hee for a lawe wee haue commission to proceede with them when they be dispatched let their frendes sue the lawe Nowe howe soone a man may haue such a commission at my Lord Chancelors hand you know It is as hard to be obtained as an enditement for Christ at Cayphas hande Besides that the Byshoppes hauing the Queene so vpon their sides may do all things both without the aduise and also the knowledge of the rest of the Lordes of the temporaltie who at this present haue found out the marke that the Bishops shote at and doubtles be not pleased with their doings I pray you helpe that our brother Sanders and the rest in the Marshalsey may vnderstande these things and sende me your answere betime Iudas non dormit nec scimus diem neque horam i. Iudas slepeth not neither know we the day nor the hour Dominus Iesus Christus suo sancto numine nos omnes consoletur adiuuet Amen i. The Lord Iesus Christ with his holy spirite comfort and strengthen vs all Amen May 6. 1554. Yours and with you vnto death in Christ I Hooper An exhortation to pacience sent to his godly wife Anne Hooper whereby all the true members of Christ may take comfort and courage to suffer trouble affliction for the profession of his holy Gospel OUr sauiour Iesus Christ dearely beloued my godly wife in s. Mathewes Gospell said to his disciples M. 18. that it was necessary sclaunders shoulde come and that they coulde not be auoided An effectuâ—â— letter of M Hooper sent to hys wife he perceiued as wel by the coÌ„dition of those that should pearish be lost for euer in the world to come as also by their affliction that should be saued For he sawe the greatest part of the people would contemne neglecte whatsoeuer true doctrine or godly wayes should be shewed vnto them or els receiue it vse it as they thought good to serue their pleasures without any profite to their soules at all not caring whether they liued as they were coÌ„manded by Gods word or not but would thinke it sufficient to be counted to haue the name of a Christian man wyth such workes and frutes of his profession and Christianitie as his fathers and elders after their custome maner esteeme and take to be good fruites and faithful works and wil not try them by the worde of God at all These men by the iust iudgement of God be deliuered vnto the crafte and subtiltie of the deuill Math. 14. that they may be kept by one sclaunderous stuÌ„bling blocke or other that they neuer come vnto Christ who came to saue those that were lost as yee may see howe God deliuereth wicked menne vp vnto their owne lustes to do one mischiefe after an other carelesse Rom. 1.1 1. Thes. 2. vntil they come into a reprobate minde that forgetteth it selfe and can not knowe what is expedient to be done or to be least vndone because they close their eyes and will not see the lyghte of Gods woorde offered vnto them and being thus blinded they preferre their owne vanities before the truth of Gods woorde Whereas such corrupt mindes be Errour taken for truth and persecution for Gods seruice there is also corrupt election and choyse of Gods honor so that the minde of man taketh falsehoode for truthe superstition for true religion death for life damnation for saluation hell for heauen and persecution of Christes members for Gods seruice and honour And as these men wilfully and voluntarily reiect the woorde of God euen so God most iustly deliuereth them into the blindnes of mind hardnes of heart that they can not vnderstand Iohn 8.9 nor yet consent to any thyng that God would haue preached and set foorth to his glory after his owne will and worde wherefore they hate it mortally of all things most detest Gods holy worde And as y e deuill hath entred into their hearts that they them selues can not nor will not come to Christ to be instructed by hys holy woord euen so can they not abide any other man to be a Christian man and to lead his life after the word of God but hate him persecute him robbe him imprisone hym yea and kil him whether he be man or womaÌ„ if God suffer it And so much are those wicked men blinded that they passe of no law whether it be Gods or mans but persecute such as neuer offended yea do euil to those that daily haue praied for them and wish them Gods grace In their Pharaonical and blind furie they haue no respect to nature No respect of nature with the persecuting aduersaries For the brother persecuteth the brother the father the sonne and most deare frends in diuelish sclaunder and offence are become most mortal ennemies And no marueile for when they haue chosen sundrye maisters the one the deuill the other God the one shall agree with the other as God and the deuell agree betweene them selues For this cause that the more parte of the worlde doth chuse to serue the deuill vnder cloaked hypocrisie of Gods title Christ sayd Math. â—8 It is expedient and necessary that sclanders should come and many meanes be deuised to keepe the litle babes of Christ from the heauenly father But Christ sayth Wo be vnto him by whome the offence commeth Yet is there no remedy man being of such corruption and hatred towardes God but that the euil shal be deceiued persecute the good and the good shall vnderstand the truth and suffer persecution for it vntill the worlds ende For as he that was borne after the flesh persecuted in times past him that was born after the spirite Geâ—e 4. Gâ—lat 4. euen so is it now Therefore for so much as we liue in this life amongst so many great pearils and daungers we must be wel assured by gods word how to beare them and how paciently to take them as they be sent to vs froÌ„ God We must also assure our selues that there is no other remedy for Christians in the time of trouble then Christ himself hath appoynted vs. Luke 2. In S. Luke he geueth vs thys commandement Ye shall possesse your liues in pacience sayeth he In the which words he geueth vs both commaundement what to doe and also great comfort and consolation in all troubles Hee sheweth also what is to be done and what is to be hoped for in troubles Patience in troubles onely the christian mans remedy Rom. 8. and when troubles happen he biddeth vs be pacient and in no case violently nor seditiously to resist our persecuters because God hath such care and charge of vs that he wil keepe in the mids of all troubles the very heares of our heade so that one of them shall not fall away without the wil and pleasure of our heauenly father Whether the haire therfore tarie in the head or fal from the head it is the wil of the
no reason neither shoulde it be possible for the Frenche king to induce the Pope to any gratuitie or pleasure for the king in his affaires Wherunto the king answearing againe sendeth worde to the French king The kinges aunswere to the French kinges request trusting and hoping wel of the perfect frendship of the French king his good brother that he will neuer suffer any suche perswasion to enter into hys breast whatsoeuer the great maister or any other shall say to the contrary thereof nor that he will require any thyng more of him to do for the Pope Chauncelour or other then hys Counsaile hath already deuised to be done in this behalfe especially considering the words of the sayd French kings promise made before as well to the Duke of Northfolke as to the other Ambassadours promising his frendship to to the King simply without requiring him to reuocate or infringe any suche acte or constitution made by the realme and Parlament to the contrary Perswading moreouer and laying before the eyes as well of the Pope as of the French king howe much it should redound to the Popes dishonouâ— and infamie to the sclaunder also of his cause if he should be seene so to pact and couenant wyth the king vpon such conditions for the administration of that thing which he in his owne conscience hath reputed and adiudged to be most rightfull agreeable to iustice and equitie and ought of his office and duetie to do in thys matter simpliciter gratis and wythout all worldly respectes eyther for the aduancement of his priuate lucre and commoditie The Pope seeketh not for iustice but his owne lucre and commodity or for the preseruation of hys pretensed power and authoritie For surely it is 〈◊〉 to be doubted but that the Pope being minded and determined to geue sentence for the inualiditie and nullitie of the kings first pretensed matrimonie hath conceiued and established in hys owne conscience a 〈◊〉 and certain opinion and perswasion that he ought of iustice and equitie so to do Then to see the Pope to haue thys opinion in deede and yet refuse this to doe for the King vnlesse hee shall be content for his benefite and pleasure The Pope â—elleth iustice â—edere iuri suo and to doe some things preiudiciall vnto his subiects contrary to hys honour it â—o easie to be foreseene what the world and the posteritie shall iudge de tam turpi nundinatione iustitiae illius tam foeda sordida lucri honoris ambitione And as foâ— the kings part if he shal not attaine now iustice at the mediation of hys good brother knowing the Pope to be of this disposition and determination in his heart to satisfie all his desires being mooued thereunto by iustice The Pope doth agaynst his 〈◊〉 owne conscieÌ„ce and that the â—et therof is no default of iustice in the cause but onely for that the king woulde not condescende to hys request it is to the king matter sufficient enough for discharge of hys conscience to God and to the worlde although hee neuer did execute in deede hys sayde determination For sith hys corrupt affection is the onely impediment thereof what neede either the king to require him any further to doe in the cause or els his subiectes to doubte any further in the iustnesse of the same Albeit if respects to benefites merites done towardes the Pope the See of Rome The Pope forgetteth his olde benefactors and frendes should be regarded in the attaining of iustice in a cause of so high consequencie as thys is reason would that if it would please the Pope to consider the former kindnesse of the King shewed vnto him in time past whereof hee is very loth to enter the rehearsall ne videatur velle exprobrare quae de alijs fecerit bene he should not nowe require of him any newe benefite or gratuitie to be shewed vnto him but rather studie to recompence hym for the olde graces merites pleasures and benefites before receiued For surely he thinketh that the Pope can not forget howe that for the conseruation of his person his estate and dignitie the king hath not heretofore spared for anye respecte The benefites of the king vpon the Pope when he was taken by the Duke of Burbonâ— in vsing the office of a moste perfecte and stedfaste frend to relinquish the long coÌ„tinued good will established betweene him and the Emperor and to declare openly to all the world that for the Popes sake and in default of hys deliuerance he would become enemie to the sayde Emperour and to make against him actuall warre Besides thys the King hath not failed hym with right large and ample subuentions of money for the better supporting of his charges against the enterprises of the sayde Emperour combinding and knitting him selfe wyth the Frenche king to procure the aduauncement of the sayde Frenche kings armie into Italie to the charges whereof the king did beare little lesse then the one halfe Besides notable losses susteined as well in his customes subsidies and other dueties as also to the no little hinderaunce and dammage of his subiects and marchauntes occasioned by discontinuance of the traffike and entercourse heretofore vsed with the Emperours subiectes In doing of al which thinges the king hath not bene thus respectiue as the Pope nowe sheweth himselfe towardes him but lyke a perfect frend hath bene alwayes contented franckly liberally and openly to expone all his study labour trauayle treasure puisaunce Realme and diuers subiectes for the Popes ayd and y e mayntenance of the state and dignitie of the Church and See of Rome Which thinges although he doth not here rehearse animo exprobandi yet hee doubteth not but the same weighed in the ballaunce of anye indifferent mans iudgement All is lost thaâ— is done for a churle shal be thought to be of that weight valure as that he hath iustly deserued to haue some mutuall correspondencie of kindenes to be shewed vnto hym at y e popes handes especially in the ministration of iustice and in so reasonable iust cause as this is and not thus to haue his most rightfull petition reiected and denyed because he will not follow hys desire and appetite in reuocating of such actes as be here made passed for the weale commoditie of hys realme and subiectes ¶ Thus ye haue heard how instantly the king had laboured by the meanes of the french king to the pope being then in Fraunce for right and iustice to be done for the dissolution and nullitie of his first pretensed matrimonye with hys brothers wife Which when it could not be attayned at the popes handes vnles the king would recompeÌ„ce and require the same by reuocating of such statutes as wer made and enacted here in the high Court of Parliament for the surety of succession and stablishment of the Realme what the king thereunto aunswered agayne ye heard declaring that
theyr Martyrdome they were drawne thorough the durt vppon an hurdle to the place accompanyed with a number of bylles and glayues and guÌ„ners and truÌ„peters Moreouer albeit there was no such cause they being two simple poore men yet the Magistrates commaunded vpon what occasion I know not all the gates of y e Citty to be shut and garded with keepers Trumpettes brought in to stop the hearing of Gods Saints WheÌ„ the blessed martyrs were brought and bound to the post which was before the Pallace they much reioysing that they were made worthye to suffer for Christe made confession of their fayth and many earnest exhortations vnto the people But to stop the hearing of these saints the trumpeters were commaunded to sound which during all the time of their suffering neuer ceased The hangman preparing hymselâ— first to strangle Cazes chaunced to fall downe from the top of the post to the pauement and brake hys head in such sorte as the bloud followed in great quantitie Notwithstanding he recouering hymselfe went to Monier and hym he strangled who patientlye rendered vp his lyfe Cazes which was the stronger of them both being set on fire before the hangman came suffered the extremitie of the fire with great paynes but greater patience for as hys legges wer almost halfe burnt yet he endured crying My God my father and so gaue vp hys lyfe And further to note the worke of God that folowed when these two myld martyred sayntes were almost coÌ„sumed in the fire to ashes sodenly without matter or cause such a feare fell vpon them at y e execution that the iustices and the people Feare sent amongst Gods enemies notwithstanding that they had the gates locked to them were defensed with all manner of weapons about them not knowing wherfore took theÌ„ to their legs in such hast fleeing away y t they ouerran one an other The prior of S. Antonies fel down so y t a great number went ouer hym The iudge Pontacke on hys mule w t his red robe fleeing as the other dyd was ouerthrowne with the presse in the street called Poetâ—uin in suche sorte Impius fugit et ne no persequitur that he was fayne to be caryed to Pichons house a widow and there cryed within Hide me saue my lyfe I am dead I see euen the lyke matter as at the last commotion My friendes hyde my mule that no man se her nor know her Briefly such was the feare which came from them that euery maÌ„ shut vp their houses After the feare was past euery man asked what the matter was but none could tel neither could the enemies of Gods truth perceaue who was he that put them so to flight and feare w tout any semblaunce of anye aduersary about them This story is testified and to be founde both in the volume of the Frenche martyrs printed by Iohn Crispine lib. 6. also in the booke of Dutch martyrs written by Adrianus Bertelmewe Hector martyr A gentlemaÌ„ called Perriere M. Bartlemew Eme President M. Augustine de Eglise Counseller Bartlemew Hector At Thurin Ann. 1556. First this Hector was a trauailer about the country and a seller of bookes hauyng his wife and children at geneua As he came into the vale of Angroigne in Piedmont to get his liuing wyth sellyng of bookes hee was taken by a certen gentleman and there arested sent to Thurin then examined at last condeÌ„ned Beyng condemned hee was threatned y t if he spake any thing to the people his tongue should be cut of Neuerthlesse he ceased nothing to speake After his praiers made wherein he prayed for the Iudges that God would forgeue them and opeÌ„ theyr eies he was offered his pardon at the stake if he would conuert which he refused Then he prepared himselfe to his death which he tooke patiently Wherat many of the people wept saying why doth this man dye whiche speaketh of nothing but of God Ex hist. Gal. per Crisp. lib. 6. The accusers appeare not in the story Philip Cene Iames his fellow martyrs Phillip Cene. Iames his fellow At Dyion An. 1557. This Phillip Cene was an Apothecarie at Geneua He was taken at Dyion there imprisoned and in the same town of Dyion he with one Iames hys companion was burned As this Phillip went to his death singing psalmes the Fryer standyng by stopped hys mouthe with his hande The most part of the people wept bitterly saying be of good courage brethren be not afrayd of this death Which when one of the aduersary part heard he sayde to one of the magistrates Do you not see how almost halfe part of the people is of their side and doth comfort them Ex Ioan Crisp. lib. 6.  Archambant Seraphon M. Nicolas du Russeau At Dyion Ann. 1557. These two were in prison together w t Phillip Archambant M. Nicolas Russean martyrs and Iames abouesaid at Dyion Archambant goyng about with a packet of pedlerye ware to get hys liuing and comming towardes hys wyfe heard of certayn prisoners at Dyion to whome he wrote to comfort them with his letters The next daye after hee was searched at Aussone and letters of certayne schollers of Paris founde about him then he was brought to Dyion where hee with the other called M. du Rousseau constantly suffered The same Archambant had bene also condemned three yeares before at Tule and as he was ledde to Bordeaux he escaped Ex eius Epist. ad vxorem apud Crisp. lib. 6. The kinges Attourney of Sainctes Ville Philbert Hamlin At Burdeaux Ann. 1557. Philbert Hamlin first was a priest then hee went to Geneua wher he exercised printing Philbert Hamelin martyr and sent bookes abroad After that hee was made a minister at the towne of Allenart in Saintonge In which and in other places moe hee did much good in edifying the people At last hee was apprehended at Saintes Uille and with him his host a priest whom he had instructed in the gospell and after confession made of hys fayth hee with the sayde prieste was caryed to Burdeeux before the President As hee was in prison on a sondaye a priest came in with all his furniture to saye masse in the prison whom Philbert seing to be reuested came pluckt his garmentes from his backe wyth suche zeale and vehemency that the masse garmentes with the challice candlestickes fell downe and were broken saying Is it not enough for you to blaspheme God in churches but you must also pollute the prison w t youre Idolatry The iaylour hearing of this The zeale of Philbert in his furye layd vpon him w t his flaffe and also complayned of him whereby he was remoued to the common pryson and layd in a low pitte laden wyth great yrons so that hys legges were swolne withall and there continued viij dayes A little before hee perceiuing the priest his host to decline from the truth did what he could to confirme hym in the same but
auoyd their danger yet he ceased not to put himself in his enemies hands so was led prisoner As he was in prison many of the faythful came to comfort him but rather he was able to coÌ„fort not onely them which came to comfort him but also the other which were there prisoners with hym The Priests left no diligence vnsought to stirre vppe the Lieuetenaunt which was of himselfe to much inflamed in such matters Arondeau after many interrogations threatning wordes and also fayre promises of his pardon still continued one man Then the Lieuetenaunt seing his constancy condeÌ„ned him to death Arondeau praysing God for his grace geuen Peter Arondeau condemned did not a litle reioyce y t he might suffer in that quarrell in token of reioysing did sing a Psalme being fully resolued to accept y t said condemnation w tout any appeale But his frendes not pleased with his resolution came to him so perswaded with hym not to geue his lyfe so good cheape ouer to his enemies handes that hee was turned from that made his appeale The appeale beyng entred y e Lieuetenaunt seeking to gratifie the aduersaries of y e gospell and especially y e Cardinall of Lorraine secretly Peter Arondeau appealeth by y t backside of the town out of the high way conueyed y e poore prisoner vnto Paris Who being brought vnto Paris by priuy iournies as is sayd was put into prison committed to y e custody of two Presidentes to witte Magistri S. Andre By the meanes of whom the sentence of the Lieuetenant was confirmed also put in execution the 15. day of Nouember in they yeare abouesayd on the which day the sayd Arondeau was burned quick at y e place called S. Iohn in Greue at Paris The constancy heroicall which God gaue hym wherin he indureed victorious vnto death was a mirrour or glasse of pacieÌ„ce to M. Anne du Bourge Counceller in the Parliament of Paris to diuers other then prisoners was to them a preparation toward y e like death which shortly after they suffred Not long after the happy end of this blessed maâ—tyr the forenamed Monroy whiche was the principall accuser party agaynst him was stroken with a disease called * Apoplexia is a sicknes engendered in the brain by aboundance of grosse humors which depriue them that haue it of speach feeling and mouing Most commonly it assaile 〈◊〉 gluttons drunkards and suifetters Apoplexia and thereupon sodeinly dyed By this and many other such like examples the mighty iudgement of God most euidently may appeare who albeit commoÌ„ly he doth vse to begin hys iudgement with his owne houshold in this worlde yet neither doth hys aduersaries alwayes escape theÌ„ selues the terrible hand of his iustice Gods iust vengeaunce vpoÌ„ the Lieuetenaunt a persecutor Also the Liuetenaunt which was his condemner taryed not long after the priest but he was arested personally to appeare before the kinges counsaile through the procurement of a certaine Gentleman of Polonie called Anthony de Leglise agaynst whome the sayd Lieuetenaunt had geuen false and wrong iudgement before By reason whereof the foresayd Gentleman so instantly did pursue hym before the Lordes of the counsaile that all the extorsions polinges of the Lieuetenant were there openly discouered and so he condemned to pay to the gentleman a thousand French crownes of the sunne Note w tin xiiii dayes vpon payne of double as muche Also he was deposed of his office and there declared vnworthy to exercise any roial office hereafter for euer with infamy and shame perpetuall Ex Crisp. Lib. 6. pag. 907. A priest of Valencienes Thomas Moutarde At Valenciennes Ann. 1559. In the towne of Ualenciennes not far froÌ„ France Thomas Moutarde martyr the same yere which was 1559. in the month of October suffered Tho. Moutard Who first being conuerted from a disordered life to the knowledge of the Gospell is to vs a spectacle of Gods great gracious mercy toward his elected Christians This Moutarde was attached for certain words spoken to a priest saying thus that his god of y e host was nothing but abhomination which abuseth y e people of God These words were takeÌ„ first as spoken in hys dronkennes Against the bodely presence of Christ in the hoste But the next day after wheÌ„ the same words were repeted to him agayne to knowe whether hee would abyde by the wordes there vttered or no hee sayd yea For it is an abuse sayd hee to seeke Iesus Christ any other where then in heauen sitting at the glory right hand of God hys father and in thys he was ready to liue dye His proces being made he was condemned to be burned quicke But as he was caryed from the town house to the place of punishment Constancye of a good conscieÌ„ce it was neuer seene a man with such constancie to be so assured in hart so to reioyce at that great honor which God had called hym vnto The hangman hasted as much as was possible to binde him dispatch him The martir in the midst of y e flaming fire lifting vp his eies vnto heaueÌ„ cried to the Lord that he would haue mercy on his soule and so in great integritie of fayth and perseueraunce hee gaue vp his life to God Ex Ioan. Crisp. Lib. 6. ☞ This Dutch story should haue gone before w t the Dutch Martyrs But seeing UallencieÌ„nes is not far distant from Fraunce it is not much out of order to adioyne the same with the French martyrs who altogether at length shal be ioyned in the kingdome of Christ which day the Lord send shortly Amen ¶ Thus haue we through the assistaunce of the Lord deduced the Table of the French and also of y e Dutch martyrs vnto the tyme and reign of Queene Elizabeth that is to the yeare .1560 Since the which tyme diuers also haue suffered both in Fraunce in the lower countrey of Germany whose story shal be declared the Lord willing more at large when we come to the tyme of Queene Elizabeth In the meane season it shall suffice for this present to insert their names onely which here do follow The residue of the French Martyrs ANne du Burge Counsailer of Paris Andrew Coiffier Iohn Isabeau Iohn Indet Martyrs of Paris Martyrs Geoffrey Guerien Iohn Morell Iohn Barbeuille Peter Cheuet Marin Marie Margarite Riche Adrian Daussi Gilles le Court Phillip Parmentier Marin Rosseau Peter Milot Iohn Berfoy Besides the tumult of Amboise the persecution of Vassi Austin Marlorat Master Mutonis The residue of the Dutch Martyrs IAmes de Lo of the I le of Flaunders Iohn de Buissons at Antwerpe Peter Petit Iohn Denys Gymon Guilmin Martyrs Simeon Herme of the I le of Flanders Iohn de Lannoy at Tournay Andrew Michell a blind man at Tournay Frances Varlut at Tournay Alexander Dayken of Bramchastle William Cornu in Henault Antony Caron of Cambray
men which were also appreheÌ„ded for religion into the Temple of S. Mary called De Minerua the 5. daye of Septemb an 1553. either there to reuoke or to be burned There sate vpon them 6. Cardinals in high seates beside the Iudge before whome preached a Dominicke Fryer which cruelly inueighing agaynst the poore prisoners incensed the Cardinals with al the vehemency he might to theyr condemnation The poore men stoode holding a burning taper in theyr handes Of whome some for feare of death reuolted But this Doctor Mollius with a Weauer of Perusium remayned constant Then Mollius began an earnest sermon in the Italian tongue whereâ—â— hee confirmed the Articles of the fayth by y e sacrete scriptures declaring also that the pope was not the successour of Peter but Antichrist and his sectaryes do figure the whore of Babilon Doct. Mollius cyteth the Pope to the tribunal seate of Christ. Moreouer he cited theÌ„ vp to the Tribunall seate of Christ and threw away the burning taper from hym Wherupon they being replenished with anger condemned hym with the Weauer to the fire and commaunded them to be had away So were they caried incontinent to the camp or fielde called Florianum Where they remayned cheerefull and constant First the Weauer was hanged The martyrdome of Doct. Mollius and the Weauer Mollius then willing the hangman to execute hys office lykewise vpon hym began to exhorte the people to beware of Idolatry to haue no other sauiours but Christ alone for he onely is the mediator betweene God and man And so was he also hanged commending hys soule to God and afterward layd in the fire and burned The people hauing diuers iudgementes vpon hym some sayd he dyed an hereticke some sayd he was a good man Ex Henr. Pantal. lib. 19. an 1543.  Two monkes of the house of S. Austen in Rome At Rome Ann. 1554. Furthermore in the same Cittye of Rome Two Augustine MoÌ„ks Martyrs and about the same time in the Monastery of Saint Austen were found two Monkes in their Celles with theyr tonges and theyr heades cut of onely for rebukyng the immoderate outragious excesse of the Cardinals as witnesseth Manlius Suche was the cruelty then of the malignant aduersaryes Ex Ioan. Manl. in dictis Phil. Melanct The Senate of Millain Franciscus Gamba Franciscus Gamba martyr At the City of ComuÌ„ in the dioces of Millian Ann. 1554. Fraunces Gamba borne in the Cittye of Brixia in Lobardie after he had receaued the knowledge of the gospell went to Geneua to conferre about certain necessary affayres with them that were wise learned in that Church which was about the time wheÌ„ the Lordes Supper there was administred at Penticoste Who there also at the same tyme did communicate with them Afterwarde in hys returning home as he was passing ouer the Lake of Come hee was taken brought to Come and and there coÌ„mitted to ward During the tyme of which imprisonment diuers and sondry as well nobles as others with Doctors also especially priestes and monkes resorted vnto hym laboring by all maner of meanes The blynde iudgement of the world in Gods matters most fayre promises to reduce him froÌ„ his opinions which semed to some but phantasies comming of some humors to some they semed vncatholicke or hereticall But hee constantly disputing w t them by the manifest scriptures declared the opinions whiche he defended not to be any vayn speculations or imaginary phantasies of mans doting brayne but y e pure verity of God and y e euident doctrine of Christ Iesus expressed in hys word necessary for all men to beleue also to maintayn vnto death and therefore for hys part rather then he would be found false to Christ his word he was there ready not to deny but to stand to Christs Gospel to the effusion of hys bloud Thus when he coulde in no wise be reclaymed froÌ„ y e doctrine of trueth letters came from the Senate of Millain that he should be executed w t death Which execution as they of Comum were about to prepare in y e mean while came other letters from Geneua writteÌ„ by the Emperours Ambassadour and other nobles of Millain by y e which letters his death was delayed for a tyme till at length other letters were sent from the Senate againe of Millain requiring execution of y e sentence Neuertheles through intercession of his friendes one weekes respite more was graunted hym to proue whether he might be wonne agayne to the popes Church that is to say lost from God Thus he being mightely long assayled both by friendes by enemies terrified Patience in persecution yet by no perswasions would be expugned but gaue thankes to God y t hee was made worthy to suffer the rebukes of this world and cruell death for the testimonye of hys sonne and so went he chearfully vnto hys death Then came certayn Franciscan Fryers to hym to heare his confession whiche he refused Also they brought in theyr handes a crosse for him to behold to keep hym from desperation at the feeling of the fire But hys mynde he sayd was so replenished with ioy and comforte in Christ that he needed neither their Crosse nor theÌ„ After this as he was declaring manye comfortable things to the people of the fruition of those heauenly ioyes aboue whiche God hath prepared for hys because he should speake no more to the people hys tongue was bored thorough and so immediately beyng tyed to the stake there was straÌ„gled till he was dead euery man there geuing testimony Frances Gamba his tongue bored thorough which saw hys constancie that he dyed a good man Ex Epistola cuiusdam Nobilis Comensis apud Henr. Pantal. Lib. 10. Celium Pope Paulus the 4. The Magistrates of Venice Pomponius Algerius At Rome Ann. 1555. Pomponius Algerius borne in Capua Pomponius Algerius martyr a young man of great learning was student in the Uniuersitie of Padua where hee not beyng able to conceale and keepe close the veritie of Christes Gospell whiche he learned by the heauenlye teaching of Gods grace ceased not both by doctrine and example of lyfe to informe as many as he could in the same doctrine and to bring them to Christ. For the whiche he was accused of heresie to Pope Paulus the fourth Who sending immediately to the Magistrates of Uenice caused hym to be apprehended at Puada caryed to Uenice where hee was long deteyned in prison bandes till at last the Pope commaunded y e Magistrates there to send hym vp bouÌ„d vnto Rome which the Uenetians eftsoones accomplished After he was broughe to Rome manifolde perswasions and allurementes were assayed to remoue the vertuous and blessed younge man from hys sentence But when no worldly perswasions could preuayle against the operation of Gods spirit in hym then was hee adiudged to be burned aliue which death most constaÌ„tly he susteyned to the great admiration of all that beheld
the saide Sea the excellency of his wisedome learning and experience The Thrasonicall prayse of the Cardinall the magnanimitie in his actions and doings the dignitie wherin he is already constitute the promotions whych he hath attained the substance that he is of his reputation his conduite his diligence hys dexteritie his discretion his pollicie and finally the notable and high fauor that the kings highnes and the sayde French king beare vnto him is onely that he called to the sayd dignity Papall may can and will meete with the inordinate ambition of the sayd Emperour and consequently with establishment of tranquilitie amongst Christen Princesâ— Note this cause The Cardinall is most meete to be Pope because he can best brydle the Emperour is by the assistance of his frendes meete conuenient and able to succour relieue and clerely to repaire the piteous iacture and decay that the Church Sea Apostolicke hath so long suffered to defend the same from the imminent danger now apparant to ensue if the sayde Emperour who as the kings highnes is assertained determined in the beginning of Ianuary now passed to take his iourny towardes Rome should vpon this vacation of the said Sea chaunced as it vpon many euident presumptioÌ„s to be thought by some detestable acte committed for the sayde late Popes destruction now by force violence cautele blandishing promises or otherwise haue the election to proceede at hys wil fauor deuotion wherby hauing a Pope at his * * That is after his owne desire arbitre either he should not faile to vsurpe take from him the rights prouents patrimony of the Churche vsing him as hys chaplaine and vassal or els by litle and litle vtterly to exclude and extinct him and hie authoritie For this cause if euer it were expedient that good Christen Princes looke to the tuition maintenance defence and continuance of Christes Churche faith and religion nowe is it the time aboue all other to prouide and beware by all wayes possible least the same neglected forgotten and not in time relieued be broght vnto extreme * * If his vsurped authoritie were cleane extinct the fayth religion of Christ should stand florishe much better ruine And therefore the kings highnesse hauing singular special trust and confidence in the wisedomes discretions fidelities diligences and circumspections of his sayd Orators to whom no part of the premisses is vnknowen ne how necessary in any wise expedieÌ„t it shal be for perfectioÌ„ of the kings sayd great and * * By this weighty matter here is ment the cause of the kings deuorce weighty matter to them committed to haue the sayde Lord Legate of Yorke none other aduanced to the sayd dignitie Papall willeth desireth ordaineth expresly chargeth and commaundeth hys sayd Oratours and euery of them no lesse to employ endeuour and determine themselues to sollicite set forth further promote labour and conduce the aduancement of the sayd Lord Legate of Yorke to that dignitie then they woulde that thing which the kings highnes most highly next God hys soule with all earnestnes and feruent minde doth aboue all other things couete and desire and also no lesse then they woulde the speedy obtaining and perfection of all such thinges touching the kings sayde weighty matter committed to their charges the making or marring wherof being now the sayde late Pope deceased consisteth onely in the aduauncement of the sayde Lord Legate of Yorke to the dignitie Papall For as the kings sayd Ambassadours may by their wisedomes well thinke and consider the same must of necessitie come fortune either to one that is an assured frende to his grace and the French king or to one that is a manifest ennemye to them fauouring the Emperours part or to one indifferent meane betwene both And if it should chaunce vpon a manifest ennemy it is euident that the kings desire at hys hand were merely impossible to be had and neuer were to be accepted that way If it should come to one being indifferent meane betweene both it is more then notorious that his grace at the least shoulde be contained wyth faire wordes and promises and yet such respect should be had to the Emperour that finally vnder hope of obtaining some thynge there shoulde be no more but tracte delay and finally no manner fruite nor effecte whereof experience hath already bene seene in one that had cause to be more frendly to the king then indiffereÌ„t or meane betwene both yet how long the matter hath depended is to the kings said Ambassadors wel knoweÌ„ So that of necessity this thing must be conduced to one that is an assured frende Then noting substantially the things necessary to concur in suche a frend both for the weale of christendoÌ„ the reliefe of the Church the firm adhering to the kings highnes the French K. with other their confederates the perfit coÌ„ducing of the kings great mater which suffreth no tract delay or negatiue it shal be fouÌ„d that ther is none other for thys purpose but only the said L. legate of York The kyngs sayd Ambassadours shal therefore plant the foundation of all their studie labour solicitation onely to that purpose And for the better introduction of the wayes and meanes howe this thing shall be sollicited they shall receiue heerewyth a scedule wherein is mentioned and noted by name how many what Cardinalles of likelihoode shall be present at the election and how many and which of the other shal be absent Semblably howe many of them that be like to he present may be thought to be frends to the kings highnes and the French king whose names in the sayd scedule be noted with A. and howe many are thought to be Imperiall A. Signifieth the Cardinalls oâ— the kinges the French kings siâ—e B. Signifieth the Cardinalls of the Emperors side But here is neuer a C. to signifie any Cardinalls of Christes side whose names be noted with B. In the same scedule be also set out the number and names of those that be thought to be neutrall or indifferent marked with N. And furthermore they be first mentioned therein which be thought most like to aspire vnto that dignity Herein be many things well to be regarded First the number of the Cardinals that are like to be present whiche as is thought here shall not exceede 39. Secondly that to haue election to the kings purpose shall be requisite to haue 2. partes of the 3. of the sayd number which 2. partes must be 26. Then is it to be noted that they which be thought to be frendes to the kings highnesse and the FreÌ„ch king be in number 20. So that if they may be made sure to the kings deuotion there shall lacke but 6. of the number which shall suffice to make the election which number the kings sayd Ambassadours shall moue winne and attaine either of them that be thought to be indifferent
the Popes authority may be stopped by a Duke what authority then hath he ouer kinges and Emperours what place shal be left him where he may keepe hys generall Councell Agayne if Princes haue geuen him this authoritye to call a councell is it not necessary that they geue him also al those thinges without the which he can not exercise that his power Shall he call men and will ye let him to finde no place to call them vnto Truely he is not woont to appoynt one of his owne cityes a place to keep the Councell in No the good man is so faythfull and frendly toward other that seldome he desireth Princes to be his gestes And admitte he shoulde call vs to one of his Cittyes shoulde we safely walke within the walles of such our enemies towne Were it meete for vs there to discusse controuersies of Religion or to keepe vs out of our enemies trappes meete to study for the defence of such doctrine as we professe Example that the Pope hath no power vpon places in other mens dominioÌ„s or rather how we might in such a throng of perilles be in safegard of our life Well in this one arte the Bishop of Rome hath declared that he hath none authority vpon places in other mens dominions and therefore if he promise a CouÌ„sel in any of those he promiseth that that is in an other man to performe and so may he deceiue vs agayne Now if he cal vs to one of his owne townes DileÌ„ma against the Pope we be afrayd to be at such an hostes table We say better to ryse an hungred then to go thence with our bellye 's full But they say the place is found we need no more to seek where the CouÌ„cell shal be kept As who sayth Vincence a citye vnder the dominion of the Venetians that that chaunced at Mantua may not also chaunce at Uincence and as though it were very like that the Uenecians men of suche wisedome should not both foresee and feare also that the wise Duke of Mantua semed to feare Certes when we thinke vppon the state that the Uenecians be in now it seemeth no very likely thing that they will eyther leaue Uincence theyr Cittye to so many Nations wythout some great garrison of souldiours or els that they beyng els where so sore charged already wil now nourish an army there And if they would doâ—h not Paule himselfe grauÌ„t that it should be an euill President an euill example to haue an armed Councell Howe so euer it shall be we most hartily desire you that ye will vouchsafe to read those thinges that we wrote this last yeare touching the Mantuan Councell For we nothing doubt but you of your equity will stand on our side agaynst theyr subtlety and fraudes and iudge except we be deceiued that we in this busines neither gaue so much to our affectioÌ„s neither without great and most iust causes refused theyr Councelles theyr Censures and Decrees Whether these our writinges please all men or no we thinke we ought not to passe much No if that which indifferently is written of vs may please indiffereÌ„t readers our desire is accomplished The false and mistaking of thinges by men parciall shall moue vs nothing or els very litle If we haue sayd ought agaynst the deceites of the Byshop of Rome that may seeme spoken too sharpely we pray you impute it to the hatred we beare vnto vices and not to any euill will that we beare him No that he and all his may perceiue that we are rather at strife with his vices then with him and his our prayer is that it may please God at the last to open theyr eies to make soft their hard hartes and that they once may with vs theyr owne glory set apart study to set forth the euerlasting glory of the euerlasting God Thus mighty Emperour fare you most hartily well and ye Christen Princes the pillers and stay of Christendome fare ye hartily well Also all ye what people so euer ye are which do desire that the gospell and glory of Christ may florish fare ye hartily well As the Lorde of his goodnes hath raised vp Thomas Cromwel to be a frend and patrone to the Gospell so on the contrary side Sathan which is aduersary and enemy to all good thinges had his organe also which was Steuen Gardiner by all wyles and subtile means to impeach and to put backe the same Who after he had brought his purpose to passe in burning good Iohn Lambert as ye haue hearde proceeding still in his craftes and wyles and thinking vnder the name of heresies sectes Anabaptistes sacramentaris to exterminate al good bookes and faithful professours of Gods word out of England so wrought with the king that the next yeare following which was of our Lord. 1539. he gaue out these Iniunctions y e copy and contentes wherof I though here also not to be pretermitted and are these * Certayne other Iniunctions set forth by the authority of the King agaynst English bookes sectes and Sacramentaries also with putting downe the day of Thomas Becket FIrst that none without special licence of y e king transporte or bring from outward parties into England Anno. 1539. any manner of Englishe bookes neither yet sell geue vtter or publishe any suche vpon payne to forfeyte all their goode and cattelles and their bodies to be imprisoned so long as it shal please the kinges maiestie Item that none shal print or bring ouer any English bookes with annotations or Prologues vnles such books before he examined by the kings priuy Counsell or others appoynted by his highnesse and yet not to put therto these wordes Cum priuilegio Regali w tout adding Ad imprimendum solum neither yet to print it without the kinges priuiledge be printed therewith in the English tongue No bookes to be translated without the name of the translator that all men may read it Neyther shall they print any translated booke without the playne name of the translator be in it or els the printer to be made the translatour and to suffer the fine and punishment therof at the kinges pleasure Item that none of the occupation of Printing shall within the Realme print vtter sell or cause to be published any Englishe bookes of Scripture Englishe bokes of scripture forbidden to be printed vnlesse the same be first viewed examined and admitted by the kings highnesse or one of his priuy Counsell or one Byshop withâ—â— the Realme whose name shall therin be expressed vpon payne of the kinges most high displeasure the losse of their goods and cattels and prisonment so loÌ„g as it shall please the king Item those that be in any errours as Sacramentaries Agaynst Sacramentaryes Anabaptistes or any other or any that sell books hauing such opinions in them being once knowne both the bookes and such persons shal be detected and disclosed immediately vnto the kinges Maiesty or one of hys priuye
which had the doing therof to chaunge the name of William Tyndall because that name then was odious and to farther it by a straÌ„ge name of Thomas Mathew Iohn Rogers the same time beyng corrector to the print who had then translated the residue of the Apocripha and added also certaine notes thereto in the margent The Byble presented to the king by the Lord Cromwell The Byble put forth with the kinges priuiledge and therof came it to be called Thomas Mathewes Bible Which Bible of Thomas Mathew after it was imprinted and presented to the Lord Cromwell the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who liked very well of it the sayd Cromwell presented it to y e kyng and obteined that the same might freely passe to be read of hys subiectes with hys graces licence So that there was Printed vpon the same booke one lyue in red letters with these wordes Set forth with the Kings most gracious licence The setting forth of this booke did not a little offend the Clergy namely the Bishop aforesayd both for the Prologues specially because in the same booke was one special table collected of the common places in the Bible and the scriptures for the approbation of the same chiefly about the supper of the lord and mariage of priests and the masse which there was said not to be found in Scripture Furthermore after the restraint of this foresayde Bible of Mathew An other Byble of the great volume printed at Paris another Bible began to be printed at Paris an 1540. Which was called the Bible of the large Uolume The Printers whereof were the foresayde Richard Grafton and Whitchurche which bare the charges A great helper thereto was the lord Cromwell The chiefest ouerseer was Myles Couerdale who taking the translation of Tyndall conferred the same with the Hebrue and amended many things In this Bible although the former notes of Thomas Mathew was omitted The Byshops offended at the Byble translated into Englishe yet sondry markes handes were annexed in the sides which ment that in those places shuld be made certeine notes wherwith also the clergy was offended though the notes were not made After this the bishops bringing their purpose to passe brought the Lord Cromwell out of fauour and shortly to his death and not long after great complaint was made to the king of the translation of the Bible and of y e preface of the same The sale of the Byble stayd by the king throug the Byshops meanes· and then was the sale of the Bible commaunded to be stayed the B. promising to amend correct it but neuer performing the same Then Grafton was called first charged with the printing of Mathewes Bible but he being feareful of trouble made excuses for himselfe in all things Then was he examined of the great Bible and what notes he was purposed to make To the which he aunswered that he knewe none For his purpose was to haue retayned learned men to haue made the notes Rich. Grafton imprisoned for printing the Bible but when he perceyued the kynges maiestie and his Clergye not willing to haue any he proceded no further But for al these excuses Grafton was sent to the Fleet and there remayned vi wekes and before he came out was bound in CCC.li that he should neither sell nor imprint or cause to be imprinted any moe Bibles vntill the king the clergy should agree vpon a translation And thus was the Bible from that tyme stayed during the raigne of Kyng Henry the viij But yet one thing more is to be noted that after the imprinters had lost their Bibles they continued suiters to Boner as is aforesaid to be a meane for to obteyne of the French king their bookes againe but so long they continued suters and Boner euer fed them with faire wordes promising them much but did nothing for them till at the last Boner was discharged of his ambassade and returned home where he was right ioyfully welcomed home by the lord Cromwell who loued him dearely and had a maruelous good opinion of him Edm. Boner a great frend to L. Cromwell al the tyme of his prosperitye And so long as Cromwell remained in autoritie so long was Boner at his beck and friend to his friends and enimy to his enimies as namely at that tyme to Gardmer B. of Winchester who neuer fauoured Cromwell therefore Boner could not fauour him but that he and Winchester were the greatest enemies that might be Steph. Gardiner and Boner of enemyes made frendes But so soone as Cromwell fel immediatly Boner and Winchester pretended to be the greatest men that liued and no good word could Boner speake of Cromwell but the lewdest vilest and bitterest that he could speake calling him the rankest heretike that euer liued and then such as the sayd Boner knew to be in good fauour with Cromwell Doct. Boner altereth his frendship religion he could neuer abide their sight Insomuch as the next day after that Cromwell was appreheÌ„ded the abouenamed Grafton who before had bene very famâ—liarâ— with Boner met with the sayd Boner sodenly and sayd vnto hym that he was sory to heare of the newes that then was abroad What are they sayd he Of the apprehension of the L. Cromwell sayd Grafton Are ye sory for that sayd he It had bene good that he had bene dispatched long ago With that Grafton looked vpon hym and knew not what to say but came no more to Boner Howbeit afterward the sayd Grafton beyng charged for the imprinting of a ballet made in the fauour of Cromwel was called before the Councel Doctor Boner agaynst the L. Cromwell where Boner was present and there Boner charged hym with the wordes that hee spake to hym of Cromwell and told out a great long tale But the lord Awdeley who then was Lord Chauncellor right discretly and honourably cut of the matter and entered into other talke The history of Robert Barnes Thomas Garret and William Hierome diuines LIke as in forreine battails the chiefe poynt of victorie consisteth in the safetie of the Generall or captayne Rob. Barnes T. Garret W. Hierome Martyrs euen so when the valiaunt standerd bearer and stay of the church of England Tho. Cromwell I meane was made away pitie it is to behold what miserable slaghter of good men and good women ensued thereupon wherof we haue now Christ willing to entreat For Winchester hauyng now gotten his full purpose free swinge to exercise his cruelty wonder it was to see that Aper Calydonius or as the scripture speaketh that Ferus singularis Psal. 40. what troubles he raised in the Lordes vineyard And least by delayes he might loose the occasion presently offered he straight wais made his first assaultes vpon Robert Barnes Thomas Garret and William Hierome whom in y e very same moneth within ij dayes after Cromwels death he caused to be put to execution Whose
and his honorable Counsell and what frendship they of the Kings Counsell there coulde shew them All that good Friday euen till x. of the clocke at night those wicked and malicious persons occupyed their time in aunswering to diuers and sondry questions These things were not so secretly done but they were bewrayed and came to honest mens knowledge Whereupon such feare and distrust assaulted all men that neighbour mistrusted neighbour the maister the seruaunt the seruaunt the maister the husband the wife the wife the husband Great perturbation at Calice and almost euery one the other that lamentable it was to see how mourningly men and women went in the streetes hanging downe their heads shewing euident tokens of the anguish of their harts The second trouble of Thomas Brooke VPon Easter Monday one Hugh Councell an honest man seruaunt to the sayd Brooke was conuented before them and by the space of xiiij dayes not suffered to returne to his maisters house but kepte in custody and many times examined vpon Articles and Interrogatories in hope to haue found worthy matter either of heresie or treason against the sayde Brooke and the same daye that Brooke was committed to Warde the sayde Hugh Councell was discharged The Wednesday in the Easter weeke sundry Questes were charged by their othes to make inquisition for all maner of heresies erroneous opinions and seditions as a Quest of Aldermen an other of men at armes and an other of Constables and Uintners an other of common Souldiours and an other of Commoners And shortly after theyr presentments on good Friday there was conuented before the Commissioners and straighte were sente to close prison Xiij Calice men imprisoned for theyr fayth Anthony Pickering Gentleman Harry Tourney Gentleman Syr George Darby Priest Iohn Shepheard William Pellam William Keuerdale Iohn Whitwoode Iohn Boote Roberte Clodder Copen de Hane Mathew de Hound Upon whome ran sundry brutes Some said they should be hanged some said burnt some said hanged drawne and quartered some said nailed to the Pillery so that pitifull it was to see the lamentation that their wiues their children seruaunts and frendes made secretely where they durst for that they founde euery where words of discomfort and no where of comfort but still Inquisition was made The second trouble of William Steuens THe foresayd William Steuens after hys returne from London aboue meÌ„tioned besides many other Articles laid to him for religion to y e number of 40. or welnie was by y e Lord Deputie charged y t he had stayed the foresaid Adam Damlip hyred him to preache and gaue him meate drinke and lodging coÌ„ming from the arrant traytor Cardinall Poole False crimes forged agaynst W. Steuens and suborned by him and that he had receyued money of him to the intent he should preach in Calice false erroneous doctrine wherby y e towne being deuided at contention within it selfe might easely be ouercome wonne by the Frenchmen Whereunto the sayde Steuens aunswered that whatsoeuer he had done vnto the sayd Adam Damlip he had done it at the earnest request commaundement of the sayd Lord Deputie Whereupon if it had bene treason in deede he must haue bene more faultie W. Steuens committed to the Tower Then the said William Steuens was againe the second time by the said Commissioners sent ouer into England clapt in the tower afterwarde to wit immediately after the said Commissioners repaire vnto the Kings highnes y e said Lord Deputy was sent for ouer L. Lislie deputy of Calice committed to the Tower likewise put into the Tower where he continued a long time And wheÌ„ the Kings Maiestie minded to haue bene gracious vnto him to haue let him come forth God tooke hym out of thys world whose body resteth in y e Tower his soule w t God I trust Example of Gods punishment vpon hys persecuters in heauen for he died very repentaunt But y e wicked Lady his wife immediately vpon his apprehensioÌ„ fell distraught of minde so coÌ„tinued many yeares after God for his mercy if she yet liue geue her his grace to repent The second Monday after Easter the foresayd Brooke was conuented before the Commissioners and committed to close prison in the Mayors Gayle Then the Counsell of Calice doubting lest there should not be any sedition or heresie proued against him did call one George Bradway before them who occupied y e Controllers office in the custome house This maÌ„ was kept in close prison so as neither his wife then great with childe nor any other his frends might repaire vnto him Where after y t he had often times beene borne in hande that there were diuers concealements come to light that were made by Brooke in the office of Custome and y t the said Bradway should be greeuously punished if he would acknowledge none of theÌ„ nor burden y e said Brooke with no kind of concealement the poore simple man hoping thereby to get release of his imprisonment accused the sayd Brooke that he had for a long time concealed foure grotes euery day for his Clarkes wages to that accusation they caused the simple man to set his owne hand before witnesses Wherevpon after a day or two the said Bradway greeued in his conscience for the same his most vntrue accusation did with a knife enterprise to cut his own throte False accusation punished by Gods hâ—â—d but God of his mercy so directed his wicked purpose that the backe of his knife was towarde his wesande Whereby though the wound were broad yet he escaped with lyfe Gods meâ—cy in punishing And as he gaue a grone with the sodaine paine that he felt the Gayler came vp and bereft him of the knife But thorough the giltines of the false accusation and shame of the world the maÌ„ lost his wits who then staring and dismaid was dismissed out of prison and a long time after went in piteous case so dismayed about the streete to the great impouerishing of him his poore wife and familie This kynde of handling of the said Brooke made all his frendes but specially his wife to be greatly afeard of the malice of his enemies the rather also for that all his goods and landes were ceised And his wife thrust into the meanest place of all his house with her children and family the keyes of al y e dores and chestes beside taken from her Who for y t she was rigorously entreated at sir Edward Ringleis hand Controller of the Towne an office of no small charge though he knew not a B from a battledore nor euer a letter of the booke sayeng vnto her that if she lyked not the roome he woulde thrust her quite out of the dores well Sir sayd she well the Kings slaughter house had wrong when you were made a Gentleman and with all speede she wrote a letter to the Lorde Cromwell Letters sent to the Lord Cromwell from Calice therein
and ringleaders of that mischieuous daunce wherof the principal were Humfrey Arundel Berry Thomas Underhil Iohn Soleman W. Segar The laudable seruice of the 〈…〉 Seale Tempson and Barret two Priestes Henrye Bray and Henrye Lee two Maiors wyth diuers other mo aboue specified al which accordingly afterwarde were executed These rebels to make their part more sure by the helpe and presence of their consecrated God and maker False trust of the Deuonshire men in their Popishe Idolls disapointed The Sacrament in the 〈◊〉 brought to the battaile in a Carte brought with them into the battaile the Pixe vnder his Canapie and in steed of an aultar where he was hanging before set him nowe riding in a Carte Neither was there lacking masses crosses banners candlesticks with holy breade also and holy water plentie to defend them from deuils and all aduersarye power whyche in the ende neyther coulde helpe theyr frends nor yet could saue them selues from the handes of theyr ennemies but eftsoones both the consecrated God and al the trumperie about him was taken in the carte and there lay all in the dust leauinge to them a notable lesson oâ— better experience howe to put their confidence heereafter in no suche vaine Idolles but onely in the true liuing God and immortall maker to be serued according to hys prescribed worde and that onely in the faithe of hys sonne and not after theyr owne dreaming fantasies The storie whereof putteth mee also in remembraunce of an other like popish field called Muscleborough field â—ought in Scotland the yeare before this where the Scots likewise encamping them selues against the Lorde Protectour Muscleborough field in ScotlaÌ„d and the kynges power sente into Scotlande did in semblable wise bringe with them to the battaile the consecrated gods of their aultares wyth Masses Crosses banners and all their Popish stuffe of Idolatrie hauing great affiaunce by vertue thereof to haue a great day against the English armie as in deede to mannes iudgement myghte seeme not vnlike For the number of the Scottes armye so farre exceeded ours and they wer so appoynted with theyr pikes in the first fronte against our horsemen which gaue the first onset that our men were faine to recule not without the losse of diuers Gentlemen Notwythstanding the mighty arme of the Lorde so turned the victorie that the Scottes in the ende with all their Masses Pixes and Idolatrous trinkets were put to the woorse Of whome in that fielde were slayne betweene 13. and 14. thousande and not passing an hundreth Englishe men The cause of thys was the promise of the Scots made before to king Henry for the marriage of the young Scottish Queene to Kynge Edwarde which promise the sayd Scots afterward brake and paide thereafter In the whiche victorie this is also to be noted that the same day and houre when the images were burned openly in London the Scots were put to flighte in Muscleborough as is credibly noted in Recordes During this hurley burley amongst the popish rebels in Cornwall and Deuonshire the like commotion at the same time by suche like popish priestes as Homes and his felowes began to gender in the parties of Oxforde Buckingham but that was soone appeased by the Lord Gray who comming downe that waye into Deuonshire chased the rebelles to their houses Of whom 200. wer taken and a dosen of the ringleaders deliuered vnto him wherof certaine were after executed In Northfolke and parties thereabout all be it the originall of theyr tumultuous sturring was not for the like cause yet the obstinate hearts of that vnruly multitude semed no lesse bent vpon mischief to disturbe publike peace which was also in the moneth of Iuly the yere abouesayd For repression of whych rebellion first was sent the Lorde Marques of Northampton 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 Marques wyth speciall instruction to auoide the fighte and so by order was appoynted wyth a number of horse to keepe the fielde and passages whereby they being stopped from vittaile might the sooner be brought to acknowledge their follie and to seeke theyr pardon Who then following other pollicie then by order was geuen came and pinned him selfe wythin the Citie of Norwiche which afterwarde they were faine to abandone the rebelles pressing vppon the Citie so on euery side that at length they obtained the same Neuerthelesse in all that conflicte there was but an hundreth on both sides slayne and otherwise no great 〈◊〉 but onely the losse of the Lord Sheefielde Then was sente downe againste them the Earle of Warwike wyth sufficient force and number of souldiours besides the conuey of 2000. Almaines The â— Shefield slaine at Norwich by whome the rude and confused rabble was there ouerthrowne and slaine to the number as is supposed at the least of 4000. And in fine both the Kettes chiefe sturrers and authours of that commotion were taken and put to execution The rebells of Northfolke suppressed and one of them hanged vp in chaines Moreouer besides these inordinate vprores and insurrections aboue mentioned about the latter ende of the said moneth of Iulye the same yeare which was 1549. an other like sturre or Commotion beganne at Semer in the Northriding of Yorkeshire An other rebelâ—lion or tumult beganne in Yorkeshire and continued in the Eastriding of the same and there ended The principal doers and raisers vp whereof was one W. Ombler of Easthesâ—erton yeoman and Tho. Dale parish clarke of Semer with one Steuenson of Semer neighbour to Dale and nephewe to Ombler The chiefe stirrers of this rebellion in the North. Which Steuenson was a meane or messenger betwene the said Ombler and Dale being afore not acquainted togither and dwelling seuen miles one from the other Who at last by the trauaile of the said Steuenson and their owne euil dispositions inclined to vngratiousnesse mischiefe knowing before one the others mind by secrete conference were brought to talke together on S. Iames day An. 1549. The causes moouing them to raise thys rebellion were these first and principallye theyr traiterous heartes grudging at the kings most godly proceedings The causes â—â—â—uing the Yorkeshiremen to rebellion in aduauncinge and refourming the true honour of God and his religion An other cause also was for trusting to a blinde and a fantasticall prophecie wherewith they were seduced thinking the same prophecie shoulde shortly come to passe by hearing the rebellions of Northfolke of Deuonshire and other places The tenor of which prophisie purpose together of the traytors was that there should no king reigne in EnglaÌ„d the noblemen and gentlemen to be destroyed and y e realm to be ruled by 4. gouernors A blinde prophesie amongest the â—ortheren men to be elected appointed by y e commons holding a parlament in coÌ„motion to begin at y e south and north seas of England c. supposing that thys their rebellion in the North and the other of the Deuonshire men in the west meeting as
Winchesters story And though I haue not here withal so fully expressed all his letters answeres preachinges examinations defensions exhibites attestations with the depositions of all suche witnesses as he could and did produce for the most aduantage of hys owne cause with such notes also and collections gathered vpon the same as here I might and as before I haue don I must intreate y e reader to cōsider first y e greatnes of this volume which would not well beare the tedious tractatiō thereof and secondly to content himself in resorting to our first history The Notes and collections hereof read in the first edition fol. 862. where not onely he may peruse the whole discourse of this bishops doinges set foorth at large but also may briefely read in a few summarye notes collected the whole course of his doctrine and Iudgement touchyng what poyntes of religion he did consent and agree or not agree vnto pag. 862. And thus an end of Winchester for a while til we come to talke of his death hereafter Whome as wee number amongest good Lawyers so is he to be reckoned amongest ignoraunt and grosse Diuines Winchester a good lawyer yet but a naughty diuine and a worse Bishop proud Prelates and bloudy persecuters as both by his cruell life and Pharisaicall doctrine may appeare especially in the article of the Sacrament and of our iustification and Images and also in crying out of the Paraphrase not considering in whose person the things be spoken but what the Paraphrast vttereth in the person of Christ or of the Euangelist and not in his own that he wrasteth vnto the author and maketh thereof heresie and abhomination The like impudency and quarrelling also hee vsed agaynst Bucer Luther Peter Martyr Cranmer almost agaynst all other true Interpreters of the Gospell So blinde was his iudgement or els so wilfull was his mind in the truth of Christs doctrine that it is hard to say whether in him vnskilfulnes or wilfulnes had greater predomination But agaynst this doct Gardiner we will now set and match on the cōtrary side D. Redman Winchester as vnskilfull as wilfull for so much as he departing this transitory life the same present yeare 1551. commeth now by course of history here to be mentioned Who for his singular life and profounde knowledge being inferiour in no respect to the sayde Gardiner D. Redman set to match Steuen Gardiner shall stand as great a frend in promoting the gospels cause as the other seemeth an enemy by all maner of wayes to empayre and deface the same For the more assured declaratiō whereof we will hereto adioyne the Lorde willing the learned communication betweene the said Doct. Redman lying in his deathbed and M. Wilkes mayster Alexander Nowell Doct. Yong and other witnesses moe Whereof the sayd M. Wilkes thus recordeth speaking in his owne person and his owne wordes as followeth A note of the communication that I Richard Wilkes had with maister Doctor Redman being sicke at Westminster but of good memory 2. Nouemb. 1551. in the presence of M. Yong an other whō I did not know and 2. of M. Doct. Redmans seruants the one called Elias and the other vnknowne I The foresayd Richard Wilkes comming to Doct. Redman lying sicke at Westminster and first saluting him after my ordinary duetye wished him health both in soule body not doubting moreouer The communication and confession of D. Redman in his deathbed but he did practise the godly counsaile in himselfe which he was wont to geue to other being in his case and thankes be to God said I who had geuen him stuffe of knowledge to comfort himself w tall To whom he answering again said in this wise God of all comfort geue me grace to haue comfort in hym and to haue my mind wholy fixed in him M. Yong I sayd Amen Thē I cōmoned w t him of his sickenes the weaknes of his body and said y t though he were brought neuer so low yet he if it were his pleasure that raised vp Lazarus could restore him to health agayne No no saith he that is past and I desire it not but the will of God be fulfilled After this or a little other like communication I asked if I mighte be so bolde not troubling him to knowe hys mynde for my learning in some matters and poyntes of religion He sayd yea and that he was as glad to common wyth me in such matters as with any man And then I sayde to hys seruauntes I trust I shall not trouble hym No said Ellis his seruaunt my L. of London M. Nowel and other haue communed with him and he was glad of it Then sayd M. Redman no you shall not trouble me I pray God euer geue me grace to speake the truth and hys truth and that which shall redound to his glory and send vs vnitie in his Church and we sayd Amen I sayde he shoulde do much good in declaring his faith and I would be glad to knowe his minde as touching the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ. Communicatiō touching the Sacramēt of the Lordes Body bloud He sayd as man is made of two partes of the body and the soule so Christ would feede the whole man but what sayth he be the wordes of the text Let vs take the words of the Scripture and he rehearsed the text himselfe thus Accepit Iesus panem Christ tooke bread Wherein hys wyll was to institute a Sacrament Accipite commedite Take eate Here he told the vse of it What did he geue them Hoc est corpus meum Question Whether Christ be present in the Sacrament Vnitio he calleth it his body Then I asked him of the presence of Christ. He said Christ was present with his sacrament and in those that receaued it as they ought And there was Mira vnitio a wonderfull vnion for that word was named betwixt Christ and vs as S. Paul saith Vos estis os ex ossibus eius caro ex carne eius Ye be bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh Question Whether Christ be present corporally naturally and really in the Sacramēt Corporally that is truely so Christ is there otherwise not Quest. Whether Christ be there flesh bloud bone The which vnion was ineffable Then I asked him what he thought of the opinion that Christ was there corporally naturally and really He aunswered if you meane by corporally naturally and really that he is there present Verè I graunt Then I asked how he thought of that which was wont commonly to be spoken that Christ was there flesh bloud bone as I haue heard the Stewards in their Leets giue charge when the 6. articles stoode in effect and charge the Inquest to enquire that if there were any that would denie that Christ was present in the Sacrament of the aultar in flesh bloud and bone they should apprehend them He said that was too grosse
sinnes both for the quicke and the dead 2. Christ ordeined his Supper to be celebrate and receaued of the congregation And therefore Paule biddeth the Corinthians to tarry one for another In the Masse there is no such thing choose the people whether they will come or no Sir Iohn is kinne to the tide he will tarry for no man if he haue a boy to say Amen it is inough 3. Christ receaued not but he distributed also the whole in euery part Sir Iohn when he hath receaued all alone he sheweth the people the empty chalice And if he distribute to the people once a yeare it is but in one kinde alone 4. Christ ordeined the Supper to be a taking matter an eating matter a distributing and a remembring matter Contrary our Masse men make it a matter not of taking but of gazing peeping pixing boxing carying recarying worshipping stouping kneeling knocking with stoupe downe before hold vp higher I thanke God I see my maker to day c. Christ ordeined it a table matter We turne it to an altar matter he for a memorie we for a sacrifice he sate our men stand he in his common tongue we in a forreigne tongue Whereby it is manifest to appeare how diuers and repugnant the Masse is to the institution of the Lords Supper The doctrine◠of the Massebook◠cōtrary to God◠commaundementes Maior Another Argument proouing that the Masse is contrary to Gods Commaundementes Item where the first table of Gods blessed and sacred commaundements teacheth men to woorship and serue him and to direct the meditations of their harts only vnto him and that in all places at all times both publikely and priuately The Masse booke doth point out seruice for Saincts and for creatures by name to be serued Minor at the least 300. dayes and yeares as appeareth by the Calenders Masses Collectes martiloge c. Ergo the doctrine and institution of the Masse booke tendeth contrary to Gods holy commaundements Conclusio Another reason against the Masse Item where S. Paule in expresse woordes willeth all things to be done in an edifying tongue the Masse is celebrate in a tongue forreigne straunge and vnknowne to the people so that although the matter therein conteyned were holesome and consonant to Scripture as much as disagreeing from the same yet for the straungenes of the tongue it geueth but a sound and worketh no edifying to the ignorant Now both the tongue being strange to the eares of the people and the matter also in the Masse conteined being repugnant to Gods word what defence can the Masse haue but vtterly it is to be reiected And for somuch therefore as the Masse so long vsed in a forreigne language hath not hitherto come to the vnderstanding of the simple and vulgare sort to the intente they may themselues perceiue the matter and be theyr owne iudges I haue heere set foorth the chiefest parte thereof which is the Canon in Englishe so as I found it in a certayne written copie by Maister Couerdale translated adioining withall the Rubricke and circumstaunce of the same in euery point as is in the Masse booke conteyned ¶ The whole Canon of the Masse with the Rubricke thereof as it standeth in the Massebooke after Salisbury vse Translated word by word out of Laten into English AFter the Sanctus the Priest immediately ioining hys handes together and lifting vp his eies beginneth these wordes Te igitur clementissime c. that is to saye The Rubrick Therefore most gratious father thorough Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lord we humbly beseech thee Let him bowe downe his body while he sayth And we desire Heere the Priest standing vpright must kisse the altar (a) And why not on the left hand aswell or why any such kissing at all on the right hand of the sacrifice saying that thou accept and blesse Heere let the Priest make three crosses vpon the chalice and the bread saying these ✚ giftes these ✚ (b) Precious no doubt princypall or els arte thou to presūptuous that hast already offered it vp for thy sinnes for the saluation of others presentes these ✚ holy and vnspotted sacrifices When the signes are made vpon the chalice let him lift vp his hands saying thus Which first of al (c) Who gaue you that cōmission will you offer bread and wine for the Church of Christ who of very loue hath offred vp himselfe for it already Ephes. 5. we offer vnto thee for thy holy Catholike Church that thou vouchsafe to pacifie keepe vnite and gouerne it throughout the whole world with thy seruaunt our Pope N. and our Bishop N. That is (d) Charitye would pray for others also his owne Byshop only and our King N. And they are expressed by name Then let there follow and all true beleeuers and such as haue the Catholike and Apostolike faith in due estimation Heere let him pray for the liuing Remember Lord thy seruants handmaides N. and N. Anno 1552. In the which prayer a rule must be obserued for the order of charitie Fiue times let the Priests pray So did not the Lord teach his disciples to pray Mat. 6. Luke 11. First for himselfe Secondly for father and mother carnall and spirituall and for other parents Thirdly for speciall frends parishioners and others Fourthly for all that stande by Fifthly for all Christen people And heere may the Priest commend all (b) And why not his enemies also Math. 5. his frends to God But my counsayle is that none make ouerlong tarying there partly for distraction of mind partly because of immissions which may chaunce through euill Angels And all that stand heereby round about whose fayth and deuotion vnto thee is knowne and manifest for whome we offer vnto thee or which themselues offer vnto thee this sacrifice (c) Why make ye then a satisfactory sacrifice of it of prayse for them and theirs for the redemption of their soules for the hope of their saluation and health and render their vowes vnto thee the eternall liuing and true God Communicating and worshipping the memoriall fyrst (d) If ye hadde the Lordes matter in hand ye would do it in remembrance of him of the glorious and euer virgin Bowing downe a little let him say Mary the mother of our God and Lord Iesu Christ also of thy blessed Apostles and Martyrs Peter Paule Andrew Iames Iohn Thomas Phillip Bartholomew Mathew Simon Tadeus Timis Cletus Clemens Sextus Cornelius Ciprianus Laurence Chrisogonus Iohn and Paule Cosme and Damian and of all thy Saincts By whose (e) Thus the merites prayers of Christ are defaced merites praiers graunt thou that in all things we may be defended wyth the helpe of thy protection through the same Christ our Lord Amen Heere let the Priest behold the hoste (a) And why for within a litle whyle he looketh to haue it his God with great veneration saying Therefore Lord we beseech thee
al and wilt thou offer him vp agayne dayly at thy pleasure Good intenâ— But thou wilt say thou doest it for a good inteÌ„t O sinck of sinne Oh child of perdition doest y u dreame therein of a good intent where thy conscience beareth thee witnes of Gods threatned wrath against thee How did Saule who for that hee disobeyed the worde of the Lorde for a good intent was throwne from his worldlye and temporall kingdome Shalt thou then that doest deface Gods honour and rob him of his right inherite the eternall and heauenly kingdome Wilt thou for a good intent dishonour God offend thy brother and daunger thy soule wherefore Christ hath shed his most precious bloud Wilt thou for a good intent plucke Christ out of heauen and make his death voyde and deface the triumph of his crosse by offering him vp dayly Wilt thou either for feare of death or hope of life denie and refuse thy God who enriched thy pouertie healed thy infirmitie and yeelded to thee his victory if thou couldest haue kept it Doest y u not consider that the threed of thy life hangeth vpon him that made thee who can as hys will is eyther twine it harder to last the longer or vntwine it againe to breake it the sooner Doest thou not then remember the saying of Dauid a notable King to teach thee a miserable wretch in his 104. Psalme where he sayth thus When thou takest away thy spirit oh Lord from men they die and are turned agayne to their dust Psal. 104. but when thou lettest thy breath go foorth they shall be made and thou shalt renue the face of the earth Remember the saying of Christ in hys Gospell Whosoeuer seeketh to saue his life shall lose it but whosoeuer will lose his life for my sake shall finde it And in the same place Whosoeuer loueth father or mother aboue me is not meete for me Math. 10. He that will follow me let him forsake hymselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me What crosse the crosse of infamy and shame Math. 16. of misery and pouerty of affliction and persecution for his names sake Let the oft falling of those heauenly showers pearce thy stony hart Let the two edged sword of Gods holy word there asunder the sinowes of worldly respects The crosse for Christes sake euen to the very marrow of thy carnall hart that thou mayest once againe forsake thy selfe and embrace Christ. And like as good subiects will not refuse to hazard all in the defence of their earthly and temporal Gouernour so flie not like a white liuered milkesop from the standing wherein thy chiefe captaine Christ hath set thee in array of this life Viriliter age confortetur cor tuum Psal. 26. sustine dominum Fight manfully come life come death the quarell is Gods and vndoubtedly the victory is ours But thou wilt say I will not breake vnitie What not the vnitie of Sathan and his members not the vnitie of darkenes Antichrist also hath his vnitie which is not to be kept the agreement of Antichrist and his adherents Nay thou deceauest thy selfe with the â—ond imagination of such an vnitie as is among the enemies of Christ. Were not the false Prophetes in an vnitie Were not Iosephes breâ—thren and Iacobs sonnes in an vnitie Were not the Heathen as the Amelechites the Phâ—resites and Iebusites in an vnitie Were not the Scribes and Phariseis in an vnitie Doth not King Dauid testifie Conuenerunt in vnum aduersus dominum Yea theeues murtherers conspiratours haue their vnitie But what vnitie Tully sayeth of amitie Amicitia non est nisi inter bonos But marke my friend yea friend if thou be not Gods enemie there is no vnitie but where Christ knitteth the knot among such as be his Yea be well assured that where his truth is resident there it is verified that he himselfe sayeth Non veni mittere pacem in terram sed gladium c. but to set one against another the sonne against the father and the daughter against the mother in lawe Deceaue not thy selfe therefore with the glittering and glorious name of vnitie The agreements of euill men is no vnitie but a conspiracie for Antichrist hath this vnity not yet in deede but in name The agreement of ill men is not an vnitie but a conspiracie Thou hast heard some threatnings some curses and some admonitions out of the scripture to those that loue themselues aboue Christ. Thou hast heard also the sharpe and biting words to those that denie him for loue of lyfe Math. 10. Sayth he not He that denieth me before men I will denie him before my father in heauen And to the same effect writeth Paule Heb. 6. Heb. 6. It is impossible sayth he that they which were once lightned and haue tasted of the heauenly gifte and were partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God if they fall and slide away crucifyeng to themselues the sonne of God afresh and making of him a mockingstocke should be renued againe by repentance Rom. 10. And againe saith he if wee shall willingly sinne after we haue receiued the knowledge of his truth there is no oblation left for sinne but the terrible expectation of iudgement and fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Thus S. Paule writeth and this thou readest and doest thou not quake and tremble Well if these terrible and thundring threatnings can not sturre thee to cleaue vnto Christ and forsake the world yet let the sweete consolations and promises of the scriptures let the example of Christ and his Apostles holy Martyrs and Confessours encourage thee to take faster holde by Christ. Math. 5. Harken what he sayth Blessed are you when men reuile you Esa. 51. and persecute you for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so persecuted they the Prophetes that were before you Heare what Esay the Prophet sayth Feare not the cursse of men be not afrayde of theyr blasphemies for woormes and mothes shall eate them vp like cloth and wooll but my righteousnes shall endure for euer and my sauing health from generation to generation What art thou then sayth he that fearest a mortall man the child of man which vadeth away like the flower and forgettest the Lord that made thee that spread out the heauens and laid the foundation of the earth I am thy Lorde thy God that make the sea to rage and be still Math. 10. whose name is the Lorde of hostes I shall put my word in thy mouth and defend thee with the turning of an hand And our Sauiour Christ saith to his Disciples They shall accuse you and bring you before Princes and Rulers for my names sake Luke 12. and some of you they shall persecute and kill but feare you not saith he nor care you not what you shall say Math. 10. for it is the spirit of your
but that they thought rather as frendes to reconcile you then as enemies to infest you For they wanted not great offers of the most mighty Potentates in all Europe to haue ayded the Church in that quarrell Then marke the sequell There semed by these chauÌ„ges to rise a great face of riches gayn which in proofe came to great misery and lacke See how God then can confound the wisedome of the wise turne vniust pollicy to meere folly that thing that seemed to be done for reliefe was cause of playne ruine decay Yet see that goodnes of God which at no time fayled vs but most beningly offred his grace when it was of our partes least sought and worse deserued And when all light of true religion seemed vtterly extinct as the churches defaced the aultars ouerthrown the Ministers corrupted euen like as in a lampe the light being couered yet it is not quenched euen so in a few remained the confession of Christes fayth namely in the brest of the Queenes excellency of whom to speake without adulation the saying of the prophet may be verefied Ecce quasi derelicta And see how miraculously God of his goodnes preserued her highnes contrary to the expectatioÌ„ of man y t wheÌ„ numbers conspired against her and pollicies were deuised to disherite her and armed power prepared to destroy her yet she being a virgine helpeles naked and vnarmed preuayled had the victory of tyrants which is not to be ascribed to any What policy is this to make promise to get strength and to breake it as the Queene did pollicy of man but to y e almighty great goodnes and prouideÌ„ce of God to whom the honor is to be geuen And therefore it may be sayd Da gloriam Deo For in mans iudgement on her graces part was nothing in appearaunce but despayre And yet for all these practises and deuises of ill menne here you see her Grace established in her estate being your lawfull Queene and Gouernesse borne among you whoÌ„ God hath appointed to raigne ouer you for the restitution of true religion and extirpation of all errours and sectes And to confirme her grace the more strongly in this enterprise loe how the prouideÌ„ce of God hath ioyned her in mariage with a Prince of like religion who being a King of great might armor force yet vseth towards you neither armor nor force but seeketh you by the way of loue and amity in which respect great cause you haue to geue thaÌ„kes to almighty God that hath sent you such a catholicke Gouernesse It shall be therefore your part agayne to loue obey and serue them And as it was a singuler fauor of God to conioyne theÌ„ in mariage so it is not to be doubted but that he shall send them * The Cardinall here appeareth to be a false prophet issue for the comfort surety of this commoÌ„ wealth Of all Princes in Europe the Emperour hath trauayled most in the cause of Religion as it appeareth by his actes in germany yet happely by some secret iudgement of god he hath not atchiued the end With whom in my iourny hitherwardes I had confereÌ„ce touching my legation wherof wheÌ„ he had vnderstanding he shewed great appearance of most earnest ioy gladnesse saying that it reioyced him no lesse of y e recoÌ„cilemeÌ„t of this realme vnto christiaÌ„ vnity theÌ„ that his sonne was placed by mariage in y e kingdome and most glad he was of al that the occasion therof should come by me being an English man borne which is as it were to call home our selues Charles the Emperour coÌ„parâ—d to Dauid I can well compare hym to Dauid which though he were a man elect of God yet for that he was contaminate with bloud and warre he could not build the temple of IerusaleÌ„ but left the finishing therof to Salomon whiche was Rex pacificus So may it bee thought that the appeasing of controuersies of religion in christianity is not appoynted to this Emperor but rather to his sonne who shall performe the building that his Father hath begonne Which church can not be perfectly builded without vniuersally in all Realmes we adhere to one head Two powers in earth Ecclesiasticall and Imperiall and doe acknowledge him to be the Uicare of God and to haue power froÌ„ aboue For al power is of God according to the saying Non est potestas nisi a Deo And therefore I consider that all power beyng in God yet for the conseruation of quiet godly life in the world he hath deriued that power froÌ„ aboue into two partes here in earth whiche is into the power Imperiall and Ecclesiasticall And these two powers as they be seuerall and distinct so haue they two seuerell effectes and operations For secular Princes to whome the temporall sword is committed be ministers of god to execute vengeance vpon transgressors and euill liuers and to preserue the wel doers and Innocentes from iniury and violence Which power is represeÌ„ted in these two most excellent persoÌ„s the king Queenes Maiesties here present who haue this power committed vnto them immediately from God without any superior in that behalfe The other power is of ministratioÌ„ which is the power of the keies The power of the keyes clarkely declared and order in the ecclesiasticall state which is by the authority of gods word examples of the apostles and of all old holy fathers from Christ hitherto attributed and geuen to the Apostolick sea of Rome by speciall prerogatiue From which sea I am here deputed Legate Embassador hauing full and ample coÌ„missioÌ„ from thence and haue the keyes committed to my handes I confesse to you that I haue the keyes not as mine owne keies The Poâ—â— keyes senâ— by the Câ—â—â—dinall but as the keyes of him that sent me and yet cannot opeÌ„ not for wat of power in me to geue but for certain impedimeÌ„ts in you to receiue which must be taken away before my commission can take effect This I protest before you my Commission is not of preiudice to any persoÌ„ I come not to destroy but to build I come to reconcile not to condemne I come not to compell but to call agayne I am not come to call any thing in question already done but my Commission is of grace and clemency to such as will receiue it For touching al matters that be past they shal be as things cast into the sea of forgetfulnes But the meane whereby you shall receiue this benefit is to reuoke and repeal those lawes and statutes The Poâ—â— keyes canâ—not woâ—â— in Englaâ—â— before thâ— locke of good law be chauÌ„g which be impediments blocks and barres to the executioÌ„ of my coÌ„mission For like as I my selfe had neither place nor voyce to speake here among you but was in all respectes a banished man till suche time as ye had repealed those lawes that lay in my way euen so cannot you receiue the
Saincts whilest a most pleasant refreshing did issue from euery part and member of the body vnto the seate place of the hart and from thence did ebbe and flow to and fro vnto all the partes againe This Saunders continued in prison a whole yeare and 3. moneths In all which space he sent diuers letters to diuers men as one to Cranmer Ridley and Latimer and other to his wife and also to others M. Saunders in prison a yeare and 3. monthes certifying them both of the publike calamitie of the time and also of his priuate afflictions and of sondry his conflictes with his aduersaries As in writing to his friend he speaketh of Weston conferring with him in prison whereof you shall heare anone by the leaue of the Lorde as followeth in the story In the meane time the Chauncellor after this little talke with M. Saunders as is aforesaid sent him to the prison of the Marshalsey c. For the Caiphas Winchester I meane did nothing but bayte him with some of his currish eloquence and so committed him to the prison of the Marshalsey where he was kept prisoner one whole yeare and a quarter But of his cause and estate thou shalt nowe see what Laurence Saunders himselfe did write ¶ A parcell of a Letter of Laurence Saunders sent to the Byshop of Winchester as an aunswere to certayne thyngs wherewith he had before charged hym TOuching the cause of my imprisonment A fragmeâ—â— of M. Sauâ—â—ders letter I doubt whether I haue broken any law or proclamation In my doctrine I did not forasmuch as at that time it was permitted by the proclamation to vse according to our consciences such seruice as was then established He meane the proclaâ—mation of which meâ—â—tion is 〈◊〉 before Satis peceâ—â—uit qui reâ—â—stere non potâ—it My doctrine was then agreeable vnto my conscience and the seruice then vsed The Act which I did he meaneth publike teaching of Gods word in his owne parish called Alhallowes in Breadstreete in the Citie of London was such as being indifferently weyed sounded to no breaking of the proclamation or at the least no wilfull breaking of it forasmuch as I caused no bell to be roong neyther occupyed I any place in the Pulpit after the order of Sermons or Lectures But be it that I did breake the Proclamation this long time of continuance in prison may be thought to be more then a sufficient punishment for such a fault Touching the charging of me with my Religion I say wyth S. Paule This I confesse Act. 24. that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my forefathers beleeuing all thyngs which are written in the lawe and the Prophets and haue hope towards God c. And herein study I â—o haue alway a cleare conscience towardes God and towards men A good tâ—â—stimony oâ— good conscience so that God I call to witnesse I haue a conscience And this my conscience is not grounded vpon vayne fantasie but vpon the infallible veritie of Gods word with the witnessing of his chosen Church agreeable vnto the same It is an easie thing for them which take Christ for theyr true Pastor and be the very sheepe of his pasture to discerne the voice of their true shepheard from the voyce of wolues hyrelings and straungers for as much as Christ sayeth Iohn 10 My sheepe heare my voice yea and thereby they shall haue the gift to know the right voice of the true shepeheard and so to follow him and to auoyde the contrary as he also sayeth The sheepe follow the shepheard for they knowe his voyce A straunger will they not follow but will flie from him for they knowe not the voice of a stranger Such inward inspiration doth the holy Ghost put into the children of God being in deede taught of God but otherwise vnable to vnderstand the true way of their saluation Math. 7. And albeit that the Wolfe as Christ saith commeth in sheepes clothing yet he sayth by their fruites yee shall knowe them How the Wolfe is known 〈◊〉 the true shephearâ— For there be certayne fruites whereby the Wolfe is bewrayed notwithstanding that otherwise in sondry sortes of deuoute holines in outwarde shew he seemeth neuer so simple a sheepe That the Romish religion is rauening woluish it is apparant in 3. principall points First it robbeth God of his due and only honour Secondly it taketh away the true comfort of coÌ„science The incoâ—â—uenience the Româ—â— religion 〈◊〉 3. poyntes in obscuring or rather burying of Christ and his office of saluation Thirdly it spoyleth God of his true worship and seruice in spirit and truth appointed in his prescript commaundementes and driueth men vnto that inconuenience against the which Christ with the Prophet Esay doth speake sharply This people honoureth me with their lips but their hart is far from me Esay 26. Math. 25. They worship me in vaine teaching the doctrine and precepts of men And in another place ye cast aside the commaundemente of God to mayntayne your owne traditions Wherefore I in conscience weying the Romish Religion and by indifferent discussing thereof finding the foundation vnstedfast and the building thereupon but vayne and on the other side hauing my conscience framed after a right and vncorrupt religion ratified and fully established by the word of God and the consent of his true Church I neyther may nor do entend by Gods gracious assistance to be pulled one iot from the same no though an Angell out of heauen should preach another Gospell then that which I haue receyued of the Lord. And although that for lacke either of such deepe knowledge and profound iudgement or of so expedite vttering of that I do know and iudge as is required in an excellent clarke I shall not be able sufficiently to aunswere for the conuincing of the gaine-sayer yet neuerthelesse this my protestation shall be of me premised that for the respect of the grounds and causes before considered albeit I cannot * Explicitâ—â—ides is 〈◊〉 a man haâ— to aunsweâ— to euery poynt of 〈◊〉 â—ayth by sufficient 〈◊〉 ground anâ— learning explicita fide as they call it conceiue all that is to be conceiued neither can discusse all that is to be discussed nor can effectually expresse all that is to be expressed in the discourse of the doctrine of this most true religion whereunto to I am professed Yet do I bind my selfe as by my humble simplicity so by my fidem * implicitam that is by faith in generalty as they call it to wrap my beliefe in the credit of the same that no authority of that romish religion repugnant thereunto shall by any meanes remoue me from the same though it may hap that our aduersaries will labour to beguile vs with entising wordes and seeke to spoyle vs through Philosophy and deceitfull vanity after the traditions of men and after the ordinances of the world and
not after Christ c. And thus much out of M. Sanders letter so much as remained thereof The residue because it was rent away I could not adioine hereunto NotwithstaÌ„ding by this alredy expressed it is sufficient to vnderstand how good was y e cause estate of this blessed child of god being prisoner for Christes cause Ann. 1555. February For y e defence wherof he wholy bestowed resigned himself in such sort as he forbad his wife to sue for his deliuery wheÌ„ other of his friends had by suite almost obtained it he discouraged them so that they did not folow their suite as by this letter following may appeare ¶ A letter of M. Saunders to his wife GRace mercy and peace in Iesus Christ our Lord. Entirely beloued wife euen as vnto mine owne soule and body so do I dayly in my harty prayer wish vnto you for I doo dayly twise at the least in this sort remember you And I do not doubt deare wife but that both I and you as we be written in the booke of life so we shall together enioy the same euerlastingly through the grace and mercy of God our deare father in hys sonne our Christ. And for this present life let vs wholy appoynt our selues to the will of our good God to glorifie him either by life or by death and euen that same mercifull Lord make vs worthy to honour him either way as pleaseth him Amen I am mery I thanke my God and my Christ 1. Tim. 4. in whome and through whome I shall I knowe be able to fight a good fight and finishe a good course and then receiue the crowne which is layde vp in store for me and all the true Soldiours of Christ. Wherefore wife let vs in the name of our God fight lustely to ouercome the flesh the deuil and the world What our harnesse and weapons be in this kind of fight looke the 6. vnto the Ephesians and pray pray pray I would that you make no suite for me in any wise M Saunders would haue no suite made for him Thanke you knowe whome for her most sweete and comfortable putting me in remembrance of my iourney whether I am passing God send vs all good speede and a ioyfull meeting I haue too fewe suche frends to further me in that iourney which is in deede the greatest friendship The blessing of God be with you all Amen A prisoner in the Lord Laurence Saunders This his constancie is sufficiently commended and declared by his valiant buckling with two mighty enemies Antichrist and death two enemies Antichrist and death To neither of these did he geue place but by suffering their malice got y e victory ouer them both One of the conflictes which he had with Antichrist hys members I haue gathered out of a letter of his own hand writing It was with Doctour Weston a man whome though I should prayse yet would all good and godly meÌ„ worthely disprayse Of this the said Laurence Saunders thus writeth in a letter which he sent to one of his frends which wrote to him to knowe what Doct. Weston dyd at the Marshalsey whereunto he thus aunswereth M. Weston came to conferre with M. Grimoald What he hath coÌ„cluded with him This Doct. Weston and M. Griâ—moald dyed both about the Coronation of Q. Elizabeth I know not I wish it may be to Gods glory Amen Amen M. Weston of his gentlenes visited me ofâ—red me frendship in his worldly wily sort c. I had not so much good maner as to take it at his haÌ„d for I said that I was well inough and ready cherefully to abide the extremity to keepe thereby a good coÌ„science You be a sleepe in sin said he I would awake quoth I and do not forget Vigilate orate i. Watch pray What church was there The church goeth not alwayes by number said he 30. yeres past What church was there quoth I in Helias time Ioane of Kent sayd he was of youre Church No quoth I we did coÌ„demne her as an heretick Who was of your Church sayd he 30. yeares past Such quoth I as that Romish Antichrist and his rabble haue reputed and condemned as heretickes Wicklife sayd he Thorpe Old castle c. Yea quoth I with many moe as storyes do tell The B. of Rome hath sayd he long tyme played a part in your tayling sermons but now be ye sure he must play another maner of part The more pitie quoth I and yet some coÌ„fort it is to see how that the best learned Winchesters booke De Vera Obedientia wisest holiest of you all haue heeretofore had him to play a part likewise in your sermoÌ„s writings though now to please the world you do turne with the weathercocke Did you euer said he heare me preach against the Bishop of Rome No quoth I for I neuer heard you preach But I trowe you haue ben no wiser then other c. with more about the Sacrament Pray pray God keepe your family blesse it What a blessed taste thys good man had of Gods holy spirit by diuers and sondry his letters may right wel appeare to him that is disposed to peruse the same What a blessed taste of M. Sanders had of christes comforts whereof certayne we haue here thought good the Lord willing to expresse first beginning with that whiche he wrote out of the Marshalsey to D. Cranmer Ridley and Latimer prisoners for the like cause of Christ in Oxford To the Archbishop Cranmer Bish. Ridley and M. Latimer being prisoned in Oxford IN my most humble wise I salute you most reuerend fathers in Christ Iesus our Lord M. Saunders writeth to D. Cranmer Ridley c. Coloss. 1. Immortall thanks and euerlasting prayses be geuen vnto that our father of mercies Whiche hath made vs meete to be pertakers of the inheritaunce of Saintes in light whiche hath deliuered vs from the power of darckenes and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his beloued Sonne by whome we haue redemption through his bloud c O most happy estate that in an vnspeakable wise our life is hid with Christ in God Coloss. 3. But whensoeuer Christ which is our life shall shew himselfe then shall we also appeare with him in glory In y e meane season as our sight is but in a glasse euen in a darcke speaking 1. Cor. 13. so wee walke in fayth not after outward appearaunce the which fayth although for want of outward appearaunce reason reputeth but as vaine yea the chosen of God do know the effect thereof to bring a more substanciall taste and liuely fruition of very felicitie and perfect blessednes then reason can reach or sences receaue By this fayth we haue in our profession all good thinges yea euen them whiche the eye hath not seene and the eare hath not heard neither hath entred the hart of man c. Esay 54. 1. Cor. 2. Then
I most hartely thanke you for that ye haue so tender a care ouer me And although I knowe that there is neither iustice nor truth to be looked for at my aduersaries handes but rather imprisonment and cruell death yet know I my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong vpon my side that I will by Gods grace go and appeare before them and to their beardes resist their false doings Then sayd his frendes M. Doctour we thinke it not best so to do You haue sufficieÌ„tly done your duety and testified the truth both by your godly Sermons and also in resisting the Parson of Aldam with other that came hytherto bring in againe the popish Masse And for as much as our Sauiour Christ willeth and biddeth vs that when they persecute vs in one City we should flie into another Math. 10. we thinke in flying at this time ye should do best keeping your selfe against another time wheÌ„ the Church shall haue great neede of such diligent teachers and godly Pastors Oh quoth Doct. Taylour what will ye haue me to do I am now olde and haue already liued too long to see these terrible and most wicked dayes Flye you and do as your conscience leadeth you D. Taylour reâ—â—â—eth to â—ye I am fully determined with Gods grace to go to the Bishop to his beard to tell him that he doth nought God shall well hereafter raise vp teachers of his people whiche shall with much more diligence and fruite teach them then I haue done For God will not forsake his Church though now for a time he trieth and correcteth vs and not without a iust cause As for me I beleeue before God I shall neuer be able to do God so good seruice as I may do now nor I shall neuer haue so glorious a calling as I now haue nor so great mercy of God profered me as is now at this present For what Christian man woulde not gladly dye against the Pope and his adherents I know that the Papacie is the kingdome of Antichrist altogether full of lyes altogether full of falsehode so that all their doctrine euen from Christes Crosse be my speede and S. Nicholas The Papacy a â—ingdome 〈◊〉 lyes vnto the end of their Apocalyps is nothing but Idolatry superstition errours hypocrisie and lyes Wherefore I beseech you and all other my frendes to pray for me I doubt not but God will geue me streÌ„gth and his holy spirit y t all mine aduersaries shal haue shame of their doings When his frends saw him so constaunt and fully determined to go they with weeping eyes commended him vnto God and he within a day or two prepared himselfe to his iourney leauing his cure with a godly olde Priest named Syr Richard Yeoman who afterward for Gods truth was burnt at Norwich Syr Rich. Yeoman D. Taylours Curate and Martir of Christ Iohn Alcocke of Hadley trobled for Gods truth and dyed in prison D. Taylours iourney There was also in Hadley one Alcocke a very godly man well learned in the holy Scriptures who after Sir Richard Yeoman was driuen away vsed dayly to reade a chapter and to say the English Letany in Hadley Church But him they fet vp to London and cast him in prison in Newgate where after a yeare imprisonment he died But let vs returne to Doctour Taylour agayne who being accompanied with a seruaunt of his owne named Iohn Hull tooke his iourney towardes London By the way this Iohn Hull laboured to counsell and perswade him very earnestly to flie and not to come to the Byshop and profered himselfe to go with him to serue him and in all perils to venter his liâ—e for him and with him Iohn Hull a faythfull seruaunt to D. Taylour But in no wise would Doctour Taylour consent or agree thereunto but sayd Oh Iohn shall I geue place to this thy counsell worldly perswasion and leaue my flock in this daunger Remember the good shepeheard Christ whiche not alonely fed his flocke but also died for hys flocke Him must I follow and with Gods grace will do Therefore good Iohn pray for me and if thou seest me weake at any time D. Taylour agayne adâ—â—ed to flye but he refused so to do The first meeting betweene Winchest and D. Tailour A great abuse in Englande and 3. mischiefes comming thereof The first mischiefe The second mischiefe comfort me and discourage me not in this my godly enterprise and purpose Thus they came vp to London and shortly after Doctour Taylour presented himselfe to the Bishop of Winchester Steuen Gardiner then Lord Chauncellour of England For this hath bene one great abuse in Englande these many yeares that such offices as haue ben of most importance and waight haue commonly bene committed to Bishops and other spirituall men whereby three diuelish mischiefes and inconueniences haue happened in this Realme to the great dishonour of God and vtter neglecting of the flocke of Christ the which three be these First they haue had small leysure to attende to theyr pastorall cures which thereby haue bene vtterly neglected and left vndone Secondly it hath also puft vp many Byshops and other spirituall persons into such hautines and pryde that they haue thought no noble man in the Realme worthy to be their equall and fellow Thirdly where they by this meanes knew the very secretes of Princes The third mischiefe they being in such high offices haue caused the same to be knowne in Rome afore the kings could accomplish and bring their ententes to passe in England By this meanes hath the Papacy bene so maintained and things ordered after their wils and pleasures that much mischiefe hath happened in this Realme and others sometime to the destruction of Princes and sometime to the vtter vndoing of many common wealthes Now when Gardiner saw Doctour Taylour he according to his common custome all â—o reuiled him calling him knaue Traytor hereticke with many other villanous reproches which all Doctour Taylour heard patiently and at the last sayd vnto him D. Taylours patience and â—agnaniâ—itie My Lord quoth he I am neither Traytour nor hereticke but a true subiect and a faithfull Christian man and am come according to your coÌ„mandement to know what is the cause that your Lordship hath sent for me Then sayde the Bishop art thou come thou villaine How darest thou looke me in the face for shame Knowest thou not who I am Yes quoth Doctor Taylor I knowe who yee are Steuen Gardiners Lordly lookes Ye are Doctor Steuen Gardinar Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chauncellour yet but a mortall man I trow But if I shoulde be afrayde of your Lordly lookes why feare you not God the Lord of vs all Howe dare yee for shame looke any Christian man in the face The notable answere of Doctor Taylour to the Bishop of Winchester seeing ye haue forsaken the trueth denyed our sauioure Christ and hys word done
gift of spirit and courage God had geuen to this godly and blessed martyr At what time Doctour Taylour was depriued of hys benefice of Hadley there was one called Syr Robert Bracher a false pretensed Protestant in king Edwardes dayes and afterward a deadly enemy to the same ReligioÌ„ who was also one of them that so vnmercifully thrust Doctor Taylors wife and children out of the dores as she her selfe yet can testify notwithstanding the same now since became a Protestant agayne This Syr Robert Bracher aforesayde Syr Robâ—â—â— Bracherâ— coÌ„ming 〈◊〉 Hadley comming to Hadley to the buriall of a certayne frend of his and Gods great enemy one Walter Clarke albeit he came somewhat to late to the market as he sayd yet desirous to vtter such Popishe pelfe and packeware as he brought with him hee opened there his baggage of pestilent doctrine A popisâ— Sermon Syr 〈◊〉 Bracher preaching in the same towne of Hadley agaynst iustification of fayth of the corporall presence of praying for the dead and Auricular confession Whereof Doctour Taylour hauing vnderstanding by Letters writeth agayn to them of Hadley directing his Letter to his wife in confutation of the sayde Popish poysoned Sermon the Copy of which Letter we thought not vnworthy here in the ende of this story to bee annexed as vnder foloweth ¶ A Letter of Doctor Taylour of Hadley written to his wife DEare wife This cap was a 〈◊〉 cap sent M· Couâ—â—dale to 〈◊〉 Taylor 〈◊〉 his wyfe I pray God be euer with vs through Christ our onely Mediator Amen I thanke you for my cap I am something proud of it for it is one steppe from the Clergy in these dayes I thanke God my hart is cleane deuided from theyr proceedinges for I knowe that no man can serue two maisters specially if they agree no better theÌ„ Christ and Antichrist do I am glad that Hadley can skill of such packing ware as was brought thether the first day of May last past Christes sheepe can discerne Christes voyce from the voice of straungers theeues or hirelings The packebringer was sory that he came to late to the funerall market of his faithfull friend· But here I will leaue them both to Gods iudgement and somethyng touch the matter whereof the packer made mention on his openyng day At the first he called the Scripture as I heare full of darke sentences but in deed it is called of Dauid a candle to our feete and a light to our pathes Our Sauior Christ calleth hys word the light which euill doers do flee from and hate least their deeds should be reprooued thereby S. Paule would haue vs to walke as children of light and in any wyse not to continue in ignorance or darkenes But all we in the world pertaine to two princes eyther to the father of light truth or els to the prince of darkenes and lyes In these dayes preachers declare euidently of whome they are sent and with what spirit they speake to what prince they belong 〈◊〉 stripe 〈◊〉 falsely 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 to be â—eare and 〈◊〉 For they cry out against Gods Lightes Sunne Moone Starres torches lampes lanternes cressets and candles in Gods booke the Bible prouided of Gods great goodnes and mercy to auoyd all foule darknes cloudes and mistes or dangerous doutfull wayes in this our iourney to our heaueÌ„ly father long home mansion houses and dearely purchased heritage Esay gods faithfull messenger sayth Woe be vnto them that call sweete sower good euill and light darkenes Therfore commeth my people into captiuitie because they haue no vnderstanding Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth errours and heresies to remaine among the people so long as ignorance of the scriptures remayneth And hereby it appeareth to all good consciences what they meane which defame or accuse Gods blessed word beyng full of light as though it were full of darkenes These Owles would haue all day lights scraped out of bookes hartes and Churches Oh Lord turne their heartes and tongues bowe them from the waye of darkenesse least they goe to the prince of darkenesse and be cast into the pit of vtter darkenes where is weepyng and gnashyng of teeth Now touching the packes of wooll and the packes of cloth I feare they were as all other wares bee transubstantiate into flockes The Popes packe ware Iustification by workes Corporall pâ—esence Praying for soules Auricular confession euen his very finest packing stuffe against onely faith iustifieng and for the corporal presence of Christes body in the sacrament for praying for soules departed and for auricular confession Abrahams iustification by fayth by grace by promise and not by workes is plainly set forth both in the epistle to the Rom. cap. 4. and to the Gal. ca. 3. and Abrahams works of obedience in offring vp his sonne so long after his iustification must needes be taken as a fruite of a good tree iustifieng before men and not of iustification before God for then had man to glory in then dyd Christ die in vayne And where as the 6 chap. of Iohn was alledged to proue that Christ did geue his body corporally in his supper eueÌ„ as he had promised in the sayd 6. chap. it is most vntrue Against the corporall presence For onely he gaue his body sacramentally spiritually and effectually in his supper to the faythfull Apostles and corporally he gaue it in a bloudy sacrifice for the lyfe of the worlde vppon the crosse once for all There in hys owne person Chrâ—sts body geuen in the Supper spiritually vpon the croâ—se corporally in hys owne naturall body he bare all our sinnes By whose stripes we were healed as S. Peter proueth 1. Pet. 2. and Esay 53. In deed receiuyng Christs sacrament accordingly as it was instituted we receyue Christes body Christs bloud euen as I sayd before the Apostles dyd But the popish Masse is another matter The Masse as it is now is but one of Antichrists youngest daughters in the which the deuill is rather present and receyued Against the Masse The Masse the Popes youngest daâ—ghter Dâ—scription of the popes â—ingdome then our sauiour the second person in Trinitie God and man O Lord God heauenly father for Christes sake we beseeche thee to turne agayne England to the right way it was in in K. Edwards tyme from this Babylonicall stewish spirituall whoredome conspiracie tyranny detestable enormities false doctrine heresie hardnes of hart and coÌ„tempt of thy word and commaundements from this euident and open idolatry sacriledge simonie blasphemy superstition hypocrisie transubstantiate angell of lyght and day deuill kyngdome of lyes foule vayne schismes sects sedition apostasie gay sweete poyson honied and sugred viperous venome wily woluishnesse sathanicall subtletie and abhomination in the sight of God and of all such as put on the true spectacles of holy scripture I am the more playne now in this matter because I feare greatly that many will be to much ready to go from Christ to
others to be brought before the honourable Earle of Darby to be examined in matters of Religion c. I knowing by this relatioÌ„ of diuers of my frends was diuersly affected my mother and other my frendes aduertising me to flee and to auoid the perill which thing I had intended afore after a weeke then nexte ensuing if thys in the meane while had not chaunced seeing that if I were takeÌ„ and would not recant in matters of religion as they thought I would not and as God strengthening and assisting me with his holy spirit I neuer wyll it woulde not onely haue put theÌ„ to great sorow heauines losses with costes and charges to theyr shame rebuke in this world but also mine owne selfe after troubles and paynfull prisonment vnto shamefull death This considered G. Marsâ— in a peâ—plexitye whether flye or to tarry they aduised me couÌ„selled me to depart flie y e couÌ„try as I had entended to haue done if this had not happened To whose couÌ„sel my weak flesh would gladly haue coÌ„sented but my spirit did not fully agree thinking and saying thus to my selfe that if I fled so away it would be thought reported and sayd that I did not onely flie the countrey and my nearest and dearest frendes but much rather from Christes holy worde according as these yeares past I had with my hart or at least with mine ouâ—ward liuing professed and with my mouth word taught according to the small talent geuen me of the Lord. I being thus with theyr aduise couÌ„sell and the cogitations counselles of mine owne minde drawne as it were diuers wayes went trom my mothers house saying I woulde come agayne at euening In the meane time I ceased not by earnest prayer to aske and seeke counsell of God who is the geuer of al good gyftes and of other my frendes whose godly iudgemeÌ„tes and knowledge I much trusted vnto After this I mette with one of my sayd frends on Deane Moore about sunne goyng downe and after we had consulted together of my busines not without harty prayer kneeling on our knees we departed I not fully determinyng what to doe but taking my leaue with my frende sayde I doubted not but God according as our prayer and trust was would geue me such wisedome and counsell as should be most to hys honor and glory the profite of my neighbors and brethren in the worlde and obâ—eining of mine eternall saluation by Christ in heauen This done I returned to my mothers house agayne where had bene diuers of M. Bartons seruantes seekyng after me who when they could not finde me G. Marsh consulted with 〈◊〉 straitly charged my brother and William Marsh to seek me that night and to bring me to Smethehilles the next day who beyng so charged were gone to seeke me in Adderton or elswhere I know not Thus intending afore to haue bene all night with my mother but theÌ„ coÌ„sidering that my tarying there would disquiet her with her householde I departed from thence 〈◊〉 â—â—ethren â—â—arged to 〈◊〉 him â—he marueâ—â—â—â— prouiâ—ence of 〈…〉 and went beyond Deane Church and there taried all night with an old frend of mine taking ill rest and consulting much with my selfe of my trouble So at my first awaking one came to me from a faythfull frend of mine with letters which I neuer read nor yet looked on who sayd this My frendes aduise was that I should in no wise flie but abide boldly confesse the fayth of Iesus Christ. At whose wordes I was so confirmed established in my conscience that from thenceforth I consulted no more whether was better to flie or to tarye but was at a poynt with my selfe that I woulde not flye but go to maister Barton who did seeke for me and there present my selfe and paciently beare suche crosse as it shoulde please God to lay vpon my shoulders WherupoÌ„ my mind and conscience afore being much vnquieted and troubled was now mery and in quiet estate So betimes in the morning I arose and after I had sayd the English Letany as my custome was with other prayers kneeling on my knees by my frendes beddeside I prepared my selfe to goe towarde Smethehilles and as I was going thitherward I went into the houses of Harry Widdowes G. Marsh 〈◊〉 his leaue of his 〈◊〉 of my mother in law of Rafe Yeton and of the wife of Thomas Richardsonne desiring them to pray for me and haue me commended to all my frendes and to comfort my mother and be good to my litle children for as I supposed they should not see my face any more before y e last day so tooke my leaue of theÌ„ not without teares shed on both parties G. Marsh of his owne voluntary minde offereth himself to his enemies and came to Smethehilles about 9. of the clocke presented my selfe afore M. Barton who shewed me a letter from the Earle of Darby wherin he was commaunded to send me with others to Lathum Wherupon he charged my brother and William Marsh to bring and deliuer me the next day by x. of the clocke before the sayd Earle or his Counsell I made earnest sute with other speciall frendes which I had there at the same time to M. Barton that he woulde take some one of them or them all bound by recognisaunce or otherwise for mine appearing before the sayd Earle or his sayd Counsell that my brother William Marsh might be at home because it was the chiefest time of seding their ploughes could not go if they wer not at home but nothing could be obteined G. Marsh taketh his leaue of his mother So we went to my mothers and there I dyned shifted part of my clothes and so praying took my leaue of my mother the wife of Richard Marsh and both theyr householdes they and I both weping so departed from them and went toward Lathum and were al night a mile and a halfe on this side Lathum So the next daye whiche was Wednesday we arose prayd came to Lathum betimes and taryed there till foure of the clocke at afternoone TheÌ„ was I called by Roger Mckinson to come to my Lord and his counsell so I was brought into the chamber of presence where was present Syr William Nores Syr Pierce Alee G. Marsh brought before the Earle of Darby Mayster Shereburne the Parson of Grapenhall mayster More with others Where when I had taryed a litle while my Lord turned him toward me and asked what was my name I aunswered Marsh. Then he asked whether I was one of those that sowed euill seed and dissention amongest the people Which thing I denied desiring to know mine accusers and what could be layd agaynst me G. Marsh examined before the Earle of Darby but that I could not know Then sayd he he would with his counsell examine me themselues asked me whether I was a priest I sayd no. Then he asked me what
furtherance of the gospel and that you will be none of those forgetfull and hypocritish hearers Wayside hereâ—â— of the worde whereof some being but wayside hearers the deuil commeth and taketh away the woord out of their heartes least they shoulde beleeue and be saued but lette praier be made without ceassing by the congregation vnto God for them and no doubt God will to your consolation gloriously deliuer by one meanâ—s or other his oppressed Onely tary ye the Lords leisure be strong let your heart be of good comfort and waite yee still for the Lorde He tarieth not that will come looke for hym therefore and faint not and he will neuer faile you Yours George Marsh. A letter of a godly brother one Iames Bradshaw sent to George Marsh in prisone GRace and peace from God the father and the Lord Iesu Christ be with you alway A letter of Iames Bradshaw to George Marsh. Amen We had a letter from you which is a great coÌ„fort vnto vs to see you take the crosse so thankefully Trouble affliction doth prooue try instructe confirme strengthen the faith prouoke and stirre vp prayer driue and force vs to amendement of life What good affliction worketh in the godly to the feare of God to mekenes to patience to constancie to gentlenesse to sobernesse temperancie and to all maner of vertues and are the occasion of exceeding much good as wel transitorie as eternal in this world as in the world to come There is neither good nor bad godly nor vngodly but hee hathe one crosse or other And although some there be that can shift for a while and make prouision for theÌ„selues for a time by craft or subtilty and dissimulatioÌ„ or by some fashion in fellowship as they call it yet they bring them selues at length into the highest danger confusion and shame both in this world in the world to come And seing that all the troubles and aduersity in this world are a thousand times more light easy yea nothing in coÌ„parison of the eternal fire which is prepared and already kindled for the vnfaithfull and wicked enemies of God all faithfull and godly persons ought to beare and suffer their transitorye affliction and aduersitie the more patiently willingly and thankfully considering and remembring all the dearely beloued frendes of God which were wonderfully vexed plaged of their enemies Abraham of the Caldeis Lot of the Sodomites Isaac of Ismael Iacob of Esau Moses of his people Dauid of Saule and of his owne sonnes As for Iob Examplâ— of holy suffering â—â—â—fliction he had not a drop of bloud in hys body Iohn Baptist the holyest that euer was borne of a woman was without any law right or reason beheaded in prison as thoughe God had knowen nothing at all of hym We haue many thousand fellow martyrs and companions of our miserie and aduersitie in respecte of whose imprisonment racking chaines fire wilde beastes and other meanes wherwith they were tormented al that we suffer is but a blast of winde Therefore nowe who soeuer is ashamed of the crosse of Christ and agreued therewith the same is ashamed to haue Christ for his fellow companion and therefore shal the Lord Iesus Christ be ashamed of him againe at the latter day Thus I leaue for this time beseeching you to lette me haue your aduise because I do not outwardly speake that with my tong that I do thinke w t my heart Pray for me as I for you I beseeche the holy Ghost haue you in hys keeping alway Amen By your frend Iames Bradshaw A prayer of George Marsh which he vsed daily to say OH Lord Iesu Christ which art the onely phisition of wouÌ„ded consciences wee miserable sinners trusting in thy gratious goodnes doe briefly open to thee the euil tree of our heart with all the rootes boughes leaues and fruits withal the crookes A prayer oâ— G. Marsh Martyr knots and knoures all which thou knowest for thou throughly perceiuest as wel the inwarde lustes doubtings and denying thy prouideÌ„ce as these grosse outward sinnes which we commit inwardly and deadly Wherfore we beseeche thee according to the litle measure of our infirmitie althoughe we be farre vnable and vnapt to pray that thou wouldest mercifully circumcise our stonie hearts and for these old hearts create new within vs and replenish vs with a new spirite and water vs and moysten vs wyth the iuyce of heauenly grace and welles of spiritual waters wher by the inwarde venome and noysome iuyce of the flesh may be dried vp and custome of the olde man changed and our heart alwaies bringing forth thornes and briers to be burned with fire from hence foorth may beare spiritual fruites in righteousnes holinesse vnto life euerlasting Amen Beloued amonge other exercises I doe daily on my knees vse this confession of sinnes willing and exhorting you to do the same daily to acknowledge vnfainedly to God your vnbelief vnthaÌ„kfulnes disobedience against him This shal ye do if ye wil diligently consider and loke your selues first in the pure glasse of Gods commaundements and there see our outward filthines and vncleannes and so learne to vanquish the same that is to wit to fall in hearty displeasure against sinne therby be prouoked to long after Christ. For we truely are sinners but he is iust and the iustifier of all them that beleue on him We are poore 1. Cor. 1â— Math. 2â— but he is rich in mercy towarde all them that cal vpon him If we hunger and thirst for righteousnesse let vs resort vnto his table for he is a most liberall feast maker He wil set before vs his owne holy body which was geueÌ„ for vs to be our meat and hys precious bloud which was shed for vs and for many for the remission of sinnes to be our drinke He biddeth willeth calleth for geasts which hunger and thirst Come sayeth he all ye that labour and are laden and I will refresh you coole and ease you Math. 1â—â— and you shall finde rest vnto your soules The life and historie of W. Flower who for striking of a priest was apprehended first hauing hys hande cut off and after martyred for his constant standing to the truth WIlliam Flower otherwise named Branch first coÌ„cerning his trade of life bringing vp he was born at Snowhil in the County of Cambridge W. Flower Martyr where he went to schoole certaine yeares and then came to the Abbey of Ely where after hee hadde remained a while hee was a professed Monke according to the order and rule of the same house wherein hee remained vsing and bearing the habite of a Monke and obseruing the rules and orders of the same house vntill he came to 21. yeres of age or thereabout and before hee came to that age and being a professed Monke hee was made a priest also in the same house and there did celebrate and singe Masse a good space
they could to make him reuolte they helped the hangman to beare him all broken and dismembred as hee was vnto the heape of wood where they tyed him to a chayne of yron which was let downe vppon the fagottes Romian seing himself to be alone lying vpon the wood began to pray to God Whereat y e fryers being moued ranne to him agayne to cause hym to say Aue Maria. Which when he would not do Crueltie of Friers they were so furious that they plucked tare hys beard In all these anguishes the meeke saynt of God had recourse still to God in hys prayers beseeching him to geue him pacieÌ„ce TheÌ„ left they him lying as dead But so soone as they descended down from the wood he began to pray to God agayne in such sort as one would haue thought that he had felt no hurt Then an other greate Fryer supposing to doe more wyth hym then the rest came vp to the wood vnto hym to admonish him Romian thought at first that he had bene a faythfull Christian by his gentle speach but afterward when he vrged him to pray to the virgyn Mary he desred him to depart and let him alone in peace As soone as he was departed Romiane lifted vp hys head and hys eyes on hye praying God to assyste him in his great temptation Then a certayn father a Warden to bring the people in more hatred cryed out and sayd he blasphemeth A slaundering Fryer hee blasphemeth he speaketh agaynst the blessed virgin Mary Wherat Barbosi cryed stop hys mouth let hym be gagged The people cried to the fire let him be burned Then the hangman set fire to the straw Crucifice Câ—ucifige 〈◊〉 The cruell death and mâ—â—tyrdome of blessed Romian and little stickes that were about which incontinent were set on fire Romian still remayned hanging in the ayre till he dyed and was burned all his nether partes well neare when he was seene to lift vp his head to heauen mouing his lips without any cry and so thys blessed saint rendred his spirite to God Of this assemble there were diuers iudgements sondry bruites Some sayde that if good men had bene about him it had gone better with him that those priests monks which were about him were whoremaisters infamous Other sayd that he had wrong and that an hundreth of that company there were which more deserued death then he especially among theÌ„ which condeÌ„ned him Other went away marueling disputing of his death and doctrine And thus was the course finished of this valiaunt thrise blessed martyr and seruaunt of the Lord Iesus the sonne of God Ex Crisp. lib. 6 pag. 902. The Conuent of the Iacobin Friers at Dyion A Priest of Dyion Fraunces Ciuaux At Dyion Ann. 1558. Frances Ciuaux martyr Thys Fraunces Ciuaux was Secretarye to the Frenche Ambassadour here in England in Queene Maries time Who afterward beeing desirous to heare y e worde of God went to Geneua Also he was placed to be Secretary to the Senate or counsayle of Geneua wher he continued about the space of a yeare Hauing then certaine busines hee came to Dyion There was the same tyme a priest that preached at Dyion such doctrine where at the sayd Fraunces being worthely offended came friendly vnto the priest and reasoned with him touching his doctrine shewing by the Scriptures how and where he had erred The priest excused himselfe that he was not so well instructed to dispute but he would bring hym y e next day to a certayne learned man whom he knew there in the towne and desired the sayd Fraunces to go with him to breakfast where he would be glad to heare them two in conference together Whereunto when Fraunces had consented the priest incontineÌ„t went to the Iacobine Friers where the matter was thus contriued A priuy Iudas that at the breakefast time Frances there vnawares should be apprehended When the next day came y e priest brought FrauÌ„ces according to his appoyntmeÌ„t to a Iacobine frier who pretending much fayre friendship vnto him as one glad desirous of his coÌ„pany besought hym to take a breakefast with him the next morowe and there they woulde enter conference together Wyth this also Fraunces was content to prepare hymselfe the better to that conflict sat vp almost all the night writing with his fellow The next morow as Fraunces with his fellowe were preparing themselues toward the breakfast the Iacobin in y e meane time went to the Iustice of the towne to admonishe him to be ready at the time and place appoynted Thus as the Iacobin was standing at the Iustices doore the companion of Fraunces seeing the Fryer there stand began to mistrust with himselfe tolde Fraunces Frances admonished by hys dreame willing him to beware the Fryer Moreouer the same night Fraunces had in his dreame y t the sayde Fryer shoulde commit him to the Iustice. But hee either not caring for his dreames or els not much passing for the daunger committed hymselfe to the handes of God and went As they were together disputing in the Couent of the Iacobines Fraunces thus betrayed of the priest was apprehended by the Officers caried to Prison and within seuen dayes after being Saterday before the Natiuity of the Lord was brought to the place of execution where first he was strangled and then burned Ex scripto testimonio Senatus Geneuesis And as touching the felow companion of this Fraunces aboue mentioned he was also apprehended with hym and put in prison but because he was but a young nouice and yet not fully confirmed he recanted and was deliuered Priestes of Rochelle Manroy a priest The Lieuetenaunt of Rochelle The Cardinall of Lorraine Magistri S. Andre Peter Arondeau At Paris Ann. 1559. The town of Rochelle Peter Arondeau martyr as it is a place of great commoditie because of the Sea so was it not inferiour to other good Townes in Fraunce for nourishing and suporting the holy assembles of the Lorde Unto the whiche towne about the yeare of our Lorde 1559. resorted one Peter Arondeau a maÌ„ of base condition with a little packet of mercery ware there to sel who there being knowen to adioyne hymselfe to the church and congregatioÌ„ of y e faithfull was demaunded of certayne Ministers of Antichrist whether he would goe to heare Masse or no. The Masse He sayd that he had bene there to oste to hys great grief and that since the tyme that the Lorde had taken the vayle from hys eyes he knewe the Masse to be abhominable forged in the shop of the enemy of all mankinde They to whome hee thus aunswered were Priestes amongest whom was one named Monroy who taking the other there present for witnesses brought hym straight to the Lieuetenaunt The depositioÌ„ being taken and information made it was decreed incontinent y t his body shuld be attached And althogh by one of hys friendes hee was admonished to saue himself to