Alane Cope and Abell amoÌ„gest other which dyed in kyng HeÌ„ries dayes in the like Popish quarell that is for the like treason agaynst their Prince beyng in all to the number of 24. extolleth theÌ„ not onely in wordes but with miracles also vp to the height of heaueÌ„ amoÌ„g the crowned Martyrs Traytors made Martyrs Saints of God To the whiche Cope because in this hast of story I haue no laysure at this present to geue attendauÌ„ce I shall wayt atteÌ„dauÌ„ce the Lord willing an other tyme to ioyne in this issue with him more at laysure In the meane time it shall suffice at this present to recite the names onely of those 24. rebelles whom he of his Popish deuotioÌ„ so dignifieth with the pretensed title of Martyrs The names of which Monkish rebels be these here folowyng Iohn Houghton Robert Laurence Aug. Webster Reynald of Syon Iohn Hayle Iohn Rochester Iac. Wannere Iohn Stone 24. neither good martyrs to god nor good subiects to the king Iohn Trauerse William Horne Powell Fetherstone Abell Beside these were other ix Cartusian Monkes which dyed in the prison of Newgate To the whiche number if ye adde M. More and the Byshop of Rochester the summa totalis commeth to 24. whom the sayd Cope vniustly crowned for Martyrs But of these more shall be sayd the Lord willyng hereafter Thus hauyng discoursed the order of the vi Articles with other matter likewise folowyng in the next Parliament concernyng the condemnation of the Lord Cromwell of Doct. Barnes and his felowes c. Let vs now proceedyng further in this history coÌ„sider what great disturbaunce and vexation ensued after the settyng forth of the sayd Articles through the whole Realme of EnglaÌ„d especially amongest the godly sorte Wherein first were to be mentioned the straite and seuere commissions sent forth by the kynges authoritie to the Byshops Chauncelors Officials to Iustices Maiors Bailiffes in euery shyre Great disturbaÌ„ce in England after the 6. articlâ—â— and other Commissioners by name in the same commissions expressed and amongest other especially to Edmund Boner Byshop of London to the Maior Shiriffes and Aldermen of the same to enquire diligently vpon all hereticall bookes and to burne them also to enquire vpon such persons whatsoeuer culpable or suspected of such felonies heresies contemptes or transgressions or speakyng any wordes contrary the foresayd Act set forth of the sixe Articles Read before pag. 1101. The tenour of whiche Commissions beyng sufficiently expressed in auncient Recordes and in the Bishoppes Registers and also partly touched before pag. 1101. therfore for tediousnesse I here omit onely shewyng forth the Commission directed to EdmuÌ„d Boner Byshop of London to take the othe of the Maior of London and of others for the execution of the Commission aforesayd The tenour wherof here foloweth ¶ The Commission for takyng the othe of the Maior of London and others for the execution of the Acte aforesayd HEnry the eight by the grace of God kyng of England and of Fraunce defender of the fayth Lord of Ireland and in earth supreme head of the Church of England vnto the Reuerend father in Christ Edmund Boner Byshop of London Commission directed to Edm. Boner bishop of London from the king and to his welbeloued the Byshops Chauncellour health Know ye that we haue geuen you ioyntly and seuerally power and authoritie to receaue the othes of William Roche Maior of London Iohn Allen Knight Raffe Warren Knight Rich. Gresham Knight Roger Chomley Knight Sergeant at Law Iohn GreshaÌ„ Michael Dormer Archdeacon of London the Byshops CoÌ„missary and Officiall Robert Chidley Gwy Crayford Edward Hall Robert Broke and Iohn MorgaÌ„ and euery of them our CoÌ„missioners for heresies and other offences done within our Citie of London and Dioces of the same accordyng to the tenour of a certaine schedule hereunto annexed And therfore we commauÌ„de that you receiue the othes aforesayd and when you haue receaued them to certifie vs into our Chauncery vnder your Seales returnyng this our writ T. meipso at Westminster the 29 of Ianuary in the 32. yeare of our reigne What the othe was of these Commissioners whereunto they were bounde read before pag. 1101. * A note how Boner sat in the Guildhall in Commission for the vi Articles And of the condemnyng of Mekins VPon this commission geuen vnto EdmuÌ„d Boner he commyng to the Guildhall with other CoÌ„missioners The story of Rich. Mekins condemned by Boner to sit vpoÌ„ the Statute of the vi Articles begaÌ„ eftsoones to put in execution his authoritie after a rigorous sort as ye shall heare And first he charged certaine Iuries to take their oth vpon y e Statute aforesaid who being sworne had a day appointed to geue their Uerdicte At the which day they indited sundry persons which shortly after were apprehended brought to Ward who after a while remaynyng there were by the kyng his Counsaile discharged at the Starre chaÌ„ber without any further punishment Not loÌ„g after this Syr Wil. Roche being Maior Boner with other CoÌ„missioners sat at the Guildhall aforesayd before whom there were a certaine number of Citizens warned to appeare and after the Commission read the sayd parties were called to the booke and when v. or vi were sworne one of the sayd persoÌ„s beyng called to the booke Boner seemed to mislike and sayd Stay a while my Maisters quoth he I would ye should consider this matter well that we haue in hand whiche concerneth the glory of God the honor of the kyng and the wealth of the Realme and if there be any here amoÌ„g you that doth not consider the same it were better that he were hence then here TheÌ„ commoned the Commissioners with Boner about that man so that at length he was called to the booke and sworne not all together with his good will When the ij Iuries were sworne Boner taketh vpon him to geue the charge vnto the Iuries and began with a tale of Anacarsis by which example he admonished the Iuries to spare no persons Rich. Mekins presented by Boner of what degree soeuer they were And at the end of his charge he brought forth to the barre a boy whose name was Mekins declaryng how greuously he had offended by speaking of certaine wordes agaynst the state and of the death of Doct. Barnes produced into the sayd Court ij witnesses which were there sworne in the face of y e Court So a day was assigned vpoÌ„ which the Iuries aforesayd should geue vp their Uerdict at which day both the Commissioners the sayd Iuries met at Guildhall aforesayd Then the Clarke of the peace called on the Iuries by their names when their appearaunce was taken W. Robins Iurer Boner bad them put in their presentmentes TheÌ„ sayd the foreman whose name was W. Robins of that Iury. My Lord with a low curtesy we haue found nothyng At which wordes he fared as one in an agony sayd Nothyng haue ye
et Zelo. Sorcerers and Coniurers with such a wrong fayth ioyned to dumme creatures may and do with lyke reason call vp deuils as holy-water may driue them away cum fide zelo after which sort if our holy water were vsed I doubt not but there be many Marcellus and many Elizeus and many at whose prayer God forgeueth sinne if such as will enioy y e prayer haue faith and zeale as Equitius and were as desirous to driue the deuil out of the temple of their body and soule as Equitius out of the temple of Iupiter So as if holy vse were coupled with holy water there should be more plentie of holynesse then there is but as men be prophane in their liuyng so they cannot bide to haue any thing effectually holy not so much as bread and water fearing lest they should take away sinne from vs which we loue so well Solus Christus peccata diluit who sprinckleth hys bloud by hys ministers as he hath taught hys spouse the Church in which those ministers be ordered wherein many wayes maketh not many sauiours as ignorants do iest whereof I neede not speake further vnto you no more I neded not in the rest in respect of you but me thought ye coniured all men in your sermon to say what they thought to you id quod hanc mihi expressit Epistolam quam boni consules Et Vale. Your louyng friend Ste. Winchester AS I haue set foorth here gentle Reader the cauillyng letter of Winchester agaynst M. Ridleys Sermon so am I right sory that I haue not likewyse the aunswer of the sayd Ridley agayne to ioyne withall For so I vnderstand that not onely M. Ridley but also M. Barlow B. of S. Dauids for Winchester wrote agaynst them both had written and sent immediately their aunsweres to the same refutyng the friuolous and vnsauory reasons of this popish prelate as may well appeare by a parcell additionall of a letter sent by the L. Protector to the sayd Byshop in these wordes And because we haue begun to write to you we are put in remembraunce of a certayne letter or booke which you wrote vnto vs agaynst the bishop of S. Dauids sermon and D. Ridleys to the whiche aunswer beyng immediately made was by negligence of vs forgottē to be sent Now we both send you that and also the aunswer which the B. of s. Dauids wrote to the same booke of yours ¶ Articles and positions ministred and obiected eche of them ioyntly and seuerally to the B. of Winchester as foloweth The 1. Article IN primis that the kings Maiesty iustly and rightfully is and by the lawes of God ought to be the supreme head in earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland Articles layd agaynst Winchester and so is by the Clergy of this realme in theyr conuocation and by acte of Parliament iustly and accordyng to the lawes of God recognised Winchester This first article the B. granteth Winchester graunteth to the kings supremacy The 2. Article Item that hys Maiestie as supreme hed of the sayd Churches hath full power and authoritie to make and set forth lawes Iniunctions and ordinances for and concerning religion orders in the sayd churches for the encrease of vertue and repressing of all errours heresies and other enormities and abuses Winchester grūnteth to the full authority of the king 〈◊〉 setting forth his lawes Winchester To this second article he answereth affirmatiuely The 3. Article Item that all and euery his graces subiects are bound by the lawe of God to obey all hys Maiesties sayd lawes Iniunctions procedings concerning religion and orders in the sayd church Winchester To the third article the laid B. answereth affirmatiuely and granteth it The 4. Article Item that you Steuen B. of Winchester haue sworne obedience to his maiestie as supreme head of this Church of England and also of Ireland Wynchester hath sworne obedience to the kinges supremacye Winchester To the fourth article the sayd B. aunswereth affirmatiuely and granteth it The 5. Article Item that all and euery his graces subiectes that disobey any his sayd maiesties lawes Iniunctions ordinaunces and proceedings already set forth and published or hereafter to be set forth and published ought worthily to be punished according to hys Ecclesiasticall law vsed within this his realme Winchester To this fift article the sayd B. answereth affirmatiuely and granteth it The 6. Article Item that you the sayd Bishop as well in the Kings Maiesties late visitation within your dioces Wynchester complayned of as at sondry tymes haue bene cōplained vpō sondry informatiōs made against you for your doyngs sayings and preachings agaynst sundry Iniunctions orders and other proceedings of hys maiesty set foorth for reformation of errors superstitions and other abuses of religion Winchester This article toucheth other mens actes who or how they are complayned or enformed I cannot throughly tel For at the tyme of the kings Maiesties visitation I was in the Fleete and the morrow after twelfe day I was deliuered at Hampton court my L. of Somerset and my L. of Caunterbury then being in counsaile with many other counsailors was deliuered by these words The kings maiesty hath granted a generall pardon and by the benefit thereof I was discharged Wherunto I answered that I was learned neuer to refuse the kings maiesties pardon Winchester released out of the Fleete by the kinges generall pardon The article of Iustification put to Winchester Winchester prisoner in his own house Winchester denyeth to subscribe to the article of Iustification M. Cicill sent to Winchester Winchester agayne set free and in strength as that was and I would did humbly thanke his maiesty therfore and then they began with me in an article of learnyng touching iustification whereunto they willed me to say my mynd adding therwith that because other learned men had agreed to a forme deliuered vnto me that I should not thinke I could alter it which I receiued of them and promised the Thursday after to repayre to my L. of Somersets house at Sheene with my mynd written which I did and that day seuennight followyng appearing before hym and other of the counsaile was committed to my house for prisoner because I refused to subscribe to the forme of words sentēces that other had agreed vnto as they said In which tyme of imprisonment in my house the Bish. of Rochester then being as sent to me and after M. Smith then M. Cecil to which M. Cecil when I had by learnyng resolued my mynde in the matter I deliuered it and he deliuering it to my lords Grace wrote me in hys name thanks for it and then it was within the tyme of Lent ere I was discharged of y e trouble and so went to Winchester as a man clearely out of all trauell of busines And within 14. daies after that or there abouts began other trauell with me vpon a request made by my Lord of
made this aunswer againe That first touching the Article of submission he woulde in no wise consent affirming as hee had done before that he had neuer offended the kings Maiestye in any such sorte as shoulde geue hym cause thus to submit himselfe praying earnestly to be brought vnto his trial wherin he refused the kings mercy and desired nothing So ye right 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 turned 〈◊〉 altar to 〈◊〉 but iustice And for the rest of the articles he aunswered that after he were past his triall in this firste poynt and were at libertie then it should appeare what he would do in them not being as he said reasonable that he should subscribe them in prisone Of this answer when the king and hys counsel had intelligence by the foresayde Maister of the horse Secretarie Peter the bishop of London and M. Goodricke who had bene wyth him it was agreed that he should be sent for before the whole counsel and peremptorily examined once againe whether he would stand at this poynt or no which if he did then to denouÌ„ce vnto him the sequestration of his benefice and consequently the intimation in case hee were not reformed within 3. monethes as in the daye of his appearance shall appeare The tenor and words of which sequestration with the Intimation followeth The wordes of the Sequestration with the Intimation to the Bishop of Winchester FOr asmuch as the kings maiestie our most gratious soueraigne Lord vnderstandeth The tenour of of the sequestration read to Winchester and it is also manifestly knowne and notorious vnto vs that the clemency long sufferaunce of his maiestie woorketh not in you y e good effect and humblenes and conformitie that is requisite in a good subiect and for that your first disobediences coÌ„teÌ„pts and other misbehauiours for the which you were by hys Maiesties authoritie iustly coÌ„mitted to warde haue â—ithes your said committing dayly more more increased in you in such sort as a great slaunder and offence is therof risen in many parts of the realme whereby also much slander dissention trouble vnquietnes is very like more to ensue if your foresaid offences being as they be openly knowne should passe vnpunished The causes why this sequestratioÌ„ was laid against Winchester we let you wit that hauing speciall and expresse Commission and commaundement from his Maiesty aswell for your contumacies and contempts so long coÌ„tinued and yet daily more increasing as also for the exchange of the slaunder offence of the people which by your sayd ill demeanours is risen and for that also the Church of Winchester may be in the meane time prouided of a good minister that may and will see all things done quietly executed according to lawes and common orders of this Realme Winchester sequestred from his Byshopricke for sondry other great and vrgent causes we do by these presentes sequester all the fruites reuenues landes and possessions of your Bishopricke of Winchester discerne deeme iudge the same to be committed to the seueral receite collection and custody of such person or persons as his Maiesty shall appoynt for that purpose And because your former disobediences and contemptes so loÌ„g coÌ„tinued so many times doubled renued and aggrauated do manifestly declare you to be a person without all hope of recouery plainly incorrigible we eftsoones admonish and require you to obay his maiesties said coÌ„maundement and that you do declare your selfe by subscription of youre hand both willing well conteÌ„ted to accept allow preach and teache to others the sayde articles and all suche other matters as be or shal be set forth by his maiesties authority of supreme head of this church of England on this side within the terme of 3. monthes whereof we appoynt one month for the first monition one month for the second monition and warning and one moneth for the third and peremptorie monition Within which time as you may yet declare your coÌ„formitie and shal haue paper Intimation geuâ— to Winchester pen and inke when you wil cal for them for that purpose so if you wilfully forbeare and refuse to declare your self obedient and conformable as is aforesayd we intimate vnto you that his maiestie who like a good gouernor desireth to keepe both his coÌ„mon wealth quiet and to purge the same of euill men especially ministers entendeth to proceede against you as an incorrigible person and vnmeet minister of this church to depriuation of your sayd bishopprike Neuertheles vpon diuers good considerations and specially in hope he might within his time be yet reconciled it was agreed that the sayd bishops house seruants should be maintained in their present estate vntill y e time that this Iniunction should expire the matter for the meane time to be kept secrete After this sequestration the sayde B. was commensed vnto Lambeth before the Archbishop of Cant. other the kings commissioners by vertue of the kings speciall letter sent vnto the sayde Commissioners to witte to the Archbyshop of Caunterburie Nicholas bishoppe of London The names of the Commissioners delegate in the cause of SteueÌ„ Gardineâ— Thomas bishop of Ely Henry bishop of Lincoln Secretarie Peter Syr Iames Hales knight Doctour Leyson Doctor Olyuer lawyers and Iohn Gosnold Esquire c. before them and by them to be examined by whome were obiected against him 19. special articles in order and forme heere following Articles and positions ministred ioyntly and seuerally obiected to the B. of Winchester IN primis that the kings Maiestie iustly and rightfully is and by the lawes of God ought to be the supreme head in earth of the Church of England and Ireland Articles ministred agaynst Winchester by the Commissioners and so is by the Clergie of this realme in their conuocation and by the Act of Parliament iustly and according to y e lawes of God recognised 2 Item that his maiestie as supreme head of y e saide churches hath full power and authoritie to make and set suche Lawes Iniunctions and ordinances for and concerning Religion anâ— orders in the said churches for the increase of vertue and repressing of all errours heresies and other enormities and abuses 3 Item that all and euery his graces subiectes are bound by the lawes of God to obey all his highnesse saide lawes Iniunctions and proceedings concerning religion orders in the sayd Churches Winchester sworne to the kinges supremacy 4 Item that you Steuen B. of Winchester haue sworne obedience to his Maiestie as supreme head of this Church of England and also of Ireland 5 Item that all and euery his graces subiects that disobey any of his sayde Maiesties lawes Iniunctions ordinances and proceedings already set forth published or hereafter to be set foorth published ought worthely to be punished according to his graces Ecclesiasticall lawes vsed within thys his realme Winchester after his oth fouÌ„d disobedient to the king and his proceedinges 6 Item that you
froÌ„ the king his letters of credence and withall to declare and extend the kinges most effectuous commendations with the harty good will and sincere affections whiche his hignes bare to the sayde Cardinall Chauncellour of Fraunce with no lesse desire also most gladly to do that thing which might be to his commoditie and benefite according as the manifold pleasures grauities and kindnes done on his part for the kinges highnes did worthily deserue Then after such words of mollification to enter into further communication with him in such sort as might best serue his honour And forasmuch as the Cardinall was theÌ„ noted much to be moued with the affections of vayn glory couetous therfore amongst other coÌ„munication The vaine glory and auarice of the Cardinall it was deuised to inferre mentioÌ„ of the Papalitie noting what wayes meanes might be vsed to attayne vnto that dignitie Wherein if the kinges hignes coulde stand him to anye steede as he thought the person of the sayd Chauncellour most meet for the same The fashyoâ— of Princes courtes to be noted so he would not fayle to moue and to procure it to the best furtheraunce of his aduauncement And finally to declare how desirous the kinges highnes was to retayne and make sure vnto him the amitie and friendship of the sayd Chauncellour and that hys hignes deuising by what meanes and wayes he might do the same albeit his grace knew wel that the fayth and sinceritie of the sayd Chauncellour towardes hys mayster was such as no gift pension or other offer could aduance or increase that good will which for hys maysters sake he would employ in the kinges highnes affayres thought that for declaration of hys hartye good will towardes the sayde Chauncellour it were conuenient to offer vnto hym some yearely remembraunce c. This was the summe and effect of the message of the king sent vnto the French king and to other of his counsayle by his ambassadour maister Edward Foxe whiche was especially to signifie and make manifest vnto the sayd French king the vniust dealinges and preiudiciall proceedinges of the pope in calling vp the king of Englande to appeare at Rome by Proxie which was derogatory to y e kinges dignitie and crowne and also preiudiciall both to generall Councels of the primitiue tyme and to the auncient lawes and statutes of this Realme as is afore declared and no lesse hurtfull for example to all other Princes and kinges likewise c. This message so done Steuen Gardiner Ambassadour to the FreÌ„ch king shortly after was sent to the said french king Stephen Gardinar bish of Winchester with the kings answere and message again on this maner y t for so much as the saying of the Frenche king to the ambassadors was this that notwithstanding all the kings Realm shuld agree and condescend neuer so muche to y e right title The French kings saying against the kinges succession which the succession procreated of this his lawfull matrimony hath in this hys realme yet when outward parties shall conceaue anye other or contrary opinion thereof great trouble and vexation might ensue Wherunto the K. made answere agayne declaring y t he could not but greatly marueyle y t the king his brother being so wise a Prince The kinges aunswere to the French king and there to well expert and learned in Chronicles and histories not onely of his owne realme but also of all others or any of his Counsayle being men of such experieÌ„ce as they were taken to be would thinke that the opinion consent of other outward Realms was so highly to be coÌ„sidered and regarded of any prince or king in stablishing or in executing of thinges which mighte be lawfully done and which touched the preseruation of the rightes preeminences dignitie and state of his realme and did also notably conferre vnto the singular benefite and tranquillitie of the same so as the words both of the sayde king hys brother and of the great master did pretend Who furthermore were not ignoraunt them selues 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 realm 〈…〉 bouÌ„d tâ— the agrement of outwarde realmes that many thinges haue bene by hys noble progenitours kinges of Fraunce attempted and done as well in cases of matrimonie as otherwise which in some part in the opinion of y e Popes of Rome then being in some part in the opinion of diuers other outwarde princes states seigniories and common people haue bene thought not perfectly good nor yet much acceptable vnto them and yet that notwithstanding hys said progenitors knowing them selues the prosecuting of those causes to be beneficial to them and to the realm haue not therfore desisted from their said purposes but diligeÌ„tly employing their owne strength and powers with the succours of their frends haue finally atchieued their sayd enterprises wythout requiring or greatly regarding the opinion or agreement therunto of outward princes Againe wheras the Chauncelour of France made thys ouerture to the â—ayde Bishop of Winchester whether the kyng woulde be content to haue indifferent Iudges to be appoynted by the authoritie of the Pope The ouerture of the Chauncellour 〈◊〉 Fraunce to the king to take indifferent iudges by the Popes authority The kinges aunswere to the ouerture to determine his cause wyth a commission decretall from y e same declaring Quid iuris c. The King by his ambassador therunto answearing declared that the Pope hauing done vnto hym so notable and euideÌ„t iniuries as he had done it were hys office and duetie now to labor him selfe to ende this matter and to studie how to make due satisfaction to God and his iustice which hee hath tam indignis modis offended and violated and to deliuer himselfe out of the danger and the perpetual infamie of the world which he hath incurred by reason of these his most vngodly doings and not to looke that the King shoulde make any request or suite vnto hym therfore or recompence for the same c. Furthermore where as the Pope at the request of the French king had in open Consistorie proroged execution of his censures and excommunication against the king vnto the first day of Nouember and woorde thereof was sent to the king by his ambassadours from the great maister of Fraunce that the king mighte haue the sayde prorogation made autentikely in wryting if he woulde The kyng answearing thereunto thought it not vnprofitable that hys ambassadors resident in France should receiue vnto theyr hands the possession of the saide newe prorogation conceiued and wrytten in autentike forme and maner according to the order of the lawes After this againe came other letters to the King from France namely froÌ„ the great maister of France tending to this ende that if the king would do nothing for the pope meaning by the reuocation of such actes of parlament The king requested by the FreÌ„ch king to relent to the Pope as were made in the Realme of England to the Popes preiudice it were
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
of y e canon law as well Prouinciall as Synodall so according to their discretions to set establish an order of ecclesiasticall lawes suche as should be thought by the king and them cōuenient to be receiued and vsed within this realm Which statute as it is most needfull for the gouernement of the Church of England so would God it had bene brought to perfection In this yere touching matters of histories we read no great thing worthy of memory Anno. 1545. but onely of two persons Ioh Athee I. Haywood Of which two we find first I. Athee to be indicted by the kings writ Iohn A the recanted for certayne words agaynst y e sacramēt which words in the indictmēt are specified to be these that he would not beleue in y e thing whiche y e knaue priest made neither in that which Longs wife selleth but onely in God y t is in heauen And when it was told him that God through his word could make it flesh bloud he answered so he might do if he would turne it into a chickins leg meaning the sacrament of the aulter The same yere also folowed y e recantation of Io. Heywood The recantation of Iohn Heywood who although he was tached for treasō for denying the kings supremacy yet vsing y e clemency of y e king vpon his better reformatiō amēdment made an open solēne recantation in y e face of all the people abandoning renoūcing the Popes vsurped supremacy cōfessing of the king to be chiefe supreme head gouernor of this church of England al forein authority iurisdictiō being excluded The tenor effect of whose recantation here foloweth * The recantation of Iohn Haywood I Am come hyther at this time good people willing and of mine own disirous sute Anno. 1544. to shew and declare vnto you briefely First of all the great and inestimable clemency and mercifulnesse of our moste soueraigne and redoubted Prince the kinges Maiesty the which his highnesse hath most graciously vsed towardes me a wretch moste iustlye and worthely condempned to dye for my manifolde and outragious offences haynously and trayterously committed agaynst his maiestye and his lawes For wheras your maiestyes supremacy hath so often bene opened vnto me both by writing and speaking if I had grace either to open mine eies to see it or mine eares to heare it to be surely and certaynely grounded and established vpon the very true worde of God Yet for lacke of grace I haue moste wilfully and obstinately suffered my selfe to fall to suche blindnes y t I haue not onely thought y t the bysh of Rome hath bene and ought to be taken the chiefe and supreame head of the vniuersall Church of Christ heare in earth but also like no true subiect conceiled and fauored such as I haue knowne or thought to be of the opinion For the which moste detestable treasons and vntruthes I heare most humbly and with all my hart first of all aske the kinges maiesty forgeuenesse and secondarily of the world beseeching all these that either now doe or hereafter shall heare of these my great transgressions to take this mine example for an instruction for them to call for grace that they therby be stayd from falling at any time in such miserable blindnesse and folly Moreouer here afore God and you good Christian people I do vtterly withall my hart recāt reuoke all mine aforesayd erronious and trayterous opinions And as my conscience now doth force I protest that euē wyth my hart I firmely thinke and vndoubtedly beleue that the Byshop of Rome neyther now hath nor at any time hath had or can haue by any law of God or man any more authoritye without the precincte of his owne countrye about him then any other Bishop hath within his owne dioces Wherby I assuredly take the abolishing of the pretensed and vsurped power or authority of the Byshop of Rome out of this Realme to be done iustly and truely by the law of God And also I take our soueraigne Lord the kinges highnesse to be supreme head immediatly next vnder Christ of the Church of England and Ireland and all other his graces dominions both of the spiritualty temporalty And I confesse not onely that his maiesty so is by the law of God but also his progenitours kinges of thys Realme so hath bene and his highnesse heyres and sucessors kinges of this Realme so shall be Thus haue I shewed you my minde as well as I can but neither so well as I would nor so full as I should namely cōcerning the multitude of mercy which my most gracious prince hath shewed toward me not onely for sauing my body after worthy cōdēnatiō to death as is aforesayd but also for sauing my soule frō perishing if my body had perished before the receiuing of such wholesome councell as I had at his highnes most charitable assignement And of this confession declared vnto you I say as farre forth as I can I hartely pray you all to beare me record and most entyrely to pray almighty God for the long and most prosperous estate of our soueraigne Lord the kinges Maiesty in all his affayres and procedings By me Iohn Heywood Memorandū quod supra scripta assertio siue recātatio fuit facta publice emissa per prenominatum Iohannem Heiwood die dominica Sexto viz. die Iulij An. Millessimo Quingentessimo Quadragesimo quarto apud crucem paulinam tempore Concionis ibidem In this yeare of our Lord. 1545. as there was no other thing done in England worthy to be noted so now the order of story here requireth by the course of yeares next to infer the discourse of the troubles and persecutions which happened in Scotland agaynst M. George Wysard and diuers other good men of the same country about the same yeare of our Lord. 1545. and somewhat before But because now we are come to the latter ende almost of K. Henryes raygne we will make an ende the Lord willing with a few other English storyes perteyning to that time that finished so to set vpon those matters of Scotland ioyning them whole together The tractation whereof thou shalt see good reader in the latter end and closing vppe of this kinges raigne * Kerby and Roger Clarke of Suffolke Martyrs COmming now to the yeare of our Lord. Ann. 1546. 1546. first passing ouer the Priest whose name was Saxye which was hanged in the Porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner Bishoppe of Winchester and that as it is supposed not without the consent of the sayd Bishop and the secret conspiracy of that bloudy generation to passe ouer also one Henry with his seruaunt burned at Colchester I will now proceede to the story of Kerby and Roger Clarke of Mendessham who were apprehended at Ipswiche ann 1546. the saterday before Gang monday and brought before the Lord Wentworth with other Commissioners appointed there to sit vpon theyr examinations
of any tractable reason in hym determined that the Archbishop with their whole consent should at that preâ—â—nt there openly read and publish their finall 〈◊〉 or Sentence definitiue agaynst hym Which he did pronouncing hym thereby to be cleane depriued from the Bishopricke of London and further as in the same appeareth in tenouâ— as followeth ¶ Sententia depriuationis â—ata contra Edmundum London Episcopum The coÌ„teÌ„ptuous talke of Boner IN Dei nomine Amen Nos Thomas miseratione diuina Cantuar Archiepiscopus totius Angliae Primas Metropolitanus Nicholaus eadem miseratione Roffensis Episcopus Thom. Smith Miles illustrissimi in Christo principis Domini nostri Domini Edwardi sexti Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hyberniae Regis fidei defensoris in terris Ecclesiae Anglicanae supremi capitis Secretariorum principalium alter Wilhelmus May Iuris ciuilis Doctor Ecclesiae cathedralis diui Paulâ— Decanus dicti illustrissimi principis domini nostri Regis ad infra scripta vna cum eximio viro Domino Wilhelmo Petro Milite â—iuidem serenissimae Regiae maiestatis etiam Secretariorum principalium altero commissarij siue iudices delegati cum ista clausa videlicet Deputamus vos quinque quatuor vel tres vestrum c. Rectè legittimè deputati contra te Edmundum permissione diuina London episcopum in causa causis in literis commissionalibus dictae serenissimae Regiae maiestatis express specificat rirè legitimè procedentes iudicialiter in quirentes auditis que per nos intellectis ac primo examine debit mature discussis meritis circumstantijs causae causarum inquisitionis huiusmodi seruatisque vlterius per nos de iure in hac parte seruandis in praesentia tui Episcopi antedicti iudicialiter coram nobis constituti ac protestantis de coactione de caeteris prout in vltima protestatione hodie per te facta continetur ad definitionem causae causarum huiusmodi prolationemque sententiae nostrae siue nostri finalis decreti super eisdem ferend sic duximus procedendum procedimus in hunc qui sequitur modum Quia tam per acta inactitata deducta proposira exhibita allegata probata parâ—ter confessata in causa causis huiusmodi facta habita gestâ— quam per confessionem tuam propriam factique notorietatem alia legitima documenta euidentem inuenimus compertum habemus te praefatum Episcopâ— London inter caetera pro meliori officij tui pastoralis administratione in mandatis habuisse vt de his qui duas aut tres vxores vt maritos in vnuÌ„ haberent aut qui externos non probatos Ecclessae riâ—us in hoc regno sequerentur quibus rebus tua Diocesis Londinens praecipue erat infamatum inquireres teque ea facere omnino neglexisse Item expresse tibi per Regiam Maiestatem praescriptum fuisse vt ipse Episcopus adesses concâ—oâ—â—bus ad crucem Pauli habitis tam vt eas honestares tua praesentia quam vt possis â—as accusare si qui male ibidem concionarentur te tamen contra non solum abijsse sed etiam scriptis litteris Maiorem London Aldermannos vt inde recederent admonuisse exhortatum fuisse Item inter alia quoque per Regiam Maiestatem tibi iniuncta in mandatis tibi datum fuisse quod articulum quendam statum reipubl tunc perniciosissima rebellione proditorum contra illum articulum sentientium grauissime perturbatae precipue concernend propterea supremum necessarium specialiter tibi iniunctum videlicet Ye shall also set foorth in your Sermon that our autoritie of our Royall power is as of truth it is of no lesse authoritie and force in this our younger age then is and was of any of our predecessoures though the same were much elder as may appeare by example of Iosias and other young Kinges in Scripture And therefore all our Subiectes to bee no lesse bounde to the obedience of our preceptes lawes and statutes then if we were xxx or xl yeares of age Apud crucem siue suggestum Diui Pauli London certo die tibi in ea parte praefixo limitato in publica tua concâ—one tunc ibidem populo recitares explicares teque modo forma premissa eundem articulum iuxta mandatum officij tui debitum recitare explicare minime curasse sed contumaciter inobedienter omisisse in maximum Regiae Maiestatis contemptum ac in eius regni praeiudicium non modicum necnon in subditorum suorum malum perniciosum exemplum contumatiamque inobedientiam multiplicem tam in hac nostra inquisitione quam alias perperrasse commisisse contraâ—isse Iâ— ciâ—â—o nos Thomas Cantuariens Archiepiscopus Primas â—etropolitanus indexque delegatus ante dictus Christi non 〈◊〉 primitus inuocato ac ipsum solum Dâ—â—â—oculis nostris pâ—â—ponentes de cum expresso consensu pariter assensu Collegarum nostrorum praedictorum vna nobiscum assidentium deque cum concilio Iurisperitorum cum quibus communicamus in hac parte Te Edmundum London Episcopum antedictum a tuo Episcopatu London vna cum suis iuribus pertinâ—ntibus commoditatibus â—eteris emolumentis quibuscunque deptiuandum prorsus amoâ—endum fore de iure debere pronunciamus decernimus declaramus pro vt per praesentes sic depriuamus amouemus per hanc nostram sententiam definitiâ—am siue hoc nostrum finale decâ—erum quâ—m siue quod ferimus promulgamus in his scriptis Which ended the B. immediately did therefrom appeale by word of mouth alledgyng that the same sentence there geueÌ„ against him was Lex nulla The tenor of whose words I thought hereto expresse accordyng as they were by him vttered in this wise as followeth I Edmund Byshop of London The worâ— of Boner appealing from the Sentence definitiue brought in and kepte heere as a prisoner agaynst my consent and wyll doe vnder my former protestation heretofore made and to the intent it may also appeare that I haue not beyng so here in this place consented not agreed to any thyng done agaynst me and in my preiudice alledge and say that this sentence geuen here agaynst me is Lex nulla and so farre foorth as it shall appeare to be Aliqua I doe say it is Iniqua and Iniusta and that therefore I doe from it as Iniqua and Iniusta appeale to the most excellent and noble king Edward the sixt by the grace of God Kyng of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the fayth and of the Church of England and also of Ireland next and immediately vnder GOD here in earth supreme head and vnto hys Courte of Chancerie or Parliament as the lawes statutes and ordinaunces of this Realme wyll suffer and beare in this behalfe desiryng instauntly first Letters â—â—â—uerentiall demissoriâ—â— second and third accordyng to the lawes
THE seconde Volume OF THE ECCLEsiasticall Historie conteining the ACTS AND MONVMENTS of Martyrs with a Generall discourse of these latter Persecutions horrible troubles and tumultes stirred vp by Romish Prelates in the Church with diuers other things incident especially to this Realme of Englande and Scotland is partly also to all other forreine nations appertaining from the time of Kâ—ng HENRY the VIII to Queene ELIZABETH our gracious Ladie nowe raigning Newly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 IOHN FOXE 15â—â— AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Day dwelling ouer Aldergate Cum 〈…〉 ⧠Here folovveth the second Volume AND THE VII BOOKE BEGINNING WITH THE REIGNE OF KING HENRYE THE EIGHT Anno. 1509. AS touching the ciuil state and administration of the Common wealth and likewise of the state of the Churche vnder the raign of king Henry 7. how he entred first in possession of y e crowne how the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were in hym conioyned through marriage with Elizabeth the eldest daughter to King Edwarde 4. by the prudent counsail of Iohn Morton then Bishop of Ely Notes summarely collected and repeated of things done in the tyme of K. Henry the seueÌ„th after Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinall howe long the sayd King reigned and what persecution was in his time for lacke of searche and knowledge of Gods word both in the diocesse of Lincolne vnder bishop Smith who was erector of the house of Brasen nose in Oxforde as also in the diocesse of Couentrie and other places moe and further what punishment and alteration God commonly sendeth vpon cities and realmes publique for neglecting the safety of his flocke sufficiently in the former booke hath bene alredy specified Wherin many things more amply might haue ben added incideÌ„t in the raigne of this Prince which we haue for breuitie pretermitted For hee that studieth to comprehend in story all things which the common course vse of life may offer to the wryter may sooner finde matter to occupye himselfe then to profite other Otherwise I myght haue inferred mention of the seditions tumult of Perkin Werbecke wyth his retinue Anno 1494. also of Blackheath field by the Blacke smith An. 1496. Perkin Werbeck which fained himself to be K. Edwards sonne I myght also haue recited the glorious commendation of Georgius Lilius in his Latine Chronicle testifying of King Henrie 7. howe hee sent three solemne Oratours to Pope Iulius 2. to yeelde his obedience to the sea of Rome An. 1506. and likewise howe Pope Alexander 9. Pius 3. and Iulius 2. sent to the sayde king Henry 7. three sundrie famous Ambassadours whith tree swordes and three cappes of maintenance Blacke heathe fielde electing and admitting hym to be the chiefe defendor of the faith The commendation of which facte howe glorious it is in the eyes of Georgius Lilius and Fabian that I leaue to them This I suppose that when Kyng Henry sent to Pope Iulius three Orators wyth obedience if he had sent him thre thousand harquebuziers to furnish his fielde against the French king fighting at Rauenna hee had pleased pope Iulius much better If Georgius Lilius had bene disposed to illustrate his story with notes this had bene more worthy the noting Ex Masseo lib. 20. howe Ludouike 12. French king calling his Parliament moued this question against Pope Iulius whether a Pope might inuade any Prince by warlike force wythout cause and whether the prince might withdraw hys obedience from that Pope or not And it was concluded in the same Parliament wyth the king against the Pope Also it was concluded the same time which was in the raigne of this king Henry 7 that the * Pragmatica sanctio was a practising or a determination of a certaine parliament in Fraunce against the Bishop of Rome in defeÌ„ce of certaine matters of religion concluded in the couÌ„cel of Basill Pragmatical sanction should be receiued in ful force and effect through all the realme of Fraunce And for so muche as wee are fallen into the mention of Georgius Lilius this in hym is to be found not vnworthy noting howe after the burning of Thomas Norice aboue mentioned pag. 775. at the citie of Norwich that the same yeare followed such a fire in Norwich that the whole Citie well neare was therewith consumed Ex Geor. Lilio Like as also after the burning of the foresayde good aged father in Smithfield A note of Gods plagues folowing the burning of his people the same yeare which was 1500. we reade in the Chronicle of Fabian a great plague to fall vppon the Citie of London to the great destruction of the inhabitantes therof Wherein agayne is to be noted as is aforesayd that according to the state of the church the disposition of the common wealth commonly is guided eyther to be wyth aduersitie afflicted or els in prosperitie to flourish But after these notes of King Henry 7. nowe to the storie of king Henry 8. This king Henry 7. finishing his course in the yeare abouesayd which was 1509. had by Elizabeth hys wife aboue named The children ofspring of king Henry .7 foure men children and of women children as many Of whome 3. onely suruiued to wit prince Henry Lady Margarete and Lady Mary Of whome King Henry the eight after hys father succeded Lady Margaret was marryed to Iames the fourth king of Scottes Lady Margaret maried to king Iames 4. of Scotland Lady Margaret maried to the K. of Castile Prince Arthur maried to Lady Katherine daughter to the Spanishe king The death of Prince Arthur K. Henry marieth Lady Katherine his brothers wyfe Ladie Mary was affied to Charles king of Castile Not long before the death of king Henry prince Arthur his elder sonne had espoused Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinandus being of the age of 15. yeares and shee about the age of 17. and shortly after hys mariage wythin 5. monethes departed at Ludlowe and was buried at Worcester After whose decease the succession of the Crowne fell next to king Henry the 8. being of the age of 18. yeres who entred hys raigne the yeare of our Lorde 1509. and shortly after maried with the foresayde Katherine his late brother Prince Arthurs wife to the end that her dowry being great shoulde not be transported out of the lande In the which his marriage being more politique then Scripture like he was dispensed wyth by pope Iulius at the request of Ferdinandus her father The raigne of this king continued with great noblenes and fame Blind dispeÌ„satioÌ„s of the Pope the space of 38. yeres During whose time and raigne was greate alteration of things as well to the ciuile state of the Realme as especially to the state Ecclesiasticall and matters of the Church appertaining For by him was exiled and abolyshed out of the Realme the vsurped power of the Byshop of Rome Idolatrye and superstition somewhat repressed Images and pilgrimages defared Abbeys and monasteries pulled downe Sectes of religion
that people and are confounded and their Religion brought in disdayne Thus God beateth down those which exalte themselues aboue measure and maketh his aduersaries to fall into the pits whiche they themselues haue made Let vs pray vnto him therefore that it would please him likewise to stretch out his puissaunt arme at this day to maintayne his poore Church now afflicted and to confound all the deuises of Sathan and his members to the aduauncement of his glory and kyngdome ¶ The conclusion of the story And thus hast thou Christiā reader for thy erudition and comfort the story and doyngs The conclusiō of the story of Merindoll Angrongne Merindoll and Cabriers in Prouince vnder the Frēche king discoursed concernyng these two countreys both of Prouince also of Piemont the one beyng subiect vnder the dominion of Fraunce the other belōgyng to the Duke of Sauoy In the which two foresayd regions and countreys how long the Gospell of Christ hath continued euē from the tyme of the first Waldenses the history it selfe declareth Furthermore what iniuries and wronges haue bene done agaynst them for the Gospels sake Angrongne and others in Piemont vnder the Duke of Sauoy The cruelty of the aduersaryes The patience of the Martyrs what rigour and cruelty hath bene shewed of the aduersary part agayn for their part what pacience in their sufferyng what constancie in their doctrine what truth in their wordes and simplicitie in their deedes what obedience toward their Magistrates and fayth toward God they haue vsed finally how miraculously and mightily God hath fought for his people and confounded the enemyes the sayd history may geue thee full knowledge and experience Wherein this thou hast moreouer for thy more learnyng to note and to consider with thy selfe besides many other memorable thinges in this story conteined how vnwillyng this people were at first what remorse of conscience they had for their obedience toward their Magistrates to lift vp any hād or finger for their owne defence And therfore many of them beyng slayne cruelly murthered as willingly offeryng their throates without any resistaunce to the cruell handes of their enemyes the rest were cōpelled to flye into the mountaines beyng spoyled of house vittaile weapon onely to saue their poore liues with flying Thē they which are in Iewry let thē flye into the Mountaines Luke 21. whiche otherwise they would not with resisting in rockes caues thinking there rather to perish by famine then to vse that defence for thēselues which nature geueth to euery brute beast to helpe it selfe as it may agaynst violēce iniury Yet these poore Waldoys refusing all resistaunce laying downe their own weapon for obedience sake yea not liftyng vp their own handes to defend their owne heades onely vsed the poore shift of flying frō their enemies till at lēgth the rage of those bloudy persecutours satisfied with no bloud nor contented with any reason ceased not still most furiously to infest them yea to take also the mountaines frō them which had taken from them their houses before neither yet permittyng them to liue with the wild beastes in the desert whiche could not liue in their townes at home till at length by extreme necessitie the prouidēce of God so workyng with them The Waldois compelled to defēd thēselues they were cōpelled to turne their faces to take those weapōs which the grounde gaue to their handes And with those stones so marueilously the God of hostes wrought for his people that they beat vāquished ouerthrew their aduersaries they cōfoūded their pride they abated their malice at last stayd the intollerable rage of their persecutiō So mercyfully and victoriously the Lorde God omnipotent fought with his people Note how the Lord blessed the Waldois standing to their owne defence or rather for his people they but turning almost their faces vnto their enemies no otherwise then he fought in times before with Iosue agaynst the heathen with the Israelites against the Phelistians with the Macabees against Antiochus and the Sirians This hystorie caryeng with it a true narration of things done in the sayd country of Piemont and written as it semeth by certayne of the Ministers whiche were at the doyng thereof with the like faith and simplicitie we haue collected partly out of the Italian partly out of the French tongue for in both the languages it is written although in the French tongue Ex Histor. Gallica Italica it is much more largely discoursed which booke most principally heerein we haue followed The title whereof thus beginneth Histoire des persecutions Guerres faites contre le peuple appellé Vaudois c. Now that we haue finished these forreine Histories concerning suche matters as haue bene passed in other Realmes and nations of Germanie Italie Spaine Fraunce and Sauoy consequently it remayneth after this degresse to returne and reduce our story againe to our owne countrey matters heere done and passed at home after that first we shall haue added one forreine storie more concerning y e Martyrdome of a Christian Iewe which suffered about these yeares in Constantinople among the Turkes in this wise as foloweth ¶ The story of a christian Iew in Constantinople martyred by the Turkes A Christian Iewe Martyr Persecutors Martyrs The causes The Turkes of Constātinople A Iew christened and Martyred At Constantinople An. 1528. TO these forreyne Martyrs aforesayd we wil also adioine the Hystorie of a certayne Iew who in the yeare of oure Lorde 1528. dwelling in the Citie of Constātinople and there receyuing the sacrament of Baptisme was conuerted and became a good Christian When the Turkes vnderstoode heereof Anno. 1528. they were vehemently exasperated agaynste hym that he forsaking his Iewishnes should bee regenerate to the faith of Christ and fearing least his conuersion shoulde be a detrimente to theyr Mahometicall lawe they sought meanes howe to put hym to deathe whiche in shorte tyme after they accomplished And for the greater infamie to be done vnto the man they cast his dead corps into the streetes commanding that no man should be so hardy as to bury the same The Martyrdome of a Christian Iewe. HAuing thus comprehended the troubles and persecutions of such godly Saintes and blessed Martyrs which haue suffered in other foreine nations aboue mentioned heere now endyng with them and beginning the eyght booke we haue God willing to returne agayne to our owne matters The contents of the booke folowing and to prosecute such Actes and recordes as to our owne countrey of England do appertayne In the proees whereof among many other thyngs may appeare the maruelous worke of Gods power and mercy in suppressing and banishing out of thys Realme the long vsurped supremacie of the Pope also in subuerting and ouerthrowing the houses of Monkes and Friers with diuers other matters perteyning to the reformation of Christes true Church and Religion All which things as they haue bene long
benefices by preuention in disturbance of mens inheritance and diuers other open causes in the Premunire accordynge to the kings licence constituted Iohn Scute Edmonde Ienny Apprentises of the lawe his attourneys whych by his owne warrant signed w t his hand confessed all thyngs concerning the said suit for they were too open to be cloked or hidden and so iudgement was geuen that hee shoulde forfeite all his landes tenements goodes and cattels and shoulde be put oute of the kings protection but for al that the king sent him a sufficient protection and of hys gentlenes left to him the bishoyprikes of Yorke and Winchester and gaue to hym plate and stuffe conuenient for hys degree Doctour Tunstall Byshop of Duresme Iohn Stokesly made Byshop of London and the Bishoprike of Duresme he gaue to Doctour Tonstall Bishop of London and the Abbey of S. Albones he gaue to the Priour of Norwich and to London he promoted Doctour Iohn Stokesley then Ambassadoure to the vniuersities for the marriage as you hearde before For all this kindnesse shewed to the Cardinall yet still hee maligned against the king as you shal hereafter perceiue but first we will proceede in the course of these matters as they passed in order The next yeare following whych was Anno. 1530. Anno 1530. in the moneth of Nouemb. was summoned a generall parlament to be holden at Westminster In the which yeare about the 23. day of October A parliameÌ„t called the king came to his manor of Grenwich and there much consulted wyth his Counsaile for a meete man to be his Chauncelour so that in no wise he were no man of the Spiritualtie and so after longe debate the king resoluted him selfe vpon sir Thomas Moore knight Chauncelor of the Duchy of Lancaster Syr Thomas More made lord ChauÌ„celour of England a man wel learned in the tonges and also in the common law whose wit was fine and full of imaginations by reason whereof hee was a litle too muche geuen to mocking more then became the person of M. More and then on the Sonday the 24. day of the same moneth the king made him his Chauncelor and deliuered him the great seale which Lord Chancelor the next morow after was ledde into the Chancerye by the two Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke and there sworne and then the Mace was borne before him Of this fall of the Cardinall and of the placing of Syr Thomas More in the Chauncelorship Erasmus in an Epistle to Iohn Uergera thus wryteth The Cardinall of Yorke hath so offended the kings minde Ex Eras. that he being turned out of his goodes and all his dignities is coÌ„mitted not into prison but into a certaine Lordshippe of his with 30. seruaunts or kepers to geue attendance vpon him Many and sundry complaintes are coÌ„menced against him so that he is not like to escape with his life Such is the daliaunce of fortune of a scholemaister to be made a king For so hee raigned more like a king then the king him selfe Hee was dreaded of all men he was loued but of a fewe almoste of none A litle before he was appreheÌ„ded he caused Richard Pacie to be cast in the towre Also he threatned my Archbishop of Canterburie Salomon sayeth By this Archbyshop he meaneth William Warham That before the fall of man his spirite shall be eleuated The Archb. of Caunterbury was called or restored to be chosen Lord Chancellor which is the chiefest office in all that realme but he excused himselfe by his age as being not able to weld such a function Wherefore the sayde office was bestowed vpon Tho. More no les to the reioycing of many then the other was displaced from it These newes my seruaunt brought me out of England c. Ex Epist. Erasm. ad Ioan Vergeram You heard before A parliameÌ„t summoned in Nouemb. anno 1530. how a counsaile of the Nobles was appoynted by the king in the moneth of October to assemble in the Starre chamber aboute the Cardinals matter and also how a parliament was summoned to begin in the moneth of Nouember in the yeare following An. 1530. At the beginning of which Parliament after that M. Moore the newe Chauncelour had finished hys oration the commons were commaunded to chuse them a Speaker Thomas Audely speaker of the Paâ—liament Sixe greuaÌ„ces of the commons agaynst the clergye who was Thomas Audeley Esquire and attorney of the Duchie of Lancaster Thus the Parlament being begun the 6. day of the foresaid month of Nouember at Westminster where the king with all the Lordes were set in the Parlament chamber the commoÌ„s after they had presented their speaker assembling in the nether house began to common of their grieues wherwith the spiritualtie had before time greeuously oppressed them contrary both to all righte and to the lawe of the realme and especially were sore mooued with these 6. great causes ¶ Greeuances against the Cleargie of Englande 1. THe first for the excessiue fines which the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Testaments 〈…〉 of testamentes in so much that Sir Henry Guilford Knight of the Garter and Comptrollour of the Kings house declared in the open Parliament of his fidelitie that he and other being executours to Syr William Compton Knight payed for the probate of hys will to the Cardinall and the Archbishop of Canterbury a thousand marke sterling After this declaration were shewed so many extortions done by Ordinaries for probates of willes A thousand 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 probate 〈…〉 testaâ—â—â—t The vnreasâ—â—â—ble 〈◊〉 of the clergye for Mortuaries that it were too much to rehearse 2. The second cause was the great poling extreame exaction which y e spirituall men vsed in taking of corps presents or Mortuaries for the childreÌ„ of the dead should all die for huÌ„ger and go a begging rather then they would of charitie geue to theÌ„ the sely cow which the dead maÌ„ ought if he had but onely one such was the charitie of them 3. The third cause was that Priestes being Surueyers Stuards Fâ—rmes and Granges in Priestes handes and officers to Byshops Abbots and other spirituall heads had and occupied Farmes Graunges and grasing in euery Countrey so that the poore husbandmen could haue nothing but of them and yet for that they shuld pay dearely 4. The fourth cause was that Abbots Priors and spirituall men kept Tannehouses Monkes and priests marchauntes and bought and sold wooll cloth and all maner of Marchaundise as other temporall Marchaunts did 5. The fift cause was because the spirituall persons promoted to great benefices Beneficed men take of their flocke but geue nothing and hauing their liuing of theyr flocke were lying in the Court of Lords houses and tooke all of their parishioners and nothing spent on them at all so that for lacke of residence both the poore of the parishe lacked refreshing and vniuersally all the parishioners lacked preaching and true instruction of Gods
word to the great perill of their soules 6. The sixt cause was because one Priest being litle learned Pluralities of benefices had tenne or twelue benefices and was resident on none and many well learned scholers in the Uniuersitie which were able to preach and teach had neyther benefice nor exhibition These thinges before this time mighte in no wise be touched nor yet talked of by any man except he woulde be made an hereticke or lose all that he had for the Byshops were Chauncellours and had all the rule about the King so that no man durst once presume to attempt any thyng contrary to their profite or commoditie But now wheÌ„ God had illuminated the eyes of y e king and the time so serued Three bils drawen out against the misorder of the clergye that men more boldly durst expresse with voyce such grudges as they had long conceaued in their harts against the Clergy the Burgesses of the Parliament appoynted certayne of the common house men learned in the Lawe to drawe one bill of the probates of testaments another for Mortuaries the third for none residence pluralities and taking fermes by spiritual men The first bill for mortuaryes And first to y e bill of Mortuaries being drawen and being also passed the commoÌ„ house and sent vp to the higher the Spirituall Lords shewed a faire face sayeng that assuredly Priestes and Curates tooke more then they shoulde and therefore it were well done to take some reasonable order Thus they spake because it touched them but little The second bill for probates of testamentes After this within two dayes was sent vp the secoÌ„d bill concerning probates of testaments which bill because it touched their profite somewhat neare both the Archbishop of Canterbury and all other Bishops in generall began to frowne and grunt in so much as Doctor Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester staÌ„ding vp in the Parlament chamber openly protested that such billes were sent vp froÌ„ the coÌ„mon house tending to no other thing but to the destruction of y e Church which Church being downe the glory then of y e whole kingdome said he must needes fall desiring therfore the Lords for Gods sake to take example by the kingdome of Boheme For as it was then with the people there D. Fysher chargeth the coÌ„mons with lacke of faith The grudge oâ— the commons in the lâ—wer house against Fisher Bishop of Rochester so now what say the coÌ„mons here but down with y e Church And all this said he seemeth only to be for lacke of faith When these words were reported to the coÌ„mons of the lower house what the Bishop had sayde in noting all their doings to be for lacke of faith they tooke the matter greeuously so to be esteemed of the Bishop for no better then heretikes vnderstanding moreouer how that he by those slaÌ„derous words went about to perswade the Lords temporall against them and so to ouerthrowe the two billes by them passed before as ye haue heard Whereupon after long debate it was at length agreed by the said commons that Thomas Audeley their speaker with xxx of the chief of that house should be sent to the kyng beyng then in his palace at Westminster before called Yorke place where they eloquently declared what a dishonour to the kyng and the realme it was to say that they which were elected for the wisest meÌ„ of all y e Shyres Cities and Boroughes within the Realme of England should be declared in so noble and open presence to lacke fayth which was equiualent to say that they were Infidels and no Christians as ill as Turkes or Sarasins so that what payne or study soeuer they tooke for the commoÌ„ wealth or what actes or lawes soeuer they made or stablished should be taken as lawes made by Paynims and Heathen people and not worthy to be kept by Christian men wherefore they most humbly besought the kynges hyghnesse to call the sayd Byshop before him and to cause him to speake more discretly of such a number as was in the common house The kyng not beyng well contented with the saying of the Byshop yet gently aunswered the speaker The king not contented with the Byshop of Rochester and sent them away Who immediately sent for the Archbyshop of Canterbury vi other Byshops and Rochester also signifying vnto them the grudge of the commons The Byshop of Rochester excusing himselfe aunswered that he in so saying meant onely the doyngs of the BohemiaÌ„s to be for lacke of fayth The Byshops excuse not the doynges of them that were in the coÌ„mon house which saying was confirmed by the Byshops there present which had him in great reputation so by that onely saying the kyng accepted his excuse and therfore sent word to the coÌ„mons by Syr WilliaÌ„ Fitzwilliams Knight Treasurer of his houshold which blynde excuse pleased the commons nothyng at all After this Difference betweene the laity and spiritualtye about certaine constitutions diuers assemblies were kept betwene certaine of the Lordes and certaine of the Commons for the Billes of the probates of Testamentes and Mortuaries The temporaltie layd to the spiritualtie their own lawes Constitutions and the Spiritualtie sore defended them by prescription vsage To whom it was thus aunswered by a GentlemaÌ„ of Greyes Inne The vsage hath euer bene of theeues to rob on Shoters hill Ergo is it lawfull With this aunswere the spirituall men were sore offended LoÌ„g vse maketh not euill thinges lawfull because their doynges were called robberies but the temporall men stood still by their sayinges in somuch that the sayd GentlemaÌ„ sayd to the Archb of CaÌ„terbury that both the exaction of probates of Testamentes Mortuaries as they were vsed differed but litle from theft and the takyng of Mortuaries as they were vsed were open robbery and theft After long disputation the temporall Lordes began to leane to the commoÌ„s but for all that the Bylles remayned vnconcluded a while It folowed shortly after in the ParliameÌ„t that a Byll was assented to by the Lords of the higher house and sent downe to the commons in the lower house and by them also with much labour agreed vnto of whoÌ„ the most part were the kynges seruauntes in the which Bill it was required and concluded that the kyng should be released of all such loane of money which he had borowed of his subiectes in the xv yeare of his reigne The passing of which Byll went sore agaynst the stomackes of the poore Commons for many rested vpon it countyng and passing it ouer one to an other for good debt as if it had bene ready money in their purses Wherfore the king to regratifie theÌ„ agayne graunted to them a generall pardoÌ„ of all offences onely certaine great offences debts excepted also he ayded them for the redresse of their grieues agaynst the spiritualtie caused two new Bylles to be made indifferently both for the probates
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
christen man his highnes therfore like a most gracious christian Prince onely entending the sauegarde of this his realme the preseruation of his subiectes and saluation of their soules willeth to put now in execution with all diligence possible all good lawes statutes and ordinaunces concerning the premisses before this time prouyded made and ordeyned by hys most noble progenitors kings of England for that purpose entent Which lawes and statutes by our soueraigne Lorde and hys most honourable counsaile by long and deliberate aduise for the extirpation suppressyng withstanding of the sayd heresies haue bene seene examined by them in euery part thought good necessary to be put in execution Wherefore his highnesse chargeth and straightly commauÌ„deth all and euery his Lordes spirituall and temporal Iudges Iustices of peace Shiriffes Mayors Baylifs Constables and all other hys Officers Ministers and all his true and louing subiectes that all fauour affection and partialitie layd apart they effectually with all diligence and study endeuour themselues substantially for the executing of al and euery of the articles hereafter ensuyng without dissimulation intermission or excuse as they wil auoide hys high indignation and displeasure First that no man within the kinges realme or other his domynions subiect to his highnes hereafter presume to preach teache or informe any thing openly or priuily or coÌ„pile and write anye booke or hold exercise or kepe any assembles or schooles in any maner of wise contrary to the Catholike faith or determinatyon of holy church nor that any person within this his sayd realme domininions do presume to preach openly or secretly withoute they haue first obtained liceÌ„ce of the Bishop of the diocesse where they entend to preach curates in their parishes persons priuiledged and other by the law of the church onely except Also that no maÌ„ wittingly hereafter fauour support or maintain any person which preacheth in forme aforesayd or maketh anye such or like conuenticles and assembles holdeth or exerciseth any schooles maketh writeth or publisheth anye suche booke teacheth infourmeth or stirreth the people or any of them in anye maner of forme to the said errours Moreouer that al euery person and persons hauing any bookes or writinges of any suche errors erroneous doctryne and opinion do deliuer or cause to bee deliuered effectually and actually all and euerye such bookes and writings to the Bishoppes of the dioces or to the ordinary of the place within 15 daies after this proclamation pronounced And in case any person or persons of what estate condition or degree soeuer they be do or attempt any thing contrary to this Act and proclamation or doe not deliuer or cause to bee deliuered suche bookes within the time aforesaid that euery bishop in his dioces or ordinary shal cause that person or persons and euery of them to be arested in that behalfe diffamed or euidently suspected and detayne kepe theÌ„ vnder safe custody in their persons Penâ—ltye vntil such time that the said persons euery of theÌ„ either haue purged theÌ„selues of the said errors or els do abiure the said erròneous sects preachings doctrines or opinions as the law of holye Churche doth require Furthermore if any person by the law of holy Church be coÌ„uicted before the bishop of the dioces or his CoÌ„missary in any case aboue expressed that the said Bishop may kepe in prison the sayd person or persons so conuicted as it shal seeme best to his discretioÌ„ after the greuousnes or qualitie of the crime and further may set a fine to be paid to the behoufe of the king by the persoÌ„ or persons conuicted as it shal bee thought conuenient to the saide Byshop hauing respect to the greuousnes of the effence of the sayde persoÌ„ or persoÌ„s the said fine to be certified by the Bishop into the kings Eschequer ther to be leuied to the kings vse except in such cases in which by the lawes of holy church the said persons conuict of heresies ought totally to be left to the secular iurisdictioÌ„ Also if any person within this his realme of England or other his dominions be by sentence iudicial conuicted of the said preaching and doctrines prohibited erroneous opinions schooles informations or any of them and before the Bishop or his Commissary do abiure according to the fourme of the lawes of holye churche the foresaid erroneous sectes doctrines schooles or informatioÌ„s or els be pronounced by the bishops or their coÌ„missaries after their abiuration by theÌ„ before made to bee relapsed so that after the lawes of holy church they ought to be relinquished to the iurisdiction secular wherin faith is to be geuen to the Bysh. or his CoÌ„missaries in that behalf then the Shiriffe of the CouÌ„tie Maior Shirifes or Maior and Baylifes of the same citie towne or borough next vnto the said Bishop or Commissaries shal bee personally present in the sentence geuing by the said Bishop or CoÌ„missaries thereunto required and after the said sentence geueÌ„ shal receiue the said persons and euerye of them and put them to further excution according to the lawes of this realme Also the Chauncellor treasurer of England the Iustice of the one Bench and the other Iustices of peace Shirifes Maiors and Bayliffes of cities and townes and other Officers hauing gouernance of the people which now be or for the time hereafter shall be shal make othe in taking their charge and ministration to put their whole power and diligence to put away and to make vtterly to cease and destroy all maner of heresies and errours coÌ„monly called Lollardies within the precinctes of their offices and administrations from time to time with all their power Also they shal assist the Bishoppes and their Commissaries and them shall fauour and mayntaine as oftentymes as that to do they or any of them shal be required by the said Byshops or their commissaries so that the Bishops or their commissaries shall beare pay the reasonable costes of the said officers and ministers when and as often as they shall trauaile or ryde to arrest heretickes and Lollardes or to assist the said Bishops or Commissaries by vertue of the kings lawes and statutes Moreouer the Iustices of the kings Bench Iustices of peace and Iustices of Assise shal inquire at their Sessions and sittings of all those that holde any errours or heresies and who be their mayntainers receptors fauourers and supporters common wryters of bookes as also of their sermons schooles conuenticles congregations confederacies Furthermore if any person be endicted of any of the poynts abouesayd the Iustices of the peace haue power to awarde agaynst them Acapias and the shriues be bound to arrest such persons so endicted as sone as they may be found by themselues or by their Officers And forsomuch as cognisaunce of heresie errours and Lollardies appertayneth to the Iudge of holy church and not to the Iudge secular the persons so indicted to bee deliuered to the bishoppes of
to learne howe to make their confession with a contrite hart vnto God and how to hope for forgeuensse and also in what maner they should aske forgeuenes of their neighbor whom they haue offended c. Item for sayeng that Luther was a good man A welspring where Wickliffs bones were burned Item that he reported through the credence and report of M. Patmore Parson of Hadham y t where Wickliffes bones were brent sprang vp a well or welspring Ioh. Haymond Milwright 1531. His Articles For speaking and holding against pilgrimage and images and against prescribed fasting dayes That Priests and religious men notwithstanding their vowes made may lawfully forsake their vowes and mary Item for hauing bookes of Luther and Tyndall Rob. Lamb a Harper 1531. Hys Article for that he standing accursed two yeares together and not fearing y e censures of the Popes church went about with a song in the cōmendation of Martine Luther Against kneling to the crosse Ioh. Hewes Draper 1531. Hys Articles For speaking against Purgatory and Thomas Becket Item at the towne of Farnsham he seeing Edward Frensham kneeling in the street to a crosse caried before a corse asked to whome he kneeled He sayd to his maker Much Baudery in Pilgrymage Thou art a foole said he it is not thy maker it is but a peece of copper or wood c. Item for these words Maisters ye vse to go on pilgrimage it were better first that yee looke vpon youre poore neighbours which lacke succour c. Also for sayeng that he heard the Uicar of Croidon thus preache openly That there is as much bawdry kept by going in Pilgrimage to Wilsedone or Mousswell as in the stewes side c. Tho. Patmore Draper 1531. This Patmore was brother to mayster Patmore Parson of Hadham who was prisoned in the Lollards tower for marying a Priest and in the same prison continued three yeare This Patmore was accused by diuers witnesses vpon these Articles That he had as lene pray to yonder hunter pointing to a mā painted there in a stayned cloth for a peece of flesh as to pray to stockes that stand in walles meaning Images Item that men should not praye to Saints but to God only for why shuld we pray to Saints said he they are but blockes and stockes The truth of Scripture a long time kepte from vs. Item that the truth of Scripture hath bene kept from vs a long time and hath not appeared till nowe Item comming by a tree wherein stoode an image he tooke away the waxe which hanged there offered Item that he regarded not the place whether it was halowed or no where he should be buryed after he was dead Also in talke with the Curate of S. Peters he defended that Priests might mary  This Patmore had long hold wyth the Byshop of London First he would not sweare infamia nō praecedente Then he would appeale to the King but all would not serue He was so wrapt in the Byshops nets that he could not get out but at last he was forced to abiure and fined to the King an C. pound A note Note in the communication betwene this Patmore and the priest of S. Peters that where as the priest obiected against him as is in y e register that priests haue liued vnmaried The Papists say falsely that priestes haue bene vnmaried these 1500. yeares without wiues these 1500. yeres in the Church he all other such priestes therin say falsly and deceiue the people as by story is proued in this volume that priests here in England had wiues by the law within these 500. yeres lesse Simon Smith maister of Arte of Gunwell hall in Cābridge and Benore his wife 1531. This Simon Smith and Benoro his wife were the parties whome M. Patmore Parson of Hadham aboue mentioned did mary was condemned for the same to perpetuall prison For the which mariage both the sayde Simon and Benore his wife were called to examination before the Byshop and hee caused to make the whole discourse of all his doings how where he maried Then after his mariage how long he taried whether he wente beyond Sea where he was and wyth whome After his returne whether he resorted how he liued what mercery ware he occupied what fayres he frequented where he left his wyfe how he caried her ouer and brought her home agayne and how she was founde c. All this they made him confesse put it in their register And though they coulde fasten no other crime of heresie vpon him but onely his mariage yet calling both him and her being greate with child to examination they caused them both to abiure suffer penaunce Tho. Patmore Patson of Hadham 1531. This Thomas Patmore being learned and godly was preferred to the Parsonage of Hadham in Hertfordshire by Richard Fitz Iames Byshop of London and there continued instructing and teaching his flocke during the time of the sayde Fitz Iames and also of Tunstall his successor by the space of sixteene yeares or more behauing himselfe in life and conuersation without any publike blame or reproch vntil that Iohn Stokesley was preferred vnto the sayd Byshopricke Who Priestes mariage not very long after his enstalling either for malice not greatly lyking of the said Patmore or else desirous to preferre some other vnto the benefice as it is supposed and alleaged by his brethren in sundry supplications exhibited vnto the King as also vnto Queene Anne then Marchionesse of Pembroke caused him to be attached and brought before him and then keepyng him prisoner in his owne Pallace a certayne tyme afterwardes committed hym to Lollards tower where hee kepte him most extreamely aboue two yeares without fire or candle or any other reliefe but such as his frends sent him not suffering any of them notwithstanding to come vnto him no not in his sicknes Howbeit sundry times in the meane while he called him iudicially eyther before himselfe or else his vicare generall Foxford that great persecutor charging him with these sundry Articles viz. as first whether he had bene at Wittenberge 2. and had seene or talked with Luther 3. or with any english man abiding there 4. who went with hym or attended vpon him thether 5. also what bookes he bought there either Lattin or English 6. and whether he had read or studied any workes of Luther Oecolampadius Pomeran or Melancton Besides these he ministred also other Articles vnto him touching the mariage of Maister Symon Smith before mentioned wyth one Ioane Bennore charging hym that he both knewe of and also consented vnto theyr mariage the one being a Priest and his Curate and the other hys maydeseruant and that he had perswaded hys sayde maydeseruant to marry with hys sayde Curate alleadging vnto her that though it were not lawfull in Englande for Priestes to marry yet it was in other Countreys beyonde Seas And that after theyr sayd marriage he knowing the same did yet
borne Yet neuertheles his purpose was to prooue and feele what they both would say vnto it therefore sent Steuen Gardiner to Rome to way with Pope Clement To the Emperour was sent Syr Nicolas Heruy knight ambassador in the Court of Gaunt Firste Pope Clement not weying belike the full importaunce and sequele of the matter Campeius the Popes Legate sent Cardinal Campeius as is sayde into Englande ioyned with the Cardinal of Yorke At the comming of which Legates The kinges perswasion to the Legate the King first opening vnto them the griefe of hys conscience seemed wyth great reasons and persuasions sufficiently to haue drawne the good will of those two Legates to his side Who also of their owne accord pretended no lesse but to shew a willing inclination to further the kinges cause But yet the mouthes of the common people and in especial of women and such other as fauoured the Queene and talked their pleasure Euill language of the people about the kinges diuorce were not stopped Wherefore to satisfie the blinde surmises and foolishe communication of these also who seeing the comming of the Cardinalles cast out suche leaude wordes that the king woulde for his owne pleasure haue an other wife with like vnseeming talke he therefore willing that al men should know the truth of his procedings caused all his Nobilitie Iudges and Counsaillors wyth diuers other persons to resort to his Pallace of Bridewel the 8. day of Nouemb. An. 1529. where he openly speaking in his great chāber had these words in effect as followeth The kings Oration to his subiects OVr trustie welbeloued subiects both you of the nobility you of the meaner sort it is not vnknowē both how that we both by Gods prouision and true and lawfull inheritaunce haue raigned ouer this realme of England almost the terme of 20. yeares During whiche time we haue so ordered vs thanked be God that no outward enemy hath oppressed you nor taken anye thing from vs nor we haue inuaded no realme but we haue had victory honor so that we think that you nor none of your predecessors neuer liued more quietly more wealthely nor in more estimation vnder any of our noble progenitors But when we remēber our mortality and that we must die then we think that all our doings in our life time are clearely defaced worthy of no memory if we leaue you in trouble at the time of oure deathe for if our true heir be not known at the time of our death see what mischiefe and trouble shall succeede to you and to your children The experience thereof some of you haue seene after the death of our noble grandfather king Edward 4. and some haue heard what mischief and manslaughter continued in this realme betwene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster by the which dissention this realme was like to haue bene clearely destroyed And although it hath pleased almighty God to send vs a faire daughter of a noble woman and of me begotten to our greate comfort and ioy yet it hath bene tolde vs by diuers great Clearks that neither she is our lawfull daughter nor her mother our lawfull wife but that we liue together abhominably and detestably in open adulterie in somuch that when our Ambassade was last in France and motion was made that the Duke of Orleance should marry our sayde daughter one of the chiefe Counsailours to the French king sayd It were well done to know whether she be the king of Englands lawfull daughter or not for well knowen it is that he begot her on his brothers wife which is directly againste Gods law and his precept Thinke you my Lords that these words touch not my body and soule Thinke you that these doings doe not daily and hourely trouble my cōscience and vexe my spirits Yes we doubt not but and if it were your cause euery man wold seeke remedy when the pearil of your soule and the losse of your inheritance is openly laide to you For this onely cause I protest before God and in the word of a Prince I haue asked councell of the greatest Clearkes in Christendome and for this cause I haue sent for this Legate as a manne indifferent onely to knowe the truth and so to settle my conscience and for none other cause as God can iudge And as touching the Queene if it be adiudged by the law of God that she is my lawfull wife there was neuer thing more pleasant nor more acceptable to me in my life both for the discharge and clearing of my conscience and also for the good qualities and conditions the which I know to be in her For I assure you all that beside her noble parentage of the which shee is descended as you well know she is a woman of most gentlenesse of moste humilitie and buxumnesse yea and of all good qualities appertaining to nobilitie she is without comparison as I this 20. yeares almoste haue had the true experiment so that if I were to mary againe if the marriage might be good I would surely chose her aboue all other women But if it be determined by iudgement that our mariage was against Gods law and clearely voyde then I shall not onely sorowe the departing from so good a Ladie and louing companion but much more lamēt and bewaile my infortunate chance that I haue so long liued in adultery to Gods great displeasure and haue no true heire of my body to inherite thys Realme These be the sores that vexe my minde these be the pāgs that trouble my conscience and for these greeues I seeke a remedy Therefore I require of you all as our trust and confidence is in you to declare to our subiects our minde and entent according to our true meaning and desire them to pray with vs that the very truth may be knowen for the discharge of our conscience and sauing of our soule and for the declaration hereof I haue assembled you together and now you may depart Shortly after this Oration of the king wherewith he stirred the harts of a number then the two Legates being requested of the king for discharge of his conscience The legates talke with the Queene to iudge and determine vpon the cause went to the Queene lying then in the place of Bridewell and declared to her how they were deputed iudges indifferent betwene y e king and her to heare and determine whether the mariage betwene them stoode with Gods law nor not When she vnderstoode the cause of their comming being thereat some thing astonied at y e first after a litle pausing with her selfe Ex Edw. Hallo thus she began answering for her selfe ALas my Lorde said she is it nowe a question whether I be the kings lawfull wife or no when I haue bene maried to hym almost 20. yeres and in the meane season neuer question was made before Diuers Prelates yet being aliue and Lords also Queene Katherines aunswere to the Cardinalles
kyng was contented through the persuasions of some so to doe For els as touchyng God and conscience what great neede was of any diuorce where before GOD no Mariage was to be accounted but rather an incestuous detestable adultery as the Act of ParliameÌ„t doth terme it But to our matter agayne After the dissolutioÌ„ of this first Mariage made betwen the king the Lady Princesse Dowager she neuerthelesse bearyng a stout mynde would not yet releÌ„t neither to the determination of the Uniuersities nor to the ceÌ„sure of the Clergy nor of the whole Realme but folowyng the couÌ„saile rather of a few Spanyardes to molest the kyng the realme by sute meanes made to the Pope procured certaine writynges first of monition and aggrauation theÌ„ of excommunication and interdiction to be sent downe from Rome Writinges set vp at Dunkirke against the king wherein the Pope had interdicted both the kyng the whole Realme But the Popes Cursor beyng not the hardyest maÌ„ belike that euer shewed his head thought it much more sure for him to discharge his Popishe carâ—age without the kynges reach so keepyng himselfe aloofe of like a prety man set vp his writynges in the Towne of Dunkirke in Flaunders In the which towne first vpon the Northdoore of the Church was set vp a monition Ioh. Butler of Calis tooke downe the writte at Dunkirke against the King that the kyng of EnglaÌ„d should surcease the sute of diuorce the which Iohn Butler Clerke theÌ„ Commissary of Calice by commaundement tooke downe in a night After that before Whitsonweeke there was set vp in the same place an excoÌ„munication aggrauation regranation interdiction For the which also the sayd Butler by commauÌ„dement was sent to Dunkirke to take it downe K. Henry the realme indicted by the Pope And because the couÌ„sell of Calice would be certified of his diligence therein they sent a seruauÌ„t of the Lord Lisle theÌ„ Deputie of Calice whose name was Cranuell and vpon Wensday in Whitsonweke at vij of the clocke in the mornyng he tooke it downe whole and brought it with hym deliuered the same to the Lord Deputie aforesaid Which was about the yeare .1533 This beyng knowne certified vnto the kyng he was motioned by his counsell that such as were about her and moued her thereto should be put froÌ„ her And therfore the Duke of Suffolke was sent to Bugden beside HuntyngdoÌ„ where y e sayd Lady Katherine lay who perceiuyng her stomacke to coÌ„tinue froward still in auÌ„sweryng him with high wordes The Lady Catherines court discharged sodenly so in a fury to part froÌ„ him into her priuy chamber shut the doore brake vp the doore of her Court discharged a great sort of her houshold seruauÌ„ts yet left her a conuenieÌ„t number to serue her like a Princesse They that remayned still were sworne to serue her as Princesse onely and not as Queene Of whome some sayd they were once sworne to serue her as Queene and otherwise would not serue and so were dismissed The other which were sworne to serue her as Princesse she vtterly refused for her seruants and so she remayned wyth the fewer liuing after this about the space of two yeares ¶ The abolishing of the Pope out of England THese thinges thus finished and dispatched concerning the mariage of Queene Anne and diuorce of Lady Katherine Dowager Anno. 1534. next followeth the yeare 1534. In the which was assembled the hye Court of ParliameÌ„t againe after many prorogations vpon the third day of February wherein was made an Acte of succession for the more suretie of the crowne to the which euery person being of lawfull age Preaching against the Pope should be sworne During this Parliament time euery Sonday preached at Paules crosse a Byshop which declared the Pope not to be head of the Church After this Commissions were sent ouer all England to take the othe of all men and women to the Act of succession Ex Edw. â—allo At which few repined except D. Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester sir Tho. More late Lord Chancellor and D. Nicholas Wilson parson of S. Thomas Apostles in LoÌ„don Wherfore these 3. persons after long exhortatioÌ„ to theÌ„ made by y e Byshop of Canterbury at Lambeth The Byshop of Rochester Sir Tho. More sent to the tower Fysher byshop of Rochester Sir Tho. More refuse to be sworne refusing to be sworne were sent to the Tower where they rrmained were oftentimes motioned to be sworne but the Bishop and sir Tho. More excused theÌ„ by their writings in which they sayd that they had written before the sayd Lady Katherine to be Queene therfore could not well go froÌ„ that which they had written Likewise the Doctor excused that he in preaching had called her Queene and therefore now coulde not withsay it againe Howbeit at length he was well contented to dissemble y e matter so escaped but the other two stoode agaynst all the Realme in their opinion From the moneth of Marche this Parliament farthermore was proroged to the iij. day of Nouemb. abouesaid At what time amongst other diuers statutes most graciously and by the blessed wil of God it was enacted that the Pope and all his colledge of Cardinals with his pardoÌ„s Indulgences which so long had clogged this Realme of England to the miserable slaughter of so many good men which neuer could be remoued away before was now abolished eradicate exploded out of this land sent home againe to their owne countrey of Rome from whence they came God be euerlastingly praysed therefore Amen ¶ An Acte concerning the Kings highnes to be the supreme head of the Church of England and to haue authoritie to reforme and redresse all errours heresies and abuses in the same Cap. 1. ALbeit the Kings Maiesty iustly and rightfully is and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England and so is recognised by the Clergy of this Realme in their Conuocations yet neuerthelesse for corroboration confirmation thereof and for encrease of vertue in Christes Religion within this Realme of England and to represse extirpe all errours heresies and other enormities abuses heretofore vsed in the same be it enacted by authoritie of this preseÌ„t ParliameÌ„t y t the king our soueraigne Lord his heires successours Kings of this Realme shal be taken accepted reputed y e only supreme head in earth of y e Church of England called Anglicana ecclesia and shall haue enioy annexed and vnited to the Imperial crowne of this realme as wel y e title style therof as all honours dignities preeminences iurisdictioÌ„s priuiledges authorities immunites profites and commodities to the sayd dignitie of supreme head of the same Church belonging apperteining and y t our sayd soueraigne Lord his heires successours Kings of this Realme shal haue full power and authority from time to time to visite represse
them that immortally hate vs what coulde we wish them so euill but they haue deserued much worse We wish them this hurt alone that God send them a better minde God be thanked we haue made all their seditious ententes sooner to shew their great malice towardes vs then to do vs much hurt yet they haue well taught vs euermore to take good heede of our ennemyes Undoubtedly it were good going to Mantua and to leaue their whelpes amongst the lambes of our flocke When we be weary of our wealth wee will euen doe then as they would haue vs now do No no as long as we shal see his heart so good towardes vs we trust vppon hys warning we shall well prouide to withstand hys cruell malice No let him now spende his deceites when they can hurt none but such as would deceiue and are deceiued They haue by sundry waies made vs priuy howe much we be bound to them It went nigh their hearts to see the iudgement of Iulye of Clement the 7. of Paule the 3. nothing to be regarded w t vs. The Popes â—urâ—es not feared in England They be afraide if wee shoulde sustaine no hurt because wee iustly reiected their primacie that other Princes woulde begin to doe lykewyse and to shake of their shoulders the heauy burthens that they so long haue borne againste Scripture all right and reason They be sory to see the way stopped y t now their tiranny auarice and pride caÌ„ haue no passage into England which was wont to walk to triumph to tosse to trouble al men They can scarse suffer priuiledges that is to say licence to spoyle our Citizens geuen them by our forefathers and brought in by errorful custome to be taken froÌ„ them They thinke it vnlawful that we require things lawful of them that will be vnder no lawes They thinke wee doe them wrong The Popes trumpery dispatched out of England because we will not suffer them to do vs wrong any longer They see their marchandise to be banished to be forbidden They see that we will buy no longer chalke for cheese They see they haue lost a faire flese vengeable sorie that they can dispatch no more pardons dispensations tot quots with the rest of their baggage and tromperie England is no more a babe There is no man here but now he knoweth that they doe foolishly that giue golde for leade more weight of that then they receiue of this Golde geueÌ„ 〈◊〉 leade They passe not though Peter Paules faces be grauen in the lead to make fooles faine No we be sorie that they shoulde abuse holy Saints visages to the begiling of the world Surely except God take away our right wittes not only his authority shal be driueÌ„ out for euer God grauÌ„t but his name also shortly shall be forgotten in England Wee will from henceforth aske counsel of him and his when we lust to be deceiued when we couet to be in error when we desire to offend God trouth and honesty If a man may gesse the whole worke by the foundation The Popes 〈…〉 where deceits beginneth the worke can any other then deceits be builded vpoÌ„ thys foundation What can you looke for in thys Mantuan councel â—he Pope 〈◊〉 a fewe â—â—nges wel â—t many 〈◊〉 may 〈◊〉 better 〈◊〉 other then the oppression of truth true religion If there be any thing well done thinke as euery maÌ„ doth bishops of Rome to be accustomed to do a few things wel that many euill may the better be taken at theyr handes They when they lust can yeelde some part of theyr ryghte They are content that some of their decrees some of their errours abuses be reprehended but they are neuer more to be sâ—ared then when they shewe themselues most geÌ„tle For if they graunt a few they aske many if they leaue a litle they will be sure of a great deale Scarse a man he may know how to handle himself that he take no hurt at their hands yea when they blesse him which seldome doe good but for an intent to do euil Certainly come who so will to these shops of deceits to these taires of frauds we wil loose no parte of our right in comming at his call The pope ought to be called and not to call that ought to be called and not to fall We wil neither come at Mantua nor send thether for this matter c. And so the king proceeding in the sayde hys Protestation declareth moreouer how the Pope after he had summoned his Councell first to be kept at Mantua the 23. of May An. 1537. shortly after directed out an other Bull to prorogate the same Councell to the month of Nouember pretending for his excuse y t the Duke of Mantua woulde not suffer him to keepe any Councel there The Pope againe prorogeth his Councell vnles he maintained a number of warriors for defence of the town And therfore in his latter bull he prorogeth this assemble commaunding Patriarkes Archbishops Byshops Abbots and other of the spiritualtie by the vertue of obedience and vnder paine of cursing to be present but sheweth no place at all where he would be nor whether they shoulde come And in very deede no great matter though no place were named For as good couÌ„cel no where to be called as where it could not be And aswell no place serued him that intended no Councell as all places And to say truth much better no place to be named then to name suche as he purposed not to come too for so shoulde hee breake no promise which maketh none And so going forward in his oration toward the latter ende he thus inferreth by his wordes of Protestation saying No we will the Pope and his adherents to vnderstand that that we oft haue sayd and now say and euer will say Princes as theâ— gaue the Pope primacye 〈◊〉 they take 〈…〉 him agayne He nor his hath no authoritie no iurisdiction in England Wee giue him no more then hee hath that is neuer a deale That which he hath vsurped against Gods lawe extorted by violeÌ„ce we by good right take from him again But he his wil say we gaue them a primacie We heare them well We gaue it you in dede If you haue authority vpon vs as long as our coÌ„sent giueth it you and you euermore wil make your plee vpon our consent then let it haue euen an ende where it began we coÌ„sent no longer your authoritie must nedes be gone If we being deceiued by fals pretense of euil alledged scriptures gaue to you y t ye ought to haue refused why may we not our error nowe perceiued your deceite espied take it againe We princes wrote our selues to be inferours to popes As long as wee thought so we obeyed them as our superiors Now we write not as we did and therefore they haue no great cause to maruill if we hereafter doe not as we did both the lawes
receiued and made thys answere againe to them as followeth The kings answere to the rebels FIrst we begin and make answere to the fourth and sixt articles The kinges aunswere to the rebels because vpon them dependeth much of the rest Concerning choosing of Counsailours I neuer haue red heard nor knowen that Princes Counsailours and Prelates should be appoynted by rude and ignorant common people nor that they were persons meete or of habilitie to discerne and choose meete and sufficient Counsailours for a Prince How presumptuous then are ye the rude coÌ„mons of one shire and that one the most base of y e whole realme and of the least experience to finde fault with your Prince for the electing of his Counsailours and Prelates and to take vpon you contrary to Gods lawe and mans lawes to rule your Prince whom ye are bouÌ„d by al law to obey and serue with both your liues landes and goodes and for no worldly cause to withstand As to the suppression of religious houses Monasteries we wil that ye and al our subiects should wel know For suppression of religious houses that this is graunted vs by all the nobles spirituall temporall of thys realme and by al the commons in the same by Acte of Parlament and not set foorth by any Counsailour or Counsailours vpon their mere wil and fantasy as ye full falsely would perswade our realme to beleeue And where ye alleage that the seruice of God is muche diminished the trueth thereof is contrary for there bee no houses suppressed where God was well serued but where most vice mischiefe and abomination of liuing was vsed and that doth well appeare by their owne confessions subscribed wyth their owne handes in the time of their visitations and yet we suffred a great many of them more then we needed by the Acte to stand wherin In these visitations of religious houses horrible it is to read what wickednes and abomination was there founde and regystred by the vysitors if they amend not their liuing we feare we haue more to aunswere for then for the suppression of all the rest And as for the hospitalitie for the reliefe of the poore we wonder ye be not ashamed to affirme that they haue bene a great reliefe of poore people when a great many or the most parte hath not past foure or fiue religious persons in them diuers but one which spent the substaunce of the goodes of their houses in nourishing of vice and abhominable liuing Nowe what vnkindnes and vnnaturalitie may we impute to you and all our subiects that be of that minde which hadde leuer suche an vnthriftie sorte of vicious persons shoulde enioye suche possessions profites and emoluments as grow of the sayd houses to the maintenance of their vnthriftie life then we your naturall Prince soueraigne Lorde and King whych doth hath spent more in your defences of our owne then sixe times they be woorth As touching the acte of vses we maruaile what madnes is in your braine The acte of vses or vpon what ground ye wold take authority vpon you to cause vs to breake those lawes and statutes which by all the noble Knightes and Gentlemen of this Realme whom the same chiefly touched hath bene graunted and assented too seeing in no maner of things it toucheth you the base commons of our realme Also the groundes of all those vses were false and neuer admitted by law but vsurped vpon the prince contrary to all equitie and iustice as it hath bene openly both disputed declared by all the well learned meÌ„ in the Realm of Englande in Westminster Hall whereby yee may well perceiue howe madde and vnreasonable your demaundes be both in that and in the rest and howe vnmeete it is for vs dishonorable to graunt or assent vnto and lesse mete and decent for you in such a rebellious sort to demande the same of your Prince As touching the fifteene which yee demaunde of vs to be released thinke yee that we be so faint hearted The acte of fiftene that perforce ye of one shire were ye a great many mo could compell vs with your insurrections such rebellious demeanour to remitte the same or thinke yee that any man will or may take you to be true subiects that first make shewe a louing graunt and then perforce would compel your soueraigne Lord and King to release the same The time of paiment whereof is not yet come yea and seeing the same will not counteruaile the tenth peny of the charges whych we haue and daily do susteine for your tuition safegarde make you sure by your occasioÌ„s of these your ingratitudes vnnaturalnes and vnkindnes to vs now administred ye geue vs cause which hath alwayes bene asmuche dedicate to your wealth as euer was King not so muche to set our study for y e setting forward of the same seing how vnkindly and vntruly ye deale now wyth vs wythout any cause or occasion And doubt yee not though you haue no grace nor naturalnes in you to consider your duetie of allegiaÌ„ce to your king soueraigne Lord the rest of our Realm we doubt not hath we and they shall so looke on thys cause y t we trust it shal be to your confusion if according to your former letters you submit not your selues As touching the first frutes we let you to witte it is a thing graunted vs by Acte of Parlament also The acte of first fruites for the supportation of part of the great and excessiue charges which we support beare for the maintenaunce of your wealthes and other our subiects and we haue knowen also that yee our commons haue much complained in times passed that the most part of our goodes landes and possessions of the Realme were in the spirituall mens handes and yet bearing vs in hande that yee be as louing subiectes to vs as may be yee can not finde in your hearts that your Prince and soueraigne Lord should haue any part therof and yet it is nothing preiudiciall vnto you our commons but doe rebel and vnlawfully rise against your Prince contrary to the dueâ—y of allegiaunce Gods commaundement Syrs remember your follies and traiterous demeanours and shame not your natiue country of England nor offend no more so greuously your vndoubted king natural prince which alwayes hathe shewed him selfe most louinge vnto you and remember your duetie of allegiance and that yee are bound to obey vs your king both by Gods commandement and lawe of nature Wherfore we charge you eftsoones vppon the foresayde bondes and paines that yee wythdrawe your selues to your owne houses euery manne and no more to assemble contrary to our lawes and your allegiaunces and to cause the prouokers of you to thys mischiefe to â—e deliuered to our Lieutenaunts handes or ours and you your selues to submitte you to suche condigne punishment as wee and our nobles shal thinke you worthy for doubt you not els
of your power and that from hencefoorth ye shall accept repute and take the Kings Maiestie to be the only supreme head in earth of the Church of England and that to your cunning witte and vttermost of your power without guile fraude or other vndue meane ye shall obserue keepe mainteine and defend the whole effects and contents of all and singular Actes and Statutes made and to be made within this Realme in derogation extirpation and extinguishment of the Byshop of Rome and his authoritie and all other Actes and Statutes made and to be made in reformation and corroboration of the Kings power of supreme head in earth of the Church of England and this ye shall do agaynst all maner of persons of what estate dignitie degree or condition they be and in no wise do nor attempt nor to your power suffer to be done or attempted directly or indirectly any thing or things priuely or apertly to the let hinderance dammage or derogation thereof or of any part thereof by any maner of meanes or for any maner of pretense And in case any othe bee made or hath bene made by you to any person or persons in maintenance or fauour of the Bishop of Rome or his authority iurisdiction or power ye repute the same as vaine and adnihilate so helpe you God c. In fidem praemissorum ego Edmundus Boner electus confirmatus Londonensis Episcopus huic praesenti chartae subscripsi ¶ Ecclesiasticall matters an 1538. It will be iudged that I haue lingred peraduenture too much in these outward affaires of Princes and Ambassadours Anno 1538. Wherefore leauing with these by matters perteynyng to the Ciuill state a while I mynde the Lord willyng to put my story in order agayne of such occurreÌ„ts as belong vnto the Church first shewyng such Iniunctions and Articles as were deuised and set forth by the kyng for the behoofe of his subiectes Wherein first is to be vnderstaÌ„ded that the kyng when he had taken the title of supremacie from the Byshop of Rome and had translated the same to himselfe and was now a full Prince in his owne realme although he wel perceiued The king and his counsaile bearing with the weakenes of the people by y e wisedome and aduise of the Lord Cromwell and other of his CouÌ„saile that the corrupt state of the Church had neede of reformatioÌ„ in many thyngs yet because he saw how stubburne and vntoward the hartes of many Papistes were to be brought from their old persuasions and customes and what businesse he had with them onely about the matter of the Popes title he durst not by and by reforme all at once which notwithstaÌ„dyng had bene to be wished but leadyng them fayre and softely as he might proceeded by litle and litle to bryng greater purposes to perfectioÌ„ which he no doubt would haue done The booke of articles deuised by the king for queitnes of the people c. if the Lord Cromwell had lyued and therfore first he began with a litle booke of Articles partly aboue touched bearyng this title Articles deuised by the Kynges highnesse to stable Christen quietnesse and vnitie among the people c. * Articles deuised by the kyng IN the contentes of which booke first be set forth the Articles of our ChristiaÌ„ Creede which are necessarely and expressely to be beleued of all men Of 3. SacrameÌ„ts Then with the kynges Preface goyng before foloweth the declaration of iij. Sacramentes to witte of Baptisme of Penaunce and of the Sacrament of the Aultar In the tractation wherof he altereth nothyng from the old trade receaued heretofore froÌ„ the Church of Rome Further then procâ—edyng to the order and cause of our iustificatioÌ„ he declareth that the onely mercy and grace of the father promised freely vnto vs for his sonnes sake Iesu Christ and the merites of his Passion and bloud Of iustification be the onely sufficient and worthy causes of our iustification yet good workes with inward contrition hope and charitie and all other spirituall graces and motions be necessarily required and must needes coÌ„curre also in remission of our sinnes that is our iustification and afterward we beyng iustified must also haue good workes of charitie and obedieÌ„ce towardes God in the obseruyng and fulfillyng outwardly of his lawes and commaundementes c. As touching Images Of Images he willeth all Byshops preachers to teach the people in such sorte as they may know how they may vse them safely in Churches and not abuse them to Idolatry as thus that they be represeÌ„ters of vertue and good example and also by occasioÌ„ may be styrrers of meÌ„s myndes and make them to remember themselues and to lameÌ„t their sinnes and so farre he permitteth them to stand in Churches But otherwise for auoydyng of Idolatrie he chargeth all Byshops preachers diligently to instruct the people that they coÌ„mit no Idolatry vnto them in sensyng of them in kneelyng and offeryng to theÌ„ with other like worshyppynges whiche ought not to be done but onely to God And likewise for honoryng of Saintes the Byshops and preachers be commauÌ„ded to informe the people Of honoring of Saintes how Saints hence departed ought to be reuerenced honored how not That is that they are to be praysed honored as the elect seruauÌ„ts of Christ or rather Christ to be praysed in them for their excellent vertues plaÌ„ted in them for their good example left vs teachyng vs to lyue in vertue goodnes not to feare to dye for Christ as they did also as aduauncers of our prayers in that they may but yet no confidence nor any such honour to be geuen vnto them which is onely due to God And so forth charging the sayd spirituall persons to teache their flocke that all grace and remission of sinnes and saluation can no otherwise be obteined but of God onely No mediation but by Christ. by the mediation of our Sauiour Christ who is onely a sufficient Mediatour for our sinnes and that all grace and remission of sinne must proceede onely by mediation of Christ and no other From that he commeth further to speake of rites ceremonies in Christes Church Of rites and ceremonyes as in hauyng vestimentes vsed in Gods seruice sprinklyng of holy water giuyng of holy bread bearyng of CaÌ„dles on Candlemas day taking of ashes bearyng of Palmes creepyng to the Crosse settyng vp the Sepulcher hallowing of the fonte with other like customes rites ceremonies all which old riâ—es and customes the foresayd booke doth not by and by repeale but so farre admitteth them for good and laudable as they put men in remeÌ„braunce of spirituall thynges but so that the people withall must be instructed how the sayd ceremonies conteine in them no such power to remitte sinne but onely that to be referred vnto God by whome onely our sinnes be forgeuen vs. And so concluding with Purgatory he maketh an ende of those Articles
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
beyng fast bound to a stake and Furse set on fire round about him was so scorâ—hed that he was as blacke as soote one Doctour Redyng there staÌ„ding before him with Doctour Heyre and Doct. Springwell hauyng a long white wande in his hand did knocke him vpon the right shoulder and sayd Peke recant and beleue that the Sacrament of the aultar is the very body of Christ fleshe bloud and bone after that the Priest hath spoken the words of Consecration ouer it and heere haue I in my hande to absolue thee for thy misbeliefe that hath ben in thee hauing a scrole of paper in his hande When he had spoken these wordes Peke answeared and sayde I defie it and thee also with a great violence he spit from him very bloud whiche came by reason y t his vaynes brake in his body for extreame anguishe And when the sayde Peke had so spoken then D. Reding sayd To as many as shall cast a sticke to the burning of this heretique Forty dayes of parâ—on proclaymed for casting sticks into Pekes fyer is graunted fortye dayes of pardon by my Lord Byshop of Norwich Then Barne Curson Sir Iohn Audley Knight with many others of estimation being there present did rise from their seates and wyth their swords did cut downe boughes and throw them into the fire and so did all the multitude of the people Witnes Iohn Ramsey and others who did see this acte In the yeare last before this whiche was of the Lorde 1537. it was declared how Pope Paul the third indicted a general Councel to be holden at Mantua Of this CouÌ„cell of Mantua reade before 1084. Whereunto the king of England among other Princes being called refused either to come or to sende at the Popes call and for defence of himselfe directed out a publique Apologie or Protestation rendring iust and sufficient matter why neyther he would nor was bound to obey the Popes commandement Which Protestation is before to be read page 1084. This Councell appointed to begin the 23. daye of Maye the yeare aforesayde was then stopped by the Duke of Mantua pretending that hee woulde suffer no Councell there vnlesse the Pope would fortifie the Citie with a sufficient armye c. For whiche cause the Pope proroged the sayd Councell to be celebrate in the moneth of Nouember folowing appointing at y e first no certaine place At length named and determined the citie of Uincence lyeng within the dominion of the Uenetians to be the place for the Councell Whereunto when the King the yeare next folowing which is this present yeare of the Lorde 1538. was requested by the Emperour and other states to resort eyther hymselfe or to sende he agayne refusing as hee dyd before sendeth this Protestation in waye of defence and aunsweare for hymselfe to the Emperour and other Christen princes the copie and effect whereof heere vnder foloweth and is this Henry the eight by the grace of God King of Englande and Fraunce c. saluteth the Emperour Christian princes and all true Christen men desiring peace and concord amongst them WHereas not long sithens a booke came forth in our and al our Counsailes names Anno. 1538. which coÌ„teined many causes why we refused the Councell then by the Byshop of Romes vsurped power first indicted at Mantua The kings letter to the Emperor to be kept the xxiij day of May after proroged to Nouember no place appoynted where it should be kept and whereas the same booke doth sufficiently proue that our cause could take no hurt Of thiâ— book 〈◊〉 before 〈◊〉 neither with any thing done or decreed in such a company of addict men to one sect nor in any other Councell called by his vsurped power we thinke it nothing necessarie so oft to make newe protestations The Poâ—â— doth but mocke the world with his 〈◊〉 Councelâ—â— as the Bishop of Rome and his Courts by suttletie and craft do inuent wayes to mocke the world by newe pretensed generall Councels Yet notwithstanding because that some things haue now occurred either vpon occasion geuen vs by change of the place or else through other consideratioÌ„s which now being knowne to the worlde may do muche good we thought we should do but euen as that loue enforceth vs which we owe vnto Christes fayth and religion to adde this Epistle And yet we protest Generall Councells are to be wished so they might be free vniuersally 〈◊〉 all partes that we neyther put forthe that booke neither yet wee woulde this Epistle to be set afore it that thereby we should seeme lesse to desire a generall Councell then any other Prince or Potentate but rather to be more desirous of it so it were free for all partes and vniuersall And further wee desire all good Princes Potentates and people to esteeme and thinke that no Prince would more willingly be presente at such a Councell then we suche a one we meane as we speake of in our protestation made concerning the Councell of Mantua Truely as our forefathers inuented nothyng more holyer then generall Councels vsed as they ought to be so there is almost nothing that may do more hurt to y e Christian coÌ„mon wealth to y e faith to our religion Nothing more petrâ—cious to the Church then general Councels if they be abused then general CouÌ„cels if they be abused to lucre to gaines to y e establishment of errours They be called general and euen by their name do admonish vs that all Christen meÌ„ which do dissent in any opinion may in theÌ„ openly frankly without feare of punishment or displeasure say their mind For seeing suche thyngs as are decreed in generall Councels touche equally all men that geue assent thereunto it is meete that euery man may boldly say there that hee thinketh And verily we suppose that it ought not to be called a generall Councell where alonely those men are heard which are determined for euer in all pointes to defend the Popish parte and to arme themselues to fight in the Byshop of Romes quarrell though it were against God and his Scriptures It is no generall Councell neyther it ought to be called generall where the same men be onely Aduocates and aduersaries the same accused and iudges Thâ— Popes Councels are no generall Councells The Pope in his CouÌ„cels is the party accused and also the iudge No it is against the lawe of nature either that we shoulde condescend to so vnreasonable a law against our selues eyther that we should suffer our selues to be lefte without all defence and beeing oppressed with greatest iniuries to haue no refuge to succour our selues at The Byshop of Rome and his be our great enemies as wee and all the world may well perceyue by his doings He desireth nothing more then our hurt and the destruction of our Realme Do not we then violate the iudgement of nature if we geue him power and authoritie to be our Iudge Agaynst all reason that
and 5. articles of vowes priests maryage the antiquitie of the iij. former Articles aboue mentioned to witte of trāsubstātiation of the halfe cōmunion and of priuate Masses so now commyng to the Article of vowes and of Priestes mariage the reader will looke perchaunce to be satisfied in this likewise as in the other before to be certified from what cōtinuaunce of tyme these vowes vnmaried lyfe of Priests haue continued Read afore pag. 195. Read afore pag. 175. Wherin although sufficient hath bene sayd before in the former processe of this history as in the life of Anselmus pag. 195. also of Pope Hildebrād pag. 175. c. yet for the better establishing of y e readers mynde agaynst this wicked article of Priests mariage it shal be no great labour lost here briefly to recapitulate in the tractatiō of this matter either what before hath bene sayd or what more is to be added And to the entent that the world may see and iudge the sayd lawe and decree of Priests single sole life to be a doctrine of no auncient standing heere within this Realme but only since the time of Anselmus Priests mariage first forbidden by Anselmus in England Ex Henr. Huntingt lib. 7. De historia Anglorum I will first alledge for me the wordes of Henr. Huntyngton lib. 7. De historia Anglorum heere following Eodem anno ad festum Michaelis tenuit Anselmus Archiepiscopus Concilium apud Londonias In quo prohibuit sacerdotibus Anglorum vxores antea non prohibitas Quod quibusdam mundissimum visum est quibusdam periculosum ne dum mundicias viribus maiores appeterent in immundicias horribiles ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent c. That is The same yeare at the feast of S. Michaell Anselme the Archbyshop of Canterbury held a Synode at London The wordes of Huntington In the which Synode he forefended Priestes heere in Englande to haue wiues which they were not inhibited before to haue Which constitution seemed to some persons very pure and chaste To othersome againe it seemed very dangerous Priests not restrayned from wiues before Anselmus time least while that men should take vpon them such chastitie more then they should be able to beare by that occasion they might happily fall into horrible filthines whiche shoulde redound to the exceeding slaunder of christian profession c. Albeit I deny not but before the time also of Anselmus both Odo and after him Dunstane Archb. of Canterbury and Ethelwold B. of Winchester and Oswold B. of Worcester in the dayes of King Edgar anno 963. as they were all Monkes themselues so were they great doers against the marriage of priests placing in Monkes in Churches and Colledges Read afoae pag. 153. and putting out the married Priests as ye may read before pag. 153. Yet notwithstāding neither was that in many Churches and also the priests then married were not constrayned to leaue their wyues nor theyr roumes but onely at their owne choyce For so writeth Malmesbury in vita Dunstani Itaque clerici multarum Ecclesiarum Malmesb. in vita Dunstani data optione vt aut amictum mutarent aut locis valedicerent cessere c. That is Therefore diuers sondry clerkes of many Churches being put to their choice whether to chaunge their weede or to part from their places wente their waies c. So also Elfricus after them of whome mention was made before was somewhat busie in setting forward the single life of Priestes Priestes first restrayned from their wiues generall in England and Lanfrancus lykewise But yet this restreynt of Priestes lawfull marriage was neuer publickely established for a lawe heere in the Church of England before the cōming of Anselme in the daies of William Rufus king Henry 1. writing in these words Boldly I commaunde by the authoritie which I haue by my Archbishoprike Read afore pag. 196. not only within my Archbishoprike but also throughout England that all Priests that keepe women shall be depriued of their Churches and al ecclesiasticall benefices c. As ye may reade more at large before page 196. whiche was much about the same time whē as Hildebrand also at Rome begā to attempt the same matter as before hath ben shewed also besides him were other Popes mo as Innocent the 3. Pope Nicholas the 2. and Calixtus the 2. by whome the acte against Priests mariage was brought at length to his ful perfectiō and so hath cōtinued euer since Long it were and tedious to recite here all such constitutions of Councels prouinciall and generall namely of y e councel of Carthage of Toledo which seemed to worke something in that behalf against the matrimony of priests Againe longer it were to number vp the names of al such bishops and priests which notwithstāding haue bin maried since that time in diuers countreys as more amplye shall be shewed the Lord willing in the sequele hereof In the meane season as touching the age time of this diuelish prohibition for priests to haue their wiues thys is to be found by credible proofes and conferring of histories that in the yeare of our Sauiour 1067. at what time Pope Hildebrand began first to occupy the Papall chayre Ex actis Synodi Mediolanensis this othe began first to be taken of Archbishops and Byshops that they should suffer none to enter into the ministerie or into any ecclesiasticall function hauing a wife and lykewise the Clergie to be bound to promise the same And this was as I said about the yeare of our Lorde 1067. well approued and testified by course of hystories S. Paule prophesieth of forbidding of mariage Whereby appeareth the prophesie of S. Paule truely to be verified speaking of these latter times 1. Tim. 4. Where he writeth in these wordes The spirit speaketh playnely that in the latter times there shall some depart from the faith harkening vnto spirits of errour and to doctrines of deuils forbidding to marry and commaunding to abstayne from meates whiche the Lord hath created to be taken with thankesgeuing c. In this prophesie of S. Paule ij things are to be obserued First the matter which he prophesieth of that is the forbidding of mariage S. Paules prophesie foūd true for the count of tymes and forbidding of meates whiche God generally hath left free to all men The second thyng in this prophesie to be noted is the time whē this prophesie shall fall that is in the latter times of the worlde So that this concurreth right well with these yeares of Pope Hildebrand aforesayde beeing a thousande yeares complete after the Ascension of our Sauiour so that they may well be called the latter times This prophesie of S. Paule thus standing as it doth firme and certain that is that forbidding of mariage must happen in the latter times of the world then must it nedes consequently follow therby that
c. The English is this Pope Gregorie the seuenth called Hildebrand holding a Synode accursed such as committed Simonie and remooued married Priestes from saying seruice forbidding also the lay men to heare their Masse after a new and strange example as many thought after an vnconsiderate preiudice against the sentence of holie fathers And thus much for the antiquitie of bringing in the single life of Priests which first springing from the tyme of Pope Nicholas and Alexander 2. began first with a custome and afterward was brought into a lawe chieflie by Pope Hildebrand and so spread from Italie into other countries and at length into England also albeit not with out much adoe as ye shall heare the Lord willing In the meane while as Pope Nicolas and Hildebrand were busie at Rome so Lanfranke Archb. of Canterbury likewise was doing here in England about the same matter although he began not altogither so roughlie as Pope Hildebrand did for so it appeared by his Councell holden at Winchester where though he inhibited such as were Prebendaries of cathedrall churches to haue wiues yet did he permit in his Decree Lanfrancks law for Priestes not to marye that such Priests as dwelt in townes and villages hauing wiues should reteine them still and not to be compelled to be separate from them and they which had none should be inhibited to haue enioyning moreouer the Bishops thus to foresee hereafter that they presumed not to admit into order any priests or Deacons vnlesse they should first make a solemne profession to haue no wiues The words of the Councell be these Decretumque est vt nullus Canonicus vxorem habeat sacerdotum verò in castellis in vicis habitantium habentes vxores Ex act 〈…〉 sub 〈◊〉 non cogantur vt 〈◊〉 non habentes interdicantur vt habeant deinceps caueant Episcopi vt Sacerdotes vel Diaconi non praesumant ordinare nisi profiteantur vt vxores non habeant c. And here to note by the way of the said Lanfranke for all his glorious gaye shew of his monkish virginitie and single life yet he escaped not altogither so vnspotted for his part but that the storie of Mathew Paris writing of Paulus Cadonensis Ex Math Pariâ—iâ—â— Lanfraâ—â—â—â— supposed 〈◊〉 to be a 〈◊〉 virgine whom Lanfranke preferred so gladly to be Abbot of S. Albons thus reporteth of him Paulus inquit Monachus Cadonensis Archiepiscopi Lanfranci nepos iure aliquorum relationibus consanguinitate propinquior c. That is Paule a Monke of Cadune and nephew of the Archbishop Lanfranke yea as some say further more neere in bloud to him then so c. Then after Lanfranke came Anselme into the See of Canterbury who taking to him a stouter stomacke Anselme Archb. of Canterbâ—â—y a constâ—â—â— doer 〈◊〉 Priestes mariage more fiercelie and egerlie laboured this matter in abrogating vtterly the mariage of priests Deacons Subdeacons and of the vniuersall clergy not permitting as Lanfranke did Priests that had wiues in villages and townes to keepe them still but vtterly commanding and that vnder great paine not onelie Priests and Deacons but Subdeacons also which is against the Councell of Laterane which were already maried to be seperated Concil â—aâ—teran 〈◊〉 14. De 〈◊〉 matrimoâ—â—â— copulatiâ— and that none should be receiued into order hereafter without profession of perpetuall chastitie And yet notwithstanding for all this great blustering and thundering of this Romish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Priests yet still holding their owne as well as they could gaue not much place to his vnlawfull Iniunction but kept stil their wiues almost two hundred yeares after refusing and resisting of long time the yoke of that seruile bondage to kepe still their freedome from such vowing professing and promising as may well appeare by those Priests of Yorke of whom Gerardus Archbishop of Yorke speaketh writing to Anselme in these wordes Sitio Clericorum meorum integritatem sed praeterquam in paucis admodum ve Aspidis surditatem vel fabulosi cuiusdam Prothei mutabilitatem inuenio Varijs linguarum aculeis minas modò conuitia infligunt Sed hoc facilius in his qui remotÃores sunt tolero Illud omninò graue genus mali est quod hi qui quasi in sinu meo sunt qui Canonicorum nomine gaudent canones aspernant aduersus concilij nostri statuta quasi Sophistici disputatores argumeÌ„tantur professiones verò mihi penitus abnegant Canonici illi qui sine professione ad sacros ordines inordinabiliter sunt prouecti qui in praesbyteratu vel Diaconatu constituti vxores siue Concubinas in publico hactenus habuerunt ab Altari nulla se reuerentia continuerunt Cum verò ad ordines aliquos inuito dura ceruice nituntur ne inordinando castitatem profiteantur In englishe thus I much desire the puritie of my clergye men Howbeit except it be in very few I finde in them the deafenes of the serpent aspis and the inconstancie of Protheus that the Poets fable spake of With theyr stinging tongues they cast out some while threates some while tauntes and rebukes But this greeueth mee lesse in them that be further off This greeueth mee most of all that they whiche be of mine owne Church as in myne owne bosome and prebendaryes of myne owne See contemne our Canons and argue like Sophisticall disputers agaynst the statutes of our Councell The prebendaries which vnordinately haue bene taken into orders heretofore without making vow or profession refuse vtterly to make profession to me And they that be priestes or Deacons hauing maryed before openly wyues or Concubines will not be remoued for anye reuerence from the Aultare And when I call vpon any to receaue order styffely they deny to professe chastitie in theyr ordering c. Thus for al their rigorous austeritie by this Anselme in forcing his Decree made at London agaynst the marriage of Priests yet the same had no great successe Hereby appeareth thaâ— Priestes 〈◊〉 the olâ—â— time here 〈◊〉 England 〈…〉 made â—ow of â—â—â—â—stity at thâ— orders bâ—fore this tyme. Ex 〈◊〉 lib. 4· neither in his life time nor after his life For although sondry priestes during his life tyme were coÌ„pelled by his extremitie to renounce theyr wyues yet many denyed to obey him Diuers were contented rather to leaue theyr benefices then their wiues A great number were permitted by king Henry for mony to enioy theyr wiues Which was so chargable vnto them sayth Edmer in his 4. booke that at length two hundreth priestes in theyr Albes and Priestly vestementes came barefoote to the kings Pallace crying to hym for mercy and especially makyng theyr sute to the Queene who vsing much compassion towardes them yet durst not make for them any intercession Anselme at this time was ouer the Sea making his voyage to the pope Who hearing hereof Read 〈◊〉 pag. 19â— writeth to the King declaring that suche forfaytures appertayned nothing to him
renunciabunt attentè fideliter de exequenda huius rei vindicta Episcopos suos adiuuabunt Qui verò Archidiaconus vel Diaconus hoc iurare noluerit Archidiaconatum vel Diaconiam irreparabiliter perdet Praesbyteri verò qui relictis vxoribê° Deo sac is ordinibus seruire elegerunt quadraginta dies ab officio cellantes pro se vicarios habebunt iniuncta eis poenitentia secundum quod Episcopis eorum visum fuerit And yet this vnreasonable statute of Anselme so diligently defensed with sharpe censures and penalties had no great speed The cruell law of Anselme tooke no great place neither in the lyfe tyme of the said Anselm nor long after his death but that diuers priests notwithstanding kept still their wiues or that after his death they returned to their wiues agayne through the sufferance of the famous learned king named then Henry Bewclark who somthing stayed the oportunitie of this moÌ„kish prelate and willed that priests should kepe both their wyues and theyr Churches as they did before in Lanfrankes dayes Then after Anselme followed Radulphus Archbishop of Canterbury in whose time was no great sturre against the Priestes that were married Ex epist. 〈◊〉 77. â—â—dulphus Archiepisc. 〈◊〉 About the tyme of this Archbishop king Henry called a Counsaile at London where he obtained of the spiritualtie a graunt to haue the punishment of maried priests which the spiritualtie afterward did much repent whereby the priests paying a certaine to the king were suffered to retaine their wiues stil as is aboue storied 〈◊〉 afore pag 294. pag. 294. Next after this Radulph then succeeded WilliaÌ„ Turbile surnamed De Turbine who renued againe the constitution of Anselme against maried priests Râ—cardus de Turbine Archâ— Cant. especially by the helpe of Ioannes priest and Cardinall of Crema y e Popes Legate sent the same tyme into England anno 1129. Of which Cardinall Cremensis because enough hath bene before declared 〈◊〉 this Cardâ—â—all Cremâ—â—sis read 〈◊〉 pag. â—â— how after his stout replying in the councell of London against the maried state of priestes exclaiming what a shamefull thing it was to rise from the sides of an whore to make Christes body the night followyng was shamefully taken with a notable whore c. as is apparant before pag. 294. I will therefore passe ouer that matter returnyng againe to William the Archbishop who with the Cardinall Legate aforesaid although he busily occupied himselfe in repriuing the matrimonie of priestes in so much that he would geue theÌ„ no longer respit to put away their wiues but from Michaelmas to Saint Andrewes day followyng yet could he not bryng hys purpose to passe but that the priests still continued with their wiues by the Kyngs leaue as the SaxoÌ„ story plainly recordeth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say in English Cronie Saxonie This William the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops which were in England did commaund The priests kept their wiues contrary to the Archbishops commandement and yet all these decrees and biddings stood not all hled their wyues by the kings leaue euen so as they before did c. So hard was this cause to be wonne that the Archb. at length gaue it ouer and left the coÌ„trouersie wholy vnto the kyng Whereupon he decreed that the Priestes should remaine with their wyues still ¶ An. 25. Hen. 1. And so continued they after that in the tyme of Theobaldus after hym of Tho. Becket Rich. Baldwine Steuen Langton Rich. Edmund Boniface Peccham and other during weâ—nere the tyme after Anselme 200. yeares And least the quarelling aduersary beyng peraduenture disposed here to cauill should obiect and say Priestes with wiues how long they continued in England afer Anselme that such marriage among the Spiritual men might be priuate and secrete but not openly knowen nor quietly suffered by any lawe of this Realme to auoyde therefore what maye be by them obiected I thought it good and as a thyng neyther impertinent nor vnprofitable to this storye and for the further satisfiyng of the Readers mynde herein to inferre and make knowen by good recorde not onely that the libertie of marriage amongst spirituall men hath continued within this Realme duryng the tyme aforesayde videlicet two hundred yeares or thereabouts after Anselme and that not in secrete wise but also openly and beyng knowne the same to be suffered and lawfully allowed of in such sort as both they their wiues children and assignes might enherite and enioye landes tenementes and other hereditamentes by waye of feoffament deede of gyfte or any other assuraunce in suche sorte manner and fourme as laye men their heyres and assignes at this day lawfully may doe As by diuers writinges and instrumentes shewed vnto vs at the writyng hereof by diuers men whose names hereafter follow some to this day remaining fayre sealed some by antiquitie and long keping much worne and their seales mouldred and wasted is very euident and manifest to be seene The copies whereof beyng by vs truely and faithfully excerpted out of the very originals beyng yet extant we haue here vnder inserted as followeth ¶ Certayne Instrumentes and Euidences of auncient recorde declaryng the marriage of priestes to haue stande in tymes paste both with ancient custome publike lawes of this Realme SCiant praesentes futuri quod ego Williel de Blunwille miles concessi dedi hac praesenti charta mea confirmani Stephano de Saxlingham Clerico Matildae vxori suae pro homagijs seruitijs suis pro sex marcis argenti quas mihi dederunt in Carta feoffament Williel de Blunwille milit fact Stephan de Saxlingâ—am Clerico Matilde vxori suae de terris in Newton in Com. Norff. gersumam vnam peciam terrae arabilis quae iacet in campo de Neuton in cultura inter mesuagium Galfridi Sulyard coemeterium Ecclesiae de Neuton inter terram Radulphi Malherbe terram Ioannis de Neuton abuttat super regiam stratam versus orientem super terram quae fuit Henrici Popiltele versus occidentem Habend tenend de me haeredibus meis illis heredibus suis aut quibuscunque dare legare vendere vel assignare voluerint in quocunque statu fuerint liberè quietè in feodo per petuè haereditariè Reddendo inde annuatim mihi haeredibê° meis duos denarios scilicet ad festuÌ„ sancti Andreae denariuÌ„ ad natiuitateÌ„ sancti IohaÌ„nis baptistae vnuÌ„ denariuÌ„ Et ad scutagium domini regis quando euenit vnum obolum tantuÌ„ non amplius pro omnibus seruitijs consuetudinibus sectis curiae exactionibus secularibus Et ego Williel de Blunwell haeredes mei warrantizabimus acquietabimus defendemus praedictam peciam terrae praenominatis Stephano Matildae vxori suae haeredibus suis aut cuicunque dare legare vendere vel assignare voluerint
knaues to meddle with Counsellers matters Had not mony bene well bestowed vpon such a good felow as this is that knoweth not a Councellers man froÌ„ a Coblers man And with those wordes the Lord Cromwell went vp into the kinges chamber of presence and the Archbishops Secretary with him where he found in the chamber the Lord of Caunterbury To whoÌ„ he sayde my Lord I haue founde here good stuffe for you shewing to him the paper booke that he had in his hand ready to bring both you this good felow your maÌ„ to the halter The wordes of the L. Cromwel to the Archb. Cranmer namely if the knaue Beareward now in the Hall might haue well compassed it At these wordes the Archbishop smiled and sayd he that lost the booke is lyke to haue the worse bargayne for besides that he was well washed in the Thames he must write the booke fayre agayne at those wordes the Lord Cromwell cast the booke vnto the Secretary saying I pray thee Morice go in haÌ„d therwith by by with all expedition for it must serue a turne Surely my Lord it somwhat reioyseth me quoth the L. Cromwell that the verlet might haue had of your man xx s. for the book and now I haue discharged the matter with neuer a peny And shaking him wel vp for his ouermuch maleparâ—nes I know the felow wel enough quoth he there is not a rancker Papist within this realme theÌ„ he is most vnworthy to be seruaunt vnto so noble a Princesse And so after huÌ„ble thanks geuen to the Lord Cromwell the sayd Morice departed with his booke which when he agayne had fayre written was deliuered to the kinges Maiesty by the sayd Lord Cromwell within 4. dayes after * The Lord Cromwell not forgetting his olde frendes and benefactours IT is commonly sene that men aduauÌ„ced once from base degree to ample dignityes do rise also with fortune into such insolency and exaltatioÌ„ of mind The gentle behauiour of the L. Cromwell in remembring his olde frende that not only they forget themselues what they were from whence they came but also cast out of remembraunce al their old frendes and former acquayntance which haue bene to them before beneficiall FroÌ„ which sort of men how farre the curteous coÌ„dition of this christen Earle did differ by diuers examples it may appeare As by a certain poore woman keping some time a vitailing house about Hownsloe to whom the said Lord Cromwell remayned in debt for certayne old reckonings to y e summe of xl.s. It happened that the L. Cromwel with Cranmer Archbishop of CaÌ„terbury riding thorow Cheapeside toward the Court in turning his eye ouer the way and there espying this poore woman brought now in need misery eftsones caused her to be called vnto him Who being come after certayn questions asked of her if she were not such a womaÌ„ and dwelling in such a place At last he demaunded if he were not behind for a certayne payment of mony betwene him and her To whoÌ„ she with reuerent obeisance confessed that he ought her money for a certayn old reckoning which was yet vnpayd wherof she stoode now in great necessity but neuer durst call vpoÌ„ him nor could come at him for to require her right TheÌ„ the L. Cromwell sending the poore woman home to hys houâ—e and one of his seruants withall Example of a gratefull debter that the Porter should see her in after his returne from the Court not onely discharged the debte which he ought but also gaue her a yearely pension of foure poundes and a liuery euery yeare while she liued The like curtesy the said L. Cromwell shewed also to a certayne Italian who in the city of Florence had shewed him much kindnes in succoring and relieuing his necessity as in this story following may appeare Which storie set forth and compiled in the Italian tong by Bandello imprinted at Luke by Busdrago an 1554. Ex historia Italica I thought here to insert with the whole order and circumstance therof as it is reported Not many yeares past sayth the author there was in Florence a merchant whose name was Fraunces descended from the noble auncient family of the Frescobaldes A notable story of the â— Cromwel and an Itallan this Gentleman was naturally indued with a noble liberall minde vnto whome also through prosperous successe and fortunate lucke in his affayres and doings much aboundaunce of riches increased so that he grew in great wealth hauing his cofers replenished w t many heapes of much treasure He according to the custome Marchantes vsed his trade into many countries but chiefely into England where long time he liued soiourning in London keping house to his great commendation and prayse It happened that Fraunces Frescobald being in Florence there appeared before him a poore yong man CroÌ„well asking hys almes of Frescobald asking his almes for Gods sake Frescobald as he earnestly beheld this ragged stripling who was not so disguised in his tottered attire but that his countenaunce gaue significatioÌ„ of much towardnes vertue in him with coÌ„formity of maners agreing to the same being mooued with pity demauÌ„ded of what couÌ„try he was where he was borne I am Syr quoth he of England Note that this cloth sherer was his father in lawe my name is Thomas Cromwell My father is a poore man by his occupation a cloth sherer I am straied from my country and am now come into Italy with the campe of frenchmeÌ„ that were ouerthrowne at Gatilyon Cromwel page to a souldiour where I was the page to a footman carying after him his pike and burganet Frescobald partly considering the present state of this yong man and partly for the loue he bare to the english natioÌ„ of whom he had receiued in times past sondry pleasures receiued hym into his house with such curtesy interteined his gest as at his departure wheÌ„ he was in mind to returne to his couÌ„try he prouided such necessaries as he any way neded The gentlenes of Frescobald shewed to Cromwell He gaue him both horse new apparrel 16. duckats of gold in his purse to bring him into his couÌ„try Cromwell rendering his harty thanks tooke leaue of his host returned into England This Cromwell was a man of noble courage heroicall spirite geuen to enterprise great matters very liberall a graue Counseller c. But to our purpose At what tyme Cromwell was so highly fauoured of his prince and aduanced to such dignitie as is aforesaid FraÌ„ces Frescobald as it many tymes happeneth vnto Merchants was by many misfortunes and great losses cast backe and become very poore For according to conscience and equitie he payd whatsoeuer was due to any other froÌ„ himself but such debts as were owing vnto him he could by no meanes obtaine An Italian Ducate coÌ„meth to as much as our Englishe crowne yet calling further to remembrance that in
offering or setting vp of lightes or candles should be suffered in any Church but onely to the blessed Sacramentes of the aulter it is lately come to our knoweledge that this our good intent and purpose notwithstandinge the shrines coueringes of shrines and monumentes of those thinges do yet remayne in sundry places of this Realme muche to the sclaunder of our doinges and to the greate displeasure of almighty God the same being meanes to allure our subiectes to theyr former hipocrisye and superstition Shrines and monumentes of Idolatry abolished by the king and also that our Iniunctions be not kept as appertayneth For the due and speedye reformation whereof we haue thought meete by these our letters expressely to will and commaund you that incontinent vpon the receite hereof you shall not onely cause due search to be made in the Cathedrall Church for those thinges and if any shrine couering of shrine table monument of myracles or other pilgrimages do thâ—â—e continue to cause it to be so taken awaye as there remayne no memory of it but also that you shall take order with all the Curates and other hauing charge within your Dioces to doe the semblable and to see that our Iniunctions be duely kept as apperteyneth without fayling as we trust you and as you will aunswere for the contrary Geuâ—n vnder our Signet at our towne of Hull the fourth day of October in the 33 yeare of our raigne Furthermore the next yeare after this ensuing which was 1543. in the moneth of February followed an other Proclamation geuen out by the kinges authority wherein the Popes Lawe forbidding white meates to be eaten in Lent was repealed and the eating of such meates set at liberty for the behoofe of the kinges subiectes The copy of which Proclamation I thought here good also to be remembred ¶ A Proclamation concerning eating of white meates made the 9. of February the 34. yeare of the reigne of the kinges most Royall maiesty FOr as much as by diuers and sundrye occasions as well Heringes Linges Saltfish Samond Stockefish as other kindes of fishe bene this yeare scant and also enhaunced in prices aboue the olde rate and common estimation of theyr valour so that if the kinges louing subiectes should be enforced onely to buy and prouide Hering and other salt store of fish for the necessary and sufficient sustentation and maynteynaunce of theyr householdes and families all this holye time of Lent according as they haue bene wont in times past to do and should not be by some other conuenient meanes relieued therein the same might and should vndoubtedly redound to their importable charge and detrimeÌ„t and for so much as his highnes considereth howe this kinde and maner of fasting that is to say to absteyne from mylke butter egges cheese and other white meates is but a meere positiue Law of the Church and vsed by a custome within this Realme and of none other force or necessitie but the same may be vpon considerations and groundes altered and dispensed with from time to time by the publicke authoritye of kinges and princes when so euer they shall perceiue the same to tend to the hurt and damage of their people The kinges highnesse therefore most graciously considering and tendering the wealth and commoditye of his people hath thought good for the consideratioÌ„s oboue rehearsed to release and dispense with the sayd law and custome of absteining from white meates this holy time of Lent and of his especiall grace and mere motion geueth and graunteth vnto all and singuler his subiectes within this his Realme of Englande Wales Callis Cuisnes Hammes and in all other his graces dominions free liberty faculty and licence to eat all maner of white meates as milke Egges butter Cheese and such like during the time of this Lent without any scruple or grudge of conscience any Law Constitution vse or custome to the contrary notwithstanding Wherein neuerthelesse his highnesse exhorteth and in the name of God requireth all suche his faythfull subiectes as may will or shall enioy this his sayde graunt or faculty that they be in no wise scrupulous or doubtfull thereof â—or abuse or turne the same into a fleshly or carnall liberty buâ— rather endeuour themselues to theyr possible powers with this libertye of eating of white meates to obserue also that fast which God most specially requireth of them that is to say to renounce the world and the deuill with all theyr pompes and workes and also to subdue and represse theyr carnall affections the corrupt works of the flesh according to theyr vow and profession made at the Font stone for in these poyntes specially consisteth the very true and perfect abstinence or fasting of a Christian man thus to endure and coÌ„tinue from yeare to yeare till the kinges highnesse pleasure shall by his maiestyes proclamation be published to the contrary The trouble and persecution of foure windsore men Robert Testwood Henry Filmer Anthony Person apd Iohn Marbecke persecuted for righteousnesse sake and for the Gospell COmming nowe to the Storye and tyme of the foure Windsore men troubled and persecuted for the true testimony of Gods word whereof three were martyred and sacrificed in fire the fourth which was Marbecke had his pardon first I haue to shâ—w the original of their troubles in seuerall partes secondly the maner and order of theyr death as they suffered together which was an 1544. thirdly to answere partly in purgation of my selfe against certayne clatterers which haue hitherto taken theyr pleasure in railing against my former edition of Acts and monuments for mistaking y e name of Marbecke whoÌ„ in one place I reported to haue ben burned albeit in the ende of the story correcting my selfe agayne I declare hym not to haue bene burned Wherefore to stoppe the brawlyng mouthes of such quarellers I thought here to set foorth the ful narration both of the said Marbecke and of his fellows in truth as I trust none of them shal haue iust cause to quarel thereat The originall of Testwoods trouble Persecuters Persecuted The Causes M. Ely Symons a Lawyer D. London St. Gardiner B. of Winchester Wrisley Southarne Treasurer of Exceter D. Bruerwood Chauncellor of Exeter M. Knight Winchesters Gentleman D. Oking D. Capon B. of SaruÌ„ Sir Wil. Essex knight Sir Tho. Bridges knight Sir Humfrey Foster knight M. Franklen Deane of Windsor M. Fachel of Reding Bucler the kings Attorney Testwoode receaued into windsore Filmers brother Hyde a Iurate dwelling beside Abington Rob. Ockam a Lawyer Rob. Testwood Henry Filmer Anthony Person Iohn Marbecke Rob. Benet Sir Phillip Hobby his wife Sir Tho. Cardine his wyfe M. EdmuÌ„d Harman M. Thom. Weldone Snobal his wife of the kings chaÌ„ber D. Heynes Deane of Exeter At Windsore Ann. 1544. The first beginning of Testwoodes troubles IN the yere of our Lord 1544. there was one Robert Testwood dwelling in the city of London who for his knowledge in Musicke had so great a
lawfull I will passe vnto the second part where as I do say that it is not onely done against the worde of God but also against equitie and iustice to forbid priests to marry for so much as it is not lawfull for any man by any meanes to forbid y t thing which the Lord hath left at liberty For S. Paule in the xiij chapter vnto the Hebrewes declareth that matrimony is lawfull for all men saying that mariage and the vndefiled bed or chamber is honourable amongest all men and in the first to the Corinthians and vij chapiter He sayth for auoiding of whoredome Let euery man haue a wife of his owne but I know what these obstinate and stiffe necked will aunswer vnto me that the same is spoken and meant of others and not of priestes But what will they aunswere vnto me as touching that whiche is written in the first to Timothie and iij. chapter A Bishop ought to be without rebuke the husband of one wyfe and by and by after he sayeth Deacons ought to be the husbandes of one wyfe the which should rule and gouerne their children and family vprightly Unto these Paule affirmeth matrimony to be meete and necessary let them say what they can vnto the contrary What could bee more vehemently spoken agaynst their wicked tiranny then that which by the holy Ghost he declareth in the iiij chapter of the same Epistle that in the latter daies there should come wicked men which should forbid matrimonye and calleth them not onely deceiuers but also wicked spirites attending vnto the doctrine of wicked spirites but these men thinke that they haue very well escaped wheÌ„ as they wrest this sentence to those old ancient heretikes the Tatianes they say these men did onely condemne matrimonye we do not condemne it but onely forbidde Church men to marry Unto whome we thinke matrimonye is not conuenient As though that albeit this prophesie were first of all complete and fulfilled in the Tationes that it did not also redound vnto them or as though this theyr subtile sophistication were worthy to be regarded that they do not deny or prohibite matrimony because they do not forbid it vnto all men generally Lyke as if a tyraunt would contend and affirme hys lawe to be good by the extremity and violence whereof onely one part of the citie is oppressed but now let vs heare the reasons of the contrary part it behoueth say they a Priest to differ from the common sort of the people by some notable marke or token But read Saint Paule where as he describeth the perfect Image of a good Bishop did he not recken and account mariage amongest the other good giftes which hee required to bee in them But I knowe very well howe these men interprete Paule Uerily that a Bishop ought not to be chosen which hath married hys second wyfe But also it appeareth openly by the text that this interpretation is false for so much as he doth by and by declare shew what maner of women the wiues of Byshops deacons ought for to be Wherfore Saint Paule nuÌ„bereth matrimony amongest the principall vertues pertainyng vnto a Bishop And these men do teache it to be an intollerable vice amongest the orders of the Church and not beyng content with that generall reproche or slaunder they call it in the Canons the vncleanlinesse pollutyng and defilyng of the fleshe Nowe let euery man consider with himselfe out of what shop this stuffe is taken God instituted matrimony Christ sanctified it with hys presence by turnyng water into wyne and vouchsafed so to honour it that he would haue it the Image or figure of his loue and friendship with the Church What can be more famous or notably spoken to the commendation and prayse of wedlocke But these vnshamefast faces doe call it a filthy and vncleane thyng alledgyng the Leuitical priestes which as often as they came vnto the office of ministration were bounden to lye a part from their wiues whereby they beyng cleane and vndefiled might handle the holy things A 〈…〉 againâ— Priestes mariage 〈◊〉 Leuitâ—â—â—ll Priestes 〈◊〉 time 〈…〉 from 〈◊〉 wiueâ—â—â—go Chriâ—â—â—â— Prieâ—teâ— must haue no 〈◊〉 I do 〈◊〉 the argumâ—â—â— and our sacraments for so much as they are much more noble and excellent then theirs and daily vsed it would be a very vncomely thing that they should be handled by maried men As though that the office of the ministery of the Gospell were all one with the Leuiticall priesthoode For they as figures did represent Christ which beyng mediator betweene God and man by hys singular and absolute puritie and cleannes should reconcile the father vnto vs for so much as on no part sinners could exhibite or shew forth any tipe or forme of his sanctity or holynesse yet to the intent they might shadow hym out with certaine similitudes or lineamentes they were commaunded that when so euer they should come vnto the sanctuary or holy place they should purify themselues aboue all mens order or fashion for then did they most nere and properly figurate Christ which appeared in the Tabernacle as peacemakers to reconcile the people vnto God This Image or personage forsomuch as our Ecclesiasticall pastors at this day doe not take vpon them or execute in vayne are they compared vnto them Wherefore the Apostle without all exception vpon a sure good ground doth pronounce and say that mariage is honourable amongest all men and that whoremongers and adulterers do abide the iudgement of God Besides all this the Apostles themselues by their examples do prooue that matrimony is not vnworthy of any office or function be it neuer so excellent for S. Paule himselfe is witnes that they did not only kepe their wyues but also caried them about with them The 4. Article That all those heresies commonly called the heresies of England 4. Article or at the least the greater or most part of them to be now presently vnderstand and knowen by the English men to be of themselues good and iust and to be obserued of all faythful Christians as most true and conformable vnto the law of God and that he hath persuaded many persons to imbrace the sayd heresies Borthwike Saint Iohn in his xi chapter declareth how Caiphas hyâ— Bishop of Ierusalem did prophesie that Iesus should dye for the people which thing he spake beyng vtterly ignoraunt The lyke Image of blyndnes we haue now presently in our luxurious Cardinall of S. Andrewes and hys adherents which accused religion of heresie which in the yeare of our Lorde 1540. was had in estimation in England at the which tyme they proclaymed me an Arch-heretike although they esteeme the same religion for most christian for what religion at that tyme was vsed in England The 〈◊〉 of religioâ— in Englâ—â—â— An. 15â—â— the lyke the whole realme of Scotland did imbrace in this poynt onely the English men differed from the Scottes that they had cast of the yoke of
Antichrist the other not Idols were worshipped of both nations y e profauatyng of the Supper and Baptisme was lyke vnto them both wicked superstition raigned on both partes and true worship was deformed and defaced with detestable hipocrisie Truely it is most false that they do affirme and say that I had subscribed vnto such kynde of heresies as though they had bene conformable vnto the law of God when as nothyng is more aduerse or repugnaunt therevnto for euen now of late God of hys goodnesse and mercy had opened my daâ—elyng eyes and hath drawen me out of the filthy slow of Idolatry and superstition in the which amongest others I haue so long tyme wallowed and tumbled Neither is it any lesse absurde that they affirme me to haue allured many to embrace the same except peraduenture they do vnderstand that I haue oftentymes wished that the yoke of Antichrist should be shaken and cast off from the neckes of the Scottes as it is from the Englishe men whiche thyng with a sincere and vpright heart and with an earnest mynd I do now also wish and desire The 5. Article That the Scottish nation and their Clergy be altogether blynded 5. Article whome he did also say and affirme that they had not the true Catholike fayth And this he dyd openly teach and preached also that hys fayth was much better more excellent then the faith of all the clergy in the realme of Scotland Borthwike No man will deny that people to be blynded which neyther heareth Christ nor his Apostles Such is the people of Scotland I speake of those vnto whom the veritie and truth of Christ hath not yet opened or manifested it selfe There is no cause therefore why they should accuse me of heresy Furthermore how farre of the nation and people of Scotland be from the hearyng of Christ albeit the premisses do sufficiently declare in that they do chalenge vnto the Romishe Antichrist the autoritie which Christ and hys Apostles do declare Antithesis oâ— comparison betweene the religioÌ„ of Scotâ—â—â—h men and the religion of Christ. Christ himselfe to be endued with all and that contrary to the worde of GOD they forbid priests to marry I will adde some thing more unto it where by the matter may be more euident Christ calleth himselfe the dore whereby all men ought to enter in at Iohn the x. chapter Contrariwise the Scottes doe say and affirme that we must enter in by the virgine Mary and Saint Peter Christ in the fourth of Iohn sayth The tyme shall come when as the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and truth the Scottes builde themselues hye temples and chappels for Idols in the which euen as Israell in tymes past they commit fornication Paule in his Epistle to the Hebrews and x. chapter sayth That Christ by one onely oblation hath made perfect all those for euermore which are sanctified which saying confirmeth also the wordes of Christ hangyng vppon the Crosse saying it is finished signifieng that by hys death there was a finall ende set vnto all sacrifices which are offered vp for sinnes But the Scottish church men as they are blasphemers in deede so do they bragge and boast that they daily offer vp Christ for the sinnes both of the quicke and of the dead God commaundeth vs that we shall not worship any grauen Image The Scottes do not onely fall downe flatte before Images but also offer vp incense vnto them Saint Paule teacheth vs that Christ is made our wisedome righteousnesse satisfaction and redemption The Scottes beyng wyse men in theyr owne conceites preferre and embrace traditions fayned inuented out by mans head before the lawe of God they stablish righteousnesse in their owne workes sanctification in holy water and other externall things redemption in pieces of lead which they doe buy of their great Antichrist who then will quarell with me that I doe lye that the people of Scotland are blind and that my faith which doth onely behold the word of God to be much more better and excellent then theirs The 6. Article Agreeably to the ancient errors of Iohn Wickliffe and Iohn Hus Archheretikes condempned in the Councell of Constance 6. Article he hath affirmed and preached that the clergy ought not to possesse or haue any temporall possessions neyther to haue any iurisdiction or authoritie in temporalties euen ouer theyr owne subiectes but that all these things ought to be taken from them as it is at this present in England Borthwike The Lord in the xviij chapter of the booke of Numbers sayd thus vnto Aaron The Leuiticall law is no necessary rule now binding But he meaneth here of excessiue landes possessions of Abbeyes and religious he uses addict to them but the princes may diminish or conuert theÌ„ otherwise vpon considerations thou shalt possesse nothyng in theyr land neyther shalt thou haue any portion amongest them I am thy portion and inheritage amongst the children of Israell for vnto the sonnes of Leuy I haue geuen all the tithes of Israel that they should possesse them for their ministery which they do execute in the tent of ordinaries Albeit I do not doubt but that the order of the Leuites and of our clergy is farre different and variable For the administration of theyr sacred and holy thyngs after theyr death passed vnto their posterity as it were by right of inheritaunce which happeneth not vnto the posteritie of our clergy in these dayes Furthermore if any heritage be prouided or gotten for them I doe not gaynesay but that they shall possesse it But still I doe affirme that all temporall iurisdiction should bee taken from them for when as twise there rose a contention amongst the Disciples which of them should be thought the greatest Christ aunswered The kyngs of nations haue dominion ouer them and such which haue power ouer them are called beneficiall you shall not do so For he which is greatest amongst you shall be made equall vnto the yongest or lest and he which is the prince or ruler amongst you shall be made equall vnto hym which both minister mynding thereby and willyng vtterly to debarre the ministers of hys word from all terrene and ciuill dominion and Empire For by these poyntes he doth not onely declare that the office of a pastor is distinct and deuided from the office of a prince and ruler Ciuill dominion â—â—fering from Ecclesiasticall but that they are in effect so muche different and seperate that they cannot agree or ioyne together in one man Neither is it to be thought that Christ did set or ordaine an harder law then he himself before did take vpon hym Forsomuch as in the 12. of Luke certayne of the company sayd vnto hym Maister commaund my brother that he deuide his inheritaunce with me He aunswered Man who made me a Iudge or deuider amongest you We see therefore that Christ euen simply did reiect and refuse the office of a Iudge
Illustrem super Validitate Inualiditate Matrimonij inter eosdem Reges contracti consummati rebusque alijs inactis causae causarum huiusmodi latius deductis dilecto filio Paulo Capissucho causaruÌ„ sacri palatij tunc decano propter ipsius Pauli absentiam venerabili fratri nostro Iacobo Simonetae Episcopo Pisauâ—ien vnius ex dicti palatij causauruÌ„ Auditoribus locuÌ„ teneÌ„ti audieÌ„dis instrueÌ„dis in Consistorio nostro Secreto referendis cómissis pereos nobis eiusdeÌ„ Cardinalibus Relatis maturè discussis coraÌ„ nobis peÌ„deÌ„tibus matrimoniuÌ„ inter predictaÌ„ CatherinaÌ„ HeÌ„ricuÌ„ Angliae Reges coÌ„tractuÌ„ inde secuta quaecuÌ„que fuisse esse validuÌ„ canonicuÌ„ validaque Canonica suosque debitos debuisse debere sortiri effectus proleÌ„que exinde susceptam suscipieÌ„daÌ„ fuisse fore legitimaÌ„ praefatuÌ„ HeÌ„ricum Angliae RegeÌ„ teneri obligatuÌ„ fuisse fore ad cohabitanduÌ„ cuÌ„ dictâ— Catherina Regina eius legitima coÌ„iuge illaÌ„que maritali affectione Regio honore tractaÌ„duÌ„ euÌ„deÌ„ HeÌ„ricuÌ„ Angliae Regem ad praemissa omnia singula cuÌ„ effectu adimplenduÌ„ condeÌ„danduÌ„ omnibusque iuris remedijs cogenduÌ„ coÌ„pellenduÌ„ fore prout condeÌ„namus cogimus compellimus molestationesque denegationes per eundeÌ„ HenricuÌ„ RegeÌ„ eideÌ„ Catherinae Reginae super inualiditate ac foedere dicti matrimonij quomodo libet factas praestâ—tas fuisse esse illicitas iniustas eideÌ„ HeÌ„rico Regi super illis ac inualiditate matrimonij huiusmodi perpetuuÌ„ sileÌ„tium imponeÌ„duÌ„ fore imponimê° eundeÌ„que HenricuÌ„ Angliae RegeÌ„ in expensis in huiusmodi causa pro parte dictae Catherinae Reginae coram nobis dictis omnibus legitimè factis coÌ„deÌ„nanduÌ„ fore condeÌ„namus quaruÌ„ expensarum taxationem nobis imposteruÌ„ reseruamus Ita pronuntiamus I. Lata fuit Romae in Palatio Apostolico publice in Consistorio die .xxiii. Martij M.D.XXXIIII Blosius ¶ The effect in English THe effect of this Sentence is as much to meane in english That Pope Clement the vij with the consent of his other brethreÌ„ the Cardinals assembled together in his Consistory The Pope sitteth in the 〈◊〉 of iustice with the 〈◊〉 same fashioÌ„ 〈◊〉 did sit in the seate 〈…〉 Antichrist 〈◊〉 the TeÌ„ple of God And sayd neuer a word 〈◊〉 hauing no bribes 〈◊〉 in his handes nor 〈◊〉 the Emperour in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not thys a gloryous 〈◊〉 that wil haue no beg 〈◊〉 his sonnes daughâ—â—â— Emperours Kinges 〈◊〉 And why then did you 〈…〉 to England 〈◊〉 the same Matriâ—â—â—â— before as appeareth 〈◊〉 pag. 1â—49 sitting there in the throne of A Iustice calling vpon the name B of Christ and hauing God onely before his C eyes doth pronounce define declare in the cause causes betwene his dere daughter Katherine Quene of England appealing to the sea Apostolicke his beloued D sonne Henry the eight king of England concerning y e validity inualidity of the Matrimony heretofore contracted betwene theÌ„ and yet depending in the Consistory court of the said pope Clement that the sayd Matrimony alwaies hath E and still doth stand firme Canonicall that the issue proceding or which shall proceed of the same standeth and shall stand lawfull and legitimate and that the foresayd Henry king of England is and shal be bouÌ„d and obstrict to the Matrimoniall society and cohabitatioÌ„ with the sayd Lady Katherine his lawfull wiâ—e Quene to hold and maynteine her with such loue and princely honor as becommeth a louing husbande and his kingly honor to do Also that the sayd Henry king of England if he shall refuse so to performe and accomplish all and singuler the premisses in all effectuall maner is to be condemned and compelled hereunto by all remedies of (F) (F) By his owne Canon law â—e meaneth 〈◊〉 by the lawe of God the law enforced according as we do coÌ„demne compell and enforce him so to do prouiding that al molestations and refusals whatsoeuer made by the sayde king Henry agaynst the sayde Queene Katherine vpon the inualidity of the sayd Mariage to haue bene and to be iudged vnlawful and vniust and the sayd king froÌ„ henceforth for euer to hold his peace and not to be heard in any Court hereafter (G) (G) Here thou mayst see good reader howe the Pope may doth 〈◊〉 lykâ— a false Prophet For where he thought to put the king â—o silence tâ—e saâ—e silence lighted vpon himselfe whereby the Pope is driuen himselfe to stand mute in EnglaÌ„d God graunt he may so stand for euer Amen to speake touching the inualidity of the sayd matrimony like as we also do here will and charge him to holde his peace and do put him to perpetuall silence herein Willing moreouer adiudging the sayd king henry to be condemned and presently here doe condemne him in the expenses on the sayde Quene Katherines behalfe here in our Court exposed employed in trauersing the foresaid cause the valuation of which expenses we reserue to our selues to be limited and taxed as we shall iudge meete hereafter We do so pronounce I. At Rome in our Apostolicall palace publickely in our Consistory 23. Mart. M.D.XXXIIII Blosius Now as you haue heard the presumptuous and arrogant Sentence of Pope Clement wherein he taketh vpon him contrary to the ordinaunce of God in his Leuiticall law as before is shewed pag. 1025. and contrary to y e best learned iudgementes of Christendome to commaund and compell the king agaynst his conscience to reteine in Matrimony his brothers wife here foloweth in like order to be inferred according to my promise an other like wicked blasphemous Pope Leo his Bull agaynst Luther and the Appellation of M. Luther from the Pope by way of an Appendix and sclauÌ„derous Bull of Pope Leo against Martin Luther with the iust Appellation also of the sayd Martin Luther from the Pope to a generall Counsell Wherein may appeare to all men the lying spirite of the pope both in teaching most heretical doctrine derogating from the bloud of Christ and also falsely deprauing peruerting the sound doctrine of Luther falsely and vntruely charging him with heresy when he is the greater heretick himselfe For what hereticke would euer say that the churche of Rome was consecrate and sanctified by the bloud of Peter but onely the Pope Or who would cal this heresy to referre al our saluation and sanctification onely and totally to the bloud of the sonne of God vnlesse he were an hereticke of all heretickes himselfe After the like dealing we read .3 Reg. 18. of wicked king Achab The Pope playeth with Luther as Achab played with Elias saying that he was the troubler of Israell when it was he himselfe and his fathers house that so did who being onely the disturber of Israel himselfe crieth out vpon Elias for troubling Israel So here in semblablewise
rehearsed Besides these two there was none els in all king Edwardes raigne Tho. Dobbe inprisoned and in prison dyed that dyed in any maner cause of religion but that one Thom. Dobbe who in the beginning of this kinges raigne was apprehended for speaking agaynst the idolatry of the masse and in the same prison died as in story here ensueth to be sene This Thomas Dobbe being a studeÌ„t and a maister of Arte in Cambridge was brought vp in the colledge called S. Iohns Colledge and felowe of the same where he increased in the studye of good letters among his equals very forward of nature and disposition simple and modest of zeale toward God ferueÌ„t pacient in iniuries Doues as Philosophers naturally do write haue no gall iniurious to no man of much like sort condition as in Doues which without all bitternes of gal are more apt to receiue iniury then to worke wrong to any At length this godly man intending with himselfe and addicting hys mynde to the Christian state of Matrimony resorted to a certayn mayden not farre of where he dwelt For the whiche cause he was greatly molested and wickedly abused by iij. of that Colledge whose names were Hutchinson Pindare and Tailer who with theyr malicious handlyng scornful dealing opprobries rebukes and coÌ„tumelies so much vexed the vertuous simplicity of y e man that they neuer left him till at length they weryed him out of the Colledge Who there hauing no rest nor quietnes by reasoÌ„ of the vnreasonable and viruleÌ„t handling of his aduersaries was compelled to seek some other place wherin to settle himself Up on the occasion wherof comming vp to LoÌ„don it chauÌ„ced him to passe through Paules Church wheras it happned that at the Southside of the Churche at the same tyme there was a Priest at Masse more busy then wel occupied being at the eleuation as he passed by The yong man repleat with godly zeale pitying the ignorance and idolatry of the people in honoring that so deuoutly which the priest lifted vp was not able to forbeare but opening his mouth turning to the people he exhorted them not to honor the visible bread as God which neither was God nor yet ordeined of God to be honored c. with such other wordes mo of christian information For which cause straight way he was apprehended by the Maior and after accused to the Bishop of CauÌ„terbury was committed to the CouÌ„ter theÌ„ in Bredstreete where he not long continued but fallyng into a sicknes how or wherupon I can not tell shortly vp on the same chauÌ„ged this mortall life Whose pardoÌ„ notw tstanding was obteined of the Lord Protector and shoulde haue bene brought him if he had coÌ„tinued And thus much concerning Thomas Dobbe and other Ouer and besides I finde that in the first yeare of the raygne of King Edward which was an 1547. there was one Iohn Hume seruaunt to Maister Lewnax of Wresell apprehended accused and sent vp to the Archbish. of CauÌ„terbury by the sayd M. Lewnax his Mayster Margaret Lewnax his mistres for these Articles 1 First for denying the Sacrament as it was then called of the aultar to be the reall flesh and bloud of Christ. 2 For saying that he would neuer vale his bonet vnto it to be burned therefore 3 For saying that if he shoulde heare Masse he shoulde be damned For this was he sent vp by his maister and mistres aforesayd with speciall letters vnto the Archbishop requiring him seuerally to be punished by the law for the same But because I finde no execution folowing thereupon I therfore passe ouer this story of him These thinges premissed when this vertuous godly yong prince endued as you haue heard with speciall graces from God was now peaceably stablished in his kingdome and had a couÌ„sell about him graue wise and zelous in Gods cause especially his vncle y e duke of Somerset he then most earnestly likewise desired as well the aduauncement of the true honor of almighty God and the planting of his sincere religion as also the vtter suppressioÌ„ and extirpation of all idolatry superstition hipocrisy and other enormities and abuses throughout his realmes and dominions therefore folowing as is afore expressed the good example of king Iosias he determined forthwith to enter into some reformation of Religion in the Church of England And forasmuch as at his first entry notwithstanding his fathers good beginning in abolishing the vsurped power of Antichrist he yet fouÌ„d most of his lawes greatly repugning agaynst this his zealous enterprise he therefore purposed by the aduise of his sayd wise honorable Counsell of his owne regall power and authority somewhat to prosecute his godly purpose vntill such time as by consent of the whole estate of parliameÌ„t he might establish a more free perfect and vniforme order therin Wherupon intending first a generall visitation ouer al the bishopricks within his realm therby as wel to vnderstaÌ„d Order 〈◊〉 by K. 〈◊〉 for 〈…〉 â—â—â—ligion as also to redresse the abuses in the same he chose out certayn wise learned discrete and worshipful personages to be his Commissioners in that behalfe and so deuiding them into seuerall companies Learneâ— preacheâ— appoynâ—â—â— by King Edwarâ— assigned vnto them seueral Diocesses to be visited appoynting likewise vnto euery company one or two godly learned preachers which at euery Session shoulde in theyr preaching both instruct the people in the true doctrine of the Gospell of Christ in all loue and obedience to the same and also earnestly dehorâ—e them from theyr olde superstition and wonted Idolatrye And that they might be more orderly directed in this their Commission there were deliuered vnto them certayn Iniunctions ecclesiasticall orders drawne out by the kings learned counsell the which they should both enquyre of also commaund in his maiesties behalfe to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whoÌ„ they did seuerally appertayne within theyr sondry circuites In the which amongst other things it was first enioined that all Ecclesiasticall persons should themselues obserue and cause to be obserued of other Ecclesiaâ—â—â—â—call 〈◊〉 must 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 Popes 〈…〉 all such Statutes as were made for the abolishing of the Bishop of Romes vsurped power and establishing of the kings supreme authority and that they should euery one foure times in the yeare at the least in theyr publick sermons declare vnto y e people that the one being most arrogaÌ„tly vsurped against the word of God was now iustly taken away and the other according to y e very true meaning of the same worde was of most loyall duety onely to be obeyed of all his graces subiectes And agayne that euery the aforesayd ecclesiastical person hauing cure shoulde preach Sermonâ— quarterâ—â— be made or cause to be preached w t in theyr seueral cures one sermon euery quarter of y e yere In the which they should sincerely set forth the woorde of God exhort the people vnto
vppon IN most humble wise sheweth vnto your Maiestie William Latimer and Iohn Hooper that where of late The deâ—â—â—tiation of W. Latimâ—â— and Iohn Hooper dâ—â—nounceâ—â—â—â—gaynst Boner as we be certainely infourmed froÌ„ your maiestie by the hande of the right highe and noble Prince Edwarde Duke of Somerset Gouernour of your Royal person and Protectour of al your highnes realmes dominions and subiects and the rest of your priuie Counsaile there was certaine Iniunctions geuen to the Byshop of London that nowe is with Articles to be insinuated and preached vnto youre subiectes at a certaine daye limitted the whyche Iniunctions and articles did onely tende to the honour of GOD and the better instructions of your highnes people to obedience and hatred of rebellion and mutinie wherewith of late this your Maiesties Realme hath bene marueilously vexed to the daunger of your highnes person and the state of the whole Realme and thereâ—ore a thinge at thys time most necessary to be taught vnto y e people that they myght knowe their duetie vnto your maiestie and vnto almighty God and especially to acknowledge your Maiestie in these yeares age to be a perfect high and soueraigne Lord and king and supreme head whose lawes proclamations and commaundementes we are bounde to obey as wel as any princes subiects are bounde to obey the lawes proclamations and commaundementes of their naturall and soueraigne Lord notwithstanding that nature hath not yet giuen vnto your person suche age as we trust he shall nor so many yeares which we wish to be so many as any Prince euer hadde the whych yeares doe not make you Kynge or Prince but the righte of your birthe Yeares anâ— age doe 〈◊〉 make a kinâ— but the right of succession and lawfull succession what soeuer it be so that we all must as well acknowledge your maiestie to be our Kinge and Prince at these yeares as if you were of the age of 30. or 40. yeares and your lawes and statutes no lesse to be feared obeyed theÌ„ if your highnes were 50. or 100. yeres olde the whyche thing not onely is most certainely true but also at this time most necessarily to be taught especially when diuers rebelles haue openly declared that they woulde not obey your highnesse lawes nor acknowledge the Statutes made by your Maiestie to be auailable til ye come to the age of 20. yeres and this not only being so Anno 1549 but the same thing being commanded by your sayd Maiestie amongst other Iniunctions Articles geuen in wryting to the sayde Edmund Boner to be preached in his last sermon as by the same Iniunctions maye appeare of the whiche the true copie we haue when neede is to be shewed yet al this notwithstanding the said Boner of what zeale or minde we cannot tell whether fauoring the opinion of the saide rebels or contemning your highnesse commaundement declared to him Boner left out of his Sermon 〈◊〉 article of the kinges authority hath not only left out to declare the sayd Article which we most chiefly expected and looked for but also in all the rest of his Sermons did not so fully and apertly declare the sayd Iniunctions and Articles as to our iudgement did appeare they ought to haue bene declared and was of no lyght grounde loked for intreating of other farre distant and diuers from the Articles vppon the which he was commaunded to entreat and such as most should moue and stirre vp the people to disorder and dissension willingly leauing oute those things which should haue made quiet obedience Wherefore not mooued of any malice grudge enuie or euil will to the person of the bishop but constreined by the loue zeale which we beare towards your highnes of our duty and allegeance to your maiesty whose honour and sauety with tranquilitie quietnesse and good gouernaunce of this your Realme we do most desire and for y e discharge of our most bounden dueties to auoyde all the daungers that might ensue of the concealement thereof we most humbly do denounce and declare the same to your highnes to the intent that your Maiestie by the aduise aforesayd may if it please your highnes at this our humble denuntiation call the sayd Byshop to aunswere to the premisses the which we are ready to auowe and proue and then your highnes to take further order heerein as to your Princely wisedome shall seeme most conuenient whose long life and most prosperous gouernement God almighty long continue for the which we shall pray during our liues The Kings Maiestie hauing thus by the information of these two credible persons perfect intelligence of the coÌ„temptuous peruerse negligence of this Bishop in not accomplishing his highnes commaundement geueÌ„ him by Iniunction thought it most necessary with all conuenient speede for the auoiding of farther inconueniences to loke more seuerely vnto the due punishment of such dangerous rebellious obstinacie and therfore by the aduise of the Lord Protectour CommissioÌ„ directed downe by the King against Bonner and the rest of his honorable Counsaile immediatly he directed forth his commission vnder his broad Seale vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Rochester and to other graue and trusty personages and Counsellers appointing authorising all theÌ„ or certain of them by vertue of the same to call before them as well the Bishop of London Commissioners appoinâ—â—d as also the foresaid denouncers vpoÌ„ due examination proofe of y e premisses or any other matter otherwise to be obiected farther to proceed against him suâ—â—arely de plano according to law and Iustice either to suspension excoÌ„municatioÌ„ committing to prison or depriuation if the qualitie of the offence so required or otherwise to vse any other censure Ecclesiasticall which for the better hearing and determining of that cause myghte to their wisedomes seeme more pertinent as appeareth more amply by the tenour of the Commission heere ensuing * The copie of the Kings Commission sent downe vpon the denunciation aforesayd for the examination of Boner Byshop of London EDward the sixt c. To the most reuerent father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury Metropolitane and Primate of all England The Copye of the Kingâ— Commission for Bonners examination the right reuerend father in God Nicholas Byshop of Rochester our trusty and right welbeloued Counsellers Syr William Peter and Syr Thomas Smith Knightes our two principall Secretaries and William Maye Doctour of the Law Ciuile and Deane of Paules greeting It is come to our knowledge that where we by the aduise of our most entirely beloued Vncle Edward Duke of Somerset gouernour of our person and Protectour of all our Realmes dominions and subiects and the rest of our priuy Counsayle did giue to the right reuerend father in God Edmund Byshop of London vpon certayne complaynts before made vnto vs and other great considerations certayne Iniunctions to be folowed done and executed and in a Sermon appointed to him
shall appeare it beseemed no wise man and therefore much lesse one of his calling For if his cause had bene good why did he not take the wrong paciently and meekly as the true Canon law of the Gospell doth teach hym If it were as it was in deede naught and wrong wherto serued so bolde sturdy stoutnesse but to shewe the impudency of the person and to make the cause worse whiche was bad enough before Boners friuolous shiftes But belike he was disposed to declare if neede were what he was able to do in the law in shifting off the matter by subtill delatories and friuolous cauilling about the lawe And if that would not helpe yet with facing and brasing and railing vpon the denouncers with furious wordes and irreuerent behauiour towards the Kings Commissioners he thought to countenaunce out the matter before the people that some thing might seeme yet to be in him whatsoeuer was in the cause For to conclude for all his craftie cauteles and tergiuersations alledged out of the law yet neither his cause could be so defended nor his behauiour so excused but that hee was therefore both iustly imprisoned and also in the ende most lawfully depriued as by the sequele of this processe may well appeare the manner whereof is as followeth ¶ The first Action or Session agaynst Boner The first appearaunce of Boner before the kinges Commissioners the 10. day of September VPon Wednesday the x. day of September in the yere of our Lord 1549. and in the third yeare of the reigne of King Edward the vj. Thomas Cranmer Archbyshop of Canterbury Metropolitane and Primate of all England associate with Nicholas Ridley then Bishop of Rochester sir William Peter Knight one of the kings two principall Secretaries and William May Doctour of the Ciuill law and Deane of Paules by vertue of the Kyngs Commission The Iudges delegate the Archbishop of Canterbury the Byshop of Rochester Syr W. Peter Doct. Moy Deane of Paules sate Iudicially vpon the examination of Edmund Boner Byshop of London within the Archbyshops chamber of presence at his house in Lambeth before whome there then also personally appeared the sayd Byshop at whiche time the Commissioners first shewyng forth their Commission requested sir William Peter that he would openly publish and reade the same Which done the Archbishop in the name of the rest declared vnto the Bishop that a greeuous complaint had bene theretofore made and exhibited against him in writing vnto the kings Maiestie and his honorable Counsaile and that therefore his highnes Syr Thomas Smyth then absent with their aduise had committed the examination thereof vnto him and other his Colleges there present as also vnto sir Thomas Smith Knight the other of his Maiesties two principall Secretaries though then absent and therewithall shewed also forth a Bill of complaynt exhibited vnto the King by William Latymer and Iohn Hoper Ministers which they likewise requested sir William Peter to reade These things ended the Byshop like a subtill Lawyer hauing most like some secret intelligence before of these matters whatsoeuer he pretended to the contrary pulled out of his bosome a solemne protestation ready written which he then exhibited vnto the Commissioners requesting that the same might be there openly read the copie whereof is this in tenour and forme as foloweth The tenour and forme of Edmund Boner Bishop of London his protestation exhibited to the Kings Commissioners at hys first appearing EDmundus Lond. Episcopus primò ante omnia protestor quòd per hanc meam comparitionem seu per aliqua per me hic dicta seu dicenda The forme and copy of Boners Protestation allegata seu alleganda proposita seu proponenda exhibita seu exhibenda gesta seu gerenda obiecta seu obijcienda exercita seu exercenda facta seu fienda petita seu petenda non intendo in vos dominos Iudices praesentes tanquam in iudices mihi in hac parte competentes idoneos aliquò modo consentire vestram iurisdictionem praesentem in hac parte aliquatenus prorogare nisi prout ac quatenus de iure ad hoc tenear astringar rationique consonum videatur sub protestatione praedicta ea semper mihi salua a qua recedere non intendo sed eandem in omnibus singulis deinceps in hoc negotio praetenso per me agendis pro repetita haberi volo dico allego quòd literae commissionales pretensae vobis vt dicitur in hac parte directae seu earum vera legitima copia nunquam ante hac mihi ostensae aut monstratae fuerunt nec a me aliquo modo visae lectae aut cognitae vel mihi traditae Itaque contra formam tenorem earundem vel contra personas aliquorum vestrum ea quae de iure ac naturali ratione mihi competunt in hac parte cum reuerentia qua decet obijcere ac in debita iuris forma proponere non possum in praesenti vt deberem Quare vt defensio congrua quae nulli hominum deneganda est mihi reseruetur liquidòque sciam cuiusmodi exceptiones mihi in hac parte competere possint ac debeant vtque eas suis loco tempore iuxta iuris exigentiam pro necessaria defensione mea proponam contra vel pretensas literas commissionales huiusmodi vel contra personas aliquorum vestrum quatenus liceat expediat sub protestatione praedicta facultatem dictas praetensas litteras commissionales in forma originali inspiciendi ac earum veram integram fidelem copiam debitè exinde mihi fieri humiliter peto postulo prout iuris est in hac parte tenore praesentium nihilominus â—estatum manifestè relinquens quòd obseruantiam reuerentiam ac obedientiam honorem ac caetera quaecunque serenissimae Regiae Maiest Domino meo supremo has literas praetensas vobis vt dicitur committenti qualitercunque decet in omnibus per omnia perpetuò humillimè recogniturus sum habiturus praestiturus his exceptionibus defensionibus legitimis mihi de iure natura competentibus ad defensionem meam necessariam legitimam ac non aliter in hac parte vsurus This Protestation being read he requested the Commissioners that he might haue the Bill of complaint deliuered him which when he had well perused he sayd that the same was very generall and so generall as that hee coulde not directly aunswere thereunto Boner inueyeth agaynst his denouâ—â—â— Whereunto the Archbyshop aunswered that the speciall cause of the complaint against him was for that he had transgressed the Kings commaundement geuen vnto him by his Counsaile in that he in his late Sermon made at Paules crosse did not set forth vnto the people the Kings highnes royall power in his minoritie according to the tenour of the Article deliuered vnto him by them for that purpose and for proofe thereof called forth William Latimer
the 4. article c. Let them and euery of them be examined in virtue of theyr othe whether they know that these wordes folowing as Mattens Masses now sayd after that sort in this Realme were and be put in the Iniunction pretended to be ministred vnto me the sayd Bishop or no. interrogetur vt supra 13. Item if they or any of them do depose that I haue trangressed and offended touching the 5. Article let them and euery of them be examined in virtue of theyr othe Interrogatoryes concerning the 5. article whether the IniuÌ„ctions pretended in this behalfe were signed with the kinges vsuall signet or rather at all whether it was sealed with any seale whether it was subscribed by the L. Protectors grace or any of the priuye Counsell whether it was in full Counsell sitting deliuered vnto mee by the Lord protector whether it was deliuered to me the rest of the kinges Maiestyes priuye Counsell there then sittyng whether the sayd dayes as is conteined in the first Article by whom it was written when and where interrogetur vt supra 14. Item if they or any of them do depose that I do defeÌ„d the opinion of the rebels Interrogatoryes concerning the 6. article let them be examined euery of theÌ„ what rebels they be what is their opinion how the lawe of this Realme doth determine therein declaring by what wordes factes I the sayd Bishop did speake do and at what time and place and in whose presence suche wordes or act was spoken or done interrog vt supra Interrogatoryes concerning the 7. article 15. Item if they or any of them doe depose that I knowe or haue heard say crediblye that since the time of the sayde pretensed Iniunctions certayn persons within my dioces haue heard bene at or celebrate Masse or Euensong in the latine tongue and after the olde rite and maner other then according to the kinges maiestyes booke let them and euery of them be examined in virtue of his sayd othe how they know that I so know or haue heard say and of the name or names of the partye or partyes and of the tyme and place when and where it was and whether any denunciation or detection were according to the statutes and ordinaunces of this Realme made vnto me or no. interrog vt supra 16. Item if they or any of them doe say that I knowe or haue heard say Interrogatoryes concerning the 9. article of such notable adulterers offences mentioned in the 9. article let them and euery of them be examined in virtue of his and theyr othe that they do knowe that I do know or haue heard say and who be the persoÌ„s where they dwell who hath denounced or detected them and how I could and ought to haue cited them punished them in this behalfe interrog vt supra 17. Item if they or any of them doe say that I knowe certeinely nowe what Doctour Coxe declared in hys Sermon at Paules Crosse as is deduced in the 10. Article let them be inquired and euery of them in virtue of theyr oth how they can proue it by whom and after what sort interrog vt supra 18. Item if they or any of them do say that I do know or heare certaynely of the diuersity of the rites of the commoÌ„ seruice of the church nowe set forth and of the ministers parsons transgressing therein let them and euery of them in virtue of theyr othe bee examined whether there hath bene any detection or denuntiation made to me therupon and how they know or can proue that I haue bene culpable and negligent herein interrog vt supra 19. Item whether they or any of them haue bene spoken vnto or solicited herein to testify and after what sorteâ— by whom when and where and what was theyr conference and communication therin interrog supra 20. Item that they and euery of them declare and shewe the true and sufficieÌ„t cause of theyr testimony in all and singuler the premisses After this the Iudges delegate assigned the Bishop to appeare againe before them vpon Wednesday the next ensuing betwene the houres of 7. and 8. of the clocke before noone in the Hall of the Archbishops manor of Lambetâ— Boner â—â—gayne 〈…〉 â—â—gaynst 〈◊〉 witnesâ—â— there to shew the cause why he should not be declared pro confesso vpon al the Articles wherunto he had not theÌ„ fully answered and to see farther processe done in the matter and so he still protesting of the nullity and inuadility of all theyr procedinges they did for that present depart In this meane while the Commissioners certified the kinges Maiesty and his Counsell of the Bishops demeanour towards them The Câ—â—â—missioâ— certyfiâ—â— king of 〈…〉 and what obiections he had made agaynst theyr procedinges making doubtes and ambiguities whether by the tenor of his maiesties Commission the Commissioners might proceed not onely at the denuntiation but also of theyr meere office and also whether they mought aswell determine as heare the cause Whereupon his Maiesty by aduise aforesayd for the better vnderstanding therof did the 17. of September send vnto the Commissioners a full and perfect declaration and interpretatioÌ„ of his will and pleasure in the foresayd Commission geuing them hereby full authority to proceed at theyr owne discretions as appeareth more at large by the tenor therof ensuing ¶ A certayne declaration or interpretation of the king touching certayne poyntes and doubtes in his former Commission with licence geuen to the Commissioners as well to determine as to heare in the case of Boner EDward the 6. by the grace of God king of England Fraunce Leaue 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 to the Câ—â—â—missionâ—â— to deteâ—â—mine aâ—gainst 〈◊〉 and Ireland defendor of the fayth and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head to the moste reuerend father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitane and Primate of England the right reuerend Father iâ— God Nicholas Byshop of Rochester our trusty and right welbeloued Counsellours Syr William Peter and Syr Thomas Smyth Knightes or two principal Secretaries and William May Doctor of law Ciuill and Deane of Paules greeting Where we of late by the aduise of our most entyrely beloued Vncle Edward Duke of Somerset Gouernor of our Person and Protectour of our Reâ—lmes Dominions and subiects and the rest of our priuy Counseâ— haue addressed vnto you 5.4.3 of you our letters patentes of CoÌ„mission bearing date at Westminster the 8. daye of September in the third yeare of our raign willing you by force therof to heare the matters and cause of contempt therein expressed and calling before you aswell the denouncers therof as also the right reuerend Father in God Edmund Bishop of London agaynst whom such denunciation is made as in our sayd letters of Commission more at large doth appeare we be now credibly informed that vpon the sayd Commission diuers
the sayd Archbishop and hys Colleagues and dyd except agaynst their iurisdiction as suspect and they therby vnmeete persons to proceed against hym and therefore accordyng to his former appeale he intended to submit himselfe vnder the tuition protection defence of the Kings Maiestie for whose honour and reuerence sake he sayd they ought not to proceed any further against hym Boner still sticketh to his former protestatioÌ„s prouocations but quietly suffer hym to vse the benefite of all his recusations prouocations and other lawfull remedies before alledged wyth other superfluous words at large to be read and seen as followeth The second recusation made by Edmund Boner Bishop of London IN the name of God Amen For as much as both naturall reason and all good pollicies of lawes especially of this Realme of England do admit and suffer hym that is conuented before an vncompetent and suspect Iudge to refuse hym and to decline hys iurisdiction in as much as the lawe and reason on the one side willeth processe to run vprightly and iustly and that in corruption and malice and the other side earnestly laboureth to the contrary and needeth therefore to bee brideled And for because ye my Lord of Caunterbury with your Colleagues in this behalfe deputed as ye say Commissioners agaynst me neither haue obserued your sayde Commission neyther yet proceeded hetherto agaynst me after any laudable lawful or any good fashion of iudgement but contrarywise contrary to your Commission and agaynst the law good reason and order haue at sundry tymes and in sundry actes attempted and done many things agaynst me vnlawfully vnseemly and vniustly and suffer the like to be attempted and done by other not reformyng and amendyng the same as appeareth in diuers and sondry thinges remayning in your actes And moreouer because you my sayd Lord wyth your sayd Colleagues both haue in myne absence beyng let with iust causes of impediment which accordyng to the lawes of this realme I haue fully alledged Anno 1550. and very sufficiently and iustly prooued accordyng to the order of the Kinges Ecclesiasticall lawes iniuriously and much to the hinderaunce of my name person tytle dignitie and state and also otherwyse specially in my presence agaynst all lawes good order and reason without good cause or grouÌ„d attempted and done many thinges against me especially touching myne imprisonment sending me to strait ward and yet commaunding me to make answer as appeareth in your vnlawfull actes I for these causes and also for that ye my sayde Lorde and your sayde Colleagues proceedyng with Syr Thomas Smith Knight whom vpon iust and lawfull causes I haue refused recused and declined and fauoured ye haue maintayned supported and borne in hys vnlawfull and euill doings do also refuse recuse and declyne you my sayd Lorde wyth the rest of your sayde Colleagues agreeyng and ioynyng wyth you and doe accept agaynst your proceedyngs doynges and iurisdiction as suspect and thereby vnmeete personnes to proceede herein agaynst me And further do alledge that hauyng bene prouoked to the Kings most excellent Maiestie as appeareth by the tenor of my prouocation remainyng in your actes wherein I doe protest that I intend to adheare and cleaue vnto submitting my selfe vnto the tuition protection and defence of hys sayd Maiestie in this behalfe ye in any wyse ought not if ye regard the person and authoritie of hys graces royall power as ye ought to doe to proceede here in agaynst me especially for the honour and reuerence ye ought to haue vnto hys Maiestie in this behalfe And because it appeareth that ye doe not duely and circumspectly consider the same as ye ought to do but more and more do grieue me that not considered I both here to all purposes repeat my former recusation prouocation and all other remedies that heretofore I haue vsed and mentioned in your sayd actes And also do by these presentes refuse recuse and decline you my sayd Lord and your sayd Colleagues and your iurisdiction vpon causes aforesayd offering my selfe prompt and ready to prooue all the same afore an arbiter and arbitors accordyng to the tenure and forme of the law herein to be chosen requiryng you all for that honour and reuerence ye ought to beare to our sayd soueraigne Lorde and his lawes allowed and approoued in this behalfe that ye doe not attempt or doe ne yet suffer to be attempted or done any thyngs in any wyse against me or vnto my preiudice but suffer me to vse and enioy the benefit of my said former and this recusation prouocation allegation and other lawfull remedies mentioned in your sayd acts And in case ye doe de facto where ye ought not to deiure attempt or suffer any thynges to be attempted or done agaynst me in any wyse herein I protest herewith and hereby of my great griefe and hurt in that behalfe that not onely I doe intend to appeale from you but also accordyng to the kynges Ecclesiasticall lawes to accuse and complayne vpon you as iustly and truly I both may and ought to doe Notwithstandyng these recusations and former appellation the Archbishop with the rest tolde hym playne that they would be styll hys Iudges and proceed agaynst hym accordyng to the Kings Commission vntil they dyd receiue a Supersedeas which if he did obtayne they would gladly obey Then the Bish. seyng that they would still proceede agaynst hym An other appellation of Boner to the king did there likewise intimate an other appellation vnto the Kings Maiestie expressing therein in effect no other matter but such as is already alleaged in the two former recusations and appeale sauyng that he requireth that letters dimissories or appellatories might be geuen him accordyng to law Boner standing vpon his recusations and appellations denyeth to make answer and that for his better safegarde he did submit himselfe vnder the protection of the kyng The Commissioners for all this stucke stil vnto theyr Commission and would not in any case deferre but vrged him straitly to make a more full aunswer to his Articles then he had done To whom the Bishop sayd that he would stand vnto his recusations and appellations before made and would not make other aunswer Then the Delegates demaunded of him what cause he had to alledge why he ought not to be declared pro confesso vpon the Articles wherunto he had not fully answered the B. still answering as before that he would adhere vnto his appellation and recusation Wherupon the Archb. with consent of the rest seeyng his pertinacie pronounced hym Contumax Boner declared Câ—â—â—tumaâ— pro conâ—eâ—â—so that 〈◊〉 gilty and in payne thereof declared him pro confesso vpoÌ„ all the articles which he had not aunswered This done Maister Secretary Smith shewed foorth a Letter which the Byshoppe of London had before that tyme sente vnto the Lorde Mayor and the Aldermen of the Citie of London the tenour whereof ensueth as followeth ¶ To the ryght honourable and my very good
that he had found heretofore at the handes of the B. of Caunterbury and the rest of y e Colleagues in this matter much extremitie and crueltie iniuries losses and griefes contrary to Gods law and the lawes and statutes of this Realme and agaynst Iustice charitie and good order beyng well assured if they were not stayed but proceeded they would adde more euill to euill losse to losse displeasure to displeasure as sayde he their seruants haue reported and they agreeable doe shew the same Agayne in the sayde appeale he shewed that the Byshop of Canterbury and the other Commissioners ought to haue considered and done better in that matter for honour and obedience to the Kings Maiestie which hetherto they haue not done said he in that they haue not giuen place to hys prouocations and appellations heretofore made vnto hys grace iustly and lawfully and vpon good and iust causes namely for the vniust griefes they did agaynst him which he sayd to appeare in the Actes of that matter as in pronouncyng hym contumacem vnreasonably without good cause and further in assignyng the terme ad audiendum finale decretum and in committyng hym to straight prisone as appeareth in theyr Actes Therefore he dyd not onelye Ex abundanti ad omnem iuris cautelam decline and refuse theyr pretensed iurisdiction as before but also by these presentes here shewed he dyd appeale from the sayd Byshop of Caunterbury and the rest vnto the Kinges Maiestie askyng also those Letters of Appeale which the lawe doth admitte saying he dyd not intend to goe from hys former prouocations and appellations but to ioyne and cleaue vnto them in euery part and parcell submittyng hymselfe to the protection and defence of the Kinges Maiestie and he therein made intimation to the Byshoppe of Caunterbury and the sayd Colleagues to all intentes and purposes that might come thereof Furthermore as touchyng the Supplication aboue mentioned which Boner as we sayd put vp in writyng to the Commissioners the Copie thereof here vnder likewyse ensueth ¶ The Supplication of Boner to the Chauncellor of England with all the rest of the Kings Maiesties most honourable priuy Counsaile PLease iâ— your most honourable good Lordships with my most humble recommendations to vnderstand The copy of Boners supplicatioÌ„ that albeit I haue accordyng to the lawes statutes and ordinaunces of this realme made supplicatioâ— prouocation and appellation vnto the kyngs most excelleâ—â— Maiestie from the vnlawfull and wycked processe of the Archbishop of Caunterbury the byshoppe of Rochester Maister Secretary Smith and the Deane of Paules as also as well from their vniust interlocutorie as also their diffinitiue sentence whereby in law I ought to haue libertie to come abroad and prosecute the same yet such is the malignitie of the Iudges agaynst me with bearing and maintenaunce of other which sundry and many ways haue sought my ruine and destruction that I am here penned and locked vp vsed very extremely at their pleasure and for the contentation of the sayd Maister Smith and not suffred to finde sureties or to goe abroad to prosecute and sue my sayd appellation In consideration whereof it may please your said good Lordships to take some order and redresse herein especially for that it is now the tyme that the Kings subsidie now due ought to be called vpon and iustice also ministred vnto his Maiesties subiects which beyng as I now am I cannot be suffered to doe And thus without further extending my letter therein consideryng that your great wisedomes experience and goodnesse can gather of a little what is expedient and necessary for the whole I doe beseech almighty God to preserue and keepe well all your honourable good Lordships Written in hast this 7. of October 1549. in the Marshalsey Your honourable Lordshyps poore Orator most bounden Bedes man Edmund London These thynges ended the Archbyshop said vnto him My Lord where you say that you come coacted The Archbishop answered to the words of Boner or els ye would not haue appeared I do much maruell of you For you would therby make vs and this audience here beleue that because you are a prisoner ye ought not therefore to aunswer Which if it were true were enough to confound the whole state of this Realme For I dare say that of the greatest prisoners and rebels that euer your keeper there meaning the Undermarshall hath had vnder hym he cannot shewe me one that hath vsed such defence as you here haue done Well quoth the B. if my keper were learned in y e lawes I could shew him my mynd therein Boner Well sayde the Archbyshop I haue read ouer all the Lawes as well as you The archbishop Secretary Smith but to an other ende and purpose then you did and yet I can finde no suche priuiledge in this matter Then M. Secretary Smith did very sore burthen and charge hym how disobediently and rebelliously he had always behaued himselfe towards the Kings Maiestie and his authoritie Whereupon the B. vnder his protestation aunswered agayne Boner that he was the kings Maiesties lawfull and true subiect and did acknowledge his highnesse to be his gracious soueraigne Lord or els he would not haue appealed vnto him as he had yea would gladly lay his hands and his necke also vnder his graces feete and therefore he desired that his highnesse lawes and iustice might be ministred vnto him Yea quoth Maister Secretary you say wel my Lord Secretary Smith Boner compared to the rebells of Deuonshire but I pray you what others haue all these rebels both in Northfolke Deuonshire and Cornewall and other places done Haue they not said thus We be the kings true Subiectes we acknowledge hym for our Kyng and we will obey his lawes with such lyke and yet when eyther Commaundement Letter or Pardon was brought vnto them from his Maiestie they beleeued it not but sayd it was forged and made vnder a hedge and was Gentlemens doyngs so that in deede they would not nor dyd obey any thing Ah sir sayd the B. I perceyue your meanyng Boner as who should say that the Bish. of London is a rebell like them Yea by my troth quoth the Secretary The people laughing at Boner D. May. Whereat the people laughed Then the Deane of Paules said vnto him that he maruelled much and was very sory to see him so vntractable that he would not suffer the Iudges to speake To whome the B. disdainfully aunswered Well M. Deane Boner with his tauntes you must say somewhat And likewise at an other tyme as the Deane was speaking he interrupted him and sayd You may speake when your turne commeth Secretary Smith Then said Secretary Smith I would you knew your duetie I would quoth he agayne you knew it as wel as I with an infinite more of other such stubburne and contemptuous talke and behauiour towardes them Boner which the Commissioners waying and perceiuyng no likelihood
good eftsoones to desire you that my sayde Chaplayne may haue his libertye wherein I assure you yee shall much gratifie me beeing not a little troubled that he is so long in prison without iust cause seeyng the matter of hys imprisonmente is discharged by the promise made to the Emperours Maiestie as in my late letter I declared vnto you Wherefore my Lordes I pray you let me haue knowledge by this bearer how ye will vse me in this matter wherein if ye do pleasure me accordingly then shall it well appeare that ye regard the foresayd promise and I wil not forget your gentlenes therein God willing but requite it to my power And thus with my harty commendations to you all I bid you farewell From Beaulien the 21. of Iune Your assured friend to my power Mary ¶ The Counsaile to the Lady Mary the 24. of Iune 1551. AFter our humble coÌ„mendatioÌ„s to your grace we haue receiued your graces letter of the 21. heereof wherin is receaued the same request that in your former letters hath bene made for the release of Doctor Mallet and therein also your grace seemeth to haue looked for the same answer of your former letter y t which indeed partly was omitted as your grace coÌ„iectureth by the reason of y e Kings Maiesties affaires wherwith we â—e throughly occupied partly for that we had no other thing to answere then you had heeretofore heard in the same matter And therefore where your grace desireth a resolute answere we assure the same we be right sory for y â— matter that it should be your graces chaunce to moue it as we cannot with our duties to y e Kings Maiestie accomplishe your desire So necessary a thing it is to see the lawes of the Realme executed indifferently in all manner of persons and in these cases of contempt of the Ecclesiasticall orders of this Church of England the same may not without y e great displeasure of God the slaunder of y e state be neglected and therfore your grace may please to vnderstand we haue not only punished your Chaplein but all such others whom we find in like case to haue disobeyed the lawes of the Kings maiestie And touching the excuse your grace oftentimes vseth of a promise made we assure your grace none of vs al nor any other of the Counsell as your grace hath bene certified hath euer bene priuie to any such promise otherwise then hath bene written And in that matter your grace had plaine answer both by vs of the kings maiesties Counsell at your being last in his Maiesties presence and therein also your grace might perceiue his Maiesties determination whereunto we beseech your grace not only to incline your selfe but also to iudge well of vs that do addict our selues to doe our dueties And so also shall we be ready to do with all oure harts our due reuerence towarde your grace whose preseruation we commend to almighty God with our praier The Copie of the Lady Maryes letter to the Kings Maiestie MY duetie most humbly remembred vnto your Maiesty it may please the same to be aduertised that I haue receyued by my seruauntes your most honourable letters the conteâ—â—es whereof do not a little trouble me and so muche the more for that any of my sayd seruants should moue or attempt me in matters touching my soule which I thinke the meanest subiect within your highnes Realme could euill 〈◊〉 at their seruauntes handes hauing for my part vtterly refused heeretofore to talke with them in such matters and of all other persons 〈…〉 them therein to whome I haue declared what I think◠〈◊〉 â—hee which trusted that your Maiestie woulde haue suffered 〈◊〉 your poore sister and beadewomaÌ„ to haue vsed the accustomed masse which the King your father mine with all his predecâ—ssours did euermore vse wherein also I haue ben brought vp froÌ„ my 〈◊〉 And therevnto my conscience doth not only bind me which by no meanes will suffer me to thinke one thing and do another 〈◊〉 also the promise made to the Emperour by your Maiesties counsaile was an assurance to me that in so doing I should not offâ—nd the â—wes although they seeme nowe to qualifie and 〈…〉 thing And at my last wayting vpon your Maiesty I was 〈◊〉 to declare my mind and conscience to the same and desired your highnes rather then you should constraine me to leaue 〈…〉 my life wherunto your maiesty made me a very geÌ„tle answer And now I most humbly beseech your highnes to geueÌ„ me leaue to write what I thinke touching your Maiesties letters In deede they be signed with your owne hand and neuertheles in mine opinioÌ„ not your maiesties in effect because it is wel knoweÌ„ as heretofore I haue declared in the preseÌ„ce of your highnesse that although our Lorde be praysed your Maiestie hath farre more knowledge and greater giftes then others of your yeres yet it is not possible that your highnes can at these yeares be a iudge in matters of religion and therefore I take it that the matter in your letters proceedeth from such as doe wish those thinges to take place which be most agreeable to themselues by whose doinges your maiesty not offended I entend not to rule my conscience And thus without molesting your Highnes any further I humbly beseech the same eueÌ„ for Gods sake to beare with me as you haue done and not to thinke that by my doinges or example anye inconuenience might growe to your maiestie or your Realme for I vse it not after such sorte putting no doubt but in time to come whether I liue or dye your maiestie shall perceaue that mine intent is grounded vpon a true loue towardes you whose royall estate I beseeche almighty God long to continue which is and shall be my dayly praier according to my duety And after pardon craued of your maiesty for these rude and bold letters if neyther at my humble suite nor for the regard of the promise made to the Emperour your Highnesse will suffer and beare with mee as you haue done till your Maiestye may be a iudge herein your selfe and rightly vnderstand theyr proceedinges of whiche your goodnesse yet I despayre not otherwise rather then to offend God and my conscience I offer my body at your wil and death shall be more welcome then life with a troubled conscience most humbly beseeching your Maiestye to pardon my slownes in aunswering your letters For mine olde disease woulde not suffer me to write any sooner And thus I praye almighty God to keep your Maiesty in all vertue and honor with good health and long life to his pleasure From my poore house at Copped hall the xix of Aug. Your Maiesties most humble sister Mary ¶ A Copy of the kinges maiesties letters to the sayde Lady Mary RIght deare and right intirely beloued sister we greete you well and let you knowe that it greeueth vs muche to perceiue no amendment in you of that which we for Gods
charge him they did in the end vpon his second promise leaue him at libertie onely willing him to remaine at his house at London because they thought it most meete to sequester him from his Dioces for a time and beeing come to hys house he began afreshe to ruffle and meddle in matters wherein he had neither Commission nor authority parte whereof touched the Kings Maiestie whereof being yet once againe admonished by his grace and their Lordships he did not only promise to conforme himselfe in all things like a good subiect but also because he vnderstoode that he was diuersly reported of many were also offended with him he offered to declare to the world his conformitie and promised in an open Sermon so to open his minde in sondry articles agreed vpon Wynchester â—â—â—miseth 〈◊〉 shew his â—â—â—formitie 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 y t such as had ben offended shuld haue no more cause to be offended but well satisfied in all things declaring further that as his own conscience was well satisfied and liked well the Kings procedings within this Realme so would he vtter his coÌ„science abroade to the satisfaction good quiet of others and yet all this notwithstanding at the daye appoynted he did not only most arrogantly and disobedieÌ„tly and that in the presence of his Maiestie their grace and Lordships and of such an audience as the like wherof hath not lightly ben sene speake of certaine matters contrary to an expresse commandement geuen to him on his Maiesties behalfe both by mouth and by letters Wynchester 〈◊〉 his sermoÌ„ warâ—eth â—â—om his â—wne promise the 〈◊〉 comâ—andemeÌ„t but also in the rest of the articles whereunto hee had agreed before vsed such a maner of vtteraunce as was very like euen there presently to haue sturred a greate tumult and in certaine great matters touching the policie of the Realme handled himselfe so colourably as therein hee shewed himselfe an open great offender a very sedicious maÌ„ for as much as these his procedings were of such sort as being suffred to escape vnpunished might breede innumerable incoÌ„ueniences that the clemency shewed to him afore by their grace Lordships did worke in him no good effect but rather a pride and boldnes to demeane himselfe more and more disobediently against his Maiestie and his graces proceedings it was determined by their grace and Lordships that he should be committed to the Tower and be conueyed thether by Sir Anthony Wingfield â—ynchester 〈◊〉 his sediâ—â—ous disoâ—edience 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 and that at the time of his Commission Sir Rafe Sadler and William Hunnings Clerke of the Counsaile should seale vp the dores of such places in his house as they should thinke meeâ—e all which was done accordingly By this euidence aboue mentioned first heere is of the reader to be noted how â—ewdly and disobediently the sayd Sir Gardiner misused himselfe in the Kings generall visitation in denying to receiue such orders and iniunctioÌ„s as for the which he iustly deserued much more seueare punishment Albeit the King with his Uncle the Lord Protectour more gently proceding with him were contented only to make him taste the Fleete In the which house as his durance was not long so his entreating and ordering was very easie Out of the whiche Fleete diuers and sondry letters he wrote to the Lord Protectour and other of the Counsaile certayne also to the Archbishop of Canterbury and some to M. Ridley Bishop of London the particulars were too loÌ„g here to rehearse coÌ„sidering how this booke is so ouercharged as ye see already 〈◊〉 the letâ—â—s of winâ—â—ester read the booke 〈◊〉 Actes â—â—â—uments the first 〈◊〉 pag. 〈◊〉 and especially seeing the same be notified in our first edition sufficiently as is aforesayd Wherfore omitting the rehearsall of the said letters and referring the reader to the booke aforesayde I will onely repeate one letter of the said Byshop with the aunsweres of the Lord Protectour vnto the same the contents whereof be these as followeth ¶ A Letter of Winchester to Mayster Vaughan MAister Vaughan after my right hartye commendations In my last letters to my Lord Protectour signifying according to the generall commaundemet by letters geuen to all Iustices of peace the state of this Shire I declared as I supposed true the Shire to be in good order quiet conformity for I had not then herd of any alteratioÌ„ in this Shire which the said letters of coÌ„maÌ„dement did forbid Now of late within these two dayes I haue heard of a great and detestable if it be true that is tolde me innouation in the towne of Portesmouth Images plucked downe at Portesmouth where the Images of Christ and his sayntes haue bene most contemptuously pulled downe and spitefully handled Herein I thought good both to write to you and the Mayor the kinges maiesties chiefe ministers as well to know the trueth as to consult with you for the reformation of it to the intent I may be seene to discharge my duety and discharging it in deede both to God and the kinges maiesty vnder whome I am here appoynted to haue cure and care to relieue suche as be by any wayes fallen and preserue the rest that stand from like daunger Ye are a Gentleman with whom I haue had acquayntance and whom I know to be wise esteeme to haue more knowledge wisedome and discretion then to allow any such enormities and therefore do the more willingly consult with you herein with request freÌ„dly to know of you the very truth in the matter who be the doers and the circumstances of it whether ye thinke the matter so farre gone with the multitude whether the reproofe and disprouing of the deed might without a further daunger be enterprised in the Pulpit or not minding if it may so be to send one thether for that purpose vpon Sonday next comming I would vse preaching as it shoulde not be occasion of anye further folly where a folly is begun and to a multitude perswaded in that opinion of destruction of Images I would neuer preach Then were the old fathers and bishops in the primitiue Church with Epiphanius and Carolus Magnus and all the Councell of Franckford hogs and dogs For as scripture willeth vs we should cast no precious stones before Hogs Such as be infected with that opinion they be Hogs and worse then Hogs if there be any grosser beastes then hogs be and haue bene euer so taken and in England they are called Lollards who denying images thought therewithall the craftes of paynting grauing to be generally superfluous and nought and agaynst Gods lawes In Germany suche as maintained that opinion of destroying of Images were accompted the dregges cast out by Luther after he had tunned all his brewinges in Christes religion and so taken as Hogges meate For the reproufe of whom Luther wrote a booke specially and I haue with myne eyes seene the Images standing in all Churches where Luther
proceded he to the answering of the foresaid articles but in such crafty and obstinate maner as before he had ben accustomed and as at large to them that be desirous to vnderstand the processe thereof in the first booke of the Actes and monuments of the Church aforesayd may appeare But briefly to conclude such exceptions he vsed against the witnesses produced against him and he himself produced such a number of witnesses in hys defence and vsed so many delaies and cauillations that in the end the commissioners seeing his stubbernesse proceeded to the sentence definitiue against him as heere vnder followeth ¶ Sentence definitiue agaynst Stephen Gardiner B. of Winchester IN the name of God Amen By authority of a commission by the high and mighty prince our moste gracious soueraigne Lord Edward the 6. by the grace of God king of England France and Ireland defendour of the faith The finall sentence 〈◊〉 the depriâ—uation of the Bishâ—â— of Winchâ—â—ster and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head the tenour whereof hereafter ensueth Edward the sixt c. Wee Thomas by the sufferaunce of God Archbishop of Canterburye primate of all Englande and Metropolitane wyth the right reuerende fathers in God Nicholas Bishop of London Thomas Byshop of Ely and Henry Byshop of Lincolne Syr William Peter Knight one of our said soueraigne Lordes two principall secretaries Sir Iames Hales knight one of our sayd soueraigne Lordes Iustices of his common plees Griffith Leison and Iohn Oliuer Doctors of the Ciuill lawe Richard Goodrike Iohn Gosnold Esquiers delegates and Iudges assigned appointed rightfully lawfully proceeding according to the forme tenor of y e said commission for the hearing examinatioÌ„ debating finall determination of y e causes and matters in the said commisson mentioned and conteined and vpon the contentes of the same and certeine articles obiected of office against you Steeuen Bishop of Winchester as more plainely and fully is mencioned and declared in the said commission and articles all which we repute take here for to be expressed after sondry iudiciall assemblies examinations debatings of the said cause matters with all incidents emergents circumstances to the same or any of them belonging and the same also beeing by vs ofte heard seene and well vnderstanded and with good and mature examination and deliberation debated coÌ„sidered and fully wayed and pondred obseruing all such order and other things as by the lawes equitie and the said commission ought or needed heerein to be obserued in the presence of you Steeuen Bishop of Winchester do proceede to the geuing of our finall iudgement and sentence diffinitiue in this maner following For asmuch as by the actes inacted exhibites and allegations purposed deduced alleaged by sufficient proofes with your owne confession in the causes aforesaid had and made we do euidently finde and perceiue that you Steuen Bishop of Winchester haue not only transgressed the commaundements mencioned in the same Wynchester fouÌ„d to be a transgressor but also haue of loÌ„g time notwithstanding many admonitions and commandements geuen vnto you to the contrary remained a person much grudging speaking and repugning against the godly reformations of abuses in religion set foorth by the kings highnes authoritie within this his realme and forasmuch as we do also finde you a notable open and contemptuous disobeyer of sondry godly and iust commandements geuen vnto you by our sayd soueraigne Lorde and by his authoritie in diuers great and weighty causes touching and coÌ„cerning his princely office the state and common quietnes of this his Realme and for asmuch as you haue and yet do contemptuously refuse to recognise your notorious negligences misbehauiours contempts and disobedieÌ„ces remaining still after a great number of seuerall admonitions alwaies more and more indurate incorrigible and without all hope of amendement coÌ„trary both to your oth sworne obedience promise and also your bouÌ„den duety of allegiance and for the great sclaunder and offence of the people arise in many partes of the Realme through your wilfull doings sayings and preachings contrary to the common order of the Realme and for sondry other great causes by the actes exhibites your owne confession and proofes of this processe more fully appearing considering withall that nothing effectually hath ben on your behalfe alleaged purposed and proued ne by any other meanes appeareth whiche doth or may empayre or take away the proofes made against you vpon the sayde matters and other the premisses Therefore we Thomas Archbyshop of Caunterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitane Iudge delegate aforesayd calling God before our eyes with expresse consent and assent of Nicholas B. of London Tho. bishop of Ely Henry B. of Lincolne sir Wil. Peter Knight Sir Iames Hales Knight Griffith Leison and Ioh. Oliuer doctors of the ciuill law Rich. Goodricke and Iohn Gosnold Esquires Iudges and Colleagues with vs in the matters aforesaid and with the counsaile of diuers learned men in the lawes with whome we haue conferred in and vpon the premisses SteueÌ„ Gardiner Bish. of Winchester depriueâ— of his Bishopricke do iudge and determine you Steeuen Bishop of Winchester to be depriued and remooued from the Bishopricke of Winchester and from all the rightes authoritie emoluments commodities and other apurtenaunces to the sayde Byshoprike in any wise belonging whatsoeuer they be and by these presentes we doe depriue and remoue you from your sayd Bishopricke and all rites other commodities aforesaide and further pronounce declare the sayd Byshopricke of Winchester to all effectes and purposes to be voyde by this our sentence definitiue which we geue pronounce and declare in these writings This sentence diffinitiue being geuen the sayd Byshop of Winchester vnder his former protestatioÌ„s dissented froÌ„ the geuing and reading thereof and froÌ„ the same as vniust of no efficacy or effect in law and in that that the same conteineth excessiue punishmeÌ„t and for other causes expressed in his appellation aforesayd did then and there apud Acta immediately after the pronouncing of the seÌ„tence by word of mouth appeale to the kinges Royall maiestie first secondly and thirdly instantly more instantly SteueÌ„ Gardiner appealeth from the Sentence to the king most instantly asked apostles or letters dimissorials to be geuen and granted vnto him And also vnder protestation not to recede from the sayd appellation asked a copy of the sayd seÌ„tence the Iudges declaring that they would first knowe the kinges pleasure and his counsell therin vpon the reading and geuing of which sentence the promoters willed Will. Say and Thomas Aâ—gall to make a publicke Instrument and the witnesses then and there present to beare testimony thereunto c. And thus haue ye the whole discourse and processe of Steuen Gardiner late bishop of Winchester vnto whome the Papisticall cleargy doth so much leane as to a mighty Atlas an vpholder of their ruinous Religion The end of
testimonie agaynst this house These wordes were by the sayd bishop spoken with such a vehemencie that some of the hearers afterward coÌ„fessed their heare to stand vpright on their heades Thys done the sayde Bishop departed and so returned to hys house Testified by a certayn reuerend personage yet aliue being then the bishops Chaplaine ¶ And thus making an ende of this ninth Booke touching the story and raigne of King Edward and hauing also somewhat sayde before of the nature and disposition of the Lady Mary whereby the way may be prepared the better to the troubles of the next Booke following we intend the grace of God assisting vs therein now further to proceede in describing the actes and proceedings of the foresayde Lady Mary comming now to be Queene and aduaunced next after this godly King Edward to the Crowne of this Realme of England ¶ The ende of the ninth Booke The beginning of the tenth booke conteyning the horrible and bloudy tyme of QVEENE MARY The Preface to the Reader FORASMVCH AS WE ARE come now to the tyme of Queene Mary when as so many were put to death for the cause especially of the Masse and the sacramente of the Altar as they cal it I thought it conuenient vppon the occasion geuen in the ingresse of this foresayd story first to prefixe before by the way of Preface some declaration collected out of dyuers Writers and Authors whereby to set foorth to the Reader the great absurditie wicked abuse and perillous idolatry of the popish Masse declaring how and by whom it came in clouted and patched vp of diuers additions to the intent that the Reader seeing the vayne institution thereof and waying the true causes why it is to be exploded out of all Churches may the better thereby iudge of their death which gaue their liues for the testimonie and the word of truth First concerning the origine of this word Missa whether it came of Missath in Hebrue Deut. 16. or Mincha Leuit. 6. which signifieth oblation or whether it came of sending away the Catechumeni and persons vnwoorthy out of the place of ministration Isidorus libr. 6. Etym. Hugo in speculo eccles Tertull. contra Marc. lib. 3. Cypria de bono patient as certayne writers suppose or else Ex missis donarijs symbolis quae in offertorio proponebantur that is of gifts and oblations wont to be offred before the Communion or whether Missa is deriued of Remissa which in the former writers was vsed pro remissione or whether Missa pro licentia dimittendi populum is taken of sending away the congregation by the words of the Deacon Ite missa est or whether Missa hath his denomination of that which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dimission of the people alluding to the story of the Hebrues licensed of Pharao to depart out of captiuitie after the eating of the Pasche Lambe as I read in an old popish booke intituled De Sacramentis Sacerdotalibus or what tearme soeuer it be else either Latin Syrian Dutch or French or howsoeuer else it taketh his appellation as there is no certaintie amongst themselues that most magnifie the Masse so it is no matter to vs that stand against it To my iudgemente and coniecture this latter exposition of the word seemeth more probable both for that it is ioined with the word Ite which signifieth departing and also the time and order in speaking the same agreeth well thereunto For as the old Hebrues after the supper of the Lamb and not before were set at liberty streight way to departe out of captiuitie so belike to declare our mysticall deliuerance by Christ offred and slaine for vs first goeth before the action of the holy supper that done then the Priest or Deacon sayth Ite missa est meaning thereby the deliuerance and liberty which is spiritually wrought in vs after that the body of Christ hath bene offered for vs. Or else if Missa otherwise should signifie the celebration or the action of the supper it woulde not be saide Ite but venite missa est c. Moreouer besides other arguments there be certayne places in Cassianus which seeme to declare that Missa signifieth dimission of the congregation Cassianus de canonicis orationibus lib. 3. c. 7. Vigils were called in the olde tyme the assemblies of the congregation in the night in common prayer and fasting as where he writeth of him which commeth not in time to the howers of prayer saying it not to be lawfull for him to enter into the oratory Sed stantem prae foribus congregationis missam praestolari debere i. that he ought standing without the dores to waite for the misse of the congregation And againe in the next Chapter following he inferreth the same vocable Missa in like sense Contenti inquit somno qui nobis post vigiliarum missam vsque ad lucis indulgetur aduentum i. Contented sayeth he with so muche sleepe as serueth vs for the misse or breaking vp of the night vigill vnto the comming of the day c. But to let passe these coniectures this by the way I geue to the Reader to note and vnderstande that as thys word Missa neuer yet entred into the Church nor vsage among the Greekes so it is to be obserued among our Latin interpretors Socra Eccl. hist. l. 2. c. 13 Epiph. trip hist. li. 4. c. 13. Sozom. li. â— cap. 32. Epiph. trip hist l. 3. c. 1â— Socrat. l. 3. cap. 9. Epiph. trip hist. l. 6. c. 23. Socrat. l. 5. cap. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epiph. trip hist. li. 7. 〈◊〉 13. apud scipsos miâ—â—sarum celâ—â—brare solâ—â—niâ— c. Item collectas 〈◊〉 c. quod Socrates grece li. 5. cap. 22. inquit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The masse a double enemâ— against Chriâ—â— The Masse 〈◊〉 iurious to thâ— Priesthood 〈◊〉 Christ. Maior such as haue translated of old time the ancient Greeke Authours as Eusebius and the Tripartite history and others that where the Greeke Writers haue these tearmes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to call the congregation to conuent assemblies and so frequent together the old translator of Epiphanius and other translate vppon the same Missas facere collectas agere missas celebrare c. wherby it is not obscure to be seene that this word Masse in the olde time was not onely and peculiarly applied to the action of consecration but as wel to all Christen assemblies collected or congregations conuented according as in the Dutch language this name Messe signifieth any solemne frequency or panagyrie or gathering together of the people But of the name inough and too much To expresse now the absurditie of the saide Masse and the irreligious application thereof vnseemely and perilous for Christians to vse I will bring two or three reasons of the worthy seruaunt and Martyr of God Iohn Bradford to which many more may be also added out
February in the yeare of our Lord 1554. The next moneth following which was the moneth of March and the 4. day of the sayd moneth there was a letter sent from the Queene to Boner Bishop of London with certaine Articles also annexed to be put in speedy execution conteining as heere followeth ¶ Articles sent from the Queene to the Bishop of London by him and his officers at her commaundement to be put in speedy execution with her letter to the sayd Byshop before prefixed RIght reuerend Father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greete you well A letter oâ— Q. Mary 〈◊〉 B. Boner Causes deâ—clared March 3. And wheras heretofore in y e time of the late raigne of our most dearest brother K. Edward y e 6. whose soule god pardon dyuers notable crimes excesses and faults with sundrye kindes of heresies sâ—â—â—ny adultery other enormities haue bene committed w tin this our Realme and other our dominions the same continuing yet hitherto in like disorder since the beginning of our raigne without any correction or reformation at all the people both of the laitie and also of the clergye chiefly of the clergy haue bene geuen to much insolency vngodly rule greatly to the displeasure of almighty God very much to our regret euill contentation to no litle slander of other Christen realmes and in a maner to the subuersion cleane defacing of this our realme and remembring our duety to almighty god to be to foresee as much as in vs may be y t all vertue and godly liuing shoulde be embraced florish increase and therewith also y t all vice vngodly behauiour shuld be banished and put away or at y e least wise so nigh as might be so bridled and kept vnder that godlines and honesty might haue y e ouer hand vnderstanding by very credible report and publike fame to ouâ— no smal heauines and discomfort that within your dioces as well in not exempted as exempted places the like disorder and euill behauiour hath bene done vsed like also to continue and increase vnlesse due prouision be had and made to reforme y e same which earnestly in very deede we do mind intend to the vttermost all y e waies we can possible trusting of Gods furtherance and helpe in y t behalfe For these causes and other most iust coÌ„siderations vs mouing we send vnto you certayne articles of suche speciall matter as among other thinges be most necessary now to be put in execution by you your officers extending to the end by vs desired and the reformation aforesaide wherein ye shall be charged with our speciall commaundement by these our letters to the intent you and your officers may y e more earnestly and boldly proceed therunto without feare of any presumption to be noted on your part or danger to be incurred of any such our Lawes as by our doinges of that is in the said articles conteined might any wise greue you whatsoeuer be threatned in any such case And therfore we straightly charge and commaund you and your sayde officers to proceede to the execution of the said Articles w tout all tracte and delay as ye will answere to the contrary Geuen vnder our signet at our Palace of Westminster the 3. day of march the first yeare of our raigne Articles sent from the Queene vnto the Ordinary and by him and his Officers by her commaundement to be put in execution in the whole dioces FIrst that euery Byshop and his Officers with all other hauing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction shall with all speede and diligence and all maner of waies to them possible put in execution all such Canons and Ecclesiasticall Lawes heeretofore in the time of King Henry the eyght vsed within this Realme of England and the dominions of the same nor being directly and expresly contrary to the lawes and statutes of this Realme Item that no B. or any his Officer or other person aforesayd heereafter in any of their ecclesiasticall writings in processe or other extraiuditiall actes doe vse to put in this clause or sentence Regia authoritate fulcitus Item that no Byshop or any his officers or other person aforesaid do hereafter exact or demaund in the admission of any person to any ecclesiasticall promotion order or office any oth touching the primacy or succession as of late in few yeares passed hath bene accustomed and vsed Item that euery B. and his officers with all other persons aforesayd haue a vigilant eie and vse speciall diligeÌ„ce and foresight that no person be admitted or receiued to any ecclesiasticall function benefice or office being a sacramentary infected or defamed with any notable kinde of heresie or other great crime and that the said B. do stay and cause to be stayed as much as lieth in him that benefices and Ecclesiasticall promotions do not notably decay or take hinderaÌ„ce by passing or coÌ„firming of vnreasonable leases Item that euery Bishop and all other persons aforesayde For punishing â—eâ—esies 〈◊〉 they call them do diligently trauaile for the repressing of heresies and notable crimes especially in the Cleargie duely correcting and punishing the same Item that euery B. and all the other persons aforesayd do likewise trauell for the condemning and repressing of corrupt and naughty opinions vnlawfull bookes ballades and other pernitious and hurtfull deuices engendring hatred amongst the people and discord amongst the same And the Scholemaisters Preachers and Teachers do exercise and vse their offices and duties without teaching preaching or setting foorth any euill and corrupt doctrine and that doing the contrary they may be by the Bishop and his said officers punished and remoued Item that euery B. and all the other persons aforesayd proceding summarely with all celerity speed may and shall depriue or declare depriued and amoue according to their learning discretion all such persons froÌ„ their benefices ecclesiasticall promotioÌ„s who coÌ„trary to the state of their order the laudable custome of the church haue married vsed women as their wiues or otherwise notably and slaunderously disordered or abused themselues sequestring also during the said proces the fruites and profites of the said benefices and Ecclesiasticall promotions Item that the said B. and all other persons aforesayd do vse more lenity and clemency with such as haue married whose wiues be dead then with other whose women do yet remayne aliue And likewise such Priestes as with the consents of their wiues or women openly in the presence of the B. do professe to abstaine Prouision 〈◊〉 priestes which reâ—â—unce their 〈◊〉 to be vsed more fauourably In which case after penaunce effectually done the Bishop according to his discretion and wisedome may vpon iust consideration receiue and admit them agayne to their former administration so it be not in the same place appointing them such a portion to liue vpon to be payde out of their benefice whereof they be depriued by
of D. Tresham who supplying the roome of y e Subdeane in Christes Church A Popish exhortatiâ—â— of Doct. Tresham after he had called all the Studentes of the Colledge together with great Eloquence art persuasory began to commend the dignity of the masse vnto them declaring that there was stuffe in Scripture enough to proue the masse good Then to allure them to the catholick seruice of the Church he vsed these reasons declaring that there were a goodly coÌ„pany of Copes The great reasons oâ— D. Treshâ—â— that were appoynted to Windsore but he had fouÌ„d the Queene so gracious vnto him that they should come to Christes church Now if they like honest men would come to Church they should weare them on holydayes And besides all this he would get them the Lady Bell of Bampton that should make the sweetest ring in all England And as for an holy watersprinckle he had already the fayrest that was within the realme Wherfore he thought that no man would be so mad to forgo these commodityes c. Which thinges I rehearse that it may appeare what want of descretion is in the fathers of popery into what idle follies such men do fall Whome I beseech the Lord if it be his pleasure to reduce to a better truth to opeÌ„ theyr eyes to see theyr owne blindnes To proceed now further in the course race of our story where as we left being before in the moneth of NoueÌ„ber it foloweth more that in the * Where note that the Prince of Queen Maryes Statutes doth erre his suppâ—â—tation which saith that this Parlâ—â—ment begâ—â— the 11. of this monâ—â—â— which daâ— was then Sonday xij day of the same month of Nouember being Monday beganne the Parliament holden at Westminster to the beginning whereof both the king and Queene rode in theyr Parliament robes hauing 2. swords borne before them The Earle of Penbroke bare his sword the Earle of Westmerland bare the Queenes They had ij cappes of maynteinaunce borne before them whereof the Earle of Arundell bare one and the Earle oâ— Shrewsbury the other Cardinall Poole landed at Douer vpon the Wednesday being the xxi day of Nouember on which day one Act passed in the parliameÌ„t for his restitution in bloud vtterly repealing as false most slaunderous that Act made against him in king Henry the eightes tyme and on the next day being Thursday and the xxij of Nouember the King and the Queene both came to the Parliament house to geue theyr royall assent to establish this Act agaynst his comming Cardinal Poole arâ—â—ueth in England Ex Statuâ—â— an 1. 〈◊〉 Regis Pâ—â—lip 〈◊〉 cap. 8. Nouembâ—â— 28. Upon the Saterday being the xxiiij of Nouember the sayd Cardinal came by water to London so to Lambeth house which was ready prepared agaynst his comming Upon the Wednesday folowing being the 28. of Nouember there was generall procession in Paules for ioy y t the Quene was conceiued and quick with child as it was declared in a letter sent from the counsell to the Byshop of London The same day at this procession was present ten Bishops with al the Prebendaries of Paules and also the Lord Maior with the Aldermen and a greate number of Commons of the City in theyr best aray The Copy of the CouÌ„cels letter here foloweth ad perpetuam rei memoriam * A Copy of a letter sent from the Counsell vnto Edmund Boner Byshop of London concerning Queene Mary conceiued with Childe AFter our harty commendations vnto your good Lordshippe whereas it hath pleased almighty God amongest other his infinite benefites of late most graciouslye poured vpon vs and thys whole Realme to extend his benediction vpon the Queenes maiesty in such sort as she is conceiued and quicke of childe Wherby her maiesty being our natural liege Lady queene vndoubted inheritor of this imperiall crowne good hope of certayn succession in the crowne is geuen vnto vs consequeÌ„tly the great calamities which for want of such succession might otherwise haue fallen vpon vs our posterity shall by Gods grace be well auoyded if we thankefully acknowledge this benefite of almighty God endeuoring our selues with earnest repentance to thanke honor and serue him as we be most bounden These be not onely to aduertise you of these good newes to be by you published in all places within your Dioces but also to pray and require you that both your selfe do geue God thankes with vs for this his especial grace and also geue order that thankes may be openly geuen by singing of Te Deum in all the churches within your sayde Dioces and that likewise all priestes and other Ecclesiasticall ministers in theyr Masses and other diuine seruices may continually pray to almighty God so to extend his holy hand ouer his maiesty the kinges highnes and this whole Realme as this thing being by his omnipotent power graciously thus begon may by the same be well continued and brought to good effect to the glory of his name Whereunto albeit we doubt not ye woulde of your selfe haue had special regard without these our letters yet for the earnest desire we haue to haue this thing done out of hand diligently continued we haue also written these our letters to put you in remembraunce and so bid your Lordshippe most hartily well to fare From Westminster the 27. of Nouember 1554. Your assured louing frendes S. Winton Chancel Arundell F. Shrewesbury Edward Darby Henry Sussex Iohn Bathon R Rich. Thomas Warthom Iohn Huddilstone R. Southwell Also the same day in the afternoone Cardinall Poole came to the Parliament house Cardinall Poole commeth to the Parlament which at that present was kept in the great Chamber of the Court at Whitehall for that the Queene was then sicke and could not go abroad where as the King and Queenes Maiesties sittyng vnder y e cloth of Estate the Cardinall sitting on theyr right hand with all the other Estates of the Parliament being present the Byshop of Winchester being Lord Chauncellor began in this maner ¶ The wordes of Winchester for receiuing of the Cardinall MY Lordes of the vpper house you my Maisters of the nether house here is present the right reuerend father in God my Lord Cardinall Poole come froÌ„ the apostolicke Sea of Rome 〈◊〉 words 〈◊〉 Cardâ—â—all Poole As Ambassador to the king and Queenes Maiesties vpon one of the weightiest causes that euer happened in this Realme whiche perteineth to the glory of God and your vniuersall benefite The which Ambassage theyr Maiesties pleasure is to be signified vnto you all by his owne mouth trusting that you will receiue and accept it in as beneuolent and thankefull wise as their highnesses haue done and that you will geue an attent and inclinable eare vnto him When the Lord Chauncellor had thus ended his talke the Cardinall taking the time then offered began hys Oration wherin he declared the causes of
to talke one of them one thynge and an other a nother Alas neither wil these men heare me if I speake neither yet wil they suffer me to write There is no remedy but let them alone and commit the matter to God Yet I began to go forward and said that I would make the texts to agree and to prooue my purpose well enough L. Chan. No no thou canst proue nothing by the scripture The scripture is dead it must haue a liuely expositor Rog. No the Scripture is aliue But let me goe forwarde wyth my purpose Wor. All heretikes haue alleaged the scriptures for them and therefore we must haue a liuely expositor for them Rog. Yea all heretikes haue alleaged the Scriptures for them but they were coÌ„futed by the scriptures and by none other expositor Wor. But they wold not confesse that they were ouercome by the scriptures I am sure of that Rog. I beleeue that and yet were they ouercome by them and in all CouÌ„cels they were disputed with ouerthrown by the scriptures Confused 〈◊〉 withâ—ut order And heere I would haue declared howe they ought to procede in these daies so haue come againe to my purpose but it was vnpossible for one asked one thing an other saide an other so that I was faine to holde my peace and let them talke And euen wheÌ„ I would haue taken holde on my proofe the Lord Chauncelor bad to prison with me again and away away said he we haue more to talke withall if I woulde not be reformed so he termed it away away Then vp I stoode for I had kneeled all the while Then sir Richard Southwell who stoode by in a window sayd to me thou wilt not burne in this geare when it commeth to the purpose Sir Rich. Southwell â—peaketh I know well that Rog. Sir I cannot tel but I trust to my Lorde God yes lifting vp mine eyes vnto heauen B. of Ely The bishop of Ely speaketh Then my Lord of Ely told me much of the Quenes Maiesties pleasure and meaning and set it out wyth large wordes saying that shee tooke them that woulde not receiue the Bishop of Romes supremacie to be vnworthy to haue her mercy c. Roger. I sayde I would not refuse her mercye and yet I neuer offended her in all my life And that I besought her Grace and all their honors to be good to me reseruing my conscience Diuers speake at once No quoth they then a great sorte of them Diuers â—peake at â—nce and specially Secretary Bourne a maried priest and haue not offended the lawe Rog. I sayd I had not broken the Queenes lawe nor yet any poynt of the law of the Realme therin For I married where it was lawfull Diuers at once Where was that sayd they thinking that to be vnlawfull in all places Diuers speake at â—nce Rog. In Dutchland And if ye had not heere in England made an open law that Priestes might haue had wiues I would neuer haue come home again â—awfulnes of priestes mariage 〈◊〉 Rogers â—rought 8. children with him â—nto Engâ—â—nd for I brought a wife and eight children with me whych thing yee might be sure that I would not haue done if the lawes of the realme had not permitted it before Then there was a great noise some saying that I was come too soone with such a sort I should finde a soure comming of it and some one thing some another And one said I coulde not well perceyue who that there was neuer catholike man or countrey that euer graunted that a priest might haue a wife Rog. I sayd the Catholike churche neuer denied mariage to Priests M Rogers had away to prison nor yet to any other man and therewith was I going out of the chamber the sergeaunt which brought me thether hauing me by the arme Wor. Then the B. of Worcester turned his face towardes me and saide that I wist not where that church was or is Rog. I sayd yes that I could tell where it was but therewith went the sergeant with me out of the doore This was the very true effecte of all that was spoken vnto me and of all that I answeared thereunto And here would I gladly make a more perfect answere to al y e former obiections as also a due proofe of that which I had taken in hande but at this present I was informed that I should to morrow come to further answer Wherefore I am compelled to leaue out that which I wold most gladly haue done desiring here the hearty vnfained helpe of the praiers of all Christes true members the true imps of the true vnfained Catholicke Churche that the Lorde God of all coÌ„solation wil now be my comfort aid streÌ„gth buckler and shield as also of all my brethren that are in the same case distresse that I and they all may despise all maner of threats and cruelty and euen the bitter burning fire and the dreadfull dart of death and sticke like true soldiors to our deare louing captaine Christ our onely redemer and sauiour and also the only true head of the church that doth all in vs al which is y e very property of an heade and is a thing that all the Bishops of Rome cannot doe and that we doe not traiterously run out of his tents or rather out of the plaine field from him in the most ieopardy of the battaile but that wee may perseuere in the fight if he will not otherwise deliuer vs till we be most cruelly slayne of his enemies For this I most hartely and at thys present with weeping teares most instantly earnestly desire and beseeche you all to pray And also if I die to be good to my poore and most honest wife being a poore straunger and all my little soules hers and my children M. Rogers carefull prayer for his wife and children Whom with all the whole faithfull and true catholicke congregation of Christ the Lord of life and death saue keepe and defend in all the troubles and assaults of this vaine world and to bryng at the last to euerlasting saluation the true sure inheritance of all crossed Christians Amen Amen The 27. day of Ianuarie at night The 2. confession of Iohn Rogers made and that should haue bene made if I might haue ben heard the 28. and 29. day of Ianuarie 1555. FIrst being asked againe by the Lord Chauncelor The 2. examination of Maister Rogers whether I would come into one Church wyth the Bishops and whole realme as now was concluded by ParliameÌ„t in the which all the Realme was conuerted to the Catholike churche of Rome and so receiue the mercy before profered me arising againe with the whole realme Winchesters mercy what it meaneth out of the schisme and errour in which we had long bene with recantation of my errors I answered that before I coulde not tell what his mercy meant but now I vnderstoode that it was
specially seeing the like had bene permitted in that olde Churche euen in generall Councels yea and that in one of the chiefest councels that euer was 〈◊〉 put 〈◊〉 the B. of 〈◊〉 vnto which neither any Actes of thys Parlament nor yet any of the late general Councels of the Bishops of Rome oughte to be compared For sayde I if Henry the eight were aliue and should call a Parliament and begin to determine a thing and heere I woulde haue alledged the example of the Acte of making the Queene a Bastarde and of making himselfe the Superiour head but I coulde not being interrupted of one whome God forgeue then will ye poynting to my Lorde Chauncellour and yee and yee and so yee all poyntinge to the rest of the Byshops say Amen yea and it like your grace it is mete that it be so enacted c. M. Rogers 〈◊〉 suffered to speake Here my L. Chauncellor would suffer me to speake no more but had me sit downe mockingly saying that I was sent for to be instructed of them and I woulde take vppon me to be their instructer My Lorde quoth I I stand and sit not shall I not be suffred to speake for my life Marke here â—he spirite of this prelate Shall we suffer thee to tel a tale and to prate quoth he and with that he stoode vp and began to face me after hys olde arrogant proude fashion for he perceiued that I was in a way to haue touched them somwhat which he thought to hynder by dashing mee oute of my tale and so hee dyd For I could neuer be suffered to come to my tale agayne no not to one word of it but he had much like communication with me as he had the day before and as his maner is taunt vpon taunt and checke vpon checke For in that case being Gods cause I tolde hym he should not make me afraid to speake L. Chaun See what a spirit this fellow hath sayde he fineding fault at mine accustomed earnestnesse and harty maner of speaking Rog. The godly spirite of M. Rogers I haue a true spirite quoth I agreeing and obeying the word of God and would further haue sayd that I was neuer the worse but the better to be earnest in a iuste and true cause and in my master Christes matters but I might not be heard And at the length he proceeded towardes his excommunication and condemnation after that I had told hym that his Church of Rome was the Churche of Antichriste The church of Rome is the Church of Antichrist meaning the lawes and doctrine now vsed in Rome meaning the false doctrine and tyrannicall lawes with the maintenance thereof by cruel persecution vsed by the Bishops of the said church which the B. of Winchester and the rest of his fellow bishops that are now in EnglaÌ„d are the chiefe members Of lawes I meane quoth I and not of all men and women which are in the popes church Likewise when I was saide to haue denied their sacrameÌ„t whereof he made his wonted reuerent mention more to maintaine his kingdom therby then for the true reuerence of Christes institution more for his owne and his Popish generations sake then for religion or Gods sake I tolde him after what order I did speake of it for the manner of hys speakyng was not agreeing to my woords which are before recited in the communication that wee had the 28. of Ianuarie wherewith he was not contented but he asked the audience whether I had not simply denied y e sacrameÌ„t How the Bishop of Winchester seketh for bloud They would haue said and did what he lusted for the most of them were of his owne seruants at that day the 29. day of Ianuary I meane At the last I said I wil neuer denye that I sayd that is that your doctrine of the Sacrament is false but yet I tell you after what order I sayde it To be short he red my condemnation before me perticularly mentioning therein but 2. Articles firste that I affirmed the Romish catholike church to be the church of antichrist and that I denied the reality of their sacrament He cursed me to be disgraded and condemned and put into the hands of the laitie and so he gaue me ouer into the shriues hands which were much better then his ¶ The copie of which his condemnation here I thought to put downe in English to the entent that the same being here once expressed may serue for all other sentences condemnatory through the whole storie to be referred vnto The Sentence condemnatorie against Maister Rogers IN the name of God Amen Wee Steuen by the permission of God Bishop of Winchester lawfully and ryghtly proceeding with all godly fauoure by authority and vertue of our office againste thee Iohn Rogers priest The 〈◊〉 definitâ—â—â— against M. Râ—geâ—s alias called Mathewe before vs personally heere present being accused and detected and notoriously slaundered of heresie hauing heard seene and vnderstand and with al diligent deliberation wayed discussed and considered the merites of the cause all thinges being obserued which by vs in thys behalfe in order of law ought to be obserued sitting in our iudgement seat the name of Christ being first called vpon and hauing God onely before our eyes because by the actes enacted propounded and exhibited in this matter and by thine owne confession iudicially made before vs we do finde that thou hast taught holden and affirmed and obstinately defended diuers errours heresies and damnable opinions contrarye to the doctrine and determination of the holy church as namely these That the catholike churche of Rome is the church of Antichrist Item His Articles that in the Sacrament of the aultare there is not substantially nor really the natural bodye and bloude of Christe The which aforesayde heresies and damnable opinions being contrary to the law of God and determination of the vniuersall and Apostolicall Church thou hast arrogantly stubburnely and wittingly mainteined held and affirmed and also defended before vs as wel in thys iudgement as also otherwise and with the like obstinacie stubbornnesse malice and blindnesse of heart both wittingly and willingly haste affirmed that thou wilt beleeue maintaine and holde affirme and declare the same Wee therefore S. Wint. B. Ordinarie and Diocesan aforesayd by the consent and assent as well of our reuerend brethren the Lord Bishops heere present and assistent as also by the counsell and iudgement of diuers worshipfull lawyers and professours of Diuinitie wyth whome wee haue communicated in thys behalfe doe declare and pronounce thee the sayde Iohn Rogers otherwise called Mathewe through thy demerites transgressions obstinacies wilfulnesses whych thou manifolde wayes hast incurred by thine owne wicked and stubburne obstinacie to haue bene and to be guiltie in the detestable horrible and wicked offence of hereticall prauitie and execrable doctrine and that thou haste before vs sondry times spoken maintained and wittingly and stubbornely defended the sayde
paine and griefe to departe from goods and frends but yet not so muche as to departe from grace and heauen it selfe Wherefore there is neither felicitye nor aduersitye of this world that can appeare to be great if it be wayed with the ioyes or paines in the world to come I can do no more but pray for you do the same for me for Gods sake For my parte I thanke the heauenly Father I haue made mine accompts and appoynted my selfe vnto the wil of the heauenly father as he will so I will by hys grace For Gods sake as soone as ye can send my poore wife and children some letter from you and my letter also which I sent of late to D. As it was tolde me shee neuer had letter from me sithens the coÌ„ming of M.S. vnto her the more to blame the messengers for I haue wrytten diuers times The Lord comfort them and prouide for them for I am able to doe nothing in worldly things Shee is a godly and wise woman If my meaning had bene accomplished she should haue hadde necessary things but that I meant God can performe to whom I commend both heâ— and you all M. Hoopeâ— care and commendation of his wife I am a precious Iewell nowe and daintely kept neuer so daintely for neither mine owne man nor any of the seruants of the house may come to me but my keper alone a simple rude maÌ„ God knoweth but I am nothing carefull thereof Fare yee well the 21. of Ian. 1555. Yours bounden Iohn Hooper Amongst many other memorable acts and notes worthy to be remembred in the hystorie of M. Hooper thys also is not to be forgotten which happened betwene hym and a bragging Frier a little after the beginning of his imprisonment the storie whereof heere followeth A Frier came from Fraunce to England wyth greate vaunt Talke betwene M. Hooper anâ— a Fryer in the prison asking who was the greatest hereticke in all England thinking belike to doe some great act vpon hym To whom aunswere was made that M. Hooper had then the greatest name to be the chiefest ringleader who was then in the Fleete The Frier comming to him asked whye hee was committed to prison He sayd for debt Nay sayde he it was for heresie Which when the other had denyed what sayst thou quoth he to hoc est corpus meum M. Hooper being partly mooued at the sodaine question desired that hee mighte aske of him againe an other question whyche was thys What remained after the consecration in the Sacrament any breade or no No breade at all sayeth hee And when yee breake it what doe yee breake If the mateâ—riall body of Christ be broken in the sacrament then iâ— the commaundemâ—t of Gods word broken either bread or the body sayde Maister Hooper No bread sayd the Frier but the body onely If you doe so sayd M. Hooper ye do great iniurie not onely to the body of Christe but also yee breake the Scriptures which saye Yee shall not breake of hym one bone c. Wyth y t the Frier hauing nothing be like to aunswere recoyled backe and with his circles and crosses began to vse exorcisme against M. Hooper as though c. Thys and more wrote master Hooper to mistres Wilkinson in a letter which letter was read vnto her by Iohn Kelke Comparison betwene M. Hooper and Polycarpus WHen I see and beholde y e great patience of these blessed Martyrs in our daies in their sufferings so quietly and coÌ„stantly abiding the torments that are ministred vnto them of princes for Gods cause â— compariâ—â—n beâ—weene M. â—ooper â—olycarpus mee thinkes I maye wel and worthely compare them vnto the olde Martyrs of the primatiue Churche In the number of whome if comparison be to be made betwixt Saint and Saint Martyr and Martyr with whom might I match this blessed martyr M. Iohn Hooper better throughe the whole catalogue of the olde Martyrs then with Polycarpus the aunciente Bishop of Smirna Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 15. of whome Eusebius maketh mention in the Ecclesiasticall storie For as both agreed together in one kinde of punishmeÌ„t being both put to the fire so which of them shewed more patience and constancie in the time of their suffering it is hard to be sayde And though Polycarpus being set in the flame as the storie saith was kepte by myracle from the tormente of the fire till hee was stricken downe with weapon and so dispatched yet Hooper by no lesse myracle armed with patience feruent spirit of Gods comfort so quietly despised the violence thereof as though he had felt litle more then did Polycarpus in y e fire flaming round about him Moreouer as it is wrytten of Polycarpus when hee should haue bene tied to the stake Of this Policarpus read before he required to stand vntied saying these woordes Sinite me qui namque ignem ferre posse dedit dabit etiam vt sine vestra clauorum cautione immotus in rogo permaneam That is Let me alone I pray you for he that gaue me strength to come to this fire will also geue mee patience to abide in the same without your tying So likewise Hooper with the like spirite when hee shoulde haue bene tied with thre chaines to the stake requiring them to haue no such mistrust of him was tied but with one who and if he had not bene tied at all yet no doubte woulde haue no lesse aunswered to that great patience of Polycarpus M. Hooper compared to Polycarpus in life And as the ende of them bothe was much agreeing so the life of them both was such as might seme not farre discrepant In teaching like diligent both in zeale feruent in life vnspotted in manners and conuersation inculpable Bishops also martyrs both Briefly in teaching so pithy and fruitful that as they both were ioyned together in one Spirite so mighte they be ioyned in one name together of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit much fruitful to which name also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not much vnlike In thys the Martyrdome of M. Hooper may seeme in suffering to goe before though in time it followed the Martyrdome of Polycarpus for that he was bothe longer in prisone The cruell handling of M. Hooper and there also so cruellye handled by the malice of hys keepers as I thinke none of the olde martyrs euer suffered the like To thys also adde howe hee was disgraded by Boner wyth suche contumelies and reproches as I thinke in Polycarpus time was not vsed to any And as wee haue hitherto compared these two good Martyrs together The enemies of M. Hooper and of Polycarpus compared so nowe if we should compare the enemies and authours of their death one wyth the other wee should finde no inequalitie betwixt them both but that the aduersaries of M. Hooper semed to be more cruell and vnmerciful For they that put Polycarpus to
though nowe they were good doctrine vertuous and true Religion In the beginning of this rage of Antichrist a certayne Petigentleman after the sort of a Lawyer called Foster being Steward and keeper of Courtes Foster a lawyer and Ioh. Clerke of Hadley two notorious Papistes a man of no great skil but a bitter persecutour in those daies with one Iohn Clerke of Hadley which Foster had euer bene a secrete fauourer of all Romish Idolatry coÌ„spired w t the said Clerke to bring in the Pope his maumentry againe into Hadley Church For as yet Doct. Taylour as a good shepheard had retained and kept in his Church the godly Churchseruice and reformation made by king Edward most faithfully and earnestly preached against the popish corruptions which had infected the whole countrey round about Therefore the foresayde Foster and Clerke hyred one Iohn Auerth Iohn Auerth a right popishe Priest Person of Aldam a very money Mammonist a blinde leader of the blinde a Popish Idolatour and an open Aduouterer and whoremonger a very fit Minister for their purpose to come to Hadley and there to geue the onset to begin againe the Popish Masse To this purpose they builded vp with all haste possible the aultar entending to bring in their Masse agayn about the Palme Monday Marke how vnwillingly the people were to receiue the papacy agayne But this their deuise tooke none effect for in the night the aultar was beaten down Wherefore they built it vp againe the second time and layde diligent watch least any should againe breake it downe On the day following came Foster and Iohn Clerke bringing with them their Popish Sacrificer who brought with him all his implements and garmentes to play his Popish Pageant whome they and their men garded with swords and buklers least any man should disturbe him in his Missall Sacrfice When Doctour Taylour who according to hys custome sate at his booke studying y e word of God D. Taylours custome â—o study heard the bels ring he arose and went into the Churche supposing some thing had bene there to be done according to his Pastorall office and comming to the Churche he founde the Church dores shut and fast barred sauing the Chauncell dore which was onely latched Where he entring in and comming into the Chauncell Masse brought inâ—to Hadley with swoâ—â— and bucklers D. Taylor rebuked thâ— deuill The Papiâ—â— call al thâ— trumpery 〈◊〉 the Quenâ— proceedinâ— For you must remâ—â—â—ber that Antichrist rayneth by an others arme and not by hyâ— owne poâ—â—er Read Daniell 〈◊〉 the king 〈◊〉 faces the 〈◊〉 chapter D. Tayloâ— here playeth a righâ— Elias 3. Râ—â— 18. saw a Popishe Sacrificer in his robes with a broad new shauen crown ready to begin his Popish sacrifice beset rouÌ„d about with drawne swords and bucklers lest any maÌ„ should approch to disturbe him Then said Doctour Taylour Thou Deuill who made thee so bold to enter into this church of Christ to prophane and defile it with this abhominable Idolatry Wyth that start vp Foster and with an irefull and furious countenaunce sayd to Doctour Taylour thou Traytour what doest thou heere to let and disturbe the Queenes proceedings Doctour Taylour aunswered I am no traytour but I am the shepheard that God my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flocke wherfore I haue good authoritie to be here I command thee thou popish Wolfe in the name of God to auoyd heÌ„ce and not to presume here with such a Popish Idolatry to poyson Christes flocke Then said Foster wilt thou traytourly hereticke make a commotion resist violently the Queenes proceedings Doctour Taylour answered I make no coÌ„motion but it is you Papistes that maketh commotions and tumults I resist onely with Gods word agaynst your Popish Idolatries which are against Gods word y e Queenes honor tend to y e vtter subuersioÌ„ of this realme of England And further thou doest against the Canon law which coÌ„mandeth that no Masse be said but at a consecrate aultar When the Parson of Aldam heard that hee began to shrinke backe would haue left his saying of Masse TheÌ„ start vp Iohn Clerke and said M. Auerth be not afrayd ye haue a * Super alâ—tare is a stone conâ—â—â—crated by the bishoâ— commonlâ— of a footâ—â— long 〈◊〉 the Papiâ—â— cary in 〈◊〉 of an 〈◊〉 when thâ— masse for money in gentlemâ—â— houses The Papâ—â—â— argumenâ— wherewiâ—â— they mainâ—tayne the doctrine Sap. 2. Superaltare Go forth with your busines man Then Foster with his armed meÌ„ tooke Doctour Taylour and led him with strong hand out of the Church and the Popish Prelate proceeded in his Romishe Idolatry Doct. Taylours wife who folowed her husband into the Church when she saw her husband thus violently thrust out of his Church she kneeled downe held vp her haÌ„ds and with loude voyce sayd I beseeche God the righteous Iudge to auenge this iniury that this Popish Idolatour this day doth to the bloud of Christ. Then they thrust her out of the Church also and shut to the dores for they feared that the people woulde haue rent their Sacrificer in peeces NotwithstaÌ„ding one or two threw in great stones at the windowes and missed very little the popish masser Thus you see how without consente of the people the Popishe Masse was agayne set vp wyth battayle aray with swordes and buckelers with violence and tyranny which practise the Papistes haue euer yet vsed As for reason lawe or Scripture they haue none on their parte Therefore they are the same that saith The law of vnrighteousnes is our strength Come let vs oppresse the righteous without any feare c. Within a day or two after with all haste possible this Foster and Clerke made a complaint of Doctour Taylour by a letter written to Steuen Gardiner Byshop of Winchester and Lord Chauncellour When the Byshop heard this he sent a letter missiue to Doct. Taylour commaunding him within certaine daies to come and to appeare before him vpon his allegiance D. Tayloâ— cited by a letter misâ—siue to aunswere such complayntes as were made against him When Doctour Taylours frends heard of thys they were exceeding sory and agreeued in minde which then foreseing to what end the same matter would come seeing also all truth and iustice were troden vnder foote and falsehode with cruell tyranny were set aloft and ruled all the whole route his frendes I say came to him and earnestly counselled him to departe and flye alledging and declaring vnto him D. Tayloâ— frendes would 〈◊〉 him to fly that he could neyther be indifferently heard to speake his conscience and mind nor yet looke for iustice or fauour at the sayd Chauncellours handes who as it was well knowne was most fierce and cruell but must needes if he went vp to him wayte for imprisonment and cruell death at his hands Then sayd D. Taylour to his frends Deare frendes The valiaâ—â— courage of D. Tayloâ— in Christes cause
so praying God to geue him repeÌ„tance and a good minde after the excommunication was read he was deliuered to the Shyriffe of London so had to the Clincke and after to the Counter in the Poultry in the same City of London this being then purposed of his murtherers that he should be deliuered from theÌ„ce to the Earle of Darby to be coÌ„ueyed into Lankeshyre and there to be burned in the towne of Manchester where he was borne but theyr purpose concerning the place was afterward altered for they burned him in London After the condemnation of M. Bradford which was the last day of Ianuary M. Bradford being sent into pryson dyd there remayne vntill the fyrst day of Iuly during all which time diuers other conferences and conflictes he susteineth with sondry aduersaries whiche repayred vnto him in the prison Of whom first byshop Boner comming to the Counter to disgrade D. Taylor the 4. daye of February entred talk with y e said M. Bradford y e effect wherof here ensueth ¶ Priuate talke had with Iohn Bradford by such as the Prelates sent vnto him after the time of condemnation by his own writing Rogers 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 Bradâ—â—rd VPpon the 4. of February that is the same day M. Rogers was burned Bonor bishop of London came to y e Counter in the Poultry to disgrade M. Doctor Taylor about one of y e clocke at after noone But before he spake to M. Taylor he called for Iohn Bradford which was prisoner there whome when he saw he put of his cap and gaue him his hand saying because I perceaue that ye are desirous to conferre with some learned men therefore I haue brought M. Archdeacon Harpsfield to you And I tel you you doe like a wise man But I pray you goe roundly to worke for the time is but short Bradford Bradford â—â—sireth to â—â—nferre with none 〈◊〉 yet is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 My Lorde as roundly as I can I will goe to worke with you I neuer desired to conferre with any maÌ„ nor yet do Howbeit if ye will haue one to talke with me I am ready Boner What quoth the Byshop in a fume to the keeper did you not tell me that this man desired conference Keeper No my Lord I told you that he would not refuse to conferre with any but I did not say that it is his desire Boner Wel M. Bradford you are welbeloued I pray you consider yourselfe refuse not charitie when it is offered Bradford More 〈…〉 the Turkes then 〈…〉 the persecuâ—ing Papists In deede my Lord this is small charitie to condemne a man as you haue condemned me whiche neuer brake your lawes In turky a man may haue charitie but in England I could not yet finde it I was condemned for my fayth so soon as I vttered it at your requests before I had committed any thing agaynst the lawes And as for conference I am not afrayd to talke with whom you will But to say that I desire to conferre that do I not Boner Well well And so he called for M. Taylour and Bradford went his way An other priuate matter of talke betweene M. Bradford and Willerton Creswel Harding Harpsfield and other moe VUon an other day of February one M. Willerton a Chapleine of the bishop of London Talke betweene M. Bradford Willerton Chaplaine 〈◊〉 Bishop Boner did come to confer with Bradford but when he perceaued that Bradford desired not his comming and therfore wished rather his departing them abiding well maister Bradford quoth hee yet I pray you let vs conferre a litle perchaunce you may do me good If I can doe you none Upon which wordes Bradford was content and so they began to talke Willerton spake much of the Doctours the fathers of the bread in the 6. chapter of Sainct Iohn c. labouring to proue transubstantiation and that wicked men doe receaue Christ. But Bradford on the contrary part improued hys authorities so that they came to this issue that Willerton should draw out of the scriptures and Doctours hys reasons and Bradford woulde peruse them and if hee coulde not answere them then he would geue place Likewyse should Bradford draw out his reasons out of the scriptures and Doctours to which Willerton shoulde answere if he could and so for that day they departed The next day following in the morning Willerton seÌ„t halfe a sheete of paper written on both sides Willerton 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 to Bradford to 〈…〉 contaynyng no reasons howe he gathered his doctrine but onely bare senteÌ„ces Panis quem ego dabo c. The bread which I wil geue is my fleshe And the places in the 26. of Mathewe 14. of Marke 22. of Luke and the 10. and 11. to the Corinthians with some sentences of the Doctours All whiche made as much agaynst hym as with hym Willerton â—â—mmeth agayne to Bradford In the after noone he came himself and there they had a long talke to little effect At the length Willerton began to talk of the Church saying that Bradford swerued from the Church Brad. No that I do not but ye doe For the * Churche is Christes spouse and Christes obedient spouse which your Church is not which robbeth the people of the Lords cup and of seruice in the English tongue Willerton Why it is not profitable to haue the seruice in English for it is written Labia Sacerdotis custodiunt legem The lips of the Priest should keepe the law and out of his mouth man must looke for knowledge Bradford Soulde not the people then haue the scriptures Wherefore serueth this saying of Christ Searche the Scriptures Willerton This was not spoken to the people but to the Scribes and learned men Brad. Then the people must not haue the scriptures Argument Erunt docti a Deo Ergo the people must not haue the Scriptures Willerton No for it was written Erunt docti a Deo They shal be all taught of God Brad. And must we learne all at the priestes Willerton Yea. Brad. Then I see you would bring the people to hang vp Christ and let Barrabas goe as the priestes did then perswade the people At whiche wordes Mayster Willerton was so offended that he had no lust to talke any more M. Bradfordâ—â— reason agaynst transubstantiation not answered In the end Bradford gaue him the reasons which he had gathered agaynst transubstantiation prayed him to frame his into the forme of reasons and then quoth Bradford I will aunswere them Willer Well I will do so But first I wil answere yours The which thing vntill this day he hath not done Upon the 12. of February there came one of the Earle of Darbies seruantes to Bradford saying The Earle of Darbyes seruant My Lord hath sent me to you he willeth you to tender your selfe and he would be good Lord vnto you Bradford I thanke his Lordship for his good will toward me but in this case I can not tender
the same constancie as dyd the other and therfore were both deliuered vnto the sheriffes who were there present but afterwards were conueyed to the places aboue named there moste ioyfully gaue their houses to bee burned in the fire and their soules into the handes of Almighty God by Iesus Christ who hath assured them to a better hope of life This Diricke was a man whome the Lorde had blessed as well with temporall riches as with hys spirituall treasures which riches yet were no clogge or let vnto hys true professing of Christe the Lord by his grace so woorking in him of the which there was such hauocke made by the greedye raueners of that time that hys poore wyfe and children had little or none thereof During his imprisonment although he was well stricken in yeares and as it were past the time of learning yet he so spente his time that being at hys firste apprehension vtterly ignoraunt of any letter of the booke he coulde before his death read perfectly any Printed English Whos 's diligence and zeale is worthy no small commendation and therefore I thought it good not to lette it passe ouer in silence for the good encouragement and example of others Moreouer at his comming into the towne of Lewes to be burned the people called vpon him beseeching God to strengthen him in the faith of Iesus Christe Hee thanked them and prayed vnto God that of hys mercye hee woulde strengthen them in the lyke Faith And when hee came to the signe of the Starre the people drew neare vnto hym where the Sheriffe sayde that he had founde him a faithfull man in all hys aunsweres And as he came to the stake hee kneeled downe and made hys prayers and the Sheriffe made haste Then hys Booke was throwne into the barrell and when he had stript him selfe as a ioyfull member of God he went into the barrell him selfe And as soone as euer hee came in he tooke vp the booke and threw it among the people and then the Sheriffe commaunded in the Kynge and Queenes name in paine of death to throw in the booke againe And immediately that faithful member spake with a ioyfull voyce saying Deare brethren and sisterne witnes to you all that I am come to seale with my bloude Christes Gospell for because I know that it is true it is not vnknowen vnto all you but that it hath bene truely preached heere in Lewes and in all places of Englande and nowe it is not And for because that I wil not deny heere Gods Gospel and be obedient to mans lawes I am condemned to die Dear brethren and sisterne as many of you as doe beleeue vpon the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste vnto euerlasting life see you do the woorkes appertaining to the same And as many of you as doe beleeue vppon the Pope of Rome or any of his lawes which he sets foorth in these daies you do beleeue to your vtter condēnation and except the great mercy of God you shall burne in hell perpetually The Martyrdome of Diricke Caruer And then spake hee againe to all the people there present with a loude voyce saying deare brethren Horrible prouoking of Gods iudgement and all you whom I haue offended in woordes or in deede I aske you for the Lordes sake to forgeue mee and I heartely forgeue all you which haue offended me in thought word or dede And he sayd further in his praier Oh Lord my God thou hast wrytten Hee that wil not forsake wife children house Dirickes prayer at his death and all that euer he hath and take vp thy crosse and folow thee is not woorthy of thee But thou Lorde knowest that I haue forsaken all to come vnto thee Lord haue mercy vppon me for vnto thee I commend my spirit and my soule doth reioyce in thee These were the last wordes of that Faythfull member of Christe before the fire was put to hym And afterward that the fire came to him he cried Oh Lorde haue mercy vpon me and spronge vp in the fire calling vppon the name of Iesus and so ended Thomas Iueson Martyr AT Chichester Tho. Iueson of Euerson apprehended with Diricke and other suffered at Chichester about the same moneth was burned one Thomas Iueson of Godstone in the Countie of Surrey Carpenter whose apprehension examination and condemnation for as much as it was at one time and in one forme with Diricke Caruer and Iohn Launder I doe here omit referring the reader to their hystorie processe before mentioned sauing onely this his seuerall confession and priuate answers made before B. Boner at hys last examination in the Consistorie I thought not to pretermit who being examined vppon the foresayd Articles answered as followeth The aunsweres of Thomas Iueson to the obiections of Boner bishop of London in a chamber at his house in the moneth of Iuly 1. FIrst that he beleued that there is but one Catholike Aunsweres of Thomas Iueson vniuersall and whole Church of Christ thorough the whole worlde which hathe and holdeth the true faith and all the necessarye Articles of Christen beliefe all the Sacraments of Christe with the true vse and administration of the same 2. Item that he is necessarily bounden to beleeue geue credite in all the sayd faith Articles of the beliefe religion and the Sacraments of Christe and the administration of the same 3. Item that that faithe religion and administration of Sacraments which now is beleeued vsed taught and set forth in this our church of England is not agreeing wyth the truth and faith of Christ nor with the faith of the sayde Catholicke and vniuersall Church of Christ. 4. Item concerning the Sacrament of the aultar he beleueth that it is a very Idol and detestable before God as it is now ministred 5. Item that the Masse is nought and not of the institution of Christ but y t it is of mans inuention and demaunded whether any thing vsed in the Masse be good he sayde that he would answere no further 6. Item that hee had not receiued the Sacrament of the aultar since it hath ben ministred as now it is in England neither was confessed at any time within this seuen yeres nor he hath not heard Masse by the same space 7. Item that auricular confession is not necessarye to be made to a priest for that he cānot forgeue nor absolue him from sinnes 8. Item concerning the Sacrament of Baptisme that it is a signe and token of Christe as circumcision was and none otherwise and he beleeueth that his sinnes are * He meaneth not by the mere vertue of the element Two Sacramentes not washed away thereby but his body onely washed for his sinnes be washed away onely by Christes bloud 9. Item that there be in the Catholike Church of Christ onely two Sacraments that is to saye the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Sacrament of the Supper of the Lord and no
to the Byshop at Westminster for abolishing of Images Hyberniae Regem fidei defensorem in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hybernicae supremum caput sufficienter legitimae autorisatus Reuerendo in Christo confratri nostro domino Thomae eadem permissione Westm. Episcopo salutem fraternam in Domino charitatem Literas reuerendissimi in Christo patris domini D. Thomae permissione diuina Cantuar. Archiepiscopi totius Angliae primatis Metropolitani tenorem literarum missâ—â—uÌ„ clarissimorum prudentissimorum dominorum de priuatis consilijs dicti illustrissimi domini Regis in se continen nuper cum ea qua decuit reuerentia humiliter recepimus exequend in haec verba Thomas permissione diuina Cant. c. And then makyng a full recitall as well of the Archbishops precept as also of the Counsels letters aboue specified he concluded with these wordes Quocirca nos Edmund Episc. antedictus Literis praedictis pro nostro officio obtemperare vti decet summopere cupientes vestrae fraternitati tam ex parte dicti excellentissimi Domini nostri Regis ac praefatoâ—um clarissimorum dominoruÌ„ de priuatis suis consilijs quà m praedicti Reuer patris domini Cant. Archiepiscopi tenore praesentium committimus mandamus quatenus attentis per vos diligenter consideratis Literarum huiusmodi tenoribus eos in omnibus per omnia iuxta vim formam effectum earundem cum omni qua poteris celeritate accommoda per totam Dioces vestram West debite effectualiter exequi faciatis procuretis Datum in aedibus nostris London vicesimo die Febr. An. Dom. 1548. Et regni dicti illustrissimi domini nostri Regis Anno secundo Now by the tyme that these things were thus determined the learned men which the kyng had appointed as ye haue heard before to assemble together for the true and right maner of administring the Sacramente of the body and bloud of Christ An vniforme order of the Communion accordyng to the rule of the Scriptures of God and first vsage of the Primatiue Churche after theyr long learned wyse and deliberate aduises dyd finally conclude and agree vppon one godly and vniforme order of receiuing the same not much differyng from the maner at this present vsed authorised within this realm and church of England commonly called the Communion Which agreement beyng by them exhibited vnto the kyng and of hym most gladly accepted was thereupon publikely imprinted and by his maiesties Councell perticularly deuided and sent vnto euery bishop of the realme requiring and commaundyng them by their letters on the kings Maiesties behalfe that both they in their own persons should forthwith haue diligent and carefull respect to the due execution thereof and also should with all diligeÌ„ce cause the bookes which they then sent them to be deliuered vnto euery Parson Uicar and Curate within their Dioces that they likewise might well and sufficiently aduise themselues for the better distribution of the sayd communion according to the tenour of the sayd booke agaynst the feast of Easter then next ensuyng as more fully appeareth by these their letters here followyng ¶ Letters Missiue from the Counsaile to the Bishops of the Realme concernyng the Communion to be ministred in both kyndes Anno 1548. AFter our most harty commendatioÌ„s to your Lordship where in the Parliament late holden at Westminster The Communion in both kindes to be ministred it was amongest other things most godly established that according to the first institution and vse of the primatiue church the most holy sacrament of the body and bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ shuld be distributed to the people vnder the kyndes of bread wyne according to the effect whereof the kinges maiestie mynding with the aduice and consent of the Lord Protectors grace the rest of the Counsaile to haue the sayd Statute well executed in such sort or lyke as it is agreeable with the word of God so the same may be also faithfully and reuerently receiued of his most louing subiects to their comforts and wealth hath caused sundry of his maiesties most graue and well learned Prelates and other learned men in the Scriptures to assemble themselues for this matter who after long conference together haue with deliberate aduise finally agreed vpon such an order to be vsed in all places of the kings maiesties dominions in the distribution of the sayd most holy sacrament as may apeare to you by the booke thereof which we send herewith vnto you Albeit knowing your Lordships knowledge in the Scriptures and earnest good will zeale to the settyng foorth of all things accordyng to the truth thereof we be well assured you will of your owne good will and vpon respect to your duetie diligently set forth this most godly order here agreed vpon and commaunded to be vsed by the authoritie of the kyngs maiestie yet remembryng the crafty pratise of the deuill who ceaseth not by his members to worke by al wayes and meanes the hinderance of all godlines And consideryng furthermore that a great number of the Curates of the Realme eyther for lacke of knowledge can not or for want of good mynd will not be so redy to set forth the same as we would wish and as the importance of the matter and their owne bounden duties requireth we haue thought good to pray and require your Lordship and neuerthelesse in the kings maiesties our most dread Lordes name to commaund you to haue an earnest diligence and carefull respect both in your owne person and by all your officers and Ministers also to cause these bookes to be deliuered to euery Person Vicar and Curate within your Diocesse with such diligence as they may haue sufficient tyme well to instruct and aduise themselues for the distribution of the most holy Communion accordyng to the order of this booke before this Easter tyme and that they may by your good meanes be well directed to vse such good gentle and charitable instruction of their simple and vnlearned parishioners as may be to all their good satisfactions as much as may be praying you to consider that this order is set forth to the intent there should be in all partes of the Realme and among all men one vniforme manner quietly vsed The execution whereof lyke as it shall stand very much in the diligence of you and others of your vocation so doe we eftsoones require you to haue a diligent respect thereunto as ye tender the kings Maiesties pleasure and will aunswer for the contrary And thus we bidde your Lordship right hartily farewell From Westminster the 13. of March 1548. Your Lordships louyng friends Tho. Canterbury R. Rich. W. Saint Iohn Iohn Russell Hen. Arundel Anth. Wingfield W. Peter Edward North. Ed. Wootton By meanes as well of this letter and the godly order of the learned as also of the statute and acte of parliament before mentioned made for the stablishyng thereof all priuate blasphemous Masses
were now by iust authoritie fully abolished throughout this realme of England and the right vse of the Sacrament of the most precious body bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ truely restored in stead of the same But neuertheles as at no tyme any thing can be so well done of the godly but that the wicked will find some meanes subtilly to deface the same so likewyse at this present through the peruerse obstinacy dissembling frowardnes of many the inferior priests and ministers of the cathedrall and other churches of this realme Priuy hinderers of the Gospell there did aryse a meruailous schisme and varietie of fashions in celebratyng the common seruice and administration of the Sacraments Diuision among the Priestes about the kinges proceedinges and other rites and ceremonies of y e church For some zealously allowyng the kyngs proceedings dyd gladly follow the order thereof and others though not so willingly admittyng them did yet dissemblingly and patchingly vse some part of them but many carelesly coÌ„temnyng all would still exercise their old wonted popery Wherof the kyng and his Counsell hauyng good intelligence and fearyng the great inconueniences daungers that might happen through this diuision and beyng therwithall loth at the first to vse any great seuerity towards hys subiects but rather desirous by some quiet and godly order to bring them to some conformitie did by theyr prudent aduises againe appoynt the Archbishop of Caunterbury with certaine of the best learned and discrete bishops and other learned men diligently to consider and ponder the premisses and thereupon hauyng as well an eye and respect vnto the most sincere and pure Christian religion taught by the holy scriptures as also to the vsages of the primatiue church to draw and make one conuenient and meete order rite and fashion of common prayer administration of the Sacraments to be had and vsed within this his realme of England One vniforme order of commoÌ„ prayer and the dominions of y e same Who after most godly and learned conferences thorough the ayd of the holy Ghost with one vniforme agreement did coÌ„clude set forth and deliuer vnto the kings highnes a booke in English intituled A booke of the common prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church after the vse of the Church of England The whith his highnes receiuing with great comfort and quietnesse of mynd did forthwith exhibite vnto the Lords and Commons of the parliament then assembled at Westminster about the 4. of Nouember in the second yeare of his raigne and in the yeare of our Lord 1548. and continuyng vnto the 14. day of March then next ensuyng Whereupon the Lords spiritual and temporal and the Commons of the sayd Parliament assembled well and throughly consideryng as well the most godly trauayle of the kings highnes of the Lord Protector Anno 1548. and other of his maiesties Counsaile in gatheryng together the said Archbishop bishops and other learned men as the godly praiers orders rites and ceremonies in the sayd booke mentioned with the consideratioÌ„ of altering those things which were altered and retainyng those thyngs which were retayned in the same booke as also the honour of God and great quietnes which by the grace of God should ensue vpon that one and vniforme rite and order in such common prayer rites and externe ceremonies to be vsed throughout England Wales Calice and the marches of the same dyd first geue vnto hys highnesse most lowly and hearty thankes for the same Statut. 〈◊〉 3. Reg. Edâ— cap. â— and then most humbly prayed hym that it myght be ordeyned and enacted by hys Maiesty w t the assent of the sayd Lords and Commons in that parliament assembled and by the authoritie of the same that not only all and singular person and persons that had thertofore offended concernyng the premisses others then such as were then remainyng in Ward in the Tower of London or in the Fleete myght be pardoned thereof but also that all and singular ministers in any Cathedrall or parish Churches or other places within the Realme of EnglaÌ„d Wales Calice and the Marches of the same or other the kings dominions should from and after the feast of Pentecost next commyng be bounden to say and vse the Mattins Euensong celebration of the Lords supper and administration of ech of the Sacraments Petition 〈◊〉 the Lorde◠〈◊〉 in the Paâ—â—liament to the king and all other common and open prayer in such order forme as was mentioned in the sayd booke and none other or otherwise And albeit that they were so godly and good that they gaue occasion vnto euery honest and conformable man most willyngly to embrace them yet least any obstinate persons who willingly would disturbe so godly an order and quiete in this realme should not go vnpunished they further requested that it might be ordeined and enacted by the authoritie aforesayd that if any maner of Person Uicar or other what so euer minister that ought or should say or sing common prayer mencioned in the sayd booke or minister the Sacraments should after the sayd feast of Pentecost then next commyng refuse to vse the sayd common praier or to minister the Sacraments in such cathedrall or parish churches or other places as he shoulde vse or minister the same in such order fourme as they were mentioned set foorth in the sayd booke or should vse wilfully obstinately standyng in the same any other rite ceremonie order fourme or maner of masse openly or priuily or Mattinnes Euensong administration of the Sacraments or other open prayer then was mentioned and set foorth in the sayd booke or should preache declare or speake any thyng in the derogation or deprauyng of the sayde booke or any thyng therein conteyned or of any parte thereof and should be thereof lawfully conuicted accordyng to the lawes of this Realme by verdite of twelue men or by his owne confession or by the notorious euidence of the fact should loose and forfayte vnto the Kynges hyghnesse hys heyres successours for hys first offence one whole yeres profite of such one of his benefices or spirituall promotioÌ„s as it should please the kings highnes to assigne appoint and also for the same offence should suffer imprisonmeÌ„t by the space of sixe monthes without bayle or mainprise Anno 1549. But if any such person after his first conuiction Penaltye should eftsoneâ— offend agayne and be thereof in forme aforesayd lawfully coÌ„uicted then he should for his second offence suffer imprisonment by y e space of one whol yeare should also be depriued Ipso facto of all his spirituall promotions for euer so that it should be lawfull for the patrons Doners therof to geue the same agayne vnto any other learned man in like maner as if y â— sayd partie so offending were dead And if any the sayd person or persons shoulde agayne the thyrd tyme