facerent de misericordia omnipotentis Dei confisi polliciti sumus quod ipsos de erroribus reatibus suis huiusmodi poenitentes cum gratia benignitate misericordia fauore ad animarum suarum solatiuÌ„ salutem reciperimus quodque honestatem eorum pro posse seruaremus in hac parte Alioquin si sic sponte venire non curarent sed iuris ordinarium processum expectarent scirent nos hoc admissum aduersus eos seuerius executuros in quantuÌ„ iura permitterent Adueniente itaque iam die isto ad premissa infra scripta facienda sic vt prefertur per nos prefixo nos Richardus episcopus antedictus in negotio inquisitionis haereticae prauitatis predictae legitimè procedentes volentesque huiusmodi negotiuÌ„ sine debito terminare solenne consiliuÌ„ tam in sacra theologica facultate quam iure canonico ciuili doctorum hunc venerabilem coetum cleri populi coram nobis fecimus congregari visis auditis intellectis rimatis ac diligeÌ„tèr matura deliberatione discussis meritis circumstantijs negotij memorati actisque actitatis in eodem productis deductis praedictoruÌ„ digesto maturo coÌ„silio cum nullus appareat contradictor seu defensor qui dicti Richardi opiniones articulos memoriam defendere velit soluÌ„ DeuÌ„ oculis nostris proponentes ad sententiam nostram contra eum eius opiniones libros receptatoresque fautores defensores credeÌ„tes se nobis iuxta tenorem formam monitionis denuntiationis nostraruÌ„ praedictaruÌ„ minime submittentes nec ad gremium sanctae matris ecclesiae redire curantes licet quidam saluationis pij filij citra monitionem denuntiationem nostras predictas ad nos venerunt se submiserunt quos cum gratia fauore recepimus in hac parte ferendam sic duximus procedenduÌ„ procedimus in huÌ„c qui sequitur modum Quia per acta actitata inquisita deducta confesâ—ata probata necnon per vehementes vrgentes praesumptiones iudicia perspicua conperimus luculenter inuenimus dictuÌ„ Richardum Hune crimine haereticae prauitatis multipliciter irretitum atque haereticum fuisse esse nonnullasque opiniones assertiones detestabiles haereses damnatas dum in humanis agebat vitales caperet auras affirmasse proposuisse recitasse librisque suspectis de iure damnatis nonnullas haereses pestiferas in se continentibus vsum fuisse receptisque admissis examinatis testibus per commissarios ad hoc deputatos de super impoenitentia finali partinacia obitu dicti Richardi Hune Idcirco nos Richardus Episcopus antedictus seruatis seruandis prout in tali negotio postulat ordo iuris dicti Richardi Hune impoenitentia ac finali * What final obstinacy was in him when you say before by his owne hand writing that he submitted himselfe to the Bishops fauorable correction obstinatia pertinacia per euidentia signa testibus legitimis vehemeÌ„tissimis violentis praesumptionibus coÌ„probatis prout iam coraÌ„ nobis legitime extitit facta fides edicto apud crucem diui Pauli die dominico vltimo praeterito ad audienduÌ„ per nos ferenduÌ„ senteÌ„tiam ad hunc diem per nos publice facto proposito paopterea de huius venerabilis coetus videlicet reuerendorum patruÌ„ dominoruÌ„ Thomae Dunelmensis Willihelmi Lincolniensis ac Iohannis Calipolensis EpiscoporuÌ„ necnon in sacra theologia decretoruÌ„ legum doctoruÌ„ cleri atque proborum venerabilium viroruÌ„ dodomini Maioris AldermanoruÌ„ Vicecomitum ciuitatis London populi hic congregatoâ—um nobis in hac parte assidentium assistentium consensu assensu consilio eundem Richardum Hunne diuersarum haeresium libris dum vixit vsum fuisse ac notorium pertinacem impoenitentem haereticum fuisse ac in haeresi decessisse atque consciencia criminis metu futurae seÌ„tentiae animo pertinaci impoenitenti corde indurato obijsse decessisse praemissorumque praetextu de iure excommunicatum fuisse esse atque in excommunicatione huiusmodi decessisse ipsiusque recâ—ptatores fautores defensores credentes etiam in genere de iure excommunicatos atque sententia maioris excommunicationis innodatos inuolutos fuisse esse pronuntiamus decernimus declaramus ipsum Richardum Hunne libros suos haereticos de iure damnatos suamque ac librorum ipsorum memoriaÌ„ in detestationem damnationem sceleris criminis huiusmodi condemnamus dictumque Richardum Hunne ob premissa ecclesiastica carere debere sepultura sententiamus etiam pronunciamus decernimus declaramus in foro ecclesiastico tanquam membrum putridum proijcimus corpusque suum ossa brachio potestati seculari relinquimus committimus iuxta secundum canonicas legitimas sanctiones consuetudinesque laudabiles in regno Angliae ab antiquo vsitatas obseruatas in opprobrium sempiternum detestationem criminis nephandissimi predicti ad eternamque huius rei memoriam caeterorumque Christi fidelium metum atque terrorem per hanc nostram sententiam siue finale decretum quam siue quod ferimus promulgamus in his scriptis Notwithstanding after all this tragical cruell handling of the dead body with their â—aire and colourable shew of iustice yet the inquest no whit stayed theyr diligent searching out of the true cause and meanes of his death In so much that when they had bene diuers times called both before the kinges priuy counsell his maiesty himselfe being sometime present also before the chiefe Iudges and Iustices of this realm that the matter being by theÌ„ throughly examined perceiued to much bolstered borne withall by the clergy was again wholy remitted vnto theyr determination and ending they founde by good proofe and sufficient euidence D. Horsey ChauÌ„celor Charles Ioseph and Spalding murderers of Richard Hunne that Doctour Horsey the Chauncellour Charles Ioseph the Sumner and Iohn Spalding the Belringer had priuily maliciously committed this murther and therefore indicted them all three as wilfull murtherers Howbeit through the earnest sute of the Byshop of London vnto Cardinall Woolsey as appeareth by hys letters hereafter mentioned meanes was founde that at the next Sessions of Gayle deliuery the kinges Attorney pronounced the indicement agaynst D. Horsey to be false vntrue and him not to be guilty of the murther Who being then thereby deliuered in body hauing yet in himselfe a guilty conscience gat him vnto Exeter and durst neuer after for shame come agayne vnto London But now that 〈◊〉 trueth of all this matter may seeme more manifest and playn vnto all mens eyes here shall folow word by word the whole inquiry and verdict of the inquest exhibited by them vnto the Crowner of LondoÌ„ so geuen vp and signed with his owne hand ¶ The Verdict of the inquest The verdict of
to make it appeare by the word of God and so being conuict to make them abiure and renounce the sayd heresies Whereupon the said Counceller Durandus certified the day that he would be present at Merindoll to the end purpose that none of the inhabitaunts should be absent At the day appointed the said Counseller Durandus the Byshop of Cauaillon Durandus the commissioner commeth to Merindoll a Doctour of Diuinitie a Secretary came vnto Merindoll where as was also present diuers Gentlemen and men of vnderstanding of all sorts to see this commission executed Then they of Merindoll were aduertised that they should not appeare all at once but y t they should keepe themselues apart and appeare as they should be called in such order number as should be appointed vnto them After that Durandus the Byshop of Cauaillon the Doctour of Diuinitie and the Secretary were set in place where iustice was accustomed to be kept there was called forth Andrew Maynard the baylife of Merindoll Ienon Romane and Michelin Maynard * Syndiâ—â— is a Greeke word and signifieth as much as an aduocate oâ— patrone oâ— deputy sent to plead our cause The wordes of DuraÌ„duâ— to the Merindolianâ— Syndiques Iohn Cabrie and Iohn Palene auncients of Merindoll and Iohn Bruneroll vnderbaylife After they had presented themselues with all due reuerence the Counseller Durandus spake thus vnto them You are not ignoraunt that by the Arrest geuen out by the high Court of Prouince you were all condemned to be burned both men women and children your houses also to be beaten downe and your towne to be rased and made desolate c. as is more largely conteined in the said arrest Notwithstanding it hath pleased the King our most gracious Prince to send his letters vnto the said Court commanding that the sayd arrest should not so rigorously proceede against you but if it could by sufficient information be proued that you or any of you had swarued froÌ„ the true Religion demonstratioÌ„ should be made thereof vnto you by the word of God wherby you might be reduced againe to the flocke of Christ. Wherefore it was determined in the saide Court of Parlament that the Bishop of Cauaillon with a Doctour of Diuinitie should in my presence declare vnto you the errours and heresies wherewith they say you are infected and after good demonstration made by the word of God you should publikely and solemnely renounce and abiure the sayde heresies and in so doyng shoulde obteine the grace and pardon conteined in the Kings letters Wherefore shew your selues this day that you be obedient vnto God the King and y e Magistrates When he had thus spoken what aunswere you sayd he to that which I haue propounded Then Andrew Maynard the Baylife desired that they would graunt them an Aduocate to answere according to the instructioÌ„s which they would giue him The Merindolians denied to geue answere by counsaile or writing for so much as they were men vnlearned and knew not how to answere as in such a case was requisite The Counseller aunswered that he would heare their aunswere neither by Aduocate nor by writing but woulde heare them aunswere in their owne persons Notwithstanding he woulde giue them leaue to go apart and talke together but not to aske any counsell but onely amongst themselues and then to aunswere one after another Upon this determination the Bayliffe and the two Syndiques with other two ancient men talked together a while and determined that the two Syndiques should speake first and after them the Baylife then the two auncient men euery man accordyng as God should geue them grace and by and by presented themselues Whereat the Counseller Durandus was greatly abashed The answer of the MerindoliaÌ„s to Durandus to see that they had agreed and determined so speedely Then Michelin Maynard began to aunswere desiring the Counseller and the Byshop with the other assistance to pardon him if that he aunswered ouerrudely hauing regard that they were poore rude and ignoraunt men His aunswere heere followeth We are greatly bound sayth he to geue God thankes that besides other his benefites bestowed vpoÌ„ vs The Baylife of 〈◊〉 answereth he hath now deliuered vs froÌ„ these great assaultes and that it hath pleased him to touch the hart of our noble King that our cause might be intreated with iustice and not by violence In like maner are we also bounde to pray for our noble King which following y e example of Samuell Daniell hath not disdeined to looke vpon the cause of his poore subiects Also we render thankes vnto the Lords of the Parlament in that it hath pleased them to minister iustice according to the Kings commandemeÌ„t Finally we thanke you my Lord Durandus Commissioner in this present cause that it hath pleased you in so few wordes to declare vnto vs the maner and order how we ought to proceede And for my part I greatly desire to vnderstand and know the heresies and errours wherof I am accused and where as they shall make it appeare vnto me that I haue holden any errours or heresies I am contented to amende the same as it shall be ordeined and prouided by you After him aunswered Ienon Romane the other Syndique a very auncient father approuing all that which his fellow before had sayde geuing God thankes that in hys time euen in his latter daies he had seene and heard so good newes that the cause of Religion shoulde be decided and debated by the holy Scriptures and that he had often heard auncient men say that they could neuer obteine of the Iudges in all their persecution to haue their cause debated in such sort Then Andrew Maynard the Baylife aunswered sayeng that God had geueÌ„ to those two Syndiques the grace to answere so well that it was not necessary for him to say or adde any more thereunto Notwithstanding it seemed good that their answeres were put in writing which was not done by the Secretary that had done nothing else but mocke and gyre at all that had bin sayd wherfore he required the Commissioner to looke vnto the matter Then the Commissioner was very angry and sharpely rebuked his Secretary commaunding him to sit nearer and to write their answeres word for word and he himselfe with a singular memory repeated their answeres and ofteÌ„times asked if it were not so The sayd aunsweres being thus put in writing the CoÌ„missioner asked the baylife if he had any more to answere sayeng that he had done him great pleasure to shewe him his Secretaries faulte willing him to speake boldly what he thought good for the defence of their cause Then the Baylife said for somuch as it hath pleased you to geue me audience liberty to speake my mind freely I say moreouer that it semeth vnto me that there is no due forme of processe in this iudgemeÌ„t for there is no partie heere that doth accuse vs. The proceeding with the MerindoliaÌ„s
goodes Howbeit one of his brethren afterwardes made such sute vnto the Kyng by meanes of the Queene that after three yeares imprisonment he was both released out of prison and also obtained of the Kyng a Commission vnto the Lord Awdeley beyng then Lord Chauncelor and to Cranmer Archbyshop of CaÌ„terbury and to Crumwell then Secretary with others to enquire of the iniurious and vniust dealynges of the Byshoppe and his Chauncelor agaynst the sayd Patmore notwithstandyng his appeale vnto the kyng and to determine therof accordyng to true equitie and iustice to restore the sayd Patmore agayne vnto his sayd benefice But what was the ende and issue of this Commission wfinde not as yet Iohn Row Bookebinder a FreÌ„ch man 1531. This man for bynding buyng and dispersing of bookes inhibited Christopher a bookeseller dyed in prison was enioyned beside other penaunce to goe to Smithfield with his Bookes tyed about hym and to cast them in the fire there to abide till they were all brent to ashes Christ of a dutchmaÌ„ of Antwerpe 1531. This man for sellyng certeine new Testaments in English to Iohn Row aforesayd was put in prison at Westminster and there dyed W. Nelson Priest 1531. His crime was for hauyng and buiyng of Peryman certain bookes of Luther Tyndall Thorpe c. and for reading and perusing the same contrary to the Kings proclamation for the which he was abiured he was Priest at Lith Tho. Eue Weauer 1531. His Articles That the Sacrament of the aultar was but a memory of Christes passion That men were fooles to go on pilgrimage or to set any candle before images Item it is as good to set vp staues before the Sepulchre as to set vp tapers of waxe That Priestes might haue wiues Rob. Hudson of S. Pulchers 1531. A dogge offered to S. Nicholas Byshop His Article On Childermas daye sayth the Register he offred in Paules Churche at offering time to the childe Byshop called S. Nicholas a dogge for deuotion as he sayd and meant no hurt for he thought to haue offered a halfepeny or else y e dogge and thought the dogge to be more better then a half-peny and the dogge should raise some profite to the child and sayd moreouer it was the tenth dogge c. Ex Regist. Edward Hewet seruingman 1531. His crime That after the Kynges proclamation he had and read the new Testament in English Also the booke of I. Frith against Purgatory c. Walter Kiry seruant 1531. Hys Article That he after the kings proclamation had vsed these bookes the Testament in English the summe of Scripture a Primer and Psalter in Englishe hidden in hys bedstrawe at Worcester Michaell Lobley 1531. His Articles That hee beeing at Antwerpe bought certeine bookes inhibited as the Reuelation of Antichrist the obedience of a Christian man the wicked Mammon Frith against Purgatory Item for speaking against Images and Purgatory Item for sayeng that Bilney was a good man Why then doth M. More say that Bilney recanted and dyed a good man if these be punished for commending him to dye a good maÌ„ A ladde of Colchester dyed in prison for bringing to Bayfilde his bookes and dyed a good man because of a Bill that one did send from Norwich that specified that he tooke his death so pacientlye and did not forsake to die wyth a good will c. A boy of Colchester 1531. A boy of Colchester or Northfolke brought to Richard Bayfield a budget of bookes about four dayes before the sayd Bayfield was taken for the which the lad was taken laid in the counter by M. More Chancellor there dyed Wil. Smith Taylor 1531. His Articles That he lodged oftentimes in his house Rich. Bayfield and other good men That he receiued hys bookes into hys house and vsed much reading in the new Testament He had also the Testament of William Tracy He beleeued there was no Purgatory Wil. Lyncoln Prentise 1532. His Articles For hauing and receiuing bookes from beyond the Sea of Tindall Frith Thorpe and other Item he doubted whether there were any Purgatory Whether it were well done to set vp candles to Saincts to go on pilgrimage c. Iohn Mell of Bocksted 1532. His heresie was this for hauing and reading the new Testament in english the Psalter in English and the booke called A B C. Iohn Medwell seruant to M. Carkit Heresy with the Pope to trust onely to the merites of Christ. Scriuener 1532. This Medwell lay in prison xxiiij weekes till he was almost lame Hys heresies were these That he doubted whether there was anye Purgatory He woulde not trust in pardons but rather in the promises of Christ. He doubted whether the merites of anye but onely of Christ did helpe him He doubted whether pilgrimages and setting vp of candles to images were meritorious or not He thought he should not put his trust in any Saint Item hee had in his custody the new Testament in Englishe the examination of Thorpe the wicked Mammon a booke of Matrimony Ex ipsius scedula ad Episc Scripta Christofer Fulman seruaÌ„t to a Goldsmith 1532. This yong man was attached for receiuing certayne bookes at Antwerp of George Constantine and transporting them ouer into England and selling them to sondry persons beeyng bookes prohibited by the proclamation Item he thought then those bookes to haue bene good and that he had bene in errour in times past Margaret Bowgas 1532. Her heresies were these Being asked if she would go on pilgrimage she sayd I beleeue in God and he can do me more good then our Lady or any other Sainct and as for them they shal come to me if they will c. Then Richard Sharples Parson of Millend by Colchester asked her if shee sayde her Aue Maria I say sayd she hayle Mary but I will say no further Then said he if she left not those opinions she would beare a fagot If I do saide she better then I shall adding moreouer that she would not go from that to die therefore To whome the Priest aunswered and sayd she would be burned Heereunto Margaret againe replyeng asked the Priest who made Martyrs Tyrauntes make Martyrs Tyrants quoth the Priest make Martirs for they put Martirs to death So they shall or may me quoth Margaret At length with much ado and greate persuasions she gaue ouer to Foxford the Chanceller and submitted her selfe Iohn Tyrel an Irishman of Billery key Taylor His Articles were these That the Sacramente of the aulter was not the body of Christ but only a cake of bread Furthermore the occasion being asked how he fell into that heresie he answered and sayd that about three weekes before Midsomer last past hee heard M. Hugh Latimer preach at S. Mary Abchurch that men should leaue going in pilgrimage abroade M. Latyâ—â—â— preached agaynst Pilgrimages and do their pilgrimage to their poore neighbours Also the sayde M. Latimer in his Sermon did set the Sacrament of the aulter
the truth which he defended before in his booke De obedientia to papistry Steuen Gardiner reuolteth to Papistry ioining part and side with suche as were knowne papists so he seemeth likewyse to beare a like secret grudge against the Lord Cromwell and all such whomsoeuer he fauoured Thirdly as concerning the forenamed D. Edmund Boner the author of this declaration heere is to be seene and noted that he all this while appeared a good man and diligent friend to the truth and that he was fauoured of the Lord Cromwell for the same Fourthly that the said D. Boner was not onely fauoured of the Lord Cromwell but also by him was aduaunced first to the office of Legation D. Boners comming vp onely by the Gospell then to the Bishoprike of Hereford and lastly to the Bishoprike of London whome the said D. Boner in his letters agniseth and confesseth to be his only Patron and singular Mecaenas Which being so we haue in this said D. Boner greatly to meruayle what should be the cause that he seing all his setting vp making and preferring came only by the Gospell and by theÌ„ of the Gospels side he being then so hated of Steuen Gardiner and such as he was being also at that time such a furtherer and defender of the Gospell as appeared both by his Preface before Gardinars booke De obedientia and by his writings to the Lord Cromwell also by helping forward the printed Bibles at Paris could euer be a man so vngratefull vnkind afterward to ioyne part with the said Steuen Gardiner against the Gospell without y t which Gospel he had neuer come to be bishop neither of Hereford nor yet of London and now to abuse y e same bishopricke of London to persecute y t so vehemently which before so openly he defended Wherin y e same may well be said to him in this case y t he himselfe was reported once to say to the french King in the cause of Grancetor to witte that he had done therein against his honour against iustice against reason against honesty Boners owne wordes retorted against himselfe against freÌ„dship against his own promise and his othe so often made against his owne doctrine and iudgement which then he professed against all truth against the treates and leagues betwene him and his setters vp and against all together and to conclude against the saluation of his owne soule But to referre this to the booke of his accomptes who shall iudge one day all things vprightly let vs proceede further in y e coÌ„tinue of this D. Boners legation Who being now Ambassadour in the court of Fraunce as he haue heard had geuen in commission from the king to entreate with the French King for sondry pointes as for the printing of the new Testament in English Printing the newe testament in English and the Byble at Paris and the Bible at Paris also for slanderous preachers and malicious speakers against the King for goods of merchaunts taken and spoiled for the kings pension to be paid for the matters of the Duke of Suffolke for certaine prisoners in Fraunce Item for Grancetor the traitour and certain other rebels to be sent into England c. Touching all which affayres the sayd D. Boner did employ his diligence trauaile to the good satisfaction and contentment of the kings minde The diligeÌ„ce trust of D. Boner in legatyon and discharge of his duetie in such sort as no default could be found in him saue only that the French King one time tooke displeasure with him for that the said Boner beyng now made bishop of Hereford and bearing himself somewhat more seriously and boldly before the king in the cause of Grancetor the traytour wherein he was willed by the aduertisement of the Kings pleasure The wordes of D. Boner 〈◊〉 to the French king to wade more deepely and instantly vsed these words to the French King as y e french king himself did afterward report them saieng that he had done in deliueraÌ„ce of that foresaid Grancetor being an Englishman The French king disâ—lesed with â—ishop Boner Bish. Boner 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to the king his mâ—â—ster 3. thinges agaynst God agaynst his honor agaynst iustice agaynst reason agaynst honesty against friendship against all law against the treates leagues betwene him and his brother the King of England yea and against all together c. These words of Bishop Boner although he denieth to haue spoken them in that forme and qualitie yet howsoeuer they were spoken did stirre vp the stomack of the French King to conceiue high displeasure agaynst him in so much that he answering the Lord Ambassadour againe bad him write these three things vnto his maister First among other thinges that his Embassadour was a greate foole Secondarily that he caused to be done better iustice there in his Realme in one houre then they did in Englande in a whole yeare Thirdly that if it were not for the loue of his maister he should haue an hundreth strokes with an Haulbard c. And furthermore the sayde Frenche King beside thys sending a speciall messenger with his letters to the king of England willed him to reuoke and cal this Ambassadour home and to send him an other The cause why the french King tooke these wordes of Bishop Boner so to stomacke as the L. Chauncelour said was this for that the Kings of Fraunce standing chiefly and in maner only vpon theyr honour can suffer that in no case to be touched Otherwise in those wordes if they had bene well taken was not so much blame perchaunce as boldnes being spoken somwhat vehemently in his maisters behalfe Bishop coÌ„moÌ„ly boldder in Princes matters then in the cause of Christ. But this one thing seemeth to me much blameworthy both in this Byshop and many other that they in earthly matters and to please terrene Kings will put forth themselues to such a boldnes and forwardnes and in Christes cause the King of all kings whose cause they should onely attend vppon and tender they are so remisse cold and cowardly To these letters of the French King the King of England sent aunswer againe by other letters in which he reuoked and called home againe bishop Boner geuing vnto him about the same time the Bishopricke of London and sente in supply of his place Sir Iohn Wallop a greate frend to Steuen Gardiner Whiche was in February about the beginning of the yeare of our Lord 1540. Heere now followeth the othe of Boner to the King when hee was made Byshop of London ¶ The othe of Doctor Edmund Boner when hee was made Byshop of London agaynst the Pope of Rome YE shall neuer consent nor agree that the Byshop of Rome shall practise D. Boners othe against the Pope exercise or haue any maner of authority iurisdiction or power within this Realme or any other the Kings dominion but that you shall resist the same at all times to the vttermost
offend and be thereof in forme aforesayd lawfully coÌ„uicted then he shuld for the same 3. offence suffer imprisonment during his life If any such person or persons aforesaid so offending had not any benefice or spiritual promotion y t then he shoulde for his first offence suffer imprisonment by the space of vi monthes without bayle or maynprise and for his second offence imprisonment during hys life Which request or rather actuall agreement of y e lordes and commons of the Parliament beyng once vnderstoode of the kyng was also soone ratified and confirmed by hys regall consent and authoritie and therupon the sayd booke of common prayer was presently imprinted and commaÌ„ded to be exercised throughout the whole Realme and dominions thereof accordyng to the tenure and effect of the sayd Statute Moreouer in the same Session of the sayd ParliameÌ„t it was enacted and established by the authoritie thereof that for as much as great horrible and not to be rehearsed inconueniences had from tyme to tyme risen amongst the priests ministers and other officers of the clergy through their compelled chastitie Lawes and 〈…〉 againâ—t 〈…〉 and by such lawes as prohibited them the godly and lawfull vse of mariage that therefore all and euery law and lawes positiue canons constitutions and ordinances theretofore made by the authoritie of man onely which did prohibite or forbid mariage to any ecclesiasticall or spirituall person or persones of what estate condition or degree so euer they were or by what name or names they were called which by gods law may lawfully marry in all and euery article braunche and sentence concernyng onely the prohibition for the mariage of the persons aforesayd should be vtterly voyd and of none effect And that all maner of forfaitures paynes penalties crimes or actions Mariage of Priestes â—et â—ree which were in the sayd lawes conteyned and of the same dyd follow concernyng the prohibition for the mariage of the sayd Ecclesiastical persons shuld be thencefoorth also clearely and vtterly voyde frustrate and of none effect By occasion whereof it was thenceafter ryght lawfull for any Ecclesiasticall person not hauyng the gift of chastitie most godly to liue in the pure and holy estate of matrimony according to the lawes worde of God But if the first Iniunctions statutes and decrees of the Prince were of many but slenderly regarded with muche lesse good affection were these especially the booke of common praier of diuers now receiued yea and that of some of them Edmund Boner B. of London which had alwayes before in outward shew willingly allowed the former doings as appereth most plainly amongst others by Boner the B. of London Who although by his former letters other mandates he seemed hitherto to fauour all the kings proceedings yet did he at that present notwithstanding both the first statute for the stablishing of the Communion and the abolishyng of all priuate masses and also this Statute of the ratifieng and confirming of the booke of Common prayer still suffer suÌ„dry idolatrous priuate masses of peculiar names as the Apostles masse the Lady masse and such lyke to be dailye solemnly sung within certaine perticular chappels of hys cathedral church of Paules cloking them with the names of the apostles communion and our Ladies communion not once findyng any fault therewith vntill such tyme as the Lordes of the Counsaile hauyng intelligence thereof were fayne by their letters to commaund hym to looke better thereunto And then beyng therewith somewhat pricked forwards perhaps by feare he was content to direct hys letters vnto the Deane and Chapter of his cathedrall church of Paules thereby requesting them forthwith to take such order therein as the tenure of the Counsailes sayd letters therwithall sent vnto them did import Which both two letters I haue for the more credite here followyng inserted ¶ A Letter directed from the Kings Counsaile to Edmund Boner B. of London for abrogating of priuate Masses namely the Apostles Masse within the church of S. Paule vsed vnder the name of the Apostles Communion 〈◊〉 other 〈…〉 progating priuate Masses AFter harty commendations Hauing very credible notice that within that your cathedral church there be as yet the Apostles masse and our Ladies masse and other masses of such peculiar name vnder the defence nomination of our Ladies communion and the Apostles communion vsed in priuate chappels and other remote places of the same and not in the Chauncell The Apoâ—â—les 〈…〉 Paul contrary vnto the kings maiesties proceedings the same beyng for the misuse displeasing to God for the place of Paules in example not tollerable for the fondnes of the name a scorne to the reuerence of the communion of the Lords body and bloud we for the augmentation of gods glory and honour and the consonance of his maiesties lawes and the auoyding of murmure haue thought good to will command you that from henceforth no such masses in this manner be in your church any longer vsed but that the holy blessed communion according to the acte of Parliament be ministred at the high aultar of the church and in no other places of the same only at such tyme as your high masses were wont to be vsed except some number of people desire for their necessary businesse to haue a communion in the mornyng and yet the same to bee executed in the Chauncell at the high aulter as it is appoynted in the booke of the publike seruice without cautele or digression from the common order And herein you shal not onlye satisfie our expectation of your conformitie in all lawfull things but also auoyd the murmure of sundry that be therwith iustly offended And so we bid your Lordship hartely farewell From Richmond the 24. of Iune an 1549. Your louing friendes E. Somerset W. Saint Iohn Ed. Montague R. Rich. Chan. Fra. Shrewsbury W. Cecill ¶ To my right worshipfull friendes and most louyng good brethren M. Deane of Paules with all the Canons Residentaries Prebendaries Subdeanes and Ministers of the same and euery of them with speede RIght worshipfull with most harty commendations So it is this Wensday the xxvi of Iune goyng to dynner Boners letter to the Deane and Chapter of Paules I receaued letters from the kynges Counsell by a Pursiuaunt and the same I doe send now herewith vnto you to the intent you may peruse them well and proceede accordyngly praying you in case all be not present yet those that be now resident and supplying the places may in their absence call the company together of the Church and make declaratioÌ„ hereof vnto them Thus committyng you to God right well to fare Written with speede this xxvi of Iune at one of the clocke Your louyng brother Ed. London Ouer and besides all this the Lord Protectour wyth the residue of the kings priuie and learned Counsel assemblyng together in the Starre chamber about the same mater that is for the aduancement and setting forward of the kings so godly
proceedings called before them all the Iustices of peace where was vttered vnto them by the Lord Rich then Lord Chauncellour an eloquent and learned admonition the tenor whereof ensueth IT hath bene vsed and accustomed before this tyme to call at certayne tymes the Iustices of peace before the Kings Maiesties Counsaile An exhortation or adâ—onition vnto the Iustices of peace to geue vnto them admonition or warnyng diligently as is their dutie to looke to the obseruing of such thyngs as be committed to theyr charges according to the trust which the Kinges Maiestie hath in them Howbeit now at this tyme we call you before vs not onely of custome but rather of necessitie For hearyng daily and perceiuing of necessitie as we do the great negligence and the little heed which is taken and geuen to the obseruyng of the good and wholesome lawes and orders in this realme wherupon much disorder doth daily ensue and the kings maiesties proclamations and orders taken by the Counsaile as we are aduertised not executed the people are brought to disobedience and in a maner all his Maiesties study and ours in setting a good and most godly stay to the honour of God and the quiet of the Realme is spent in vayne and come to nothing The which as we haue great hope and trust not to be altogether so yet so much as it is and so much as it lacketh of keepyng the Realme in a most godly order and stay we must needes impute and lay the fault thereof in you which are the Iustices of peace in euery Shiere to whom we are woont to direct our writinges and to whose trust and charge the Kings Maiestie hath committed the execution of all hys Proclamations of hys actes of Parliament and of hys lawes We are informed that many of you are so negligent and so slacke herein that it doth appeare you do look rather Iustices slacke in furthering of Religion as it were through your fingers then diligently see to the execution of the sayd lawes and Proclamations For if you would according to your duties to your othe to the trust which the kinges Maiesty hath in you geue your diligeÌ„ce and care toward the execution of the same most godly Statutes and Iniunctions there should no disobedience nor disorder nor euill rule be begon or arise in any part of the realme but it should by and by be repressed kept downe reformed But it is feared and the thing it selfe geueth occasion therto that diuers of you do not onely not set forth but rather hinder so much as lyeth in you the Kings maiesties procedinges and are content that there should arise some disobedience and that meÌ„ should repine against godly orders set forth by his maiesty you do so slackly looke to the execution of the same So that in some shyres which be further off it may appeare that the people haue neuer heard of diuers of his maiestyes proclamations or if they haue heard you are content to wincke at it to neglect it so that it is all one as though it were neuer commaunded But if you do consider and remember your dueties first to almighty God and then to the Kings maiestie the wealth of the whole realme the safegard of your owne selues you must needes see that except such orders as the kings Maiestie hath set and hereafter shall appoynt be kept neither can the realme be defended if the enemie should inuade nor in peace it cannot stand but vpon the contempt of good and wholesome lawes all disorder and inconueniences should come the people should be wyld and sauage and no man sure of his owne If at any tyme there was occasion and cause to be circuÌ„spect and diligent about the same there was neuer more tyme then now How we stand in Scotland you know that their foreine power maketh great preparation to aide them and in deed doth come to their ayde wherof we are surely informed and certified The fruite of obedience in a Realme Wherfore if there should not be good order and obedience kept in the realme the realme were lyke vtterly to be destroyed Neuer forreine power could yet hurt or in any part preuaile in this realm but by disobedience and misorder within our selues That is the way wherwith God will plague vs if he mynd to punish vs. And so long as we do agree among our selues and be obedient to our prince and to his godly orders and laws we may be sure that God is with vs that foreine power shall not preuayle agaynst vs nor hurt vs. Wherfore once againe and stil we must and do lay this charge vpon you that are the better of the shiere and Iustices of the peace that with so conuenient speed as you can you do repayre downe into your Countries and you shal geue warning to the gentlemen of the shiere which haue not necessarie busines here that they repaire downe eche man to his countrey Order taken for Iustices and there both you and they who be reckoned the stay of euery shiere to see good order and rule kept You that your Sessions of gaole deliuery and quarter Sessions be well kept and therein your meetyngs be such that iustice may be wel and truly ministred the offenders and malefactors punished according to the lawes of this Realme without any feare of any man or that for fauour you should suffer those to escape which with their euill example might bring other to the like mishap that all vagabonds and lewd and light tale tellers and sedicious bearers of false newes of the kings maiestie or of hys counsaile or such as will preach without licence be immediately by you represt and punished And if there should chaunce any lewd or light fellowes to make any routes or riotes or vnlawfull assemblies any seditious meetings ProuisioÌ„ against priuy conspiracy rebellion vprores or vprisings in any place by the seditious and diuelish motion of some priuy Traitors that you and they appease them at the first and apprehend the first authors and causers thereof and certifie vs with speed The lightnes of the rude and ignorant people must be represt and ordered by your grauitie wisedome And here you may not if any such thing chance dissemble with those such lewd men and hide your selues for it shall be required of you if such misorder be and surely without your ayde and helpe or your dissembling such misorder can not be Nor we do not say that we feare any such thing or that there is any such thing likely to chaunce but we geue you warning before least it should chaunce We haue to much experience in this realme what inconuenience commeth of such matters And though some light persons in their rage do not consider it yet we doe not doubt but you way it and know it well enough Prouision agaynst foreine power And if it should chaunce our enemies who are mainteyned by other forraine power and the
that he had found heretofore at the handes of the B. of Caunterbury and the rest of y e Colleagues in this matter much extremitie and crueltie iniuries losses and griefes contrary to Gods law and the lawes and statutes of this Realme and agaynst Iustice charitie and good order beyng well assured if they were not stayed but proceeded they would adde more euill to euill losse to losse displeasure to displeasure as sayde he their seruants haue reported and they agreeable doe shew the same Agayne in the sayde appeale he shewed that the Byshop of Canterbury and the other Commissioners ought to haue considered and done better in that matter for honour and obedience to the Kings Maiestie which hetherto they haue not done said he in that they haue not giuen place to hys prouocations and appellations heretofore made vnto hys grace iustly and lawfully and vpon good and iust causes namely for the vniust griefes they did agaynst him which he sayd to appeare in the Actes of that matter as in pronouncyng hym contumacem vnreasonably without good cause and further in assignyng the terme ad audiendum finale decretum and in committyng hym to straight prisone as appeareth in theyr Actes Therefore he dyd not onelye Ex abundanti ad omnem iuris cautelam decline and refuse theyr pretensed iurisdiction as before but also by these presentes here shewed he dyd appeale from the sayd Byshop of Caunterbury and the rest vnto the Kinges Maiestie askyng also those Letters of Appeale which the lawe doth admitte saying he dyd not intend to goe from hys former prouocations and appellations but to ioyne and cleaue vnto them in euery part and parcell submittyng hymselfe to the protection and defence of the Kinges Maiestie and he therein made intimation to the Byshoppe of Caunterbury and the sayd Colleagues to all intentes and purposes that might come thereof Furthermore as touchyng the Supplication aboue mentioned which Boner as we sayd put vp in writyng to the Commissioners the Copie thereof here vnder likewyse ensueth ¶ The Supplication of Boner to the Chauncellor of England with all the rest of the Kings Maiesties most honourable priuy Counsaile PLease iâ— your most honourable good Lordships with my most humble recommendations to vnderstand The copy of Boners supplicatioÌ„ that albeit I haue accordyng to the lawes statutes and ordinaunces of this realme made supplicatioâ— prouocation and appellation vnto the kyngs most excelleâ—â— Maiestie from the vnlawfull and wycked processe of the Archbishop of Caunterbury the byshoppe of Rochester Maister Secretary Smith and the Deane of Paules as also as well from their vniust interlocutorie as also their diffinitiue sentence whereby in law I ought to haue libertie to come abroad and prosecute the same yet such is the malignitie of the Iudges agaynst me with bearing and maintenaunce of other which sundry and many ways haue sought my ruine and destruction that I am here penned and locked vp vsed very extremely at their pleasure and for the contentation of the sayd Maister Smith and not suffred to finde sureties or to goe abroad to prosecute and sue my sayd appellation In consideration whereof it may please your said good Lordships to take some order and redresse herein especially for that it is now the tyme that the Kings subsidie now due ought to be called vpon and iustice also ministred vnto his Maiesties subiects which beyng as I now am I cannot be suffered to doe And thus without further extending my letter therein consideryng that your great wisedomes experience and goodnesse can gather of a little what is expedient and necessary for the whole I doe beseech almighty God to preserue and keepe well all your honourable good Lordships Written in hast this 7. of October 1549. in the Marshalsey Your honourable Lordshyps poore Orator most bounden Bedes man Edmund London These thynges ended the Archbyshop said vnto him My Lord where you say that you come coacted The Archbishop answered to the words of Boner or els ye would not haue appeared I do much maruell of you For you would therby make vs and this audience here beleue that because you are a prisoner ye ought not therefore to aunswer Which if it were true were enough to confound the whole state of this Realme For I dare say that of the greatest prisoners and rebels that euer your keeper there meaning the Undermarshall hath had vnder hym he cannot shewe me one that hath vsed such defence as you here haue done Well quoth the B. if my keper were learned in y e lawes I could shew him my mynd therein Boner Well sayde the Archbyshop I haue read ouer all the Lawes as well as you The archbishop Secretary Smith but to an other ende and purpose then you did and yet I can finde no suche priuiledge in this matter Then M. Secretary Smith did very sore burthen and charge hym how disobediently and rebelliously he had always behaued himselfe towards the Kings Maiestie and his authoritie Whereupon the B. vnder his protestation aunswered agayne Boner that he was the kings Maiesties lawfull and true subiect and did acknowledge his highnesse to be his gracious soueraigne Lord or els he would not haue appealed vnto him as he had yea would gladly lay his hands and his necke also vnder his graces feete and therefore he desired that his highnesse lawes and iustice might be ministred vnto him Yea quoth Maister Secretary you say wel my Lord Secretary Smith Boner compared to the rebells of Deuonshire but I pray you what others haue all these rebels both in Northfolke Deuonshire and Cornewall and other places done Haue they not said thus We be the kings true Subiectes we acknowledge hym for our Kyng and we will obey his lawes with such lyke and yet when eyther Commaundement Letter or Pardon was brought vnto them from his Maiestie they beleeued it not but sayd it was forged and made vnder a hedge and was Gentlemens doyngs so that in deede they would not nor dyd obey any thing Ah sir sayd the B. I perceyue your meanyng Boner as who should say that the Bish. of London is a rebell like them Yea by my troth quoth the Secretary The people laughing at Boner D. May. Whereat the people laughed Then the Deane of Paules said vnto him that he maruelled much and was very sory to see him so vntractable that he would not suffer the Iudges to speake To whome the B. disdainfully aunswered Well M. Deane Boner with his tauntes you must say somewhat And likewise at an other tyme as the Deane was speaking he interrupted him and sayd You may speake when your turne commeth Secretary Smith Then said Secretary Smith I would you knew your duetie I would quoth he agayne you knew it as wel as I with an infinite more of other such stubburne and contemptuous talke and behauiour towardes them Boner which the Commissioners waying and perceiuyng no likelihood
the one nor the other And as for tumult none could reasonably be feared of any thing spoken agreable to the kings maiesties lawes as there did folow none nor the people or any man did offer my person any wrong or make tumult against me not withstanding players iesters rimers ballademakers did signify me to be of the true catholike faith Winchesâ—â—â— agaynst Players 〈◊〉 bâ—llademâ—â—kers which I according to my dutie declared to the kings maiesty from whoÌ„ I may hide no truth that I thinke expedient for hym to know And as the name of God cannot be vsed of any creture agaynst God no more can the kings name beyng vsed of any subiect against his highnes Wherfore seyng the abuse of this holy sacrament hath in it a danger assured by scripture of body soule whosoeuer is perswaded in y e catholike faith as I am findeth himself so burdened to vtter that vnto his maiesty as no worldly losse caÌ„ let him to do his duty in that behalfe and much lesse my Lordes priuate letters written without other of the counsails hands The 11. Article Item that after the premisses viz. in the month of May or Iune or one of them in the 3. yeare of his hyghnes raigne 11. 〈◊〉 his maiestye sent eftsoones vnto you to know your conformitie towards hys sayd reformations and specially touchyng the booke of common prayer then lately set foorth by hys maiestie whereunto you at the same tyme refused to shew your selfe conformable Winchester To the xi article for answer and declaration thereof he sayd The next day at after noone after he had preached Answeâ—â— the 11. 〈◊〉 when he looked for no such matter came to his house the right worshipfull Sir Anthony Wingfield and Sir Rafe Sadler knights accompanied wyth a great nomber of the gard and vsed themselues for their part according to theyr worships and I doubt not as they were appoynted Sir Rafe Sadler begaÌ„ thus w t me My L. said he ye preached yesterday obedience but ye did not obey your selfe went forth w t his message very soberly as he can and discretely I asked him wherein I obeied not He sayde touching my L. of Somersets letter Maister Sadler quoth I I pray you say to my Lords grace I would he neuer made mention of that letter for the loue I beare him And yet quoth I I haue not broken that letter I was mineded quoth I to haue wrytten to my L. vpon the receipt of it and loe quoth I ye may see how I begaÌ„ and shewed him because we were then in my study the beginning of my letter and reasoned with him for declaration of my selfe and told him therwith I wil not spend quoth I many wordes w t you for I caÌ„ not alter this determination And yet in good faith quoth I my maner to you and this declaration may haue this effecte that I be gently handled in the prisone and for that purpose I pray you make sute on my behalfe Wynchester 〈◊〉 Wynchester committed 〈◊〉 the tower Maister Wingfield laide his hand on my shoulder and arested me in y e kings name for disobedience I asked them whether I shoulde They sayde to the Tower Finally I desired them that I might be spoken wyth shortly heard what I could say for my selfe and praied them to be suters in it and so they saide they would After y t I was once in the tower vntill it was within 6. dayes of one whole yere I could heare no maner word message comfort or relief sauing once when I was sicke and me thought some extremity towardes me my Chaplaine had licence to come to me for one time then denied againe being aunswered that my feuer was but a tertian which my said Chaplaine tolde me when he came to me at the Easter followinge and there beinge wyth me from the morning till night on Easter day departed and for no suâ—e could neuer haue him since To M. Lieftenant I made diuers sutes to prouoke the duke of Somersets grace to hear me And if I might haue the liberty of an English man I would plainly declare I had neither offended law statute acte proclamation nor his own letter neither but al wold not help I shal report me to M. LieftenaÌ„t whether in al this time I maligned grudged or vsed any vnsemely wordes euer demanding iustice to be heard according to iustice When I had bene thus in the tower one whole yeare within 6. daies or 7. as I remember The Lord Chauncellour and Secretary Peter commeth to Wynchester in the tower came to the Tower the Lord Chancellor of England now being the L. Treasurer and master Secretarye Peter who calling me vnto them as I remember entred this They sayde they hadde brought with them a booke passed by the parlament which they would I should looke on and say my minde to it and vpon my conformitie in it my Lord of Somerset would be suter to the kings maiestie for mercy to be ministred to me Wherunto I answered that I trusted if I might be heard the kings Maiesties iustice would releue me which I had longsued for and could not be heard And to sue for mercy quoth I when I haue not in my conscience offended and also to sue out of thys place Wynchester denyeth to sue for mercy wher asking of mercy emploieth a further suspition then I woulde be for all the worlde touched in it were not expedient And therefore quoth I not guiltie is and hath bene allowed a good plee for a prisoner Then my Lord sayd why quoth he were ye not commaunded to preache of the kings authoritie in his younge age yet did not I told him I was not commaunded Is not quoth he that Article in the papers yee had deliuered you I assured him no. And after communication of the kings Maiesties authority wherein was no disagrement Take betweene the Lord ChauÌ„cellour and Wynchester in the tower then my lord Chancellor said I had disobeied my Lordes graces letter I told him I thought not and if the matter came to iudgement it should appeare And then I sayd to him my Lord howe many open iniunctions vnder Seale and in open Courte haue bene broken in this Realme the punishment wherof hath not ben handled after this sort yet I would stande in defence y t I had not broken his letter waying the words of the letter wherein I reasoned with M. Peter Secretarie what a controuersie was and some part what I could say further But what so euer I canne saye quoth I you must iudge it and for the passion of God do it and then let me sue for mercy when the nature of the offence is known if I will haue it Wynchester will acknowledge no offence But when I am quoth I declared an offender I will with humilitie of suffering make amendes to the kings Maiestie so farre as I am able for I shoulde neuer
kings Maiesties person his realme and subiectes No worde hetherto sent from the Lords to the Lord Protector what they required of him to doe Reasonable coÌ„ditions offered by the Lord Protector you shall finde vs agreeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require For we doe esteeme the kings wealth and tranquillitie of the realme more then all other worldly things yea more then our owne life Thus praying you to send vs your determinate answer heerein by M. Secretarie Peter or if you will not let him go by this bearer we beseeche God to geue both you and vs grace to determine this matter as maye be to Gods honour the preseruation of the king and the quiet of vs all which may be if the fault be not in you And so we bid you most heartily fare well From the kings maiesties Castle of Windsore the 7. of Octob. 1549. Your Lordships louing frend E. Somerset After these letters receiued and the reasonable condition of the Lorde Protectour and yet not much regarded of the Lordes they persisting still in their pretended purpose tooke this aduise first to keepe themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and therfore calling vpon the Maior and the Aldermen they willed them in any case to prouide a good and substantiall watch by nyght A solemne watch commauÌ„ded in London and a good warde by day for the safegard of their Citie and the portes and gates thereof which was consented vnto and the CoÌ„panies of London in theyr turnes warned to watch and warde accordingly Then the sayd Lordes and Counsailours demaunded of the Lorde Maior and hys brethren 500. menne to ayde them to fetche the Lorde Protectour out of Windsore from the king but therunto the Maior answeared The Citye of London pressed with 500. mâ—n to fetch the L. Protector The aunswere of the Lorde Maior to the Lordes The Lordes assembled in the L. Maiors house that he could graunt none aide without the assent of the common Counsaile of the citie wherupon the next day a common councell was warned But in this meane time the said Lordes of the Counsaile assembled theÌ„selues at the Lorde Maiors house of London who then was Syr Henrye Amcottes Fishmonger and W. Locke Mercer and sir Iohn Aileph Sheriffes of the said citie and there the said Counsaile did agree and publishe a Proclamation foorthwith agaynst the Lorde Protector the effect of which Proclamation was as followeth 1 First The effect of the proclamation seâ— out agaynst the Lord Protector that the Protector by his malitious and euill gouernment was the occasion of all the sedition that of late happened within the realme 2 The losse of the kings peeces in France 3 That he was ambitious and sought his owne glorye as appeared by building of most sumptuous costly houses in the time of the kings warres 4 That hee esteemed nothinge the graue Counsell of the Counsailours 5 That he sowed diuision betwene the Nobles the gentlemen and the commons 6 That the Nobles assembled themselues together at LondoÌ„ for none other purpose but to haue caused the protectour to haue liued wythin limites and to haue put such order for the suretie of the kings maiestie as appertained whatsoeuer the Protectours doinges were whyche they sayd were vnnaturall ingrate and traiterous 7 That the Protectour sclaundered the Counsaile to the king and did that in him lay to cause variaunce betweene the king and the nobles 8 That hee was a great traitor and therefore the Lordes desired the citie commons to aid them to take hym from the king And in witnes and testimonie of the contents of the said Proclamation the Lordes subscribed theyr names whych were these The Lorde Rich Lord Chauncellour The Lord S. Iohn Lord great maister president of the Counsaile The Lord Marques of Northampton The Earl of Warwike Lord great Chamberlaine The Earle of Arundel L. Chamberlaine The Earle of Shrewsburie The Earle of South-hampton Wriothesley Sir Thomas Cheyney knighte treasurer of the kings house and Lord Warden of the Cinque portes Syr Iohn Gage knight Constable of the Tower Syr Wil. Peter knight Secretarie Syr Edwarde North knight Syr Edwarde Montague chief Iustice of the common place Syr Rafe Sadler Syr Iohn Baker Syr Edw. Wootton Doctour Wootton Deane of Cant. Syr Rich. Southwell After the foresaide Proclamation was Proclaimed the Lordes or the most parte of them continuing and lying in London came y e next day to the Guild hal during the time that the Lord Maior and their brethren sate in their Court or inner chamber The Lordes comming into the Guild hall and entred and communed a long while with the Maior and at the last the Maior and his brethren came foorth vnto the common Counsaile where was read the kings letter sent to the Maior and citizens commaunding them to aid him with a thousand wel appoynted men out of their citie and to send the same with all speede to his Castle at Windsore Thys Letter by name was directed to Syr Henrye Amcottes knighte Lorde Maior to Syr Roulande Hyll knight Maior electe and to the Aldermen and common Counsaile of the Citie of London The daye and Date of the Letter was the sixte of October in the thirde yeare of his raigne being assigned with the hand of the King and of the Lorde Protectour the contentes of which letter for the satisfaction of the reader are heere to be seene in maner and forme as followeth EDWARD By the King TRustie and welbeloued we greete you wel Wee charge and commaunde you most earnestly to geue order with all speede for the defence and preseruation of that our citie of London for vs The Copy of the kinges letter sent to the L. Maior Aldermen and Citizens of LoÌ„don in the behalfe of the L. Protectour and to leuy out of hande and to put in order as many as conueniently you maye well weaponed and arraied keeping good watch at the gates and to sende vs hither for the defence of oure person one thousand of that our Cittie of trustie and faithfull men to attend vpon vs and our most entirely beloued vncle Edward Duke of Somerset Gouernour of our person and Protector of our Realmes dominions and subiects well harnessed and with good and conuenient weapon so that they do make their repaire hither vnto vs this night if it be possible or at the least to morow before noone and in the meane time to doe what as appertaineth vnto your duetie for ours and our sayd vncles defence against all such as attempt any conspiracie or enterprise of violence against vs our sayd Vncle as you knowe best for our preseruation and defence at thys present Geuen vnder our Signet at our Honor of Hampton Court the sixte of October the thirde yeare of oure raigne You shall farther geue credite to our trustie and welbeloued Owen Cleydon the bearer heereof in all such things as hee shall further declare vnto you
truth was layde so playne before al mens faces and the fact so notorious that immediately certaine of the bloudy murderers were committed to prison and shoulde no doubte haue suffered that they deserued had not the Cardinall by his authority practised for his Catholique Children The practise of Cardinall Wolsey for his clergie men at the suite o◠the Byshop of London Wherupon the Chauncellor by the kings pardon and secret shifting rather then by Gods pardon and his deseruing escaped and went as is sayd to Exeter c. Neuerthelesse though iustice tooke no place where fauour did saue yet because the innocent cause of Hunne should take no wrong the Parliament became suters vnto the kinges maiesty that whereas the goodes of the sayd Hunne were cōfiscate into the kinges hands that it would please his grace to make restitution of all the sayde goodes vnto the children of the sayd Hunne vpon which motion the king of his gracious disposition did not onely geue all the foresayde goodes vnto the foresayde children vnder his broade seale yet to be seene but also did sende out his warrantes which hereafter shall folow to those that were the cruell murderers commaunding them vpon his high displeasure to redeliuer all the sayd goodes and make restitution for the death of the sayde Richard Hunne all whyche goodes came to the summe of 1500. poundes sterling beside his plate and other Iewels ¶ The tenour of the kinges letter in the behalfe of Richard Hunne TRustye and well beloued we greete you well The kings letter for the restitution of Hunnes goods whereas by the complaynt to vs made as well as also in our high court of parliament on the behalfe and partye of Roger Whapplot of our city of London Draper and Margaret his wife late the daughter of Richard Hunne And wheras you were indicted by our lawes of and for the death of the said Richard Hunne the sayd murder cruelly cōmitted by you like as by our recordes more at large plainly it doth appeare about the 5. day of December in the sixt yeare of our raigne the same we abhorre neuerthelesse we of our espeall grace certayne science and mere motion pardoned you vpon certayne considerations vs mouing for the intent that the goods of the sayd Richard Hunne the administration of them were committed to the said Roger Whapplot we then supposed and intended your amendement and restitution to be made by you to the infantes the children of the sayde Richard Hunne as well for hys death as for his goodes embeseled wasted and consumed by your tyranny and cruell acte so committed the same being of no little value and as hitherto ye haue made no recompence accordinge to our lawes as might stand with equity iustice right and good conscience and for this cause due satisfaction ought to be made by our lawes Wherefore we will and exhort otherwise charge and commaund you by the tenoure of this our especiall letters that ye satisfy and recompence the sayde Roger Whapplot the sayd Margaret his wife according to our lawes in this cause as it may stand with right and good conscience els otherwise at your further perill so that they shall haue no cause to returne vnto vs for theyr further remedy eftsoones in this behalf as ye in the same tender to auoyd our high displeasure otherwise that ye vpon the sight hereof to set all excuses apart and to repayre vnto our presence at which your hither comming you shal be further aduertised of our minde From our Manor c. Defence of Richard Hunne agaynst Syr Thomas Moore and Alen Cope I Doubte not but by these premisses thou hast Christyan reader sufficiently to vnderstand the whol discourse and storye of Richard Hunne frō top to toe Defence of Richard Hunne First how he came in trouble for denying the bearing sheete of his young infant departed then how he was forced for succour of hymselfe to sue a Premunire And thereupon what conspiracy of the Clergy was wrought agaynst him what snares were layd what fetches were practised and Articles deuised to snarle him in the trap of heresy so to imprison him Furthermore being in prison how he was secretly murthered after his murder hanged after his hanging condemned after his condemnation burned and after his burning lastly how his death was required by the Crowner and cleared by acquitall of the Inquest Moreouer how the case was brought into the Parliament and by the Parliament the kings precept obteined for restitutiō of his goods The debating of whiche tragicall and tumultuous story with all the braunches particular euidences of the same takē out aswell of the publique actes as of the Bishops registers speciall recordes remayning in the custodye of Dunstan Whapplot Ex publicis actis Ex archiuis et Regist. Lond. Three purposes considered the sonne of the daughter of the sayde Richarde Hunne there to be seene I thought here to vnwrap and discouer so much the more for three speciall purposes First as is requisite for testimony witnesse of truth falsely slaundered of innocency wrongfully condemned of the party cruelly oppressed The second cause moueth me for sir Thomas Moores Dialogues wherin he dallieth out the matter thinking to iest poore simple truth out of countenaunce The third cause which constrayneth me be the Dialogues of Alanus Copus which two the one in English the other in Latin rayling and barking agaynst Rich. Hunne do doublewise charge him both to be an herericke and also a desperate homicide of himselfe Which as it is false in the one so is it to be foūd as vntrue in the other if simple truth which hath few frendes and many times commeth in crafty handling might freely come in indifferent hearing Wherefore as I haue hitherto described the order and maner of his handling with the circumstaunces thereof Answere for Richard Hunne agaynst Syr Thomas More Knight in plaine and naked narration of story simply layd out before all mēs faces so something here to intermit in the defence as well of his oppressed cause as also in discharge of my selfe I will now compendeously aunswere to both these foresayde aduersaries stopping as it were with one bush two gappes and the mouthes also if I can of them both together Syr Thomas More hauing many good vertues but one great vice And first agaynst sir Thomas Moore albeit in degree worshipfull in place superiour in wit and learning singular if his iudgement in Christes matters had bene corespondent to the same otherwise being a man with many worthy ornamentes beautified yet being but a man one man I lay and obiect agaynst the person of him the persons and censures of 24. questmen The person of Syr Thomas More counteruayled the deposition of so many Iurates the iudgement of the Crowner the approbation of the Parliamēt and lastly the kings Bylassigned for restitution of his goodes with his owne broade Seale confirmed c. And thus much to
standing vpon the bolster by the Chauncellours Murrey gowne round the day after vpon the stockes the waxe candle fayre put out furthermore by the verdict of the inquest by the attestatioÌ„ of the witnesses sworne by the Crowners iudgement by the assent of the Parliament by the kynges Letters assigned and broade Seale of restitution of hys goodes and finally by the confession of the partyes themselues whiche murthered him c. and yet thinketh Cope to make men such fooles hauing theyr true wits to weene yet that Hunne did hange himselfe after so many demonstrations and euidences to the contrary as in euery parte of this storye may appeare And though it were as it was vnlike and hard for a man to beleue that D. Horsey a man of such age dignity and learning woulde so much forgette himselfe to attempt such a villany yet so great is the deuil sometimes with man where GOD permitteth that he worketh greater thinges then this and more vncredible For who would haue thought it like that Cain woulde euer haue killed Abell his owne naturall Brother whiche was more then a Byshoppes Chauncellour to kyll a Citizen yet so he did Manifest vntruth in Cope And where Cope pretendeth the causes of anger and desperation whereby Hunne did hang hymselfe how is it like or who did euer heare An other vntruth noted in Cope a man beinge in such extremity of desperation to stand first trimming himselfe and kemming hys head before he goe to hang himselfe No lesse credite is also to be geuen to that whiche followeth in the same Cope where he sayth that Richard Hunne being in prison was conuict of heresye By the which word conuict if he meane that Hunne was proued an heretique that is false for that he being at Fulham examined vpon certâ—yne Articles both denyed the Articles to be true as they were obiected and also if they were true yet he submitted himselfe to theyr fauourable correction and therefore not standing obstinately in the same coulde not be proued an heretique And if by this terme conuict he meane that he was by sentence cast so was Hunne neuer cast by any sentence for an heretique so long as he lyued but after his death when hee coulde nothing aunswere for himselfe Cope hudleth vp vntruthes And because this vntrueth should not goe wythout his felow see howe he hudleth vp one false narration in the necke of another affirming moreouer that Hunne was cast in prison An other vntruth noted in Cope before he entred his suite of Premunire agaynst the Priest Which is vtterly false and vntrue both disagreeing to other storyes and also refuted by the words of Syr Thomas Moore his owne authour who reporteth that Hunne insuing his Premunire agaynst the Priest being set vpon a glory of victorye made his boasting among his frendes that he trusted to haue the matter long spoken of and to be called Hunnes case Haec Morus Whereby it appeareth Tho. Morus Dial. Lib. 3. that Hunne was not then in prison clapt vp for heresy but was abroad seeking counsell among the Lawyers and boasting among his friendes as writeth More Lib. 3. Dial. After this heape of vntruthes aboue passed An other vntruth in Cope noted adde yet further an other copy of Copes false dealing who seeking all corners and euery where how to picke matter agaynst my former history chargeth me with arrogancy as though I tooke so highly vpon me to vndoe derogate the kinges acts and iudgements in the acquitall of D. Horsey If it so pleased the king to acquite D. Horsey by his gracious pardon I am not agaynst it neither do I deny but the king so did neyther do I say nor euer did but the king of his supereminent prerogatiue may so do wherein then do I vnrippe or loose the kinges actes here done concluded Answere to Copes cauilâ—tion But if the question be this whether D. Horsey with his coniurates did kill Richard Hunne or no then do I say that the pardon of the king doth not take away the veritye of the crime coÌ„mitted but remoueth away the penalty of the law deserued and so if the life of them was saued by way of pardon as M. Moore himselfe seemeth not to denye theÌ„ was it not through theyr innocency clayming iustice that they escaped but through petition standing neede of mercy For what needeth pardon where iustice absolueth yea who sueth pardon but in so doing must yeld himselfe guilty for pardon neuer commeth lightly eyther with God or man except the crime first be confessed Wherfore if they escaped by iustice as Cope pretendeth The escaping of Horsey came rather of fauour then of his demerites how then doth M. Moore say they were saued by pardon And if they escaped by pardon how then doth Cope say they were not guilty And be it admitted that the sentence of the kinges Attorney in the kinges name did absolue them as vnguiltye according as the king was then informed by the Cardinall and suite of frendes yet afterwarde the king being better informed by the Parliament and the truth better knowne detested and abhorred their fact and yet continued his pardon vnto theÌ„ as by the kings owne actes and his broad seale appeared yet remayning in recordes to be seene And as touching my former historyes set soth in latine and in English which speake first of the foremanne of the quest then of the kinges Attorney to be labored with some giftes or mony as Cope hath yet proued no vntruth in my saying so lesse can he finde any repugnaunce or disagreeing in the same For he that speaketh of bribing first of one person and then afterward of another where both might be bribed together is not contrary I thinke to himselfe but rather doth comprehend that in the one booke whiche he before leaueth out in the other and yet no great repugnaÌ„ce either in the one or in the other seing y t which is sayd may be verified in both as it is no other like but in this matter it was For how is it otherwise like or possible but that there must nedes be found some priuy packing in this matter seeing after such euidence found and brought in by the Crowners inquest and Iury of 24. chosen persons after so many marks and tokens of the murder so cleare and demonstrable and layd forth so playne to the eies of all the world that no manne coulde deny or not see the same yet through the handling of the foresayde Attorney and of the foreman of the quest the murderers were borne out confessed to be no murderers If such bolstring out of matters and parciality were then suche a rare case in the Realme of England in the time of Cardinal Wolsey who then vnder the king and in the kinges name did what he list then let it seeme vntrue in my former stories that I haue writteÌ„ And yet the words of my story which Cope carpeth at so much
sayd one of them men speak much of the Sacrament of the aulter but this will I bide by Fol. 32. that vpō share-thursday Christ brake bread vnto his disciples and bad thē eate it saying it was his flesh and bloud And then he wēt from them and suffered passion and then he rose frō death to life and ascended into heauen and there sitteth on the right hande of the father and there hee is to come vnto the day of dome when he shal iudge both quick and dead And therefore how he shoulde be here in the forme of breade he sayd they could not see Such reasons and allegations as these and other lyke taken out of the scripture and out of the Shepheards Kalender Wickliffes wicket and out of other bookes they had amongest them And although there was no learned man with them to ground them in theyr doctrine yet they conferring and communing together among themselues dyd conuert one another the Lordes hand working with them maruellously So that in short space The Bishop complayneth to the kyng the number of these Knowne or Iust fast men as they were then termed did exceedinly increase in such sort that the Byshop seyng the matter almost past his power was driuen to make his cōplaynt to the king and required his ayde for suppression of these men Wherupon king Henry being then young vnexpert in the bloudy practises and blind leadings of these apostolicall prelats incensed with his suggestions and cruell complayntes directed down letters to his Shirifs bailifs officers subiectes for the ayd of the bishop in this behalfe the tenor of which letters here ensueth ¶ The copy of the kinges letter for the ayde of Iohn Longland B. of Lincolne agaynst the seruauntes of Christ falsely then called heretickes HEnry the 8. by the grace of God king of England of Fraūce Lord of Ireland defender of the fayth to all Mayors Shyriffes Bayliffes and Constables and to all other our Officers Ministers and Subiectes these our letters hearing or seeing and to euery of them greeting For as muche as the right reuerend father in God our trusty and right welbeloued Counsellour the Bishop of Lyncolne hath now within his Dioces no small number of hereticks as it is thought to his no little discomfort and heauines We therfore being in will and minde safely to prouide for the sayde right reuerend father in God and his officers that they ne none of thē shall bodily be hurt or damaged hy any of the sayde heretickes or theyr fautours The copie of the kings letter in the executing and ministring of Iustice vnto the sayd hereticks accordingly to the lawes of holy church do straitly charge and commaund you and euery of you as ye tender our hie displeasure to be ayding helping and assisting the sayd right reuerend Father in God and his sayde officers in the executing of Iustice in the premisses as they or any of them shal require you so to do not fayling to accomplishe our commandement pleasure in the premisses as ye entend to please vs and will aunswere to the contrary at your vttermost perils Yeuen vnder our signet at our castle of Wyndsour the 20. day of October the 13. yeare of our raign The bishop thus being armed no lesse with the authority of the kinges letter then incited with his owne fiercenes forslacked no time but eftsoones to accōplish his moody violence vpon the poore flock of Christ called before him sitting vpon his tribunall seat both these aforenamed persons and all other in his dioces which were neuer so little noted or suspected to incline toward those opiniōs of whō to such as had but newly bene taken and had not before abiured he inioyned most strayght rigorous penance The other in whō he could find any relaps yea albeit they submitted themselues neuer so humbly to his fauourable curtesy The cruell falsehoode of Byshop Longland and though also at his request and for hope of pardō they had shewed thēselues great detecters of their brethrē being moreouer of him feed and flattered therunto yet not withstanding contrary to his fayre wordes their expectation he spared not but read sentēce of relaps against thē comitting them to the secular arme to be burned And first as touching them who being brought to abiuration were put to theyr penaunce long it were to recite the names of all Certayne I thought to recite here in a catalogue first reciting the persons afterward the rigorous penaunce to them enioyned The names of them which were abiured in the Dioces of Lincolne the yeare of our Lord. 1521. William Colyns Ioh Colyns Ioane Colyns Rob Colyns Ioh. Hackar Ioh. Brabant the father Ioh. Brabant his sonne Ioh. Brabāt the yonger sonne Iohn Edmonds Edward Pope Henry Phip Ioh. Steuenton Ioane Steuenton Rob Bartlet Tho. Clerke Ioh. Clerke Rich. Bartlet William Phip Ioh. Phip Tho. Couper Wil. Littlepage Ioh. Litlepage Ione Litlepage Ioh. Say Ioh. Frier Rich. Vulford Tho. Tredway Wil. Gudgame Roger Heron. Fraunces Funge Rob. Pope Roger Dods Iohn Harris Rob. Bruges Iohn Stampe Ione Stampe Rich. White Bennet Ward Iohn Baker Agnes Wellis Marian Morden Isabell Morwin Io. Butler Io. Butler y e yōger R. Carder Rich. Bernard Ione Bernerd Io. Grace Io. French Ioh. Edings The townes and villages and countryes where these foresayd persons did inhabite are named chiefely to be these Amersham The names of the towns where they dwelled Chesham Hychenden Missenden the great Missenden the lesse Easthendred Westhendred Asthall Bekensfield Denham Gyng Betterton Cherney Stanlake Claufield Walton Marlow Dorney Iuer Burton Vxbridge Owburne Henley Wycame Westwycame Newbery Burford Wytney Hungerford Vpton Wynsore London Colmonstreet in Lō Chepeside in Londō Shordich by London S. Gyles in London Essex Suffolke Northfolke Norwich The bookes opiniōs which these were charged with all for the which they were abiured partly are before expressed partly here folow in a briefe summary to be seene ¶ A briefe summe of theyr opinions Ex Regist. Fol. 32. THe opinions of many of these persons were that he or she neuer beleued in the Sacrament of the aulter nor euer would and that it was not as men did take it Ibid. For that he was knowne of his neghbor to be a good felow meaning that he was a knowne man Fol. 33. For saying that he would geue 40. pence in cōditiō that such a one knew so much as he did know Fol. 34. Some for saying y t they of Amershā which had bene abiured before by Bishop Smyth were good men perfect Christians simple folk which could not answere for thēselues therefore were oppressed by power of the bishop Some for hiding other in theyr barnes Ibid. Some for reading the Scriptures or treatises of Scripture in English some for hearing the same read Some for defending some for marying with thē whiche had bene abiured Fol. 36. Some for saying that matrimony was not a
of late he was a shoomaker Wherby the Iudge vnderstanding that he had bene of some other faculty before required what it was He sayd Priests craf◠a vyle and a filthy acte that he had bene of another faculty before but he was ashamed to vtter it or to remember it being the worst most vilest science of all other in the whole world besides The iudge and the people supposing that he had ben some thief or cutpurse inquired to know what it was but he for shame and sorow stopped his mouth would not declare it At last through theyr importunate clamor he was constrayned to declare the truth sayd that he had bene a priest The iudge therupon was so moued y t he cōdemned him first enioyning him in his cōdemnation to aske the king forgeuenes then iudged him to haue his tongue cut out and so to be burned Frō this sentence he appealed to the parliament of Tolouse not for that he thought therby to saue his life but because he was enioined to aske the king forgeuenes whom he had neuer offended Also because he was iudged to haue his toung cut of wherewith he would prayse his God Notwithstanding by the sentence of that parliament he was likewise condēned to be burnt onely he was pardoned for asking forgeuenes of the king and the cutting of his tongue so that he would say nothing agaynst theyr religion As he went to burning he passed by the college of S. Martial where he was bid to honor the picture of the virgine standing at the gate Which because he refused the Iudge commaunded his toung to be cut of so being put to the fire he stood so quiet looking vp to heauen all the time of his burning as though he had felt nothing bringing such admiration to the people that one of the Parliament said Constancie notable that way not to be best to bring the Lutherans to the fire for that would do more hurt then good Ex Ioan. Crisp. The gouernor of Marches Steuen king Petrus Denocheus At Chartres An. 1553. Steuen king after he had bene at Strausburgh a while returned again into his coūtry Steuen kyng dwelling in atown bearyng the name of S. George Peter Denoche martyrs not far frō Chaustors where hee serued in the place of a notary and had vnder him a Clearke named Peter Denoche who also had bene at Geneua was there zelous in instructing the ignorant rebuking blasphemous swearers and other offenders These two were not long together but they were suspected both of Lutheranisme and so were apprehended by the gouernor of the Marches or Marshall and so were caried to Chartres where after the constant confession vpon theyr examination made they were enclosed in prison and there susteined long tedious endurance During the which meane time Steuen king made many worthy songes and sonets in the prayse of the Lord whereby to recreate his spirite in that dolefull captiuity At length when after long perswasions fayre promises of the Bishop and of other they could not be reuoked from the doctrine of theyr confession they were condemned From that condēnation they appealed to the Court of Paris But the Councell there confirming theyr former sentence returned thē agayne to Chartres from whence they came where they were both executed with cruell punishment of fire Ex hist. Gallic per Ioan Crisp. Priestes of Burges Antonius Magnus or Magnaeus At Paris An. 1554. Antonius Magne was sent by the fiue which were in prison at Lyons aboue mentioned and by other also that were in captiuity at Paris vnto Geneua to commende them to theyr prayers vnto GOD for them Who after certayne busines there dispatched returned agayne into Fraunce there within 3. houres of his comming was betrayed and taken by certayne Priestes at Burges and there deliuered by the said priestes vnto the Officiall After a fewe dayes the kinges Iustices tooke him from the Official and sent him to Paris where after greate rebukes and tormentes he suffered in the prisō and firmely persisting in the profession of the trueth by theyr capital sentence was adiudged to haue his tongue cut out so was burned at Mulbert place in Paris Ex Ioan. Crisp. False brethren William Alēcon bookeseller William Alencon martyr A sherman martyr A certayne sherman At Montpelliers An. 1554. This Alencon did much good in the prouinces of Fraunce by carying bookes Comming to Montpelliers he was there circumuented by false brethrē detected and layde in prison In his fayth he was firme and constāt to the end of his Martirdome being burned the 7. of Ianuary 1554. There was the same time at Montpelliers a certayne sherman or clothworker who had bene long in duraunce for religion but at length for feare and infirmity he reuolted To whom it was enioyned by the Iudges to make publicke recantation and to be present also at the burning of Alencō aforesayd At the beholding of whose death and cōstancy it pleased God to strike into this man suche boldenesse that he desired the Iudges that either he might burne with this Alencon or els be brought againe into prison saying that he would make no other recantation but so Wherefore within three dayes after he was likewise condēned to the fire and burned in the towne aforesayde Ex Ioan Crisp.  Paris Panier martyr Paris Panier a Lawyer At Dola An. 1554. At Dola was beheaded a good godlye Lawyer named Paris Panier for constant standing to the gospell of Christ. an 1554. Ex Pantal.  Peter du Val. martyr Peter du Val shoomaker At Nismes An. 1554. At Newmans in Delphinate Peter du Val susteined sore and grieuous rackinges tormentes wherewyth hys body being broken dissolued and maymed yet he notwithstanding manfully abiding all theyr extremity would name and vtter none Then was he had to the fire there consumed ann 1554. Ex Ioan. Crisp. Gilles le Pers Lieuetenaunt for the marshall of S. Andrew Iohn Filieul Iulian Leuille martyrs and Inquisitour for the prouince of Borbon Ioh. Bergeronius an other Inquisitor or counseller Ioannes Filieul or Filiolus Carpenter Iulianus Leuille poyntmaker At Sanserre An. 1554. These two blessed and constant martyrs as they were goyng toward Geneua wyth one of their sonnes and a daughter were apprehended by Gilles le Pers who in the way ouertaking them and most wickedly Iudaslye pretendinge great fauour to them and to theyr religion which he as he sayde supposed them to be of with these and manye other faire wordes circumuented and allured them to confesse what was theyr fayth whither they wēt with theyr children and also that theyr wiues were at Geneua When they had declared this the wretched Traytour gaue a signe to hys horsemen and so were these simple sayntes of Christ intrapped and brought to the Castle of Niuerne Beyng in Prison they were examined of many thinges whereunto they aunswered vprightly accordinge to theyr fayth
iugum imponere c. And albeit the ministers of the church of Rome and the pope were not called to the institution of the foresayd churche of Geneua yet it followeth not therfore that there was no lawful order obserued eyther in stablishing that Churche or any other The Fryer Baptisme in the popes church no necessary cause to folow all the Popes errours You were first baptised in the Church of y e Pope were ye not The Martyr I graunt I was but yet that nothing hindereth the grace of God but hee may renouate and call to further knowledge whom he pleaseth A Counseller I would wishe you not to sticke to your owne wisedome and opinion Ye see the Churches in Germany how they dissent one from an other So that if you should not submit your iudgement to the authoritie of the Generall Councels Agreement in the principall pointes of doctrine in the churches reformed euery day you should haue a new Christianitie The Martyr To mine owne wisedome I do not sticke nor euer will but onely to that wisedome whiche is in Christ Iesu although the world doth accompt it foolishnes And where ye say that the churches of Germanie dissent among themselues one from an other that is not so for they accorde in one agreement altogether touching the foundation and principall groundes of Christian fayth Neyther is there anye such feare that euery day should ryse vp a new christianitie vnles the church be ballanced with authoritie of the councels as you pretend For so we read in the profite Dauid psal 33. and in other places of scripture moe Psal. 33. that the Counsels of the nations and people shal be ouerthrowne and subuerted of the Lorde c. Wherefore the best is that we follow the councell of God and hys word and preferre the authoritie therof before all other counsels and iudgementes of meÌ„ And thus doyng Paruus Christianismus potior populoso Papatu I for my part had rather dwel and settle my selfe in this litle Christianitie be it neuer so small then in that populous Papalitie be it neuer so great in multitude And thus was this godly Feurus commaunded agayne by the Deputye to the Bishops prison and from thence shortly after remoued to Lions not by the open and beaten waye but by secret and priuy iournyes least perhaps he should be taken from theÌ„ agayne as he was before The martyrdome of Richard Feurus An Inquisitour monk Nicholas du Chesne At Gry by Bezanson Ann. 1554 The cause and occasion why this Nicolas came in trouble Nicholas Chesne martyr was for that he goyng from LausaÌ„na where he abode for hys conscience to fette hys sister her husband certayne other of hys friendes as hee went from Bezanson toward the towne of Gry did not homage to a certayne crosse in the way where a certayne monke which was an inquisitour False dealing in a papist ouertook him and therby suspected him He was guyded by the same monk craftily disseÌ„bling hys religion to a lodgyng in Gry where the Iustice of the place comming in incontinent took him Nicholas seing how hee was by y e monke his conductor betrayed O false traytor sayd he hast thou thus betrayed me Then after examination he was condeÌ„ned Being caryed to the place of martyrdome by y e way he was promised that if he would knele down and heare a masse he should be let go as a passenger But Nicolas armed with perseuerance sayde hee would rather dye then commit such an act Who calling vpon the name of the Lord tooke his death paciently Ex Crisp. Lib 6. The seniors or Lords of Estnay and of Ciguongnes dwelling by the towne of Machenoir Denys Barbes Counsellour of Bloys Iohn Bertrand a foâ—â—er or keeper of the forest of Marchenoir At Bloys Ann. 1556. Iohn Bertrand martyr For the religion gospell of Christ thys Iohn was apprehended by these persecuters here specified and led bounde to Bloys where he was examined by Denys y e counseller of diuers points as whether he had spokeÌ„ at any time against God agaynst y e church the he sayntes the she saynts of Paradise Wherunto he sayd no. Item whether at any time hee had called the masse abhominable whiche hee graunted for that hee finding no masse in all the Stripture was commanded by S. Paule That if an angell from heaueÌ„ would bring anye other gospell beside that whiche was already receiued he shuld account it accursed After his condemnation they woulde haue hym to be confessed and presented to him a crosse to kisse But he bad the Fryers with theyr crosse depart That is not the crosse sayd he that I must cary Entring into y e cart before the multitude he gaue thanks to God that he was not there for murther theft or blasphemye but onely for the quarrell of our sauiour Being tyed to the post he sang the 25. psalme Of age he was yong his countenaunce was exceeding chearfull amiable his eyes looking vp to heauen O the happy iourny sayd he seeing the place where he should suffer the fayre place that is prepared for me When the fire was kindled about them O Lord cryed he geue thy hand to thy seruaunt I recommend my soule vnto thee and so meekly yelded vp his spirite Whose pacient and ioyfull constancye so astonyed the people that of long tyme before nothing did seeme to them so admirable Ex Gallic hist. per. Crisp. Lib. 6. A brother in lawe of this Peter Peter Rouseau An. 1556. Peter Rousseau martir Peter Rousseau comming from Geneua and Lausanna to hys countrey partlye to communicate wyth certayne of hys acquayntaunce in the word of God partlye for other certayn affayres because hee required hys inheritaunce of hys brother in law was by him betrayed Then being constant in his confession which he offered vp he was put to the racke three tymes which he suffered constantly with great tormentes Afterward he had hys tongue cut of and a balle of yron put in hys mouth He was draweÌ„ vpon a hurdle Crueltie al broken and maymed to the fire where he was lifted vp into the ayre and let downe three tymes And when he was halfe burned the balle fell from hys mouth and he with a loud voyce called on the name of GOD saying Iesus Christ assiste me And so thys blessed Martyr gaue vp hys life to God Ex Ioan Crisp. Antony de Lescure the kinges attourney Arnauld Moniere Iohn de Cazes At Bordeaux An. 1556. After that Arnald Moniere was taken and examined of the Iustice and so was layde in prison Iohn de Cazes resorting to the same town of Burdeaux Arnauld Moniere Iohn de Cazes martyrs and hearing of hym and beyng admonished moreouer that if he went to him hee shoulde be appeached of heresie notwithstanding went to comforte him and so was also imprisoned After many examinations sentence was geuen vpon them to be burned When the tyme came of
which he woulde not haue knowen and doubting that the king should cast his fauour agayne vnto Pacie beganne wythin a while after to quarrell and pike matters and to lay certaine things to Pacies charge whereas hee rather shoulde haue cleared himselfe of those things whyche Pacie layd vnto him before the King which was contrary to all good forme and order of iustice Pacie commauÌ„ded to the towâ—r by the Cardinall Pacie discharged out of the tower For where the king had willed the Cardinall to try himselfe of those things which Pacie had rightly charged him wythall hee sittinge in iudgement with the Duke of Northfolke and other states of the Realme not as a defendent but as a Iudge in hys owne cause so bare out himselfe and weied downe Pacie that Pacie was commaunded to the tower of London as prisoner where he continued by the space of two yeares or thereabout and afterwarde by the kynges commaundement was discharged But he being there prisonner was therewyth so deadly wounded and strocken that hee fell woorse from his wittes then euer he was before beyng in such a phreuesie or lunasie that to hys dying day he neuer came perfectly to himselfe againe Notwythstanding thys in hym was no perpetuall frensie but came by fittes and when the fitte was past he coulde looke on his Booke and reason and talke handsomely but that nowe and then hee shewed his disease And thus muche betweene the Cardinall and Pacie By this storye of Pacie and also by other places aboue mentioned ye may partly conceiue how greedy this Cardinal was to be made pope Touching which matter here by the way somthing to entreat The Cardinalls labour to be Pope first is to be vnderstaÌ„ded that forsomuche as Pacie either woulde not or coulde not serue the Cardinals purpose herein he thought to accomplysh hys desire by other names and namely by Steuen Gardiner who was then shortly after sent Ambassadour to Rome by the king and the Cardinal in the time of pope Clement the 7. and that for two special causes one was about the diuorcement the other for promoting the Cardinall to be Pope As touchinge the diuorcemente we will speake the Lorde willing heereafter In the meane tyme as concerning the aduauncement of the Cardinall greate labour was made as in letters may appeare sent from the Cardinall to the sayd Steuen Gardinar in whych letters he did sollicite the sayd Gardinar by all meanes to pursue the sute willing hym to sticke for no coste Steuen Gardiner Ambassadour at Rome for the king and the Cardinall so farre as sixe or seuen thousand poundes woulde stretche for more hee sayd he would not geue for the triple crowne Marke here Christian Reader what an holye Catholycke Churche thys is whych rather may be called a Burse or Marte of Marchauntes ne quid dicam durius then any true fourme of a Church Manye both of hys and also of the kinges letters I coulde heere inserte but for growing of the volume I let them passe One for example sake sent by the Cardinall to Gardiner an other also from the king to the sayde Gardinar shall at this time suffice concerning this matter And first the Copie of the Cardinalles ambitious letter here in forme foloweth ¶ The copie of an ambitious letter wrytten by Thom. Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke vnto Stephen Gardiner one of king Henries Oratours in the Court of Rome for the procuring of the Papall dignitie to the sayd Cardinall MAister Stephen all be it ye shal be sufficiently with your Colleages by suche instructions as be geuen to Monsieur Vincent informed of the kings minde and mine concerning my aduauncement vnto the dignitye Papall not doubting but that for the singular deuotion A letter of the Cardinall to Sâ—euen Gardiner Lieger at Rome whych you beare towardes the kynge and hys affaires both generall and particular and perfect loue which ye haue towardes me ye wyll omit nothyng that may be excogitate to serue and conduce to that purpose yet I thought conuenient for the more feruent expression of my mind in that behalf to wryte vnto you as to the person whome I most entierlye doe trust and by whom thys thyng shal be most pithely sette foorthe these fewe wordes folowing of my owne hande I doubt not but ye do profoundly consider as well the state wherein the Church and all Christendom doth stand now presently as also the state of this Realme and of the kings secrete matter which if it should be broughte to passe Crafty pretenses to serue ambytious purposes by any other meanes then by the authoritye of the Churche I accompt this Prince and Realme vtterlye vndone Wherfore it is expedient to haue such a one to be Pope and common father of all Princes as maye can and will geue remedye to the premisses And albeit I accompt my selfe muche vnhable and that it shal be now incommodious in thys myne old age to be the sayde common father yet when all thyngs be well pondered and the qualities of all the Cardinalles well considered Absit verbum iactantiae there shal be none found that can and will set remedye in the foresayde thynges but onely the Cardinall of Yorke O fayned hypocrisie Belike the Cardinall here lacketh good neighbors seing he is coÌ„pelled to praise himselfe You may long say so before we will be 〈◊〉 you whose good will and zeale is not to you of all men vnknown And were it not for the reintegration of the state of the Churche and sea Apostolicke to the pristine dignitie and for the conducing of peace amongst Christian princes and specially to relieue this Prince realme from the calamityes that the same be nowe in all the riches or honour of the worlde shoulde not cause me Ne dum aspirare sed ne consentire to accept the sayd dignitie althoughe the same with all commodities were offered vnto me Neuerthelesse conformyng my selfe to the necessitie of the tyme and the wiil and pleasure of these two Princes I am coÌ„tent to appone all my witte and study and to set forth all meanes and wayes Vt bene faciam rebus Christianitatis for the atteyning of the sayd dignitie For the atchieuyng and atteyning wherof for as much as thereupon dependeth the health and wealth not onely of these two Princes and their Realmes but of all Christendome nothyng is to be omitted that may conduce to the sayd ende and purpose Wherefore M. Stephen since you be so playnly aduertised of my mynde and intent I shall pray you to extend Omnes neruos ingenij tui vt ista res ad effectuÌ„ produci possit nullis parcendo sumptibus pollicitationibus siue laboribus ita vt hominuÌ„ videris ingenia affectiones siue ad priuata siue ad publica sic accommodes actiones tuas Non deest tibi collegis tuis amplissima potestas nullis terminis aut conditionibus limitata seu restricta quicquid feceris scito omnia apud hunc
to his mercifull goodnes Of which diuorcement and suppressing of the Popes authority we haue likewise to make declaration But first as we haue begun with the Cardinall of Yorke so we will make an ende of him That done we will God willing addresse our selfe to other matters of more importance As the ambassadours were thus trauailing in Rome to promote the Cardinall to be Pope althoughe the Pope was not yet dead in the meane time the Cardinall played the Popish persecuter here at home Fryer Barnes with two Marchantes of the Stilliard caused by the Cardinal to beare fagots For first hee sitting in his Pontificalibus in the Cathedrall Churche of Paules vnder his cloth of estate of rich cloth of golde caused Frier Barnes an Augustine Frier to beare a fagot for certayne poyntes which he called heresie Also hee caused the same two marchants of the stilliarde likewise to beare fagottes for eating fleshe on a friday At the which time the Byshop of Rochester made a sermon in reproofe of M. Luther who had before wrytten agaynst the power of the B. of Rome This bishop in his sermon spake so muche of the honoure of the Pope and his Cardinals and of their dignitie and preeminence that he forgate to speake of the Gospel which he tooke in hande to declare which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1526. Anno. 1528. After this the said Cardinall likewise An. 1528. and in the moneth of Nouemb. sitting at Westminster as legate called before him the whole Cleargie and there promysed that all abusions of the church shuld be amended but there nothing els was done saue onely he caused to be abiured Arthur Bilney Geffrey Lome and Garret for speakinge against the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride Of whome more shal be sayd the Lord assisting vs hereafter And this was An. 1528. Anno 1529 The yeare next following which was An. 1529. began the question of the kings mariage to be reuiued Wherupon Cardinal Campegius was sent againe into Englande from Rome The occasion of the Cardinalls fall for the hearing and debating of the matter Who then with Cardinall Wolsey consulting with y e king although at first he seemed with his felow Cardinal to incline to the kings disposition yet afterward perceiuing the sequele of the case whether it tended so farre as peraduenture might be the occasion of a blot to the court of Rome The cause of the kinges mariage with his brothers wife was daÌ„gerous to the Pope for this For if it were vnlawfull then the dispensation of Pope Iuly was voyde If it were lawfull then the iudgementes of so manye vniuersities were false and might shake perhaps the chaire of the Popes omnipotent authoritie as wel in other cases like if this one case were throughly decided by learning and trueth of Gods word he therefore slipping his necke out of the collar craftily shifted him selfe out of the Realme before the day came appoynted for determination leauing his suttle felowe behinde him to wey with the king in the meane time while the matter might be brought vp to the court of Rome The king thus seeing himselfe disappoynted foded wyth false promises and craftily doubled withal by the Cardinalles and at last after so many delaies and long expectation nothing to be concluded was sore agreeued in his mind with them but especially with Cardinall Wolsey whom he had before so highly exalted and promoted to so many greate dignities as to the Archbishoprike of York the bishoprike of Winchester The king deluded by the two Cardinalls of Duresme the abby of S. Albons besides the Chancelorship of England and many other high roumes preferments in the realme which caused him clearly to cast him out of his fauour so that after that time he neuer came more to the kings presence Ex Hallo Then folowed first a counsaile of the nobles called the first of Octob. A Counsaile of the Nobles called During the which counsaile all the Lordes and other the kings Counsaile agreeing together resorted to Windsore to the king and there informed the king that all things which he had done almost by his power LegaÌ„tine were in the case of the Premunire and prouision and that the Cardinall had forfaited all his lands The Cardinall cast in the Premunire tenements goods and cattels to the king wherefore the king willing order to him according to the order of his lawes caused his attourney Christopher Hales to sue out a Wryt of Premunire against him in the which he licenced hym to make an Attourney And further the 17. day of Nouember hee sent the two Dukes of Norffolke Suffolke The Cardinall depriued of the Câ—auncellourship to his place at Westminster to fetch away the great Seale of England whyche he was lothe to deliuer if there had bene any remedie but in conclusion he deliuered it to the two Dukes which deliuered the same to Doctor Tailour Maister of the Rolles to carie it to the king which so did the next day Besides this the king sent Syr William Fitzwilliams Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of his house and doctor Steuen Gardiner newly made Secretary to see that no goodes should be embesiled oute of his house Steuen Gardiner the kinges secretarye and further ordeined y t the Cardinal should remoue to Asher beside Kingston there to tary the kings pleasure and to haue all things deliuered to hym which were necessary for him but not after his olde pompous and superfluous fashyon for all hys goodes were seased to the kinges vse When the Seale was thus taken from the Cardinall The Cardinalls goods seased to the king the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke wyth many Earles Byshops and Barons came into the Starre chamber the xix day of October where the Duke of Norffolke declared that the kings highnesse for diuers and sundry offences had taken from hym his great Seale and deposed him of all offices and lest men might complaine for lacke of iustice he had apointed him and the Duke of Suffolke with the assent of the other Lordes to sitte in the Starre chamber to heare and determine causes indifferently and that of all thyngs the kings pleasure and commaundement was that they should keepe their hands close from any rewards taking or maintenance and so that weeke they sate in the Starre chamber and determined causes The Cardinalls remouing from Yorke place A fewe dayes after in the same moneth the Cardinall remooued out of hys house called Yorke place wyth â—ne Crosse saying that he woulde he had neuer borne more meaning that by his crosse that which he bare as Legate which degree taking was hys confusion as you see openly and so hee tooke his barge and went to Pueney by water and there tooke his horse and roade to Asher where he remained till Lent after During which time hee being called on for an aunswere in the kings Bench to the Premunire for geuing
children then are they not the foure hundreth person in nuÌ„ber One part therefore in foure hundreth partes deuyded were to much for them except they did labor What an vnequall burtheÌ„ is it that they haue halfe with the multitude and are not the foure hundreth person of theyr number What toung is able to tell that euer there was any commoÌ„ wealth so sore oppressed since the world first began And what doth all this greedy sort of sturdy idle holy theeues with these yearely exactions that they take of the people Truly nothing but exempt themselues from the obedience of your grace Nothing but traslate all rule power Lordship authority obedience and dignity from your grace vnto theÌ„ Nothing but that al your subiectes should fall into disobedience and rebellion against your grace and be vnder theÌ„ as they did vnto your noble predecessor king Iohn which for because that he would haue punished certayne traytors that had conspired with the French kyng The rule of 〈◊〉 empaâ—red by the Popes Clergye to haue deposed him from his crowne and dignity among the which a Clerke called Stephen whom afterward agaynst the kinges will the Pope made Bishop of Caunterbury was one interdited his land For the which matter your most noble realm wroÌ„gfully alas for shame hath stand tributary not vnto any kinde of temporal prince but vnto a cruell deuilish bloudsupper dronkeÌ„ in the bloud of the Sayntes and Martyrs of Christ euer since Here were an holy sort of Prelates that thus cruelly could punish such a righteous king al his realme and succession for doing right Here were a charitable sort of holy men that could thus interdite a whole Realme plucke away the obedience of the people from their naturall liege Lord and king for none other cause but for his righteousnes Here were a blessed sort not of meeke heardes but of bloudsuppers that could set the French king vpon such a righteous Prince to cause him to lose his crown and dignity to make effusioÌ„ of the bloud of his people vnles this good and blessed king of great compassion K. Iohn submitted himselfâ— vnto the Pope read before more fearing lamenting the shedding of the bloud of his people then the losse of his crowne and dignity agaynst all right and conscience had submitted himselfe vnto them O case most horrible that euer so noble a king realme and succession should thus be made to stoupe to such a sort of bloudsuppers Where was his sword power crowne dignity become wherby he might haue done iustice in this matter where was their obedience become that shoulde haue ben subiect vnder his high power in this matter Yea where was the obedience of all his subiectes become that for maintenance of the coÌ„mon wealth should haue holpen him manfully to haue resisted these bloudsuppers to y e sheding of theyr bloud was it not altogether by theyr policy translated from this good king vnto them Yea and what do they more Truly nothing If this be not true in the whole I would the greatest part were not suche but apply themselues by all the sleights they may to haue to do with euery mans wife euery mans daughter and euery mans mayde that cukoldry and baudry should reigne ouer al among your subiectes that no man should know his owne childe that theyr bastards might inherite the possessions of euery man to put the right begotten children cleare beside their inheritance in subuersion of all estates and godly order These be they that by their absteining from Mariage do let the generation of the people whereby all the Realme at length if it should be continued shal be made desert and inhabitable These be they that haue made an 100000. idle Whores in your realme 100000 idle whores made in England by the Popes Clergye which would haue gotten their liuing honestly in the sweat of their faces had not their superfluous riches illected them to vncleane lust and idlenes These be they that corrupt the whole generatioÌ„ of mankind in your Realme that catche the pockes of one woman and beare them to another that be burnt with one woman beare it to another that catch the lepry of one woman beare it to another Yea some one of them shall boast among his felowes that he hath medled with an C. women These be they y t when they haue once drawne mens wiues to such incontinency speÌ„d away theyr husbands goodes make the women to runne away from theyr husbandes yea run away themselues both with wife and goods bringing both man wife and children to idlenes theft and beggery Yea who is able to nuÌ„ber the great and broad bottomles Occeane Sea full of euils that this mischieuous and sinfull generation may lawfully bring vpon vs vnpunished Where is your sworde power crowne and dignitye become that shoulde punish by punishment of death euen as other men are punished the felonyes rapes murthers and treasons coÌ„mitted by this sinnefull generatioÌ„ Where is theyr obedience become that should be vnder your high power in this matter It is not altogether translated and exempt from your grace vnto them Yes cruely * The realme of England is diminished decaied by the nuÌ„ber of 200000 persons at least or els replenished with so many whores whoremaisters by restraining of mariage froÌ„ priesteâ— Monkes Friers NuÌ„nes Colleges Hospitalles BeadmeÌ„ such like orders within the realm of England The increase of which nuÌ„ber might be recouered and the realme more peopled and also Gods Commaundements better kepte if these vowes of bondage were broken matrimony permitted free to all men What an infinite nuÌ„ber of people might haue bene increased to haue peopled the Realme if this sort of folke had bene maryed like other men What breach of matrimony is there brought in by them such truly as was neuer since the world began among the whole multitude of the HeatheÌ„ Who is she that will set her handes to worke to get 3. d. a day and may haue at least 20. d. a day to sleepe an houre wyth a Frier a Monke or a Priest What is he that would labor for a groat a day and may haue at least 12. d. a day to be baude to a Priest a Monke or a Frier What a sort are there of them that mary Priests soueraigne Ladyes but to cloake the Priestes incontinency and that they may haue a liuing of the Priestes theÌ„selues for theyr labor Priestes and Doues make foule houses How many M. doth such lubricity bring to beggery thefte and idlenes which should haue kept their good name haue set themselues to worke had not beene this excessiue treasure of the spiritualitye what honest man dare take any man or woman into his seruice that hath beene at such a schoole with a spiritual man Oh the greeuous shypwracke of the common wealth The Popes clergy a shipwracke to all common wealthes which in auncient tyme before the comming of these rauenous
christen man his highnes therfore like a most gracious christian Prince onely entending the sauegarde of this his realme the preseruation of his subiectes and saluation of their soules willeth to put now in execution with all diligence possible all good lawes statutes and ordinaunces concerning the premisses before this time prouyded made and ordeyned by hys most noble progenitors kings of England for that purpose entent Which lawes and statutes by our soueraigne Lorde and hys most honourable counsaile by long and deliberate aduise for the extirpation suppressyng withstanding of the sayd heresies haue bene seene examined by them in euery part thought good necessary to be put in execution Wherefore his highnesse chargeth and straightly commauÌ„deth all and euery his Lordes spirituall and temporal Iudges Iustices of peace Shiriffes Mayors Baylifs Constables and all other hys Officers Ministers and all his true and louing subiectes that all fauour affection and partialitie layd apart they effectually with all diligence and study endeuour themselues substantially for the executing of al and euery of the articles hereafter ensuyng without dissimulation intermission or excuse as they wil auoide hys high indignation and displeasure First that no man within the kinges realme or other his domynions subiect to his highnes hereafter presume to preach teache or informe any thing openly or priuily or coÌ„pile and write anye booke or hold exercise or kepe any assembles or schooles in any maner of wise contrary to the Catholike faith or determinatyon of holy church nor that any person within this his sayd realme domininions do presume to preach openly or secretly withoute they haue first obtained liceÌ„ce of the Bishop of the diocesse where they entend to preach curates in their parishes persons priuiledged and other by the law of the church onely except Also that no maÌ„ wittingly hereafter fauour support or maintain any person which preacheth in forme aforesayd or maketh anye such or like conuenticles and assembles holdeth or exerciseth any schooles maketh writeth or publisheth anye suche booke teacheth infourmeth or stirreth the people or any of them in anye maner of forme to the said errours Moreouer that al euery person and persons hauing any bookes or writinges of any suche errors erroneous doctryne and opinion do deliuer or cause to bee deliuered effectually and actually all and euerye such bookes and writings to the Bishoppes of the dioces or to the ordinary of the place within 15 daies after this proclamation pronounced And in case any person or persons of what estate condition or degree soeuer they be do or attempt any thing contrary to this Act and proclamation or doe not deliuer or cause to bee deliuered suche bookes within the time aforesaid that euery bishop in his dioces or ordinary shal cause that person or persons and euery of them to be arested in that behalfe diffamed or euidently suspected and detayne kepe theÌ„ vnder safe custody in their persons Penâ—ltye vntil such time that the said persons euery of theÌ„ either haue purged theÌ„selues of the said errors or els do abiure the said erròneous sects preachings doctrines or opinions as the law of holye Churche doth require Furthermore if any person by the law of holy Church be coÌ„uicted before the bishop of the dioces or his CoÌ„missary in any case aboue expressed that the said Bishop may kepe in prison the sayd person or persons so conuicted as it shal seeme best to his discretioÌ„ after the greuousnes or qualitie of the crime and further may set a fine to be paid to the behoufe of the king by the persoÌ„ or persons conuicted as it shal bee thought conuenient to the saide Byshop hauing respect to the greuousnes of the effence of the sayde persoÌ„ or persoÌ„s the said fine to be certified by the Bishop into the kings Eschequer ther to be leuied to the kings vse except in such cases in which by the lawes of holy church the said persons conuict of heresies ought totally to be left to the secular iurisdictioÌ„ Also if any person within this his realme of England or other his dominions be by sentence iudicial conuicted of the said preaching and doctrines prohibited erroneous opinions schooles informations or any of them and before the Bishop or his Commissary do abiure according to the fourme of the lawes of holye churche the foresaid erroneous sectes doctrines schooles or informatioÌ„s or els be pronounced by the bishops or their coÌ„missaries after their abiuration by theÌ„ before made to bee relapsed so that after the lawes of holy church they ought to be relinquished to the iurisdiction secular wherin faith is to be geuen to the Bysh. or his CoÌ„missaries in that behalf then the Shiriffe of the CouÌ„tie Maior Shirifes or Maior and Baylifes of the same citie towne or borough next vnto the said Bishop or Commissaries shal bee personally present in the sentence geuing by the said Bishop or CoÌ„missaries thereunto required and after the said sentence geueÌ„ shal receiue the said persons and euerye of them and put them to further excution according to the lawes of this realme Also the Chauncellor treasurer of England the Iustice of the one Bench and the other Iustices of peace Shirifes Maiors and Bayliffes of cities and townes and other Officers hauing gouernance of the people which now be or for the time hereafter shall be shal make othe in taking their charge and ministration to put their whole power and diligence to put away and to make vtterly to cease and destroy all maner of heresies and errours coÌ„monly called Lollardies within the precinctes of their offices and administrations from time to time with all their power Also they shal assist the Bishoppes and their Commissaries and them shall fauour and mayntaine as oftentymes as that to do they or any of them shal be required by the said Byshops or their commissaries so that the Bishops or their commissaries shall beare pay the reasonable costes of the said officers and ministers when and as often as they shall trauaile or ryde to arrest heretickes and Lollardes or to assist the said Bishops or Commissaries by vertue of the kings lawes and statutes Moreouer the Iustices of the kings Bench Iustices of peace and Iustices of Assise shal inquire at their Sessions and sittings of all those that holde any errours or heresies and who be their mayntainers receptors fauourers and supporters common wryters of bookes as also of their sermons schooles conuenticles congregations confederacies Furthermore if any person be endicted of any of the poynts abouesayd the Iustices of the peace haue power to awarde agaynst them Acapias and the shriues be bound to arrest such persons so endicted as sone as they may be found by themselues or by their Officers And forsomuch as cognisaunce of heresie errours and Lollardies appertayneth to the Iudge of holy church and not to the Iudge secular the persons so indicted to bee deliuered to the bishoppes of
suffer the sayde Smith to minister in hys cure all Easter tyme and fifteene dayes after and that at theyr departure out of Englande hee supped wyth them at the Bell in newe fishestreete and agayne at theyr returne into Englande dyd meete them at the sayde Bell and there lente vnto the sayde Smyth a Priestes gowne He obiected moreouer agaynste hym in the same Articles that he had affyrmed at Cambridge 1. that hee dyd not set a bottell of hay by the Popes or Byshops cursse 2. and that God byndeth vs to impossible thynges that hee may saue vs only by hys mercy 3. and also that though yong children bee baptised yet they can not be saued except they had fayth 4. and lastly that it was agaynst Gods law to burne Heretikes Unto these Articles after long imprisonment and greate threates of the Byshop and hys Uicare he at last aunswered makyng fyrst hys appeale vnto the Kyng Wherein hee shewed that forasmuch as the Byshop had most vniustly and contrary to all due order of lawe and the equitie thereof proceeded agaynst hym as well in falsely defaming hym wyth the cryme of Heresie wythout hauing any iust proofe or publicke defamation thereof as also contrary to all iustice keepyng hym in most straight prison so long time both to the great daunger of hys lyfe by greeuous sickenesse taken thereby as especially to hys no small griefe that through hys absence hys flocke whereof hee had charge were not fedde with the word of God and his Sacraments as he would and then to minister vnto hym suche Articles mingled wyth interrogatories as neyther touched anye heresie nor transgression of any lawe but rather shewing a minde to picke quarels agaynste hym and other innocent people He therefore for the causes alleadged was compelled and did appeale from hym and all hys officers vnto the Kings Maiestie whome vnder God he had for hys most iust and lawfull refuge and defender againste all iniuries From whyche appeale although hee minded not at anye tyme to departe yet because hee would not shewe hymselfe obstinate agaynst the Byshop beeing hys Ordinary although he had most iust cause to suspect his vniust proceeding agaynst hym hee was neuerthelesse content to exhibite vnto him this hys aunswere Firste that howsoeuer the Byshop was priuately enformed yet because hee was not Publice diffamatus apud bonos graues accordyng to lawe he was not by the lawe bounde to aunswere to any of those Articles And as touching the first sixe Articles as whether he was at Wittenberge and spake with Luther or anye other or bought or read any of theyr bookes c. because none of those thyngs were forbidden hym by any lawe neyther that he was publickly accused of them for that it was permitted to many good men to haue them he was not bound to aunsweare neyther was he to be examined of them But as touching the marriage of Maister Simon Smyth with Ioane Bennore he graunted that he knew thereof by the declaration of Mayster Smyth but that he gaue hys mayde counsayle thereunto he vtterly denyed And as concerning the contracting of the mariage betweene them he thought it not at all against Gods lawe who at the first creation made mariage lawfull for all men Neither thought he it vnlawfull for him after their marriage either to keepe hym as hys Curate or else to lend or geue him any thyng needefull wherein hee sayde he shewed more charitie then the Byshop who had taken all thyngs from them and therefore he desired to haue it proued by the Scriptures that Priests marriages were not lawfull Against whome Foxford the Byshops vicare often alledged generall Counsayles and determinations of the Church but no Scriptures still vrging hym to abiure hys Articles which Patmore long tyme refused and stickyng a great while to his former aunsweres at last was threatened by Foxforde to haue the definitiue sentence read agaynst him Whereupon he aunswered that he beleued the holy Churche as a Christen man ought to do and bycause it passed his capacitie he desired to be instructed and if the Scriptures did teach it he would beleue it For he knew not the contrary by the Scriptures but that a Priest mought marry a wife howbeit by the lawes of y e Church he thought that a Priest might not marry But the Chauncelor still so vrged him to shew whether a Priest mought marry w tout offence to God that at length he grauÌ„ted that Priestes might not marry without offence to God bycause the Church had forbidden it therfore a Priest could not marry without deadly sinne Now as touchyng the foure last Articles he denyed that he spake theÌ„ as they were put agaynst him but he graunted that he mought perhaps iesâ—yngly say that a bottell of hay were more profitable to him theÌ„ the Popes curse Which he thought true Also to the secoÌ„d he affirmed that God had set before vs by his preceptes and commaundements the way to iustice which way was not in maÌ„s power to go and keepe therfore Paule sayth ad Gallathas 3. quod lex erat ordinata per Angelos but yet to fulfill it it was in manu id est in potestate intercessoris that none that shal be saued shall accoÌ„pt their saluation vnto their own deedes or thanke their own iustice in obseruyng the law for it was in no mans power to obserue it But shall geue all thankes to the mercies and goodnes of God according to the Psalme Laudate DominuÌ„ omnes gentes and accordyng to the saying of Paule vt qui gloriatur in Domino glorietur Which hath sent his sonne to do for vs y t which was not in our own power to do For if it had bene in our owne power to fulfill the law Christ had bene sent to vs without cause to doe for vs that thyng which we our selues could haue done that is to say fulfill the law As for the third he spake not for he did neuer knowne that any may be Baptised without fayth which fayth in asmuch as it is the gift of God why may it not bee geuen to peruulis To the last he sayd that if he spake it he ment it not of those that S. Barnard called heretickes with more adulterers theeues murtherers with other opeÌ„ sinners which blaspheme God by their mouthes callyng good euill and euill good makyng light darkenesse and darkenesse light But he ment it of such as men call heretickes accordyng to the testimony of S. Paule Act. 24. I liue after the way sayth he that men call heresie Whom Christ doth foretell that ye shall burne persecute to death After these aunsweres thus made the Byshop with his persecutyng Foxforde dealt so hardly with this good man partly by straight imprisonment and partly by threates to proceede agaynst him that in the end he was fayne through humaine infirmitie to submit himselfe and was abiured and coÌ„demned to perpetuall prison with losse both of his benefice as also of all his
Katherine his wife Quene Katherine carnally knoweÌ„ by the kings brother it appeareth in a certaine booke of Recordes which we haue to shew touching this mariage that the same time when Prince Arthur was firste maryed with this Ladye Katherine daughter to Ferdinando certaine Ambassadours of Ferdinando his Counsaile were then sent hether into England for the sayde purpose to see and to testifie concerning the ful consummation of the said matrimoniall coniunction Which Counsaillers here resident being solemnely sworne not onely did affirm to both their parentes that the Matrimonie was consummate by that acte but also did send ouer into Spaine to her father such demonstrations of their mutuall coniunction as here I wil not name sparing the reuereÌ„ce of chast eares which demonstrations otherwise in those Records being named and testified do sufficiently put the matter out of all doute and question Besides that in the same recordes appeareth that both he and she not onely were of such yeares as were mete and able to explete the coÌ„summation hereof but also they were and did lie together both here and in Wales by the space of 3. quarters of a yeare Out of a written booke of Recordes containing certaine conferences betwixte the Cardinall and Queenes Katherines Amner about this matter remaining in our custodie to be seene Thus when the Diuines on her side were beaten from that ground Three reasons for Queene Katherine then they fell to perswasions of Natural reasons how this should not be vndone for three causes One was because if it shoulde be broken the onely childe of the king should be a Bastard which were a great mischiefe to the realme SecoÌ„dly the separation shuld be cause of great vnkindnes betwene her kinred and this Realme And the third cause was that the continuance of so long space had made the Mariage honest These perswasions with many other were set forth by the Queenes Counsaile and in especial by the Bishop of Rochester which stoode stiffe in her cause Fisher Bish. of Rochester a great doer for Queene Catherine But yet Gods precept was not aunswered wherefore they left that ground and fel to pleading that the court of Rome had dispenced with that Mariage To this some Lawyers sayde that no earthly person is able to dispence with the positiue law of God When the Legates hard the opinions of the Diuines and saw wherunto the end of this question would tend The searching of the kinges mariâ—ge brought moe thinges to lighte for asmuch as men began so to dispute of the authoritie of the Court of Rome especially because the Cardinal of York perceiued the king to cast fauour to the Lady Anne whom he knew to be a Lutheran they thought best to wind them selues out of that brake by time so Cardinall Campeius dissembling the matter conueyed himselfe home to Rome againe as is partly aboue touched pag. 187. The Kinge seeing himself thus to be differred and deluded by the Cardinals Cardinall Campeius sâ—ippeth froÌ„ the king tooke it to no litle griefe whereupon the fall of the Cardinall of Yorke folowed not long after This was in the yeare of our Lord 1530. Shortly after it happened the same yeare that the king by hys Ambassadours was aduertised that the Emperoure and the Pope were both together at Bononie Wherfore he directed Sir Tho. Bullein late created Earle of Wiltshire and Doctor Stokesley afterward Bishop of London and Doctor Lee afterward bishop of York with his message to the popes Court where also the Emperor was Pope Clement vnderstanding the kinges case and request The king â—endeth to the Emperour and the Pope and fearing what might follow after if learning and Scripture here should take place against the authority of their dispensations and moreouer doubting the Emperours displeasure bare him selfe strange of from the matter answearing the Ambassadors with this delay that he presently would not define in the case The Popes aunswere to the king but would heare the full matter disputed when he came to Rome and according to right he would do iustice Although the king ought no suche seruice to the Pope to staÌ„d to his arbitremeÌ„t either in this case or in any other hauing both the Scripture to lead him The king gaue more to the Pope then he needed and his law in his owne hands to warrant him yet for quietnes sake and for that he wold not rashly breake order which rather was a disorder in deede he bare so long as conuenieÌ„tly he might At length after long delaies and much dissembling when he saw no hope of redresse he began somwhat to quicken to looke about him what was best both for his owne conscience and the stablishment of his realme to do No man here doubteth Gods prouideÌ„ce working meruelously in this matter but that al this was wrought not by mans deuise but by the secrete purpose of the Lord himselfe to bryng to passe further thinges as afterwarde followed whiche his diuine prouidence was disposed to work For els as touching the y e kings intent purpose he neuer meant nor mynded any such thing as to seek the ruine of the pope but rather sought all meanes coÌ„trary how both to stablish the Sea of Rome also to obteyne y e good will of the same Sea and Court of Rome if it might haue bene gotten And therefore intending to sue his diuorse froÌ„ Rome at the first beginning his deuise was by Stephen Gardiner his Ambassadour at Rome to exalt the Cardinall of York Vid. supr pag. 990. as is before shewed pag. 990. to be made pope and vniuersall Bishop to the end that he ruling that Apostolicke sea the matter of his vnlawfull maryage whiche so troubled his conscience might come to a quiet conclusion without anye further rumor of the world Which purpose of his if it had taken effect as he had deuised it and the englsh Cardinall had once bene made Pope no doubt but the authoritie of that sea had neuer bene exterminate out of England But God being more mercifull vnto vs tooke a better way then so For both without and contrarye to the kinges expectation he so brought to passe that neyther the Cardinall of Yorke was Pope which shuld haue bene an infinite cost to the king and yet neuertheles the king sped of his purpose too Man purposethâ— but God disposeth and that much better then he looked for For he was ridde by lawfull diuorcement not onely from that vnlawfull mariage which clogged his conscieÌ„ce but also from the miserable yoke of the popes vsurped dominion whiche clogged the whole realme and all at one time Thus Gods holy prouidence ruling the matter as I sayd when the king could get no faourable graunt of the Pope touching his cause being so good and honest he was enforced to take the redresse of his right into his own handes and seeing this * Gordiâ—m was a Citty in Asia where there was
froÌ„ the king his letters of credence and withall to declare and extend the kinges most effectuous commendations with the harty good will and sincere affections whiche his hignes bare to the sayde Cardinall Chauncellour of Fraunce with no lesse desire also most gladly to do that thing which might be to his commoditie and benefite according as the manifold pleasures grauities and kindnes done on his part for the kinges highnes did worthily deserue Then after such words of mollification to enter into further communication with him in such sort as might best serue his honour And forasmuch as the Cardinall was theÌ„ noted much to be moued with the affections of vayn glory couetous therfore amongst other coÌ„munication The vaine glory and auarice of the Cardinall it was deuised to inferre mentioÌ„ of the Papalitie noting what wayes meanes might be vsed to attayne vnto that dignitie Wherein if the kinges hignes coulde stand him to anye steede as he thought the person of the sayd Chauncellour most meet for the same The fashyoâ— of Princes courtes to be noted so he would not fayle to moue and to procure it to the best furtheraunce of his aduauncement And finally to declare how desirous the kinges highnes was to retayne and make sure vnto him the amitie and friendship of the sayd Chauncellour and that hys hignes deuising by what meanes and wayes he might do the same albeit his grace knew wel that the fayth and sinceritie of the sayd Chauncellour towardes hys mayster was such as no gift pension or other offer could aduance or increase that good will which for hys maysters sake he would employ in the kinges highnes affayres thought that for declaration of hys hartye good will towardes the sayde Chauncellour it were conuenient to offer vnto hym some yearely remembraunce c. This was the summe and effect of the message of the king sent vnto the French king and to other of his counsayle by his ambassadour maister Edward Foxe whiche was especially to signifie and make manifest vnto the sayd French king the vniust dealinges and preiudiciall proceedinges of the pope in calling vp the king of Englande to appeare at Rome by Proxie which was derogatory to y e kinges dignitie and crowne and also preiudiciall both to generall Councels of the primitiue tyme and to the auncient lawes and statutes of this Realme as is afore declared and no lesse hurtfull for example to all other Princes and kinges likewise c. This message so done Steuen Gardiner Ambassadour to the FreÌ„ch king shortly after was sent to the said french king Stephen Gardinar bish of Winchester with the kings answere and message again on this maner y t for so much as the saying of the Frenche king to the ambassadors was this that notwithstanding all the kings Realm shuld agree and condescend neuer so muche to y e right title The French kings saying against the kinges succession which the succession procreated of this his lawfull matrimony hath in this hys realme yet when outward parties shall conceaue anye other or contrary opinion thereof great trouble and vexation might ensue Wherunto the K. made answere agayne declaring y t he could not but greatly marueyle y t the king his brother being so wise a Prince The kinges aunswere to the French king and there to well expert and learned in Chronicles and histories not onely of his owne realme but also of all others or any of his Counsayle being men of such experieÌ„ce as they were taken to be would thinke that the opinion consent of other outward Realms was so highly to be coÌ„sidered and regarded of any prince or king in stablishing or in executing of thinges which mighte be lawfully done and which touched the preseruation of the rightes preeminences dignitie and state of his realme and did also notably conferre vnto the singular benefite and tranquillitie of the same so as the words both of the sayde king hys brother and of the great master did pretend Who furthermore were not ignoraunt them selues 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 realm 〈…〉 bouÌ„d tâ— the agrement of outwarde realmes that many thinges haue bene by hys noble progenitours kinges of Fraunce attempted and done as well in cases of matrimonie as otherwise which in some part in the opinion of y e Popes of Rome then being in some part in the opinion of diuers other outwarde princes states seigniories and common people haue bene thought not perfectly good nor yet much acceptable vnto them and yet that notwithstanding hys said progenitors knowing them selues the prosecuting of those causes to be beneficial to them and to the realm haue not therfore desisted from their said purposes but diligeÌ„tly employing their owne strength and powers with the succours of their frends haue finally atchieued their sayd enterprises wythout requiring or greatly regarding the opinion or agreement therunto of outward princes Againe wheras the Chauncelour of France made thys ouerture to the â—ayde Bishop of Winchester whether the kyng woulde be content to haue indifferent Iudges to be appoynted by the authoritie of the Pope The ouerture of the Chauncellour 〈◊〉 Fraunce to the king to take indifferent iudges by the Popes authority The kinges aunswere to the ouerture to determine his cause wyth a commission decretall from y e same declaring Quid iuris c. The King by his ambassador therunto answearing declared that the Pope hauing done vnto hym so notable and euideÌ„t iniuries as he had done it were hys office and duetie now to labor him selfe to ende this matter and to studie how to make due satisfaction to God and his iustice which hee hath tam indignis modis offended and violated and to deliuer himselfe out of the danger and the perpetual infamie of the world which he hath incurred by reason of these his most vngodly doings and not to looke that the King shoulde make any request or suite vnto hym therfore or recompence for the same c. Furthermore where as the Pope at the request of the French king had in open Consistorie proroged execution of his censures and excommunication against the king vnto the first day of Nouember and woorde thereof was sent to the king by his ambassadours from the great maister of Fraunce that the king mighte haue the sayde prorogation made autentikely in wryting if he woulde The kyng answearing thereunto thought it not vnprofitable that hys ambassadors resident in France should receiue vnto theyr hands the possession of the saide newe prorogation conceiued and wrytten in autentike forme and maner according to the order of the lawes After this againe came other letters to the King from France namely froÌ„ the great maister of France tending to this ende that if the king would do nothing for the pope meaning by the reuocation of such actes of parlament The king requested by the FreÌ„ch king to relent to the Pope as were made in the Realme of England to the Popes preiudice it were
no reason neither shoulde it be possible for the Frenche king to induce the Pope to any gratuitie or pleasure for the king in his affaires Wherunto the king answearing againe sendeth worde to the French king The kinges aunswere to the French kinges request trusting and hoping wel of the perfect frendship of the French king his good brother that he will neuer suffer any suche perswasion to enter into hys breast whatsoeuer the great maister or any other shall say to the contrary thereof nor that he will require any thyng more of him to do for the Pope Chauncelour or other then hys Counsaile hath already deuised to be done in this behalfe especially considering the words of the sayd French kings promise made before as well to the Duke of Northfolke as to the other Ambassadours promising his frendship to to the King simply without requiring him to reuocate or infringe any suche acte or constitution made by the realme and Parlament to the contrary Perswading moreouer and laying before the eyes as well of the Pope as of the French king howe much it should redound to the Popes dishonouâ— and infamie to the sclaunder also of his cause if he should be seene so to pact and couenant wyth the king vpon such conditions for the administration of that thing which he in his owne conscience hath reputed and adiudged to be most rightfull agreeable to iustice and equitie and ought of his office and duetie to do in thys matter simpliciter gratis and wythout all worldly respectes eyther for the aduancement of his priuate lucre and commoditie The Pope seeketh not for iustice but his owne lucre and commodity or for the preseruation of hys pretensed power and authoritie For surely it is 〈◊〉 to be doubted but that the Pope being minded and determined to geue sentence for the inualiditie and nullitie of the kings first pretensed matrimonie hath conceiued and established in hys owne conscience a 〈◊〉 and certain opinion and perswasion that he ought of iustice and equitie so to do Then to see the Pope to haue thys opinion in deede and yet refuse this to doe for the King vnlesse hee shall be content for his benefite and pleasure The Pope â—elleth iustice â—edere iuri suo and to doe some things preiudiciall vnto his subiects contrary to hys honour it â—o easie to be foreseene what the world and the posteritie shall iudge de tam turpi nundinatione iustitiae illius tam foeda sordida lucri honoris ambitione And as foâ— the kings part if he shal not attaine now iustice at the mediation of hys good brother knowing the Pope to be of this disposition and determination in his heart to satisfie all his desires being mooued thereunto by iustice The Pope doth agaynst his 〈◊〉 owne conscieÌ„ce and that the â—et therof is no default of iustice in the cause but onely for that the king woulde not condescende to hys request it is to the king matter sufficient enough for discharge of hys conscience to God and to the worlde although hee neuer did execute in deede hys sayde determination For sith hys corrupt affection is the onely impediment thereof what neede either the king to require him any further to doe in the cause or els his subiectes to doubte any further in the iustnesse of the same Albeit if respects to benefites merites done towardes the Pope the See of Rome The Pope forgetteth his olde benefactors and frendes should be regarded in the attaining of iustice in a cause of so high consequencie as thys is reason would that if it would please the Pope to consider the former kindnesse of the King shewed vnto him in time past whereof hee is very loth to enter the rehearsall ne videatur velle exprobrare quae de alijs fecerit bene he should not nowe require of him any newe benefite or gratuitie to be shewed vnto him but rather studie to recompence hym for the olde graces merites pleasures and benefites before receiued For surely he thinketh that the Pope can not forget howe that for the conseruation of his person his estate and dignitie the king hath not heretofore spared for anye respecte The benefites of the king vpon the Pope when he was taken by the Duke of Burbonâ— in vsing the office of a moste perfecte and stedfaste frend to relinquish the long coÌ„tinued good will established betweene him and the Emperor and to declare openly to all the world that for the Popes sake and in default of hys deliuerance he would become enemie to the sayde Emperour and to make against him actuall warre Besides thys the King hath not failed hym with right large and ample subuentions of money for the better supporting of his charges against the enterprises of the sayde Emperour combinding and knitting him selfe wyth the Frenche king to procure the aduauncement of the sayde Frenche kings armie into Italie to the charges whereof the king did beare little lesse then the one halfe Besides notable losses susteined as well in his customes subsidies and other dueties as also to the no little hinderaunce and dammage of his subiects and marchauntes occasioned by discontinuance of the traffike and entercourse heretofore vsed with the Emperours subiectes In doing of al which thinges the king hath not bene thus respectiue as the Pope nowe sheweth himselfe towardes him but lyke a perfect frend hath bene alwayes contented franckly liberally and openly to expone all his study labour trauayle treasure puisaunce Realme and diuers subiectes for the Popes ayd and y e mayntenance of the state and dignitie of the Church and See of Rome Which thinges although he doth not here rehearse animo exprobandi yet hee doubteth not but the same weighed in the ballaunce of anye indifferent mans iudgement All is lost thaâ— is done for a churle shal be thought to be of that weight valure as that he hath iustly deserued to haue some mutuall correspondencie of kindenes to be shewed vnto hym at y e popes handes especially in the ministration of iustice and in so reasonable iust cause as this is and not thus to haue his most rightfull petition reiected and denyed because he will not follow hys desire and appetite in reuocating of such actes as be here made passed for the weale commoditie of hys realme and subiectes ¶ Thus ye haue heard how instantly the king had laboured by the meanes of the french king to the pope being then in Fraunce for right and iustice to be done for the dissolution and nullitie of his first pretensed matrimonye with hys brothers wife Which when it could not be attayned at the popes handes vnles the king would recompeÌ„ce and require the same by reuocating of such statutes as wer made and enacted here in the high Court of Parliament for the surety of succession and stablishment of the Realme what the king thereunto aunswered agayne ye heard declaring that
to be a farre vnequall recompence and satisfaction for a thinge whiche ought of right and iustice to be ministred vnto him that a king therefore should reuocate and vndoe the actes and statutes passed by a whole Realm contrary to hys owne honour and weale of hys subiectes c. Where is moreouer to be vnderstanded The crafty packing of the Papistes how that the Pope with all hys papistes and the French king also and peraduenture Stephen Gardiner too the kynges owne Ambassadour had euer a speciall eye to disproue and disapoynt y e kings successioÌ„ by Queene Anne whoÌ„ they knew all to be a great enemye vnto the pope thinking thereby that if that succession were diminished the popes kingdome might soone be restored agayn in England But yet for all their vniust and craftie packing they were throughe Gods prouideÌ„ce frustrate of their desired purpose For although they so brought to passe the next yeare folowing to adâ—â—lle the order of that succession by a contrary Parlament The Papistes frustrate of their purpose yet neither did they so adnihilate it but that both K. Edwarde followed yea and also the same succession afterward by the said king and other parlaments was restored againe and yet God be praised hath hetherto raigned doth yet florish in the Realme of England Nowe as wee haue declared the Kings doings in the Realme of Scotland and of Fraunce proceding further in the kings proceedings wyth other Princes let vs see how the king defended himselfe and his cause before the Emperor sending his ambassador vnto him vsing these wordes before his maiestie as here foloweth The Oration of the kings Ambassadour before the Emperour in defence of his cause SIr the king my maister taking and reputing you as his perfect frende confederate and allye and not doubting but you remembring the mutual kindnes betwene you in times past The Oration of the Ambassadour to the Emperour wil shew yourself in all ocurrents to be of such minde and disposition as iustice truthe and equitie doeth require hath willed me by his letters to open and declare vnto you what he hathe done and in what wise hee hathe proceeded concerning suche Marriage as by many yeares was supposed to haue bene betwene your Aunte and hys grace Diuisions consisting in 2. partes In which matter being two principall poyntes specially to be regarded considered that is to say the iustice of the cause and the order of the processe therein hys highnes hath so vsed hym in both as no man may right wisely complaine of the same First as touching the iustnes of the cause that is to say of that Mariage betwene him and your sayde Aunte to be nought The iustnes of the kinges cause and of no moment ne effect but against the law of God nature and man and indispensable by the Pope and in no wise vailable his highnes hath done therein asmuch as becommeth him for discharge of hys coÌ„science and hath found so certain so euideÌ„t so manifest so open and approued truth as wherunto his maiesty ought of good congruence to geue place which by al other ought to be allowed and receiued not as a matter doutful disputable or depending in question and ambiguitie but as a plaine determined and discussed verity of the true vnderstanding of gods word and lawe which all Christian men must follow and obey and before all other worldly respects prefer and execute In attaining the knowledge whereof if hys highnes had vsed only his owne particular iudgement sentence or the minde only opinion of his owne natural subiects althoughe the same might in his conscience haue suffised woulde not muche haue repugned if some other had made difficulty to assent to him in the same till further discussion had bene made thereupon But now forasmuch as besides hys owne certaine vnderstanding and the agreement of thys whole Cleargie to the same in both Prouinces of hys realme his maiestie hath also for him the determinatioÌ„s of the moste famous vniuersities of Christendome Vniuersities staÌ„ding with the kinges cause and most indifferent to pronounce and geue iudgement in this case and among them the Uniuersitie of Bonony all feare of the Pope set apart concluding against his power and also Padua the Uenetians threates not regarded geuynge their sentence for the truth euident words of Gods law there should no man as seemeth to him gainsay or wythstand either in word or dede the truth thus opened but for his honor and duetie to the obseruation of Gods law willingly embrace and receiue the same According whereunto his grace perceiueth also aswell in his Realme as els where a notable consent and agreement amongest all Diuines and suche as haue studied for knowledge of Gods lawe without contradiction of anye number vnlesse it be such applying their minde to y e maintenaunce of worldly affections do either in defence of such lawes as they haue studied eyther for satisfaction of theyr priuate appetite forbeare to agree vnto y e same The number of whoÌ„ is so smal as in the discerning of truth it ought not to be regarded in a case so plainly described and determined by Gods word as thys is And if percase your Maiestie heere not regarding the number but the matter shall seme to consider in thys case not so much who speaketh as what is spoken to aunswer thereunto I say Syr the king my maister is of the same mind for his own satisfactioÌ„ taketh hymselfe to be in the right Both the number and matter maketh with the king not because so many sayeth it but because hee being learned knoweth the matter to be right Neuertheles reason would and enforceth also that straungers to the cause and not parties therein should be induced to beleue that to be truth that such a number of Clearkes doe so constantly affirme specially not being otherwise learned to be iudges of theyr sayings as your maiestie is not And if you were then could your highnesse shew such reasons authorities and grounds as cannot be taken away and be so firm and stable as they ought not of Christen men in any part to be impugned like as hath bene partly heeretofore shewed by his sondry ambassadours to your Imperiall maiestie and shuld eftsoones be done were it not too great an iniury to y t is already passed in the Realme to dispute the same againe in any other countrey which being contrarious to the lawes and ordinances of his realme he trusteth your prudeÌ„cie will not require but take that is past for a thing done and iustly done and as for Gods part to leaue hys conscience to himself qui Domino sua stat aut cadit and for y e world to passe ouer as a frend that whych nothing toucheth you and not to maruell though the said king my master regarding the wealth of his soule principally with the commodity of his person and so great benefit quiet of his realm haue percase
done y t he for his priuate fantasie woulde not had chaunced like as his highnesse also would wish it had not happened that such cause had bene geuen vnto hym to compell him so to doe But these things in their outward visage be but worldly and inwardly touch and concerne the soule The seconde parte of his Oration touching the manner of the kinges procedinges Quid autem prodest homini si vniuersum mundum lucretur animae vero suae detrimentum patiatur Primum quaerite regnum Dei c. And yet neither his highnes ignorant what respect is to be had vnto the world and how much he hath laboured and trauailed therein hee hath sufficiently declared and shewed to the world in his acts and proceedings For if he had vtterly contempned the order and processe of the worlde or the frendshippe and amitie of your Maiestie he needed not to haue sent so often and sundry Ambassates to the Pope and to you both nor continued and spente his time in delayes as he hath done hetherto but might many yeres past haue done that he hath don now if it had so liked hym and with as litle difficulty then as nowe if he would haue wythout such respect folowed hys pleasure in that behalf But now I doubt not your maiestie doth wel remember how often the king my master hath sent vnto your highnes and that your maiestie hath heard also what sutes hee hath made to the Pope and how the sayd Pope hath handled him again onely in delay and daliance wyth open commission geuen to his Legates to determine and geue sentence for hym by a commission decretall and secretly to geue them instructions to suspend and put ouer the same How the Pope dalyed with the king by delayes By which meanes and other semblable hee perceaued playnly himselfe to be brought in such a labirinth as going forward that way he were like to come to no end and was therefore compelled to steppe right forth at once to the mazes end there to quyet and repose himselfe at the last And is it not tyme to haue end in seuen yeare or els to seeke for it an other way The pope hath shewed hymselfe both vnwilling to haue an ende and also ready and prone to do him iniurie as well in citing hym to Rome as also sending forth certayne breues to his grace sclaunderous and for the iniustice and iniquitie of them to himself dishonorable as he gaue hys highnes good and iust cause to suspect least any end to be made at hys hand if any he would make might be in hys conscience receiued and followed For the pope doyng iniury in some poynt why should he be thought conuenient Iudge not vsing hymselfe indifferently in this matter as many moe particularities may be shewed and declared considering This generall Councell was the first Councell of Constantinople there is a generall Councell willing al matters to be determined where they first began and that the whole body of our Realm hath for the wealth of the same by a law established the determination of such causes By reason wherof the Bishop of Canterbury as metropolitane of our Realme hath geuen sentence in due iudgement for the kinges partie It is not to be asked nor questioned whether that matter hath bene determined after the common fashion but whether it hath in it common iustice truth and equitie of Gods lawe For obseruatioÌ„ of the common order hys grace hath done that lay in hym and inforced by necessitie hath found the true order mayntainable by Gods worde generall Councels which he hath in substaunce followed with effect and hath done as becommeth hym tendring eyther Gods lawe or hys person or the wealth of hys Realme like as he doubteth not but your maiestie as a wise Prince remembring his cause from the beginning hetherto will of your selfe consider and thinke y t among mortall men nothing shuld be immortall suites must once haue an end Si possis rectè si non quocunque modo And if he cannot as he would his hignesse theÌ„ to do as he may he y t hath a iourny to be perfited must if he caÌ„not go one way assay an other What soeuer hath bene herein done necessitie hath enforced hym that is to say Gods law in the matter and such maner of dealing of the Pope as hee hathe shewed vnto hym in the same doing sundry iniuries w tout effect of iustice wherein he promised the same But as for the kings matter to the Pope he shall entreat with him a parte As touching your maiestie he taketh you for his frend as to a frend he openeth these matters vnto you trusting to find your maiesty no les frendly hereafter vnto him then he hath done heretofore By these matters thus passed and discoursed to and fro betwene the King and these forrain Princes aboue rehersed many things are to be vnderstaÌ„ded of the reader who so is disposed to behold and consider the state proceeding of publike affairs The kinges diuorce iust as wel to the church apperteining as to the common wealth First howe the king cleareth himselfe both iustly and reasonably for hys diuorce made w t the Lady Katherine the Emperors aunt The kinges mariage with Q. Anne lawfull Secondly how he proueth and defendeth his mariage with Queene Anne to be iust lawful both by the authority of Gods word and the comprobation of the best most famous learned men and vniuersities and also by the assent of the whole realme Furthermore for the stablishing of the kings succession in the Imperiall crowne of this Realme The Pope supâ—ressed for the suppression of the pope and vniting the title of supremacie vnto the kings Crowne what order therein was taken and what penaltie was sette vppon the same The kinges title of supremacy as may appeare by the Act of Parliament set foorth An. 1534. Ex Henr. Reg. 26. cap. 13. in these wordes following If any person or persons after the 1. of Februarie next doe maliciously imagine Statut. An. 26. Hen. 8. cap. 13. inuent practise or attempt to depriue the king of the dignitie title or name of hys royall estate c. that then euery such person and persones so offending in any of the premisses their aiders counsellors coÌ„senters and abbettours being therof lawfully conuict according to the lawes and customes of this Realme shal be reputed Denying of the kinges supremacy made treasoÌ„ accepted and adiudged traytours and that euery suche offence in any the premisses committed or done after the said first day of February shal be reputed accepted and adiudged high treason and the offenders therein their aiders consenters counsellors and abbettors being lawfully conuict of any such offence shall haue suffer such pains of death and other penalties as is limited and accustomed in cases of high treason Uppon thys and suche other Actes concluded in those Parlamentes what stomacke the Pope
seduced by a common errour and abuse crept into the Church thorough the sufferance and auarice of such as felt profite by the same Item if ye do or shall know any within your parish or elsewhere that is a letter of the word of God to be read in english or sincerely preached The worde of God to be preached without stop or interruption or of the executioÌ„ of these iniunctions or a fautor of the Bishop of Romes pretensed power now by the lawes of this Realme iustly reiected and extirped ye shall detect the same to the Kings highnes or his honourable Counsayle or to his vicegerent aforesayd or to the iustice of peace next adioyning Item that you and euery Parson Uicar or Curate within this diocesse shall for euery Church keep one booke of Register Register booke for euery parish wherein ye shall write the day and yeare of euery wedding christening burieng made within your parish for your time so for euery man succeding you likewise also therin set euery persons name that shall be so wedded christined or buried for the safe keeping of the same booke the parish shall be bounde to prouide of theyr common charges one sure coffer with ij lockes and keies whereof the one to remaine with you and the other wyth the Wardens of euery such parish wherein the sayd booke shall be layd vp Which booke ye shall euery Sonday take foorth and in the presence of the saide Wardens or one of them write and record in the same al the weddings christnings and buriengs made the whole weeke before and that done to lay vp the sayd booke in the sayde coffer as afore and for euery time the same shall be omitted the partie that shall be in the fault thereof shall forfaite to the sayd Church three shillings foure pence to be employed on the reparation of the same Church Item that ye shall once euery quarter of a yeare reade these and the other former iniunctions geuen vnto you by authoritie of the Kings highnes openly and deliberately before al your parishners to the entent that both you may be the better admonished of your duetie and your said parishners the more incited to ensue the same for their part Item for as much as by a lawe established euery mâ—n is bound to pay his tithes no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their Curates deteine their tithes Tythes to be payed so redub one wrong with another or be his owne iudge but shall truly pay y e same as hath ben accustomed to their persons curates without any restraint or diminutioÌ„ such lacke and default as they can iustly find in theyr parsons and curates to call for reformation therof at theyr Ordinaryes other superiors handes who vpon complaint due proofe therof shall reforme the same accordingly Item that no Person shall from henceforth alter or chaunge the order and maner of any fasting day that is coÌ„mauÌ„ded indicted by y e church nor of diuine prayer nor of seruice othâ—rwise theÌ„ is specified in y e sayd iniuÌ„ctioÌ„s vntill such time as the same shall be so ordered transposed by y e kings highnes authority 〈◊〉 day abrogate the Euens of such saynts whose holidayes be abrogated only excepted which shal be declared henceforth to be no fasting dayes except also the commemoratioÌ„ of Tho. Becket sometime Archbishop of Canterbury which shal be cleane omitted and in stead thereof the feriall seruice vsed Item that the knoling of the Aues after seruice certayne other times which hath bene brought in begon by the pretence of y e B. of Romes pardon Knoling of Auees forbidden henceforth be left omitted lest the people do hereafter trust to haue pardon for the saying of their Aues betwene the sayd knolyng as they haue done in times past IteÌ„ where in times pâ—st men haue vsed in diuers plates in theyr Processions to sing Ora pro nobis to so manye saintes Suffrages of Saintes relected that they had no time to sing the good Suffrages folowing as Parce nobis Domine and Libera nos Domine it must be taught and preached y e better it were to omit Ora pro nobis and to sing the other suffrages being most necessary and effectuall All which and singuler Iniunctions I minister vnto you and to your parishners by the kings highnes authority to me committed in this part which I charge commaund you by the same authority to obserue and keep vpon paine of depriuation sequestration of your fruits or such other cohercion as to the king or his vicegerent for this time being shal be sene conuenient By these Articles and IniunctioÌ„s thus comming forth one after an other for the necessary instruction of the people The king better deseruing the name of supreme gouernour theÌ„ the Pope it may appeare how well the king deserued then the title of his supreme gouernment geuen vnto him ouer the church of England by the which title and authority he did more good for the redressing and aduauncing of Christes Church and religion here in England in these three yeres then the Pope the great Uicar of Christ w t all his bishops and Prelates had done the space of iij. hundreth yeares before Such a vigilant care was then in the king and in his counsell how by all wayes and meanes to redresse religion to reforme errors to correct corrupt customes to helpe ignoraunce and to reduce the misleadings of christes flock drowned in blinde popery superstition customes idolatry to some better forme of more perfect reformatioÌ„ Wher vnto he prouided not only these articles precepts and iniunctions aboue specified to informe the rude people but also procured the Bishoppes to helpe forward in the same cause of decayed doctrine Read afore pag. 1024. with their diligent preaching teaching of the people according as ye heard before pag. 1024. how that in the yeare 1534. during all the whole time of the parliament there was appoynted euery sonday a Bishop to preach at Paules Crosse agaynst the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome Amongest which bishops Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne the kinges confessor and a great persecutor of y e poore flock of Christ as is before sufficiently recorded Read afore pag. 952. pag. 952. made a Sermon before the king vpon good Friday this present yere 1538. at Grenewich seriously and effectuously preaching on the kinges behalfe against the vsurped supremacy of the bishop of Rome the contentes of whose sermoÌ„ wholy to expresse were here to long tedious So much as may suffice for our purpose I thought should remayne to the posterity beginning at his Theame whiche then he tooke in hand to entreat vpon writteÌ„ in the 13. cha to the Hebrues as foloweth ¶ The Sermon of Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne on good Friday before the king at Grenewich an 1538. THe wordes of the Apostle are these Habemus altare de
scaffold Lābert brought before the king to dispute By and by the godly seruant of Christ Iohn Lambert was brought from the prison with a garde of armed men euen as a Lambe to fight w t many Lyons and placed right ouer against where the kyngs royal seat was so that now they taried but for the kings comming to the place At the last the king himselfe did come as iudge of that great controuersie with a great garde clothed all in white as couering by that colour and dissimuling seueritie of all bloudy iudgement On his right hand sate the Bishops and behind them the famous Lawyers clothed all in purple accordinge to the maner On the left hand sat the Peeres of the Realme the Iustices and other Nobles in theyr order behynde whome sate the Gentlemen of the kings priuie Chamber And this was the manner and forme of the Iudgement which albeit it was terrible inough of it selfe to abash any innocent yet the kings looke his cruell countenaunce and his browes bent vnto seueritie The kings sterne looke agaynst Lambert did not a litle augmēt this terrour plainly declaring a minde ful of indignation farre vnworthy such a Prince especially in such a matter and against so humble and obedient a subiect When the king was set in his throne he behelde Lambert with a sterne countenance and then turning himselfe vnto his counsailours he called foorth D. Day Byshop of Chechester commanding him to declare vnto the people the causes of this present assembly and iudgement The Oration of Doctour Day The whole effect of hys Oration tended in a manner to this poynt That the king in this Session woulde haue all states degrees Byshops and all other to be admonyshed of his will and pleasure that no man should conceiue any sinister opinion of hym that nowe the authoritye and name of the Byshop of Rome beyng vtterly abolished he woulde also extinguish all Religion or geue libertie vnto heretickes to perturbe and trouble the Churches of England wythout punishment whereof he is the heade and moreouer that they shoulde not thinke that they were assembled at that present to make any disputation vpon the hereticall doctrine but onely for thys purpose that by the industrie of hym and other Byshops the heresies of thys man heere present meaning Lambert and the heresies of all such like should be refuted or openly condemned in the presence of them all When hee had made an ende of hys Oration the King standing vp vpon his feete leaning vpō a cushion of white cloth of tussue turning him self toward Lambert with his browes bent as it were threatning some greeuous thyng vnto him sayd these wordes Hoe good fellow what is thy name Then the humble Lamb of Christ humbly kneling downe vpon his knee sayd My name is Iohn Nicolson although of many I be called Lambert What sayde the king haue you two names I would not trust you hauing two names although you were my brother Lambert O most noble Prince The kinges wordes to Lambert your bishops forced me of necessitie to chaunge my name And after diuers Prefaces and muche talke had in this maner the king commaunded him to goe vnto the matter and to declare hys minde opinion what he thought as touching the Sacrament of the altare Then Lambert beginning to speake for himselfe Lamberts oration to the king gaue God thankes which had so inclined the heart of the kinge that he himselfe would not disdaine to here and vnderstand the controuersies of Religion for that it happeneth oftentimes through the crueltie of the bishops The 〈◊〉 of Bishops noted that many good innocent men in many places are priuely murthered and put to death without the kings knowledge But now for so much as that highe and eternall kyng of kyngs in whose handes are the heartes of all Princes hath inspired and stirred vp the kings minde that he hymselfe will be present to vnderstande the causes of hys subiectes specially whom God of his diuine goodnesse hath so aboundantly endued with so great gifts of iudgement and knowledge he doth not mistrust but that God will bryng some great thing to passe through him to the setting foorth of the glory of his name Then the king with an angry voice interrupting hys Oration I came not hether sayd he to heare mine owne praises thus painted out in my presence but briefly goe to the matter wythout any more circumstaunce Thus hee spake in Latine But Lambert beynge abashed at the Kynges angrye words contrary to al mens expectation staid a while considering whether hee myght turne him selfe in these great straites and extremities But the king being hasty with anger and vehemencie sayde why standest thou still The king fierce vpon Lambert Aunswere as touching the Sacrament of the aultar whether doest thou say that it is the body of Christ or wilt deny it And with that word the king lifted vp his cappe Lambert I answere with S. Augustine that it is the bodie of Christ after a certaine maner The king Answer me neither out of S. Augustine neither by the authoritie of anie other but tell me plainelie Quodam modo 1. after a certaine maner whether thou saiest it is the bodie of Christ or no These words the king spake againe in Latin Lambert Then I denie it to be the bodie of Christ. The king Marke well for now thou shalt be condemned euen by Christes owne words Hoc est corpus meum Then he commanded Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie to refute his assertion who first making a short preface vnto the hearers The Archbishops reasons began his disputation with Lambert verie modestlie saieng Brother Lambert let this matter be handled betwene vs indifferentlie that if I do conuince this your argument to be false by the Scriptures you will willinglie refuse the same but if you shall prooue it true by the manifest testimonies of the scripture I do promise I will willinglie embrace the same The argument was this taken out of that place of the Actes of the Apostles where as Christ appeared vnto S. Paule by the way disputing out of that place The Archbishops argument that it is not disagreeable to the worde of God that the bodie of Christ may be in two places at once which being in heauen was seene vnto S. Paule the same time vpon earth if it may be in two places why by the like reason may it not be in many places In this maner the Archbishop began to refute the secōd argument of Lambert which as we haue before said was written deliuered by the said Lābert vnto the preacher for the king had first disputed against his first reason Lambert aunswered vnto this argument saying that the Minor was not thereby prooued that Christes bodye was dispersed in two places or more but remained rather still in one place as touching the maner of his bodye Lamberts aunswere to Cranmers obiection For the
Alane Cope and Abell amoÌ„gest other which dyed in kyng HeÌ„ries dayes in the like Popish quarell that is for the like treason agaynst their Prince beyng in all to the number of 24. extolleth theÌ„ not onely in wordes but with miracles also vp to the height of heaueÌ„ amoÌ„g the crowned Martyrs Traytors made Martyrs Saints of God To the whiche Cope because in this hast of story I haue no laysure at this present to geue attendauÌ„ce I shall wayt atteÌ„dauÌ„ce the Lord willing an other tyme to ioyne in this issue with him more at laysure In the meane time it shall suffice at this present to recite the names onely of those 24. rebelles whom he of his Popish deuotioÌ„ so dignifieth with the pretensed title of Martyrs The names of which Monkish rebels be these here folowyng Iohn Houghton Robert Laurence Aug. Webster Reynald of Syon Iohn Hayle Iohn Rochester Iac. Wannere Iohn Stone 24. neither good martyrs to god nor good subiects to the king Iohn Trauerse William Horne Powell Fetherstone Abell Beside these were other ix Cartusian Monkes which dyed in the prison of Newgate To the whiche number if ye adde M. More and the Byshop of Rochester the summa totalis commeth to 24. whom the sayd Cope vniustly crowned for Martyrs But of these more shall be sayd the Lord willyng hereafter Thus hauyng discoursed the order of the vi Articles with other matter likewise folowyng in the next Parliament concernyng the condemnation of the Lord Cromwell of Doct. Barnes and his felowes c. Let vs now proceedyng further in this history coÌ„sider what great disturbaunce and vexation ensued after the settyng forth of the sayd Articles through the whole Realme of EnglaÌ„d especially amongest the godly sorte Wherein first were to be mentioned the straite and seuere commissions sent forth by the kynges authoritie to the Byshops Chauncelors Officials to Iustices Maiors Bailiffes in euery shyre Great disturbaÌ„ce in England after the 6. articlâ—â— and other Commissioners by name in the same commissions expressed and amongest other especially to Edmund Boner Byshop of London to the Maior Shiriffes and Aldermen of the same to enquire diligently vpon all hereticall bookes and to burne them also to enquire vpon such persons whatsoeuer culpable or suspected of such felonies heresies contemptes or transgressions or speakyng any wordes contrary the foresayd Act set forth of the sixe Articles Read before pag. 1101. The tenour of whiche Commissions beyng sufficiently expressed in auncient Recordes and in the Bishoppes Registers and also partly touched before pag. 1101. therfore for tediousnesse I here omit onely shewyng forth the Commission directed to EdmuÌ„d Boner Byshop of London to take the othe of the Maior of London and of others for the execution of the Commission aforesayd The tenour wherof here foloweth ¶ The Commission for takyng the othe of the Maior of London and others for the execution of the Acte aforesayd HEnry the eight by the grace of God kyng of England and of Fraunce defender of the fayth Lord of Ireland and in earth supreme head of the Church of England vnto the Reuerend father in Christ Edmund Boner Byshop of London Commission directed to Edm. Boner bishop of London from the king and to his welbeloued the Byshops Chauncellour health Know ye that we haue geuen you ioyntly and seuerally power and authoritie to receaue the othes of William Roche Maior of London Iohn Allen Knight Raffe Warren Knight Rich. Gresham Knight Roger Chomley Knight Sergeant at Law Iohn GreshaÌ„ Michael Dormer Archdeacon of London the Byshops CoÌ„missary and Officiall Robert Chidley Gwy Crayford Edward Hall Robert Broke and Iohn MorgaÌ„ and euery of them our CoÌ„missioners for heresies and other offences done within our Citie of London and Dioces of the same accordyng to the tenour of a certaine schedule hereunto annexed And therfore we commauÌ„de that you receiue the othes aforesayd and when you haue receaued them to certifie vs into our Chauncery vnder your Seales returnyng this our writ T. meipso at Westminster the 29 of Ianuary in the 32. yeare of our reigne What the othe was of these Commissioners whereunto they were bounde read before pag. 1101. * A note how Boner sat in the Guildhall in Commission for the vi Articles And of the condemnyng of Mekins VPon this commission geuen vnto EdmuÌ„d Boner he commyng to the Guildhall with other CoÌ„missioners The story of Rich. Mekins condemned by Boner to sit vpoÌ„ the Statute of the vi Articles begaÌ„ eftsoones to put in execution his authoritie after a rigorous sort as ye shall heare And first he charged certaine Iuries to take their oth vpon y e Statute aforesaid who being sworne had a day appointed to geue their Uerdicte At the which day they indited sundry persons which shortly after were apprehended brought to Ward who after a while remaynyng there were by the kyng his Counsaile discharged at the Starre chaÌ„ber without any further punishment Not loÌ„g after this Syr Wil. Roche being Maior Boner with other CoÌ„missioners sat at the Guildhall aforesayd before whom there were a certaine number of Citizens warned to appeare and after the Commission read the sayd parties were called to the booke and when v. or vi were sworne one of the sayd persoÌ„s beyng called to the booke Boner seemed to mislike and sayd Stay a while my Maisters quoth he I would ye should consider this matter well that we haue in hand whiche concerneth the glory of God the honor of the kyng and the wealth of the Realme and if there be any here amoÌ„g you that doth not consider the same it were better that he were hence then here TheÌ„ commoned the Commissioners with Boner about that man so that at length he was called to the booke and sworne not all together with his good will When the ij Iuries were sworne Boner taketh vpon him to geue the charge vnto the Iuries and began with a tale of Anacarsis by which example he admonished the Iuries to spare no persons Rich. Mekins presented by Boner of what degree soeuer they were And at the end of his charge he brought forth to the barre a boy whose name was Mekins declaryng how greuously he had offended by speaking of certaine wordes agaynst the state and of the death of Doct. Barnes produced into the sayd Court ij witnesses which were there sworne in the face of y e Court So a day was assigned vpoÌ„ which the Iuries aforesayd should geue vp their Uerdict at which day both the Commissioners the sayd Iuries met at Guildhall aforesayd Then the Clarke of the peace called on the Iuries by their names when their appearaunce was taken W. Robins Iurer Boner bad them put in their presentmentes TheÌ„ sayd the foreman whose name was W. Robins of that Iury. My Lord with a low curtesy we haue found nothyng At which wordes he fared as one in an agony sayd Nothyng haue ye
22. article Christ sayde to Peter Feede my sheepe Iohn 21. And thou being conuerted confirme thy brethren Luke 22. And to his Apostles he sayd Goe ye into all the world and preache the Gospell This heresie is onely to the Pope but none at all to God c. Againe S. Paule 1. Corinth 1. sayth That Christ sent him not to baptise but to preache To what other office or function he sent the Pope let thē iudge which consider the Scriptures 23 If thou binde thy selfe to chastitie to obteyne that whyche Christ purchased for thee so surely art thou an Infidell fol. 175. 23 article Reade and conferre the place of Tindall which is thys Chastitie canst thou not geue to God further then God lendeth it thee The place annexed If thou canst not liue chaste thou art boūd to marry or to be damned c. For to what purpose thou bendest thy selfe must be seene If thou do it to obteyne thereby that which Christ hath purchased for thee so art thou an Infidell Chastitye and hast no parte with Christ. If thou wilt see more of this matter looke in Deuteronomy and there shalt thou finde it more largely intreated c. 24 He denieth rebuketh and damneth miracles fol. 176. 24. article The words in Tindals Obedience be these And when they crie miracles The place annexed Miracles how farre to be beleued miracles remember that God hathe made an euerlasting Testamente whiche is in Christes bloud against which we may receiue no miracles no neither the preaching of Paule himselfe if he come agayne by his owne teaching to the Galathians neither yet by the preaching of the Aungels of heauen c. The end of Gods miracles is good the end of these miracles is euill For the offerings which are the cause of the miracles do but minister and maintaine vice sinne and all abhomination and are geuen to them that haue too much so that for very aboundance they some out theyr owne shame and corrupt the whole world with the stinch of their filthines c. 25 He sayth that no man should serue God with good intent or zeale 25. article for it is playne Idolatry fol. 177. The place is this in the Obedience Remember Saule was cast away of God for euer for his good intente God requireth obedience vnto his word The place annexed Good intentes without Gods word God abhorreth and abhorreth all good intents and good zeales which are without Gods worde for they are nothing else but playne Idolatry and woorshipping of false Gods c. ¶ Heere followe other heresies and errours collected by the Byshops out of the booke called the Reuelation of Antichrist with the places of the booke out of the which they were gathered annexed to the same 1. TO binde a man perpetually to any vowe of Religion is without doubt an errour fol. 19. Articles out of the booke called the reuelation of Antichrist The place of the booke called the Reuelation whence this Article is gathered is this as foloweth Whiche the Fathers did neither make nor keepe he meaneth vowes but with the libertie of the spirite binding no man perpetually to them For if they did without doubt they erred according to mans fragilitie 2 To say the constitutions of Religion are good because holy men did ordeyne them 2. article as Augustine Benedict Fraunces Dominicke and such other and to folow such examples of Fathers is to leaue the fayth fol. 19. The place of the article is this But they obiect the statutes and ordinances are good Holy men did make them The place annexed as Augustine Benedict Bernard Fraunces Dominicke and such other To this I aunswer That is euen it that Christ and the Apostles did meane that these works shuld be like to those things which are taught in the Gospell for that they call counterfeiting of the doctrine and priuily bringing in of sectes and heresies because they take only of the fathers examples of workes and leaue the faith c. 3 All morall diuines haue a wicked conscience full of scrupulositie 2. Pet. 2. fol. 3. 3. article Morall diuines be they whose doctrine and hope of saluation consisteth in morall vertues rather then in christian faith apprehending the free promises of God in Christ. And they that be such can neuer be certified in conscience of their saluation but alwayes be full of feare and scrupulositie S. Paule therefore sayeth It is therefore of faith that it might come by grace and y e promise might be firme and sure to the whole seede Rom. 4. Rom. 4. 4 Morall vertues as iustice temperance strength chastitie described by naturall reason maketh a Synagogue ◠article and corrupteth Christes fayth fol. 64. The place of this Article gathered out of the Reuelation is this So many he the Pope he meaneth corrupteth as he hath subdued and led vnder his lawes and imperie The place annexed And who is he in the world that is not subiect vnder him except they be infants or peraduenture some simple persons which are reserued by the inscrutable counsell and prouision of God O thou man of sinne O thou sonne of perdition O thou abhomination O thou corrupter O thou author of euill consciences O thou false maister of good consciences O thou enemie of faith and christen libertie who is able to rehearse yea or to comprehend in his mind the infinite waues of this monstrous * By this king he meaneth the king of 〈◊〉 which Daniell speaketh of 〈◊〉 the 8. chapter Kings euils If he had ordeined these his lawes in those workes of vertues that are commended in the ten precepts or else in such as the philosophers and naturall reason did describe as are iustice strength temperance chastitie mildnes truth goodnes and such other peraduenture they shoulde only haue made a Sinagoge or else haue ordeyned in the world a certaine ciuill iustice for through these also fayth should haue bene corrupted as it was amōgst the Iewes Howbeit nowe hee keepeth not himselfe within these boundes but runneth at riot and more at large raising infinite tempests of mischiefe entising and drawing vs to ceremonies and his owne fayned traditions and bindeth vs like asses and ignorant fooles yea and stockes vnto them c. 5 Christ tooke away all lawes and maketh vs free and at liberty and most of all he suppresseth all ceremonies fol. 65.63 5. article The place of this Article gathered out of the Reuelation is this Christ taking away all lawes to make vs free The place annexed and at libertie did most of all suppresse and disanull the ceremonies which did consist in places persons garmēts meates dayes and such other so that their vse shoulde be to all men most free and indifferent c. What he meaneth by taking away all lawes he declareth a little before saieng he hath not deliuered vs from the law but from the power violence
Illustrem super Validitate Inualiditate Matrimonij inter eosdem Reges contracti consummati rebusque alijs inactis causae causarum huiusmodi latius deductis dilecto filio Paulo Capissucho causaruÌ„ sacri palatij tunc decano propter ipsius Pauli absentiam venerabili fratri nostro Iacobo Simonetae Episcopo Pisauâ—ien vnius ex dicti palatij causauruÌ„ Auditoribus locuÌ„ teneÌ„ti audieÌ„dis instrueÌ„dis in Consistorio nostro Secreto referendis cómissis pereos nobis eiusdeÌ„ Cardinalibus Relatis maturè discussis coraÌ„ nobis peÌ„deÌ„tibus matrimoniuÌ„ inter predictaÌ„ CatherinaÌ„ HeÌ„ricuÌ„ Angliae Reges coÌ„tractuÌ„ inde secuta quaecuÌ„que fuisse esse validuÌ„ canonicuÌ„ validaque Canonica suosque debitos debuisse debere sortiri effectus proleÌ„que exinde susceptam suscipieÌ„daÌ„ fuisse fore legitimaÌ„ praefatuÌ„ HeÌ„ricum Angliae RegeÌ„ teneri obligatuÌ„ fuisse fore ad cohabitanduÌ„ cuÌ„ dictâ— Catherina Regina eius legitima coÌ„iuge illaÌ„que maritali affectione Regio honore tractaÌ„duÌ„ euÌ„deÌ„ HeÌ„ricuÌ„ Angliae Regem ad praemissa omnia singula cuÌ„ effectu adimplenduÌ„ condeÌ„danduÌ„ omnibusque iuris remedijs cogenduÌ„ coÌ„pellenduÌ„ fore prout condeÌ„namus cogimus compellimus molestationesque denegationes per eundeÌ„ HenricuÌ„ RegeÌ„ eideÌ„ Catherinae Reginae super inualiditate ac foedere dicti matrimonij quomodo libet factas praestâ—tas fuisse esse illicitas iniustas eideÌ„ HeÌ„rico Regi super illis ac inualiditate matrimonij huiusmodi perpetuuÌ„ sileÌ„tium imponeÌ„duÌ„ fore imponimê° eundeÌ„que HenricuÌ„ Angliae RegeÌ„ in expensis in huiusmodi causa pro parte dictae Catherinae Reginae coram nobis dictis omnibus legitimè factis coÌ„deÌ„nanduÌ„ fore condeÌ„namus quaruÌ„ expensarum taxationem nobis imposteruÌ„ reseruamus Ita pronuntiamus I. Lata fuit Romae in Palatio Apostolico publice in Consistorio die .xxiii. Martij M.D.XXXIIII Blosius ¶ The effect in English THe effect of this Sentence is as much to meane in english That Pope Clement the vij with the consent of his other brethreÌ„ the Cardinals assembled together in his Consistory The Pope sitteth in the 〈◊〉 of iustice with the 〈◊〉 same fashioÌ„ 〈◊〉 did sit in the seate 〈…〉 Antichrist 〈◊〉 the TeÌ„ple of God And sayd neuer a word 〈◊〉 hauing no bribes 〈◊〉 in his handes nor 〈◊〉 the Emperour in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not thys a gloryous 〈◊〉 that wil haue no beg 〈◊〉 his sonnes daughâ—â—â— Emperours Kinges 〈◊〉 And why then did you 〈…〉 to England 〈◊〉 the same Matriâ—â—â—â— before as appeareth 〈◊〉 pag. 1â—49 sitting there in the throne of A Iustice calling vpon the name B of Christ and hauing God onely before his C eyes doth pronounce define declare in the cause causes betwene his dere daughter Katherine Quene of England appealing to the sea Apostolicke his beloued D sonne Henry the eight king of England concerning y e validity inualidity of the Matrimony heretofore contracted betwene theÌ„ and yet depending in the Consistory court of the said pope Clement that the sayd Matrimony alwaies hath E and still doth stand firme Canonicall that the issue proceding or which shall proceed of the same standeth and shall stand lawfull and legitimate and that the foresayd Henry king of England is and shal be bouÌ„d and obstrict to the Matrimoniall society and cohabitatioÌ„ with the sayd Lady Katherine his lawfull wiâ—e Quene to hold and maynteine her with such loue and princely honor as becommeth a louing husbande and his kingly honor to do Also that the sayd Henry king of England if he shall refuse so to performe and accomplish all and singuler the premisses in all effectuall maner is to be condemned and compelled hereunto by all remedies of (F) (F) By his owne Canon law â—e meaneth 〈◊〉 by the lawe of God the law enforced according as we do coÌ„demne compell and enforce him so to do prouiding that al molestations and refusals whatsoeuer made by the sayde king Henry agaynst the sayde Queene Katherine vpon the inualidity of the sayd Mariage to haue bene and to be iudged vnlawful and vniust and the sayd king froÌ„ henceforth for euer to hold his peace and not to be heard in any Court hereafter (G) (G) Here thou mayst see good reader howe the Pope may doth 〈◊〉 lykâ— a false Prophet For where he thought to put the king â—o silence tâ—e saâ—e silence lighted vpon himselfe whereby the Pope is driuen himselfe to stand mute in EnglaÌ„d God graunt he may so stand for euer Amen to speake touching the inualidity of the sayd matrimony like as we also do here will and charge him to holde his peace and do put him to perpetuall silence herein Willing moreouer adiudging the sayd king henry to be condemned and presently here doe condemne him in the expenses on the sayde Quene Katherines behalfe here in our Court exposed employed in trauersing the foresaid cause the valuation of which expenses we reserue to our selues to be limited and taxed as we shall iudge meete hereafter We do so pronounce I. At Rome in our Apostolicall palace publickely in our Consistory 23. Mart. M.D.XXXIIII Blosius Now as you haue heard the presumptuous and arrogant Sentence of Pope Clement wherein he taketh vpon him contrary to the ordinaunce of God in his Leuiticall law as before is shewed pag. 1025. and contrary to y e best learned iudgementes of Christendome to commaund and compell the king agaynst his conscience to reteine in Matrimony his brothers wife here foloweth in like order to be inferred according to my promise an other like wicked blasphemous Pope Leo his Bull agaynst Luther and the Appellation of M. Luther from the Pope by way of an Appendix and sclauÌ„derous Bull of Pope Leo against Martin Luther with the iust Appellation also of the sayd Martin Luther from the Pope to a generall Counsell Wherein may appeare to all men the lying spirite of the pope both in teaching most heretical doctrine derogating from the bloud of Christ and also falsely deprauing peruerting the sound doctrine of Luther falsely and vntruely charging him with heresy when he is the greater heretick himselfe For what hereticke would euer say that the churche of Rome was consecrate and sanctified by the bloud of Peter but onely the Pope Or who would cal this heresy to referre al our saluation and sanctification onely and totally to the bloud of the sonne of God vnlesse he were an hereticke of all heretickes himselfe After the like dealing we read .3 Reg. 18. of wicked king Achab The Pope playeth with Luther as Achab played with Elias saying that he was the troubler of Israell when it was he himselfe and his fathers house that so did who being onely the disturber of Israel himselfe crieth out vpon Elias for troubling Israel So here in semblablewise
the workes of fayth mercy prescribed in the same word Differeâ—â— betweeâ— worâ—â—s câ—â—â—maundeâ— God 〈◊〉 workes 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and not vnto workes deuised by mans fantasy as going on pilgrimages and other lyke idolatrous superstitions the which they should also to the vttermost of theyr powers reproue and speak agaynst declaring that all grace goodnes ought onely to be soughte for at gods hand as the alone geuer therof not at any other câ—eature And that they shoulde not onely foorthwyth take down and destroy all such Images as had bene thertofore abused by pilgrimage or offerings within theyr said cures Images â—â—bused 〈◊〉 Pilgrimâ—â—â— to be deâ—stroyed but also should not thenceforth suffer any lightes or other idolatrous oblation to be made or set vp before any other image then was yet suffered in the Church Also that euery holy day hauing no Sermon in theyr Church they should immediatly after the gospel distinctly read in the Pulpit the Lordes prayer Annâ— 154â— the beliefe and the x. commauÌ„demeÌ„ts of almighty God in the english toung The 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 prayer 〈◊〉 English be read Parentâ— maister charged trading of their childreâ— Sacramâ—â—â—â— to be 〈…〉 exhorting the people not only to learn theÌ„ theyr selues but also to teach them to theyr childreÌ„ families also should charge all Parentes and gouernors of housholds to bring vp their youth in some good exercise or occupation wherby they might afterwards serue the common wealth and not runne and like vagabondes and idle loyterers thereby encur the daunger of the lawes And furthermore that the sayd persons hauing cure should see the holy Sacramentes of Christ reuerently ministred within theyr cures that if any of them by speciall licence or other cases expressed in the Statutes of thys realme should be at any time absent from theyr benefices that then they should leaue in theyr rowmes some Godly learned and discreet Curate that were able to instruct the people in all truth and godlines not seking theÌ„selues but rather the profit of theyr flocke And likewise that they should see prouided and set vp some most conuenient and open place of euery their seuerall Churches one great Bibe in english one book of the Paraphrases of Erasmus vpon the gospels both in English that the people might reuerentlye without any argument or contention read heare the same at such times as they listed and not to be inhibited therfroÌ„ by the Parson or Curate but rather to be the more encouraged and prouoked thereto And that the sayd Parsons and Curates should not at any time but for necessary causes haunt anye Tauerne or Ale house neither should spend their time idlely in vnlawfull games but at all theyr conuenient leasures shoulde geue theÌ„selues to the reading or hearing of the holy scriptures Moreouer that in the time of confession euery Lent they should examine theyr parishners whether they could say the Lordes prayer the ten commaundementes and the articles of the Christian fayth and that if they coulde not they should then reproue them declaring further vnto theÌ„ that they ought not to presume to come vnto y e Lordes table without the true knowledge therof and earnest desire to fulfill the same Also that they shoulde not admitte any man to preache within theyr cures but suche as were lawefully licensed thereunto None to preach 〈◊〉 â—â—fficiently 〈◊〉 and that they hauing at anye tyme before extolled and praysed any Idolatrous Pilgrimage or other superstition should now openly recant the same before the people That all hinderers of Gods word and fauourers of the contrary proceedings should 〈◊〉 detected Ecclesiaâ—ticall and beneficed persons what they must 〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉 beneâ—â—â— of a 〈◊〉 pouâ—d to finde a scholer at the vniuersitye And if there were any open hinderer or disturber of the reading or preaching of the word of God within their parishes that then they should forthwith detect the same vnto the kinges counsell or vnto some Iustice of peace to theÌ„ next inhabiting And further that learning and knowledge might be y e better mayntayned it was also ordeined herein that euery beneficed persoÌ„ y t inought yerely dispend twenty pouÌ„des or vpward and not resident vpon their cures should pay towardes the reliefe of the poore within theyr parishes euery yeare the fourty part of theyr fruites and profites likewise that euery suche as might dispende one hundreth poundes yearely or more should for euery hundreth pouÌ„d geue a competent exhibition vnto some poore scholer within one of the Uniuersityes of Oxford or Cambridge or els in some other grammer schole of the realme And also that euery priest being vnder the degree of a Bacheler of Diuinity should haue of his owne one newe Testament in English and Latine with the Paraphrases of Erasmus vpon the same and should diligeÌ„tly read and study therupon and should collect and keep in memory all such comfortable places of the scripture as do set forth the mercy benefites and goodnes of almighty God towardes all penitent beleuing persons that they might therby coÌ„fort theyr flock in al dauÌ„ger of death Certaine â—hinges to â—e prouided 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—rchmen dispayre or trouble of conscience and that therfore euery bishop in theyr visitations should from time to time try and examine them how they had profited in these theyr studyes And although the Masse was then still by the Law reteyned yet was it enioyned that at euery high masse the sayer or singer therof should openly and distinctly read the Gospell and Epistle in English in the Pulpit or in some other conuenient place that the people mought heare the same The Gospel 〈◊〉 epistle to 〈◊〉 read in 〈…〉 And in like place and maner should read euery holy day and Sonday at Mattins one chapter of the new Testament in English omitting therfore three of theyr 9. Latine Lessons with theyr Respondes and at Euensong like wise immediately after Magnificat one chapter of the old Testament in stead of theyr wonted Respondes and Memories Furthermore because of the vayne contention that often fall among the people for goyng on Procession it was ordeined that thenceforth the Priests and Clerkes should kneele in the midst of the Church there distinctly sing or reade the Letany in English sette forth by the authority of K. Henry the eight and that no person should depart the church in the time of reading the Scripture or the Letany or during the time of any Sermon without iust and vrgent cause Likewise that the people should spend the holydaies in hearing the word of God in priuate and publick prayers in knowledging theyr offences vnto God and amendmeÌ„t of the same in reconciling themselues charitablye to theyr neighbors where displeasure hath bene in often receiuing the Communnion of the body and bloud of Christ in visiting the poore sicke in all sober and godly conuersatioÌ„ and not in vanity idlenes or dronkenes
bishop of Rome should sodainly arriue in some place of England eyther driuen by tempest or of purpose to do hurt ye should see such order kept by firing of their Becons as hath already bene written vnto you by our letters to repulse the same in so good aray as you can as we do not doubt but you will for the safegard of your countrey so that the enemy shall haue little ioy of his comming and for that purpose you shall see diligently that men haue horse harnesse and other furniture of weapon ready according to the Statutes and good orders of the realme and the kings maiesties commandements And so for this tyme ye may depart What zealous care was in this yong kyng and in the L. Protector his vncle Tâ—e singular zeale of king Edward and his Vncle in reforming religion concerning reformatioÌ„ of Christes Church and sincere religion by these Iniunctions letters precepts and exhortations as well to the bishops as to y e Iustices of the realme aboue premised it may right well appeare Wherby we haue to note not so much the careful diligence of the king and his learned counsaile as the lingering slacknes and drawing backe on the other side of diuers the said Iustices and Lawyers but especially of Bishops The slacknes of Popish Curates in furthering the kinges proceedinges and old popish curates by whose cloked contempt wilfull winkyng and stubburne disobedience the booke of common prayer was long after the publishing therof eyther not knowen at all or els very irreuerently vsed thoroughout many places of this realme Which when y e king by complaint of diuers perfectly vnderstood beyng not a little agreued to see the godly agrement of the learned the willyng consent of the Parliament and his graces owne zealous desire to take so small effect among his subiects decreed presently with the aduise of his whole Counsaile agayne to write vnto all the bishops of his realme for spedy and diligent redresse therin willing and commanding them therby that as well they themselues should thenceforth haue a more speciall regard to the due executioÌ„ of the premisses as also that all others within their seuerall precincts and iurisdiction should by their good instructions willing example be the more oftener and with better deuotion mooued to vse and frequent the same As further appeareth by the contents of hys letter here ensuyng ¶ Another letter directed by the King and hys Counsaile to Boner Bish. of London partly rebuking hym of negligence partly chargyng hym to see to the better settyng out of the seruice booke within his Diocesse RIght reuerend father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greete you well An other letter to Boner Byshop of London and where as after great and serious debating and long conference of the bishops and other graue and well learned men in the holy Scriptures one vniforme order for common prayers and administration of the Sacramentes hath bene and is most godly set forth not only by the common agreement and full assent of the nobilitie and Commons of the late Session of our late Parliament but also by the lyke assent of the bishops in the same Parliament and of all others the learned mâ— of this our realme in their Synodes and conuocations prouinciall Like as it was much to our comfort to vnderstand the godly trauaile then diligently willingly taken for the true openyng of things mentioned in the sayd booke whereby the true seruice and honour of almighty God and the right ministration of the Sacraments beyng well and sincerely set forth accordyng to the Scriptures vse of the primatiue church much idolatry vayne superstition great and slanderous abuses be taken away so it is no small occasion of sorow vnto vs to vnderstand by the complaints of many that our sayd booke so much traueled for also sincerely set forth as is aforesaid remayneth in many places of this our realme eyther not knowen at all or not vsed or at the least if it be vsed very seldome The kinges booke neglected and that in such light and irreuerent sort as the people in many places either haue herd nothing or if they heare they neither vnderstand nor haue that spirituall delectation in the same that to good christians appertaineth The fault wherof lyke as we must of reason impute to you and other of your vocation called by God thorough our appointment to haue due respect to this and such lyke matters so consideryng that by these and such like occasions our louyng subiectes remaâ—ne yet still in their old blyndnes and superstitious errors and in some places in an irreligious forgetfulnes of God wherby his wrath may be prouoked vpon vs and them and remembring with all that amongst other cures committed to our princely charge we thinke this the greatest to see the glory and true seruice of hym maintained extolled by whose clemency we knowledge our selues to haue all that we haue we could not but by aduise and consent of our deerest vncle Edward duke of Somerset gouernour of our person and protector of our realme dominions and subiects and the rest of our priuy counsaile Anno 1549. admonish you of the premisses Wherein as it had bene your office to haue vsed an earnest diligence and to haue preferred the same in all places within your Diocesse as the case required so haue we thought good to pray and require you Boners neâ—â—ligence noted and neuerthelesse straightly to charge and commaund you that from henceforth ye haue an earnest and speciall regard to the reduce of these things so as the Curates may do their dueties more often and in more reuerent sort the people be occasioned by the good aduises and examples of your selfe your Chauncellor Archdeacons and other inferior ministers to come with oftener and more deuotioÌ„ to their sayd common prayers to geue thanks to God and to be pertakers of the most holy Communion Wherein shewyng your selfe diligent and geuyng good example in your owne person you shall both discharge your duty to the great pastor to whom we all haue to accompt and also do vs good seruice and on the other side if we shall hereafter these our letters and commaundement notwithstandyng haue eftsoones complaint and finde the lyke faults in your dioces we shall haue iust cause to impute the fault thereof and of all that ensue thereof vnto you and consequently be occasioned therby to see otherwyse to the redresse of these things wherof we would be sory And therfore we do eftsoones charge and commaund you vpon your allegiance to loke well vpon your duety herein as ye tender our pleasure Geuen vnder our signet at our Manor of Richmond the 23. of Iuly the 3. yeare of our raigne 1549. The B. of London among the rest of the bishops receiuyng these letters did as alwayes tofore in outward shew willingly accept the same and therfore immediately with the sayd letters directed this his precept
conuented and compelled to make aunswer against his will I therefore Edmond Bishop of London hauing perceiued and felt by all the sayings proceedings and doyngs of you sir Thomas Smith Knight one of the two principall Secretaries to the kings Maiestie in this matter attempted and mooued agaynst me that ye haue bene and yet continually are a notorious and manifest enemy of me the sayd Edmond and much offended that I should in any wyse alledge and say or vse any such things for my most defence as the law geueth me licence and libertie to do yea hearyng most fauourably and effectually my denouncers and enemies with both eares in any thyng that they shall alledge purpose attempt or do agaynst me though their persons in lawe are not in any wyse to be heard or admitted ne yet their sayinges true and not hearing me so much as with one eare in my lawfull saiengs and doinges in this behalfe but contrarywise openyng your mouth at large ye haue sundry tymes against good wisedome and reason outraged in wordes and deedes against me the sayd Edmond saying among other wordes that I did as theeues murtherers and traytors are woont to doe beyng my selfe as ye vntruly did say inward in deed culpable and yet outward otherwyse vnable to defend the matter against me but onely by takyng exceptions and making friuolous allegations agaynst my Iudges and Commissioners and that I haue bene and am as sturdye wilfull and disobedient as may be in your iudgement and opinion maintaining and vpholding the rebels and their opinions and that I shall aunswer by mouth or els smart and doe worse or els ye will send me to the Tower there to sit and be ioyned with Kette and Humfrey Arundell the Rebels ouer and besides diuers other threatnings and comminatorie wordes by you pronounced and vttered vnseemely and far vnmeet to proceed out of the mouth of you that are in such rowme and place as ye be in And moreouer increasing your malice euil will and grudge borne agaynst me ye haue amongest other thynges vntruly surmised written alledged and sayd that a certayne booke of Articles and Iniunctions by the Lord Protectours Grace in the full counsayle after a certayne prescribed fashion and fourme in the denunciation commission and Articles which de facto were induced brought in and obiected agaynst me Here Boner most proudly shametâ— not to belye the kinges Secretary and one of his Maiesties CouÌ„saile charging him with alteâ—ing adding vnto the Counsailes Iniunctions was deliuered vnto me and moreouer of an euill will and vngodly intent purpose contrary to the truth ye haue withdrawen added altered and qualified diuers thynges in the same otherwyse then they were spoken or done and yet ye are not ashamed to alleadge write and say that all is true and one consonant and agreeable in all poyntes with the other where in deede it is not so And ye haue further de facto agaynst the law and agaynst the Commission to you directed and agaynst my iust and lawfull allegations saiengs proceeded vnlawfully vniustly agaynst me atteÌ„pting many things agaynst me vnlawfully vniustly as appeareth ni the acts of this matter to the which I do referre me so far forth as they make for me Anno 1550. and be expedient by me and for me to bee alledged and referred vnto your selfe also vnlawfully and vniustly de facto with your Colleagues the which without you had begun the sayd matters proceedyng where by the law ye so ought not to haue done in deede but abstained there from as heretofore sondry tymes I haue alleaged appearyng in the actes of this Court doe vpon these iust and reasonable causes accordyng to the order of the Kings Maiesties Ecclesiasticall lawes refuse The popes lawes termed by the name of the kinges Ecclesiasticall lawes decline and recuse you the sayd Sir Thomas Smith as an vncompetent vnmeete and suspect Iudge agaynst me in this behalfe and decline your pretensed iurisdiction in this matter for causes aforesayd desiring nothyng but Iustice and offeryng my selfe prompt and ready to prooue them so farre as I am bound and accordyng to the order of the Kings Maiesties Ecclesiasticall lawes of this Realme in this behalfe as tyme place and otherwyse shall require This recusation ended the Secretary told him plaine that that notwithstandyng he would proceed in his Commission and would be still his Iudge The reply of Secretary Smith to Boners allegations vntill he were otherwise inhibited and sayd vnto him farther My Lord where as you say in your recusation that I sayd that you did like thieues murtherers and traytors in deed I sayd it and may and will so say agayne since we perceiue it by your doings Whereunto the Bishop in a great and stoute rage replied Boner saying Well sir because you sit here by vertue of the Kings Commission and for that ye be Secretary to hys maiestie and also one of his highnes counsail I must and do honour and reuerence you but as you be but sir Thomas Smith say as ye haue said that I do lyke theeues murtherers Boner in a pelting chafe agaynst Syr Tho. Smyth The Archb. and traytors I say ye lye vpon me in that case I defie you and doe what ye can to me I feare you not and therfore quod facis fac citius Whereat the Archbishop with the other Commissioners said vnto him that for such his vnreuerent behauior he was worthy imprisonment Boner Then the Bishop in more mad fury then before sayd againe vnto them A Gods name ye may do de facto send me whether you will and I must obey you and so wil except ye send me to the deuill for thether I will not go * I pray God ye gâ—e not for your selfe for you Three things I haue to wit a small portioÌ„ of goods a poore carcase and myne owne soule the two first ye may take though vniustly to you but as for my soule ye get not quia anima mea in manibus meis semper Secretary Smyth Well sayd then the Secretary ye shal know that there is a kyng Yea Sir saith the Bishop but that is not you neither I am sure Boner will you take it vpon you No Sir sayd agayne the Secretary but we will make you know who it is Secretary Smyth and with that the Commissioners commanded the bishop and all the rest to depart the chamber vntill they called for him agayne Now in the meane whyle that the Commissioners were in consultation the Bishop with Gilbert Bourne his chapleine Rob. Warnington his Commissary Rob. Iohnson his Register were tarying in a quadrant voyde place before the dore of the same chamber Where the Bishop leanyng on a cupboord and seyng his Chapleins very sad Boners talke to his Chapleins in the quadrant place before the chamber of presence at Lambeth sayd vnto them in effect as followeth Syrs what meane you Why
Letters reuerenciall or demissories to be geuen and deliuered vnto mee in this behalfe with all thynges expedient requisite or necessarie in any wyse and thereupon also the sayd Bishop required the Publike Notary or Actuary William Saye to make an Instrument and the witnesse aforesayde and other present to recorde the same To whom so appealyng and requiryng as afore the sayde Iudges delegate sayd that they wyll declare and signifie to the Kinges Maiestie what is done in this matter and thereuppon will deferre or not deferre to his sayde appellation accordyng as hys graces pleasure and commaundement shall be to them in that behalfe and after all this the sayd Byshop of London sayd to them Iam â—uncti estis officio What wyll your grace doe with me nowe touchyng my imprisonment wyll ye keepe me still in prison shall I not now be at liberty to prosecute myne appeale To whom the Archb. aunswering sayd that they perceyued now more in that matter then they did at the first that this matter is more greater rebellion then he is ware of and therfore said that as yet they would not discharge him and thereupon they committed him agayne to his keeper to prison This talke finished the Archbishop considering that most of the audience there present The 〈◊〉 declare in the effect of Boners Sentence 〈◊〉 Englyshe did not vnderstand the meanyng of the sentence beyng read in the Latin tongue sayd vnto them Because there be many of you here that vnderstand not the Latine tongue and so cannot tel what iudgement hath bene here geuen I shall therefore shewe you the effect thereof and therewith did declare in English the causes expressed in the sentence adding then therevnto these wordes Because my L. of London is found guilty in these matters Boner deâ—priued anâ— vnbishop therefore we haue here by our sentence depriued hym of our bishoprike of London and this we shew vnto you to the intent that from henceforth ye shall not esteeme hym any more as B. of London Then Boner desired the Archbish. to declare likewise what he had done and how he had appeâ—ed Boners â—â—â—â—daynefuâ— wordes 〈◊〉 the Comâ—missioneâ—â— But the other seing his froward contempt refused it saieng ye may doe it your selfe Wherupon very disdainfully againe he sayd Iam functi estis officio What will your grace do w t me touching my imprisonment will you kepe me stil in prison To whom the commissioners answered that they perceiued now more in the matter then they did before that his behauiour was more greater rebellion then hee was ware of and therefore they would not discharge hym Boner aâ—gayne câ—â—mitted tâ— his keepâ— but committed him agayne to his keeper to be kept in prison Where he most iustly remained vntil the deth of that most worthy godly prince king Edward the sixt After which time he wrought most horrible mischiefe and cruelties against the saints of God as appeareth hereafter throughout the whole raigne of Queene Marie From the executing of the which like tirannie Anno 1549. the Lord of his great mercy keepe all other such Amen Now immediately after his depriuation he writeth out of the Marshalsey other letters supplicatorie vnto y e Lord Chancelor and the rest of the kings Counsaile Wherein he thus complaineth that by reason of the great enemity that the Duke of Somerset and sir Thomas Smith bare vnto him his often and earnest suites vnto the King and hys counsaile could not be heard Hee therefore moste humbly desireth their Lordships for the causes aforesaide to consider him and to let him haue libertie to prosecute his matter before them and he woulde daily pray for the good preseruation of theyr honors as appeareth by the woordes of his owne supplication here vnder following Thus after the Commissioners had finished with Boner he bâ—ing now prisoner in the Marshalsey leauing no shift of the law vnsought how to worke for him self as wel as he mighte drewe out a certaine supplication conceiued and directed to the kings maiestie out of the sayd prison of the Marshalsey To the right honourable my Lorde Chancelor of England with all the rest of the kings Maiesties most honorable priuie counsel PLease it your most honourable good Lordshippes wyth my moste humble commendations to vnderstande that all beit heeretofore I haue made such sute and to such persons as I cannot deuise to make more or to more higher it is to wit vnto the kings most excellent maiestie and his most gratious persons in diuers sorts and also vnto your most honorable good Lordships being of his priuie counsell for redresse of suche notable and manifest iniuries and extremities as hath bene contrary to all law honestie and good reason inflicted vnto me by my Lord of Canterburie my Lorde of Rochester Doctor Smith and Doctor May yet because the sayd Doctor Smith being a minister to the Duke of Somerset and they both my deadly ennemies hath sondry wayes studied and laboured my ruine and destruction staying and letting heretofore all my lawfull remedies and â—utes hauing therein helpe and furtherance of these two other aforesayd persons being ready at foote and hand to accomplish all theyr desires and pleasures I shall at thâ—â— presence hauing for a time forborne to trouble for good respectes your moste honorable good Lordshyppes with any myâ—â—tes and especially for your other manifold great affaires in the kinges Maiesties businesse my selfe yet the meane while neither wanting good will ne yet iust cause being where I am to make such sute renue my sute and most humbly beseeche your most honorable good lordshippes to geue me leaue to make most humble supplication againe to your sayd Lordshippes for honest and lawful 〈◊〉 to prosecute my appelâ—atioÌ„ and supplication heretoâ—ore made to the kings moste excellent Maiestie and according â—o the law to make my sute for redresse of the sayde 〈…〉 extremities and wrongs don 〈…〉 the sayd parsones And your sayd Lordships ouer and besides the furtheraunce of iustice many wayes 〈◊〉 me and other and the collection of the kings maiestie Subsidie nowe to be leuied of the Clergie in my diocesse 〈…〉 hath ben and is staied by reason of the premisses shall also binde me moste greatly and intirely to pray daily for the good preseruation of your sayd moste honourable good Lordshippes in all honour felicitie and ioy long to continue and endure vnto Gods pleasure Wrytten in the Marshalsey the 26. of October 1549. Your Lordships most faithful assured Bedes man E. Lon. A supplication made and directed by Edmund Boner late B. of London to the kings Maiestie out of the prison of the Marshalsey 〈◊〉 supâ—â—ication 〈◊〉 the king In the which supplication first after the vsed forme of stile he praied for the prosperous estate of the king long to raigne Then he shewed that his faithful heart and seruice to him hath is and shall be as it was to his father before Then â—e declared how he
abolish them all then for the dead Images the Kings louing subiects being faythfull and true to the kings maiestie should be put to variaÌ„ce and disturbance With quietnes the Magistrates and Rulers shall keepe theÌ„ well in order whom coÌ„tentious preachers might iritate and prouoke to disorder strife So it must be prouided that the kings Maiest Images Armes and Ensignes should be honoured and worshipped after y e decent order and inuention of humane lawes and ceremonies and neuertheles that other Images coÌ„trary to Gods ordinance and lawes shuld not be made partakers of that reuerence adoration and inuocation which forbidden by God should derogate his honor be occasion to accumulate Gods wrath vpon vs. Where they be takeÌ„ for a remeÌ„brance it maketh no great matter though they stand still in the Church or Marketstead and folowing the late king of famous memory his counsell order More gentlenes shewed to the bookes of Images then to the bookes of Gods worde in King Henryes tyme. yet more gentlenesse was shewed to those bookes of Images then to the true and vnfained bookes of Gods word both being abused the one with Idolatry the other with coÌ„tentioÌ„ The scripture was remoued for a time from certaine persons and almost from all the Images were left still to them who most dyd abuse them y e thing yet being closed froÌ„ them which should teach y e vse Wherefore it may appeare vnto vs meete more diligenter heede to be takeÌ„ that the abused before be not abused againe the aduantage of some Priests simplicitie of lay men and great inclination of mans nature to Idolatry geuing cause thereunto They that contemne Images because the matter they are made of is but vile as stockes and stones may likewise despise printing in paper because the meke hath pitch in â— the paper is made of old ragges And if they be both like it might be reasoned why a man should be more agreeued that an Image of wood though it were of S. Anne or S. Margaret should be burned Papistes 〈◊〉 better abidâ— the booke of Gods word then Images to be burned then hee will that the Byble wherein the vndoubted word of God is comprised should be torne in peces burned or made paste of Nor we do not now speake of false Bibles nor false gospels but of y e very true Gospell either in Latin Greeke or english which we see euery day done sometime commaunded because the Translator displeaseth vs yet herein no man exclaimeth as of a terrible and detestable fact done But let one image either for age because it is wormeaten or because it hath ben foolishly abused be burnt or abolished by and by some men are in exceeding rage as though not a stocke or stone but a true saint of flesh and bone should be cast in the fire which were a detestable and a terrible sight We cannot see but that Images may be counted marueylous bookes to whom we haue kneeled whom we haue kissed vpoÌ„ whom we haue rubbed our beades and handkerchers to whome we haue lighted candels Images falsely called and counted 〈◊〉 lay mens bookes of whome we haue asked pardon and helpe which thing hath seldome bene sene done to the Gospell of God or to the very true Bible For who kisseth y t but the priest at y e Masse at a painted picture or in such a ceremony Or who kneeleth vnto it or setteth a candle before it And yet it seeth or heareth as well as the Images or pictures eyther of S. Iohn our Lady or Christ. In deede Images be great letters yet as big as they be we haue seene many which haue read them amisse And belike they are so likely to be read amisse that God himselfe fearing y e Iewes to become euill readers of theÌ„ generally did forbid them Nor it is no great maruell though in reading of them the lay people are many times deceaued Winchesâ—â—â— ouerseene in mistakâ—â—â— the kingeâ— Image foâ— S. Georgâ— on horseâ— backe wheÌ„ your Lordship as appeareth hath not truly read a most true and a most commoÌ„ Image Your Lordship hath fouÌ„d out in the Kings highnes great seale S. George on horseback which the grauer neuer made in it nor y e sealer neuer sealed with it and in this the inscription is not very little and if it were it could not escape your Lordships eyes As the inscription testifieth the Kings Image is on both the sides on the one side as in war the chiefe Captaine on the other side as in peace the liege soueraigne in harnes with his sword drawne to defend his subiects in his robes in the seate of Iustice with his Scepter rightfully to rule and gouerne them as he whome both in peace and war we acknowledge our most natural and chiefest head ruler gouernour If it were S. George my Lord where is hys speare and dragon And why should the inscription round about tell an vntruth and not agree to the Image Yet it is called sometime so of the rude and ignorant people but not by and by that that is commonly called so is alwayes truest And some haue thought that by like deceauing as your Lordship herein appeareth to haue ben deceaued the image of Bellerephon or Perseus was turned first appointed to be S. George of Poliphemus of Hercules or of other some Colossus to be S. Christopher bicause autenticall histories haue not fully proued their two lyues But those be indifferent to be true or not true either thus inuented vpoÌ„ some deuise or rising of a true fact or history whether it were true or not it maketh no great matter If it be agaynst 〈◊〉 that learâ—â— men shoâ— take froÌ„ 〈◊〉 vnlearneâ— the bookâ— of their â—â—mages much 〈◊〉 is it agaâ—â— reason 〈◊〉 take froâ— them the booke◠〈◊〉 Gods 〈◊〉 It were hardly done in deede my Lord if that you and a few which can reade should take away from the vnlearned multitude their bookes of their Images but it were more hardly done if that you or a few which can reade in one or two languages as Greeke and Latin the word of God and haue had thereby many relieues and priuiledges should pull away the english bookes from the rest whych only vnderstandeth english and would haue only youre letters of Greeke and Latin in estimation and blinde all them which vnderstandeth not these languages from the knowledge of Gods word And indeede my Lord by your saying they haue iust occasion to suspect what is meant What meane you by true Images and false Images it is not so easie to perceaue If they be onely false Images which haue nothing that they represent 1. Cor. â— Wincheâ—â— distinctâ—â—â— betweeâ— true 〈◊〉 Images futed as s. Paul writeth An idol is nothing bicause ther is no such God therfore the Crosse can be no false image because it is true y t Christ suffered vpon it then the Image of y e Sun and
Nihil mihi conscius sum sed non in hoc iustificatus sum Wherefore if any specially be obiected vnto me wherein by ignorance or ouersight negligence any mine offence may appeare against the kings Maiesties lawes Statutes and Iniunctions I shal desire and protest that it be not preiudiciall to mine aunsweare for thys present credo as lawyers in ciuill matters vse that terme to be true y t is to say suche as w tout any alteration in my conscience presently I may of my selfe say in affirmation or denial as afore is answered And whereas I speake of commaundement to be made to me against Gods lawe I protest not to touch my soueraigne Lordes honor therin which my duetie is by al meanes to preserue but that the commādement geuen resolueth to be against Gods law on my part in the obediēce to be geuē because I may not answer or say otherwise but Est est non non So as my wordes and heart may agree together or els I should offend Gods lawe which my soueraigne if he knew my conscience would not command me After these things thus passed certaine of the Counsail by the kings appoyntment had sondry daies and times accesse to him in the Tower to perswade with hym whiche were these the Duke of Somerset the lord Treasurer the Lord priuie Seale the Lord great Chamberlaine and M. Secretary Peter Winchester requireth the sight of the kinges booke of proceedinges Who repairing to him the x. day of Iune an 1550. he desired of them to see the kings booke of proceedings vpon the sight wherof he would make a ful answer seeming to be willinge in all thinges to conforme himselfe therunto and promising that in case any thing offēded his conscience he would open it to none but to the Counsaile Whereupon it was agreed the booke should be sent him to see his answer that his case might be resolued vpon that for the meane time he should haue the libertie of the galery and gardine in the Tower when the Duke of Northfolke were absent The king then was lying at Grenewich at which time the Lieftenant of the tower was appoynted to deliuer the kings booke to the bishop of Winchester winchester denyeth to make any direct aunswere to the booke vnlesse he were at liberty Who within thre dayes after which was the 13. of Iune made declaration againe vnto the counsaile that the Bishop hauing perused it said vnto him he could make no direct answer vnlesse he were at libertie and so being he woulde say hys conscience Whereupon the Lordes and other that had bene with him the other day were apointed to go to him againe to receiue a direct aunswer that the Counsail therupon might determine further order for him The aunswer of the bishop being receiued through the report of the Lordes which had ben with him Winchesters aunswers euer doubtfull declaration was made again the 8. day of Iuly 1550. that his answers were euer doutful refusing while he were in prisō to make any direct aunswer Wherefore it was determined that he shoulde be directly examined whether he woulde sincerely conforme himself vnto the kings maiesties proceedings or not For which purpose it was agreed y t particulare articles should be drawne Articles and letters sent to Winchester to see whether he woulde subscribe them or not and a letter also directed vnto hym from the kinges highnesse with the which the L. Treasurer the L. great maister the maister of the horse and master Secretarie Peter shoulde repaire vnto hym the tenour of whyche letter heereafter ensueth ¶ A letter sent to the Bishop of Winchester signed by the king and subscribed by the Counsaile IT is not we thinke vnknowen vnto you with what clemency and fauour The kings letter to Winchester we by the aduise of our Counsayle caused you to be heard and vsed vpon these sundry complaintes and informations that were made to vs our said Counsaile of your disordered doinges and wordes both at the tyme of our late visitation and otherwise Which notwithstāding considering that the fauour both then and many other tymes ministred vnto you wrought rather an insolent wilfulnes in your selfe thē any obediente conformitie such as would haue beseemed a man of your vocation we could not but use some demonstration of iustice towardes you Notorious contemptes in Winchester noted as well for such notorious and apparaunt contemptes and other inobediences as after and contrary to our commaundement were openly knowen in you as also for some example and terrour of such others as by your example seemed to take courage to mutter and grudge agaynst our most godly proceedinges whereof great discord inconuenience at that tyme might haue ensued For the auoyding whereof for your iust deseruinges you were by our sayde Counsayle committed to warde Where albeit we haue suffred you to remaine a long space sending vnto you in the meane tyme at sundry tymes diuers of the Noble men and others of our priuy Counsayle and trauayling by them with clemencye and fauour to haue reduced you to the knowledge of your duety yet in al this time haue you neyther knowledged your faultes nor made any such submission as might haue beseemed you nor yet shewed any apparāce either of repētāce or of any good conformitye to our godly proceedinges Wherewith albeit we both haue good cause to be offēded might also iustly by the order of our lawes cause your former doinges to be reformed and punished to the exāple of others yet for that we would both the world your self also shuld know that we delite more in clemency then in the straight administratiō of iustice we haue vouchsafed not only to a dresse vnto you these our letters but also to sēd eftsones vnto you 4. of our priuy coūsel with certain articles which being by vs with the aduise of our sayde Counsaile considered Anno 1551. we thinke requisite for sondry considerations to be subscribed by you and therefore woulde and commaunde you to subscribe the saide Articles vpon paine of incurring such punishment and penalties as by our lawes may be put vppon you for not doing the same Geuen at our palace of Westminster the 8. day of Iulye the 4. yeare of oure raigne With this letter addressed from the king and his Counsaile these Articles also were deliuered to the B. of Winchester here following The copie of the Articles The Bishop◠aunswere to this article in the margent WHereas I Steuen bishop of Winchester haue ben suspected as one too much fauouring the bishop of Romes aucthoritie decrees and ordinaunces and as one that did not approoue or allow the kings maiesties proceedinges in alteration of certayne rites in religion was conuented before the kings highnes counsaile and admonished therof and hauing certaine things appoynted for me to doe and preache for my declaration haue not done that as I ought to do although I promised to do the same
made this aunswer againe That first touching the Article of submission he woulde in no wise consent affirming as hee had done before that he had neuer offended the kings Maiestye in any such sorte as shoulde geue hym cause thus to submit himselfe praying earnestly to be brought vnto his trial wherin he refused the kings mercy and desired nothing So ye right 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 turned 〈◊〉 altar to 〈◊〉 but iustice And for the rest of the articles he aunswered that after he were past his triall in this firste poynt and were at libertie then it should appeare what he would do in them not being as he said reasonable that he should subscribe them in prisone Of this answer when the king and hys counsel had intelligence by the foresayde Maister of the horse Secretarie Peter the bishop of London and M. Goodricke who had bene wyth him it was agreed that he should be sent for before the whole counsel and peremptorily examined once againe whether he would stand at this poynt or no which if he did then to denouÌ„ce vnto him the sequestration of his benefice and consequently the intimation in case hee were not reformed within 3. monethes as in the daye of his appearance shall appeare The tenor and words of which sequestration with the Intimation followeth The wordes of the Sequestration with the Intimation to the Bishop of Winchester FOr asmuch as the kings maiestie our most gratious soueraigne Lord vnderstandeth The tenour of of the sequestration read to Winchester and it is also manifestly knowne and notorious vnto vs that the clemency long sufferaunce of his maiestie woorketh not in you y e good effect and humblenes and conformitie that is requisite in a good subiect and for that your first disobediences coÌ„teÌ„pts and other misbehauiours for the which you were by hys Maiesties authoritie iustly coÌ„mitted to warde haue â—ithes your said committing dayly more more increased in you in such sort as a great slaunder and offence is therof risen in many parts of the realme whereby also much slander dissention trouble vnquietnes is very like more to ensue if your foresaid offences being as they be openly knowne should passe vnpunished The causes why this sequestratioÌ„ was laid against Winchester we let you wit that hauing speciall and expresse Commission and commaundement from his Maiesty aswell for your contumacies and contempts so long coÌ„tinued and yet daily more increasing as also for the exchange of the slaunder offence of the people which by your sayd ill demeanours is risen and for that also the Church of Winchester may be in the meane time prouided of a good minister that may and will see all things done quietly executed according to lawes and common orders of this Realme Winchester sequestred from his Byshopricke for sondry other great and vrgent causes we do by these presentes sequester all the fruites reuenues landes and possessions of your Bishopricke of Winchester discerne deeme iudge the same to be committed to the seueral receite collection and custody of such person or persons as his Maiesty shall appoynt for that purpose And because your former disobediences and contemptes so loÌ„g coÌ„tinued so many times doubled renued and aggrauated do manifestly declare you to be a person without all hope of recouery plainly incorrigible we eftsoones admonish and require you to obay his maiesties said coÌ„maundement and that you do declare your selfe by subscription of youre hand both willing well conteÌ„ted to accept allow preach and teache to others the sayde articles and all suche other matters as be or shal be set forth by his maiesties authority of supreme head of this church of England on this side within the terme of 3. monthes whereof we appoynt one month for the first monition one month for the second monition and warning and one moneth for the third and peremptorie monition Within which time as you may yet declare your coÌ„formitie and shal haue paper Intimation geuâ— to Winchester pen and inke when you wil cal for them for that purpose so if you wilfully forbeare and refuse to declare your self obedient and conformable as is aforesayd we intimate vnto you that his maiestie who like a good gouernor desireth to keepe both his coÌ„mon wealth quiet and to purge the same of euill men especially ministers entendeth to proceede against you as an incorrigible person and vnmeet minister of this church to depriuation of your sayd bishopprike Neuertheles vpon diuers good considerations and specially in hope he might within his time be yet reconciled it was agreed that the sayd bishops house seruants should be maintained in their present estate vntill y e time that this Iniunction should expire the matter for the meane time to be kept secrete After this sequestration the sayde B. was commensed vnto Lambeth before the Archbishop of Cant. other the kings commissioners by vertue of the kings speciall letter sent vnto the sayde Commissioners to witte to the Archbyshop of Caunterburie Nicholas bishoppe of London The names of the Commissioners delegate in the cause of SteueÌ„ Gardineâ— Thomas bishop of Ely Henry bishop of Lincoln Secretarie Peter Syr Iames Hales knight Doctour Leyson Doctor Olyuer lawyers and Iohn Gosnold Esquire c. before them and by them to be examined by whome were obiected against him 19. special articles in order and forme heere following Articles and positions ministred ioyntly and seuerally obiected to the B. of Winchester IN primis that the kings Maiestie iustly and rightfully is and by the lawes of God ought to be the supreme head in earth of the Church of England and Ireland Articles ministred agaynst Winchester by the Commissioners and so is by the Clergie of this realme in their conuocation and by the Act of Parliament iustly and according to y e lawes of God recognised 2 Item that his maiestie as supreme head of y e saide churches hath full power and authoritie to make and set suche Lawes Iniunctions and ordinances for and concerning Religion anâ— orders in the said churches for the increase of vertue and repressing of all errours heresies and other enormities and abuses 3 Item that all and euery his graces subiectes are bound by the lawes of God to obey all his highnesse saide lawes Iniunctions and proceedings concerning religion orders in the sayd Churches Winchester sworne to the kinges supremacy 4 Item that you Steuen B. of Winchester haue sworne obedience to his Maiestie as supreme head of this Church of England and also of Ireland 5 Item that all and euery his graces subiects that disobey any of his sayde Maiesties lawes Iniunctions ordinances and proceedings already set forth published or hereafter to be set foorth published ought worthely to be punished according to his graces Ecclesiasticall lawes vsed within thys his realme Winchester after his oth fouÌ„d disobedient to the king and his proceedinges 6 Item that you
on the behalfe of vs and our said vncle the Lord Protectour Edward Somerset This Letter of the king and of the Lorde Protectoure was not so secretely deuised nor so speedily sente but the Lordes keeping at London had knowledge immediately thereof by the meanes as some suppose of the Lorde Paget who was then with the King and the Protectour but the truth the Lorde knoweth being there ready furnished with their owne â—andes of seruing men and other souldiours and men of armes Who forthwith vpon the same addressed their letters in sâ—mblable wise to the sayd Lorde Maior and Aldermen in the kings name not onely for supportation of armed men to serue their purposes and for a sufficient watche to fortifie their Citie but also that they should not obey any suche letters Proclamations or Iniunctions sent to them from the Duke Which letter of the Lordes at the same instante came likewise to the Lorde Maior and his brethren the 6. day of the sayde moneth of Octob. The tenour and copie of which letter heere ensueth To our very good Lord the Lord Maior Aldermen and Citizens of London AFter our right hearty commendations vnto your good Lordshippe The letter of the Lordes sent to the L. Maior CouÌ„cell of London agaynst the Lord Protector knowing your heartie fauour and earnest zeales to the preseruation of the person of the kings Maiestie of this realme and other his maiesties realmes and dominions we haue thought good to aduertise you that notwithstanding all the good aduice aod Counsell that wee coulde geue to the Duke of Somerset to staye him selfe wythin reasonable limites and to vse hys gouernement nowe in the tender age of hys Maiestie in suche sorte as myght tende to his highnesse suretie to the conseruation of hys estate and to his honour the sayde Duke neuerthelesse still continuing in his pride couetousnes and ambition ceaseth not daily by all the waies and meanes he can deuise to enriche him selfe without measure and to impouerish his Maiestie Hee buildeth in foure or fiue places moste sumptuously and leaueth the poore souldiours vnpaide of their wages vnuictualled and in all things so vnfurnished as the losses lately susteined Crimes layd to thâ— Lord Proâ—tectour by the Lordâ— to the greatest dishonor that euer came to the king this realme doe declare Hee soweth daily diuision betweene the Nobles and Gentlemen and the Commons Hee rewardeth and entertaineth a number of those that were Captaines of the Commons in these late insurrections and finally in suche wise subuerteth all lawes iustice and good order as it is euident that putting hys trust in the Commons and perceiuing that the Nobles and Gentlemen shoulde be an impediment to him in his deuilish purposes hee laboureth first to haue them destroyed and thinketh after easily enough to atchieue his desire which it appeareth plainly is to occupie the kings Maiesties place For his doings who soeuer list to beholde them doe manifestly declare that hee mindeth neuer to render account to his Maiestie of his proceedings These thinges with many moe too long to recite considered wee pondered wyth our selues Iuste iudiâ—cate filij hominuâ— that either wee muste trauaile for some reformation or wee must in effecte as it were consent with him to the destruction of oure soueraigne Lorde and Countrey Whereuppon laying apart all respectes and resting onely vppon our dueties wee ioyned in Counsell and thought quietly to haue treated the matter with him Who perceiuing that we ioyned for the king and woulde haue suche order as might be for the suertie of his Maiesties persone and the common wealth straite put him selfe in force and resteth at plaine poynt as it appeareth eyther to goe through with his detestable purpose in sorte as hee hathe done or to trie it by the sworde Nowe for as much as we see presently that vnlesse there be a reformation the personne of the kings Maiestie is in moste certaine daunger and this Realme our naturall Countrey lyke to be destroyed wyth all our posterities like as we haue againe fully resolued wyth Gods helpe eyther to deliuer the kings Maiestie and the realme from this extreeme ruine and destruction or to spend our liues for the declaration of our faithfull hearts and dueties so knowing your heartie good willes and trouth to his Maiestie and therefore nothing doubting of your readinesse to ioyne with vs in our godly purpose wee thoughte good to lette you knowe the very trouth of our enterprise and in the kings Maiesties behalfe to require you not onely to putte good and substantiall order for watche and warde but also to haue an earnest continuall regarde to the preseruation within your City of all harneis weapons and munitions so as none be suffered to be conueyed to the sayde Duke nor any others attending about him and besides that you from hencefoorth obey no letters proclamations nor other commandements to be sent from the sayd Duke And thus we bid your Lordship most heartily fare well From London the sixt of October Your Lordships assured louing frendes Will. Saint Iohn W. Northampt. Iohn Warwike Arundell Th. Southampton William Peter Edward North. Iohn Gage Rich. Southwell After the receiuinge of these two Letters aboue mentioned the one from the King the other from the Lordes The City of Londoâ— vrged wiâ—â— two conâ—trary letteâ— at one instant whyche came both at one instaunte wyth contrarye commaundement to the Lorde Maior and Citizens of London the case seemed harde to them and very doubtfull as it was in deede what waye to take and what were best for the Citizens to doe On the one side the name and authority of the king was much on the other side the power and garrisons of the Lordes lyinge then in London was not little which seemed then to be suche as would haue no repulse The case thus standing perplexedly first by the mouth of the Recorder it was requested The Recâ—â—â—der speaketh for 〈◊〉 Lordes that the Citizens would graunt their aide rather vnto the Lords for that the Protectour had abused both the kings maiestie and the whole Realme that without he were taken from the king and made to vnderstande his follie this Realme was in great hazard and therfore required that the citizens would willingly assent to ayd the Lordes with 500. men Hereunto of a great parte of the Common Counsaile was no other answeare made but silence But the Recorder who at that time was M. Brooke still cryed vppon them for aunswere The graâ—â— Oration oâ— a discrete Citizen speaking for the kiâ—â— whose name was George Stadlow 〈◊〉 Parliament man Deuision betweene the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 At the last stepped vp a wise and a good Citizen named George Stadlowe and sayde In thys case it is good for vs to thinke of things past to auoyde the daunger of thynges to come I remember sayeth he in a storie wrytten in Fabians Chronicle of the warre betweene the King and his Barons which was in the
time of king Henry the thirde the same time the Barons as our Lordes do now demaunded aide of the Maior and citie of London and that in a rightfull cause for the common weale which was for y e execution of diuers good lawes against y e king which would not suffer those lawes to be put in execution and the citie did aide them it came to an open battel and the Lordes preuailed against y e king and tooke the king and sonne prisoners and vpon certaine conditions the Lordes restored the kinge and his sonne againe to their liberties among all other conditions thys was one that the king should not only graunt his pardon to the lordes but also to the citizens of London the which was graunted yea and the same was ratified by act of parlament But what folowed of it Was it forgotteÌ„ No surely nor forgeuen neither during the kings life The liberties of the citie were taken away straungers appoynted to be our heads and gouernours the Citizens geuen awaye body and goods and from one persecution to an other wer most miserably afflicted Such is it to enter into the wrath of a Prince as Salomon sayeth The wrath and indignation of a Prince is death Wherfore for as much as this aide is required of the kinges Maiestie 〈◊〉 wrath 〈…〉 be 〈◊〉 whose voyce wee ought to hearken vnto for he is our high Shepehearde rather then vnto the Lordes and yet I woulde not wishe the Lordes to be clearely shaken off my counsell is that they wyth vs and we with them maye ioyne in sute and make our moste humble petition to the kings maiestie that it would please his highnes to heare such complaint against the gouernement of the Lorde Protectoure as maye be iustly alleaged and prooued and I doubte not but thys matter will be so pacified that neither shal the king nor yet the Lordes haue cause to seeke for further aide neither we to offende any of them both After this tale the Commons stayed and the Lorde Maior and his brethren for that time brake vppe till they had further communed wyth the Lordes To make short I lette passe what order by the Citie was taken 〈◊〉 is to 〈◊〉 noted 〈◊〉 the City leuied 〈◊〉 men but they were not 〈◊〉 But the conclusion was that the Lordes vppon what occasion I knowe not sate the next daye in Counsaile in the Starre chamber from thence sente sir Philip Hobby wyth theyr letter of credence to the kings maiestie beseeching his maiestie to geue credit to that which the sayd sir Philip should declare vnto his maiestye in their names and y e king gaue him liberty to speake and most gently heard all that he had to say Who so haÌ„dled the matter declaring his message in the name of the Lords that in the end the Lord Protector was commaunded from the kings presence The Lord Protector committed to prison in Winsore castle The Lord Protector committed to the towâ—â— Articles obiected against the â—ord Protectour shortly was committed to warde in a tower within the castle of Windsore called Bewchamp Tower and soone after were stayed sir Tho. Smith maister Whalley master Fisher many other gentlemen that attended vpon the Lorde Protectour The same day the Lordes of the Counsaile resorted to the Kinge and the next day they brought from thence the Lorde Protector and the other that were there stayed and conueyed them through the Citie of London vnto the Tower and there left them Shortlye after the Lordes resorted vnto the Tower and there charged the Lorde Protectour with sundry articles as follow Articles obiected against the Lord Protectour 1 IN primis you tooke vppon you the office of Protectour and Gouernour vpon condition expressely and specially that you woulde doe nothinge in the kinges affaires publikely or priuately but by the assent of the late kinges executors 2 Also you contrary to the sayde condition of your owne authority did stay and let iustice and subuerted the lawes as wel by your letters as by your commaundements 3 Also you caused diuers persones being arested and imprisoned for treason murder manslaughter and felonie to be discharged and set at large against the kings lawes and statutes of this realme 4 Also you haue made and ordained Lieutenants for the kings armies other weighty affaires vnder your owne wryting and seale 5 Also you haue communed with the Ambassadours of other Realmes discoursing alone with them the waighty causes of this Realme 6 Also you haue sometime rebuked checked and taunted as well priuately as openly diuers of the kings moste honourable Counsailours for shewing declaring theyr aduises and opinions against your purposes in the kings waightye affaires sayinge sometimes to them that you neede not to open matters vnto them and would therfore be otherwise aduised and that you would if they were not agreeable to your opinyon put them oute and take other at your pleasure 7 Also you had and helde against the lawe in your owne house a Courte of Requestes and thereby did enforce diuers the kinges subiectes to answeare for their free holdes and goodes and determined the same to the subuersion of the same lawes 8 Also you being no Officer without the aduise of the Counsaile or the more part of them did dispose of the Offices of the kings gift for money and graunted leases and Wardes of the kings and gaue presentations to the kings benefices bishoprikes hauing no authority so to do And farther you did meddle with the selling of y e kings landes 9 Also you commaunded Multiplication and Alcumistry to be practised to abuse the kings coyne 10 Also you caused a proclamation to be made concerning enclosures wherby the common people haue made diuers insurrections leuied open warre and distreâ—ed spoyled diuers of the kings subiects which proclamation went foorth against the wil of the whole counsaile 11 Also you haue caused a commission with certaine articles thereunto annexed to be made our concerning enclosures of commons high wayes decaying of cottages and diuers other things geuing the Commissioners authority to heare and determine the same causes to the subuersion of the lawes and statutes of this realme whereby much sedition insurrection and rebellion haue risen and growen among the kings subiects 12 Also you haue suffered the rebels and traitours to assemble and to lie in campe and armor against the king his Nobles and gentlemen without any speedye subduing or repressing of them 13 Also you did comfort and encourage diuers of the sayde rebelles by geuing of them diuers summes oâ— your owne mony and by promising to diuers of them sees rewards and seruices 14 Also you in fauour of the sayde rebels did againste the lawes cause a Proclamation to be made y t none of the said rebels or traitors shuld be sued or vexed by any person for any their offences in the said rebellion to the clear subuersion of the same lawes 15 Also you haue
at large In whome I wyshe thee to continue in health and to perseuere in the trueth Anno 1549. ⧠The first entring of Queene Mary to the Crowne with the alteration of Religion and other perturbations happening the same time in this Realme of England Anno 1553. WHat time King Edward by long sickenesse beganne to appeare more feble and weake in the meane while during the time of this his sickenesse The reigne of Queene Mary a certayne mariage was prouided concluded and shortly also vpon the same solempnised in the moneth of May betwene the Lord Gilford sonne to the Duke of Northumberland 〈◊〉 â—â—tweene the Lorâ— Gilfoâ—d and the Lady â—ane and the Lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother being then aliue was daughter to Mary King Henryes second sister who first was maried to the French king and afterward to Charles Duke of Suffolke But to make no long tariance hereupon the mariage being ended and the king waxing euery day more sicke then other where as in deede there seemed in him no hope of recouerye it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the Nobility but also of all the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme that the king by his Testament did appoynt the foresayde Ladye Iane daughter to the Duke of Suffolke to be inheretrice vnto the crowne of England passing ouer his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth To this order subscribed all the kinges Counsell and chiefe of the Nobility Syr Iames Hales standeth with Queene Mary the Maior and city of London and almoste all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Realme sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent a man both fauoring true Religion and also an vpright iudge as any hath bene noted in this Realme who geuing his consent vnto Lady Mary would in no case subscribe to Lady Iane. Of this man God willing you shall perceiue more in the sequele of this story The causes layd agaynst Lady Marye were as well for that it was feared she would mary with a Straunger and thereby entangle the crowne as also that she would cleane alter Religion vsed both in king Henry her father and also in king Edwarde her brothers dayes so bring in the pope to the vtter destruction of the Realme which indeed afterward came to passe as by the course and sequele of this story may well appeare Two things feared in Queene Mary Much probable matter they had thus to coniecture of her by reason of her great stubbernnes shewed and declared in her brothers dayes as in the letters before mentioned passing betwene her and king Edward the Counsell may appeare The matter being thus concluded and after confirmed by euery mans hand King Edwarde an Impe of so great hope not long after this departed by the vehemency of his sickenes when he was sixtene yeares of age with whom also decaid in maner the whole florishing estate and honor of the English nation Queene Iane proclaâ—med at â—ondon ComparisoÌ„â—â—tweene 〈◊〉 king â—dward â—oung Lady 〈◊〉 This 〈◊〉 of the Lady Iane was M. Elmer When king Edwarde was deade this Iane was established in the kingdome by the Nobles consent and was forthwith published Queene by proclamation at London and in other Cityes where was any great resort and was there so taken and named Betweene this young Damosell and kyng Edwarde there was litle difference in age though in learning knowledge of the tongues she was not onely equall but also superior vnto him being instructed of a Mayster right notablye learned If her fortune had bene as good as was her bringing vppe ioyned wyth â—inenesse of wit vndoubtedly she might haue semed comparable not onelye to the house of the Uaspasians Sempâ—onians and mother of the Grachies yea to anye other women beside that deserued high prayse for theyr sigulart learning but also to the vniuersity men which haue taken many degrees of the Schooles In the meane time while these thinges were a working at London Mary which had knowledge of her Brothers death writeth to the Lords of the Councell in forme as foloweth ¶ A Letter of the Lady Mary sent to the Lordes of the Counsell wherein shee claymeth the Crowne after the decease of king Edwarde Lady Maryes letter sent to the Counâ—ayle wherein shee 〈◊〉 the Crowne MY Lordes we greete you well and haue receiued sure aduertisement that our dearest Brother the king our late soueraigne Lord is departed to Gods mercye whiche newes howe they be woefull vnto our hart he onely knoweth to whose will and pleasure we must and do humbly submitte vs and our willes But in this so lamentable a case that is to witte now after hys Maiesties departure and death concerning the Crowne and gouernaunce of thys Realme of England with the title of Fraunce and all thinges thereto belonging what hath bene prouided by Act of Parliament and the Testament and last will of our dearest Father besides other circumstaunces aduauncing our right you know the Realme and the whole world knoweth the Rolles and Recordes appeare by the authority of the kyng our sayde Father and the king our sayde brother and the subiectes of thys Realme so that we verily trust that there is no good true subiect that is can or would pretend to be ignoraunt therof and of our parte wee haue of our selues caused and as God shall ayde and strength vs shall cause our right and title in this behalfe to be published and proclaymed accordingly And albeit this so weighty a matter seemeth straunge that the dying of oure sayde brother vpon Thursday at night last past we hytherto hadde no knowledge from you thereof yet we consider your wisedomes and prudence to be such that hauing eftsoones amongest you debated pondered and well wayed this present case with our estate with your own estate the common wealth and all our honours wee shall and may conceiue greate hope and trust with much assuraunce in your loyaltye and seruice and therefore for the tyme interprete and take thinges not to the worst and that ye yet will like Noble men woorke the best Neuerthelesse wee are not ignoraunt of your consultations to vndoe the prouisions made for our preferment nor of the great bandes and prouisions forceable wherewith yee bee assembled and prepared by whom and to what ende God and you know and nature can but feare some euill But be it that some consideration politicke or whatsoeuer thing else hath mooued you thereto yet doubte you not my Lordes but we can take all these your doynges in gracious part being also right ready to remit fullye pardon the same with that freely to eschewe bloudshed and vengeance agaynst all those that canne or will intend the same trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and vertue in good part as appeateyneth and that wee shall not be enforced to vse the seruice of other our true subiectes and frendes which in thys our iust and right cause
the circumstances before diuers persons to the forenamed Byshop Who notwithstanding did institute and cause to be inducted one Harry Goddart vnto the same personage making no mention of the kinges maiesties authority nor supremacie in contempt and derogation of the same hys hignes crowne and dignitie and in extolling the forreine vsurped aucthoritye contrary to the fourme of the statute c. Item the sayde Bishop immediately after the vnlawfull institution and induction of Goddart aforesayde molested the sayd I. Gough lawfully instituted inducted as before citing him frō place to place obiecting no matter vnto him of long season till at the length hee articled Emong which Articles was contayned Item Interrogatur quo titulo tenet rectoriam de Haskard So taking vppon him the cognition of the title of the hole fruites and patronage in contempte of the kinges highnesse regall crowne and dignitie and in derogation of the lawes and statutes of this Realme Item hee hath commonly made his collations and institutions as hee did his first commission in hys owne name and authoritie without expressing the kinges supremacie Item hee hath made vnder his seale one collation two institutions and three mandates inducte in one vocation of one benefice to three seuerall persons wythout order of law or reuocation of anye of them geuing to euery one like authoritye title and right Whereby except good foresight aswell of Iustices of the peace as of the frendes had not bene there had ensued much inconuenience amonges the partakers of the intituled incumbentes in that behalfe Item the sayde Bishop decreeing Caueates to be made in benefices thereby knowing the titles litigious instituted and causeth to be inducted without tryall of anye title or due order of lawe Item hee directeth hys mandates of induction vnto priuate men and not to Tharchdeacons nor theyr Officialles contrary to the lawe and custome vsed in that behalfe Notwithstanding he hath bene counsayled to the contrary of men that be learned Item hauing no maner of knowledge nor practise in the lawe he sitteth euery day in haruest and other times vpon causes without assistaunce of learned in the law hauing with him onely an vnlearned boy which is no Notary to his scribe neither obseruing the law nor yet reasonable order And therefore doth no good but tryfeleth the time as may appeare by his actes if he haue them to be shewed Item hee and his officers by his knowledge vseth to dispense with mariages to be solemnized without banes contrarye to the lawes and ordinaunces in that behalfe Item where as one Thomas Pricharde a Chapleine of his solempnized matrimony in a priuate house wythout banes that betwixt a priest and a sister of hers that was appointed to be maryed with the said priest that day hee also being a parson and leauing his cure vnserued that day being sondaye notwithstanding that one of the kinges counsell in the marches of Wales enformed the sayd bishop of the same misdemeanours requiring due reformation therof he hath done nothing therein but put the same Chapleine in office and made him his Commissary generall since that tyme bearyng a speciall fauour to the rest of the offendours Item whereas one Meredith ap Thomas his housholde seruaunt was accused of one Sage Hugh for to haue bene father of her chylde the sayde Byshop wythout purgation of his seruaunt caused hym to sue the parentes of the sayde Sage of infamie first in hys principall consistory and from thence before a commissary of hys being his housholde Chaplaine and at the last tooke the matter before hymselfe so rayling agaynst all his officers because they proceeded not after hys parciall affection and agaynst the lawe that honest men of Carmarththē where he then satte vppon the cause iudged him to be or at the least to haue bene distracte of his witte and by his partial handling the cause remayneth vnfinished and the childe without father Item wheras one Ienkin Ph. accused William Chābers a seruaunt of the Bishoppes that founde this William in adulterouse maner with his wife by reason wherof the Byshop expelled the wife out of his house and the said infamie not purged the parties haue bene both agayn in the Bishops house and seruice since that time to the euill example of other Item by his vnlawfull sequestration of the fruites of the benefices of Langattocke and Lamyhangell by the vndiscreete handling of the same there were raysed the number of foure hundred people or more which bickered sondry times together to the great daunger of thinhabitauntes thereabout had it not bene pacified by the discreete meanes of syr Roger Uaughan Knight Item by his like vnlawfull collation of the Prebend of Lambister to one Stephen Grene a Chaplayne of his by couenaunt and promise to mayntayne the sute by whose crafty and vndiscreete handling of the same there was raysed in the countie of Radner the 19. day of August last yast about three or foure hundreth men to like daunger but that the matter was stayed by Iohn Bradshaw Rice ap Glin and Stephen ap Rice Iustices of the same countie Who with great daunger to them selues and theirs pacified the matter committing an hundred of the offendours to warde Item such as he oweth displeasure vnto he citeth from place to place and daye to daye onely for their vexation laying no matter agaynst them and being diuers tymes required the copye of his proceedinges agaynst them to thintent they might aunswere accordingly and be at their lawfull defence he denyeth to all such persons the copies of his proceedinges Item he and his officers winke at the manifest and open crimes of his fautours and adherentes to the euil example of the whole Dioces and abuseth the censures of excommunication and suspension making it an instrument of reuenging agaynst such as they do not fauour Item hauing receiued payment of the kinges maiesties subsidie due in October the fourth yeare of his graces reigne of the foresayde Chaunter of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Dauids and Rowland Meyrike two of the Residentaries there before Christmas last he vniustly of a prepensed minde and purpose afterward certified them for recusantes to their vndoyng if they had not bene admonished of his cruell purpose and prouided lawfull defence for the same Item the sayd Bishop celebrating matrimony in his owne person dispensed contrarye to the booke of ordynaunce with the parties maryed for not receauing the holy communion the parties both bring young and lusty persones hauing no reasonable cause wherefore they should abstayne At whiche celebration the Byshoppe communicated not himselfe And further the communion was celebrated by a Chapleyne of hys with superstitious blowynges kneelynges and knockinges both of the Chaplayne that ministred of all the company onely one other Priest communicating for the maner * Mayntenaunce of superstition contrary to the kinges ordinaunce and Iniunctions ITem where the Officiall of Tharchedeacon of Carmarthen in his visitation within Carmarthen founde contrary vnto the sayde ordinaunce
an Aultar set vppe in the bodye of the Churche for celebration of the communion and caused the sayd Aultar to be taken away and a table to be set in the middle of the Churche the Byshop after the same commaunded the Uicar of Carmarthen to set the table without the chauncell agayne for the ministration of the communion Item he being often in Carmarthen and other places in the chauncell at y e time of holy communion not onely caryed there hym selfe neyther cōmunicating nor ministring bareheaded and vncoyffid reuerently kneelyng but also permitteth the people there to continue the chauncell and quire full kneeling and knockyng their breastes Whiche manner is yet vsed in all the dyocesse without any reformation or gaynesay of hym or any of his officers Item whereas superstious praying vppon beades is not onely vngodly but reprooued in the Kynges Maiesties iniunctions the sayde Byshopppe meeting many with beades in their handes neuer rebuked anye of them Item the sayde Byshopye beyng in the Pulpyt and seeyng corses there within the Churche wyth a great number of lightes vppon them neuer spake against any of them Item where as thordinaunce will that no children be baptised but vppon the Sondaye or holy day onely cause of necessitie excepted he hauyng two children himselfe borne wythout daunger caused one of them to be baptised vppon the worke day And by hys example wythout anye contradiction or motion of reformation it is vsed as it hath bene accustomed in all the dyocesse commonly contrary vnto the booke of ordinaunce in that behalfe ¶ Couetousnes Item from his first comming into the dyocesse hee hath hadde and yet hathe hys onelye studye laboure and practise to suruey landes and to looke for mines c. neglecting his owne bounden duety to applye his booke and preaching Item he keepeth no maner hospitalitie but hath hys seruaunts table in one parlour with him least any stranger shoulde approche hys seruauntes being at theyr meate Item he is commonly talking not of any godlynes but of worldlye matters as baking brewing enclosing plowing mining of milstones discharging of tenaunts and suche like not onely at his table but also most commonly at other places Item he hath warned diuers tenauntes out of theyr landes whiche they and theyr elders haue enioyed for their rentes these hundred yeares and more and occupyed with tillage whiche he sayth he will enclose and beyng sued to of poore men because of quietnes he answered the crowes shall eate the corne rather then ye shal haue any profite thereof Item when the Uicars Chorall of S. Dauids for reliefe of their hospitalitie had an Iland of hys called the bishops Isle for xl s. rent he hath set it to a chapleyn of his for v.li. by yeare And wher at the sute of the sayd Uicars it was graunted by the bishop in the whole chapiter that the Uicares should haue it for yeares at xl s. rent and pay xx.li. entrie he now couetously and agaynst his promyse openly made denyeth the same except the Uicars would geue l.li. Item he caused the Curate of S. Dauids to warne their tenauntes out of theyr sayde landes in the pulpit to the great offence of the people which were wont to haue Gods word preached there and so they sayd to the Curate at that tyme. Item to the plowing of a pasture not aboue x. dayes worke in Lent An. 1549. he had 32. ploughes in one day and those ploughes the priest bad in the Church contrary to the statute of Gomortha in that behalfe prouided and to the euill example of gentlemen in that country Item where the kinges maiesties of godly remembraunce Henry theight appointed at Brekenock a scholemaister vssher Reader of diuinitie a Minister certain scholers and for the mayntenaunce thereof appoynted lx and xij.li. of the pensions and reuenues of Brekenocke the Bishop finding it so furnished hath neither Reader nor Minister there couetously conuerting their stipends to his owne vse Item the Bish. was twise in one day presented in the great court holden in the towne of Carmarthen for enclosing and couetous encroching of the kinges hye way Item he couetously occupyeth purchasing of landes bying of cattell marchaundise and other thinges beyng indetted a notable summe to the kinges Maiestie as may by his accomptes in the courte of tenthes and first fruites appeare Item wheras one Lewis Iohn Thomas boole putting from hym hys lawfull wedded wife vppon Christmas euen last past without banes had mariage solemnizate with a concubine of hys in a Churche within 3. myles of the Byshoppes abode at that time The Bishop since knowing the premisses hath not onely of a couetous mind entred familiaritye with the sayde Lewis and bought a peece of land of him but also euer since hath for to haue hys landes good chepe left both the parties and priest vnpunished vsing hym to familiarly that whereas a Somner cited the parties to appeare among other criminals for the same facte the Byshoppe commaunded the sayde Somner to lette hym alone and so they all remaine vnpunished Item where as the whole Chapiter of Saint Dauids as it was thought was in assured amitie wyth the Byshoppe they all being his Officers or Chaplaines he procured them to be unpleaded wyth Wryt of Quo warranto in the kings Bench keeping the Wryt with hym secretely at the least three monethes not deliuering it but onely tenne dayes before the day of their apparance the parties beyng seuen dayes iourney distant from London Item he is a wilfull wrong doer and troubler of men in theyr rightes entring vppon their lawfull possessions stirring thereby much contention and so notably knowen to the offence of the countrey Wilfull negligence ITem whereas the Byshop aforesayde was appoynted in August An. 1547. and consecrated in September following hee neuer came into the Diocesse himselfe nor sent or appoynted any Officer there before the moneth of April An. 1548. to the great disorder of the kings Maiesties subiects lacke of reformation and ministration of iustice Item during his visitation the sayde Bishop did not endeuor himselfe to see reformation but roade surueying of landes appoynting vaine enclosures and suche other things Which are no parte of the office to him committed nor yet conuenient namely at that time Item the visitation finished he neither appoynted his Officers to examine the cleargie of the places of Scripture to them appoynted to be studied in the same visitation nor hath hitherto effectually gone about any godly reformation according to the ordinaunces of this realme Item the Byshoppe since his comming to the diocesse neuer ministred the Communion sauing onely at two times that he ordred certaine Deacons but in euery thing but that he other whiles preacheth excepted ordreth himselfe like no minister nor man of his vocation Item he hath so alienated himselfe from studie that he preacheth vndiscretely discrediting the office not only vntruely reporting the Scriptures but also preaching the ten commaundements in one place in declaration of the
Bartlemew day then next folowing which payment he made accordingly notwithstanding that hys aduersaries wrought meanes to haue made hym breake hys day namely one Edward Harbard Gentleman who hath a personage of his to Farme kept backe his rent to the very last day because that money should not helpe to serue his turne and so by crafty cauillation deteyneth it still in his hand with a yeres rent and a halfe more for the sayd Edward Harbert is an adherent of the sayd Bishops aduersaries Fiftly the booke of their depositions is so great that it asketh a long tyme to peruse And also the greatest part of their witnesses were vtterly vnknowen of the bishop and all his And also dwellyng in so many sondry places of the Dioces among the mountaines and els where scarcely within the circuit of two hundred miles Item another great Sessions holden at Carmarthen in the moneth of October last during which tyme he was attendant there as is aforesayd All which causes considered beyng also in the tyme of his ordinary visitatioÌ„ which he did execute himselfe he could not make redy his exceptions in shorter tyme. The sayd Bishop dispatched his man towards London the 23. day of October who euer sithens hath bene and is attendaunt in the same sute for the obtainyng of the Commission for proofe of his matter agaynst hys aduersaries ¶ A copy of a certaine letter written by the Bish. of S. Dauids MOst humbly sheweth vnto your honour your poore Orator Robert Bishop of Saint Dauies that where as one Thomas Lee by the procurement of T. Y. and R. M. beyng both Canons of Saint Dauies George Constantine Register to the sayd Bishop hath exhibited vnto your honour agaynst him certayne articles in the which are mentioned many triflyng things vnworthy to be declared in your honourable audience and also theyr pretensed weighty articles as they haue alledged there are vtterly vntrue for proofe whereof the â—ayd Thomas Lee hath had Commissions into the countrey Therefore it may please your honour of your fauourable goodnes to graunt vnto your sayd Oratour a lyke Commission for the examination of witnesse in defence of his truth and honesty against the sayd Thomas Lee George Constantine and the aforenamed Rowland Merike and all other persons with theyr iniust articles attestations and sayings which hath deposed against hym And in tender consideration that your sayd Orator standeth bounâ—en and sureties with hym in the summe of a thousand markes to appeare before the Kings Iustice in the Sessions at Carmarthen in Iuly next commyng to aunswer to a forged matter of premunire by the procurement and counsaile of his forenamed aduersaries maliciously surmised agaynst hym to his vtter vndoyng And furthermore your Orator beyng in debt to the Kings Maiesty by reason of the malicious vexation of his foresayd aduersaries cannot if hee remayne here satisfie the same for where as there be rerages to a great summe as well of the Kings money as of his owne rentes he can receiue none thereof hys aduersaries hath made such ill report to his discredite bearyng the people in hand that he shall come no more thether By reason of which brute neither his owne tenants will pay theyr rentes and rerages nor the priests their rerages due to the Kyngs Maiesty as well for anno secundo and tertio as for quarto and quinto In consideration of all which thyngs it may ylease your honourable goodnes to licence your sayd Orator to depart into the Diocesse for these affayres and other And hee is ready at all tymes at your honourable commaundement and pleasure to repayre agayne and euer to pray to the Lorde Iesu for the perpetuall conseruation of your honour to his glory ¶ Another letter written by the Bishop of S. Dauies RIght honourable and my very especiall good Lorde with humble seruice and harty thanks to God and to you for your godly fauour towardes me at all tymes as right playnly appeareth by your fatherly letters most louingly admonishing me to enclyne vnto that which is very necessary as charitable concorde and vnitie This is furtherly to besiche your Lordship for the Lordes sake not to be grieued but benignly to heare and grauely to ponder that weighty matter which appearing to other but a light griefe to me is in very deede a right grieuous offence to God with no little hinderaunce of his holy word and disturbance of the Kings godly proceedyngs may be a great occasion of much inobedience and disorder of good lyfe Wherefore I am straightly bounden for the true zeale that I ought to beare vnto Gods worde of lyfe Christian religion the Kings Maiesties honour and the godly quiet state of hys people not faintly to let fall the burthen of diligent redresse to bee sought at his Maiesties handes by the godly wisedome of hys most honourable and vpright Counsaile but with harty affection to beare it vp against those high mynded arrogant stubburne ambitious couetous canons trusting in their biting tonges with crafty preuention and vtterly vntrue surmises to stoppe the light that their vngodly misdoings in darknes shal either not be seene or at the lest may seeme to appeare in colourable appearance of right In so much that I doe not a little maruell at these qualities in M. Chaunter the Canon and the Deane of Worcester whose vngentle and vntrue behauiour I haue not only knowen but expertly prooued and sensibly feeled in two of the first to my great losses whereof I make no complaynt But I woonder in my mynd and lament in my heart the straunge alteration and wilfull goyng backeward of myne old faithfull brother George Constantine the whiche knowing them all three to haue bene in tymes past eyther obstinate enemies to the true bearers of the Crosse of Christ or at the least priuye lurkers vnder pretence of fauour towardes the Gospell to sting the poore followers thereof seekyng but their owne lucre and pleasure in all their doinges would so earnestly cleaue vnto them in their wroÌ„g deeds as to betray me with his tong become vntrue of his promise and a bearer of filthy sinne for lucres sake euen yet stifly persisting in the same namely in thyngs manifestly known vnto many although he would deny it and that I might not be credited And as for their premunire both George and they at my first commyng vngeÌ„tly deteining from M. Ferlee hys commission for the Chauncellorship would haue faced mee downe with premunire because it was written in my owne name accordyng to the statute yet was I fayne for the zeale of vnitie not to see their vncurteous deedes departing with M. Farlee for the auoydyng of their malice and enuy and gaue that office for the aâ—â—tie of George vnto M. Chaunter his sonne in lawe and to D. Merike the office of Cardigan But seyng afterward their couetous respect to their own glory and lucre not regarding the reformation of sinne and specially of shameles whoredome I was compelled to remooue theÌ„
hym once to stirre in the paynes of his burnyng he should then geue no credite to his doctrine And as hee sayd so he right well performed the same for so paciently he stoode that he neuer mooued but euen as he stoode holdyng vp his stumpes so still he continued till one Rich. Grauell with a staffe dashed hym vppon the head and so stroke hym downe ¶ Letters As touching the letters of M. Farrer we do not finde many that he did write And peradueÌ„ture in Queene Maries tyme his imprisonment was so strait that at no time it was permitted to hym to write Albeit in his other troubles in kyng Edwards tyme certayne letters he wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer and to the Erle of Warwike which letters although they might be well referred to the first edition of this story yet because in the sayd letters is conteyned briefly and in few lynes the whole discourse of hys vniust vexation at that tyme wrought by his aduersaries I thought good not to passe them ouer but to communicate them vnto the Reader for the better vnderstanding both of the innocencie of y â— blessed B. and of the crafty iniquitie of his conspired enemies as in the sayd letters here folowing to the indifferent reader may easily appeare ¶ The copy of a certaine letter of the Bishop of S. Dauids written belike to the L. Chancellor Doct. Goodrike Bishop of Ely MOst humbly sheweth vnto your honor your poore orator Rob. Bish. of S. Dauids that where as one Tho. Lee by the procurement of Tho. Yong Rowland Mericke beyng both Canons of S. Dauids and George Constantine Register to the sayd bishop hath exhibited vnto your honor agaynst him certaine articles in the which are mentioned many triflyng thyngs vnworthy to be declared in your honourable audience and also theyr pretensed weighty articles as they haue alledged there are vtterly vntrue for proofe whereof the sayd Thomas Lee hath had Commissions into the countrey therfore it may please your honour of your fauourable goodnesse to graunt vnto your said Oratour a like Commission for the examination of witnesses in defence of his truth and honesty against the aforenamed Thomas Lee George Constantine Tho. Yong Rowland Mericke and all other persons with their vniust articles attestations and sayings deposed agaynst hym And in tender consideration that your said Orator standeth bounden and sureties with hym in the summe of a thousand markes â— Farrar 〈◊〉 with 〈…〉 to appeare in a â—atter of â—â—emunire to appeare before the kyngs Iustice in the Sessions at Carmarthen in Iuly next commyng to aunswer to a forged matter of Premunire by the procurement and counsaile of his forenamed aduersaries malitiously surmised agaynst hym to his vtter vndoyng and furthermore that your Orator beyng in debt to the kings maiesty by reason of the malitious vexation of his foresayd aduersaries cannot if he remaine here satisfie the same for where as there be rerages to a great summe as well of the kyngs money as of hys owne rentes he can receyue none thereof his aduersaries haue made such ill report to his discredite bearyng the people in hand that he shall come no more thither by reason of which bruite neyther hys owne tenaunts will pay their rentes and rerages nor the priests their rerages due to the Kings Maiestie as well for anno secundo and tertio as for quarto and quinto In consideration of all these thyngs it may please your honourable goodnes to licence your sayd Oratour to depart into the Dioces for these affaires and other he shall be ready at all tymes at your honourable commaundement and pleasure to repaire againe and euer to pray to the Lord Iesu for the perpetuall conseruation of your honor to his glory Besides this letter he wrote another likewise to y e said Lord who was as seemeth D. Goodricke L. Chancellor afore mentioned wherein he declareth the whole cause of his trouble how it rose against him by his aduersaries as here followeth ¶ Another letter written by the B. of S. Dauids to the L. Chancellor aforesayd RIght honourable and my very especiall good Lorde with humble seruice and hearty thankes to God An other letter of B. Farrar to the Lord Chauncellour and to you for your godly fauour towardes me at all times as right plainly appeareth by your fatherly letters most louingly admonishing me to incline vnto that which is very necessary as charitable concord and vnity This is further to beseeche your Lordship for the Lordes sake not to be grieued but benignly to heare and grauely to ponder that weighty matter which appearing to other but a light griefe to me is in very deede a right grieuous offence to Godward with no little hinderaunce of his holy worde and disturbaunce of the Kings godly proceedyngs and may be great occasion of much inobedience and disorder of good lyfe Wherfore I am straitly bounden for the true zeale that I ought to beare vnto the word of lyfe Christian religion the kings maiesties honor and the godly quiet state of his people not faintly to let fall the burthen of diligent redres to be sought at his maiesties hands by the godly wisdome of his most honourable and vpright Counsayle but with hearty affection to beare it vp agaynst those high mynded arrogant stubborne ambitious couetous Canons trusting in their biting tongues with crafty preuention and vtterly vntrue surmises to stop the lyght that theyr vngodly misdoyngs in darkenesse shal eyther not be seene or at the least may haue a coulourable appearaunce of right In so much that I do not a little meruayle at these qualities in Maister Chaunter the Canon and the Deane of Worcester whose vngentle and vntrue behauiour I haue not onely knowen but expertly prooued and sensibly felte in two of the first to my great losses whereof I make no complaint The vnkind dealing of George Constanâ—â—ne against â— Farrar But I wonder in my mynde and lament in my heart the strange alteration wilfull goyng backward of myne old faithful brother George ConstaÌ„tine the which knowyng them all three to haue bene in tymes past either obstinate enemies to the true bearers of the crosse of Christ or at the least priuy lurkers vnder pretence of fauour towards the Gospell to sting the poore followers therof seking but their own lucre and pleasure in all their doings would so earnestly cleaue vnto them in their wrong deeds as to betray me with his tong become vntrue of his promise and a bearer of filthy sinne for lucres sake euen yet stifly persisting in the same namely in thyngs manifestly knowen vnto many although he would deny it and that I might not be credited And as for their Premunire both George they at my first commyng 〈◊〉 Ferlee 〈…〉 to â— Farrar vngently deteinyng from M. Ferlee hys commission of the Chauncellorship would haue faced me down with the Premunire because it was written in myne owne name
Newgate one Beard a Promooter came to him two or thre dais before he was burned and said vnto him Sir A 〈…〉 take â—â—â—tweenâ— Cardâ—â—â—â—â— and 〈…〉 I am sent vnto you by the Counsaile to knowe whether ye will recant or no Cardmaker From which Counsaile are ye come I thinke ye are not come nor yet sent from the Queenes counsaile but rather from the commissioners vnto whoÌ„ as I suppose ye belong And where as ye would know whether I wil recant or no thus I pray you report of me to those whom ye said sent you I know you are a Tailor by your occupation and haue endeuoured your selfe to be a cunning workeman and therby to get your liuing so I haue bene a preacher these xx yeres and euer since that God by his great mercy hath opened myne eyes to see hys eternal truth I haue by his grace endeuoured my selfe to call vpoÌ„ him to geue me the true vnderstanding of his holy word and I thanke hym for his great mercy I hope I haue discharged my conscience in the settyng forth of the same to that little talent that I haue receiued Beard Yea sir but what say you to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar Card. I say and marke it well that Christ the nyght before hys bitter passion ordeyned the holy and blessed Communion hath geuen commandement that his death should be preached before the receiuyng therof in the remeÌ„brance of his body broken and his precious bloud shed for the forgeuenes of our sinnes to as many as faithfully beleeue and trust in hym And furthermore The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of M. 〈…〉 sacramâ—â—â— to conclude the matter briefly wyth hym he asked of him whether the Sacrament he spake of had a beginnyng or no Whereunto when he had graunted and affirmed the same to be then maister Cardmaker againe thus inferred thereupon If the Sacrament said he as you confesse haue a beginning and an ending then it cannot bee God for God hath no beginnyng nor endyng and so willyng hym well to note the same he departed from hym Iune An. 1555. The 5. day M. Secretary Bourne the M. of the Roles Sir Frances Englefield Sir Richard Read and Doctor Hughes anchorising them or two or three of them at the least to proceed to further examination of Benger Cary D. and Field vppon such poynts as they shall gather out of their former confessions touchyng their lewd vayne practises of calculing or coniuryng presently sent vnto theÌ„ with the sayd letters The 7. day there was another letter to sir Iohn Tregonwel willing hym to ioyne in commission with the said L. North and others abouenamed about the examination of the said parties others for coniuring witchcraft And the 29. of August Cary and D. were set at liberty vpon bands for their good abearyng vntil Christmas after The 12. day a letter was sent to the L. Treasurer to cause Writs to be made to the Shirife of Sussex for y e burnyng and executing of Dirike a Brewer at Lewes and other two the one at Stainings the other at Chichester The 23. of Iune a letter was sent to Boner to examine a report geuen to the counsail of 4. parishes within y e Soken of Essex that should still vse the English seruice and to punish the offenders if any such be ¶ The story of Iohn Ardeley and Iohn Symson of the Parish of Wigborow the great in Essex The story of â—â—hn Simâ—â—â— Iohn â—rdeley 〈◊〉 WIth Mayster Cardmaker and Iohn Warne vpon the same day in the same company for the same cause was also coÌ„demned Iohn Ardeley and Iohn Symson which was the 25. day of Maye But before we come to the story of them first here is to be noted the copy of the King and Queenes letter directed froÌ„ the Court the same day and sent by a Poste early in the morning to the bishop in tenor and forme as foloweth ¶ To the right reuerend Father in God our right trusty and welbeloued the Bishop of London The king Queenes 〈◊〉 to B. 〈◊〉 RIght reuerend father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greet you well And where of late we addressed our letters to the Iustices of peace within euerye of the Countyes of this our Realme wherby amongest other instructions geuen them for the good order and quiet gouernement of the Country about them they are willed to haue a speciall regard vnto such disordred persons as forgetting theyr duetyes towardes God and vs do leane to any erroneous and hereticall opinions refusing to shew them selues conformable to the Catholick ReligioÌ„ of Christes church wherein if they cannot by good admonitions and fayre meanes reforme them they are willed to deliuer them to the Ordinarye to be by him charitably trauelled withall and remoued if it may be from their noughty opinions or els if they coÌ„tinue obstinate to be ordered according to the lawes prouided in that behalfe vnderstanding nowe to our no little maruell that diuers of the sayd disordered persons being by the Iustices of peace for theyr contempt and obstinacy brought to the Ordinaryes to be vsed as is aforesayd are either refused to be receiued at theyr hands or if they be receiued are neither so trauelled with as christian charity requireth nor yet proceeded withall according to the order of Iustice but are suffered to continue in theyr errors to the dishonor of almighty God and daungerous exemple of others like as we finde this matter very straunge so haue thought conuenieÌ„t both to signify our knowledge therwith also to admonish you to haue in this behalfe such regard hencefoorth to the office of a good pastor and Bishop as wheÌ„ any such offenders shal be by the sayd Officers or Iustices of peace brought vnto you Q. Mary stirreth Boner to â—hedde innocent bloud you to vse your good wisedom discretioÌ„ in procuring to remoue theÌ„ froÌ„ theyr errours if it may be or els in proceeding agaynst them if they shall coÌ„tinue obstinate according to the order of the lawes so as through your good furtherance both Gods glory may bee better aduaunced and the common wealth more quietly gouerned Yeuen vnder our signet at our honour of Hampton Courte the 24. of May the 1. and 2. yeares of our reignes This letter thus comming from the Court to the Bishop made him the more earnest and hasty to the condemnation as well of others as of these men of whom now we haue presently to entreat of Iohn Symson I meane and Iohn Ardeley Whyche both beyng of one countrey and of one Towne together and of one trade that is being both husbandmen in the town of Wigborow in Essex Iohn Ardeley Iohn Simson both husbandmen 〈◊〉 the towne of Wigboâ—ough and also almost both of one age sane that Symson was of the age of 34. the other of 30. were brought vp both together by the vnder Shyriffe of Essex to Boner Bishop of London vpoÌ„ the
I haue offended a lawe Wattes wordes to the L. Rich. I am subiect here to the lawe Then Anth. Browne Iustice sayd vnto hym Wats I pray thee tell me who hath bene thy schoole maister to teach thee this geare Syr Anthony Browne a Gospeller in K. Edwardes dayes a persecuter in Queene Maryes dayes or where didst thou first learn this religion Forsooth quoth Wattes euen of you Sir you taught it me and none more then you For in K. Edwards dayes in open sessions you spake against this Religion now vsed no preacher more You then sayd y e masse was abhominable all their trumpery besides wishing and earnestly exhorting that none should beleeue therin that our beliefe should be onely in Christ and you said thē whosoeuer should bryng in any strange natiō to rule here it were treason and not to be suffred Then said Browne to my Lord Rich he belies me my Lord. What a knaue is this he wil soone belye me behind my backe when he doth it before my face and my L. Rich sayd againe I dare say he doth so After these wordes Wattes tooke occasion to speake somewhat of King Phillip and of hys commyng in but what it was I coulde not iustly learne But this muche was heard that after those wordes spoken the Benche among themselues stood vp and sayd one to another treason sauyng one good man called Iustice Gawdy Iustice Gaudy ◠good man who a little before was about to speake but when he heard them cry treason he helde downe his head as one grieued and troubled at their doyngs In conclusion the Commissioners being wery of him or els not willing to meddle further in such high matters sent him vp to the B. of London with their letter withal importing the cause of his sending vp as by the contentes thereof here vnder followeth to be seene ¶ A letter sent by certaine Iustices in Essex to Boner B. of London AFter our most harty cōmendations to your good lordship these shall be to aduertise you A letter of the Lord Rich Henry Tyrell other Iustices to Boner that at our Sessions of Oyer Terminer holden at Chelmesford the 26. day of April last past there came before vs in open Courte one Thomas Wattes of Billerica within your dioces by ordinary proces and then and there being examined why he refused to come to his parish Church and there to receiue the sacrament of the aultar and heare diuine seruice according to the institution of holy church he openly there answered generally that like as the seruice of the Churche set out in the dayes of late King Edward the 6. was sayd by vs now to be abominable hereticall schismaticall Tho Wattes sent vp by the Iustices of Essex to Byshop Boner all naught so he sayd that all that is nowe vsed done in the Church is abhominable hereticall schismaticall and all naught with diuers other erroneous arrogant words and therefore we haue thought good to send hym to your Lordship to be further examined by you of his perticular opinions as to your pastorall office shall seeme conuenient certifieng you further that in our opinion he is one of the most arrogant heretikes that hath bene heard speake or euer came before you not meet to be kept here in any Gaole as well for feare of corrupting others as for diuers sundry other speciall causes hereafter to be more declared Thus leauing to molest your good Lordship we commit you to the holy ghost Geuen at Chelmesford the 27. of Aprill An. 1555. Your good Lordships most assured R. Rich. Henry Tirrell The names of the Iustices Anthony Browne Edmund Tirrell T. Myldman Iohn Wiseman Rog. Appleton Rich. Weston Now when the B. had receiued him how he vsed him 〈◊〉 is easie by his common practises with others to iudge What his priuate conferēces were I know not but what was publikely done in the Consistory at Paules the common stage for these tragedies you shall here see The first appearance of Thomas Wattes in the bishops Consistorie FIrst vppon Thursday beyng the second day of May Thomas Wattes was brought thether before the Bishop of London The first appearance of Thomas Wattes in the Bishops Consistory there being examined vpon his words had before the L. Rich and others as is conteined in their letters he did earnestly affirme the same to be true Wherupon the Bishop obiected and examined him vpon these Articles following to the which he aunswered as vnder may appeare ¶ Articles obiected agaynst Thomas VVattes of Byllerica in the Countie of Essex within the Diocesse of London by Boner Bish. there as ensueth 1. FIrst that the said Tho. Wattes was of Billerica so of the iurisdiction of the B. of London Articles agaynst Tho. Wattes The Sacraments of the Church of Rome 2. Item that he beleeued not in the Sacraments of the the holy and Catholike church as the Catholike church of Rome and all other Churches members of the same euer hetherto hath beleued is taught of al good faithful people nor hath allowed the said sacraments rites vsages or ceremonies of the said church The substance of the sacramēt but hath despised the same 3. Item that he beleeueth also hath taught others that the substaunce of materiall bread and wyne do remaine in the Sacrament of the aultar after the consecration The presence in the sacrament that the sayd materiall bread and wyne are the signes tokens of Christes body hanged vpon the crosse and of hys bloud there shed and that in the sayd Sacrament there is only a memory or remembraunce of Christes body bloud and nothyng els 4. Item that he beleueth and doth precisely affirme that the very true presence of Christes body and bloud in substaunce The Masse abhominable is not in the Sacrament of the aultar but only in heauen and no where els 5. Item that he beleeueth affirmeth and sayth that the Masse now vsed in the church of Rome here in England and other places is full of Idolatry Confession to God abhomination wickednes and that Christ did neuer institute it nor ordayne it nor yet allow it as a good and laudable thyng to be vsed in his Church 6. Item that he beleeueth and affirmeth that auricular confession to be made vnto the Priest is not necessary but superfluous and that it is enough for a man to beleeue onely to confesse hymselfe vnto God without any priest or minister at any tyme though he may haue the Priest to confesse hym vnto 7. Item that he beleueth that Luther Wickliffe Doctor Barnes Defence of Martyrs and all others that haue holden against the Sacrament of the aultar suffred death by fire or otherwise for the maintenaunce of the said opinion were good men and faithfull seruaunts and Martyrs of Christ in so beleeuyng and dieng 8. Item that he hath and
By this he would proue that Christe was then in heauen and in earth also naturally and bodily Shet This place and other must needes be vnderstand for the vnitie of persons in that Christe was God man and yet the matter must be referred to the Godhead or els ye must fall into great errour Commis That is not so for it was spoken of the manhoode of Christ for as much as he sayth the sonne of man whiche is in heauen Shet If yee will needes vnderstande it to be spoken of Christes manhoode The Coâ—â—missary brought 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 conueniâ—â—â— then must ye fall into the error of the Anabaptistes which deny that Christ took fleshe of y e virgin Mary for if there be no bodye ascended vpp but that whiche came downe where is then his incarnation for then he brought his body downe with him Commis Loe how ye seeke an errour in me and yet see not how ye erre your selfe For it cannot be spoken of the Godhead except ye graunt that God is passible for God cannot come downe because he is not passible Shet If that were a good argumente that God could not come down because he is not passible then it might be said by the like argument that God coulde not sit and then heauen is not his seate and then say as some do that God hath no right hand for Christ to sit at Commis Then the Commissary affirmed playnly that it was true God hath no right hand in deede Shet Oh what a spoyle of Christes Religion will thys be that because we cannot tell howe God came downe therfore we shall say that he came not down at all and because we cannot tell what maner of hand he hathe to saye that he hath no hand at all and then he cannot reache the vtmost part of the sea O miserie at length it will come to passe that God cannot sit and then howe can heauen bee his seate and if heauen be not his seate then there is no heauen and then at length I doubt ye wil say there is no God or els no other God but such as the heathens Gods are which cannot goe nor feele Commis Why doth not the scripture saye that God is a spirite and what hand can a spirite haue Shet Truth it is God is a spirit and therfore is worshipped in spirit and truth and as he is a spirite so hath hee a spirituall power so hathe hee a spirituall seate a spirituall hand 〈◊〉 hand â—pirituall and a spirituall sword which we shall feele if we go this way to worke as we beginne Because wee knowe not what hand God hath therfore if we say he hath none then it may as well be sayd there is no Christ. Then the Commissary sayd hee woulde talke no more w t me so departed and also the Commissarye was compelled to graunt that Christes testament was broken and his institution was chaunged from that hee left it but hee sayd they had power so to doe * My first aunswearing after their law was stablished BEcause I know ye will desire to heare from mee some certaintie oâ— my estate â—â—luation the first â—â—â—minatiâ—â— of Sheâ—â—den â—fter law was 〈…〉 see the â—ommissioÌ„ I was called before the SuffragaÌ„ and seuen or eight of the chiefe priestes examined of certayne Articles and then I required to see theyr CoÌ„mission They shewed it to me and sayde There it is and the Kinge and Queenes letters also Then I desired to haue it read and so in readyng I perceaued that on some notable suspition hee might examine vppon two articles whether Chrystes reall presence were in the Sacrament and whether the churche of England be of Christes Catholicke Churche To that I aunsweared that I had bene a prisoner 3. quarters of a yeare and as I thought wrongfully reason would therefore that I should aunsweare to those thinges wherefore I was prisoner Suff. The Suffragan sayd his Commission was I must aunswere directly yea or nay Shet This Commission sayde I was not generall to examine whome he will but on iust suspicion Suff He sayd I was suspected and presented to hym Shet Then I required that the accusation might be shewed Suff. He sayd he was not bound to shew it but he commaunded me in the king and Queenes name to aunswer directly Shet And I as a subiect do require of you iustice for that I haue done I aske no fauour Suff. He sayde I was suspected Shet I bad him proue that suspicion or what cause he had to suspect Suff. Thou was cast into prison for that cause Shet That was a pretty suspicion because I had suffered imprisonment contrary to Gods law and the realme that therefore I must now for a mendes be examined of suspition without cause to hyde all the wrong done to me before For when I was cast into prison there was no law but I might speake as I did therefore in that poynte I could be no more suspect then you which preached y e same yourself not long before Suff. That was no matter to thee what I preached Shet Well yet in the king and Queenes name I must aunswere directly and therefore I require as a subiecte y t ye do not extend beyond your Commission but proue me suspect more then you your selfe Milles. Then sayd M. Milles I had written to my mother and he did see the letter wherin I perswaded my mother to my opinions Shet In that I did but my duetye to certifie her I was not prison for any euill And that was before the lawe also and therefore no more suspicion was in mee then was in them which taught the like Mill. Well yee are required here to aunswere directlye yea or no. Shet First then I require of you to proue this suspicion and thus we tossed to and fro At last the byshop sayde hee himselfe did suspect me I asked wherby Suff. Wâ—ll sayd he I my selfe did suspect thee and it is no matter wherby Shet But your Commission doth not serue you so to doe without iust suspicion Suff. Well yet did I suspect you Shet It is not meete for you to bee my accuser and my Iudge also for that was too much for one man And thus manye woordes were multiplied and they were muche greeued Milles. If you were a Christian man you would not be ashamed of your fayth being required Shet I am not ashamed in deede I thanke God Vpon this it appeareth the letters were written to the B. of Winchester by whom he was sente for after and examined if any man do come to me either to teache or to learne I would declare it but for asmuch as I perceaue you come neither to to teache nor to learne I holde it beste to aunswere you Milles. If you will not then will we certifie the kinges Councell Sheter I am therwith content that you shoulde certifie y t I had suffered thrâ—e quarters prison