stroke of gods iust reuenge the same king by credible report of storâ— is sayd to dye of bleeding not onely at his eares and nose but in all other places of his bodye where bloud might haue any issue Unto these afore recited historyes of king Henry and hys two Sonnes might also be added the death of the Emperour Charles the fift Who in like maner beyng an enemy and a great terrour to the Gospell was cut of like wise for doing any more hurt to the Church muche about the same time an 1558. which was but three monethes before the death of Queene Mary and ten monethes before the death of the sayd Henry the 2. Touching the death of which Charles and Henry Fraunces this Epitaph folowing was written in Latine verses and printed in the French story booke aboue alledged Consilijs Christum oppugnans fraudibus ingens Regum ille terror Carolus Ipsis ridiculus pueris furiosus excors Totus repentè corruit Tuque Henrice malis dum consultoribus vtens Sitis piorum sanguinem Ipse tuo vecors inopina caede peremptus Terram imbuisti sanguine Henrici deinceps sectans vestigia patris Franciscus infoelix puer Clamantem Christum surda dum negligit aure Aure putrefacta corruit Versuti fatui surdi haec spectacula Reges Vos sapere vel mori iubent Not long after Anne du Bourges death the President Minard who was a sore persecutour and the condemner of the sayd Anne du Bourg as he returned from the Pallace or Counsell chamber to his owne house beyng vpon his Mule euen hard by his house was slayne with a Dag but who was the doer thereof or for what cause hee was slayne for all the inquisition and dilligent searche that coulde be made it was neuer knowne Amongst many other examples worthy to be noted let vs also consider the end of the K. of Nauarre brother to the worthy Prince of Condy who after he had susteined a certayne time the cause of the Gospell at length being allured by the flattering words of the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother and vpon hope to haue his landes restored againe which the king of Spayne reteyned from him was contented to alter his religion and to ioyne side with the Papists and so being in camp with the Duke of Guise at the siege of Roane was there shot in with a pellet After which wound receiued being brought to a towne three miles from the campe called Preaux hee did vehemently repent and lament his backsliding from the Gospell promising to God most earnestly that if hee might escape that hurt he woulde bring to passe that the Gospell should be preached freely through all Fraunce Notwithstanding within fiue or sixe dayes after he dyed Neyther did the Duke of Guise himselfe the greate Archenemy of God and his Gospell continue in life long after that but both he with the whole triumuirat of France that is three the greatest captayns of popery were cut off for doyng any more hurt to wit the Duke of Guise before Orleance the Constable before Paris the Marshal of S. Andrew before Dreux ¶ Of the Emperour Sigismundus Amongest others here is not to bee past ouer nor forgotten the notable examples of Gods iust scourge vppon Sigismundus the Emperour of whoÌ„ mentioÌ„ is made before in the condemnation of Iohn Husse Hierome of Prage pag. 596. After the deathe and wrongfull condemnation of which blessed martyrs nothing afterward went prosperously with the sayd Emperour but all contrary so that both he dyed without issue in his warres euer weÌ„t to the worst And not long after Ladislaus his daughters sonne king of Hungary fighting agaynst the Turk was slayne in the fielde So that in the tyme of one generation al the posteritie ofspring of this Emperor perished Besides this Barbara his wife came to suche ruine by her wicked leudnes that she became a shame and slaunder to the name state of all Queenes Whereby all Christian princes and Emperours may sufficiently bee admonished if they haue grace what it is to defile themselues with the bloud of Christes blessed sayntes and Martyrs ¶ A note of Christopher Parker CHristopher Parker called Parker the wilde mentioned before in this booke of Monumentes pag. 1986. who being a persecuter of Richard Woodman did manacle his handes with a corde did cast himselfe into a pond and so drowned himselfe at Herstnonceux in Sussex the 8. of September 1575. * The story of one Drayner of Kent commonly called Iustice Nyne hooles I May not in this place omit the tragedy of one Drayner of Smarden in the Counâ—y of Kent Esquire who bearing grudge against one Gregory Doddes Parson of the sayde towne for reprouing his vicious lyfe sent for hym by two men which tooke hym brought him before him where he was had into a Parlour as it were to breakfast In which behinde the doore he had placed one Roger Mathew secretly to beare witnes what he shuld say no more being in sight but the sayd Drayner one of hys men who willed and perswaded him to speake freely his minde for that there was not sufficient record of his wordes to hurt him But the Lord kept his talke without perill wherby the sayd Drayner sent hym to the next Iustice called M. George Dorell who perceiuing it to be done more of malice theÌ„ otherwise deliuered him vpon sureties to appeare at the next Sessions at Cant. and at length was banished the Countrey This sayd Drayner afterward being chosen Iustice to shew himselfe diligent in seeking the trouble of his neighbors made in the Rodeloft nyne hooles that he might looke about the church in Masse tyme. In which place alway at the sacring therof he would stand to see who looked not or held not vp his hands therto which persoÌ„s so not doing he would trouble punish very sore Wherby he purchased a name ther is called to this day Iustice nine holes who now God be thanked is Iohn out of office glad of his neighbors good will It so fell out that since this was published the sayde Drayner came to the Printers house with other associate demaunding Is Foxe here To whome aunswere was geuen that maister Foxe was not within Is the Printer within quoth Drayner It was aunswered yea Wherevpon being required to come vp into his house was asked what his will was Mary sayth he you haue printed me false in your booke Why sayth the Printer is not your name M. Drayner otherwise called Iustice nine holes It is false sayth he I made but v. with a great Augure and the Parson made the rest It was answered I haue not read that a Iustice shoulde make him a place in the Roode loft to see if the people held vppe theyr handes He sayd where as you alleadge that I did it to see who adored the sacrament or who not it is vntrue for
of the harte and veritie wherein consisteth true Christian Religion and not in the outward deedes of the letter onely or in the glisteryng shewe of mans traditions or pardons pilgrimages ceremonies vowes deuotions voluntarie workes and workes of supererogation foundations oblations the Popes supremacie c. so that all these either were nedeles where the other is present or els were of small estimation in comparison of the other The tenour and effect of these his Sermons so far as they could come to our handes here foloweth ¶ The tenoure and effecte of certayne Sermons made by mayster Latimer in Cambridge about the yeare of our Lord. 1529. TV quis es which wordes are as much to say in Englyshe Who art thou These be the wordes of the Phariseis which were sent by the Iewes vnto sainct Iohn Baptist in wildernesse to haue knowledge of hym whom he was which woordes they spake vnto hym of an euill intent thinkyng that he would haue taken on hym to be Christe and so they woulde haue had him done with their good willes because they knewe that he was more carnall and geuen to their lawes then Christ in deede should be as they perceyued by their old prophecies and also because they maruayled muche of his great doctryne preachyng and baptising they were in doubt whether he was Christ or not wherefore they sayd vnto him who art thou Then answered sainct Iohn and confessed that he was not Christ. Now here is to be noted the great and prudent answere of saincte Iohn Baptist vnto the Phariseis that when they required of him whom he was he would not directly answere of himselfe what he was him selfe but he sayd he was not Christ by the which saying he thought to put the Iewes and Phariseis out of their false opinion beliefe towardes him in that they would haue had him to exercise the office of Christ and â—o declared farther vnto them of Christ saying he is in the middes of you and amongst you whoÌ„ ye know not whose â—atchet of his shoe I am not worthy to vnlose or vndoe By this you may perceiue that saint Iohn spake much in the lande and prayse of Christ his maister professing himselfe to be in no wise like vnto him So likewise it shal be necessary vnto all men women of this world not to ascribe vnto them selues any goodnes of themselues but all vnto our Lorde God as shall appeare herafter when this question aforesayd Who art thou shall be moued vnto theÌ„ not as the Phariseis did vnto saint Iohn of an euill purpose but of a good and simple minde as may appeare hereafter Now then according to the preachers mynd let euery man and woman of a good simple mind contrary to the Phariseis intent aske this question Who art thou this question must be moued to themselues what they be of themselues on this fashion What art thou of thy only and natural generatioÌ„ betwene father mother wheÌ„ thou camest into this world What substaÌ„ce what vertue what goodnes art thou of by thy selfe which question if thou reherâ—e often times vnto thy selfe thou shalt well perceiue vnderstand how thou shalt make aunswer vnto it which must be made on this wayes I am of my selfe and by my selfe coÌ„ming from my naturall father mother the childe of the ire indignation of God the true inheritour of hel a lumpe of sinne working nothing of my selfe but all towardes hell except I haue better helpe of an other then I haue of my selfe Now we may see in what state we enter in to this world that we be of our selues the true and iust inheritours of hell the children of the ire indignation of Christ working all towardes hell whereby we deserue of our selues perpetuall dampnation by the ryght iudgement of God and the true clayme of our selues which vnthrifty state that we be borne vnto is come vnto vs for our own desertes and proueth well this example followyng Let it be admitted for the probatioÌ„ of this that it might please the kynges grace now being to accept into his fauour a meane man of a simple degre and byrth not borne to any possession whom the kynges grace fauoureth not because this person hath of himselfe deserued any such fauoure but that the kyng casteth this fauoure vnto him of his owne mere motion fantasy and for because the kings grace will more declare his fauoure vnto him he geueth vnto his sayd man a thousand poundes in landes to hym and his heyres on this condition that he shall take vpon him to be the chiefe captayne and defendour of his towne of Calice and to be trew and faythfull vnto hym in the custodie of the same agaynst the Frenche men specially aboue all other enemies This man taketh on hym this charge promysing his fidelitie thereunto It chaunceth in processe of tyme that by the singuler acquaintaunce and frequent familiaritie of this Captaine with the French men these French men geue vnto this sayde Captayne of Calice a great summe of money so that he will be content and agreeable that they may enter into the sayde towne of Calice by force of armes and so thereby to possesse the same vnto the Crowne of Fraunce vpon this agreement the French men doe inuade the sayde Towne of Calice alonely by the neglygence of this Captayne Now the Kynges grace hearyng of this inuasion commeth with a great puissaunce to defende this his sayd Towne and so by good pollicie of warre ouercommeth the sayd French men and entreth againe into his Towne of Calice Then he beyng desyrous to knowe how these enemies of his came thyther he maketh profound searche and enquirie by whom this treason was conspyred by this searche it was knowen and founde his owne Captayne to be the very authoure and beginner of the betraying of it The King seeing the great infidelitie of this person dischargeth this man of his office and taketh from him and his heyres this thousande poundes possessions Thinke you not but the Kyng doth vse iustice vnto him and all his posteritie and heyres Yes truely the sayde Capitayne cannot deny hymselfe but that he hadde true iustice consyderyng howe vnfaythfully he behaued hym to his Prince contrary to his own fidelitie and promyse so likewyse it was of our fyrst Father Adam He had geuen vnto him the spirite of science knowledge to worke all goodnesse therewith this sayd spirite was not geuen alonely vnto him but vnto all his heyres and posteritie He had also deliuered him the Towne of Calice that is to say Paradise in earth the most strong and fayrest Towne in the worlde to be in his custodie He neuerthelesse by the instigation of these Frenche menne that is to say the temptation of the Feende dyd obey vnto their desire and so brake his promise and fidelitie the commaundemeÌ„t of the euerlasting kyng his maister in eatyng of the apple by hym inhibited Now then the kyng seyng this great treason in
Fynden in Darbyshyre and to M. Rob. Glouers wife by whose credible information we receiued the same Not much vnlike vsage was practised also by these catholicke children of the mother Churche vpon the body of Will the third brother WhoÌ„ after it had pleased almighty god about the same seasoÌ„ to cal out of this vale of misery the good disposed people of the Towne of Weme in Shropshyre where he dyed brought the bodye vnto the Parishe Church entending there to haue it buried But one Bernerd being then Curate of the sayd Church and is yet as I heare say to this day to stoppe the buriall therof rode to the bishop named Raufe Bayne to certify him of the matter and to haue his aduise therein In the meane time the body lying there a whole daye in the night time one Rich. Morice a Taylour woulde haue enterred him But then came Iohn Thorlyne of Weme with other moe woulde not suffer the body to be buryed expressing to vs the contrary examples of good Toby for as he was religious in buriyng the dead so this man putteth religioÌ„ in not burying the dead so that after he had layne there two dayes one night commeth the foresayd Bernerd the Curate with the Bishops letter the contentes of which letter beyng copied out word for word here foloweth * A copy of the Byshops Letter written to the Parish of Weme VNderstanding that one Glouer an heretick is dead in the parish of Weme whiche Glouer hath for all the time of my being in this country bene knowne for a rebellion agaynst our holy fath and Religion a Contemner of the holy Sacramentes and ceremonies vsed in holy Churche and hath separate himselfe froÌ„ the holy Communion of all good Christian men nor neuer required to be reconciled to our mother holy Church nor in hys last dayes did not call for his ghostly father but dyed without all rites belonging to a Christian man I thought it good not only to commaund the Curate of Weme that he shoulde not be buried in Christian mans buriall but also will and commaunde all the parish of Weme that no manne procure helpe nor speake to haue him buried in holy ground but I do charge and commaund the Church Wardens of Weme in speciall and all the parishe of the same that they assist the sayd Curate in defending and letting and procuring that he bee not buried neither in the Churche nor within the wanybles of the Churchyarde and likewise I charge those that brought the body to the place to cary it away agayne and that at theyr charge as they will aunswere at theyr perill At Ecclesch this 6. of September an 1558. By your Ordinary Radulph Couentry and Liechfield By the vertue of this foresaid letter so it fel out that they which brought the corps thither were fayne at their owne charges to carye it backe agayne But for so muche as the body was corrupted and smelt so strongly that vnneth any man might come nere it they were forced to draw it with horses vnto a bromefield and there was he buried Witnesses of the godly end of the sayde William Glouer dying in the true fayth and confession of Christe Mayster Nowell Deane of Liechfielde George Wilestone and hys wife Tho CoÌ„stantine Roger Wydouse Iohn Prynne George Torpelley c. The like example of charitable affection in these catholicke churchmen is also to be sene and noted in the burying of one mayster Edward Bourton Esquire who in the same Diocesse of Chester departing out of this worlde the verye day before Queene Elizabeth was crowned required of his frendes as they would aunswere for it that his bodye should be buryed in his Parishe Churche which was S. Chaddes in Shrousbury so that no Massemonger should be present therat Which thing being declared to the Curat of that Parish named sir Iohn Marshal the body being withall brought to the buriall vpon the same day wheÌ„ the Queene was crowned the Curate being therwith offended sayd playnely that he should not be buried in the church there Whereunto one of his frendes named George Torpelley answering againe said that God would iudge him in the last day c. Then the priest Iudge God saith he or Deuill the body shall not come there And so they buryed him in his owne garden Where he is no doubt as neare the kingdome of heauen as if he had bene buried the middest of the Church Moreouer in the sayd County of Salop I finde that one Olyuer Richardyne of the Parish of Whitchurch was burned in Hartford Weste Syr Iohn Ygone being Sheriffe the same time Whiche seemeth to be about the latter yeare of king Henry viij Whose name because it was not mentioned before I thought here to geue some litle touch of him hauing now in hande to speake of the persecution within the Diocesse of Couentry and Liechfield ¶ The Martyrdome of William Wolsey and Robert Pygot Paynter AFter the sufferyng of Mayster Robert Glouer Cornelius Bongey at Couentrye followeth next the condemnation of other two blessed Martyrs which were iudged and condemned at Eley by Iohn Fuller the Bishops Chauncellour of Eley Doctor Shaxâ—on his Susâ—ragane Robert Steward Deane of Eley Iohn Christopherson Deane of Norwich c. an 1555. October 9. the names of which martyrs were William Wolsey and Robert Pygot dwelling both in the Towne of Wisbich whiche William Wolsey being a constable dwelling and inhabiting in the Towne of Well was there brought to death by the meanes and procurement of one Richard Euerard GentlemaÌ„ a Iustice appoynted for those dayes who extremely handled the same William Wolsey and bounde him to the good abearing causing him to put in sureties vpon his good behauior vntill the next general Sessions holden within the I le of Eley and so the sayd Wolsey being dispatched of his office and brought in trouble remoued his house dwelling place comming to dwell in the Towne of Wisbiche Then being called agayne at the nexte Sessions hee was still constrayned to put in new sureties which at the leÌ„gth he refused to do so was commaunded to the Iayle at the Syse holden at Eley in lent In the Easter weeke folowing there repayred to conferre with him D. Fuller the Chauncellor with Christopherson and one D. Young who layde earnestlye to hys charge that he was out of the catholicke fayth willing him to meddle no further with the scriptures theÌ„ it did become such a lay man as he was to do The said William Wolsey staÌ„ding still a great while suffering them to say their pleasures at the last answered in this wise Good M. Doctor what did our Sauiour Christ meane when he spake these wordes written in the 23. Chapter of S. Mathewes Gospell Wo be vnto you Scribes and Phariseis ye hipocrites for ye shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men ye your selues goe not in neither suffer ye them that come to enter in Yea sayeth
discharge his coÌ„science durst so boldly to so mighty a Prince in such a daungerous case agaynst the kinges law and procâ—amation set out in such a terrible time take vpon him to write and to admonish that which no couÌ„seller durst once speak vnto him in defence of Christes Gospell Whose example if the Bishops and Prelates of this Realme for theyr partes likewise in like cases of necessity would followe as in deed they should so many thinges peraduenture woulde not be so out of frame as they be and all for lacke that the officers of Gods word do not theyr duty Finally this moreouer in the sayd letter is to be noted how blessedly almighty God wroughte with his faythfull seruaunt whose bolde aduenture and wholesome counsel though it did not preuayl through the iniquity of the time yet notwithstanding GOD so wrought with his seruaÌ„t in doynge his duetye that no daunger nor yet displeasure rose to him thereby but rather thankes and good will of the Prince for not long after the same he was aduaunced by the king to the Bishopricke of Worcester as is aboue declared Seing M. Latimer was so bolde and playne with the king as is afore specified no greate maruell if he did vse like freedome and playnes toward other meaner persons in admonishing them of theyr misorder especially if anye such occasion were geuen where trueth and equity requyred his defence agaynst iniurye and oppression For example whereof we haue an other Letter of his written to a certayne Iustice of peace in Warwickshyre who as he is long since departed so he shall be here vnnamed The letter although it may seme somewhat long and tedious yet I thought here not to ouerpasse the same for diuers sondry respectes first that the vertue and faythfull conscience of this good Pastor may appeare more at large also for that all other Bishops and pastors by this example may learn with like zeale and stomacke to discharge theyr duety and conscience in reforming thinges amisse and in pouderyng with the salt of Gods word the sores of the people Whiche thing if euery Bishop for his part within his Dioces had done in king Edwardes dayes in redressing such corruption of that time with like diligence as this man did verely I suppose that the persecution of queene Mary had not so plagued the Realme as it did but where as neuer man almost liueth in due order and yet neuer a Bishoppe will styrre to seeke redresse what can become of the Realme Item an other respecte is because of the Iustices and all other placed in roome and office which may take heed hereby not to abuse theyr authority to tread downe trueth and beare downe poore men with open wrong through extortion or partiality and finally that all iniurious oppressors whatsoeuer by the sayd letter may take some fruit of wholsome admonition What the argument and occasion was of this letter I shewed before The tenour and purporte thereof as it was written to the Gentleman is this as foloweth ¶ A fruitfull letter of M. Latimer written to a certayne Gentleman RIght worshipfull salutem in Domino And now Syr I vnderstand that you be in greate admirations at me and take very greeuouslye my maner of writing to you adding thereunto that you will not beare it at my hande no not and I were the best Byshop in England c. Ah Syr I see well I may say as the common saying is Well haue I fished and caught a Frog brought litle to passe with much ado You will not beare it with me you say Why syr what wil ye do with me You will not fight with me I trow It may seeme vnseemely for a Iustice of peace to be a breaker of peace I am glad the dotyng tyme of my foolishe youth is gone and paste What will you then doe with me in that you say you will not beare it at my hand What hath my hand offended you Perchaunce you will conuent mee before some Iudge and call mee into some court Deus bene vertat Equidem non recuso iudicium vllum Accusemus inuicem vt emendemus alius alium in nomine Domini Fiat iustitia in iudicio And then and there doe best haue best for club halfe peny Or peraduenture ye will set penne to paper and all to rattle me in a letter wherein confuting mee you will defend your selfe and your brother agaynst mee Nowe that woulde I see quoth long Roben vt dicitur vulgariter Non potero sane non vehementer probare eiusmodi industriam For so should both your integrityes and innocencyes best appeare if you be able to defend both your owne procedinges your brothers doinges in this matter to be vpright Et ego tum iustis rationibus victus libenter cedam culpam humiliter confessurus But I thinke it will not be But now first of all let me know what it is that ye will not beare at my hande What haue I done wyth my hande What hath my hand trespassed you Forsoothe that canne I tell no man better For I haue charitably monished you in a secret letter of your slipper dealing and such like misbehauiour O quam graue piaculum i. What a sore matter is this And will ye not beare so much with me Will ye not take suche a shew of my good will towardes you and towarde the sauing of your soule at my hand Oh Lord God who would haue thought that Mayster N. had bene so impudent that he would not beare a godly monition for the wealth of his soule I haue in vse to commit suche trespasses manye times in a yeare with your betters by two ot three degrees both Lordes and Ladyes of the best in the Realme and yet hitherto I haue not heard that any of them haue sayd in theyr displeasure that they will not beare it at my hand Are you yet to be taught what is the office liberty priuiledge of a Preacher What is it els but euen arguere mundum de peccato without respect of persons quod quidem ipsum est ipsius spiritus sancti peculiare in ecclesia munus officium sed non nisi per Praedicatores legitimos exequendum You could but ill beare belike to heare your fault openlye reproued in the Pulpit which can not beare the same in a secret sealed vppe letter written both frendly charitably and truely nisi forte acriter reprehendere peccata sit iam omni charitate amicitia veritate carere But Mayster N. if you will geue me leaue to be playne with you I feare me you be so plunged in worldly purchasinges and so drowned in the manifolde dregges of this deceiueable worlde that I weene you haue forgotten your Catechisme Reade therefore agayne the opening of the firste commaundement and then tell me whether you of me or I of you haue iust cause to complayne c. Item Syr you sayd further that I am wonderfully abused by
the booke to hym willyng hym to peruse the same When the Archb. had red the Articles and saw hymselfe so vncurteously handled of his owne church whereof he was head I meane of the Prebendaries of his Cathedral Church and of such his neighbours as he had many wayes gratified I meane the Iustices of the Peace it much grieued hym Notwithstāding he kneeled downe to the kyng and besought hys Maiesty to graunt out a Commission to whomsoeuer it plesed his highnesse for them to try out the truth of this accusation In very deede sayde the kyng I doe so meane and you yourselfe shall be chiefe Commissioner to adioyne to you such two or three more as you shall thinke good your self Then it will bee thought quoth the Archb. to the kyng that it is not indifferent if it please your grace that I should be myne owne iudge and my Chaplains also Well sayde the kyng I will haue none other but your selfe suche as you will appoynt For I am sure that you will not halt with me in any thyng although you bee driuen to accuse your selfe and I know partly how this geare proceedeth and if you handle the matter wisely you shall find a prety conspiracy deuised agaynst you Whome will you haue wyth you sayde the kyng Whome it shall please your grace to name quoth the Archb. I will appoynt Doc. Belhouse for one name you the other said the kyng meete for that purpose My Chancellor D. Coxe and Hussey my Register sayd the Archb. are men expert to examine such troublesome matters Well sayd the kyng let there be a Commission made forth and out of hand get you into Kent aduertise me of your doyngs They came into Kent and there they sate aboue three weekes to bult out who was the first occasion of this accusation for thereof the kyng would chiefly be aduertised Now the Inquisition beyng begunne by the Commissioners euery man shronke in his hornes and no mā would confesse any thyng to the purpose For D. Coxe and Hussey being friendly vnto the Papistes handled the matter so that they would permit nothyng materiall to come to sight This thyng beyng well perceyued by one of the Archbishops seruants his Secretary he wrote incontinently vnto Doct. Buttes and Master Deny declaring that if the Kynges Maiestie did not send some other to assist my Lord then those that then were there with him it were not possible that any thing should come to light and therefore wished that Doct. Lee or some other stoute man that had beene exercised in the Kings Ecclesiasticall affaires in his visitations might be sent to the Archbishop Upon these letters Doct. Lee was sent for to yorke by the King and hauing the kings farther mind declared vnto him when he came to the Court he resorted incontinently into Kent so that on Alhallow euen he deliuered to the Archbishop the kings Ring with a declaration of his highnes farther pleasure and by and by vpon his message done he appointed the Archbishop aforesaid to name him a dosen or xvi of his Officers and gentlemen such as had both discretion wit and audacitie to whom he gaue in Commission from the King to search both the purses Chestes and chambers of all those that were deemed or suspected to be of this confederacie both within the Cathedrall church and without and such letters or writinges as they could find about them to bring them to the Archbishop and him These men thus appointed went in one houre and instant to the persons houses and places that they were appointed vnto and within foure houres afterwardes the whole conspiracie was disclosed by finding of letters some from the Bishop of Winchester some from D. London at Oxford and from Iustices of the Shiere with other so that the first beginning the proceeding and what should haue beene the ende of their conspiracie was now made manifest Certaine chambers and Chests of Gentlemen of the shiere were also searched where also were found letters seruing to this purpose Amongst all other came to my Lords hands two letters one of the Suffragan of Douer and an other of Doct. Barbar a Ciuilian whom continually the Archbishop reteined with him in housholde for expedition of matters in sute before him as a counsellour in the Law when need required These two men being well promoted by the Archbishop he vsed euer in such familiarity that when the Suffragan being a prebend of Caunterbury came to him he alwaies set him at his owne messe and the other neuer from his table as men in whom he had much delight and comfort when time of care and pensiuenes chaunced But that which they did was altogither counterfait and the Deuill was turned into the Aungell of light for they both were of this confederacy When my Lord had gotten these their letters into his hands he on a day when it chanced the Suffragan to come to him to his house at Bekisburne called to him into his studie the said Suffragan of Douer and D. Barbar saieng come your waies with me for I must haue your aduise in a matter When they were with him in his study all togethers he said to them you twaine be men in whom I haue had much confidence and trust you must now giue me some good counsaile for I am shamfully abused with one or twaine to whom I haue shewed all my secretes from time to time and did trust them as my selfe The matter is so nowe fallen out that they not onelie haue disclosed my secretes but also haue taken vpon them to accuse me of heresie and are become witnes against me I require you therfore of your good aduice how I shall behaue my selfe towards them You are both my frends and such as I alwaies haue vsed when I needed counsell What say you to the matter quoth the Archbishop Mary quoth Doct. Barbar such vilens and knaues sauing your honour were worthy to be hanged out of hand without any other law Hanging were to good quoth the Suffragan and if there lacked one to do execution I would be hangman my selfe At these words the Archbishop cast vp hys handes to heauen and sayd Oh Lord most mercifull God whome may a man trust now adayes It is most true whiche is sayde Maledictus qui confidit in homine ponit carnem brachium suum There was neuer man handled as I am but oh Lord thou hast euermore defended me and lent me one great friend and maister meanyng the kyng wythout whose protection I wer not able to stand vpright one day vnouerthrowen I prayse thy holy name therfore and with that he pulled out of his bosome their two letters sayd Know ye these letters my maisters With that they fell downe vpon their knees and desired forgiuenesse declaring how they a yeare before were attempted to do the same and so verye lamentably weeping and bewailyng their doynges besought hys grace to pardon
Church in fortifieng the same wyth the testimony and bloud of such a Martyr and so good also to the man with this crosse of tribulation to purge his offences in this world not onely of his recantation but also of his standyng agaynst Iohn Lambert and M. Allen or if there were any other with whose burnyng and bloude hys hands had bene before any thyng polluted But especially he had to reioyce that dying in such a cause he was to be numbred amongst Christes Martyrs muche more worthy the name of S. Thomas of Caunterbury then he whom the Pope falsly before did Canonise And thus haue you the full story concernyng the lyfe and death of this reuerend Archbish. and Martyr of God Thomas Cranmer and also of diuers other the learned sort of Christs Martyrs burned in Queene Maries time of whom this Archb. was the last beyng burnt about the very middle tyme of the raign of that Queene and almost the very middle man of all the Martyrs which were burned in all her raigne besides Now after the lyfe and story of this foresayde Archbishop discoursed let vs adioyne withall his letters beginning first with his famous letter to Quene Mary which he wrote vnto her incontinent after he was cited vp to Rome by bishop Brookes and his fellowes the tenour whereof here followeth ⧠Letters of Doctor Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury ¶ The Archbishop of Canterburies letter to the Queenes highnesse IT may please your Maiestie to pardone my presumption that I dare be so bold to write to your highnes But very necessitie constraineth me that your Maiestie may know my mynde rather by myne owne writyng then by other mens reports So it is that vppon Wednesday beyng the 12. day of this moneth I was cited to appeare at Rome the 80. day after there to make answer to such matters as should be obiected agaynst me vpon the behalfe of the K. your most excelleÌ„t maiestie which matters the thursday following were obiected against me by D. Martin and D. Story your Maiesties Proctors before the B. of Glocester sitting in iudgement by commissioÌ„ from Rome But alas it cannot but grieue the heart of a naturall subiect to be accused of the King and Queene of his owne realm and specially before an outward Iudge or by authoritie commyng from any person out of this realme where the king and Queene as they were subiects within their own Realme shall complaine and require Iustice at a straungers hands agaynst their owne subiectes beyng alreadye condemned to death by their owne lawes As though the king and Queene could not do or haue iustice within their owne Realmes agaynst their own subiects but they must seeke it at a strangers hands in a straunge land the lyke whereof I thinke was neuer seene I would haue wished to haue had some meaner aduersaries and I thinke that death shal not grieue me much more then to haue my most dread and most gracious soueraigne Lord and Lady to whome vnder God I do owe all obedience to bee myne accusers in iudgement within their owne Realme before any stranger and outward power But forasmuch as in the tyme of the prince of most famous memory kyng Henry the 8. your graces father I was sworne neuer to consent that the B. of Rome should haue or exercise any authoritie or iurisdiction in this realme of England therfore least I should allow hys authoritie contrary to myne othe I refused to make answer to the B. of Glocester sittyng here in iudgement by the Popes authoritie least I should run into periurie An other cause why I refused the Popes authoritie is this that his authoritie as he claimeth it repugneth to the crowne imperiall of this Realme and to the lawes of the same which euery true subiect is bound to defend First so that the Pope sayeth that all manner of power as well temporall as spirituall is geuen first to hym of God and that the temporall power hee geueth vnto Emperors and kyngs to vse it vnder hym but so as it be alwayes at hys commandement and becke But contrary to this claime the Imperiall crowne and iurisdiction temporal of this Realme is taken immediately from God to be vsed vnder hym onely and is subiect vnto none but to God alone Moreouer to the Imperiall lawes customes of this realme the kyng in his Coronation all Iustices when they receiue their offices be sworne all the whole realm is bound to defend and maintayne But contrary hereunto the Pope by his authoritie maketh voyde commandeth to blot out of our bookes all lawes and customes beyng repugnant to his lawes and declareth accursed al rulers and gouernours all the makers writers executors of such lawes or customes as it appeareth by many of the Popes lawes whereof one or two I shall reherse In the decrees Distinct. 10. is written thus Constitutiones contra Canones decreta praesulum RomanoruÌ„ vel bonos mores nullius sunt momenti That is The constitutioÌ„s or statutes enacted agaynst the Canons and decrees of the Bishops of Rome or their good customes are of none effect Also Extra de sententia excommunicationis nouerit Excommunicamus omnes haereticos vtriusque sexus quocunque nomine censeantur fautores receptores defensores eorum nec noÌ„ qui de caetero seruari fecerint statuta edita consuetudines contra Ecclesiae libertatem nisi ea de capitularibus suis intra duos menses post huiusmodi publicationem sententiae fecerint amoueâ—i Item excommunicamus statutarios scriptores statutorum ipsorum nec non potestates consules rectores consiliarios locorum vbi de caetero huiusmodi statuta consuetudines editae fuerint vel seruatae nec non illos qui secundum ea praesumpserint iudicare vel in publicam formam scribere iudicata That is to say We excommunicate all heretikes of both sexes what name so euer they be called by and theyr fautors and receptors and defenders and also them that shall hereafter cause to be obserued the statutes customs made agaynst the libertie of the Church except they cause the same to be put out of their recordes and chapters with in two moneths after the publication hereof Also we excommunicate the statute makers and writers of those statutes and all the potestates consuls gouernours counsellors of places where such statutes and customes shall be made or kept and also those that shall presume to geue iudgement accordyng to them or shall notifie in publike forme the matters so iudged Now by these lawes if the Bish. of Romes authoritie which he claymeth by God be lawfull all your Graces lawes and customes of your Realme being contrary to the Popes lawes be naught and as well your Maiestie as your Iudges Iustices and all other executors of the same stand accursed amongest heretikes which God forbid And yet this curse can neuer be auoyded if the
theyr skinnes to be pluckt of for the Gospels sake Notwithstanding the Bishops afrayd belike of the nuÌ„ber to put so many at once to death sought meanes to deliuer them and so they did drawing out a very easy submission for them or rather suffring them to draw it out theÌ„selues notwithstanding diuers of theÌ„ afterward were takeÌ„ againe suffered as hereafter ye shall heare God willing declared Such as met them by the way coÌ„ming vp saw them in the fieldes scattering in such sort as that they might haue easily escaped away And when they entred into the townes their keepers called them againe into aray to go two two together hauing a band or line going betweene them they holding the same in theyr handes hauing another corde euery one about his arme as though they were tied And so were these fourteene men eight women caried vp to London the people by the way praying to God for them to geue them strength At the entring into London they were pinioned so came into the city as the Picture here shortly after folowing with their names also subscribed doth describe But first let vs declare concerning their taking and their attachers conteined in the Commissaryes letter written to Boner then the Indenture made betwene the commissioners and the popish coÌ„missary The letter of the Commissary is this ¶ The Letter of the Commissary called Iohn Kingston written to Bishop Boner AFter my duety done in receiuing and accoÌ„plishing your honorable and most louing letters dated the 7. of August Be it knowne vnto your Lordship that the 28. of August the Lorde of Oxenford Lord Darcy H. Tyril A. Brown W. Bendlowes E. Tyrill Ric. Weston Roger Apleton published their coÌ„missioÌ„ to selfe landes and tenements goodes of the fugitiues so that the owners should haue neither vse nor commodity thereof but by InueÌ„tory remaine in safe keeping vntill the cause were determined And also there was likewise proclaimed the queenes graces warrant for the restitution of the Church goods within Colchester the hundredes thereabout to the vse of Gods seruice And then were called the parishes particularly the hereticks partly coÌ„mitted to my examination And that diuers persons should certify me of theyr ornamentes of theyr Churches betwixt this and the Iustices next appearaunce which shal be on Michaelmas euen nexte And that parish which had presented at two seuerall times to haue all ornamentes with other thinges in good order were exonerated for euer til they were warned againe others to make theyr appearaunce from time to time And those names blotted in the Indenture were indited for treason fugitâ—ues or disobedients and were put foorth by M. Brownes commaundement And before the sealing my Lord Daâ—cy said vnto me apart and M. Bendlowes that I should haue sufficient time to send vnto your Lordship yea if need were the heretickes to remayne indurance till I had an answere from you yea to the Lord Legates graces Commissioners come into the Country And mayster Browne came into my Lord Darcyes house parlour belonging vnto M. Barnaby before my sayd Lord and all the Iustices and laid his hand of my shoulder with a smiling couÌ„tenaunce and desired me to make his harty commeÌ„dations vnto your good Lordship and asked me if I would and I said Yea with a good will Wherefore I was glad and thought that I should not haue bene charged with so sodeine carriage But after dinner the Iustices councelled with the Bayliffes and with the Gaolers and then after tooke me vnto them and made collation of the Indentures and sealed and then Mayster Browne commaunded me this after noone being the 30. of August to go and receyue my prisoners by and by And then I sayd it is an vnreasonable commaundemeÌ„t for that I haue attended of you here these three dayes and this Sonday early I haue sent home my men Wherefore I desire you to haue a conuenient time appoynted wherein I may know whether it will please my Lord my maister to sende his Commissioners hither or that I shall make carriage of them vnto his Lordship Then M. Browne We are certified that the Councell hath written vnto your mayster to make speed and to rid these prisoners out of hand therefore go receiue your prisoners in haste Then I Sir I shall receiue them within these tenne dayes Then M. Browne The limitation lyeth in vs and not in you wherfore get you hence Syr ye haue indited and deliuered me by this Indenture whose fayth or opinions I know not trusting that ye will grauÌ„t me a time to examine them least I should punish the Catholicks Well sayd Maister Browne for that cause ye shall haue time betwixt this and Wednesday And I say vnto you maister Bailiffes if he do not receiue them at your handes on Wednesday set open your doore and let them go Then I My Lord and maisters all I promise to discharge the towne and countrey of these heretickes within ten dayes Then my Lord Darcy sayd CoÌ„missary we do and must all agree in one Wherfore do you receiue them on or before Wednesday Then I My Lord the last I carryed I was goyng betwixte the Castell and Sayncte Katherines Chappell two howres and an halfe and in great preasse and daunger Wherefore thâ—s may be to desire your Lordship to geue in commaundement vnto my Mayster Sayer Bayliffe here present for to ayd me thorough his liberties not onely with men and weapons but that the Towne clarke may bee ready there with his booke to write the names of the most busie persons and this vpon three houres warning all whiche both my Lorde and M. Browne commaunded And the 31. of August William Goodwin of Muchbirch husbandman this brynger and Thomas Alsey of Copforde youre Lordships Apparitour of your Consistory in Colchester couenaÌ„ted with me that they shoulde hyre two other men at the leaste whereof one should be a Bowman to come to me the next day about two of the clocke at after noone so that I might recite this bargayne before M. Archdeacon and pay the money that is 46. shillinges 8. pence Wherefore they should then go foorth wyth me vnto Colchester on Wednesday before three of the clock in the morning receiue there at my hand within the Castell and Motehall fourteen men and eight women ready bound wyth giues and hempe and driue cary or lead and feede with meat drinke as heretickes ought to be found continually vnto suche time that the sayd William and Thomas shall cause the sayde 22. persones for to be deliuered vnto my Lord of Londons Officers and within the safe keeping of my sayd Lorde and then to bring vnto me againe the sayd Giues with a perfect token of or from my sayd Lord and then this couenant is voyde or els c. Maister Bendlowes sayde vnto mee in my Lorde of Oxenfordes Chamber at the kinges head after I had sayd Masse before the Lordes that on
me to my Lord Chamberlaine that was then to the Queene Sir Iohn Gage shewyng him that I baptised children and married folks with many such lyes to bryng me into their hands agayne Then the Commissioners sent out certaine Citations to bring me to the Court My L. Chamberlain had directed out 4. or 5. Warrantes for me that if I had come there I should haue bene attached and sent to prisō straite way Which was not Gods will for I had warnyng of their laying await for me and came not there but sent my deputie he brought me word that the Bailifs waited for me there but they mist of their pray for that tyme wherevpon they were displeased Then within 3. dayes after my L. sent 3. of his men to take me whose names were Deane Ieffrey and Frāces I beyng at plough with my folkes right in the waye as they were commyng to my house least mistrusting thē of all other came to them and spake to them asking thē how they did And they sayd they arested me in the Kyng and Queenes name and that I must goe with them to their Maister the L. Chamberlaine Which wordes made my flesh to tremble and quake because of that sodayne But I answered them that I would go with them Yet I desired them that they would go to my house with me that I might breake my fast and put on some other geare and they said I should Then I remembred my selfe saying in my hart Why am I thus afraid they can lay no euill to my charge If they kill me for well doyng I may thinke my self happy I remembred how I was contented gladly before to dye in that quarell and so had continued euer since and should I now feare to dye God forbid that I should for then were all my labour in vayne So by and by I was perswaded I praise God considering it was but the frailty of my flesh which was loth to forgo my wife childrē and goods for I saw nothing but present death before mine eyes And as soone as I was perswaded in my mynd to die I had no regard of nothing in this worlde but was as mery and glad and ioyfull I prayse GOD as euer I was This battaile lasted not a quarter of an houre but it was sharper then death it selfe for the tyme I dare say So when I had my breakfast I desired them to shew me their warrant thinkyng thereby I should haue seene wherfore I was arested to the intent I might the better answer for my self whē I came before their maister And one of them answered they had not their warrāt there Which words made me astonied and it was put in my mynde by God that I neede not to goe with them vnlesse they had their warrant Then said I to them that is meruaile that you will come to take a man without a warrant It seemeth to me that you come of your owne mind to get thāke of your maister for in deed I heard say sayd I that there was 4. or 5. warrants out for me but they were called in agayne because I had certified my L. and the Commissary by a letter that I sent to the Commissaries court that I was not faulty in that they layd to my charge which was for baptising of children and marying of folks the which I neuer did for I was neuer minister appointed to do any such thyng wherfore set your hartes at rest I will not go with you said I vnlesse you will cary me by force and if you will do so at your owne aduentures And so I rose from the boord and stepped into my chamber meanyng to goe from them if I could possible seeyng God had made the way so open for me I ment to play Peters part with them but God would not it should be so but sent a feare amongst them that as soone as I was gone into my chāber ere euer I could come out againe they were gone out of my house When I saw that I knew it was Gods doyng to set me at liberty once againe Yet I was compelled to speake to them and said If you haue a warrant I desire you for Gods sake to shew it me and I wil go with you with all my hart if not I desire you to depart in Gods peace and the kings for surely I will not go with you without the order of the law for I haue bene too simple in such things already For before I was sent to prison first I went to the Iustices to two Sessions without any warrant or cōmandement but had word by one of their men I went gently to them they sent me to prison and kept me there almost a yere and thre quarters without all right or equitie as it is openly known not hearing my cause iustly debated And it semeth to me that I should be thus euil hādled and therefore I will not go to none of them all henceforth without the extremitie of the law Then one of them answered me and said we haue not the warrant here but it is at home at my house the worst is you can but make vs fetch it Then I said Fetch it if you wil but if you come in my house before you haue it at your owne aduenture So I shut my doore and went my way out of the other doore So they got helpe to watch my house while one of them fet the Constable and many moe thinking to haue had me in my house and to haue takē me in my house caried me away with a licence but I was gone before as god would haue it Notwithstanding they sought euery corner of my house but could not preuaile I mistrusted they would search it again that night and kept me abroad and in deed there came seuen of his men the Constable and searched my house And when they sawe that they could not meete with me they were redy to rent their coats that I had scaped them so knowing they should haue such a checke of their maister When I heard that they had sought so for me againe I perceiuyng that they were greedy of their pray came home and my wyfe told me all thyngs Then I supposed that they would lay all the countrey for me and the sea coast because I should not go ouer and thē I thought that they would not mistrust that I would dare bee nigh home So I tolde my wyfe that I woulde make my lodgyng in a woode not past a flight shotte from my house as I did in deede euen vnder a tree and there had my Bible my penne and myne inke and other necessaries and there continued a sixe or seuen weekes my wife bringing me meate daily as I had neede Yea I thought my selfe blessed of God that I was counted worthy to lye in the woodes for the name of Christ. Then there came word into the countrey that
at a time when they layd great wayte for thys George Eagles so that it was thought that it was vnpossible but that he should be taken being so beset his frends did put him in a Prentice apparill that is to say watche◠hose as their maner is and an old cloke and set him on a packe of woll as though he had ridden to carry woll to the spinners so he rode amongst the midst of his aduersaries and escaped them al for that time An other troubler of the sayd George Eagles was also Iustice Browne who enioyed not his cruelty many yeares after c. Also when hee was at the Sessions at Chelmsforde there was a rumor raysed that hee had accused diuers honest men that dyd keepe him in theyr houses and was conuersaunt with him and all to discredite him which rumor was very false and vtterly vntrue Witnes one Reynold with diuers other dwelling in Chelmsford ¶ The martirdome and examination of Richard Crashfield of Wymoundham condemned to death for the testimonye of Iesus Christ. ABout this time suffered at Norwiche a godly man a constant martyr of Christ called Richard Crashfield whose examination before the Chauncellor named Dunnynges as he penned them with hys owne hand so haue we faythfully recorded the same How say you Syrha sayd the Chancellor to the ceremonyes of the Church Then sayd I what ceremonies He sayd vnto me Do you not beleue that all the ceremonies of the church were good and godly My aunswere was I do beleue so many as are groūded in the testament of Iesus Christ. Tush sayd he do you beleeue in the Sacrament of the aultar I sayd I knew not what it was Then sayd he Do you not beleeue that Christe tooke bread gaue thankes brake it and sayde Take eate thys is my body Yes verily sayd I and euen as Christ did speake so did he performe the worke Tush sayd he doe you not beleeue this that after the wordes be spoken by the prieste there is the substaunce of Christes body flesh and bloud How say you doe you not beleue this Speake man I doe beleeue that Christes body was broken for me vppon the Crosse and his bloud shed for my redemption wherof the bread and the wyne is a perpetuall memory the pledge of hys mercy the ring and seale of hys promise and a perpetuall memory for the faythfull vnto the ende of the world So then I was commaunded into prison vntil the next day ¶ An other examination of Richard Crashfield THe daye following I was brought foorth Then the Chauncellor sayd vnto me Richard how say you Are you otherwise minded then you were yesterdaye Hee rehearsing all the wordes that we hadde afore sayde are not these your wordes Whereto I aunswered Yes Then sayd he how say you can you not finde in your hart when you come to the Church to kneele downe before the Roode and make your prayer I aunswered and sayd No rehearsing the commaundement of God forbidding the same He sayd haue you not read or heard that God commaunded an Image to be made I answered what Image He sayd the brasen serpent I sayd Yes I haue heard it read how that God dyd commaunde it to bee made and lykewise to bee broken downe Then D. Brigges sayd Wherfore did God command the Seraphins and Cherubins to be made I sayd I could not tell I would fayne learne Then sayd the Chauncellor But how say you to this can you finde in your hart to fall downe before the picture of Christ which is the Roode I sayd No I feare the curse of God for it is wrytten that God curseth the handes that make them yea and the handes that make the tooles wherewith they are carued Then D. Brigges raged and sayd List nowe what a peece of scripture he hath here gotten to serue hys purpose for he will not allow but where he listeth Then sayd the Chauncellor How say you to Confession to the priest when were you confessed I sayd I confesse my selfe dayly vnto the eternal God whom I most greuously offend Then the Chauncellor sayd You do not then take confession to the priest to be good I aunswered No but rather wicked Then the Chauncellor sayd How say you by yonder geare yonder singing and yonder playing at the Organs is it not good and godly I sayd I could perceaue no godlines in it Then he sayde why is it not written in the Psalmes that we should prayse God with hymmes and spirituall songes I sayd Yes spirituall songes must be had but yonder is of the flesh of the spirite of error For to you it is pleasaunt and glorious but to the Lord it is bitter and odious Then sayd the Chauncellor why is it not written My house is an house of prayer I sayd Yes It is written also That you haue made my house of prayer a denne of theeues With that the Chancellor looked and sayd Haue we I aunswered and sayde Christ sayde so Then was I commaunded to ward The thursday next following was D. Brigges sent to me for to examine me of my fayth And he sayd Countrey-man my Lord Bishop for loue he would haue you saued hath sent me vnto you because to morow is your day appointed therfore my Lord hath thought it meete that you should declare vnto me your fayth For to morow my lord will not haue much adoe with you I aunswered said Hath my Lord sent you It is not you to whom I am disposed to shew my minde Then he sayd to me I pray you shew me your minde concerning the sacrament of the altar I aunswered Are you ignoraunt what I haue sayd He said No for it was wel writtē Except you beleue sayth he as the Church hath taught you are damned both body and soule I answered and sayd Iudge not least yee bee iudged condemne not least ye be condemned And he sayd Loe we shall haue a traytour as well as an hereticke for hee will disallowe the kinges iudgement I sayd No I do not disallow the kinges iudgement but yours I do disallowe For I praye you tell me howe came you by this iudgement He answered and sayd By the Church for the Church hath power to saue and condemne for if you bee condemned by the church he ye sure that you be damned both body and soule Then I aunswered If you haue this power I am sore deceiued For I beleue that Christ shall be our Iudge But now I perceiue you will do much for him that you will not put him to the payne Then he sayd stand nearer countryman why stand ye so farre off I sayd I am neare enough and a little to neare Then he sayd Did not Christ say Is not my flesh meate and my bloud drinke in deede I sayd To whome spake Christ those wordes He sayd To his Disciples I intending to rehearse the texte sayde whereat did Christes disciples murmure inwardly He sayd
Milles the same day that he was deliuered Boner came vnto the stocks where he lay and asked him how he liked his lodging and his fare Wel said Milles if it would please God I might haue a little strawe to lye or sit vpon Then said Boner thou wilt shew no token of a christian man And vpon this his wife came in vnknowyng vnto him beyng very great with child and lookyng euery hower for her lying downe entreating the Bishop for her husband saying that she would not go out of the house but there would lay her belly in the bishops house vnlesse she had her husband with her How saist thou quoth Boner thou heretike If thy wife miscarie or thy child or children if she be with one or two should perish the bloud of them would be required at thy hands Then to this agreement he came that he should hue a bed in the towne of Fulham and her husband should go home with her the morow after vppon this condition that his kinsman there present one Rob. Rousie should bring the sayd Milles vnto his house at Paules the next day Whereunto the sayd Milles sayd he would not agree except he might go home by and by At length his wife beyng importunate for her husband seyng that she would go no further but there remaine vnlesse she had her husband with her the bishop fearing belike the rumor which might come vpon his house thereby bade the sayd Milles make a crosse and say In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti Amen Then the sayd Milles began to say In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy ghost AmeÌ„ No no sayth Boner say it me in Latine In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti Amen Milles vnderstanding the matter of that Latine to be but good said the same and so went home with his wyfe his foresayde kinsman beyng charged to bring hym the next day vnto Paules either els sayd Boner if thou doest not bring hym thou art an heretike as wel as he Notwithstandyng the charge beyng no greater this kinsman didde not bring hym but hee of his owne voluntarie accord came to the said B. within a fewe days after where the B. put vnto him a certaine writing in Latin to subscribe vnto conteyning as it semed to him no great matter that he needed greatly to sticke at albeit what the bill was he could not certainly tell So subscribed he to the bill and returned home And thus much coÌ„cernyng the 22. taken at Islington The history and cruell handlyng of Richard Yeoman D. Taylors Curate at Hadley constantly sufferyng for the Gospels sake AFter the story of these 22. taken at Islington proceedyng now the Lord willyng we wil prosecute likewise the taking and cruell handlyng of Richard Yeoman minister Which Yeoman had bene before D. Tailors Curate a godly deuout old man of 70. yeres which had many yeres dwelt in Hadley well seene in the scriptures geuing godly exhortations to the people With hym Doc. Tailor left his cure at his departure But as soone as M. Newal had gotten the benefice he droue away good Yeoman as is before said set in a popish Curate to maintain and continue their Romish religion whiche nowe they thought fully stablished Then wandered he long time froÌ„ place to place moouing exhorting all men to stand faithfully to Gods worde earnestly to geue themselues vnto prayer with patience to beare the crosse now layed vpon them for their triall with boldnes to confesse the truth before the aduersaries with an vndoubted hope to waite for the crowne and reward of eternall felicitie But when hee perceiued his aduersaries to lye in waite for him hee went into Kent with a little packet of laces pinnes and points and such like things he trauailed from Uillage to village sellyng such things by the poore shyft gate hymself somewhat to the susteining of himselfe his poore wife and children At the last a Iustice of Kent called M. Moyle tooke poore Yeoman and set him in the stocks a day and a night but hauyng no euident matter to charge hym with he let hym go againe So came he secretly againe to Hadley and taried with his poore wife who kept him secretly in a chaÌ„ber of the Towne house commonly called the Guild hall more then a yere All the which tyme the good olde father abyde in a chamber locked vp all the day spent his tyme in deuout prayer and reading the Scriptures and in carding of wâ—ol which his wyfe did spin His wife also did go and beg bread and meat for herselfe and her children and by such poore meanes susteined they themselues Thus the saints of God susteined hunger and misery while the prophets of Baal liued in iollitie and were costly pampered at Iesabels table At the last person Newal I know not by what means perceiued that Rich. Yeoman was so kept by hys poore wyfe and taking with him the Bailiffes deputies and seruants came in the night tyme brake vp fiue dores vpon Yeoman whom he found in bed with his poore wyfe and children Whom when he had so found he irefull cried saiyng I thought I should find an harlot and a whore together And he would haue plucked the clothes of from them But Yeoman held fast the clothes and said vnto his wyfe wife aryse and put on thy clothes And vnto the person he sayd Nay Person no harlot nor whore but a maried man and his wife accordyng vnto Gods ordinance and blessed be God for lawfull matrimony I thank God for this great grace and I defie the Pope all his Poperie Then led they Rich. Yeoman vnto the cage set hym in the stocks vntill it was day There was then also in the cage an olde man named Iohn Dale who had sitten 3. or 4. dayes because whâ— the sayd Person Newal with his Curate executed yâ— Romish seruice in the Church he spake openly vnto him and said O miserable blind guides will ye euer be blind leaders of the blynd will ye neuer amend will ye neuer see the truth of Gods word wil neither Gods threates nor promises enter into you harts wil not the bloud of Martyrs nothing mollifie your stonie stomacks Oh indurate hard harted peruerse crooked generation O damnable sorte whom nothyng can do good vnto These and like words he spake in feruentnes of spirit against the superstitious religion of Rome Wherfore person Newall caused hym forthwith to be attached and set in the stockes in the cage So was he there kept til sir HeÌ„ry Doile a Iustice came to Hadley Now when poore Yeoman was taken the person called earnestly vpon Sir Henry Doile to send them both to prison Sir Henry Doile earnestly laboured and entreated the person to consider the age of the men their poore estate they were persons of no
their condemnatiō And thus these foure blessed Martyrs seruants of Christ innocently suffred together at s. Edmundsbury as is aforesayd about the beginnyng of August not long before the sicknes of Queene Mary ¶ The Martyrdome of two godly persons sufferyng at Ipswich for the Gospell of Christ and his euerlastyng testament named Alexander Gouche and Alice Driuer MAister Noone a iustice in Suffolk dwelling in Martlesham huntyng after good men to apprehend them as he was a bloudy tyraunt in the dayes of triall at the length had vnderstanding of one Gouche of Woodbridge Driuers wyfe of Grosborough to bee at Grosborough together a little from his house immediately tooke his mē with hym and went thether and made diligent search for them where the poore man and woman were compelled to step into an hay golph to hide themselues frō their cruelty At the last they came to search the hay for them and by gaging thereof with pitchforkes at the last found them so they tooke them led them to Melton Gaole where they remainyng a tyme at the length were caried to Bury against the Assise at S. Iames tide and beyng there examined of matters of fayth did boldly stand to confesse Christ crucified defiyng the Pope with all his papisticall trashe And among other thyngs Driuers wife likened Queene Mary in her persecution to Iezabell and so in that sense callyng her Iezabel for that sir Clement Higham beyng chiefe Iudge there adiudged her eares immediately to be cut off which was accomplished accordingly and she ioyfully yelded her selfe to the punishment and thought her selfe happy that she was coūted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ. After the Assise at Bury they were caried to Melton Gaole agayne where they remained a tyme. This Alexāder Gouch was a man of the age of 36. yeares or thereabouts and by his occupation was a Weauer of shredding Couerlets dwellyng at Woodbridge in Suffolke borne at Ufford in the same Countie Driuers wife was a woman about the age of 30. yeares dwelt at Grosborough where they were taken in Suffolke Her husband did vse husbandry These two were caried from Melton Gaole to Ipswich where they remayned were examined The which their examination as it came to our hands hereafter followeth The examination of Driuers wyfe before Doct. Spenser the Chauncellor of Norwich FIrst she comming into the place where she should bee examined with a smiling countenance Doct. Spenser said Why woman doest thou laugh vs to scorne Driuers wyfe Whether I do or no I might well enough to see what fooles ye be Doct. Spenser Then the Chauncellour asked her wherfore she was brought before hym and why she was layed in prison Dry. Wherefore I thinke I neede not to tell you for ye know it better then I. Spens No by my troth woman I know not why Dry. Then haue ye done me muche wrong quoth shee thus to imprison me and know no cause why for I know no euill that I haue done I thank God and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I haue done iustly Spenser Woman woman what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar Doest thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud after the words be spoken of consecration Driuers wife at those words helde her peace made no answer Then a great chuffeheaded priest that stood by spake and asked her why shee made not the Chauncellour an aunswere With that the sayd Driuers wyfe looked vpon hym austerely and sayde Why Priest I come not to talke with thee but I come to talke with thy Maister but if thou wilt I shall talke with thee commaunde thy Maister to holde his peace And with that the Priest put his nose in hys cappe and spake neuer a worde more Then the Chauncellor bade her make aunswere to that he demaunded of her Dry. Sir sayd she pardon me though I make no aunswer for I cannot tell what you meane thereby for in all my lyfe I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture Spens Why what scriptures haue you read I pray you Dry. I haue I thanke God read Gods booke Spens Why what maner of Booke is that you call Gods booke Dry. It is the old and new Testament What call you it Spens That is Gods booke in deed I cannot deny Dry. That same booke haue I read thoroughout but yet neuer could find any such sacrament there for that cause I cannot make you aunswer to that thing I knowe not Notwithstanding for all that I will grant you a Sacrament called the Lords supper and therfore seyng I haue graunted you a Sacrament I pray you shew me what a sacrament is Spens It is a signe And one D. Gascoine beyng by confirmed the same that it was the signe of an holy thing Dry. You haue sayd the truth sir sayd she It is a signe in deede I must needes graunt it and therefore seyng it is a signe it cannot be the thyng signified also Thus farre we do agree for I haue graunted your owne saying Then stoode vp the sayd Gascoine and made an Oration wyth many fayre wordes but little to purpose both offensiue odious to the myndes of the godly In the ende of which long tale he asked her if shee did not beleeue the omnipotencie of God and that he was almighty and able to performe that he spake She answered yes and said I do beleeue that God is almighty and able to performe that hee spake and promised Gasc Uery well Then he sayd to his disciples Take eate this is my body Ergo it was his body For he was able to performe that he spake and God vseth not to lye Dry. I pray you did he euer make any such promise to his disciples that he would make the bread his body Gasc Those be the wordes Can you deny it Dry. No they be the very wordes in deed I cannot deny it but I pray you was it not breade that hee gaue vnto them Gasc No it was his body Dry. Then was it his body that they did eat ouer night Gasc Yea it was his body Dry. What body was it then that was crucified the nexte day Gasc It was Christes body Dry. How could that be when his disciples had eaten him vp ouer night except he had two bodies as by your argument he had one they did eate ouer night and another was crucified the next day Such a Doctor such doctrine Be you not ashamed to teach the people that Christ had two bodies In the 22. of Luke He tooke bread and brake it and gaue it to his disciples saying Take c. and do this in the remembraunce of me Saint Paule also sayeth 1. Cor. 11. Do this in the remembraunce of me for as often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shall shewe the Lordes death
the very same Christ that was borne of the virgine Mary that was hanged on the Crosse and that suffered for our sinnes and at these words they al put of their cappes and bowed theyr bodyes White My Lord what is a Sacrament Brookes It is the thing it selfe the which it representeth White My Lord that can not be for he that representeth a Prince can not be the Prince himselfe Brookes How many sacraments findest thou in the scriptures called by the name of Sacramentes White I finde 2. Sacraments in the Scriptures but not called by the names of the sacramentes But I thinke S. Augustine gaue them the first name of Sacramentes Brookes Then thou findest not that word sacrameÌ„t in the Scriptures White No my Lord. Brokes Did not Christ say This is my body and are not his words true White I am sure the wordes are true but you play by me as the deuill did by Christ for he sayd If thou be Mat. 4. For it is c. Psal. 91. But the words that folowed after he clean left out which are these Thou shalt walke vpon the Lion and Aspe c. These woordes the Deuill lefte out because they were spoken agaynst hymselfe and euen so doe you recite the Scriptures Brokes Declare thy fayth vpon the Sacrament White Christ and his Sacramentes are like because of the natures for in Christ are 2. natures a diuine and a humane nature so likewise in the Sacrament of Cristes body and bloud there be two natures the which I deuide into 2. partes that is externall and internal The external part is the element of bread and wine according to the saying of S. Austine The internal part is the inuisible grace which by the same is represented So is there an externall receiuing of the same Sacrament an internall The externall is with the hande the eye the mouth and the eare The internall is the holy ghost in the hart which worketh in me fayth Wherby I apprehend all the merits of Christ applying the same wholly vnto my saluation If this bee truth beleue it and if it be not reproue it Doct. Hoskins This is Oecolampadius doctrine Hooper taught it to the people Brokes Doest thou not beleue that after the wordes of coÌ„secration there is the naturall presence of Christes body White My Lord I will aunswere you if you wyll aunswere me to one question Is not this article of our beliefe true He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty if he be come from thence to iudgement say so Brokes No. But if thou wilt beleue the Scriptures I will proue to thee that Christe was both in heauen and in earth at one time White As he is God he is in all places but as for hys manhood he is but in one place Brokes S. Paule sayth 1. Cor. 15. Last of all he was seene of me c. Here S. Paule sayth he sawe Christ and S. Paule was not in heauen White S. Pauls chief purpose was by this place to proue the resurrection But how do you proue that Christ when he appered to S. Paule was not still in heauen like as he was sene of Stephen sitting at the right hand of God S. Augustine sayth the head that was in heauen dyd crye for the body and members which were on the earth said Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And was not Paule taken vp into the thyrd heauen where hee might see Christ as he witnesseth Cor. 15. For there he doth but onely saye that he saw Christ but concerning the place hee speaketh nothing Wherfore this place of scripture proueth not that Christ was both in heauen and earth at one tyme. Brokes I told you before he woulde not beleeue Here be three opinions the Lutherans the Oecolampadians and we the Catholickes If you the Oecolampadians haue the truth then the Lutherians we the catholickes be out of the way If the Lutherians haue the truth then you the Oecolampadians and we the Catholickes be out of the way But if we the catholicks haue the truth as we haue in deede then the Lutherians and you the Oecolampadians are out of the way as ye are in deede for the Lutherians do call you heretickes White My Lorde ye haue troubled me greatly wyth the Scriptures Brokes Did I not tell you it was not possible to remoue him from his errour Away with him to the Lollardes Tower and dispatch him as soone as ye can This was the effect of my first examination More examinations I had after this which I haue no tyme now to write out Amongest many other examinatioÌ„s of the foresaid Richard White at diuers and sondry times susteined it happened one time that Doctour Blackston Chancellour of Exeter saâ—e vpon him with diuers other who alledging certayne Doctors as Chrysostom Cyprian Tertullian agaynst the sayd Richard and being reproued by hym for his false patching of the Doctors fell in such a quaking shaking his conscience belike remorsing him that he was fayne â—lowping downe to laye both his handes vpon his knees to stay his body from trembling Then the sayd Iohn Hunt and Richard White after many examinatioÌ„s and long captiuity at length were called for and brought before Doctour Geffrey the Byshops Chancellor there to be condemned and so they were The high Sheriffe at that present was one named Syr Anthony Hungerford who being theÌ„ at the Sessions was there charged with these two condeÌ„ned persoÌ„s with other malefactours there condemned likewise the same time to see the execution of death ministred vnto them In the meane tyme M. Clifforde of Boscon in Wiltshyre sonne in law to the sayd Syr Anthony Hungerford the Shiriffe commeth to his father exhorting him counselling him earnestly in no case to medle with the death of these two innocent persons and if the Chauncellour and Priestes would needes be instant vpon him yet he should first require the writ to be sent downe De comburendo for his discharge Syr Anthony Hungerford hearing this and vnderstanding Iustice Browne to be in the town the same time went to him to aske his aduise couÌ„sel in the matter who told him that without the writ sent downe from the superiour powers he could not be discharged and if the writte were sent then he must by the law do his charge The Sheriffe vnderstanding by Iustice Browne how farre he might go by the lawe and hauing at that time no writ for his warrant let them alone and the next daye after taking his horse departed The Chauncellor all this while maruelling what the Sheriffe ment and yet disdayning to go vnto him but looking rather the other should haue come first to him at last hearing that he was ridden taketh his horse and rideth after him who at length ouertaking the said Sheriffe declareth vnto him how he had committed certaine condemned prisoners to his hand whose duty had bene to haue sene
to Inne offring large mony for small lodging they were refused of all the Inholders suspecting Mayster Bertye to bee a Launceknight and the Duches to be hys woman The Childe for cold and sustenaunce cryed pittifully the mother wept as fast the heauens rayned as fast as the cloudes could poure Mayster Bertie destitute of all other succour of hospitalitie resolued to bring the Duchesse to the porche of the great churche in the towne and so to buy coales victualls and straw for theyr miserable repose there that night or at least till by Gods helpe he might prouide her better lodging Mayster Berty at that time vnderstoode not muche dutche and by reason of euill weather and late season of the night he could not happen vppon any that coulde speake english Frenche Italian or Latine till at last goyng towardes the Church porch he heard 2. striplinges talkyng Latin to whom he approched and offered thē two stiuers to bring him to some Wallons house By these boyes and Gods good conduicte hee chaunced at the first vppon the house where Mayster Perusell supped that night who had procured them the protection of the Magistrates of that towne At the first knocke the goodman of the house himselfe came to the dore and opening it asked Mayster Berty what he was Maister Berty sayd an englishman that sought for one M. Peruselles house The Wallon willed M. Bertie to stay a while who went backe and told Mayster Perusell that the same english gentleman of whome they had talked the same supper had sent by likelihoode his seruaunt to speake with hym Whereupon M. Perusell came to the dore and beholding Mayster Bertie the Duchesse and theyr childe their faces apparelles and bodyes so farre from their old forme deformed with durt wether heauines could not speake to them nor they to him for teares At length recouering them selues they saluted one an other and so together entred the house God knoweth ful ioyfully Mayster Berty chaunging of his apparrell with the goodman the Duchesse with the good wife and theyr childe with the childe of the house Within fewe dayes after by M. Peruselles meanes they hyred a very fayre house in the towne and did not let to shew themselues what they were in such good sort as their present condition permitted It was by this tyme through the whole towne what discurtesie the Inholders had shewed vnto them at their entrie in so muche as on the Sonday following a preacher in the Pulpit openly in sharpe termes rebuked that great inciuillitie towardes straungers by allegation of sundry places out of holye scriptures discoursing how not onely Princes sometyme are receiued in the Image of priuate persons but Angels in the shape of men and that God of his Iustice woulde make the straungers one daye in an other lande to haue more sense of the afflicted hart of a straunger The time was passing foorth as they thought themselues thus happily setled sodainly a watchworde came from sir Iohn Mason then Queene Maries Ambassador in Netherland that my Lorde Paget had fayned an errant to the Bathes that waies and whereas the Duke of Brunswick was shortly with x. ensignes to passe by Wesell for the seruice of the house of Austricke agaynst the frēch king the sayd Duchesse and her husband shoulde be wyth the same charge and company intercepted Wherfore to preuent the cruelty of these enemies M. Berty with his wife and childe departed to a place called Winheim in high Dutchland vnder the Palsgranes Dominion where vnder his protection they continued tyll their necessaries began to fayle them and they almost feynting vnder so heauy a burden began to fayle of hope At what tyme in the middest of theyr dispayre there came sodeinly letters to them from the Pallatine of Uilua and the kyng of Poole being instructed of theyr hard estate by a Baron named Ioannes Alasco that was sometyme in England offering them large curtesie This puruison vnlooked for greatly reuiued theyr heauye spirites Yet considering they shoulde remoue from manye theyr countrymen and acquaintaunce to a place so farre distant a Country not haunted with the English and perhappes vpon their arriuall not finding as they looked for the end of their iourny should be worse then the beginning they deuised thereupon with one M. Barloe late Byshoppe of Chichester that if he would vouchsafe to take some payns therein they woulde make him a fellowe of that iourny So finding him prone they sent with him letters of great thankes to the king and Pallatine and also with a fewe principall Iewelles which onely they had lefte of many to solicite for them that the king woulde vouchsafe vnder his seale to assure them of the thing whiche hee so honourably by letters offered That sute by the forewardnes of the Pallatine was as soone graunted as vttered Upon whiche assurance the sayd Duchesse and her husband with their familye entred the iorney in Aprill 1557. from the Castle of Wineheim where they before lay towardes Franckford In the which their iorney it were long here to describe what daungers fell by the way vpon them and theyr whole company by reason of theyr Lantgraues Captain who vnder a quarrell pretensed for a spaniell of M. Berties set vppon them in the high way with his horsemen thrusting their bore-speares through the wagon where the Children and Women were M. Bertie hauing but 4. horsemen with hym In the which brable it happened the Captaynes horse to be slayne vnder him Whereupon a rumour was sparsed immediately thorough townes and villages about that the Lantgraue captayne should be slayne by certayne Wallons which incensed the ire of the countrymen ther more fiercely against M. Bertie as afterward it proued For as he was motioned by his wife to saue himselfe by the swiftnes of his horse and to recouer some towne there by for his rescue hee so doing was in worse case then before for the townsmen and the Captaines brother supposing no lesse but that the Captayne had bene slaine pressed so egerly vpon him that he had bene there taken and murthered among them had not he as God would spying a ladder leaning to a wyndow by the same got vp into the house and so gone vp in to a garret in the top of the house where hee with his dagge and rapyre defended himselfe for a space but at lengthe the Burghmayster comming thither with an other Magystrate which could speake latin he was counselled to submit himselfe to the order of the law Mayster Bertye knowing himselfe cleare and the Captayne to be aliue was the more bolder to submit himselfe to the iudgement of the law vpon condition that the Magistrate woulde receiue hym vnder safe conduct and defend him from the rage of the multitude Whiche being promised M. Bertie putteth him selfe and his weapon in the Magistrates hande so was committed to safe custodye while the trueth of hys cause should be tryed Then