to the like endes arriued all heretikes traitours in all ages Many notable histories might here also be rehersed to set furth the due rewarde incident to treason but for as muche as mayster Iohn Christoferson deane of Norwith hath moste abundantly treated vpoÌ„ the same in a godly lerned worke whiche he made intitled An exhortacion against rebellion THEY haue also a similitude of godlines but deny the power therof This vice rehesed by saint Paul was to heretiks in al ages a large cloake for euery shower though the storme were neuer so great For a similitude of godlynes is a plaine dissimulation or hypocritical meanes to seme to the worlde to be godly although in dede quite coÌ„trary to the thing pretended This similitude of godlines printed so in the brestes of the protestantes doth merueilously in meruailous waies brust out to the face of the worlde Oh howe they reioyce in these their similitudes Was it not a pretie similitude at the fyrst chop in the begynnyng of the miserable alteration of religion to banishe the Popes authoritie whiche from the beginnyng was the cheife of the Churche here vpon yerth as is sufficiently recorded aswell in the volumes of auncieÌ„t doctours as in al cronicles written from the begynning And for what purpose was this practise begonne Doubtles to introduce heresie the guyde of all mischeif Was it not a pretie similitude of godlines to cause the kyng by the vngracious counsel of Cranmer and others to forsake his lawful and moste vertuous wyfe quene Katherine who for her huÌ„blenes and godly demeanor towardes the Kyng her husbande in â—ye worthely be compared to Sara Abrahams wyfe and the rest of the godly matrones in the olde testament And here beganne fyrst the occasion of all our misery and sorowe the calamitie wherof oure fathers haue partly felte and we their posteritie do feele the rest besechyng God to spare the residue of his plagues whiche this realme hath iustly merited for y â— diuorcement of this noble womaÌ„ from her true and lawfull husbande oure late soueraigne lorde Kyng Henry the eight Who can attribute sufficient prayse to this noble Quene or whoo can poure out sufficient teares to lament her sorowfull fate What duetie whiche ought to be in mariage wanted in her brest What obedience or humblenes of harte towardes her husbande lacked in the good education of â–ª this heuenly woman O what feruent loue towardes the poore commons remayned in her O what earnest affection towardes the poore members of Christe dayly dyd she expresse â—â— Her deuocion towardes God was inspeakeable her zeale towardes â—hâ— virgin â–ª Mary was wonderfull â–ª her continuall meditacions in the bloude and passion of Christe moste apparantly is knowen to the worlde Who to thintent she might geue occasion too others to meditate the like erected a â—uely monument called the Mounte which liuely worke afterwardes pitefully was rased O moste happie woman to happie too raigne amonges vs O moste vertuous quene more worthy to be crowned in heauen then to raigne vpoÌ„ earth Who moste paciently as a woman who had giuen ouer the brunttes of this world and had armed her selfe with pacience coÌ„tinued to th ende in the feare of God in pietie of lyfe in her accustomed deuocion and in her wonted constancie so that no aduersitie of fortune could leade her out of that path wherin she had bene treaded from her infancie And as her life was godly so was her death the circumstance where of Polydorus â–ª Virgilius in the laste booke of his cronicle â–ª describetâ— And to the intent it shall not bee thought y â— these her worthy praises are spokeÌ„ here for flattery or that theâ—be writteÌ„ without hoke the wordes of Polidorus Virgilius hereafter ensue After the deuorcement sayth he this noble woman was appoynted to remayne in a place in Bedfordshiere called Kymbalton a place for the situacion of no salubrite or holsomnes of ayer Where she beyng wonderfully armed with pacience lyued a holy and moste godly life After wardes for very sorrowe pensifnes of harte she began to waxe sicke Which when the king herd he entreated Eustace Cappucius the Emperours Embassadour to go and visite her whose commaundement accordinge too his duetie moste diligently with all expedicion he accomplyshed But this noble Queene within syxe daies after was affected with a great sickenes feling the panges of death begin to drawe nere she caused one of her gentlewomen that was learned to wryte two letters the one to the kyng and thother to the said ambassadour And theffect of this letter sent to the Kinges Ma. ensueth My deare and welbeloued soueraigne and husbande humble commendacioÌ„s togethers with my duetie remembred Nowe approacheth the houre of my death in the which extremitie very loue whiche I owe too youre maiestie enforceth me with these fewe wordes to put you in remembraunce of the helthe of your soule whiche you oughte to preferre before al traÌ„sitorie thinges and in respecte therof to neglecte al other cares of the bodye For the whiche both me your poore wyfe and also your selfe you haue protruded into many cares and miseries But I with harte do forgeue you and as hartely I do wishe God to forgeue thesame as presently with my good and deuout praiers I earnestly make peticion for thesame Moreouer I commende vnto you our dere doughter Marie the comforte of vs both to whome I beseche you too extende your fatherly pitie according to sondry my peticions here to fore made to your maiestie And furthermore mooste instantly I desire your grace to haue a respecte vnto my poore maydens and as time shal serue to see them well bestowed in mariage which request is not great being but .iii. in numbre And that it woulde please you too cause my poore officers and seruauntes to bee paide their wages due and that by the space of one hoale yere after my departure thei maie be founde of your graces liberalitie to thintente thei maie not wander like maisterles men Finally my last request is that mine eies onely wyshe to see your grace And thus I betake you to God In this sorte departed this godly womaÌ„ from the cares of her bodye to the ioyes of her soule the .viii. of Ianuarie 1535. in the .xxvii. yeare of his Maiesties reigne But when the kyng read her letters he moste louingly bedewed the same with the teares of his eyes Thus farre wryteth Polydore of the lamentable state of this noble Quene Katherine who for her vertue exercised in this worlde her loue shewed too all sortes of people was worthely named of theÌ„ the good quene Katherine And so named to this present day Whose name not onely in heauen for her vertuous behauiour deedes of of charitie is enrolled in the voke of lyfe but in earth is registred in the maine liedger of immortalitie So that to remembre the calamites whiche ensued this diuorcement it woulde make an yron harte
that rather then they would forsake their drossie diuinitie whiche they haue gathered by their curiositie they thoughte with fagotes to ende their lyues miserably And in this kynde of death they so arrogātly reioyce that they be so bolde to compare themselfes with the Martyrs of christes church But forasmuche as this is a cause whiche of some men is thought marueilous that men should die in the quarel of religion and therefore the quarell good It shall be worth the traueill to say somwhat therein rather for the ignorance of the vnskilful then for the matter itself As in the bodye of a common welth politike if anye malefactor these or murderer be founde giltie in the cryme or offēce wherin he is accused forthwith the lawe doth prosecute by the verdicte of the .xii. men and sentence of death is pronoūced for his deserte as a man not worthye too lyue being an enemie to y ◠weale publike Euen so in the church of Christe whiche is the spirituall kingdome suche malefactours and miscreantes as do trāsgresse the faith other holsome constitucions enacted first by the prouidence of the holye Ghoste and afterwarde diligently put in execution by the holy Patriarches Bysshops and other gouernors of the same are iustly by the censure of the same cōmitted to the politike magistrates to be punished either by death or els by some other meanes laufull for the same as enemies to God haters of his true religion and cōtemners of all good ordres The Heathen being noseled in their supersticions vaine veneration of their fained goddes yet bare suche reuerence to their religion that in no wyse thei could abide the despisers therof The Atheniens for that Alcibiades a stoute capteine in their warres was supposed to haue neglected the sacrifices of Ceres was in his absence by death cōdempned The iust Socrates lykewyse was condēpned for the like insomuch that Xenophon writing of him marueiled muche therof considering he bare himselfe so vpright If the Heathen had suche a regarde to their fayned religions what woulde they haue doone if they had knowen the true and liuing god our creator And what oughte we christians to doe touching the contemners of our true religion Christe himselfe commaundeth that if any man doth not geue attendance to the churches admonition he willeth him to be taken for an Heathen and publicane Therfore if that man be worthy to be taken for a Publicane or Heathē persone which wyll not here the churche Then the heretike whiche not onely is incorrigible but also a contemptuous persone against God and his churche is worthye the name of an Heathen man according to Christes owne sentence and not worthy to lyue or be conuersant amonges christians If not worthy too lyue then he is worthye death In the olde lawe we reade in Deuteronomie this sentence That man which is proude and will not obey the priestes cōmandement which that time doth minister to thy lorde thy God the iudgement of the iudge let hym die wherin thou shalt take away an euell out of Israell Also in another place it is wrytten The Prophete whiche beyng inflate with arrogance wyll speake those thinges in my name which I haue not commaūded him let him be put to death Forasmuche then as al proude mē cōtemning the churches anthoritie and the priest are by the manifest scriptures worthy to be slayne then it is not contrary to Gods woorde as the brethren affirme to punishe anye man for his opinions S. Paule admonisheth vs yea entreateth vs too take heede of thē which sowe sedicion amōges the people to eschewe their cōpanie for such as they be do not serue their lord Christ but their owne belly seducing the mindes of the innocent with swete talke and faire perswasiōs Suche are our martyrs in these dayes who in their lyfe tyme go aboute nothinge els but to sowe sedicion either conspiracie againste their prince and magistrates or els to peruerte the innocent with their vaine perswasiōs folishe talke I would to God saieth Paule that thei which trouble you wer cutte of from the congregacion The whiche wordes of s Paule semeth to bee an infallible rule touching the punishment of heretikes But our men not regarding the discommodities whiche myght ensue by meanes of their false perswasions crye out with one voyce saying VVhat crueltie is this to put to death the brethren in christ where do we reade in scriptures that christ or his Apostles sought the death of any man Therefore saie they it is mere tyrannie thus to persecute the litle flocke the chosen and elect vessels of God crying by the waie as they passe to deaah Be cōstant dere brethren be constante in the faith sticke to it it is not this temporall paine which you ought to regarde your brekefast is sharpe your supper shal be merye Therefore the lorde strengthen you With these suche like vayne woordes they brynge the poore men in suche foles paradise that thei with suche vaine arrogance and small Charitee sticke not to aduenture themselfes into the fiery flambes O ye folishe and blynde Galathiens who hath so bewytched you too thynke that that man whiche sticketh to hys opinion to death and sealeth the same with his bloude as you terme it therefore his opinion is good But to answere your fōde obiection touching Christe his Apostles whether they soughte the death of anye man or not ye shal be answered by s Augustine For the Donatistes in his tyme iustlye condempned for their heresies alleged the very lyke obiection whom he answered thus What Emperour thē did beleue in Christe The cause why the Apostles required not the death of heretikes was for that the sworde of Heathen Prynces dyd not serue the Gospel But assoue as Constantine the fyrst christian Emperour was baptized the catholykes then cried out agaynste heretikes For if Emperours do punishe theft murder rape adulterie and periurie why shuld thei not as well punyshe heresie and sacrilege Thus saint Augustine allegeth the cause whye heresye was not punyshed in the primatiue churche For if the Princes then had yelded to the Gospell not followed their supersticious Idolatrye doubtles the quarell of Goddes enemies had been reuenged aswell as nowe And yet wee reade that one thynge was obserued then aswell as nowe whiche was that all vayne and curious bokes wherof we want no stoore at thys presente were burned openlye before al menne and the summe which the bokes die amount vnto was fyue hundreth thousande pence as appereth in the Actes of thapostles But here to note whether it be the cause or els the death that maketh a martyr we will alledge the saying of the late Prophete ofte by the protestantes cōpared to the old Prophetes called Latymer in his booke of sermons made before the late kynges maiestie Edwarde the sixte where shamefully raylyng vpon a dead man syr Thomas Seamer lorde Admyrall
ordre sake to putte man in remembraunce of his duetie towardes God which tymes are of al good christians to be duely folowed For it is well knowen as Tertullian sayth that it is good to take meates with thankes geuyng to eate that whiche God hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded but to abstain froÌ„ some it is not euil doone not for that they be nought but for that they be not necessarye And to moderate the vse of them for necessitie and tyme sake it is the propertie of christians We knowe what the scripture speaketh touchyng the eatyng of all thynges that all meates are to bee eaten with thankes geuyng But yet it doth not so commende the eatyng to condempne the forbearyng and abstinence from the same Sure it was a pleasant matter to come to a sermon to here fastyng reproued affirmyng that all kindes of meates might lawfully be takeÌ„ at all tymes to fast from sinne it was sufficient And in those dayes to heare a sermon intreatyng of suche lyke matters the fame anone was bruted Oh this man hath made a goodly peece a worke this man is verely a prophete with the lyke But what might be sayd to those ioly work men eueÌ„ the lyke that Papinianus answered to the Emperour Bassianus For the Emperour bearing a notable displeasure against his brother insomuche that he went about to rydde him of his lyfe because murder in the citie of Rome was an odible offence he entreated the sayd Papinianus a maÌ„ of great auctoritie amonges the Romaynes that he would by some meanes defende his cause of murder O Bassiane quod he murder is soner committed then the quarrel thereof can be defended Euen so these champions of heresie could rather breake their fast with fleshe vpoÌ„ Godfryday then defend the quarell why thei ought so to do vpon Maundy-thursday Thei could better geue a libertie to maintaine vice then make restraynt to suppresse the same But Aristotle might haue geuen them the lyke answere for their liberal talke as he gaue Calisthenes his scoller for reprouing of Alexander with this verse of Homere Thy talke my sonne beyng vttered so fondly VVyll breede thee confusion by deth vtterly What hath folowed this their liberall and vayne perswasion this realme most pitiously dothe at this day fele For those coÌ„modities which for the sustentacion of all men sometymes were here moste abundant nowe are moste skarse and vneasie to be gotten But I pray God that that be the least plague It yeldeth almoste as great a terror to remeÌ„bre the calamitie of this realme growen by thin ferteignement of a coÌ„mon woman called Heresie as the rehersal of the Troianes destructioÌ„ dyd to Aeneas who was frendly welcomed to Carthage by Dydo quene therof that euery christian may say with Aeneas Horresco referens gelidusque per ima cuâ— currit Ossa tremor To reherse the same uerye feare doth make me quake It thrilleth through my bones that my flesh therwith doth shake But nowe to returne to fastyng The ê“testaÌ„tes affirme that it is a holsome thing But what kynd of fastyng is it that they meane to fast from synne say they and not froÌ„ meates For that whiche goeth into the mouthe defyleth not the man but that which goeth out And the kingdom of heauen is not meate drinke These and suche lyke they esteme to bee suche bulworkes against the bodily faste that no man can ouerthrowe them But herein a man may well perceiue howe lyke theÌ„ selues they be and howe rightly they accord with those of whom Paul geueth admonitioÌ„ saiyng Let noo man deceyue you with vayne perswasions It would be demaunded where they fynde expressed in scripture that God coÌ„maundeth only fasting froÌ„ sinne and not from meates And as herein they can make no answer so lykewyse they muste affirme that the next remedye to auoyde sinne is to do good workes that is to say to fast to pray to geue almesse to folowe Goddes preceptes to loue one another to subdue the appetites and to crucifie our carnaltie and this is to fast from synne In what sorte did Iohn the Baptiste fast from synne In geuing himself to bellichere No doubtles his conuersacion was in abstinence fasting prayer harde apparayle lyuyng in deserte places and suche lyke The disciples of Iohn Baptiste came to Christ saying VVhy do we and the Pharisees faste and thou and thy disciples faste not Note here that if the woorde Faste should be vnderstand as the protestantes would haue it whiche is onely of abstainyng froÌ„ synne theÌ„ their saying must haue been why do we the Pharisees abstayne from synne and thou and thy disciples do not abstayne froÌ„ sinne Who is so blind that seeth not the blasphemous inconuenience which doth folow of this worde fast if it should be taken for abstayning from sinne onely What answer made christ to this â–ª did he saye that their faste was a supersticion his answere was Can the bridegromes childreÌ„ morne whyle the brydegrom is with theÌ„ But when the brydegrom is taken from them then shall they faste What more playner wordes can be spoken of Christe to perswade abstinence then these are Yet in another place Christe in a serinoÌ„ whiche he made to his disciples declareth the straightnes of his lawe in respect of the olde to extinguishe the supersticion of the pharisees saying VVhen ye fast be ye not like vnto hypocrites c. By the whiche worde fast I am sure he ment the bodely faste or els he woulde not haue described their maner of fastyng in suche sorte Wherein he went about to correcte the supersticion of the pharisees aswell in this correction of the bodye as in the other two principall vertues prayer almes For their delyght was principally to be sene of men ypocritically And here is to be noted that prayer and almes dedes be two particuler vertues to be vsed of all men according to their seueral giftes Prayer is comon to al men to pray when thei wil â–ª almes to them that haue wherewith all whiche bothe with fastyng beyng vsed accordyng too Goddes holy worde to the censure of the churche no doubt are moste profitable and vndoubted meanes to aspire to saluation Thus touching the forsaid place of saint Paule concerning those which shuld prohibite marriage and abstaining from meates any man may moste clerely iudge by whome those wordes were spoken Not by the churche as the heretikes maliciously minde but by those before remembred The first part of whiche prophecie is verefied of these miscreantes in our tyme and the latter parte in the olde heretikes whiche started vp not longe after the death of Paule Wherby it may appeare whether part doth perswade the eschewing of synne The churche catholike or the churche malignante The one exhorteth al men to beare Christes crosse in harde life trouble and affliction the other perswadeth to imbrace libertie bellichere and all pleasure The one giueth rules orders to
disgracyng him with all vile wordes and histories of his lyfe paste that possiblye hee could deuise he semed euen openly before the kyng to make a coÌ„batte with his spirit For as Plinye sayeth they that speake euel of dead menne seme to contende and fyghte with their spirites So this Prophete then to proue that his stoute diyng made not his quarell good had the wordes ensuing O say thei the maÌ„ died very boldly he would not haue done so had he not been in a iuste quarell This is no good argumente my frendes a man semeth not to feare death therfore his cause is good This is a deceiuable argument he wente to death boldely ergo he standeth in a iuste quarel The Anabaptistes that were burnt here in Englande in diuerâ— townes as I haue hearde of credible men I sawe theÌ„ not my selfe weÌ„t to their death euen intrepride as ye will saye without any feare in the world cherefully wel let them go There were in the olde doctors tymes another kynde of poysoned heretikes that were called Donatistes And these heretikes went to their executioÌ„ as though they shold haue gone to some â—oly recreation or banquet to some belly chere or to a plaie And will you argue then he goeth to his death boldly or cherefully ergo he dieth in a iust cause Nay that sequele foloweth no more theÌ„ this A maÌ„ semes to be afrayd of death ergo he dieth euill And yet our sauiour Christe was afrayde of death himself TheÌ„ he afterwards warneth his audience not to iudge those which are in authorite but to praie for them It becommeth not saith he to iudge great magistrates nor condempne their doynges Vnles their dedes be openly and apparantly wicked Charitie requireth the same for charitie iudgeth no maÌ„ but well of euery body c. Thus Latymer proueth that stoute diyng is no sure token of a good quarell and proueth it a false surmyse if anye doo beleue the cause of death to be true because of sturdines in the tyme of the same Also to proue that it is not the death that maketh a martir but the cause The cronicles make mencion of one Iohn Oldecastell a knyght a valiaunt man although he were wicked who with one Roger Acton togethers with him fauouriug Wickleffes opinioÌ„s coÌ„spired against the kynges maiestie then Henry the fyft onely to sette forwardes their conceiued opinions with a desperate company assembled thynkyng to obtayne the cytie of London from the kyng But beyng preuented he was takeÌ„ and put into the towre of London The sayd Acton also who within a whyle after was worthely put to death but Olde castell escaped pryson not withstandyng within a shorte space he was taken agayne then hanged drawen and quartered But he weÌ„t to his death so stoutly as though he had nothyng deserued to dye But if heresie and treason be no iust causes then he dyed wrongfully as in the cronycles more at large appereth If the stoutnes of death be a iust cause to proue a martyr then many whiche haue denyed Christe to be equall with the father which was the Arrians opynion were martyrs Then Ioane Butcher is a martir TheÌ„ the Flemyng whiche was burnt in Smythfielde in the tyme of kyng Edward is a martyr who lyued in such continencie and holynes of lyfe that before his goyng to meate he woulde fall prostrate vpon the grounde geue thankes to God the father hys dyete was so moderate that in two dayes space he vsed but one meale at the tyme of his death he was so frollicke that he fared muche lyke our martyrs in embracyng the redes kyssyng the poaste syngyng and suche other toyes In lyke sorte the grosse martyr Ioane Butcher handled the matter And where as one Skorie then preached before the people in tyme of her death she reuyled and spytted at hym makyng the sygne of the gallowes towardes him boldly affirming that all they that were not of her opinion shuld be dampned Yea she was so bold to say that a. M. in LondoÌ„ were of her sect Such the like was y â— charitie of Anne Askewe so ofte by Bale lykened to Blandina that true martyr of Christes churche in his furious boke which he wrote of her death a noble pece of worke mete for such a champion to be thauthor The sayde Anne Askewe was of suche charitie that when pardon was offered she defied them all reuyling the offerers therof with suche opprobrious names that are not worthy rehersall makyng the lyke sygnes too the preacher at her death as her pue fellowe systcr in Christ Ioane Butcher dyd at Skorie aforesayde These arrogant and presumptuous martirs in the time of their deathes doo lytle esteme the woordes of sayncte Paule sayinge If I had the spirite of prophecie and knew al misteries and all maner of cunnyng Also if I had all fayth in so muche as I could traÌ„slate and cary awaye mouÌ„taynes yet were I nothyng if I lacked charitie Moreouer if I dyd distribute all my goodes in fedyng the poore people and although I gaue my body to bee burned hauing no charitie it nothynge auayleth me Thus yf they estemed the Godly exhortacioÌ„s of holy scriptures they wold not so vncharitably vse theÌ„selfes especiallye at the extremitie of death But the deuel whose martyrs they bee dothe alwayes instructe his darlinges to followe hys ragyng steppes True are the wordes of the wyseman saying A sturdy harte shall susteine damage and he that loueth peril therin shal perish Therfore sturdynes and selfe loue is the onely cause of the martirdomes of our martyrs wherof do spryng innumerable faultes as Cicero saith When men puffed vp with stoutenes of opinion be shamefully inuolued in folish error Doutles a great faulte it is and coÌ„trary to ciuile life so to be addicted to self loue and arrogaÌ„cie as to thinke our selues to bee so learned that no perswasioÌ„ or terror can beate the mynde from that folly A pitifull case it is to see not only the learned which for waÌ„te of grace do fall but also blynde bayarde who although he be vtterly blind and dull yet his corage is suche that he careth not to leape ouer hedge and dytche I meane the symple ignoraunt whiche only for wante of knowledge do erre and yet haue such audacitie that they care not to spend their liues in their folly And for that these blynde bayardes doo so stycke in their opinions to death it is woÌ„dered at of many not of learned or godly men but of braynesicke foles which like fethers wyll be caried about with euery blast of newe doctrine At the deathes of whiche you shall see more people in Smythfeilde flockyng together on heapes in one daye then you shall see at a good sermon or exhortacion made by some learned man in a whole weke Their glorie is suche vpon these glorious martyrs And why is this because their myndes are geuen wholy to
vayne thynges muche lyke the Atheniens For when Demosthenes was tellyng them a soleÌ„pne tale of an asses shadowe and vpon the soubden brake of leauing the tale halfe tolde they instantly intreated him to make an ende O ye foles quod Demosthenes ye loue to heare suche trifling tales but if I went about to declare vnto you any serious matter you would skarse geue me the hearyng Thus fare oure countremeÌ„ if there be any vayne syghtes to be seen or any folishe matters to be heard lorde howe they runne and sweate in their busines But if there be a sermoÌ„ at Paules crosse after they haue â—aried there a while to here some newes and the preacher at the prayers lorde howe they vanishe away in clusters repairing into Paules and either by sell some bargaine in the body of the churche or els telle some tale of an Asses shadowes But to the purpose if oure men wyll needes be martyrs as they pretende to be where is their modestie their pacience their tharitie their loue that is required in a martyr I am sure they dare be bolde to coÌ„pare them selues to the martyrs of the primatiue Churche To whom they be nothing lyke For the sure token then of a martyr was to haue a sure profession of Gods truth whiche token they can not chalenge For in it selfe their profession is deuided vnles they would make Gods truthe whiche is one to be diuers If they wyll chalenge their modestie they be farre deceiued thei vse no suche glorious titles For if any man hadde named them martyrs in their coÌ„munications or letters they would reproue him therefore saying that that title was worthy for Christ only who alone was the faithful witnes of his truth If they will chalenge to themselues charitie pacience and suche lyke they be as wyde For Paule Stephen and the rest vsed no tauÌ„ting wordes or reprochefull checkes againste the Byshoppes and magistrates in their time but with mylde couÌ„tenaunce they answered their obiections But our martyrs wil not sticke to call them slaughter-men butchers blodsuckers and suche lyke blasphemous names more lyke helhoundes then holy ones such is their pacieÌ„ce Paule beyng brought before Ananias the hye preist and beyng beaten of the standers by saying Doest thou strike me thou paynted wall doest thou sitte vpon me here in iudgement according to the lawe and doest then commaunde that I should be striken contrarie to the lawe Then the standers by tolde him that it was the hye preist I knewe not ê™ he that it was the hye preist for it is written Thou shalt not reuile the head of the people Paule herein was sory that he had reuiled the magistrate But our martyrs forgetting S. Paules rule cease not froÌ„ tyme to tyme contumeliously to rayle vpon the byshop other learned and godly menne with the most vylest termes they can deuise yet sheweno cause of sorowe but like Orestes Tantalê° Theseus and Proserpina and suche other infernal furies they exclame in a tragical maner vpon God and his churche the heauens the yerth and all that is But yet one thing there is wherein they greately triumphe that is the constancie of these men oh their constancie is wonderful which is no cause as partly is touched before to proue them martyrs For if their constancie were vsed in a good cause then were it worthy fame What follye is so great sayeth Tully or so vnworthy a wysemans constancie as is false opinion The constancie wherof our men so bragge of is not for any opinion that is good or commendable it is but onely for worldly prayse or disprayse the zeale of whether beyng taken awaye it would coÌ„uert into inconstancie The cause as is aforesayd doth make a martyr and not the valiant death A notable historie occurreth nowe to my remembraunce of a true martyr and it is rehersed in a booke made by that moste excellent well learned gentleman called sir Thomas Elyot knyght Valeriane beyng Emperour of Rome perfecuting the churche in Egypte was a christen man presented vnto him whom he beholding to be yong and lustye thynking therfore to remoue him froÌ„ the faith rather by venereall mocions thaÌ„ by sharpnes of tormentes caused him to be layde in a bedde within a faire gardin hauing about him all floures of swete odour most delectable sauours perfumes And than caused a fayre tender yonge woman to be layde by him al naked who ceased not swetely and louyngly to embrace kysse him shewing to him all pleasant deuises to the intent to prouoke him to fornication There lacked litle that the yong man was not vanquished and that the fleshe yelded not to the seruice of Venê° Whiche thing the yong man perceiuing whiche was armed with grace seing none other refuge with his tethe did gnawe of his own toÌ„gue wherwith he suffred suche incredible paine that therwith the breÌ„ning of voluptuous appetites was vtterly extincte In this notable acte I wote not whiche is to be coÌ„mended either his inuincible corage in resisting so muche against nature or his wysedome in subduyng the lesse paine with the more byting off that wherby he might be coÌ„strained to blaspheme god or renouÌ„ce his religion Sure I am that he therfore receiued immortall life and perpetual glory This yong man was a true martyr this maÌ„ folowed his maister Christ in bearyng his crosse to crucifie the affections This maÌ„ shewed a notable example of coÌ„stancie in not denying his creator the author founder of his fayth Ignatius of whom we reade in Eusebius was a constant and vndoubted martyr whoo cared for no punishment persecution or other torment So was also Policarpus and Iustinus martir These and suche like are true martyrs whiche against the infideles and Gods enemies yelded their bodies to the seruice of death not caring either for wordes fame or praise of men These men wer with tormentes inspeakable constrayned to denye the name of Christ These men were allured by faire promises to forsweare their maister But oure men are with tormentes terror of death compelled to embrace Christes fayth and to relinquishe their Iewishe opinions Thauncient martyrs were tormented to the intent they might fall to Idolatrie Oure men are intreated by all faire meanes possible to worship the liuyug God O what madnes is this to seme to dye for the name of Christ when the sentence geuers do exhorte them to embrace Christ Who can call this persecution If the Turke be persecuted when he is by a christiaÌ„ gently perswaded to be baptized and to put vpoÌ„ him Christ and to forsake Mahomet then maye the heretike saye that he is iustly persecuted But if oure menne doo loue wylfull death and bee wery of their life in this worlde I would haue them either arme them selues in battell to fight against the great Turke or other enemies of the fayth or els to offre them selues in Turkey to
bee burnte or otherwyse persecuted and not in christendome where Christ is sufficieÌ„tly knowen to all men if they wyll nedes dye to be renowmed after their death let them do as many notable menne among the Romaynes other haue done fight for their common welthes sake and for the cause of their princes Brutus the fyrst consull of Rome with suche a zeale sought to defende the libertie of his countre that hee encountred so fiercely with Aruns sonne to Tarquinius the proude whiche was banished for the rape of Lucrece that in the cloase with their launces they both perished Mutius Sceuola a worthy gentleman emonges the Romaines to deliuer his countrie from the siege of Porsenna king of Hetrurie boldly entred into his caÌ„pe thinking to kyll the kyng but when he came into the pauilion where the souldiours were wont to be paâ—ed he discouered his dagger stroke at the kynges secretarie supposing it had been the kyng because their apparail was much like But being taken demaunded what he was why he toke vpoÌ„ him such an enterprise with a sterne countenance answered I am a citizen of Rome quod he my name is Mutius and I beyng an enemie would faine haue kylled myne enemy my stomake is no lesse to dye for the cause then it was ready to do the slaughter For it is the parte of a Romaine both to do to suffre valiantly with other y â— like wordes Wherwith the king beyng moued said vnto him that vnlesse he would disclose vnto him what treason was imagined against his person he should with fyre bee tormented to death Then beholdâ— O kyng quod he what a smale matter the fyre is to them which seke to be renowmed with glory and immediatly thrust his hand into the fyre and burnte it quite of By whiche facte his countre was deliuered from the extremitie of that siege Moreouer Codrus kyng of Athenes at suche tyme as the citie was in great distresse by reason of the siege layde to the same repared to Appollo by Oracle to know what should become of the citie The answere was that vnlesse he himselfe shuld be slain the citie should be wonne Codrus therfore bearing a natural pietie to his countree rather contented to geue his owne life then the citie shuld be geuen into the haÌ„des of his enemies put on a beggers apparel and conueyed himselfe into the campe of his enemies and there gaue an occasion to one of the souldiors to strike him and so was slaine with a byll Wherby the siege not longe after brake vp These examples are sufficient to spurre these wylfull men forwardes rather to geue their liues for the defence of the coÌ„mon welth Princes against the enemies then with suche obstinacie to consume it in the fyre and no cause why They might in spendynge their lyues in the cause of their Princes or els in defence of Gods religion deserue bothe rewarde at the handes of God and also immortall fame in merityng well of their coÌ„mon wealth This is the death wherin a man ought to triumphe In this death a man heapeth vp in heauen treasures inspeakable in erth fame immortal a worthy death and worthy a christen maÌ„ For this cause it is that the feast of S. Stephens martyrdome is yerely celebrated For this cause it is that the blessed feastes of the Apostles haue their yerely recourse For this cause it is that the memories of Martyrs be registred in the Churche of God For this cause it is that the annual celebracions of all the saintes of Christ are hadde in yerely remembrance Then all men which entende to embrace the benefites of Christ and seke meanes therby to attaine to saluation let theÌ„ rather by this kynde of deathe that is to say either to fight and suffer death for the defenâ— of the name of Christ or els in the quarell of his Princes and other magistrates But it is thoughte of many of these protâ—stantes that no man ought to suffer death for his coÌ„science And they lerned the same of Luther who in dede is of that opinion In Turkey saye they a man may liue with his coÌ„science why then should a christeÌ„ man amonges christians be punyshed for his conscience Then may I aske them the like questioÌ„ if a Turke or heretike maye vse his conscience Why did they punishe Ioane Butcher the Flemming whiche were of the secte of the Arrians For their conscience led them so to beleue Why maye not the Turkes vse Mahomeâ—es lawe amonges vs Why did Peter in â—â—e Actes of the Apostles destroye Ananias and Saphyra for makyng a ley For their conscience conceiled the portioÌ„ which they kepte bâ—â—ke If it be not laufull for a man to dye for his conscience than they did ill too punyshe heresye by death in the like tyme of procedinges wherevnto I am sure they wyll not graunt For in any wyse they must be no lyers although it be proued manifestlye to their faces Tushe saye they suffre the Cockell too growe with the good corne tyll the haruest come Then the lorde of the haruest shall deuide theÌ„ shall put the good corne in to his barne and cast the cockle into the fyre But this parable GOD wote maketh nomore for their purpose than it doth against the hangyng of theues and other offenders For if the offenders and breakers of the lawe I meane such as coÌ„cerne treason murdre or fellony should liue how should a kyng or ruler gouerne his common wealth wherin the honor maistie of a kyng consisteth And like as if such malefactors shuld â—ee suffred to continue in a common wealth withoute anye restrainte of punishement the same comon wealth with the gouernor thereof were lyke to fall too ruine Euen so in the state of the churche if heresie should be mainteined the fautours thereof escake vnpunyshed it woulde not onely brynge the iuste plague of God vpon the sufferers but also it woulde vtterly consume all faieth good orders so bringe the soule of man to euerlastynge confusion And that a kyng may punyshe suche malefactours by death aswell such as offende the churche as suche as noye the coÌ„mon welth it doth appere by S. Paules wordes to Timothe Vve know saith he the lawe is good if a man vse it laufully knowing this howe that the lawe is not giuen vnto a rightuous man but to the vnrightuous and disobedient to wicked men and synners to vnreuereÌ„t and prophane with suche other And then concludeth that if ther be any other thinge contrary too holsome doctrine of the Gospell the glorie of the blessed GOD which gospel is committed vnto me Now note here that he saith the law is not geuen vnto rightuous men whose wicked dedes rehersing to the Romaines aswell as he doth in this place he sayth is worthye of death May not a kyng iustly put them to death by the lawe whiche lawe he saith is good if a man vseth it
forgo them A iust plague of God vpon such dissolute preistes who cared not what wemen they married common or other so they might gette them wyues For true are S. Paules wordes they enter into houses bringing into bondage women laden with synne The wemen of these married preistes were such for the most part that either they were kept of other before or els as coÌ„mon as the cart-way so bound them to incesluous lecherye whiche wemen are led with diuers lustes euer learning neuer able to attaine vnto the truth Were not the sayd women euer lerning neuer able to come to the knowlege of y e truth beyng led with diuers lustes vsing their bodies with other men aswell as with their supposed husbaÌ„des yea one of them with anothers woman taking it as it is thought for a brotherly loue one to helpe another after the doctrine of Freer Luther the first authour of their marriage â–ª Is it not seen nowe by experieÌ„ce that some of their women beyng diuorced are married againe to ruffians suche other gallantes folowing the opinion of sir Ihon Hoper in his booke of the ten coÌ„maundementes What shall I reherse their sundrye abhominacions which shame constraineth to say no more And these women were not onely learnyng neuer hable to attaine to the truth but many other simpering gosseppes and parottes of the newe founde worldes are euer learnyng but as farre from the trueth as they that neuer went to schole These dames are lyke the wanderyng gyllottes that folowed the heretikes of olde time which vnder the color of sticking to the gospell couered their euill lyues And by saint Mary a numbre are contented to runne from their husbandes into Germanie the dongion of heretikes beyng a meete couer for suche cuppes And these are thought to be suche mates to matche with the protestantes in their doinges that in nowise thei can be w t out them Simon Magus to maintayne his opinions had one Helene a faire weÌ„che to matche w t him Nicolaus the heretike and furbisher of all fylthynes in Antioche had manye women to toyne with him in his art MarcioÌ„ to prepare the mindes of the people in Rome to fauour his heresy sent a woman before muche lyke Ioane Butcher whiche in the beginnyng of our newfound opinions was greatly maintayned by Cranmer in Cantorbury other places of Kent Apelles had one Philomena not his owne wyfe but the wyfe of another man as a companion in his procedinges Montanus another heretike indued with a wicked ghost throughe the helpe of Prisca and Maximilla first with money corrupted manye women of honoure and great substance and after polluted them with heresye Arrius the rather to deceyue the worlde procured a kynges doughter to susteine him and to beare him out Donatus in Aphrica had releife of one Lucilla Finally in all ages at any ryme when one had deuised some folishe errour or other straight waye wemen were readye to apply to their faÌ„ries Thus as one heresye begatte another so one heretike brought furth another Doutles the weaknes of womeÌ„ is suche that they be euer prone and ready to mischeif to bryng men to their confusion Dyd not Eue deceiue her husbande in perswadyng him to eate the apple at the suggestion of the serpent Did not Dalida deceiue Sampson by perswasion to vtter vnto her where the force of his strength coÌ„sisted Dyd not the Concubines deceiue Salamon to make him coÌ„mit idolatry Did not Ieroboams wyfe deceiue him in fayning her selfe to be another woman â–ª How did wicked Iesabel inueÌ„t meanes to procure the death of Naboth by bearyng false wytnes Many other suche examples there be in holy wryte to proue the redynes of wemen in deceiuyng of menne with their vayne perswasions For the deuil hath many suche prancking dames in league with him to the ende to bryng men to mischeife What brought Alexander the great to growe insolent but only the vayne perswasion of Thalestris the quene of the Amazons who from her owne countrey repaired vnto him to haue his carnal companye What caused him to destroy the noble citie Persepolis but the perswasion of Thais the dronken harlot Therfore let al men beware of the subteltie of women and to folowe their vain perswasions For they bee euer learnyng and neuer hable to attaine vnto the truth euer busye lyke waspes rather to do hurte then good I speake not here of matrones whiche are modest sobre obedieÌ„t to their husbaÌ„des contented to applie their myndes to the gouernement of housholde matters and to bryng vp their children in a goodly ordre but of suche onely whiche are curious in all matters especially of that wherof they haue nothing to do I meane these London ladies other the lyke whose talke is nothing but of religion of Peter Paule and other places of scripture Whose scripture mouthes are ready to allure their husbandes to dye in the lordes veritie because they would fayne haue newe muche like to the wyfe of Aman who gaue her husbande counsell to make a gallowes to hange vp Mardocheus and yet at length he was hanged vpon the same himselfe Diuers other also are euer learning neuer able to come to the knowlege of y â— truth as are those whiche are of suche colde deuotion towardes Gods churche that they are contented with heate to ende their liues Wemen as sayth saint Paule ought to be silent amoÌ„ges â—he coÌ„gregacion But these hote soules are so feruent in sprite that because they may not preache they are coÌ„tented to burne O wicked doughters of heresie and dames of the deuil himselfe Is this your profession at your mariage daye to bee at commaundement to your husbandes And manye of you contrarye to their wylles maintayne youre obstinacie by death You ought beyng Christians and traded vp in Christes fayth rather to spend your liues for the defence of your chastitie and the liues of your deare husbandes then in the cause of herisie the cause of your confusion We rede of many notable womeÌ„ which were worthy martyrs for the defence of Christes moste holy name and suffered sundry tormeÌ„tes for the quarel of his fayth But you not coÌ„pelled neither to abiure his name nor yet to forsake his faith what should be the cause of your folly For soth euen the deuil who goeth about lyke a roaryng Lyon to seke whoÌ„ he may deuoure I knowe the woman and her seuen soÌ„nes wherof we rede in the Machabees offered her selfe to death What against the churche of God No doubtles but for obseruyng the commaundement of God prescribed vnto her by the churche We rede of manye other godly women whiche dyed for Christes fayth and the vnitie of his churche but not as you do against his church and the vnitie therof But peraduenture you wyll say wee are his churche and wee are
their coÌ„munion it was marueylous confuse For some of the coÌ„municantes wold stande some sit some knele some wold holde the cup himself some would receiue it at the ministers hande some of his nexte fellowe some would haue a short pece of bread some a thine some a thicke and thinne Some wold vse the ministration themselues some were contented too take it in the churche and some at their owne tables after souper according to the institucion Some would haue the wine to be droÌ„ke in pewter some in siluer and some in a glasse or trene dishe Some wold haue a table cloth to couer y â— bord some a towel and some neither of them both Thus in some they vsed the matter in suche sondry somes that the Total was nought Thus were they euer learning neuer able to come to the truthe But God seyng this their Babilonicall Tower of coÌ„fusion builded against his diuine maiestie and his churche did sodeinly and miraculouslye ouerthrowe all their confused deuises restoring truthe to her former state by the sprete of trueth whiche hath led and conducted his churche oute of manye daungerous and stormy seas into the hauen of tranquillytie in vnitie of truthe the true tryal of Gods sprete Which truthe the church learning of the sprite of trueth hath euer kepte and wylll kepe too the worldes ende where these truce breakers shal be euer learnynge and neuer able to come to the truthe COuetous they were as it were to be wished none wer nowe but whether they were so let al meÌ„ examine with theÌ„selfes If they wer not couetous what mente they to go about to make their bastard children legitimate by acte of parliamente and that their purchases of lande myghte be in as good effecte in the lawe as the landes of anye temporall lordes or other laye men meaning in th ende to adioyne lande to lande and to accumulate one possession vpon another Where learned they this trade Of the primatiue churche whereof they boste so much Learned they this in the scriptures wherof they do so muche glorye All thinges amonges the Apostles and other disciples were commen And dyd our ioly Apostles imitate them so well that of that which was coÌ„men to make it priuate to serue their own bellies A prety imitation They were wont to cry out vpon the liuinges of the late abbees monasteries saying they were the theues and spoylers of the realme But who shuld haue cryed out vpon them when they had so enriched themselfes with sondry patrimonies that their brattes and beggers chyldren shoulde haue proued gentlemen Truely if this case be well weyghed of graue sobre men they maye gesse at their marke They ought to haue bene by s Paules rule kepers of hospitalitie But what poore craftesman or other laborer vsed lesse A man myght aswell haue brooke his necke as his faste at their houses They kept such diete in their fare that none coulde gette anye reliefe at their doores but Venus and her sonne Cupide And to thintent others should be no kepers of hospitalitie also they vsed to call the same y â— pompouse practise of the prelates and suche like Yea but more couetous thei were yet For to fynde ryches they would neyther spare church nor steple dead mennes graues or other place What goodly monumentes haue these sacrilegers subuerted too hunte after pence the corrupter of mannes life What graues of honorable meÌ„ and byshops haue these men left vnouerthrowen to fynd that was none of theirs Surely I may compare them to Darius that couetous Monarche who too seeke money serched the â—ombe of Semiramis the quene of Assyria whiche buylded Babylon where he founde this poesie engrauen vpon the same VVhat kynge soeuer he be that lacketh money let him open this Monumente and take what he wyll Nowe Darius creditynge the wordes of the poesie caused the stoone of the graue to be remoued where hee founde no money but another saying wrytten vpon the inner part of the said stone conteyning these woordes Vnlesse thou haddest been an euell man vnsaciable of money thou wouldest neuer haue serched the graues of the dead O noble woman whiche not onely in her lyfe tyme hated thys filthie vice of auarice but also after her death hadde conuenient tauntes to reproue thesame I would she had seene the robery of dead men in our time committed by a sorte of huÌ„gry whelpes gredy after their pray The protestaÌ„tes were accustomed too saye the papistes were massemongers couetous in sellynge masses for grotes but thei themselfes were Gospelmongers in making royall and noble Sermons fyue or sixe in a day yea God knoweth suche stuffe that they prouoked more laughter then anye vice could vse feates in playing of his interlude Philippe Sannio wherof we reade in Xenophon could not deuise more toyes to make Calias guestes to laughe at then these merie panions deuised for their audieÌ„ce nor yet in the Serycusans dauncing wenche was more cuÌ„ning in deliting Critobulus Socrates and the rest with her sundrye harmonies then in these plesant ghospelmen was too exhilarate their fellowe disciples and brethren in Christe BOasters also they were and replenished with all kyndes of arrogant speche reuilinge all kinde of doctrine repugnant too theirs belying the auncient writers and generall counsayles rauing vpon the doctours of the church comparing themselfes to the Apostles saying where went Peter or Paule to schole why maye not we haue the spirite as well as they With suche other woordes presuming too affirme themselues hauing certayne textes of the newe or olde tesâ—amentes that they were as well learned as they that had studied diuinitie .xl. yeares Thus they semed to be doctors of the lawe not knowyng what they did say nor whereof they dyd affirme A marueyle it was too see the foolishe arrogance of some symple men whiche would not sticke out of the shomakers shoppe toe skippe into the pulpet yea some from treading of morter into the top of a tree to make a collation as they termed it but it myght haue ben called a collusioÌ„ for prophaning of gods holy worde and deceiuing the simple people Besides whatsoeuer in their owne conceiptes they hadde taken for a veritie the same wold thei proudly vtter and saye this is the ueritiâ— and that is the veritie crediting nothyng but their owne vaine expositions Vpon whom the wordes of the commâ—â—all poete maye be verifyed Nothing more wicked then a mâ—â— vndiscrete Onlesse it come of hymselfe he thynkes it vnmete PRoude also whose myndes were so exalted with arrogancie that no maÌ„ was thought worthy their company except he were of their sectes and opinioÌ„s They woulde heare no man except he would incline to fauoure their procedinges No doctours interpretacion could be admitted vpoÌ„ the places of scriptures but suche as were of their owne deuises The auncient fathers would not so proudely speake of their most godly workes as our
power that no kynde of mannes woorkes after faith receiued can helpe him to be made the sonne of God But this their saying will not stande with S. Iohns wordes For he sayth that to as many as receiued him and beleued in his holy name too suche people so receiuing so beleuing him he gaue to them power to be made the soÌ„nes of god Then if he gaue too them power to be made the sonnes God there be workes wrought after faythe so receiued wherby thei haue power in the merites of Christe to be made the sonnes of God And thus by fayth and not by faythe onely haue they this power too woorke the will of God whiche workes helpeth a man to iustificatioÌ„ as saint Iames affirmeth saying What auaileth it my brethren though a man saie he hath faith if he haue no dedes caÌ„ faith saue him How chaunceth it then that the protestantes with theyr onely faith beareth such swynge glorie so in the scriptures sithe saint Iames so manifestly saith that withoute workes a man can not be saued If a brother or a syster sayeth he be naked or destitute of daily fode and one of you saieth vnto them God sende you warmnes and fode notwithstaÌ„ding you geue theÌ„ not those thinges nedefull to the bodye what shal it helpe â–ª Euen so faith without workes is dead in it selfe He also saieth in another place that Abraham and Raab wer iustified by workes and coÌ„cludeth saying that of dedes not of fayth only a man is iustified What more plainer wordes can be wished for to proue that workes auayle too iustification But what shall we saie vnto you then o ye pestilent protestantes whiche with youre sugred talke and swete woordes haue begiled the poore people in suche sorte that thei beleue verely they shal be saued in a beleuing faith without any workes at al What shall we say vnto you O ye betrayers of your countreye for this your lastinious preaching of onely fayeth too exclude good workes the chief state wherfore we were borne O wicked men worse then the deuel your father of whose progeny ye are lyneally descended What ment you herein to robbe God of his glory and to bereue from his poore membres their reliefe and fode What glorious similitudes haue you vsed in these your practises to begile the poore men Hope in the bloud of Christe truste in his redemption he is our satisfaction his death only can iustifie vs and suche like ye were wont to vse to instil a zeale to the hartes of your herers the rather to credite your doctrine These be swete wordes doubtles and mete to be hadde in price of all men But howe as ye meane theÌ„ God forbidde I may aswell saye Doest thou beleue in the bloude of Christe Then do what thou liste his death is sufficient But let euery catholike man beware of this doctrine for it is a lying doctryne a deceitfull argument and a doctrine of deuels We knowe that our iustification procedeth of God only by the passioÌ„ of his derebeloued soÌ„ne Iesus Christe But this his passion beyng not to vs applied by folowing his steppes so farre as it lieth in our powers in doynge the dedes of charitie the same to vs is not auailable For although his death is sufficient enough to attaine to iustification yet if in the merites of the same we do not worke euerye man according to his vocation the same to vs yeldeth no comfort Saint Paule therefore sayeth that the hearers of the lawe are not iuste but the doers of the same shal be iustified Therfore accordyng to the saying of Saint Iohn let no man seduce you for he that doeth righteousnes is iustified The scriptures are full of these exhortacions in doing the woorkes of iustice the rather by Christ not by faith only to attayne to saluacion Therefore these odible perswasions of the protestantes touching this opinion ought too be from the harte of man clerely repelled And as Liuie rehersing the oracion of Menippus Embassadour to Antiochus spokeÌ„ to the Romaines saieth that faire perswasions in the beginning seme pleasant but in th eÌ„de they be sorrowfull euen soo the vnhappie sermons more vnhappy bokes made by these hedgecreping protestantes semed at the first show pleasant stuffe but thendes therof god wote are moste lamentable For besides the ill opinions beaten into the heades of the careles multitude libertie of lyfe hathe borne suche swynge that good life bereth no rule Libertie by meanes of these ruffians hath takeÌ„ such holde fast that it hath dashed good life quite out of couÌ„tenance Libertie is rooted so in mannes harte that to moste meÌ„ it is fraÌ„kely retayned Libertie a roister hath such interteignemeÌ„t that of many he receyueth a double welcome Libertie a parasite at euery mannes borde is choked with the fare of many daintie dishes Thus moste sortes of men glad too haue libertie care not what haste they make to the deuell O deuelysh libertie I wold to GOD Germany might haue kepte the styll so Englande had neuer bene troubled with the. I would to God thou haddest had all our Englyshe bier too drynke dronke with Hance and Yacob in Strasborowe vpon condicioÌ„ London had neuer reteyned the. I would to God thou haddest remayned in Switherlande a conquerour so that thou haddest neuer had conquest in Englande For sythe thy arriuall hether many poore men by thy vngracious marchaundise are vndoone Many a good Englyshe man at the first glad to entertaygne the for curtesie as a straunger wold now be rydde of their gueste but they cannot But I truste shortly to see the bankeroute and glad to flye the realme I heare saye thy poore companions nowe in Geneua Emden Frieslande Strasborough and other places of Gernye â—urse the time that euer they knewe the and thy haunte if credite may be geuen to the coiners froÌ„ thence Whose miserie is such that a chamber as bygge as a Swynecotte is of as good rente as the best marchauntes house in LondoÌ„ And no maruaile though our cornerkreapers be so frendely welcomed paying soe well for their welcome I heard saye of one in Grauesende Barge belyke some pilgryme of Goddes churche that the poore menne of that couÌ„trey which in dede were very poore before the repayre of our englishmen thether are now become iolye fellowes And by what meanes thinke you By lettyng out their cotages in the townes to our countreymeÌ„ Who because they be glad to haue theÌ„ vse no debating of the matter as we do but bidde them aske and haue And they strayning small curtesie are contented too take their offer O lameÌ„table cases of a sorte of thurstie soules whiche for the thurst of the lordes worde as they cal it do thurst after their owne destruction The Lordes woorde was taught here establyshed longe before your dayes and the hole laÌ„de beleued therin And wil you deuise a new lordes worde to cole your dronken stomakes Hath Germany a
an orator Emperor fo 39 Example of a Mason fol. 82 F. FAble of the Crabbe fol. 94 False accusers fol. 99 Fast fol. 33 Feruencie of She Apostles fol. 77 Freer Peyto hurt with a stone fo 100 Freer Bale reuenged vpon a worshypfull man of Hampshere fol. 101 Iohn Fissher bishop of Rochester fo 68 G. GEneua fol. 116 Gestures of an assembly that repayred to Browne the shepehearde at Islyngton fol. 122 Glorious wordes of y â— protestaÌ„tes fo 114 Gosseps and parrotes of the newefound worlde fol. 74 Gosseps promoters of heresie fol. 75 Graues of dead men ouerthrowen fo 85 Gyges tale out of Plato applied to the protestantes fol. 6 Gyges kinge and the straunge nature thereof ibidem H. HEresie the definicion therof fo 1â— Heresy a common womaÌ„ fo 32. 103 Heretikes in the primatiue churche 16 Heretikes why thei wer not punished in the primatiue churche 60 The heauens disposed to wonderful inclinacions in the beginning of Luthers doctrine fol. 15 Hilâ—ne Simon Magus winche fol. 75 The Heathen punished the despisers of their religion fol. 41 A notable historie of a true martyr fo 52 The historie of certen assemblies which repayred to father Browne lying at Islyngton fol. 12â— S. Hierome for y e punishing of heretikes 62 Hoper fol. 17 Hornes apologie fol. 118 Hospitalitie of our late Apostles fo 85 Hâ—ssiâ—es a secte in Germany fol. 17 Hydra the serpent fol. 14 I. IAcke prentice with his testament fol. 123. 124 Ignatius a true martyr fol. 53 Ingratitude fol. 96 Infidelitie fol. â—â— Ioane Butcher of kent and her opinion fol. 19. 75 Ioane Bucher and her stoutnes when she was burnt fol. 47. 17 Iohn Cawode the Quenes prynter whose name the brethren in Germany put to some of their libelles as Imprinter therof fol. 118 Iulianus apostata fol. 82 Iustification not by fayth only fu 112 Iustinus martyr fo 53 Ixion fol. 14 K. QUene Katheryne deuorced fo 104 Quene Katherins letters written to her husbande kyng Henry theyght vpon her death bedde fol. 106 The kynges maiestie that nowe is kyng Phylip. fol. 89 L. LAmentacion made by the people for y e death of s Thomas of CaÌ„torbury â—8 Latymers combate with sir Thomas Seamer his spirite fol. 44 Latymers wordes to proue that it is the cause and not the death that maketh the quarell good fol. 45 London ladies fol. 77 Lucilla fol. 75 Lucius king of this Realme fol. 91 Lucretia of Rome fol. 79 Luther and his opinion fol. 16 Libertie of life fol. 116 M. MArcion the heretike fol. 75 Marcionites people of his secte fo 66 Makebraies boke fol. 118 Maâ—solus king of Carsa fol. 63 Menippus wordes Embassadour to Antiochus fol. 115 Michol kyng Dauides wyfe fol. 78 CouÌ„terfayte martirs and their deathes with their toyes vsed in the tyme of the same fol. 47 Monasteries Abbaies subuerted 110 Montanus an heretike in the primatiue churche fol. 66. 75 Monkes of the charterhouse with the causes of their death fol. 68 Sir Thomas More ibidem A Monster brought forth in Germany in the beginning of Luthers doctrine with the discription thereof fol. 15 Musculus fol. 17 Mutius Scaeuola and his stoutnes fol. 54 N. NAsturtium an herbe fol. 29 Nature coÌ„tented with a litle fo 28 Nicolaus the heretike fol. 75 Noxes doctrinal of the Masseboke fo 118 O. OBiectioÌ„s of y â— heretikes 13. 22. 65. 108 Obstinacie the cause of error fol. 10 Oblacions or offringes to Browne the shepeharde fol. 122 Oecolampadius and his opinion fol. 17 Iohn Oldecastel and the cause of his death fol. Oldecastell a traitor fol. 102 Ordre fol. 30 P. PAulus an auncient father fol. 28 The Persians abstinencie fol. 29 Peter Martyr fol. 17 Pet penyale fol. 121 Phaeton and of his climming vp to his fathers chariot fol. 7 A Pilgrym of Goddes churche fol. 117 Philomena fol. 75 Philip Sannio fol. 86 Pompeius apohthegma to Marcellinus fol. 97 The parable of the Cockle obiected by the protestantes and the meanyng thereof fol. 57 The Popes authoritie banyshed fo 104 Polycarpus a true martyr â–ª fol. 53 Poynetes doctrine with his two wiâ—es 24 Poynetes falshode fol. 25 Poynetes boke against the learned treatise of doctor Martyn fo 118 Mointes specially to be required in a martyr fol. 50 Power of godlynes denyed fol. 111 Practices of the protestauntes fol. 22 Practise of prelates newe reuiued fo 118 Presumption and the rewarde therof 8 A Priest and of his straunge opinion about twenty yeares past fol. 18 Priestes married what womeÌ„ they vsed to marrye fol. 74 Prisca and Maximilla fol. 75 Procedynges fol. 80. 81. 82 Proude protestantes fol. 88 The Protestantes how thei plaied their partes after thei had corrupted the no bilâ—tie fol. 6. 7 The worde Protestant what it is fol. 8 The protestantes without vnitie of doctrine fol. 14 The protestaÌ„tes how thei peruert a text of S. Paule 21. et deinceps The protestantes in shepes appâ—râ—tâ—e 35 The protestantes faâ—â— fol. 36 The protestantes with one truthe sâ—me to confounde another fol. 3â— The protestantes consciences fo 36 The protestantes are bastardes fol. 96 Prayer fol. 34 Pâ—tto a Tanner his opinion fol. 18 Q. Quene katheryn deuorced fol. 104 Quintus Fabius Labeo fol. 110 R. REmedies to auoyde synne fol. 32 A rynge of a straunge nature fol. 6 Rogers burnt in Smythfielde and of the fonde Imaginations of many in the tyme of his death fol. 64 S. THe SacrameÌ„t of the Altar fo 83. 112 Semiramis poesie in reproche of couetousnes fol. 86 Sectes that did forbidde meates to be eaten fol. 26 Sermons pleasaunt fol. 30 Scipio Aphricanus and his contineÌ„cie fo 73 Selfloue and yelding to the fleshe fo 71 Scriptures to proue the burnynge of heretikes fol. 41. 42 Similitudes of Godliuâ—s fol. â—03 Simon Magus fol. 75 Sinâ—n that begiled the Troianes fol. 65 Shoting of a gonne at the preacher at Paules crosse fol. 100 Sir Thomas Seymer rayled vpon by Latymer before the late kynges Maiestie fol. 44 Scorye the preacher fol. 47 Sister wiues fol. 124 Socrates fol. 41 A spiritual hoape loÌ„ged for by Brownes mother the Shepehearde fol. 123 Strasâ—orouâ—h a cytie in Germany 116 Striking of y e priest at westminster 100 Foure Sussex men of late burnt their opinions fol. 19 Syrenes wherof Homere maketh mencioÌ„ 22 Sympering Sysse fol. 1â—1 T. TAunies whiche procede out of the mouthes of our martyrs fol. 50 Thâ—â—s the harlot fol. 76 Thalestris quene of the Amazones fol. 76 Saint Thomas of Cantorbury and his martyrdome fol. 69 S. Thomas picture disfigured fol. 1â—0 Thaborites â— lâ—te seâ—â—â— in Germany fo 1â— A sort of saynt Paule peruerted by the protestauntes fo 2â— Toyes of our false martyrs in the tyme of their deathes fol. 47 Themistocles Apothegma to the Atheniens fol. 97 Traitors fol. 10â— Throwyng of a dagger at the preacher at Paules crosse fol. 100 Trucebreakers fol. 98 Turia a Romaine maâ—roue fol. 79 Turnors solempne boke of the wolfe
â–ª 118 True reliques contempned fol. 6â— A Tyler and his opinion fol. 18 V. VNthankefull fol. 95 Virgins of the cytie of Separta fo 79 The vnitie of the churche fo 20. 21. 126 Vnitie the badge of the churche fol. â—0 VV. WEakenes of women fol. 76 Women euer learnyng and neuer able to attayne vnto the truthe fol 74 Women promoters of heresie fol. 75 Whether it be the cause or the death that maketh a martyr fol. 44 What tyme the temporall â—worde begin to serue the ghospell fol. 60 Wyues of certen men called Miâ—i fo 79 Wyat and his practise fol. 7â— Wyat and his treason â–ª fol. 102 Wordes of the ignoraunt people vpon the heretikes passing to death fol. 43 Wordes of father Peyloe a freer of Grene wiche touchyng the partie that dyd hurte hym fol. 101 Y. YAcob and â—ance of Straâ—â—orough folâ—o 116 Z. Zwynglins and his opinion fol. 16 FINIS Imprâ—nted at London by Robert Caly within the precinâ—t of the late dessolued house of the graye Freers nowe conuerted to an Hospitall called Christes Hospitall MENSE IV LII Annâ— 1556. Plato lib. 2. De Re Pub. Herodotus in Cliâ— Libro primâ— â–ª Seneca in Agamemnone Act. 2. The â—â—â— causes of our miseriâ— Ioan. 9. et 15. Obstinacie of opinions is the cause of errour Officiorum lib primo Infidelitie The definicion of heresie The catholike churche what it is Howe to knowe the catholike churche Matth. v. Daniel ii Psal xviii â— Tim. iii. Lib. i. de veritate fidei Homeri odyss libro decimo The heretikes obiections The answere of the catholikes Psal xviii ii Peter iii. Aeneido 6. Virgi anâ—id 8. Lucianus in deoruÌ„ dialog Cicero officiorum lib. 2. This monster was a iust token manifested by God to geue meÌ„ aduertisement to take hede ofsuch false prophetes whiche vnder the godly habites of religious men should seke the subuersion of his churche â—ib 13. histor sui temporis A rebersall of sundryâ— sectes deuised by dyuers heretikes As this good minister loued good ale so he had .iii. ale knights to stande in defence of his opinion called Good alâ— Newe ale â— Rastale Iohn .iii. Vnitie the badge or coâ—â—izance of Christes churche Marc. ix Lu. x. xxiiii Iohn 14. â—1 â— Cor. xii i. Tim. iiii The words of the protestantes In all thinges the protestaÌ„tes sekemeanes to discredit the church Odyss 12. Libertie a pleasaÌ„t harmony to theÌ„ that are coÌ„teÌ„ted to embrace it as the protestantes are This place of s Paule was wonte to be paynted vpoÌ„ the walles of churches to begyle the simple But when thou readest this place waye it wel in the minde theÌ„ giue seÌ„tâ—ce Mariage is not discommendid of y e church but it is magnefied for out of the .vii. Iewels thereof â— Tim. v. Nu. 6. 30. Eccle. v. Iohn ii Poinettes doctrine No doctrin can be ill if it serue for the practise of the hotte protestaÌ„ces who rather then they would lyue chaste wold say theâ—cold not chose but burne i. Cor. vii A question A place of Chrisostom to proue that yong wydowes did vowe The church forbiddeth no meates as the folly of the protestantes doth imagine Act. iiii Sundrye sectes of heretikes that verefied S. Paules prophecie â—ere â—osen gerâ—aines to the protestantes â—uido de hâ— resibus 〈…〉 e profitable abstinence is Leui â–ª lx Numeri vi Matth. xv Roma xiii Gala. v. â— Reg. vii Macha iii. Daniel â— iii. Reg. xiâ— â–ª Iudith .ix. Hester â–ª â—â—iâ— Epist 18. Iosephus â—â—lli Iudâ—â—ci lib. 2. cap. 7. Tâ—â—pertiâ—â— historia Cicero Tusculan quest lib. â— Abstinence of the Persians â—obi iiii The churche in all thinges kepeth an ordre Officiorum Libro i. In definitionibus ecclesiast dâ—gmatum Cap. 66. Gene. ix i. Timo. iiii Roma xiiii Maâ—c xv Gene. iii. Pleasaunt sermons Eras Apotheg libro 8. Plutarch in Sylla Aeneid Virgi Ephe. v. Remedies to auoyde synne Math. iii. Math. ix Math. vi Prayer and almesdedes The catholike church perswadeth austerite of lyfe Math. vii The shepish apparell of the protestaÌ„tes The protestantes consciences A stuÌ„bling stocke very muche vsed in y e mouth of Gospellers The protestaÌ„tes with one trueth do seme to confounde another Heb. xâ— â–ª â—â—â—ot in his booke called the Gouernor A pretie example A discoure touchynge the burning of heretikes and of the fonde imaginatioÌ„s of many coÌ„cernynge the same The HetheÌ„ coulde not abide the despisers of their religion Iustinus librâ— quinto De factis dictis Socratis Deu. xiiii Deu. xviii â–ª ii Thes iii Roma â—vii The maner of our heretikes Gala. iiii ii Cor. x. Gala. v. The fonde woordes of the simple rude people exclamed to the heretikes passing to death Augustinus super Ioannem â–ª Act. xix Whether it be the cause or the death that maketh a martyr Latimers coÌ„bâ—t with syr Thomas Seamers spirit In his .iiii. sermon Polidorus Libro 2 2. Olde castel in a booke that Bale maketh of his death is canoâ—â—zed for a martir A FleÌ„ming of the heresie of y e ArriaÌ„s burnt in Smythfielde Toys vsed of our martyrs Ioane Butcher otherwyse called Ioane of Kent Anne Askewe Officiorum Libro primo Blynde Bayarde Laertins in â—us vita Specialâ— poynces to be required in a martyr Eusebius lib. â— â–ª Cap. â— Act. xxiii Exod xxiâ— Philip. iii. Matth. xxii Paule wasory for hiâ— taunt but the protestaÌ„tes reioyse in theire The constaÌ„cie wher in our martyrs triuÌ„ph De natura deo â—um lib. i. The gouernor y e third boke A true martyr A merueilous resistaÌ„ce of the spirite against the fleshe and a good lesson for our maried votaries Ignatius Policarpus Iustinus In what causes men ought cheifly to spende their lyues A notable death to die for the causes of the kyng and Quenes maiesties Inslinus lib .ii. Actes v. Math. â—v â— Tim. â— Tit. iii. Contra Crescomum gram libro 4. cap. 4. The cauâ—â— why heretikes wernot punyshed in the 〈…〉 tiâ—e â—hu 〈…〉 At what tyme the sword begaÌ„ to serue the Gospell â—◠〈…〉 aâ—◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Epistola ad Galath cap. 1. The bones of our martirs of some preserued for reliques De â—octibus attiâ—is lib. x. cap. xviii True reliques contempned Rogers burnt in Smithfield the fond imaginations of diuers in the tyme of his death Virgil aeneiâ— Sâ—â—urâ—do Loyteryng Adders Another obiection of y e protestaÌ„tes Eusâ—â—ius â—â— â— â–ª â—edaecclesiast historiae gentis AngloriÌ„s lib. 1. Capit. seprâ—mo Saint Thomas of CaÌ„torbury Polydori Virg. Angl. hist li. 13 Charion cromcor lib. 3. quart monar terâ—iae aetatis Georg. Liuius Anno do â–ª â—â—â—â— The lamentatioÌ„ of the people vpoÌ„ the death of s Thomas Iohn Fiswer the bisshop of Rochester Sir Thomas More Polidor lib. 27. The poore monkes of the Charterhouse The abbottes of Rending Colchester and others Wyâ—t the Kentish rebell ii Tim. iii. Math. â— Selfe loue and yelding â—o the flesh Q. Curtius librâ— â— A notable example of Alexander touchinge the brydelinge of his own lustes Titus