it reioyced and the next day suffered with an 100. more Pusices séeing an old Father shrinke in the sight of the Martyrâ— said shut thine eies be strong and shortly thou shalt sée God wherefore the King caused an hole to be made in his necke and thereout pulled his tongue and so he was put to death and his Daughter a Uirgine died with him in Christs cause the number of them that were martyred in Persia was 15000. This comming to Constantines eares mooued him he graunted Sapores his Ambassadors all they requested thinking thereby to mooue him to fauour the Christians and wrote to them to take compassion on the Innocents and shewed how the hand of God had béene against Tyrants of the Church Beniamin for preaching Christ was thrust vnder the nailes with twenty sharpe prickes when hee laughed at it a sharpe Réede was thrust into his yard and a long thorny stalke vp into his body vntill hee died Under Iulianus Apostata Emilianus was burned Domitius was slaine in his Caue Theodorus singing a Psalme was tormented from morning to night hardly escaped with life and being asked how hee could abide the torments said at first I felt some paine but after there stood a young man by me who so refreshed me that it greeued me more when I was let down from the Ingine then before The Arethusians of Syria tooke a company of Uirgines Christians whom first they set sorth naked to bee scorned of the multitude then shaued them then couered them with draffe and caused them to bee deuoured of Swine their cruelty was the greater because Constantine restrained them from defiling Uirgines and destroyed the Temple of Venus Marcus Arethusius because at the commaundement of Constantine he pulled down a Temple of Idols and builded a Church for Christians in the place they stripped him naked and beat him gréeuously then put him in a filthy sincke then they caused Boyes to thrust him in with sharpe stickes then they annointed him with Hony and Broath and hung him in the Sunne as meat for Waspes and Flyes then they required somewhat towards the building of the Temple againe he answered it were as great impiety to conferre one halfe-peny to a matter of impiety as a great summe Constantine raigned about thirty yeares he was borne in Brittaine his Mothers name was Helena Daughter of King Coilus hee trauailed greatly for the peace of Christians he set peace amongst the Byshops at dissention hee made prouision for Preachers and caused all to bee restored vnto the Christians that was taken from them by Persecutors He wrote to his chéefe Captaine that Ministers should be fréed from all publique duties and burthens He wrote to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches and after he had gathered the Nicene Councel for the vnity of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arius for the same intent He inioyned a Prayer to his Souldiers in stead of Catechisme We knowledge thee onely to be our GOD we confesse thee onely to bee our King we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thee we vanquish our enemies to thee be attributed whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy by thee we hope for good thinges to come vnto thee we direct all our sutes and petitions most humbly befeeching thee to keepe Constantinus our Emperour and his Noble Children to continue in long liâ—e and to giue them victory ouer their enemies through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen He graunted great immunities vnto the Ministers that they might appeale from the ciuill Iudge to their Byshop whose sentence was of as great value as if the Emperor had pronounced it He prouided maintenance for liberall Sciences and Arts for the Prosessors there Wiues and Children and gaue them great immunities He wrote to Eusebius Byshop of Nicomedia to procure fifty Uolumes of Parchment well bound and cause to bee written out of the Scripture therein in a leageable hand such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church allowed him two Ministers for the businesse he was a Father to the Church and inforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospell and to suppresse the contrary The end of the tenth Persecution THE SECOND BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares BY these Persecutions hitherto we may vnderstand that what the fury of Sathan and rage of men could deuise to do by death or torments all was to the vtmost attempted to extinguish the Name and Religion of Christ yet notwithstanding the wisedome of the world and the strength of men Christ hath the vpper hand as thou seest Now because the tying vp of Sathan giueth the Church rest we will leaue the affaires of the Uniuersall Church and prosecute the Histories of our Country of England and Scotland beginning with King Lucius with whom the Faith began first in this Realme The Papists doe earnestly contend that the Faith of Christ was first brought and receiued into England from Rome both in the time of Eleutherius their Byshop in the yeare 180. and also in the time of Augustine whom Gregory sent hither in the yeare 600. but it is proued otherwise by these seauen Arguments 1 Gildas affirmeth that Brittain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tyberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffered saith farther that Ioseph of Arimathia was sent of Philip the Apostle from France to Brittaine in the yeare 63. and remained héere all his time and founded the Faith amongst the Brittaines 2 Tertullian liuing about the time of Elutherius testifieth how the Gospell was dispersed by the Apostles reckoneth Brittany amongst the Countries conuerted by them 3 Origen before the daies of Elutherius said the Brittaines consented to Christianity 4 Bede affirmeth that 1000. yeares after Christ Easter was kept in Brittaine after the manner of the East Church on the fouretéenth day after the full Moone what day soeuer it was and not on sunday as we doe whereby is gathered the first Preacher came from the East rather then from Rome 5 Nicephorus Lib. 2. Cap. 4. saith Simon Zelotes spread the Gospell in Brittany 6 Petrus Cluniensis saith that the Scots in his time celebrated Easter after the manner of the Gréekes and as the Brittaines were not vnder the Romain order nor vnder their Legate in the time of Gregory nor would admit any primasie of the Byshop of Rome aboue them 7 By the Epistle of Elutherius to Lucius it appeareth that Lucius had receiued the Faith before he wrote to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes Elutherius might help some-thing to conuert the King and to increase the Faith but was not the first that planted it but if it were so it maketh nothing for them for he challenged no such Supremacy as they doe and was farre from their errours and superstitions The Chroniles write that about the yeare 180. King Lucius Sonne of Coylus which builded Colchester hearing of the myracles of Christians in his time writ to Elutherius Bishop of
Rome to receiue the Faith the good Bishop sent him certaine Preachers which conuerted the King of the Brittaines and baptized them there were the twenty eight Priests called Flamines which they turned to twentie eight Bishoppes and thrée Arch-Flamins to thrée Arch-bishops to wit London Yorke and Glamargan by Wales Thus all the Realme setled in good order Lucius sent againe to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes thereby likewise to gouerne the Realme Unto whom Elutherius wrote againe we may reprooue the Law of the Romaines but the Law of GOD wee cannot reprooue you haue with you both partes of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the councell of your Realme take yea Law and rule your kingdome of Brittaine for you are Gods Uicar in your kingdome The Faith thus receiued of the Brittaines continued and flourished 216 yeares vntill the comming of the Saxons who then were Pagans whilst Brittaine had thus receiued the Faith the Emperors of Rome were Infidels wherefore much trouble wos sought against them as it was against all parts of Christendome Lucius after he had raigned about 77. yeares died without issue whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the Realme for sometime the idolatrous Romaines and sometimes the Brittaines raigned as violence and victory would serue one King murdering another vntill at length the Saxons depriued them both Some write but falsely that King Lucius after he was baptized forsooke his kingly Honor and the Land and became a Preacher in France and Germany and other places and was made Doctor and Rector of the Church of Cureac where hee was martyred but this fansie is contrary to all our English Stories which doe agrée that he hauing founded many Churches and giuen great liberalities to the same deceased in great tranquility in his owne Land and was buried at Glocester Betwéene the time of King Lucius and the entring of the Saxons there raigned after Lucius Seuerus a Romaine after him Bassianus a Romaine after him Cerausius a Brittaine after him Alectus a Romaine after him Asclepiodotus a Brittaine after him Coilus a Brittaine after him Constantius a Romain after him Constantinus a Brittain by Helena his Mother the Daughter of King Coilus and Wife of Constantius Constantine first made the wals of London and Colchester when the Romaines ruled it it was ruled by Infidels and when the Brittains ruled by Christians yet no persecution was raised in it vntill the tenth persecution which was so cruell that all our English Chronicles report that all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed Churches subuerted and the Scriptures burned as before is shewed It is worthy to be noted that Constantine that worthy Emperor was not onely a Brittaine borne but his Mother Helena Daughter of King Coilus a Brittaine but also by the helpe of the Brittaines Army which Constantine tooke with him with great victories he obtained the peace of the Uniuersall Church hauing thrée legions with him out of this Realme of chosen Souldiers After Maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting Men to subdue France and after sent for 100000. Souldiours more at once at which time Conanus his Partner sent for 11000. Uirgines out of Brittaine which were drowned and spoyled by the way by Infidels because they would not pollute themselues with them Thus Brittaine being destitute of strength had béene oppressed by Guanus and Melga had not Guethlâ—â—us Arch-bishop of London and Constantinus Brother to Aldranus defended the Realme and State of Religion Then came Vortigerne who murdred Constance his Prince and inuaâ—ed the Crowne and fearing Constance his two brothers he sent for ayde of the Saxons and married with the Daughter of Hengist but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said Hengist and the Saxons beeing all Infidels and the Brittaines were driuen out of the Country Two hundred seuenty one of their Nobles at one méeting at Almesbury being subtilly slain by the Saxons or at a place cald Stonehenge by the Monument of which Stones there hanging it séemeth the Noble Brittaines were there buried I passe ouer the fabulous Story of the Welchmen of bringing these Stones from Ireland by Merlin Some Stories record they were slaine being bid to a banket Thus came the Angles and Saxons fiâ—st into this Realme being yet Infidels about the yeare 469. they were diuers times driuen out by Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter but they returned againe and at length possessed all and droue the Brittains into Wales Hengistus raigned 43. years and dyed in Kent Galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of Aurelius Ambrosius and beheaded in the 39. yeare of his raigne His Sonne Offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares Octa and Imericus his sons succéeded him 53. yeares and were slaine by Vter Pendragon The Saxons deuided the Realme into sâ—auen Kingdomes to the first Kent to the second Sussex and Surrey the third West-sex the fourth Eastâ—sex the fifth Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke the sixt the Countries of Lincolne Leicester Huntingdon Northampton Oxford Darby Warwicke the seauenth was King of Northumberland they continued so a while with great Warres amongst themselues at length all came to the possession of the West-Saxons This â—ingdome began in the yeare 522. and continued vntill about the comming of William the Conqueror which was 554. yeares Saint Paules Church in London was builded by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex when Ethelbert turned vnto the Faith Malmsburie writeth that Mauricius the Kinges Chancellour then Byshoppe of London did first begin this famous building of Paules and after Richard his Successour bestowed all the rents of his Byshoppricke vpon the same and it may be the first Church was ouerthrowne by the Danes and re-edified by these Byshops These Kings of the Brittaines raigned in Wales and Cornewall Vortiger Vortimer Vortiger againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantius 3. Aurelius Conanus Vortiperius Malgo Carecius The sinnes of the Brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of God against them as out of an old Authour and partly out of Gildas doth appeare These bee the words of the Authour There following Constantinus and others aboue named out of the Realme all the Nobility when the rascall sort had gotten their places and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride they fell into so great Fornication as neuer was heard of and vnto all manner of wickednesse that mans Nature is inclined vnto hating the truth louing lyes regarding euill in stead of goodnesse receiuing the Deuill in stead of an Angell of light choose such for their Kings as were most cruell and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of Brittaine and not onely the seculer men did thus but also the Byshoppes and Teachers therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their Country which they had so defiled As there were many wicked Kinges among the Saxons so there were some
hee was worthy to receiue such a present from England and made Proclamation for the performance When Iue King of the West Saxons had ruled them 37. yeares he was perswaded by his wife Etheburge to goe to Rome to be made a Munke when the king anâ— she had rested in a faire Palace richly adorned she commanded all the roomes in the Palace to be strewed with Dung of vile beasts and hogs and beasts to be laid therein and a Sowe and pigs in her chamber then she brought the King to visit the Palace and said My Lord where are now the rich clothes of gold and siluer that we leâ—t héere where are the pleasant Seruitors delicacies and costly dishes that we lately were serued with We shall vanish away as sodainly as these worldly things be passed our bodies that are now delicatly kept shall turne vnto the filth of the earth therfore busie you to purchase the Palace that euer shall indure by meanes of these and other words the King resigned his Kingdome vnto Etheraldus his Nephew and for the loue of Christ in the habit of a poore man accompanied with poore men went to Rome and his wife went into the Nunnery of Barkin seauen miles from London where after she had beene Abbesse a certaine time she died This â—ue was the first King of the Saxons that made Lawes for his Country In this time was Beda a man of worthy memory he was a Priest of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Wire at 7. yeares old he was committed to the education of Benedict as before at 19. yeares old â—e was made Deacon and at 30 Priest He wrote 37. Uolumes in his Treatise vpon Samuel he said If my exposition bring no vtilitie to the readers yet it conduceth not a little to my selfe that whilst my cogitation was vpon them I had little minde of the slippery intisements of the world hee continued in diligent study vntill the age of 62. yeares and in his latter end whilst he was sicke seauen weekes he translated the Gospell of Saint Iohn into English Celulphus king of Northumberland when hee had raigned 8. yeares was made a Mâ—â—ke in the Abey of Farne where by his meanes Licence was giuen to the Monks of that house to drinke wine or Ale which before by the institution of the aforesaid Aydanus drunke nothing but milke and water Cutbert Archbishop of Canterbury collected a great Sinod where these decrées were enacted that Bishops should be more diligent in seeing to their Office then in admonishing the people and liue in peace one with another and once a yeare goe about all the Parishes of their Diocesse That they should admonish Abbots and Monks to liue Regulâ—rly and Prelats not to oppresse their infertours but loue them that none should be admitted to Orders before his life was examined that the reading of holy Scripâ—ures shouâ—d be more frequented in Monasteries that Priests should not dispose seculer businesses that they should take no money for baptizing that they should teach the Lords prayer and Créed in the English tongue that they should ioyne in their Ministery after one vniforme manner that they should sing in the Church with a modest voice that the Saboth be reuerently obserued that the 7. Canonicall Powers be obserued euery day that the Rogation daies should not be omitted that a Festiual day for all Saints should be celebrated and a Feast of S. Gregory anâ— S. Austin our Patron should be obserued that the fasts of the 4. times should be kept that Churchmen should not giue themselues to drunkennesse that the Communion should not be neglected of the Clergy nor 〈◊〉 that Laymen should be examined and well tried before they become Monkes that Monkes should not liue amongst Lay-men that publike prayer should bee made for Kings and Princes Boniface Archbishop of Mentz a Martyre an English man wrot a Letter to King Ethelbert and rebuked him for abstaining from Mariage that he might liue in luxuriousnesse with Nunnes and that he heard the chiefe of hiâ— Kingdom by his example forsooke their wiues and liued in adultery with Nunnes whereby appeareth the great disorder of life that alwaies hath beene in these Religious houses of Nunnes whose vowe of coacted chastitie hath neuer beene good to Church or Common-wealth and this Boniface and others were most to blame for that they gâ—uâ— occasion thereof by maintaining such superstitious orders of lasciuious Nunnes and other religious restraining them from lawfull Mariage For we finde of him in Stories that he being the Popes Legate builded Monasteries Canonized Saints commanded Reliques to be worshipped permitted religious Fathers to carry about Nunnes with them a preaching and he founded the great Monastery of Fâ—loa in Germany of English Monkes in which no woman might enter but only Leba and Secâ—a two English Nuns and by him Childericus king of France was deposed and Pipinus the betrayer of his master made king From this Boniface proceeded that detestable doctrine that in case the Pope liued most filthily and neglected himselfe and all Christianitie and led inumerable Soules with him to Hell yet ought no man to rebuke him because he hath power to iudge all men and ought to be iudged of no man Pope Gregory the 2. Pope Gregory the 3. Pope Zachary and Pope Constantine the 1. wrought great masteries against the Gréeke Emperours Philipicus and Leo and others for the maintaining of Images in Churches of whom Philipicus lost both his Empire and his eyes and Leo was excommunicated for the same cause This Gregory then brought into the Masse Canon the clause for Reliques and the Sacrifice for the dead And Zachary brought in the Prieste Uesture and Ornaments and Constantinus was the first that gaue his feet to be kissed of the Emperours The aforesaid Pipinus which was the betrayer of his said master Childericus king of France and by the Pope made king in his steed to gratifie the Sea of Rome for this benefit to him gaue vnto the said sea the Princedome of Rauenna and the Kingdome of Lombards and many other great possessions of Italy with all the cities thereunto adioyning vnto the borders of Uenice and this no doubt is the same which falsly hath beene thought to haâ—e beene the Donation of Constantine To this Pipinus was sent first into France the inuention of the Orgaines out of Grecia by Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople in the yeare 757. Pope Stephanus succeeded pope Constanâ—inus and Paul the 1. succeeded him hee thundred great Excommunications against Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople for plucking downe Images set vp in the Temples notwithstanding he neglecting his curâ—es destroyed Idolatry to the end of his life Then Constantinus the 2. came to be Pope a Layman brother to Desideâ—ius king of Lumbardy but he was shortly deposed thrust into a Monastery his eyes put out Stephanus the 3. succéeded Paul he coÌ„demned the seauenth Councel of Constantinople for Hereticall because the worshipping
are not wont to tarry the consent of Princes therefore Wee commaâ—nd you vnder paâ—ne of the great curse that you câ—use him Whereupon they all assented sauing he whom the King had sent for the Arch bishop of Norwich Upon this the King conceiued great displeasure against the Monkes of Canterbury wherefore he banished 64. of them out of the Land The King sent Letters to the Pope sharply expostulating with him for reâ—uâ—ing the Bishop of Norwich and setting vp one Stephen Langton vnknowne to him and brought vp in the kingdome of France amongst his enemies Archbishop of Canterbury and that the Monkes without his consent presumed to promote him and meruailed that the Pope did not reuolue with himselfe how necessary his fauour had euer béene to them What great reuenues had procéeded hence thether the like whereof hath not béene receiued out of any Country on this side the Alpes and that he would stand for his liberties vnto death nor would not bee so shaken from the election of the Bishop of Norwich which he séeth so commodious to him and that if his request were not heard he would prouide by Seas that there should be no more such gâ—dding to Rome to export the riches of his Land thither whereby he is lesse abled against his Enemies and that he had sufficient Prelats of his owne and hath no néede of any from abroad Pope Innocentius writ to him againe Whereas wée haue written gently to you concâ—rning the matter of Canterbury you haue written to vs after a threatning sort and where wée aboue our duetie haue giuen to you you have not giuen to vs ouâ— duetie which you are bound to doe and though your sauour as you say be necessary for vs yet consider ours is not a little oporâ—une vnto you and whereas wee haue not shewâ—d the like honour to any Prince as to you you haue so much derogated to our Honour as no Prince besides hath presumed to doe Where you say the Archbishop is vnknowne to you and brought vp amongst year enemies Then be sheweth how learned â—e was how he was Prebend at Paris and of an hoâ—â—st stocke borne an Englishman and knowne to the King being he wrote to him thrée times before and saith that at the Monkes request he sent his Letters once or twise to the King for his assent although was not the manner of the Sea Apostolike who hath the fulnesse of the power of the Church of Canterbury to waite for princes consents in such elections therefore according to the Canons of the Fathers wâ— did proâ—ide that the said Church should be no longer 〈◊〉 of her Pastor therefore being this election hath so orderly proceeded vpon a person so meete for the same wâ—e will not for any mans pleasure nor may without danger of â—ame and conscience deferre the consummation thereof And my sonne seeing we haâ—e respected your Honour more then our duetie is study to Honour vs so much as â—uâ—tie requireth that you may deserue fauour at Gods hands and Ours and least doing contrary you bring you selfe into such a peâ—ke of tâ—oubles that you cannot riâ— your selfe againe for it will fall out he will haue the better to whom euery knée doth bowe whose turne I serue in the earth therefore obey not them that desire vnquietnesse that they might fâ—sh the better in a troubled water It will not be for your saftie and glory to resist God and the Church in whose quarrell the blessed and glorious Martyre Bishop Thomas hath lately shed his bloud especially seeing your Father and brother being Kings of England did giue ouer those thrée wicked Customes into the hands of the Sea Apostoâ—â—ke but if you will yéeld your selfe humbly into our hands we will looke that you and yours shall be sufficiently prouided for Thus haue you the glorious Letter of the proud Pope I beséech you marke it well Not long after proceeded a commaundement to certaine Bishops requiring them by the authoritie Apostolicall that if the King would not receiue the Prior of Canterbury and his Monkes then they should interdict him through his Realme Whereupon the foure Bishops of London Elâ— Winchester and Herford shewed the King thereof but the King refused the same and would not grant their request wherupon they pronounced the said Inâ—erdiction throughout England and Wales and the Church doores were shut vp with keyes and other fastnings Then the King tooke all the possessions of the foure Bishops into his hands and apointed certaine to keepe the Liuings of the Clergie throughout the Realme The Bishops cursed all that kept or medled with Church-goods against the wils of the owners Then they went to the Bishop of Canterbury and shewed him all the matter he promised he would shortly come to Canterbury himselfe or send some which should doe as much as himselfe 〈◊〉 came to the King that the Bishops had beene beyond-Sea with the Archbishop and were returned He sent to them Bishops Earles and Abbots to shew that the King would receiue the Archbishop Steuen and the Prior and all the Monkes of Canterbury promising on his behalfe that he should neuer take any thing of the Church-goods but would make amends for them taken and the Church should haue all her Franchices as amply as in King Edwards time the Confessor This agreement was concluded and ingrossed in a payre of Indentures the saide foure Bishops set their hands to one part the other part was caried to the King which he liked well but he would not make restitution of the Church-goods The foure Bishops would not agree to put out that Article then the King sent for the Archbishop to come to him and speake with him at Canterbury and for his safe conduct to come and goe at his will sent thrée Iustices to be pledges for him whereupon the Archbishoppe came to Canterbury and the King came to Châ—â—ham and sent his Treasurer to him to put out the clause of restitution which he denyed to doe or any word of the same Then the king caused to be proclâ—imed throughout the Realme that thâ—se that had any Church-liuings and went beyond-sea should returne at a certaine day or loose theâ—â— Liuings for euer And that all Sheriffes should inquire if any Church-man from that day forward receiued any commaundement from the Pope to apprehend him and bring him before him and that they should take into their hands vnto his vse all the Church Lands that were giuen by the Archbishop Steuen or the Priors of Canterbury from the time of the election of the said Archbishop and that all the woods of the Archbishop should be cut downe and solde Thou the Pope sent ouer two Legats which resorted to the King at Northampton where he held his Parliament and saluted him they said they came from the Pope to reforme the peace of holy Church and we admonish you in the Popes behalfe that you make full restitution of the goods that you haue rauished of holy Church and of
the land and that you receiue Stephen Archbishop into his dignity and the Prior of Canterbury and his Monkes and yeeld againe to the Archbishop all his Lands and rents and Sir yet moreouer that you shall make such restitution to them as the Church shall thinke good The King answered he would gladly grant their request touching the Prior and Monkes of Canterbury but touching the Archbishop let him giue vp the Archbishopricke and I will giue him some other Bishopricke vpon this condition I will admit him otherwise not Then one of them said holy Church was neuer wont to disgrade Archbishop without reasonable cause but to correct Princes that were disobedient to her What now quoth the King threaten you me They said You haue told vs what is in your heart now we will tell you what is in the Popes will He hath wholly interdicted and accursed you for your wrongs to holy Church and the Clergy and we doe accurse all those that shall common with you hereafter and we assoyle all Earles Barons Knights and others from their homage fealty and seruice they should doe to you and to confirme this we giue power to the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich and the same power ouer Scotland we giue vnto the Bishops of Rochester and Salisbury and in Wales wee giue the same power to the Bishops of Saint Dauid Landaffe and Saint Assaph And we send throughout all Christendome to all Bishops to accurse all that helpe and comfort you in any néede And we aâ—â—oyle all your aduersaries and command them to warrâ— with you and with all that are enemies to the Church Then the king answered What may you doe more They said we say to you in verbo Dei that no heire of yours after this day may be crowned Then the King sware if hee had knowne their newes hee would haue kept them out this tweluemonth Upon this occasion Pope Inocent commanded ageine in paine of his great curse that none should obey King Iohn nor kéepe company with him to eate drinke common or Councell with him or his seruants to doe him any seruice at bed boord hall or stable But the greater part that sled from him by this meanes of diuerse and sundry diseases that yeare died Betwixt England and France that yeare fell great amitie but false to the bitter betraying of England Further the Pope with his Cardinals gaue sentence definitiue that King Iohn should be deposed from his Regal Seat and promised Phillip the French King full remission of all his 〈◊〉 and cleare possession of the Realme of England vnto him and his heirs if he did either kill him or expel him Moreouer he wrote vnto other Nations that they should take vpon them the badge of the Crosse and reuenge him of the manifold iniuries done to the vniuersall Church by the cursed Tuâ—ke and Pagan King Iohn The next yeare the French King manned with the Bishops Monkes Prelates and Priests and their seruants began his attâ—mpt in hope of the Crowne of England but the English Nauie tooke 300. of the French Kings ships loaden with wheat wine meate flesh Armour and other necessaties for warre and burnt 100. within the Hauen and tooke the spoyle of them The Priests of England prouided them a false prophet one Peter Wakeâ—ield they noysed daily amonst the Commons that Christ had twise appeared to him in shape of a childe betwixt the Priests hands once at Yorke and againe at Pomfret and breathed saying Peace peace peace and that he was rapt in spirit and hee saw the â—oyes of Heauen and sorrowes of Hell He prophecied of King Iohn that he should raigne no longer then â—scention day within the yeare of our Lord 1213. Being asked the question he could not tell whether he should be slaine expelled or of himselfe giue ouer the Crowne but he was sure he nor none of his stocke should raigne that day once fiâ—â—shed The King laughed thereat when he sawe himselfe out of dangeâ— He prated thereof at large so that they which lâ—ned the King apprehended him and put him in prison the King not knowing therof the fame hereof went through the whole Realme and the more becauâ—e he was imprisoned When the prophesied Ascention day was came King Iohn commaunâ—ed his Regal Tent to be spred abroad in the open field and passed the day with his Noble Councel and men of Honour in the greatest solemnity that euer hee did before When that day was passed withall his enemies turned it to an alâ—goricall vnderstanding and said He is no King for the Pope raigneth and not he yet raigned he stil and his sonne after him to proue the prophet alyer And because this false prophet had troubled the Realme peruerted the people raised the Commons against the King and was caried ouer the Sea by the Prelates and gaue incouragement to the French King to inuade the Land the King commaunded the false prophet should be hanged and his sonne least any more should rise of his race At length the King seeing himselfe so compassed with enemies and treasons and great danger that was like to follow especially fearing the French King was inforced to submit himselfe to that execrable monster and Antichrist of Rome conuerting his Land into the patrimony of Saint Peter as many other had done before him for hee was sure though not without shame being vnder his protection no forraine Potentate was able to subdue him King Iohn made a Letter obligatory to the Pope in this manner Whereas wee haue grieuously offended God and our mother Church of Rome and our body and Realme is not a sufficient satisfaction to him that humbled himselfe on the Crosie for vs through Councell of the noble Earles and Barons we freely grant vnto God and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul and to our mother Church of Rome and to our holy Father Pope Inocent the third and all the Popes that come after him all the Realme and patronage of the Churches of England and Ireland with all the appurtenances for the remission of our sinnes and the helpe of our kinsfolkes soules and of all Christian Soules so that henceforth we will hold as Farmer to her Mother Church doing fealtie to the Pope and his successors Wee will doe homage to the Popes Legate as it were in the Popes presence paying â—or all manner of Custome which we shoâ—ld doe for the said Realmes yearely 1000. markes of siluer sauing to vs and our heires our Iustices and our Franchises and other realties that appertaine to our Crowne And for the assurance hereof we binde our successors and heires that if any of our heires shall goe against these things and being warned will not an end he shall then loose the foresaid Realmes for euermore But before the releaâ—ment of the Interdiction the king was compelled to giue ouer his Crowne and Scepter to the Antichrist of Rome for fiue dayes and to receiue it at another Cardinals hands Then all that had their hearts
Iacobus Lutherianus he was forced to recant but his mind renewed by the holy Ghost and he fled to Luther A Scholler borne at Abbevile in King Lewis his Pallace tooke away the Host from the Priest at Masse and brake it in peeces and trode it vnder his feete He was burned in the Swine-market the peeces of the Host and the pauement whereon it was trodden were gathâ—red and laid vp amongst the Treasures of the Pallace After Adrianus the sixt who succeeded Iulius came Pope Clement 7. whose life is in one verse described Bellorum hic fomes cunctorum lerna malorum he was poisoned with diuers of his Cardinals familiars with the smoak of torches In his time wroâ—e Nicholas Michiauellus who proueth that through y â— ambition of Popes procéedeth almost all euils wars amongst Christian men and that before the yeare 500. in all politick affaires the Bishop of Rome euer obayed the Emperors and Kings that the Cardinals in the first beginning of them were nothing but Popish Priests but after they inuaded the Temporall and Spirituall Iurisdiction vsurping aboue Kings and Emperors By thrée manner of waies the Romain Bishops did créep vp by excommunications by indulgences and force of Armes In this yeare the Turk wrote to the maister of the Rhodes to deliuer vp the Isle as followeth Solimanus Tsaccus King of Kings and Lord of Lords most mighty Emperor of Constantinople and Trapezuntis c. Unto the Reuerend Father Philip Vilerius Liladamus great Maister of the Rhodes to his Knights and the Communalty there The pitty of my afflicted people and your extreame iniuries moue me I command your speedy surrender of your Ile of Rhodes you may obtaine Our Grace to depart with your riches or if you will remaine in our Dominion your liberty shall not be diminished either in Religion or paying of tribute if you be wise preferre peace before cruell war if you be ouercome looke for extreame cruelty from which neither your force forraigne ayde nor your wals shall defend you I sweare by God the Maker of Heauen and Garth by the foure Histoâ—â—ographers of the Euangelicall Histories by the 8000. Prophets that came from Heauen and by our mighty God Mahomet aboue all others to be worshipped and the Spirits of my Father and Grand-Father and by this my Sacred Royall and Imperiall Head from our Palace at Constantinople The very same yeare the Island of Rhodes was lost and yéeleâ—d to the Turke to the great hindrance of all Christendome Henry Sudphen was desired of the Cittizens of Breame to come thither to preach when they had heard him they hyred him to bee their Preacher when the religious rout vnderstood thereof they desired of the Senate that such an Heretike might be banished the Towne which preached against the Catholike Church The Senate sent for the head men of the Parish and shewed them the complaint of the religious men They answered They knew no other but that hee was a learned honest Preacher yet if they can proue that he taught any thing contrary to the Word of God they will be ready with them to persecute him otherwise wee will not suffer him of malice to be driuen away The Senate certified the religioâ—s of this answer then they certified the Byshop thereof who sent two of his Councel to Breame for the Preacher they receiued this answere of the Senators That being he was hyred of the Church-wardens and was not conuicted of Heresie they could not obtaine of the Cittizens that he should be carried away Wherefore they desired the Byshop that he would send his learned men to dispute with him and if he were conuinced he should be punished else heâ— should not depart After when newes came that he preached more and more haynous maâ—ter against the religious Then they admonished the Cittizens of Brâ—ame into what ieoperdy their Common-wealth might fall by their Preachers preaching contrary to the decrées of the Pope and Emperour Further they said the Preacher was the Prisoner of the Lady Margaret and got Letters of her to require her Prisoner but all would not serue Then the Byshop decreed a prouinciall councell to be holden at Breamâ— which was accustomed to be at Bucksted whereunto this Henry was called but the Cittizens detained him at home Then Henry gathered a summe of his Doctrine into a few Articles and sent it with his Letters vnto the Archâ—bishop offering if he were conuicted of any error by the Word of God he would bee readiâ— to recant But shortly after the religious set vpon the Church-porch the Bull of Pope Leo the tenth and the Decrée of the Emperour made at Wormes notwithstanding he procéeded daily in preaching the Gospell The Papists sent their Chaplaines to euery Sermon to trap him in his wordes whereby many of them were conuerted and the greater part of those that were sent did openly witnesse his doctrine was Gods truth against which no man could contend and such as in all their liues they had not heard and that they must beléeue the same if they would be saued At last this Henry was sent for by Letters by the parishoners of Mâ—ldrophe to preach the Gospell to them and deliuer them out of the boâ—dage of Antichrist and because he had preached two yeare at Breame and that there were men sufficiently instructed in the Gospell to build further and that the Papists there were for the most part vanquished and that their folly was knowne euen to women and children and that Diedmar liued without a Pastor in the midst of Wolues he could not with a safe conscience deny their requests When he came thither he was ioyfully recâ—iued of the Parish-priest and others The Papists hearing hereof before he had preached stormed and fumed especiallie the Prior of the Black Monastery who went to the Officiall to take councell what was to be done least they lose their Kingdome they tooke councell to withstand the beginning that he might not haue leaue to preach least their crafts and wickednesses being laid open it were folly after to resist remembring what happened at Breame The next day early in the morning the Prior with the Chancelor went to the forty eight Presidents being vnlearned men and perswaded them what a seditious Fellow was come from Breame and there-withall if they would put him to death what fauour they should haue of the Byshop of Breame whereupon they decréed he should be put to death Further they had Letters from the forty eight Presidents vnto the Parish-priest commaunding him vnder great paine that heâ— should send away the said Henry without preaching The Priest maruelled at their meddling in such matters being it belonged not to them but the Parish-Priest onely to receiue and put out a Preacher and shewing this to Henry hee said he was sure hee must dye for the Gospell and it was as neare to Heauen to dye there as in another place and being he was sent for and was sure it would be
Cardinall signifying that he would drowne himselfe and to leaue his clothes there and another Letter to the Mayor of the Towne to search for him in the water because he had a Letter written in parchment wrapt in wax about his neck for the Cardinal which would teach all men to beware of him vpon this they were seuen daies a searching for him but he went to London in a poore mans apparell and thence to Anwerpe to Luther and there answered all the Bishops of the Realme and made a Booke called acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henry When it was told the Cardinall he was drowned he said perit memoria eius cum sonitu but this lighted vpon himselfe for shortly after he poyso-himselfe In the beginning of the Raigne of Quéene Anne he and others came againe into England and continued a faithfull Preacher in the Citie of London and in her Graces time well entertained and promoted and after sent by King Henry the eight Ambassador to the Duke of Cleaue for the marriage of the Lady Anne of Cleaue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted vntill Gardiner came out of France but then neither Religion nor the Queene prospered nor Cromwell nor the preachers Then followed alteration in marriage vntill hee had grafted the marriage into another stocke by the â—ccasion whereof hee began his bloudy worke Soone after Doctor Barnes and his Brethren were carried to the King to Hampton Court to be examined But the King seeking meanes of his safety bad him goe home with Gardiner and confer with him they not agréeing Gardiner sought opportunitie to dispatch Barnes and the rest as he had done by the Queâ—ne the Lady Anne of Cleue and the Lord Cromwell and he appointed them three to preach thrée Sermons at the Spittle which were baites to minister iust occasion of their condemnations A hen they were sent for to Hampton Court and from thence carried vnto the Tower and came not thence but to their deathes Then the Protestants went beyond Sea Priests were diuorced from there Wiues certaine Bishops deposed and other good men denied Christ and bore Faggots then they were put to dâ—ath without iudgement a Papist and a Protestant were laid vpon one hurdle and drawn to Smithfield This was Winchesters deuise to colour his tyrany Then Barnes hid the Sheriffe beare him witnes he died Christianly and Charitably and prayed them all to pray for him and if the dead may pray for the quick we will pray for you so they forgaue their enemies and kissed one another and stood hand in hand at the stake vntill the â—â—re came and so rested in Christ. The same day one Powell Fetherstone and Abel were hanged drawne and quartered in the same place for denying the Kings Supremacie and maintaining the Kings marriage with the Lady Katherine Dowager The reason was because as one halfe of the Councell being Papists called vpon Barnes Garet and Hierome to be executed so the other part of the Councell called vpon these thrée Papists to be executed In this yéers a Boy one Richard Mekins but fiftéene yeares old was burned in Smithfield for speaking somewhat against the Sacrament of the Altar In like manner Richard Spencer Priest leauing his papistry married a Wife and got his liuing by day-labour Hee was burnt in Salisbury because hee was thought to hold opinion against the Sacrament and one Andrew Hewet was burned with him About this time Cardinall Poole Brother to the Lord Mountegew was attainted of high treason and fled to Rome where he was made Cardinall of Saint Mary Cosmoden where he remained vntill Quéene Maries time Stokely Bishâ—p of London and Tunstone Bishop of Duresme writ to him to perswade him to abandon the Supremacy of the Pope and to conforme himselfe to the Religion of his King which Letter thou maist reade in the Booke at large which sufficiently proueth the Pope not to be supreme head of the Church but because this Doctrine is as sufficiently proued in other places I omit to abridge it In this yeere the King by the aduice of his Councell sent forth a Decree for the setting vp the Bible in the great volume in euery parish Church in England This yeare Iohn Porter a Taylor a lusty yong man was by Bonner Bishop of London cast into Newgate for reading in the Bible in Paules Church where he was miserably famished to death About this time Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne burned two vpon one day one Thomas Barnard and the other Iames Morton the one for teaching the Lords Prayer in Englâ—sh and the other for kéeping the Epistle of Saint Iames in English In this yeare the Kings Maiestie vnderstanding that all Idolatry and vainâ— pilgrimages were not vtterly abolished within these Dominions directed his Letters vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury for the spéedy amendment of the same Anthony Pierson Priest Robert Testwood singing man Henrie Finmore Taylor and Iohn Marbeck singing man were burned at VVindsor THese Articles were obiected against Pierson that he had said Euen as Christ once hanged betweene two theeues so when he is holden vp betwixt the Priests handes he hangs betwixt two theeues except the Priest sincerely preach Gods word That he preached that Christ should not be eaten as he did hang vpon the Crossâ— with his flesh torne and the bloud running about their mouthes but he was to be eaten this day that we might also feed on him to morrow and next day and continually and that he was of more power after his resurrection then he was before That Christ sitting amongst his Disciples commended the Scriptures vnto them when he said This is that bread this is that body of Christ so when hee brake bread and bade them deuide it amongst them and eate it for it was his bodie and likewise the cup saying This is my bloud hee signified to vs that wee should receiue the Scriptures and distribute them vnto the people It was obiected against Finmore that he had said that the Sacrament of the Altar was but a similitude and that if it were God he had eaten twenty Gods in his life He condemned Testwood for iesting with the Priest when he lifted vp the host saying Ho take héed that he fall not That Marbeck with his owne hands had writ notes out of certaine Authors which were repugnant to the masse and sacrament of the Altar and that he said The Masse was impure and defiled with much vngodlinesse and it spoyleth God of his honour and that the eleuation of the sacrament represents the Calues of Ieroboam and is worse Idolatrie then those were and that therein Christ was counted a mocking-stock There was a fift man named Bennet vnto whose charge it was laid that hée should say the daily Masses vsed in the Church were superfluous and that it were sufficient the seuenth day were kept holy Bennet and Marbeck were pardoned by the King the other thrée stoutly suffered
saying he that leaueth father or mother praueth our pilgrimage with many moe Many dangerous hazards he suffered amongst the Popes friends and Gods enemies for the Gospell sake When there was a Proclamation set forth for the calling in of the Bible in English and many other good bookes he hazarded himselfe to write to King Henry the eight to disswade him therefrom which Letter thou mayest see in the booke at large at length by the means of Doctor Butts and of good Cromwell he was made Bishop of Worcester and continued so a few yeares instructing his Diocesse according to a diligent Pastor but as before both in the Uniuersitie and at his Benefiee he was tossed and turmoyled by the wicked so in his Bishopricke some sought his trouble insomuch that he was accused to the King for his Sermons Thus he continued in this laborious function of a Bishop for certaine yeares vntill the comming vp of the sixe Articles and altering of Religion so when he could not keepe his Bishopricke with a good conscience of his owne free will he resigned the same at which time Shaxton Bishop of Salesburie resigned also with him his Bishopricke These two remained a great space vnbishopped keeping silence vntill the time of King Edward A little after Latimer had renounced his Bishopricke hee was sore bruised with the fall of a tree and comming to London for remedy hee was troubled of the Bishops and at length was cast into the Tower where he continued prisoner vntill the Raigne of King Edward then the golden mouth of this preacher shut vp long before was opened againe and beginning a fresh to set forth his plough againe and continued all the time of the said King labouring in the Lords haruest most fruitfully hee preached for the most part twice euery Sunday to no small shame of vnpreaching prelates which occupied great rome to doe little good he did most euidently prophesâ—e of all these kinde of plagues which after ensued so plainely that if England euer had a Prophet he might seeme to be one and he did euer affirme that the preaching of the Gospel would cost him his life and he was certainely perswaded that Winchester was kept in the Tower to be his death which fell out right for after the death of King Edward and Queen Mary proclaimed a Purseuant was sent down vnto him by the doing no doubt of Winchester Latimer had warning thereof six houres before the Purseuant came whereby he might haue â—scaped but he prepared himselfe towards his iourney before the Purseâ—ant came who maruelled to sée him so prepared for his iourney he told the Purseuant he was a welcome guest and be it knowne vnto you and the whole World that I goe as willingly to London at this present being called of my Prince to giue a reckoning of my Faith and Doctrine as euer I was to goe vnto any place in the world and I doubt not but that God which hath made me worthy to preach to two most excellent Princes so he will able me to witnesse the same to the third either to her comfort or discomfort eternally When the Purseuant had deliuered his Letters he departed affirming that hee was not commaunded to tarry for him whereby it appeared they would not haue him appeare but rather to haue fled out of the Realme they knew his constancy would deface them in Popery and confirme the godly in the truth When he came through Smithfield he said merrily Smithfield bad long groned for him after he had béene before the Councell hee was sent to the Tower and from thence he was transported to Oxford with Cramer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Ridley Bishop of London there to dispute as before is said Of the order of the disputations and bow they were condemned thou maist sée before where they continued vntill this time in continual prayer godly conference and writing Latimer sometimes continued so long knéeling at prayer that hee was not able to arise without helpe three thinges especially he prayed for in his Prayers First as God hath appointed him to preach his Word so hee would giue him grace to stand to the same vntill his death Secondly that God would restore his Gospel vnto England againe once more which once more hee inculcated oftentimes into the eares of the LORD as if he had spoken vnto him face to face Thirdly hee prayed for the preseruation of Queene ELIZABETH then but Lady ELIZABETH whom with â—eares he still named desiring God to make hee a comforter to this comfortles Realme the Lord most graciously granted al these things which he requested The twentith day of September a Commission was sent from the Cardinall to the Bishops of Lincolne Glocester and Bristow to examine Doctor Ridley and Maister Latimer vpon the points they were condemned for at Oxford and if they would not recant there opinions to disgrade them c. The first point was whether the reall presence of Christ was in the Sacrament D. Ridley first appeared before them when the Commission was read he standing bare-headed assoon as he heard the Cardinall named and the Popes Holines he put on his cap the Bishop of Lincolne reprehended him for it and told him if he would not of himselfe put off his cap another should doe it for him He answered that it was not done for any contumacy that he bare vnto their own persons nor for any derogation of the Cardinall in that he was borne of the Bloud Royall was indued with much leâ—rning excellent vertues â—ut in that he is Legate to the Pope and with that he put on his cap whose vsurped supremacie I vtterly renounce which I will not onely denounce in words but in gesture beâ—auiour and all my doings expresse the same wherevpon by the commandement of the Bishop of Lincoln his cap was taken off he appeared twice and thus he did at both times their answeres were both to one effect in substance First they made their protestation that notwithstanding their answers it should not be taken thereby that they would acknowledge any authority of the Pope but that they answered as subiects to the king and Queene to the first point they did confesse that in the sacrament by spirit and grace is the very body and bloud of Christ because that euery man receiuing bodily the bread and wine in the Sacrament spiritually receiue the body and bloud of Christ and thereby is partaker of the merits of his passion but they denied the naturall body and bloud of Christ to be really in the outward sacrament The second question was whether after consecration of the sacrament of the Altar there did remain any substance of bread and wine to that they answered there was such a change in the bread and wine as no man but God can make being the bread had that dignity to exhibit Christs body yet the bread is still bread and the wine still wine for the change is not in the nature but in the
very good but none almost froÌ„ the first to the last which was not either slain in war or murdred in peace or constrained to make himselfe a Monk whether it were the iust iudgment of God because they had violently dispossessed the Brittains they were not only vexed of the Danes conquered of the Normans but more cruelly deuoured themselues Ethelbert King of Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke came peaceably to King Offa for dispousage of Athilrid his Daughter and by the Councel of King Offa his Wife was secretly beheaded Wherevpon Offa through repentance made the first peter-pence to be giuen to S. Peters Church at Rome One Lothbrooke a Dane of the Kings blood being a hauking by the Sea-side in a little Boat was cast by weather vpon the Coast of Norffolke and being brought to King Edmund he retained him in great fauour at length he was priuily murdered by one Bericke which being knowne Bericke was sent away in Lothbrookes Boate without tackling and was driuen into Denmarke and being séene in Lothbrookes Boate and examined of Lothbrooke he falsely said the King had killed him Wherevpon Iugner and Hubba Lothbrookes Sonnes gathering an Army of Danes inuauaded first Northumberland then Norffolke and sent to King Edmund to deuide his Treasures to him and be subiect to him else he would dispossesse him of his â—ingdome he answered he would not be subiect to a Pagan Duke vnlesse before hee become a Christian then the Danes besiedged his house but he fled and pitched a fielde with them but the Danes preuailing he fled to the Castle of Halesdon where they tooke him and bound him to a stake and shot him to death Seauen or eight Kings are highly commended in the Histories for leauing there Kingdomes and becomming Moonkes but they are more to be discommended for leauing their calling wherein they might so much benefite the Church There were foure Persecutions in England before Austen came into England the first vnder Dioclesian the second by the inuading of Gnarius and Melga one captaine of the Hunnes the other of the Picts after they had slaughtered 11000. Uirgines as before made a rode into Brittaine hearing it wanted strength and murdered Christians and spoiled Churches without mercy the third by the Saxons who destroyed Christs Saints and the Churches vntill Aurelius Ambrosius restored again the Churches the fourth Gurmundus King of the Affricans ioyned with the Saxons and wrought much grieuance to the Christians of the Land which persecution remained to the time of Ethelbert the fift King of Kent In the tâ—me of Ethelbert the faith was receiued of the Saxons by this meanes Gregory Bishop of Rome seeing Brittaine Children to be sould in Rome very beautifull vnderstanding what Country they were of pittied that the Country which was so beautifull and angellicall so to be subiect to the prince of darkenes Wherefore he sent thither Austen with about forty Preachers with him and when they were apaled and would haue turned backe again Gregory emboldned and comforted them with his Letter so they came to the I le of â—henet in Kent Ethelbert as before was King of Kent he had married one Berda a French Woman vpon condition shee should vse the Christian Religion with one Lebardus her Byshop Austen sent to the King signifying hee was come from Rome bringing with him glad tydings to him and all his people of life and saluation if he would so willingly hearken vnto it as he was gladly come to preach it vnto him The King hauing heard of this Religion by his Wife came to the place where Austen was Austen against his comming erected a Banner of the Crucifire such then was the grosenesse of the time and preached to him the word of God the King promised they should haue all things necessary and none should molest them and gaue them frée leaue to preach to his subiects and conuert whom they might to the Faith When they had this comfort of the King they went with procession to Canterbury singing Alleluia with the Letany that was vsed at Rome in the great plague We beséech thée O Lord in all thy mercies that thy fury and anger may cease from this Citty and from thy holy house for we haue sinned Alleluia they continued in the same Citty preaching and baptizing in the old Church of S. Martine where the Quéene was wont to resort vntill the King was conuerted at length the King séeing their myracles and their godly conuersation he heard them gladly and was conuerted in the thirty sixe yeare of his raigne Anno 586. After him innumerable daily were adioyned vnto the Church whom the King did specially imbrase but compelled none then the King gaue Austen a place for his Byshops Sea at Christs Church in Canterbury and builded the Abbey there where after Austen and all the Kings of Kent were buried which now is called S. Austine Then Austen by the commandement of Gregory went into France to the Bishop of Arelatensis to be consecrated Arch-byshop and so was then Austen sent to Gregory so declare how they had sped and to be resolued of diuers questions how Bishops should behaue themselues towards their Clarke of offerings and Ceremonies and what punishment for stealing Church goods and such like to no great purpose therefore if thou béest disposed to sée them I referre thee to the Booke at large Gregory after he had sent resolutions to these questions sendeth moreouer more Coadiutors as Melitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffianus with Books and implements necessary for the English Church and in reward of Austines paines he sent him a Pal onely to be vsed at the solemnity of the Masse and granteth two Metropolitane Seas London and Yorke but granted to Austen during his life to be cheefe Arch-bishop of all the Land and that they should not destroy the idolatrous Temples but conuert them to Christian vses and that Austine should not be proud of the myracles that God wrought by him that he should remember they were not done for him but for their conuersion whose saluation God sought thereby Then he wrote to King Ethelbert first hee praysed GOD then the King by whom it pleased God to worke such goodnesse of the people then exhorted him to perseuer in his profession and to be zealous therein to conuert the multitude and destroy Idolatry and to gouerne them in holinesse of conuersation according to the Emperor Constantinus the Great comforting him with the promises of life and reward to come Austine receiuing his Pall as aboue said and of a Monke being made an Arch-Byshop hee made two Metropolitanes as Gregorie commaunded then Austine assembled the Byshops and Doctors of Brittaine in this assembly hee charged the Byshoppes that they should preach the Word of GOD with him also that they should reforme certaine rites and vsages in the Church especially for keeping of Easter and baptizing after the manner of Rome the Scots and Brittaines would not agree thereto refusing to leaue the custome which
they so long time had continued Beda Fabianus others write of a myracle wrought vpon a Blinde Englishman when the Brittaines could not helpe him Austine kneeling downe and praying restored him to sight before them all for a confirmation as these Authours say of keeping of Easter I leaue the credite of the myracle to the Authors of whom I had it Austine gathered another Sinode to the which seauen Byshoppes and the wisest Men of the famous Cittie of Bangor came they tooke councell of a holy man whether they should be obedient to Austine he had them agree to him if hee bee the Seruant of GOD and you shall know it by his humblenesse and meekenesse you are the greater number if he at your comming into the Sinode arise vp and courteously receiue you perceiue him to be an humble and meeke man but if he shall contemne and despise you despise you him againe thus the Brittaine Byshoppes entring into the Councell Austine after the Romish manner keeping his Chaire would not remooue wherefore they being very much offended thereat after some heate of words departed in great displeasure to whom Austine said If they would not receiue peace with their Brethren they should receiue war with their Enemies There was in Bangor in Wales an exceeding great Monastery wherein was two thousand and one hundred Monkes the Monkes came out of this Monasterie to Chester to pray for Brocmayle fighting for them against the Saxons Ethelbert King of Northumberland seeing them intentiâ—e to their prayers and perceiuing it was to pray for their Consull he said although they beare no Weapon yet with their praiers and preaching they persecute vs he commaunded his men to kill them who killed or rather martyred 1100. of them The Authors that wrote this say that the forespeaking of Austine was verified on them but Galfridus Monumetensis saith that Ethelbert the King of Kent being conuerted by Austine to Christs Faith seeing the Brittaines deny their subiection to Austine therefore stirred vp the said Ethelfrid to warre against the Brittaines After Austine had baptized 10000. in a Riuer called Swale by Yorke on a Christmas day perceiuing his end to draw neere ordained Laurencius his Successor by his Baptizing in Riuers it followeth there was then no vse of Fonts and the Rites of baptizing in Rome was not then so ceremoniall nor had so many trinkets as it hath since and not long after Austine died after he had sitten Arch-bishop 15. or 16. yeares About this time also Gregory died who was called the basest of all the Byshops before him and the best of all that came after him Ranulphus Cestrensis writeth that Iohn the Patriarch of Alexandria as he was at prayer there appeared vnto him a comely Uirgine hauing on her head a Garland of Oliue Leaues which named her selfe Mercy promising him if he would take her to Wife hee should prosper well After that day this Patriarch was so mercifull to the poore that he counted them his Maisters and himselfe as Steward vnto them Gregory withstood the pride of Iohn Patriarke of Constantinople which would be the Uniuersall and Cheefe Bishop of all others calling him the fore-runner of Antichrist he brought in the Title of the Pope Seruus seruorum Dei Sabinianus succeeded him two yeares a malicious Detractor of his workes after him succeeded Bonifacius the third one yeare After Phocas had murdered his owne Maister Mauricius the Emperor and his Children thinking to establish the Empire to himselfe by friendship of his people and especially with the Pope he granted Boniface all his Petitions and to bee Uniuersall head Byshop ouer all Churches Hiraclius the Emperour that succeeded Phocas cut of his hands and feete and threw him into the Sea but Rome would not so soone loose the supremacy once giuen as the giuer lost his life for euer since they haue maintained the same with all force and pollicy by the word of Gregorie Boniface may well be called the fore-runner of Antichrist as Gregory brought in the Stile of Seruus seruorum Dei so he brought in Volumus mandamus Statuimus praecipimus Besides the building of Pauls as aforesaid by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex Ethelbert also founded the Church of S. Andrew in Rochester Moreouer he caused a Cittizen to make Westminster Abbey which was inlarged and new builded by Edward the Confessor and new re-edified by Henry the third and when he had raigned 56. yeares he died Anno 616. The foresaid Ethelfrid King of Northumberland after the cruell murder of the Monkes at Bangor was not long after slaine in the Fielde of Edwine who succeeded him in his Kingdome First this Ethelfride enuying this Edwine persecuted him who hauing fled from him as he sat in his Study a Stranger appeared vnto him and said I know thy thought and heauinesse what wouldst thou giue him that should deliuer thee out of this feare and make thee a mightier King then any of thy Predecessors and shew thee a better way of life then euer was shâ—wed to any of thy Ancestors wilt thou obey him and doe after his councell yea said Edwine promising with all his heart so to do and the stranger laying his hand on his head he said when this is come to passe remember thy tribulation and the promise which thou hast made and with that hee vanished away Presently a Friend of his came to him and said the heart of King Redwaldus is with thee This Redwaldus suddainely assembled an Hoast wherewith he suddainely gaue Ethelfride battell and slew him whereby Edwine was quietly King of Northumberland He marryed the Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent Edwine yet remained a Pagan albeit his Queene a Christian and Paulinus the Byshoppe ceased not to perswade him to the Christian Faith When Paulinus saw the King so hard to bee conuerted he prayed to God for his conuersion who reuealer vnto him the Uision before mentioned whereupon Paulinus comming to the King he laie his handâ— on the Kings head and aked if he knew that token the King beâ—ring the Uision and remembring the token would haue falâ—en at his fâ—ete but suffeâ—ed him not saying O King you haue vaquished your enemies and obtained your Kingdom now receiue the Faith of Christ as you promised whereupon the King was baptized of Paulinus at Yorke with many of his seruants and his Idolatrous Priests which by their old Law mustride but vpon Marâ—s gaâ—e vpon Horses and rode and destroyed all the Altars of their Idols and their Idols Temple After this conuersion was so great peace in the Kingdome oâ— Edwin that a woman laden with gold might goe safe from the one side of the Sea vnto the other and by all his high waies he chained a Bowle of brasse at euery Fountaine for passengers to refresh themselues with and no man tooke them away during his life King Oswald a Christian by prayer vnto God with a little company ouercâ—me Cadwallo and Penda
the Britainâ— King which with a mightie Host came against him There is much commendation in writing of this Oswalds zeale in religion and piety towards the poore he sent into Scotland for a Bishop called Aydanus a famous Preacher as he preached to the Saxons in the Scottish tongue the King vnderstanding the Scotish tongue he disdained not to preach and expound the same to his Nobles in the English tongue King Oswald being at Dinner on Easterday one brought him word there was a great company of pâ—re people in the streets which asked almes of him be commaunded the meate prepared for his owne Table to be caried vnto them and brake a siâ—â—er Platter in pieces and senâ— it amongst them by his meanes Kinigillus King of the West Saxons was conuerted to Christs Faith and after he had raigned 9. yeares he was slaine by the said Penda who was after slaine by Osway brother to Oswald and succeeded him in his Kingdome together with his Cosin Oswine This Oswine gaue Aydanus the Scotish Bishop aforesaid a principall Horse with the trappers and appurtenances and as he wâ—s riding vpon this kingly horse a poore man craued his charity who hauing nothing else to giue him gaue him his horâ—e garnished as he was wherefore as he came to Dinner he King chiâ—e him he answereâ— O King set you more prise by a horse then by Chrâ—st Then the King prayed him to forgiue him and he would not hencefoorth finde fault with him for giuing away any of his Treasure then Aydanus wept and being asked wherefore he wept he answered for that this King cannot liue long this people is nto worthy to be â—uled by such a Prince which shortly came to passe for Osway caused him traterously to be slaine One Benedict a great man with Osway that brought vp Bede from his youth â—orsooke Oswayes house and all his kindred to serue Christ he was the first that brought vp the Arte of glazing in windowes About this time there was a Counsell bolden at Steâ—ne-halt for the right obseruing of Easterday King Osway began with an Oration that it was necessary â—or such as serued one God to liue in an vniforme order and such as looked for one kingdom in Heauen should not differ in celebration of heauenly Sacraments then by his commandement Colman Bishop said he receiued the order of keeping Easter the 14. day of the first Moneth from his Auncesters Forefathers and from Iohn Euangelist to which at the Kings commandement Wilfride answered Easter is kept alwaies on the Sunday as we keepe it in Rome where Peter and Paul taught in Italy France Affrick Egypt Greece and in all the world I will not reproue Saint Iohn which kept the rights of Moses Law according to the letter the Church being yet Iewish in many points they could not reiect Images inuented of the Diuell which all beleeuers ought of necessitie to detest least they should offend the Iewes therefore Saint Paul circumcized Tymothy therefore he shaued his head and Sacrificed in the Temple all this was done onely to eschew the offence of the Iewes Therefore â—ames said to Paul Thou â—éest brother how many thousand Iewes doe beleeue yet all are zealous of the old Law yet since the Gospell was preached it is not lawfull for the faithfull to be circumcized nor to offer Sacrifices of carnal things to God but Peter remembring that the Lord did rise from death the first day after the Sabbath instituted Easter on that day and not according to the Law and though your forefathers were holy men what is their fewnesse being but a corner of an Iland to be preferred before the vniuersall Church of Christ Then said the King Did the Lord giue the kingdome of Heauen vnto Peter And they both answerâ—d yea then the King concluded being Saint Peter is the Doore-keeper of Heauen I will obey his Orders in euery point least when I come to the gates of Heauen hee shut them against mee and with this simple reason they consented Ethelwood preached vnto the people in Southsax and conuerted them to Christ in the time of whose baptizing the raine which before they lacked three yeares was giuen them plenteously whereby there great famine slacked About this time the detestable sect of Mahomet began to take place which well agrées with the number of that beast signified in the Reuelation 666. Of Mahomet came the Kingdome of the Haarines now called Saracens to whom he gaue many Lawes they must pray Southward Friday is their Sunday called the day of Venus he permitted them to haue as many Wiues as they were able to maintaine and as many Concubines as they list they must abstaine from wine excepâ— on solemne daies â—hey were to worship one onely God Omnipotent Moses and the Prophets were great but Christ was greatest being borne without mans seede and taken vp into the Heauen with many such Lawes at length the Sarasins were wholly conquered by the Turkes Theodorus was sent into England by Vitellianus Pope and diuerse other Monks with him to set vp Latine Seruice in England and Masâ—es Cerimonies Letanies and other Romish ware he was made Archbishop of Canterbury and began to play the Rex in placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure He held a Prouinciall Counsell at Therford the contents thereof were the vniformitie of keeping Easter that no Bishop should intermeddle in anothers Diâ—cesse that Monasteries should be free from Iurisdiction oâ— Bishops that Monks should keepe the obedience they first promised and not goe from one Monastery vnto another without leaue of the Abbot that none of the Clergy should be receiued in another Diocesse without Letters Commendatory of his Bishop that foraine Bishops and Clergy men should be content with the hospitality offered them and not meddle in any Bishops Iurisdiction without his permission that once a yeare a Prouinciall Sinod should be kept that no Bishop should preferre himselfe before another but according to his time of consecration that as the people increased so the number of Bishops should be augmented The next yeare was the sixt generall Counsell of Constance where this Theodore was present vnder Pope Agatho Mariage there was permitted to the Greeke Priests and forbidden to the Latine in this Counsell the Latine Masse was first openly said by Iohn Portuensis the Popes Legate Colfride Abbot of Shirwin in Northumberland writ to Naitonus King of Picts that shauen Crownes was necessarie for all Priests and Monks for restraint of their lusts and that Peter was shauen in remembrance of the Passion of Christ so we must weare the signe of his Passion on the toppe of our head as euery Church beareth the holy Crosse in the front thereof that by the defence of that banner it be kept from euill Spirits and exhorted him to imitate the Apostolike Churches and when he died the Prince of the Apostles would open Heauen gate to him whereat the King reioyced and knéeling downe thanked God that
number of Holly daies and the increase of vice thereby whoores say they vantage more in one Holy day then in fiftie other dayes and of the curious singing in Cathedrall Churches wherein much time is spent that might better be beâ—towed in other Sciences and learning And of the multitude of begging Fryers and other professed men and women the cause of Idlenesse and vncomely life of promotion of euill Prelates and their negligence in reprouing vice Of the wantonnesse of their seruants and their excesse in apparell Of the excessiue gaines of the prelates and their officers for their Seales giuing them they care not for what so they get money That Prelates bée too slacke in looking to non residents Of giuing benifices not for godlinesse and learning but for fauour friendship or hope of gaine of which commeth the great ignorance in the Church How Prelates wast the Church goods in superfluitie on kinsfolkes or worse wayes and not on the poore How by negligence the Bookes of the olde Coâ—ncels and oâ— the new are not to be found which should be kept in all Cathedral Churches The negligence of Preâ—ates and their voluptuousnesse by example of Storks whose nature is if one leauâ— his mate and ioyne with another all the rest fly on him and plucke his feathers off so and much more should prelates dâ—e to their fellowes that defile so many and stinke in the whole Church And as Eâ—dras in purging Israel from strange women began with the priests so now the purgation ought to begin with them as it is written in Ezechiâ—ll Begin with my Sarctuary c. Againe if the whole Realme of France was interdicted because Phillip the King had but one Concubine which was not his lawfull wife And the King of Portugall sequestred from his Dominion and thought by the Clergie insufficient to rule What shall be said to prelates which abuse mens Wiues Uirgings Nunnes and are insufficient to take charge of Soules About this tiâ—â—e the Order of the Knights of the Rhodes called Iohannits and the Order of the Teâ—â—lers rose vp After Honorius succéeded Pope Innocentius the 2. At euery mutation of new Popes came new troubles sometime two Popes sometimes thrée together The Romaines elected another Pope called Anacletus betwixt whom was great conflicts The Duke of Sicile taking with Anacletus vntill Lotharius the Emperour droue Anacletus 〈◊〉 of Italy This Pope decréed that whose strucke a shauen Priest should be excommunicated and not absolued but onely by the Pope Steuen king of England reserued to himselfe the authoritie of bestowing Spirituall liuings and of inuesting Prelates At which time Lodouicus the Emperoue would haue done the like had not Bernardus giue in him contrary councell At this time came in the manner of cursing with Booke Bell and Candle in a Councell of London holden by William Bishop of Winchester vnder Pope Celestinus successor of Innocentius After Lotharius succeeded in the Emperiall Crowne Conradus Nephew of Henry the fift he raigned 15. yeares There was diuerse Popes in his dayes as Celestinus the 2. Lucius the 2. Eâ—genius the 3. at which times the Romaines endeauored to recouer the old manner of chusing Conâ—uls and Senators but the Popes being in their ruffe would not abide it which caused much ciuill warre insomuch that Pope Lucius sent 〈◊〉 the Emperour for ayde who thought to haue destâ—oyed them in the Senate but they were ware oâ— it and were all in aray the Pope being in the fight was well pelted with stones and blowes that he liued not long after Eugenius cursed the Romaines for that matter with excommunication which when he saw would not serue came vpon them with his Host and compelled them to abolish their Consuls and to take such presidents as the Pope should assigne Then followed Anastatius the 4. after him Adrianus the 4. an English man called Breakespeare belonging once to Saint Albons he likewise kept great slurâ—e with the Citizens of Rome to abolish Consuls with cursing and warres vntill he had brought them vnder In the meane time Fredericus called Barbarossa succeeded Conradus in the Empire marched to Italy to subdue rebels the Pope and his Clergie met him to haue ayde against their enemies the Emperour lighted to receiue him and held his left stirrop where he should the right the Pope displeased he smiling excused himselfe as not vsed to hold stirrops and that it was not of duetie the next day the emperour sent for him receiued him and held his right stirrop and all was well When they came in the Pope told the Emperour that his predecessors left some token of beneuolence for crowning of them as Carolus Magnus subdued the Lumbards Otho the Bexingarians Lotharius the Normans therefore required him to restore the Country of Apâ—lia to the Church of Rome He and his Princes seeing he could not otherwaies â—e crowned promised to doe it and the next day was crowned Whilst the Emperour was prouiding for Apulia the Pope excommunicated William Duke thereof and sent Emanuell Emperour of Constantinople incensing him to warre against the said Duke Thâ— Duke hearing it sent vnto the Pope for peace promising to restore what hee would which the Pope by the Councell of the Cardinals would not grant The Duke put Emanuell the Emperour to flight and besieged the Câ—tie Beneâ—entum where the Pope and Cardinals were looking for victory that they were glad to intreat for the peace they refused the Duke onely granted not to inuade the possessions of Rome and the Pâ—pe made him King of both Sicils The Pope was so troubled with the Senators and Consuls of Rome that when his curses would not auaile he was faine to remoue from Rome to Ariminium The Emperour considering the wrongs the Pope had done to his predecessors required of the Bishops of Germany Homage and Oath of alegiance commaunding if the Popes Legats came thither without sending for they should not be receiued charging his subiects not to appeale to Rome and prefixed his name in his Letters before the Popes name Whereupon the Pope wrote to him that God promiseth long life to thâ—m that honoured their Parents and death to them that cursed them and the word of truth saith He that exalâ—eth himselfe shall be brought lowe He maruelled not a little that he shewed not the reuerence he ought to blessed Saint Peter and the holy Church of Rome 〈◊〉 preferre your name before Ours wherein your incurre the note of insolencie or rather arrogancie How kéepe you the Oath of fidelitie to Saint Peter and vs séeing you require Homage and Alegiance of them that be Gods and all the sonnes of the high God and presume to ioyne their holy hands with yours and exclude from your Churches and Cities our Cardinals Legates from our side amend amend â—hile you goâ— about to obtaine the things you haue not I feare mée your Honour will loose the things which you haue The Emperour wrote againe that Iustice giueth to
euery one his Wée derogate not from our parents as We haue receiued our Emperiall Crowne of them we render their due and â—â—ue Honour to them againe and forasmuch as duety of all sorts of men is to be sought out did not Constantine restore Peace to the Church and of his liberall benigâ—ity other Princes gaue whatsoeuer Regality or Patrimony the Sea of your Papacie hath as is to be found in the Chronicles Of them that be Gods by adoption and hold Lordships why may not wée require Homage and sworne Alegiance when he that is youâ— master and ours paid â—oule and tribute for himselfe and Saint Peter to Caesar giuing you example to doe the like and therefore saith Learne of mee for I am humble and meeke â—herefore either render our Lordships or if they bâ— too sweete to you giue God his due and Caesaâ— his due We shut out the Cardinals because we see them no preachers but prowlers not repayrers of peace bat rakers for money not Pillars bâ—t pollers of Church When we see them such as the Church requireth them to be then they shall find vs ready to receiue them with stipends and all necessaries By your inferring such questions not conducing to Religion you incurre no little blemish of your humility which is keeper of all vertues let your Fatherhood beware least in mouing such questions as seeme vnseemly for you to doe you giue on offence to such as â—â—pend on your word and giue eare to your mouth as an euening shoure We cannot 〈◊〉 fell you of that we heare seeing now the detestable beast of pride doth crâ—epe into thâ— Seat of Peter prouiding alwaies as much as we may for the peace of the Church Upon this the Pope sent a Bull against the Empâ—â—our excommunicating him conspired with the Duke of Apulia and sought all waies to iâ—fest him and set all men against him especially the Clergie The Pope wrote to the Bishops of Germany that the Empire of Rome was translated from the Greekes to the Almaines so that the King of Almaine could not be called Emperour before he were crowned by the Pope Before his consecration he was a King after an Emperour he hath the name of King by the Princes election the name of Emperour Augustus and Caesar by our consecration ergo by vs he raigneth Emperour Pope Zacharias promoted Carolus to the name of Emperour after that all the Kings of Almaine were called Emperours and Aduocates to the Sea Apostolike So that Apuâ—ia conquered by him was subiect to the Pope which Apuliâ— with the citiâ— of Româ— is ours and not the Emperours Our seat is at Rome the Emperours at Aquis â—n Ardenna which is a wood in France Whatsoeuer the Emperour hath he hath of vs wee may translate it to the Grees againe as Zacharias did to the Almaines it lyeth in our power to giue it whom we will being set vp of God aboue gentiles and Naâ—ions to destroy plucke vp build and plant When this Emperour Predericus came first to Rome the Pope shewed him a picture of Lotharius the second Emperour with verses shewing how he first sware to the citie after was made the Popes man and so receiued the Crowne of him Fredericus diâ—â—red that the picture might be abolishâ—d least hereafter it cause discention The Pope seeing the emperour loth to be subiect to his Sea deuised all craftie waies to bring him vnder First taking occasion by the imprisonment of the Bishop of Laodicia sent vnto him diuerse sharpe Letters and not so sharpe as prouâ— and disdainefull wherein the salutation was Salutat vos beatissimus pater noster Papa vniuersitas Cardinalium ille vt pater hii vt fratres meaning he should vnderstand himselfe to be subiect to the Pope no lesse then the Cardinals where reciting what many and great benefits and fulnesse of Honour he had receiued of him The emperor with his princes perceiuing whereat the Pope by his Legats shot could not â—â—ree such a proud Message so that much contention fell betwixt the Legatâ— and princes of whom then said the Legats doth Caesar receiue his Empery if not of the Pope With which woords the princes were so offended that they would haue vâ—ed violence if the Emperour had not stayed them and commaunded the Legats away straight charging them not to turne by the way to any person but straight to depart home And to certifie the whole Empire of the matter he directed Letters to this effect First he greatly sorroweth that the roote and foundation of dissentions and euill should rise from the holy Church imprinted with the Seale of loue and peare of Christ where with wee feare except God preuent it the whole body of the Church will be polluted and the vnitie broken betweene the Spirituall and Temporall Regiment Then he sheweth them the manner of the proud Legacie as aforesaid and touching his straight sending them home without tarying or going out of the way was because there was Letters found about them to the Churches of Germany to spoyle the Altars of our Churches to cary away the Iewels thereof to fley the lymâ—es and plats of the golded crosses thereof c. This Letters of Caesar fretted the Pope who wrote againe to the Bishops of Germany accusing the Emperour willing them to worke against him what they could They answered him againe with all obedience yet excusing the Emperour and blaming him rather exhorâ—ing him hencefoorth to temper his Letter and Legacies with more modestie which councell he followed seeing he could preuaile no other way In his time liued Gracianus compiler of the Popes decrées Petrus Lumbardus Petâ—us Comester Auicenna Abbas Ioachimus and the order of Hermits rose by William Duke of Aquitania and afterward a Fryer This Hadrianus walking with his Cardinals to a place called Auignon was choked with a Fly getting into his thrâ—at when he had raigned 4. yeares and odde monethes He would say in his latter time there is no more miserable life then to be a Pope and come to it by bloud which is not to succéed Peter but Romulus who to raigne alone slewe his brother Though he was bad his successor was worse Pope Alexander the 3. The Emperour with nine Cardinals set vp another Pope Victor the 4. betwixt whom there was great and long discord The Emperour being required therefo sent for them both to heare their cause and Iudge the matter Victor came but Alexander â—isdainfully refused to appeare Whereupon the Emperour with full consent of his Bishops and ClergÃe about him ratified the 〈◊〉 â—lection of Victor and so brought him into the Citie to be receiued and placed Alexander flying into france accursed them bath as maan to be cast out of all Christian 〈◊〉 sending Letters there of into all Christiandome and with money and flattery not the greatest part of the Citie to sauour him and to set vy such Consuls for his purpose 〈◊〉 returned from France to Rome and was
Clarks required to haue punishment of certain misorders of the clergy but the Archbishop Thomas Becket would not agrée therevnto the King came to this point to know whether he the rest of the Clergy would consent to the customes set forth in Henry the fift his time he with the rest of the Bishops vpon consultation held they would consent with this exception Saluo ordine suo so all other Bishops being particularly demanded except Christopher who séeing the King angry said for Saluo ordine suo he would bona fide the King told them hee was not well content with that exception which was captious and deceitfull hauing some venome lurking vnder therefore required an absolute grant they answered they would not binde themselues in no other manner at which the King and all the Nobilitie were not a little mooued the King when he could get no other answer departed with gret anger not saluting the Bishops Chester was greatly rebuked of his fellowes for changing the exception the next day the King took from the Archbishop all such Mannors and Honors as he had giuen him before being Lord Chancellor not long after vnknowne to the Bishops he sayled into Normandie not long after the Bishop of London followed after him to craue his fauour and gaue him counsell to ioyne some of the Bishops with him least if all were against him hee might the sooner be ouerthrowne thus by his meanes the greatest number of the Bishops were reconciled vnto the King onely the Archbishop with a few other remained in their stoutnes when the King saw no feare or threats could turne him he assaid him with gentlenesse but it would not serue though many Nobles laboured to exhort him to relent vnto the King Likewise the Arch-bishop of Yorke with diuers other Clergie men Bishoppes and Abbots especially Chester did the same besides his owne house dayly called vpon him no man could perswade him at length vnderstanding what danger might happen by the Kings displeasure not onely to himselfe but to all the Clergy and considering the old kindnesse and loue of the King towards him in times past was content to giue ouer vnto the Kings request came to the King at Oxford and reconciled himselfe wherevpon the King receiued him with a more châ—erefull countenance saying hee would haue his Ordinances confirmed in open sight of his Bishops and all his Nobles after this the King beeing at Clarem Doune called all his Peeres and Prelates before him requiring to haue that performed which hee had promised in consenting to the obseruing his Grandfathers ordinances and proceedings the Archbishop drew back and would not that hee would before yet with great teares intreaties and perswasions of Bishops and of two Templers that desired him on their knees with teares and with threatenings of Imprisonment and other dangers hee did agree onely with a clause of exception bona fide and he and all the Bishops set too their hands and seales Alanus recordeth that the Archbishop in his voyage to Winchester greatly repented that he had done so that he kept himself from al company lamenting with teares and fasting and afflicting himselfe did suspend himselfe from all diuine seruice and would not be comforted before he had sent to the Pope and were assoiled of him the Pope in his Letters not only assoiled him from his trespas but with words of great consolation incouraged him to be stout in the quarrell he tooke in hand Upon this Becket took no small heart consolation The King hearing of him how he denied to set his seal to those sanctions which he condiscended too before took no little displesure against him threatned him of banishment death called him to reckoning and burdned him with paiments the Archb thought to make an escape out of y â— realme attempting to take the Sea with two or thrée priuily Amongst other the kings ordinances This was one that none of the Prelasie or Nobility without the Kings license or his Iustices should depart the Realme So Becket twice attempted the sea to fly to Rome but the weather serued not which being known and noysed abroad the Kings Officers came to seaze vpon his goods to the Kings behalfe but finding Becket at home and returned they did not procéede on their purpose Becket séeing this went to the Court the King taunted him gestingly as though one realm could not hold them both but shewed him no great fauour The Arch-bishop of York did labour to renew peace and loue betwixt the King and him but the King would not be reconciled except the other would subscribe vnto his lawes which Becket would not graunt to but by vertue of his Apostolike authority gaue censure vpon these Lawes of the King condemning some and approuing some as catholike The Pope sent the Arch-bishop of Rotomage to the King to maâ—e peace betwixt the King and Canterbury the King was content so the Pope would ratifie his Ordinances which could not be obtained at the Popes hands The King sent to the Pope to obtaine of him that the same authority of the Apostolike Legacie might be conferred vnto another after his appointment which was the Arch-bishop of Yorke but the Pope denied but he was content so the King would be Legate himselfe at which the King was angry and sent to the Pope againe according to the old practice of popish Prelacy to play on both sides priuily he conspireth with one and openly dissembleth with the other He granteth the Legate should be remoued and the Archbishop of York placed in the office and writ to Becket that he should take no harm thereby for the Kings Ambassadors had promised him and did offer to sweare vnto him that the Letters which they obtained should not be deliuered vnto the Archbishop of Yorke without the Popes consent therein assure your selfe it is not nor neuer shall be our will nor purpose to subdue you or your Church vnto any saue only the Bishop of Rome therefore if you sée the King will deliuer the said Letters giue vs knowledg we will cléerely exempt by our authority Apostolical both your person your Church and your Citty committed vnto you from all iurisdiction of any legacy Upon these letters and such other Becket took all his stoutnesse against the King The King after he had receiued his letters from the Pope was more strong in his purposed procéedings against the Archbishop and procéeded to punish the offences of Cleargy men and there was aboue 100. found that had committed homicide and murder beside other offenders he adiudged them first to be depriued and then committed to the seculer power This séemed to Becket to derogate from liberty of holy Church that seculer power should giue iudgement vpon the crimes of Ecclesiasticall persons they picke this law out of Anacletus and Euaristus who deduce this constitution from the Apostles that all Ecclesiasticall persons shall bee frée from seculer iurisdiction The King daily incensed more more
Pope the whole matter to whom the Pope writeth againe wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere Brother remember that the Apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the Councell receiue consolation that wâ— may reioice with you in the Lord who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the Catholick verity and God through his punishment of afflicâ—ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences that they might not be called to account in the day of Iudgement bee not greeued that you are appealed to the Apostolike Sea which to vs is gratefull and accepted draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale for the authoritie of the Church of Rome tendreth your constancie our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your Church to you as one working for the Church a constant and valiant Champion I thought good especially to premonish you neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your Church The Archbishop sitting with his Crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes and fruits and reuenewes of the Realme in the time when he was Chancellor he answered the King knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things and that Henry his Sonne and heyre with all the Barrons and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England told him was frée and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts computations on the Kings behalfe and so taking his discharge entred into his office for other accounts he would make none when his answere was brought to the King he required the Barons to doe their office who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Deuonshire and the Earle of Leicester to shew him his Iudgement to whom he said heare my Sonne and good Earle how much the soule is more precious then the body so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King no Law doth permit the child to condemne their Father wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke and as for you my fellow Bishops which rather obey man then God you also I call and claime to the Iudgement of the Pope and I doe depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholick Church and of the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea whilst they returned this answere to the King the Archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse holding the bridle in one hand and his Crosse in the other the Courtiers followed saying tarrie Traytor and héere thy Iudgement the vtmost gate being locked one of his seruants found a bunch of Keyes trying them found the right and opened the gate he went to the house of the Cannons where hee did lie and calling to him the poore where they could be found after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars but whilst the King was at supper he changed his garments and named himselfe Derman and made an escape to the Sea and taking ship sayled into Flanders and thence iournied vnto France the King sent the Bishop of London and the Earle of Arundell vnto the King of France to require him not to receiue the Archbishop nor retaine him in his Dominion and that he would be a meanes to the Pope not to shew any familiaritie vnto him but the French King contrarie to the Kings Letters and request not only harboured and cherished him but writ to the Pope intreating him vpon all loues as euer he would haue his fauour to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander by the Archbishop of York the Bishops of London Winchester Chichester Exeter with other Doctors and Clarkes with the Earle of Arundel with certaine moe Lords and Barrons they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consistorie with his Cardinals when the Ambassadours were called for the hearing of Beckets matter and the Bishops euery one in order had made his Oration the Pope did not accept some of their spéeches and disdained some wherefore the Earle of Arundell disdained in this manner spake Though I am vnlettered and cannot vnderstand what these Bishops haue said neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they haue done yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may which was not to contend with or iniury any man especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope but our Legacie is to present in the presence of the whole Church of Rome the deuotion and loue of our King which hee euer had and still hath towards you and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie hee hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage that if hee could haue found greater in his Realme hee would haue sent them for the reuerence of your person and holy Church of Rome I might adde more which your Sainctitude hath already proued the harty fidelity of our King towards you who at the entrance to his Kingdome submitted himselfe and all his wholly to your will and pleasure and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in Christ then he nor more deuout to God nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace neither doe I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling being both sage and discréete sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth if this blot had not beene the King and he had not discented then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might haue flourished one with the other in much peace vnder so worthy a Prince and so vertuous a pastor therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken and reformation of vnitie and loue by some good meanes may be sought But the Pope would not condiscend to their sute which was to haue two Legates sent from his popish side into England to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the King and the Archbishop but because Becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him but they alledged there time appointed to be ended and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of Becket and so returned back there cause frustrated without the Popes blessing to the King Within foure dayes after Becket commeth to the Popes Court offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the King the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them and blamed Becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning yet
because he was repentant hee was content to assoile him for the same and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church The next day the Pope and his Cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber Becket made an Oration to them to this effect he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of Christ not by the doore of Christ because the King made him Bishop not the Pope and if I had resigned it to the King againe at his commandement I had left a dangegerous example vnto the Catholique Church therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be Canonicall and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge therfore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishoprick heere of Canturbury and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope and desired a Bishop to be prouided for the Church of Canturbury and so with teares ended This done hee was bid stand a part after consultation they concluded being he had ventred his goods dignity and authoritie and his life for the liberties of the Church if he should now be depriued at the Kings pleasure it would be an examplâ— to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case and so weaken the Catholick Church and derogate the Popes authoritie and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like so hee receiued his Pastoraâ—l Office at the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour and â—he Pope sent him vnto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France with a Monkes habit where he was two yeares thence he remoued to Senon where he was fiue yeares so he was in exile seuen yeares The King beeing certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket then vnto him was wrathfull and sayling into Normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect 1 Whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket so bee apprehended and executed as a Traytor 2 That no Clarke Monke or conuert of any other countrey without the Iustice and Kings Letters to passe ouer or returne into the Realme otherwise to be imprisoned 3 None to appeale to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them 4 No Decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in England vpon paine of imprisonment 5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict they shall bee exiled with all their kindred and take none of their goods with them and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the Arch-bishop was 6 All the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King 7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realme to bee warned in euery Sheere within three monethes to repayre home or else their rents and goods to â—eturne to the King 8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid vnto the Apostolick Sea but to be reserued vnto the Kings Coffers The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees heere set out which are these that all Hauens be diligently kept that no interdict or curse be brought in if the bringer bee a religious man his feet to be cut off if a Priest to loose his prâ—uy members if a lay-man to bee hanged if a Leper to be burned if a Bishop will depart for feare of the Popes Interdict let him haue nothing with him but his Staffe and that aâ—l Schollers and Students beyond the Seas shaâ—l repaire home or loose their Benefices and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning if any Priest for the Popes interdict wil refuse to sing to loose his priuy members In summe al such Priests as shew themselues Rebels to the King to bee depriued of their Benefices Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should bee exiled with their goods with them and sent to him which was no little vexation to him to behold Moreouer the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack where he lay not to retaine him in his house or else he would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his Order wherevpon hee remoued by the French Kings appointment to Senon as aforesaid and found of him fiue yeares In the meane time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope and from the Pope to the King and betwixt the Archbishop and others where I finde onely rehearsals of matters which are declared sufficiently in the History whereof if the Reader be desirous to see let him resort to the booke at large After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. yéere of Henry the second the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person made his appeale to the presence of the Pope requiring to haue certaine Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side to take vp the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him requiring also that they might be absolued that were interdicted wherevpon two Cardinals sent from the Pope with Letters from the Pope came into Normandie where they appointed the Bishop to meete before the King but the Arch-bishop delayed his comming vntill eight daies after neither would come any further then Grisorsium where the two Cardinals and the Archbishop with other Bishops conuenting together had a treatie of reconciliation which came to no conclusion The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect comming to England we found the controuersie more vehement then we would for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred vp the French King against him and made the Earle of Flanders his open aduersarie and after the King had receiued your Letters and brought forth other Letters diuers and altering from them receiued of vs be was moued with no little indignation saying that since wee came from you the Archbishop receiued of you other coâ—trarie Letters wherby he was exempted from our Iudgement Moreouer the King and the Bishops there did affirme that the complaint that was made vnto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors for the most paâ—t was false affirming farther to vs that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed prâ—iudiciall to the Statutes of the Church he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same therefore we other Bishops and Abbots of the land hearing the King so reasonable laboured by al meanes that the King should not breake from vs but incline to vs and to haue the matter brought before vs betwixt him and the Archbishop Wherevpon we sent our owne Chaplains with Letters to him appointing him the time and place where safely hee might meete with vs yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after which â—tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought thus when hee refused to
meete vs in the borders of the King though we offered him safe comming we to satisfie his minde condescended to meete him at a place which hee appointed within the Land of the French King we exhorted him humbly to submit himselfe vnto his soueraigne and King who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities after aduise with his Counsâ—ll hee said he would submit himselfe to the King sauing the honour of God the libertie of the Church the honestie of my person the possessions of Churches and the Iustice of him and all his in all things wee asked him whether hâ— would submit himselfe to vs as the King and the Bishops were content to doe he said he had a commandement from you not to answere before he and all his were restored to all their possessions then he would proceed in the matter as hee should receiue commandement from the Sea Apostolick whereof wee made relation to the King yet keeping back a great part which we had heard and séene which when the King and Nobles vnderstood the King said he was so much the more cleere for that the Archbishop would not stand to Iudgement after much heauinesse and lamentation of the King Bishops and Abbots they required of vs whether wee had any power to proceed against him and perceiuing wee had none least the Archbishop should worke any disquietnes to any of the Noble personages of the Realme agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience prefixing accordingly the terme of their appeale The Archbishop saying he stood onely for the peace of the Church one of the Cardinals offered him if he would relinquish his Bishoppricke the King should relinquish his Customes He answered He could not renounce his Church sauing the honour of the Church and his person but it standeth vpon the soules health and honor of the King to renounce his customes After the Cardinals were gone the French King séeing the King of England disquieted and sâ—â—icitous of peace pretending to set agréement betwixt them the King and the Arch-bishop both were content to stand to his arbiterment The Archbishop prostrating himselfe at the féete of the King of England said he would commit the whole matter to his owne arbiterment Saluo honore Dei the King was highly there-with displeased rebuking him of pride and stubbornenesse and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him and hee a person vnkind and forgetfull And speaking to the French King there present said whatsoeuer displeaseth this man hee saith it is contrary to the honour of God and by this meanes will vindicate to himselfe that which is his owne and mine too there haue bin Kings of England of greater and lesse puissance then I am there haue haue béen Archb. of Canterbury both great holy men what the best of them haue done to my predecessors before me let him doe the same to me and I am content the standers by with one voice cried the king hath debased himselfe enough to the Bishop the French King said what my Lord will you be better then those holy men will you be greater then Peter you haue peace and quietnes put in your hands if you will take it he answered my predecessors euery one in his time did pluck vp and correct something in his time though not all things for then there would bee no cause of this fire of temptation to try vs though some haue béen slack we are not to follow their examples we rebuke Peter for denying Christ but we commend him for resisting Nero hee could not in his conscience consent vnto him he did not dissemble wherby he lost his life by such oppressions the Church hath alwaies growne our forefathers suffered because they would not dissemble the honour of Christ shall I to haue the fauour of one man suffer the honour of Christ to be supprest the Noble men standing by noted him of arrogancy and wilfulnes and one openly protested that séeing he refused the request of both kingdomes hee was worthy of the help of neither as England had reiected him so France should not entertaine him One of the Archbishops Chapleins writeth that the French king prostrated himselfe at the féet of the Archb. repented he had giuen him such councell in a case pertaining to the honour of God desired to be assoiled and that Henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his Realme the French King vtterly denied the Kings request and tooke part rather with the Archbishop The King of England returned from Normandy into England in the 16. yéere of his reigne kept his Court of Parliament at Westminster by assent both of the Clergy Temporalty caused his sonne Henry to be crowned King the Coronation was done by the Archbishop of Yorke other Bishops assisting Becket not beeing called tooke no little displeasure and so did the French King hearing that Margaret his Daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband wherevpon hee came with a great armie to Normandie but the King sent his sonne to him which intreated peace promising that his sonne should be crowned againe and his daughter crowned with him Becket sent to the Pope complaining of foure Bishops especially the Archbishop of York who durst be so bold in his absence without his licence to crowne the king being a matter peculiar to his Iurisdiction at whose instance the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London the other thrée with the Archbishop hee suspended they resorted to the King declaring how miserable there case stood for fulfilling his commandement the King was highly moued The King of France with his Clergy and Courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the Pope to excommunicate the King of England also thinking to haue some aduantage against the Realme neither was the King ignorant of this which made him the readier to agree The pope sent two Legats with full commission either to driue the K. to be reconciled or to be excommunicated the King seeing himselfe in great straites which he could not auoid and by the mediation of the king of France and other great prelates and Princes of the king was content to be reconciled with the Archb. whom he receiued into his Realme and granted him free returne to his Church But he would not grant him his lands vntill he came into England and did see how he would agrée with his subiects he was ioifully receiued of his church albeit he was not very welcome vnto the yong king so that comming to London to the king he was returned back to Canterbury and bid to keepe his house hee excommunicated one Robert de Brocke on Christmas day for cutting off the taile of one of his Horses the day before hee would not absolue the foresaid foure Bishops without cauâ—els and exceptions who went to Normandie to the king and complained of the miserable state vncourteous handling which made him conceiue such displeasure towards Becket that
hee lamented oft to them about him that none would reuenge him of his enemy vpon occasion of which words 4. addressed theÌ„selues in great heat of hast within 4. daies after the said Christmas day they came to Canterbury they pressed at length into the palace where the Arch-b was sitting with his company about him they said they brought him a commandement from the king bad him chuse whether he would receiue it openly or secretly the company being commanded away and he alone they told him the King commanded him to repaire to the King his sonne to doe his duety and sweare fidelitie for your Baronage and to amend those things you haue committed against him in denying to be sworne to him he perceiued their intent and called for his company and they commanded him in the Kings name that he should absolue the 4. Bishops he answered he did not excommunicate them but the Pope if that were their griefe they should resort to him séeing you thus stand against the Coronation of our new King it séemeth you aspire to take his Crowne from him and to bee King your selfe he said nay if he had thrée crownes he would set them all vpon him except his father there is none whose honour I now tender and loue and touching the sequestring of the Bishops there was nothing done without the assent of the King for I complaine to him what iniury my Church had by their crowning the â—ing hee gaue me leaue to seeke my remedy at the Popes hand they said what doest thou maâ—e the King a Traytor and bewrayer of his own sonne when he commanded them to crâ—wne him and then gaue thee leaue to suspend them for so doing and they said thinkest thou we the kings subiects wil suffer this thou hast spoken enough against thine own head the Achbishop said since my comming ouer â—e hath suffered many iniuries and rebukes concâ—rning my selfe my men cattell wines and other goods yet the King writ to his sonne I should liue in safety and peace and now you come hether to threaten me they answered if you haue any â—niury the law is open and â—e said he sought for remedy at the Kings hands as long as hee could be suffered to speake with him but now I am stopped and can find no redresse nor can haue the benefit of law or reason such law as an Arch-bishop may haue I will Realme then they denounced he had spoken words to the ieopardie of his head so they depart charging the Monkes in the Kings name to keep him forthâ—comming the Arch-bishop would not fly for the king nor any man the names of the foure Souldiers were first Renold Berison Secondly Hugh Morteuill Thirdly William Thracy Fourthly Richard Britto who going to harnesse themselues returned the same day but the Hall doore being shut they went to a back doore and broke vp a window the Monkes had gotten the Arch-bishop into the Church and caused his crosse to be borne before him and procéeded into the Quiere the Haruest men following came to the Church doore the Monkes would haue shut the doore but as the Story saith the Bishop would not suffer them so they came into the church and the Bishop méeting them on the stayres was slaine euery man striking him with his swâ—rd in the head who fied into the north and at length were pardoned of the Pope by the Kings meanes and went to Ierusalem Newbergensis an ancient Chronographer condemneth the doings of Becket Cesarius a Monke in his eighth booke of Dialogues 48. yeares after the death of Becket writeth that it was a question amongst the Masters of Paris whether Thomas Becket were saued or damned But it is certaine this antheme collected and primered in his praise is blasphemous Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas asendit Wherein is a double lye first that hee dyed for Christ secondly that his bond should purchase heauen which none of the Apostles durst challenge for then Christ died in vaine After his death the king fearing the popes curse which the French king helped forwards what he could the King sent his excuse vnto the pope which he would not heare And after second messengers which some of the Cardinals receiued shewing them that the pope vsed to curse assoile on good-Friday which was néer at hand and it was noised that the King Bishops realme should be interdicted and herevpon the kings messengers were put into prison some of the Cardinals shewed the pope that the Kings messengers had power to sweare that the King should obey his penance which was taken both for the King the Archb. of Yorke so that in the said day the pope only cursed the déed doers consenters ayders harbourers of them the deed-doerâ— had in penance to goe in linnen clothes barefoote in fasting prayer to Ierusalem who by this hard penance are said to die in few yéeres after Two Cardinals were sent to inquire who were consenters to his death the king being not certaine wherefore their comming was with a great power entred into Ireland giuing charge that no bringer of any briefe should come into the realme or passe out without speciall license and an assurance to bring nothing preiudiciall to the Realme the King in short time subdued the whole land of Ireland which was gouerned by fiue Kings of whom foure submitted themselues only the fift the king Tonacta denied to be subdued kéeping himselfe in woods and Marshes In this time the two Cardinals were come to Normandy the next yéere in October the king went to them made his purgation touching the death of Beckeâ— taking his othe he was neuer aiding nor consenting but onely spake rigorous words against him wherefore for penance hee was sworne to send so much money to the holy land should find two hundred Knights for the defence thereof and should set forth by Christmas following his own person to fight for thrée yéeres excâ—pt the pope should dispence with him and that if he went into Spaine fought with the Sarracâ—ns as long as he was there he might prolong his iourney to Ierusalem IteÌ„ that he should not hinder or cause to be hindred any appellatioâ—s made to Râ—me Item That he nor his Sonne should dissent from Pope Alexander nor his Catholick successors Item That the goods and possessions taken from the Church of Canterbury should be restored Item that the foresaid decrées established against the church should be extinct and repealed besides other secret fastings and almes inioyned him All these conditions the King and his Son agreed vnto debasing himselfe with humilitie and submission before them whereof the Cardinals tooke no little glory vsing this versâ— of the Psalme Qui respicit terram facit eam tremere qui tangit montes fumigant The returning from Normandie by reason the Scots had made a road into England by the way as soon as he came to
Slaues He married his Cosens Neeces and kinswomen I will not say his Daughters vnto the best Barons and Earles yet his Grand-father was a poore plowman and his Father a Cow-heard and hauing thus tyrannously abused his office fearing examination fled with a few of his trusty seruants to Douer Castle to haue stolne beyond Sea and comming in a womans apparell with a peâ—ce of cloth vnder his arme and a mete rod in his hand being taken vpon suspâ—tion his Kercheefe plucked off his Balaams marke or shauen Crowne appeared the people wondred raiâ—ed and spit on him and drew him some by the armes some by the legges ouer the Sea sands vntill they brought him to a darke Seller with shame enough to be kept till the Councell â—ent for him to the Tower of London where he was â—xamined depriued and banished the Realme after restored by King Richard and sent to Rome but died by the way As King Richard returned from the Holy Land driuen by diâ—â—resse of weather about the parts of Austria he was taken in Synaca by Hubald Duke of the same countrey and sold to the Emperour for 60000. marke the Emperour writ of the matter to the King of France that hee might reioyce with 〈◊〉 at lenâ—th King Richard was ransomed for 140000. Crownes and as he was comming into England besieging a Castle in Pictauia tooke his deadly wound and being sick amongst others Fulco Archbishop of Roane came to him who said to the King O mighty King thou hast thrée Daughters very vicious prouide good Husbands for them least thou incurre great damage and thâ— vtter ruine the King called him lying and mocking hypocrite saying all the world knoweth I haue no daughters he answerd yes if it pâ—ease your Grace I meane greedy couetousnâ—sse mischieuous pride filthy â—uxury againe I say O King beware of them and get them marriages Wherevpon the King calling his Lords and Barrons â—â—â—laring the matter to them and said wherefore heere before you all I giue my Daughter swelling pride vnto the proud Templers to Wife and my Daughter gréedie Auaricâ— vnto the couetous and Cistertian Monkes and last of all tâ—y filthy Daughter Luxury to the ryotous Prelates of the Church whom I thinke vâ—ry meete for them The King not long after departed without issue and Iohn his Brother raigned after him the Arch-bishop putting his crowne vpon his head swearing him to deâ—end the Church and his good lawes and destroy the euill and except he thought in his minde to doe this he charged him not to presume to take vpon him this dignitie On Iohn Baptist day next after he went to Normandy where he was royalâ—y receiued and a truce made betwixt him and the French King and the Earle of Flanders and all the Lords of France that were in league with King Richard camâ— to him and were sworne vnto him Not long after the French King made Arthur Knight and tooke homage of him for Normandy Brittaine and all his possessions beyond the Sea and promised him help against King Iohn after the French King and King Iohn with their Nobles spake together an houre the French King asked him much land for himselfe and King Arthur whâ—ch he would not gâ—ant but departed in wâ—ath The same yeere a Legate came into France and commanded the King vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer one Peter out of prison which was elected to a Bishoprick who was deliuered the same Legate came into England and commanded King Iohn vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer the Arch-bishop whom hee had kept in prison two yeares which the King denied vntill he had payed him six thousand markes because hee had tooke him in harnesse in a field against him and he swore him hee should neuer beare harnesse against a Christian man This time King Iohn his wife were diuorced because they were in the third degrée of kindred and after by the Councell of the French King was married vnto the Daughter of the Earle of Anguilla and then Arthur of Brittan did homage for Brittaine and other his possessions to King Iohn This time was strife betwixt the King and the Archbishop of Yorke because he would not suffer the Sheriffe to do such affaires as he had to d ee in his Dioces for the King and excommunicated the Sheriffe and would not go with the King into Normandy to make the marriage betwixt the French Kinges Sonne and his Néece The King of France required King Iohn to depart with all his Landes in Normandy and Pictauia c. vnto Arthur his Nephew else hee would warre against him which he denying the next day the French King with Arthur set vpon certaine of his Towns and Castles in Normandy but he was so repulsed of the English who followed so néere and so inforced vpon them that they took Arthur and many other Prisoners and left none to beare tydings home This Arthur was the Sonne of Geffery the elder Brother of King Iohn Geffery was the third Son of Henry the second and Iohn was his fift Son Arthur being taken was brought to the King home he exhorted him with many gentle words to leaue thâ— King of France and incline to his Unclâ— hee stoutly required the kingdome of England with all things thereunto belonging to bee restored to him as lawfull heire of the Crowne Whereupon he was committed to the Tower of Roane wherâ— he finished his life No Story agréeth certainly how whether by leaping into the Ditch or no. The next yeare King Iohn lost all his possessions in Normandy by the force of the French King This yeare grew great dissention about chusing the Archbishop of Canterbury the younger sort of the Monkes there at midnight and before the old Arch-bishop was buried and without the Kings assent elected one Renald sending hâ—m to the Pope charging him vpon his oath to be secret but he reuealed the matter whereby the rest of the Monkes sent priuily to Rome and sent to the King for hâ—s assâ—nt to chuse an Archbishop the King granted their petition desiring them to shew â—auour to Iohn Gray Bishop of Norwich which they did and elected him and the King sent to Rome at his owne charge to haue this election ratified â—he Suffragans of Canterbury sent likewise to Rome to haue both those elections frustrated because their assents were not to them The next yeare the Pope dâ—cided the matter betwiâ—t the Monkes and Suffrigans pronouncing with the Monks charging the Suffragans and Bishop to meddle no more with that election The next yeare the Pope decided the controuersie betwixt the younger Monkes and the elder Monkes and condemned both their elections commaâ—nding them to chuse Steuen Langton Cardinall of Saint Chrisogone for their Arch-bishop they said they durst not for feare of the King and that it was preiudiciall to their liberties He in a fury said We will you to know that we haue full power ouer the Church of Canterbury and
wounded for obeying their liege King came and were absolued of their owne Bishops but the Spirituall men were compelled to séeke their absolution of the Pope Some of the Clergie were not pleased that the King should be absolued vntill the King had payed all which any of the Clergie should demaund and complained of the Popes Legate that he was too partiall for the King in the matter of restitution and because he went with the Kings Officers to the Cathedrall Churches Abbyes Priories and other Churches vacant and appointed two Iucumbants to euery place one for the King and the other for the parties and commonly compelled the election to passe vpon him whom the king nominated The Archbishop called a Councell at Oxford some would not tary séeing the confysion thereof others reuiled the king most spiâ—efully behinde his backe saying he ought to bée taken for no Gouernour of theirs that it grew to a grieuous tumult and most grieuous commotion In this years Pope Inocent held the Councell at Rome called Lateran it was pretended to be for the râ—formation of the Church Uniuersall and to haue the holy Land recouered from the Turtes but it was because the Doctrine of the Truth which they call Hereâ—â—â— begin to 〈◊〉 very high by reason whereof the Empâ—rour Otho and many other Priestes and their Countries were excommunicated In this Councell he established by publique Deerce that the Pope should haue the correction of all Christian Princes and that no Emperour should bee admitted except he were sâ—orne to him and Crowned of him Item that whosoever spake euâ—il of the Pope should be punished in Hell with eternall damnation Item Transubstantiation was first inuented brought in and a Pix ordâ—ined to couer the bread and bell to be rung bâ—fore it when it went abroad and the Masse to bée made equall with Christs Gospell Item the Act was established and ratified of compelling Priests to abiure lawfull mâ—â—iage Marke how the Priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king Iohn so Stephen Lancton Archbishop of Canterbury in this Councell was excommunicated of Pope Inocent with all thâ—se Bishops Preâ—lates Priests Barons and Commons which had béene of Councell with him in the former Rebellion and when the Archbishop had 〈◊〉 instant sute to be absolued the Pope answered I sweare by Saint Peter thou shalâ— not so soone obtaine thy absolution for thou hast hurt the king of England and iniured â—uch the Church of Rome He was also suspended from Church saying Masse or exercising other Ecclesiasticall Office because he would not execute the Popes curse vpon the said Rebellious Barons and cursed all the other rebels with bâ—ll bookâ— and candle and they appealed to the generall Councell In the same yeare many were summoned to Rome because they would not consent to the Kings deposing and submitting to the Pope Thus the whole Realme was miserably deuided into two factious some Lords and Gentlemen a great number followed the King and loued his doings Others fled to the French King desiring of him his eldest sonne Lodowicke and they would elect him their King and that he would send with him a mightie Armie to subdue the King but as certaine Lords and Barons were chusing Lodowicke for their king the Pope sent a Cardinall to stop their rash and cruell attempts charging the French king vpon his alegiance with all possible power to â—auour and deâ—end King Iohn of England his Feodaâ—y or Tenant Tho French king answered The Realme of England was neuer yet part of Peters patrimony neither now is nor euer should be No Prince may pledge or giue away his Kingdome without the lawfull consent of his Barons If the Pope shall seâ— vp such a president he shall at his pleasure bring all Christian Princes and their Kingdomes to naught Though he be my aduersary I much lament that he â—â—th brought the noble ground and Quéene of Prouinces vnder miserable 〈◊〉 The chiefe of his Lords standing by cryed by the bloud of God in whome we hope to be saued we will sticke in this Article to the loosing of our heads that no King may put his â—and vnder tribute and make his Nobilitie captiue seruants Lodowicke 〈◊〉 that his purposed iourney might not vs let for the Barons haue elected mee and I will not loose my right but fight for it to death and I haue friâ—ndes there to which the King answered not belike doubting somewhat because he saw all 〈◊〉 of the Priests that they might liue licentiously in wealth frée from the Kings yoake The same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by Clergie men that the King knew not where to finde trustie friends At length he went to Douer looking for ayde from other quarters to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from Flanders 〈◊〉 Holland and many other parts It was reported the Pope writ to them to aâ—de him First bâ—cause he submitted his kingdome to his protection and he had taken vpon him the 〈◊〉 of the white Crosse to winne againe Ierusalem Thirdly because he had gotten by him England and Ireland and was like to loose both Upon the Aâ—â—â—nciation day of our Lady hee â—ooke vpon him his voyagâ— againâ—â—â—he Turkes to recouer Ierusalem He told his seruants 〈◊〉 did prospeâ—â— with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdomes to the Church of Rome In this yeere one Simon Langton was chosen 〈◊〉 of Yorke but he was deposed by the Pope because he was brotheâ— to Stephen â—rchbishop of 〈◊〉 wâ—â—m the Pope hated hauing brought him vp of naught and â—ound him so 〈◊〉 and he places the Bishop of 〈◊〉 in his â—oome The 〈◊〉 night the Pope renewed his curse vpon the king of France his 〈◊〉 for vsurping vpon king Iohn and against the said Simon Langton and Geruas Hobruge for prouoking him to the same with wonâ—erfull 〈◊〉 cousing the â—els to ring caâ—les to be â—â—ghted and doores opened the 〈…〉 to be red committing them wholy to the Deuâ—l and communded the â—ishops and 〈◊〉 to poblish it through the whole Realme to the â—errour of all subiects The 〈◊〉 Simon and Geruais derâ—â—â—d him and appealed vnto the 〈◊〉 all Councell for Lodowicke and themselues The Magestrates and citizens of London did likewise 〈…〉 at the Popes commandements and kept company with the excommunicated at â—able and Church in contempt of the Pope and 〈◊〉 Lodowicke at 〈◊〉 taking himselfe king made Simon Langton higâ— Chancellour and Geruais Hobruge his chiefe Preacheâ— vy whose daily Preaching the Barâ—â—â— and Citizens bring excommunicated caused all the Church doores to be opened and 〈◊〉 sung and Lodowicke was sit for them in all paints About this time Cardinall Pandulphus was made Bishop of Norwich for gathering Peter 〈◊〉 an old â—illage of the Pope other great labours â—one by him for the Pope About this time one Uicont of Meinn a 〈◊〉 man which came ouer with Lodowicke felll â—â—cke and called to him certaine English Baronâ— and said I pittie the
you suffer it not to be transported out of the Realme but kéepe it vntill the returne of the Ambassadours and that you make this our inhibition common to your Arch-Deacons and Officials At length the Ambassadors came home bringing word that the Pope was greatly displeased with the Realme saying Rex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat frederiscat suum habet consilium ego vero meum habeo quod sequar c. And that they were halfe counted Schismatickes for speaking in the Kinges behalfe and could no more be heard the King being insenfed heere-with sent out Proclamations through all the Realme that none should consent to any taxe of Money for the Pope he hearing of it in cruell rage sent to the Prelats vppon paine of interdiction to prouide the saide summes of Money by the Feast of Assumption the King for feare of the Pope durst not stand to the liberties of the Church Moreouer the gulfe of the Romish Auarice waxt so immeasurable that he shamed not vpon his curse to aske the third part of Church goods and the yearely fruit of all vacant Benefices Otho comming to Oxford lying in the house of Osney was receiued with great honour the Schollers presenting him honourable Dishes and rewards Dinner being done they came to welcome him comming to the Gate the Porter an Italian asked what they would haue and holding the doore halfe open with contumelious tearmes thrust them out they with force thrust open the gate and came in the Romaines within fell to alarum by the eares together some of the Schollers going â—or Weapons the Maister Cooke cast scalding liquor wherein meat was sodden in the face of a poore Scholler an Irish-man which waighted for Almes another Scholler a Welsh-man séeing it shot the Cooke thorough with an Arrow and killed him Whereupon was a great clamour the Cardinall hearing the tumult like a valiant Romaine ranne vp into the stéeple and locked himselfe 〈◊〉 vntill midnight The Schollers sought all corners for the Legate crying out Where is that Usurer that Symâ—niacks that Proylar and Extortioner of our Liuings and Monies Who peruerteth the King and subuerteth the Kingdome enriching himselfe with our spoyles The Cardinall heard all this and held his peace and conuayed himselfe by night vnto the King and the King sent to Oxford a garison of armed men to deliuer the Romaines which were hid for feare of the Schollers One Odo a Lawyer and thirty of the Schollers were apprehended and carried to Wallingford Castle and thence in Charts to London and by much intreaty of the Bishops were brought bare-footed to the Legats doore where they pardoned and the Uniuersity released of interdiction The State of Germany and of the Emperour Friderick the second was then as much or more pittifull then that of England who were so persecuted by Pope Innocentius Honorius Gregorius Celestinus Innocentius the fourth infamed with excommunications and did commonly warre against them in open fielde and all with English mens Money first they made him Emperour against Otho whom they depriued then for clayming his right in Apulia and Sicilia they accursed him when they had warred against him they sent him to fight against the Turkes who recouered Ierusalem Nazareth and Ioppe from the Souldane Whilst hee was occupied in these Warres these vnholy Fathers inuaded his Lands and possessions at home subduing Apulia vnder his owne possession and inhibiting his Souldiours to goe ouer to him and when the Emperour sent to the Pope and other Christian Princes his Letters gratulatory declaring what God wrought by him against the Turkes the Pope stayd the Messengers kept the Letters close and caused it to be noysed abroad that the Emperour was dead and the said Pope Gregorie the ninth wrote to the Souldane that he should not render the holy Land into the Emperours handes The Emperour hearing this stirre of the Pope tooke truce with the Souldane for tenne yeares and repayreth home and driueth the Popes Army out of Apulia and recouered all the Pope had gotten from him before The Pope laid his cursse vpon the Emperour for making truce with the Souldane and conspired with the Tuscanes and Lombards against him the Emperor at the instigations of the Princes glad to compose with the Tyrant was faine to ransome the absolution of the Pope for ten hundred thousand ounces of gold and yet hee sent to the Princes of Germany charging them to admit none of the Emperors stocke to be King of the Romaines and stirred vp the Citties of Italy against him The Emperor vnderstanding his politick and subtile traynes marched into Italy where he put downe the Rebels and recouered againe the Citties belonging to the Empire Wherefore a new excommunication was laid vpon him and all his Subiects released of obedience and loyalty and much indulgences and eternall life promised to them that would fight against him After Gregorie succéeded Celestinus the fourth who raigned not long After him succéeded Innocentius the fourth who following the steps of his predecessors called a generall Councell at Lyons as is before mentioned where standing vp he cited the Emperour his Legate required lawfull time for him to come which hee would not graunt but in his fury denounced him accursed and depriued him of his Imperiall Dignity charging him with periury and sacriledge writing Libels of defamation to all Kings The Emperour made purgation of these â—landers charging the Pope not with fained but true and most hainous crimes of slander falshood perdition periury rebellion hypocrisie and prooueth him by his Letters to be very Antichrist Hee wrote to the French King that hee much marueiled that the prudence and wisedome of the French-men did not more quicke then others sée the Popes subtilty and couetousnesse purposing to subdue all Realmes as he hath done England and doth presumptuously achieue to subdue the Maiesty of the Imperiall Crowne This Emperor departed to Apulia and there dyed being poysoned as some thinke by meanes of the Pope In the time of this Innocent dyed one Robert Grosted Byshop of Lincolne a famous learned man as that time serued whose Sermons to this day are extant in the Quéenes Library at Westminster There is one speciall Sermon written to Innocent Cestrensis writeth that he was greeued for the exactions of the Pope in England and would not admit of the Popes Nephew to be Canon of his Church Writing to the Pope that hee could not admit such into his Church which did neither know themselues nor their charges hee was therefore called to Rome and excommunicated who appealing from the Pope to Iesus Christ shortly after departed Two yeares after the said Pope being asleepe one apparelled Bishoplike appeared vnto him and striking him with his Staffe saide Surge miser veni in iudicium the next day after the Popes Bed was found bloody and he dead After Henry the third succeeded his Sonne Edward the first who raigned thirty fiue yeares Edward the second his Sonne succeeded him who raigned
of the scaffold hee spake to the people in this sort These Lords and Bishops exhort me that I should confesse before you all that I haue erred if it were a thing that might be done without the slander of any Man they might easilie peraduenture perswade me but I am in the sight of my Lord my GOD without whose great ignominy and the grudging of mine owne conscience I cannot doe that which they require I neuer taught the thing that they haue falfely alleadged against me with what countenance should I behold the Heauens With what face should I looke vpon them whom I haue taught Whereof there is a great number if those things which they haue hitherto knowne most certaine should now be made vncertaine by mee should I by this example astonish so many consciences indued with so certaine knowledge of the Gospell of Christ armed against all assaults of the Deuill I will neuer commit such offence more to esteeme this vile carkase appointed to death then their health and saluation And being commaunded to come downe one of the Bishoppes tooke away the Chalice from him saying O cursed Iudas why hast thou forsaken the way of peace and councelled with the Iewes we take from thée this Chalice of saluation He answered I trust in my Lord Iesus for whose sake I suffer these things that he will not take away his Chalice of Redâ—mption but haue a stedfast hope this day I shall drinke thereof in his Kingdome then each of the Byshoppes tooke away a vestiment and gaue him a curse He answered he willingly imbrased their curses for the Name of Christ. When they should raze off his shauing they could not agree with what Instrument they should doe it then hee turning to the Emperour said I maruaile being they are of like cruelty they agree not in their kinde of crueltie At length they agreed to cut off the skinne of the crowne of his head with a paire of Sheares Then they saide Now hath the Church taken away all her Ornaments then they made a Crowne of Paper a cubit deepe in which were painted three vgly Deuils and this Tytle set ouer Heresiarcha Hee said Christ for my sake ware a Crowne of Thornes why should not â— weare this light Crowne for his sake be it neuer so ignominious I will doe it willinglie the Byshoppes when they had put it on said Now wee commit you to the Deuill but hee said Lord Iesus into thy hands I commit my Spirit which thou hast redeemed then they deliuered him to the Emperour who caused one to receiue him and deliuer him to bâ—e burned When he saw his Bookes burned before his face he smiled he exhorted all that were by that he died not for Heresie but for the hatred of his Aduersaries almost all the Cittie followed him in Armour In his Prayers he often repeated into thy hands I commit my Spirit the standers by said what this man hath done we know not but hée prayeth very deuoutly and godly A Priest sitting on horsebacke in a greene gowne draw no about with red Silke said he ought not to be heard because he is an Heretick as he prayed his crown fell off one of the Souldiours said let vs put it on againe that it may be burned with his Maisters When he rose from prayers he said Lord Iesus assist me that with a constant mind I may beare this cruelty and ignominious death whereunto I am condemned for preaching thy most holy Gospell when he was fastned to the stake being turned to the East certaine cryed he ought not to looke towards the East because he is an Hereticke so hee was turned to the West then the Emperours master of his horses exhorted him to repent of his errors and be mindfull of his safegard he answered he preached no errors the principall end of my Doctrine was to teach all men repentance and remission of sinnes according to Christs Gospell and Exposition of holy Doctors therefore with a cheerefull courage I am ready to suffer death when the fire was kindled he began to sing with a loud voice Iesu Christ the Sonne of the euerliuing God haue mercy on me and when hee had said it thrice the fire smothered him they made a new fire and burned the part of his body they cut the head into small gobbits that it might the sooner be consumed his heart being found amongst his bowels when they had well beaten it with staues they pricked it vpon a sharpe prick and rosted it in another fire till it was consumed they tooke the ashes and cast into the Riuer Rheyne that there might bee no dust of that man left vpon earth but they could neuer abolish his memory out of the hearts of the godly Maister Ierome of Prage greeuously lamenting the false reproâ—h of the glorious Kingdome of Boheme and the manifold iniuries of Iohn Hus of his owne accord came to Constance and seeing Iohn Hus was denyed to be heard and that hee himselfe was laide waite for he departed a mile off that night and writ vnto the King of Hungary and the Councell earnestly for safe conduct to come and goe and hee would answere before the Councell to euery one that could lay any thing against him The said King denied him safe conduct the Lords of Boheme moued the deputies of the foure Nations of the Councell therein who answered they would giue him a safe conduct to come but not to depart hee hearing hereof writ certaine intimations and caused them to be set vpon the gates of the Citie and of the Churches and Monastâ—ries and of the houses of the Cardinals and other Nobles Prelates to this effect To the most Noble Prince Sygismond by Gods grace King of Romanes and Hungary alwaies Augustus c. Ierome of Prage Master of Art of the Uniuersities of Paris Collein Heidelberg and Prage doe notifie to all men I am ready to come to Constance openly to declare to the whole Councell the purity of my true Faith wherefore if there be any slanderers which will obiect any error or heresie let them come openly before me in the presence of the Councell and I will be ready to answere for mine owne innocencie and declare the sinceritie of my true faith and if I shall be found culpable to suffer such punishment as shall be méet wherefore I desire a safe conduct that all the world may know that if I haue any violence or imprisonment offered me this generall Councell doth not proceeds according to equitie or if they put me back from this profound Iustice beeing comâ— hither freely of mine owne accord the which thing I suppose to be far banished from so sacred a Councell of wise men when yet he could not obtaine a safe conduct the Nobles and Knights specially of Boheme gaue him their Letters Patents vnder their Seales witnessing the premisses with the which Letters the said Maister Ierome returning to Bohem but by the conspiracie of his enemies he was
whereof whosoeuer shall drinke shall not thirst euerlastingly That the Bohemians haue done as they ought in that they haue sought the Fountaines of this water at the Councell and now at length giuen eare to their Mother now ought hatred to cease Armor be laid aside and warre reiected the Fathers would louingly heare them in their owne cause requiring them that they would willingly receiue the Councels of the sacred Synod whereunto all faithfull Christians ought to consent and agree if they will be partakers of eternall life This Oration was commended of the Fathers The Bohemians answered they had neither contemned the Church nor Councels and that they are come to manifest their innocency before the whole Church and required open audience where the Laity may bee present their request was graunted them and being demanded in what points they did differ from the Church of Rome they propounded foure Articles 1 First all such as would be saued ought of necessity to receiue Communion vnder both kinds of Bread and Wine 2 All ciuill rule and dominion to be forbidden to the Cleargy by the Law of God 3 That the preaching of the Word of God is free for all men and in all places 4 Open crimes are in no wise to bee suffered for the auoiding of greater euill One affirmed hee heard sundry things of the Bohemians offensiue to Chrstian eares one of them was that they should preach that the inuention of begging Friers was diabolicall Then Procopius said it is not vntrue for if neither Moses nor the Partriarcks before him nor after him the Prophets nor in the new Lawe Christ nor his Apostles did institute the orders of begging Friers who doubteth but the Diuels inuented them and that they are the worke of darknesse all the Councell derided him and Cardinall Iulianus laboured to prooue that not onely the Decrees of the Patriarcks Prophets Christ and his Apostles but also the Decrees which the Church should ordaine to be the workes of God yet the order of begging Fryers may seeme to be taken out of some part of the Gospell the Bohemians chose foure Ministers to dispute for them and the Councell chose foure the disputation continued fifty daies many things were alledged on both parts which we will discourse more at large when we come to the Councell of Basill The History of the most valiant and worthy Martyr of Christ S r Iohn Old-Castle Knight Lord Cobham AFter the true seruant of Christ Iohn Wickliffe six and twenty yeares most valiantly had battelled with the great Antichrist of Europe and his disguised hosts of annointed hypocrites to restore the Church againe to the puritie of the Gospell and was departed hence in Christ Anno 1387. he left a number of godly Disciples against whom Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury was as fierce as euer Pharaoh Antiochus Herod and Cayphas and hauing called a Councell about the matter they concluded it was not possible for them to make whole Christs coate without seame meaning thereby their patched Popish Synagoue vnlesse certaine great men were wrought out of the way which were chiefe maintainers of the Disciples of Wickliffe amongst whom the Lord Cobham was complained of for a mighty maintainer of suspected preachers in London Rochester Hereford that he not onely sent them thither but maintained them with force and armes and that hee beleeued otherwise of the Sacrament of the Altar of penance of pilgrimages of Image worshipping and of Ecclesiasticall power then the Church of Rome taught and it was concluded that proces should goe against him but first they would know the Kings minde wherevpon the Archbishop with his Bishops and a great part of the Clergy went to the King and gréeuously complained against the Lord Cobham the king desired them in respect of his Noble stock they should fauorably deale with him and that if it were possible they should reduce him to the vnity of the Church without rigour and promised he would seriously common the matter with him Anon the King sent for the Lord Cobham and secretly admonished him to submit himselfe to his mother the holy Church he answered I am ready to obey to you most worthy Prince for I know you an appointed minister of God but touching the Pope and spiritualtie I owe them neither sute nor seruice for I knowe by the Scripture he is great Antichrist the sonne of perdition the aduersary of God the abhomination standing in the Holy Place when the King heard this he would talk no more with him and when the Archbishop resorted to him againe he gauâ— him full authoritie to cite him examine him and punish him then the Arch-bishop sent his chiefe somner to his house with citation when he came thither he durst not enter his gates without licence but returned without doing his message then the Archbishop got one Iohn Butler doore kâ—eper of the Kings Priuy Chamber to go with his Somner who went to the Lord Cobham shewing him it was the Kings pleasure that he should obey the said citation he answered that in no case he would consent to those most diuelish practises of the Priests after hee sent another citation to bee hanged vpon the Cathedrall Church doore of Rochester and because hee appeared not excommunicated him and when he heard that he derided his proceedings hee threatned the seculer power with curses and interdictions if they did not assist him against that seditious Apostata Scismatick and Heretick troubler of a publike peace enemy of the Realme and aduersarie of holy Church then he writ a Christian profession of his Faith and signed sealed it wherin he answered foure of the chiefest articleâ— that the Archbishop laid against him then he took a copy thereof and went to the King it agréed in all points with the Apostles Créede and moreouer that Christ is the onely head of the Church and that all that haue béen or shall be saued are members of his holy Church that it is seuered into thrée estates Priesthood Knight-hood and Commons and that it is Gods will that one should ayde and not destroy the other the priests secluded from all worldlinesse should conforme their liues vnto the example of Christ and his Apostles euermore occupied in teaching and preaching the Scriptures purely in giuing wholesome Councell of good liuing vnto the other two degrees of men more modest also more louing and lowly in spirit should they be then any other sort of people in Knight-hood are all they that beare sword by Law of office these should defend Gods lawes so that the Gospel were purely taught reforming their liues according to the same and secluding all false preachers they ought rather to hazard their liues then suffer wicked decrees to blemish the word of God and let the frée passage thereof whereof heresies and scismes sprung for they spring of nothing else as I suppose which Constitutions craftily creepe in by hypocriticall lies for aduantage they ought also to preserue Gods people from oppressors
tyrants théeues and to sée the Clergy supported so long as they teach purely and pray rightly and minister the Sacraments fréely and if they doe otherwise they are bound by the law of God to compell them to change their doing to sée all things performed according to Gods ordinances The last is the common people whose dueties is to beare a good mind and true obedience to their Kings ciuil Gouernors and Priests their office is iustly occupied in their calling whether it be marchandise handicraft or husbandry And I beleeue that the Sacraments of the Church are necessary to all beléeuers so that they bee truely ministred according to Christs institution I beleeue in the Sacrament of the altar to be containâ—d Christs body vnder the formes of bread wine and I beléeue the law of God to be most true perfect and that they that follow it not in faith and works one time or other cannot be saued whereas he that séeketh it in Faith learneth it and delighteth in it and performeth it in loue shall tast felicitie euerlasting Finally that God wil aske no other obedience then to his law and if any Prelate require more or any other kinde of obedience hee contemneth Christ exalteth himselfe aboue God and becommeth an open Antichrist all these premisses I beléeue particularly and generally all that God hath left in holy Scripture desiring my most worthy King that this my confession may be examined by the most godly and learned of the Realme and if it be found agréeing to the verity then let it be allowed and I holden for a true Christian and if it be proued otherwise let it bee condemned prouided that I be taught a better beliefe by the word of God and I shall most reuerently obey therevnto This being offered to the King he would not receiue it but commanded it to bee deliuered vnto them that should be his Iudges then hee desired that 100. Knights Esquires might be suffred to come vpon his purgation which he knew would cleere him of al heresies Moreouer he offred himself according to the law of armes to fight with anâ— maÌ„ liuing in the quarrel of his faith the K. Councel excepted or y â— he wold suffer any maner of correction that should after the law of God be ministred to him notwithstanding the king suffred him to be summoned in his priuy Chamber then hee said hee had appealed to the Pope and shewed his appeale ready written the King said he should not pursue his appeale but tarrie in hold vntill the Pope allowed his apeale and then whether he would or no the Archbishop should be his Iudge And because he would not be sworn to submit himselfe to the Church and take what penance that the Archbishop would enioyne him he was arrested at the Kings commandement and led to the Tower then he caused the foresaid confession to be written in manner of an Indenture that at his answere hee might giue one copie to the Archbishop and keepe the other himselfe which he did doe when hee was shortly after called before the Archbishop The Bishops of Winchester and London said moreouer touching the Sacrament of Penance We must forsake our sinnes and doe penance with true contrition to God and confesse them to Christ and haue satisfaction in him else can wee haue no saluation Images pertaine nothing to Christian beléefe but were permitted to be Kalenders to Lay-men to bring to minde the passion of Christ and martyrdome and good liuing of Saints He that worshippeth them hopâ—th in helpe of them or preferreth one aboue another committeth Idolatrie and I beleeue that euery man liuing is a Pilgrime either towards blisse or paine and he that will not kéepe the commandement of God though he goe to all quarters of the world in pilgrimage he shall be damned and the faithfull shall bee saued in Christ though they neuer goe in pilgrimage as men vse now-a-dayes to Canterburie Walsingham Compostell and Rome or any other place Then the Archbishop said We denie not but that there are many good and Catholike things herein but you are appointed this day to answer other matters Whether doe you beleeue that there is materiall bread in the Sacrament after consecration and whether a Christian be necessarily bound to confesse his sinnes to a Priest The Lord Cobham said he would answer no otherwise then he had in his Writing He said take héed for if you will not answer directly by our law we may openly proclaime you an hereticke notwithstanding what question any of the Bishops asked him he would make no other answer but bade them resort to his Bill he would stand to it vnto death The Archbishop sayd the holy Church of Rome followed the sayings of Saint Augustine Hierome Ambrose and of other holy Doctors that haue determined in these matters which all christian men ought to beleeue and follow Then he said I will beléeue all that the Church which Christ instituted decréed or what God hath willed vs to beléeue or do but that the Pope and his Clergie haue power to determine such matters as stand not with Gods word I will not affirme Then the Archbishop said hee would send him Articles and bade him aduise himselfe to answere them by Monday The latter examination of the Lord COBHAM Archb. YOu are excommunicated the last time you were before me I gently profered to haue assoyled you if you would haue asked it and yet I doe the same if you will humbly desire it in manner as holy Church hath ordained Cobh. I will not for I neuer trespassed against you and God saith in the second of Malachy Maledicam benidictionibus vestris and knéeling down he said I sâ—riâ—ue my selfe before you all In my youth I offended thée my Lord in pride wrath gluttonie couetousnesse and lecherie I haue hurt many in mine anger and done many horrible sinnes good Lord I aske thee mercie and therewith weepingly stood vp and said aloude Lo good people for breaking Gods lawes they neuer cursed me but for their owne lawes they most cruelly handle me and others Archb. Then he examined him of his Christian beleefe Cobham I beléeue all the Lawes of God and all is true that is contained in the holy Scriptures finally I beleeue all that God would I should beleeue Archb. He asked an answere of the Bill he had sent him especially how hee beleeued touching the Sacrament of the Altar Cobham With the Bill I haue nothing to doe but this is my beleefe touching the Sacrament That Christ sitting at his last supper with his Disciples the night before his death he tooke Bread blessed it and brake it and gaue it to his Disciples and said Take and eate it this is my bodie that shall bee betrayed for you doe this in remembrance of me c. Archb. Then he asked if it were bread after the consecration Cobh. I beleeue it is Christs very bodie in the forme of bread Then said a Doctor
the Lords put a book of articles against the Cardinall that he procured the Legat without the Kings consent whereby he took away the right of all Bishops that in all writings to Rome and other Princes he wrote Ego Rex meus that he standered the Church of England to be brought into a reprobate sense sending to Rome to be Legat to reforme the Church and carried the great Seale with him to Flanders and that without the kings consent he sent commission to conclude a league betwéen the King and the Duke of Florence and that hauing the French pocks he presumed to come and to breathe on the King and that hee had caused the Cardinalls Hat to be put on the Kings coyne that he had sent innumerable substance to Rome to obtaine his Dignities to the great impouerishment of the Realme with many other things The princely possessions and great pride of the Clergie in those dayes did not only farre excéede the measure of subiects but surmounted the estates of Kings and Princes In Henry the fourth his dayes the Temporalties in the possessions of the Clergie of England amounted to three hundred twentie two thousand marks by the yeare And it appeareth by a Libell giuen to Henry the eight compiled by one Master Fish that the Cleargie had gotten into their hands more then the third part of the lande of the Realme and the goodliest Lordships Mannors and Territories are theirs besides the tenth part of corne and all things else and seruants wages and they looke so narrowly to their tythes that they will haue the tenth egge or else the good wife getteth no rights at Easter and shall be taken as an herâ—ticke beside what they get by their foure offering dayes prouing of wills priuie tythes offerings to pilgrimages and at their first Masses euery one that is buried must pay somewhat for Masses and Dirges to be sung for them else they will accuse their frinds and executors for hereticks What money get they for mortuaries by hearing confessions and yet will keepe no Councell by hallowing of Churches Altars Superaltars Chappels and Bels by cursing men and absoluing them againe for money What a multitude of money gather the Pardoners in a yeare by cyting men to the Court and releasing them for money and what abundance the begging Friers get yearly There be two and fifty thousand parish Churches in England and euery house in the Realme payeth a pennie a quarter to euery of the fiue sâ—rts of begging Friers which is twenty pence yearely for euery house in England And the number of the Clergie reckoned with men women and children of the Laieâ—ie are but one of foure hundred and their substance draweth nigh to the halfe of the whole substance of the Realme and they doe nothing therewith but exempt themselues from the obedience of your grace and translate all power to themselues and that your subiects may rebell against yon and be vnder them as they did vnto your noble predecessor King Iohn they then interdicted the Realme wherefore your Realme hath stood tributarie not to any temporall Prince but to a cruell diuellish bloud-sucker drunken in the bloud of the Saints and Martyrs euer since and what doe they more nothing but apply themselues to haue to doe with euery mans wife daughter or mayde that Cuckoldrie and baudry should raigne amongst your subiects that no man should know his child and that their bastards should inherite euery mans possessions they haue made an hundred thousand idle whoores in your Realme which would haue gotten their liuing honestly had not their superfluous riches inticed them to vncleanenesse and idlenesse they catch the pâ—cks or be burnt or the leprosie and beare it vnto another yea some one of them shall boast amongst his fellowes that he hath had to do with an hundred women When they haue intised mens wiues vnto them they spend away their husbands goods and make the women runne away from their husbands and runne away themselues with the wife and goods bringing man and wife and children to idlenesse theft and beggerie Who is able to number the broad bottomlesse Ocean full of euils that this sinfull generation may lawfully and vnpunished bring vpon vs Who is shee that will worke for three pence a day when she may haue at least twentie pence a day to fleepe an houre with a Frier Monke or Priest and who will labour for foure pence a day that may haue at least twelue pence a day to be bawde to one of these What a sort are there that marrie Priests Lemans but to cloake the Priests incontinencie and that they may liue of Priests for their labour and who is he though he be grieued neuer so sore for the death of his Ancestor rauishment of his wife or his daughter robberie trespasse maime debt or any other offence dare lay it to their charge by any way of action if he do then by and by he is accused of heresie and except he beare a faggot they will excommunicate him and then all his Actions be dashed Notwithstanding the statute to Mortmayne they doe daily get into their hands more lands the Kingdome of the bloud-suckers is like to preuaile aboue your Kingdome for to them is giuen daily out of you Kingdome and that which is once giuen them neuer commeth from them againe What Kingdome can indure that â—uer giueth and receiueth nothing again All their colour for their gathering these things into their hands is that they pray for vs to deliuer our soules out of Purgatorie without whose prayers and especially the Popes pardon we could neuer be deliuered thence but the truth is there is no Purgatorie but it is a thing inuented by the couetousnesse of the spiritualtie And if there were a Purgatorie if the Pope can deliuer them there with money he can deliuer them without and if hee can deliuer one he can deliuer all and so destroy Purgatorie and then is he a cruell tyrant without all charitie if he keepe them in prison and paine vntill men will giue him money They will not let the New Testament goe abroad in the mother tongue lest their cloaked hypocrisie and that their cruelty vncleanenesse and vnmercifulnesse be seeue and that they seeke not Christs honour but their own that remission of sins are not giuen for the Popes pardon but for Christ by true faith in him And except your Maiestie suffer their hypocrisie to be disclosed the people will think you take away their liberty from them to buy their soules out of Purgatorie by giuing to the spiritualtie as their predecessors haue done therefore let their hypocrisie be vttered and that shall be more speedfull in this matter then all the lawes that possibly can be made The Author of this Booke was fled to Tindall where he wrote this Booke for feare of the Cardinall when the King had read this he caused his Wife to send for him home he was brought to the King and after he had
was Schoolemaster to one Master Welch and for translating certain religious books into English and for arguing with a certain Priest that often vsed to his Masters house and confounding diuers points of their religion by the word of God he was pursued glad to go out of the Realme into Germany and there translated the Bible into English compiled diuers other books sâ—nt them into England wherby the dore and light vnto the Scriptures was daily more and more opened which before was many years closed in darknesse from thence he went to Aâ—twarp and had his abiding there and was lodged about a yeare in the house of one Thomas Poynets an English man which kept a house of English Merchants then came thither one Henry Philips hauing a seruant waiting on him M. Tindall became acquainted with him and had great confidence in him and had him often to dinner and supper with him and got him a lodging in M. Poynets house At length Philips wâ—nt to the high Court of Bruxelles to betray M. Tindall and procured to bring from thence with him the Procurator generall with othâ—r Officers which was not done with small charges from whom soeuer it came After Philips returning would haue M. Tindall to dine with him then hee desired M. Tindall to lend him fortie shillings which he did he told Philips he could not diâ—e with him for he was bid forth to dinner and he should goe with him And going forth to dâ—nner Philips hauing appointed the officers in the way he gaue them a signe that this was he they should apprehend then they took him and brought him to the Procurator generall who sent him to the Casâ—le of Filford and the Procurator generall went to Poynets house and sent away all that was there of M. Tindals The said Poynets and certain Merchants went ouer into England and got letters from the Coâ—ncell for M. Tindals deliuery vpon the deliuery wherof to the Councel of Bruxelles M. Tindall should haue bin deliuered vnto him which when Philips vnderstood he accused Poynets â—o be an heretick and a receiuer of such caused him to be apprehended kept 13. or 14. wéeks in prison but he escaped by night and got into England but M. Tindall was condemned and the same morning as he was had to the fire he deliuered a letter to the chiefe Kéeper of the Castle which the Kéeper himselfe brought to Poynets house who compared him to be fellow to the Apostles being in prison both for his conuersation and conuerting and preaching to the peoâ—le M. Tindall hearing by certaine Merchants what wonderfull feats a Iugler did he desired thâ—m that he might be present also at supper to see him play his parts accordingly the supper was appointed and the Merchants with Tindall were there present The Iugler being desired to vttâ—r his cunning shâ—wed all that he could do but all was in vaine at last with his labour sweating and toyle he saw nothing would go forward he confessed there was some man present at supper which disâ—urbed his doings For his letters that he wrote I refer thée to the book at large if thou dispose to sée them The Lord Cromwell keeper of the Kings priuie Seale Uicegerent of all the Kings iurisdiction ecclâ—siasticall sent out certaâ—n iniuncâ—ions by the Kâ—ngs authoritâ— for the preaching thâ— word of God for the bâ—tter publishing of the kings supremaâ—â—â— against idols 〈◊〉 on pilgrimage trusâ—ing in saints and to abrogate diuers holy-daies and for reformation to be had in diuers othâ—r ecclesiastical matters In the begiâ—â—g of this year the most noble and worthy Lady Queen Anne of Bullen after she had liued Qâ—â—â—ne three â—ears was cast into the Tower together with her brother the Lord Rochford and diuers others which shortly after were executed The words of the Queene at the time of her death Good Christian people I ame come hither to die I am iudged therto by the law therefore I will not speake against it I pray God preserue the King for there was neuer a gentler Prince and to me he was euer a good soueraigne and I râ—quire euery one to iudge the best of my cause so â— take my leaue of the world and of you all desiring you to praâ—â—or me Then she kneeled down and said Into thy hands I commend my soule Iesus receiue my soule diuers times vntill her head was striken off Fiue burned in Scotland SEauen years after Patrick Hamelton aforesaid there were fiue burned in Edenborough the chief Citie in Scotland two were Dominican Friers one Priest one Cannon and one Gentleman adiudged by the Archbishop of S. Andrewes Petrus Chappeâ—anus and the Franciscan Friers whose labour is neuer wanting in such matters The murther of ROBERT PACKINGTON HEe was a rich Mercer dwelling in Cheap side and was one of the â—urgesses of the Parliament for the Citie of London and had spoken against the couetousnesse and cruelty of the Clergie wherefore he was had in contempt with them therfore one Doctor Vincent Deane of Paules hired a stranger for sixtie crownes to kill him which he did in this manner this Packington vsed by foure of the clocke euery morning to go to a Church neare Cheap-side and in a mistie morning tâ—e hyred stranger shot him and killed him with a gunne as he crossed the street This could not be knowne vntill the death of the Deane then he repented the fact at his death and confessed it to his ghostly father In this yeare the Kings Maiestie by his Uicegerent the L. Cromwell sent out againe certaine Iniunctions vnto the Spiritualty for the reformation of religion for the maintenance of reading the Bible in English and for taking downe of Images with such other like The history of Iohn Lambert alias Nicolson BEing beyond Sea by reason of the persecution here he returned hoping the time had bin amended by the means of Quéen Anne and Cromwell and the abolishing of the Pope he became a Schoolemaster and being present at a Sermon preached by Doctor Taylor one that was a Bishop in K. Edwards time and died in the Tower in Queen Maries time after the Sermon hee vttered diuers arguments to the Preachers and desired to be resolued Taylor alledged businesse and desired him to write his minde which he did The first was vpon The cup is the new Testament and if these words doe not change neither the cup nor the wine into the new Testament by like reason the words spoken of the bread should not turn it corporally into the body of Christ. The second it is not agreeable to a naturall body to be in â—wo or more places ot one time therfore Christ hauing a naturall bodie cannot be in heauen on the right hand of his father and in the Sacrament Thirdly a naturall body cannot be without his forme and conditions as he cannot be without substance iâ— the Sacrament there is no forme and condition of the body of Christ no not
for to Cranmer and Steuen Gardiner and others before whome hee did so constantly defend the doctrine which he had taught that Cranmer being yet but a Lutheran maruelled excéedingly at it and said that the Scripture knew no such terme of transubstantiation Then the other Bishops threatned him to whom he promised the next day to deliuer them all in writing which he had formerly preached in Callice In the meane time he had secret intimation giuen him by Cranmer that if hee appeared the next day he should be sure to be committed whereupon he sent them his Faith with the arguments thereupon in writing and he went aside into the West countrey Then the King was certified that there were many diuersities of opinions in Calice tending to the danger thereof Whereupon Doctor Champion and M. Garnet who after was burned were sent ouer to preach to them where he preached the same true Doctrine which Adam Damlip had done After them one William Smith Curate of our Ladies Parish in Callice preaching earnestly inuaying against Papistry and wilfull ignorance exhorting them to imbrace the word and not to contemne it least Gods wrath fall vpon them which followeth the contempt of his holy word At length the said Lord Lisle which was Bastard to King Edward the fourth which maintained Damlip as before by the intising of his wicked wife the Lady Honora she being thereunto prouoked by Sir Thomas Palmer and Iohn Rockwood Esquire these with seauen others wrote very haynous Letters vnto the King and Councell against diuers of the Towne of Calice Whereupon diuers of them were often punished in Callice and many of them sent for ouer into England and were â—orely imprisoned and punished and had not escaped the fire but by the Kings pardon The aforesaid Adam Damlip taught Schoole about some two yeares in the West Country after he was apprehended and brought vnto Stephen Gardiner who committed him to the Marshalsie where he continued two yeares and for his honest behauiour hee was beloued of the whole house and especially of the kéeper and he did much amongst the common sort of the prisoners in reprouing vice Then being resolued rather to loose his life then not to suffer his talent to be vsed to Gods glory by being detained in prison Wherevpon he sent an Epistle to Gardiner And then by the Bishops commandement hee was had to Callice where first hee layed vnto his charge heresie but because all such offences before such a day were pardoned by an Act of Parliament then for the receiuing of the aforesaid French Crowne of Cardinall Poole as you heard before he was condemned of Treason in Callice cruelly put to death beeing hanged drawne and quartered At his death Sir Raph Ellerker Knight Marshall there would not suffer him to declare his Faith or cause he died for but bad the executioner dispatch the Knaue and said he would not away before he saw the Traytors heart out but shortly after in a skirmish with the Frenchmen at Bullen he was slaine and his enemies cut off his members and cut the heart out of his body and so left him a terrible example of the Iustice of God vpon all bloudy persecutors The said Lord Lisley with the others as before vniustly charging them of Callice with sedition and heresie were all shortly after either greatly out of the Kings fauour and committed vnto prison or else by desperate deathes died I will recite but Rockwood the chiefe stirrer of the afflictions aforesaid who at the last breath staring and raging cryed he was damned and being bid to aske God mercie he cried out All too late for I haue sought malitiously the deaths of a number of the Towne which in my heart I thought to be honest men which words he vsed when thirteene were carried in Irons into England when one told him he neuer saw men of such honesty so sharply corrected and taking it so ioyfully Rockwood then leaping scoffingly said All too late and the vnder Marshall suddenly fell downe in the Councell Chamber and neuer spake A labouring man hauing heard Damplip said Hee would neuer beleeue that Priests could make the Lords bodie at their pleasure whereupon hee was condemned by one Haruy a Commissary who said he was an heretick and should die a vile death The poore man answered he was no heretick but in the faith of Christ and said Whereas thou sayest I shall die a vile death thou shalt die a viler death shortly and so it came to passe for within halfe a yeare the said Haruy was hanged drawne and quartred in Callice for treason DODDE alias SCOT HEe was taken in Callice with certaine Germane bookes about him and being examined thereupon and standing constantly to the truth hee was condemned and burned there VVILLIAM BVTTON HEe being a souldier of Callice merrily asked a Papist Whether one that were suddenly taken might not occupie one of the Popes pardons in stead of a broken paper and another question Whether the world might better want Dogs then Popish Priests and answered it that if there were no Dogs we could make no more but if there lacked ignorant Priests we might soone make too many of them There came a black Frier to Callice with the Popes pardons who for 4. pence would deliuer a soule out of Purgatorie this Button asked him if the Pope could deliuer soules out of Purgatorie the Frier said there is no doubt of that then he said Why doth he not of charity deliuer all the sâ—ules thereout for which cauâ—e he was accused vnto the Commissary who chafing called him heretick then said Button If the Pope can deliuer soules out of Purgatorie and will not of charitiâ— doe it then would God the King would make me Pope for surely I would deliuer all out without money Whereupon the Commissary made him beare a Billet and procured his wages which was sixe pence a day to be taken from him then he went vnto the King and declared the whole matter who after gaue him eight pence a day In Nouember after the King had subdued the Scots and ioyning with the Emperour had inuaded France and had got the Towne of Bullen he summoned a Parliament in which was granted him besides subsidies of money all Colledges Chanteries Free Chappels Hospitals Fraternities Guilds and perpetuities of stipendary Priests to be disposed at his will and pleasure They being thus giuen to him by act of Parliament in December the next Lent Doctor Crome preached in the Mercers Chappell amongst other reasons to induce the people from the vaine reasons of Purgatorie he said It Trentalls and Masses could auaile the soules in Purgatorie then did not the Parliament well in giuing away Monasteries Colledges and Chanteries which serued principally to that purpose but if the Parliament did well as no man could denie then it is plaine that such Chanteries and priuate masses confer nothing to relieue them in Purgatorie This Dilemma was insoluble but at Easter next they brought him in
death as fruitfull seede hath taken such fruit in some that it is yet a linely and diligent preaching vnto some against superstition and Idolatry vsed in their Churches The tragicall History of the worthy Duke of Sommerset KIng Edward had three vnckles by his mothers side Edward Thomas Henry Semer Edward was made protector of the Realme and Thomas was made high Admirall of the same so long as they were ioined together in amitie they preserued themselues and the King and the Common-wealth Sir Thomas Semer high Admirall married Queene Katherine late wife of King Henry as you haue heard betwixt the said Queene and the Dutchesse of Somerset there fell great displeasure And therevpon in the behalfe of their wiues grudge began betweene the brethren after it was laid vnto the Lord Admirals charge that hee purposed to destroy the yong Kingâ— and transâ—ate the Crowne vnto himselfe and for the same he was attainted and condemned and did suffer at Tower Hill the twentith of March one thousand fiue hundred forty and nine many reported that the Duchesse of Sommerset had wrought his death whereby it came to passe whether by Gods iust iudgement or no In October after that there was great consultation amongst the Lords in the house of Maister Yorke and at Baynards Castle and in the Lord Mayor of Londons house against the Lord Protector remaining then with the King at Hampton Court The King with his Councell hearing thereof first Secretary Peter with the Kings message was sent vnto them whom the Lords retained still with them making no answer wherevpon the Lord Protector writ vnto them that the King was informed of your assembly wherefore we sent Maister Secretary Peter vnto you His Maiestie and wee of his Councell héere doe not a little maruell that you stay héere â—he said M. Peter and haue not answered his Maiesty and we are sory to sée your doings bent with violence to bring the King and vs to these extremities which if you will take no other way we intend with violence to defend with death and to put it in Gods hand who giueth victory as it pleaseth him as touching priuate matters â—o auoide the effusion of Christian bloud and to preserue the Kings Maiesties person his Realme and Subiects you shall finde vs agréeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require for wee esteemâ— the Kings wealth and tranquilitie of the Realme more then other worldly things yea then our life praying them to send their determinate answere by Maister Peter or some other Notwithstanding this Letter the Lords persisted still in their purpose and took aduice to kéep themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and willed the Mayor and Aldermen to prouide a substantiall watch by night and by day for the safegard of the Citie and gates Then they demanded fiue hundred men to ayde them to fetch the Lord Protector out of Windsor from the King and they published a Proclamation against the said Protector to this effect First that the Protector by his euill gouernment was the cause of all the sedition that of late happened within the Realme and of the losses of the Kings ordinance in France and that it appeared by the building of his sumptuous houses in the time of the Kings warre that he sought his owne glory that he esteemed nothing the graue counsell of the Councellors that he had sowed diuisions betwéen the Nobles Gentlemen and Commons That the Nobles assembled themselues only to cause the protector to haue liued within limits to haue put such order for the surety of the King as was fit That the protector slandered the Councell vnto the King and that hee was a great traytor and therefore the Lords defired the Citie Commons to ayde them to take him from the King Then the King sent a Letter vnto the Mayor and Citizens commanding them to ayde him with a thousand men out of their Citie well armed and to send them with all speed vnto the Castle of Windsor These contrary commandements comming both at one instant vnto the Mayor Citizens of London it séemed very doubtfull to them which way to take at the last stepped vp a Citizen George Studlaw and said I remember in the time of Henry the third the Barons as the Lords doe now demanded ayde of the Mayor and Citizens of London and the Citie ayded them against the King and it came to an open battell and the Lords preuailed against the King and took the King and his son prisoners and vpon certaine conditions the King his Son were restored againe and the King openly granted his pardon to the Lords and Citizens it was ratified by Act of Parliament but it was neuer forgotten during the Kings life the Liberties of the Citie were taken away and strangers appointed to be our gouernors and the Citizens giuen away body and goods and from one persecution vnto another were most miserably afflicted such it is to enter into the wrath of a Prince for Salomon saith the wrath of a Prince is death Therefore I would councell the Lords with vs to make sute to the King that he would please to heare the complaints that may be iustly proued against the L. Protector and I doubt not but this matter will be pacified and that the King nor yet the Lords haue cause to seeke for further ayde neither we to offend any of them both Then the Lords sent Sir Philip Hobby with their Letter of credence vnto the King beséeching him to giue credit to that which he should say who so handled the matter that the Lord Protector was commanded from the Kings presence and shortly committed to warde in the Castle of Windsor The same day the Lords of the Councell resorted vnto the King and the next day they brought the Lord Protector vnto the Tower Shortly after the Lords resorted vnto the Tower and there charged the Lord Protector with sundry Articles the effect of them is contained in the proclamation aforesaid and although these purposes of man intended the spilling of his life and the Lord so ordered the matter by the meanes of the Kings so laboring for his vnkle that in short while he was let out of the Tower and continued at liberty two yeares and two daies After he was againe apprehended committed againe to the Tower after hee was brought to Westminister Hall to be arraigned and there was charged with felony treason he put himselfe to be tried by his Péeres who discharged him of treason but they accounted him guilty of Felony for purposing the death of the Duke of Northumberland and others and was returned vnto the Tower againe When he was brought to his execution vpon tower Hill he came with the same gesture which he vsed changing neither voice nor countenance and knéeling down he commended himselfe to God and his prayers ended he turned toward the people as it were with a certaine fatherly loue to children and said Dearely
testimony against this house Touching the disputations of Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius because they are only touching the Sacrament which is so often handled in this book for breuitie I referre thee to the book at large The decease of King EDWARD ABout a yeare and a halfe after the death of the Duke of Sommerset King Edward died entring into the seuenteenth yeare of his age and in the seuenth yeare of his raigne As the time approached that it pleased Almighty God to call this yong King from vs which was on the sixth day of Iuly about thrée houres before his death his eyes being closed speaking to himselfe and thinking none had heard him he made this prayer as â—olloweth LOrd God deliuer me from this miserable and wretched life and take me amongst thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done for I commit my spirit vnto thee O Lord thou knowest how happie it were for me to be with thée yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serue thes O my Lord GOD blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance O Lord saue thy chosen people of England O my GOD defend this realme from Papistrie and maintain thy true religion that I and my people may prayse thy holy name for thy Sonne Iesu Christs sake Then he turned his face and séeing who was by him he said vnto them are you so nigh I thought you had beenâ— further off then smilingly he said I was praying to God The last words he spake were these I am faint Lord haue mercie vpon me and take my spirit And thus he yeelded vp the Ghâ—st leauing a wofull kingdome behinde vnto his sister THE TENTH BOOK WHEREIN is contained the most memorable things done in the Raigne of Queene MARY KIng Edward by his Testament did appoint Lady Iane daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose mother was Mary second sister of King Henry who was first wife to the French King and after to the said Duke to succeed him in his Kingdome all the Councell and chief Nobilitie the Mayor of London and all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers sauing Iudg Hales subscribed therto who stood for Q. Mary The matter thus concluded King Edward died when he was sixteene yeares of age then the said Iane was proclaymed Queene at London and other Cities she was about the age of King Edward in learning and wit she might be compared with the Uniuersitie men which haue taken many degrees of the schooles Then Queen Mary wrote to the Councel that they should proclaime her Quéen and she would pardon them for that which was done they answered her that by the Diuorse betwixt King Henry and her mother she was made illegitimate and vnheritable to the Crowne Then she speeded her selfe farre from the Citie hoping vpon the Commons whereupon the Councell sent forth the Duke of Northumberland with other Lords and Gentlemen with an Armie the Guard assisting the Duke Mary withdrew her selfe into Northfolke and Suffolke where she knew the Duke was hated and there gathering such aide of the Commons as she might kept her selfe in Fremingham Castle to whom Suffolk-men resorted and promised her their aide if she would not alter the religion which her brother had established to which she agreed with such promises as no man could haue misdoubted her and thus being guarded with the power of the Gospellers she vanquished the Duke and all that came against her But after the Suffolk-men making supplication vnto her Grace for performance of her promise she answerd You shall one day well perceiue that members must obey their head and not looke to rule the same and one Dobbe a Gentleman for aduertising her of her promise by humble request was three times set in the pillorie to be a gasing-stock to all men others deliuered her books and supplications out of the Scripture to exhort her to continue the doctrine then established who were sent to prison The Councell at London vnderstanding that the Ladie Marie increased in puisance and the peoples hearts mightily bent vnto her they turned their song and proclaymed for Quéen the Lady Mary eldest daughter of K. Henry the eight and appointed by Parliament to succeed King Edward dying without issue the Duke of Northumberland with some of his sonnes were left destitute at Cambridge as also the Earle of Huntingdon who were arrested and brought to the Tower as Traytors Then the Quéen came to the Tower where the Lady Iane and the Lord Gilford her husband were imprisoned fiue months but the Duke within a moneth was beheaded with Sir Iohn Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer the Papists promised the Duke pardon if he would openly recant vpon the Scaffold which in hope of pardon he did and yet he was beheaded whose recantation the papists published not a little reioycing at his conuersion but Sir Thomas Palmer confessed his faith in the Gospell and was sorie that he had not liued more Gospell-like Steuen Gardner was released out of the Tower and made Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor and Poynets displaced and Bonner restored to his Bishoprick againe and Ridley displaced and Day made Bishop of Chichester and Storie put out and Heath made Bishop of Worcester and Hooper committed to the Fleet and Vesie to Exeter and Couerdale put out Doctor Ridley Bishop of London had preached against Quéen Mary in Queene Ianes time shortly after the Sermon Queen Mary was proclaymed then he went to the Queen to salute her who dispoyled him of his Dignities and sent him to the Tower vpon a halting horse Then Queen Mary directed forth an inhibition by proclamation that no man should preach or reade openly in Churches the word of God One Bourne who after was Bishop of â—ath preached at Paules Crosse so much in the praise of Bonner being there present and in dispraise of King Edward that his words sounded euill to the hearers which caused them to murmur and stirre insomuch that the Maror and others feared an vprore one hurled a dagger at the Preacher who for feare pulled in his head Master Bradford stood forth and appeased the people and after he and Rogers conducted the Preacher safe into the Grammer-schoole but shortly after they were both rewarded with burning The next Sonday the preacher at the Crosse was guarded with the Queenes Guard then men withdrew themselues from the Sermon and the Mayor took order that the ancients of al Companies should be present lest the Preacher should be discouraged with his small auditorie Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie assisted with Peter Martyr and a few others offered to defend the doctrine of the booke of Common Prayer by the Scriptures and Doctors but whilst they hoped to come to disputation the Archbishop and others were imprisâ—ned but Peter Martyr was suffered to return from whence he came The first day of October the Queen was crowned and the tenth day a Parliament began where Taylor Bishop of Lincolne
Saâ—nts departed and we beléeue as a Man departeth this life he is either blessed or damned for euer by reason whereof we affirme Purgatory Masses of Scala Caeli Trentals and such suffrages as the popish Church doth obtrude as necessary to be the Doctrine of Antichrist And wee beleeue two Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lordes Supper and that they ought to be ministred according to the institution of Christ and that they bée no longer Sacraments then they were in vse and vsed to the end for which they were instituted and the mutilation of the one kind from the Lords Supper from the Lay people is Antichristian and so is the transubstantiation and so is the adoration of the Sacrament and the reseruation and carrying about of the â—ame and so is the Doctrine of the Masse it to be a propitiatory sacrifice for the quick and dead or a worke that pleaseth God and so of the inhibition of marriage in any state as vnlawfull we doubt not but we shall be able to proue all these our verities by Gods word and the Church which hath followed Gods word and Spirit and we hartily desire all men to be obedient with vs vnto all that bee in authority and not to cease to pray to God for them that he would gouerne them with his Spirit of wisedome and not to consent in any kind of rebellion against the Quéens Highnesse but where they cannot obey but they must disobey God there to suffer with all patience the pleasures of the higher powers as we are ready to do rather then we will consent to any doctrine contrary to this which we heere confesse wee shall be iustly conuinced thereof The Lord indue vs with his Spirit of truth and grace of perseuerance Upon the twentith day of Iuly the Prince of Spaine landed at Southampton He was the first that landed and presently he drew his Sword and carryed it naked in his hand a prettie way the Mayor of the Towne met him and deliuered him the Keyes which he receiued in his right hand and put his sword into his left then met him the Earle of Arundell and Lord Williams and brought him to his lodging The twenty fiue day He and Quéene Mary were married at Winchester by the Bishop there then they came to Windsor and from thence to Southwarke and from thence through the Citty of London to White-hall by the way many Pageants and glorious sights were made Upon the Cunduit in Gracious-stréet was painted King Henry the eight â—n harnesse with a Sword in one hand and in the other hand a Booke whereon was written Verbum Dei deliuering the Booke to his Sonne Edward painted by him Whereupon the Bishoppe of Winchester sent for the Painter and called him â—naue ranke Traytor and villaine for painting a Booke in King Henries hand and writing Verbum Dei thereon he should rather to haue put the Booke in Quéene Maries hand that was there also pictured for that she had reformed the Church and Religion Against this time Bonner in his Royalty and all his Prebendaries about him the doores of Pauls being shut a new Roode being laid vpon the Pauemâ—â—ts they sung diuers Prayers by the Roode then they annointed it with Oyle in diuers places After they crept vnto it and kissed it after they wayed it vppe into his accustomed place and the while the whole Quire sang Te Dâ—um and then the Bels rang for ioy From White-hall they went to Richmond then all the Lords had leaue to depart and there remained no English Lord at the Court but the Bishop of Winchester from thence to Hampton-Court where the Hall doore was continually kept shut that no man might enter vnlesse his arrand were first knowne which séemed strange to English-men Upon the fourth day of Nouember â—â—ue Priests did peâ—â—ance at Paules Crosse which were content to put away their Wiues and take vpon them againe to minister euery one of them had a taper in his hand and a rod wherewith the Preacher did disple them The twenty seauen day of Nouember Cardinall Poole being but a littlâ— before come into the Realme came to the Parliament-House the King and Quéene sitting vnder the Cloath of Estate and the Cardinall sitting on the right hand The Cardinall made a long Oration shewing first how this Realme had euer béene forward to receiue Religion first in the time of the Brittaines and then in the time of the Saxons and that the meanes came from Rome in the Faith of which Church we haue euer since continued and shewed what deuotion this Iland hath had to Rome that King Offa and Adulphus thought their obedience to the Sea not sufficient but in their owne persons went to the place where they receiued so great grace And when Carolus Magnus founded Paris hee sent into England for Alcuiâ—us which first brought learning to that Uniuersity I will not rehearse the benefits this Realme hath receiued from Rome nor the miseries this Realm hath suffered by swaruing from that Unity so all Countries that haue refused the Unity of the Catholike Faith hath had the like plagues as Asia and the Empire of Gréece by swarâ—ing from Rome are brought into the subiection of the Turke And Germany by swaruing from this vnity are afflicted with diuers Sects and factions then hee praâ—â—ed the King for his greatnésse and riches and the Quéen as one in whose hart God had preserued the Catholike truth when all light of the truth séemed vtterly to be extinct whom GOD had most miraculously brought vnto the Crowne being a helplesse Uirgin naked and vnarmed had the victory of all pollicies and armed powers prepared to destroy her and God hath appointed her to raigne ouer you for the restitution of true Religion and exterpation of errors and Sects God hath deuided his power vnto two parts heare in Earth that is into thâ— Imperiall and Ecclesiasticall power the Seculer Princes and Ministers of God to execute vengeance vpon transgressors and to preserue well doers which is represented in these two most excellent Princes the King and Quéene The other power is the power of the Keyes which belongeth by prerogatiuâ— to the Sea Apostlike of Rome from which Sea I am deputed Legate hauing the Keyes committed to my hands I confesse I haue the Keyes not as mine owne Keyes but as the keyes of him that sent mee but certaine impediments in you to receiue it must be taken away before my Commission can take place I came to reconcile and not to condemne and not to compell but to call againe My Commission is of Grace and clemency to all such as will receiue it touching the matterâ— past they shall be as things cast into the Sea of forgetfulnesse the meanes wherby you shall receiue this benefit is by reuoking the lawes wherby you haue disseuered yourselues from the vnity of Christs Church therefore you as prouident men for the weale of your soules and bodies pouder what is to be done
because it was according to the word of God the order of the primate church The other is euill because though some good Latine words be in it yet was it but as it were a little hony and milke with a great deale of poison to drinke vp all In the afternoone he being ready to preach againe to the Bishop where was Sir Iohn Mordant Boner â—aid vnto his charge the breaking of the proclamation and also heresie but his Charitie was content to let alone the Treason But hee would proue him an heretick and all such as taught the administration of the Sacraments and the order of the Primitiue Church are most pure that come neerest to the order of the Primatiue Church for the church was then in her infancy and could not abide that perfection which was after to bee furnished with ceremonies Sanders answered Saint Augustine saith ceremonies were at first ordained for the weake infirmitie of man therefore it was a token of the more perfection of the primatiue Church that it had â—ew ceremonies and a token of the 〈◊〉 of the Church papisticall because it had so many ceremonies 〈◊〉 blasphemous some vnsauourie and some vnproâ—â—table Then the Bishop bade him write what he beléeued of transubstantiation which he did saying My Lord you séeke my bloud and you shall haue it I pray God you may be baptized in it that you may after loath bloud-sucking and become a better man this writing the Bishop kept to cut his throate with Then the Bishop sent him to the Lord Chancellor who kneeling before him the Lord Chancellor said How happeneth it that you haue preached contrary to the Quéens Proclamation Saunders answered as he was admonished by Ezechiel because he saw perrilous times at hand he exhorted his parishioners to perseuer in those things which they had learned for by the example of the Apostles we must obey God before man we doe only professe the sinceritie of the word which although it be now forbidden vs to preach with our mouthes yet our bloud hereafter shall manifest the same The Bishop said carrie away this frensie foole to prison Saunders answered hee thanked God he had giuen him a place of rest where he might pray for the Bishops conuersion Saunders tolde one that lay with him in prison that in the time of his examination he was wonderfully comforted and receaued a taste of the communion of Saints a pleasant refreshing did issue from euery part of his bodie to his heart and from thence into all parts againe He continued in prison a yeare and three moneths and then he was sent for before the Lord Chancellor who offered him his pardon if he would recant which because he refused he was condemned vpon his opinion against the Sacrament with his hand in writing vnto Bonner as before is related Then he was carried vnto Couentrie and one night he was put into the common Gaole amongst other prisoners where he slept little but spent the night in prayer and instruction of others the next day he was ledde to execution into the Parke without the Citie going in olde gowne and a shirt bare-footed and as he went he oftentimes fell flat on the ground and prayed When he was come nigh to the place the officer told him he was one of them that marred the realme with heresie wherefore thou hast deserued death yet if thou wilt reuoke thine heresies the Quéen hath pardoned thée Then answered Saunders It is not I nor my fellow Preachers that haue hurt the realme but it is your-selfe and such as you are which alter Gods word for I hold no heresies bnt the doctrine of God and Christ vnto euerlasting life and so full swéetly he slept in the Lord. He wrote many godly letters to Diuines during the time of his imprisonment which thou mayest sée in the booke at large The martyrdome of IOHN HOOPER Bishop of Worcester ABout the beginning of the six Articles in the time of King Henry the eighth being in danger for religion he went beyond Sea where he was louingly entertained at Basill and at Zurick of Master Bullinger his singular friend where he married his wife which was a Burgundian and in the raign of King Edward he repaired home amongst many other English exiles who being come to London vsed to preach twise or at least once euery Sonday and at his Sermons the Church would be so full that none could enter further into the doores thereof hee was in tongue eloquent in Scriptures perfect in paines indefatigable after hee was called to preach before the King and soone after made Bishop of Gloster in that office he continued two yeares and behaued himselfe so well that his very enemies except it were for good doings and sharpe correcting of sinne could find no fault with him and after that he was made Bishop of Worcester hee sustained much vexation about his inuesting because he would not weare the Priestly vestures In his Bishops palace in euery corner there was fauour of honest conuersation and reading of the Scriptures there was no Courtly roysting or idlenes no pompe at all no dishonest word nor swearing euery day he had to dinner a certaine number of poore folke of the Citie by course and before dinner they were examined by him or his Deputies of the Lords Prayer the Articles of their Faith and ten Commandements In Queene Maries time hee was one of the first that was sent for to London by a Purseuant The Bishop of Winchester receiued him very approbriously rayling and rating him accused him of religion and committed him to the fleete The next yeare hee was sent for before the Bishop of Winchester of London of Durham of Landaffe and of Chichester where after hee had suffered many checkes taunts and mockes that he could not be suffered to make any answere because hee said hee would not goe from his Wife and that hee beleeued not the corporall presence in the Sacrament he was depriued of his Bishopricks By his committance he was to haue the liberty of the Fleete and when hee had payed fiue pound for his liberty the Warden complained to Gardiner and made him to bee committed close prisoner a quarter of a yeare then hee had libertie to come to dinner and supper and presently to returne to his Chamber without speaking to his friends the Warden and his Wife would euer bee picking quarrels with him and after one quarter of the yeare fell out with him about the Masse Then the Warden obtained of Gardiner that he should bee put into the Wardes where hee continued a long time hauing nothing to lye on but a rotten Couering with few Fethers in it On the oneside was the stinke and filth of the house on the other side the stinking Towne ditch so that the stinke infected him with diuers diseases and beeing very sicke hee cried for help but the warden when he hath knowne me ready to dye and poore men haue called to help him he hath
Doctor I would you would remember your selfe and turne to your holy Mother the Church and I will sue for your pardon Taylor answered I would you and your fellowes would turne to Christ as for me I will not turne to Antichrist Then Bonner had him put on the Uestures to bee disgraded but hee would not when they were put vpon him he put his handes by his side and said How say you my Lord am not I a goodlie Foole How say you my Maisters it I were in Cheape-side should I not haue Boyes enough to laugh at these apish toyes and toying trumperie and when the Bishoppe should strike him vpon the breast with his Crossier Staffe his Chaplaines said Strike him not my Lord for he will surely strike you againe That I will said hee for it is our Sauiour Christes cause so the Byshoppe laid his cursâ— oll him but strucke him not When he came to Maister Bradford for they both lay in one Chamber hee told him laughinglie how he had made the Bishop affraid to strike him that night his Wife his Sonne Thomas and his man Iohn Hull were suffered to sup with him after Supper he thanked GOD that hee had giuen him strength to abide by his holie Word Then he said vnto his Sonne My deare Sonne God giue thee his Spirit truly to serue Christ to learne his word and to stand by it all thy life my Sonne feare God fly sinne pray to him and apply thy booke and sée thou be obedient vnto thy Mother cherish the poore and count that try chéefe riches is to be rich in aâ—mes Then he said my deare Wife be steadfast in the â—eare and loue of God be not defiled with Popish Idolatries wee haue béene faithfull yoke-fellowes together the Lord will reward you for your faithfulnesse towards me I now must be taken from you and I would aduise you to marrie with some honest man that feareth GOD he will prouide such a one for you and he will bee a mercifull Father to you and your Children whom I pray bring vp in the feare of God and learning and kéep them from Romish Idolatry then with wéeping feares they prayed together and kissed each other The next day he was carried away towards Hadley to be burned there diuers Gentlemen and Iustices came to him there who laboured him to returne vnto the Romish Religion shewed him his pardon and promised him great promotions yea a Bishoprick if he would but all was vaine for he had not builded his Rocke vpon the sands in perill of euery winde but on the sure Rocke Christ. When hee went through Hadley to execution the stréetes being full they cried out with lamentable voyces Ah good Lord there goeth our Shepheard from vs that hath so faithfully taught vs so fatherly cared for vs and so godly gouerned vs what shall wee poore scattred Lambes doe What shall become of this wicked world good Lord comfort him wherefore the people were fore rebuked and Doctor Taylor euer said to the people I haue preached vnto you Gods word and truth and am come this day to seale it with my blood Comming against the Almes-heuses he cast to the poore people all the Money which remained of that which good people had giuen vnto him in Prison for his Liuing was taken away from him so soone as he was put in Prison so that hee was sustained during the time of his imprisonment by the charitable Almes of good people When he saw the place of execution and the multitude of people that were gathered together then said he thanked be God I am euen at home They had clipped his head ill-fauoredly like a Fooles head by Bonners perswasions when he was disgraded when he came there all the people said God saue thée good Maister Doctor Taylor Iesus strengthen you the Holy Ghost comfort you When he would haue spoken vnto the people one or other thrust a tipstaffe in his month then he desired license of the Sheriffe to speake but he denied him and had him remember his promise made vnto the Councell It was a common fame that the Councell sent for such as were condemned and threatned them they would cut their tongues out except they would promise them at their deathes to kéepe silence and not to speake vnto the people When he was in his Shirt hee was set in a Pitch Barrell to bee burned then he said with a loud voyce Good people I haue taught you nothing but GODS Word and those Lessons which I haue taken out of GODS blessed Booke I am therefore come hither this day to seale it with my blood then one Homes a Yeoman of the Gard who had vsed him verie cruelly all the way gaue him a great stroke on the head The Sheriffe called one Richard Doningham a Butcher to set vp the Faggots but he would not then he got others and one of them called Warwicke cruellie cast a Faggot at him and brake his face that the blood ranne downe Doctor Taylor said Ah friend I haue harme enough what néedeth this When the fire was set to him he said Mercifull Father of Heauen for Iesus Christs sake receiue my Soule into thy hands and so stood still without either crying or moouing with his hands folded together vntill one Soyce strucke him vpon the head that the Braines fell out and his Corps fell into the Fire and was burned The foureteenth of February the Lord Chanceller and the Bishops caused the Image of Thomas Becket to be set vp ouer the Mercers Chappeâ—l doore in Cheape-side in London in the forme of a Bishop with Miter and Crosier within two dayes after his two blessing fingers were broken away and the next day his head was stricken off Whereupon many were suspected and one Maister Barnes Mercer being a Professor of the truth was charged therewith and he and three of his Seruants were committed to Prison and though it could not be proued against him he was bound in a great summe to builde it vp againe now and as often as it should be broken downe and to watch and keepe the same The next day after that it was set vp againe the head was the second time broken off then there was a Proclamation set forth that he that could tell who did it he should haue an hundred Crownes with thanks but it was not knowne who did it The vertuous and godly King Christianus King of Denmarke hearing of the captiuitie of Miles Couerdale whom hee knew by reason hee was in Denmarke in King Henry the eight his time and lamenting his dangerous case made intercession by Letters to Quéene Mary desiring the said Miles Couerdalo to be sent vnto him after the King had written two letters Queene Mary after long delay made full answer to the King of Denmarkes Letters by which prouidence of God Miles Couerdale was deliuered ROBERT FARRAR Bishop of Saint Dauids in Wales THis Bishop by the fauour of the Lord Protector was first promoted vnto that
Dignity he may well bee said twice marâ—ired first for diuers iniuries and mollestations which he suffered most vnworthily of his enemies in King Edwards time after the fall of the Duke of Somerset and of his martydome in Queene Maries time His Aduersaries in King Edwards time were â—ames Constantine his Register to whom he gaue the Office by Patent and a Doctor of the Law and Canon of the Cathedrall Church of S. Dauids and a Chanter of the same They did exhibit to the Kings Councell certain Articles to the insent to blemish the Bishops credit and vtterly as they thought and made their boasts to pull him from his Bishopricke and bring him in a premunire The cheefe effect of their Articles which were fifty sixe was that he did not in his Proceâ— that he made write the King supreame head of the Church and that he tollerated other superstitions and Idolatries After these wrangling Articles were giuen vp then the Bishop was called to answere the hearing whereof was committed vnto Sir Iohn Mason Knight and Doctor Woâ—ton Then they had a Commission into the Country where they examined sixscore and seauen witnesses and during the time of the examination of these witnesses the said Bishop was stayed at London because his aduersaries said if the Bishop should go into his Dioces he would let them of their proues During which trouble King Edward died and in Quéene Maries time another named Henry was made Bishop of S. Dauids who sent for the said Robert Farrar and committed him to prison and afterward declared vnto the saide Robert the great clemency that the King and Quéenes Highnesse pleasure was to bee offered vnto him if he would submit himselfe vnto the Lawes of this Realme and conforme himselfe vnto the vnity of the Catholike Church and séeing the said Robert made him no answere he ministred vnto him these Articles First whether he beleeue the marriage of Priests to be lawfull by the lawe of God and holy Church Secondly whether hee beleeued the very body and blood of Christ is really and substantially in the Sacrament without the substance of bread and wine Bishop Farrar would not answer vntill he saw a lawfull Commission so he was committed againe then he was called againe after and would answer no otherwise then as before whereupon he was pronounced Contuâ—nax and for punishment thereof to be counted Pro confesso and committed him againe The next day of appearance the said Bishop Farrar craued time to answere and at the time did answer Then the foresaid pretensed Bishop gaue him a writing of certaine Articles to subscribe vnto adding to the Articles before that the Masse was a propitiatorie Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead and that the generall Councels neuer erred neither 〈◊〉 erre that a man is not iustified by Faith only but by Charity also and that the Catholike Church onely hath authoritie of interpreting of the Scriptures and to compound Controuersies and also to appoint such things as appertaine to publike discipline and that the Church is visible as a citty vpon a hill knowne vnto all men and not obscure and vnknowne as the hereticks of our age doe teach To these Articles he refused to subscribe affirming that they were inuented by man and pertaine nothing to the Catholick Faith Then he assigned him a day to assigne them affirmatiuely or negatiuely which he would not doâ— but appeaâ—ed vnto the Cardinall notwithstanding they gaue sentence against him When they had put the priestly vestures on him to disgrade him hee called them ragges and relicks of Rome When he was brought to exâ—cution in the Ciâ—ie of Carmarden he was burned with Turffes and Soddes which was to him a more greeuous torment but praised be God he suffered it patiently The next moneth a godly man named Rawlins White was burned in Cardiffe in Wales THOMAS TOMKINS THomas Tomkins of Shordich in London Weauer was brought before Boner for all hitherto were condemned by Steuen Gardiner Lord Chancelor but hee being weary put off the rest vnto Boner of whom this Tomkins was the first who when by no meanes hee could bee driuen from the â—ruth Boner caused a burning Candle to be brought to him Then said he come on naughty knane if thou likest the torments of the fire so well I will make thee feele in this flame what it is to be burned then if thou be wise thou wilt change thy minde Then he commanded his right hand to be put into the fire but he indured the burning yet was not Bonet therewith contented but neuer rested vntill he had consumed the whole body to ashes in Smithfield He was condemned vpon these points First that his beleefe â— that the body of Christ is not truely and verily in the Sacrament of the Altar but onely in heauen and so in heauen that it cannot be really in the Sacrament and although the Church aâ— low the Masse a wholesome and profitable sacrifice yet my beliefe is that the Masse is full of Superstition and Idolatry and vnprofitable for my soule and the Sacrament of Baptisme ought to â—ee onely in the vulgar tongue and without such ceremonies as are vsed in the Latine Church and being exhorted to leaue his opinions Hee answered hee was brought vp in ignorance vntill now of late yeares and now I know the truth wherein I will continue vnto death and he said my Lord you would haue me forsake the truth and fall into error and heresie Then hee was condemned and deliuered vnto the Sheriffe who carried him to Newgate where hee remained most ioifull and constant vntill hee was conuayed to Smithfield and there sealed vp his Faith in the flaming fire The constant suffering of Higbed and Causon THese two were descended of worshipfull stocke in Essex which of all Shires was most fruitfull of Martyrs the one called Thomas Higbed of Horneden Hill the other Thomas Causon of Thunderst they were both in flourishing estate in riches and much more flourishing in godlines They were diuers times examined before Bonner and defended the truth valiantly and he and his fellowes did much labour to make them to recant but could not preuaile The substance of all their Arguments appeareth in a Confession that they wrote with their owne hands which was read in the Court of Paules before the Mayor and Sheriffes and all the people not without great sure before it could be licenced to be read First we beleeue and professe in Baptisme to forsake the Diuel all his works and all the vanities of the world and the lusts of the 〈◊〉 2 We beleeue the Articles of our Faith and that wee are bound to walke in Gods Commandements all the daies of our life 3 We beléeue the Lords Prayer containeth all things necessarie for soule and body and that we are thereby taught onely to pray to our heauenly Father and is no Saint nor Angell 4 We beléeue there is a Catholick Church euen the Communion of Saints builded vpon
taught heresie And hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the Traditions and Religion of the Pope to bée most erronious false and against the doctrine of holy Scriptures which hee had often proued by preaching and writing and the Pope to bee very Antichrist so often preached by the Apostles and Prophets in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmeth to hold of him and to be at his commandement and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them as no King would haue done to his subiects nor a good maister to his seruants setting his féet vpon Emperours necks and making others to hold his stirrops and remoued others from their Empires hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue Kings but hath presumed to fit in the seat of Almighty God which is the conscience of man to kéepe the possession thereof he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins he hath brought in Gods of his own framing and inuented a new religion full of lucre quite contrary to the Scriptures only for maintaining of his kingdome displacing Christ from his glory holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse to the losse of a number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hands boasting in his Canons decrées that he can dispense against Peter Paul the old Testament New that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as God If any man can be aduanced aboue him let him be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the Scriptuers with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light hee cannot but know him therefore I will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the Church of England and my Lord sand you that be here examine your own consciences you are sworne against him you are learned and can iudge the truth I pray God you be not wilfully blind I haue discharged my conscience to the world I will write my mind to her grace which letter you may sée in the book at large Storie and Martine diuers times interrupted him saying he spake blasphemy and would faine haue the Bishop put him to silence who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech Then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the Pope when he was made Archbishop but he denied it and said It appeareth that he did not by the record of the countrey which one of them confessed Many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded choosing rather to venture the losse of his life and all his glorious pompe then to do any thing that might spill his conscience Then they obiected that he was married which he confessed Doctor Martine said his children were bond-men to the Sea of Canterbury At which he smiled saying If a benificed Priest had a Concubine and had bastards by her they are not bond-men to the benifice I trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse Then D. Martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the Church he said Christ Martine said you made K. Henry supreme head of the Church He said of the people of England Ecclesiasticall Temporal and not of the Church for Christ is the onely head of the Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same The Articles of religion touching the Sacrament denying transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse and the reall presence he affirmed as he taught in his Booke Then they cited him to appeare 80 daies after at Rome and then sent him to prison where thou maist sée their visored face of Iustice as though the Court of Rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe but the same time the Pope sent letters executory vnto the King and Queene to disgrade and depriue him which was done before twenty dayes were done And though he were kept in prison at the end of the 80 dayes hee was decreed Contumax and thereupon condemned Upon S. Valentines day next after the Archbishop was disgraded and condemned by Bonner Thurlby Bishop of Ely who sometimes was Cranmers Chaplaine and preferred by him at which time Bonner which a long time had borne great malice towards him and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure made an Oration to the people in this sort This is the man who hath euer despised the Popes holinesse and now is to be iudged by him this is the man that hath pulled downe so many Churches and now is come to be iudged in a Church this is the man that contemned y â— blessed Sacrament of the Altar and now is come to be condemned before the said Sacrament hanging ouer the Altar this is the man that like Lucifer sate in the place of Christ vpon an Altar to iudge others and now is come before the Altar to bee iudged himselfe Thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together beginning euery one with This is the man so lothsomly that he made euery man weary When they had disgraded him they stript him of his gowne put vpon him a poore yeoman Bedles gowne thrid-bare and as ill-fauouredly made as could be and a Townsmans cap vpon his head and so deliuered him to the secular power in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison The Queene Bishops hauing kept the Archbishop now almost three yeares in prison seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while to turn him from his religion they suborned certaine men which should by intreaty and faire promises or any other means allure him to recantation so the wily Papists flocked about him labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation especially Henry Sidall and Frier Iohn a Spaniard they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the Kings Queene and how gainfull it would be both bodily spiritually they added that the Councell Noble-men bare him good wil promising him both his life ancient dignity saying the matter was but small the setting of his hand to a few words but if hee refused there was no hope of pardon for the Queene was purposed that shee would haue Cranmer a Catholique or else no Cranmer at all By these and such like prouocations they at last wâ—nne him to subscribe It may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come But it appeareth by a Letter of his to a Lawyer that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed was that hee might make an end of a Booke against Marcus Antonius a Papist which hee had begun but it is manifest
after the burning of M George Wisard he was wretchedly slaine in hiâ— owne Castle as you may sée in the discourse of this Story Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trent he was sitting from morning vntill night writing Letters vnto the Pope at his rising there appeared vnto him a mighty blacke Dog his eyes flaming liâ—e fire and his eares hanging almost downe to the ground the Cardinall being amazed called his Seruants to bring in a Candle and seeke for the Dog and when the Dog could not be found the Cardinall was strucken with a concâ—it and fell into such a sicknesse as all his Phisitians could not cure and so he dyed By Iohannes Sleidaâ—â—s in his twelfth Booke he saith his purpose was to recouer againe the whole authority and doctrine of the Romish Sea and to set it vp for euer The Councell of Trident was dissolued by the death of this Cardinall Two adulterous Bishops belonging vnto the said Councell of Trident one haunting vnto an honest mans Wife was slaine with a Boare-speare the other Bishop whose haunt was to créepe through a window was hanged in a Ginne laid for him of purpose and so couayed that in the morning he was séene openly in the stréete hanging out of the window to the wondermâ—nt of all that passed by Ex protestatione conceonatorum Germa Iohn Eckius the most vehement impugner of Martine Luther as his life was full of all vngodlinesse vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pittifull his last words were these In case the foure thousand Guilders were ready the matter were dispatched dreaming belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Ex Iohn Carion fol 250. Iohn Vaueler Warfe the next in office to Magraue he was of Antwarpe hee was a sore persecutor of Christs flocke he had drowned diuers good Men and women for the which he was much commended of the bloody Generation being very rich he gaue vp his office intending to passe the rest of his life in pleasure and comming vnto a banquet at Antwarpe to be merry being well laden with Wine he rode home in his Wagon with his Wife a Gentlewoman and his Foole the Horses stood still vpon a bridge and would by no meanes goe foreward then he in a drunken rage cryed out Ride on in a thousand Diuels name by and by râ—se a mighty whirlewind and tossed the Wagon ouer the bridge into the Towne ditch where he was drowned and when he was taken vp his necke was broken his wife was taken vp aliue but died within thrée daies the Gentlewoman and the Foole were saued Bartholomeus Chassaneus a great Persecutor died suddenly Minerius the Bloudy Tormentor of Christes Saints dyed with bleeding in his lower parts the Iudge that accompanied him in his persecution as hee returned homeward was drowned and thrée more of the said company killed one another Iohannes de Roma that cruell Monke that deuised such hellish torments for the poore Christians at Augrowne the Lord paid him home againe with the like torments who rotted to death and could finde no euemie to kill him nor friend to bury him he could not abide his own stinking carrion nor any man else that came neere him could abide his stench The like persecutor was the Lord of Reuest and after his furious persecution he was striken with the like horrible sicknes and with such a fury and madnesse that none durst come neere him and so most wretchedly diâ—â— The like greeuous punishment happened vpon one Iohn Martine a persecutor as appeareth in the History before In the yeare 1565. in the towne of Gaunt in Flanders one VVilliam de VVeuer was imprisoned for religion by the Prouost of S. Peters In Gaunt the Prouost sent for one Giles Brackelman the principall Aduocate of the Councel of Flanders and Borough-master and Iudge of Saint Peters with others of the Rulers of the Towne to sit in Iudgement vpon him as the said Borough-master reasoned with the said VVilliam de VVeauer vpon diuers Articles of his Faith And being about to pronounce his condemnation the Borough-Master was suddenly striken with a Palsey that his mouth was drawne almost vnto his eare and so hee fell downe and died The Lords that stood by shadowed him that the people should not see him and commaunded the people to depart yet they burned the said William de Weauer within thrée houres after the same day The fift of March 1566. Sir Garret Trieste Knight hee had promised the Regent to bring downe the preaching wherefore the Regent promised him to make him a Graue which is an Earle when he had brought with him to Gaunt tidings of the death of the Preachers he receiued from the Regent a Commission to swear the Lords and Commons vnto the Romish Religion and being at supper he bad his Wife call him an houre the sooner in the morning for that he should haue much businesse to doe to sweare the Lords and people vnto the Romish Religion but going to bed in good health in the morning when he should be called he was found dead and as the Lords of Gaunt procéeded to giue the Oath the next day Master Martine de Pester the Secretary being appointed and about to giue the Oath as the first man should haue sworne the said Martin de Pester was stricken of GOD with present death and â—â—uer spake againe These Examples were contained in a Letter written vnto HENRY the second French King which is in the Booke more at large THE Lord Poucher Archbishoppe of Toâ—res who sued for the Court called Chambre Ardente there to condemne the Protestants to the fire who after was stricken with a disease called the fire of God which began at his lower parts and so ascended vpward that one member after another was cut off and so he died miserably Castellanus hauing inriched himselfe by the Gospell and returning from pure Doctrine vnto his old vomit againe became a Persecutor at Orliance but God strucke him with a sicknesse vnknowne vnto the Phisitians one halfe of his body burned as hot as fire and the other halfe was as could as Ice and so most miserably crying he dyed Du Prat was the first that opened vnto the Parliament the knowledge of Herisies and gaue out Commission to put the faithful vnto death he died swearing and horribly blaspheming God and his stomacke was found pierced and gnaune asunder with Wormes Iohn Ruse Councellor in the Parliament comming from the Court hauing made report of the Processe against the poore innocents was taken with a burning in the lower part of his belly before hee could be brought home the fire inuaded all his secret parts and so he died miserably Claude des Asses a Councellor in the said Court the same day that he gaue his consent to burne the faithfull After dinner he committed whoredome with one of his Seruants and in doing the act he was stricken with a disease that he died out of hand Peter
same should also haue ioyned the mighty armie which the Duke of Parma had made ready in the Low-countries which Army should land in this realme and so both by sea land this realme should be inuaded and a speedy conquest made thereof whereupon it was gathered that neither by sea nor by land there could be much resistance made that there would be a strong party in this realme of papists to ioine with the forrein forces but within eight or nine daies of the appearance of the popish so great a nauie vpon the coast of England it was forced to flée from the coast of Flanders neer Callice towards the vnknown parts of the cold North and all their hope of an imagined conquest was quite ouerthrowne It could procéed of no reason of man nor of any earthlâ— power but onely of God that such a worke so long time a framing to be so suddenly ouerthrown Before this Army of Spaine was ready to come forth vnto the seas there were sundry things printed and sent into this realme to notâ—fie vnto the people that the realme should be conquered the Quéene destroyed and all the Noble men wealthy that did obey her would withstand the inuasion should be with all their families â—ooted out and their liuings bestowed vpon the Conqueâ—ors and a new Bull was published at Rome by the Pope whereby the Quéen was accursed and pronounced to be depriued of her Crowne and the inuasion and conquest of the Realme committed by the Pope to the King Catholick which was the King of Spaine to execute the sam with his armies both by Sea and Land and to take the crowne vnto himselfe and there was a large explanation of this bâ—ll written by Cardinall Allen calling himselfe therein the Cardinall of England and a number of them were sent ouer ready printed into England most bitterly written against the Queene and her Father King Henry the eight and her Nobiâ—itie and Councell In the Fleet were aboundance of Princes Marquesses Condez and Doâ—s which came to haue possessed the roomes of all the Noble men in England and Scotland Don Brnardin Mendoza in an open assembly did say in a brauerie that the young King of Scots whom hee called a boy had deceived the King of Spaine but if the Kings Nauy might prosper against England The King of Scots should loose his Crowne when the brute was brought of the Spanish Fléet and of the Armie of the Sea coast of Flanders with their shippings Charles Lord Howard Lord High Admirall of England who is of the most Noble house of the Duke of Norffolke had the charge of the greatest company of the Quéenes Ships an other company were appointed to remaine with the Lord Henry Seymer second Sonne to the Duke of Somerset and brother to the Earle of Hertford these continued in the narrow Seas betwixt England and Flanders to attend the Duke of Parmas actions A third company were armed in the West part of England towards Spain vnder the conduct of Sir Francis Drake but after it was vnderstood that the great Nauy of Spaine was ready to come out of Liâ—bâ—ne my Lord Admirall was commaunded to saile with the greatest ships to the west parts of England to ioyn with Drake whom he made Uice-admirall and the Lord Thomas Howard second Son vnto the Duke of Norffolke and the Lord Sheffield with a great number of Knights went with the Lord Admirall When the Popish Army came vnto the Coasts of England it séemed so great that the Englishmen were astonied at the sight of them yet the Lord Admiral and Drake hauing but fifty of the English ships out of the hauen of Plimouth they â—uriously pursued the whole Nauy of Spaine being about 160. ships so that with the continuall shot of the English one whole day the whole Nauy fled without returning and after the English Nauy being increased to an hundred ships renued the fight with terrible great shot all the whole day gaining alwaies the winde of the Spanish Nauy and for nine daies together forced them to flye and destroyed suâ—ke and tooke in thrée daies fight diuers of the greatest shippes out of which great numbers were brought to London besides many that were killed and drowned and many were brought vnto other parts of the realme to the great disshâ—nour of Spaine in which fight the Spaniards did neuer take nor sinke any English ship or boate or breake any mast or tooke any one man prisoner so that some of the Spaniards let not to say That in all these â—ghts Christ shewed himselfe a Lutheran The King of Scots gaue straight commaundement vpon all his Sea coasts that no Spaniards should be sufferd to land in any part bâ—t that the English might be relieued of any wants The Popish Fleet was by tempest driuen beyond the Isâ—es of Orkâ—ay in an vnaccustomed place for the young Gentlemen of Spain which had neuer felt storms and colde weather about those northerne Islands their Marriners and Souldiers died daily by multitudes as by their bodies cast vpon the land did appeare And after twentie daies and more hauing spent their time in miserie then as they returned homeward the Lord ordained the windes to be so violently contrarious that the Nauy was disseâ—ered vpon the high Seas west vpon Ireland and a great number of them driuen vpon sands dangerous bayes and rockes all along vpon the north and west parts of Ireland in places distant aboue an hundred miles asunder whereby we may see how God fauoured the iust cause of Q. Elizabeth in shewing his anger against those proud boasting enemies of Christs peace and she and her Realme professing the Gospell of Christ are kept and deâ—ended according to the Psalme vnder the shadow of his wings from the face of the wicked that sought to afflict her and compasse her round about to take away her soule Iohn Weldon William Hartley and Robert Sutton IOhn Weldon Priest was borne at Tollerton in Yorkshire he was indicted of â—reason in Middlesex first he took exception to the indictment that it was false then to the Iurie that they were vnfit men to try him because they were Lay men and vnto the whole Bench as vnworthy to bee his Iudges because hee did know them to be resolued before hand to condemne all Catholikes brought before them He acknowledged himselfe to bee a Priest and therefore not triable by the Common Lawes Whereupon persisting in that hee would make no answere and his Treasons manifest he was condemned to be hanged drawne and quartered William Hartly Priest was condemned for the same treasons that Welden was it was proued that he sent a Letter to Paris to Seminary Priests importing the full resolution of the said Hartly and some other of his confederats immediatly vppon the landing of the Spaniards to haue surprised the Tower of London and to haue fired the Citie he affirmed that if the Pope doe depriue the Quéene and discharge her subiects of their obedience and
clatter out the like at the same time and in the same termes The first of August the Monke goes out of Paris towards Saint Cloud vpon his departure they take aboue two hundred of the cheefe Cittizens and others Prisoners whom they knew to haue goods friends and credite with the Kinges partie as a precaution to redeeme that cursed murderer in case he were taken before or after the deed In his way hee was taken by the Regiment of Coublan which was then in gard telling them that hee went then vnto his Maiestie to let him vnderstand something which concerned his seruice Coublan caused him to be conducted by two Souldionrs vnto the Kinges quarter which was at Saint Cloud commaunding him that if happely the King were not there they should bâ—ing him to some one of the Counsell Whom the Monke giues to vnderstand that the first President and other of the Kinges Seruants had sent him to aduertise him that there is a good number of Partisans at Paris who if it please his Maiestie to giue them a day and houre will keepe him a Port open And to purchase the more credit vnto his wordes he shewes a certaine Paper written in Italian Characters the which hee said was a Letter of credit from the first President accompanied with a Pasport from the Garle of Brienne signed Charles Leuxemburge and faines that he had obtained it to goe out of Paris vndâ—r colour of going to Orleance and that he had many priuate instructions which he might not deliuer but to his Maiesty alone The King beeing aduertised by La Guesle the Proctour Generall commaunds he should bee brought the next day but hee is examined first by Portaile The next day being come to the Kings lodging they were called by Du Iotall the first Grâ—ome of his Chamber At the first La Guesâ—e caused the Iacobin to stay neere the doore and taking his Papers hee presents them vnto his Maiestie who hauing read them commaunds the Iacobin should approach whom he asked what hee would say to whom hee answered That it was a secret thing Some distrust made La Guesle to speake beeing betwixt the King and him Speake aloud said hee twice or thrice there is not any one héere but the King trusts His Maiestie seeing him make diffâ—cultie to speake commands him againe to approach The Baron of Bellegard Maister of the Kinges Horse and La Guesle who were alone in the Chamber retired two or three paces The King bends his eare but instead of hearing what hee expected this wretch drawes a Knife out of his sleeue made of purpose thrusts his Maiestie into the bottome of the bellie and there leaues the Knife in the wound The King drawes it forth and with some striuing and strugling of the Monke strikes him aboue the eye many ranne in at this noyse and in the heat of choller killing this vile and cruell Monster of men preuented the true discouery and finding out of this enterprise and the authors and actors thereof worthy to be noted with a perpetuall blot of disloyalty and treason The Phisitions held that the wound was curable and the same day the King did write of this attempt and of his hope of recouery to the Gouernours of Prouinces to forraigne Princes and to his Friends and confederats But feeling that the King of Kings had otherwise determined of his life he did first comfort himselfe in foreséeing that the last houres of his crosses should bee the first of his felicities Then lamenting his good and faithfull Seruants who suruiuing should finde no respect with those whose mindes had beene so abandoned to mischiefe as neither the feare of God nor the dignity of his person could disswade them from this horrible sacriledge One thing said he doth comfort me that I read in your faces with the gréefe of your hearts and the sorrow of your soules a godly and commendable resolution to contiuâ—e vnited for the preseruation of that which remaines whole of my estate and the reuenge which you owe vnto the memory of him who hath loued you so déerely I séeke not the last curiously leauing the punishment of mine enemies vnto God I haue learned in this schoole to forgiue them as I doe with all my heart But as I am cheefely bound to procure peace and rest vnto this realm I coniure you all by that inuiolable Faith which you owe vnto your Country that you continue firme and constant defenders of the Common liberty and that you neuer lay downe Armes vntill you haue purged the Realme of the troubles of the publike quiet Thus and other such things hee spake as the last pangs of death carried him within few houres vnto another world By his death he extinguished the second parcel of the third Race of Capets in the branch of Valois leauing the Crown to the third Royall branch of Burbons whervnto the order of the Fundamentall Law did lawfully call him And thus you may see the damnable proiects and dissignes of these Iesuiticall Popish Spirits against the Lord and his annointed The death of Henry the fourth HENRY the fourth King of France of the Royall Race of the Burbons who for his famous rescues and victories and martiall exploits had purchased vnto himself amongst his owne Subiects the sur-name of Great whose life and actions future ages may reade with admiration was likewise trayterously murdered by the disloyall and vngodly practises of the Papists A Parliament being holden at Paris haning disanulled the Buls of Cardinall Caietans Legation and other Bulls come from Rome the first of March together with their procéedings excommunications and fulminations made by Marcellin Landriano tearming himselfe the Popes Nuntio The said Bulls and all their procéedings an edicts being burnt in the Market place which contained a pardon of that most cruell paracide on Henry the third lately murthered the King was first therefore excommunicated by Pope Gregory the 4. of that name Afterward the Iesuits vnderstanding that the King did purpose something against them for the cruell murder committed on the person of the late King and for other their exorbitant and deuillish practises daily intended and contriued the Deuill stirres vp another of his deerely beloued Sonnes to murder his Maiestie on this manner following On Friday the day after the Quéenes Coronation the King being aduertised of some omninous prediction he went into his Chamber and fell on his knees and prayed and thus he did thrée times in the end he went and walked in the Gallery vntill dinner time After dinner many Noble-men came into his Chamber and began to tell some tales to put him out of his melancholly humor and to make him laugh hauing â—miled a little with the rest being by nature of a pleasant disposition in the end he said We haue laughed enough for Fryday we may well weep on Sunday Héereupon he sent to the Arcenall at foure of the clocke whereupon they say that the Duke of Uendosme told him that he
3 Bâ—zaes Register of Martyrs vnder Decius 11 Boniface the forerunner of Antichrist 24 Beda Priest wrote 37. vollums 27 Boniface an Englishman Archbishop of Mentz and Martir Ibid. Bohemians suppresse Idolatrous Temples 127 Basill besiedged by the Dolphiâ— of France 145 Barnes a Fryer beares Fagots for eating flesh on a Fryday 166 Bilney a great Preacher of the truth his articles abiuration and martyrdome afterwards 177 Bayfield a Monke of Berry a valiant Martyr his cruell vsage and martyrdome 179 Baynham a Lawyer whipt rackt and martyred for maintaining the truth 181 Bartrucke a Scottish Knight confutes certaine Articles of the Papists for which he is condemned and his picture burried 193. 194. 195. Byble at large set vp in euery Church 200 Bonners examination his pride before the Commissioners 225 His vnreuerent and forward words his imprisonment and depriuation 226 Bâ—ner compares Priests to the virgin Mary 240 Bradfords declaration of the manner of disputaon he meant to hold 244 Beckets Image twice set vp at Mercers Chappell and throwne downe 256 Bishoppe of Chester who condemned George Marsh burned with a harlot dies therof 268 Barlow for bearing witnesse of the truth sent to the Fleet. 269 Berd the Promoter his cruelty to Iames Treuisam and other Professors 281 Bartlet Greene Gent. in trouble for writing the Queene is not yet dead meaning Queene Mary and afterwards for denying the Sacrament of the Altar condemned burnt 313 Blind Boy martyred at Glocester 323 Bloudy Commission granted by King Philip and Queene Mary to prosecute the poore members of Christ whereupon 22. are brought before Bonner out of Essex 330 Barbara Final burned at Canterbury 332 Bradbregs widow burned at Canterbury Ibid Bends wife burned at Canterbury Ibid Berry a Priest and Commissary a Persecutor of the faithfull his suddaine and fearefull end 356 Bate a Barber a persecutor of the faithfull his suddaine death 362 C CAligula Caesar. 2 Commodus Son to Verus Emperor 7 Contention between the East West Church for the obseruation of Easter day Ibid Constantine the Emperor borne in Brittaine 18 His prayers to his Souldiers Ibid. His immunity to the ministry his prouision for liberall sciences 19 Constantine with the helpe of three legions of Souldiours out of Brittany obtains the peace of the vniuersall Church 20 Councell at Sternhalt for the obseruation of Easter 25 Councell of Constance 26 Carolus Magnus proclaimed Emperor 25 Cambridge erected by Sigisbert 29 Chester built 33 Cloud halfe blood halfe fire seene in England 39 Canutus succeeds Siranus and erects the monastery of S. Edmonsbury 40 Councell at Vercellis 43 Councell at Mentz vnder Pope Leo 9. Ibid. Councell at Latteran Ibid. Councell at Mantua against Priests marriages Ibid. Controuersie betweene Canterbury and Yorke for the Primacy 45 Calixtus the second Pope 50 Complaints of sundry abuses in the Church 51 Contention betweene the Bishop of Yorke and Canterbury 68 Conclusions put vp to the Parliament 93 Councell of Constance for pacifying a schisme betwixt 3. Popes in which Iohn the Pope was deposed proued to be an hereticke a murtherer a Sodomite and many others in the 8. Session Iohn Wickliff and his forty Articles were condemned 112 Councell of Basill send Ambassadors to the Bohemians with their answers 130 Councell of Basil begun 137 Contention between two Popes 145 Constantinople taken 146 Clement the seuenth Pope his wicked life and death 162 Collins for holding vp a little Dogge when the Priest was at Masse burned and the Dogge with him 190 Cowbridge after he was almost starued martyred at Oxford 191 Cardinall Poole attainted of high treason flyes to Rome 200 Commotions in Oxfordshire Yorkshire Norfolke and Suffolke 222 Commotions in Oxford and Buckingham appeased by the Lord Grey 224 Commotion in the North. ibid. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury offers to defend the book of common-prayer 235 Communication between Doctor Ridley and Secretary Bourne in the â—ower 240 Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury sent to Oxford to dispute 242 Cat apparelled like a Priest hanged at the Crosse in Cheapside 244 Cardinal Pools Oration in the Parlament-house 246 Christianus king of Denmark his Letters to Q. Mary for Miles Câ—uâ—rdale 256 Causon of Thunderst in Essex for maintayning the truth burned at Kayley 262 Christopher Wade burned at Dartford for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament 281 Cornelius Burgie burned 295 Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury his parentage and education hee is sent Ambassador to the Emperour he is sent Ambassadour to the Pope he seekes to banish Popish errors and to reforme the Church he is charged with heresie for denying the Popes power he is condemned and disgraded by Bonner Bonners Oration in disgrace of him he is allured to recant by fair promises and entreaty his martyrdome from fol. 315. to 32â— Christopher Liâ—â—er burned 322 Cisley Ormes burned 343 Cuthbert Simpson Martyr 354 Christian George burned 357 Christopher Browne burned at Canterbury 365 D. DEscription of the Primitiue and later times of the Church 1 Domitius Caesar. 2 Dâ—cius tyrannie against Christians 11 Danes enter England and burn the I le of Sheppey in Kent 30 Danes take Yorke 32 Dunston Abbot of Glastenbury banished by Eâ—â— wine 36 Danes arriue and do much spoile 39 Danes suddenly slaine vpon S. Brices day 40 Danes begin to be Christians 41 Diuers Popes at one time 52 Dominicans or black Fryers order instituted 78 Diuorce of K. Henry the eighth and Q. Katharine 174 Duke of Norfolk committed 201 Destruction of Merindall Cabriers in Fr. 202 â—od alias Scot burnt at Callice 206 Daâ—id Beaton Archb. and Cardinal in Scotland his miserable end and buriall in a dunghill 215 Duke of Sommerset protector his history proclamation against him sent to the Tower discharged againe committed to the Tower again arraigned at Westminst and condemned beheaded at Tower-hill 230 231 232 Duke of Northumberland beheaded 235 Dagger throwne at the Preacher at Paules crosse ibid. Disputations in the Conuocation house about the Sacrament 256 Duke of Suffolk brought to the Tower ib. Duke of Suffolke beheaded at the Tower-hill 239 Derick Caruer condemned 281 Dunstone Chittenden famished in the Castle of Canterbury 329 Denis Burges Martyred at Lewis 332 Denis Brigs martyred 349 Dunning the cruell Chancellors sudden death 356 E. EVstachius a Captain with his wife family martyred 4 England troubled only with the tenth persecution 16 Ethelbert King of Kent 21 Edwine conuerted by Paulinus and christened at Yorke 25 Ethelwood conuerts the people of South-sax 26 Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen 28 Egbert sole King 30 Ethelwolph Bishop of Winchester succeedes K. by the Popes dispensation his superstition ibib Edw. the elder subdues Wales and Scotland and is alwaies victorious 35 Edmund expels the Danes and is slaine at Glassenbury 36 Edwine crowned at Kingstone ibid. Edward succeds Edgar and is murthered 39 Egelred King ibid. Elphegus Bishop of Canterbury put to death at Grenwich 40 Eldred driues out Canutus ibid. Edmund sirnamed Ironside