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
kindes The sacrament in both kindes excluded is not necessary ad salutem by the law of God to all persons and that it is to be beleued not doubted of but that in the flesh vnder forme of bread is the very bloud with the bloud vnder forme of wine is the very flesh as well aparte as they were both together The 3. Article Thirdly that priestes after the order of priesthoode receiued as afore may not mary by the law of God The 4. Article Fourthly that the vowes of chastity or widowhead Aduisedly that is made aboue the age of 21. yeares priestes onely excepted by maÌ„ or woman made to God aduisedly ought to be obserued by the law of God and that it exempteth them from other libertyes of christen people which without that they might enioy The 5. Article Fiftly that it is meete and necessary that priuate Masses be continued and admitted in this english Church and congregation as whereby good ChristeÌ„ people By these benefites of priuate masses is ment the helping of soules in Purgatory ordering themselues accordingly do receiue both godly goodly consolations and benefites And it is agreable also to Gods law The 6. Article Sixtly that auricular confession is expedient and necessary to be retayned and continued The 6. Article vsed and frequented in the Church of God After thâ—se Articles were thus concluded and coÌ„sented vpon the Prelates of the Realme craftely perceiuing that such a foule violent act could not take place or preuayle vnlesse straight and bloudy penalties were set vpon them they caused through theyr acustomed practise to be ordeyned and enacted by the king and the Lordes spiritual and temporall and the commons in the sayd Parliament as foloweth The penalties vpon the 6 Articles That if any person or persons within this Realme of England or any other the kings dominions The penaltyes vpon the 6. articles after the xij day of Iuly next comming by word writing imprinting ciphring or any otherwise shuld publish preach teach say affirme declare dispute argue or holde any opinion that in the blessed Sacrament of the Altar vnder forme of bread and wine after the consecration therof there is not preseÌ„t really Transubstantiation the naturall body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ conceiued of the virgin Mary or that after the sayd consecration there remayneth any substaunce of bread or wine or any other substance but the substaÌ„ce of Christ god and maÌ„ or after the time abouesayd publish preach teach say affirme declare dispute argue or hold opinion that in y e flesh vnderforme of bread is not the very bloud of christ or that with the bloud of Christ vnder the forme of wine is not the very flesh of Christ aswell aparte as though they were both together or by any of y e meanes abouesayd or otherwise preach teach declare or affirme the said sacrament to be of other substance then is abouesayd or by any meane contemne depraue or despise the sayd blessed sacrament that then euery such person so offeÌ„ding their ayders comforters counsellers consenters and abâ—eters therein being therof conuicted in forme vnder written by the authority abouesayd should be deemed and adiudged heretickes Suffering without any abiuration and euery of such offence should be adiudged manifest heresy that euery such offender and offenders should therfore haue suffer iudgemeÌ„t execution payn paynes of death by way of burning without any abiuratioÌ„ benefite of the cleargy or Sanctuary to be therfore permitted had allowed admitted or suffered Losse of goodes and also should therfore forfeit and loose to the kinges highnesse his ayres and successors all his or theyr honors manors castles landes tenementes rentes reuersions seruices possessions all other his or theyr hereditaments goods and cattell Opinion against the Sacrament of the aultar made treason termes and freeholdes whatsoeuer they were which any such offence or offeÌ„ces committed or done or at any time after as in any cases of high treason The penalty of the last v. Articles And as touching the other v. articles folowing the penalty deuised for them was this The penalties of the last 5. articles That euery such person or persons which do preach teach obstinately affirme vphold mainteine or defend after the 12. day of Iuly the sayd yeare any thing contrary to the same or if any being in orders or after a vow aduisedly made did mary or make mariage or contract matrimony in so doing should be adiudged as felones and lose both life and forfeit goodes as in case of felony without any benefite of the clergye or priuiledge of the Church or of Sanctuary c. Item that euery such person or persons which after y e day aforesayd by word writing printing cyphring or otherwise did publish declare or holde opinion contrary to the 5. articles aboue expressed being for any such offeÌ„ce duely conuict or attainted for the first time besides the forfayt of all his goodes and cattell and possessions what so euer should suffer imprisonment of his body at the kings pleasure for the second time being accused presented therof conuict should suffer as in case aforesayd of felony Item if any within order of pristhood before the time of the sayd Parliament had maryed or contracted Matrimony or vowed widowhead the sayd matrimony should stand vtterly voyd and be dissolued Item that the same daunger that belonged to priestes marying theyr wiues shuld also redound to the womeÌ„ maryed vnto the Priestes Inquisition vpoÌ„ the 6. articles Furthermore for the more effectuall execution of the premises it was enacted by the sayd Parliament that full authority of Inquisition of all such heresyes fellonies and contemptes should be committed and directed down into euery shyre to certayn persons specially therunto appointed of the which persons three at least prouided alwayes the Archbishop or bishop or his Chauncellor or his Commissarie to be one should sitte foure times at least in the yeare A bloudy inquisition hauing full power to take information accusation by the depositions of any two lawfull persons at the least as well as by the othes of xij men to examine and inquire of all and singuler the heresyes fellonyes and contempts aboue remeÌ„bred hauing also as ample power to make proces agaynst euery person or persons indited presented or accused before them also to heare determine the foresayd heresyes fellonyes contempts and other offences as well as if the mater had bene presented before the Iustices of peace in their Sessions And also that the saide Iustices in theyr Sessions euery Steward or vndersteward or his Deputy in theyr law daies should haue power by y e othes of xij lawfull men to enquire likewise of all singular the heresyes fellonyes contemptes and other offences and to heare and determine the same to all effectes of this present Acte c. Prouided withall that no person nor persons therupoÌ„
wreaked During the time of these sixe articles aforesayd which brought many good men vnto death yet so it happened by another contrary acte sette forth before for the kinges supremacy as ye haue heard that the contrary sect also of the Papistes was not all in quiet For besides the death of Moore and the Bishop of Rochester and the other Charterhouse Monkes Friers and Priestes aboue specified about this yeare were also condemned and executed by the same law two other Larke Priest of Chelsey Germaine Gardine traytors agaynst◠the kings supremacye of whom one was a Priest of Chelsey named Larke which was put to death at London for defending the B. of Romes supremacy aboue the kynges authority The other was Germine Gardiner nere kinsman to Steuen Gardiner and yet more neare to his secret coūsell as it is supposed who likewise in practising for the Pope agaynst the kings iurisdiction was taken wyth the maner and so brought vnto the Gibbet Upon the detection of this Germaine Gardiner being Secretary to Gardiner bishop of Winchester his kinsman it semed to some Suspitiō against Steuē Gardiner and so was also insinuated vnto the king not to be vnlike but that the sayd Germain neither would nor durst euer attempt any such matter of popery without some setting on or consent of the Bishop he being so nere vnto him to all his secrets as he was Wherby the king began somewhat more to smell and misdoubt the doinges of the Bishop but yet he so couertly and clearely conueyed his matters playing vnder the boord after his wonted fetches in such sort as I can not tel how still he kept in with the king to the great inquietatiō of the publick state of the Realme and especially of Christes Church In declaring the dreadfull lawe before set forthe of the sixe ayticles which was an 1540. ye heard what penaltye was appoynted for the breach of the same in like case as in treason felony so that no remedy of any recātatiō would serue Stat. an 35. Reg. Henr. 8. This seueritye was a little mitigated by an other Parliament holden afterward an 1544. by the which parliament it was decreede that such offenders which were conuict in the sayd articles for the first time should be admitted to recant and renounce their opinions And if the party refused to recant in such forme as should be layd vnto him by his Ordinary or after his recantation The rigour of the 6. articles a little aswaged if he eftsoones offended agayne then for the second time he should be admitted to abiure and beare a fagot Which if he denyed to do or els being adiured if he the third time offended then he to susteine punishment according to the Lawe c. Although the straitnes rigor of the former act was thus somewhat tempered as ye see and reformed by this presēt Parliament yet notwithstanding the venome and poison of the errors and mischiefe of those articles remayned still behind not remoued but rather confirmed by this Parliament aforesayd By the which Parliament moreouer many thinges were prouided for the aduauncement of Popery vnder the coulor of religion so that all maner of books of the old and new Testament bearing the name of Will Tindall or any other hauing Prologues or conteining any matters annotations preambles wordes or sentēces contrary to the sixe articles were debarred In like maner all songs playes and Enterludes with all other books in English conteining matter of religion tending any way agaynst the sayd articles were abolished In the which Parliament furthermore it was prouided that the text of the new Testament or of the Bible being prohibited to all women artificers prentises iourneimen seruingmen yeomen husbandmen and laborers yet was permitted notwithstanding to noble men and gentle men gentlewomen to read and peruse to their edifying so that they did it quietly without arguing discussing or expounding vpon the Scripture Ouer and besides Qualification of the acte of the 6. articles wheras before the offender or defendaunt might not be suffered to bring in any witnesses to purge and try himself In this Parliament it was permitted to the party detect or complayned on to try his cause by witnesses as many or mo in nūber as the other which deposed agaynst him c. Other qualifications of the acte of the sixe Articles AFter this Parliament moreouer folowed an other parliament an 1545. wherein other qualifications more speciall of the sixe articles were prouided That where as before the cruell statute of the sixe articles was so strayt y t if any of the kinges subiectes had bene cōplayned of by any maner of person as wel being his enemy as otherwise he should be indicted presently vpon the same without anye further examination or knowledge geuē to the party so accused so thereupon to be attached committed and in fine to be condemned it was therfore by this parliamēt prouided that all such presentmentes and indictmentes shoulde not be brought before the Commissioners otherwise then by the othes of xij men or moe of honesty and credit with out corruption or malice accordingly Item that no such indictmentes or presentmentes should be taken but within one yeare of the offences committed eyther els the sayd indictmentes to stand voyd in the law Item that no person accused vpon any such offence agaynst the sixe articles should be attached or committed to ward before he were therof indicted vnlesse by speciall warrant from the king c. Item by the authority of the sayd Parliament it was considered and enacted that if any preacher or reader for any word spoken supposed to be agaynst the sixe articles shoulde be accused not within the space of 40. dayes of the sayd his reading or preaching then the partie accused to be acquited Item that the Iustices or inquirers of suche presentmentes should haue full power to alter and reforme all panelles of inquirie returned before them in like maner as the Iustices of peace may do in theyr Sessions vpon any other inquiries Item that the party so accused or indicted vppon his tryall may haue all manner of chalenges peremptory onely excepted as other persons arraigned for felony may haue by the lawes of this realme Stat. anno 1545. R. Hen. 8. By these qualifications moderatiōs of the 6. articles it may appere that the king begā somwhat to grow out of fauor with Ste. Gardiner to discredit his doings wherby he was y e more forward to incline somewhat in furthering the desolate cause of religiō as may appeare both by these premisses also by other prouisions determinations of the foresayd parliament an 1545. wherein it was decreed by act of parliamēt A Statute for examination of tha Canon law y t the king should haue full power authority to appoynt 32. persons to wit 16. of y e clergy 16. of the tēporalty to peruse ouersee examine the Canōs cōstitutions ordinaūces
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
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
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
was Humfrey Palden committed to the Counter for wordes agaynst the sayd Bournes sermon at Paules crosse A letter to the Shiriffe of Buckingham and Bedford for the apprehending of one Fisher person of Ammersham a preacher Fisher. Another letter to the B. of Norwich not to suffer any preacher or other to preach or expound the scripture openly without speciall licence from the Queene The same day was M. Bradford M. Uernon and M. Beacon preachers committed to the charge of the Lieuetenant of the Tower The same day also was M. Iohn Rogers Preacher commanded to keepe himselfe prisoner in his owne house at Paules without hauing conference with any other theÌ„ those of hys owne houshold The 22. of August there was two letters directed to M. Couerdall B. of Exceter M. Hooper B. of Gloucester for their indelayed repayre to the Court and there to attend the Counsailes pleasure The same day Fisher person of Ammersham made his appearance before the Counsaile Fisher. according to their letter the 16. of August and was appointed the next day to bring in a note of hys sermon The 24. of August was one Iohn Meluin a Scotte and and Preacher sente to Newgate in London by the Counsaile The 26. of August there was a letter sent to the Mayor of Couentry and his brethren for the apprehension of one Symonds of Worcester preacher and then Uicare of S. Michaels in Couentry Symons and for the sendyng of hym vp to the counsaile with his examinations and other matters they could charge hym with With a Commission to them to punish all such as had by meanes of his preachyng vsed any talke against the Queenes proceedings The 29. of August M. Hooper B. of Worcester made his personall appearance before the Counsaile accordyng to their letters the 22. of August The 31. of August M. Couerdall B. of Exceter made hys appearaunce before the Counsaile according to theyr letters the 22. of August September 1553. The 1. of September M. Hooper and M. Couerdall appeared againe before the Counsaile whence M. Hooper was committed to the Fleete and M. Couerdall commaÌ„ded to attend the Lordes pleasure The 2. of September M. Hugh Saunders Uicare of S. Michaels in Couentry was before the Counsaile for a sermon and was commanded to appeare agayne vppon Monday next after The 4. of September a Letter was directed from the Counsaile to M. Hugh Latimer for his appearaunce before them About the 5. day of September the same yeare Peter Martyr came to London from Oxford where for a tyme he had bene commaunded to kepe his house found there the Archbishop of Canterbury who offered to defend the doctrine of the booke of Common prayer both by the scriptures and Doctors assisted by Peter Martyr and a fewe other as hereafter ye shall heare But whilest they were in hope to come to Disputations the Archbishop and other were imprisoned but Peter Martyr was suffered to returne whence he came The same day there was a letter sent to the Mayor of Couentry to set Hugh Symonds at liberty if he would recant his Sermon or els to stay hym Simons and to signify so much to the Counsaile The 13. of September M. Hugh Latymer appeared before the counsaile accordyng to their letter the 4. of September and was committed to the Tower close prisoner hauing his seruant Austen to attend hym The same day the Archbishop of Caunterbury appearyng before the Counsaile was commaunded to appeare the next day at after noone before them in the Starre chamber The 14. of September the Archbishop of Caunterbury accordyng to their former dayes commandement made his appearaunce before the Lordes in the Starre chamber Where they chargyng hym with treason spreadyng abroad of sedicious bils to the disquieting of the estate they committed hym from thence to the Tower of London there to remayne till further Iustice and order at the Queenes pleasure The 15. of September there was a letter sent to M. Horne Deane of Durham for his appearaunce before theÌ„ and another was sent to hym the 7. of October next after for his speedie appearance The 16. of September there was letters sent to the Mayors of Douer and Rye to suffer all French Protestantes to passe out of this Realme except suche whose names shall be signified to them by the French Embassadour October 1553. October 1. Queene Mary crowned October 10. The Parliament beginneth with a Masse Two Bishops withdrew themselues from the sighe of the Masse M. Harley Bishop of Herâ—ford put out of his Bishopricke The first day of October Queene Mary was crowned at Westminster and the x. day of the sayd moneth of October then followyng began the parliament with a solemne Masse of the holy Ghost after the popish maner celebrated with great pompe in the pallaice of Westminster To the which Masse among the other Lordes accordyng to the maner should come the bishops which yet remayned vndeposed which were the Archb. of Yorke D. Taylor B. of Lincolne Iohn Harley B. of Herford Of the bishops D. Taylor and M. Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie and taking their place amongest the Lordes after they saw the Masse begin not abidyng the sight therof withdrew themselues from the company for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne beyng examined and protestyng his fayth was vppon the same commanded to attend who not long after at Ankerwyke by sickenesse departed M. Harley because he was maryed was excluded both from the Parliament and from hys bishoprike Masse beyng done the Queene accompanied with the Estates of the Realme was brought into the Parliament house there according to the maner to enter and begin the consultation Statutes of Premunire and other repealed Altars and Masses erected At which consultation or Parliament were repealed all statutes made in the tyme of king Henry the 8. for Premunire statutes made in K. Edward the sixtes time for administration of common praier the sacrameÌ„ts in the English tongue further the attainder of the duke of Northumberland was by this Parliament confirmed In this meane while many men were forward in the erecting of aulters masses in churches And such as woulde sticke to the lawes made in K. Edwardes tyme till other should be established some of them were marked some presently apprehended Syr Iames Hales Knight Among whom sir Iames Hales a knight of Kent and Iustice of the Common place was one who notwithstandyng he had ventured hys lyfe in Queene Maries cause in that he would not subscribe to y e disheriting of her by the kings will yet for that he did at a quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in the tyme of Henry the 8. and Edward the 6. for the supremacie and religion The trouble of Iudge Hales he was imprisoned in the Marshalsey Counter and Fleete and so cruelly handled put in feare by talke that the Warden of the Fleete vsed to haue in
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
bee brought vp in the feare of God and in his lawes And this is to certifie you that ye deliuer in any wise my eldest sonne vnto M. Throgmorton who vpoÌ„ his good wil hath promised me to bring him vp according to my desire and I trust as God hath put into his hart See therfore that ye deliuer him in any wyse without delay and as for the other if ye shall seeme to be burdened with him which I thinke nature will not suffer my desire is that it be brought vp in the feare of God to the vttermost of your endeuour with some honest man that hath the feare of God before his eies and let vs geue thanks vnto God which hath giuen them vs beseechyng hym that they may be counted worthy to be of that flocke that shall stand on the right hand of the Maiestie of God when he shall iudge the world Amen Yet once againe I warne you that ye continue in feruent prayer as I sayd before then shall ye be sure y t God euen of his owne mercy according as he hath promysed will be an husband vnto you prouide better for you theÌ„ I was euer able to do yea he wil cause all men that feare him to pitie you to helpe you succour you in all your necessities so that if any will do you wrong he wil be adâ—enged on hym Moreouer I wish you to keepe company w t those Keeping of good comâ—any of whome yee may learne to come to a more perfect knowlege in God and I doubt not but God will prouide that such will bee glad to receiue you if you shall professe and go forward in his truth Finally and to make an end I desire you that ye take heed with whom ye couple your selfe See that he be a maÌ„ that feareth God Exhortation to take heede whoÌ„ shee maryeth that shee mary in the Lord. loueth his lawes and will walke in the same to the vttermost of hys power such a one as can be content to loue you to care for you Take heede he be no brawler no drunkard no wicked person not giuen to filthines no worldling no dicer nor carder In fine no filthy person but chuse you such a one as God may be glorified in both your liues And again on your part loue him serue him obey him in all godlines as long as God shall geue you life in this world Then shall ye both be sure to obtaine that kingdome which God the father hath prepared and Iesus Christ obtayned for you that neuer shall haue end where I trust to abide your comming Amen By your husband Tho. Haukes Ye heard before in the letter of Tho. Haukes written to his wyfe mention made concerning his eldest sonne to be sent to M. Throgmorton Now what he writeth hymselfe to the said M. Throgmorton touching the same matter by this his letter to the said party here vnder ensuyng may appeare ¶ A letter of Thomas Haukes to M. Clement Throgmorton An other letter of Thomas Haukes written to M. Clement Throgmorton GRace mercy and peace from God the father and from our Lord Iesus Christ be with you assist you in al your thoghts words and works that he in all things as most woorthy may be glorified and that the blessing of Abraham may be poured plenteously on you and all your posteritie Where as the loue of God hath mooued you to require my sonne to be brought vp before your eyes the selfe same loue hath also mooued me in like case to leaue hym in your hands as vnto a father in myne absence I shall require you in Gods behalf according to your promise that ye will see hym brought vp in the feare of the Lord and instructed in the knowledge of his holy word that he may thereby learne to leaue the euill and know the good and alwayes be pricked forward with fatherly instructions to folow my footsteps that as almighty God hath made me worthy through his speciall grace to worke his will in obedience he may learne to follow me his father in the like to gods honor and prayse And this I require you in Gods behalfe to fulfill or cause to be fulfilled as ye before the liuing God will make aunswer for the same I haue left for the child certaine bookes which shall be deliuered vnto you wherein his instruction and saluation lieth if he learne and practise the same And thus most humbly beseeching you once agayne to be as good vnto him as your promise was to me that is to be a father a wall of defence vnto hym in all troubles I leaue him in your hand through the Lord Iesu and desire him to blesse both him you according to his good promise all that good which ye shal do vnto him I shal most hartily desire the euerlasting God to recompence vnto you in hys kingdome where I hope to meete both him and you among all Gods elect To which God be all praise honor and glory Amen Yours and all mens in Christ Iesu Tho. Haukes ¶ The history of Thomas VVattes examined tried and burnt for the truth of the Gospell THomas Wattes of Billerica Iune 10. The stâ—â—y of Thomas Wattes Martyr within the county of Essex and of the Dioces of London was by his occupation a linnen Draper who before he was appreheÌ„ded had sold and made away his cloth in his shop and disposed his things being set in order to his wyfe and children gaue away much of his cloth vnto the poore Thomas Wattes disposeth his goodes before he should be apprehended For he looked always to be taken by gods aduersaries and his as shortly after came in deed to passe so that vpon the 26. day of April he was apprehended and brought before the L. Rich and other Commissioners at Chelmesford and theâ—e beyng accused for not commyng to the church was vpon the same examined before the L. Rich Henry Tyrel Sir Anthony Browne Edmund Tyrell Tho. Mildman Iohn Wiseman Rog. Appleton Rich. Weston Iustice Gaudy c. The summe and principall effect of which examination here vnder followeth briefly expressed ¶ The examination of Tho. VVattes before the Lord Rich and others WHen this Tho. Wattes came before the L. Rich and other the Iustices The examinatioÌ„ of Thomas Wattes before the Lord Rich and other the Queenes commissioners The wordes of the Lord Rich to Tho. Wattes whose names are specified in the letter followyng which they sent vnto the B. of London agaynst him at the sessions at Chelmesford the Lord Rich sayd these words or the lyke in effect vnto hym Wattes ye be brought hither as I vnderstand because of disobedience to the Kyng and Queens lawes Ye will not come to the Church ye will not heare Masse c. but haue your conuenticles a sort of you in corners contrary to the K. and Queenes proceedings Unto whiche hys words Wattes answered and sayd My L. if
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