the king to the conuocation house sent him therewith to the Conuocation house among the Byshops Cromwell commyng with the kynges signet boldly into the Clergy house and there placyng himselfe among the Byshops W. Warham beyng then Archbyshop begā to make his Oration declaryng to them the authoritie of a kyng and the office of subiectes and especially the obedience of Byshops Churchmen vnder publicke lawes necessaryly prouided for the profite quyet of the cōmon wealth Which lawes notwithstandyng they had all transgressed highly offended in derogation of the kynges royall estate fallyng in the law of Premunire in that no◠onely they had consented to the power Legatiue of the Cardinall For the copie of the Bishops 〈◊〉 to the Pope read before pag. 1025. The clergy condemned in the Premunire Syr Tho. Cromwell made knight and M. of the kinges Iewel house but also in that they had all sworne to the Pope contrary to the fealtie of their soueraigne Lord the kyng therfore had forfeyted to the kyng all their goodes cattels landes possessions and whatsoeuer liuynges they had The Byshops hearyng this were not a litle amased and first began to excuse and deny the fact But after that Cromwell had shewed them the very copie of their othe made to the Pope at their cōsecration and the matter was so playne that they could not deny it they begā to shrinke and to fall to entreatie desiryng respite to pause vpon the matter Notwithstandyng the end thereof fell so out that to be quite of that Premunire by Act of Parliament it cost them to the kyng for both the prouinces Canterbury and Yorke no lesse then .118840 poundes whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 1530. whereof before you may read more at large pag. 1020. After this an 1522. Syr Thomas Cromwell growyng in great fauour with the kyng Cromwell made M. of the Rolles Cromwell made knight of the Garter was made Knight Maister of the kynges Iewell house shortly after was admitted also into the kynges Coūsaile which was about the commyng in of Queene Anne Bullen Furthermore within two yeares ofter the same an 1524. he was made Maister of the Rolles Doct. Taylor beyng discharged Thus Cromwel springyng vp in fauour and honour after this in the yeare .1527 a litle before the byrth of kyng Edward was made Knight of the Garter L. Cromwell made Earle of Essex great Chamberlaine of England and Vicegerent to the king not long after was aduaunced to the Earledome of Essex and made great Chamberlaine of England Ouer and besides all which honours he was constitute also Uicegerent to the kyng representyng his person Whiche office although it standeth well by the law yet seldome hath there bene sene any besides this Cromwell alone either to haue susteined it or els to haue so furnished the same with counsayle and wisedome as Cromwell did And thus much hytherto cōcernyng the steppes and degrees of the Lord Cromwels risyng vp to dignitie and high estate Now somewhat would be sayd likewise of the noble Actes the memorable examples and worthy vertues not drowned by ease of honour in him but encreased rather quickened by aduauncemēt of authority place to work more abundantly in the common wealth Among y t which his woorthy actes and other manyfolde vertues in thys one chiefely aboue all other riseth his commendation The actes and doinges of the L. Cromwell described for his singular zeale and laborious trauaile bestowed in restoring the true Church of Christ and subuerting the Synagogue of Antichrist the Abbeyes I meane and religious houses of Friers and Monkes For so it pleased almighty God by the meanes of the said Lord Cromwell to induce the King to suppresse first the Chauntries then the Friers houses and small Monasteries till at length all the Abbeys in England both great and lesse were vtterly ouerthrowne and pluckt vp by the rootes The which acte and enterprise of him as it may geue a president of singular zeale to all Realmes christened which no Prince yet to this day scarse dare folow so to this Realme of Englande it wrought such benefit commoditie as the fruite thereof yet remayneth and will remayne still in the Realme of Englande though we seeme little to feele it Rudely and simply I speake what I suppose without preiudice of other which can inferre any better reason In the meane time my reason is this that if God had not raised vp thys Cromwell as he did to be the instrument of rooting out of the Abbeyes and Celles of straunge religion The L. Cromwel a profitable instrument in suppressing Abbayes what other men see I know not for my part I neuer yet saw in thys Realme any such Cromwell since Cromwels time whose hart and courage might not sooner haue bene subuerted with the money and bribes of Abbots then he to haue subuerted any Abbey in all England But heere I must of necessitie answeare the complaynt of certayne of our countrey men For so I heare of many the subuersion of these Monasteries to be reprehended The defence of the L. Cromwell for ouerthrowing the Abbayes as euill and wicked The building say they mighte haue bene conuerted vnto schooles and houses of learning The goodes and possessions might haue bene bestowed to much better and more godly vse of the poore and mainteining of hospitalitie Neyther do I denie but that these thyngs are well and godly spoken of them and could willingly embrace their opinion with my whole hart if I did not consider heerein a more secret and deeper meaning of Gods holy prouidence then at the first blush peraduenture to all men doth appeare And first to omit the wicked and execrable life of these religious orders The abhominable life in Monasteryes bewrayed by their owne confessiō ful of al feditie found out by the Kings visitours and in their Registers also recorded so horrible to be heard so incredible to be beleeued so stinking before the face of God and man that no maruayle it is if Gods vengeance from heauen prouoked woulde not suffer anye stone or monument of these abhominable houses to be vnplucked vp But as I sayd letting these things passe vnder chaste silence whiche for very shame will abhorre any storie to disclose let vs now come to the first institution of these orders and houses of Monkerie and consider howe and to what end they were first instituted and erected here among the Saxons at the first foundation of them about the time 666. In the former parte of thys Hystorie declaration was made before Read afore pag. 133.134 page 133.134 first by whome and at what time these Monkish houses heere in England among the Saxons flowing no doubt out of the order of Saint Benet The first beginning of religious houses in the time of the Saxons and brought in by Augustine began first to be founded as by Augustine the Monke Furseus Medulphus
rooted out Scriptures reduced to the knowledge of the vulgarr tongue and the state of the Church and religion redressed Concerning all whyche things in the processe of thys volume heere folowing wee will endeuour Christe willing particularly and in order to discourse after that first we shall comprehende a fewe matters which within the beginning of hys raigne are to be noted and collected Where leauing of to write of Empson and Dudley who in the time of king Henry 7. being great doers in executing the penall lawes ouer the people at that time and purchasing thereby more malyce then lands with that whych they had gotten were shortly after the entring of this king beheaded the one a Knight the other an Esquier leauing also to intermeddle w t hys wars triumphes and other temporal affaires we meane in this volume principally to bestowe our trauaile in declaration of matters concerning moste chiefly the state of the Church and of religion as well in this Church of England as also of the whole Church of Rome Wherein first commeth to our handes a turbulent tragedie and a fierce contention which long before had troubled the Churche and nowe thys present yeare 1509. was renewed afresh betweene two certaine orders of begging friers to wit the Dominike friers and the Franciscanes about the Conception of the virgine Marye the mother of Christe The Franciscanes were they which did holde of S. Fraunces Franciscane Friers followed the rule of his testament commonly called Gray friers or Minorites Their opiniō was this that the virgine Mary preuented by the grace of the holy Ghost was so sanctified Dominicke Fryers that shee was neuer subiecte one moment in her conception to Original sinne The Dominike Friers were they which holding of Dominike were commonly called Blacke friers or preaching friers Theyr opinion was that the virgine Mary was conceiued as all other children of Adam be so that thys priuiledge onely belongeth to Christe to be conceiued wythout Originall sinne notwithstanding the sayd blessed virgin was sanctified in her mothers wombe and purged from her Original sinne so as was Iohn Baptist Ieremie or any other priuileged person This friuolous questiō kindling and gendring betweene these two sectes of friers brast out in suche a flame of partes and sides taking that it occupyed the heades and wits scholes and vniuersities almost through the whole Church some holding one parte wyth Scotus A troublous dissention in the Church for the conception of the Virgin Mary some the other parte with Thom. Aquine The Minorites holding with Scotus their maister disputed and concluded that she was conceiued without al spot or note of Original sinne and therupon caused the feast and seruice of the conception of S. Mary the virgine to be celebrate and solemnised in the Church Contrary the Dominike Friers taking side wyth Aquinas Whether the Virgin Mary was conceaued without originall sinne preached that it was heresie to affirme that the blessed virgine was conceiued without the guilte of Originall sinne and that they which did celebrate the feast of her Conception or sayd any Masses thereof did sinne greeuously and mortally In the meane time as thys fantasie waxed hote in the church the one side preaching against the other came pope Sixtus 4. Anno 1476. who ioyning side wyth the Minorites or Franciscanes first sent forth his decree by authoritie Apostolique willing ordaining and commaunding all men to solemnise thys new found feast of the conception in holy Church for euermore offering to al men and women A new foūd feast of the conception of the virgin Mary which deuoutly frequenting the church wold heare masse and seruice from the first euensong of the sayde feast to the Octaues of the same as many dayes of pardone as Pope Urbane the 4. and Pope Mactin the 5. did graunt for hearing the seruice of Corpus Christi day c. and thys Decree was geuen and dated at Rome An. 1476. Moreouer the same Pope to the entent that the deuotion of the people myght bee the more encouraged to the celebration of thys Conception hee added a clause more to the Aue Maria A new Aue Maria of the Popes making graunting great indulgence and release of sinnes to all such as woulde inuocate the blessed Uirgine wyth the same addition saying thus Aue Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Christus benedicta sit Anna mater tua de qua sine macula tua processit caro virginea Amen That is Haile Marie full of grace the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Iesus Christ The Pope addeth to the wordes of the scripture and blessed is Anna thy mother of whome thy virgines flesh hath proceeded wythout blot of originall sinne Amen Wherin thou maist note gentle reader for thy learning three things First how the Pope turneth that vnproperly into a prayer whiche properly was sent of God for a message or tidinges Secondly howe the Pope addeth to the wordes of the Scripture 3. absurdities to be noted in this decree of the pope contrary to the expresse precept of the Lorde Thirdly howe the Pope exempteth Marye the blessed virgine not onely from the seede of Abraham and Adam but also frō the condition of a mortall creature For if there be in her no originall sinne then she beareth not the Image of Adam neither doth shee descende of that seede of whose sede euil proceedeth vpon al men and women to cōdemnation as S. Paul doth teach Rom. 5. Wherfore if she descende of that seede Rom. 5. then the infection of Originall euill must necessarily proceede vnto her If she descend not therof then commeth she not of the seede of Abraham nor of the seede of Dauid c. Againe seeing that death is the effect and stipende of sinne by the doctrine of S. Paule Roma 6. then had her flesh iniurye by the lawe as Christe hym selfe had to suffer the malediction and punishment of death Rom. 6. and so should neuer haue died if originall sinne had no place in her c. But to returne vnto our storie Thys constitution of the Pope being set foorth for the conception of the blessed virgin which was the yeare of our Lorde 1476. it was not long after but the sayde Pope Sixtus perceiuing that the Dominike friers with their complices wold not conforme themselues hereunto The tenour of the popes Bull for the conception of the virgin to be without original sinne directed foorth by the authority Apostolicall a Bul in effect as foloweth Sane cum sancta Romana ecclesia de intemeratae semperque virginis c In English Whereas the holy Churche of Rome hath ordained a speciall and proper seruice for the publique solemnising of the feast of the conception of the blessed virgin Mary certaine orders of the Blacke friers in their publique sermons to the
Nicholas Frenchman Nicholas Frenchman MarioÌ„ wyfe of Augustinus Martyrs Marion wife of Augustinus An. 1549. M. Nicholas and Barbara hys Wyfe also Augustinus a Barber and Marion hys Wyfe borne about Hennegow after they had bene at Geneua a space came into Germanye thinkyng that way to passe ouer into England By the way comming to HeÌ„negow Augustine desired M Nicholas because he was learned to come to Bergis to visite and comfort certeyne brethren there which he willingly did From thence passing by Dornic or Tornay they held on theyr iourney toward England But in the way Austen and his wife being knowen were detected to the Lieuetenaunt of Dornic who in all speedy hast folowing after them ouertooke them 4. myles beyond Donic Augustine how I can not tell escaped that time out of theyr handes and could not be found The souldiours then laying handes vpon Nicholas and the 2. women brought them backe agayne to Dornic In returninge by the waye when M. Nicholas at the table gaue thankes as the maner is of the faythfull the wicked Ruler scorning them and swearing like a tyraunt sayd Now let vs see thou lewd heretick whether thy God can deliuer thee out of my hand To whome Nicholas aunswering againe modestly asked what had Christ euer offended him that he with his blasphemous swearing did so teare him in pieces desiring him Blasphemy of a Papist that if he had any thing against Christ rather he would wreke his anger vpon his poore body and let the Lord alone Thus they being bound hands feet were brought to Bergis and there laid in the doungeon TheÌ„ duke Ariscote accompanyed with a great number of priestes and Franciscan Friers and with a Doctor whiche was theyr warden came to talke with them Nicholas sâ—anding in the middest of them being asked what he was and whither he would aunswered theÌ„ perfectly to all theyr questions and moreouer so confounded the Friers that they went away ashamed saying that be had a deuil and crying The Fryers confounded to the fire with him Lutherane As they continued looking still for the day of their execution it came to the Riuers myndes to aske of Nicolas in what house he was lodged wheÌ„ he came to Bergis Nicolas sayd he had neuer bene there before and therefore being a straunger he could not tell the name of the house When Nicolas would confesse nothing Duke Ariscotus came to Barbara Nicholas hys Wyfe to know where they were lodged at Bergis promising many fayre woordes of deliuery if she would tell Barbarn reuolted She being a weake and a timorous woman vttered all By the occasion whereof great persecution folowed and many were apprehended Where this is to be noted that shortlye Gods punishment vpon persecutours euen vpon the same the sonne of the sayd Duke Ariscotus was slayne and buryed the same day when Augustinus was burned To be short Nicolas shortly after was brought before the Iudges and there condemned to be burned to ashes At which sentence geuing Nicholas condemned Nicolas blessed the Lord which had counted him worthy to be a witnesse in the cause of hys deare and welbeloued sonne Going to the place of execution he was commaunded to speake nothing to the people or els he should haue a balle of wood thrust in his mouth Being at the stake and seeyng a great multitude aboute him forgetting his silence promised he cryed with a loud voyce O Charles Charles how long shall thy hart be hardened And with y t one of y e souldiours gaue him a blow Then saide Nicholas again Ah miserable people thou art not woorthy to whom the word of God should be preached And thus hee spake as they were binding him to the stake The â—riers came out with theyr olde song crying that he had a deuill To whom Nicholas spake the Uerse of the Psalme Depart from me all ye wicked for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weepyng And thus this holye Martyr paciently taking his death commended vp his spirit vnto God in the middest of the fire Ex Lud. Rab. Pantal. et alijs  Marion Wife of Austen aboue mentioned At Bergis in Hennegow An. 1549. After the Martyrdome of this M. Nicolas MarioÌ„ the wife of Austen was called for The martyrdom of Marion With whome they had much talke about the maner and state of Geneua asking her how the Sacraments wer administred ther and whether shee had celebrated there the Lordes Supper To whom she aunswered that the Sacramentes there were celebrated after the Lordes institution of the which she was no Celebrator but a Partaker The sentence of her condemnation was this that she should be interred quicke When she was let downe to the graue Marion buryed quicke kneeling vpon her knees she desired the Lord to help her and before she should be throwne downe she desired her face might be couered with a napkin or some linnen cloth who being so couered and the earth thrown vpon her face and her body the hangman stamped vpon her with hys feet till her breath was past Ibidem The watchmeÌ„ or souldiours of Bellimont Augustine the husband of Marion At Bellimont in Hennegow An. 1549. Ye heard before how Austen escaped before at the taking of Nicholas and the 2. women After this he gaue himselfe to sell spices other pedlary ware from place to place Who at length coÌ„ming to the Towne of Bellimont in Hennegow there was knowne detected to the Magistrate Whereof he hauing some intelligence before left his ware ran away And seeing moreouer the house beset about with harnised men where he was hosted he began to be more afeard and hid himself in a bush for he was very timorous and a weake spirited man But the houre beyng come which the Lord hath appoynted for him it happened that certayne standing vpon the towne walle which might well see him go into the thicket or bushe gaue knowledge therof to the souldiours Augustine againe taken which folowed hym to the bushe and tooke him Beyng taken he was had to Bergis the head towne of Hennegow where being examined valiauntly standyng to the defence of his doctrine aunswered his aduersaryes with great boldnes Wherein here is to be noted and maruelled to see the worke of the Lord Example of Gods goodnes in strengthening the weake harted how this man being before of nature so timorous now was so strengthened wyth Gods grace that he nothing feared the force of al his enemies Among other came to him the Warden of the Gray Friers with a long Oration perswadyng him to relent or els he shoulde be damned in hell fyre perpetually To whom Austen aunsweryng agayn sayd proue that which you say by the authority of Gods woord that a man may beleue you you saye much but you proue nothing rather lyke a Doctor of lyes then of truth c. At last he being there condemned to be burnt at Bellimont was brought to the Inne
where he shoulde take horse where was a certayne Gentleman a straunger who drinkyng to him in a cup of wine desired hym to haue pity vpon him selfe and if he would not fauour his life yet that he would fauour his owne soule To whome sayd Austen after he had thanked hym for his good will what care I haue sayd he of my soule you may see by this that I had rather geue my body to be burned then to do that thing that were agaynst my conscience WheÌ„ he was come to the towne of Bellimont where he should be burned the same day there was a great buriall of the Duke Ariscotus his sonne which was slayne a litle before as is before touched by the occasion whereof many nobles and gentlemen were there present The death and martyrdome of Austen which hearing of this Austen came to him and talked with him When the day came of hys martyrdome the people being offended at his coÌ„stancy cryed out to haue him drawne at an horse tayle to the place of burning but the Lord would not suffer that In fine being tyed to the stake and fire set vnto him hartely he prayed to the Lord so in the fire paciently departed Ex Crisp. alijs The names of the persecutours be not expressed in the story Ex Ioan Sled lib. â—2 A certayne woman of Auspurge At Auspurge An. 1550. At Auspurge a certayne woman there dwelling seeing a priest to cary the hoste to a sicke person wyth Taper lyght as the maner is asked hym what he meant so to goe with candle lyght at noone daye For thys shee was apprehended and in great daunger had it not bene for the earnest sute and prayer of the women of that City and at the intercession of Mary the Emperours sister Ex Ioan Sled lib. 22.  Two Virgins In the Dioces of Bamberge An. 1551. In the Dyoces of Bamberge 2. maydes were ledde out to slaughter Two Virgins Martyrs whych they susteyned wyth patient hartes and cheereful couÌ„tenauÌ„ces They had garlands of straw putte on theyr heades Whereupon one comforting the other going to theyr martyrdome seing Christ sayd she for vs bare a Crowne of thorne why shoulde wee sticke to beare a Crowne of straw No doubt but the lorde wil render to vs agayne better then Crownes of golde some sayd that they were Anabaptistes And it might be sayd Melanct that they had some fond opinion admixed withal yet they did hold sayth he the foundation of the Articles of our fayth and they dyed blessedly in a good conscience and knowledge of the sonne of God Fewe doe liue without errors Flatter not your selues thinking your selues so cleere that you can not erre Haec Philip. Melancth The names of the persecutors appeare not in the story The Christian City of Magdeburge An. 1551. When Charles the emperour had almost gotte all his purpose in Germany Constancie to be noted in the citie of Magdeburge in obtruding hys Religion of Interim into all places which was receiued of the most part of all the chiefe Princes and Cittyes onely the Citty of Magdeburge continuing in the constancy of their doctrine reformed refused to admit the same Wherefore warre was raysed agaynst them theyr City besieged and great violence vsed so that many honest and religious Citizens for the Gospels cause susteyned great perils and daunger of death At last when they had manfully and constantly endured such great distresse and calamity the space of a whole yere thorow the blessed prouideÌ„ce of almighty God who about the same time sent warre betwene the French king and the Emperour honest reconciliation was made betwene them and the Emperor whereby they were receiued into fauor and suffered to enioy theyr former religion quietly Ex Ioan. Sled lib. 23. Iames Hesselius ChaÌ„berlayne of Gaunt and the Friers there Hostius other wise called George At Gaunt An. 1555. This Hostius borne at Gaunt Hostius martyr was cunning in grauing in armour and in steele He first was in the French Church here in England during the reigne of King Edward After the comminge of Queene Mary he weÌ„t to Norden in Friseland wyth hys Wyfe and Children From thence hauing businesse hee came to Gaunt where after a certayne space that hee hadde there continued instructing diuers of hys friendes he heard that there was a blacke Fryer which vsed to preach good doctrine to the people Wherefore he being desirous to heare came to hys Sermon where the Frier contrarye to his expectation preached in defence of transubstantiation At the hearing whereof his hart was so full that he had muche a doe to refrayne while the Sermon was finished As soone as the Frier was come downe he braste out and charged him with false doctrine persuadyng the people as well as he could be heard by the scriptures that the bread was but a Sacrament onelye of the Lordes body The Fryer not willing to heare him made signes vnto him to depart Also the throÌ„g of the people was such that it caryed hym out of the dores He had not gone far but Hesselius the Chamberlaine ouertooke him caried him to prison Then were Doctours and other Friers as Pistorius and Bunderius brought to reason with him of the Sacrament of Inuocation of Saintes and Purgatory He euer stood to the triall onely of the scripture whiche they refused Then was it agreed that he shoulde declare his mind in writing which he did He wrote also to his wyfe at Emden comforting her and requiring her to take care for Samuel and Sara hys children When he was condemned he was coÌ„mauÌ„ded not to speake to the people Hesselius the Officer made great hast to haue him dispatched Wherfore he myldely like a lambe praying for his enemyes gaue him selfe to bee bounde paciently taking that they would doe agaynst him whom first they strangled then consumed his body being dead wyth fire And this was the Martyrdome of Hostius Ex Lud. Rabo lib. 6.  Iohn Frisius Abbot Ioan. Frisius Abbot In Bauaria An. 1554. Ioanne Sled Lib. 25. maketh recorde of one Ioan. Frisius Abbotte of Newstat within the Dioces of the B. Herbipolensis in Bauaria who being suspected of Lutheranisme was called to accompt of his fayth and stroÌ„gly persisting in his assertions and defeÌ„ding the same by the scriptures he was therefore displaced and remooued from all hys iurisdictions .25 of Iune an 1554. Ex Sled The Bayliffe of Hennegow The pittious martirdome of Bertrand le Blas gouernour of the towne and Castle of Dornic Peter De uentiere LieuetenauÌ„t to the sayd Bayliffe Philip de Cordis chiefe couÌ„sellour in criminall causes Nic. Chambree Pet. Rachelier Iames de Clerke Nicholas of Fernague M. Hermes of Wingles one of the counsell for the sayd Baliwicke Bertrand le Blas At Dornic An. 1555. The Story of Bertrand is lamentable his tormentes vncredible the tyrannye shewed vnto him horrible the constancye of the Martyr admyrable This Bertrand beyng a Sylkeweauer
they could to make him reuolte they helped the hangman to beare him all broken and dismembred as hee was vnto the heape of wood where they tyed him to a chayne of yron which was let downe vppon the fagottes Romian seing himself to be alone lying vpon the wood began to pray to God Whereat y e fryers being moued ranne to him agayne to cause hym to say Aue Maria. Which when he would not do Crueltie of Friers they were so furious that they plucked tare hys beard In all these anguishes the meeke saynt of God had recourse still to God in hys prayers beseeching him to geue him pacieÌ„ce TheÌ„ left they him lying as dead But so soone as they descended down from the wood he began to pray to God agayne in such sort as one would haue thought that he had felt no hurt Then an other greate Fryer supposing to doe more wyth hym then the rest came vp to the wood vnto hym to admonish him Romian thought at first that he had bene a faythfull Christian by his gentle speach but afterward when he vrged him to pray to the virgyn Mary he desred him to depart and let him alone in peace As soone as he was departed Romiane lifted vp hys head and hys eyes on hye praying God to assyste him in his great temptation Then a certayn father a Warden to bring the people in more hatred cryed out and sayd he blasphemeth A slaundering Fryer hee blasphemeth he speaketh agaynst the blessed virgin Mary Wherat Barbosi cryed stop hys mouth let hym be gagged The people cried to the fire let him be burned Then the hangman set fire to the straw Crucifice Câ—ucifige 〈◊〉 The cruell death and mâ—â—tyrdome of blessed Romian and little stickes that were about which incontinent were set on fire Romian still remayned hanging in the ayre till he dyed and was burned all his nether partes well neare when he was seene to lift vp his head to heauen mouing his lips without any cry and so thys blessed saint rendred his spirite to God Of this assemble there were diuers iudgements sondry bruites Some sayde that if good men had bene about him it had gone better with him that those priests monks which were about him were whoremaisters infamous Other sayd that he had wrong and that an hundreth of that company there were which more deserued death then he especially among theÌ„ which condeÌ„ned him Other went away marueling disputing of his death and doctrine And thus was the course finished of this valiaunt thrise blessed martyr and seruaunt of the Lord Iesus the sonne of God Ex Crisp. lib. 6 pag. 902. The Conuent of the Iacobin Friers at Dyion A Priest of Dyion Fraunces Ciuaux At Dyion Ann. 1558. Frances Ciuaux martyr Thys Fraunces Ciuaux was Secretarye to the Frenche Ambassadour here in England in Queene Maries time Who afterward beeing desirous to heare y e worde of God went to Geneua Also he was placed to be Secretary to the Senate or counsayle of Geneua wher he continued about the space of a yeare Hauing then certaine busines hee came to Dyion There was the same tyme a priest that preached at Dyion such doctrine where at the sayd Fraunces being worthely offended came friendly vnto the priest and reasoned with him touching his doctrine shewing by the Scriptures how and where he had erred The priest excused himselfe that he was not so well instructed to dispute but he would bring hym y e next day to a certayne learned man whom he knew there in the towne and desired the sayd Fraunces to go with him to breakfast where he would be glad to heare them two in conference together Whereunto when Fraunces had consented the priest incontineÌ„t went to the Iacobine Friers where the matter was thus contriued A priuy Iudas that at the breakefast time Frances there vnawares should be apprehended When the next day came y e priest brought FrauÌ„ces according to his appoyntmeÌ„t to a Iacobine frier who pretending much fayre friendship vnto him as one glad desirous of his coÌ„pany besought hym to take a breakefast with him the next morowe and there they woulde enter conference together Wyth this also Fraunces was content to prepare hymselfe the better to that conflict sat vp almost all the night writing with his fellow The next morow as Fraunces with his fellowe were preparing themselues toward the breakfast the Iacobin in y e meane time went to the Iustice of the towne to admonishe him to be ready at the time and place appoynted Thus as the Iacobin was standing at the Iustices doore the companion of Fraunces seeing the Fryer there stand began to mistrust with himselfe tolde Fraunces Frances admonished by hys dreame willing him to beware the Fryer Moreouer the same night Fraunces had in his dreame y t the sayde Fryer shoulde commit him to the Iustice. But hee either not caring for his dreames or els not much passing for the daunger committed hymselfe to the handes of God and went As they were together disputing in the Couent of the Iacobines Fraunces thus betrayed of the priest was apprehended by the Officers caried to Prison and within seuen dayes after being Saterday before the Natiuity of the Lord was brought to the place of execution where first he was strangled and then burned Ex scripto testimonio Senatus Geneuesis And as touching the felow companion of this Fraunces aboue mentioned he was also apprehended with hym and put in prison but because he was but a young nouice and yet not fully confirmed he recanted and was deliuered Priestes of Rochelle Manroy a priest The Lieuetenaunt of Rochelle The Cardinall of Lorraine Magistri S. Andre Peter Arondeau At Paris Ann. 1559. The town of Rochelle Peter Arondeau martyr as it is a place of great commoditie because of the Sea so was it not inferiour to other good Townes in Fraunce for nourishing and suporting the holy assembles of the Lorde Unto the whiche towne about the yeare of our Lorde 1559. resorted one Peter Arondeau a maÌ„ of base condition with a little packet of mercery ware there to sel who there being knowen to adioyne hymselfe to the church and congregatioÌ„ of y e faithfull was demaunded of certayne Ministers of Antichrist whether he would goe to heare Masse or no. The Masse He sayd that he had bene there to oste to hys great grief and that since the tyme that the Lorde had taken the vayle from hys eyes he knewe the Masse to be abhominable forged in the shop of the enemy of all mankinde They to whome hee thus aunswered were Priestes amongest whom was one named Monroy who taking the other there present for witnesses brought hym straight to the Lieuetenaunt The depositioÌ„ being taken and information made it was decreed incontinent y t his body shuld be attached And althogh by one of hys friendes hee was admonished to saue himself to
these so weightie matters entreating of Christes holy Martyrs to discourse much of Thomas Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke notwithstandyng forsomuch as there be many whiche being caryed awaye with a wrong opinion and estimation of that false glittering Church of Rome doe thinke that holynes to be in it which in deede is not to the entent therefore that the vayne pompe and pride of that ambitious Church so farre differing from all pure Christianitie and godlynes more notoriously may appeare to all men and partly also to refresh the Reader with some varietie of matter I thought compendiously to expresse the ridiculous and pompous qualities and demeaner of this foresayd Thomas Wolsey Cardinall and Legate of Rome in whome alone the Image and life of all other suche like followers and professors of the same Church may be seene and obserued For like as the Lacedemonians in times past were accustomed to shewe and demonstrate droncken men vnto theyr children Example of the Lacedemonians to behold and looke vpon that through the foulenes of that vice they might inflame them the more to the studie and desire of sobrietie euen so it shall not be hurtfull sometimes to set forth the examples which are not honest that others might thereby gather the instructions of better and more vpright dealing Wherefore thou shalt note heere good Reader in thys hystorie wyth all iudgement the great difference of lyfe and Christian conuersation betwene this Church and the other true humble Martyrs and seruants of God whome they haue and doe yet persecute And first to beginne with the first meeting and comming in of this Cardinall and his fellow Cardinall Campeius into England Campeius sent into England it was about the tyme when Pope Leo intending to make war agaynst the Turkes sente three Legates together from Rome whereof one went into Germanie an other into Fraunce Laurentius Campeius was appointed to come into England When he was come to Callis and that the Cardinall of Yorke had vnderstanding therof he sent certayne Byshops and Doctors with as much speede as he coulde to meete the Legate and to shewe hym that if hee would haue hys Ambassade take effect he should sende in poste to Rome to haue the sayd Cardinall of Yorke made Legate and to be ioyned wyth hym in commission Which thing he much affected misdoubtyng least hys authoritie thereby might perhaps be diminished through the comming of the Legate and therefore required to be ioyned with hym in like degree of the Ambassade Cardinall Wolsey seeketh to be ioyned in equall commyssiō with Campeius Campeius being a man light of beliefe and suspecting no such matter gaue credite vnto hys wordes and sent vnto Rome with suche speede that within xxx dayes after the Bull was brought to Callis wherein they were both equally ioined in Commission during whiche time the Cardinall of Yorke sent to the Legate at Callis red cloth to clothe hys seruants withall which at their comming to Callis Note the state and pride of the Popes Clergye were but meanely apparelled When all things were ready Campeius passed y e Seas landed at Douer and so kept forth his iourney towarde London At euery good towne as they passed he was receaued with procession accompanied with all the Lords Gentlemen of Kent And when he came to blacke Heath The receauing of the Popes Legate into England there met him the Duke of Northfolke with a great number of Prelates Knightes and Gentlemen all richly apparelled in y e way he was brought into a rich tent of cloth of gold where he shifted hymselfe into a Cardinals robe furred with Ermines and so tooke his Mule ryding toward Lōdō Now marke y e great humilitie in this Church of the Pope and cōpare the same with the other Church of the Martyrs and see which of them is more Gospell like Thys Campeius had eight Mules of hys owne laden with diuers farthelles and other preparation Ambition pompe in the Cardinall The Cardinal of Yorke thinking them not sufficient for his estate the night before he came to London sent him xij mules more with empty cofers couered with red to furnish his cariage withal The next day these xx mules were led through the Citie as though they had bene loden with treasures apparell and other necessaries to the great admiration of all men that they shoulde receiue a Legate as it were a God with such and so great treasure and riches For so the common people doth alwayes iudge and esteeme the maiestie of the Cleargie by no other thing then by theyr outwarde shewes and pompe but in the middest of thys great admiration there hapned a ridiculous spectacle to y e great derision of their pride ambition For as the Mules passed through Cheape side and y e people were pressing about them to behold and gaze as the maner is it hapned that one of the Mules breaking his coller that he was led in ranne vpon the other Mules whereby it hapned How God confoundeth the pride pompe of men that they so running together and their girthes being losed ouerthrew diuers of their burthens and so there appeared the Cardinals gay treasure not without great laughter and scorne of many and specially of boyes and gerles whereof some gathered vp peeces of meate The Cardinalles 20. great Mules loden with rosted eggs and rotten shoes and such other treasure othersome peeces of bread and rosted egges some found horse shoes and old bootes with such other baggage crieng out beholde heere is my Lord Cardinals treasure The Muliters being therewithall greatly ashamed gathered together their treasure agayne as well as they could and went forward About three of the clocke at after noone the xxix day of Iuly the Cardinall himselfe was brought through the Citie with great pompe and solemnity vnto Paules church whereas when he had blessed all men with the Byshops blessing as the maner is he was guided forth vnto y e Cardinall of Yorkes house where as he was receaued by the said Cardinal and by him on the next day being Sonday was conducted vnto the King to fulfill his Ambassade agaynst the Turke which might haue destroyed all Hungarie Ex Edouar Hallo in the meane time whiles they were studieng with what solemnitie to furnish out their Ambassade When the Cardinall of Yorke was thus a Legate hee set vp a Court and called it the Court of the Legate and proued testamentes and heard causes to the great hynderance of all the Byshops of the Realme He visited Byshops all the Clergy exempt and not exempt and vnder colour of reformatiō he got much treasure nothing was reformed but came to more mischiefe for by example of his pride Priests and all spirituall persons waxed so proude that they weare veluet and silke both in gownes iackets dublets and shoes kept open lechery so hyghly bare thē selues by reason of his authorities faculties that no mā durst once
reproue any thing in them for feare to be called hereticke and then they would make him smoke or beare a Fagot And the Cardinall himselfe was so elated that he thought himselfe equall with the King and when he had sayd Masse he made Dukes Earles to serue him of wine with a say taken and to hold the bason at the Lauatories Furthermore as he was Ambassadour sent to the Emperour at Bruxels he had ouer with him the great Seale of England and was serued with his seruitours kneeling on their knees and many noble men of England wayting vpon him to the great admiration of all the Germaines that beheld it such was his monstrous pompe and pride Ex Parâ—lip Abb. Vrspur This glorious Cardinall in his tragicall doyngs dyd exceede so farre all measure of a good subiect that he became more like a Prince then a Priest for although y e King bare the sword yet he bare the stroke makyng in a maner the whole Realme to bend at his becke to daunce after hys pipe Such practises and fetches he had that when he had well stored his own cofers first he fetched the greatest part of the Kings treasure out of the realme in xij great barels ful of gold siluer to serue the Popes warres And as his auaritious mind was neuer satisfied in getting so his restles head was so busie ruffling in publicke matters that he neuer ceassed before he had let both England Fraunce Flaunders Spayne and Italy together by the cares Thus this Legate well following the steppes of hys maister the Pope and both of them well declaring the nature of their religion vnder the pretence of y e Church practised great hipocrisie and vnder the authoritie of y e King he vsed great extortion with excessiue taxes and lones and valuation of euery mans substance The pilling 〈…〉 Cardinall so pilling the commoÌ„s and Marchaunts that euery man complayned but no redresse was had Neither yet were the Churchmen altogether free from the pillax and pollax from the pilling polling I meane of this Cardinall who vnder his power Legantine gaue by preueÌ„tions all benefices belonging to spirituall persons by which hard it is to say whether he purchased to himselfe more riches then hatred of the spiritualty So farre his licence stretched that he had power to suppresse diuers Abbeyes Priories and Monasteries and so did taking from them all their goodes moueables and not moueables except it were a little pension left onely to the heads of certayne houses By the saide power Legantine he kept also generall visitations through y e Realme sending Doctor Iohn Alein his Chaplein riding in hys gowne of veluet The Fryers obseruaunts 〈◊〉 of the Cardiâ—â—ll with a great traine to visit all religious houses whereat the Friers obseruants much grudged would in no wise coÌ„descend thereunto wherfore they were openly accursed at Paules crosse by frier Forest one of the same order so that the Cardinall at length preuayled both against them Of Fryer 〈◊〉 Vid. 〈…〉 Reg. Henriâ— 8. and all other Against whom great disdayne arose among the people perceauing how he by visitatioÌ„s making of Abbots probates of testamentes graunting of faculties licences and other pollings in his courtes Legantine had made his treasure equall with the Kings and yet euery yeare he sent great summes to Rome And thys was their dayly talke against the Cardinall Beside many other matters and greeuances which stirred the harts of the commons against the Cardinall thys was one which much pinched them for that the sayd Cardinall had sent out certain strait commissions in the Kings name that euery man should pay the vj. part of his goods Wherupon there folowed great muttering amongst y e coÌ„mons 〈…〉 19. Reg. Henriâ— 8. in such sort y t it had almost growen to some riotous commotion or tumult especially in the partes of Suffolke had not the Dukes of Northfolke and Suffolke with wisedome and gentlenes stept in and appeased the same Another thing that rubbed the stomackes of many or rather which moued them to laugh at the Cardinall was this to see his insolent presumption so highly to take vpon him as the Kings chiefe counsailer to set a reformation in the order of the Kings houshold making and establishing new ordinances in the same He likewise made new officers in y e house of the Duke of Richmond which was then newly begon In like maner he ordeined a Counsell established another houshold for y e Lady Mary then being princes so that all thing was done by his coÌ„sent by none other All this with much more tooke he vpoÌ„ him making the King beleeue y t all should be to his honour and y t he needed not to take any paine insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him whereat many men smiled to see his great folly and presumption At this tyme the Cardinall gaue the King the lease of the Manour of Hampton Court which he had of the Lord of S. Iohns and on which he had done great coste Therfore y e King again of his geÌ„tle nature licenced him to lie in his Manour of Richmond so he lay there certain times But when the common people and specially such as were King Henry the vij seruantes sawe the Cardinall keepe house in the royall Manour of Richmond which K. Henry the vij so much esteemed it was a maruaile to here how they grudged saieng See a butchers dogge lie in the Manour of Richmond These with many other opprobrious wordes were spoken agaynst the Cardinall whose pride was so hygh that he regarded nothyng yet was he hated of all men And now to expresse some part of the 〈◊〉 practises and busie intermedlynges of this Cardinall in Princes warres first here is to be noted The Cardinall ruffling in matters and warres of Princes that after loÌ„g warres betwene England Fraunce 1524. in the which warres kyng Henry takyng the Emperours part agaynst FrauÌ„ces the French kyng had waged with his money y e Duke of Bourbon and a great part of the Emperours army to inuade and disturbe certaine partes of Fraunce it happened that the French kyng commyng with his armye toward Millan at the siege of Pauia was there takeÌ„ by the Duke of Bourbon Uiceroy of Neaples Fraunces 〈◊〉 French king taken prisoner and so led prisoner into Spayne Here note by the way that all this while the Cardinall held with the Emperour hopyng by hym to be made Pope but when that would not be he went cleane from the Emperour to the French kyng as the Lord willyng ye shall heare After this victory gotten and the French kyng beyng taken prisoner who remayned in custody about a yeare halfe at leÌ„gth through great labour solicitation as well of other as namely of the Cardinall and kyng Henry an order was taken The French king prisoner a yeare and a halfe and conditions propouÌ„ded
ambassadors in Spaine there was again set at liberty When as the ambassador coÌ„plained hereof to y e Cardinal he laid al the fault vpon Clarentius laying also that Clarentius had defied y e Emperor w tout the kings knowledge at the request of the Herald of FraÌ„ce wherfore at his returne The Cardinâ—â— set Clarentius 〈◊〉 the Emperour and afterward would 〈…〉 death he should lose his head at Callis Wherof Clarentius being aduertised by the captaine of Bayon in hys returne tooke shipping at Bullen so priuely came into England and by meanes of certaine of his frends of y e kings priuy chamber hee was brought vnto the kings presence before the Cardinal knewe of it where as he shewed vnto y e king the Cardinals letters of Commission and declared the whole order and circumstance of theyr gentle intreaty When the king heard the whole circumstance thereof and had a while mused thereupon he sayde O Lord Iesus he that I trusted most told me all these things contrary Well Clarentius I wil no more be so light of credeÌ„ce hereafter for now I â—ee wel that I haue bene made beleue the thing that was neuer done and from that time forwarde y e king neuer put any more confidence or trust in the Cardinall The cause why the Cardinal should beare the Emperor all this malice grudge after some wryters it appeareth to be thus At what time as Pope Clement was takeÌ„ prisoner as is before sayd the Cardinal wrote vnto the Emperor that he shuld make him Pope But when he had receiued an answere that pleased him not he waxed furious madde The Cardiâ—â—â—s pâ—oâ—de 〈…〉 against the Emperour and sought al meanes to displease the Emperour wryting very sharpely vnto him many manacing letters that if he would not make him Pope he would make such a ruffling betwene christian Princes as was not this 100. yeares before to make the Emperor repent yea though it should cost the whole Realme of England Wherunto the Emperor made answer in a little booke Imprinted both in Spanish and Dutch answering vnto many manacings of the Cardinal and diuers of his Articles but specially to that his ruffling threate wherein he manaced him that if he wold not make him Pope he wold set such a ruffling betwixte Christian Princes as was not this 100. yeare though it should cost the whole Realme of England Wherunto the Emperor answering again biddeth him looke wel about him The Empeâ—ouâ—â— aunswere vnto the Cardinalls threates lest through his doings and attempts he might bring the matter in that case y t it shuld cost him the Realme of England in deede You haue heard before howe that when Pope Clement was prisoner in the Emperors army the Cardinal required the king because he did beare the title of defendor of the faith y t he would rescue the Pope also what the kings answere was thereunto and what summes of money he had obtained of the king Nowe because you shall not also be ignorant by what meanes and vppon what occasion this title of the defender of the faith was geuen vnto the King The title of defâ—â—dour of the faith we thinke it good somewhat to say in this place When as Martin Luther had vttered the abhomination of the Pope and his clergy diuers bookes were come into England our Cardinal here thinking to finde a remedy for that sent immediately vnto Rome for this title of defendour of the faith which afterward the vicare of CroydeÌ„ preached that the kings grace would not lose it for al London 20. mile about it Neither is it maruel for it cost more then London 40. mile about it considering the great summes whyche you haue heard the Cardinal obtained of the King for the Popes relief beside the effusion of much innocent bloud When thys gloryous title was come from Rome the Cardinall brought it vnto the kings grace at Grenewich and though that the king had it already and had read it yet against the morning were all the Lords and Gentlemen that could in so shorte space be gathered sent for to come receaue it with honour In the morning the cardinall gate him through the backe side into the Frier obseruants and parte of the Gentlemen went round about and welcomed him from Rome parte met him halfe way and some at the Court gate The king himselfe mette hym in the hall and brought him vp into a great chamber The glorious â—â—nitye 〈◊〉 the Cardinal laughâ—â— to 〈◊〉 whereas was a seat prepared on high for the king and the Cardinall to sit on whiles the Bull was read Which pompe all men of wisedome and vnderstanding laughed to scorne Thys done the kyng went to hys Chappell to heare Masse accompanied with many nobles of his realme and Ambassadours of sundry Princes The Cardinall being reuested to sing masse the earle of Essex brought the basen of water the Duke of Suffolke gaue the assay the Duke of Norfolke held the towel so he proceded to masse WheÌ„ masse was done the bull was againe published the trompets blew the shawmes and suckbuts played in honor of the kings newe stile Then the king went to dinner in the midst wherof the king of Herauldes and his company beganne the largesse crying The kinges stilâ— augmented Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae defensor fidei Dominus Hiberniae Thus was all things ended with great solemnitie Not much vnlyke to thys was the receyuing of the Cardinalles hatte which when a ruffian had brought vnto him to Westminster vnder his cloke he clothed the messenger in riche aray and sent him backe againe to Douer appoynting the Bishop of Canterbury to meete hym The thrasonicall receauing of the Cardinalls hatte and then an other companye of the Lordes and Gentlemen I wote not how often before it came to Westminster where it was set vpon a cupbourd and tapers rounde about it so y t the greatest Duke in the lande must make curtesie thereuunto and to his emptie seate he being away And for somuch as we are in hande with the actes and doings of Cardinall Wolsey among many other thyngs The cruell dealing of the Cardinall against Richard Pacie Richard Pacie Deane of Paules whych of purpose we ouerpasse this is not to be exempted out of memorie touching hys vncourtuous or rather currish handling of Richard Pacie Deane of Paules Thys Pacie being the kinges Secretarie for the Latine tounge was of such ripenes of wit of learning eloquence also in forein laÌ„guages so expert that for the one he was thought most meete to succeede after Iohn Colet in the Deanery of Paules beside which he was also preferred to the Deanry of Excetour For the other he was sent in the kinges affayres Ambassadour to Uenice Which function there he so discharged that it is hard to say whether he procured more commendation or admiration amoÌ„g the Uenetians both for dexteritie of hys witte and especially
to his mercifull goodnes Of which diuorcement and suppressing of the Popes authority we haue likewise to make declaration But first as we haue begun with the Cardinall of Yorke so we will make an ende of him That done we will God willing addresse our selfe to other matters of more importance As the ambassadours were thus trauailing in Rome to promote the Cardinall to be Pope althoughe the Pope was not yet dead in the meane time the Cardinall played the Popish persecuter here at home Fryer Barnes with two Marchantes of the Stilliard caused by the Cardinal to beare fagots For first hee sitting in his Pontificalibus in the Cathedrall Churche of Paules vnder his cloth of estate of rich cloth of golde caused Frier Barnes an Augustine Frier to beare a fagot for certayne poyntes which he called heresie Also hee caused the same two marchants of the stilliarde likewise to beare fagottes for eating fleshe on a friday At the which time the Byshop of Rochester made a sermon in reproofe of M. Luther who had before wrytten agaynst the power of the B. of Rome This bishop in his sermon spake so muche of the honoure of the Pope and his Cardinals and of their dignitie and preeminence that he forgate to speake of the Gospel which he tooke in hande to declare which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1526. Anno. 1528. After this the said Cardinall likewise An. 1528. and in the moneth of Nouemb. sitting at Westminster as legate called before him the whole Cleargie and there promysed that all abusions of the church shuld be amended but there nothing els was done saue onely he caused to be abiured Arthur Bilney Geffrey Lome and Garret for speakinge against the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride Of whome more shal be sayd the Lord assisting vs hereafter And this was An. 1528. Anno 1529 The yeare next following which was An. 1529. began the question of the kings mariage to be reuiued Wherupon Cardinal Campegius was sent againe into Englande from Rome The occasion of the Cardinalls fall for the hearing and debating of the matter Who then with Cardinall Wolsey consulting with y e king although at first he seemed with his felow Cardinal to incline to the kings disposition yet afterward perceiuing the sequele of the case whether it tended so farre as peraduenture might be the occasion of a blot to the court of Rome The cause of the kinges mariage with his brothers wife was daÌ„gerous to the Pope for this For if it were vnlawfull then the dispensation of Pope Iuly was voyde If it were lawfull then the iudgementes of so manye vniuersities were false and might shake perhaps the chaire of the Popes omnipotent authoritie as wel in other cases like if this one case were throughly decided by learning and trueth of Gods word he therefore slipping his necke out of the collar craftily shifted him selfe out of the Realme before the day came appoynted for determination leauing his suttle felowe behinde him to wey with the king in the meane time while the matter might be brought vp to the court of Rome The king thus seeing himselfe disappoynted foded wyth false promises and craftily doubled withal by the Cardinalles and at last after so many delaies and long expectation nothing to be concluded was sore agreeued in his mind with them but especially with Cardinall Wolsey whom he had before so highly exalted and promoted to so many greate dignities as to the Archbishoprike of York the bishoprike of Winchester The king deluded by the two Cardinalls of Duresme the abby of S. Albons besides the Chancelorship of England and many other high roumes preferments in the realme which caused him clearly to cast him out of his fauour so that after that time he neuer came more to the kings presence Ex Hallo Then folowed first a counsaile of the nobles called the first of Octob. A Counsaile of the Nobles called During the which counsaile all the Lordes and other the kings Counsaile agreeing together resorted to Windsore to the king and there informed the king that all things which he had done almost by his power LegaÌ„tine were in the case of the Premunire and prouision and that the Cardinall had forfaited all his lands The Cardinall cast in the Premunire tenements goods and cattels to the king wherefore the king willing order to him according to the order of his lawes caused his attourney Christopher Hales to sue out a Wryt of Premunire against him in the which he licenced hym to make an Attourney And further the 17. day of Nouember hee sent the two Dukes of Norffolke Suffolke The Cardinall depriued of the Câ—auncellourship to his place at Westminster to fetch away the great Seale of England whyche he was lothe to deliuer if there had bene any remedie but in conclusion he deliuered it to the two Dukes which deliuered the same to Doctor Tailour Maister of the Rolles to carie it to the king which so did the next day Besides this the king sent Syr William Fitzwilliams Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of his house and doctor Steuen Gardiner newly made Secretary to see that no goodes should be embesiled oute of his house Steuen Gardiner the kinges secretarye and further ordeined y t the Cardinal should remoue to Asher beside Kingston there to tary the kings pleasure and to haue all things deliuered to hym which were necessary for him but not after his olde pompous and superfluous fashyon for all hys goodes were seased to the kinges vse When the Seale was thus taken from the Cardinall The Cardinalls goods seased to the king the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke wyth many Earles Byshops and Barons came into the Starre chamber the xix day of October where the Duke of Norffolke declared that the kings highnesse for diuers and sundry offences had taken from hym his great Seale and deposed him of all offices and lest men might complaine for lacke of iustice he had apointed him and the Duke of Suffolke with the assent of the other Lordes to sitte in the Starre chamber to heare and determine causes indifferently and that of all thyngs the kings pleasure and commaundement was that they should keepe their hands close from any rewards taking or maintenance and so that weeke they sate in the Starre chamber and determined causes The Cardinalls remouing from Yorke place A fewe dayes after in the same moneth the Cardinall remooued out of hys house called Yorke place wyth â—ne Crosse saying that he woulde he had neuer borne more meaning that by his crosse that which he bare as Legate which degree taking was hys confusion as you see openly and so hee tooke his barge and went to Pueney by water and there tooke his horse and roade to Asher where he remained till Lent after During which time hee being called on for an aunswere in the kings Bench to the Premunire for geuing
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
other good deedes and as for one of them whatsoeuer he haue of money in his purse he will distribute it for the loue of God to poore people Also he sayde that no man should geue laud nor prayse in no maner of wise to no creature nor to no Saint in heauen Tim. 1. but only to God Soli Deo honor gloria that is To God alone be all honour and glory Also he sayd ah good Sir Edmund ye be farre from the knowledge and vnderstanding of the Scripture for as yet ye be a Pharisey with many other of your company but I trust in God I shall make you and many other mo good and perfect Christen men ere I depart from the Citie The Godly courage of Rich Bayfilde for I purpose to reade a common lecture euery day at S. Fosters Church which lecture shall be to the edifyeng of your soules that be false Phariseys Also he sayde that Bilney preached nothing at Wilsedone but that was true Also he sayd that Bilney preached true at Wilsedone if he sayd that our Ladyes crowne of Wilsedone The peoples offringes bestowed bestowed vppon harlots her rings beades that were offered to her were bestowed amongest harlots by the Ministers of Christes Churche for that haue I seene my selfe he sayd heere in London and that will I abide by Also he sayde he did not feare to commen and argue in Arthur and Bilneys opinions and Articles and if it were with my Lord Cardinall Also he sayd that he would hold Arthur and Bilneys opinions and Articles and abyde by them that they were true opinions to suffer death therfore I know them said he for so noble and excellent men in learning Also he sayde if he were before my Lord Cardinall hee would not let to speake to him and to tell hym that he hath done nought in prisoning of Arthur and Bilney whyche were better disposed in their liuings to God then my Lord Cardinall or my Lord of London as holy as they make themselues Also he sayd my Lord Cardinall is no perfect nor good man to God for he keepeth not the Commaundements of God for Christ he said neuer taught him to folow riches nor to seeke for promotions nor dignities of this worlde nor Christ neuer taught him to weare shoes of siluer and gilt set with pearle and precious stones The Cardinals shooes nor Christ had neuer ij crosses of siluer ij axes nor piller of siluer gilt Also he sayde that euery Priest might preach the Gospell without licence of the Pope my Lord Cardinall my Lord of London or any other man And that would he abide by and thus he verified it as it is written Marke 16. Euntes in mundum vniuersum praedicate Euangelium omni creaturae Christ commaunded euery Priest to go foorth thoroughout all the worlde and preache the word of God by the authoritie of this Gospel and not to runne to y e Pope nor to no other man for licence and that would hee abyde by he sayd Also he sayd Wel Sir Edmund say you what you will and euery man my Lord Cardinall also and yet will I say and abide by it my Lord Cardinall doth punishe Arthur Bilney vniustly for there be no truer Christen men in all the world liuing then they two be and that punishment that my Lord Cardinall doth to them he doth it by might and power as who say this maye I do and thys will I do who shall say nay but he doth it of no iustice Also about the xiiij day of October last past at iij. of the clocke at after noone Syr Richarde Bayfilde came to S. Edmunds in Lumbardstreete where he founde me Syr Edmund Peerson Sir Iames Smith and Syr Myles Garnet standing at the vttermost gate of the personage Syr Edmund sayd to Syr Richard Bayfilde how many Christen men haue yee made since yee came to the Citie Quoth Sir Richard Bayfilde I came euen now to make thee a Christen man and these two other Gentlemen with thee for well I know ye be all three Phariseis as yet Also he sayd to Syr Edmund that Arthur and Bilney were better Christen men then he was or any of them that did punish Arthur and Bilney Per me Edmundum Peerson And thus we haue as in a grosse summe coÌ„piled together the names and causes though not of al yet of a great and to great a number of good men good women whych in those sorowful daies from the yere of our Lord 1527. to this present yere 1533. that is til the comming in of Queene Anne were manifold wayes vexed and persecuted vnder the tiranny of the Bishop of Rome Ten Dutchmen Annabaptists put to death Segor Derycke Symon Runa Derycke Dominicke Dauid Cornelius Ellâ—en Milo Where again we haue to note that froÌ„ this present yeare of our Lord 1533. during the time of the sayd Quene Anne we read of no great persecution nor any abiuration to haue bene in the Church of Englande saue onely that the Registers of London make mention of certaine Dutchmen counted for Anabaptists of whom 10. were put to death in sondry places of the realme an 1535. other 10. repented and were saued Where note again that 2. also of the said company albeit the diffinitiue sentence was read yet notwithstaÌ„ding were pardoned by the king which was contrary to the Popes law Now to proceede forth in our matter after that the Byshops and heads of the clergy had thus a long time taken their pleasure Anno. 1533. exercising their cruell authoritie against the poore wasted flocke of the Lord Complaynt of the CoÌ„mons against the Clergy Ex Edw. Hallo A Parliament an 1534. and began furthermore to stretch foorth their rigour and austeritie to attach molest also other greater persons of the temporaltie so it fell that in y e beginning of the next or 2. yere following which was an 1534. a parlament was called by the king about the 15. day of Ian. In the which parlament the commons renuing their old griefes complained of the cruelty of the Prelates Ordinaries for calling men before them Ex Officio For suche was then the vsage of the Ordinaries and theyr Officials Crueltye of the Clergye against the temporaltie that they would send for men lay accusations to them of heresie onely declaring to them that they were accused and would minister Articles to them but no accuser should be brought forth wherby the coÌ„mons was greuously anoyed oppressed for the party so acited must eyther abiure or do worse for purgatioÌ„ he might none make As these matters were long debating in the Common house as last it was agreed that the temporall men should put their griefs in wryting and deliuer them to the King Whereuppon the 18. day of Marche the common speaker accompanied wyth certaine Knights and Burgeses of the common house came to the Kyngs presence and there declared how the temporal
when he sawe and discerned all this For as I vnderstand Copes Dâ—alogues suspected not to be his owne M. Cope being yet at this present scarse come to the age of xl yeares he could not be then aboue nine yeare olde the other suffering ann 1535. in the which age in my minde M. Cope had small discretion to iudge either of any such angelical proportion of mans personage or of his diuine qualities and heroical celsitude of his mind as yet he remembreth in his Dialogues Which thing among many other probabilities maketh me vehemently to suspect y t these Dialogues printed in Aâ—twerp ann 1566. were brought ouer by M. Cope there to be printed but were penned framed by an other Pseudocopus whatsoeuer or in what Fleete so euer he was vnlesse my marks do greatly faile me But as the case is of no great weight so I let it passe returning to other matters of more importance Shortly after the ouerthrow of the Pope consequently began by litle and litle to follow the ruine of Abbeyes religious houses in Englande in a right order methode by Gods diuine prouidence For neither coulde the fall of Monasteries haue followed after vnlesse that suppression of the Pope had gone before neither could any true reformation of the church haue bene attempted vnles y e subuersion of those superstitious houses had ben ioyned withal Whereupon the same yere in the moneth of October the king hauing then Tho. Cromwell of his Counsel Suppression of Abbeyes first beginneth in England sent Doct. Lee to visite the Abbeys Priories and Nunryes in all England to set at libertie all such religious persons as desired to be tree all other that were vnder the age of 24. yeares Prouiding withal y t such Monkes Chanons Fryers as were dimissed Religious men vnder age let out of monasteryes should haue giuen theÌ„ by the Abbot or Prior in steede of their habite a secular Priestes gowne and xl shillings of money likewise the Nunnes to haue such apparel as secular women did then coÌ„monly vse and suffered to goe where they would At which time also from the sayde Abbeyes and Monasteries were taken their chiefe iewels and reliques The king first beginneth with the iâ—els of Abbeyes WHen the king had thus established his supremacie all things were well quieted within the Realme he like a wise prince Anno. 1536. hauing wise counsaile about him forecasting with himselfe what forreine daungers might fall vnto him by other countries about whiche all were yet in subiection to the Bishoppe of Rome saue onely a fewe Germane princes and misdouting the malice of the pope to prouide therefore by time for perilles that might ensue thought good to keepe in by all meanes possible with other Princes And first to entertaine the fauour of the French king who had ben sicke a litle before A solemne procession in LondoÌ„ for ioy of the French kings health and now was lately recouered to health in signification of publique ioy and frendship the king coÌ„manded a solemne and famous procession to be ordeined through the city of London with the Waits and children of Grammer schooles with the maisters and vshers in their array Then folowed the orders of the friers and Chanons and the Priours with their pompe of Copes Crosses Candlestickes and vergers before them After these folowed the next pagean of Clerkes priestes of London all in Copes likewise Then the monkes of Westminster and other Abeys with their glorious gardeuiance of Crosses Candlestickes and Uergers before them in like sort Last of all came the queere of Pauls with their residensaries the Bishop of London and the Abbots folowing after in their Pontificalibus After these courses of the Clergie went the companies of the citie with y e lord Maior AldermeÌ„ in their best apparel after their degrees And least it might be thought this Procession of the church of LoÌ„don to make but a small or beggerly shewe the furniture of the gay Copes there worne was counted to the number of 714. Moreouer to fill vp the ioy of this procession and for the more high seruice to almightie God beside the singing queeres chaunting of the priestes there lacked no minstrels withal to pipe at the processions Briefly here lacked nothing els but only y e ordinaÌ„ce to shoot of also A pyping procession But because that is vsed in the Processions at Rome therefore for difference sake the same is reserued onely for the Popes owne Processions and for none other in the moneth of October This grand processon was appointed for a triumphe or a thankes giuing for the late recouerye of the Frenche kinges health as is aforesayd Ouer and besides this the king to nourish and reteine amitie with kings and princes Ambassadours sent to sundry kinges least the Pope being exiled now out of England should incite them to warre against him directed sundry Ambassadours and messengers with letters and instructions To the Emperour was sent syr Tho. Wyat to the French king syr Fraunces Brian and Doct. Edw. Foxe who was also sent to the Princes of Germanie to the Scottes king was sent sir Raffe Sadler gentleman of the kinges priuie chamber In Scotlande the same time were cast abroade diuers railing ballets and slaunderous rimes against the king of England for casting of the Ladye Dowager and for abolishing the Pope Syr Raffe Sadler ambassadour to the Scottes king for the which cause the foresaid Sir Raffe Sadler being sent into Scotland with lessons and instructions howe to addresse himselfe accordingly after he had obteyned accesse vnto the king and audience to be hearde first declareth the effectuous harty coÌ„mendations from the kinges maiestie his graces vncle and withal deliuered his letters of credence Which done after a fewe wordes of courtly entertainement as occasion serued him to speake the sayde Syr Raffe Saddler obteining audience thus beganne in the king his maisters behalfe to declare as followeth * The Oration of the kynges ambassadour WHeras there is nothing after the glory of almighty God The Oration of Sir Raffe Sadler to the Scottish king in this world so much to be tendred by kings Princes or any honest persons or so highly to be regarded and defended as their honor estimatioÌ„ good fame name which whosoeuer neglecteth is to be esteemed vnnatural and vnlesse a man labor to auoide and extinguish the false reportes slanders and diffamations made of him by malitious persons he may wel be suspected in coÌ„science to coÌ„demne himselfe the king your vncle considering y e same and hearing of sundry ballets criminations and famous libels made and vntruly forged and deuised in Scotland against his grace by your graces subiectes not only vpon trust to find with your grace such natural affection frendship and amitie as the nerenes of bloud betweene vncle nephew necessitude of reuerence proximitie both of kinne of dominions together doth require but
countrey adding moreouer vnto hys sayings of their owne heades more then euer he spake and so accused him secretely to the Chauncelour and other of the Bishops Officers It followed not long after this that there was a sitting of the bishops Chancellour appoynted Tindall called before the Bishops Chauncellour and warning was giuen to the priests to appeare amongest whom M. Tindall was also warned to be there And whether hee had any misdoubte by their threatnings or knowledge geuen hym that they woulde lay some thyngs to hys charge it is vncertaine but certaine this is as hee hym selfe declared that he doubted their priuie accusations so y t he by the way in going thetherwards cried in his mind hartily to God to geue him strength fast to stande in the truth of his word Then when the time came of his appearance before the Chancellour he threatned him greuously reuiling and rating him as though he had ben a dog laide to his charge many thinges Tindal could not haue his accusers brought out whereof no accuser yet coulde be broughte foorth as commonly their maner is not to bring foorth the accuser notwithstanding that the Priests of the countrey the same time were there present And thus M. Tindal after those examinatioÌ„s escaping out of their hands departed home and returned to his maister againe There dwelt not farre off a certaine Doctour that hadde bene an olde Chauncellour before to a Byshop One good olde Doctor amongst mâ—ny nought who had bene of olde familiar acquaintance with M. Tyndall and also fauoured him well Unto whome M. Tyndall went and opened his minde vpon diuers questions of the scripture The Pope Antichrist for to him he durst be bold to disclose his heart Unto whom the Doctor sayd doe you not knowe that the Pope is very Antichrist whome the Scripture speaketh of But beware what you say for if you shall be perceiued to be of that opinion it will cost you your life and sayd moreouer I haue bene an officer of his But I haue geuen it vp and defie him and all his workes It was not long after but M. Tindal happened to be in the companie of a certaine diuine recounted for a lerned man and in commoning and disputing with him he droue him to that issue The blasphemy of a blind doctour The popes lawe preferred before Gods lawe that the sayde great Doctor burst out into these blasphemous wordes and sayde wee were better to be without Gods lawe then the Popes M. Tyndall hearing thys ful of godly zeale and not bearing that blasphemous sayâ—ng replied againe sayde I deâ—ie the Pope and all his lawes and further added that iâ— God spared hym life ere many yeares he would cause a boy that driueth the plough to know more of the Scripture then he did After this the grudge of the priests increasing still more and more against Tyndall they neuer ceased barking and rating at him and laide many sore thinges to hys charge saying that he was an hereticke in Sophistry an hereticke in Logicke an hereticke in Diuinitie and sayde moreouer to him that he bare himselfe bolde of the Gentlemen there in that country but notwithstanding shortly he should be otherwise talked withal To whom M. Tyndall answearing againe thus said that he was contented they shoulde bring him into any countrey in all England geuing hym x. li a yere to liue with and binding him to no more but to teache children and to preache To be short M. Tyndal being so molested and vexed in the countrey by the Priests was constrained to leaue that country and to seke an other place Tindall departeth from M. Welche and so comming to M. Welche he desired him of hys good will that hee myght depart from him saying on this wise to him Syr I perceiue I shall not be suffered to tary long heere in this countrey neither shall you be able though you woulde to keepe me out of the hands of the spiritualtie also what displeasure might grow therby to you by keeping me God knoweth for the which I shoulde be right sorie So that in fine M. Tindall with the good will of his maister Tindall coÌ„meth to London departed eftsoones came vp to London and there preached a while according as he had done in the country before and specially about the towne of Bristowe and also in the sayde towne in the common place called S. Austines Greene. At length he bethinking him selfe of Cutbert Tonstall then Byshop of London and especially for the great commendation of Erasmus An oration of Isocrates translated out of Greeke into Englishe by W. Tindall who in his annotations so extolleth him for his learning thus cast with himselfe that if hee might attaine vnto his seruice hee were a happy man And so comming to Syr Henry Gilford the kings controller and bringing with him an Oration of Isocrates which he had then traÌ„slated out of Greke into English he desired him to speake to the sayde B. of London for him Which he also did and willed him moreouer to wryte an Epistle to the Byshop and to go him self with him Tindall sueth to bishop Tonstall to be his Chaplaine Which he did likewise and deliuered his Epistle to a seruaunte of his named William Hebilthwaite a man of his olde acquaintaunce But God who secretely disposeth the course of things saw that was not the best for Tyndals purpose nor for the profite of hys Churche and therefore gaue him to finde little fauor in the Bishops sight Tonstal refuseth M. Tindall The answer of whom was thys that hys house was full he had mo then he could wel finde and aduised him to seeke in London abroade where hee saide hee coulde lacke no seruice c. and so remained hee in London the space almoste of a yeare beholding and marking wyth him selfe the course of the world and especially the demeanour of the preachers howe they boasted them selues and set vp their authoritie and kingdome beholding also the pompe of the Prelates wyth other thynges moe whiche greatly misliked him In so muche that he vnderstoode not onely there to be no rowme in the Bishops house for hym to translate the new Testament but also that there was no place to do it in al England And therfore finding no place for his purpose within the realme Tindall departeth 〈◊〉 Germany and hauing some ayde and prouision by Gods prouidence ministred vnto hym by Humphrey Mummoth aboue recited as you may see before pag. 1076. and certain other good men hee tooke hys leaue of the realme departed into Germanie Where the good man being inflamed with a tender care and zeale of his countrey refused no trauell nor diligence howe by all meanes possible to reduce his brethren and couÌ„treymen of England to y e same tast and vnderstanding of Gods holy word and veritie which the Lord had endued him withal Whereupon he considering in his minde and partely
came in an other ship to Hamborough William Tindall lost his bookes copies by shipwracke M. Couerdale a helper of M. Tindall in the translation of the testament where at his appoyntment M. Couerdale taried for him and helped hym in the translating of the whole 5. bookes of Moises from Easter till Decemb. in the house of a worshipfull widowe Maistres Margaret van Emmerson Anno 1529. a greate sweating sicknesse being the same time in the Towne So hauing dispatched his businesse at Hamborough he returned afterward to Antwerpe againe Thus as Sathan is and euer hath bene an ennemy to all godly endeuors and chiefly to the promoting furtherance of Gods word as by this many other experimeÌ„ts may be sene so his ministers and members following the like qualitie of their maister be not altogether idle for their partes as also by the Popes Chapleins and Gods ennemies and by their cruell handling of the sayde M. Tindall the same time both here in England and in FlaÌ„ders may well appeare When Gods will was that the newe Testament in the common tongue should come abroad Tindall the translator therof added to the latter ende a certain Epistle wherin hee desired them that were learned to amende if oughte were found amisse Wherfore if any such default had bene deseruing correction it had bene the parte of courtesie and gentlenesse for men of knowledge and iudgement to haue shewed their learning therein and to haue redressed y t was to be amended But the spiritual fathers then of the clergy being not willing to haue that booke to prosper cryed out vpon it bearing men in hand that there were a thousande heresies in it that it was not to be corrected but vtterly to be suppressed Some said it was not possible to translate the Scripture into Englishe The practise of popishe prelates to keepe the Scripture from the people some that it was not lawfull for the lay people to haue it in their mother tongue some y t it woulde make them all heretickes And to the intent to induce the temporall rulers also vnto theyr purpose they made more matter said that it would make the people to rebel and rise against the king All this Tindall himselfe in his own prologue before the first booke of Moses declareth and addeth further shewing what great paines was taken in examining that translation comparing it wyth their owne imaginations and termes that with lesse labor hee supposeth they might haue translated them selues a great part of the Bible Shewing moreouer that they scaÌ„ned and examined euery title and poynt in the said translation in such sorte and so narrowly that there was not one i. therein but if it lacked a pricke ouer his heade they did note it and numbered it vnto the ignoraunt people for an heresie So great was then the froward deuises of y e English Clergy who should haue ben the guides of light vnto the people to driue the people from the texte knowledge of the scripture which neither they would translate themselues nor yet abide it to be translated of others The causes why the popes clergy could not abide the Scripture in the common tounge to the intent as Tindall sayeth that the woorde being kept still in darknesse they might sitte in the consciences of the people through vaine superstition false doctrine to satisfie theyr lustes their ambition and vnsaciable couetousnesse and to exalte theyr owne honour aboue King and Emperour yea and aboue God him selfe Haec ille The Bishops and Prelates of the realme thus as ye haue hard incensed and inflamed in their minds although hauing no cause against the olde and newe Testament of the Lorde newly translated by Tindall The popishe prelates procured not onely the condemnation of M. Tindalâ— bookes but also burned both them and the testament calling it Doctriâ—â— peregrinam straunge doctrine and conspiring together w t all their heads and counsails how to repeale the same neuer rested before they had brought the king at last to their consent By reason wherof a proclamatioÌ„ in al hast was deuised and set forth vnder publike authoritie but no iust reason shewed that the testament of Tindals translation with other workes mo both of his and of other wryters were inhibited and abandoned as ye hearde before page 1018. Which was about the yere of our Lorde 1527. And yet not contented heerewith they proceeded further howe to entangle him in their nettes and to bereft him of his life Which howe they brought to passe nowe it remaineth to be declared In the registers of London it appeareth manifest Priuy conspâ—â—â—cyon of 〈◊〉 â—â—â—shops 〈…〉 Tindall how that the Bishops sir Tho. More hauing any poore man vnder Coram to be examined before them namely such as had bene at Antwerpe most studiously would searche and examine all things belonging to Tindall where and with whom he hosted where aboutes stood the house what was his stature in what apparell he went what resorte he had c. All which things when they had diligently learned as may appeare by the examination of Simon Smith and others then began they to worke their feares as you shall heare by the relation of his owne host William Tindall being in the towne of Antwerp The order and maner of taking of Tindal testified by Poyntâ— his host had ben lodged about one whole yere in the house of Thomas Pointz an EnglishmaÌ„ who kept there an house of english Marchauntes About which time came thither one out of England whose name was Henry Philips his father being customer of Poole a comely felow like as he had bene a Gentleman hauing a seruaunt with him but wherfore he came or for what purpose he was sent thither no man could tell Maister Tindall diuers times was desired forth to diner and supper amongst marchants The frendship of Tindal shewed to Philips his betrayer by y e meanes wherof this Henry Philips became acquaynted with him so that within short space M. Tindall had a great confidence in him and brought him to his lodging to the house of Tho. Pointz and had him also with him once or twise to dinner supper and further entred such frendship with him that through his procurement he lay in the same house of the sayd Pointz To whom he shewed moreouer his bookes and other secrets of his study so litle did Tindall then mistrust this Traytor But Pointz hauing no great confidence in the fellowe asked Mayster Tindall howe hee came acquaynted wyth this Philips Maister Tindall aunswered that he was an honest man handsomely learned and very comfortable Then Pointz perceiuing that he bare such fauor to hym sayd no more thinking that hee was broughte acquaynted with him by some frend of his The sayd Phillippes beyng in the Towne iij. or iiij dayes vppon a tyme desired Pointz to walke with him foorth of the Towne to shewe him the commodities therof and in walking together w
Such was the power of his doctrine and sinceritie of his life M. Tindall conuerted his keeper that during the time of his imprisonment whiche endured a yeare and a halfe it is sayde hee conuerted hys keeper his daughter and other of his household Also the rest that were with him conuersaunt in the Castle reported of him that if he were not a good christen man they could not tell whome to trust The Procuror generall the Emperours Attourney being there Commendation of M. Tindall 〈…〉 were about him left this testimonie of him that he was Homo doctus pius bonus that is a learned a good and a godly man The same mornyng in which he was had to the fire he deliuered a letter to the keeper of the castle which y e keeper himselfe brought to the house of y e foresayd Pointz in Autwerpe shortly after which letter with his examinatiōs other his disputations I would might haue come to our handes all which I vnderstād did remaine yet perhaps doe in the handes of the keepers daughter For so it is of him reported that as he was in the Castle prisoner there was much writyng and great disputation to and fro betwene him and them of the Uniuersitie of Louaine which was not past ix or x. myles from the place where he was prisoner in such sorte that they all had enough to do and more then they could well weld to aunswere the authorities and testimonies of the Scripture whereupō he most pithely grounded his doctrine Of Iudas that betrayed Christ it is written that he returned the money agayne to the Phariseis Gods Iudgment vpon Philippes the betrayer of Tindall afterward did hang him selfe So Philippes this miserable traytor after he had bene receaued of Tyndal borrowed money of him yet betrayed him and pursued him to death albeit he reioyced a while after y t he had done yet y e saying so goeth that he not long tyme after enioyed the price of innocent bloud but was consumed at last with lyce The worthy vertues and doings of this blessed Martyr who for his paynefull trauailes and singular zeale to his countrey may be called in these our dayes an Apostle of Englād it were long to recite Amongest many other this because it seemeth to me worthy of remembraunce I thought not in silence to ouerpasse which hath vnto me credibly bene testified by certaine graue Marchauntes some of thē also such as were present the same tyme at the fact and men yet alyue The story wherof is this There was at Antwerpe on a tyme amongest a company of Marchauntes as they were at supper a certaine iuggler which through his diabolicall inchaūtementes or Art Magicall would fetch all kyndes of viandes wyne from any place they would and set it vpon the table incōtinent before them with many other such lyke thynges The same of this iuggler beyng much talked of it chaunced that as M. Tyndall heard of it he desired certaine of the Marchants that he might also be present at supper to see him play his partes To be briefe the supper was appointed and the Marchauntes with Tyndall were there present Then the iuggler being required to play his feates and to shewe his cunning after his wonted boldnes began to vtter all that he could do but all was in vaine At the last The power of Gods saintes against the deuil with hys labour sweating and toyling when he sawe that nothyng would go forward but that all his enchauntmentes were voyde he was compelled openly to confesse that there was some man present at supper which disturbed and letted all his doings So that a man euen in the Martyrs of these our dayes can not lacke the miracles of true faith if miracles were now to be desired As concerning y e workes and bookes of Tyndall which extend to a great number thou wast tolde before louyng reader howe the Printer heereof mindeth by the Lordes leaue W. Tyndals workes looked for to be all set out in one volum◠to collect them all in one Uolume together and put them out in print Wherefore it shall not greatly at thys time be needefull to make any seuerall rehearsall of them And as touching his translation of the new Testament because his enemies did so much carpe at it pretending it to be so full of heresies to aunswere therfore to their sclanderous tongs and lieng lippes thou shalt heare and vnderstand what faithfull dealing and sincere conscience he vsed in the same by the testimonie allegation of his own words The faithfull dealing of Tindall in translating the newe testament written in his Epistle to Iohn Frith as foloweth I call God to record against the day we shall appeare before our Lord Iesus to geue a reckening of our doings y t I neuer altered one sillable of Gods word against my cōscience nor would do this day if all that is in earth whether it be honour pleasure or riches might be geuē me c. And as ye haue heard Tyndals owne words thus protesting for himselfe now let vs heare likewise the faithfull testimonie of Iohn Frith for Tindall his deare companion and brother thus declaring in his aunswere to mayster More as followeth The testimony of Iohn Frith in his booke of the Sacrament concerning William Tyndall The testimony of Iohn Frith for Tindall ANd Tyndall I trust liueth well content with suche a poore Apostles life as God gaue his sonne Christ and his faithfull Ministers in this world which is not sure of so many mites as ye be yearely of poundes although I am sure that for his learning and iudgement in Scripture he were more worthy to be promoted then all the Bishops in Englande The wordes of Tindall written to Iohn Frith I receaued a letter from him whiche was written since Christmas wherein among other matters he writeth this I call God to record against the daye wee shall appeare before our Lord Iesus to geue a reckening of our doings that I neuer altered one sillable of Gods word against my conscience nor woulde do this day if all that is in earth whether it be honour pleasure or riches might be geuen me Moreouer I take God to witnesse to my conscience that I desire of God to my selfe in this world no more then that without which I can not keepe his lawes c. Iudge Christian Reader whether these words be not spoken of a faithfull cleare innocent hart And as for his behauiour is such that I am sure no man can reproue him of any sinne howbeit no man is innocent before God which beholdeth the hart This much out of Frith And thus being about to conclude and finishe wyth the life and story of William Tindall Ex lib. Tind praxit Praelatorum it shall be requisite now that the Reader do heare some thing likewise of his supplication made to the King and nobles of the Realme as they are yet
out of Wales was brought to the gallowes and there also with the foresayd Frier as is sayde was set on fire Whome the Wealshmen muche worshipped and had a Prophecye amongest them that this Image shoulde set a whole forrest on fyre Which prophecy tooke effect for he set this Fryer Forest on fire and consumed hym to nothing The Fryer when he saw the fire come and that present death was at hand he caught hold vpon the lader and would not let it go but so vnpaciently took his death as neuer any man that put his trust in God at any time so vngodly or vnquietly ended his life In the month of October Nouember the same yere shortly after the ouerthrow of these images and pilgrimages folowed also the ruine of the Abbeis religious houses which by the speciall motion of the Lord Cromwel or rather and principally by the singuler blessing of almighty God were suppressed being geuen a litle before by acte of Parliament into the kinges hand wherupoÌ„ not onely the houses were rased but theyr possessions also disparcled among the nobility in such sort The ruyne dissolutioÌ„ of Abbeyes â—onasteryes in England as all friers monkes Chanons Nunnes and other sectes of religion were then so rooted out of this Realme from the very foundation that there semeth by Gods grace no possibility hereafter left for the generation of those straunge weedes to grow here any more according to the true verdict of our Lord and Sauior Christ in his Gospell saying Euery plantation being not planted of my father Math. 15. shal be plucked vp by the rootes c. ¶ The history of the worthy Martir of God Iohn Lambert otherwise named Nicolson with his troubles examinations and aunsweres as well before the Archbishop of Caunterbury Warham and other Bishops as also before K. Henry 8. by whom at length he was condemned to death burned in Smithfielde Ann. 1538. IMmediatly vpon the ruine and destruction of the monasteries Anno 1538. the same yeare in the month of Nouember followed the trouble and condemnation of Iohn Lambert y e faythfull seruaunt of Iesus Christ and Martyr of blessed memory This Lambert being borne and brought vp in Northfolke was first conuerted by Bilney and studied in the Uniuersity of Cambridge Where after that he had sufficiently profited both in Latin and Greeke and had translated out of both tongues sondry things into the English tongue being forced at last by violence of the time he departed from thence to the partes beyond the seas to Tyndall and Frith Lambert â—â—eacher to the Englysh 〈◊〉 at Antwerpe and there remained the space of a yeare and more being preacher and Chapleine to the Englishe house at Antwerpe till he was disturbed by sir Thomas More and by the accusation of one Barlow was caried froÌ„ Antwerpe to London Lambert brought froÌ„ Antwerpe to London where he was brought to examination first at Lambeth then at the Bishops house at Oxford before Warham y e Archb. of Cant. and other aduersaries hading 45. articles ministred agaynst him wherunto he rendred answere agayne by writing The which answeres for as much as they conteine great learning may geue some light to the better vnderstanding of the common causes of religion now in controuersy I thought here to exemplify the same Lambert accused by one Baâ—â—ow as they came right happely to our handes The copy both of the articles and also of his aunsweres here in order foloweth ¶ Articles to the number of 45. layd to Lambert IN primis whether thou wast suspecte or infamed of heresy Articles agaynst Iohn Lambert 2. Whether euer thou hadst any of Luthers bookes and namely sith they were condemned how long thou kepst them and whether thou hast spent any study on them 3. Whether thou wast constitute priest and in what Dioces and of what bishop 4. Whether it be lawfull for a Priest to mary a wife and whether a priest in some case be bouÌ„d by the law of God to mary a wife 5. Whether thou beleuest that whatsoeuer is done of man whether it be good or ill commeth of necessity 6. Whether the sacrament of the aulter be a sacrament necessary vnto saluation and whether after the consecration of the bread and wine done by the priest as by the minister of God there is the very body and bloud of Christ in likenes of bread and wine 7. Item what opinion thou holdest touching the Sacrament of Baptisme whether thou doest beleue that it is a sacrament of the Church and a necessary sacrament vnto saluation and that a Priest may baptise and that the order of baptising ordeined by the church is necessary and wholsome 8. Item whether you beleue that matrimony be a sacrament of the church necessary to be obserued in the church that the order appointed by the Church for the solemnising therof is allowable and to be holden 9. Item whether thou doest beleue orders to be a sacrameÌ„t of the church Sacrament of orders and that saying of masse ordeined by the Church is to be obserued of Priestes whether it be deadly sinne or not if it be omitted or contemned and whether the order of Priesthoode were inuented by mans imagination or ordeined by God 10. Item whether penaunce be a sacrament of the Church and necessary vnto saluation Sacrament of penance and whether auricular confession is to be made vnto the priest or is necessary vnto saluation and whether thou beleuest that a ChristiaÌ„ is bouÌ„d besides contrition of hart hauing the free vse of an apte or meet priest vnder necessity of saluation to be confessed vnto a Priest and not vnto any lay man be he neuer so good and deuout whether thou beleuest that a Priest in cases permitted vnto him may absolue a sinner beyng contrite and confessed from his sinnes and enioine him wholsome penaunce 11. Item whether thou doest beleue and holde Sacrament of confession that the sacrament of confirmation extreme vnction be sacrameÌ„ts of the church and whether that they doe profite the soules of them which receiue them and whether thou beleuest the foresayde seuen sacramentes to geue grace vnto them that do duly receiue them 12. Whether all thinges necessary vnto saluation are put in holy Scripture Vnwritten verities and whether things onely there put be sufficient and whether some thinges vpon necessity of saluation are to be beleued and obserued which are not expressed in Scripture 13. Whether thou beleuest that Purgatory is and whether that soules departed be therin tormented and purged Purgatory 14 Whether holy martyrs apostles and confessors departed from this world ought to be honored and called vpon Praying to Saintes and prayed vnto 15. Whether the Sayntes in heauen as Mediatours pray for vs 16. Whether thou beleuest that oblations pilgrimages may be deuoutly and meritoriously done to the sepulchres and reliques of sayntes Pilgrimage 17. Whether
me For he hath sold away al that euer he hath that surely entendeth for the loue of Christ to helpe the poore with all that he may Voluntas reputatur pro facto The will is accepted for the deed as is sayd commonly And this saying both of Iames and also of the Euangelist I think verely belongeth to al christen men that they should performe it none except neyther lay man ne women as we vse to say but to them as well as to any whom we call religious As coÌ„cerning y e reliques tombes of saints I haue said vnto your Lordship afore what I do thinke of the milke of our Lady Reliques and Tombes of Saintes Our Ladyes milke The bloud of Hayles y e bloud which they say is at Hailes Norwich other places w t such other wherof I trust you doe know what ought to be done And I besech god you may do ther in as your office doth require so shewing example vnto other prelates to follow your Lordship in good doing as is comely for a primate to do remembring alway as Paule sayth the time is short and therefore it were good to set to hand in time Finally holy Moyses when he died would be so buried that no man should know which was his graue as it is witnessed in the booke of Deuteronomy Moyses Tombe vnknowen that as the expositors testify was because y e Iewes which were prone to new faÌ„gled worshipping should not fall into Idolatry worshipping him as God for the great and manifold myracles that were wrought by him while he was aliue To thinke Pilgrimage to be meritorious is no poynte of our beliefe To conclude I say it is no poynt of my belief to think that oblations and pilgrimages at saintes graues and reliques are meritorious works ne yet that there is any deuotioÌ„ in so doing That is godly which is institute by scripture If you thinke contrary I would desire to know for mine instruction what part of scripture should make therfore agaynst me ¶ In the xvij where you doe aske whether the fast of lent and other appoynted by the common law Answere to the 17. 〈◊〉 and receaued in common vsage of Christen people vnlesse necessity otherwise requireth are to be obserued I saye that in mine opinion they are to be obserued and fastyng discretly done is commendable for so shall a man auoyde slouth be the more ready to serue God and also his neighbours therby tame the rebellioÌ„ of carnal concupiscence according to the saying of the Poet The saying of Hierome Sine cerere baccho friget venus Without wine good fare lust waxeth colde And as saynt Hierome Venter mero estuans spumat in libidinem The body enflamed with wine bursteth out into lust Yet shall not the breaking of these feastes make a man to do deadly sinne Fast broâ—â—â— is of it selfe no sinne except in his minde be some other malicious affection therwith annexed as rashnes of minde despite or such like for so much as no positiue law of man made without foundation of scripture may binde any person so that in breaking of such No profitâ—â—â— law without the foundatioÌ„ of Scripture bindeth to deadly sinne he shall therfore sinne deadly And of this sort made by man is the fast of lent and other dayes ordeined in your lawes without authoritye of scripture which willeth vs to fast perpetually eating and drinking but when neede requireth not for any voluptuousnes as many that recounteth themselues great fasters I feare haue done yea and that sparely forseeing alwaye that our Romackes be neuer cloied with dronkenshippe or surfeiting as is commaunded by our Sauior in Luke but contrariwise How to 〈◊〉 truely after the Scripture after the fashion rather of a certayne Prince that is mentioned I trow in Valerius Maximus that neuer rose from his meales meat with a full stomacke but rather somewhat empty or hungry which as the story testifieth caused him to liue so wonderfull a long season that a mâ—n could vnneth thinke it possible for ones life to be so prolonged had not such a notable author reported it And to tell the trueth I suppose the prelates shoulde better haue perswaded the people to pure fasting by instaÌ„t preaching of the word of God and fatherly exhortations Fasting rather to be perswaded theÌ„ enforced then by ordeining of so sore a multitude of lawes and constitutions For the nature of man is well described of Horace saying Nitimur in vetitum seÌ„per cupimusque negata Looke what is forbid that we most desire and alwayes couet the things that be denyed vs. And in an other prouerbe Funis plus aequo teÌ„sus rumpitur The rope by ouermuch straining bursteth a sonder According to this sayd a good olde father in Cambridge I remeÌ„ber his saying well yet He was an old Doct. of diuinity WheÌ„ a Legate came into England at a time he with certayne Bishops had ordeined that the dedication of al churches through England as I remember should be kept holy solemnized vpon one day Church holy dayes solemnised in England and priestes should haue their gownes made close before with such other like ordinances he resisted not condesceÌ„ding to haue theÌ„ put in executioÌ„ wheÌ„ his Diocesane required him Gownes sowed before declaring howe this multitude of lawes pleased him not For we had enough aboundantly afore adding this reason Adam being in Paradise had but one law to obserue Multitude of lawes and yet he brake it what other thing then shall this multitude do quoth he but multiply transgression For when a Fagot is bound ouer strait the bond must breake God therfore I besech him send vs of the sweet dew of his heauenly doctrine Multitude of lawes vnprofitable to moysten and supple the earthlye grouÌ„d of our hartes that we may grow like fashioned vnto him putting apart our old Adam with all his dissimulation and paynted shew that is much caused by humaine lawes and constitutions and do vpon Christ that is y e very truth and the way directing men to the same Amen ¶ Unto the xviij where you aske Answere to the 18. arti whether it be laudable and profitable that worshipfull Images be set in churches for the remembraunce of Christ and his sayntes I say Against Images Psal. â—7 that I know of no images that ought to be worshipped specially made by the hand of men for the Psal. sayth Confusion or shame be vpon them that worshippe or make obeysance vnto carued Images that glory in theyr pictures Moreouer S. Augustine in his book de vera religione sayth thus Let vs not haue deuotion in worshipping the workes of men or els thus Images not to be worshipped let vs not be bound to worship the workes of men for the workemen are more excellent then the thinges which they make whom notw tstanding we ought not to worship The latin is
the Popes authority may be stopped by a Duke what authority then hath he ouer kinges and Emperours what place shal be left him where he may keepe hys generall Councell Agayne if Princes haue geuen him this authoritye to call a councell is it not necessary that they geue him also al those thinges without the which he can not exercise that his power Shall he call men and will ye let him to finde no place to call them vnto Truely he is not woont to appoynt one of his owne cityes a place to keep the Councell in No the good man is so faythfull and frendly toward other that seldome he desireth Princes to be his gestes And admitte he shoulde call vs to one of his Cittyes shoulde we safely walke within the walles of such our enemies towne Were it meete for vs there to discusse controuersies of Religion or to keepe vs out of our enemies trappes meete to study for the defence of such doctrine as we professe Example that the Pope hath no power vpon places in other mens dominioÌ„s or rather how we might in such a throng of perilles be in safegard of our life Well in this one arte the Bishop of Rome hath declared that he hath none authority vpon places in other mens dominions and therefore if he promise a CouÌ„sel in any of those he promiseth that that is in an other man to performe and so may he deceiue vs agayne Now if he cal vs to one of his owne townes DileÌ„ma against the Pope we be afrayd to be at such an hostes table We say better to ryse an hungred then to go thence with our bellye 's full But they say the place is found we need no more to seek where the CouÌ„cell shal be kept As who sayth Vincence a citye vnder the dominion of the Venetians that that chaunced at Mantua may not also chaunce at Uincence and as though it were very like that the Uenecians men of suche wisedome should not both foresee and feare also that the wise Duke of Mantua semed to feare Certes when we thinke vppon the state that the Uenecians be in now it seemeth no very likely thing that they will eyther leaue Uincence theyr Cittye to so many Nations wythout some great garrison of souldiours or els that they beyng els where so sore charged already wil now nourish an army there And if they would doâ—h not Paule himselfe grauÌ„t that it should be an euill President an euill example to haue an armed Councell Howe so euer it shall be we most hartily desire you that ye will vouchsafe to read those thinges that we wrote this last yeare touching the Mantuan Councell For we nothing doubt but you of your equity will stand on our side agaynst theyr subtlety and fraudes and iudge except we be deceiued that we in this busines neither gaue so much to our affectioÌ„s neither without great and most iust causes refused theyr Councelles theyr Censures and Decrees Whether these our writinges please all men or no we thinke we ought not to passe much No if that which indifferently is written of vs may please indiffereÌ„t readers our desire is accomplished The false and mistaking of thinges by men parciall shall moue vs nothing or els very litle If we haue sayd ought agaynst the deceites of the Byshop of Rome that may seeme spoken too sharpely we pray you impute it to the hatred we beare vnto vices and not to any euill will that we beare him No that he and all his may perceiue that we are rather at strife with his vices then with him and his our prayer is that it may please God at the last to open theyr eies to make soft their hard hartes and that they once may with vs theyr owne glory set apart study to set forth the euerlasting glory of the euerlasting God Thus mighty Emperour fare you most hartily well and ye Christen Princes the pillers and stay of Christendome fare ye hartily well Also all ye what people so euer ye are which do desire that the gospell and glory of Christ may florish fare ye hartily well As the Lorde of his goodnes hath raised vp Thomas Cromwel to be a frend and patrone to the Gospell so on the contrary side Sathan which is aduersary and enemy to all good thinges had his organe also which was Steuen Gardiner by all wyles and subtile means to impeach and to put backe the same Who after he had brought his purpose to passe in burning good Iohn Lambert as ye haue hearde proceeding still in his craftes and wyles and thinking vnder the name of heresies sectes Anabaptistes sacramentaris to exterminate al good bookes and faithful professours of Gods word out of England so wrought with the king that the next yeare following which was of our Lord. 1539. he gaue out these Iniunctions y e copy and contentes wherof I though here also not to be pretermitted and are these * Certayne other Iniunctions set forth by the authority of the King agaynst English bookes sectes and Sacramentaries also with putting downe the day of Thomas Becket FIrst that none without special licence of y e king transporte or bring from outward parties into England Anno. 1539. any manner of Englishe bookes neither yet sell geue vtter or publishe any suche vpon payne to forfeyte all their goode and cattelles and their bodies to be imprisoned so long as it shal please the kinges maiestie Item that none shal print or bring ouer any English bookes with annotations or Prologues vnles such books before he examined by the kings priuy Counsell or others appoynted by his highnesse and yet not to put therto these wordes Cum priuilegio Regali w tout adding Ad imprimendum solum neither yet to print it without the kinges priuiledge be printed therewith in the English tongue No bookes to be translated without the name of the translator that all men may read it Neyther shall they print any translated booke without the playne name of the translator be in it or els the printer to be made the translatour and to suffer the fine and punishment therof at the kinges pleasure Item that none of the occupation of Printing shall within the Realme print vtter sell or cause to be published any Englishe bookes of Scripture Englishe bokes of scripture forbidden to be printed vnlesse the same be first viewed examined and admitted by the kings highnesse or one of his priuy Counsell or one Byshop withâ—â— the Realme whose name shall therin be expressed vpon payne of the kinges most high displeasure the losse of their goods and cattels and prisonment so loÌ„g as it shall please the king Item those that be in any errours as Sacramentaries Agaynst Sacramentaryes Anabaptistes or any other or any that sell books hauing such opinions in them being once knowne both the bookes and such persons shal be detected and disclosed immediately vnto the kinges Maiesty or one of hys priuye
late mariage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue who in the beginning of the yere of our Lord. 1540. was maried to the king as also greued partly at the dissolution of the Monasteries The mariage of Queene Anne Cleue and fearing the growing of the Gospell sought al occasions how to interrupt these happy beginnings and to traine the king to their owne purpose Now what occasion this wilye Winchester found out to worke vpon ye shall heare in order as followeth It happened the same time that the Lorde Cromwell for the better establishing of sincere religion in this realm deuised a mariage for y e king to be concluded betwene him the Lady Anne of Cleue The occasiâ—â— which Winchester did worke by This Lady Anne of Cleue was maryed to the king 〈◊〉 1540. whose other sister was already maried vnto the duke of Saxony By this mariage it was supposed that a perpetual league amitie and ally shold be nourished between this realm and the princes of Germany so therby godly religion might be made more strong on both parts against the bishop of Rome and his tyrannical religion But the diuel euer enuying the prosperity of the gospell layd a stumbling blocke in that cleare way for the king to stumble at For when the parentes of the noble lady were commoned withall for the furtherance of y e sayd mariage among others of her frends whose good wil was required y e duke of Saxony her brother in law misliked y e mariage partly for that he wold haue had her bestowed vpon some prince of Germany more nigh vnto her sister partly for other causes which he thoght reasonable Wherupon it followeth that the slacknes of the Duke in that behalfe being espyed crafty Winchester taking good holdfast theron so alienated the kinges mind from the amity that semed now to begin and grow betwene the Duke and the king that by the occasion thereof he brought the king at length cleane out of credit with that religioÌ„ and doctrine which the duke had then mayntained many yeares before Thus wily Winchester with his crafty fetches partly vpon this occasion aforesayd partly also by other pestilent perswations creping into the kinges eares ceased not to seeke all meanes how to worke his feat to ouerthrow Religion first bringing him in hatred with the Germane Princes The king brought out of credite with the doctrine of the Germaynâ— Princes then putting him in feare of the Emperor of the French king of the Pope of the king of Scottes and other forraigne powers to rise agaynst him but especially of Ciuil tumultes commotions here within this realme which aboue all thinges he most dreaded by reason of innouation of religioÌ„ and dissoluing of Abbies and for abolishing of rites and other customes of the Church sticking so fast in the mindes of the people that it was to be feared least theyr hartes were or woulde be shortly styrred vp agaynst him The wicked councell of Steph. Gardiner and other about the king vnlesse some spedy remedy were to the contrary prouided declaring moreouer what a dauÌ„gerous matter in a common wealth it is to attempt new alterations of any thing but especially of Religion Which being so he exhorted the king for his owne safegard and publicke quiet and tranquility of his realme to see betime how and by what pollicy these so manifold mischiefes might be preueÌ„ted Agaynst which no other way nor shift could better be deuised then if he would shew himself sharp and seuere agaynst these new Sectaryes Anabaptistes SacrameÌ„taries as they called them would also set forth such Articles confirming the auncient Catholick fayth as wherby he might recouer agayne his credence with Christen Princes and whereby all the world besides might see and iudge him to be a right and perfite Catholicke By these such like crafty suggestions The king abused by wicked couÌ„cell the king being to much seduced and abused began to withdraw his defeÌ„ce from the reformation of true Religion supposing thereby to procure to himselfe more safety both in his owne realme and also to auoide such daungers which otherwise might happen by other Princes especially seing of late he had refused to come to the generall Councell at Uincence being thereto inuited both by the Emperor other forraigne poteÌ„tates as ye haue heard before And therfore although he had reiected the Pope out of this Realme yet because he woulde declare himselfe neuerthelesse to be a good Catholicke sonne of the mother Church and a withstander of new innouations and heresies as the blinde opinion of the world did then esteme them first he stretched out his hand to the condemning and burning of Lambert Anno. 1540. then after he gaue out those Iniunctions aboue prefixed now further to encrease this opinion with all men The Popes crafty factorâ— in England in the yeare next folowing which was of the Lorde 540. through the deuise and practise of certayne of the Popes factors about him he suÌ„moned a solemne ParliameÌ„t to be holden at Westminster the 28. day of Aprill of all the states and Burgeses of the Realme Also a Synode or conuocation of all the Archbishops Bishops and other learned of the Clergy of thys Realme to be in like maner assembled The Acte of the vi Articles In which ParliameÌ„t Synode or conuocation certein Articles maters and questions touching religioÌ„ were decreed by certein prelates The 6. Articles to the nuÌ„ber especially of 6. commonly called the 6. Articles or the whip with 6. stringes to be had receiued among the kings subiects in pretence of vnity But what vnity therof folowed y e groning harts of a great number and also the cruell death of diuers both in the dayes of K. Henry of Queene Mary can so well declare as I pray God neuer the lyke be felt hereafter The doctrine of these wicked articles in the bloudy act conteined although it be worthy of no memory amongest christen men but rather deserueth to be buried in perpetuall obliuion yet for that the office of history compelleth vs therunto for the more light of posterity to come faythfully and truly to comprise thinges done in the church as well one as another this shal be briefely to recapitulate y e suÌ„me effect of the foresayd 6. articles in order as they were geuen out and hereunder do folow The first Article THe first Article in this present Parliament accorded and agreed vpon was this that in the most blessed SacrameÌ„t of the aultar by the strength and efficacy of Christes mighty worde it being spoken by the priest is present really vnder the forme of bread and wine the naturall body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesu Christ conceiued of the virgine Mary and that after the coÌ„secration there remayneth no substaunce of bread or Wyne or any other substance but the substance of Christ God and man The 2. Article Secondly that the communion in both
also of hys death read before pag. 146. In the yere of our Lord. 950. liued Odo Archbyshop of CaÌ„terbury in whose time it appeareth in the catholickes owne confession that many priests then affirmeth that the bread and wine after consecration did remayn in their former substance and that the sayd mysteries were onely a figure of the body and bloud of Christ as we finde it witnessed by Osberne himselfe who did write the liues of Odo Dunstane and Elphege at the bidding of LanfraÌ„ke Archbyshop of Canterbury as reporteth Edmerus Anselmus Chaplain The wordes of Osberne be these Hoc ferè tempore quidam clerici maligno errore seducti asseuerare conabantur panem vinum quae in altari ponuntur post consecrationem in priori substantia manere figuram tantummodo esse corporis saÌ„guinis Christi c. That is About this time saith Osbern writing in the daies of Lanfrak certaine of the Clergy being seduced by wicked errour did hold and maintein that bread and wine which are set vpon the aulter after the consecration do remaine in their former substaunce and are but onely a figure of the body and bloude of Christe c. And no doubt but at that time the common opinion of most of the Clergye was so that the Sacrament was the bodye and bloud of Christ and that the substaunce of bread and wine notwithstanding were not transubstantiate as the Romish Catholikes do now teach But this is the guise of these men that in their writinges and stories stil they diminish the better number wherby their faction may seeme euer to be the bigger and therefore to extenuate the common opinion then receiued in the Churche he inferreth mention of certaine of the Cleargy c. And as he fayleth in the number of these Clergymen which then held against transubstantiation so he vpholdeth the same with as lying a miracle A lying miracle to proue transubstantiatioÌ„ Which miracle hee faineth to be wrought the same time for the conuersion of the sayd Clergy men by the bloud dropping out of the host at Masse as Odo was breaking the host ouer the chalice At the sight wherof first Odo himselfe saith he wept for ioye seeing his petition accomplished which he so earnestly praied for Secondarily all those Clergie men saith he which before beleeued not this transubstantiation by by were conuerted and blessed the archbishop that euer he was borne desiring him to pray againe that the bloud might returne to his former shape Ex Malmes streight it was done And this was the miracle which seemeth as true as that which W. Malmesbury writeth of the sayde Odo howe by his prayers he caused a sworde to come flying from heaueÌ„ into king Aethelstanes scabbard wheÌ„ he had lost his owne as he should fight aginst Analanus or els as that miracle where the sayd Odo is said to couer and defend the church of Caunterbury that no droppe of raine could touch it so long as the roofe thereof was in making Read afore pag. 151. Ex W. Malmesb. Vid sup pag. 151. In the which so miraculous a myracle many things are to be marueiled First I maruel that at this great myracle of the Archb. in his Cathedral Church amongest so many singing men we read of no Te Deum ther to be song after the doing thereof Reasons and prouâ—es alleaged agaynst this myracle Secondly I maruell that those Priestes and Clerkes which then denied transubstantiation were suffered to be so neare the Archb. at his Masse and that they were not committed rather to ward like heretickes and traitours if this Article of transubstantiatio had ben then such a Catholike doctrine and so publikely receaued in the Church as they say it was Thirdly I maruel seeing the time of myracles is expired we hauing the scriptures to guide vs why y e Archbyshop would seeke to miracles and apparitions to conuert men rather then to the lawe and Prophets according as we are commaunded especiall hauing no such example of all the olde Doctors which in confutatioÌ„ of so many erroneous opinions yet neuer sought to such myracles or blynde meanes Fourthly I maruel much at the discrepance in telling this tale The authors of this fabulous miracle do not agree with in themselues betwene Osbern and the other which since haue written Legendes of Odo For wheras Osbern speaking of certaine Priestes nameth no place but leaueth the matter at large and speaketh absolutely quidam clerici all other which haue since written the Legendes of Odo doe tell this tale against certaine Priests of Caunterbury adding to the wordes of Osberne quidam Clerici Cantuarienses But to conuict the falshode of them all as well Osberne as of the rest there is a legend of the life of Odo and of Oswald together more auncient then this of Osberne written as it may seeme in the time of Aelfricus Archb. of Canterbury Elphege then Bishop of Winchester wherin mention is made in deede of this miracle but after an other sort then this of Osberne to an other purpose then to disswade certaine priestes infected with that errour froÌ„ the opinioÌ„ before declared which is only brought to shew the holines of Odo as comonly the maner of Legendes is to do So that in this olde Legend it is thus reported that when this miracle was done Odo disclosed the matter not to many priests of England that were in that error as Osborne would sed vocat protinus fidelem seruum qui cominus erat miraculum secretè demonstrat c. that is but called vnto him a certaine faithful seruaunt which was neare about him and shewed vnto him the miracle secretly Wher vpon the Priest sayth the Legende muche reioyced at the holines of Odo and desired him to make his prayer to almighty God that the body might returne againe to the former shape ce Out of this old lying Legend Osberne and other likewise that followed him seemeth to haue takeÌ„ this tale so that out of the errour of one as the maner is springeth the errour of a number mo But this much more I maruel why this miracle is not stored in Henry Huntington Lying Leâ—endes which professedly writeth of such miracles nor in Rog. Houeden and such other but onely in such blinde Legendes which commonly haue no substance of veritie nor certeinetie of time or writer to know when and by whom they were written and for the most part are stuffed with lying visions and prodigious fables Finally if this miraculous fiction of Osberne were true y t for the conuerting of Priestes of England whiche would not beleue transubstantiation this bloud did drop out of the hoste of the which bloud peraduenture came the bloud of Hales and that by the sight thereof the Priestes eâ—tsoone were all conuerted as Osberne pretendeth how then came it to passe that after the time of Odo in the daies of Elfricus which was after him
Aidanus Ceadda king Ulferus Oswius Elfreda King Oswys daughter Kineburga Hilda Botulphus Edeldreda King Oswald Edgar Erkenewaldus Bishop Ethelwoldus Bishop of Winchester Osketellus Archbishop of Yorke Oswaldus Bishop of Worcester Leswinus Byshop of Dorcester Dunstane and diuers other The end and final cause why they were builded appeareth in stories to be The ende and cause of building religious houses pro remissione redemptione peccatorum pro remedio liberatione animae pro amore coelestis patriae in eleemosinam animae in remissionem criminum pro salute Regnorum pro salute requie animarum patrum matrum fratrum sororum nostrarum parentum omnium benefactorum in honorem gloriosae Virginis c. As may appeare in auncient histories in olde Charters and donations vnto religious houses and in the Chronicle of Ingulphus as also all other stories be full of the same So King Ethelstane for killing his brother Edwyne builded two Monasteries The damnable doctrine and institutions of religious sectes and orders Midleton and Michelneye for his soule page 152. Which doctrine and institution for so much as it tendeth and soundeth directly against the foundation of Christian religion against the TestameÌ„t of God the Gospel of Iesus Christ the freedome of our redemption and free iustification by fayth it is therfore to be condeÌ„ned as execrable and horrible as euil or worse then the life of the persons and not only worthy to be suppressed to the foundation but to be maruelled rather that God woulde suffer it to stand so long Gods conâ—â—nual plaâ—â—â—gaynst Moâ—â—steryeâ— Albeit Gods mighty vengeance and scourge hath not ceased from time to time to worke againste suche impious foundations from the time of theyr first setting vp For besides the inuasions of the Danes whiche may seeme to be stirred vp of God especially for the subuersion of Abbeyes let old hystories be searched what Monasterie almost in all this Realme was eyther leaft by the Danes or reedified agayne after the Danes but by some notorious casualty of fire sent by Gods hand it hath bene burnt vp First the Monasterie of Caunterbury called the house of S. Gregory was burnt an 1145. and afterward againe burnt an 1174. Ex hist. Geruasij The Abbey of Croyland also was twise burnt Ex hist. Ingulphi The Abbey of Peterborow twise set on fire an 1070. Ex Chron. Peterb The Abbey of S. Maries in Yorke burnt with the hospitall also The Abbey of Norwich burnt The Abbey of S. Edmunds Bury burnt and destroyed Ex Chron. S. Edmund The Abbey of Worcester burnt The Abbey of Glocester was also burnt The Abbey of Chichester burnt The Abbey of Glastenbury burnt The Abbey of S. Mary in Southwarke burnt The Church of the Abbey at Beuerley burnt The steeple of the Abbey of Euesham burnt These with many other monasteries mo Abbeyes burnt and 〈◊〉 within fire God brought downe to the ground so that few or none of all the Monasticall foundations in all England either before the Conquest escaped the hands of the Danes and Scottes or else after the Conquest escaped destruction of fire and that not without iusâ—â—â—use deserued The doctrin of the monkes worse then their liues for as the trade of their lyues was too too wretched and bestiall so the profession of theyr doctrine was intollerable fraught with all superstition full of much Idolatrie and vtterly contrary to the grace of the Gospell and doctrine of Christ. Furthermore the more these Abbeyes multiplyed and the longer they continued in time the more corruption still they drew vnto them And albeit we reade the name of Monkes to haue continued from the old auncient time yet notwithstanding the Monkes of those dayes were not like to the Monkes of our time nor their houses then like to our Abbeyes nowe So we reade of the Monkes of Bangor before the comming of Augustine but those Monkes got their liuing with toyle and labour of theyr hands and had no other lands nor lordships to liue vpoÌ„ 16. q. 1. Moâ—â—chus 16 q. 2. 〈◊〉 caus◠〈◊〉 Againe neither were they as Ministers then but as Laye men according as Hierome describeth the Monkes of his time sayeng Monachus non docentis sed plangentis habet officium And againe he sayeth Alia causa est Monachi alia Clerici Clerici oues pascunt Ego pascor That is A Monkes office is not to preache but to mourne The state of a Monke is one thing and the state of a Priest is another Priestes feede the flocke of Christ. I am fedde c. Also in the storie of Ingulphus Abbot of Croylande Ex 〈…〉 thus I finde an 1075. In Croylandiam primum installatus inueni tunc in isto Monasterio Croylandési Monachos numero 62. Quorum quatuor laici fratres erant praeter aliorum Monasteriorum Monachos nostri capituli conprofessos c. That is Lay 〈…〉 Being installed in the Abbey of Croyland I found there to the number of lxij Monkes Of which Monkes foure of them were laye breethren besides the Monkes of other Monasteries which were also professed to our Chapter c. The like matter also appeareth in the fourth Canon of the Councell of Chalcedon where it is prouided Ne Monachi se Ecclesiasticis negotijs immisceant c. Et Leo Epist. 62. Vetat Monachos laicos etsi scientiae nomine glorientur admitti ad officium docendi concionandi Whereof reade more page 154. Thus it appeareth about or before the time of Hierome that Monkes in the firste persecutions of the Primitiue Church were lay men and companies of Christians associating themselues together eyther for feare of persecution or for eschewing the company of heathen Gentiles Afterward in continuance of time when the Gentiles began to be called to Christianitie the monkes yet keeping theyr name growing in superstition woulde not ioyne with other Christians but keepe still their brotherhoodes diuiding themselues from other Christians and professing a kinde of life straunge and diuers from the common trade UpoÌ„ this diuersitie of life and profession folowed also like diuersitie of garments and attire differing from their other breethren After this moreouer came in the rule of S. Benedict enioyning to them a prescribed forme of goyng of wearing of watching sleeping rising praying of sileÌ„ce sole life and diet and all thinges almost differing from the vulgar sort of common Christians Whereby men seeing theyr austerity beganne to haue them in great admiration Monkes diuers from other in apparell And thus growing vp in opinion of hoâ—â—nes of lay men and laborers they came at length to be Clergy men and greatest doers of all other in Christes religion In so muche that at last there was none reputed almost for a religious man or perfect christian vnles he were a monk neither almost was any aduauÌ„ced to any dignity of the Church but either he was a monke or afterward he put on a
monkes weede According as in the stories of this Realme is to be seene howe in the tyme of Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury Monke of lay in 〈◊〉 made Clergy men Pope Iohn 13. wrote to K. Edgar that one should be made Bishops but Monkes of Ethelwold Byshop of Worcester and of Oswald Bishop of Winchester Pope Iohn 13. writing to king Edgar willed him in hys letters to see in his Cathedrall Churches none to be promoted to be Bishops but such as were of the Monasticall religion and willed him moreouer to exclude the secular prebendaries at Winchester and to place in Monkes and that none of the secular Clerkes there should be chosen bishop but either taken out of the same Couent of that churche or of some other Abbey So was also king Henry the second commauÌ„ded to do in the house of Waltham Secular Priestes put out and Monkes intruded into Churches where the secular Canons were remoued out and regular Canons intruded The same did Oswald Bishop with the Church of Worcester likewise in their Sees did Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury Osketellus Archbishop of York Ethelwold Bishop of Worcester who in storye is reported to be Multorum fundator Monasteriorum Leswinus also Bishop of Dorcester with other Bishops moe about the time and raign of king Edgar â—do Archbishop of Caunterbury before Dunstane an 934. after his election refused to take that dignity vpon him before he had receiued the habite of a monk in the Abbey of Florence in Fraunce because as the story telleth if it be true Nullus ad id tempus nisi monachali schemate indutus Ex Guliel Malmesh in vita Odonis Ex Neaburgens lib 4. cap 33. Archiepiscopus fuisset c. That is Because all the Archbishops of Caunterbury before him had bene Monkes c. In like maner Baldwinus also an 1114. after he was elected Archb. of Canterbury tooke vpon him the habite and profession of Mereton Abbey And so did Reginaldus his next successor after him c. Monkes first lay men theÌ„ made regulars and votaryes at length made Churchmen Pope Boniface As concerning therfore the origene of Monks ye haue heard how first they began of lay meÌ„ onely leading a straiter life from the society of other persons who then folowing the rule of S Benet were called regulars votaries and yet all this while had nothing to do with any Ecclesiasticall ministery til the time of Pope Bonifacius y e fourth an 606. who then made a decree that monkes might vse the office of preaching of the christening of hearing confessions and assoyling theÌ„ of their sinnes differing from priestes onely in this Difference betweene Mâ—nkes Priestes that they were called Regulares and priestes were called Seculares the monkes were votaries the priestes had free liberty to haue wiues til the time of Lanfranke and Anselme as is aforesayd Albeit Athanasius in his Epistle Ad Dracontium witnesseth also that he knewe Monkes in the olde time and Bishops which were marryed and had children Furthermore as ignorance superstition with time encreased so the number and swarme of monkes still more and more multiplied in such sort as not onely they thrust out secular Priestes froÌ„ their houses but also out of them were made Popes Cardinalles Archbishops and Bishops to gouerne Churches Of which nuÌ„ber began Austen the first Archbishop of the See of Cant. and the most part of all other Archbishops after him vntill the time of the Conquest and after All this while the Friers were not yet come neyther the discipline of S. Dominike The comming in of the â—ryers nor the Testament of S. Fraunces nor the order of the Austen brothers nor of the Carmelites was yet heard of Which last of all came in w t theyr pageans and played theyr part likewise an 1220. being much more full of hipocrisy blindnesse Idolatry and superstition then were the monkes So that what with monkes of y e one side w t the friers of the other side while all thinges were ruled by the Rules of S. Benet by y e Canons of the Pope by the doctrine of S. Dominike and by the Testament of S. Fraunces Christes Testament was trode vnder foote the rule of Gods word neglected true Christian religion defaced fayth forgotten the right way of saluation abolished sound doctrine oppressed Christes seruants persecuted and the peoples soules vncomforted yea and the true Church of Christ almost cleane extirped had not almighty God who can not forgette his promise prouided remedy in time in raysing vp this Cromwel his seruaunt and other like champions to cut vppe from the roote of the houses of them which otherwise would vtterly haue rooted vp the house of the Lord had subuerted a great part already Wherefore whosoeuer findeth himselfe agreeued with Cromwels doinges in suppressing these Monasteryes of Monkes and Fryers let him wisely consider with hymselfe first the doctrine lawes and traditions of these men which he shall find rebelling to the religion of Christ The lyfe of Monkes and Fryers considered pernitious to our saluation derogatory to Christes glory full of much blasphemy and damnable idolatry Secondly let him likewise wel aduise the horrible and execrable liues of these Cloysterers or at y e least search out the rolles and registers of matters found out by inquisition in king Henry the eight his dayes agaynst them which here is not to be spoken of vnles we will speake as Mathew Paris speaketh of the Court of Rome Cuius foetor vsque ad nubes fumum teterrimum exhalabat That is Whose filthy stinch saith he did breath vp a most pestiferous fume euen vnto the cloudes of heauen c. All which thinges well considered The Lord Cromwell defended in suppressing Abbayes what maruell is it then if God of his iust iudgement did set vp the foresayde Lord Cromwell to destroy these sinfull houses whoÌ„ theyr owne corruptions could suffer no longer to stand And as touching the dissipation of theyr landes and possessions to the handes of such as they were bestowed vpon if it so pleased the king in bestowing those Abbey landes vpon his Nobles and Gentlemen Dissipation of Abbay landes in England expedient either to restore them againe vnto them from whence they came or els to gratifie hys nobility by that meanes of pollicye not to mislike his doings what is that to Cromwel But they might say you haue bene much better employed to other more fruitfull vses Briefely to aunswere thereunto what may be done presently in a common wealth is not enough to say but what may also folow must be considered If thys throwing downe of Abbeys had happened in such free and reformed cities or countryes as are amongest the Germanes where the state gouerned directed by lawes rather then by rulers remayneth alwayes alike and vnmutable who doubteth but such houses there standing still y e possessions might well be transposed to such vses abouesayd without any
England by certaine merchants there was due to him the summe of 15000. ducates he so purposed with him self that if he could recouer that mony he would well content himself and no longer deale in the trade of merchants but quietly passe ouer the rest of his dayes All things prepared for his iourney he setting forward towards England at last arriued at London hauyng vtterly forgotten what curtesie long before hee had shewed to Cromwel which is the property alwayes of a good nature for a man to forget what benefites he hath shewed to other but to kepe in mind continually what he hath receiued of other Frescobald thus being now ariued at Lōdon and there trauelling earnestly about his businesse it chanced him by the way to meete with this noble man as he was riding toward the court Whome as soone as the sayd lord Cromwell had espied and had earnestly beheld he bethought with himselfe that he should be the man of Florence at whose hands in tymes past he had receyued so gentle entertainment and therupon sodenly alighting to the great admiration of those that were with him in hys armes he gently embraced the stranger and with a broken voyce scarce able to refraine teares he demanded if he wer not Frances Frescobald the Florētine Yea sir he answered and your humble seruant My seruant quoth Cromwell The wordes of the Lord Cromwell to the Italiā Marchaunt no as you haue not bene my seruant in times past so will I not now account you otherways then my great and especiall frend assuring you that I haue iust reason to be sory that you knowing what I am or at the least what I should be will not let me vnderstand of your arriuyng in this land which known vnto me truely I should haue payd part of that debte which I confesse to owe you but thanked be God I haue yet tyme. Well sir in conclusion you are hartilie welcome Old friendship remēbred But hauing now waightie affaires in my princes cause you must hold me excused that I can no longer tary with you Therfore at this tyme I take my leaue desiring you with the faithfull mynde of a friend that you forget not this day to come to my house to dinner and then in remounting on his horse he passed to the Court Frescobald greatly meruailing with himselfe who this Lord should be at last after some pause hys remembraunce better called home he knewe hym to be the same whome long before as you haue heard he had relieued in Florence and thereat not a little ioyed especially considering how that by his meanes he should the better recouer his duety The houre of dinner drawing neere he repayred to the house of this honourable Counsellour where walkyng a while in his base Court he attended his commyng The Lord shortly returned from the Court and no sooner dismounted but he agayne embraced this Gentleman with so frendly a countenance that both the Lord Admirall and all the other noble men of the Court beyng then in his cōpany did not a little maruell thereat Which thing when the Lord Cromwell perceyued he turnyng towardes them The curtesie of the Lord Cromwell in retayning his old host and holding Frescobald fast by the hand do ye not meruaile my Lordes quoth he that I seeme so glad of this man This is he by whose meanes I haue atchieued the degre of this my present calling and because ye shall not be ignoraunt of hys curtesie when I greatly neded I shall tell it you and so there declared vnto them euery thing in order accordyng as before hath bene recited vnto you His tale finished holdyng him still by the hand he entered his house and commyng into the Chamber where his dinner was prepared he sate hym downe to the Table placing his best welcomed guest next vnto him The dinner ended and the Lordes departed he would know what occasion had brought Frescobald to London Fraunces in few wordes opened his cause truely tellyng that from great wealth he was fallen into pouerty and that his only portion to maintayne the rest of his life was xv thousand Ducates which were owyng him in england and two thousand in Spaine Whereunto the lord Cromwell answeryng agayne sayd touching the things Maister Frescobald that be already past although it can not now be vndone by mans power nor by pollicye called agayne which hath happened vnto you by the vnstable cōdition and mutabilitie of this world altering too and fro yet is not your sorrow so peculiar to your selfe alone but that by the bond of mutuall loue I must also bewaile with you this your state and condition which state and condition of yours though it may worke in you matter of iust heauines yet notwithstanding to the intent you may receaue in this your heauy distresse some consolatiō for your old curtesie shewed to me in tymes past the lyke curtesie now requireth of me agayne that I likewise should repay some portion of that debt wherin I stand bound vnto you according as the part of a thankfull man byndeth me to do in requiting your benefites on my part heretofore receiued And this further I auouch in the word of a true frend that during this life and state of myne I will neuer fayle to do for you wherein my authoritie may preuaile to supply your lacke and necessitie And so let these fewe wordes suffice to giue you knowledge of my friendly meaning But let me delay the tyme no longer Then taking him by the hand he led him into his chamber whence Example of a faythful debter after that euery man by his commandement was departed he locked fast the dore Thē opening a coffer full heaped with treasure he first tooke out sixtene Ducates and deliueryng them to Frescobald he sayd loe here my friend is your mony which you lent me at my departure from Florence and here other tenne which you bestowed in my apparell with ten more that you disbursed for the horse I rid away on But cōsidering you are a merchant it seemeth to me not honest to returne your money without some consideration for the long detainyng of it Take you therefore these 4. bags The Lorde Cromwelles vsury and in euery of them is 400. ducates these you shall receiue and enioy from the hands of your assured friend Frescobald although from great welth he was brought to a lowe ebbe and almost an vtter decay yet expressyng the vertue of a modest mynde after gentle thankes geuen to the Lord Cromwell for his exceedyng kyndnesse shewed curteously would haue refused that which was offered had not the other enforced him agaynst his will to receiue it This done he caused Frescobald to geue him a note of the names of all his debters and the summe that from euery of them was owyng him Kindnes requited with kindnes This scedule he deliuered to one of his seruants vnto whom he gaue charge diligētly to search out such men whose names
without the gate for passage into Englande and being there perceiued by certayne Calyce menne namely William Steuens and Thomas Lancaster through conference of talke to bee a learned man and also well affected and moreouer howe that he being of late a zelous Papist was now returned to a more perfecte knowledge of true Religion was by them hartely entreated to stay at Calice a certayne space and to read there a day or two to the intent he might do some good there after his payneful trauell vnto the people To this request Adam gladly consented so as he might be licenced by such as were in authority so to do Whereupon the sayde Steuens at the opening of the gates brought him vnto the Lord Lisle the kinges Deputie of the towne and marches of Calice Adâ—m broâ—ght to the â—ord Dâ—â—â—ty of 〈◊〉 vnto whome hee declared throughly what conference and talke had bene betweene Adam Damlip and him Which knowne the sayd Lord Deputie instauntly desired the sayd Damlip to stay there and to preach three or foure dayes or more at his pleasure saying that he should haue both his licence the CoÌ„missaries also which then was sir Iohn Butler so to doe Where after he had preached three or fourt times hee was so well lyked both for his learning his vtteraunce and the truth of his doctrine that not onely the souldiours commoners but also the Lord Deputy and a great part of the Counsell gaue him maruelous great prayse and thankes for it and the sayd Lord Deputy offered vnto him a chamber in his owne house and to dyne and sup euery meale at his owne messe to haue a man or two of his to wayte vpon him to haue what soeuer it were that he lacked if it were to be had for mony yea what he would in his purse to buy bookes or otherwise so as he woulde tary there among them preach onely so long as it should seeme good to himselfe Who refusing his Lordships great offer most hartily thanked him for the same and besought him to be onely so good vnto him as to appoynt him some quiet honest place in the towne where he might not be disturbed nor molested but haue oportunitie to geue himselfe to hys booke and would dayly once in the forenoone and agayn by one a clocke at after noone by the grace of God preach among them according vnto the talent that God had lent him At which aunswere the Lorde Deputy greatly reioysed and therupon sent for the foresayd W. Steuens whom he earnestly required to receiue and lodge the sayde Damlip in his house promising what soeuer hee shoulde commaund to see it payd with the most and moreouer would send euery meale froÌ„ his owne messe a dish of the best vnto them and in deede so did albeit the sayde Damlip refused that offer shewing his Lordship that thinne dyet was most conuenient for Studentes Yet coulde not that restrayne him but that euery meale he sent it This godly man by the space of xx dayes or more once euery day at vij of the clocke preached very godly learnedly playnly the truth of the blessed sacrament of Christes body and bloud mightely enueying agaynst all Papistrye and coÌ„futing the same but especially those two most pernitious errours or heresies trifling Transubstantiation and the pestilent propitiatorye Sacrifice of the Romishe Masse by true conference of the Scriptures and applying of the auncient Doctours earnestly therewith oftentimes exhorting the people to returne from theyr Popery declaring how Popish he himselfe had bene and how by the detestable wickednes that he did see vniuersally in Rome he was returned so farre homeward and now became an enemy through Gods grace to all papistry shewing therewith that if gayne or ambition could haue mooued him to the contrary he might haue bene enterteyned of Cardinall Poole as you haue heard before but for very conscience sake ioyned with true knowledge grounded on Gods most holy word he now vtterly abhorred all Papistry and willed them most earnestly to do the same And thus he continued a while reading in the Chapter house of the White Friers but the place beeyng not bigge enough he was desired to reade in the Pulpit and so proceeding in his Lectures wherein hee declared howe the world was deceaued by the Romaine Bishops which had set forth the damnable doctrine of Transubstantiation and the reall presence in the Sacrament The Idolatrous pageaÌ„t of the resurrection most â—â—mptuously 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 Calice as is aforesayde he came at length to speake against the Pageaunt or Picture set foorth of the Resurrection whiche was in Saint Nicholas Church declaring the same to be but meere Idolatrie and illusion of the Frenchmen before Calice was English Upon which Sermon or Lecture there came a Commission from the King to the Lord Deputie M. Grendfield CommyssioÌ„ 〈◊〉 from the king to sâ—â—â—ch our the false â—â—gling of this Idolatry at Calice sir Iohn Butler Commissary the Kinges Mason and Smith with others that they should searche whether there were as was put in writing and vnder Bull and Pardon three hostes lyeng vpon a Marble stone besprinkled with bloud and if they found it not so that immediatly it should be plucked downe and so it was For in searching therof as they brake vp a stone in a corner of the Tumbe they in stead of the three hostes founde souldered in the Crosse of Marble lyeng vnder the Sepulcher The false iuglinges of the Papistes espyed three playne white counters which they had paynted lyke vnto hostes and a bone that is in the typ of a sheepes tayle All which trumpery Damlip shewed vnto the people the next day folowing which was Sonday out of the Pulpit and after that they were sent by the Lord Deputie to the King 3. paynted counters instead of 3. hostes Notwithstanding the Deuill stirred vp a Doue hee might well be called a Cormorant the Priour of the white Friers Who with Syr Gregory Buttoll Chapleyne to the Lord Lisle began to barke agaynst him Yet after the sayde Adam had in three or foure Sermons confuted the sayd Friers erroneous doctrine of transubstantiation and of the propitiatorie Sacrifice of the Masse Iohn Doue Fryer peacher of Damlip the sayd Frier outwardly seemed to geue place ceasing openly to inuey and secretly practised to peach him by letters sent vnto the Clergie here in England so y t within viij or x. dayes after the said Damlip was sent for to appeare before the Bishop of Canterbury Damlip sent for to appeare before the Councell in England with whome was assistant Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester D. Sampson Byshop of Chichester and diuers other before whome he most constantly affirmed and defended the doctrine which hee had taught in such sort aunswering confuting soluting the obiections as his aduersaries yea euen among other the learned godly and blessed Martyr Cranmer then yet but a Lutheran
bishop of Winchester for so much as he in king Edwardes tyme bragged so much of his old mayster of famous memory king Henr. 8. to y e entent y t the glorious vanitie of this bishop of all other like vnto him more notoriously may appeare to al meÌ„ heere is to be noted by the testification as well of mayster Deny as also of Sir Henry Neuell who were there present witnesses of the matter whose record is this that king Henry before the time of his sicknes taking his horse vppon the tarras at Windsore to ride out on hauking sawe standing before him the Lorde Wryothesley Lord Chancelour with diuers other Counsellours and amoÌ„gst them the Bishop of Winchester Whereupon he called the Lorde Chancelour and sayd Winchester commaunded no more to come in the kings sight Did not I commaund you he shuld come no more amongst you meaning the Bishop Wherunto the Lorde Chauncellour aunswered that his comming was to bring his Maiestie word of a beneuolence geuen vnto him by the Cleargie Whereat the King sayd Ah let him come hether and so he did his message and the King went straight away Item another time the King immediatly after his repaire to London fell sicke and caused diuers times hys whole Counsell to come vnto him about his will and other his graue affaires Winchester though he wer excluded yet would seeme stil to be of the kinges Counsel At what time the Bishop also would come vp with them into the vtter priuie Chamber and there remayne vntill the Counsell came from the King and then go downe with them agayne to the ende as then was thought to blind the world withall Furthermore as the King grewe more in sickenes he considering vpon his will and testament made before at his going ouer to Bullein willed the same to be drawne out againe with leauing out and excluding the Byshop of Winchester by name from amongst his Executors Which being to him no small corsey and a cutting off of all theyr purposes Winâ— excluded out of the kinges will a way was found that Sir Anthony Browne a principall pillar of Winchesters side pretending vnto the King as though by the negligence of the writer the Byshops name had bene left out of the Kings will kneeled downe to the Kings Maiestie Syr Anthony Browne a great frend to Wint. lying in his bed and sayd My Lord of Winchester I thinke by negligence is left out of your Maiesties wil who hath done your highnes most paynefull long and notable seruice and one without whome the rest shall not be able to ouercome your greate and weighty affaires committed vnto them Hold your peace quoth the King I remembred hym well inough and of good purpose haue left him out For surely if he were in my testameÌ„t and one of you he would cumber you all and you should neuer rule him he is of so troublesome a nature Mary quoth the King I my selfe could vse him and rule him to all maner of purposes as seemed good to me King Henryes opinion of the Bishop of Winchest but so shall you neuer do and therefore talke no more of him to me in this behalfe Syr Anthony Browne perceiuing the king somewhat stiffe heerein gaue place to the Kings words at that time Howbeit seeking farther occasion vpoÌ„ more perswasions put into his head tooke in hand once againe to moue the King to haue the Byshop one of his Executors When the King perceyued that this instant sute would not cease haue you not yet done quoth the King to molest me in this matter If you wil not cease farther to trouble me by the faith that I owe vnto God I will surely dispatch thee out of my will also and therefore let vs heare no more of this matter All thys Sir Anthony Deny was heard to report to the Archbyshop of Cant. Thom. Cranmer Witnes of the sayd Archbyshops Secretary who is yet aliue and witnes to the same And thus much touching the end of King Henry who if he had continued a few moneths longer all those obites and Masses whiche appeare in his will made before hee went to Bulleyne notwithstandyng most certayne it is to be signified to all posteritie that his full purpose was to haue repurged the estate of the Church to haue gone through with the same The purpose of the king if he had liued was to make a perfect reformation of religion so that he would not haue left one masse in all England For the more certayne intelligence whereof two things I haue to leade me The one is the assured report and testimonie of Tho. Cranmer Archbyshop of Caunterbury hearing the King declare the same out of his owne mouth both to himselfe to Mounsieur de Annebault Lord Admirall the French Ambassadour in the moneth of August a little before his death as aboue may appeare more at large Credite of this narration that it is true page 1240. The other cause which leadeth me thereunto is also of equall credite grouÌ„ded vpon the declaration of the Kings owne mouth after that time more neare to his death vnto Bruno Ambassadour of Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxonie Unto the which Ambassadour of Saxony the King gaue this aunswere openly that if the quarrell of the Duke of Saxony were nothing else against the Emperour but for religion The kinges aunswere to the Duke of Saxonies Ambassadour a little before his death he should stand to it strongly and he would take his part willing him not to doubt nor feare and so with this aunswere dimissed the Ambassadour vnto the Duke openly in the hearing of these foure sufficient witnesses the L. Scymâ—r Earle of Harforde Lorde Lisley then Admirall the Earle of Bedford Lorde Priuy Seale and Lorde Paget But the secret working of Gods holy prouidence whyche disposeth all things after his own wisedome and purpose thought it good rather by taking the King away to reserue the accomplishmeÌ„t of this reformation of his church to the peaceable time of his sonne Edward and Elizabeth his daughter whose handes were yet vndefiled wyth any bloud and life vnspotted with any violence or crueltie And thus to finish this booke I thought heere to close vp King Henries raigne But because a little vacant space of empty paper remayneth behinde needefull to be filled vp to employ therefore and to replenishe the same wyth some matter or other I thought to annexe heere vnto one story which hapned in this King Henries raigne Which albeit it serueth not to the purpose of this our matter now in hand yet neuerthelesse to supply the roome it may stand in some place either to refreshe the traueiled minde of the Reader wearied with other stories or else to disclose the detestable impietie of these counterfeite sectes of Monkes and Friers who vnder the hipocriticall visour of pretensed Religion haue so long seduced and deceiued the world Although the deceitfull parts and practises of these
their desperate purposes Their first intent was after they had spoiled their own countrey most miserably to inuade the Citie of Exceter so consequently all other parts of the realme But first for Exceter they gaped The citye of Exceter inuaded by the rebells the gates whereof twise they burned but gayned nothing sauyng onely gunshot whereof they lacked no plenty Beyng put from Exceter they fel on spoiling and robbing where or whatsoeuer they might catche At length laying their traiterous heds together they consulted vpon certain articles to be sent vp Diuersitye of wittes amongest the rebells But herein such diuersitie of heds and wits was amongst them that for euery kind of braine there was one manner of Article so y t neither appeared any consent in their diuersitie nor yet any constancie in their agrement Some seemed more tolerable Other altogether vnreasonable Some would haue no Iustice. Some would haue no state of gentlemen The priests euer harped of one string to ring in the Bishop of Rome into England agayne and to hallow home Cardinall Poole theyr countrieman After much ado and little to the purpose at last a fewe sory Articles were agreed vppon to be directed vnto the kyng with the names of certayne set thereunto the copy whereof here ensueth ¶ The Articles of the Commons of Deuonshire and Cornewall sent to the king with answer afterward followyng vnto the same FIrst The Articles of 〈◊〉 men to 〈◊〉 â—ing and 〈◊〉 Counsaile forasmuch as man except he be borne of water and the holy Ghost cannot enter into the kingdom of God and forasmuch as the gates of heauen be not opened without this blessed Sacrament of Baptisme therefore we will that our Curates shall minister this Sacrament at all tymes of neede as well in the weeke dayes as on the holy dayes 1. Sacrament of Baptisâ—â— Item we will haue our children confirmed of the Bish. whensoeuer we shal within the Dioces resort vnto him 2. Confirmatâ—â—on Item forasmuch as we constantly beleeue that after the Priest hath spoken the wordes of consecration beyng at Masse there celebrating and consecrating the same there is very really the body bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ God and man 3. Consecraâ—â—â—on of the Lords bodâ— and that no substance of bread and wine remaineth after but the very selfe same body that was borne of the virgin Mary and was geuen vpon the Crosse for our redemption therfore we wil haue masse celebrated as it hath bene in tymes past without any man communicatyng with the Priestes forasmuch as many rudely presuming vnworthily to receiue the same put no difference betwene the Lordes body and other kind of meat some saying that it is bread before and after some saying that it is profitable to no man except he receiue it with many other abused termes Item we will haue in our churches reseruation Item we will haue holy bread and holy water in the remembrance of Christes precious body and bloud 4. Reseruatiâ—â— of the Lorâ— body consâ—â—crated Item we will that our Priestes shall sing or say with an audible voyce Gods seruice in the Quier of the parish churches 5. Holy breâ—â— and holy-water not Gods seruice to bee set foorth like a Christmasse play Item forasmuch as Priests be men dedicated to God for ministring and celebrating the blessed sacraments and preachyng of Gods word 6. The single 〈◊〉 of â—riestes we will that they shal liue chast without Mariage as S. Paule dyd beyng the elect and chosen vessell of God saying vnto all honest priests be ye followers of me Item we will that the vj. Articles which our soueraigne Lord king Henry the 8. set forth in his latter days shall be vsed and so taken as they were at that tyme. 7. 〈◊〉 6. 〈…〉 to be 〈◊〉 Item we pray God saue king Edward for we be his both body and goods ¶ A Message sent by the Kings Maiestie to certayne of his people assembled in Deuonshire ALthough knowledge hath bene geuen to vs our derest vncle Edward Duke of Somerset The aunswere of 〈…〉 the Articles 〈◊〉 the rebels 〈…〉 Gouernour of our person and Protector of all our Realmes dominions and subiects and to the rest of our priuy Counsaile of diuers assemblies made by you which ought of duetie to be our louing subiects against al order law otherwise theÌ„ euer any louing or kind subiectes hath attempted agaynst their natural liege soueraign lord yet we haue thought it meete at this very first tyme not to condemne or reiect you as we might iustly do but to vse you as our subiects Anno 1549. thinking that y e deuil hath not that power in you to make you of naturall borne Englishmen so sodainly become enemies to your owne natiue countrey or of our subiects to make you traitors or vnder pretence to relieue your selues to destroy your selues your wiues children lands houses and all other commodities of this your lyfe This we say we trust that although ye be by ignorance seduced ye will not be vppon knowledge obstinate And though some amongst you as euer there is some cockle amongest good corne forget God neglect their prince esteeme not y e state of the Realme but as careles desperate men delite in sedition tumult and warres yet neuertheles the greater part of you will heare the voyce of vs your natural prince and will by wisedome and counsell be warned and cease your euils in the beginning whose endes will be euen by almighty gods order your owne destruction Wherefore as to you our subiects by ignorance seduced we speake be content â—o vse our princely authority like a father to his children for this tyme to admonish you of your faults not to punish them to put you in remembrance of your duties not to auenge your forgetfulnes First your disorder to rise in multitudes to assemble your selues against other our louyng subiectes to arayâ— your selues to the warre who amongst you al can answer for y e same to almighty God charging you to obey vs in al things Or how can any English good hart aunswer vs our lawes and the rest of our very louyng faithfull subiectes who in deede â—y theyr obedience make our honor estate Anno 1549. and degree Ye vse our name in your wrytings and abuse the same against our self What iniury herein do you vs to cal those which loue vs to your euill purposes by the authoritie of our name God hath made vs your king by his ordinance and prouidence by our bloud inheritance by lawful succession and our coronation but not to this end as you vse our name We are your most natural soueraigne Lord and king Edward the sixt to rule you to preserue you to saue you from all your outward enemies to see our lawes wel ministred euery man to haue his owne to suppresse disordred people to correct traytors theeues pirates robbers and such
shew you your selues to be so sad heauy in mynde as appeareth to me by your outward gestures and countenaunces I would wish you and I require you to be as mery as I am laying therewith hys hand vpon hys brest for afore God I am not sad nor heauy but mery and of good comfort and am right glad ioyfull of this my trouble which is for gods cause and it greueth me nothyng at all But the great matter that grieueth me pierceth my hart is for that this Hooper and such other vile heretikes and beastes be suffered and licenced to preache at Paules crosse in other places within my Diocesse Cure most detestably preaching and railing at the blessed Sacrament of the aultar denying the veritie and presence of Christs true body and bloud to be there so infecteth and betrayeth my flocke But I say it is there in very deede in that opinion I will lyue and dye and am ready to suffer death for the same Wherfore ye being christen men I do require you and also charge and commaunde you in the name of God and on his behalfe as ye wyll aunswere hym for the contrary that ye goe to the Mayor of London and to hys brethren the Aldermen praying and also requiryng them earnestly in Gods name and myne and for myne owne discharge on that behalfe that from hencefoorth Here Boners 〈…〉 when any such detestable and abhominable preachers and especially those which hold opinion against the blessed Sacrament of the aultar do come to preach vnto them they forth with depart out of their presence and doe not heare them least that they taryeng with such Preachers should not onely hurt themselues in receiuyng theyr poysoned doctrine but also geue a visage to the incouragemeÌ„t of others which thereby mought take an occasion to thinke and beleeue that theyr erroneous and damnable doctrine is true and good and this eftsoones I require and commaunde you to doe And then turnyng hymselfe about and beholdyng two of the Archbishops Gentlemen which in the same place kept the Chamber dore where the Commissioners were in consultation and perceiuing that they had heard all his talke he spake vnto them also and sayd And Syrs Boners 〈…〉 to two of the Archbâ—â—shops geâ—â—tlemen ye be my Lorde of Caunterburies Gentlemen I knowe ye very well and therefore I also require and charge you in Gods behalfe and in hys name that ye doe the lyke for your partes in places where ye shall chaunce to see and heare such corrupt and erroneous Preachers and also aduertise my Lord your maister of the same and of these my sayinges that I haue nowe spoken here before you as ye are Christian men and shall aunswere before God for the contrary With this the Commissioners called for the Bishop agayne Who did read vnto them an instrument conteining a prouocation to the king which he made in manner and forme here followyng The first appellation intimated by Edmund Boner Bishop of London IN the name of God Amen It shall appeare to all men by this publike instrument that the yeare of our Lord Boner appealeth to the king because he could not to the popâ—â— 1549. the xx day of September the third yeare of the raigne of our most high and renowmed Prince Edward the sixt by the grace of GOD King of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the fayth and in earth the supreme head of the Church of England and Ireland in a chamber within the Pallace of the sayde Bishop situated in London and in the presence of me the Notary publicke and of the witnesses hereafter named the foresayd Bishop did personally appeare and there did shew forth in writing a certaine Protestation and Appellation the tenor wherof ensueth In the name of God Amen I Edmund Byshop of London say alleadge and propound before you beyng a publike Notary and these credible witnesses here present that although I the foresayd Edmund haue attayned the Bishoprike aforesayd by the beneuolence of the famous Prince of memory King Henry the eight and was lawfully elected and translated to the same wyth his rites and appurtenaunces haue of long time possessed peaceably and quietly the same and presently doe possesse beyng taken as Bishop and lawfull possessour of the sayd bishopricke and am lawfully called taken and reputed notoriously and publikely and moreouer doe keepe residence and hospitalitie on the same accordyng to the order state person and dignitie and as the reuenewes of the same would permit and haue exercised and done all thynges appertainyng to my pastorall office as the lawes doe require as hereafter I trust by Gods grace to doe and obserue a man of good name and fame neyther suspended excommunicate nor interdicted neyther conuict of any notable crime or fact alwayes obeying readily the commaundement of the Church and other my superiours in all lawfull causes neuerthelesse fearing vpon certayne probable causes lykely coniectures threatnyngs and assertions of certayne iniurious men my enemies or at the least such as little fauour me that great dammage may come to me hereafter about the premisses or part of them and least any man by any authoritie commaundement denunciation inquisition office or at the request of any person or persons may attempt preiudice or hurt to me or my said dignitie either by my excommunication interdiction sequestration spoyling vexing and perturbyng by any maner of meanes doe appeale to the most hygh and mighty Prince our soueraigne Lord Edw. the 6. by the grace of God king of England France c. in these my writings do prouoke appeale to his regal maiesty I do also require the Apostles so much as in this case they are to be required the first secoÌ„d third tyme earnestly more earnestly and most earnestly of all that there may be geuen to me the protection tuition and defence of my foresayd most dreade soueraigne Lord for the safegard of me my dignitie title Apostles a terme oâ— Canon 〈◊〉 signifie as much 〈◊〉 letters reuerential◠〈◊〉 and possession in the premisses and to all that will cleaue to me in this behalfe I doe also protest that I will be contented to correct reforme and amend this my present protestation and to the same to adde to take away and to bryng the same into the best forme and state that may be deuised by the counsaile of learned men or as the case shall require and the same to intimate accordyng to tyme and place and the order of the law Anno 1559. and still shall require Vpon all the which premisses the foresayd Edmund B. of London did require the Notary publike here vnder written to make vnto hym and the witnesses hereafter named one two or more copies of this protestation These thynges were done the yeare day and tyme aboue-written there beyng present Gilbert Bourne Bacheler of Diuinitie Iohn Harpesfield and Robert Colen Maisters of Arte Iohn Wakelyng and Richard Rogers learned
at large In whome I wyshe thee to continue in health and to perseuere in the trueth Anno 1549. ⧠The first entring of Queene Mary to the Crowne with the alteration of Religion and other perturbations happening the same time in this Realme of England Anno 1553. WHat time King Edward by long sickenesse beganne to appeare more feble and weake in the meane while during the time of this his sickenesse The reigne of Queene Mary a certayne mariage was prouided concluded and shortly also vpon the same solempnised in the moneth of May betwene the Lord Gilford sonne to the Duke of Northumberland 〈◊〉 â—â—tweene the Lorâ— Gilfoâ—d and the Lady â—ane and the Lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother being then aliue was daughter to Mary King Henryes second sister who first was maried to the French king and afterward to Charles Duke of Suffolke But to make no long tariance hereupon the mariage being ended and the king waxing euery day more sicke then other where as in deede there seemed in him no hope of recouerye it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the Nobility but also of all the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme that the king by his Testament did appoynt the foresayde Ladye Iane daughter to the Duke of Suffolke to be inheretrice vnto the crowne of England passing ouer his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth To this order subscribed all the kinges Counsell and chiefe of the Nobility Syr Iames Hales standeth with Queene Mary the Maior and city of London and almoste all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Realme sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent a man both fauoring true Religion and also an vpright iudge as any hath bene noted in this Realme who geuing his consent vnto Lady Mary would in no case subscribe to Lady Iane. Of this man God willing you shall perceiue more in the sequele of this story The causes layd agaynst Lady Marye were as well for that it was feared she would mary with a Straunger and thereby entangle the crowne as also that she would cleane alter Religion vsed both in king Henry her father and also in king Edwarde her brothers dayes so bring in the pope to the vtter destruction of the Realme which indeed afterward came to passe as by the course and sequele of this story may well appeare Two things feared in Queene Mary Much probable matter they had thus to coniecture of her by reason of her great stubbernnes shewed and declared in her brothers dayes as in the letters before mentioned passing betwene her and king Edward the Counsell may appeare The matter being thus concluded and after confirmed by euery mans hand King Edwarde an Impe of so great hope not long after this departed by the vehemency of his sickenes when he was sixtene yeares of age with whom also decaid in maner the whole florishing estate and honor of the English nation Queene Iane proclaâ—med at â—ondon ComparisoÌ„â—â—tweene 〈◊〉 king â—dward â—oung Lady 〈◊〉 This 〈◊〉 of the Lady Iane was M. Elmer When king Edwarde was deade this Iane was established in the kingdome by the Nobles consent and was forthwith published Queene by proclamation at London and in other Cityes where was any great resort and was there so taken and named Betweene this young Damosell and kyng Edwarde there was litle difference in age though in learning knowledge of the tongues she was not onely equall but also superior vnto him being instructed of a Mayster right notablye learned If her fortune had bene as good as was her bringing vppe ioyned wyth â—inenesse of wit vndoubtedly she might haue semed comparable not onelye to the house of the Uaspasians Sempâ—onians and mother of the Grachies yea to anye other women beside that deserued high prayse for theyr sigulart learning but also to the vniuersity men which haue taken many degrees of the Schooles In the meane time while these thinges were a working at London Mary which had knowledge of her Brothers death writeth to the Lords of the Councell in forme as foloweth ¶ A Letter of the Lady Mary sent to the Lordes of the Counsell wherein shee claymeth the Crowne after the decease of king Edwarde Lady Maryes letter sent to the Counâ—ayle wherein shee 〈◊〉 the Crowne MY Lordes we greete you well and haue receiued sure aduertisement that our dearest Brother the king our late soueraigne Lord is departed to Gods mercye whiche newes howe they be woefull vnto our hart he onely knoweth to whose will and pleasure we must and do humbly submitte vs and our willes But in this so lamentable a case that is to witte now after hys Maiesties departure and death concerning the Crowne and gouernaunce of thys Realme of England with the title of Fraunce and all thinges thereto belonging what hath bene prouided by Act of Parliament and the Testament and last will of our dearest Father besides other circumstaunces aduauncing our right you know the Realme and the whole world knoweth the Rolles and Recordes appeare by the authority of the kyng our sayde Father and the king our sayde brother and the subiectes of thys Realme so that we verily trust that there is no good true subiect that is can or would pretend to be ignoraunt therof and of our parte wee haue of our selues caused and as God shall ayde and strength vs shall cause our right and title in this behalfe to be published and proclaymed accordingly And albeit this so weighty a matter seemeth straunge that the dying of oure sayde brother vpon Thursday at night last past we hytherto hadde no knowledge from you thereof yet we consider your wisedomes and prudence to be such that hauing eftsoones amongest you debated pondered and well wayed this present case with our estate with your own estate the common wealth and all our honours wee shall and may conceiue greate hope and trust with much assuraunce in your loyaltye and seruice and therefore for the tyme interprete and take thinges not to the worst and that ye yet will like Noble men woorke the best Neuerthelesse wee are not ignoraunt of your consultations to vndoe the prouisions made for our preferment nor of the great bandes and prouisions forceable wherewith yee bee assembled and prepared by whom and to what ende God and you know and nature can but feare some euill But be it that some consideration politicke or whatsoeuer thing else hath mooued you thereto yet doubte you not my Lordes but we can take all these your doynges in gracious part being also right ready to remit fullye pardon the same with that freely to eschewe bloudshed and vengeance agaynst all those that canne or will intend the same trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and vertue in good part as appeateyneth and that wee shall not be enforced to vse the seruice of other our true subiectes and frendes which in thys our iust and right cause
that will saye the contrary that all that is contained in the holy Communion set out by the most innocent and godly Prince king Edward the 6. in his high court of Parliament is conformable to that order which our Sauiour Christ did both obserue and commaund to be obserued which his Apostles primatiue church vsed many yeares whereas the Masse in many things not onely hath no foundation of Christe his Apostles nor the primatiue Church but is manifestly contrary to the same and coÌ„taineth many horrible abuses in it And although many either vnlearned or malitious do report that M. Peter Martyr is vnlearned yet if the Queeneâ— highnes wil graunt thereunto I with the sayde M. Peter Martyr and other 4. or 5. whiche I shall chuse will by Gods grace take vppon vs to defende not onely the common praiers of the Church the ministration of the Sacraments and other rites ceremonies but also al the doctrine and religion set out by our said soueraigne Lord king Edward the 6. to be more pure and according to Gods worde then any other that hath bene vsed in England these 1000. yeares so that Gods word may be iudge that the reasons and proufes of both parties may be sette out in wryting to the intent as well that all the worlde maye examine and iudge thereon as that no man shall start backe from his wrytinge And where they boast of the faith that hath bene in the Churche these 1500. yeres we will ioyne with them in this poynt and that the same doctrine and vsage is to be followed whiche was in the Church .1500 yeres past and we shall prooue that the order of the Churche let out at this present in this Realme by Acte of Parlament is the same that was vsed in the Church .1500 yeres past so shall they be neuer able to prooue theirs The same Thursday beinge the 7. of Septemb. Lorde Mountacute chiefe Iustice and Lorde chiefe Baron were deliuered out of the Tower The 13. of September the reuerende father M. Hughe Latimer was committed to the Tower The 14. of Septemb. the bishop of Caunterburye was committed to the Tower The 26. of September one Maister Graye of Cambridge called before hym one M. Garth for that he would not suffer a boy of Peter house to helpe hym saye Masse in Penbroke hal which was before any law was established for that behalfe The Queene came to the Tower of London vpon the Thursday being the 28. of September Amongest these Pageantes stood a certaine man vpon the top of the Eagle vpon Paules steeple with a flagge in his hand and vpon the Saterday following shee rode from the Tower thorough the Citie of London where were made many Pageants to receiue her and so was triumphantly brought to Westminster to White hall Uppon the Sonday being the first day of October the Queenes highnesse went from White hall to Westminster Abbey accompanied wyth the most part of the Nobility of this Realme namelye these The Duke of Norfolke the Earle of Arundell the Earle of Shrewsburie the Marques of Winchester the Earls of Darby Bedford Worcester Cumberland Westmerland Oxford Sussex Deuonshire Penbroke the Lord Dacres of the North Lord Ferris Lorde Cobham Lord Aburgeiny Lord Wentwoorth Lord Scroupe Lord Rich Lord Uaus Lorde Hawarde Lord Conias Lord Morley Lorde Paget and the Lorde Willowbye with many other Nobles and all the Embassadours of diuers countreys the Maior of London wyth all the Aldermen Also out of the Abbey to receiue her comming came three siluer Crosses and to the number of four score or neare vppon Q. Mary crowned Doctor sayes Sermon Generall pardon at the Queens CoronatioÌ„ â—xempted 〈◊〉 of the Pardon of singing men all in very rich gorgeous coapes Amongest whom were the Deane of Westminster and diuers of her Chaplaines which bare euerye one some ensigne in their handes and after them followed 10. Byshops mytred all and their Croyser staues in theyr handes and rich Copes vpon them euery one And in this order they returned froÌ„ Westminster hal before the Quene to the Abbey where she was crowned by Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Lorde Chancellor of England At the time of the Coronation Doctour Day Bishop of Chichester made a sermon to the Queenes maiestie and to the rest of the nobilitie Also there was a generall Pardon proclaimed wythin the Abbey at the sayd time of her Coronation out of which Proclamation all the prisonners of the Tower and of the Flete were excepted and 62. more Wherof M. Whitchurch and M. Grafton were two The thirde of October the Uicechauncellour of Cambridge did chalenge one M. Pierson for that hee ministred still the Communion in his owne Parish and did receyue straungers of other Parishes to the same and woulde not say masse Whereupon within 2. dayes after he was cleane discharged from farther ministring in his Cure Uppon the Wedensday following Q. Mary rideth to the Parliament house Sergeant Pollard speaker in the Parliament The Earle of Huntington deliuered out of the Tower M. Saunders for preaching agaynst the Masse committed to the Marshalsey the Archb. of Yorke was committed to the Tower Uppon Thursdaye being the 5. of October 1553. the Queene road to the Parliament in her roabes and all the nobilitie with her and when they were set in the Parliament house the Bishop of Winchester made to them a solemne Oration and Sergeant Pollarde was chosen speaker of the Parliament The same day the Bishops of Lincolne Harford and Westchester were discharged from the Parliament and Conuocation Also the 10. daye of October the Earle of Huntington was deliuered out of the Tower Upon the Sonday after being the 15. of Oct. M. Laurence Saunders preached at Alhallowes in Breadstreete in y e morning where he declared the abhomination of the masse with diuers other matters very notably and godly Wherof more shal be heard by the Lordes leaue heereafter when we come to his story In which his doing as he shewed himselfe to be Gods faithful minister so is he sure not to be defrauded of gods faithful promise who sayth Omnis qui confitebitur me coram hominibus confitebor ego illum coram patre meo qui est in coelis Math. 10. But about noone of the same day he was sent for by the bishop of London and from thence committed to the Marshalsee Upon the Sonday folowing being the 20. of October Doctor Weston preached at Paules Crosse. D. Westons popish Sermon at Paules Who in the beginning of his Sermone willed the people to praye for the soules departed on this wise You shall pray for all them y t be departed that be neither in heaueÌ„ nor hell but in a place not yet sufficiently purged to come to heaueÌ„ that they may be releued by your deuout prayers He named the Lordes table an oyster board He saide that the Catechisme in Latin lately sette out was abhominable heresie likened the setters
brought out of the Tower and committed to the custody of Syr Iohn Williams after Lord Williams of Tame of whom her highnes was gently and curteously entreated who afterward was had to Woodstocke and there committed to the keeping of Sir Henry Benifield Knight of Oxeborough in Northfolke Sir Henry Benefield who on the other side both forgetting her estate and his owne duty as it is reported shewed hymselfe more hard straight vnto her then either cause was geuen of her part or reason of his owne part would haue led him Iuly 20. K. Phillip arriueth at Southampton if either grace or wisedome in him might haue sene before what daunger afterward might haue ensued thereof Whereof we haue to entreate more at large the Lorde willing hereafter in the story life of Queene Elizabeth Upon the Friday following being the xx of Iuly and S. Margarets day the prince of Spaine laÌ„ded at South-hampton The Prince him selfe was the first that landed who immediately as he set foote vppon the land drew out his sword and caried it naked in his haÌ„d a good prety way King Phillip caryeth his sword naked comming into England The keyes of Southampton deliuered to K. Phillip Then met him without the Towne a little the Maior of Southampton with certayne Commoners who deliuered the keyes of the Towne vnto the Prince who remoued his sword naked as it was out of his right hand into his left hand and so receiued the keyes of the Maior without any word speaking or countenaunce of thankefulnes and after a while deliuered the keyes to the Maior againe At the Towne gate met hym the Earle of Arundell and Lord Williams and so he was brought to his lodging Upon the Wednesday following being S. Iames day Iuly 25. Mariage beâ—tweene K. Phillip anâ— Q. Mary and the xxv of Iuly Philip Prince of Spayne Mary Queene of England were maryed together solemnely in the Cathedrall Church at Winchester by the Byshop of Winchester in the presence of a great number of noble men of both the Realmes At the time of this mariage the Emperours Embassadour being present opeÌ„ly pronounced y t in coÌ„sideration of that Mariage the Emperour had grauÌ„ted giuen vnto his sonne the Kingdome of Naples c. Whereupon the first daye of August following there was a Proclamation that from that tyme foorth the style of all maner of writings should be altered August 1. and this following should be vsed ☞ Philip and Mary by the grace of God Kyng and Queene of England Fraunce Naples Ierusalem and Ireland defenders of the Fayth Princes of Spayne and Cicill Archdukes of Austrich Dukes of Millaine Burgundie and Brabant Counties of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyroll Of this Mariage as the Papistes chiefly seemed to be very glad so diuers of them after diuers studyes to shew forth their inward affections some made Interludes and Pagentes some drewe foorth Genealogies deriuing his petigrue from Edwarde the third and Iohn of Gaunte some made Uerses Amongst all other Mayster Whyte then Byshop of Lincolne his Poeticall vayne beeyng drunken with ioye of the Mariage spued out certayne Uerses the copy whereof we haue heere inserted ¶ Philippi Mariae Genealogia qua ambo Principes ex Iohanne de Gandauo Edwardi tertij Angliae Franciaeque Regis filio descendisse ostenduntur Whito Lincolniense Authore I Lle parens regum Gandaua ex vrbe Iohannes Somersetensem comitem profert Iohannem Somersetensis venit hoc patre dux Iohannes Qui Margaretam Richemundi habuit Comitissam Haec dedit Henricum qui regni septimus huius Henrico octauo solium regale reliquit Hoc patre propitio fausto quasi sydere nata Iure tenes sacram teneasque Maria coronam ¶ Verses of M. White Byshop of Lincolne concerning the Marriage of Philip and Mary NVbat vt angla anglo regina Maria Philippo Inque suum fontem regia stirps redeat Noluit humani generis daemon vetus hostis Sed Deus Anglorum prouida spes voluit Nollet Scotus inops timidusque ad praelia Gallus Caesar Italia Flandria tota volet Noluit Haereticus stirps Caiphae pontificum grex Pontificum sed grex Catholicus voluit Octo vxorati Patres in daemone nollent Quinque Cathenati pro pietate volent Noluit Iohannes Dâ—dley Northumbrius vrsus Sed fidum regni Consilium voluit Noluit aetatis nostrae Catelina Viatus Sed proceres plebs pia turba volet Nollet Graius dux Cantia terra rebellans Nos quoniam Dominus sic voluit volumus Clarior effectus repetat sua limina sanguis Cum sit Philippo iuncta Maria viro ¶ Aunswere by the reuerend Byshop of Norwich to the Byshop of Lyncolne EXterno nubat Maria vt regina Philippo Vt sint pulsa suis sceptra Britanna locis Vult Daemon generis nostri antiquissimus hostis Anglorum non vult anchora sola Deus Nolunt hoc Galli nolunt Scoti armipotentes Vult Caesar Flandrus vult Italus Golias Vult grex Pontificum stirps Caypha turba bicornis Ann. â—â—54 〈◊〉 Non vult sanctorum sed pia turba patrum Nolunt octo quibus sunt vincla iugalia curae Quinque cathenati Daemonis arte volunt Hoc neque tu prorsus Dudlaee animose volebas Inuitum regni Consilium voluit Dedecus hoc non vult fortissimus ille Viatus Inuitus populus sic proceresque volent Vos vultis quoniam semper mala cuncta voletis Non vulâ— Graius Dux nec pia turba volet Quot tulit Hispanus rex ergò commoda secum Reginae socias cum dedit ille manus ¶ Another aunswere by the sayd Author HIspano nubat Maria vt regina Philippo Extirpetur stirps vt quoque Nobilium Vult pater id vester disturbans omnia Daemon Non vult Anglorum sed pater Altitonans Non vult bellipotens Gallus non vult Scotus acer Vult Caesar Flandrus Papicolaeque volunt Grex mitratorum vult Cayphae ipsa propago Non vult sanctorum sed pius ordo patrum Nolunt octo pios qui iure colunt hymenaeos Quinque cathenati pro impietate volunt Dudlaeus minimè voluit Northumbrius Heros Cui sua perchara est patria nemo volet Libertatis amans non vult bonus ille Viatus Non proceres non plebs nec pia turba volet Vos vultis pietas qui vultis vt exulet omnis Non Graius sed nec Cantia turba volet Ergò magis clarus quî fit rogo sanguis auitus Quando iugalis sit iunctus vterque thoro ¶ Other Verses aunswering to Byshop White made by I. C. QVamlibet Anglorum stirps ementita Philippo Et Maria Hispana de genetrice fuit Vt tamen Hispano confusi sanguinis Angla Nuberet in gentis dedecus atque patris Noluit Anglorum priscae virtutis amator Sed Deus in nostram perniciem voluit Noluit in nostram nisi conspirata salutem Turba quid ad nos
si gens inimica volet Pontifices fati quasi Cayphas omina dantes Nolebant at grex cacolucos voluit Elegere pij connubia talia nolle Velle quidem demens haeresis illa fuit Consilium multo praestantius octo mariti Quinque cathenatis ob malefacta dabant Noluit hos iungi thalamos Northumbrius heros O consultores qui voluere malos Noluit haud aequo confligens marte Viatus Solaque quae voluit turba Papalis erat Nolebat Graius neque terra Britanna volebat Nos quoniam Dominus sic voluit tulimus Sed tulimus pariter fata infoelicia quando Infoelix Maria est nupta Philippe tibi * Other verses aunswering likewise NVbat vt Hispano Regina Maria Philippo Dic age Whyte mihi quos voluisse vides Noluit aut voluit quid inanis turba refert nil Velle nolle Dei est quid volet ille refert Hoc quoniam voluit inquis Dominus voluistis Quid voluit quoniam nescis inepte scias Scilicet hoc voluit vates vt vanus augur Et mendax Whitus pseudopropheta foret Regi non regi nupsit non nupserat Angla est NoÌ„ Angla est grauida est noÌ„ grauida est grauius est Parturit atque parit sic vos voluistis ouantes Nil tamen illa parit hoc voluit Dominus Duxerat ad paucos menses mox deserit idem Sponsa est mox vidua est hoc voluit Dominus Irrita frustrentur semper sic vota malorum Perniciem patriae qui voluere suae Sit nomen Domini benedictum â— Phillip â—â—mmeth to â—indsore The Armed 〈◊〉 England 〈◊〉 down 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of After the consummation of which mariage they both remoued froÌ„ Winchester to sondry other places and by easy iourneyes came to Windsore Castle where he was stalled in the order of the Garter vppon Sonday being the xij of August At which tyme an Herald tooke downe the armes of England at Windsore and in the place of them woulde haue set the armes of Spaine but he was commaunded to set them vp againe by certayne Lordes From thence they both remoued to Richmond Spayne set vp K. Phillip commeth to London and froÌ„ thence by water came to London and landed at y e Bishop of Winchesters house through which they passed both into Southwark parke so to Southwarke house called Suffolk place where they lay that night being the 18. of August And y e next day being Saterday and the xix of August the king and Queenes maiesties rode from Suffolk place accompanied with a great number August 19. as wel of noble men as gentlemen through the City of London to White Hall and at LondoÌ„ bridge as he entred at the draw bridge was a vayne great spectacle set vp Vayne pageants of London two Images representyng 2. Gyantes one named Corineus and the other Gogmagoge holding betweene them certain Latin verses which for the vayne ostentation of flattery I ouerpasse And as they passed ouer the bridge there was a number of ordinaunce shot at the Tower such as by old mens report the like hath not bene heard or seene these hundreth yeares From London Bridge they passed to the Conduit in Gracious streete whiche was finely painted and among other thinges the ix worthies whereof king Henry the 8. was one He was paynted in harnesse hauing in one hand a sworde and in the other hand a booke wherupon was written Verbum Dei Winchester cannot abide the booke called Verbum Dei deliuering the same booke as it were to his sonne 〈◊〉 Edward who was paynted in a corner by him But hereupon was no small matter made for the Bishop of winchester Lord Chauncellour seÌ„t for the painter and not onely called him knaue for paynting a booke in K. Henries hand and specially for writing therupon Verbum Dei but also rancke Traytour and Uillaine saying to hym that he should rather haue put the book into the Queenes hand who was also paynted there for that she had reformed the church and religion The paynter sent for to the B. of Winchester with other things according to the pure and sincere word of God in deede The Paynter answered and sayd that if he had knoweÌ„ that that had bene the matter wherfore his Lordship sent for him he coulde haue remedied it and not haue troubled his Lordship The paynters aunswere The bishop answered said that it was the Queenes maiesties will and commaundement that he shoulde send for him and so commaunding him to wype out the booke and Verbum Dei too he sent him home So the Paynter departed but fearing least he should leaue some parte eyther of the booke or of Verbum Dei in king Henries hand hee wiped away a piece of his fingers withall Here I passe ouer and cut of other gaudes Pageantes of pastime shewed vnto him in passing through London with the flattering verses set vp in Latine wherein were blased out in one place the fiue philips as the fiue worthies of the worlde Philip of Macedonia Philip y e Emperor Philippus Audax Philippus Bonus Philip Prince of Spayne and king of England In an other Poetry K. Philip was resembled by an Image representing Orpheus V. Phillips and all Englishe people resembled to brute sauage beastes following after Orpheus harpe and daunsing after king Philips pipe Not that I reprehend the arte of the Latine verses which was fine and cunning but that I passe ouer y e matter hauing other grauer thinges in hand and therefore passe ouer also the sight at Paules church side of him that came downe vpon a rope tyed to the batilmentes with his head before neyther staying himselfe with hand or foote which shortly after cost him his life But one thing by the way I cannot let passe touchyng the young florishing Roode newly set vp agaynst this present tim◠〈◊〉 welcome king Phillip into Paules Churche The setting vp of which Roode was this and may make as good a Pageant as the best An 2. Mariae Boner in his royaltie and all his Prebendaries about him in Paules Quiere the Roode layde a long vpon the pauement The erecting vp of the Roode at Paules and also all the doores of Paules being shut the Bishop with other sayde and song diuers prayers by the Rood that being done they annoynted the Roode with oyle in diuers places and after the annoynting crept vnto it and kissed it After that they tooke the sayd Roode and weyed hym vppe and set him in his olde accustomed place B. Boners God the Roode of Paules set vp with â—e Deum and all the while they were doing thereof the whole Quiere sang Te Deum and when that was ended they rang the Belles not only for ioy but also for the notable and great fact they had done therein Not long after this a mery fellow came into Paules and spyed the Roode with Mary and Iohn new set vppe whereto among a
the Christian Preachers Vnorderly proceeding of the aduersaryes aâ—gainst Goâ—â— people their goodes and bookes taken from them and they slandered to be most hainous heretikes their enemies themselues being both witnesses accusers and Iudges belying slandering and misreportyng your said subiectes at their pleasure whereas your sayd subiectes beyng straightly kept in prison cannot yet be suffred to come forth and make aunswer accordingly In consideration whereof it may please your most excellent Maiesties and this your high court of Parliament graciously to tender the present calamitie of your sayd poore subiects and to call them before your presence graunting them liberty either by mouth or writing in the playne English tong to aunswer before you or before indifferent Arbiters to be appointed by your Maiesties vnto such articles of controuersie in religion as their sayd aduersaries haue already condemned them of Request of the Preachers to stand to thâ— triall of their doctrine befoâ—â— indifferenâ— Iudges as of hainous heresies Prouided that all things may be done with such moderation quiet behauior as becommeth subiectes and children of peace that your said subiects may haue the free vse of all their owne bookes and conference together among themselues Which thing beyng granted your said subiects doubt not but it shall plainly appeare that your sayd subiects are true and faithful christians neither heretikes neither teachers of heresie nor cut of from the true catholike vniuersal church of Christ Yea that rather their aduersaries themselues be vnto your Maiesties as were the charmers of Egypt vnto Pharao Sedechias his adherents vnto the king of Israel Actes 1â— and Bariesu to the Proconsul Sergius Paulus And if your said subiects be not able by the testimonie of Christ his prophets Apostles godly fathers of his church to prooue that the doctrine of the church homilies and seruice taught and set forth in the tyme of our late most godly prince and king Edward the 6. is the true doctrine of Christes Catholicke church and most agreeable to the articles of the christian fayth your sayd subiects offer themselues then to the most heauy punishment that it shall please your maiesties to appoynt Wherfore for the tender mercy of God in Christ which you looke for at the day of iudgement your sayd poore subiectes in bonds most humbly beseech your most excellent maiesties and this your high court of Parliament beningly and graciously to heare and graunt this their petition tendyng so greatly to the glory of God to the edifiyng of his church to the honor of your maiesties to the commendation and maintenaÌ„ce of iustice right and equitie both before God and man And your sayd subiectes according to their bounden duety shall not cease to pray vnto almighty God for the gracious preseruation of your most excellent maiesties long to endure ⧠The ende of the tenth Booke Anâ—â— 1554. â—â—bruaâ—◠¶ Here beginneth the eleuenth Booke wherein is discoursed the bloudy murthering of Gods Saintes with the particular Processes and Names of such good Martyrs both Men and Women as in this tyme of Queene Mary were put to death ⧠The Story Life and Martyrdome of Maister IOHN ROGERS THE fourth daye of February suffered the constant Martyr of God M. Iohn Rogers concernynge whose life examinations and suffring here followeth in order set forth And first touching his lyfe and bringing vp Iohn Rogers brought vp in the Uniuersitie of Cambridge where hee profitably trauelled in good learning â— Rogers â—haplayne 〈◊〉 the â—archaunt 〈…〉 Rogers brought to the03 Goâ—pell 〈◊〉 M. W. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 at the length was chosen and called by the Merchants Aduenturers to be their Chaplaine at Antwerpe in Brabant whome he serued to their good contentation many yeares It chaunced him there to fal in company with that worthy seruant and Martyr of God William Tindall and with Miles Couerdale which both for the hatred they bare to popish superstition and idolatry and loue to true religion had forsaken their natiue country In conferring with them the scriptures he came to great knowledge in the Gospell of God in so much that he cast of the heauy yoke of Popery perceiuyng it to be impure and filthy Idolatry and ioyned himselfe with them two in that paynefull most profitable labour of translating the Bible into the Englishe tongue which is intituled The Translation of Thomas Mathew He knowing by the scriptures that vnlawful vows may lawfully be broken and that Matrimony is both honest and honourable amongest all men ioyned hymselfe in lawfull matrimonye and so went to Wittemberge in Saxony where he with much sobernes of liuyng did not onely greatly encrease in all good and godly learnyng but also so much profited in the knowledge of the Dutch tong that the charge of a congregation was orderly committed to his cure In which ministery he diligently and faithfully serued many yeares vntil such tyme as it pleased God by y e faithfull trauell of his chosen and deare seruant king Edward the sixt vtterly to banish all Popery forth of England to receiue in true Religion settyng Gods Gospell at liberty He then beyng orderly called hauyng both a conscience and a ready good will to helpe forward the worke of the Lord in his natiue country left such honest and certaine conditions as he had in Saxony and came into England to preach the Gospel without certaintie of any condition In which office after he had a space diligently and faithfully trauailed Nicholas Ridley then bishop of London gaue him a Prebende in the Cathedrall Churche of Paules and the Deane and the Chapter chose hym to be the Reader of the Diuinitie lesson there wherein he diligently trauailed vntill such tyme as Queene Mary obtaining the crowne banished the Gospell and true religion and brought in the Antichrist of Rome with his Idolatry and superstition After the Queene was come to the Tower of LondoÌ„ he beyng orderly called thereunto made a godly and vehement Sermon at Paules Crosse confirmyng such true doctrine as he and other had there taught in K. Edwards dayes exhortyng the people constantly to remayne in the same and to beware of all pestilent Popery Idolatry and superstition The Councel beyng then ouermatched with popish and bloudy bishops M. Rogers called to accompt for his Sermon at Paules Crosse. called hym to accompt for his Sermon To whom he made a stout wittie godly answer and yet in such sort handled himself that at that time he was clearely dismissed But after that Proclamation was set foorth by the Queene to prohibite true preachyng he was called agayne before the Counsel for the bishops thirsted after his bloud The Counsell quarelled wyth hym concerning his doctrine and in conclusion commanded hym as prisoner to keepe his owne house and so hee did although by flying he might easily haue escaped their cruell hands and many thyngs there were M. Rogers agaâ—ne called before the Counsell and commaunded
great matter worthy to be known yet to this intent that the reader may see in these two brethren so ioyned in nature and so deuided in religioÌ„ y e word of the Lord verified truely saying brother shal be agaynst brother Math. 10. c. as by the contentes of these two letters folowing may appeare ¶ A letter of Iustice Saunders to his brother Laurence â— letter of 〈…〉 to â—â—urence â—â—unders 〈◊〉 bâ—other AFter my most harty commendations these bene to a certaine you that I haue spoken with M. Basset who hath shewed me that 4. pound all deductions being allowed is the whole that hath come to his handes of the profite of the PrebeÌ„dary at York the which you shall haue although as he thinketh it was not due vnto you by the reason of your depriuation before it was due As concerning your conscience in Religion I beseech God it maye be lightened by the holy Ghost and that you may also haue the grace of the holy Ghost to follow the counsell of Sainct Paule to Timothe 2. Recte tractare verbum veritatis That is To handle rightly the word of truth Wherein you ar dissenting from many holy and Catholicke men especielly in the SacrameÌ„t maketh me in my conscience to condemne yours For althoughe I haue not hitherto fancied to read Peter Martir other such c. Iustice sayth Audi Alteram partem yet haue I had great desire to see Theophilact and diuers others of his sort and opinion both notable and holy Fathers if any credit be geuen to the writinges of our auncient fathers before vs and surely the sentences and iudgementes of two or three of them hath more confirmed my conscience then 300. of the Zuinglians or as many of the Lutherians can or should doe Thus in haste willing to reliefe you to the end you might conuert if you shall need towardes your finding if you shall require it of me you shall vnfaynedly finde my mony ready as knoweth our Lord who send vs al thinges good for vs. Scribled this Thursday by your brother and petitioner to God Ed. Saunders ¶ An other letter of Iustice Saunders to his brother wherein he seeketh to winne him to Popery AS nature and Brotherly loue with godly charity requireth Greeting with protestation I send you by these letters quantum licet most harty coÌ„mendation being sory for your fault and your disobedient handlyng of your selfe towardes my Lord Chauncellour who I assure you mindeth your good and preseruation if you can so consider and take it I would be glad to know whether you haue not had with you of late some learned men to talk with you by my Lord ChauÌ„cellours appoyntment and howe you can frame your selfe to reforme your errour in the opinion of the moste blessed and our most comfortable Sacrament of the aultar Wherein I assure you I was neuer in all my life more better affected then I am at thys present vsing to my great comforte hearing of Masse He meaneth peraduenture when the Sanctus is singing for then the Organs pipe merely and that may giue some Comfort The meditatioÌ„s of S. Bernard sent by Iustice Saunders to his brother and somewhat before the sacring time the meditation of S. Barnard sette forth in the third leafe of this present booke The accustomable vsing whereof I am fullye professed vnto during my life and to geue more fayth vnto that confessioÌ„ of holy Barnarde theÌ„ to Luther c. or Latimer c. for that the antiquity the vniuersality of the open church and the consent of all holy Saynts and Doctors do confirme the same acertayning you that I haue bene earnestly moued in mine owne coÌ„science these ten or twelue daies past and also betweene God and my selfe to mooue you to the same most earnestly desiring you and as you tender my naturall godly or frendly loue towardes you that you would read ouer thys booke this holy time at my request although you haue alreadye seene it and let me know wherein you cannot satisfy your owne conscience Thus fare you well for this time By yours from Seriantes Inne Ed. Saunders ¶ The Life and Martyrdome of Mayster IOHN HOOPER Byshop of Worcester and Glocester burnt for the defence of the Gospell at Glocester Anno. 1555. February 9. IOHN HOOPER Student and graduate in the vniuersity of Oxford after the study of other scieÌ„ces The story life Martyrdome of M. Iohn Hooper Martyr wherin he had aboundantly profited and proceeded through Gods secret vocation was styrred with ferueÌ„t desire to the loue knowledge of the Scriptures In the reading seaching whereof as there lacked in him no diligence ioyned with earnest prayer so neyther wanted vnto him the grace of the holy Ghost to satisfy his desire and to opeÌ„ vnto him the light of true Diuinity Thus Mayster Hooper growing more and more by Gods grace in ripenes of spirituall vnderstanding and shewing withall some sparckles of his feruent spirite being then about the beginning of the 6. Articles in the time of king Henry the 8. fell eftsoones into displeasure hatred of certaine Rabbines in Oxford who by and by began to styr coales agaynst him wherby and especially by the procurement of Doctour Smith he was compelled to voyde the Uniuersity and so remouing from thence was retayned in the house of Syr Thomas Arundell and there was his Steward till the time that Syr Thomas Arundell hauing intelligence of his opinions religion which he in no case did fauor and yet exceedingly fauouryng the person conditions of the man M. Hooper sent to the Bishop of Winchester found the meanes to send him in a message to the Bishop of Winchester writing his letter priuily to the bishop by conference of learning to do some good vpon him but in any case requiring him to send home his seruaunt to him agayne Winchester after long conference with M. Hooper 4. or 5. dayes together when he at length perceiued that neither he could do that good which he thought to him nor that he would take any good at his hand according to M. Arundels request he sent home his seruaunt agayne right well commending his learning and wit but yet bearing in his brest a grudging stomacke agaynst Mayster Hooper still It followed not long after this as malice is alwayes working mischiefe that intelligence was geuen to master Hooper to prouide for himselfe M. Hooper forced to auoyd the house of Syr Thomas Arundel M. Hooper flyeth agayne out of England for daunger that was working agaynst him Whereupon M. Hooper leauing M. Arundels house and borowing an horse of a certayne friend whose life he had saued a little before from the gallowes tooke his iourney to the Sea side to goe to Fraunce sending backe the horse agayne by one which in deede did not deliuer him to the owner M. Hoper being at Paris taried there not long but in short time returned into England agayne
litle memorandum of the wordes or consultation of Queene Mary vsed to certayne of the Counsel the eight and twenty day of the sayd month of March touching the restoring agayne of the Abbey landes Who after she had called vnto her presence foure of her priuye Counsell the day and Moneth aforesayd the names of whiche Counsellers were these 1 William Lord Marques of Winchester high treasurer of England The naâ—â— of the Câ—â—â—â—sellers 〈◊〉 before Q. Maâ—â— 2 Syr Robert Rochester knight the queenes Controller 3 Syr William Peter knight Secretary 4 Syr Fraunces Inglefielde knighte Mayster of Wardes The sayde Queene Mary inferred these wordes the principall effecte and summe whereof here foloweth The effect of Q. Maryes 〈◊〉 touching Abbay landes 〈◊〉 restored You are here of our Counsell and we haue willed you to be called vnto vs to the entent ye might heare of me my conscience and the resolution of my mind coÌ„cerning the lands possessions as well of Monasteries as other Churches whatsoeuer being now presently in my possession Firste I doe consider that the sayd landes were taken awaye from the Churches aforesayde in time of schisme and that by vnlawfull meanes suche as are contrary both to the law of God and of the Church The Q. â—â—â—keth a coâ—â—science iâ— keeping Abbay landes For the which cause my conscience doeth not suffer mee to deteyne them and therefore I here expressely refuse eyther to clayme or to retayne the sayde landes for mine but with all my hart freely and willingly without all paction or condition here and before God I doe surrender and relinquishe the sayde landes and possessions or inheritaunces what so euer The Q. 〈◊〉 rendreth from herâ—self the pâ—â—session of Abbay landes and doe renounce the same with this minde and purpose that order and disposition thereof may be taken as shall seeme best liking to our most holy Lord the Pope or els his Legate the Lord Cardinall to the honour of God and wealth of this our Realme And albeit you may obiect to me agayne that considering the state of my kingdome the dignity thereof and my Crowne Imperiall can not be honorably mainteined and furnished without the possessions aforsayde yet notwythstanding I set more by the saluation of my soule then by x. kingdomes and therfore the sayd possessions I vtterly refuse here to hold after that sort and title and geue most harty thankes to almighty God which hath geuen me an husband likewise minded with no lesse good affection in thys behalfe then I am my selfe Wherefore I charge and commaund that my Chauncellour with whom I haue conferred my minde in thys matter before and you foure Promise restitutioâ— of Abbay â—andes to morow together do resort to the most reuerend Lord Legate and doe signify to him the premises in my name and geue your attendaunce vpon him for the more full declaration of the state of my kingdome and of the foresayd possessions accordinglye as you your selues do vnderstand the matter and can inform him in the same This Intimation being geuen by the Queene firste vnto the Counsellours and then comming to the Cardinals hand he drawing out a copy therof in Latine seÌ„t the same to the Pope which copy drawne into Latine comming afterwarde to my hand I haue thus translated into English as ye haue heard Furthermore here by the way is to be vnderstand that in the moneth before which was February and in the xix day of the sayd moneth the Bishop of Ely Ambassadours sent from England to Rome February 1â— with the Lorde Mountacute and seuen score horse were sent as ambassadours from the king and Queene vnto Rome For what cause in story it is not expressed but by coniecture it maye be wel supposed to be for the same cause of Abbey lands as by the sequele therof may probably appeare For it was not long after but the Pope did sette foorth in Print a Bull of Excommunication for all maner suche persons without exception as kept any of the Churche or Abbey landes by vertue of which Bull The Popes Bull for 〈◊〉 Abbay landes the Pope excommunicated as well all such as had any of the Churche or Abbey lands as also all such Princes Bishops noble men Iustices of peace and other in office who had not or did not forthwith put the same Bull in execution Albeit this execution God be thanked yet to this day was neuer put in practise Wherein agayne is to be obserued an other Catholick fetch not vnwoorthy perchaunce of marking For where this kinde of Catholickes by rigour and force may ouermayster they spare for no coste but laye on loade enough This well appeared Note the nature of the Papistes where they can ouercâ—me they are Lions where theâ— are ouermatched they play the Foxes still doeth appeare in burnyng the poore pacient christiaÌ„s whoÌ„ because they see to be destitute of power and strength to resiste them and contente wyth pacience to receiue what so euer is put vnto them there they play the Lions and make no end of burning and persecutinge But where they spye themselues to bee ouermatched or feare to receiue a foyle in presuming too farre there they keepe in and can stay the executioÌ„ of their lawes and Bulles be they neuer so Apostolicall tyll they spye their time coÌ„uenient for theyr purpose as in this case is euident for all the world to see Anno 1555. Aprill For notwithstanding that the Popes Bull commyng downe with full authority for restitution of Abbey landes did so thunder out most terrible excoÌ„munication not only agaynst them which deteined any such landes Here lacked good will in the Bishops but 〈◊〉 as yet did not 〈◊〉 them but also agaynste all other that did not see the Popes commaundement to be executed yet neyther Winchester nor any of all the Popes Clergye woulde greatlye styrre in that matter perceiuing the Nobility to be too strong for them to match withall and therefore were contented to let the case fall or at least to staye for a time while time might better serue them Yea and moreouer vnder a crafty pretense that the nobility and men of landes at the first commyng out of the Bull should not be exasperate too much against them they subtlely abused the Pulpites and dissembled with the people affirming that the sayde Popes late Bull sette forth in Print for restitution of Abbey landes was not meant for England but for other forreigne countries where in very deed the meaning of that Bull was onely for England no country els as both by this intimatioÌ„ of Queene Mary here mentioned and by many other coniectures and also by Maister Fecknams Ballet of Caueat emptor may appeare M. Fecknams ballet of Caueat Emptor Whereby it is easye for all men to vnderstand what the purpose of those men was to doe if tyme which they obserued might haue serued theyr deuotioÌ„ But to let this matter
was about the tyme that the Spaniardes began first to keepe a stur in EnglaÌ„d one Io. Tooly a citizen Pulter in London who conspired with certain other of his society to rob a Spaniard at s. Iames although the deed wer heinous wicked of it self yet was it aggrauated made greater then it was by other beyng coÌ„mitted agaynst such a person agaynst such a countrey which both the queene her whole court did highly fauor The robbery being known brought into iudgemeÌ„t this Tooly was found guilty and iudged to be haÌ„ged wheras notwithstanding in this Realme there are many mo theâ—tes committed then theeues executed The foresayd Tooly being lead to the gallowes whiche stood fast by Charing Crosse a litle before he dyed standing vpon the Carte readde a certayne prayer in a printed booke and two other prayers written in two seuerall papers who then hauing the haltar about his necke desired the people there present to pray for him and to beare hym witnes that he dyed a true Christian man and that he trusted to be saued onely by the merites of Christes passion Iohn Tooâ—â— dyed a 〈◊〉 Christian man The Chrâ—â—stian confession of Tooly The coueâ—â—tâ—usnes of the Pope shedding of his precious bloud and not by any masses or Trentalles Images or Saintes which were as he said mere Idolatry and superstition and deuised by the bishop of Rome and as he the same Tooly and two other his fellowes which were there hanged with him did steale and robbe for couetousnes so the bishop of Rome did sell hys Masses and Trentalles with such other peltrye for couetousnes and there being in a great anger as appeared agaynst the bishop of Rome spake with a loud voyce these wordes folowing From the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities From false doctrine and heresy and from the contempt of the word and commaundement good Lord deliuer vs. And then adding further to the same he spake vnto the people All you that be true Christian men saye with me Amen And immediately therupon three hundred persons and more to the iudgement estimatioÌ„ of those that were there present answered and sayd Amen three tymes together at the least After this it happened that when Toolye had readde the Byll the fyrste tyme it fell from him and a certayne young man who was thought to be a Prentise stouped downe and tooke vp the Byll and clymed vp by the Cart and deliuered it vnto Tooly agayne which he agayne diâ— reade to the people That done he deliuered vnto one of the Marshialles Officers the booke aforesayd and wylled hym to deliuer it to one Haukes saying that it was hys Booke Furthermore hee deliuered one of the Prayers written in a paper to one Robert Bromley Sergeaunt which desired to haue it of him Upon the toppe of whiche Byll was written a line conteyning these wordes Beware of Antichrist and subscribed vnderneath Per me Thomam Harold prysoner in the Marshalsea enemy to Antechriste For the Byll aforesayde Robert Bromley was brought afterward Coram nobis and was faine to aske pardon of the bishop and to detest all the wordes of Tooly and glad so to escape Thus while Tooly had made his prayers as is aboue sayd to be diliuered from the Popes tyranny by the same prayer he fel into great tyranny For so soon as the brute of this fact came vnto the eares of the Priests Mitred prelates they were not a litle mad therat thinking it not tollerable that so great a reproch should be done agaynst the holy father Calling therfore a couÌ„sell together as though it had bene a matter of great importance A Councell called agaynst â—ooly Toolyes talke at his death was debated among themselues At the last after much Pro and Contra they all consented to those mens iudgements which thought it meet that the vyolating of the Popes holynes shoulde be reuenged with fire and fagot And I do easely beleue that Cardinal Poole was no small doer in this sentence Cardinall Poole a great doer in burning dead mens Bones for as Winchester and Boner did alwayes thirst after the bloud of the liuing so Pooles lightning was for the most part kindled agaynst the dead and he reserued this charge onely to hymselfe I knowe not for what purpose except peraduenture being loth to be so cruel as the other he thought neuerthelesse by this meanes to discharge his duetye towarde the Pope By the same Cardinalles like lightening and fierye fist the bones of Martine Bucer and Paulus Phagius which had lyen almost two yeares in theyr graues M. Bucer Paulus Phagius Peter Martyrs wyfe Iohn Tooly â—urned for heretickes after their death were taken vp and burned at Cambridge as Toolyes carkase was here at London And besides this because he woulde shew some token of his diligence in both Uniuersities he caused Peter Martirs wife a woman of worthy memory to be digged out of the Churchyarde and to be buryed on the dunghill Of these two prodigious actes ye shal heare more hereafter But now to our purpose of Tooly which hauinge ended his prayer was hanged and put into hys graue out of the which he was digged agayne by the coÌ„maundement of the Bishops and because he was so bolde to derogate the authority of the Bishop of Rome at y e time of his death it pleased them to iudge and coÌ„demne him as an hereticke vpon the commaundement of the Counselles letter as here appeareth ¶ A Letter sent vnto Boner Byshop of London from the Counsell AFter our very harty commendations to your Lordship vnder standing that of late amongest others that haue suffered about London for theyr offences The Counsells letter 〈◊〉 B. Boner concerning Tooly one leude person that was condemned for felony dyed very obstinately professing at the tyme of his death sundry hereticall and erronious opinions like as we thinke it not conuenient that such a matter should be ouerpassed without some example to the world so we thought good to pray your Lordshyppe to cause further enquirye to be made thereof and thereupon to proceede to the making out of such processe as by the Ecclesiasticall lawes is prouided in that behalfe And so we bid your Lordship hartily well to fare From HamptoÌ„ Courte the 28. of April 1555. Your Lordships louing frendes Ste. Winton Cancel F. Shrewsbury Iohn Gage Thomas Cheney R. Rochester William Peter Rich Southwell Anon after a Citation was set vpon Paules Church doore vnder the Bishop of Londons great seale the tenor wherof here ensueth ¶ The writ of Mandate of Boner B. of London set vp at Charing Crosse on Paules Church doore and at S. Martins in the field for the cityng and further inquiring out of the case of Iohn Tooly EDmond by the sufferaunce of God Bishop of London A Citation set vp by Boner that in Latin commaunding his kinne and kinsfolkes to lay for him what they
some other affirmed that shee was deceiued by a Tympanie or some other like disease to thinke her selfe with child and was not What became of Q. Maryes childe no man can tell some thought she was with childe and that it did by some chaunce miscarie or els that she was bewitched but what was the truth therof the Lord knoweth to whome nothing is secrete One thing of mine owne hearing and seeing I can not passe ouer vnwitnessed There came to me whom I did both heare and see one Isabell Malt a woman dwellyng in Aldersgate streete in Horne alley not farre from the house where this present booke was Printed who before witnes made this declaration vnto vs that she beyng deliuered of a maÌ„child vpoÌ„ Whitsonday in the mornyng whiche was the xi day of Iune an 1555. there came to her the Lord North and an other Lord to her vnknoweÌ„ dwellyng theÌ„ about old Fish streete demauÌ„dyng of her if she would part with her child and would sweare that she neuer knewe nor had no such child Whiche if she would her sonne they sayd should be well prouided for she should take no care for it with many fayre offers if she would part with the child After that came other womeÌ„ also of whoÌ„ one she sayd should haue bene the Rocker but she in no wise would let go her sonne who at y e writyng hereof being aliue called Timothe Malt was of the age of xiij yeares vpward Ex testimonio eiusdam puerperae Londinensis Thus much I say I heard of the woman her selfe What credite is to bee geuen to her relation I deale not withall but leaue it to the libertie of the Reader to beleue it they that list to them that list not I haue no further warrant to assure them The young Princes cradle Among many other great preparations made for the Queenes deliueraunce of childe there was a cradle very sumptuously and gorgeously trimmed vppon the whiche cradle for the child appointed these Uerses were written both in Latin and English Quam Mariae sobolem Deus optime summe dedisti Anglis incâ—lumem redde tuere rege The Child which thou to Mary O Lord of might hast send To Englandes ioy in health preserue Verses vpon the Cradle keepe and defend About this tyme there came ouer into England a certaine English booke geuing warnyng to English men of the Spanyardes and disclosing certaine close practises for recouery of Abbay landes which booke was called A warnyng for England Whereof ye shall vnderstand more God willyng when we come to the Spanish Inquisition So that by the occasion of this booke vppon the xiij day of this moneth came out a certaine Proclamation set forth in the name of the Kyng and Queene repealyng disanullyng all maner of bookes writteÌ„ or Printed whatsoeuer should touche any thyng the impayryng of the Popes dignitie whereby not onely much godly edification was hyndred but also great perill grew among the people The copy of which Proclamation here foloweth A Proclamation set out by the King and Queene for the restraining of all bookes and wrytings tending againg the doctrine of the Pope and his Churche WHere as by the Statute made in the seconde yeare of king Henrie the fourth concerning the repressing of heresies there is ordained and prouided a great punishment not only for the authours makers and wryters of bookes containing wicked doctrine and erroneous and hereticall opinions contrary to the Catholicke faith and determination of the holy Church likewise for their fautors supporters but also for such as shal haue or keepe any suche bookes or wrytings and not make deliuerie of them to the Ordinarie of the Diocesse or his Ministers wyth in a certaine time limited in the sayd Statute which Acte or Statute being by authoritie of Parliament of late reuiued Of this Acte or statute read before Pag. 507. was also openly proclaimed to the intent the subiectes of the realme vpon such Proclamation should the rather eschew the danger and penaltie of the sayde Statute and as yet neuerthelesse in moste partes of the Realme the same is neglected and little regarded The King and Queene our soueraigne Lord and Ladie A stiterunt reges terrae principes conuenerunt in vnum aduersus Dominum Christum eius Psal. 2. therefore c. straightly charge and commaunde that no persone or persones of what estate degree or condition soeuer he or they be from hencefoorth presume to bring or conuey or cause to bee brought or conueied into this Realme any bookes wrytings or woorkes heereafter mentioned that is to saye anye booke or bookes wrytings or woorkes made or sette foorth by or in the name of Martine Luther or any booke or bookes wrytings or woorkes made or sette forth by or in the name of Oecolampadius Zwinglius Iohn Caluine Pomerane Iohn Alasco Bullinger Bucer Melancthon Bernardinus Ochinus Good 〈◊〉 pâ—â—â—hibited Erasmus Sarcerius Peter Martyr Hugh Latymer Robert Barnes otherwyse called Frier Barnes Iohn Bale otherwise called Frier Bale Iustus Ionas Iohn Hoper Myles Couerdal William Tyndal Thomas Cranmer late Archbishop of Canterburie William Turner Theodore Basill otherwise called Thomas Beacon Ihon Frith Roy and the booke commonly called Halles Chronicle Agaynst Haâ—le◠〈◊〉 or anye of them in the Latine toung Dutch toung English toung Italian toung or French toung or any other like booke paper wryting or woorke made printed or sette foorthe by any other persone or persones containing false doctrine contrarie and against the Catholicke faith and the doctrine of the Catholicke Churche And also that no person or persons presume to write What 〈◊〉 is here to kept 〈◊〉 Christ 〈◊〉 his sepulâ—chre and will he 〈◊〉 in spite oâ— his 〈◊〉 printe vtter sell reade or kepe anye or cause to bee wrytten printed vttered or kept anye of the sayde bookes papers woorkes or wrytings or any booke or bookes wrytten or printed in the Latine or English toung concerning the common seruice and administration sette foorth in English to be vsed in the Churches of this Realme in the time of king Edwarde the sixth commonly called the Communion booke or booke of common seruice and ordering of Ministers otherwise called The booke sette foorth by authoritie of Parliament for common prayer administration of the Sacramentes or to be vsed in the mother tounge wythin the Church of England but shall wythin the space of fifteene dayes nexte after the publication of this Proclamation bring or deliuer or cause the sayde bookes wrytinges and woorkes and euerye of them remaining in their custodies and keeping to be broughte and deliuered to the Ordinarie of the Diocesse where suche bookes woorkes or wrytinges be or remaine or to his Chauncellour or Commissaries without fraud coulour or deceite at the sayde Ordinaries will and disposition to be burnt or otherwise to be vsed or ordered by the sayde Ordinaries as by the Canons or spiritual lawes it is in that case
they came not emptie handed willed them to be called in CroÌ„well there shewing his obedieÌ„ce offering his iolye iunkets Cromwels presentes to the Pope Cromwell a suter for Boston Pardons suche as Kings and Princes only sayd he in the realme of EnglaaÌ„d vse to feede vpon desired y e same to be accepted in beneuolent part which he and his coÌ„panions as poore suters vnto his holines had there brought and presented as nouelties meete for his recreation c. Pope Iulius seing the straungenes of the dishes commaunded by and by his Cardinall to take the assay Who in tasting thereof liked it so wel and so likewise the Pope after him that knowing of them what their sutes were and requiring them to make knowen the making of that meate he incontinent without any more adoe stamped both their pardons Boston pardons obtayned at Rome as well the greater as the lesser And thus was the iolye pardons of the Towne of Boston obteyned as you haue heard for the maintenaunce of their decayed porte The copie of which Pardons which I haue in my handes briefly comprehended commeth to this effect That all the brethren and sisters of the gylde of our Lady in S. Botulphes church at Boston The effect and contentes of Boston pardons should haue free licence to choose for their confessor or ghostly father whome they woulde eyther seculare Prieste or religious person to assoyle them plenarely from all their sinnes except only in cases reserued to the Pope Also should haue licence to carry about with them an aultar stone whereby they might haue a Priest to say them Masse or other diuine seruice where they would without preiudice of any other Church or Chappell though it were also before the day yea and at three of the clocke after midnight in the Sommer tyme. Furthermore that all suche breethren and sisters of the sayd gilde which should resort to y e chappel of our Lady in S. Botulphes Church at the feast of Easter Whitsontide Corpus Christi the Natiuitie or Assumption of our Lady or in y e Octaues of them the feast of S. Michaell and first Sonday in Lent should haue Pardon no lesse then if they themselues personally had visited the Stations of Rome Prouided that euery such person man or woman entring into the same gilde at his first entraunce should giue to the finding of vij Priests xij Queresters xiij beademen and to the lightes of y e same brotherhoode a Grammer schole vj. shillings viij pence and for euery yeare after xij pence And these premisses being before graunted by Pope Innocentius and Pope Iulius 2. this Pope Clement also confirmed graunting moreouer that whatsoeuer brother or sister of the same gylde thorough pouertie sickenes or any other let could not resort personally to the saide chappell notwithstanding he should be dispensed withall as well for that as for all other vowes irregularities censures Canonicall whatsoeuer only the vowe of going the Stations of Rome and going to S. Iames of Compostella excepted c. He also graunted vnto them power to receaue full remission A poena culpa once in theyr lyfe or in the houre of death Item that hauing their aultar stone they mighte haue Masse sayd in any place though it were vnhallowed Also in the time of interdict to haue Masse or any Sacramente ministred and also being departed that they might be buried in Christen buriall notwithstanding the interdict Extending moreouer his graunt that to all such breethren and sisters in resorting to the foresayd Chappell of our Lady vpon the Natiuitie or Assumption of our Lady giuing supportation to the sayd Chappel at euery such Festiuall daye to haue full remission of all their sinnes Or if they for any impediment could not be present at the Chappell aforesayd yet if they came to their owne Parish Churche and there sayd one Pater noster and Aue Maria they should enioy the same remission aboue specified or whosoeuer came euery Friday to the same Chappell should haue as much remission as if he went to the Chappell of our Lady called Scala coeli Furthermore that whatsoeuer ChristeÌ„ people of what estate or coÌ„dition soeuer either spirituall or teÌ„poral would ayde support the chamberlaines or substitutes of y e foresayd gylde should haue fiue hundreth yeares of pardon Item to all brothers and sisters of the same gylde was graunted free libertie to eate in time of Lent or other Fasting dayes egges milke butter cheese and also fleshe by the counsaile of their ghostly father and phisition without any scruple of conscience Item that all partakers of the same gylde and beyng supporters thereof which once a quarter or euery Friday or Saterday either in the said Chappell in S. Botulphes Church or any other Chappell of their deuotion shall say a Pater noster Aue Maria and Creede or shall say or cause to be sayde Masses for soules departed in paynes of Purgatory shall not onely haue the full remission due to them which visite the Chappell of Scala Coeli or of S. Iohn Lateran but also the soules in Purgatory shall enioy full remission and be released of all their paynes Item that all the soules departed of the brothers and sisters of the sayde gylde also the soules of their fathers and mothers shall be partakers of all the prayers suffragies almoses fastings masses and mattens pilgrimages and of all other good deedes of all the holy Churche militant for euer c. These indulgencies pardons grauntes and relaxations were geuen and graunted by Pope Nicholas the fift Pope Pius 2. Pope Sixtus and Pope Iulius the second of which Pope Iulius it seemeth that Cromwell obteyned this Pardon aforesaide about the yeare of oure Lorde 1510. Which Pardon againe afterward through the request of King Henry an 1526. was confirmed by Pope Clement the seuenth And thus much concerning the pardon of Boston renued by the meanes of Thomas Cromwell of Pope Iulius the second All this while it appeareth that Cromwell had yet no sound taste nor iudgement of Religion but was wylde youthfull without sence or regard of God and his worde as he himselfe was wont ofttimes to declare vnto Cranmer Archbishop of Cant. shewing what a ruffine he was in his yong dayes Cromwell was in th◠〈◊〉 of the Duke of Bâ—â—rbon besâ—â—ging Rome and how he was in the warres of duke Bourbon at the siege of Rome also what a great doer he was with Geffray Chambers in publishing and settyng forth the pardon of Boston euery where in Churches as he went and so continued till at length by learnyng the texte of the newe Testament without booke of Erasmus translation in his going and comming from Rome as is aforesayd he began to be touched and called to better vnderstanding In this meane tyme Thomas Woolsey Cardinall of Yorke began to beare a great port in England Cromwell â—â—ceiued into the Cardinalls serâ—â—ce and almost
to rule all vnder the King or rather with the King so that the freshest wittes and of best towardnes most commonly sought vnto him Among whome was also Thomas Cromwell to his seruice aduaunced where he continued a certayne space of yeares Cromwell solliciter to the Cardinall Cromwell More and Gardiner companions in the Cardinalls house growing vp in office and authoritie till at length he was preferred to be sollicitour to the Cardinall There was also about the same tyme or not much different in the houshold of the sayd Cardinall Tho. More afterward knight and Chauncelour of England SteueÌ„ Gardiner Byshop after of Wint. and of the Kings CouÌ„saile All these three were brought vp in one houshold and all of one standing almost together Whose ages as they were not greatly discrepant nor their wittes much vnequall so neither was their fortune and aduauncementes greatly diuers A comparison betwene Cromwell More and Gardiner albeit their dispositions and studies were most contrary And though peraduenture in More and in Gardiner there was more arte of letters and skill of learning yet notw tstanding there was in this maÌ„ a more heauenly light of minde more prompt perfect iudgement eloquence equall and as may be supposed in thys man more pregnant and finally in him was wrought a more heroicall and princely dispositioÌ„ borne to greater affayres in the common wealth and to the singular helpe of many It happened that in this meane season â— Cromwell was placed in this office to be sollicitour to the Cardinall the said Cardinal had then in hand the building of certeine Colledges Small Monasteryes suppressed by the Cardinall namely his Colledge in Oxforde called then Frideswide now Christes Churche By reason whereof certayne small monasteries and priories in diuers places of the realme were by the saide Cardinall suppressed and the lands seased to the Cardinals haÌ„ds The doing wherof was committed to the charge of Thomas Cromwell In the expedition whereof he shewed himselfe very forward Cromwell first set a worke by the Cardinall to supâ—resse religious houses and industrious in such sort as in y e handling thereof he procured to himselfe much grudge with diuers of the superstitious sorte and with some also of noble calling about the King And thus was Cromwell first set a worke by the Cardinall to suppresse religious houses Which was about the yeare of our Lord 1525. As this passed on it was not long but the Cardinall whiche had gotten vp so high began to come downe as fast first from the Chauncellorship in whiche roome was placed Sir Tho. More as is aforesayd then he fell into a Premunire So that his houshold being dissolued Tho. Cromwell amongst other laboured also to be reteyned into the Kings seruice Syr Christopher Hales helper of Cromwell to the king Cromwell commended to the king by Sir Christopher Hales M. of the Rolles Cromwell complayned of to the king There was at the same tyme one Syr Christopher Hales Knight Maister of the Rolles who notwithstanding was then a mightie Papist yet bare he suche fauour and good liking to Cromwell that he commended him to the King as a man most fitte for his purpose hauing then to do against the Pope But heere before is to be vnderstand that Cromwel had greatly bene complained of and diffamed by certeine of authority about the King for hys rude maner and homely dealing in defacing the Monkes houses in handling of their aultars c. Wherfore y e king hearing of the name of Cromwell began to detest y t mention of him neither lacked there some standers by who w t reuiling words ceased not to encrease and inflame y e kings hatred against him What their names were it shall not neede heere to recite Among other there present at the same hearing was the Lorde Russell Earle of Bedforde whose life Cromwell before had preserued at Bononye through politicke conueyance at what time the said Earle comming secretly in the kings affaires The Lord 〈◊〉 Earle of Bedforde through the â—olicy of Cromwell escaped at Bononie The Lorde Russel commendeth Cromwell to the king was there espyed and therefore being in great daunger to be taken through the meanes and pollicie of Cromwell escaped This Lord Russell therefore not forgetting the olde benefites past with like grauitie willing againe to requite that he had receaued in a vehement boldnes stoode forth to take vpon him the defence of Thomas Cromwel vttering before the king many commendable words in the behalfe of him and declaring withall how by his singulare deuice and policie he had done for him at Bononie beyng there in the Kings affaires in extreame perill And for as much as now his Maiestie had to do with the Pope his great enemy there was he thought in all England none so apt for the kynges purpose which could say or do more in that matter then could Thomas Cromwell and partly gaue the kyng to vnderstand wherein The kyng hearyng this specially markyng the latter end of his talke was conteÌ„ted and willyng to talke with him to heare and know what he could say This was not so priuily done but Cromwell had knowledge incontinent that the kyng would talke with him whereupon therfore prouidyng before hand for matter had in a readynesse the copie of the Byshops othe which they vse coÌ„monly to make to the Pope at their consecration and so beyng called for was brought to the king in his garden at Westminster which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1530. Cromwell after most loyall obeysauÌ„ce doyng his duetie to the kyng accordyng as he was demaunded Cromwell brought to talke with the king made his declaration in all pointes this especially making manifest vnto his highnes how his Princely authoritie was abused within his own Realme by the Pope his Clergy who beyng sworne vnto him were afterward dispensed from the same sworne a new vnto the Pope so that he was but as halfe kyng and they but halfe his subiectes in his owne land which sayd he was derogatorie to his crowne Cromwels wordes to the king concerning the premunire of the Clergy and vtterly preiudiciall to the common lawes of his Realme Declaryng therupoÌ„ how his Maiestie might accumulate to himselfe great riches so much as all y e Clergy in his Realme was worth if it so pleased him to take the occasion now offered The kyng geuyng good eare to this and likyng right well his aduice required if he could auouch that which he spake All this he could he sayd auouch to be certaine so well as that he had the copie of their owne othe to the Pope there present to shewe and that no lesse also he could manifestly proue if his highnesse would geue him leaue therewith shewed the Byshops othe vnto the kyng The kyng folowyng the veyne of his counsayle tooke his ryng of his finger first admittyng him into his seruice Cromwell sent by