hys hearyng A subtile pollecy of such torments as were in preparyng for heretikes or for what other cause God knoweth y t he sought to rid himselfe out of this life by wounding himselfe wyth a knife and afterward was contented to say as they willed him wherupon he was discharged but after that hee neuer rested till he had drowned himselfe in a riuer halfe a myle from his house in Kent Of whom more is to be seen when you come to his story During the time of this parliament the Clergie lykewyse after their woonted maner A conuocation begonne had a Conuocation with a disputation also appoynted by the Queenes commaundement at Paules Churche in London the same tyme which was about the 18. of October In the which Conuocation first M. Iohn Harpesfield Bacheler of Diuinitie made a sermon ad Clerum the 16. of October After the sermon done it was assigned by the bishops that they of the Clergye house for auoyding confusion of woordes should chuse them a Prolocutor To the which roome and office by common assent was named Doc. Weston Deane of Westminster and presented to the Bishops with an Oration of M. Pie Deane of Chichester Orations of M. Pye and M. Wimsley of Doct. Wesâ—on of B. Boner in the conuocation house and also of Maister Wymbisley Archdeacon of London Which D. Weston beyng chosen and brought vnto the bishops made his gratulatory Oration to the house with the answer agayne of B. Boner After these things thus sped in the conuocation house they proceeded next to the Disputation appoynted as is abouesayd by the Queenes Commaundement about the matter of the sacrament Which disputation continued sixe dayes Wherein D. Weston was chiefe on the Popes part who behaued himselfe outragiously in tauntyng and checking In conclusion such as disputed on the contrary part were driuen some to flee some to deny some to die thogh to the most mens iudgements that heard the disputation they had the vpper hand as here may appeare by y e report of the sayd disputation the copy whereof we thought here to annexe as followeth The true report of the disputation had and begun in the Conuocation house at London the 18 of October Anno. 1553. WHere as dyuers and vncertayne rumoures bee spread abroad of the Disputation had in the Conuocation house A disputation of Religion in Paules Church in London the 18. of October to the entent that all men may know the certaintie of all things therein done and sayd as much as the memory of him that was present thereat can beare away hee hath thought good at request throughly to describe what was sayd therein on both parties of the matters argued and had in question and of the enteraunce thereof ¶ Acte of the first day FIrst vpon Wednesday beyng the 18. of October October 18. at after noone M. Weston the Prolocutor certified the house that it was the Queenes pleasure D. Weston Prolocutor agaynst the booke of Catechisme set forth in king Edwardes time that the company of the same house beyng learned men assembled should debate of matters of Religion and constitute lawes therof which her grace and the Parliament would ratifie And for that sayd he there is a booke of late set forth called the Catechisme which he shewed forth bearing the name of this honorable Synode yet put forth without your consents as I haue learned beyng a booke very pestiferous and ful of heresies and likewyse a booke of Common prayer very abominable as it pleased hym to terme it I thought it therfore best first to beginne with the articles of the Catechisme concernyng the sacrament of the aultar to confirm the naturall presence of Christ in the same and also transubstantiation Wherfore sayd he it shall be lawfull on Friday next ensuyng for all men freely to speake their conscience in these matters that all doubts may be remooued and they fully satisfied therein ¶ Acte of the second day The Friday commyng beyng the 20. of October wheÌ„ men had thought they should haue entred Disputation of the questions proposed October 20. Two billes exhibited in the Conuocation house by the prolocutor the Prolocutor exhibited two seueral bils vnto the house the one for the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar the other concernyng the Catechisme that it was not of that houses agrement set forth and that they did not agree therunto requiryng all them to subscribe to the same as he hymselfe had done Wherunto the whole house did immediately assent except sixe which were the Deane of Rochester M Phillips M. Haddon M. Philpot. M. Cheyney M. Elmar and one other refused to subscribe to the billes the Deane of Exceter the Archdeacon of Winchester the Archdeacon of Hertford the Archdeacon of Stow and one other And while the rest were about to subscribe these two articles Iohn Philpot stood vp and spake first concernyng the Article of the Catechisme that he thought they were deceiued in the title of the Catechisme in that it beareth the tytle of the Synode of London last before this although many of them which then were present were neuer made priuye thereof in settyng it forth The booke of the Catechisme defended by M. Iohn Philpot. for that this house had granted the authoritie to make ecclesiasticall lawes vnto certayne persons to be appoynted by the kings maiestie what so euer ecclesiasticall lawes they or the most part of them dyd set forth according to a statute in that behalfe prouided it might be well sayd to bee done in the Synode of London although such as be of this house now had no notice therof before the promulgation And in this poynt he thought the setter foorth therof nothyng to haue slaundered y e house as they by their subscription went about to perswade the world since they had our Synodall authoritie vnto them committed to make such spirituall lawes as they thought conuenient and necessary And moreouer he sayd as concernyng the article of the naturall presence in the sacrameÌ„t that it was against reason and order of learnyng and also very preiudiciall to the truth that men should be mooued to subscribe before the matte were throughly examined and discussed But when he saw that allegation might take no place Agaynst the article of naturall presence being as a maÌ„ astonied at the multitude of so many learned men as there were of purpose gathered together to maintayne olde traditions more then the truth of Gods holy word he made his request vnto the Prolocutor that where as there were so many auncient learned men present on that side M. Philpots request to the Prolocutor as in y e realme the like againe were not to be found in such number that on the other side of them that had not subscribed were not past v. or vj. both in age and learnyng far inferior vnto them therfore that equalitie might bee had in this
then in question Which thing the Prolocutor perceiuyng by and by he forbade Philpot to make any Oration or declaration of any matter commanding him also that he should make no argument in Latin but to conclude on his arguments in English D. Weston contrary to his owne wordes Then said Philpot this is contrary to your order takeÌ„ at the beginning of this disputatioÌ„ For then you appointed that all the arguments should be made in Latine and thereupon I haue drawn and deuised all myne argumeÌ„ts in Latine And because you M. Prolocutor haue said heretofore openly in this house that I had no learning I had thoght to haue shewed such learning as I haue in a briefe Oration and short declaration of the questions now in coÌ„trouersie thinking it so most conuenient also that in case I should speake otherwise in my declaration then should stand with learnyng or then I were able to warrant and iustifie by gods word it might the better be refourmed by such as were learned of the house so that the vnlerned sort beyng present might take the lesse offence therat But this allegation preuayled nothyng with the Prolocutor who bade hym still forme an argument in Englishe or els to hold hys peace Then sayd Philpot You haue sore disappoynted me thus sodenly to go from your former order but I will accomplish your commandement leauyng myne oration apart and I wil come to my arguments the which as wel as so sodaine a warnyng will serue I will make in English The presence of Christ in the Sacrament distincted The true preseÌ„ce of Christ in the Sacrament not denyed But before I bring forth any argument I will in one word declare what maner of presence I disallow in the sacrament to the intent y e hearers may the better vnderstand to what end effect myne arguments shal tend not to deny vtterly the presence of Christ in his Sacrament truely ministred according to his institution but onely to deny that grosse carnal presence which you of this house haue alredy subscribed vnto to be in the sacrament of the aultar contrary to the true manifest meaning of the scriptures The grosse presence of the Papistes denyed that by Transubstantiation of the sacramentall bread and wyne Christes naturall body should by the vertue of the words pronounced by the Priest be conteyned and included vnder the formes or accidences of bread wyne This kind of presence imagined by men I do deny quoth Philpot and agaynst this I wyll reason But before he could make an end of that he would haue sayd he was interrupted of the Prolocutor and commaunded to descend to hys argument At whose vniust importunitie Philpot beyng offended and thinkyng to purchase hym a remedy therefore Philpot craueth of the Lordes 〈◊〉 prosecute his argumentes without interruptioÌ„ Philpot agayne interrupted by the Prolocutor he fell downe vpon hys knees before the Earles and Lordes which were there present beyng a great number wherof some were of the Queenes counsaile beseechyng them that he might haue libertie to prosecute hys arguments without interruption of any man the which was gently graunted hym of the Lordes But the Prolocutor puttyng in vre a poynt of the practise of Prelates would not condescend therunto but still cryed hold your peace or els make a short argument I am about it quoth Philpot if you would let me alone But first I must needes aske a question of my Respondent who was D. Chedsey concerning a word or twaine of your supposition that is of the sacrament of the aultar what he meaneth thereby and whether he take it as some of the ancient writers doe Altar diuersly taken termyng the Lordes Supper the Sacrament of the aultar partly because it is a Sacrament of that liuelye sacrifice which Christ offered for our sinnes vpon the aultar of the Crosse and partly because that Christes body crucified for vs was that bloudy sacrifice which the bloudsheddyng of all the beastes offered vpon the aultar in the old lawe dyd prefigurate and signify vnto vs in signification whereof the old writers sometime do call the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ among other names which they ascribe there vnto the sacrament of the aultar or whether you take it otherwyse as for the sacrament of the aultare which is made of lime and stone ouer the which the sacrament hangeth and to be all one with the sacrament of the Masse as it is at this present in many places This done I wyll direct mine arguments according as your answer shall geue me occasion Then made D. Chedsey this answer Chadsey that in their supposition they tooke the sacrament of the aultar and the sacrament of the Masse to be all one Then quoth Philpot I wyll speake plaine English as M. Prolocutor willeth me and make a short resolutioÌ„ therof that the sacrament of the aultar which ye recken to be all one with the masse once iustly abolished now put in full vse agayne is no sacrament at all neither is Christ in any wyse present in it and this his sayeng he offred to prooue before the whole house if they listed to cal him therunto and likewyse offered to vouche the same before the Queenes grace her most honourable Counsaile before the face of vj. of the best learned men of the house of the contrary opinion and refused none And if I shall not be able quoth he to maintayne by Gods word that I haue said confound those vj. which shall take vpon them to withstand me in this poynt let me be burned with as many fagots as be in London before the court gates This he vttred with great vehemency of spirit At this the Prolocutor with diuers other were very much offended demanding of hym whether he wist what he sayd or no Yea quoth Philpot I wote well what I say desiring no maÌ„ to be offended with his saying for that he spake no more theÌ„ by gods word he was able to proue Philpots offer in the Conuocatiâ—â— house And praysed be God quoth he that the Queenes grace hath granted vs of this house as our Prolocutor hath informed vs that wee may freely vtter our consciences in these matters of controuersie in Religion and therfore I will speake here my conscience freely grounded vpoÌ„ gods holy worde for the truth albeit some of you here present mislike the same Then diuers of the house beside the Prolocutor taunted reprehended hym for speaking so vnfaringly against the Sacrament of the Masse The Prolocutor threâ—neth Philâ—pot and the Prolocutor sayd he was mad threatned hym that he would send hym to prison if he would not cease hys speakyng Philpot seeyng hymselfe thus abused Argument a loco tropico carceris not permitted with free liberty to declare his mynd fel into an exclamation castyng his eyes vp towards the heauen and said O Lord what a world is this that the truth of thy
at little William Lancaster Taylor 1532. The cause layde to this man was That he had in his keeping the booke of Wickliffes wicket Item that he beleeued the Sacrament of the aulter after the words of consecration not to be the body of Christ really c. Item vpon the day of Assumption he sayd that if it were not for the speech of the people he would not receiue the sacrament of the aulter Rob. Topley Frier 1532. His Articles He being a Frier Augustine of Clare forsooke his habite and going in a secular mans weede tenne yeares married a wife called Margret Nixon hauing by her a child A Fryer maried and afterward being brought before y e Byshop he was by him abiured and condemned to be prisoned in his former Monastery but at last he escaped out and returned to his wife agayne Tho. Topley Austen Fryer at Stokeclare By the occasion of this Rob. Topley aforesayde place is offered to speake something likewise of Tho. Topley his brother belike and also a Frier of the same order house of Stokeclare This Tho. Topley had bene conuerted before by one Richard Foxe priest of Bumstede and Miles Couerdale in so much that he being induced partly by them partly by reading certayne bookes Myles Coâ—uerdale cast off both his order and habite and wente lyke a secular Prieste Wherupon he was espied and brought to Cuthbert Byshop of London ann 1528. before whome this confession he made as followeth * The recantation of Thomas Topley ALl Christen men beware of consentyng to Erasmus fables for by consentyng to them they haue caused me to shrinke in my fayth that I promised to God at my Christenyng by my witnesses The 〈…〉 Tho. Topley Fryer First as touchyng these Fables I read in Colloquium by the instruction of Syr Richard Foxe of certaine Pilgrimes which as the booke doth say made a vowe to go to S. Iames Colloquia Erasmi as they weÌ„t one of them dyed he desired his felowes to salute S. Iames in his name and an other dyed homeward and he desired that they would salute his wife and his childreÌ„ Ex Regist. Lond. and the thyrd dyed at Florence his felow sayd he supposed that he was in heauen and yet he sayd that he was a great lyer Thus I mused of these opinions so greatly that my mynde was almost withdrawne from deuotion to Saintes Notwithstandyng I coÌ„seÌ„ted that the diuine seruice of them was very good and is though I haue not had such sweetnesse in it as I should haue had because of such Fables also because of other foolish pastimes as dauÌ„cing tennes and such other which I thinke haue bene great occasions that the goodnes of God hath bene voyde in me and vice in strength Moreouer it fortuned thus about halfe a yeare a goe that the sayd Syr Richard went forth and desired me to serue his Cure for him and as I was in his chaÌ„ber I found a certain booke called Wickleffes Wicket Wickliffes Wicket whereby I felt in my coÌ„science a great waueryng for the tyme that I did read vpon it and afterward also when I remembred it it wounded my conscience very sore Neuerthelesse I consented not to it vntill I had heard him preach and that was vpoÌ„ S. Anthonies day yet my mynde was still much troubled with the sayd booke whiche did make the Sacrament of Christes body in forme of bread but a remeÌ„braunce of Christes Passion till I heard Syr Myles Couerdale preach and then my mynde was sore withdrawne from that blessed Sacrament in so much that I tooke it then but for the remembraunce of Christes body Myles Couerdale Thus haue I wretchedly wrapped my soule with sinne for because I haue not bene stedfast in y t holy order that God hath called me vnto by Baptisme neither in y e holy order that God S. Augustine hath called me to by my Religion c. Furthermore he sayd and confessed that in the Lent last past as hee was walkyng in the fielde at Bumstede with Syr Myles Couerdale late Frier of the same order M. Couerdale goyng in y e habite of a secular Priest which had preached the iiij Sonday in Lent at BuÌ„stede they did coÌ„mon together of Erasmus workes and also vpon coÌ„fession the which Syr Myles sayd did hold that it was sufficient for a man to be contrite for his sinnes betwixt God and his conscience without confession made to a Priest which opinion this respondent thought to bee true and did affirme and hold the same at that tyme. Also he sayth that at the sayd Sermon made by the said Syr Myles Couerdale at Bumstede he heard him preache agaynst worshyppyng of Images in the Church saying and preachyng that men in no wise should honour or worshyp theÌ„ which likewise he thought to be true because he had no learnyng to defend it Wil. Gardiner Austen Frier of Clare With this Topley I may also ioyne William Gardiner one of the same order and house of Clare who likewise by y e motion of the said Rich. Foxe Curate of Bumstede by shewyng hym certayne Bookes to read was brought likewise to the lyke learnyng iudgement and was for the same abiured by Cuthbert Bysh. the same yeare .1528 Richard Iohnson of Bocstede and Alyce his wife 1531. This Richard and his wife were fauourers of Gods word and had ben troubled for the same of loÌ„g time They came from Salisbury to Bocstede by reason of persecution where they coÌ„tinued a good space At leÌ„gth by resort of good men they began to be suspected specially for a booke of Wickleffes Wicket whiche was in their house they were conuented before Stokesly Byshop of London and there abiured So great was the trouble of those times that it would ouercharge any story to recite the names of all theÌ„ Perilous dayes whiche during those bitter dayes before the coÌ„ming in of Queene Anne either were driuen out of the Realme or were cast out froÌ„ their goodes and houses or brought to open shame by abiuration Such decrees and Iniunctions then were set forth by the Byshops such lawes and proclamations were prouided such watch and narrow searche was vsed such wayes were taken by force of othe to make one detect an other so subtelly that vnneth any good maÌ„ could or did escape their handes but either his name was knowen or els his person was takeÌ„ Yet neuerthelesse so mightely the power of Gods Gospell did worke in the hartes of good men that the nuÌ„ber of them did nothyng lessen for all this violence or policie of the aduersaries but rather increased in such sort as our story almost suffreth not to recite y e particular names of all and singular such as then groned vnder the same Crosse of affliction and persecution of those dayes as of which number were these Arthur Geffray Lome Persons of Bâ—sted abiured Iohn Tibold his mother hys wife his two sonnes
pensions censes portions and Peterpence wont to be paide to the sea of Rome should vtterly surcease and neuer more to be leuied so that the king with his honorable counsaile should haue power and authoritie from time to time for the ordering redresse and reformation of all manner of indulgences priuileges c. within this realme Where is to be noted by the way as touching these PeterpeÌ„ce aforesaide that the same were first brought in and imposed by K. Iua about the yere of our Lord. 720. Which Iua K. of the WestsaxoÌ„s Peter pence how they came how long they continnued Vide supra pag. 127. Vide supra pag. 114. caused through al his dominioÌ„ in euery house hauing a chimny a peny to be collected paid to the B. of Rome in the name of S. Peter therof were they called PeterpeÌ„ce vide supra pag. 127. The same likewise did Offa K. of MerciaÌ„s after him about the yere of our Lord. 794. vide pag. 114. And these Peterpence euer since or for the most part haue vsed of a long custome to be gathered and summoned by the Popes collectors here in England froÌ„ the time of Iua aforesaide to this present Parlament An. 1533. Finally by the authority of the Parlament it was consulted and considered coÌ„cerning the legalitie of the lawfull succession vnto the crowne in ratifying and inhabling the heires of the kings body and Quene Anne In the whych parliament moreouer the degrees of mariage plainly and clerely were explaned and set forth such as be expresly prohibited by Gods lawes as in this Table may appeare A Table of degrees prohibited by Gods lawe to marrie The sonne not to mary the mother nor stepmother The brother not to mary the sister Statut. an 25 Reg. Hen. 8. The father not to mary his sonnes daughter nor his daughters daughter The sonne not to mary his fathers daughter gotten by hys stepmother The sonne not to mary his aunte being either his fathers or his mothers sister Degrees prohibited to marrye The sonne not to mary his vncles wife The father not to mary his sonnes wife The brother not to mary his brothers wife No man to mary his wiues daughter No man to mary his wiues sonnes daughter No man to mary his wiues daughters daughter No man to mary his wiues sister All these degrees be prohibited by the scripture All these things thus being defined and determined in this foresaide Parliament and also being in the same Parliamente concluded that no man of what estate degree or condition soeuer Seperation betweene the king and the Lady Catherine by acte of Parlyament hath any power to dispense wyth Gods lawes it was therfore by the authoritie aforesayd agreing with the authoritie of Gods word assented that the maryage aforetime solemnised betwene the kyng and the Ladie Katherine being before wife to prince Arthur the kynges brother and carnally known by him as is aboue proued should be absolutely demed and adiudged to be vnlawfull and against the law of God and also reputed and taken to be of no value nor effect and that the separation thereof by Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Cant. should stand good and effectuall to all intents and also that the lawful matrimony betwene the king and the Lady Anne his wife shoulde be established approoued and ratified for good and consonant to the lawes of almightye God The mariage betwene the king and Queene Anne approued by publicke Parlyament 〈◊〉 heyres â—f K. Henry and Queene Anne ratified by Parliament And further also for the establishing of thys kinges lawfull succession it was fully by the sayd parliament adiudged that the inheritance of the crowne shuld remaine to the heirs of their two bodies that is of the King and Queene Anne his wife During the time of this Parliament before the mariage of Queene Anne there was one Temse in the Common house which mooued the Commons to sue to the king to take the Queene againe into hys companie declaring certaine great mischiefes like to insue therof as in bastarding the Ladie Marie the kings onely childe and diuers other inconueniences which being reported to the kings eares he sent immediately to syr Thomas Audley Speaker then of the Parliament expressing vnto hym amongest other matters that he marueiled muche why one of the Parlament did so openly speake of the absence of the Queene from him which matter was not to be determined there for it touched sayde hee hys soule The kinges wordes to Syr Tho. Audley speaker of the Parliament and wished the Matrimonie were good for then hadde he neuer bene so vexed in conscience But the Doctors of Uniuersities said he haue determined the mariage to be voide and detestable before God which grudge of conscience hee sayde caused hym to abstaine from her companie and no foolishe nor wanton appetite For I am sayde he 41. yeare olde at whyche age the lust of man is not so quicke as it is in youthe And sauing in Spaine and Portugale it hath not bene seene that one manne hath maried two sisters the one being carnally knowen before but the brother to mary the brothers wife was so abhorred amongest al nations that I neuer heard it that any christian man so did but my selfe Wherefore ye see my conscience troubled and so I pray you report And so the Speaker departing declared to the Commons the kings saying Not long after that the Kinge perceiuing belyke the mindes of the Cleargy not much fauouring his cause sent for the Speaker againe and 12. of the Common house The kinges workes to certaine of the coÌ„mon house hauing with him 8. Lordes and sayde to them Well beloued subiects we had thought the Clergy of our realme had ben our subiects wholye but nowe we haue well perceyued that they be but halfe oure Subiectes yea and scarce oure subiectes For all the Prelates at their consecration make an othe to the Pope cleane contrarye to the othe that they make vnto vs so that they seeme to be hys subiectes and not ours and so the King deliuering to them the Copie of both the othes required them to inuent some order that he might not thus be deluded of his spirituall subiects The spirituaâ—â— men the Popes subiectes 〈◊〉 then the king 〈◊〉 The Speaker thus departed and caused the othes to be read in the Common house the very tenor wherof here ensueth The othe of the Clergie to the Pope I Iohn Bishop or Abbot of A. from this houre forwarde shall be faithfull and obedient to S. Peter to the holy church of Rome and to my Lorde the Pope and his successours Canonically entring I shall not be of counsaile nor consent The othe which the Clergye commoÌ„ly geueth to the Pope that they shall loose either life or member or shall be taken or suffer anye violence or any wronge by any meanes Their counsaile to me credited by them their messengers or letters I shall not
the king to the conuocation house sent him therewith to the Conuocation house among the Byshops Cromwell commyng with the kynges signet boldly into the Clergy house and there placyng himselfe among the Byshops W. Warham beyng then Archbyshop begā to make his Oration declaryng to them the authoritie of a kyng and the office of subiectes and especially the obedience of Byshops Churchmen vnder publicke lawes necessaryly prouided for the profite quyet of the cōmon wealth Which lawes notwithstandyng they had all transgressed highly offended in derogation of the kynges royall estate fallyng in the law of Premunire in that no◠onely they had consented to the power Legatiue of the Cardinall For the copie of the Bishops 〈◊〉 to the Pope read before pag. 1025. The clergy condemned in the Premunire Syr Tho. Cromwell made knight and M. of the kinges Iewel house but also in that they had all sworne to the Pope contrary to the fealtie of their soueraigne Lord the kyng therfore had forfeyted to the kyng all their goodes cattels landes possessions and whatsoeuer liuynges they had The Byshops hearyng this were not a litle amased and first began to excuse and deny the fact But after that Cromwell had shewed them the very copie of their othe made to the Pope at their cōsecration and the matter was so playne that they could not deny it they begā to shrinke and to fall to entreatie desiryng respite to pause vpon the matter Notwithstandyng the end thereof fell so out that to be quite of that Premunire by Act of Parliament it cost them to the kyng for both the prouinces Canterbury and Yorke no lesse then .118840 poundes whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 1530. whereof before you may read more at large pag. 1020. After this an 1522. Syr Thomas Cromwell growyng in great fauour with the kyng Cromwell made M. of the Rolles Cromwell made knight of the Garter was made Knight Maister of the kynges Iewell house shortly after was admitted also into the kynges Coūsaile which was about the commyng in of Queene Anne Bullen Furthermore within two yeares ofter the same an 1524. he was made Maister of the Rolles Doct. Taylor beyng discharged Thus Cromwel springyng vp in fauour and honour after this in the yeare .1527 a litle before the byrth of kyng Edward was made Knight of the Garter L. Cromwell made Earle of Essex great Chamberlaine of England and Vicegerent to the king not long after was aduaunced to the Earledome of Essex and made great Chamberlaine of England Ouer and besides all which honours he was constitute also Uicegerent to the kyng representyng his person Whiche office although it standeth well by the law yet seldome hath there bene sene any besides this Cromwell alone either to haue susteined it or els to haue so furnished the same with counsayle and wisedome as Cromwell did And thus much hytherto cōcernyng the steppes and degrees of the Lord Cromwels risyng vp to dignitie and high estate Now somewhat would be sayd likewise of the noble Actes the memorable examples and worthy vertues not drowned by ease of honour in him but encreased rather quickened by aduauncemēt of authority place to work more abundantly in the common wealth Among y t which his woorthy actes and other manyfolde vertues in thys one chiefely aboue all other riseth his commendation The actes and doinges of the L. Cromwell described for his singular zeale and laborious trauaile bestowed in restoring the true Church of Christ and subuerting the Synagogue of Antichrist the Abbeyes I meane and religious houses of Friers and Monkes For so it pleased almighty God by the meanes of the said Lord Cromwell to induce the King to suppresse first the Chauntries then the Friers houses and small Monasteries till at length all the Abbeys in England both great and lesse were vtterly ouerthrowne and pluckt vp by the rootes The which acte and enterprise of him as it may geue a president of singular zeale to all Realmes christened which no Prince yet to this day scarse dare folow so to this Realme of Englande it wrought such benefit commoditie as the fruite thereof yet remayneth and will remayne still in the Realme of Englande though we seeme little to feele it Rudely and simply I speake what I suppose without preiudice of other which can inferre any better reason In the meane time my reason is this that if God had not raised vp thys Cromwell as he did to be the instrument of rooting out of the Abbeyes and Celles of straunge religion The L. Cromwel a profitable instrument in suppressing Abbayes what other men see I know not for my part I neuer yet saw in thys Realme any such Cromwell since Cromwels time whose hart and courage might not sooner haue bene subuerted with the money and bribes of Abbots then he to haue subuerted any Abbey in all England But heere I must of necessitie answeare the complaynt of certayne of our countrey men For so I heare of many the subuersion of these Monasteries to be reprehended The defence of the L. Cromwell for ouerthrowing the Abbayes as euill and wicked The building say they mighte haue bene conuerted vnto schooles and houses of learning The goodes and possessions might haue bene bestowed to much better and more godly vse of the poore and mainteining of hospitalitie Neyther do I denie but that these thyngs are well and godly spoken of them and could willingly embrace their opinion with my whole hart if I did not consider heerein a more secret and deeper meaning of Gods holy prouidence then at the first blush peraduenture to all men doth appeare And first to omit the wicked and execrable life of these religious orders The abhominable life in Monasteryes bewrayed by their owne confessiō ful of al feditie found out by the Kings visitours and in their Registers also recorded so horrible to be heard so incredible to be beleeued so stinking before the face of God and man that no maruayle it is if Gods vengeance from heauen prouoked woulde not suffer anye stone or monument of these abhominable houses to be vnplucked vp But as I sayd letting these things passe vnder chaste silence whiche for very shame will abhorre any storie to disclose let vs now come to the first institution of these orders and houses of Monkerie and consider howe and to what end they were first instituted and erected here among the Saxons at the first foundation of them about the time 666. In the former parte of thys Hystorie declaration was made before Read afore pag. 133.134 page 133.134 first by whome and at what time these Monkish houses heere in England among the Saxons flowing no doubt out of the order of Saint Benet The first beginning of religious houses in the time of the Saxons and brought in by Augustine began first to be founded as by Augustine the Monke Furseus Medulphus
feare or perill But in suche Realmes and Kingdomes as this wher Lawes and Parliamentes be not alwayes one but are subiect to the disposition of the prince neither is it certayne alwayes what Princes maye come y e surest way therfore to send Monkery Popery packing out of the realme is to doe with their houses and possessions as king Henry here did through y t motion of y e counsell of Cromwell For els who seeth not in Queene Maries time if either the houses of monkes had stand or their landes had bene otherwise disposed then into the handes of such as they were how many of them had bene restored replenished agayn w t monkes fryers in as ample wise as euer they were And if Dukes Barons and the Nobilities scarse were able to retayne the landes and possessions of Abbeyes distributed to them by king Henry from the deuotion of Queene Mary seeking to build agayne the walles of Hierico what then shoulde the meaner sorte haue done let other men coniecture Wherfore it is not vnlike but that Gods heauenly prouidence did well foresee and dispose these thinges before by this man The vtter ruine of Monasteryes was Gods worke in workyng the destruction of these Abbeyes whereupon as often as he sent out any men to suppresse any monasterie hee vsed commonly to send them with this charge that they shuld throw downe those houses euen to the foundation Which wordes although may seeme percase to some to be cruelly spoken of hym yet contrariwise doe I suppose the doing thereof not to be without Gods speciall prouidence and secret guiding Or els we might peraduenture haue had suche swarmes of fryers and monkes possessed in theyr nestes agayne before this day in England in so great a number that tenne Cromwels afterward vnneth should haue suffered to haue vnhoused them Wherfore if the plantation which the Lord God neuer planted be pluckt vp by the rootes Math. 15. let God alone wyth his working and let the monasteries goe Now that you haue seene what this Malleus Monachorum hath done in defacing the Sinagogue of the pope Malleus Monachorum Cromwelius let vs see how the sayd Cromwell againe did trauayle in setting vp Christes church and congregation After that the bishop of Romes power and authoritye was banished out of England the bishops of his sect neuer ceased to seeke all occasion how eyther to restore hys head agayne being broken and wounded Cromwell the Forte defence of the Church An assembly of learned men appoynted by the king or at the least to keepe vpright those thinges which yet remayned wherein although theyr labours were not altogether frustrate yet had they brought much more to passe if Cromwell as a mighty wall and defence of the church had not resisted continually theyr enterprises It happened that after the abolishing of the Pope certayne tumultes began to rise about religion Wherupō it seemed good vnto king Henry to appoynt an assemblye of learned men and Bishops Cromwel with Alex. Alesius resort to the assembly which should soberly modestly entreat and determine those thinges which perteyned vnto Religion Briefely at the kinges pleasure all the learned men but specially the Bishops assembled to whō this matter seemed chiefely to belong Cromwell thought also to be present himselfe with the Byshoppes who by chaunce meeting with Alexander Alesius by the way a Scottish man brought him with him to the conuocation house where all the Bishoppes were assembled together Which was in the yeare .1537 The Bishops and Prelates attending vppon the comming of Cromwell as he was come in rose vp and did obeysaunce to him as to their vicar generall and he agayn saluted euery one in theyr degree and sate downe in the highest place at the table according to his degree and office and after him euery bishop in his order and Doctours First ouer agaynst him sate the Archb. of Canterbury then the Archbishop of Yorke the bishops of London Lincolne Salisbury Bath Ely Herford Chychester Norwich Rochester and Worcester c. There Cromwel in y e name of the king whose most deare and secret Counsellour at that present he was and Lorde priuy Seale and vicar generall of the realme spake these wordes in maner folowing RIght reuerend fathers in Christe The kinges maiesty geueth you high thankes that ye haue so diligently without any excuse Cromwells Oration to the byshops assembled hither according to his commaūdement And ye be not ignoraunt that ye be called hither to determine certayne controuersies which at this time be moued concerning the christian Religion and fayth not onely in this Realme but also in all nations through the world For the king studyeth day and nyght to set a quietnesse in the Churche and he can not rest vntill all such controuersies be fully debated and ended through the determination of you of his whole Parliament For although his speciall desire is to set a stay for the vnlearned people whose cōsciences are in doubt what they may beleue and he himselfe by his excellent learning knoweth these controuersies wel enough yet he will suffer no common alteration but by the consent of you and of his whole Parliamēt By the which thing ye may perceiue both his high wisedome and also his great loue towarde you And he desireth you for Christes sake that all malice obstinacy and carnall respecte set apart ye will frendly and louinglye dispute among your selues of the controuersies moued in the Churche The kinges request to the Bishops and that ye will conclude all thinges by the woord of God without all brawling or scolding neither will his maiestye suffer the Scripture to be wrasted and defaced by any Gloses any papisticall Lawes or by any authority of Doctours or Counselles and muche lesse will he admitte any articles or doctrine not conteyned in the Scripture but approued onely by continuaunce of time and olde custome and by vnwritten verities as ye were wont to do Ye know wel enough that ye be bound to shew this seruice to Christ and to his Church and yet notwithstanding his maiestye will geue you high thankes if ye will sette and conclude a godly and a perfect vnity whereunto this is the onelye way and meane if ye wil determine all thinges by the Scripture as God commaundeth you in Deuteronomie whiche thing hys maiesty exhorteth and desireth you to do When Cromwel had ended this his Oration the Byshops rose vp altogether geuing thankes vnto the kings maiesty not for his great zeale toward the church of christ and also for his most godly exhortation worthy so Christian a prince Immediately they rose vp to disputation where as Stokesly Bishop of London first of all being the moste earnest champion maynteyner of the Romish Decrees whō Cromwel a litle before had checked by name for defending vnwritten verities endeuoured himselfe with all his labour and industry out of the olde Schole Gloses to maynteyne the
histories seuerally to comprehend first of all we will somewhat speake of Barnes D. of diuinitie whose perticular story here followeth This Barnes after he came from the Uniuersitie of Louaine Robert Barnes Prior of the house of Auguâ—tines in Cambridge went to Cambridge where he was made Prior and maister of the house of the Augustines At that tyme the knowledge of good letters was scarcely entred into the Uniuersitie all things beyng full of rudenes and barbaritie sauing in very few which wer priuy and secret Wherupon Barnes hauing some feeling of better learning and authors began in his house to read Terence Plautus Cicero Thomas Parnel a Londoner borne scholer to Barnes M. Cambâ—idge M. Field M. Colman M. Couerdall Bachelers of diuinity so that what with his industry paines labours and with the helpe of Tho. Parnell his scholer whom he brought from Louane with him reading Copia verborum rerum he caused the house shortly to florish with good letters and made a great part of the house learned which before were drowned in barbarous rudenesse as M. Cambridge maister Felde M. Colman M. Burley M. Couerdall with diuers other of the Uniuersitie that soiourned there for learnings sake After these foundations laid then did he read openly in the house Paules Epistles and put by Duns and Dorbel and yeâ— he was a questionarye himselfe and onely because he would haue Christ there taught and his holy word he turned their vnsauory Problemes and fruitles disputations to other better matter of the holy scripture thereby in short space he made diuers good diuines The same order of disputatioÌ„ which he kept in his house he obserued likewise in the vniuersitie abrode wheÌ„ he shuld dispute with any man in the commoÌ„ scholes And the first man that aunswered Doctor Barnes in the Scriptures was Maister Stafford for his forme to bee Bacheler of diuinitie which disputation was maruelous in the sight of the great blynde Doctors and ioyfull to the godly spirited Thus Barnes what with his reading disputation and preaching became famous and mighty in the Scriptures preaching euer against bishops and hypocrites and yet did not see his inward outward idolatry which he both taught and mainteined till that good M. Bilney with other as is aforesayd in the lyfe of M. Bilney conuerted him wholy vnto Christ. The first sermon that euer he preached of this truth was the Sonday before Christmas day at S. Edwardes church longing to Trinitie hall in Cambridge The first Sermon 〈◊〉 Doct. Baner preacheâ—◠〈…〉 by y e Pease marker whose theame was the epistle of the same sonday Gaudete in domino c. and so postilled the whole epistle folowyng the scripture and Luthers postill and for that sermon he was immediatly accused of heresie by ij fellowes of the kings hall Then the godly learned in Christ both of Penbroke hall S. Iohns Peter house Queenes colledge the Kings colledge Gunwell hall Benet college shâ—wed themselues flocked together in open sight both in the scholes and at open Sermons at S. Maries and at the Austens and at other disputations and then they conferred continually together The house that they resorted most commonly vnto was the white horse which for despite of them to bryng Gods word into contempt was called Germany This house especially was chosen because of them of S. Iohns The kings colledge and the Queenes colledge came in on the backe side At this tyme much trouble began to ensue The aduersaries of D. Barnes accused him in the RegeÌ„t house before the Uicechancelor where as his articles were presented with him receyued he promising to make answer at the next conuocation and so it was done Then Doctor Nottoris a ranke enemy to Christ mooued Doct. Barnes to recant but he refused so to do which appeareth in hys booke that he made to king Henry the 8. in English confuting the iudgement of cardinall Wolsey and the residue of the Bishops papisticall Trouble amongest the Cambridge men for the Gospell and so for the tyme stoode stedfast And this tragedy continued in Cambridge one preachyng agaynst another in trying out of Gods truth vntil within vj. dayes of Shrouetyde Then sodenly was sent downe to Cambridge a sergeaunt of armes called maister Gibson dwelling in s. Thomas Apostles in LondoÌ„ D. Barnes 〈◊〉 by M. Gibson who sodeÌ„ly arested D. Barnes openly in the conuocatioÌ„ house to make all other afraid and priuily they had determined to make search for Luthers bookes and all the Germaines workes sodenly But good D. Farman of the Queenes Colledge sent word incontinently thereof Search in Cambridge for bookes to the chambers of those that were suspected which were in number xxx persons But God be praysed they were conueied by that tyme that the sergeant at armes the Uicechauncelor and the Proctours were at euery mans chamber False Brethâ—â—â— goyng directly to the place where the bookes lay wherby it was perceiued that there were some priuy spies amongst that small company and that night they studied together and gaue him his answer which answer he caried with him to LondoÌ„ the next morning which was Tuesday before Shrouesonday D Barnes brought to London came on the Wednesday to London lay at M. Parnels house by the stockes In the morning he was caried by the Sergeant at armes to cardinal Wolsey to Westminster waytyng there all day and could not speak with him til night D. Gardinet Secretary to the Cardinall Then by the reason of D. Gardiner Secretary to the cardinall of whose familiar acquaintance he had bene before and M. Foxe M. of the Wardes he spake the same nyght with the cardinal in his chamber of estate kneeling on his knees Then sayd the cardinall to them is this D. Barnes your man that is accused of heresie Yea and please your grace and we trust you shall find him reformable for he is both well learned and wise What M. doctor sayd the cardinal had you not a sufficient scope in the scriptures to teach the people The talke betweene Cardinall Welsey and D. Barnes but that my golden shewes my pollaxes my pillers my goldeÌ„ cusshioÌ„s my crosses did so sore offeÌ„d you that you must make vs Ridiculum caput amongst the people We were iolily y t day laughed to scorne Uerily it was a sermon more fitter to be preached on a stage theÌ„ in a pulpit for at the last you sayd I weare a payre of red gloues I should say bloudye gloues quoth you that I should not be cold in the midst of my ceremonies And he answered I spake nothing but the truth out of the scriptures according to my conscience and according to the old Doctors and then did hee deliuer him vi sheetes of paper written to confirme and corroborate his sayinges He receaued them smiling on him and saying we perceiue then that you intend to stand to your Articles and to shew your learning Yea
None but Christ can say Hoc est corpus meum And he sayde it once for all they shall be forced to say as Saint Paule sayth the Lord Iesus sayde it and once for all which onely was the fulfiller of it For these wordes Hoc est corpus meum were spokeÌ„ of his natural presence which no man is able to deny because the acte was finished on the crosse as the story doth plainly manifest it to them that haue eyes Now this bloudy sacrifice is made an ende of the supper is finished forasmuch as Christ hath once suffered for sinnes 1. Pet. 3. the iust for the vniust to bring vs to God and was killed as pertainyng to the fleshe and hath entered in by hys owne bloud once for all into the holy place and found eternall redemption Heb. 9. Here now followeth the administration of the supper of the Lorde which I will take at Christes handes after the resurrection although other men will not bee ashamed to bryng the wicked Councels of foolish inuentions for them And it came to passe as Christ sate at meate with them he tooke bread Luke 24. blessed and brake it and gaue it to them and their eyes were opened and knewe hym and he vanished out of their sight And the Apostles did know him in breakyng of breade The right vse of the supper in the Apostles tyme Here also it seemeth to me the Apostles to follow their Maister Christ and to take the right vse of the Sacrament and also to teache it to those that were conuerted to Christ as mention is made in the Actes of the Apostles where as is sayd They continued in the Apostles 〈◊〉 and fellowship in breakyng of bread and prayer and they conâ—â—nued daylie with one accord in the temple Acteâ— 2. and brake breâ—d 〈◊〉 euery house and did eate there with gladnesse and singlenesse oâ— heart praysing God and had fauour with all the people And Saint Paule followyng the same doctrine doth plainely shew the duetie of the Minister and also of them that shal receiue it As oft as you shall eate this bread and drinke thâ—s cuppe ye shall shewe the Lordes death vntill he come 1. Cor. 11. Here I doe gather that the Minister hath no further power and authoritie How farre â—he 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 â—he supper then to preach and pronounce the lordes death or els to say the Lord Iesus sayd it which did fulfill it on the crosse Furthermore I doe stedfastly beleeue that where the bread is broken according to the ordinaunce of Christ the blessed and immaculate Lambe is present to the eyes of our fayth and so we eate his flesh and drinke hys bloudâ— which is to dwell with God and God with vs. â—ow the â—â—eshe of Christ is 〈◊〉 in Lordâ—s supper And in this we are sure we dwell with God in that he geueth vs his holy spirite euen as the forefathers that were before Christes commyng did presently see the Lordes death and did eate his body and drinke his bloud In this do I differ from the Popes Church that the priestes haue authoritie to make Christes naturall presence in the bread â—opishe 〈…〉 doe 〈…〉 euer â—hrist did for so doth he more then our Lorde and Sauiour did As the example is manifest in Iudas which at Christes handes receyued the same wyne and bread as the other Apostles did But the Pope and his adherents are euen they whom Daniel speaketh of saying He shall set men to vnhallow the sanctuary and to put downe the dailye offering and to set vp the abhominable desolation Yea he of Rome shall speake meruailous things against the God of heauen and God of all Gods wherin he shall prosper so long till the wrath be fulfilled for the conclusion is deuised already He shall not regard the God of heauen nor the God of his fathers yea in his place shall he worship the mighty Idoll and the God whome his fathers knew not which is the God Maozim For lacke of tyme I leaue the commemoration of the blessed supper of the Lord and the abhominable idoll the masse which is it that Daniel meaneth by the God Maozim Read the second and last chap. of Daniel the ij to the Thes. the 2. Epistle where as they recite the abhomination of desolation which Mathew sayth standeth in the holy place which is the consciences of men Marke sayeth where it ought not to stand which is a plaine denial of all the inuentions of men Further Luke sayth the tyme is at hand Paule sayth the mysterie of iniquitie worketh alredie yea and shall continue till the appearaunce of Christ which in my iudgement is at hand Now for the supper of the Lord I do protest to take it as reuerently as Christ left it and as his apostles did vse it according to the testimonies of the Prophets the Apostles and our blessed sauiour Christ which accordingly S. Paule to the Ephesians doth recite Now with quietnes I commit the whole world to their pastor and heardman Iesus Christ the onely Sauior and true Messias and I commend my soueraigne Lorde and Maister the Kings maiestie King Henry the 8. to God the father and to our Lord Iesus Christ the Queene and my Lord the Prince with this whole realme euer to the innocent and immaculate lambe that his bloud may wash and purifie their hartes and soules from all iniquitie and sinne to Gods glory and to the saluation of their soules I doe protest that the inward part of my hart doth gront for this and I doubt not but to enter into the holy tabernacle which is aboue yea and there to be with God for euer Farewell in Christ Iesu. Iohn Lacels seruaunt late to the king and now I trust to serue the euerlasting king with the testimony of my bloud in Smithfield ¶ Rogers Martyr burned in Northfolke LIke as Winchester and other Bishops did set on kyng Henry against Anne Askew and her fellow martyrs so D. Repse B. of Norwich did incite no lesse the old duke of Norfolke against one Rogers in the country of Northfolke who much about the same yere and time was there condemned and suffered Martyrdome for the vj. articles After which tyme it was not long but within halfe a yere both the kyng himselfe and the dukes house decayed albeit the Dukes house by Gods grace recouered againe afterward and he hymselfe conuerted to a more moderation in this kind of dealyng * The storie of Queene Katherine Parre late Queene and wife to King Henry 8 Wherein appeareth in what daunger she was for the Gospell by the meanes of Steuen Gardiner and other of his conspiracy and how graciously she was preserued by her kind and louing husband the king AFter these stormye stories aboue recited the course and order as well of the time as the matter of storie doeth require nowe somewhat to intreate likewise touching the troubles and afflictions of the vertuous
purpose of this Bishop of suche like bloudy aduersaries practising thus against the Queene proceeding of gods gospel as ye haue heard putteth me in remembraÌ„ce of such an other like story of his wicked working in like manner a litle before but much more pernitious pestilent to the publick church of Iesus Christ then this was daungerous to the priuate estate of the Queene Whyche storie likewise I thought heere as in conuenient place to be adioyned notified to be knowen to all posteritie according as I haue it faithfully recorded and storied by hym which heard it of the Archbishop Cranmers own mouth declared in order and forme as foloweth * A discourse touching a certaine pollicie vsed by Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester in staying king Henrie the 8. from redressing of certaine abuses of ceremonies in the church being Ambassadour beyonde the seas Also the communication of king Henrye the 8 had wyth the ambassador of France at Hampton Court concerning the reformation of religion as wel in France as in Englande Anno 1546. Mens August IT chanced in the time of K. Henrie the 8. when his highnes did lastly not many yeres before his death conclude a league betwene the Emperor the French king and himselfe that the B. of Winchester SteueÌ„ Gardiner by name was sent in Ambassage beyonde the seas for that purpose In whose absence the Archbishop of CaÌ„terbury Thomas Cranmer attending vpon the kings Court sought occasion somwhat to further the reformation of the corrupt religion not yet fully restored vnto a perfection SteueÌ„ Gardiner Ambassadour For lyke as the sayd Archb. was alwaies diligent and forward to prefer and aduaunce the sincere doctrine of the Gospel so was that other byshop a contrary instrument coÌ„tinually spurning against the same in whatsoeuer coast of the worlde he remained For euen now he being beyond y e seas in y e temporal affaires of y e realme forgate not but fouÌ„d the meanes as a most valiant champion of the B. of Rome to stop and hinder aswel the good diligence of the sayd Archbishop Winchester a great hindâ—rer of the course of the Gospell as the godly disposition of the kings Maiestie in that behalfe whych thus chaunced Whilest the sayde B. of Winchester was nowe remaining beyond the seas about the affaires aforsaide y e kings maiesty and the saide Archbishop hauing conference together for reformatioÌ„ of some superstitious enormities in the Church amongst other things the king determined forthwith to pull downe the Roodes in euery churche The kinges conference with D. Cranmer about reformation of the Ghurch Rood loftes Ringing on Alhallow night and to suppresse the accustomed ringing on Alhalow night wyth a few such like vaine ceremonies And therefore when the said Archb. taking his leaue of the king to go into Kent his dioces his highnes willed him to remember that he shuld cause 2. letters to be deuised for me quoth the King to be signed the one to be directed vnto you my Lorde and the other vnto the Archbishop of Yorke wherein I will commaund you both to send forth your precepts vnto all other Byshops wythin your prouinces Lettets of reformation to be sent by the king to see those enormities and Ceremonies reformed vndelaidly that we haue communed off So vppon this the kings pleasure knowen when the Archbishop of Canterburye was then come into Kent hee caused his Secretarye to conceiue and write these Letters according to the kings minde and being made in a readinesse sent them to the Courte to Syr Anthony Denie for hym to get them signed by the king when maister Denie had mooued the king thereunto the king made answere I am now otherwayes resolued for you shal send my Lorde of Canterburye worde that sithence I spake with hym about these matters I haue receiued letters from my Lord of Winchester nowe being on the other side of the Sea about the conclusion of a league betweene vs The kinges minde altered by Wint. the Emperor and the Frenche king he wryteth plainely vnto vs that the league wil not prosper nor go forward if we make any other innouation change or alteration either in Religion or ceremonies Reformation of Religion stopped by Steuen Gardiner then heretofore hath ben already commensed and done Wherefore my Lorde of Canterburye must take patience heerein and forbeare vntill we may espye a more apt and conuenient time for that purpose Which matter of reformation began to be reuiued again at what time the great Ambassador from the French king came to the kings Maiestie at Hampton Courte not long before his death Anno. 1546. Where then no Gentleman was permitted to waite vpon his Lord and maister This Ambassadour was admirall of Fraunce whose name was Mounsieur de Annebault he came to Hampton Court the 20. day of Aug. an 1546. The matter of reformation againe renued a little before the kinges death The kinges bancket for the French Ambassadour wythout a veluet coate and a chaine of golde And for that entertainment of the Ambassadour were builded in the parke there 3. very notable great and sumptuous banketting houses At the which it was purposed that the sayd Ambassadour should haue bene 3. sundry nightes very richly banketted But as it chaunced the French kings great affaires were then sodenly such that thys Ambassadoure was sent for home in post hast before he had receiued halfe the noble entertainement that was prepared for him so that he hadde but the fruition of the first banketting house Now what princelike order was there vsed in the furniture of y e banket as well in placing of the noble estates namely the kings Maiestie and the French Ambassadour w t the noble men both of England and Fraunce on the one parte and of the Queenes highnesse and the Ladye Anne of Cleeue with other noble women Ladyes of the other part as also touching the great sumptuous preparation of both costly and fine dishes there out of number spent it is not our purpose heere presently to entreate thereof but onely to consider the note of the conference and communication had the first night after the sayd baÌ„ket was finished Secrete communicatioÌ„ betwene the king the French Ambassadour and the Archb. of Cant. betweene the kings Maiestie the sayde Ambassadour and the Archbishop of Canterburye the kings highnesse standing openly in the banketting house in the open face of all the people and leaning one arme vpon the shoulder of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other arme vppon the shoulder of the Ambassadour touching the establishing of godly religion betweene those two Princes in both theyr realmes As by the report of the sayd Arch. vnto hys secretarie vppon occasion of his seruice to be done in king Edwards visitation then being register in the same visitation The testimony and credite of the story relation was made on that behalfe in thys sorte When the sayd visitation was put
that will saye the contrary that all that is contained in the holy Communion set out by the most innocent and godly Prince king Edward the 6. in his high court of Parliament is conformable to that order which our Sauiour Christ did both obserue and commaund to be obserued which his Apostles primatiue church vsed many yeares whereas the Masse in many things not onely hath no foundation of Christe his Apostles nor the primatiue Church but is manifestly contrary to the same and coÌ„taineth many horrible abuses in it And although many either vnlearned or malitious do report that M. Peter Martyr is vnlearned yet if the Queeneâ— highnes wil graunt thereunto I with the sayde M. Peter Martyr and other 4. or 5. whiche I shall chuse will by Gods grace take vppon vs to defende not onely the common praiers of the Church the ministration of the Sacraments and other rites ceremonies but also al the doctrine and religion set out by our said soueraigne Lord king Edward the 6. to be more pure and according to Gods worde then any other that hath bene vsed in England these 1000. yeares so that Gods word may be iudge that the reasons and proufes of both parties may be sette out in wryting to the intent as well that all the worlde maye examine and iudge thereon as that no man shall start backe from his wrytinge And where they boast of the faith that hath bene in the Churche these 1500. yeres we will ioyne with them in this poynt and that the same doctrine and vsage is to be followed whiche was in the Church .1500 yeres past and we shall prooue that the order of the Churche let out at this present in this Realme by Acte of Parlament is the same that was vsed in the Church .1500 yeres past so shall they be neuer able to prooue theirs The same Thursday beinge the 7. of Septemb. Lorde Mountacute chiefe Iustice and Lorde chiefe Baron were deliuered out of the Tower The 13. of September the reuerende father M. Hughe Latimer was committed to the Tower The 14. of Septemb. the bishop of Caunterburye was committed to the Tower The 26. of September one Maister Graye of Cambridge called before hym one M. Garth for that he would not suffer a boy of Peter house to helpe hym saye Masse in Penbroke hal which was before any law was established for that behalfe The Queene came to the Tower of London vpon the Thursday being the 28. of September Amongest these Pageantes stood a certaine man vpon the top of the Eagle vpon Paules steeple with a flagge in his hand and vpon the Saterday following shee rode from the Tower thorough the Citie of London where were made many Pageants to receiue her and so was triumphantly brought to Westminster to White hall Uppon the Sonday being the first day of October the Queenes highnesse went from White hall to Westminster Abbey accompanied wyth the most part of the Nobility of this Realme namelye these The Duke of Norfolke the Earle of Arundell the Earle of Shrewsburie the Marques of Winchester the Earls of Darby Bedford Worcester Cumberland Westmerland Oxford Sussex Deuonshire Penbroke the Lord Dacres of the North Lord Ferris Lorde Cobham Lord Aburgeiny Lord Wentwoorth Lord Scroupe Lord Rich Lord Uaus Lorde Hawarde Lord Conias Lord Morley Lorde Paget and the Lorde Willowbye with many other Nobles and all the Embassadours of diuers countreys the Maior of London wyth all the Aldermen Also out of the Abbey to receiue her comming came three siluer Crosses and to the number of four score or neare vppon Q. Mary crowned Doctor sayes Sermon Generall pardon at the Queens CoronatioÌ„ â—xempted 〈◊〉 of the Pardon of singing men all in very rich gorgeous coapes Amongest whom were the Deane of Westminster and diuers of her Chaplaines which bare euerye one some ensigne in their handes and after them followed 10. Byshops mytred all and their Croyser staues in theyr handes and rich Copes vpon them euery one And in this order they returned froÌ„ Westminster hal before the Quene to the Abbey where she was crowned by Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Lorde Chancellor of England At the time of the Coronation Doctour Day Bishop of Chichester made a sermon to the Queenes maiestie and to the rest of the nobilitie Also there was a generall Pardon proclaimed wythin the Abbey at the sayd time of her Coronation out of which Proclamation all the prisonners of the Tower and of the Flete were excepted and 62. more Wherof M. Whitchurch and M. Grafton were two The thirde of October the Uicechauncellour of Cambridge did chalenge one M. Pierson for that hee ministred still the Communion in his owne Parish and did receyue straungers of other Parishes to the same and woulde not say masse Whereupon within 2. dayes after he was cleane discharged from farther ministring in his Cure Uppon the Wedensday following Q. Mary rideth to the Parliament house Sergeant Pollard speaker in the Parliament The Earle of Huntington deliuered out of the Tower M. Saunders for preaching agaynst the Masse committed to the Marshalsey the Archb. of Yorke was committed to the Tower Uppon Thursdaye being the 5. of October 1553. the Queene road to the Parliament in her roabes and all the nobilitie with her and when they were set in the Parliament house the Bishop of Winchester made to them a solemne Oration and Sergeant Pollarde was chosen speaker of the Parliament The same day the Bishops of Lincolne Harford and Westchester were discharged from the Parliament and Conuocation Also the 10. daye of October the Earle of Huntington was deliuered out of the Tower Upon the Sonday after being the 15. of Oct. M. Laurence Saunders preached at Alhallowes in Breadstreete in y e morning where he declared the abhomination of the masse with diuers other matters very notably and godly Wherof more shal be heard by the Lordes leaue heereafter when we come to his story In which his doing as he shewed himselfe to be Gods faithful minister so is he sure not to be defrauded of gods faithful promise who sayth Omnis qui confitebitur me coram hominibus confitebor ego illum coram patre meo qui est in coelis Math. 10. But about noone of the same day he was sent for by the bishop of London and from thence committed to the Marshalsee Upon the Sonday folowing being the 20. of October Doctor Weston preached at Paules Crosse. D. Westons popish Sermon at Paules Who in the beginning of his Sermone willed the people to praye for the soules departed on this wise You shall pray for all them y t be departed that be neither in heaueÌ„ nor hell but in a place not yet sufficiently purged to come to heaueÌ„ that they may be releued by your deuout prayers He named the Lordes table an oyster board He saide that the Catechisme in Latin lately sette out was abhominable heresie likened the setters
si gens inimica volet Pontifices fati quasi Cayphas omina dantes Nolebant at grex cacolucos voluit Elegere pij connubia talia nolle Velle quidem demens haeresis illa fuit Consilium multo praestantius octo mariti Quinque cathenatis ob malefacta dabant Noluit hos iungi thalamos Northumbrius heros O consultores qui voluere malos Noluit haud aequo confligens marte Viatus Solaque quae voluit turba Papalis erat Nolebat Graius neque terra Britanna volebat Nos quoniam Dominus sic voluit tulimus Sed tulimus pariter fata infoelicia quando Infoelix Maria est nupta Philippe tibi * Other verses aunswering likewise NVbat vt Hispano Regina Maria Philippo Dic age Whyte mihi quos voluisse vides Noluit aut voluit quid inanis turba refert nil Velle nolle Dei est quid volet ille refert Hoc quoniam voluit inquis Dominus voluistis Quid voluit quoniam nescis inepte scias Scilicet hoc voluit vates vt vanus augur Et mendax Whitus pseudopropheta foret Regi non regi nupsit non nupserat Angla est NoÌ„ Angla est grauida est noÌ„ grauida est grauius est Parturit atque parit sic vos voluistis ouantes Nil tamen illa parit hoc voluit Dominus Duxerat ad paucos menses mox deserit idem Sponsa est mox vidua est hoc voluit Dominus Irrita frustrentur semper sic vota malorum Perniciem patriae qui voluere suae Sit nomen Domini benedictum â— Phillip â—â—mmeth to â—indsore The Armed 〈◊〉 England 〈◊〉 down 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of After the consummation of which mariage they both remoued froÌ„ Winchester to sondry other places and by easy iourneyes came to Windsore Castle where he was stalled in the order of the Garter vppon Sonday being the xij of August At which tyme an Herald tooke downe the armes of England at Windsore and in the place of them woulde haue set the armes of Spaine but he was commaunded to set them vp againe by certayne Lordes From thence they both remoued to Richmond Spayne set vp K. Phillip commeth to London and froÌ„ thence by water came to London and landed at y e Bishop of Winchesters house through which they passed both into Southwark parke so to Southwarke house called Suffolk place where they lay that night being the 18. of August And y e next day being Saterday and the xix of August the king and Queenes maiesties rode from Suffolk place accompanied with a great number August 19. as wel of noble men as gentlemen through the City of London to White Hall and at LondoÌ„ bridge as he entred at the draw bridge was a vayne great spectacle set vp Vayne pageants of London two Images representyng 2. Gyantes one named Corineus and the other Gogmagoge holding betweene them certain Latin verses which for the vayne ostentation of flattery I ouerpasse And as they passed ouer the bridge there was a number of ordinaunce shot at the Tower such as by old mens report the like hath not bene heard or seene these hundreth yeares From London Bridge they passed to the Conduit in Gracious streete whiche was finely painted and among other thinges the ix worthies whereof king Henry the 8. was one He was paynted in harnesse hauing in one hand a sworde and in the other hand a booke wherupon was written Verbum Dei Winchester cannot abide the booke called Verbum Dei deliuering the same booke as it were to his sonne 〈◊〉 Edward who was paynted in a corner by him But hereupon was no small matter made for the Bishop of winchester Lord Chauncellour seÌ„t for the painter and not onely called him knaue for paynting a booke in K. Henries hand and specially for writing therupon Verbum Dei but also rancke Traytour and Uillaine saying to hym that he should rather haue put the book into the Queenes hand who was also paynted there for that she had reformed the church and religion The paynter sent for to the B. of Winchester with other things according to the pure and sincere word of God in deede The Paynter answered and sayd that if he had knoweÌ„ that that had bene the matter wherfore his Lordship sent for him he coulde haue remedied it and not haue troubled his Lordship The paynters aunswere The bishop answered said that it was the Queenes maiesties will and commaundement that he shoulde send for him and so commaunding him to wype out the booke and Verbum Dei too he sent him home So the Paynter departed but fearing least he should leaue some parte eyther of the booke or of Verbum Dei in king Henries hand hee wiped away a piece of his fingers withall Here I passe ouer and cut of other gaudes Pageantes of pastime shewed vnto him in passing through London with the flattering verses set vp in Latine wherein were blased out in one place the fiue philips as the fiue worthies of the worlde Philip of Macedonia Philip y e Emperor Philippus Audax Philippus Bonus Philip Prince of Spayne and king of England In an other Poetry K. Philip was resembled by an Image representing Orpheus V. Phillips and all Englishe people resembled to brute sauage beastes following after Orpheus harpe and daunsing after king Philips pipe Not that I reprehend the arte of the Latine verses which was fine and cunning but that I passe ouer y e matter hauing other grauer thinges in hand and therefore passe ouer also the sight at Paules church side of him that came downe vpon a rope tyed to the batilmentes with his head before neyther staying himselfe with hand or foote which shortly after cost him his life But one thing by the way I cannot let passe touchyng the young florishing Roode newly set vp agaynst this present tim◠〈◊〉 welcome king Phillip into Paules Churche The setting vp of which Roode was this and may make as good a Pageant as the best An 2. Mariae Boner in his royaltie and all his Prebendaries about him in Paules Quiere the Roode layde a long vpon the pauement The erecting vp of the Roode at Paules and also all the doores of Paules being shut the Bishop with other sayde and song diuers prayers by the Rood that being done they annoynted the Roode with oyle in diuers places and after the annoynting crept vnto it and kissed it After that they tooke the sayd Roode and weyed hym vppe and set him in his olde accustomed place B. Boners God the Roode of Paules set vp with â—e Deum and all the while they were doing thereof the whole Quiere sang Te Deum and when that was ended they rang the Belles not only for ioy but also for the notable and great fact they had done therein Not long after this a mery fellow came into Paules and spyed the Roode with Mary and Iohn new set vppe whereto among a
of D. Tresham who supplying the roome of y e Subdeane in Christes Church A Popish exhortatiâ—â— of Doct. Tresham after he had called all the Studentes of the Colledge together with great Eloquence art persuasory began to commend the dignity of the masse vnto them declaring that there was stuffe in Scripture enough to proue the masse good Then to allure them to the catholick seruice of the Church he vsed these reasons declaring that there were a goodly coÌ„pany of Copes The great reasons oâ— D. Treshâ—â— that were appoynted to Windsore but he had fouÌ„d the Queene so gracious vnto him that they should come to Christes church Now if they like honest men would come to Church they should weare them on holydayes And besides all this he would get them the Lady Bell of Bampton that should make the sweetest ring in all England And as for an holy watersprinckle he had already the fayrest that was within the realme Wherfore he thought that no man would be so mad to forgo these commodityes c. Which thinges I rehearse that it may appeare what want of descretion is in the fathers of popery into what idle follies such men do fall Whome I beseech the Lord if it be his pleasure to reduce to a better truth to opeÌ„ theyr eyes to see theyr owne blindnes To proceed now further in the course race of our story where as we left being before in the moneth of NoueÌ„ber it foloweth more that in the * Where note that the Prince of Queen Maryes Statutes doth erre his suppâ—â—tation which saith that this Parlâ—â—ment begâ—â— the 11. of this monâ—â—â— which daâ— was then Sonday xij day of the same month of Nouember being Monday beganne the Parliament holden at Westminster to the beginning whereof both the king and Queene rode in theyr Parliament robes hauing 2. swords borne before them The Earle of Penbroke bare his sword the Earle of Westmerland bare the Queenes They had ij cappes of maynteinaunce borne before them whereof the Earle of Arundell bare one and the Earle oâ— Shrewsbury the other Cardinall Poole landed at Douer vpon the Wednesday being the xxi day of Nouember on which day one Act passed in the parliameÌ„t for his restitution in bloud vtterly repealing as false most slaunderous that Act made against him in king Henry the eightes tyme and on the next day being Thursday and the xxij of Nouember the King and the Queene both came to the Parliament house to geue theyr royall assent to establish this Act agaynst his comming Cardinal Poole arâ—â—ueth in England Ex Statuâ—â— an 1. 〈◊〉 Regis Pâ—â—lip 〈◊〉 cap. 8. Nouembâ—â— 28. Upon the Saterday being the xxiiij of Nouember the sayd Cardinal came by water to London so to Lambeth house which was ready prepared agaynst his comming Upon the Wednesday folowing being the 28. of Nouember there was generall procession in Paules for ioy y t the Quene was conceiued and quick with child as it was declared in a letter sent from the counsell to the Byshop of London The same day at this procession was present ten Bishops with al the Prebendaries of Paules and also the Lord Maior with the Aldermen and a greate number of Commons of the City in theyr best aray The Copy of the CouÌ„cels letter here foloweth ad perpetuam rei memoriam * A Copy of a letter sent from the Counsell vnto Edmund Boner Byshop of London concerning Queene Mary conceiued with Childe AFter our harty commendations vnto your good Lordshippe whereas it hath pleased almighty God amongest other his infinite benefites of late most graciouslye poured vpon vs and thys whole Realme to extend his benediction vpon the Queenes maiesty in such sort as she is conceiued and quicke of childe Wherby her maiesty being our natural liege Lady queene vndoubted inheritor of this imperiall crowne good hope of certayn succession in the crowne is geuen vnto vs consequeÌ„tly the great calamities which for want of such succession might otherwise haue fallen vpon vs our posterity shall by Gods grace be well auoyded if we thankefully acknowledge this benefite of almighty God endeuoring our selues with earnest repentance to thanke honor and serue him as we be most bounden These be not onely to aduertise you of these good newes to be by you published in all places within your Dioces but also to pray and require you that both your selfe do geue God thankes with vs for this his especial grace and also geue order that thankes may be openly geuen by singing of Te Deum in all the churches within your sayde Dioces and that likewise all priestes and other Ecclesiasticall ministers in theyr Masses and other diuine seruices may continually pray to almighty God so to extend his holy hand ouer his maiesty the kinges highnes and this whole Realme as this thing being by his omnipotent power graciously thus begon may by the same be well continued and brought to good effect to the glory of his name Whereunto albeit we doubt not ye woulde of your selfe haue had special regard without these our letters yet for the earnest desire we haue to haue this thing done out of hand diligently continued we haue also written these our letters to put you in remembraunce and so bid your Lordshippe most hartily well to fare From Westminster the 27. of Nouember 1554. Your assured louing frendes S. Winton Chancel Arundell F. Shrewesbury Edward Darby Henry Sussex Iohn Bathon R Rich. Thomas Warthom Iohn Huddilstone R. Southwell Also the same day in the afternoone Cardinall Poole came to the Parliament house Cardinall Poole commeth to the Parlament which at that present was kept in the great Chamber of the Court at Whitehall for that the Queene was then sicke and could not go abroad where as the King and Queenes Maiesties sittyng vnder y e cloth of Estate the Cardinall sitting on theyr right hand with all the other Estates of the Parliament being present the Byshop of Winchester being Lord Chauncellor began in this maner ¶ The wordes of Winchester for receiuing of the Cardinall MY Lordes of the vpper house you my Maisters of the nether house here is present the right reuerend father in God my Lord Cardinall Poole come froÌ„ the apostolicke Sea of Rome 〈◊〉 words 〈◊〉 Cardâ—â—all Poole As Ambassador to the king and Queenes Maiesties vpon one of the weightiest causes that euer happened in this Realme whiche perteineth to the glory of God and your vniuersall benefite The which Ambassage theyr Maiesties pleasure is to be signified vnto you all by his owne mouth trusting that you will receiue and accept it in as beneuolent and thankefull wise as their highnesses haue done and that you will geue an attent and inclinable eare vnto him When the Lord Chauncellor had thus ended his talke the Cardinall taking the time then offered began hys Oration wherin he declared the causes of
much ado and a great number also to be sore afrayd Ye heard a little before the Councels letter sent to B. Boner signifiyng the good newes of Queene Mary to be not onely conceyued but also quicke with childe which was in the moneth of Nouember the xxviij day Of this child great talke began at this tyme to ryse in euery mans mouth with busy preparation and much ado especially amongst such as semed in England to cary Spanish hartes in English bodies In number of whom here is not to be forgotten nor defrauded of his condigne commendatioÌ„ for his woorthy affection toward his Prince and her issue one sir Rich. Southwel who being the same tyme in the parlament house when as the Lordes were occupied in other affaires matters of importance sodainly starting vp for fulnes of ioy brast out in these words folowing Tush my Maisters quoth he what talke ye of these matters I would haue you take some order for our yong maister that is now comming into the world apace The wordes of Sir Rich. Southwell â—n the Parliament house for his yong master lest he find vs vnprouided c. By the which words both of him and also by the foresaid letters of the counsaile and the common talke abroad it may appeare what an assured opinion was theÌ„ conceiued in mens heds of Queene Mary to be conceiued and quicke with child In so much that at the same tyme and in the same Parliament there was eftsoones a bill exhibited and an Act made vpon the same the words wherof for the more euidence I thought here to exemplificate as vnder followeth ¶ The wordes of the Acte ALbeit we the Lordes spirituall and temporal the commons in this present parliament assembled Ex sâ—at â—n 1. 2. Phil. Mar. cap. 10. haue firme hope confidence in the goodnes of almighty God that like as he hath hitherto miraculously preserued the Queenes maiesty from many great imminent perils and daungers euen so he will of his infinite goodnes geue her highnes strength the rather by our continuall prayers to passe well the danger of deliuerance of chylde The iudgement of the 〈…〉 in God 〈…〉 wherwith it hath pleased him to al our great comforts to blesse her Yet forasmuch as all things of this world be vncertaine and hauing before our eyes the dolorous experience of this inconstant gouernment during the tyme of the raigne of the late king Edward the 6. do plainly see the manifold inconueniences great dangers and perils that may ensue to this whole realme if foresight be not vsed to preuent all euill chances if they should happen For the eschewyng hereof we the Lordes spirituall temporall and the commons in this present Parliament assembled for and in consideration of a most speciall trust and confidence thot we haue and repose in the kings maiesty Order taken by Parliament for Q. Maries child for and coÌ„cerning the politike gouernment order and administration of this realm in the tyme of the yong yeres of the issue or issues of her maiesties body to bee borne if it should please God to call the Queenes highnes out of this present lyfe during the tender yeares of such issue or issues which God forbid according to such order and maner as hereafter in this present Acte his highnes most gracious pleasure is should be declared and set forth haue made our humble sute by the assent of the Queenes highnes that his maiestie would vouchsafe to accept and take vppon hym the rule order education and gouernment of the sayd issue or issues to bee borne as is aforesayd vpon which our sute beyng of his said maiestie most graciously accepted it hath pleased his highnesse not onely to declare that like as for the most part his maiesty verely trusteth that almighty God who hath hitherto preserued the Queenes maiesty to geue this realme so good an hope of certayne succession in the bloud royall of the same realme will assist her highnes with his graces and benedictions to see the fruite of her body well brought forrh Trust disapoynted lyue and able to gouerne whereof neither all this realme ne all the world besides should or coulde receiue more comfort then his maiesty should and would yet if such chaunce should happen hys maiesty at our humble desires is pleased and contented not onely to accept and take vpoÌ„ him the cure and charge of the education rule order and gouernmeÌ„t of such issues as of this most happy Mariage shall be borne betweene the Queenes highnes and him but also during the time of such gouernment would by all wayes and meanes study trauaile and employ hymselfe to aduance the weale both publike priuate of this realme and dominions thereunto belonging according to the sayd trust in his maiestye reposed with no lesse good will and affection then if his highnesse had bene naturally borne amongst vs. In consideration whereof be it enacted by the King and the Quenes most excellent maiesties by the assent of the Lordes spirituall and temporall and the commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authoritie of the same c. as it is to be seene in the Acte more at large ratified and confirmed at the same Parliament to the same entent and purpose ¶ Thus much out of the Acte and statute I thought to rehearse to the entent the Reader may vnderstand not so much how Parliaments may sometimes be deceiued as by this childe of Queene Mary may appeare as rather what cause we Englishmen haue to render most earnest thanks vnto almighty god who so mercifully against the opinion expectatioÌ„ and working of our aduersaries hath helped deliuered vs in this case which otherwise might haue opened such a window to the Spaniardes to haue entred and replenished this land that peradueÌ„ture by this tyme Englishmen should haue enioyed no great quiet in their owne countrey the Lord therefore make vs perpetually myndfull of his benefits Amen Thus we see then how man doth purpose but God disposeth as pleaseth him For all this great labour prouision and order taken in the Parliament house for their yoÌ„g maister long looked for commyng so surely into the world in the end appeared neither yong maister nor young maistresse that any man yet to this day can heare of Furthermore as the labour of the lay sort was herein deluded The Prayers of the Papistes of what litle effect they are with God so no lesse ridiculous it was to behold what litle effect the prayers of the Popes Churchmen had wyth almighty God who trauailed no lesse with their processions Masses and Collects for the happy deliueraunce of thys yong maister to come as here followeth to be seene ¶ A prayer made by D. Weston Deane of Westminster daily to be sayd for the Queenes deliueraunce O Most righteous Lord God which for the offence of the first woman hast threatened vnto all women a common sharpe A prayer for
iustice nor vnwoonted to thy mercy It is well knowen vnto vs how maruelously thou diddest worke in Sara of the age of xc yeares and in Elizabeth the barren and also far striken in age for thy counsel is not in the power of men Thou Lord that art y e searcher of harts thoughts thou knowest that thy seruaÌ„t neuer lusted after man neuer gaue her selfe to wanton coÌ„pany nor made her selfe pertaker w t them that walk in lightnes but she consented to take an husband with thy feare not with her lust Thou knowest that thy seruaunt tooke an husband not for carnal pleasure but only for the desire loue of posteritie wherein thy name might be blessed for euer and euer Geue therfore vnto thy seruaunts Phillip our king and Mary our Queene a male issue which may sit in the seat of thy kingdome Geue vnto our Queene thy seruant a little infant in fashion and body comely beautifull in pregnant wit notable and excellent Graunt the same to be in obedience like * It is not best such one to be graunted vnto you 〈◊〉 being lyke Abrahamâ— Ioseph Moses and Salomon hâ— may chauÌ„â—â— to smel oâ— your corrupt doctrine and detest yoâ— bloudy tyranny c. Abraham in hospitalitie like Loth in chastitie and brotherly loue lyke Ioseph in meekenes myldnes like Moses in strength valiantnes like Sampson Let him be found faythful as Dauid after thy hart Let him be wise among kings as the most wise Salomon Let him be like Iob a simple and an vpright man fearing God eschewyng euill Let hym finally be garnished with the comelynes of all vertuous coÌ„ditions and in the same let him waxe old and lyue that he may see his childrens children to the third fourth generation And geue vnto our soueraigne Lord and Lady K. Phillip and Queene Mary thy blessing and long life vpoÌ„ earth And graunt that of theÌ„ may come kings Queenes which may stedfastly continue in faith loue and holynesse And blessed be their seed of our God that all nations may know thou art only God in all the earth which art blessed for euer and euer Amen ¶ Another prayer for Queene Mary and her conceiued chyld O Almighty father which diddest sanctifie the blessed Virgine and mother of Mary in her conception and in the byrth of Christ our sauiour thy onely sonne also by thy omnipotent power didst safely deliuer the prophet Ionas out of the Whales belly Defend O Lord we beseech thee An other prayer for the same thy seruaunt Mary our Queene with child conceyued and so visite her in and with thy godly gift of health that not onely the child thy creature within her conteined may ioyfully come from her into this worlde and receyue the blessed Sacraments of Baptisme and Confirmation enioying therwith dayly encrease of all princely and gracious gifts both of body soule but that also she the mother thorowe thy speciall grace and mercy may in tyme of her trauaile auoyde all excessiue dolour and payne and abide perfect and sure from all perill and danger of death with long and prosperous life thorough Christ our Lord Amen It followeth now further in processe of the story that vpon the Tuesday being the x. of Ianuary xix of the lower house of the Parliament with the Speaker Ianuary 1â— came to the White Hall to the kyng and there offred him the gouernment of the realme and of the Issue if the Queene should faile which was confirmed by act of Parliament within ten dayes after Upon Wednesday folowing Ianuary â—â— beyng the xxvi of Ianuary the Parliament was cleane dissolued In this Parliament among other things the bishop of Rome was established and all such lawes as were made against hym since the xx yeare of K. Henry the 8. were repealed also cardinall Poole bish Pates The Pope supremacy establisheâ— by Parlament Matters coÌ„â—cluded in the Parlaâ—ment Lilly other were restored to their bloud Also there was an acte made for speakyng of words that whosoeuer should speake any thyng agaynst the king or Queene or that might mooue any sedition or rebellion at the first tyme to haue one of his eares cut of or to forfeit an C. markes and at the second tyme to haue both his eares cut off or els to forfeit an C. pounds who so euer should write cipher or print any of the premisses to haue their right hand cut off Three statutes agaynst heretickes reâ—uiued Also in this Parliament three statutes were reuiued for triall of heresie one made in the fift yere of Richard the 2. an other in the 2. yeare of Henry the 4. and the third in the 2. yeare of Henry the 5. Also the doyng of M. Rose and the other that were with him was communed of in this Parliament and vpon that occasion an acte was made that certaine euill prayers should be treason agaynst the Queenes highnes The prayers of these men were thus God turne the hart of Queene Mary from Idolatrie or els shorten her dayes Wherof read the statute Ann. 1. 2. Reg. Phil. Mariae Cap. 9. As touching the taking of M. Rose his felows word was brought therof to M. Hooper being theÌ„ in the Fleete Whereupon the said M. Hooper sendeth aunswer againe with a letter also of consolation sent to the sayd prisoners the copie wherof I thought here not to ouerpasse ¶ The aunswer of M. Hooper to a letter sent vnto him concerning certaine prisoners taken in Bowe churchyard 〈◊〉 aunâ—â—re to a 〈…〉 sent 〈◊〉 him THe grace of God be with you Amen I perceiue by your letter how that vpon Newyeres day at night there were taken a godly company of Christians whilest they were praying I doe reioyce in that men can be so well occupied in this perilous time and flee vnto God for remedy by prayer as well for theyr owne lackes and necessities as also charitably to pray for them that persecute them So doth the worde of God commaund all men to pray charitably for them that hate them and not to reuile any Magistrate with wordes or to meane him euill by force or violence They also may reioyce that in well doyng they were taken to the prison Wherfore I haue thought it good to send them this little writing of consolation praying God to send them pacience charitie constancie in the truth of his most holy word Thus fare you well and pray God to send his true word into this Realme againe amongest vs which the vngodly Bishops haue now banished Ianua 4. ann 1555. ¶ A letter of consolation sent from M. Hooper to the godly brethren taken in Bow churchyard in prayer and layd in the Counter in Breadstreat THe grace fauor consolation and ayd of the holy ghost be with you now and euer So be it Dearely beloued in the Lord euer sithens your imprisonment A letter of 〈◊〉 Hooper 〈◊〉 of most â—eauenly â—onsolatioÌ„ I haue
Nicholas Arnall sir George Harper sir Edw. Warner sir W. Sentlow sir Gawen Carew M. Gybbes Cuthbert Uaughan wyth many other Upon the Tuesday folowing Ianuary 22. â—he Preachers called before the B. of Winchester at S. Mary Oueryes being the xxij of Ianuary all the preachers that were in prison were called before the B. of Wincher L. Chancellour and certain other at the bishops house at S. Mary Oueries From whence after communication beyng asked whether they would conuert and enioy the Queenes pardon or els stande to that they had taught they all aunswered that they would stand to that they had taught they were coÌ„mitted to straiter prison then before they were with charge that none should speake with them Amongst the which number of prisoners one Iames George the same tyme died in prison Iames George dyed in prison and was buryed in the fieldes being there in bands for religion righteousnes sake who therfore was exempted to be buried in the popish churchyard and was buried in the field Upon the Wednesday folowing beyng the 23. of Ianuary all the bishops with all the rest of the Conuocation house were before the cardinal at Lambeth Ianuary 25. where he willed them to repaire euery man where his cure and charge lay exhorting them to intreat the people and their flocke with all gentlenes and to endeuour themselues to winne the people rather by gentlenes then by extremity rigor and so let them depart Upon the Friday following being the 25. of Ianuary the day of the Conuersion of S. Paule there was generall and solemne procession through London to geue God thanks for their conuersion to y e catholike church Ianuary 25. Generâ—ll procession for ioy of the Realmes coÌ„uersion Wherin to set out their glorious pompe there were fourescore ten crosses 160. priests and clerkes who had euery one of them copes vpon their backs singing very lustely There followed also for the better estimation of the sight 8. Bishops and last of all came Boner the B. of London carying the popish pixe vnder a Canapy Besides there was also present the Maior Aldermen and all the liuery of euery occupation Moreouer the king also himselfe and the Cardinall came to Paules Churche the same day From whence after Masse they returned to Westminster againe As the king was entred the Church at the steps goyng vp to the Quiere all the Gentlemen that of late were set at libertie out of the Tower kneeled before the king and offred vnto him themselues and their seruices After the procession there was also commaundement giuen to make Bonefires at night Whereupon did rise among the people a doubtful talke why all this was done Some sayd it was that the Queene beyng then as they said with child might haue a safe deliuery Others thoght that it was for ioy that the realme was ioyned agayne to the sea of Rome which opinion of both seemed most true Upon the Monday folowing being the 28. of Ianuary Ianuary 28. Commission from the Cardinall to sit vpon the persecuted Preachers for religion the B. of Winchester and the other bishops had Commission from the cardinall to sit vpon and order according to the lawes all such preachers and heretikes as they termed them as were in prison and according to this Commission the same day the B. of Winchester and the other bishops with certaine of the counsail sate in S. Mary Oueries church and called before them these three M. Hooper M. Rogers and M. Cardmaker who were brought thether by the shriues from whence after communication they were committed to prison till the next day but Cardmaker this day submitted himselfe vnto them Ianuary 29. M. Hooper and M. Rogers condemned Upon the Tuesday beyng the 29. of Ianuary Hooper Rogers D. Taylor and Bradford were brought before them where sentence of excommunication and iudgement ecclesiasticall was pronounced vpon M. Hooper and M. Rogers by the Bish. of Winchester who sate as Iudge in Caiphas seat who droue them out of the church according to their law and order D. Taylor and Bradford were coÌ„mitted to prison till the next day Upon the Wednesday being the 30. of Ianuary Doct. Taylor D. Crome M. Bradford M. Saunders and D. Ferrar sometyme B. of S. Dauids Ianuary 30. D. Ferrar D. Taylor and M. Saunders condemned were before the sayd bishops where iij. of them that is to say D. Taylor M. Sanders and M. Bradford were likewise excommunicated sentence pronounced vpon them so committed to the Shiriffes D. Crome desired two months respite and it was granted him M. Ferrar was againe committed to prison till another tyme. All these men shewed theÌ„selues to be learned as in deed they were no lesse but what auaileth either learning reason or truth it self where will beareth rule After the examination and condemnation of these good men and preachers aboue recited Commissions and Inquisitours were sent abrode likewise into all partes of the realme by reason wherof a great number of most godly true christians out of all the quarters of the realme but especially Kent Essex Northfolke and Suffolke were apprehended brought vp to London and cast in prison and afterward most of them either consumed cruelly by fire or els thorough euill handlyng died in the prisons were buried on dunghils abroad in the fields or in some backeside of the prison Of all which matters coÌ„cerning the tragicall handling of these blessed Martyrs and witnesses of Iesus Christ of all the bloudy persecution of this tyme now followeth the Lord so grantyng seuerally and more particularly in this next booke in order to be declared after that I shall first recite a generall supplication giuen vp in the name of the preachers aforesayd lying in prison vnto the King and Queene during the tyme of the Parliament as followeth ¶ Vnto the King and Queenes most excellent Maiesties and to their most honourable and high Court of Parliament IN most humble and lamentable wise complain vnto your Maiesties and to your high court of Parliament A supplâ—câ—â—tion of 〈◊〉 persecute preachers the king Queene your poore desolate obedient subiects H. F. T. B. P. R. S. c. That where as your said subiects liuing vnder the lawes of God and of this realme in the days of the late most noble king Edward 6. did in all things shew themselues true faithfull and diligent subiects accordâ—ng to their vocation as well in the sincere ministring of Gods holy word as in due obedience to the higher powers in the dayly practise of such vertues and good demeanor as the lawes of God at all tymes and the statutes of the realme did then allow Your sayd subiects neuerthelesse contrary to all lawes of iustice equitie and right are in very extreme maner not onely cast into prison where they haue remained now these 15. or 16. months but their liuings also their houses and possessions The long inprisonmâ—â—â— of
for M. Bourne for quoth he you shal neuer come downe aliue if you doe it And yet notwithstanding I dyd in that Sermon reproue theyr fact and called it sedition at the least twenty times For all which my doyng I haue receiued this recompence prison a yeare and an halfe and more and death now which you go about Let all men be iudge where conscience is In speaking of these wordes there was endeuour to haue letted it but Bradford still spake on gaue no place till he had made an end speake what they would And theÌ„ the Lord Chauncellour sayd that for all that fayre tale his fact at the Crosse was nought Brad. No my facte was good Winchester proued double in his own words as you your selfe did beare witnesse with me For when I was at the first before you in the Tower you your selfe dydde say that my facte was good but quoth you thy mind was euill Well quoth I then my Lord in that you alow the fact and condemne my minde for as muche as otherwise I canne not declare my minde to man but by saying and doing God one daye I trust will open it to my comfort what my mind was and what yours is L. Chaun Here the Lord Chauncellour was offended Winchester driuen to eate his owne wordes and sayd that he neuer sayd so I quoth he had not so litle wit I trow as not to discerne betwixt meaning doing And so brought forth litle to y e purpose many exaÌ„ples to proue that men construe thinges by the meaning of men and not by theyr doinges But when this woulde not serue theâ— commeth he to an other matter sayd that Bradford was put in prison at the first because he would not yeld nor be conformable to the Queenes Religion Brad. Why my Lord your honor knoweth that you would not theÌ„ reason with me in religion but sayd a time should afterwards be found out wheÌ„ I should be talked withall But if it were as your Lordship sayeth that I was put in prison for religion in that my religioÌ„ was then authorised by publick lawes of the realme could coÌ„science punish me or cast me in prison therfore Wherfore let all men be iudge in whom conscience wanteth M. Chamberlayne of Woodstocke agaynst M. Bradford M· Cham. Here came foorth M. Chamberleyne of Woodstocke and spake to my Lord Chauncellor how that Bradford had bene a seruing man and was with Maister Harrington L. Chaunc True and did deceyue his Mayster of Seuen score pounds and because of this he went to be a Gospeller and a Preacher good people and yet you see howe hee pretendeth conscience Brad. My Lord I sette my foote by his whosoeuer he be that can come forth and iustly vouche to my face that euer I deceiued my Mayster And as you are chiefe iusticer by office in England I desire iustice vpon them that so slauÌ„der me because they can not proue it L. Chaunc Here my Lorde Chauncellour and M. Chamberleyne were smitten blanck and sayd they heard it Winchester agayne driuen from his hold But quoth my Lord Chauncellour we haue an other maner of matter then this agaynst you for you are an hereticke Lond. Yea quoth the Bishop of London Boner agayne commeth in with an other vntrâ—th he did wryte letters to M. Pendleton which knoweth his hande as well as his owne your honour did see the letters Brad. That is not true I neuer did wryte to Pendleton sithens I came to prison and therefore I am not iustly spoken of Lond. Yea but you indited it Brad. I did not nor know not what you meane and this I offer to proue A Clerke of the Counsell thought to be M. Alâ—â—n Here came in an other I trow they call him Maister Allen one of the Clerkes of the Councell putting y e Lord Chauncelor in remembrance of letters written into Lankyshire L. Chaun You say true for we haue his hand to shew· Brad. I denye that you haue my hand to shewe of Letters sent into Lankyshyre otherwise then before you all I wil stand to and proue them to be good and lawfull Here was all answered and then the Lord Chauncellour began a new matter Syr quoth he in my house the other day you did most coÌ„temptuously conteÌ„ne y e queenes mercy and further sayd that you would mainteine the erroneous doctrine in king Edwards dayes against all meÌ„ And this you did most stoutly Brad. Winchester brought to a playne foyle Well I am glad that all men see now you haue had no matter to imprisoÌ„ me afore that day iustly Now say I that I did not contemptuouslye contemne the Queenes mercy but would haue had it though if iustice might take place I neede it not so y t I might haue had it with Gods mercy that is without doing or saying any thing agaynst God and his truth Winchesters captioâ—s quarell aunswered And as for maintenaunce of doctryne because I caÌ„ not tell how you wil stretch this word maintenance I will repeat agayne that which I spake I sayd I was more confirmed in the Religion set forth in Kyng Edwardes dayes then euer I was and if God so would I trust I shoulde declare it by geuing my life for the confirmation and testification thereof So I sayd then and so I say now As for otherwise to mainteine it then perteineth to a priuate person by confession I thought not nor thinke not L. Chaunc Well yesterday thou didst mainteine false heresy concerning the blessed SacrameÌ„t An other vntruth in Winchester and therfore we gaue thee respite till this day to deliberate Brad. My Lord as I sayde at the first I spake nothing of the Sacrament but that which you allowed and therefore reproued it not nor gaue me any time to deliberate L. Chaunc Why diddest thou not deny Christes presence in the Sacrament Brad. No I neuer denyed nor taught but that to fayth whole Christ body and bloud was as preseÌ„t as bread and wine to the due receiuer L. Chan. Yea but doest thou not beleue y t Christes body naturally really is there vnder the formes of bread wine Brad. My Lord I beleue Christ is present there to y e fayth of the due receiuer as for transubstantiation I playnely flatly tell you I beleue it not Blessed ar you when they shall reuile you and speake all that is naught against you for my names sake Math. 5. Here was Bradford called Diabolus a slaunderer for we aske no question quoth my Lord Chauncellor of transubstantiation but of Christes presence Brad. I denye not his presence to the fayth of the receiuer but denye that he is included in the bread or that the bread is transubstantiate B. Worcest If he be not included how is he then present Brad. Forsooth though my fayth can tell how yet my touÌ„g can not expresse it nor you otherwise then by fayth heare it or vnderstand it
priuately with me in this matter seing ye say ye would so gladly win me Harps With all my hart will I take the paynes I will also borowe my Lorde of Douers Library to haue what bookes thou wilt and thus they departed Now the xvij of May at Ashford I could not be released although I was called to the spirituall Court for y e same matter but was bound to appeare at the Sessions holden at Crambroke the third day of Iuly ¶ An other appearaunce of M. Bland before the Archdeacon and his felowes THe 21. day of Maye I appeared in the Chapter house wher was a great multitude of people The second appearancâ— of M. BlaÌ„d vnlooked for of me M. ArchdeacoÌ„ sayd thus to me Ye are come here according as ye were appointed and the cause is that it hath pleased the Quenes highnes here to place me to see gods holy word set forth to reforme those that are here falleÌ„ in to great heinous errors to the great displeasure of god the decay of Christes sacrameÌ„ts M. Harâ—â—â—fieldes wordeâ— M. Blanâ— coÌ„trary to the fayth of y e catholick church wherof thou art notably knowne to be one that is sore poysoned with the same hast infected deceiued many with thy euil preaching which if thou wilt renounce come home agayn to the catholick church both I and many other moe would be very glad and I for my part shal be right glad to shew you the fauour that lyeth in me as I sayd vnto you when you were appoynted hither because ye then refused to satisfy agayne the people that ye had deceiued And wheras it is fayned by you y t I should openly dispute the matter with you this day False surmise 〈…〉 M. Blaâ—â— although I did neither to inteÌ„d nor appoynt yet I am coÌ„teÌ„t to dispute the matter with thee if thou wylt not without disputatioÌ„ helpe to heale the soules that are brought to helwarde by thee What sayst thou Bland I do protest before God you all that neither is my conscience guilty of any error or heresy The aâ—â—â—swere oâ— Bland 〈◊〉 wordes neither that I euer taught any error or heresy willingly And where your mastership sayth that I haue fayned an open disputatioÌ„ with you it is not true as I can thus approue vpon saterday I was at Ugdens there M. BinghaÌ„ laid it to my charge that such an opeÌ„ disputation as ye haue here offred should be this day betwene you me wherat I much marueiled sayd to him M. Bland cleareth himselfe oâ— the false râ—â—port of M. Harpsfield that before that present I neuer hearde any such word neither would I answere nor dispute to this can master Uaghan master Oxenden master Seth of Ouerland and master Ugden witnes and further I sayd to them that I neuer spake to you of any disputatioÌ„ nor you to me Now if your maystership haue any thing to say to me by the law I will make answere to it Harps Heare ye what he sayth his conscience is cleare I pray thee wheron groundest thou thy conscience lette me heare what thy fayth is Bland I knowe not why ye should more aske me a reason of my fayth then any other man in this open audience Harps Why thou heretick art thou ashamed of thy faith if it were a christeÌ„ beliefe thou nedest not to be ashamed of it Bland I am not ashamed of my faith To 〈◊〉 12. 〈◊〉 of our 〈…〉 neuer 〈◊〉 well 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 For I beleue in god the father almighty maker of heauen earth and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. c. withall the other articles of the Creed and I do beleue all the holy scriptures of God to be most certayne and true Harps Wilt thou declare no more then this Bland No. Harps Well I will tell thee wheron I grouÌ„d my fayth I do beleue grouÌ„d my fayth coÌ„science vpoÌ„ all the articles of the Creed vpon all the holy scriptures sacramentes The 〈◊〉 fayth 〈…〉 holy doctors of the church vpon all the generall couÌ„cels that euer were since the apostles time Loe hereupoÌ„ grouÌ„d I my fayth with many wordes moe which I well remeÌ„ber not And when he coulde get no other answere of me theÌ„ I had sayd before he called for a Scribe to make an act agaynst me And after much coÌ„municatioÌ„ I sayd by what law and authority wil ye proceed agaynst me M. Collins sayd By the Canon law Bland I doubt whether it be in strength or no. M. Blaâ—â— requirâ—â— haue hiâ— Counseâ—â— Yet I pray you let me haue a Counseller in the law and I will make answere according to the law Harps Why thou hereticke thou wilt not confesse thy fayth to me that haue authority to demaund it of thee and yet I haue confessed my fayth to thee before all this audience As coÌ„cerning the blessed sacrameÌ„t of y e aultar thou hast taught that after the consecration it is bread and wine and not the body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. How sayest thou The Papist◠〈◊〉 false 〈◊〉 promise hast thou not thus taught Bland Syr as concerning this matter of the SacrameÌ„t when I was with you and mayster Collins ye sayd then it was for other matters that I shoulde come hither for and further that ye would be content at my desire to conâ—erre scriptures with me to see if ye coulde winne me and ye sayd ye woulde borowe my Lord of Douers Librarye that I should haue what booke I would and now ye require me thus to answere coÌ„trary to your promise ere any conference be had seek rather to bring me into trouble then to winne me Harps I will as God shall helpe me doe the best to thee that I can if thou wilt be any thing conformable and I trust to dissolue al thy doubtes if thou be willing to heare And I also will desire these two worshipful men my Lord of Douer and mayster Collins to heare vs. Bland No ye shall pardon me of that there shal be no such witnesse But when we agree sette to our handes Hereat made the people a noyse against me for refusing y e witnes and here had we many moe wordes then I can rehearse But at the last I sayd sir will ye geue me leaue to aske you one questioÌ„ And he sayd yea with all my hart For in that thou askest any thing there is some hope that thou mayest be wonne Bland Syr when it pleased almighty God to send his angell vnto the virgine Mary to salute her sayd Haile ful of grace c. came any substance from God our father into the virgins wombe to become man whereat as well M. Archdeacon as my Lord of Douer and mayster Collins stayd But my Lord spake the first and sayd the holy ghost came to her and ere he had brought out his sentence
they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me and comforted me Neare vnto the stake was a litle hill vpon the top wherof were pitched vp foure staâ—es quadrangle wise with a couering round about like a pulpit into the which place as Wade was thus praying at y e stake entred a Frier wyth a booke in his hand whoÌ„ when Wade espied he cried earnestly vnto y e people to take hede of the doctrine of the whore of Babilon exhorting them to imbrace the doctrine of the gospel preached in K. Edward his daies Whom the sheriffe thus speaking to the people often interrupted saying be quiet Wade and die pacieÌ„tly I am sayde hee I thanke God quiet Maister Sheriffe and so trust to die All this while the Frier stoode still looking ouer the couerlet as though he woulde haue vttered somewhat but Wade very mightily admonished y e people to beware of that doctrine whiche when the Frier perceiued whether he were amased or coulde haue no audience of the people withdrewe himselfe oute of the place immediately wythoute speaking anye woorde and went awaye downe to the Towne Then the Reedes being sette about hym he pulled them and imbraced them in his armes alwayes with his handes making a hole against his face that his voyce might be heard which they perceiuing that were hys tormentours alwaye caste fagottes at the same hole whych notwythstanding he still as he coulde put off his face being hurte with the ende of a fagotte cast thereat Then sire being putte vnto him he cried vnto God often Lorde Iesus receiue my soule wythout any token or signe of impaciencie in the fire till at lengthe after the fire was once throughly kindled he was hearde no man speake still holding hys handes vp ouer hys head together towardes heauen euen when he was dead and altogether rosted as though they had bene stayed vppe wyth a proppe standing vnder them Thys signe did God shewe vppon hym whereby his very ennemies might perceiue that God had according to hys prayer shewed such a token vppon hym euen to their shame and confusion And this was the order of this godly Martyrs execution thys was his ende Whereby God seemed to confound and strike with the spirit of dumbnes the Frier that Locuste which was risen vp to haue spoken against hym and also no lesse woonderfully susteined those handes which he lifted vp to him for coÌ„fort in his torment Spectatores praesentes Richardus Fletcher pater nunc Minister Ecclesiae Crambroke Richardus Fletcher filius Minister Ecclesiae Riensis The apprehension examination condemnation and burning of Diricke Caruer and Iohn Launder who suffered martyrdome for the testimonie of Christes Gospell THe 22. day of this moneth of Iuly was burned at Lewes within the Countie of Sussex one Diricke Caruer late of the parish of Brighthamsted in the same Countie And the next day being the 23. day of the same moneth was also burned at Steuing an other named Ihon Lander late of Godstone in the Countie of Surrey Whych 2. men were w t others about the ende of the moneth of October An. 1554. apprehended by Edwarde Gage Gentleman as they were at prayer within the dwelling house of the said Diricke and by him were sent vp vnto the Queenes Counsaile Who after examination sent them as prisoners to Newgate there to attende the leisure of Boner Bishop of London From whence vpon the Bishops receipte of a letter from the Lorde Marques of Winchester now Lord Treasurer they were brought by the keeper of the prison the 8. of Iune next after into the bishops chamber at his house in LoÌ„don and there being examined vpon diuers poynts of religion they made their seueral confessions subscribing and signing them with theyr owne hands Which being read the Bishop obiected vnto them certaine other Articles causing them to sweare truely and directly to aunswere thereunto whiche Articles they confessed to be true referring them selues chiefly to theyr former confessions This done after long perswasions and faire exhortations they were demaunded whether they would stand to their aunsweres To whom Launder sayde I will neuer goe from these answeres so long as I liue The other also confirmed the same and therfore they were commanded to appeare againe before the Bishoppe in the Consistorie at Paules the 10. day of the same moneth nexte followynge Which articles and confessions wyth the afore mencioned letter do here ensue A letter sent from the Marques of Winchester Lord Treasurer vnto Boner B. of London touching the examination of the said prisoners AFter my right harty commendations to your good Lordship I shall not forget your liuerie of blacke against this time no more I shall maister Deane to whom I wrote to make the sermon who must now assuredly do it for my L. of Chichester cannot attend it To whom I haue geuen like knowledge by my letter now sent and your Lordshippe must commaund the Sextens of youre church to be in readines for ringing in the time of seruice And if ye be not furnished with blacke apparell for the aultar and for the Priest Deacon and Subdeacon I must haue knowledge therof that it be taken of the Queenes stuffe whereof I pray you let me be aduertised And ye haue sent Bradford to Newgate as a man determined of heresie before you but as I perceiue ye haue not sent me a Significauit and therfore you must send me one that I may procede with him and that shal I do assone as I am answeared of you There be diuers like prisonners that came from Sussex that be not yet examined before you lying nowe in Newgate whych must be examined by you since they be come to London and so I pray you they may be and I certified of your proceedings that I may follow which I shall doe thanking your Lordship heartely for my Conies trusting to recoÌ„pence your Lordship again shortly with twise as many From my house this 7 of Iune 1555. Your louing friend Winchester The Confession of Diricke Caruer before Boner Bishop of London DIricke Caruer bearebrewer of Brighthamsted Diricke Caruer his confession in the countie of Sussex where he hathe dwelled by the space of 8. or 9. yeares borne in the village of Dilson by Stockome in the land of Luke 40. yeres of age or thereabout and nowe prisoner in Newgate where he hath remained and continued at the Counsailes commaundement since Alhollowne day last past being examined concerning hys faith and beliefe in the sacrament of the altar The materiall substance of the Sacrament denyed to be the body of Christ really sayeth that he hath doth beleue that the very substance of the body and bloud of Christ is not in the sayd Sacrament that there is no other substaunce remaining in the said sacrament after the woordes spoken by the Priest but onely the substance of bread and wine Item being examined concerning the Masse in Latin now
vsed in the church of England The vse and Sacrifice of the Latin Masse denyed he beleueth that there is no sacrifice in the sayde Masse and that there is in it no saluation for a christian man except it should be said in the mother toung that he might vnderstand it and coÌ„cerning the ceremonies of the Church he sayth and beleeueth that they be not profitable to a Christian man Item Auricular confession and absolution of the Priest reiected being examined concerning auriculare confession he answeareth that he hath and doth beleeue that it is necessary to goe to a good Priest for good counsaile but the absolution of the Priest laying his hand vppon any mans head as is nowe vsed is nothing profitable to a Christian mans saluation And further he sayth that he hath not ben confessed nor receiued the sacrament of the aulter since the coronation of the Queene that now is Item concerning the faith religion now taught setfoorth beleeued in the church of England he answeareth and beleueth that the faith and doctrine nowe taught setfoorth and vsed in the sayd Church of Englande is not agreable to Gods word And furthermore he sayth The fayth of the Church of England in Quene Maryes tyme reproued that bishop Hooper Cardmaker Rogers other of their opinion which were of late burned were good christian men did preach the true doctrine of Christ as he beleeueth and sayth that they did shed theyr bloude in the same doctrine which was by the power of God as he sayth beleeueth And further being examined saith y t since the Quenes coronation he hath had the Bible and Psalter in English red in his house at Brighthamsted diuers times and likewise since hys comming into Newgate but the Keeper hearing thereof did take them awaye and sayeth also that about a twelue moneth now past he had the English procession sayd in his house with other English praiers Iueson Launder and Veisâ—e imprisoned for hearing the Gospell And further sayeth that Thomas Iueson Iohn Launder and William Ueisey being prisoners with hym in Newgate were taken with this examinat in his house at BrighthaÌ„sted as they were hearing of the gospel then read in English a litle before Alhollowne day last past and brought to the Court and being examined thereuppon by the Counsaile were committed by them to prison in Newgate The confession of Iohn Launder before Boner bishop of London IOhn Launder husbandman of the Parish of Godstone in the Countie of Surrey of the age of xxv yeres Iohn Launder his confession borne at Godstone aforesayde being examined doth confesse and say that about two dayes next before Allhollonâ—ide nowe last past this Examinate and one Diricke Caruer Thomas Iueson William Ueisie with diuers other persons to the number of twelue being all together in their prayers and saying the seruice in English set foorth in the time of King Edwarde the sixte in the house of the sayde Diricke situate at Brighthamsted in Sussex were apprehended by one maister Edwarde Gage and by him sent vppe hether to London to the Kinge and Queenes Counsaile and by them vpon his examination committed to Newgate where he with his said other felowes hath euer since remained in prison And further being examined he doeth confesse and say that the occasion of his comming to the sayde Brighthamsted The cause of the apprehensioÌ„ of Iohn Launder was vpon certaine busines there to be sped for his father and so being there and hearing that the saide Diricke was a man that did much fauour the Gospel this Examinate did resorte to his house and companye whome before that time hee did neuer see or know and by reason of that hys resorte hee was apprehended as before And further doth confesse and beleeue that there is heere in earth one whole and vniuersall Catholicke Churche whereof the members he dispersed through the world and doth beleue also that the same Church doeth set foorth and teache onely two Sacraments videlicet the Sacrament of Baptisme Two Sacramentes onely and the Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord. And who soeuer doth teach or vse any more Sacraments or yet any ceremonies he doth not beleeue that they be of the Catholicke Churche but doth abhorre them from the bottome of his heart And doth further say and beleue that all the seruice Ceremonyes abhorred sacrifices and ceremonies now vsed in thys Realme of England yea in all other partes of the world whych ben vsed after the same maner be erroneous and naught contrary to Christes institution and the determination of Christes Catholicke church whereof he beleeueth that he him selfe is a member Also hee doeth confesse and beleeue that in the Sacrament The reall presence of Christs body vnder the formes of bread and wine denyed nowe called the sacrament of the aultar there is not really and truly contained vnder the formes of bread and wine the very naturall body and bloude of Christe in substaunce but his beliefe and faith therein is as followeth Videlicet that when he doth receiue the material bread and wine he doeth receiue the same in a remembrance of Christes death and passion and so receiuing it he doth eate and drinke Christes body and bloude by faith and none other wayes as he beleeueth And moreouer he doth confesse say and beleue that the Masse now vsed in the Realme of Englande The Masse abhominable or els where in all Christendome is nought and abhominable and directly against Gods worde and his Catholicke Churche and that there is nothing sayd or vsed in it good or profitable For he saith that albeit the gloria in excelsis the Creede Sanctus Pater noster Agnus and other partes of the Masse bene of themselues good and profitable yet the same being vsed amongest other things that be naught and superfluous in the Masse the same good things do become nought also as he beleeueth Auricular confession not necessary Also he doth beleeue and confesse that Auriculare confession is not necessary to be made to any Priest or to anye other creature but euery persone oughte to acknowledge confesse hys sinnes onely to God and also that no person hath any authority to absolue any man froÌ„ his sinnes and also beleeueth that the right and true way according to the Scripture after a man hathe fallen from grace to sinne to arise to Christe againe is to be sorie for his offences to doe the same or the like no more and not to make any auricular confession of them to the priest either to take absolution for them at the Priests handes All whyche hys sayde opinions hee hathe beleeued by the space of these seuen or eight yeares past and in that time hath diuers and many times openly argued and defendeth the same as hee sayeth c. Articles obiected by Boner Bishop of London against Diricke Caruer and Iohn Launder 1. FIrste I doe obiect against
you and euery of you that yee and euery of you Articles layd to Diricke Caruer anâ— Iohn Launder beinge within the sayde prisone of Newgate and within this sayde Citie of London are of my iurisdiction being Bishoppe of London and subiecte vnto the same offending and trespassing wythin the sayd prison and Citie in matters of Religion and concerning the Catholicke faith and beliefe of the Churche in any wise 2. Item I doe obiect against you and euery of you that yee and euery of you Sacramentes of pennance and of the aultar since your first comming and entring into the sayde prisone and during your abode there bothe there and in sundry places wythin this Citie and Dioces of London haue holden maintained and defended sundry opinions against the Sacraments of the Church especially against the Sacrament of penance and also against the Sacrament of the aultar 3. Item I do likewise obiect that yee and euery of you in all or in some of the said places Reall presence haue as concerning the sacrament of the aultar holden mainteined and defended to the best of your power that in the sayde sacrament of the aultar there is not the very substaunce of the body bloud of our Sauiour Christ but that in the Sacrament there is onely the substaunce of naturall breade and wine and no other substaunce The Latin Masse 4. Item I do likewise obiect that you and euery of you in all or some of the said places haue concerning the masse in Latine nowe vsed in the Church and the sacrifice of the same holden maintained and likewise defended that the sayde Masse is not good or profitable and that there is no sacrifice in the same Ceremonyes 5. Item I do likewise obiect that you and euery of you in all or some of the places haue concerning y e ceremonies of the Church holden mainteined and likewise defended that the saide ceremonies are not profitable to a Christian man but hurtfull and euill Auricular confession 6. Item I do likewise obiect that you and euery of you in all or some of the sayd places haue concerning the Sacrament of penaunce holden mainteined and likewise defended that auricular confession being a part thereof albeit it may be made vnto a good Priest for counsaile yet the absolution of the Priest laying hys hand vpon any mans heade and doing as is nowe vsually done in the Churche is nothing profitable to any mans saluation that therefore yee neither haue bene confessed to the Priest after the vsuall maner of the Churche nor yet receiued the sayd Sacrament of the aultar since the coronation of the Queenes Maiestie whyche is more then the space of one yeare and a halfe 7. Item I do likewise obiect The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Churâ—â— Englaâ—â— that ye and euery of you in all or some of the sayd places concerning the faith and religion now taught set foorth vsed and beleued in the church of this Realme of Englande and the doctrine of the same haue holden beleeued and sayde that it is not agreeable to Gods woord but cleane contrary to the same 8. Item I do likewise obiect that ye and euery of you in all or some of the sayd places haue beleued spoken sayd Defenâ—â— of Hooper Cardmaâ—â—â— Rogerâ— and to your power vpholden mainteined sayd that byshop Hooper Cardmaker Rogers and others of theyr opinion which of late wythin this realme were burnte for heresie were good Christian men in speaking and holding against the said Sacrament of the aultar and that they did preache nothing but the true doctrine of Christe shedding their bloud for the maintenance of the sayd doctrine 9. Item I do likewise obiect that yee and euerye of you haue earnestly laboured and traueiled to the best and vttermost of your power English serâ—uice to haue vp againe the English seruice and the Communion in all poyntes as was vsed in the latter daies of king Edward the sixt here in this realm of Englande 10. Item I do likewise obiecte that ye and euery of you haue thought and doe thinke firmely and stedfastly Defeâ—â—â— the 〈◊〉 vsed 〈◊〉 Edwâ—â—â— tyme and so haue and do beleeue that the faith religion doctrine setfoorth in the 〈…〉 of the foresaid king Edward was in all poyntes 〈…〉 godly containing in it the true Faith and Religio◠〈…〉 in euery part 11. Item 〈…〉 likewise obiect and say that ye and euery of you for your misbelief offence transgression and misbehauiour in the premisses and for that also that you wold not come to your seuerall parish churches and heare your diuine seruice there as other Christian people did and do but absent your selfe from the same and haue your priuate seruice in your houses especiallye in the house of Diricke Caruer were sent vp vnto the King and Queenes Maiesties priuie counsaile and by them or some of them sente afterward vnto the prison of Newgate aforesayd hauing thereby their authoritie remained as prisoners during all the time ye haue bene there 12. Item I do likewise obiect and say that I the sayd byshop of London If theâ—◠〈◊〉 to death 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 why 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 it If it 〈◊〉 lawfull why doe 〈◊〉 so at 〈…〉 was commaunded by the authority of the sayd Counsaile to make processe against you and euery of you so that it was not my procuring or searching that yee should be commaunded or called before me in this matter of heresie but partly your owne demerites and partly the sayde commandement enforced me to cal and send for you to make aunsweare heerein and heereof to shewe you the sayde letters Their answeres to the Articles VPon Monday being the sayd tenth day of Iune these two persons with others were brought by the keper vnto the bishops Consistorie as it was before commaunded at one of the clocke in the after noone where the Byshop first beginning with the sayde Diricke Caruer caused his confession with the Articles and Aunsweres to be openly read vnto him which order he kept at the condemnation of euery prisonner asking hym whether he would stand to the same To whom the sayd Diricke answeared that he would for your doctrine quoth hee is poyson and Sorcerie If Christe were heere you would put him to a woorse death then he was put to before You say that you can make a God ye can make a pudding as well The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 Boner Your Ceremonies in the Churche be beggery and poyson And farther I say that auricular confession is contrary to Gods word and very poyson wyth diuers other such woordes The Bishop seeing this constancie that neyther hys accustomed flatteries nor yet his cruell threatnings could once moue this good man to encline to their idolatry pronounced his vsuall and general blessing as well towards this Diricke as also vppon the sayde Iohn Launder although seuerally Who after the like manner of processe vsd with him remained in
his counsell that my life mother children brethren sisters and frendes with other delightes of life G. Marsh forsaketâ— kindred al togethâ—â— to sticke 〈◊〉 Christ. were as deare sweet vnto me as vnto any other man and that I would be as loth to lose them as an other would if I might hold them with good conscience and without the ignominy of Christ and seeing I could not doe that my trust was that God would strenthen me with his holy spirit to lose them all for his sake for I take my selfe sayd I for a sheepe appaynted to be slayne paciently to suffer what crosse so euer it shal please my merciful father to lay on me And so after I had desired them that if I were committed to prison my frendes might be suffered to relieue me they departed Mayster More afore this brought vnto me a booke of one Alphonsus a Spanish Frier Alphonsuâ— booke brought 〈◊〉 G. Marsh of all heresies wherwith the church of Rome which he called Christes true church had bene troubled since Christes time willing me to read and take Counsell of that booke appoynted me a place where this author did write agaynst them that say the lay people ought to receiue vnder both kindes This Authour I perceiued did vehementlye write agaynst Luther Melancthon PellicaÌ„ other Germaynes of this our time in all pointes defeÌ„ding y e blasphemous abuses and enormities of the Romish Church condeÌ„ning as detestable heresies whatsoeuer was written taught or beleued contrary to the same vsing for his stroÌ„gest and surest argumentes the consent agrement and determinatioÌ„ of the Romish Church So within a fewe dayes Mayster More came to me againe asking me how I liked the book I sayd the authour of the booke did in all poyntes beyng a Papist allow the rites and abuses of the Romish church Marshes iudgement of Alphoâ—sus booke and shewed him further that this author without authority and contrary both to the Scriptures olde Doctors did condemn for heresy the lay people receiuing of this sacrament vnder both kindes where as this Authour witnesseth his owne selfe that Christes church 900. yeares after Christ vsed the contrary So in conclusion he rebuketh me saying I was vnlearned erred from the Catholicke fayth stubburne and stoode altogether in mine owne conceite I aunswered for my learning I knowledge my selfe to know nothing but Iesus Christ euen him that was crucified and that my fayth was grounded vpon Gods holy word onely such as I doubted not pleased God and as I would stand in vntill the last day God assisting me and that I did not say or do any thing either of stubbernes selfe wilfulnes vayn glory or any other worldly purpose but with good conscience and in the feare of God and desired him to speake to my Lord and his Counsell that I might finde some geÌ„tlenes and mercy at theyr handes He made me but short answere Then I sayd I commit my cause vnto God who hath numbred the hayres of my head and appoynted the dayes of my life saying I am sure God which is a righteous Iudge would make inquisition for my bloude according as he hath promised Then he tooke his booke froÌ„ me and departed I continued still in Ward vntill Low sonday and after dinner my keeper Richard Scot came to mee into my chamber G. Marsh 〈◊〉 to Lancaster Castell and told me that two young men were come to cary me to Lancaster and so deliuered me vnto them a great company both of my Lordes seruauntes and others accompanying and bringing mee on the way vnto Rich. Addertons and somewhat further counselling and perswading like as is aforesayd To whome I made playne aunswere that in matters of faith I would geue place to no earthly creature So they comforted me and sayd y t they wer sory for me saying if I knew mine opinion to be good I did wel and so they departed willing my bringers to entreate me honestly My bringers by the way shewed me they were willed aduised to binde me and that they desired first to see me and after they had looked on me sitting at dinner they answered they would take charge of me beyng loose for they sayd I seemed to be an honest man The first night we were all night at Broughton and the second day we came to LaÌ„caster betimes at after noone and so they kept me all night with them of their geÌ„tlenes and on the morow deliuered me to y e Iaylor who brought me into the highest prison where I do remaine G. Marsh caused to â—old vp his handes at Lancaster amongest other malefactours After that the sayd George came to Lancaster Castle there being brought with other prisoners vnto the Sessions was made to hold vp his haÌ„ds w t other malefactors The Earle of Darby had this communication with him as here followeth Communication betweene George Marsh and the Earle of Darby Talke betweene G. Marsh and the Earle of Darby I Sayd vnto my Lord I had not dwelled in the countrey these three or foure yeares past and came home but lately to visite my mother children and other my friends and to haue departed out of the country before Easter theÌ„ next to haue gone out of the realme Wherfore I trusted seing nothing could be layd against me wherein I had offended agaynst the lawes of this realme his Lordship would not with captious questions examine me to bring my body into daunger of death to the great discomfort of my mother but suffer me to auoyd peaceably seeing I might haue fled out of the country and yet of mine owne will came to hys Lordship He sayd to his Counsell he had heard tell of me aboue at London and intended to make search for me and take me either in Lancashyre or aboue at London and asked me into what land I would haue gone The Earle of Darby chaâ—geth the calme of 〈◊〉 of heresie I aunswered I would haue gone either into Almain or els into Denmarke He sayd to his Counsell in Denmarke they vsed suche heresie as they haue done in England but as for Almayne hee sayde the Emperour had destroyed them So after such like woordes I sayde vnto him my trust was that his Lordship being of the honourable Counsell of the late king Edward consenting and agreeing to acts concerning fayth toward God and religion vnder great payne woulde not so soone after consent to put poore men to shamefull death as he had threatned me for embrasing the same with so good a conscience He aunswered that he with the Lord Windsor Lord Dacars The Earle of Darby L. 〈◊〉 and Lord Dacars in â— Edwards 〈◊〉 agreed 〈…〉 with one moe whose name I haue forgotten did not consent to those Actes and that the nay of them foure would be to be seene as long as y e ParliameÌ„t house stode Then my Lord did rehearse the euill luck of the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke with
others because they fauored not the true religion and agayn the good hap and prosperitie of the Queenes highnes because shee fauored the true religion thereby gathering the one to be good and of God and the other to be wicked and of the deuill said that the Duke of Northumberland confessed so playnely ¶ George Marsh to the Reader FOr asmuch as not onely when I was at Latham but also since I departed thence I heare that there be diuers and sondry reportes and opinions of the cause of mine imprisonment as wel at Latham as at Lācaster as by credible persons I am informed some saying it was onely because I would not do open penance and some because I could not agree with my Lord and his councell concerning the sacrament of Christes body and bloud and the maner of Christes presence there some because I woulde not graunt it sufficient and according to Christes institution the lay people to receaue the sayd sacrament vnder the one kinde onely I thought it good dearely beloued in Christe and my bounden duetie to certifie you by mine owne hand writing of mine examination and handling at Latham and to tell you the trueth as neare as I could to quyet your minde in this behalfe and therfore I haue here written with myne owne hand the certaynty of those thinges as neare as I could here aboue expressed not omitting any thing at al concerning Religion wherof they did examine me howbeit I perceiue in some thinges I keepe not the same order in writing that thing which was asked by them and answered by me afore or after as it was in very deed in al points sauing this telling the truth as neare as I can desiring you to accept in good worth this my good will and to pray for me and all them that be in bondes that God would assist vs with hys holy spirite that wee may with boldnes confesse his holye name and that Christ may be magnified in our bodyes that wee may stand full and perfect in all the will of God to whome be all honor and glory world without end Amen And thus you haue heard all the whole trouble which George Marsh susteyned both at Lathum also at Lancaster testified and written with hys owne hand wherto he addeth moreouer and sayth While I was sayth he in Ward at Lathum diuers at sundry times came vnto me Some sayd vnto me that all my fellowes had recanted and were gone home where as in deede that was not so for I saw diuers of them dyuers times after Other sayd that it was reported amongest my Lordes houshold that I had consented and agreed in all things with my Lord and his counsell Furthermore while I was at Lancaster at this Sessiō time many came to me to talke with me some of good will towardes me but without knowledge gaue mee such like counsel as Peter gaue Christ as he went vp to Ierusalem when he tooke hym aside and began to rebuke him Peters counsell to Christ to saue himselfe saying maister fauour thy selfe this thing shall not be vnto thee But I answered with Christes sharpe answere vnto Peter agayne who turned about and sayd vnto Peter come after me Sathan and perceiuing that they were an hinderaunce vnto mee and that they fauoured not the thinges which are of God but the thinges that are of men I made them playne answere that I neither could ne would follow their counsell but that by Gods grace I woulde both liue and dye with a pure conscience and according as hetherto I had beleeued and professed For wee ought in no wise to flatter and beare with them G. Marsh followeth Christe◠aunswere to Peter though they loue vs neuer so well which go about to pluck vs away from the obedience that wee owe vnto God and to hys worde but after Christes example sharpely to rebuke them for theyr counsell Some others yea euen straungers also came to mee far vnlike to these who after sober communication hadde consented with mee in all thinges lamenting muche my troublous estate geuing me comfortable wordes some money to and resorted to me often tymes for the space of two three or foure dayes There came also many Priestes to me by 2.3.4.5 or 6. at once Priestes not alwayes the greatest Clarkes whose mouthes it was a thing easy enough to stopp for the Priests which is much to be lamēted be not alwayes greatest clarkes best learned in y e lawe of God At theyr departing they eyther consented w t me or els had nothing to say agaynst me saying they could finde no fault with my wordes My communication with them was about the Sacrament There came also into y e prison to me mayster Westby Mayster Ashton of Hyll M. Ashton of Chatertō many moe both gentlemen and others to my great comfort Unto whom I had good occasion to vtter a great parte of my conscience for God so strengthen me with his spirite of boldnes according to my humble request and prayer before euerlastyng thankes be geuen him therfore that I was nothing afraid to speake to any that came to me no not euen to Iudges G. Marsh strengthened in prison with the boldnes of Gods spirite themselues before whome I was thrise arraygned at the barre amongest the theeues wyth yrons on my feete and put vp my hād as other did but yet with boldnes I spake vnto them so long as they would suffer me They also sent for me the fourth tyme into their chamber where amongest other thinges they layd it straitly to my charge y t I had reported that I knewe an whole messe of good gentlemen in Lancashyre of myne opinion and straightly charged me vppon payne of allegiaunce to the Queenes grace to shew who they were But I denyed that I had spoken any suche thinge as it was in deede a false forged lye of some wicked wretches After that they threatned and rebuked me for my preaching to the people out of the prison as they called it and for my praying and reading so loud that the people in the streets might heare Warbarton fellow prisoner with Marsh. The truth is I and my prison fellow Warbarton euerye day kneeling on our knees did read morning and euening prayer with the english Letany euery day twise both before noone and after with other praiers moe also read euery day certain chapters of the Bible cōmonly towards night and we read all these thinges with so high loude a voyce G. Marsh reproued for his loud praying reading in prisō y t the people without in the streetes might heare vs and would often times namely in y e eueninges come and sit down in our sightes vnder the windowes heare vs read wherwith others being offended complayned All this while George Marshe was not yet brought before the bishop whose name was Doctour Cotes placed the same time in the Bishopricke of Chester Of whose comming then vnto