly fell downe at the same instaunt that the shiuers entred into hys head so that the braynes was peryshed thereupon so festred that no remedy could bee founde although Phisitions and Surgeons were sent for from all places in the Realme as also froÌ„ Brabant by king Philip but nothing auayled so that the xj day after that is the x. of Iuly 1559. he ended his life in great dolour hauing raigned xij yeares three monethes and ten dayes Some report that among other wordes he said that he feared he was strickeÌ„ for casting the poore christians wrongfully in prisoÌ„ but the Cardinal of Loraine standing by as he was alwayes at haÌ„d sayd vnto him that it was the enemy that tempted him that he should be stedfast in the fayth By this meanes the Hall which was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes did now serue for a Chappel to keep the corps being dressed with blacke mourning cloth night and day tâ—ere was nothing heard but mournyng and lamenting for the space of xl dayes About two yeares after this which was the yeare of our Lord .1561 there were certayne Gentlemen put to death at Amboise for taking armes agaynst the house of Guise Touching which Gentlemen this is to be noted that as one of theÌ„ should be brought to the place of executioÌ„ where the other lay dead before him he thrust his handes into the bloud of two of his companions which were there beheaded and then lifting them vp to heauen cryed with a loud voyce Lord behold the bloud of thy childreÌ„ thou wilt in time and place reuenge it Not long after the same the Chancellor Oliuier who was condemner of theÌ„ at the instigatioÌ„ and pursuit of the Cardinall of Loraine through great remorse of coÌ„science fell sicke and in a frensy casting out sighes vncessauntly afflicting himselfe after a fearefull and strauÌ„ge fashion for his vnrighteous sentence and more then barbarous cruelty shriked vpon a sodeyne with an horrible cry sayd O Cardinall thou wilt make vs all to be damned And within a very few dayes after he dyed Fraunces the second of that name king of Fraunce at the perswasion of the Cardinall of Loraine of certeyne others caused an asseÌ„bly of the Estates of the realm in the towne of Orleans among other things to mainteine the Papall See to the ouerthrow of those which would lyue after the sincerity of the gospel but being fallen sick shortly after in the foresayd place of a feuer through an Impostume in his left eare he dyed the fourth of Decemb. 1561. hauing raigned but one yeare and about fiue monethes It was sayd of this king Fraunces as the authour aboue mentioned reporteth that when he was drawyng toward his end the Cardinal of Loraine made him to say and pronounce these words which folow Lord forgeue me my trespasses and impute not vnto me the faultes which my ministers haue done vnder my name and authority Neither is it vnworthy of obseruation that after the father happened in much like sort by gods mighty iudgement vpon Carol. 9. his second sonne brother to Frances aboue mentioned in these our latter dayes who after the horrible and bloudy murder of the Admyrall other true professors of Christes Gospell both men womeÌ„ and children to the nuÌ„ber of many thousandes of diuers Cityes in so much that the prisoÌ„s streetes are said to be coloured with bloud smoking after such a cruell sort as in our time or country the like hath not hitherto bene sene by the terrible
I set as litle by it as the best of you all In deede sayth the Printer so we vnderstand now for you being at a supper in Cheapside among certaine honest company and there burdened with the matter sayd then that you did it rather to looke vpon fayre wenches then otherwise He being in a great rage sware to the purpose saying Can a man speake nothing but you must haue vnderstaÌ„ding therof But sayth he did I any man any hurt It was aunswered that hee meant litle good to M. Doddes aforesayd especially procuring a secret witnesse behinde his doore to catche some wordes that might tend to Doddes destruction Whiche thing Drayner sware as before was not true To whoÌ„ the printer replied that it was most true for that the party there secretly hidden hath since vpon his knees asking forgeuenesse for his intent confessed the same to Doddes himselfe I will hang that knaue sayth he And so he departed in a rage and since is deceased whose death order therof I referre to the secret Iudge ¶ A Lamentable History of Iohn Whiteman Shoomaker who suffered most cruell tormentes at Ostend in Flaunders for the testimony of Iesus Christ and the truth of his Gospell an 1572. IOhn Whiteman Shoomaker being about the age of 49. yeares borne in Tinen a towne in Brabant After hys comming ouer into England dwelt in Rye in the County of Sussex maryed xxiij yeares alwayes a professour of the Gospell as well in the time of the freedome therof as in time of persecution About Candlemas in the yeare 1572. vnknowne to his frendes in Rye vnderstanding of shipping in Rye which was ready bound for Ostend in Flaunders went aboorde the Saterday morning and arriued at Ostend that night where he lodged wyth one of his kinsmeÌ„ there dwelling The next day being Sonday in the morning he accompanyed with his sayd kinsman tooke his iourney as it were to haue passed hither into the countrey When they were about three mile on theyr way out of the Towne sodeynely Whitman stayd and would go no further but immediatly returned back againe to Ostend whither so soone â—s he was come it being seruice tyme in theyr Church he forthwith addressed himselfe thither and at the time of the heaue offering stept to the sacrificer and tooke from ouer his head his Idoll saying these words in the Dutch tongue· Is this your God and so breaking it cast it downe vnder his feet and trode theron Forthwith the people in an vprore came to lay holde on him and hardly in the Church escaped he death by the souldiers there present but being rescued by some to the intent to be further examined and made a publicke spectackle he was carryed immediatly to prison Upon the next day being monday the Iudges other Counsellers being assembled he was brought forth into the common hall and examined of hys fact the intent the counsell and abettors thereof and also of his fayth where he very coÌ„stantly in defence of his christian fayth great detestation of Idolatry demeaned him selfe in such sort that he wrong teares from the eyes of diuers both of the chiefe others present So was he committed agayne to prison The next day being Tuesday he was brought out agayne before the Iudges into the same place And being examined as before he no whit abated but increased in his coÌ„stancy WhereupoÌ„ senteÌ„ce was geueÌ„ vpoÌ„ him to haue his hand cut of and his body scorched to death after to be haÌ„ged vp So the day folowing being wednesday he was brought out of prisoÌ„ to the towne hal standing in the market place all thinges beloÌ„ging to execution being made ready there Which when they were al ready the hangman went into the hall with a cord tyed the hands of Whitman came out leadyng him thereby so soone as Whitman was out of the house he made such hast as it wer ran to the place of execution that he drew the hangman after him There was a post set vp with sparres froÌ„ the top therof aslope downe to the ground in maner of a Tent to the end that he shoulde be onely scorched to death not burned When he was come to the place the hangmaÌ„ commaunded him to lay downe hys right hand vppon a block which he immediately with a hatchet smote of the good man stil coÌ„tinuing constaÌ„t the hangman stept behind him bid him put out his tonge which he forthw t did as far as he could out of his mouth through the which he thrust a loÌ„g instrument like a Packe needle and so let it sticke Then the Iudges standing by in the common Hall read agayn his fact and sentence Wherunto hee coulde make no aunswere his tongue haÌ„ging out of his head so was he stripped out of his Cassocke his hose being put of in prison put wtin his Tent made fast with two chaynes and fire and put round about which broyled and scorched his body most miserably al blacke he not being seene but heard to make a noyse within the Tent. When he was dead hee was caryed out to be haÌ„ged vpon a gybbot beside the town Spectatores praesentes Cutbert Carr Bartholomeus Bellington Nautae Rienses ¶ Admonition to the Reader concerning the examples aboue mentioned IT hath bene a long perswasion gendred in the heades of many men these many yeares that to ground a mans fayth vpoÌ„ Gods word alone and not vpon the See and Churche of Rome following all the ordinaunces and constitutions of the same was damnable heresie and to persecute such men to death was hygh seruice done to God Whereupon hath risen so great persecutions slaughters and murders with such effusion of ChristeÌ„ bloud through all partes of Christendome by the space of these 70. yeares as hath not before bene seene And of these men Chryst himselfe doth full well warne vs long before true prophesiyng of such times to come when they that flea his Ministers and seruantes shuld thinke themselues to do good seruice vnto God Ioh. 16. Now what wicked seruice and howe detestable before God this is which they falsly perswade themselues to be godly what more euident demonstrations can we require then these so many so manifest so terrible examples of Gods wrath pouring down from heauen vpon these persecuters whereof part we haue already set forth for to comprehend all which in number are infinite it is vnpossible Wherfore although there be manye whiche will neyther heare see nor vnderstand what is for theyr profite yet let al moderate wel disposed natures take warning in time And if the playne word of God will not suffice theÌ„ nor the bloud of so many martirs wil moue theÌ„ to embrace the truth and forsake errour yet let the desperate deathes horrible punishments of their own papistes perswade theÌ„ how perillous is the end of this daÌ„nable doctrine of papistry For if these papistes which make so much
My friend or friends be it known vnto you that this is no errour as ye suppose but it is the truth of Gods will that we should beleeue as S. Iohn sayth That Christ Iesus is the sonne of the liuing God and in so beleeuyng wee should haue euerlasting lyfe Thus with loue I write vnto you praying God night and day to deliuer you froÌ„ euill which is in you and to keepe you from it Wherefore my friend or friendes you are not crucified with Christ you are not dead with him as concerning sinne you are not graffed with him in Baptisme nor you know not god nor his sonne whome he hath sent nor his commaundements which he hath commaunded and yet will ye teach other with most hearty prayer praying to God for you continually Patrike Patingham A note of a certaine letter of Wil. Tymmes GRace mercy and peace from God the father through the mercies of his deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour with the comfort of his holy spirite that as you haue full godly begun euen so to continue to the end to the glory of God and your euerlasting comfort which thing to do I pray God to geue you grace who is the geuer of all good and perfect gifts to the glory of hys holy name Amen My dere sisters after most harty commendations vnto you and also most harty thankes geuing vnto you for all the great kyndnesse that you haue always shewed vnto me most vnworthy of the same I certifie you that I am very glad to heare of your good health which I pray God long to continue to his glory And especially I doe much reioyce in your most godly constancie in the Gospell of Christ which is the power of God vnto saluation vnto so many as beleeue it Therefore my deare hartes goe forward as you haue godly begunne for the tyme will come that these cruell tyrants which now so cruelly persecuteth the true members of Christ shall say for very anguish of mynde These are they whom we sometyme had in derision and iested vppon We fooles thought their lyfe to haue bene very madnesse and their ende to haue bene without honour But lo how they are counted among the children of God and their portion is among the Saints therefore we haue erred from the way of truth The light of righteousnes hath not shined vnto vs and the sonne of vnderstandyng rose not vpon vs. We haue weried our selues in the way of wickednesse and destruction Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the way of the Lord we haue not knowen it What good hath our pride done vnto vs or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs. All these things hath passed away as a shadow or as a Messenger running before As a sheepe that passeth ouer the waues of the water which when it is gone by the trace thereof cannot be found neither the path in the flouds c. For as soone as we were borne we began inordinately to drawe to our ende and haue shewed no token of vertue but are consumed in our owne wickednesse Such wordes shall they that thus haue sinned speake in the hell c. But the righteous shall lyue for euermore their reward is also with the Lord and their remembraunce with the highest therfore shall they receiue a glorious kingdome and a beautifull crowne at the Lordes hand for with his right hande shall he couer them and with his holy arme shall he defend them c. The soules of the righteous are in the haÌ„ds of God and the paynes of death shall not touch them but in the sight of the vnwyse they appeare to die and their end is taken for very destruction but they are in rest And though they suffer payne before men yet is their hope full of immortalitie They are punished but in few thynges neuerthelesse in many things shall they be wel rewarded for God prooueth them and findeth them meete for hymselfe yea as the golde in the fornace doth he try them and receiueth them as a burnt offering and when the tyme commeth they shall be looked vppon the righteous shall shine as the sparkes that runneth through the red bushe they shall iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people and their Lord shal raigne for euer They that put their trust in hym shall vnderstand the truth and such as be faithfull will agree vnto hym in loue and he shall be a piller in the temple of God and shall no more go out and there shall be written vppon him the name of God And they shall lye vnder the aultar which is Christ crying with a lowd voyce saying How long tariest thou Lord holy and true to iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth and they shall haue long white garmentes geuen vnto them and it shall be sayd vnto them that they should rest yet for a little season til the number of their fellowes and brethren of them that should bee killed as they were were fulfilled For as S. Iohn sayth they are worthy that thus ouercommeth to bee clothed in white aray and their names shall not bee put out of the booke of lyfe but shall be seperated from the Gotes and set on Christes right hand hearing his sweet and comfortable voice wheÌ„ he shall say Come ye blessed of my Father and possâ—sse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginnyng of the world And the very redy way to obtaine the same is as our maister Christ saith to forsake our selues takyng vp our crosse followyng our maister Christ which for the ioy that was set before him abode the crosse and despised the shame and is set downe on the throne of the right hand of God therefore let vs follow his example in sufferyng for his worde seeyng that hee of his mercifull goodnesse suffered so muche for vs when wee were his enemies for it was our sinne that killed Christ and by his death hath made vs on lyue Therefore with ioy seeing all these his merciful benefites purchased for vs onely by his death and bloudsheding Let vs with boldnesse confesse his holy word before this wicked generation euen to death and we be called thereto and so be well assured that our lyues be not in the hands of men but in Gods handes Therefore my deare sisters as you haue godly begun so go forward euen through many tribulations euen into the euerlasting kingdom of heauen To the which God the father of all mercy for his deare sonne Christes sake bring both you and all yours Amen Yours to commaund to my poore power Wil. Tymmes Continue in prayer Aske in fayth And obtaine your desire Praying for you as I know that you do for me ¶ Another Sermon of M. Latimer concerning his playing at Cardes NOw you haue heard what is ment by this first carde and how you ought to play with it I purpose againe to deale vnto you another carde almost of
you as from the Queenes Maiesty by commaundement who doth require of vs all a more dilligēce in execution of lawes then is spyed commonly abroad Whereby we shall do our duties to almighty God the better declare our allegiance to our Souereigne regard the maiesty of the lawes loue the quiet of our country and procure the safety of our selues God saue the Queene And here I trust we are now come to an end of al our English Martyrs which hetherto haue bene burnt for the veritie of the gospell if we adde besides to the same a godly countryman more of ours one named Richard Atkins an Hartfordshyre man who of late about two yeares past in the reigne of this our gracious Queene an 1581. most miserably was tormented at Babilon that is in the citie of Rome The cause and maner of whose suffering and martirdome here ensueth taken out of a certayne late printed story and testified by such as were present witnes and beholders of the same most tragicall execution The purport of whiche story in wordes as is put downe by the said reporter here vnder followeth * A true report of the horrible and merciles martyrdome of one Richard Atkins an Englishe man with extreeme tormentes and most cruell rage of furious tyrantes persecutors put to death at Rome ABout the month of Iuly an 1581. one Richard Atkins borne in Hartfordshire an english man came to Rome and hauing found the englishe Colledge knocked at the dore To whome diuers of the studentes there came out to welcome him vnderstanding that he was an Englishe man Among other talk had with him they willed him to goe to the hospitall and there to receiue his meat and lodging according as the order was appoynted whereunto he aunswered I come not my countrimen to any suche intent as you iudge but I come louingly to rebuke the great misorder of your liues whiche I greeue to heare and pity to beholde I come likewise to let youre proude Antichrist vnderstand that hee doth offend the heauenly maiestie robbe God of his honour and poysoneth the whole world with his abhominable blasphemies making them homage stockes and stones and that filthy sacramēt which is nothing els but a foolish Idol When they heard these wordes one Hugh Griffin a Welche man and a student in the Colledge caused him to be put in the Inquisition where how they examined him and howe he aunswered them I know not but after certayn dayes he was set at libertie agayne And one day going in the streete he met a priest carying the sacrament whiche offending hys conscience to see the people so crouche and bow downe to it he caught at it to haue throwne it downe but missing of his purpose and being iudged by the people that hee dyd catch at the holinesse that they say commeth from the sacrament vppon mere deuotion hee was let passe and nothing sayd to him few dayes after hee came to S. Peters Churche where diuers gentlemen and other were hearing Masse and the Priest at the eleuation he vsing no reuerence stepped among the people to the aultar threw downe the Chalice with the wine striuing likewise to haue pulled the cake out of the priestes handes for whiche diuers rose vp and beate hym with theyr fistes and one drewe his rapier and woulde haue slayne him so that in briefe he was caryed to prison where hee was examined wherfore he had committed such a hainous offence wherunto he aunswered that he came purposely for that intent to rebuke the popes wickednes and theyr Idolatry Upon this he was condemned to be burned which sentence he sayd hee was right willing to suffer and the rather because the summe of his offence pertayned to the glorye of God During the time he remayned in prison sundry English men came vnto him willing him to be sory for that he hadde done and to recant from his damnable opinion but all the meanes they vsed were in vayne hee confuted theyr dealinges by diuers places of scripture and willed them to be sory for theyr wickednesse while God did permit thē tyme els they were in danger of euerlasting damnation these wordes made the English men departe for they could not abide to heare them Within a while after he was set vpō an Asse without any saddle he being from the middle vpward naked hauing some englishe priestes with him to talke with him but he regarded them not but spake to the people in so good a language as he could and told them they were in a wrong way and therfore willed them for Christes sake to haue regard to the sauing of theyr soules All the way as he went there were foure did nothing els but thrust at his body with burning Torches whereat he neuer moued nor shronke one iote but with a cherefull countenaunce laboured to perswade the people often bending his body to meet the torches as they were thrust at him and woulde take them in hys owne hand and hold them burning still vppon his body whereat the people not a little wondered Thus he continued almost the space of halfe a mile till he came before S. Peters where the place of execution was When he was come to the place of execution there they had made a deuise not to make the fire about him but to burne his legges first whiche they did he not dismaying any whit but suffered all meruaylous cherefully whiche moued the people to such a quandary as was not in Rome many a day Then they offered him a crosse and willed him to embrace it in token that hee dyed a christian but he put it away with hys hand telling them that they were euill men to trouble him with suche paltry when he was preparing himselfe to God whome he beheld in maiestie and mercy ready to receaue him into the eternall rest They seeing him in this minde departed saying let vs goe and leaue him to the deuill whome hee serues Thus ended this faythfull souldiour and Martyr of Christe who is no doubt in glory with hys mayster whereunto God graunt vs all to come Amen This is faythfully auouched by Iohn Young who was at that tyme and a good while after in Rome in seruice with mayster Doctor Morton who seing the Martirdome of this man when he came home to hys house in presence of M. Smith his sonne M. Creede and the sayd Ioh. Young spake as followeth Surely this fellow was meruaylous obstinate hee nothing regarded the good counsayle which was vsed to hym nor shronke all the way when the torches wer thrust at hys naked body Beside in the place of execution hee did not faynt nor cry one iote in the fire albeit they tormēted him very cruelly and burned him by degrees as his legges first to put him to the greater payne yet all this he did but smile a◠Doubtlesse but that the worde of God cannot be but true els we might iudge this fellow to be of God for who could haue suffered so much payne
friers and the studentes of Paris 328 Contention of the Archbyshoppes who should sit on the right hande of the Cardinall 228 Contention betwene the Friers of Fraunce the Prelates of Paris 392 Contention betweene Boner and Winchester 1089.1090 Contention betwene king Henry 1. Anselme Archbishop of Caūterbury about doing homage to the king 192 Contention betweene the Archb. of Caunterbury the Monkes about trifles 236.237.239 Contention betweene the Kyng of Englande and the Monkes of Caunterburye for choosing the Archbishop 238 Contention betwne the french king and king Iohn 255 Contention betweene the Pope and king Iohn about the consecrating of an Archb. 220.251.241 Contention betweene the Pope and Friderike the Emperour for the election and depriuation of Bishops 298. Contention of the Archb. of Cant. and Yorke who should sit on the right hand of th◠Cardinal 265 Contention and schisme in the popes church 272 Conspiracies of Pope Innocent against Frederike the Emperor 297. Concubines permitted of the Pope for money 862 Constantinople taken by the Turks 742 Conquests in England 171 Conradus Hager 390 Constantius his worthy commendations his fauour to the Christians 81 Constantinus Magnus borne in Englande .108 first christened Emperour his fauour to the christians 101.102.103 Constantine his donation prooued to be false .105 his liberalitie in geuing to the church .104 his liberalitie to schooles and pitie to the poore ibid. his graunt for the Popes supremacie prooued false .115 hee kisseth the woundes of them that suffered for Christes sake ibid. Constantines law for the Popes election suspected and examined 4 Constantinus imbracing christian bishops 781 Constantine writeth to Sapores in fauour of the Christians .99 his Epistle to his subiects in the East 102 Conuocation of S. Frideswide in Oxford 444 Conuocation in Paules in Londō 1410 Councel of Cloneshoe with the decrees there enacted 128 Councels of the Popes one burne an others decrees 146 Councel of Constance against Wicliffe his articles and bookes 449 Councell of Constance a sacrilegious councell 1150. Councell of the prelates of Prage agaynst the gospellers 589 Councell and the church aboue the Pope 671.672 674. Councell of Nice falsified by the Pope 4. Councels generall called by Emperours 1068 Councell at Thetford in England with the acts therof 125 Councels may and do erre 1117 Councell aboue the Pope 670. Councell of Basill dissolued 700 Councels called by the Emperors without the Pope 676 Councell of Nice constituted other bishops equall in authority to the Pope 10. Councel of Carthage .6.4 had great contention about the Popes supremacie 10.11.12 Councell wicked what harme it doth 68 Councell of Winchester 172. Councell of Laterane 168 Councell of Frankford 373. Councell of Pise 553 Councell of Brixia agaynst Pope Hildebrand 181 Councell of Ratisbone 865 Councell of priestes against Henry Sutphen 875 Councel of Laterane inuented trāsubstantiatiō and established the same for a true and infallible doctrine 1152.1149 Councell of London with the acts thereof 174 Councell of Trecas with the decrees of the same 196 Concilium Gangrense Constantinopolitanum 1135 Councell of Rome vnder Hildebrand against priests 1164 Councell of Winchester agaynste priests mariage 1167 Councels in the primitiue Churche concluded that none should appeale to Rome out of their owne prouinces 1055 Councell of Constance .593 Prelates there assembled ibid. their orders and decrees .593 they deny the communiō in both kynds .596 their outrage against Iohn Hus. 606 Concilium Lateranense 205 Councell of the nobles agaynst the bishop of Ely he is deposed clothed in womens apparell bayted of women complaineth of the K. and the nobles 247 Councell of Rhemes with the acts thereof 198. Councell of Laterane hatched the egge of transubstantiation 253 Councel of Constance decreed that the Pope should be subiect to the Councell 673 Councell of king Henry the 8. deuided in religion 1201 Councell of Rome where an Oule appeared before the Pope 592 Councell of Constance condemneth Iohn Hus burneth his bones 464. Councell of Basill with the determinations therof 668 Councell of Luserne with the constitutions thereof 867 Councels fathers and histories their testimonies agaynst Images 2130.2131 Cooe martyr his story and martirdome 1707.1708 Cope aunswered for reprouing this booke of Actes Monumentes 580.582.583 Cooper of Watsam in the Countye of Suffolke Carpenter falselye slaundered of certeyne wordes accused thereof arrayned condemned and put to death for the same by the bloudy Papistes 2099.2100 Cornelius a Romayne first baptised of all the Romaynes 20 Cornelius Martyr Byshoppe of Rome his story constancy accusatiō for writing to Cyprian his martyrdome 64.65.66 Cornelius Bongey Martyr 1714 Corneford Martyr his story and martyrdome 2053 Corne vpon the grounde tythed to the Pope 273 Cornemonger his trouble and persecution 642 Cornewall a Tanner murthered for the Gospell by the bloudsucking Papistes 1669 Corruption growne in the Church by much peace 76 Corpus Christi feaste inuented by whom 507.351 Coronation of Pope Felix the fifte 690 Cotes Bishop of Chester a cruell persecuter of Christ in his members 1565 Cotten martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Couentry Martyrs 975 Couentry persecuted for the Gospell 776.777.778 Couētry how and by whom made free with libertyes aperteyning thereto 165 Cowle of S. Fraunces remitting the 4. part of penance 1001 Court of the pope translated to Auion in Fraunce 351 Court of the king aboue the Popes Court or Bishops consistory 473 Couerdale writ for into Englande by the king of Denmarke 1529 1530 Couering of the aulters 1404 Coxe a popishe Promoter sodenly dyed 2101 C R. Cranmer sent Ambassadour to dispute aboute the mariage of the king 1121. made Archb. of Canterbury ibid. Cranmer withstandeth the sixe articles in the Parliament house 1136 Cranmer with the Lady Iane arreigned of treason in the Guilde Hall Cranmer quit of treason .1418 Cranmer Ridley Latimer sent to Oxforde to dispute .1428 condemned all three together 1403. Cranmer charged wrōgfully with falsifying the Doctors and Fathers his answere in clearing of himselfe 2135 Cranmer Godfather to king Edward Lady Elizabeth 1054 Crampe ringes of Winchesters 1350 Craishfield Martyr his story examination condemnation and Martyrdome 2009.2010.2011 Cradle for Queene Maryes child with verses therupon 1597 Creame and oyle 53.60 Creed who brought into the masse 1402 Cressens a Philosopher procurer of Iustinus death 44 Crescentius Cardinall President of the Councell of Trent hys terrible and fearefull end 2106 2107 Crome committed to the Fleete 1467 Crowne of Englande not of suche great reuenewes as the Popes were out of the same 289.389 Croniclers reproued of errours in theyr Cronologies 577 Crompe his story 443 Crow miraculously preserued vpon the seas with his new Testament 1913 Crosse appeared to Cōstantine the great in the ayre 85 Crosse of golde borne before the Pope 137 Crosse how to be honored 567 Crosse not to be worshipped 85 Crosse bearing cause of great strife betwene the Arbishop of Caunterbury and the Archbishoppe of Yorke 227.228 Crokhay a Godly woman troubled
of the x. persecution 77 Dioclesian Maximiliā tired with persecuting of Christians gaue vp their kingdoms 81 Dioclesian his death 86 Dirige for the dead 137 Dirike Caruer Martyr hys apprehension examination and condemnatiō .1680 his martirdome 1682 Dissention amongst the Monks of Canterbury for the electiō of the Archb. 258. Discord what hurt it worketh in the church and common wealth 330.258.241.172.173.236.1367 Discorde alwayes in the Popes church 241 Dissention betweene the Archb. of Canterb. and the church of Lincolne 327 Dissention betweene Kyng Henry 3. and his nobles 330. Dissention betweene the Couent Prior of Durham and the king 272 Dissention amonijst Friers about the conception of Mary 800 Discord betweene the L. Protector the Admirall and the Earle of Warwike 1367 Discent of the B. of Rome 1758 Dispensations what mischiefs they do and what euils spring thereout 285 Dissolution of Abbeys by the lorde Cromwell 1179.1180 Dissolution of Abbeis and religious houses in England 1101.1102 Dissention between the Friers and the students of Paris 328 Dissention betweene Pope Eugenius and the councell of Basill 668 Disputation betweene the Papistes and Protestantes in the beginning of Q. Elizabeths raigne at Westminster 2119.2120.2121.2122 Disputation of religion in Paules in London in the Conuocation house aboute the reall presence .1410 dissolued by Queene Mary 1417 Disputation in the Uniuersitie of Prage 456.457 Disputation at Cambridge aboute transubstantiation and the reall presence 1376.1377.1378 Disputation in Oxford by Peter Martyr and others against trāsubstantiation 1373. Disputation in the councell of Basill 678.679 Disputation betweene Austen and the Waldenses 231 Disputation betweene the Romish bishops and the Scottish bish about Easter day 123 Disputation at Lypsia 847 Disputation at Baden in Heluetia .869 at Berne ibid. Disputation by M. Latimer Crāmer and Ridley at Oxford 1428 1429 Disputation betweene D. Barnes and Stephen Gardiner 1198 Dispensations for mony 285 Diuorce of K. Henry the 8. decided by D. Cranmer 1860 1861 1862 D O. Dobbe persecuted for the Gospell dyeth in prison 1297 Doctrine of the apostle S. Paule in a summe 20 Doctrine erroneous of the Church of Rome concernyng sinne 26 Doctrine of the Pope of Christ compared 485 Doctrine of the Pope what it is .2 more gaineful then holy scripture ibid. Doctrine of the Popes church corrupt examined 19 Doctrine of the Pope the summe finall scope 20 Doctrine of S. Paule reduced to v. points 16 Doctrine of the law and of the Gospell 976 Doctrine of the Pope what good stuffe it containeth 1772 Doctrine of Rome concerning faith and iustification erroneous 26. Doctrine erroneous of the papistes concernyng penance 26 Doctrine erroneous of the papistes in the sacraments 28 Doctrine of the papists corrupt cōcernyng ciuile maiestrates 29 Doctors read with indifferēt iudgement make more against the papists then with them 1854 Doctor Weston Prolocutor in the disputation in London 1410 Doctor Redman his confession at his death 1360 Doctor London a bloudy persecuter 1213 Doctor Coxe schoolemaister to K. Edward the 6. 1295 Doctor Sandes his trouble for the Gospell and happy deliueraunce by the singuler prouidence of god 2086.2087.2088.2089 Doctor Whittington Chauncellor a cruel persecuter slayne of a bul 775.776 Doct. Collet Deane of Paules his story 838 Doctor Story his impudent words in the parliamēt house .2125 his bloudy cruelty to Christes Martyrs by his owne confession ibidem Doctor Story a cruell and bloudie persecutor his bloudy ende and death at Tyborne 2152 Dog clothed in a Rochet vnder the name of B. Gardiner 2078 Dog of the English Embassadors bite the Pope by the great toe 1861. Doly her trouble and persecutiō for the Gospell 984 Dolphin with the French discomfited at Cassels 387 Domicianus Cesar his extreme tiranny 35.36 Domicianus maketh inquirie for Dauids stocke and murthereth them 48 Dominion of the Turkes parted into foure families 737. Dominion temporall and spirituall of Rome 499. Domicius Nero a tyrant his cruell end and ouerthrow 31 Dominion of the Turke large and ample 760.761.762.764.766.768 Donation of Constantine to the Romish papall sea prooued to be falsifyed by many inuincible reasons and argumentes 105 Donations of Carolus magnus Otho to Rome 159 Donation of Pipinus falsely taken for the donation of Constantine 130 Donation of Constantine forged 105.390 Donations geuen to religious men by king Ethelbald 133 Donation of king Athelwolfus to the Clergy 136 Dorobernia and Caunterbury taken for one 174 Doues their nature 1297 Douer court Martyrs theyr story trouble and Martyrdome for pulling downe of Idols 1031 1032 Douer head City of Kent 172 D R. Draycot Chauncellour of Liechfield a bloudy Persecutour of the poore Sayntes of God 1954 Draycots Sermon against Ioane Wast a blinde woman and martyr 1952 Drakes martyr his story .1895 his examination and death 1896 1897.1898 Dreames of Dustone 157 Dreames not to be regarded 152 Dronkennesse well auoyded by the pollicy of king Edgar 155 Drowry Martyr 1911.1912 Drayner called Iustice nine holes a bloudy and cruell persecutour his story 2112 D V. Dunning Chauncellour his sodeine and fearefull death 2099 Duchesse of Suffolke her tragicall and lamentable story .2078 her trouble extremity for the Gospell 2079.2080 Duke of Clarence drowned in a Butte of Malmessie 717 Duke of Northumberland committed to the Tower and condemned to dye .1407 beheaded 1423 Duke of Buckingham speaketh for the Protector in the Guilde hall 728 Duke Ethelwold slayne 141 Duke of Suffolke beheaded 1467.706 Duke Elfread his punishment for periury 148 Duke Edrike a bloudy persecutor a cruell murtherer and put himselfe to death 162 Duke Robert prisoner 191 Duke of Glocester made Protector .727 accuseth his Mother his bloudy tyranny 727.728 Duke of Northumberlād Duke of Herford both banished 514 Duke of Glocester beheaded by K. Richard 2. 513 Duke of Lancaster and Lord Hēry Persie great frends to Wickliefe 425 Duke Alpherus restorer of Priestes and their Wiues 158 Duke of Austrige punished of god 248 Duke Albert his bloudy slaughter in Boheme 656 Duke of Northfolke slayne 729 Duke of Mantua denieth the pope his City for his counsell 1133 Duke of Guise slayne before Orleance 2112 Duke of Guise his bloudy purpose disapoynted 2109 Duke of Northumberlande sente forth agaynst Queene Marye committed to the Tower 1465 Duke of Sommerset his History .1367 committed to the Tower with articles layd agaynst hym .1370 his death and rare commendation 1371.1372 Dunstanes roodes miracle 158 Dunstane Chittendene with the rest of his fellowes famished for the gospell in the Castle of Canterbury 1954.1955 Dunstane Abbot of Glastenbury his false and lying myracles 150 made Bishop of Worcester .152 seduceth king Edgar 156. hys his dreames 157 Dunstane a post setter a sorcerer .156 his death 160 Durandus 950 Dunkirke where writinges were set vppe agaynst King Henry .8 1055 Duty of husbandes and wiues one towardes an other 1933 Dutch Martyrs 928 Dungate martyr his story martyrdome 1949.1950 Dunninges the bloudye Chauncellour his
cruelty .1703 his sodeine and fearefull kind of death 2036 E. A. EAster day in strife for the obseruation therof .54 disputed of 123.124 Eating of Christe what it is 494. Eating of whitemeate in lent set at libertie 1210 Eastland martyr his story .2037 his articles obiected against him 2038. his condemnation and coÌ„stant martyrdome 2039. Eares of Christians slayne for the Gospell ix sackes full 339. Earle of Kent put guiltlesly to death 376. Earle of Notingham made Duke of Northfolke 514. Earle of Warwicke flyeth into France and hys returne agayne into England 713. Earle Henry of Richmond hys ariuance in Wales .728 his huge warres with king Richard 729 Earle Simon his pride after victory gott 333. Earle Symon with other slayne in the battayle at Eusham 334. Earle of Warwicke with the Lord Mountacute slayne 715. Earthquake morayne and pestilence in England 198. Earthquake at Wickliffes examination 436. E. C. Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction abused in the romishe churche 5.6 Ecclesiasticall persons subiecte to the temporall power 6. Ecclesiasticall persons exempt by the Pope from all subiection to kinges and princes 192. Ecclesiasticall promotions in the handes of straungers valued 429. Eckius the popes stout champion hys end 2107. Eckius hys reasons for the supremacie 847. agaynst M. Luther 850.851.845.849 agaynst Carolostadius .847 his reasons for the authoritie of the Romyshe Churche 2. E. D. Edwardes three that were kinges before the conquest 159 Edward .1 king of England hys lyfe and story .339 he and hys Barons at strife .349 peace coÌ„cluded betwixt them with theyr petitions to the king .350 hee denyeth first fruites to the pope .352 hys death and epitaphe 366. Edward .2 his bloudy murther of his nobles .371 taken and imprisoned 373. Edward 2. his raygne his lyfe and story 366. Edward 3. crowned 374. marieth the Earle of Henault his daughter called Philip. 375. Edward 3. his letter to the Deane and chapter of Paules agaynst Iohn Stafford Archbishop of Caunterbury 383. Edward 3. his letters to the King and nobles of Fraunce .377.38.367 taketh the king of France prisoner 388. contendeth wyth the Pope and restrayneth hys bulles from comming into England 389. Edward 3 denyeth the popes prouisions and reseruations .383 his voyage into Fraunce defieth the French king .384 his acts there .385 he claymeth the crowne of France .383 bewitched of a woman by the helpe of a frier .425 his death 428. Edward 4. crowned 713. maryed to Elizabeth Gray ibid. taken prisoner by the Earle of of Warwicke ibid. had victory in 9. battayles hym selfe being presente 717. hys sonne borne at Westminster in Sanctuary 714. Edward 4 his warres and contention with the Erle of Warwike .713 hys death 727. Edward called the martyr his story 157. proued a bastard ibid. Edward called the Martyr murthered of his stepmother her seruant 159 Edward the confessor hys story 164. Edward proued a bastard wroÌ„gfully made king 158.157 Edward borne in bastardy of Elfled king Edgars concubine 156 Edward 5. and his lamentable history 727. Edward 6. his raigne his rare coÌ„mendations and vertues .1295.1296 deliuereth the bible to the bishops .1294 reformeth religion 1297.1298 sendeth for learned men into the realme .1296 setteth forth Gods word .1298 calleth a parliament .1299 setteth forth the booke of common praier .1301 represseth superstitioÌ„ .1302.1303 aunswereth the rebels in Deuonshire and Cornewall .1305 hys death 1395. Edward 6. his instruction geuen to Sir Anth. Seintleger knight of his priuy chamber beyng of a corrupt iudgement in the Sacrament of the Eucharist 2139.2140 Edward Seymor erle of Hereford made duke of Somerset protector of the realme and gouernour of the kings person 1296 Edward Plantagenet beheaded 731. Edward prince slayne 716 Edward sonne of K. Hen. 3. wounded with a poisoned knife 337 Edward the elder his story 146 Edward the confessor his Shrine 336. Edward duke of Somerset Lord Protector his trouble 1367 Edward Burton not suffred to be buried in christian buriall 1715 Edward Benet preserued by gods prouidence 2075 Edward Freese Martyr his story 1027 Edward Grew his trouble and deliuery 2065 Edward Sharp martyred at Bristow 1953 Edgore his terrible death 2104 Edwine hindered from being christened by custome .121 his miraculous conuersion baptised in Yorke ibid. Edwine king of Britain his trouble and miraculous calling to the fayth 120 Edwine king an enemy to monks suspended and dieth 152 Edwine king of Northumberland enemy to Monkes 114 Edelburge poysoned her husband 132 Edenborough won from the Englishmen by the Scottes 368.379 Edina taken of the Turkes their barbarous cruelty shewed vpon the poore christians there 752 Edrike a traitor executed 162 Edgar his story .152 his actes and noble exploites .154.155.156 A great builder and repairer of monasteries ibid. his blemishes .155 his lawes .779 his death 156 Edgar his oration to the Clergy 169. Edmund king of Eastangles called S. Edmund his story 114.115.140 Edmund king murthered on hys priuy 162 Edmund Ironside 162 Edmund Archbishop of Caunterbury canonized a Saynte .280 condemned in Rome in a thowsand markes 285 Edmund Peerson his accusation agaynst Bayfield 1048 Edward Prince born of Q. Iane 1087 Edmund Poole Martyr his story and martyrdome 1912 Edmund Hurst Martyr his story 1914.1915 Edmundus king of England 150 Edmund Allin Martyr his story persecution examination and martyrdome 1979.1980 EdmuÌ„d Stafford bringer in of the Popes bulles 430 EdmuÌ„d Boner a furtherer of printing the Bibles at Paris .1191 made Bishoppe of London ibid. became a notable Papist 1192.1194.1296.1397.1349.1487 E G Egbert king of Kent taken Prisoner 130 Egbertus crowned king his victory agaynst the Danes 135 Egbert of a king made a Monke 131 Egesippus an ecclesiasticall writer 53 Egelred king his coronation life described 160 Egfride made king of Northumberland 124. Egges eating made heresye of the Papistes 1043 E. L. Eleanor Cobham her defence agaynst Alanus Copus .702 proued no traytor ibid. Election of the Byshop of Rome geuen to the Emperoure .159 resteth only in the emperor .298 confirmed ratified to be in the Emperours iurisdiction 299. Election of Bishops in the power of euery king in hys own country till Hildebrandes time 300. Election of ministers in the olde tyme not without the consent of the people 1105. Electors of the Emperour 7. and who be they 160. Election of the Bishop of Rome in whome it consisteth 5. Election or predestination wyth notes vpoÌ„ the same 1657.1658 Election standeth vpon grace not merites .1994 vpon the fewest number not the most 1996. Eldadus Byshop of Glocester 113. Elfricus archbishop of Caunterbury his bookes proued antentique .1139 his bookes agaynst transubstantiaâ—ion 1140. Eleuation of the sacrament by Honorius brought in 1403. Eleuation and odoration by whom inuented 1149.1152 Elfleda proued a Nunne and her childe a bastard 156. Elizabeth Barton called the holye mayd of Kent with her conspirators executed 1054. Elizabeth a blind mayd martyr her story and martyrdome 1914 Elizabeth Cooper Martyr burned at Norwiche her story and martyrdome
requâ—red B. Ridley â— great mortyfier of himselfe The order of his study and dyeâ— His order after supper The carefull dilliâ—â—nce of Bishop Ridley in instructing his familye The behauiour of Bishop Ridley to Doctor Boners mother The 〈◊〉 of Ridley and the currishnes of Boner described compared together B. Ridley 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 to Boners mother Boner vnâ—ade and reuilish to B. Ridleys â—â—â—ter and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 â— Ridley firâ—t conuerted by 〈…〉 B. Ridley 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 in troubâ—â—e aâ—ter the death of K. Edward B. Ridley in the Tower Bishop 〈…〉 to the prison oâ— Bâ—cardo in Oxford N. Ridlei Anton obiect i. N. Ridleis answere Luke 9. Gala. 2. Math. 18. Marke 9. H. Latimer Iohn 15. Anton obiect â— N. Ridleis answer He meaneth his owne confession openly in Preaching 1. Tim. 1. Math. 26. H. Latimer Iohn 19. 1. Cor. 19. 1. Tim. 3. Iohn 15. Col. 1. Anton. obiect â— N. Ryd Answer 1. Corin. 11. H. Latimer Hillarius contra Aâ—â—ent Rom. 15. Anton. obiect 4. Cypri l. â— ep 2. An. ep 152. N. Ryd Answer H. Latimer Anton. obiect 5. Aug. li. 4. de Sim. 10. In ep post col contra Donat. N. Ridleis answer 1. Tim. 3. Apocal. 21. Ephes. 1. Gala. 6. Phil. 2. Apoc. 21. Iohn 3. Gala. 4. In. op lin homi 49. in Math. 1. Cor. 10. H. Latimer 2. Cor. 6. 1. Tim. 6. 2. Cor. 1. Anton. obiect 6. N Ridleâ— Answer Anton. obiect 7. N. Ridleis Answer Apocall 2. 1 Cor. 2. H. Latimer Mel. 〈…〉 A question Answere Anton obiect 8. N. Ridleis answere 2. Cor. 6. Ioan. 4. A prouerb H. Latimer The inconstancye of the English Parlaments conuocations Death is the best phisition to the faythful Anton. obiect 6. N. Rid. answer Ephes. 5. Luke 12. Esay 8. Rom. 10. Luke 11. Esay â— Iohn â— Hieron 23. Math. Rom. â—7 Ephes. 4. H. Latimer 2. Tim. 3. Gala. 3. 1. Cor. 3. Rom 3. Psalm 119. Anton. obiect 10. N. Ridleis Answer Socâ— ecclesi hist. lib. 2. Socr ecclesi H. l. 1 c. 24.32 â—heo l. 5. c. 34. Obiection Aunswere L. 2. de bapti cont Don. c. 3. The Bishops booke 1. Tim â— The B. of Râ—mes authoritye England abiured the Popeâ— supremacye Conci Carthag 3. Can. 22. Anton obiect 11. Ephes 48. Anno 1555. Iuly N. Ridleis Answer Aug l. 3. contr liteâ—â—â— parm cap. 23. Ephes. 119. 3. Reg 13. 4. Reg. 23. Fâ—erâ— 2◠〈◊〉 11. â— Cor. 6. Leuit. 26. Esay 52. Iuâ—ith 12. H. Latimer Psalm â— Anton. obiect 1â— N. Ridleâ— Answer H. Latimer Anton. obieâ—â— 14. Anno. 1555. October N. Rid. answer Act. 4. Satan and his minisâ—ers do alwayes charge the Godly with sedition Reg. 18. Hiere 26. Luke 23. Iohn 18. Actâ—s 24. Theodore eccl hist. l. 4. cap. 5. Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 4. Niceph. l. 3. cap. 35. Ephe. 6. 1. Peter 5. Math. 24· Iacob 4. 1. Tim. 6 1. Cor. 4. Math. 10. Marke 11. Ephes. 6. Psalme 44. Psalm 14â— Apoc. â— Anno 1555. October Apoc. â— â— Latimer 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 3. Apoc. 6. A letter of Byshop Ridley to Maister Bradford and others False reporteâ— spread by the policye of the Papistes This letter seemeth to be written a little before about the tyme of the burning of M. Rogers Whatsoeuer fault is done the cause is layd vpoÌ„ the poore Christians M. Ridley and his fellow prisoners in Bocardo restrayned of their libertye The ingratitude of the scholars in not visiting the Bishops in Bocardo * Bocardo a Colledge of Quondams Anno. 1555. October The goodnes of Mistres Wilkinson and Anne Warcup to helpe the Bishops in Bocardo An other letter of Bishop Ridley to his Cosin M. Ridley lameÌ„teth the state of them which for feare of trouble doe wynde with the world and goe contrary to their conscience An other worthy letter of B. Ridley to M. Bradford Two mayne pillers holding vp the Sinagogue of SathaÌ„ 1. False doctrine of the Sacrament 2. The Popes primacye Apoc. 8. Sathans poyson paynted ouer with fayre pretâ—nces of Religion Apoc. 2. B. Ridleyâ— purpose to liue and dyâ— vpon the enemyes of Christ and of the Gospell An other letter of B. Ridley answering to M. Bradford * This was a treatise of The Lordes Supper with other thinges which M. Bradford sent to him to peruse to iudge thereof Commendation of D. Taylor This matter was concerning the deliberation of the prisoners in LoÌ„don what to doe if they were called to open disputation Thâ—s letter 〈…〉 written to 〈…〉 when iâ— was 〈…〉 to LaÌ„â—â—â—hire Math. 25. The reioysâ—â—g of B. 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 constanâ—â—â— of M. Rogers A letter of B Râ—â—ley to 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 English Apoc. 1â— Apoc 17. Gal. 5. Math. 24. He exhorteth the brethren to stand fast 1. Iohn 4. Virgill Aeneâ—d 1. Phil. 1. Heb. 10. Patience necessary for al Christians 1. Iohn 10 The quarell of the Martyrs 〈◊〉 iust and true Heb. 1. Colosâ— 1. Martyrs put to death 〈…〉 they will acknowledge no more 〈…〉 1. Cor. 8. Iohn â—â— The profundities of Sathan Apoc 2. 1. Peter 5. The Martyrs haue all the Prophets Apostles and auncient ecclesiastical writers on their side Phil. 1. 1. Peter 4. He exhorteth vs not to wishe euill to our persecutors 1. Pet. 3. An other letter of B. Ridley wherein he coÌ„firmeth the brethren in captiuitye translated out of the Latin Communion vnitye of Saints Phil. 2. Reasons prouing the reliâ—ion in Q. Maryes tyme not to be of God ComparisoÌ„ betwene the religion in K Edwards time the religion set out in Q. Maryes tyme. Scriptures in K. Edwards tyme knowen in Queene Maryes tyme vnknowen In king Edwards tyme the people knew what they prayed in Q. Maries time they neitheâ— knew what nor to whoÌ„ they praied The Catechisme set forth in K. Edwardes tyme for children in Q. Maryes tyme forbidden Math. 23. The Catholicke Pharisies neyther enter themselues noâ— will suffer other to enter Gods kingdome Apoc 9. The pit of the Locusts opened Apoc. â— 1. Iohn 5. ExhortatioÌ„ to stand constant iâ— Christ and his truth An other letter of B. Ridley 〈…〉 1 Iohn 2. Math. 10. What it is 〈…〉 himselfe Luke 12. Feare of Gâ—d Bishop Ridley 〈◊〉 to haue sâ—te made for him Confession to the minister in the way of 〈◊〉 counsâ—â—le not 〈◊〉 B Ridley 〈◊〉 a reuerend handâ—â— of the Sacrament The part of a tâ—ue Bishop only to seeke the glory of Christ his Maister B. Ridley repenteth that he was not more earnest in stablishing the consciences of his famely and cure Doctor Haruey charged Good monitioÌ„s of B. Ridley to his olde Chapleynes Psal. 2. Iohn 2. What is truth Iohn 17. Eccle. 27. Heb. 13. Common prayer in the common tongue What it is to coÌ„fesse Christ. He that denyeth an open truth agaynst Gods word for worldly daunger will be as ready to deny God himselfe Death common to good and bad Damnable â—greement * Apostata was he who fled from his captayne to the
presence in the Sacrament may haue a double sense Equiuocation in the word really How the body of Christ may be sayd to be really and how not really in the Sacrament â— Questions vnder one The Papistes Protestantes in graunting the presence do agreeâ— onely in the maner of being they differ How Christes body is effectuously receaued in the SacrameÌ„t How Christ may be graunted to be really in the SacrameÌ„t and how not What change is in the Sacramentall bread Sacramentall mutation The substaunce of bread and wine in theâ— Sacrament not chaÌ„ged ComparisoÌ„ betweene the Sacrament of the CommunioÌ„ and of Baptisme What difference the Catholicks put betweene the Sacrament of the CoÌ„munion and Baptisme Aunswere to the 3. Article Propitiatory sacrifice of the masse is a derogation to Christes passion Vnbloudy sacrifice Answere to the 4. Article D. Ridley assigned to appeare agayne the next day M Latimer 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 The order of M. Latiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 The oratioÌ„ 〈◊〉 Lincolne 〈◊〉 M. Latimer But this Church 〈◊〉 standing on the truth of Gods word 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of man How you 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 your owne actes can beare witnes The Popes authoritye 〈…〉 Latimer * Qui tradidâ—runt metioâ—â—naius peccaâ—â—m habent sayth Christ. Perswasions vsed to M. Latimer 〈…〉 to the vnitye of the Popes Church Reasons to perswade the flesh but not 〈◊〉 conâ—cience M. Latimer hath leaue to sit downe Answere of M. Latimer to the B. of Lincolne The vniuersall Church hath not his foundation onely in Rome â—rgâ—ment Christ bad Peter regere gouerne his peâ—ple Ergo the Pope 〈…〉 Rex to reigne 〈◊〉 Kinges and Emperours Regere 〈…〉 to regere 〈◊〉 voluntateÌ„ Deut. 21. Cliâ—ping of Gods Scriptures by the Catholickes The author of this booke was D. Brookes which there was in the commission Brookes B. of Glocester speaketh The Catholicks how vnreasonable they are in their vsing of men The Catholicks alleage the Scriptures but take not all The protestatioÌ„ of M. Latimer 1. Article The body of Christ in the Sacrament receiued by spirite grace M. Latymer agaynst the grosse and carnall being of christ in the Sacrament 2. Article What chaunge is in the bread and wine in the Sacrament not in the nature but in the dignitye of representing Substance of bread wine in the Sacrament vnchanged Difference betweene Christs holy bread the Popes holy bread 3. Article 4. Article â— Article The next 〈…〉 October 1. D. Ridleys appearanâ—e 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 The words 〈◊〉 M. 〈…〉 to B. 〈…〉 B. Ridley refuseth to put of his cap to the Pope or to them which come froÌ„ the Pope The last examination of Bishop Ridley The wordes of the B. of Lincolne The place of S. Austen again repeated Totus mundus c. Aunswere of D. Ridley to the place of S. Austen as before How the Catholickes vse to alledge the Doctours A place of Cyrillus alledged by Melancthon Scripture bookes burned at Oxford * Argumentum á contrario sensu ex Cyrillo contra â—udaeoâ— * Altars be erected in Christes remembrance in Britayne Ergo Christ is come Altars be now plucked downe in Britayne Ergo Christ iâ— not come Aunswere This argument is not a sensu contrario For erecting of altars in the Antecedent and plucking downe altars in the consequent be not contrary In the Antecedent Cyril meaneth the table or els the celebration of the Lordes Supper in his remembrance In the consequent by plucking downe of altars is ment the taking away of places and monumentes seruing not to the Lordes Supper but to Idolatry whereby the true table of the Lordes Supper in his remeÌ„brance may be erected agayne * B. White blasphemously calleth the bord of the Lordes Supper an Oyster table The articles read agayne to M. Ridley B. Ridley not suffred to reade his owne aunswere Note the extreme dealing of these catholicke men The deputies durst not read out the writing of Bishop Ridley To the 1. article To the 2. Article The words of exhortation of Brookes Bishop of Glocester to M. Ridley B. Ridley vntruely charged with singularity The determination of the Church is only that whereupon our catholicke men do ground theyr fayth A briefe answere of B. Ridley to B. Brokes taâ—le D. Weâ—ton 〈…〉 Sentence of 〈◊〉 â—ead 〈◊〉 D. â—â—â—ley 〈…〉 of M. Latimer before the Commissioners The Bishop of Lincolnes wordes to M. Latimer M. Latimer short with the Commissionerâ— The Catholicke Church and the Romish Church be two thinges Cyprians counsell in truth no deliberation to be taken M. Latimers question to the Bishops Whether is more lyke the sea of Rome which persecuteth or the little flocke which is persecuted to be the â—rue Church c. The cause of the Martyrs of the primitiue tyme and of the Martyrs of the latter tyme aâ—l one The Image of the Church before Christes comming compared with the Church after his comming The Articles agayne propouÌ„ded to Maister Latimer Maister Latimer againe aunswereth with Protestation as before The very body of Christ receaued in the Sacrament by the spirite grace Aunsweres to 2. 3. articles M Latimer will not deny his Maister Christ. Condemnation read agaynst M. Latimer The Papistes false in their promises M. Latimer appealeth to the next generall Councell truly called in the Lordes name but that Councell is long a comming October 15. The talke betweene D. Brookes B. of Glocester and D. Ridley vpon his degradation No mercy to be had without consenting to iniquitye Answere oâ— D. Ridley to Bishop Brookes O worthy champion of Christes Church With that their caps went of but D. Ridley held on his cap. B. Ridley commaunded to silence when otherwise he could not be reuinced B. Ridley refuseth to put on the surples B. Ridley inueyeth agaynst the Bishop of Rome and his foolish apparrell The surples here is called a foolish apparrell Maister Edridge geueth counsell that B. Ridley should be gagged A prayse of Bertrams 〈◊〉 vpon the Sacrament Note the charitye of the Papists B. Ridleys 〈◊〉 put from her house by B. Boner A supplication of B. Ridley to Queene Mary in the behalfe of certayne poore mens leases This Bishop was D. Boner If to succour the widow and fatherles is pure vndefiled religion as Saint Iames sayth Then is Boner and his religion filthy and abominable which doth such wrâ—â—g to the widow and fatherles Notwithstanding these godly and iust â—equeâ—tes no Iustice could be had vntill that now of late some of these shamefull iniuries by order of law haue beâ—ne redressed The life of M. Ridley such as coulâ— not with any notorious crime be charged The wordes of a certayne warden or head of a Colledge D. Ridley biddeth gestes to his mariage Mistres Irish a great Papist before weepeth for D. Ridley B. Ridley careles of his death The order and maner of B. Ridley and M. Latimer going to the stake D. Ridley and M. Latimer brought together to the stake The behauiour of D. Ridley M. Latimer at the
1â— 2. Cor. â— An other 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 16. Math. 26. Marke 24. Luke 22. 2. Cor. 11. No sacrifice of the Masse is to be made for sinne Heb. 9.10 Luke 11. Apocalip 18. Peter 4.3 Apocalip 23. An other letter of Thomas Whittell to a godly womaâ— To be strong agaynst Sathan and not to feare persecution Good counsell not to forsake the Lord for persecution The story of M. Bartlet Grene gentleman and Martyr Ianuary 27. Bartlet Grene student at Oxford M· Grene conuerted by the Lecture of Peter Martyr Iohn 4. M. Grene studeÌ„t in the Temple at London A good note or lesson for young Lawyers to marke and follow What leaude company doth i. Agreement of mindes ioyning in vnitye of fayth growing vp in charitye is true and stedfast amitye Farewell my Bartrame and remember me that euer we may be like together fare wel at Newgate Ianuary 20. An. 1556. Large 〈◊〉 offered 〈◊〉 M. 〈◊〉 by Doctâ—â— Bartlet 〈◊〉 returne to the Church of Rome Friendship betweene Christopher Goodman and M. Grene. Occasion of apprehending of M. Grene came by letters intercepted M. Grene examined by the counsell of his fayth Iohn Bourne a stirrer of persecution A letter from thâ— Counseâ—l to Boner Post script M Grene presented before B. Boner M. d ee was â—et vnder band of recognisance for the good â—â—earing sorth comming till Christmas next after M. Grene committed 〈◊〉 to the Fleete and vpon what occasion D. Chadsey witnesseth agaynst M. Grene. Talke betweene M. Grene and the Commissioners Perswasion of M. Welch to M. Grene. Aunswere of M. Grene to M. Welche Modestye of M. Grene. Rom. 9. The spirite of God addicted neyther to person nor place The end of all controuersies is to know the true Church Markes of the true Church * By this instrument he meaneth Peter Martyr M. Grene seeking his knowledge of God with teares M. Welche replyeth to M. Grene. * Where Philpot was he meaneth to whom he wrote this letter Friendly entertaynment of M. Grene in Bishop Boners house for a time M. Grene had in priuate examination before the Bishop M. Grene vrged with the literall sense of the wordes this is my body Causes mouing M. Grene from the literall sense of the woedes aforesayd Argument Why the words of Christ of his body must be taken Spiritually Argument Reasons mouing M. Grene to take the wordes Spiritually not literally The last exâ—aminatioÌ„ of M. Grene. A draught of Mayster Grenes confession gathered by the Bishops Register Ex Regist. Transubstantiatioâ— denyed M. Grene refusing to heare massâ— Sacrifice of the Masse not maintaynable by Gods word M. Grene agaynst the Sacrament of the Altar Auricular confession refused M. Grene 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 â—rought 〈◊〉 the CoÌ„sistory â— Articles 〈…〉 M. Grene. M. Grene 〈…〉 Doctors 〈◊〉 with â—ifferent â—â—â—gement 〈◊〉 more agaynst the Papistes 〈◊〉 with them Chrisost. Ad popul Aâ—tioch * 〈…〉 vp 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 behind him but Christ aâ—cending 〈◊〉 â—ooke 〈◊〉 and also 〈…〉 him Chrisost. in 1. Cor. 10. 〈◊〉 not the 〈◊〉 which we 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Lordes body M. Grene 〈◊〉 a ranke Papist 〈◊〉 report of Peter Martyr Peter Martyr first 〈◊〉 froÌ„ Popery to the truth iâ— prayer and reading 〈◊〉 Doctors One holy Catholicke church True markes of the Church Disagreement noted amongest piofessors of the Gospell by Fecknam The Gospellers in words seeme to discent but in effect do agreeâ— with the worâ— Boner forbiddeth M. Grene to be called Maister Note the blind ignorance of Pendleton as though the kingdome of Christ was not gotten at the death of Christ. This Bishop belyke was the Bishop of Winchester In the old time excommunicatioÌ„ was the greatest penalty in matters of fayth and conscience Sentence geuen agaynst M. Grene. The wordes of M. Grene to his friendes by the way going to Newgate Verses of M. Grene written in his friendes booke The singular modesty and humble nature of M. Grene. The 〈◊〉 nature of M. Grene. A letter of M. Bartlet Grene to certayne of his louing friendes in the Temple What true frendship is True frendship is not measured by distance of place or of personâ— Loue onely coupleth together All other thinges fayle loue onely indureth for euer Loue vnfained neuer endeth The sute of M. Grene for the sauing of certayne poorâ— prisoners in Newgate An other letter of 〈…〉 to Miâ—tres Elizabeth Clarke 1. Tim. 5. â— Cor. 5. 1. Tim. 5. Psalm 3◠〈◊〉 2. Iudith 8. Ephesian 6. 1. Tim. 5. 1. Reg. 2. 1. Reg. 15. 1. Reg 8. â— Reg. 13. â— Reg. 1. â— Maâ—h 7. 1. Tim. 5. The office 〈◊〉 exercise of christen widowes 〈◊〉 the primâ—tiue Church * S. Ambrose tooke from the church gaue to the poore we take from the poore their tithes and improperations giue them to Churches and ministers where is nothing but singing and idlenes An other certayne writing of M. Bartlet Grene. A commendatioÌ„ of Lawyers Ex Regist. Tho. Browne Martyr Ianuary 27. Tho. Browne presented by the Constable of S. Brides Browne kneeleth among the trees at the Masse tyme. B. Boners words to Tho. Browne B. Boner charged to be a bloudsucker The aunswere of Thomas Browne to Bishop Boner Sentence read against Thomas Browne Iohn Tudson Martyr Ianuary 27. Of these articles read before pag. 215. The constant persisting of Iohn Tudson Sentence read against Iohn Tudson Iohn· Went Martyr Ianuary 27. Iohn Went withstandeth the Bishops perswasioÌ„s Iohn Went coÌ„demned Isabel Foster Martyr Ianuary 27. Isabell Foster constaÌ„t in confessing Christes Gospell The wordes of Isabell Foster of her last examination Isabell Foster condemned Ioane Lashford alias Ioane Warne Martyr Ianuary 27. The confession of Ioane Lashford before the Bishop Superfluous and Popish Ceremonyes The worthy constancye of a mayde The wordes of Ioane Lashford at her last examination The Sentence and condemnation of Ioane Lashford Ianuary 27. 〈◊〉 31. 4. Women and one man Martir Iohn Lomas Martyr The aunswere of Iohn Lomas at his examination The Sacrament of the Altar denyed Realty of Christ neyther vnder forme nor tressel Sentence against Iohn Lomas Ianuary 31. Confession auricular refused The Sacrament how to be receaued Penaunce is denyed to be a Sacrament Agnes Snoth condemned and committed to the secular power Anne Albright Martyr Auricular confession The wordes of Anne Albright to the Priestes Anne Albright denyeth the Sacrament of the Altar Condemnation of Anne Albright Ianuary 18. Ioane Sole Martyr Ionuary 31. Condemnation of Ioane Sole Ianuary 18. Ioâ—â—e Catmer martyr Ianuary 31. Persecutoâ—â— March 21. Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury and Martyr Thomas Cranmer a gentleman borne Of this Campeius and discourse of his legacy read before pag. 1049. Stephen Gardiner Doct. Foxe chiefe stirrers of the kinges diuorce D. Stephens D. Foxe D. Cranmer conferring together in the kinges cause D. Cranmers aunswere in the question of the kinges diuorce D. Cranmers deuise well liked of The king troubled about the diuorce D. Cranmers deuise reported
world Exhortation to obedience Exhortation to brotherly loue Exhortation to rich men of this world mouing them to charitable almes Luke 18. 1. Iohn 3. The Archb. declareth the true confession of his fayth without all colour or dissembling The Archb. rereuoketh his former recantation and repenteth the same The Archb. refuseth the Pope as Christes enemy and Antichrist The Archb. stâ—â—deth to his booke written agaynst Winchester 〈…〉 Papists â—â—ceaued The Papists in a great chase agaynst the Archb. Cranmers aunswere to the Papists Cranmer pulled downe froÌ„ the stage Cranmer led to the fire â— Ely 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 to the Archbishop The Archâ—â—â—â—op tyed 〈…〉 stake Cranmer â—â—tteth his 〈◊〉 hand wâ—ich subscribed first 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 The last wordes of Cranmeâ— at 〈◊〉 death The Fryers lying report of Cranmer Archb. Cranmer the middle Martyr of all the Martyrs burnt in Q Maryes tyme. A writâ—ng or letter of the Archb. sent to Queene Mary The king and Queene make themselues no better then subiectes complayning of their owne subiect vnto the Pope The first cause why the Archb. would not make aunswere to the Popes delegate is to auoyd periury The second cause is that the Popes lawes are contrary to the Crowne and lawes of England The othe of the King Iustices and the duety of Subiectes Dist. 10. Constitutiones Extran De Sentâ—â—ti et reindit Nouerit The Popes lawes and the lawes of England do vary how and whereiâ— Cases wherin the popes lawes repugne agaynst our lawes Prouision agaynst the popes lawes by Premunire The prouiso of the Pope agaynst our Premunire Marke this well * The Clergyes duety in the Parlament The Clergy of England more addicted to the Pope then to their true alleageance to their Countrey The Pope commaundeth both agaynst God naturall reason The SacrameÌ„t ought to be receaued in both kindes of all Christians Ex Theophilo Alexandrino The excuse of the Papistes why they take away the cup. Misorder in the Pope in assoyling the disobedieÌ„ce of Subiects toward their Princes Note the saying of Gregory The deuill and the Pope are lyke Emperours and kinges made the Popes footmen The Pope is Antichrist that is Christes enemy True markes proâ—iâ—g that the Pope is Antichrist Note this conclusion The cause why the Archb. spake and wrote thus Math. 10. The Sacrament A double error of 〈◊〉 Papistâ—s in the 〈◊〉 of the sacrâ—meÌ„t Cranmer 〈◊〉 to the iuâ—ged by the old Church The Papistes not able to bring forth one olde author aboue a thousand yeares to make with the Sacrament With the substance the vse also changed of the Sacrament The Papists make Christ 2. bodyes Neyther truth nor comfort in the Popes doctrine of the Sacrament Marke the errours of the Papists in their doctrine of the Sacrament The Protestantes doctrine of the Sacrament more comfortable then the doctrine of the Papistes An other respecte why the Archb. refused B. Brookes to be his iudge Double periury in B. Brookes A peece of an other letter to the Queene Contradiction in the Queenes othes sworne both to the Realme to the Pope in one day This Constantinus was Stephen Gardiner as constant in deede as a Wethercocke who thus named himselfe writing agaynst this good Archbish. An other letter of the Archb. to Mistres Wilkinson Math 3. Iohn 4. Math. 5. 2. Cor. 12. A letter written to D. Cranmer his felloweâ— by D. Taylour Many professe God ad ignem exclusiue that is in wordes outward profession but few sticke to him ad ignem inclusiuè that is in deede and in suffering for his sake Agnes Potten Ioane Trunchfield Martyrs The opinions of these two Matrons and Martyrs The streÌ„gth of God in weake vessels The burning of Agnes Potten reuealed to her before in her sleepe â—he story 〈◊〉 Iohn Maundrell Mâ—â—ndrell â—â—â—rted 〈◊〉 Tinâ—â—â—l Testament Mâ—â—ndrell 〈…〉 and â—â—arer of Gods word Maâ—ndrell 〈◊〉 for speaking agaynst holy bread and holy water Maundrell 〈◊〉 to open 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Henryes â—â—yes Maundrell 〈◊〉 and Coberley 〈…〉 Maundrell Spicer Coberly seÌ„t to Salisbury D. Capon B. of Salisbury Confession of their beliefe Sacrament of the Aultar Agaynst the Popes supremacye Christ onely Supreame head of his Church vnder him euery Prince in his own dominion Purgatory Images Sentence read agaynst these 3. Martyrs March 23. Maundrell Spicer Coberly brought to the place of Martyrdome The wordes of Maundrell Alice Coberley being indurance how she was brought by the keepers to reuoke Aprill 14. 6. Martyrs burnt in Smithfield at one stake These Martyrs were sent vp by the Lord Rich by M. Tyrrell and others A supplication to the Lord Chauncellour Names subscribed to the supplication Richard Spurge examined The Parson of Bocking accuser For not coÌ„ming to the Popish Church Thomâ—â— Spurge â—â—â—â—mined Not coâ—ming 〈◊〉 Church why Sacramâ—â—â— of the 〈◊〉 George Ambrose examined Iohn Caâ—â—ll examined The causâ—â— why Iohn Cauell came not to Church The Parson of Bocking false and contrary to his owne doctrine Robert Drakes Parson of Thundersley examined Drakes placed in the benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich. The first occasion of taking W. Tyme M. Tyrrell offended with Sermons preached in his woodes 〈◊〉 Gye 〈◊〉 Tyrrell◠〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 man Talke betweene the Bishop of Winchester and W. Tyms These 5. Martyrs were R. Drakes Tho. Spurge Richard Spurge Cauell Ambrose Their examinations before the B. of London Sacrament of the Aultar March 2â— Drakes and W. Tyms with the rest agayne exmined March 2â— B. Boners wordes to W. Tyms Math. 18. 1. Tym. 5. The aunswere of W. Tyms to B. Boner B. Boners wordes One of the prisoners aunswereth to B. Boner W. Tyms agayne aunswereth B. Boner charged with periury and inconstancye Boners preface to Winchesters booke De obedientia B. Boner excuseth himselfe by feare Tyms agayne replyeth to the Bishop An hunters parable against W. Tyms wisely applyed The answere 〈◊〉 Tym◠〈…〉 B. Boners reason Robert Drakes answereth Boner replyeth Tyms â—â—swereâ—â— to Boner Boner denying the principleâ— of diuinitye Esay 59. B. Boner calleth for more helpâ— D. Pendleton studieth for talke Articles aunswered by William Tyms His baptisme by his godfathers Onely â— Sacraments The true visible Church Winchesters booke De obedientia The Masse blasphemous Sacrament of the Altar an Idoll The Popes Church The Sea of 〈◊〉 the Sea of 〈◊〉 Sentence 〈◊〉 against W. Tyms The aunâ—were of R. Draâ—â—â— Sentence geuen against 〈◊〉 The aunswâ—re of T. Spurge Sentence 〈◊〉 agaynâ—t Tho. Spurge R. Spurge 〈◊〉 Ambrose A letter of W. Tyms to Agnes Gâ—ascocke An other letter of Will Tyms to Mistres Glascocke An other letter of W. Tyms to certayne godly women of his Parish Anno 1556. March An other letter of Will Tyms to his friendes in Hocley An other letter of W. Tyms to the faythfull brethren in his parish A letter of W. Tyms to his sisters in the Lord Colfoxe Glascocke 1. Pet. 5. 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 1â— Stephen for the same Gospell put to death
sixt examinatioÌ„ of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester diuers other in the Church of S. Mary Queryes Richard Woodman agayne refuseth Winchester to be his iudge Truth taken for heresie M. Roper Commissioner and witnes agaynst Woodman Woodmans hand writing brought in agaynst him Woodman first released and yet called to accompt agayne agaynst all good order Sacrament of the Aultar Woodman made an Anabaptist because he will not sweare before him that is not his Ordinary All truth is heresie with these men Woodmans confession of the Sacrament Mistically 1. Cor. 1. What is Mistically Woodman agayne appealeth to his Ordinaâ—â—â—lye M. Christopherson B. of Chichester his Ordinaâ—â— not yet consecrated Woodman for hiâ— feruent speach rebuked This fatte Priest well seene in the Scriptures Ephes 1. Iesus Christ onely Sauiour of 〈◊〉 soule and not man Good woâ—â—eâ— not disallowed Phil. 2. The Archdeacon of Canterbury made Ordinary by the Cardinall to examine Richard Woodman Richard â—oodman â—â—alengeth 〈◊〉 Iudges 〈◊〉 â—e all 〈◊〉 coates 〈◊〉 chaungeâ—â—â—ges The free speach of Woodman 〈◊〉 the Byshops and Priestes Winchester about to read the Sentence Read in the first examination of Woodman pag. in the 2. edition 2176. No man can receiue the body of Christ vnworthely 1. Cor. 11. The place of S. Paule 1. Cor. 11. expounded What it meaneth to make no difference of the Lordes body Winchester readeth sentence against WoodmaÌ„ and cannot tell wherefore Richard Woodman condemned caryed to the Marshalsey being not suffered to speake Phil. 2. Math. 24. Math. 5. God asketh more theÌ„ the hart onely Iames. 2. Phil. 2 Math. 5. Rom. 10. Confessing with the mouth and beleeuing in hart must goe together Anno 1557. August Apoc. 1. Math. 18. Apoc. 13. Sclaunderers of the Gospell Luke 12. Math. 3. Math. 25. Luke 13. Luke 14. Math. 25. Math. 10. Math. 5. Richard Woodman vâ—xed of his own friends Iohn 10. 1. Iohn 4. The manifold troubles which Woodman hath passed through Woodmaâ— comforteâ—â— in his troâ—â—bles Luke 21. Math. 10. Experiencâ— of the Lorâ— to keepe promise with his people 1. Cor. 13. Certayne Iustices charged for burning of Christes people without any lawfull warrant oâ— writte Anno 1557. Iune Ambrose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 articles 〈…〉 this to the story of Iohn Hâ—â—lier â—artyr pag 〈…〉 â—â—ory of Iohn Hulâ—â—â—â— with 〈…〉 Iohn Hulâ—â—â—â— first 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 Colledge 〈…〉 Linne 〈…〉 Hâ—llier disgraded Brasey Mayor of Cambridge Brisley Sergeant persecutor Hulliars stedfast trust in God Hullier preparing himselfe to the stake Three notorious Papistes in Trinitye Colledge Boyes Proctour of Cambridge The Martyrdome of Iohn Hullier Bookes burned with Hullier The last wordes of Iohn Hullier at his death Papists of Cambridge forbid the people to pray for Hullier Referre this to Thomas Rede Martyr pag. 1807. Anno 1557. August Iuly 13. Simon Miller a Marchant Martyr The wordes of Simon Miller to the people The cause why Simon Miller was taken Simon Miller examined before Doctour Dunning Simon Millers confession espyed in his shoe Simon Miller dismissed to his house at Linne Simon Miller returneth agayn to his confession is condemned Elizabeth Cooper Martyr Elizabeth Cooper reuoketh her recantation in the open Church The Shrieffe agaynst his will enforced to lay handes vpon Elizabeth Cooper Elizabeth Cooâ—â—â— strengthned 〈◊〉 the stake by Simon Miller August 2. The Martyrdome of 10. godly Martyrs 5. men and 5. women at Colchester W. Mount Alice his wyfe Rose Allin her daughter Thomas Tye Priest a wicked Promoter A supplication of the persecutors to the L. Darcy Cruell persecutors Thomas Tye a false brother a bloudy persecutor Tyeâ— letter 〈◊〉 Biâ—hop Boner W. Simuell Iohn Baker W. Harries persecutors The taking of W. Munt his wyfe and Rose Allin their daughter Talke betweene Edmund Tyrrell and Rose Allin Tyrrell burneth Rose Allins hand The patience of the faythfull The deuill payeth the persecutors their wages Shee reuengeth not euill for euill Helene Ewring apprehendâ—â— the second tyme. Robert Maynard a great enemy to the Gospell William Bongeor Thomas Benolde W. Purcas condemned Agnes Siluerside condemned Helene Ewring condemned Elizabeth Folkes condemned A substanciall lye A reall lye D. Chadsey wept Elizabeth Folkes prayseth God at her owne condemnation Elizabeth Folkes prayeth for 〈…〉 Sleeping Maynard Elizabeth 〈◊〉 might haue eâ—caped and â—ould not W. Munt condemned â—â—hn Iohnâ—on condemâ—â—d Alice Munt â—ondemned Rose Allen. 〈◊〉 Allins answeres Rose Allin condemned W. Munt Alice his wyfe Rose Allin their daughter Iohn Iohnson burnt the same day at afternoone The age of these Tenne made the summe of 406. Iohn Thurston a confessor of Christ. August â— George Eagles Martyred The paynefull trauell of George Eagles Quo non mortalia pectora cogis auri sacâ—a fames Virg. Aeneid 1. George Eaâ—gles inditâ—ment Richard Potto Inâ—older at 〈◊〉 Cocke 〈◊〉 Chelmsâ—â—rd 〈◊〉 iust punishment 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 persecuâ—â—â— W Swallowes wyfe punished with the falling sicknes Gods iudgemeÌ„t vpon Richard Potto an other persecutor of George Eagles August 5. The examinatioÌ„ of Rich. Crashfield before DuÌ„ning Chauncellor of Norwich Sacrament of the Aultar An other examination of Richard Crashfield Worshiping of Images Confessiion to the Priest Playing on the Organes Pâ—ay 56. Luke 19. An other examination of Richard Crashfield The Popes Church taketh Christes office out of his hand Note here the ignorance of these Catholicke men in the Scriptures An other examinatioÌ„ of Richard Crashfield 1. Cor. 10. Vnbloudy Sacrifice of the Masse The Martyrdome of Richard Crashfield Anno. 1557. August 5. August 20. One Frâ—ar the sister of George Eagles â—urned at Rochester The story of Mistres Ioâ—ce â—ewes Martyr Mistres Lewes instructed by M. Iohn Glouer Mistres Lewes impâ—isoned Mistres Lewes a yeare in prison after her condeÌ„nation Anno 1557. September Mistres Lewes refuseth to be confessed of the Priestes Temptations of Mistres Lewes before her death and Martyrdome Ioyce Lewes comforted in he temptations Ioyce Lewes brought to the place of Martyrdome Her prayers Women put to pennaunce for pledging Ioyce â—ewes The Martyrdome of Mistres Ioyce Lewes September 17. The story of Rafe Allerton Rafe AllertoÌ„ attached Thomas Tâ—e Priest 〈…〉 Tâ—e examination of 〈◊〉 Allerton He meaneth belyke Bâ—neâ— and his fâ—lloâ—es 4. Esdr. 16. Three sortes of religion in England The place of Esdraâ— explaned Anno 1556. September Allâ—â—ton charged with his oâ—ne hand writing Syr Thomas Tye lately turned to his â—omeâ— thirsteth for bloud Allerton apprehended contrary to the lawes of the realme Allerton charged with Relaps Allerton brought agayne before Boner certaynâ— Lordes Transubstantiation Bishop Boners parable 〈◊〉 5. 〈…〉 Rafe Allerton Persecutours Information geuen agaynst Rafe Allerton by Syr Thomas Tye Priest a wicked 〈◊〉 4. Esdr. 16. A letter of Rafe Allerton Psal 37. Esay 59. A letter of Rafe Allerton Post scriptum Anno 1557. 〈◊〉 Examination of Iames Austoo Margery his wyfe Anno 1556. September Margery Austoo terrified in prison Examination of Richard Roth. A letter of Richard Roth.
of Richard White Condemnation of Iohn Hunt Richard White The Christen zeale of M. Clifford Example of Christian pietye in a Shrieffe to be noted A note to be obserued concerning the Papists dealinges The Papistes charged with manifest dissimumulation Burning without a sufficient Writtâ— Rich. White now Vicar of Malbrough in Wilshire M. Miâ—hell vnder Sheriffe bâ—â—neth the writte Gods 〈◊〉 kinges 〈…〉 the death 〈◊〉 D. Geffrey Chauncellour of Salisbury The story of Iohn Fetty and Martyrdome oâ— his childâ— Gods dreadfull hand vpon a wife seeking the destruction of her husband The wyfe persecuting her husband Iohn Fetty agayne apprehended The strayte handling of Iohn Fetty by Syr Iohn Mordant Richard Smith dead in prison through cruell handling The cruell handling and scourgâ—â—â— of Iohn Fettyes childe The miserable tyrranny of the Papists in scourging a 〈◊〉 The childe all bloudy brought to his father in prison Cluny caryeth the 〈◊〉 agayne to the Byshops houâ—e The wordes betweene Boner and Iohn Fetty Boners Crucifixe B. Boner compared to Cayphas B. Boner for feare of the law in murdering a childe deliuered the father out of prison The Martyrdome of a childe scourged to death in Boners house The story of Nicholas Burton Martyr in Spayne Nicholas BurtoÌ„ Londoner Nich. Burton layd in prison they hauing no cause to charge him with Nich. Burton caryed to Ciuilâ— Nich. Burton brought to iudgement after a disguised maner The trouble of Iohn FrontoÌ„ Citizen of Bristow in Spaine Note the rauening extortion of these Inquisitours The vyle procedingâ—â— of the Inquisitors of Spayne Iohn Fronton imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisitors for asking his owne goodes Anno 1558. Iâ—hn Fronton iudged 〈◊〉 an heretike for not reding to Aue Maria 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 Scripâ—â—re hath 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Maâ—chaunt 〈…〉 of his goodes An other â—â—â—lishe 〈◊〉 burnt 〈◊〉 Spayne 〈◊〉 afore 〈◊〉 907. 〈◊〉 Baker 〈◊〉 â—urgate 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 Marke Burges burnt in Lushborne The scourging of Richard Wilmot and Tho. Fayrefaxe D. Cromeâ— Sermon D Cromes recantation D. Crome caused to recant the second tyme. Richard Wilmot Prentise in Bow lane Lewes one of the Garde a Welchman a Popishe persecutour Wilmot defendeth D. Cromeâ— Sermon The Lord Cromwell wrongfully accused The doinges of the Lord Cromwell defended The common reason of the Papistes why the Scriptures sâ—ould not be in Englishe Gods truth goeth not alwayes by tytle fame of great learning Learned men how farre they are to be credited Wilmot complayned of to his Mayster M. Daubnies seruaunt called Thomas Fayrefaxe taketh Wilmots part Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe sent for to the Lord Mayor Rich. Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe examined before the Lord Mayor and M. Cholmley S. Paules doctrine made heresie with the Papistes Wilmot Fayrefaxe committed to prison Sute made bâ— the company of Drapers for Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe M. Brooke Maâ—ster of tâ—e compaâ—â— of Drapers â—â—ch Wilâ—â—t and â—â—â—mas â—â—â—refaxe â—â—â—urged in Drapers 〈◊〉 The scourâ—â—â—â— of â—â—â—mas Grâ—ene The Master promoteth the serâ—â—â—nt Thomas Greene put in the stockes Thomas Greene examined before Doctour Story D. Story scoffeâ—â— at Christes seruauntes An other examination of Tho. Greene before D. Story Mistres Story sheweth her charitable hart Greene agayne examined before Doctour Story Greene xamined of his belief D. Stories blasphemous scoffing in matterâ— of our fayth The Masse Greene sent agayne to the Colehouse The strayte handling of Greene in prison Talke betweene Thomas Greene and B. Boner Two prisoners brought to B. Boners Salthouse Cruelty shewed vpon prisoners for singing Psalmes Thomas Greene brought before D. Storye and the Commissioners This woman was one Youngs wyfe Thomas Greene examined before M. Hussey Dixon in Bâ—â—chin Lane Iohn Beanâ— Prentise with M. Tottle Thomas Greene adiudged to be whipped Thomas Greene brought to the Gray Fryers Thomas Greene agayne appeareth before D. Story and two gentlemâ—n The scourging of Tho. Greene before Doct. Story 〈…〉 his brother Stephen Cotton twise beatâ—n by Byshop Boner Iames Harâ—â—â— scourged â—eade before pag. 1804. Iames Harris repenteth his comming to the Popish Church The cause of Iames Harris â—courging The scourging of Robert Williams B. Boner causeth certayne boyes to be beaten Boners pityfull hart Boners deuoute Orâ—â—ons A poore begger whipt at Salisbury for not receiuing with the Papistes at Easter Actes 5. A treatise of Gods mercy and prouidence in preseruing good men women in the tyme of this persecution The deliuerance of W. Liuing his wyfe and of Iohn Lithall Deane Constable George Hancocke Beadle persecutors Talke betweene Darbyshire and W Liuing Priest Cluny playeth the theefe Note the couetous dealing of these Papistes W. Liuing layd in the Lollardes tower William Liuing deliuered Talke betweene Darbyshire Liuingeâ— wyfe Liuinges wyfe commaunded to the Lollardes Tower Dale a Promotor Marke the hope of the Papistes The Constable of S. Brides surety for Iulian Liuing Liuing and his wyfe deliuered 〈◊〉 the death of Q. Mary Ioh. Lithall brought to examinatioÌ„ by Iohn Auales Lithall brought before D. Darbyshire Chauncellour Talke betweene Lithall and the Chauncellour Iustification â—y fâ—yth 〈◊〉 Lithall denyeth to kneele before the Roode Lithals neighbours make sute for him S. Iames expounded Esay 65. Actes 16. Heb. â—â— Lithall refuseth to 〈◊〉 in â—onde Apoc. 13. Math. 18. His neighbours 〈◊〉 into bonde for him Edward Grew and Appline his vvyfe M. Browne of Suffolke Robert Blomefield persecutor Edward Goulding vnder Shâ—â—â—ffe Syr Thomas Corn 〈◊〉 high Shrieffe M. Browne persecuâ—â—â—â— and taken M. Browne deliuered Example of Gods punishment vpon a parsecutor The first examination of Elâ—zaâ—beth YouÌ„g Elizabeth Young refuseth to go to masse Elizabeth Young denyeth to sweare and 〈◊〉 The 2. examination of Elizabeâ—h YouÌ„g Elizabeth Young for bringing ouer bookes D. Martyn â—â—reatneth her with the racke Elizabeth Young charged for speaking agaynst the Queene Elizabeth YouÌ„g and her husband deliuered by D. Martyn Elyzabeth YouÌ„g commaunded to close prison to haue one day bread an other day water The 3. examination of Elizabeth Young D. Martyn seeketh to know how many gentlemen were fled ouer the Sea Elizabeth YouÌ„g againe threatned with the racke Shee agayne refuseth to sweare to accuse other Elizabeth YouÌ„g commaunded agayne to the Clinke The 4 examination of Elizabeth Young D. Martyn presenteth her to the Commissiners The booke called Antichrist Elizabeth Young a great while in the Clinke Elizabeth Young refuseth to sweare and why Elizabeth Young thought to be no womaÌ„ Sacrament of the Aultar The confession and fayth of Elizabeth Young The Sacrament to be receaued in spirite and fayth Cholmley cannot abyde spirite and fayth Institution of the Sacrament by Christ onely once for all Confession of Cholmleys fayth Elizabeth Young caryed into the stockhouse The 5 examination of Elizabeth Young Elizabeth Young offereth agayne to declare her beliefe Really Corporally Substantially Fayth commeth of God Ergo no vntruth ought to be beleued Christ is fleshe of our fleshe but not in our fleshe Iohn 6. This man dare not
iudgement of God vpon a burning persecutour Gods fearefull hand vpon Castellanus persecutour Legate Du Prat the first beginner of persecution agaynst the faythfull horribly plagued Iohn Ruse comming from accusing the faythfull was terribly stricken with Gods hand The wicked end of Claude de Asses a wicked persecutour Peter Lyset author of the burning chamber plagued The mighty hand of God vpon Iohn Morin a greeuous persecutor Iohn Andrew Booke bynder plagued The terrible vengeance of God vpoÌ„ Iohn de Roma a terrible persecutor Iohn Minerius a cruell persecutour plagued of God The French king by sundry sortes of troubles warned of God Riches and Pride of the Clergy the fountayne of all euills The purenes of the primatiue church how long it continued and whereby The false Donation of Constantine Exhortation to the king to seise vpon the temporalityeâ— of the Clergye The ryches of the Popes Clergye how they ought to bâ— employed The malicious and lying slaunders of the Papists to bring the true Gospellers in hatred with Princes Constantine confirmed in his kingdome the more by receauing the Gospel Examples of England and Germany how Princes lose no honour by the gospell The Popes religion more noysome to the state of Princes then the doctrine of the Lutherans Wholesome remedy shewed agaynst the Popes pryde A blynde shift of the Papistes to stop Princes from calling generall Councels The contrarietyes in the Popes Councells enough for their disproofe Prophesie agaynst the French king The story and end of Henry 2. the French king that would not be warned What commeth to kinges that refuâ—e good counsell Henry â— French king wholy set to persecute the Church oâ— Christ. Gods mighty power agaynst his enemyes Henry 2. the French king forâ— set agaynst the poore Protestantes Henry 2. the French king in his triumph iusteth agaynst Montgommery Montgommery agaynst his will commaunded to iuste agaynst the king Henry 2. the French king stricken and killed in his owne iusting The deuelishe perswasion of the Cardinall of Loraine at the death of the French king Certayne gentlemen executed at Amboyse for standing against the house of Guyse The Lordes punishment vpon the Chauncellour Oliuier for his sentence geuen agaynst certayne gentlemen Protestantes The death of Fraunces 2. french king after he began to withstande the course of the Gospell How the Lord worketh for his Gospell The wordes of king Fraunces at his death The terrible stroke of Gods reuenge vpon Carol. 9. the French king The death of Charles the Emperour An Epitaphe vpon Charles Emperour Henry .2 French king and Fraunces his sonne The sodaine death of President Minard The punishment of God vpon the king of Nauarre after he had reuolted from the Gospell to Popery The Duke of Guyse slâ—ine before Orleance The Constable before Paris The Marshall of S. Andrew before Dreux The story of one Drayner otherwise called Iustice nine holes A malitious practise to intrappe a good man Drayner conuict of falsehood A lamentable history of Iohn Whiteman snowmaker Iohn Whitman coulde not suffer the abhominable Idolatry of the Papists Iohn Whitman apprehended Iohn WhitmaÌ„ brought â—efore the â—udges Sentence geuen agaynst Iohn Whitman The Martyrdome and death of Iohn Whitman Iohn 16. 3. Argumentes agaynst the Papistes Gods worde Bloud of Martyrs Gods punishment The plagues of God set against pretensed antiquitye Henry .2 the French king and king FrauÌ„ces his sonne stricken the one in the eyes the other with an impostume in the eare Stephen Gardiner Queene Mary Constable of Fraunce King of Nauar. Henry Smith D. Shaxton The end of Gardiner Iohn de Roma Twyford Bayliffe of Crowland Suffragan of Douer D. Dunning D. Geffray Berrye Poacher Archbishop Crescentius Cardinall Rockwood Latomus Guarlacus Eckius Thornton Pattyer Longe Bomelius all professours of Popery Esay 50. Page 199. A secrete note of Papisteâ— which haue beene great cryers out of Priestes maryage and themselues after taken in open adultery Comparison betweene the ende of Popishe persecutours the Gospellers The godly ende of the Gospellers to be noted The blessed end of King Edward .6 The patient end of the Duke of Somerset the kings vncle The quiet and ioyfull end of the Martyrs Two speciall notes of the â—iue Church of Christ. Outward affliction peace of conscience 2. Tim. 3. 1. Cor. 1. The wretched end of Papistes geue testimony agaynst their owne doctrine Admonition to persecutours which yet remayne aliue The end and death of Edmund Boner God maketh the persecutors of his people commonly to be their owne persecutours Saul murderer of himselfe Achitophel murderer of himselfe Iudas murderer of himselfe Senacherib murdered of his owne sonnes Herode and Antiochus murdered by lyce Pilate murderer of himselfe Nero murderer of himselfe Dioclesianus and Maximinianus Emperours deposed them selues Maximinus eaten vp with lyce Maxentius and king Pharao both drowned in their owne harnesse Achaz Achab. Iesabell Manasses Ioachim Sedechias punished of God for theâ—r persecutions The murdering mother church with her bloudy children admonished Esay 1. Esay 1. What the lawes of this Realme could say agaynst the persecutours in Queene Maâ—les tyme. The nature of the Church is not to persecute with bloud In that the persecutours of the Church be suffered of the Church to liue it is to their confusion Syr Henry Bonifield forgiuen Nouember 18. Doctor Weston Great benefites and treasures do nothing profit where the vse of them cannot be inioyed Felicitye not in hauing but in vsing Wicked practises of most cruell Tyrantes Cruelty of late dayes farre exceeding al crueltyes committed by the auncyent and famous tyrauntes in tyme past Tyrantes euill gouernours be the plague of God God worketh all thinges to his owne glory Affliction tryeth men whether they be good or euill God plenteously poureth his benefites vpon vs not for our sakes but of his infinite mercy and for his gloryes sake Wonderfull is the mercy of God in deliuering this Realme from the tyranny of the Papistes The Papistes buildings stand so long onely as they be propt vp with rope sword fagot Burgesses vnlawfully disorderly and violently thrust out of the Parliament house in Queene Maryes dayes The third Parliament in Quueene Maryes dayes not orderly and formally called and therefore of none effecte A ioyfull day God preserueth the innocent maketh frustrate the malicious purposes of the wicked An apt similitude Three thinges which preserue the good estate of a Realme or câ—mmon wealth Charges not to be weyed where Gods glory is to be furthered The 1. proposition Two partes of the proposition The first part of the proposition The Argument or probation The Maior proued An other argument oâ— probation An other argument The fourth argument or probation Ambros. Per hos enim impletur confirmatio precis qui respondent Amen The fyfte argument The sixte argument Obiection dissolued The 7. reason The 8. reason The 9. reason The 10. reason The 11. reason or probation The 12. reasâ—n or probation The second part of the
worde because I am not woorthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so doyng but adde sinne to sinne What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell as Christ himself beareth witnesse Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods cōmandements When I am prouoked to pray the enemy may say vnto me I am not worthy to pray therfore I shall not pray so in lyke maner of all the commandements I shall not forbeare swearing stealing murthering because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God These be the delusions of the Deuill and Sathans suggestions which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of euery mans gift agaynst all assaults of the Deuill At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment I was called into a by chamber next to my prison to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers chaplains seruants except it were an old priest I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question He proceded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church which had continued so many yeares As for our church as hee called it it was not knowen he sayd but lately in kyng Edwards tyme. I professe my selfe to be a member of that church said I that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng said I though it beare no glorious shew before the world beyng euer for the most part vnder the Crosse and affliction contemned despised and persecuted My Lord on the other side contended that they were the Church Glouer So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem saying Templum Domini templum Domini The Church the Church c. Bish. And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried hold thy peace I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience to hold thy peace callyng me a proud arrogant heretike Glouer I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions I refused to aunswer him in corners requiryng that I myght make my answer openly He sayd I should aunswer hym there I stood with hym vpon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym Then I lifted vp my hart to God that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word Bish. The first question was this how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church Glo. The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper Bish. No more sayd he Glo. To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce a sure hope trust and confidence in the death of Christ to such ministers I grant that they haue authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word the remission of sinnes Here interruptyng me he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt because that matter was of no great waight or importāce although he in so doing did me wrong for I called it not a Sacrament Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr confession I sayd no. Bish. Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament Glouer I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacrifice nor Sacrament because sayd I you haue takē away the true institution which when you restore agayne I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor Moe examinations he had no doubt with the Byshop in the publike Consistory when he was brought forth to be condemned which also he would haue left vnto vs if either length of lyfe or laysure of tyme or haste of execution had permitted hym to finish that he intended but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do neither yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become Onely this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of hys concernyng the goyng to his death I can report that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord M. Rob. Glouer after he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world it so happened that two or three dayes before his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vpon hym Wherupon he fearing in himself lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred signifieng vnto hym how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne willed and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was yet seing his cause was iust and true he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same to play the man nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he sayd he was right certayne and sure therfore desired hym when so euer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should begin to touch his hart that then he would shew some signification thereof wherby he might witnesse with hym the same and so departed from hym The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome as hee was goyng to the place and was now come to the sight of the stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes that he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen saying in these words Austen he is come he is come c. that with such ioy and alacritie as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly
dignitie honour and estimation so necessary members sometime accounted so many godly vertues the study of so many yeares such excellent learnyng to be put into the fire and consumed in one moment Wel dead they are and the reward of this world they haue already What reward remayneth for them in heauen the day of the Lordes glory when he commeth with his saints shall shortly I trust declare Albeit I haue differred and put ouer many treatises letters exhortations belongyng to the story of the Martyrs vnto the latter appendix in the ende of this volume thinkyng also to haue done the lyke with these farewels exhortations followyng of D. Ridley yet for certain purposes moouing me thereunto and especially consideryng the fruitfull admonitions wholesome doctrine and necessary exhortations conteyned in the same I thought best here to bestow and consequently to adioyne the sayd tractations of that learned pastour with the lyfe and story of the authour Whereof the two first be in a manner of hys farewels the one to his kinsfolks and generally to all the faithfull of the number of Christes congregation the other more speciall to the prisoners and banished ChristiaÌ„s in the gospels cause the third containeth a fruitfull and a generall admonition to the citie of London and to all other with necessary precepts of christian office as by the tenour of them here followeth in order to be seene ¶ A treatise or a letter written by D. Ridley in steade of his last farewell to all hys true and faythfull friendes in God with a sharpe admonition withall vnto the Papistes AT the name of Iesus let euery knee bow both of thynges in heauen and thynges in earth and things vnder the earth and let euery tongue confesse that Iesus Christ is the lord vnto the glory of God the Father Amen As a man mynding to take a farre iourney and to depart from his familiar frendes commonly and naturally hath a desire to bidde his frendes farewell before his departure so lykewise now I looking daylye when I should be cauled to depart hence from you O all ye my dearely beloued brethren sisters in our Sauiour Christ that dwell here in this worlde hauing a lyke mynde towardes you all and blessed be God for such tyme and leasure whereof I right hartely thanke his heauenly goodnesse to byd you all my deare brethren sisters I saye in Christ that dwell vpon the earth after such maner as I can Farewell Farewell my deare brother George Shipside whom I haue euer found faythfull trusty and louyng in all sâ—ate and conditions and now in the tyme of my crosse ouer al other to me most frendly and stedfast and that which lyked me best ouer all other thynges in Gods cause euer hartye Farewell my deare sister Alice his wyfe I am glad to heare of thee that thou doest take Christes crosse which is layd now blessed be God both on thy backe and myne in good part Thanke thou God that hath geuen thee a godly and louyng husband see thou honour hym and obey hym accordyng to Gods law Honour thy mother in law hys mother and loue all those that pertaine vnto him beyng redy to do them good as it shall lye in thy power As for thy children I doubt not of thy husband but that hee which hath geuen him an hart to loue and feare God and in God them that pertaine vnto him shall also make hym friendly and beneficiall vnto thy children euen as if they had bene gotten of his owne body Farewell my welbeloued brother Iohn Ridley of the Waltoun and you my gentle and louing sister Elizabeth whom besides the naturall league of amitie your tender loue which you were sayde euer to beare towardes mee aboue the rest of your brethren doth bynde mee to loue My mynde was to haue acknowledged this your louyng affection and to haue acquited it with deedes and not with wordes alone Your daughter Elizabeth I bid farewell whome I loue for the meeke and gentle spirite that God hath geuen her which is a precious thyng in the sight of God Farewell my beloued sister of Unthanke with al your children nephewes and neeces Since the departing of my brother Hugh my mynd was to haue bene vnto them in stead of their father but the Lord God must and wyll bee their father if they will loue hym and feare hym and lyue in the trade of hys law Farewel my welbeloued and worshipful Cosins M. Nich. Ridley of Willimountswike and your wyfe and I thanke you for all your kindnes shewed both to me and also to all your owne kinsfolke and myne Good Cosine as God hath set you in our stocke and kindered not for any respect of your person but of hys aboundaunt grace and goodnesse to be as it were the belweather to order conduct the rest and hath also endued you with hys manifold gyfts of grace both heauenly and worldly aboue others so I pray you good Cosin as my trust and hope is in you continue and encrease in the maintenaunce of the truth honesty righteousnesse and all true godlinesse and to the vttermost of your power to withstand falshoode vntruth vnrighteousnesse and all vngodlinesses whiche is forbidden and condemned by the worde and Lawes of God Farewell my young Cosin Rafe Whitfield Oh your tyme was very short with mee My mynde was to haue done you good and yet you caught in that litle time a losse but I trust it shall bee recompensed as it shall please almighty God Farewel all my whole kinred and countreymen farewell in Christ altogether The Lord which is the searcher of secrets knoweth that according to my harts desire my hope was of late that I should haue come among you to haue brought with me aboundance of Christes blessed Gospell according to the duetie of that office and ministerie whereunto among you I was chosen named and appointed by the mouth of that our late peerelesse Prince K. Edward and so also denounced openly in his Court by his priuy Counsaile I warne you all my welbeloued kinsfolke countrymen that ye be not amased or astonied at the kynde of my departure or dissolution for I ensure you I thinke it the most honour that euer I was called vnto in all my lyfe and therefore I thanke my Lord God hartily for it that it hath pleased him to call me of his great mercy vnto this high honour to suffer death willingly for his sake and in hys cause vnto the which honour he hath called the holy Prophetes and dearely beloued Apostles and his blessed chosen Martyrs For know ye that I doubt no more but that the causes wherefore I am put to death are Gods causes and the causes of the truth then I doubt that the Gospell which Iohn wrote is the Gospell of Christ or that Paules Epistles are the very word of God And to haue a hart willyng to abide and stand in
Gods cause and in Christes quarell euen vnto death I ensure thee O maÌ„ it is an inestimable and an honourable gift of God geuen onely to the true elects and derely beloued childreÌ„ of God and inheritours of the kingdome of heauen For the holy Apostle and also Martyr in Christes cause S. Peter saith If ye suffer rebuke in the name of Christ that is in Christes cause and for hys truths sake then are ye happy and blessed for the glory of the spirit of God resteth vpon you If for rebukes sake suffred in Christes name a maÌ„ is pronounced by the mouth of that holy Apostle blessed happy How much more happy blessed is hee that hath the grace to suffer death also Wherefore all ye that bee my true louers and friends reioyce and reioyce with mee againe render with me hartie thanks to God our heaueÌ„ly father that for his sonnes sake my sauiour redeemer Christ he hath vouchsafed to call me beyng els without his gracious goodnes in my selfe but a sinnefull a vyle wretch to call me I say vnto this high dignitie of hys true Prophets of his faithfull Apostles of his holy elect chosen Martyrs that is to dye and to spend this temporall lyfe in the defence maintenance of his eternal and euerlasting truth Ye know that be my Countreymen dwelling vppon the borders where alas the true man suffereth oftentymes muche wrong at the thieues hande iâ— it chaunce a man to be slayne of a thiefe as it oft chanceth there which went out with his neighbour to helpe him to rescue hys goods agayne that the more cruelly he bee slayne and the more stedfastly he stucke by his neighbour in the fight agaynst the face of the thiefe the more fauour and frendship shall all his posteritie haue for the slayne mans sake of all them that be true as long as the memory of his fact and his posteritie doth endure Euen so ye that be my kinsefolke and countreymen know ye how so euer the blynd ignorant wicked world hereafter shall rayse vppon my death which thyng they caÌ„not do worse then their fathers did of the death of Christ our Sauiour of his holye Prophets Apostles Martyrs know ye I say that both before God all them that be godly and that truly knâ—w follow the lawes of God ye haue and shall haue by gods grace euer cause to reioyce to thanke God highly and to thinke good of it and in God to reioyce of me your fleshe bloud whom God of his gracious goodnes hath vouchsafed to associate vnto the blessed coÌ„pany of his holy Martyrs in heauen and I doubt not in the infinite goodnes of my Lord God nor in the faithful fellowship of his elect chosen people but at both their hands in my cause ye shall rather finde the more fauour and grace For the Lord saieth that he will be both to them and theyrs that loue him the more louyng agayne in a thousand generations the Lord is so full of mercy to them I say and theirs which doe loue hym in deed And Christ saith againe that no maÌ„ can shew more loue then to geue his lyfe for his friend Now also knowe ye all my true louers in God my kinsfolke and Countreymen that the cause wherefore I am put to death is euen after the same sort and condition but touching more neere Gods cause in more waightie matters but in the general kynd all one For both is gods cause both is in the maintenance of right and both for the common wealth both for the weale also of the ChristiaÌ„ brother although yet there is in these two no small difference both concernyng the enimies the goods stolne the maner of the fight For know ye all that lyke as there wheÌ„ the poore true maÌ„ is robbed by the thiefe of his own goods truly gotten whereupon he and his househould should lyue he is greatly wronged the thiefe in stealing robbyng with violence the poore maÌ„s goods doth offend god doth transgres his law and is iniurious both to the poore man and to the common welth so I say know ye all that euen here in the cause of my death it is with the Church of England I meane the congregation of the true chosen children of GOD in this Realme of England whiche I knowledge not only to be my neighbours but rather the congregation of my spirituall brethren sisters in Christ yea members of one body wherein by Gods grace I am and haue bene grafted in Christ. This Church of England had of late of the infinite goodnesse and aboundaunt grace of almighty God great substaunce great riches of heauenly treasure great plenty of Gods true and sincere worde the true and wholesome administration of Christes holy Sacramentes the whole profession of Christes Religion truely and plainely set foorth in Baptisme the playne declaration vnderstandyng of the same taught in the holye Catechisme to haue bene learned of all true Christians This Church had also a true and sincere forme maner of the Lordes Supper wherein accordyng to Iesus Christes owne ordinaunce and holy institution Christes commaundementes were executed and done For vpon the bread and wyne set vppon the Lordes Table thankes were geuen the commemoration of the Lords death was had the bread in the remembrance of Christes body torne vpon the crosse was broken and the cuppe in the remembraunce of Christes bloud shed was distributed and both communicated vnto all that were present and would receyue them and also they were exhorted of the Minister so to doe All was done openly in the vulgar tong so that euery thyng might be both easily heard plainly vnderstand of all the people to Gods high glorye and the edification of the whole Church This Church had of late the whole diuine seruice all common and publike prayers ordeined to be said and heard in the common congregation not onely framed and fashioned to the true vayne of holy scripture but also set foorth accordyng to the commaundement of the Lord and S. Paules doctrine for the peoples edification in their vulgare tong It had also holy and wholesome Homelies in commendation of the principall vertues which are commended in Scripture and likewyse other Homelies agaynst the most pernicious and capitall vices that vseth alas to raigne in this Realme of England This Church had in matters of controuersie Articles so penned and framed alter the holy Scripture and grounded vpon the true vnderstandyng of Gods word that in short tyme if they had bene vniuersally receiued they should haue bene able to haue set in Christes Church much concorde and vnitie in Christes true religion and to haue expelled many false errors and heresies wherewith this Church alas was almost ouergone But alas of late into this spirituall possession of the heaueÌ„ly treasure of these godly riches are entred in theues that
Thornton Well doe yee not beleeue that hee is there really New No I beleue it not Thornton Well will ye stand to it New I must needes stande to it till I bee perswaded to a further truth Thornton Nay yee will not bee perswaded but stande to your owne opinion New Nay I stand not to mine owne opinion GOD I take to witnesse but onely to the scriptures of God and that can all those that stand here witnes with me and nothing but the scriptures and I take God to witnes that I do nothing of presumption but that that I do is onely my conscience and if there be a further trueth then I see excepte it appeare a trueth to me I cannot receiue it as a truth And seeing fayth is the gifte of God and commeth not of man for it is not you that can geue me fayth nor no man els therfore I trust ye will beare the more with me seing it must be wrought by God and when it shall please God to open a further truth to me I shall receiue it with all my hart and embrace it Thornton had many other questions which I did not beare away but as I doe vnderstand these are the chiefest as for tauntes foolish and vnlearned hee lacked none Prayse GOD for his giftes and GOD increase in vs strength * The argument of Iohn Newman If the body of Christ were really and bodily in the sacrament then who soeuer receiued the sacrament receiued also the body The wicked receiuing the sacrament receiue not the body of Christ. Ergo the bodye of Christe is not really in the Sacrament * Argument Ca They which eate the fleshe and drinke the bloude of Christ dwell in him and he in them mes The wicked dwell not in Christ nor he in them tres Ergo The wicked eate not the fleshe nor drinke the bloud of Christ. * Argument Ca They that haue Christ dwelling in them bring foorth much fruite Iohn 15. Hee that dwelleth in me and I in him bringeth forth much fruite c. mes The wicked bringeth forth no fruit of goodnes tres Ergo they haue not Christes body dwelling in them ¶ Argument Da Where remembrrunce is of a thing there is imported the absence thereof ti Remembraunce of Christes body is in the sacrament Do this in remembraunce of me c. si Ergo Christes body there is imported to be absent Mary they will say we see him not with our outward eyes but he is commended vnder the fourme of breade wine and that that we see is nothing but a quallitie or an accidence But let them shew me a quallitie or an accidence without a substaunce and I will beleue them And thus much concerning Newmans examinations and argumentes whose Martyrdome is before expressed ¶ The Martirdome of Ioane Wast a blynde woman in the Towne of Darbye THe first day of August in the yeare aboue specified suffered likewise at the Towne of Darby a certaine poore honest godly woman being blinde from her birth and vnmaryed about the age of xxii named Ioane Wast of the Parish of Alhallowes Of them that sate vpon this innocent womans bloude the chiefest was Raâ—e Bayne Bishop of the Dyoces Doctour Draycot hys Chauncellour sir Iohn Port Knight Henrye Uernon Esquire Peter Finshe officiall of Darby with the assistaunce also of diuers other Richard Warde and William Bembrige the same time being Bayliffes of the Towne of Darby c. First after the aboue named Byshoppe and Doct. Draycot had caused the sayd Ioane Waste to be apprehended in the Towne of Darby suspecting her to bee guilty of certayne heresies she was diuers times priuily examined as well in prison as out of Prison by Finsh the Officiall aforesayd After that brought to publicke examination before the Bishop at last was there burnt in Darby as is aboue sayd Touching whose life bringing vp conuersatioÌ„ somewhat more amply we mynd to discourse as by faythfull relation hath come to my handes First this Ioane Wast was the daughter of one William Wast an honest poore man and by hys science a Barber who some time also vsed to make Ropes His wife had the same Ioane and one other at one byrth and shee was borne blinde And when shee was about xij or xiiii yeares old she learned to knitte hosen and sleeues and other thinges which in time she could do very well Furthermore as time serued she would help her father to turn ropes and do such other thinges as she was able and in no case would be idle Thus continued she with her father and mother during their liues After whose departure then kept she with one Roger Wast her brother who in the time of king Edw. the 6. of blessed memory gaue her selfe dayly to go to the church to heare Diuine seruice read in the vulgar tongue And thus by hearing Homilies and sermons she became merueilously well affected to the Religion then taught So at length hauing by her labour gotten and saued so much mony as would buy her a newe testameÌ„t she caused one to be prouided for her And though she was of herselfe vnlearned and by reason of her blindnes vnable to read yet for the great desire shee had to vnderstand and haue printed in her memory the sayinges of holy scriptures conteined in the new Testament shee acquaynted her selfe chiefly with one Iohn Hurt then prisoner in the common Hall of Darby for debtes The same Iohn Hurt being a sober graue man of the age of three score and ten yeares by her earnest intreatie and being Prisoner and many times idle and without coÌ„pany did for his exercise dayly read vnto her some one chapter of the new Testament And if at any time he wer otherwise occupied or letted through sickenes she woulde repayre vnto one Iohn Pemerton Clarke of the Parishe Churche of all sayntes in the same towne of Darby or to some other person which could read and sometimes shee would geue a penny or two as shee might spare to suche persons as woulde not freely read vnto her appoyntyng vnto them aforehand how many Chapiters of the newe Testament they should read or how often they should repeate one Chapiter vpon a price Moreouer in the sayde Ioane Wast this was notoryous that she being vtterly blinde could not withstanding without a guide go to any Church within the sayd town of Darby or to any other place or person with whom she had any such exercise By which exercise shee so profited that she was able not onely to recite many Chapiters of the new testament without book but also could aptly impugne by diuers places of scriptures as well sinne as suche abuses in Religion as then were to much in vse in diuers and sondry persons As this godly woman thus dayly increased in the knowledge of Gods holy worde and no lesse in her life expressed the vertuous fruites and exercise of the same Not long after
through the fatall death of blessed K. Edw. followed the woefull ruine of religion in the raygne of Queene Mary his sister In which alteration notwithstanding the general backsliding of the greatest part and multitude of the whole realme into the olde papisme agayne yet this poore blind woman continuing in a constant conscience proceeded still in her former exercise both being zelous in that shee had learned and also refusing to communicate in religion with those which taught contrary doctrine to that she before had learned in king Edwardes time as is aboue declared For the which she was called and conuented before the foresayd Bishop and D. Draycot with diuers other called in to beare witnesse * Articles ministred vnto her THe Articles ministred to her and wherewith she was charged were these First that she did hold the Sacrament of the Aultar to be but onely a memory or representation of Christes bodye and materiall bread and wyne but not his naturall body vnlesse it were receaued And that it ought not to be reserued from time to tyme ouer the Aultar but immediately to be receaued c. Item that she did hold in receiuing of the sacramente of the Aultar she did not receaue the same body that was borne of the virgine Mary and suffered vppon the Crosse for our redemption c. Item she did hold that Christe at his last supper dyd not blesse the bread that he had then in hys handes but was blessed hymselfe and by the vertue of the wordes of consecration the substaunce of the bread and wyne is not conuerted and turned into the substaunce of the body bloud of Christ. Item shee did graunt that shee was of the parishe of Alhallowes in Darby c. Item that all and singular the premisses are true and notorious by publike report and fame c. Whereunto she aunswered that she beleued therein so much as the holye scriptures taught her and according to that she had heard preached vnto her by diuers learned mē Whereof some suffered imprisonment and other some suffered death for the same Doctrine Amongest whome she named beside other Doctour Taylour whome she sayde took it of hys conscience that the doctrine which he taught was true and asked of them if they would doe so in lyke case for their doctrine whiche if they woulde not she desired them for Gods sake not to trouble her being a blynde poore and vnlearned woman wyth anye further talke saying by Gods assistaunce that she was ready to yeld vpp her lyfe in that fayth in suche sorte as they shoulde appoynt And yet notwithstanding being Prest by the sayd byshoppe and Doctor Draycot with many argumentes of Christes omnipotency as why was not Christe able as well to make the bread his bodye as to turne water into wyne rayse Lazarus from death and suche other lyke arguments and many times being threatned with greuous imprisonmentes tormentes death The poore woman thus being as it wer half astonied through their terrors threates and desirous as it seemed to prolong her lyfe offered vnto the Bishop then present that if he would before that company take it vpon his conscience that the doctrine which he would haue her to beleue concerning the sacrament was true and that he would at the dreadful day of iudgement aunswere for her therein as the sayd Doct. Taylor in diuers of his sermons did offer she would thē further aunswere them Whereunto the Bishop aunswered hee woulde But Doctor Draycot his Chauncellour hearyng that sayde My Lord you knowe not what you doe you maye in no case aunswere for an hereticke And immediately hee asked the poore woman whether she would recant or no sayd she should aunswere for her selfe Unto whose sayings the Bishop also reformed himselfe The poore woman perceauing this aunswered again that if they refused to take of theyr conscience that it was true they woulde haue her to beleue shee would answere no further but desired them to do theyr pleasure and so after certayne circumstances they pronounced sentence agaynst her and deliuered her vnto the Bayliffes of the sayd Towne of Darby afore named Who after they hadde kept her about a moneth or fiue weekes at length there came vnto them a writte De heretico comburendo by vertue whereof they were appoynted by the sayd Byshoppe to bryng her to the Paryshe Churche of all Sayntes at a day appoynted where Doct. Draycot should make a Sermon When the daye and time was come that this innocent Martyr shoulde suffer first commeth to the Church Doct. Draycot accompanyed with diuers gentlemen as Mayster Tho. Powthread M. Henry Uernon M. Dethick of Newall and diuers others This done all things now in a readines at last the poore blinde creature and seruant of God was brought and set before the Pulpit where the sayd Doct. being entred into his sermon and there inueiyng agaynst diuers matters which he called heresies declared vnto the people that that woman was condemned for denying the blessed sacrament of the Aulter to be the very body and bloud of Christ really and substancially and was thereby cut off from the body of the Catholick church and sayd that she was not onely blinde of her bodily eyes but also blind in the eyes of her soule And he sayd that as her body shuld be presently consumed with materiall fire so her soule shoulde be burned in hel with euerlasting fire as soone as it should be seperated from the body and there to remayne world without end and sayd it was not lawfull for the people to pray for her and so with many terrible threates he made an end of his sermon and commāded the Bayliffes and those gentlemen to see her executed And the sermon thus ended eftsoones the blessed seruant of God was caried away from the sayd Church to a place called the windmill Pit neare vnto the sayd Towne and holding the foresayd Roger Wast her brother by the hand she prepared herselfe and desired the people to pray wyth her and sayde such prayers as she before had learned cryed vpon Christ to haue mercy vpon her as long as life serued In this meane season the sayde D. Draycot went to hys Inne for great sorrow of her death and there layd him downe and slept during all the tyme of her execution and thus much of Ioane Wast Now for so muche as I am not ignoraunt faythfull reader that this and other storyes more set forth of the Martyrs shall not lack carpers and markers enow ready to seeke all holes and corners how to diffame the memory of GODS good Saynctes and to condemne these hystoryes of lyes and vntruthes especially hystories wherin they see their shamefull actes and vnchristian crueltye detected and brought to lyghte therfore for better confirmation of thys historye aboue written and to stop the mouthes of such Momes thys shall be to admonish all and singular readers hereof that the discourse of this