February in the yeare of our Lord 1554. The next moneth following which was the moneth of March and the 4. day of the sayd moneth there was a letter sent from the Queene to Boner Bishop of London with certaine Articles also annexed to be put in speedy execution conteining as heere followeth ¶ Articles sent from the Queene to the Bishop of London by him and his officers at her commaundement to be put in speedy execution with her letter to the sayd Byshop before prefixed RIght reuerend Father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greete you well A letter oâ— Q. Mary 〈◊〉 B. Boner Causes deâ—clared March 3. And wheras heretofore in y e time of the late raigne of our most dearest brother K. Edward y e 6. whose soule god pardon dyuers notable crimes excesses and faults with sundrye kindes of heresies sâ—â—â—ny adultery other enormities haue bene committed w tin this our Realme and other our dominions the same continuing yet hitherto in like disorder since the beginning of our raigne without any correction or reformation at all the people both of the laitie and also of the clergye chiefly of the clergy haue bene geuen to much insolency vngodly rule greatly to the displeasure of almighty God very much to our regret euill contentation to no litle slander of other Christen realmes and in a maner to the subuersion cleane defacing of this our realme and remembring our duety to almighty god to be to foresee as much as in vs may be y t all vertue and godly liuing shoulde be embraced florish increase and therewith also y t all vice vngodly behauiour shuld be banished and put away or at y e least wise so nigh as might be so bridled and kept vnder that godlines and honesty might haue y e ouer hand vnderstanding by very credible report and publike fame to ouâ— no smal heauines and discomfort that within your dioces as well in not exempted as exempted places the like disorder and euill behauiour hath bene done vsed like also to continue and increase vnlesse due prouision be had and made to reforme y e same which earnestly in very deede we do mind intend to the vttermost all y e waies we can possible trusting of Gods furtherance and helpe in y t behalfe For these causes and other most iust coÌ„siderations vs mouing we send vnto you certayne articles of suche speciall matter as among other thinges be most necessary now to be put in execution by you your officers extending to the end by vs desired and the reformation aforesaide wherein ye shall be charged with our speciall commaundement by these our letters to the intent you and your officers may y e more earnestly and boldly proceed therunto without feare of any presumption to be noted on your part or danger to be incurred of any such our Lawes as by our doinges of that is in the said articles conteined might any wise greue you whatsoeuer be threatned in any such case And therfore we straightly charge and commaund you and your sayde officers to proceede to the execution of the said Articles w tout all tracte and delay as ye will answere to the contrary Geuen vnder our signet at our Palace of Westminster the 3. day of march the first yeare of our raigne Articles sent from the Queene vnto the Ordinary and by him and his Officers by her commaundement to be put in execution in the whole dioces FIrst that euery Byshop and his Officers with all other hauing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction shall with all speede and diligence and all maner of waies to them possible put in execution all such Canons and Ecclesiasticall Lawes heeretofore in the time of King Henry the eyght vsed within this Realme of England and the dominions of the same nor being directly and expresly contrary to the lawes and statutes of this Realme Item that no B. or any his Officer or other person aforesayd heereafter in any of their ecclesiasticall writings in processe or other extraiuditiall actes doe vse to put in this clause or sentence Regia authoritate fulcitus Item that no Byshop or any his officers or other person aforesaid do hereafter exact or demaund in the admission of any person to any ecclesiasticall promotion order or office any oth touching the primacy or succession as of late in few yeares passed hath bene accustomed and vsed Item that euery B. and his officers with all other persons aforesayd haue a vigilant eie and vse speciall diligeÌ„ce and foresight that no person be admitted or receiued to any ecclesiasticall function benefice or office being a sacramentary infected or defamed with any notable kinde of heresie or other great crime and that the said B. do stay and cause to be stayed as much as lieth in him that benefices and Ecclesiasticall promotions do not notably decay or take hinderaÌ„ce by passing or coÌ„firming of vnreasonable leases Item that euery Bishop and all other persons aforesayde For punishing â—eâ—esies 〈◊〉 they call them do diligently trauaile for the repressing of heresies and notable crimes especially in the Cleargie duely correcting and punishing the same Item that euery B. and all the other persons aforesayd do likewise trauell for the condemning and repressing of corrupt and naughty opinions vnlawfull bookes ballades and other pernitious and hurtfull deuices engendring hatred amongst the people and discord amongst the same And the Scholemaisters Preachers and Teachers do exercise and vse their offices and duties without teaching preaching or setting foorth any euill and corrupt doctrine and that doing the contrary they may be by the Bishop and his said officers punished and remoued Item that euery B. and all the other persons aforesayd proceding summarely with all celerity speed may and shall depriue or declare depriued and amoue according to their learning discretion all such persons froÌ„ their benefices ecclesiasticall promotioÌ„s who coÌ„trary to the state of their order the laudable custome of the church haue married vsed women as their wiues or otherwise notably and slaunderously disordered or abused themselues sequestring also during the said proces the fruites and profites of the said benefices and Ecclesiasticall promotions Item that the said B. and all other persons aforesayd do vse more lenity and clemency with such as haue married whose wiues be dead then with other whose women do yet remayne aliue And likewise such Priestes as with the consents of their wiues or women openly in the presence of the B. do professe to abstaine Prouision 〈◊〉 priestes which reâ—â—unce their 〈◊〉 to be vsed more fauourably In which case after penaunce effectually done the Bishop according to his discretion and wisedome may vpon iust consideration receiue and admit them agayne to their former administration so it be not in the same place appointing them such a portion to liue vpon to be payde out of their benefice whereof they be depriued by
free will and minde without any question or Inquyry to him made by the sayd Alen Moreouer the sayde Alen sayth that all that euening Graundger was in great feare ¶ The Deposition of Richard Horsnayle Bayliffe of the Sanctuary Towne called Goodesture in Essex THe sayd Richard sayeth that friday before Christmas day last past that one Charles Ioseph Somner to my Lord of London became a Sanctuary man and the aforesayd Friday he registred his name the sayde Charles saying it was for the sauegard of his body for there be certein men in London so extreame agaynste him for the death of Richard Hunne that he dare not abide in London Howbeit the sayd Charles sayth he knowledgeth himselfe guiltlesse of Hunnes death for he deliuered the keyes to the Chauncellour by Hunnes life also the sayd Bayliffe sayth that Charles payd the duty of the sayd Regestring both to him and syr Iohn Studley Uicar ¶ The Copy of Richard Fitziames Letter then Bishop of London sent to Cardinall Woolsey I Beseeche your good Lordshippe to stand so good Lord vnto my poore Chauncellour nowe in Warde and indighted by an vntrue quest for the death of Richard Hunne The letter of the B. of London to Cardinall Woolsey vpon the onely accusation of Charles Ioseph made by payne and duraunce that by your intercession it may please the kinges grace to haue the matter duely and sufficiently examined by indifferent persons of hys discreete counsell in the presence of the parties ere there be any more done in the cause and that vpon the innocency of my sayde Chauncellour declared it may further please the kinges grace to award a Plackard vnto his Attorney to confesse the sayde Enditement to be vntrue when the time shall require it for assured am I if my Chauncellour be tryed by any twelue men in London they be so maliciously set In fauorem hereticae prauitatis that they will cast and condemne any Clerke though he were as innocent as Abel Quare si potes beate pater adiuua infirmitates nostras tibi imperpetuum deuincti erimus Ouer this in most humble wise I beseech you that I may haue the kinges gracious fauour whom I neuer offended willingly and that by your good meanes I might speake with his grace and you and I with all mine shall pray for your prosperous estate long to continue Your most humble Oratour R.L. Lastly nowe remayneth to inferre the sentence of the questmen which foloweth in like sort to be seene and expēded after I haue first declared the wordes of the Byshop spoken in the Parliament house ¶ The wordes that the B. of London spake before the Lordes in the Parliament house MEmorandum that the bishop of London said in the parliament house that there was a bil brought to the parliament to make the Iury that was charged vpon y e death of Hunne true men and sayde and tooke vpon his conscience that they were false periured Caytiffes and sayd furthermore to all the Lordes there then being For the loue of God look vpon this matter for if you do not I dare not keepe mine owne house for heretiques And sayde that the sayd Richard Hunne hanged himselfe and that it was his owne deed and no mans els And furthermore sayde that there came a man to his house whose wife was appeached of heresy to speake with him he sayd that he had no mind to speake with the same man which man spake and reported to the seruauntes of the same Bishoppe that if his wife would not hold still here opinion he would cut her throat with his owne handes with other wordes ¶ The sentence of the Inquest subscribed by the Crowner THe inquisition intended and taken at the city of Londō in the Parish of S. Gregory in the ward of Baynard Castle in London the sixt day of December in the 6. yeare of the raigne of K. Henry the 8. before Thomas Barnewel Crowner of our souereigne Lord the king within the city of London aforesayd Also before Iames Yarford and Iohn Mundey Sheriffes of the sayde City The sentēce of the Inquest vpon the sight of the body of Richard Hunne late of London Taylour which was found hanged in the Lollardes tower and by the oth and proofe of lawfull men of the same warde and of other three wardes next adioyning as it ought to be after the custome of the city aforesayd to inquire how in what maner wise the sayd Richard Hunne came vnto his death and vpon the oth of Iohn Bernard Thomas Stert William Warren Henry Abraham Iohn Aborow Ioh. Turner Robert Alen William Marler Ioh. Burton Iames Page Thomas Pickehill William Burton Robert Brigewater Thomas Busted Gylbert Howel Richard Gibson Christopher Crafton Iohn Eod Richard Holt Iohn Pasmere Edmunde Hudson Iohn Arunsel Richard Couper Iohn Tyme the which saide vpon theyr othes that where the sayd Richard Hunne by the commaūdement of Richard Bishop of London was emprisoned and brought to holde in a prison of the sayd Bishops called Lollardes Tower lying in the Cathedrall Church of S Paule in London in the parish of S. Gregory in the ward of Baynard Castle aforesayd William Horsey of London Clerke Richarde Hūne cleared by the Inquest not to haue hāged himself otherwise called William Heresye Chauncellou◠to Richard Bishop of London and one Charles Ioseph late of London Sumner and Iohn Spalding of London otherwise called Iohn Belringer feloniously as felons to our Lord the king with force and armes agaynst the peace of our soueraigne Lord the king dignity of his crowne the fourth day of December the sixt yeare of the raygne of our soueraigne Lord aforesayd of theyr great malice at the parish of S. Gregory aforesayde vpon the sayde Richarde Hunne made a fray and the same Richard Hunne felonously strangled and smodered and also the necke they did breake of the sayde Richard Hunne and there feloniouslye slue him and murdered him and also the body of the sayde Richard Hunne afterward the same fourth day yere place parish and ward aforesayd with the proper gyrdle of the same Richard Hunne of silke blacke of coulor of the value of 12. d. after his death vpon a hooke driuen into a piece of timber in the wall of the prison aforesayd made fast and so hanged him agaynst the peace of our Soueraigne Lord the king and the dignity of his crowne and so the sayd Iurye hath sworne vpon the holy Euangelistes that the sayd W. Horsey Clerke Charles Ioseph and Iohn Spalding of theyr set malice then and there felonously killed and murdered the sayd Richard Hunne in maner and forme aboue sayd agaynst the peace of our soueraign Lord the king his crowne and dignity Subscribed in this maner Thomas Barnewel Crowner of the City of London After that the 24. had geuen vp theyr verdict sealed and signed with the Crowners seale The Parlament iudging with Richarde Hunne y e cause was thē brought into the Parliament house where the
they haue power ouer the other 2 Where any place of Scripture being in controuersie is to be decided they say No man may expound y e scripture or be iudged thereof but onely the Pope 3 When any Councell is brought against them they say that no man hath authoritie to call a Councell but onely the Pope Moreouer in the foresayd book diuers other matters he handleth and discourseth The booke of Luther to the Nobilitie with the matter therto conteyned That y e Pope can stop no free Councell Also what things ought to be handled in CouÌ„cels That the pryde of the pope is not to be suffered What money goeth out of Germany yearly to the pope mounting to the summe of 3000000. Florences The true meaning of this verse he expoundeth Tu supplex ora tu protege tuque labora Wherein the three estates with their offices and dueties are described to wyt the minister the magistrate the subiectes Furthermore in the sayd booke he prooueth and discusseth that the Emperour is not vnder the Pope but contrariwise that the donation of Constantine is not true but forged that priestes may haue wiues that y e voyces of the people ought not to be seperate from the election of ecclesiasticall persons that interdicting and suspending of matrimony at certayne times is brought in of auarice what is the right vse of excommunicatioÌ„ that there ought to be fewer holy daies that liberty ought not to be restrained in meates that wilfull pouerty and begging ought to be abolished what damage and inconuenience haue growen by the Councell of Constance and what misfortunes Sigismund the Emperour susteined for not keeping faith and promise with Iohn Hus and Hierom that hereticks should be conuinced not by fire and fagot but by euidence of Scripture and Gods word how schooles and vniuersities ought to be reformed what is to be sayd and iudged of the popes Decretals that y e first teaching of children ought to begin with the Gospell Item he writeth in the same booke agaynst excessiue apparell among the Germaines Also against their excesse in spyces c. In this yeare moreouer followed not long after Charles the Emperour crowned the coronation of the new Emperour Carolus quintus whiche was in the month of Octob. at Aquisgraue After whiche coronation being solemnised about the month of nouemb Pope Leo sent againe to Duke Fridericke two Cardinals hys Legates of whom the one was Hieronymus Aleander who after a few wordes of high coÌ„mendation first premised to the Duke touching his noble progenie and other his famous vertues they made two requestes vnto him in the Popes name First that he would cause all bookes of Luther to be burned Secondly that he woulde eyther see the said Luther there to be executed or els would make him sure and send him vp to Rome vnto the popes presence These two requestes seemed very strange vnto y e duke who answering again to the Cardinals said that he being long absent from thence Duke Friderickes answere to the Popes Legateâ— for Luther about other publique affayres could not tell what there was done neither did hee communicate with the doinges of Luther Notwithstandyng this he heard y e â—â—kius was a great perturber not only of Luther but of other diuers learned and good men of hys vniuersitie As for himselfe he was alwayes ready to doe his duety first in sending Luther to Châ—â—etanus the Cardinall at the cittie of Auguste and afterward at y e Popes commaundement would haue sent him away out of hys dominion had not Meltituis the popes owne Chamberlayne geuen contrary shewed 〈◊〉 him still in hys owne country fearing least y t in other countryes he might do more harme where he was lesse knowne and so nowe also was as ready to doe his duety where soeuer ryght 〈◊〉 did so require But for so much a◠〈◊〉 this cause he seeth muche hatred and violence 〈…〉 the one part and no errour yee conuicted on the other 〈◊〉 but that it had rather the approbation of diuers weâ— learned found men of iudgement and for so much as also the cause of Luther was not yet heard before the Emperour therefore he desired the sayd Legâ—tes to be a meane to the Popes holines that certaine learned persons of grauitie and vpright iudgement might be assigned to haue the hearing and determination of this matter that his errrour first might be known before he were made an heretique or his books burned Which being done when he should see his errour by manifest and sound testimonies of scriptures reâ—â—â—ced Luther should find no fauour at hys handes Otherwise he trusted that y e popes holines would exact no such thyng of him which he might not with equitie and honour of his place and estate reasonably performe c. Then the cardinals declaring to the duke agayn that they could no otherwise do but accordyng to the forme of theyr prescript commission The Popes Legates burne the bookes of Luther they must proceede tooke the books of Luther and shortly after set fire vpon them and openly burnt them Luther hearing this in like manner called all the multitude of studentes and learned men in Wittenberge and there taking the popes decrees and the Bull lately sent downe agaynst him Luther burneth the Popes decrees and Bulles at WitteÌ„berg openly and solemnly accompanied with a great number of people followyng him set them likewise on fire and burnt them which was the tenth of December A little before these thinges thus passed betweene the Pope and M. Luther the Emperour had commaunded ordayned a sitting or assemble of the states of al y e Empyre to be holden at the City of Wormes agaynst the sixt day of Ianuary next ensuing In the whiche assemble through y e meanes of Duke Fredericke the Emperor gaue forth that he woulde haue the cause of Luther there brought before him and so it was For at what tyme the assemble was commenced in the city of Wormes the daye and moneth aforesayd which was the 6. of Ianuary afterward vpon y e sixt day of marche following the Emperour through the instigation of Duke Fredericke The Emperours letter with his safe coÌ„duict sent to M. Luther directed hys letters vnto Luther signifying that for so muche as he had set abrod certayne bookes he therfore by the aduise of his pieres princes about him had ordayned to haue y e cause brought befor him in hys owne hearing and therefore he graunted hym licence to come and returne home agayne And that he might safely and quietly so doe and be therof assured he promised vnto him by publicke fayth and credite in the name of the whole Empyre his Pasport and safeconduite as by the instrument whiche he sent vnto hym he might more fully be ascertayned Wherefore without all doubte or distrust he willed him eftsoones to make hys repayre vnto him and to be there present the 21. day after the receit thereof
pleasure I must disburse money to pay for thē or els I cannot haue them so I will assure you to haue euery booke of them that is printed vnsolde The Bishop thinking he had God by the toe sayd do your diligence gētle Maister Packington get thē for me I wil pay whatsoeuer they cost Augustine Packington the Byshop of Londons marchaunt for I entend to burne destroy them all at Paules Crosse. This Augustine Packington went vnto William Tyndall and declared the whole matter and so vppon compact made betweene them the Bishop of London had the bookes Packington had the thankes Tindall had the money After this Tindall corrected the same new Testaments agayn and caused them to be newly imprinted so that they came thicke and threefolde ouer into England When the Bishop perceaued that hee sent for Packington and sayde to him how commeth this y t there are so many new Testamentes abroad you promised me that you would buy them all Then aunswered Packington surely I bought all that was to be had but I perceiue the haue printed more since I see it will neuer be better so long as they haue letters and stamps wherfore you were best to buy the stamps too so you shal be sure At whiche aunswere the Bishop smiled and so the matter ended In short space after it fortuned y t George Constantine was apprehended by syr Thomas More George Constantine which was then Chauncellour of England suspected of certayne heresies during the time that hee was in the custodye of M. More After diuers communications amongest other thinges M. More asked of hym saying Cōstantine I would haue thee playne with me in one thing that I will aske and I promise thee I will shew thee fauour in all other thyngs wherof thou art accused There is beyond the Sea Tyndall Ioye and a great meany of you I knowe they can not liue w tout helpe There are some that help and succour them with money and thou beyng one of them haddest thy part therof and therfore knowest from whence it came I pray thee tell me who be they that helpe them thus My Lord quoth Constantine I will tell you truely it is the Bishop of London that hath holpen vs for he hath bestowed among vs a great deale of mony vppon new Testamentes to burne them and that hath bene and yet is our only succour and comfort Now by my truth quoth More I thinke euen the same for so much I told the Bishop before he went about it Of this Georg Constantine moreouer it is reported by Syr Tho. More that he being taken and in holde Out of Mores preface agaynst Tyndall seemed wel content to renounce hys former doctrine not onely to disclose certayne other of hys fellowes but also studyed deuised how those books which he himselfe and other of his fellowes had brought and shipped might come to the Bishops hands to be burned and shewed to the foresayd Syr Tho. More Chauncellour the shipmans name that had them and the markes of the fardels George Constantine a discloser of his fellowes by the whiche the bookes afterward were taken burned Besides this hee is reported also to haue disclosed diuers of his companiōs of whome some were abiured after some had abiured before as Rich. Necton who was committed to Newgate vpon the same and is thought there to haue dyed in prison or els had not escaped theyr handes but should haue suffered burning if the reporte of M. More be to be credited More in hys preface agaynst Tindall Notwithstanding the same Constantine afterward by the helpe of some of hys frendes George Constantine a troubler of Ferrat Bishop of S. Dauids escaped out of prison ouer the seas and after that in the time of king Edward was one of them that troubled the good Bishop of S. Dauids which after in Queene Maryes tyme was Burned But of Constantine enough Mention was made in the leafe before pag. 1040. how the Byshops had procured of the king a proclamation to be set forth in the yeare of our Lorde 990. for the abolishing of diuers bookes aforenamed and also for y e withstanding of al such as taught or preached any thing agaynst the dignitie and ordinaunces of the Church of Rome Upon this proclamation insued great persecution and trouble against y e poore innocēt flock of Christ as here following you may see with the sayd proclamation also prefixed before y e same the tenour whereof is this * A proclamation for resisting and withstanding of most damnable heresies sowen within this realme by the disciples of Luther and other heretikes peruerters of Christes religion THe king our soueraigne Lord of his most vertuous and gratious disposition This proclamation was made throughout all England the yeare of our Lorde 1519. and the 21. yeare of K. Henry 8. considering that this noble realme of England hath of long tyme continued in the true Catholicke fayth of Christes religion and that his noble progenitours kinges of thys hys sayd realme haue before thys tyme made and enacted many deuout lawes statutes and ordinaunces for the mayntenaunce and defence of the sayde fayth agaynst the malicious and wicked sectes of heretickes and Lollardes who by peruersion of holye Scripture do induce the erroneous opinions sow sedition amōg Christen people and finally disturbe the peace and tranquillitie of Christē realmes as late happened in some parties of Germany where by the procurement and sedition of Martin Luther and other heretickes wer slayn an infinite number of Christen people cōsidering also that as well by the corruption malice of indiscrete preachers sautors of the sayd erroneous sects as by certayn hereticall and blasphemous bookes lately made and priuily sent into this realme by the disciples fautors adherents of the sayd Martin Luther other heretickes the kings subiects are like to be corrupted vnlesse his highnes as the defēsor of the faith do put to his most gracious helpe authoritie royal to the due speedy reformation thereof his highnes therfore lyke a most gracious Prince of his blessed vertuous disposition for the incomparable zeale which he hath to Christes religion faith for the singular loue affection that he beareth to all his good subiects of this his realme specially to the saluation of their soules according to his office duetye in that behalfe willeth and intendeth to prouide with all cōuenient expedition that this his noble realme may be preserued frō the said pestiferous cursed seditious errours And for as much as his highnes is credibly informed that some of the said errours be already sowen spread within this his realme partly by the corruption of indiscreete preachers partlye by erroneous bookes compiled printed written as well in the English tongue as in latine other languages repleat with most venemous heresies blasphemies slaunders intollerable to the cleane eares of any good
significatiō vnto me of any matter what soeuer it be I shall with all speede diligence make declaration aduertisement therof or cause that same to be signified either to your princely maiesty or to some of your secret coūsaile or to your successours or any of their priuy counsell Neither shall I send or cause to be send at any tyme any writing or messēger to the sayd Byshop or to his Court without the knowledge cōsent of your maiesty or your successours willyng me to send writing or messenger vnto him Neither shall I procure or geue coūsaile to any persō to procure bules brieues or rescriptes whatsoeuer either for me or for any other frō the sayd Bysh. of Rome or his court And if any such shall be procured agaynst my will knowledge either in generall or in speciall or els whosoeuer they shall be graunted vnto them I shall vtter disclose the same not consent thereunto nor vse them in any case shall cause them to be brought to your maiestie or your successours Furthermore for the confirmation hereof I geue my fayth truth by firme promise in the fayth of a Byshop that agaynst this my foresayd profession promise made I shall defēd my selfe by no dispēsation exception nor any remedy or cautel of law or exāple during this my natural life And if heretofore I haue done or made any protestatiō in preiudice of this my profession promise here made the same I do reuoke at this present for euer hereafter and here vtterly do renounce by these presents Whereunto I haue subscribed vnder written the name both of my selfe of my Byshopricke with my proper hand thereto also haue put to my seale in perpetual vndoubted testimony of the premisses Geuen the x. day of February an 1534. of our soueraigne Lord kyng Henry viij 26 Steph. Winton * The lyke othe of Iohn Stokesley Byshop of London I Iohn Byshop of London do purely of myne owne volūtary accord absolutely in the word of a Byshop professe and promise to your princely maiestie my singular The othe of Stokesley and chief Lord and patrone Henry 8 by the grace of God kyng of England and of Fraunce defender of the fayth Lord of Ireland and in earth of the same Church of Englād supreme head immediately vnder Christ. c. Like to the othe before Ioan. London ¶ The like othe and handwriting of Edward Lee Archbyshop of Yorke I Edward by the permission of God Archbyshop of Yorke doo purely of mine owne voluntary accord The othe of Lee Archb. of Yorke and absolutely in the word of a Byshop professe and promise to your royall Maiestie my singular and chiefe Lord and patrone c. In like forme to the othe before Edovardus Eborac The like othe and handwriting of Cuthbert Byshop of Duresme I Cuthbert by the permission of God Byshop of Duresme doo purely of mine owne voluntary accord The oth of Tōstal of Durisme and absolutely in the word of a Byshop professe and promise to your royall Maiestie my singular and chiefe Lord and patrone c. As before Per me Cutbertum Dulnelm And so likewise all the other Byshops after the same order and forme of othe were obliged and bound to the king as to their supreme head of the Church of England immediatly vnder Christ renouncyng and abiuryng vtterly and voluntarily the Popes too long vsurped iurisdiction in this Realme testifieng moreouer the same both with their owne hand and also with their seale Besides these cōfirmations testimonials of y e Bishops aforesayd ye shall heare yet moreouer the decree and publicke sentence of the vniuersitie of Cambridge written likewise and subscribed signed with the publike seale of their vniuersitie the tenor of which their letter heere followeth ¶ A letter of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge against the vsurped power of the Byshop of Rome VNiuersis Sanctae matris Ecclesiae filijs ad quos praesentes literae peruenturae sunt coetus omnis regentium non regentium Academiae Cantabrigiensis salutem in omnium saluatore Iesu Christo. Cum de Romani pontificis potestate c. In English TO all and singular children of the holy mother Church to whose hands these presents shall come the whole societie of Regentes and not Regētes of the Uniuersitie of Cābridge A letter of the vniuersitye of Cambridge sendeth greeting in our Sauiour Iesu Christ. Where as now of late it hath risen vp in question among vs concerning the power of the Bishop of Rome which he doth both claime to himselfe by the holy Scripture ouer all prouinces nations in Christendome and hath now of long time exercised in this realme of England and forasmuch as our censure concerning the cause is required to wit whether the Byshop of Rome hath any power or authoritie in this kingdome of England allotted to hym by God in the Scripture more then any other foreine Byshop or no we thought it therfore good reason our duty for the searching out of the veritie of the said question that we should employ therein our whole indeuour and study whereby we might render and publish to the world what our reason and censure is touching the premisses For therefore we suppose that Uniuersities were first prouided and instituted of Princes to the end that both y e people of Christ might in the lawe of God be instructed and also that false errours if any did rise might through the vigilant care and industry of learned Diuines be discussed extinguished and vtterly rooted out For the which cause we in our assemblies and conuocations after our accustomed maner resorting and conferring together vpon the question aforesayd and studiously debating and deliberating with our selues how and by what order we mighte best proceede for the finding out of the truth of the matter and at length choosing out certayne of the best learned Doctours and Bachelers of Diuinity and other maisters haue committed to them in charge studiously to ensearch and peruse the places of holy Scripture by the viewing and conferring of which places together they might certifie vs what is to be said to the question propounded For asmuch therefore as we hauing heard and well aduised The censure of the vniuersity of Cambridge against the Popes supremacye and throughly discussed in open disputations what may be sayd on both partes of the foresayd question those reasons and arguments do appeare to vs more probable stronger truer and more certaine sounding much more neare to the pure and natiue sense of Scripture which do deny the Byshop of Rome to haue any such power geuen him of God in the Scripture By reason force of whych arguments we being perswaded and conioining together in one opinon haue with our selues thus decreed to aunswere vnto the question aforesayde and in these writings thus resolutely do aunswere in the name of y e whole Uniuersitie
I in M. Doct. Thirlby muche kindnesse and in the Bishop of Winchester as little Wynchester agaynst Boner c And in the same letter it followeth And if I had receiued any intertainement of the Bish. of Winchester I would likewise haue sent you worde I thanke God I neede not for I had nothing of him c. Also in an other letter the sayde Boner wryting to the L. Cromwel concerning one Barnabe and him self what colde welcome they both had at the handes of Winchester vseth these wordes folowing And my good Lorde I beseech you to continue your good fauour to this honest poore man Barnabe Ste. Wint. against Barnabe beâ—ause the Lord CroÌ„well fauoured him who is body and soule assuredly your owne and as well beloued of the B. of Winchester as I am and of my trouth I suppose and beleue verely one of the chief grudges the Bishop hath against him is because your Lordship of your charitable goodnes doth loue and fauour him An other letter of Doctor Boner to the Lord Cromwell complaining of Winchester and also declaring how he was promoted by the sayd L. Cromwell to the Bishopprike of Herforde MY very singular especiall good Lorde according to my most bounden duetie I recommend me right humbly vnto your good Lordship aduertising the same that the 29. of the last about 4. of the clocke at after noone there arriued heere Bernabe wyth your Lordshippes letters dated at Ewrige the 24. of the same and thinking that at his sayde arriuall the Bishop of Winchester M. Thirleby and I had bene all lodged together wherein very deede we had seuerall lodgings he went straight to the Bishop of Winchesters lodging M. Thirleby and I beinge then walkinge in the fieldes and the Bishop incontinently enquired of him The Bish. of Wint. inquiâ—ed not how the king did not howe the kings grace did as was his duetie but as Barnabe tolde me inquired of him where he left the kings grace at his comming away whether hee had brought any letters for him whether M Brian and M. Wallop were in the Courte at his departing and finally what newes wer in England To the which questions when Barnabe had made aunswer saying that he left the kings grace at Byrling and that M. Brian and M. Wallop were in the Courte at his departing and withall that hee had no letters from them ne any other to him and finally for the newes that the kinges highneâ—â— had geuen me the Bishoppricke of Herforde the Bishop as Barnabe reporteth and I doubt not but hee sayeth truely caste downe his head making a plaice mouth with his lippe and afterwarde lifting vp his eyes and handes as cursing the day houre it chaunced seemed so euill contented therewith The playce mouth of Wynchester agaynst Boner that he would neither bid Barnabe drinke or tarie supper ne yet further common with him but turning from him called one M. Medowe and shewed him of the same tidings taking it as it appeared very heuily semblably as he doeth euery thing that is or may be for my preferment And when Barnabe perceiued that I was not there and that also this comfortable countenaunce and good cheare made vnto him Sâ—e Wint. against Boâ—ers preferâ—ent he went thence and searched mee who then was walking with M. Thirlby as is afore and by chance commoning with him of the Bishop of Winchester geuing him aduertisement that he should not be abused by the sayde Bishop whome I sayde made of him not for any harty loue I thought he bare vnto him but either in despite of me to whome hee thought it shoulde bee greatly displeasaunt either els vnder colour thereof and by familiaritie for to grope him and to serue his owne craftie purposes by him And sone after the departure of M. Thirlby from me who then went to the Bishop to supper I returned towardes my lodging â— Boner â—ade Bish. Hereford and by the way mette with Barnabe whose salutation was after that sorte that it caused mee to wonder at it especially I hauing no expectation or hope of suche thing as he rehearsed vnto me And surely my good Lord I wold not beleue him in the thing he tolde till I perceiued the same by the superscription of youre Lordships letter which he afterwardes deliuered vnto me declaring withall to my great comforte the prosperous estate of the kings highnesse and of your good Lordship Which known I besought almighty God to graunt the long continuaunce thereof and also as was my duetie did geue moste humble thankes to the kings highnesse and to your saide good Lordship And hereupon See how Boner reioyceth at his great good fortune as thouâ— he had not enough before hauing 4. liuinges and being meetely wel sped for one man keeping your Lordships letters still in my hands vnbroken I went incontinently to the lodging of M Thirleby which was in my way to communicate these my newes and great good fortune with him and not finding him there I redde ouer your Lordships letters sending the same afterward to M. Thirlby and perceiuing by Barnabe that he had other letters for me which he tolde me he must deliuer vnto me secretely I went to mine own lodging with him and there receiuing them accordingly did reade them ouer both that your Lordships second letter sent to me and also the other sent to Master Wyat. c. Your Lordships most bounden beadesman and alwayes at commaundement Edmund Boner When the king by the aduise of the Lord Cromwel and other of his Counsaile had appoynted D. Edmunde Boner to returne from the Emperour and to be resident in Fraunce in the place of Winchester and of Doct. Thirleby he sent his letters to the sayde B. of Winchester and to M. Thirleby shewing his pleasure vnto them in that behalf with this clause in the same letters contained in expresse wordes as followeth And where the sayde M Boner wanteth furniture of stuffe and plate meete for that office our pleasure is The kings pleasure was not regarded of the Bishop of Winchester that you M. Thirleby shall deliuer vnto him by indenture al the plate you haue of ours in your custodie and that you my Lorde of Winchester shall furnish him with all suche other stuffe as shall be necessarie for hym Wherein as you shall doe vnto vs pleasure so we shall be content at your returne to satisfie you for the same c. The Bishop of Winchester receiuing these letters from the king and being lothe to come into England what soeuer the matter was also hearing that Doctoure Boner should succede him his disdainfull nature did stomack him exceedingly But because there was no other remedie but the kings commaundement must be done first hee sendeth the kings letter with his also to the Emperors courte vnto M. Boner and to D. Heynes willing them in all haste to repaire to Lions wythin 2. dayes Beside these letters of Winchester D. Thirleby adioyned his letters
seduced by a common errour and abuse crept into the Church thorough the sufferance and auarice of such as felt profite by the same Item if ye do or shall know any within your parish or elsewhere that is a letter of the word of God to be read in english or sincerely preached The worde of God to be preached without stop or interruption or of the executioÌ„ of these iniunctions or a fautor of the Bishop of Romes pretensed power now by the lawes of this Realme iustly reiected and extirped ye shall detect the same to the Kings highnes or his honourable Counsayle or to his vicegerent aforesayd or to the iustice of peace next adioyning Item that you and euery Parson Uicar or Curate within this diocesse shall for euery Church keep one booke of Register Register booke for euery parish wherein ye shall write the day and yeare of euery wedding christening burieng made within your parish for your time so for euery man succeding you likewise also therin set euery persons name that shall be so wedded christined or buried for the safe keeping of the same booke the parish shall be bounde to prouide of theyr common charges one sure coffer with ij lockes and keies whereof the one to remaine with you and the other wyth the Wardens of euery such parish wherein the sayd booke shall be layd vp Which booke ye shall euery Sonday take foorth and in the presence of the saide Wardens or one of them write and record in the same al the weddings christnings and buriengs made the whole weeke before and that done to lay vp the sayd booke in the sayde coffer as afore and for euery time the same shall be omitted the partie that shall be in the fault thereof shall forfaite to the sayd Church three shillings foure pence to be employed on the reparation of the same Church Item that ye shall once euery quarter of a yeare reade these and the other former iniunctions geuen vnto you by authoritie of the Kings highnes openly and deliberately before al your parishners to the entent that both you may be the better admonished of your duetie and your said parishners the more incited to ensue the same for their part Item for as much as by a lawe established euery mâ—n is bound to pay his tithes no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their Curates deteine their tithes Tythes to be payed so redub one wrong with another or be his owne iudge but shall truly pay y e same as hath ben accustomed to their persons curates without any restraint or diminutioÌ„ such lacke and default as they can iustly find in theyr parsons and curates to call for reformation therof at theyr Ordinaryes other superiors handes who vpon complaint due proofe therof shall reforme the same accordingly Item that no Person shall from henceforth alter or chaunge the order and maner of any fasting day that is coÌ„mauÌ„ded indicted by y e church nor of diuine prayer nor of seruice othâ—rwise theÌ„ is specified in y e sayd iniuÌ„ctioÌ„s vntill such time as the same shall be so ordered transposed by y e kings highnes authority 〈◊〉 day abrogate the Euens of such saynts whose holidayes be abrogated only excepted which shal be declared henceforth to be no fasting dayes except also the commemoratioÌ„ of Tho. Becket sometime Archbishop of Canterbury which shal be cleane omitted and in stead thereof the feriall seruice vsed Item that the knoling of the Aues after seruice certayne other times which hath bene brought in begon by the pretence of y e B. of Romes pardon Knoling of Auees forbidden henceforth be left omitted lest the people do hereafter trust to haue pardon for the saying of their Aues betwene the sayd knolyng as they haue done in times past IteÌ„ where in times pâ—st men haue vsed in diuers plates in theyr Processions to sing Ora pro nobis to so manye saintes Suffrages of Saintes relected that they had no time to sing the good Suffrages folowing as Parce nobis Domine and Libera nos Domine it must be taught and preached y e better it were to omit Ora pro nobis and to sing the other suffrages being most necessary and effectuall All which and singuler Iniunctions I minister vnto you and to your parishners by the kings highnes authority to me committed in this part which I charge commaund you by the same authority to obserue and keep vpon paine of depriuation sequestration of your fruits or such other cohercion as to the king or his vicegerent for this time being shal be sene conuenient By these Articles and IniunctioÌ„s thus comming forth one after an other for the necessary instruction of the people The king better deseruing the name of supreme gouernour theÌ„ the Pope it may appeare how well the king deserued then the title of his supreme gouernment geuen vnto him ouer the church of England by the which title and authority he did more good for the redressing and aduauncing of Christes Church and religion here in England in these three yeres then the Pope the great Uicar of Christ w t all his bishops and Prelates had done the space of iij. hundreth yeares before Such a vigilant care was then in the king and in his counsell how by all wayes and meanes to redresse religion to reforme errors to correct corrupt customes to helpe ignoraunce and to reduce the misleadings of christes flock drowned in blinde popery superstition customes idolatry to some better forme of more perfect reformatioÌ„ Wher vnto he prouided not only these articles precepts and iniunctions aboue specified to informe the rude people but also procured the Bishoppes to helpe forward in the same cause of decayed doctrine Read afore pag. 1024. with their diligent preaching teaching of the people according as ye heard before pag. 1024. how that in the yeare 1534. during all the whole time of the parliament there was appoynted euery sonday a Bishop to preach at Paules Crosse agaynst the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome Amongest which bishops Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne the kinges confessor and a great persecutor of y e poore flock of Christ as is before sufficiently recorded Read afore pag. 952. pag. 952. made a Sermon before the king vpon good Friday this present yere 1538. at Grenewich seriously and effectuously preaching on the kinges behalfe against the vsurped supremacy of the bishop of Rome the contentes of whose sermoÌ„ wholy to expresse were here to long tedious So much as may suffice for our purpose I thought should remayne to the posterity beginning at his Theame whiche then he tooke in hand to entreat vpon writteÌ„ in the 13. cha to the Hebrues as foloweth ¶ The Sermon of Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne on good Friday before the king at Grenewich an 1538. THe wordes of the Apostle are these Habemus altare de
so were they baptised Vicar of Christ. Thus may you see that if Peter were the Uicare of Christ euen so likewise was Paule and all the other Apostles And I do not thinke contrary but that Peter and all other of the Apostles were Christes Uicares if you meane by this word Uicar a deputie or such like for to preach his Euangelie which is an office of al other most soueraigne to minister Sacramentes and to do other such diuine seruice in Gods Church And thus were they worthy to be called as the Scripture nameth them Christs true Apostles Bishops Priestes Legates or any such like Which authority was giuen theÌ„ by Christ after his resurrection when he sayd vnto them these wordes Luke 24. Peace be amongest you Like as my father hath sent me so do I sende you Take you the holy Ghost whose sinnes soeuer you shall forgiue are forgiuen them and whose sinnes you shall retayne are retayned And the same authoritie did they receiue when Christe spake vnto all the Church Ioh. 21. after the mind of Saint Augugustine and other in Peter saying Peter feede my sheepe ¶ In the xliiij where you aske whether I beleeue that the Pope ordinaâ—ly chosen for a time his proper name being expressed To the 44. artycle be the successour of Peter I say that it seemeth to me a thing of no great valew whether a man beleue so or no I can not see y t it should be numbred amongst the Articles of our faith Succession of Peter How the Pope may be a successour of Peter Notwithstanding I will shewe my rude thought in it which is this The Pope may succeede in S. Peters steade or office and do the same duly diligently feeding Christes flocke and shewing vertuous ensample of liuing to the same so doing he may and ought to be thoght and named a true successour of S. Peter Euery good Bishop may be successour of Peter And thus is your Lordship S. Peters successour performing the conditions aforesaid with otherlike properties requisite to your order and duety yea and as many other as do truly their duty and duely the office of a Byshop And otherwise may not the Pope be called the successour of Peter for because he is entred into S. Peters office not regarding to do that is requisite for the same not folowing y e trace of vertue but the coÌ„trary And then is he wrongfully named if at any time such be which is not vnpossible For what should men cal those Peters successors that play the pageants and folow with the conditions of Caiphas Symon Magus or Iudas Such verely if any be cannot rightwilly claime to be Peters successors The Pope rather 〈◊〉 be Peters aduersary then his â—â—â—cessouâ— no more then the night may claime to be successour of the day for Peter was neuer so minded ne taught them so Yea they ought rather to be called Peters aduersaries for so much as they do not his will that is shewed by his owne actes and writing but worke against the same Of such may be saide Non Sanctorum filij sunt qurtenent loca Sanctorum sed qui exercent opera eorum That is to say Hierome As the 〈◊〉 is succesâ—â—â— of the day â—o is the Pope successor of Peter except he follow the steppeâ— of Peter they are not all Saintes children that occupy the rowms of Saintes but they are their children that exercise their works Yea of such may be said that is written of S. Hierome Al Byshops quoth he are not Byshoppes marke you well Peter but marke also Iudas Behold Stephen but behold Nicholas Ecclesiastical dignitie maketh not a Christen man Cornelius the Centurion being yet a pagan was made clean through the benefit of the holy ghost Contrariwise Daniel being a child condemneth Priestes or auncient men It is no easy thing saith he to stande in the rowme of Peter and Paul to kepe the seate of them now reigning with Christe For vnsauery salt is nought els worth but to be throwen out of the doores August and troden downe of hogges This sayth S. Hierome Wherunto agreeth wel S. Augustine Euery one quoth he that saith vnto you Pax vobis ought not to be heard or to be beleeued as a doue Crows be fedde of dead carion so is not a doue but liueth by the fruites of the earth Let vs marke not how the byrde speaketh but how he feedeth The Crow feedeth vpoÌ„ carion the Doue not so Her liuing is pure innocent and hurtlesse Whereby you may see that ill Bishops are no Byshops and that they which folow no Saints in vertuous liuing are not the successors of Saints but vnsauery salt that is neither of the church ne shal come in heauen to reigne there with Peter Paul but be thrown out with great conteÌ„pt For God knoweth a doue from a crow and an innocent liuer from a deuourer of carion But such as declare and shew good deeds as the Saints did be their childreÌ„ and successours and shal with them reigne in heauen So that to conclude I say How the Pope is sucsessour of Peter and how not Zach. 11. that the Pope ordinatly chosen is the successour of S. Peter folowing S. Peters godly liuing And els except he study to do diligently that he may be so called worthily it shal be but a vaine name For rather may he els be reputed an Image of a Pope or of a Bishop according as such be called of the Prophet O Pastor Idolum O Idoll shepheards ¶ In the xlv where you aske To the last article whether euer I haue promised as any time by an othe or made any confederacie or league with any person or persons that I would alway hold and defend certain conclusions or articles seeming to me and to my complices right consonant vnto the faith Ioh. Lambert required to detect his fellowes and will that I should certifie you of the course and forme of the said opinions and conclusions by row of y e names and surnames of them that were to me adherent promised to be adhereÌ„t in this behalf I say that I doe not remeÌ„ber that euer I made pact or confederacie w t any person or persons ne made any promise by oth that I would alway hold and defend any conclusions or articles seming to me and other right and consonant to the faith vnlesse it hath chanced me to say in this forme that I would neuer with the ayde of God forsake ne decline from the truth neither for feare nor yet for loue of man or men Thus I haue perhaps sayd in some time or some place because I haue in deed so intended and doe entend Gods grace assisting me But I can not yet tell you whether I haue so said or no nor to what persoÌ„s ne at what time neither in what place Neither I do reckeÌ„ me to haue any coÌ„plices but such as
bishop of Rome should sodainly arriue in some place of England eyther driuen by tempest or of purpose to do hurt ye should see such order kept by firing of their Becons as hath already bene written vnto you by our letters to repulse the same in so good aray as you can as we do not doubt but you will for the safegard of your countrey so that the enemy shall haue little ioy of his comming and for that purpose you shall see diligently that men haue horse harnesse and other furniture of weapon ready according to the Statutes and good orders of the realme and the kings maiesties commandements And so for this tyme ye may depart What zealous care was in this yong kyng and in the L. Protector his vncle Tâ—e singular zeale of king Edward and his Vncle in reforming religion concerning reformatioÌ„ of Christes Church and sincere religion by these Iniunctions letters precepts and exhortations as well to the bishops as to y e Iustices of the realme aboue premised it may right well appeare Wherby we haue to note not so much the careful diligence of the king and his learned counsaile as the lingering slacknes and drawing backe on the other side of diuers the said Iustices and Lawyers but especially of Bishops The slacknes of Popish Curates in furthering the kinges proceedinges and old popish curates by whose cloked contempt wilfull winkyng and stubburne disobedience the booke of common prayer was long after the publishing therof eyther not knowen at all or els very irreuerently vsed thoroughout many places of this realme Which when y e king by complaint of diuers perfectly vnderstood beyng not a little agreued to see the godly agrement of the learned the willyng consent of the Parliament and his graces owne zealous desire to take so small effect among his subiects decreed presently with the aduise of his whole Counsaile agayne to write vnto all the bishops of his realme for spedy and diligent redresse therin willing and commanding them therby that as well they themselues should thenceforth haue a more speciall regard to the due executioÌ„ of the premisses as also that all others within their seuerall precincts and iurisdiction should by their good instructions willing example be the more oftener and with better deuotion mooued to vse and frequent the same As further appeareth by the contents of hys letter here ensuyng ¶ Another letter directed by the King and hys Counsaile to Boner Bish. of London partly rebuking hym of negligence partly chargyng hym to see to the better settyng out of the seruice booke within his Diocesse RIght reuerend father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greete you well An other letter to Boner Byshop of London and where as after great and serious debating and long conference of the bishops and other graue and well learned men in the holy Scriptures one vniforme order for common prayers and administration of the Sacramentes hath bene and is most godly set forth not only by the common agreement and full assent of the nobilitie and Commons of the late Session of our late Parliament but also by the lyke assent of the bishops in the same Parliament and of all others the learned mâ— of this our realme in their Synodes and conuocations prouinciall Like as it was much to our comfort to vnderstand the godly trauaile then diligently willingly taken for the true openyng of things mentioned in the sayd booke whereby the true seruice and honour of almighty God and the right ministration of the Sacraments beyng well and sincerely set forth accordyng to the Scriptures vse of the primatiue church much idolatry vayne superstition great and slanderous abuses be taken away so it is no small occasion of sorow vnto vs to vnderstand by the complaints of many that our sayd booke so much traueled for also sincerely set forth as is aforesaid remayneth in many places of this our realme eyther not knowen at all or not vsed or at the least if it be vsed very seldome The kinges booke neglected and that in such light and irreuerent sort as the people in many places either haue herd nothing or if they heare they neither vnderstand nor haue that spirituall delectation in the same that to good christians appertaineth The fault wherof lyke as we must of reason impute to you and other of your vocation called by God thorough our appointment to haue due respect to this and such lyke matters so consideryng that by these and such like occasions our louyng subiectes remaâ—ne yet still in their old blyndnes and superstitious errors and in some places in an irreligious forgetfulnes of God wherby his wrath may be prouoked vpon vs and them and remembring with all that amongst other cures committed to our princely charge we thinke this the greatest to see the glory and true seruice of hym maintained extolled by whose clemency we knowledge our selues to haue all that we haue we could not but by aduise and consent of our deerest vncle Edward duke of Somerset gouernour of our person and protector of our realme dominions and subiects and the rest of our priuy counsaile Anno 1549. admonish you of the premisses Wherein as it had bene your office to haue vsed an earnest diligence and to haue preferred the same in all places within your Diocesse as the case required so haue we thought good to pray and require you Boners neâ—â—ligence noted and neuerthelesse straightly to charge and commaund you that from henceforth ye haue an earnest and speciall regard to the reduce of these things so as the Curates may do their dueties more often and in more reuerent sort the people be occasioned by the good aduises and examples of your selfe your Chauncellor Archdeacons and other inferior ministers to come with oftener and more deuotioÌ„ to their sayd common prayers to geue thanks to God and to be pertakers of the most holy Communion Wherein shewyng your selfe diligent and geuyng good example in your owne person you shall both discharge your duty to the great pastor to whom we all haue to accompt and also do vs good seruice and on the other side if we shall hereafter these our letters and commaundement notwithstandyng haue eftsoones complaint and finde the lyke faults in your dioces we shall haue iust cause to impute the fault thereof and of all that ensue thereof vnto you and consequently be occasioned therby to see otherwyse to the redresse of these things wherof we would be sory And therfore we do eftsoones charge and commaund you vpon your allegiance to loke well vpon your duety herein as ye tender our pleasure Geuen vnder our signet at our Manor of Richmond the 23. of Iuly the 3. yeare of our raigne 1549. The B. of London among the rest of the bishops receiuyng these letters did as alwayes tofore in outward shew willingly accept the same and therfore immediately with the sayd letters directed this his precept
vnto the Deane and Chapter of his cathedrall Church of Paules commanding them to looke to the due accomplishing therof accordingly ¶ A letter of Boner to the Deane and Chapiter of Paules EDmund by the grace of God c. To my welbeloued brethren the Deane and Chapiter of the Cathedrall church of S. Paule in London A letter of 〈…〉 Deane of Paules and to the other Ministers there and euery of them do send greeting And where it is so that of late I haue receyued the sayd soueraigne Lord the kings maiesties letter of such tenure as is hereunto annexed and according to my most bounden dutie am right well willing and desiring that the said letters should be in all points duely executed and obserued according to the tenure and purport of the same as apperteineth these therfore are to require and also straightly to charge you and euery of you on his maiesties behalfe c. that you do admonish and commaund or cause to be admonished or commaunded all and singuler Persons Vicars and Curates of your iurisdiction to obserue and accomplish the same from time to tyme accordingly Furthermore requiring and likewise charging you and euery of you to make certificate herein to me my Chauncellour or other my officers in this behalfe with such conuenient celeritie as appertaineth both of your procedings in the execution hereof and also the persons and names of all such as from hencefoorth shall be found negligent in doyng their dueties in the premisses or any of them Geuen at my house at Fulham the 26. of Iuly in the yere of our lord 1549. and in the third yere of our sayd soueraigne Lord the kings Maiesties raigne Moreouer for so much as the king at that instant hearing the muttering of certain rebellion theÌ„ stirring wherof more shall be said the Lord willing hereafter also beyng credibly informed by diuers Slacknes of Boner in â—â—â—thering good proceedinges that through the euil example slacknes of preaching and administring the sacraments and carelesse contempt of Boner B. of London not onely many of the people within the city of London other places of his Diocesse were very negligent and forgetfull of their dueties to God in frequenting the diuine seruice then stablished and set forth by the authority of parliament but also that diuers other vtterly despising the same Popishe Masse priâ—â—ly frequented in places against the law did in secret places of his Dioces often frequent the popish masse and other forraine rites not allowed by the lawes of this realme he thought it therefore good hauyng thereby iust cause to suspect his former dissemblyng doublenes to appoint the L. Protector and the rest of his priuy counsaile to call the sayd B. before them and accordyng to their wyse and discrete iudgements to deale with hym for the same Anno 1549. Wherupon the xj day of August an 1549. they sent a messenger for him and vpon his appearaunce made first declaration of such informations and complaints as had bene theretofore made against him Boner calâ—ed before â—he Counâ—â—ile And then after sharpe admonitions and reproofes for his euil demeanors in the premisses they deliuered vnto him from the kyng for hys better reformation and amendment certaine priuate Iniunctions to be necessarily followed and obserued of hymselfe Certayne â—â—lâ—ate Inâ—â—nctions â—euen to â—oner by 〈◊〉 Counâ—â—ile â—oner â—â—signed by 〈◊〉 Counâ—â—ile to â—â—each at â—aules Crosse. And where as in the first branch of the said Iniunctions he was personally assigned to preach at Pauls crosse the sonday three weekes then next ensuyng because both the dangerous and fickle estate of the tyme and also partly his owne suspicious behauior so required they farther deliuered vnto him in writing such articles to intreat vpoÌ„ in his Sermon as they thought then most meete and necessary for the tyme and causes aforesayd All which Iniunctions and Articles for the farther manifestation therof I haue here inserted as followeth Certaine priuate Iniunctions and Articles geuen to Boner by the Counsaile FOrasmuch as we are aduertised that amongst other disorders of our subiects â—â—monitioÌ„ geuen to â—oner by 〈◊〉 Counâ—â—â—le at this present there be diuers of our citie of London and other places within your Dioces which beyng very negligent and forgetfull of their duetie to almighty God of whom all good things are to be looked for doe assemble themselues very seldome fewer tymes then they were heretofore accustomed vnto commoÌ„ praier and to the holy Communion beyng now a tyme when it were more needefull with hart and mynde to pray to our heauenly father for his ayd and succour wherof as we be right sory so we do vnderstand that through your euil example and the slacknes of your preaching and instructing our sayd people to doe their duties this offence to God is most generally committed for where heretofore vpon all principall feasts and such as were called Maius duplex you your selfe were woont to execute in person now since the tyme that we by the aduise of our whole Parliament haue set a most godly and deuout order in our Church of England and Ireland ye haue very seldome or neuer executed vpon such or other dais to the coÌ„tempt of our procedings euil example of others forasmuch as it is also brought to our knowledge that diuers as well in London as in other places of your Dioces do frequent and haunt foraine rites of masses and suche as be not allowed by the orders of our realme Boner restrained to execute all principal feastes contrary to his wonted maner contemneth and forbeareth to praise and laud God and pray vnto his maiestie after such rites and ceremonies as in this realme are approued set out by our authoritie and further that adultery and fornication is maintained and kept openly and commonly in the sayd citie of London other places of your Dioces wherby the wrath of god is prouoked against our people of the which things you beyng heretofore admonished Boner noted of slacknes in his duty of contempt of publicke lawes yet hetherto haue made no redresse as to the pastorall office authoritie cure of a bishop doth appertaine We therefore to whom the supreme cure and charge of this Church doth appertaine to auoid froÌ„ vs the high indignatioÌ„ of almightie God by the aduise of our most entirely beloued Uncle the L. Protector and the rest of our priuy Counsaile haue thought it no lesse then our most bouÌ„den dutie now at this present and eftsoones peremptorily to admonish charge warne you that you do most straightly looke vpon the premisses and see them so reformed that there may appeare no negligence on your behalfe vpon such payne as by our lawes Ecclesiasticall and temporall we may inflict vppon you vnto depriuation or otherwise as shall seme to vs for qualitie of y e offence reasonable And to the intent you shold the better see to y e reformation of the sayd
the sequele of the storye to be declared wherin first thou shalt vnderstand y t the said B. shortly after his Protestation whether for feare or for conscience repenting himselfe went vnto the King where hee submitting himselfe and recantinge his former protestation Boner repenteth his euil demeanour in his protestatiō craued pardon of the king for his inordinate demeanor toward his graces Commissioners in the former visitation Whych pardone notwithstanding it was graunted vnto hym by the Kynge for the acknowledging of hys fault yet for the euill example of the facte Boner sent to the Fleete it was thoughte good that hee should be committed to the Fleete as by the tenoure of the Counsailes letter sente to the Commissioners maye appeare whych together wyth the fourme also of the Bishoppes protestation and of hys recantation heere vnder followeth To our very louing frendes Syr Anthony Cooke Knight and the rest of the Commissioners for the visitation at London The kinges letter to the Commissioners concerning the recantation and pardoning of Boner in haste AFter our heartie commendations This shal be to signifie vnto you that we haue receiued your letters and in the same enclosed the copie of the protestation made by the Bishop of London in the time of your visitation at Paules your wise proceedings wherein and aduertisements from you wee take in verye thankefull part towardes vs. And because the sayd Bishop which being heere before vs hath acknowledged his indiscrete demeanour did at that time at Paules require the Register of your visitation to make recorde and enter of his protestation Boner recāteth his protestatiō Boner 〈◊〉 his recantation 〈…〉 and nowe vppon better cōsideration of his duetie maketh meanes to haue the same reuoked as shall appeare vnto you by the true copie of his wrytinge inclosed the originall whereof remaining wyth vs he hath subscribed wee pray you to cause the Register to make enter of this his reuocation accordinge vnto the tenour of thys his said wryting Further signifyinge vnto you that in respecte of his offence and the euill ensample that might thereupon ensue we haue thought meete to sende him to the prisone of the Fleete The Copy of Boners recantation whether hee hathe bene conueyed by maister Vicechamberlaine And whereas sundry thinges for the kinges Maiesties seruice doe nowe occurre heere whyche require the present attendaunce of you Sir Iohn Godsaule as well for your office of the Signet as of the Protonoriship we pray you that leauing the execution of the visitation to the rest of your colleages you make your repaire hither with conuenient diligence Thus fare you right hartily well From Hampton Court the 12 of Septemb. 1547. Your assured louing frendes Tho Canterbury William S. Iohn Iohn Russel Tho. Semer. William Paget Anthony Browne William Peter Anthony Denny Edward North. The forme of Boners recantation WHere as I Edmunde Bishop of London at suche time as I receiued the kings maiesties Iniunctions and Homilies of my most dreade soueraigne Lorde at the handes of his highnesse visitours did vnaduisedly make such protestation as nowe vpon better consideration of my duetie of obedience and of the euill ensample that might ensue vnto others thereof appeareth to mee neither reasonable nor suche as might well stande with the duetie of an humble subiecte for so much as the same protestation at my request was then by the Register of that visitation enacted putte in Recorde I haue thoughte it my duetie not onely to declare before your Lordshippes that I doe now vppon better consideration of my duetie renounce and reuoke my sayde protestation but also most humbly beseeche your Lordships that thys my reuocation of the same may be in likewise putte in the same recordes for a perpetuall memorie of the truth moste humbly beseeching your good Lordshippes both to take order that it maye take effect and also that my former and vnaduised doings may be by your good mediations pardoned of the kings maiestie Edmund London The Registers of these affaires of Boners Ex registro Petri Lilij remaineth in the handes of Peter Lillie then beinge Register to the foresayd Commissioners Thus farre thou haste heard louing Reader firste the popish protestation of Boner The order of Boners doinges in the beginning of king Edward then how he calling himselfe home againe solemnely recanted the same requiringe further the sayde his reuocation to be committed to publyke Record for a perpetual remembraunce Also how he vpon his humble submission receiued his pardō of the king and yet for examples sake was commanded to the Flete Where he neuertheles did not long continue but accordinge to the effect of the kings pardon afore graūted was restored both to house and liuing againe Which was in the first yeare of the king An. 1547. After this yee haue heard also in the story aboue in the second yeare and a great part of the thirde yere of the king howe he demeaned hymselfe although not most forward◠in aduauncing the Kinges proceedings yet in suche sorte as no great aduantage by any law could be taken againste him both in swearing his obedience to the king and in receiuing hys Iniunctions also in professing hys assent and consent touchinge the state of Religion then and furthermore in directinge out hys letters accordynge to the Arch-Bishop of Canterburyes Preceptes to Cloney his Sumner to the Bishop of Westminster and other Bishoppes for abolishing of Images for abrogation of the Masse for Bibles to be set vpp and for ministring in both kindes with such other matters of reformation like till at length he hearing of the death of the Lorde Admirall the Lorde Protectours brother Boner beginneth to slacke in his diligence and after that of the sturring and rising of the kinges subiectes in sundrye tumultes agaynst the king beganne somewhat as hee durst to drawe backe and slacke his pastoral dilligence so that in many places of his Dioces and in London the people not only were negligent in resorting to deuine seruice but also did frequent and haunt forreine rites of masses and other orders then in this Realme appoynted Anno 1549. and hee also himselfe contrary to his wonted maner vpon principal feastes refused in his owne person to execute Whereupon he being suspected and complayned of and conuented before y e kinges Counsaile as ye heard before after sharpe admonitions and reproofes had certayne priuate Iniunctions to hym enioyned 1. First that hee shoulde personally preache within three weekes after at Paules crosse Matters put to Boner to redresse 2. That according as his predecessours were wont to celebrate Masse he at such wonted tymes shoulde execute and administer the Communion 3. That he shoulde call before him and correcte more dilligently such transgressours as absented them selues from the order of seruice and ministration of the Lordes boorde appoynted then in Churches by the kinges ordinaunce 4. That he shoulde see more carefully and vigilantly to the punishment of
vppon IN most humble wise sheweth vnto your Maiestie William Latimer and Iohn Hooper that where of late The deâ—â—â—tiation of W. Latimâ—â— and Iohn Hooper dâ—â—nounceâ—â—â—â—gaynst Boner as we be certainely infourmed froÌ„ your maiestie by the hande of the right highe and noble Prince Edwarde Duke of Somerset Gouernour of your Royal person and Protectour of al your highnes realmes dominions and subiects and the rest of your priuie Counsaile there was certaine Iniunctions geuen to the Byshop of London that nowe is with Articles to be insinuated and preached vnto youre subiectes at a certaine daye limitted the whyche Iniunctions and articles did onely tende to the honour of GOD and the better instructions of your highnes people to obedience and hatred of rebellion and mutinie wherewith of late this your Maiesties Realme hath bene marueilously vexed to the daunger of your highnes person and the state of the whole Realme and thereâ—ore a thinge at thys time most necessary to be taught vnto y e people that they myght knowe their duetie vnto your maiestie and vnto almighty God and especially to acknowledge your Maiestie in these yeares age to be a perfect high and soueraigne Lord and king and supreme head whose lawes proclamations and commaundementes we are bounde to obey as wel as any princes subiects are bounde to obey the lawes proclamations and commaundementes of their naturall and soueraigne Lord notwithstanding that nature hath not yet giuen vnto your person suche age as we trust he shall nor so many yeares which we wish to be so many as any Prince euer hadde the whych yeares doe not make you Kynge or Prince but the righte of your birthe Yeares anâ— age doe 〈◊〉 make a kinâ— but the right of succession and lawfull succession what soeuer it be so that we all must as well acknowledge your maiestie to be our Kinge and Prince at these yeares as if you were of the age of 30. or 40. yeares and your lawes and statutes no lesse to be feared obeyed theÌ„ if your highnes were 50. or 100. yeres olde the whyche thing not onely is most certainely true but also at this time most necessarily to be taught especially when diuers rebelles haue openly declared that they woulde not obey your highnesse lawes nor acknowledge the Statutes made by your Maiestie to be auailable til ye come to the age of 20. yeres and this not only being so Anno 1549 but the same thing being commanded by your sayd Maiestie amongst other Iniunctions Articles geuen in wryting to the sayde Edmund Boner to be preached in his last sermon as by the same Iniunctions maye appeare of the whiche the true copie we haue when neede is to be shewed yet al this notwithstanding the said Boner of what zeale or minde we cannot tell whether fauoring the opinion of the saide rebels or contemning your highnesse commaundement declared to him Boner left out of his Sermon 〈◊〉 article of the kinges authority hath not only left out to declare the sayd Article which we most chiefly expected and looked for but also in all the rest of his Sermons did not so fully and apertly declare the sayd Iniunctions and Articles as to our iudgement did appeare they ought to haue bene declared and was of no lyght grounde loked for intreating of other farre distant and diuers from the Articles vppon the which he was commaunded to entreat and such as most should moue and stirre vp the people to disorder and dissension willingly leauing oute those things which should haue made quiet obedience Wherefore not mooued of any malice grudge enuie or euil will to the person of the bishop but constreined by the loue zeale which we beare towards your highnes of our duty and allegeance to your maiesty whose honour and sauety with tranquilitie quietnesse and good gouernaunce of this your Realme we do most desire and for y e discharge of our most bounden dueties to auoyde all the daungers that might ensue of the concealement thereof we most humbly do denounce and declare the same to your highnes to the intent that your Maiestie by the aduise aforesayd may if it please your highnes at this our humble denuntiation call the sayd Byshop to aunswere to the premisses the which we are ready to auowe and proue and then your highnes to take further order heerein as to your Princely wisedome shall seeme most conuenient whose long life and most prosperous gouernement God almighty long continue for the which we shall pray during our liues The Kings Maiestie hauing thus by the information of these two credible persons perfect intelligence of the coÌ„temptuous peruerse negligence of this Bishop in not accomplishing his highnes commaundement geueÌ„ him by Iniunction thought it most necessary with all conuenient speede for the auoiding of farther inconueniences to loke more seuerely vnto the due punishment of such dangerous rebellious obstinacie and therfore by the aduise of the Lord Protectour CommissioÌ„ directed downe by the King against Bonner and the rest of his honorable Counsaile immediatly he directed forth his commission vnder his broad Seale vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Rochester and to other graue and trusty personages and Counsellers appointing authorising all theÌ„ or certain of them by vertue of the same to call before them as well the Bishop of London Commissioners appoinâ—â—d as also the foresaid denouncers vpoÌ„ due examination proofe of y e premisses or any other matter otherwise to be obiected farther to proceed against him suâ—â—arely de plano according to law and Iustice either to suspension excoÌ„municatioÌ„ committing to prison or depriuation if the qualitie of the offence so required or otherwise to vse any other censure Ecclesiasticall which for the better hearing and determining of that cause myghte to their wisedomes seeme more pertinent as appeareth more amply by the tenour of the Commission heere ensuing * The copie of the Kings Commission sent downe vpon the denunciation aforesayd for the examination of Boner Byshop of London EDward the sixt c. To the most reuerent father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury Metropolitane and Primate of all England The Copye of the Kingâ— Commission for Bonners examination the right reuerend father in God Nicholas Byshop of Rochester our trusty and right welbeloued Counsellers Syr William Peter and Syr Thomas Smith Knightes our two principall Secretaries and William Maye Doctour of the Law Ciuile and Deane of Paules greeting It is come to our knowledge that where we by the aduise of our most entirely beloued Vncle Edward Duke of Somerset gouernour of our person and Protectour of all our Realmes dominions and subiects and the rest of our priuy Counsayle did giue to the right reuerend father in God Edmund Byshop of London vpon certayne complaynts before made vnto vs and other great considerations certayne Iniunctions to be folowed done and executed and in a Sermon appointed to him
I doubt not He would make meÌ„ beleue that he were called before vs for preaching his opinion of the sacrameÌ„t wherein I assure you he did both falsly naughtily yea lewdly and more then became hym and more then he had in commaundement to do for he was not willed to speake of that matter perhaps he may heare more of that hereafter but yet he will say no such thing to his charge and therefore we wyll not haue hym to delay vs as he doth Which ended the delegates notwithstanding decreed to tary agayne for him vntill two of the clocke at after noone the nexte day beyng Friday and the twenty of September The v. Action or processe the xx of September agaynst Boner Byshop of London before the kings Commissioners AT which day and tyme the Bishop appeared hymselfe personally before theÌ„ in the same chamber of presence The 5. 〈…〉 against Boner Byshop of London Where first he did exhibite his answers vnto the last Articles ministred vnto hym the 18. of September The contents wherof here vnder follow ¶ The aunswer of the sayd Bishop of London made vnto the Articles ministred vnto hym the second tyme. THe aunswers of me Edmund bishop of London vnder myne accustomed protestation geuen vnto the Articles of late ministered and exhibited agaynst me here in this court with speciall protestation also that I doe not intend in any wise to make aunswere to any of the sayd articles otherwise then the lawe of this Realme doth bynd me to doe nor to speake or say contrary to any thyng that in my former aunsweres I haue sayd or done and that if so chaunce me to do it is not nor shall not be with my good will or full consent and that so soone as I shall perceyue it I intend to reuoke it and so now as than and then as now doe so in that case reuoke to all honest and lawfull purposes To the first Article I do aunswere and say that there was a Messenger whose name I knowe not Boner aunswereth to the first article that came vnto me to Fulham as I nowe remember but I doe not remember the day thereof and he sayd that my Lord Protectours grace required me to come by and by to speake with hym And thereupon hauyng made the sayd messenger to breake hys faste I repayred to the Court at Westminster but not vpon the tenth day of August but some other day of the sayd month To the second Article I doe say that it is obscure incertayne and ouer generall Aunswere to the 2. article especially in those at the same tyme which may be referred to the tenth of August and than aunswere already is made thereunto and it may be referred to some other day of the sayd month of August either before the x. of August or after And because it remayneth vndeclared I am not bound in law to aunswer vnto it neyther yet to those wordes and sentence in the sayd Article it is to wit then and there for they without declaration are incertaine obscure and generall and I before the specification and declaration thereof not bound herein to make an aunswer specially hauyng already made full and sufficient answer in this matter accordyng to the commission as I do take it and accordyng vnto the law which also willeth that if a certaine answer be looked for the position and Article must before be certaine To the 3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13 and 14 Article he answereth all after one maner and sort He aunswereth in a generall as thus That it doth depend of the former Articles to which for causes aforesayd he sayth he is not bound in law to make answer vnto especially hauyng already made Sauing that in the sixt he addeth thereunto that he at no tyme heard the L. Protector find fault nor commaunded as is deduced in the sayd Article so farre as he doth finde Also sauyng the 7. Article where he addeth neuertheles confessing and knowledging with heart and mouth the kings maiesties authoritie and regal power in his minoritie as well and full as in his maioritie Also sauing the 8.9.10 and 11. articles where he addeth as they be deduced they are not true as appeareth in conserâ—ing one with other To the 12. and 14. Articles he addeth as they be deduâ—ed they are not true Confessing neuerthelesse the Kings Maiesties authoritie and power regall as before is exâ—resseâ— To the 15. Article he aunswereth and sayth that it is a position of law and that yet both now Aunswere to the 15. article and heretofore he hath made aunswer thereunto in effect and substaunce as appeareth in his former aunswers and so shal do always according to the law and his bounden duetie knowledging as he hath already done the kings maiesties regall power in his minoritie to be no lesse then in his maioritie And the subiects bound to obey vnto his grace his lawes statutes and ordinaunces and his sayd authoritie as well in hys minoritie as in hys maioritie not allowyng but expresly condemnyng the opinion of all rebels holding the contrary After this perceiuyng that M. Secretary Smith was somewhat more quicke with hym then others of the Commissioners and that he would not suffer him any longer to dally out the matter with his vaine quiddities and subtleties in law but euer earnestly vrged him to go directly to his matter Boner refuseth Secretary Smith to be his iudge and therewithall sometymes sharply rebuking him for his euill and stubborne behauiour towardes them he to deface his authoritie as he thought did also then exhibite in writyng a recusation of the Secretaries iudgement against him The forme and maner wherof as he exhibited it vnto the iudges I thought here also to exhibite vnto the Reader as here vnder followeth ¶ The recusation of the Iudgement of Syr Thomas Smith made by the B. of London the first tyme. IN the name of God Amen Forasmuch as equitie Causes alleaged by Boner why he refused Secretary Smyth naturall reason and all good lawes do require that Iudges shall be of that integritie wisedome circumspection learnyng and indifferencie that exercising the office and rowme of a Iudge they may shall do it without hatred malice oâ— grudge agaynst any person conuented or called before them vprightly sincerely and duely executyng and doyng their office vnto them in any wyse committed and for as much also as all iudgementes and processe ought to haue their due course and proceede without suspition or corruption in any wyse and finally for as much as very dangerous it is to appeare and make defence before an incompetent Iudge who commonly and accustomably of priuate vnlawful corrupt affectioÌ„ to the one side for malice hatred and enuy borne against the other side rather serueth his carnall corrupt and wilfull appetite Boner layeth exceptions against Sir Thomas Smyth then any thyng is mooued to obedience and keeping of good order law or reason touching him that is
good eftsoones to desire you that my sayde Chaplayne may haue his libertye wherein I assure you yee shall much gratifie me beeing not a little troubled that he is so long in prison without iust cause seeyng the matter of hys imprisonmente is discharged by the promise made to the Emperours Maiestie as in my late letter I declared vnto you Wherefore my Lordes I pray you let me haue knowledge by this bearer how ye will vse me in this matter wherein if ye do pleasure me accordingly then shall it well appeare that ye regard the foresayd promise and I wil not forget your gentlenes therein God willing but requite it to my power And thus with my harty commendations to you all I bid you farewell From Beaulien the 21. of Iune Your assured friend to my power Mary ¶ The Counsaile to the Lady Mary the 24. of Iune 1551. AFter our humble coÌ„mendatioÌ„s to your grace we haue receiued your graces letter of the 21. heereof wherin is receaued the same request that in your former letters hath bene made for the release of Doctor Mallet and therein also your grace seemeth to haue looked for the same answer of your former letter y t which indeed partly was omitted as your grace coÌ„iectureth by the reason of y e Kings Maiesties affaires wherwith we â—e throughly occupied partly for that we had no other thing to answere then you had heeretofore heard in the same matter And therefore where your grace desireth a resolute answere we assure the same we be right sory for y â— matter that it should be your graces chaunce to moue it as we cannot with our duties to y e Kings Maiestie accomplishe your desire So necessary a thing it is to see the lawes of the Realme executed indifferently in all manner of persons and in these cases of contempt of the Ecclesiasticall orders of this Church of England the same may not without y e great displeasure of God the slaunder of y e state be neglected and therfore your grace may please to vnderstand we haue not only punished your Chaplein but all such others whom we find in like case to haue disobeyed the lawes of the Kings maiestie And touching the excuse your grace oftentimes vseth of a promise made we assure your grace none of vs al nor any other of the Counsell as your grace hath bene certified hath euer bene priuie to any such promise otherwise then hath bene written And in that matter your grace had plaine answer both by vs of the kings maiesties Counsell at your being last in his Maiesties presence and therein also your grace might perceiue his Maiesties determination whereunto we beseech your grace not only to incline your selfe but also to iudge well of vs that do addict our selues to doe our dueties And so also shall we be ready to do with all oure harts our due reuerence towarde your grace whose preseruation we commend to almighty God with our praier The Copie of the Lady Maryes letter to the Kings Maiestie MY duetie most humbly remembred vnto your Maiesty it may please the same to be aduertised that I haue receyued by my seruauntes your most honourable letters the conteâ—â—es whereof do not a little trouble me and so muche the more for that any of my sayd seruants should moue or attempt me in matters touching my soule which I thinke the meanest subiect within your highnes Realme could euill 〈◊〉 at their seruauntes handes hauing for my part vtterly refused heeretofore to talke with them in such matters and of all other persons 〈…〉 them therein to whome I haue declared what I think◠〈◊〉 â—hee which trusted that your Maiestie woulde haue suffered 〈◊〉 your poore sister and beadewomaÌ„ to haue vsed the accustomed masse which the King your father mine with all his predecâ—ssours did euermore vse wherein also I haue ben brought vp froÌ„ my 〈◊〉 And therevnto my conscience doth not only bind me which by no meanes will suffer me to thinke one thing and do another 〈◊〉 also the promise made to the Emperour by your Maiesties counsaile was an assurance to me that in so doing I should not offâ—nd the â—wes although they seeme nowe to qualifie and 〈…〉 thing And at my last wayting vpon your Maiesty I was 〈◊〉 to declare my mind and conscience to the same and desired your highnes rather then you should constraine me to leaue 〈…〉 my life wherunto your maiesty made me a very geÌ„tle answer And now I most humbly beseech your highnes to geueÌ„ me leaue to write what I thinke touching your Maiesties letters In deede they be signed with your owne hand and neuertheles in mine opinioÌ„ not your maiesties in effect because it is wel knoweÌ„ as heretofore I haue declared in the preseÌ„ce of your highnesse that although our Lorde be praysed your Maiestie hath farre more knowledge and greater giftes then others of your yeres yet it is not possible that your highnes can at these yeares be a iudge in matters of religion and therefore I take it that the matter in your letters proceedeth from such as doe wish those thinges to take place which be most agreeable to themselues by whose doinges your maiesty not offended I entend not to rule my conscience And thus without molesting your Highnes any further I humbly beseech the same eueÌ„ for Gods sake to beare with me as you haue done and not to thinke that by my doinges or example anye inconuenience might growe to your maiestie or your Realme for I vse it not after such sorte putting no doubt but in time to come whether I liue or dye your maiestie shall perceaue that mine intent is grounded vpon a true loue towardes you whose royall estate I beseeche almighty God long to continue which is and shall be my dayly praier according to my duety And after pardon craued of your maiesty for these rude and bold letters if neyther at my humble suite nor for the regard of the promise made to the Emperour your Highnesse will suffer and beare with mee as you haue done till your Maiestye may be a iudge herein your selfe and rightly vnderstand theyr proceedinges of whiche your goodnesse yet I despayre not otherwise rather then to offend God and my conscience I offer my body at your wil and death shall be more welcome then life with a troubled conscience most humbly beseeching your Maiestye to pardon my slownes in aunswering your letters For mine olde disease woulde not suffer me to write any sooner And thus I praye almighty God to keep your Maiesty in all vertue and honor with good health and long life to his pleasure From my poore house at Copped hall the xix of Aug. Your Maiesties most humble sister Mary ¶ A Copy of the kinges maiesties letters to the sayde Lady Mary RIght deare and right intirely beloued sister we greete you well and let you knowe that it greeueth vs muche to perceiue no amendment in you of that which we for Gods
all is y t wil make himself a lock of words speech which is known not to be my factioÌ„ nor I think this life worth y â— dissimulation how can y t be a doubtful speech in him y t professeth to agree with the kings lawes iniunctions statutes which I did expresly There be y t cal a doubt whatsoeuer serueth not theyr appetite It is not in y e speaker to satisfy the hearer y t will doubt where dout is not The suÌ„me of my teaching was y t all visible things be ordred to serue vs which we may in conuenieÌ„t seruice vse And wheÌ„ we serue them y t is an abuse and may theÌ„ at y e rulers pleasure vnles scripture appointeth a special vse of theÌ„ be corrected in y â— vse or takeÌ„ away for reformatioÌ„ And this is a plain teaching y t hath no dout in it but a yea a nay on ij sides w tout a mean to make a dout And if any y t douteth coÌ„meth vnto me Aunswere by wordes to omission in deedes I wil resolue him y â— doubt as I can And if I promised to speake plainly or am coÌ„manded to speake plainly caÌ„not theÌ„ is my fault to promise only in the nature of folly ignorance whereunto I resort not for a shift wherof in deed I professe y e knowlege but to shew how somtime to my hinderaunce I am noted learned that can speake plainly and yet speake doubtfully other whiles am reiected as one y t vnderstandeth not the matter at all As touching conteÌ„pt there can be none manifest y t proceedeth of a priuy promise if I had broken it I intended not but inteÌ„ded to take it as appereth by my general sentence to agre w t the superiors only find fault in y e inferior subiects who daily transgresseth the kings maiesties proclamations and other wherof I spake then 10 article The 10. Article Item that you beyng also commaunded on his Maiesties behalfe for the auoyding of tumult and for other great considerations inhibited to treate of any matter in controuersie concernyng the masse of the coÌ„munion then coÌ„monly called the sacrament of the aulter did contrary to the said commandement and inhibition declare diuers your iudgements and opinions in the same in the manifest contempt of hys highnes sayd inhibition to the great offence of the hearers and disturbance of common quiet and vnitie of the realme Winchester To the x. article the said B. answered y t the Wednesday at after noone Aunswere to he 10. Article M. Cicill next before y e friday wheÌ„ I preached M. Cicil came to me hauing in all his other accesses spoken no word therof did theÌ„ vtter aduise me froÌ„ y e D. of Somerset y t I should not speake of the sacrament or of the Masse wherby he said I should auoid trouble And when he saw me not take it wel I meane quoth he doubtfull matters I asked him what He said transubstantiation I told hym he wist not what transubstantiation ment I wyll preach quoth I the very presence of Christs most precious body bloud in the sacrament which is the catholike faith no doubtful matter ne yet in controuersie sauing that certein vnlearned speake of it they wot not what And among the matters quoth I whereof I haue promised to speake Winchesters cathoâ—licke fayth in the Sacrament I must by special words speake of the sacrament the masse also And when I shal so speake of theÌ„ I will not forbeare to vtter my faith true beliefe therin which I think necessary for the kings maiesty to know therfore if I wist to be haÌ„ged when I came downe I would speake it Which plaine zeale of my conscience grouÌ„ded vpoÌ„ gods coÌ„mandement to do his message truly I would not hide Winchestâ—â— would nede◠〈◊〉 of the Sacrament of the Masse but vtter so as my L. should if he would not haue it spoken of nor let me to come there as he might haue done where as els if I had had a deceitful purpose I might haue accepted the aduise w tout any color of trouble haue refused to follow it as a thing grouÌ„ded vpon welth only as it was theÌ„ vttered With this my answer M. Cicil departed vpon y e thursday which was the next day folowing the euening before I preached betwene 3. 4. at after noone I receiued a letter signed with the hand of the D. of Somerset the copy wherof I am redy to exhibite took it them estemed it so now to continue no effectuall inhibition wherunto I might by gods law or the kings maiesties laws with discharge of my conscience duety obey although the said letters had bene as they were not in such termes framed as had precisely forbidden me as they did not but onely to speake of matters in controuersy of the sacrament which in deed I did not but only vttred a truth to my conscieÌ„ce most certainly perswaded of the most holy sacrament necessary to be known to the kings maiesty to be vttred by me admitted to that place of preaching from whence God commandeth his truth to be vttered which in this nature of truth the vndue estimation and vse whereof S. Paule threatneth with temporall death may in no wise be omitted S. Paule threatneth death to the misusers 〈◊〉 the Sacrament Ergo the reall presence of Christ is the Sacrament Nego argumentuâ— So as I was and am perswaded the right estimation of the sacrament to be to acknowledge the very presence of the same most precious body and bloud present in the Sacrament to feed vs that was geuen to redeeme vs. If I shewed not my soueraigne Lord the truth therof I for my part suffer hym wittingly to fall into that extreme danger of body which S Paule threateneth whose person I am bound by nature by speciall othes by Gods lawes to preserue to my power as I will do and must do by all ways and meanes And if the Kings Maiestie doth vouchesafe to teache hys people not to obey hys commaundement where God commaundeth the contrary I might not take my Lord of Somersets letter for an inhibition to hold my peace And why would 〈◊〉 Wynchesâ—â—â— alow this reason in 〈…〉 Maryes time 〈◊〉 king the word of truth after their conscience 〈…〉 when God biddeth me to speake as he doth wheÌ„ the Wolfe commeth and not to hide my selfe in silence which is the most shamefull runnyng away of all I haue muche matter to alledge against the letter why I should not credite it written in his name alone against a common letter as I tooke it written by hym and the counsaile and published in print the first day of the said month which maintaineth my preachyng of the sacrament masse accordyng to the proclamations and iniunctions the violation of which publike letters had bene a disorder and contempt where as I neither offended in
kings Maiesties person his realme and subiectes No worde hetherto sent from the Lords to the Lord Protector what they required of him to doe Reasonable coÌ„ditions offered by the Lord Protector you shall finde vs agreeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require For we doe esteeme the kings wealth and tranquillitie of the realme more then all other worldly things yea more then our owne life Thus praying you to send vs your determinate answer heerein by M. Secretarie Peter or if you will not let him go by this bearer we beseeche God to geue both you and vs grace to determine this matter as maye be to Gods honour the preseruation of the king and the quiet of vs all which may be if the fault be not in you And so we bid you most heartily fare well From the kings maiesties Castle of Windsore the 7. of Octob. 1549. Your Lordships louing frend E. Somerset After these letters receiued and the reasonable condition of the Lorde Protectour and yet not much regarded of the Lordes they persisting still in their pretended purpose tooke this aduise first to keepe themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and therfore calling vpon the Maior and the Aldermen they willed them in any case to prouide a good and substantiall watch by nyght A solemne watch commauÌ„ded in London and a good warde by day for the safegard of their Citie and the portes and gates thereof which was consented vnto and the CoÌ„panies of London in theyr turnes warned to watch and warde accordingly Then the sayd Lordes and Counsailours demaunded of the Lorde Maior and hys brethren 500. menne to ayde them to fetche the Lorde Protectour out of Windsore from the king but therunto the Maior answeared The Citye of London pressed with 500. mâ—n to fetch the L. Protector The aunswere of the Lorde Maior to the Lordes The Lordes assembled in the L. Maiors house that he could graunt none aide without the assent of the common Counsaile of the citie wherupon the next day a common councell was warned But in this meane time the said Lordes of the Counsaile assembled theÌ„selues at the Lorde Maiors house of London who then was Syr Henrye Amcottes Fishmonger and W. Locke Mercer and sir Iohn Aileph Sheriffes of the said citie and there the said Counsaile did agree and publishe a Proclamation foorthwith agaynst the Lorde Protector the effect of which Proclamation was as followeth 1 First The effect of the proclamation seâ— out agaynst the Lord Protector that the Protector by his malitious and euill gouernment was the occasion of all the sedition that of late happened within the realme 2 The losse of the kings peeces in France 3 That he was ambitious and sought his owne glorye as appeared by building of most sumptuous costly houses in the time of the kings warres 4 That hee esteemed nothinge the graue Counsell of the Counsailours 5 That he sowed diuision betwene the Nobles the gentlemen and the commons 6 That the Nobles assembled themselues together at LondoÌ„ for none other purpose but to haue caused the protectour to haue liued wythin limites and to haue put such order for the suretie of the kings maiestie as appertained whatsoeuer the Protectours doinges were whyche they sayd were vnnaturall ingrate and traiterous 7 That the Protectour sclaundered the Counsaile to the king and did that in him lay to cause variaunce betweene the king and the nobles 8 That hee was a great traitor and therefore the Lordes desired the citie commons to aid them to take hym from the king And in witnes and testimonie of the contents of the said Proclamation the Lordes subscribed theyr names whych were these The Lorde Rich Lord Chauncellour The Lord S. Iohn Lord great maister president of the Counsaile The Lord Marques of Northampton The Earl of Warwike Lord great Chamberlaine The Earle of Arundel L. Chamberlaine The Earle of Shrewsburie The Earle of South-hampton Wriothesley Sir Thomas Cheyney knighte treasurer of the kings house and Lord Warden of the Cinque portes Syr Iohn Gage knight Constable of the Tower Syr Wil. Peter knight Secretarie Syr Edwarde North knight Syr Edwarde Montague chief Iustice of the common place Syr Rafe Sadler Syr Iohn Baker Syr Edw. Wootton Doctour Wootton Deane of Cant. Syr Rich. Southwell After the foresaide Proclamation was Proclaimed the Lordes or the most parte of them continuing and lying in London came y e next day to the Guild hal during the time that the Lord Maior and their brethren sate in their Court or inner chamber The Lordes comming into the Guild hall and entred and communed a long while with the Maior and at the last the Maior and his brethren came foorth vnto the common Counsaile where was read the kings letter sent to the Maior and citizens commaunding them to aid him with a thousand wel appoynted men out of their citie and to send the same with all speede to his Castle at Windsore Thys Letter by name was directed to Syr Henrye Amcottes knighte Lorde Maior to Syr Roulande Hyll knight Maior electe and to the Aldermen and common Counsaile of the Citie of London The daye and Date of the Letter was the sixte of October in the thirde yeare of his raigne being assigned with the hand of the King and of the Lorde Protectour the contentes of which letter for the satisfaction of the reader are heere to be seene in maner and forme as followeth EDWARD By the King TRustie and welbeloued we greete you wel Wee charge and commaunde you most earnestly to geue order with all speede for the defence and preseruation of that our citie of London for vs The Copy of the kinges letter sent to the L. Maior Aldermen and Citizens of LoÌ„don in the behalfe of the L. Protectour and to leuy out of hande and to put in order as many as conueniently you maye well weaponed and arraied keeping good watch at the gates and to sende vs hither for the defence of oure person one thousand of that our Cittie of trustie and faithfull men to attend vpon vs and our most entirely beloued vncle Edward Duke of Somerset Gouernour of our person and Protector of our Realmes dominions and subiects well harnessed and with good and conuenient weapon so that they do make their repaire hither vnto vs this night if it be possible or at the least to morow before noone and in the meane time to doe what as appertaineth vnto your duetie for ours and our sayd vncles defence against all such as attempt any conspiracie or enterprise of violence against vs our sayd Vncle as you knowe best for our preseruation and defence at thys present Geuen vnder our Signet at our Honor of Hampton Court the sixte of October the thirde yeare of oure raigne You shall farther geue credite to our trustie and welbeloued Owen Cleydon the bearer heereof in all such things as hee shall further declare vnto you
God in whom our whole affiaunce is shall send vs. Wherefore my Lordes we require you and charge you and euery of you that euery of you of your allegeance whyche you owe to God and vs and to none other for our honour and the surety of our parson onely employ your selues forth with vpon receit hereof cause our right and title to the Crowne and gouâ—rnement of this Realme to be proclaymed in our Citty of London and other places as to your wisedomes shall seeme good and as to this case apperteineth not fayling hereof as our verye trust is in you And thus our Letter signed with our hande shal be your sufficient warrant in this behalfe Yeuâ—n vnder our Signet at our Manor of Kenyngall the ninth of Iulyâ— 1553. To this Letter of the Ladye Marye the Lordes of the Counsell make aunswere agayne as foloweth ¶ Aunswere of the Lordes vnto the Lady Maryes Letter MAdame A letter of the Counsaile aunswâ—ring agayne to the Lady Mary we haue receiued your letters the ninth of this instant declaring your supposed title which you iudge your self to haue to the Imperiall crowne of this Realm all the dominions thereunto belonging For answere whereof this is to aduertise you that forasmuch as our soueraign Lady Quene Iane is after the death of our soueraign Lord Edward the sixt a prince of most noble memorye inuested and possessed with the iuste and right title in the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme Lady Iane inuested in possession of the crowne by king Edwards will and assent of the whole couÌ„saile not onely by good order of olde aunciente lawes of this Realme but also by our late soueraigne Lordes Letters patentes signed with his own hand and seâ—led with the greate seale of Englande in presence of the most parte of the Nobles Counsellours Iudges with diuers other graue and sage personages assenting subscribing to the same We must therfore as of most bouÌ„d duety and allegeance assent vnto her sayde Grace and to none other except wee shoulde which faythfull subiectes can not fall into greeuous and vnspeakeable enormities Wherefore we can no lesse do but for the quiet both of the realme and you also to aduertise you that forasmuch as the diuorce made betwene the king of famous memory K Henry the 8. the Lady Katherine your mother was necessary to be had both by the euerlasting lawes of God and also by the Ecclesiasticall lawes by the most part of the noble learned Vniuersities of Christendome and confirmed also by the sundry actes of Parliamentes remaining yet in theyr force and therby you iustly made illegitimate and vnheritable to the crown Imperiall of this realme and the rules and dominions and possessions of the same Lady Mary recounted illegitimate you will vpon iust consideration hereof and of diuers other causes lawfull to be alledged for the same for the iust inheritaunce of the right line and godlye order taken by the late king our souereigne Lord king Edward the sixt and agreed vpon by the Nobles and greatest personages aforesayd surcease by any pretence to vexe and molest any of our soueraigne Ladye Queene Iane her subiectes from theyr true fayth and allegeance due vnto her grace assuring you that if you will for respect shew your selfe quiet and obedient as you oughte you shall finde vs all and seuerall ready to doe you any seruice that we with duety may and be glad with your quietnes to preserue the coÌ„mon state of this realme wherin you may be otherwise greuous vnto vs to your selfe and to them And thus we bid you most hartily well to fare from the Tower of London this 9. of Iuly 1553. Your Ladyships frendes shewing your selfe an obedient subiect Thomas Caunterbury The Marques of Winchester Iohn Bedford Wil. Morthhampton Thom. Ely Chauncellour Northumberland Henry Suffolke Henry Arundell Shrewesbury Pembrooke Cobham R. Riche Huntington Darcy Cheyney R. Cotton Iohn Gates W. Peter W. Cicelle Iohn Cheeke Iohn Mason Edward North. R. Bowes All these aforesayd except onely the Duke of NorthuÌ„berland and syr Iohn Gates afterward were either by especiall fauor or speciall or generall pardon discharged After this aunswere receiued and the mindes of the Lordes perceiued Lady Mary keepeth her selfe from the Citty of London Lady Mary speedeth her selfe secretlye away farre of from the City hoping chiefly vpon the good will of the Commons and yet perchaunce not destitute altogether of the secret aduertisementes of some of the Nobles When the Counsell heard of her sodiene departure and perceiued her stoutnesse that all came not to passe as they supposed they gathered speedily a power of meÌ„ together appointing an army and first assigned that the Duke of Suffolke shoulde take that enterprise in hand so haue the leading of the Bande The Duke of Northumberland sent forth agaynst Lady Mary But afterwarde alterynge their mindes they thought it best to seÌ„d forth the Duke of Northumberland with certaine other Lords and Gentlemen and that the Duke of Suffolke shoulde keepe the Tower where the Lord Gilford and the Lady Iane the same time were lodged In the which expedition y e Gard also albeit they were much vnwilling at the first therunto yet notwithstanding through the vehemeÌ„t perswasions of the Lord Treasurer M. Chomley other they were induced to assist the duke and to set forward with him These thinges thus agreed vpon and the Duke nowe being set forwarde after the best array out of London hauing notwithstanding his times prescribed and hys iourneys appoynted by the Counsell to the entent he woulde not seeme to do any thing but vpon warrant Mary in the meane while tossed with muche trauell vp and downe to worke the surest way for her best aduauntage withdrewe her selfe into the quarters of Northfolke and Suffolke Pollicie of the Lady Mary where she vnderstood the Dukes name to be had in muche hatred for the seruice that had ben done there of late vnder king Edward The Lady Mary taketh Fremingham castle in subduing the rebels and there gathering to her such aid of the commons in euery side as she might keepeth her selfe close for a space within Fremingham Castle To whom first of al resorted the suffolke men who being alwayes forward in promoting the procedinges of the Gospell The Suffolk meÌ„ gather to the Lady Maryes side promised her theyr ayd helpe so that she would not attempt the alteration of the religion which her Brother king Edward had before established by lawes and orders publickely enacted and receiued by the consent of the whole Realme in that behalfe To make the matter short vnto this condition she eftsoones agreed with suche promise made vnto them that no innouatioÌ„ should be made of religioÌ„ The Lady Mary promiseth faithfully that she would not alter religion Breach of promise in Queene Mary as that no maÌ„ would or could then haue misdoubted her Whiche promise if shee had as
readye good will towardes me in your hartye desire to stretch out your helping hand to relieue my lacke Prayer distributeth Gods blessinges from one to an other and of your helpe to be extended to me in the other spirituall sort by your good prayer I doubt not as I also therin assure you of my helpe being all that I may do yet the same not so much as I would do My need concerning bodely necessaryes is as yet furnished by Gods prouision so that I am not driueÌ„ to any extremity wherfore to be burdenous to you as your gentle beneuolence prouoketh me the Lord reward you therefore If God make me worthy to be eis witnes at this present in geuing this corruptible body to burne for the testimony of his truth it is enough for me to say vnto you that I haue a poore wife and childe whom I loue in the Lord and whome I know for my sake you will tender when I am departed hence c. ¶ An other Letter to Maystres Lucy Harrington GRace and mercy c. It happeneth oftentimes that aboundaunce of matter bringing with it much vehemeÌ„cy of frendly affection maketh men dumbe and euen then chiefely when there is most eger purpose of speaking An other letter of M. Saunders silence doth suppresse and causeth the party so affected vnperfectly to expresse that he goeth about to vtter Such impediment by much matter mingled with feruency of affection feele I some times in my selfe letting the vtteraunce either by tongue or writing of the aboundance of the hart The loue of our most gracious God and heauenly Father bestowed vpon vs in the merites of Christ our Sauiour who may by coÌ„ceipt of minde comprehend passing in deed al vnderstanding much lesse may the same by any meanes be expressedly vttered And as suche heauenlye blessinges which by fayth we fetch from aboue be inexplicable so is it hard to vtter when the faythfull are set on fire by loue theyr readines to reach forth and to geue by charity as by fayth they haue receiued But alas we cary this treasure in earthen vessels Many times fayth is feble and then loue loseth her feruor 2. Cor. 4. Fayth many tymes in vs is feeble Pray we therfore Lord encrease our fayth and loue forthwith will be on fire And immortall thanks be geuen vnto our God who in our Christ hath bestowed vpon vs the first fruites of his spirite who cryeth in our hartes Abba Father And as S. Paule sayth seeing we haue the same spirit of fayth Rom 8. 1. Cor 4. according as it is written I beleeued and therfore haue I spoken we also beleue and therfore we speak Yea God knoweth this spirit putteth in vs a minde to speake but in attempting therof we are driuen w t Moyses to say O Lord I am slow mouthed and of vncircumcised lippes with Ieremy Exod. 8. Ierome 1. O Lord I cannot speake Albeit that this infancy restraineth the opening of such aboundance of hart in my tender Christian duety to be declared towardes you yet I beseech you let this be setled in your vnderstanding that as S. Paule expresseth vnto his Corinthians that they were in his hart eyther to liue or to dye with many other such sayings vttered vnto them and the Galathians expressing his vehement affection towardes them so in some part I would be like affected towardes all Gods children and especially towardes you whoÌ„ I know in Christ and to whom I will not say how muche I am indebted I thanke you for your great frendshyp and tender good will towards my wife yea that good gracious God recompeÌ„ce you which may worthely with the more counteruayle the same and fulfill that which lacketh of thankefull duety in vs. And because of that which heretofore I haue conceiued of you and of your more then naturall loue towardes me and mine I make my selfe thus bold to lay this burdeÌ„ vpon you euen the care and charge of my sayd poore wife I meane to be vnto her a mother mistres to rule and direct her by your discreet counsell M. Saunders commeÌ„deth the care of his wyfe to Maistres Harrington I know she conceiueth of you the same that I do is thankfull vnto God with me for such a frend and therfore I beseech you euen for Christes sake put neuer from you thys frendly charge ouer her whether I liue longer or shortly depart But to charge you otherwise thankes be to God neither I neither she haue any such extreme need if we had I would be as bold with you as mine owne mother I beseech you geue my harty salutations vnto M. Fitzwilliams my good Lady with thankes also for my poort wife and child the Lord recompence them Laurence Saunders Furthermore as touching his fatherly care affection to his wife and his litle child the same is liuely set forth in an other letter which he did write to his wife wherein he admonished her that she should not resort much to the prison where he was for dauÌ„ger of trouble that might ensue the tenour of whose letter here foloweth ¶ An other letter to his wife with a certayne remembraunce to M. Harrington and M. Hurland GRace and comfort c. Wife you shall do best not to come often vnto the Grate where the Porter may see you An other letter of Saunderâ— his wyfe Putte not your selfe in daunger where it needes not you shall I think shortly come farre enough into daunger by keeping fayth and a good conscience which deare wife I trust you do not slacke to make reckoning and account vpon by exercising your inward man in meditation of Gods most holy word being the sustenance of the soule and also by geuing your selfe to huÌ„ble prayer for these two thinges be very meanes how to be made members of our Christ meet to inherite his kingdome Do this deare wife in earnest and not leauing of and so we two shall with our Christ and all his chosen children enioye the mery world in that euerlasting immortality wheras here will nothing els be found but extreme misery euen of them which most greedely seeke this worldlye wealth and so if we two continue Gods children graffed in our Christ the same Goddes blessing which we receiue shall also settle vpon our Samuel Though wee do shortly depart hence and leaue the poore Infant to our seeming at all aduentures yet shall he haue our gracious God to be his God for so hath he sayd and he cannot lye I will be thy God sayth he and the God of thy seed Yea if you leaue him in the wâ—ldernes destitute of all helpe being called of God to do his wil either to dye for the confession of Christ Care of children tyme of nâ—â—cessitye ought to left to Goâ— who wilâ— not see thâ— forsaken either any worke of obedience that God which heard the crye of the litle poore infant of Agar Saraes handmayden and
that he could not bryng his purpose to passe After viij dayes the Byshop sent for this Doctour to vnderstand how he might order himself to make those heresies appeare which were in the sayd confession The articles of the MerindoliaÌ„s approued by the Doctor Whereunto the Doctour aunswered that he was neuer so much abashed for when he had beholden the Articles of the confessioÌ„ and the authorities of the Scripture that there were alledged for the confirmation thereof hee had founde that those Articles were wholy agreeable and accordyng to the holy Scriptures and that hee had not learned so much in the Scriptures all the dayes of his lyfe as he had in those viij dayes in lookyng vpon those Articles and the authorities therein alledged Shortly after the Bysh. of Cauaillon came vnto Merindoll callyng before him the childreÌ„ both great smal gaue them money commaunded theÌ„ with fayre wordes to learne the Pater noster the Creede in Latin The answere of the children of Merindoll to the Byshop The most part of them aunswered that they knew the Pater noster the Creede already in Latin but they could make no reasoÌ„ of that which they spake but onely in the vulgare tongue The Bysh. aunswered y t it was not necessary they should be so cunnyng but that it was sufficient that they knew it in Latin that it was not requisite for their saluation to vnderstaÌ„d or to expouÌ„d the Articles of their fayth for there were many Byshops Curates yea Doctours of Diuinitie whom it would trouble to expouÌ„d the Pater noster The answere of the Bailife of Merindoll to the Bishop the Creede Here y e Bailiffe of Merindoll named Andrew Mainard asked to what purpose it would serue to say the Pater noster and the Creede not to vnderstand the same for in so doyng they should but mocke deride God TheÌ„ sayd the Byshop vnto him do you vnderstaÌ„d what it signified by these wordes I beleue in God The Pater noster in 〈◊〉 The Bailiffe aunswered I should thinke my selfe very miserable if I dyd not vnderstand it then he began orderly to geue account of his fayth Then sayd the Byshop I would not haue thought there had bene so great Doctours in Merindoll The Bailiffe aunswered The children of Merindoll to good for the Bishop the least of the inhabitauntes of Merindoll can do it yet more readely then I but I pray you question with one or two of these young childreÌ„ that you may vnderstand whether they be well taught or no. But the Bishop either knew not how to question wyth them or at the least would not Then one named Pieron Roy sayde Sir one of these children may questioÌ„ with another if you thinke it so good and the Bishop was contented Then one of the children began to question with his felowes with such grace and grauitie as if he had bene a Scholemaister and the childreÌ„ one after another aunswered so vnto the purpose y t it was maruelous to heare For it was done in the presence of many amoÌ„g whom there were four religious men y t came lately out of Paris The youth of Merindoll well bâ—ought vp of whom one said vnto the Bishop I must needs confesse that I haue often bene at the common schooles of Sorbone in Paris where I haue hearde y e disputations of the Diuines but yet I neuer learned so much as I haue done by hearing these yong children Then sayd William Armant did ye neuer reade that which is written in xj Chapter of S. Mathew where it is sayde O father MaÌ„th 11. Lord of heauen and earth I render thankes vnto thee that thou hast hidden these thyngs from the sage and wise men of the worlde and hast reuealed them vnto yong infants But beholde O father such was thy good will and pleasure Then euery maÌ„ marueiled at the ready and witty aunsweres of the children of Merindoll When the Bishop saw that he could not thus preuaile he tried another way and went about by faire flattering wordes to bring his purpose to passe Wherefore causing the straungers to go apart he sayd that he now perceaued they were not so euill as many thought them to be Notwithstanding for the coÌ„tentatioÌ„ of them which were their persecutors it was necessary that they should make some small abiuration which onely the Bailife with two officers might make generally in his presence in the name of all the rest without any Notary to record the same in writing The Merindolians are moued to abiure and in so doing they should be loued and fauoured of all men and eueÌ„ of those which now persecuted them and that they should susteine no infamy therby for there should be no report thereof made but only to the Pope and to the high Court of Parliament of Prouince And also if any man in time to come woulde turne the same to their reproch or alledge it against them to their hurt or damage they might vtterly denie it and say they made no abiuration at all because there were no records made thereof or witnesses to proue the same For this purpose he desired them to talke together to the ende there might be an ende made in this matter without any further busines The Bailife and the two officers with dyuers other Auncients of the towne aunswered that they were fully resolued not to coÌ„sent to any abiuratioÌ„ howsoeuer it were to be done except that which was alwaies their exceptioÌ„ they could make it appeare vnto theÌ„ by the word of God that they had holden or mainteined any heresie marueling much that he woulde go about to perswade them to lye to God and the world And albeit that all men by nature are lyars yet they had learned by the word of God that they ought diligently to take heed of lying in any matter were it neuer so small Also that they ought diligently to take heede In matters of faith and religion ought to be no dissimulatioÌ„ that their children did not accustome or vse themselues to lie and therefore punished them very sharpely when as they tooke them with any lye euen as if they had committed any robbery for the Diuell is a lyer and the father of lyes Heere the Byshop rose vp in great anger and indignation and so departed Within a while after the Bishop of Aix solicited maister Iohn Durandus Councellour of the Court of the Parlament of Prouince to execute the commission which was geuen him that is to go vnto y e place of Merindoll together with the Secretarie of the sayd Court Durandus stirred vp by the Byshops to execute the commission against the Merindolians and there in y e presence of the Byshop of Cauaillon accompanyed with a Doctour of Diuinitie to declare the errours and heresies which the Bishops pretended the inhabitants of Merindoll to be infected and intangled withall and according to their dutie
to make it appeare by the word of God and so being conuict to make them abiure and renounce the sayd heresies Whereupon the said Counceller Durandus certified the day that he would be present at Merindoll to the end purpose that none of the inhabitaunts should be absent At the day appointed the said Counseller Durandus the Byshop of Cauaillon Durandus the commissioner commeth to Merindoll a Doctour of Diuinitie a Secretary came vnto Merindoll where as was also present diuers Gentlemen and men of vnderstanding of all sorts to see this commission executed Then they of Merindoll were aduertised that they should not appeare all at once but y t they should keepe themselues apart and appeare as they should be called in such order number as should be appointed vnto them After that Durandus the Byshop of Cauaillon the Doctour of Diuinitie and the Secretary were set in place where iustice was accustomed to be kept there was called forth Andrew Maynard the baylife of Merindoll Ienon Romane and Michelin Maynard * Syndiâ—â— is a Greeke word and signifieth as much as an aduocate oâ— patrone oâ— deputy sent to plead our cause The wordes of DuraÌ„duâ— to the Merindolianâ— Syndiques Iohn Cabrie and Iohn Palene auncients of Merindoll and Iohn Bruneroll vnderbaylife After they had presented themselues with all due reuerence the Counseller Durandus spake thus vnto them You are not ignoraunt that by the Arrest geuen out by the high Court of Prouince you were all condemned to be burned both men women and children your houses also to be beaten downe and your towne to be rased and made desolate c. as is more largely conteined in the said arrest Notwithstanding it hath pleased the King our most gracious Prince to send his letters vnto the said Court commanding that the sayd arrest should not so rigorously proceede against you but if it could by sufficient information be proued that you or any of you had swarued froÌ„ the true Religion demonstratioÌ„ should be made thereof vnto you by the word of God wherby you might be reduced againe to the flocke of Christ. Wherefore it was determined in the saide Court of Parlament that the Bishop of Cauaillon with a Doctour of Diuinitie should in my presence declare vnto you the errours and heresies wherewith they say you are infected and after good demonstration made by the word of God you should publikely and solemnely renounce and abiure the sayde heresies and in so doyng shoulde obteine the grace and pardon conteined in the Kings letters Wherefore shew your selues this day that you be obedient vnto God the King and y e Magistrates When he had thus spoken what aunswere you sayd he to that which I haue propounded Then Andrew Maynard the Baylife desired that they would graunt them an Aduocate to answere according to the instructioÌ„s which they would giue him The Merindolians denied to geue answere by counsaile or writing for so much as they were men vnlearned and knew not how to answere as in such a case was requisite The Counseller aunswered that he would heare their aunswere neither by Aduocate nor by writing but woulde heare them aunswere in their owne persons Notwithstanding he woulde giue them leaue to go apart and talke together but not to aske any counsell but onely amongst themselues and then to aunswere one after another Upon this determination the Bayliffe and the two Syndiques with other two ancient men talked together a while and determined that the two Syndiques should speake first and after them the Baylife then the two auncient men euery man accordyng as God should geue them grace and by and by presented themselues Whereat the Counseller Durandus was greatly abashed The answer of the MerindoliaÌ„s to Durandus to see that they had agreed and determined so speedely Then Michelin Maynard began to aunswere desiring the Counseller and the Byshop with the other assistance to pardon him if that he aunswered ouerrudely hauing regard that they were poore rude and ignoraunt men His aunswere heere followeth We are greatly bound sayth he to geue God thankes that besides other his benefites bestowed vpoÌ„ vs The Baylife of 〈◊〉 answereth he hath now deliuered vs froÌ„ these great assaultes and that it hath pleased him to touch the hart of our noble King that our cause might be intreated with iustice and not by violence In like maner are we also bounde to pray for our noble King which following y e example of Samuell Daniell hath not disdeined to looke vpon the cause of his poore subiects Also we render thankes vnto the Lords of the Parlament in that it hath pleased them to minister iustice according to the Kings commandemeÌ„t Finally we thanke you my Lord Durandus Commissioner in this present cause that it hath pleased you in so few wordes to declare vnto vs the maner and order how we ought to proceede And for my part I greatly desire to vnderstand and know the heresies and errours wherof I am accused and where as they shall make it appeare vnto me that I haue holden any errours or heresies I am contented to amende the same as it shall be ordeined and prouided by you After him aunswered Ienon Romane the other Syndique a very auncient father approuing all that which his fellow before had sayde geuing God thankes that in hys time euen in his latter daies he had seene and heard so good newes that the cause of Religion shoulde be decided and debated by the holy Scriptures and that he had often heard auncient men say that they could neuer obteine of the Iudges in all their persecution to haue their cause debated in such sort Then Andrew Maynard the Baylife aunswered sayeng that God had geueÌ„ to those two Syndiques the grace to answere so well that it was not necessary for him to say or adde any more thereunto Notwithstanding it seemed good that their answeres were put in writing which was not done by the Secretary that had done nothing else but mocke and gyre at all that had bin sayd wherfore he required the Commissioner to looke vnto the matter Then the Commissioner was very angry and sharpely rebuked his Secretary commaunding him to sit nearer and to write their answeres word for word and he himselfe with a singular memory repeated their answeres and ofteÌ„times asked if it were not so The sayd aunsweres being thus put in writing the CoÌ„missioner asked the baylife if he had any more to answere sayeng that he had done him great pleasure to shewe him his Secretaries faulte willing him to speake boldly what he thought good for the defence of their cause Then the Baylife said for somuch as it hath pleased you to geue me audience liberty to speake my mind freely I say moreouer that it semeth vnto me that there is no due forme of processe in this iudgemeÌ„t for there is no partie heere that doth accuse vs. The proceeding with the MerindoliaÌ„s
I should with all diligence remoue vnto the Castle of Herford Whereupon I desired him to see the same letter which he shewed me Wherein was written that the Lady Mary the Kings daughter should remooue to the place beforesayd leauing out in the same the name of Princesse Which when I heard I could not a little marueyle trusting verily that your grace was not priuie to the same letter as concerning the leauing out of the name of Princesse for as much as I doubt not in your goodnes but your grace doth take me for your lawfull daughter borne in true Matrimonie Wherefore if I should agree to the contrary I should in my conscience runne in the displeasure of God whiche I hope assuredly your grace will not that I so should And in all other things your grace shall haue me alwayes as humble and obedient daughter and handmayd as euer was child to the father which my duty bindeth me to as knoweth our Lorde who haue your grace in his most holy tuition wyth much honour and long life to his pleasure Written at your Manor of Beaulien this second day of October By your most humble daughter Mary Princesse * A protestation of the Lady Mary to certayne Lordes sent by the King her father with certayne requestes vnto her MY Lordes as touching my remouing to Hatfield I will obey his Grace The Protestation of Lady Mary as my duety is or to any other place that his grace will appoint me But I protest before you and all other that be heere present that my conscience will in no wise suffer me to take any other then my selfe for the Kings lawfull daughter borne in true matrimonie or Princesse and that I will neuer willingly and wittinglye say or do whereby any person might take occasion to thinke that I agree to the contrary not of any ambition or proud mind as God is my Iudge but that if I should say or do otherwise Lady Mary standeth to â—he Popes â—â—dgement I shuld in my conscience sclaunder the deede of our mother holy Churche and the Pope who is the iudge in this matter and none other and also dishonor the King my Father the Queene my Mother and falsly confesse my selfe a Bastard which God defende that I should do seeing the Pope hath not so declared it by his sentence definitiue for to his iudgement I submit me As you haue heard some part already of the stout courage of the Lady Mary toward her father and also by her letters no lesse was dâ—clared towarde king Edward her brother and other of his Counsaile as well may appeare by the letters aboue specified betweene her and the King her brother and his counsaile So now let vs inferr somewhat likewise of the stoute talke and demeanor of the sayd Lady Mary toward D. Ridley Bishop of London who gently comming to her of meere good will had his communication w t her and she with him as here followeth About the eight of Sept. 1552. D. Ridley then Byshop of LondoÌ„ lying at his house at Hadham in Hartfordshire Talke betweene Lady Mary and Byshop Ridley went to visite the Lady Mary then lying at Hunsden two myles off was gently entertayned of Sir Tho. Wharton other her officers til it was almost xi of the clock About which time the said Lady Mary came foorth into her chamber of presence and then the said bishop there saluted her grace and sayde that he was come to doe his duety to her grace Then she thanked him for his paynes and for a quarter of an houre talked with him very pleasauntly and sayd that she knew him in the Court when he was Chapleine to her father and could wel remember a sermon that hee made before king Henry her father at the mariage of my Lady Clinton y t now is to Sir Anthony Broune c. and so dismissed him to dine with her officers After dinner was done the bishop being called for by the said Lady Mary resorted againe to her grace betwene whome this communiâ—ation was first the bishop beginning in maner as followeth Bishop Madame I came not onely to do my duetye to see your Grace Byshop Ridley offereth to preach before the Lady Mary but also to offer my selfe to preache before you on Sonday nexte if it will please you to heare me At thys her countenaunce chaunged and after silence for a space she aunswered thus Mary My Lorde as for this last matter I pray you make the aunswere to it yourselfe Bishop Madame considering mine office and calling I am bounde of duety to make to your grace this offer to preach before you Mary Well I pray you make the aunswere as I haue sayd to this matter yourselfe for you know the aunswere well enough But if there be no remedy but I must make you aunswere this shall be your aunswere The doore of the parishe Churche adioyning shal be open for you Lady Mary refuseth to heare Bishop Rydley to preach before her if you come and ye may preach if you list but neither I nor none of mine shall heare you Bishop Madame I trust you will not refuse Gods word Mary I cannot tell what ye call Gods word That is not Gods worde now that was Gods word in my fathers dayes Bishop Gods worde is all one in all times but hath bene better vnderstanded and practised in some ages then in other Mary You durst not for your eares haue aduouched that for Gods worde in my fathers dayes that now you doe And as for your new bookes I thanke God I neuer read none of them neuer did nor neuer will doe And after many bitter wordes against the forme of religion then established It is lyke shee was perswaded by Witches and blinde prophesies that king Edward should not liue so long and against the gouernment of the Realme and the lawes made in the young yeares of her brother which she sayd she was not bound to obey til her brother came to perfect age and then affirmed shee woulde obey them She asked the Bishop whether he were one of the Counsaile He aunswered No. You might well enough sayd she as the Counsaile goeth now a dayes And so she concluded with these wordes My Lord for your gentlenes to come and see me I thanke you but for your offering to preache before me I thanke you neuer a whit Then the sayd B. was brought by sir Thomas Wharton to the place where he dined desired to drink And after he had dronke he paused a litle while Byshop Rydley repeÌ„ted to haue dronken there where Gods worde was refused looking very sadly sodenly brake out into these woordes Surely I haue done amisse Why so quoth sir Thomas Wharton For I haue dronke sayd he in that place where Gods word offred hath bene refused Whereas if I had remembred my duetie I ought to haue departed immediately and to haue shakeÌ„ of the dust of my shoes for a
testimonie agaynst this house These wordes were by the sayd bishop spoken with such a vehemencie that some of the hearers afterward coÌ„fessed their heare to stand vpright on their heades Thys done the sayde Bishop departed and so returned to hys house Testified by a certayn reuerend personage yet aliue being then the bishops Chaplaine ¶ And thus making an ende of this ninth Booke touching the story and raigne of King Edward and hauing also somewhat sayde before of the nature and disposition of the Lady Mary whereby the way may be prepared the better to the troubles of the next Booke following we intend the grace of God assisting vs therein now further to proceede in describing the actes and proceedings of the foresayde Lady Mary comming now to be Queene and aduaunced next after this godly King Edward to the Crowne of this Realme of England ¶ The ende of the ninth Booke The beginning of the tenth booke conteyning the horrible and bloudy tyme of QVEENE MARY The Preface to the Reader FORASMVCH AS WE ARE come now to the tyme of Queene Mary when as so many were put to death for the cause especially of the Masse and the sacramente of the Altar as they cal it I thought it conuenient vppon the occasion geuen in the ingresse of this foresayd story first to prefixe before by the way of Preface some declaration collected out of dyuers Writers and Authors whereby to set foorth to the Reader the great absurditie wicked abuse and perillous idolatry of the popish Masse declaring how and by whom it came in clouted and patched vp of diuers additions to the intent that the Reader seeing the vayne institution thereof and waying the true causes why it is to be exploded out of all Churches may the better thereby iudge of their death which gaue their liues for the testimonie and the word of truth First concerning the origine of this word Missa whether it came of Missath in Hebrue Deut. 16. or Mincha Leuit. 6. which signifieth oblation or whether it came of sending away the Catechumeni and persons vnwoorthy out of the place of ministration Isidorus libr. 6. Etym. Hugo in speculo eccles Tertull. contra Marc. lib. 3. Cypria de bono patient as certayne writers suppose or else Ex missis donarijs symbolis quae in offertorio proponebantur that is of gifts and oblations wont to be offred before the Communion or whether Missa is deriued of Remissa which in the former writers was vsed pro remissione or whether Missa pro licentia dimittendi populum is taken of sending away the congregation by the words of the Deacon Ite missa est or whether Missa hath his denomination of that which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dimission of the people alluding to the story of the Hebrues licensed of Pharao to depart out of captiuitie after the eating of the Pasche Lambe as I read in an old popish booke intituled De Sacramentis Sacerdotalibus or what tearme soeuer it be else either Latin Syrian Dutch or French or howsoeuer else it taketh his appellation as there is no certaintie amongst themselues that most magnifie the Masse so it is no matter to vs that stand against it To my iudgemente and coniecture this latter exposition of the word seemeth more probable both for that it is ioined with the word Ite which signifieth departing and also the time and order in speaking the same agreeth well thereunto For as the old Hebrues after the supper of the Lamb and not before were set at liberty streight way to departe out of captiuitie so belike to declare our mysticall deliuerance by Christ offred and slaine for vs first goeth before the action of the holy supper that done then the Priest or Deacon sayth Ite missa est meaning thereby the deliuerance and liberty which is spiritually wrought in vs after that the body of Christ hath bene offered for vs. Or else if Missa otherwise should signifie the celebration or the action of the supper it woulde not be saide Ite but venite missa est c. Moreouer besides other arguments there be certayne places in Cassianus which seeme to declare that Missa signifieth dimission of the congregation Cassianus de canonicis orationibus lib. 3. c. 7. Vigils were called in the olde tyme the assemblies of the congregation in the night in common prayer and fasting as where he writeth of him which commeth not in time to the howers of prayer saying it not to be lawfull for him to enter into the oratory Sed stantem prae foribus congregationis missam praestolari debere i. that he ought standing without the dores to waite for the misse of the congregation And againe in the next Chapter following he inferreth the same vocable Missa in like sense Contenti inquit somno qui nobis post vigiliarum missam vsque ad lucis indulgetur aduentum i. Contented sayeth he with so muche sleepe as serueth vs for the misse or breaking vp of the night vigill vnto the comming of the day c. But to let passe these coniectures this by the way I geue to the Reader to note and vnderstande that as thys word Missa neuer yet entred into the Church nor vsage among the Greekes so it is to be obserued among our Latin interpretors Socra Eccl. hist. l. 2. c. 13 Epiph. trip hist. li. 4. c. 13. Sozom. li. â— cap. 32. Epiph. trip hist l. 3. c. 1â— Socrat. l. 3. cap. 9. Epiph. trip hist. l. 6. c. 23. Socrat. l. 5. cap. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epiph. trip hist. li. 7. 〈◊〉 13. apud scipsos miâ—â—sarum celâ—â—brare solâ—â—niâ— c. Item collectas 〈◊〉 c. quod Socrates grece li. 5. cap. 22. inquit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The masse a double enemâ— against Chriâ—â— The Masse 〈◊〉 iurious to thâ— Priesthood 〈◊〉 Christ. Maior such as haue translated of old time the ancient Greeke Authours as Eusebius and the Tripartite history and others that where the Greeke Writers haue these tearmes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to call the congregation to conuent assemblies and so frequent together the old translator of Epiphanius and other translate vppon the same Missas facere collectas agere missas celebrare c. wherby it is not obscure to be seene that this word Masse in the olde time was not onely and peculiarly applied to the action of consecration but as wel to all Christen assemblies collected or congregations conuented according as in the Dutch language this name Messe signifieth any solemne frequency or panagyrie or gathering together of the people But of the name inough and too much To expresse now the absurditie of the saide Masse and the irreligious application thereof vnseemely and perilous for Christians to vse I will bring two or three reasons of the worthy seruaunt and Martyr of God Iohn Bradford to which many more may be also added out