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
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
hee 〈◊〉 toither and tooke possession thereof and returned and maried Emmalate wife of Egelred by whom he had a sonne called Hardyknight He held a Parliament at Oxford where it was agreed that Englishmen and Danes should hold the Lawes made by King Edgar Then the Danes begun to be Christians and Canutus went to Rome and returned He gouerned the Lâ—nd 20. yeares and left two sonnes Harold and Hardeknight which was made King of Denmarke in his Fathers time Harold called Harefore for his swiftnesse succéeded him hee banished his Stepmother Emma and tooke away her goods and Iewels Hardeknight King of Demmarke succéeded him and when he had raigned two yeares being merry at Lambeth he was suddenly strucke dumbâ— and died being the last king of the Danes that raigned in England In the time of these Danish Kings there was one Godwine an Earle in England when the aforesaid two sâ—nnes of King Egelred Alfred and Edward came from Normandy to England to visit their mother Emma and brought with them a great company of Normaines this Godwine hauing a Daughter named Godith whom he thought to haue maried to Edward and made him king Hee perswaded the king Hardeknight that the Normaines should be slaine and gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe Wherefore hée met them at Guildowne with a company of English Souldiers slewe almost all the Normaines winding their gots out of their bellyes and put out the eyes of Alfred the eldest brother and sent him to the Abby of Elie where hée fed him with bread and water vntill shorty after hée dyed Edward escaped to his mother who fearing Godwine sent him againe into Normandy This cruell fact to the Normaines séemeth to bée the cause why the Iust Iudgement of God shortly after Conquered the English Nation by the Normaines After the death of king Hardeknight last king of the Danes the Lords sent into Normandy for the aforesaid Edward yonger sonne of Quéen Emma to take possession of the Realme who came with a few Normaines and was crowned at Winchester He maried Godith Daughter of Earle Godwine hee ruled with much wisdome and 〈◊〉 24. yeares In his time his mother Emma was accused to be too familier with Alwine Bishopâ—â— Winchester by the councell of Godwine they were committed to prison many of 〈◊〉 Bishops laboured for them to the King but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury stoppâ—â— their suâ—e saying How dare you defend her shée hath defâ—med her sonne the 〈◊〉 and taken her lerâ—erous Lemman the Bishop she is accused to bee consenting to â—he death of her sonne Alfred and procured poyson for her sonne Edward it she will 〈◊〉 bare footed for her selfe foure steps and for the Bishop fiue vpon nine 〈…〉 if she escape harmelesse they shall be afâ—oyled she agreed theris then the â—ing and many Nobles being present she was led blindfold to the place where Irons lay burning hote and passed the nine shares vnhurt when they opened her eyes and she sâ—e her selfe past the paine she kneeled downe and gaue thankes to God then the King asked her forgiuenesse but the Archbishop fâ—ed into Normandy The said cruell 〈◊〉 Godwine tooke bread and eate it in witnesse that he was not guilty of the death of Alfred the Kings brother but as soone as hee had receiâ—ed the bread he was choked at the table before the king at Winsor and he was conueyed to Winchester and buried Harold the second sonne of Godwine succeeded Edward who was the last King of the Sâ—xâ—ns Then the Kings soâ—ne of Denmarke came into England with 300. ships who entred the North and claymed the Land the Lords of the country rose against them but the Danes had the victory then Hâ—rold gaue them a great battell and got the victory and slew the King of Denmarkes sonne After this victory Harold waxed proud and couetous and would not diuide the prâ—y to his Knights but kept it to himselfe Whereas Harold had sworne to William Duke of Normandy after the death of King Edward to take possession of the Kingdome of England to his vse according to the will of King Edward that the Duke of Normandy should succéede him The Duke sent to him admonishing him of the Couenants that were agréed vpon betwixt them Harald answered thus That such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden concerning the Land of another without the consent of the Lords of the same especially because neede and dread compelled him thereto Whereupon Duke William prepaired his Armie and sent to Pope Alexander concerning his Title and â—oiage the Pope confirmed him in the same and sent him a Banner And they tooke shipping with a great company and landed at Hastings in Sussex the Normans and Harald ioyned battell in the place where afâ—ter was builded the Abby of Battell in Sussex where the Normaines obtained the victory through the Iust Prouidence of God where Harold was wounded in the left eye with an arrowe and incontinently dyed when hee had raigned nine yeares and was buryed at Walâ—ome This Duke William and King Edward were by the Fathers side Cosen Germaynes After this Gregory the first succeeded Siluester the second he sate 4. yeares 〈◊〉 moneth and 8. dayes Pope By the testimony of Stella Benno and Platina and many others he was a Sorceâ—er and was exalâ—ed to the Papacy by the Deuill vpon this condition that after his death he should giue himselfe to the Deuill He demaunded of the Deuill how long he should â—nioy his Popedome Hee answered Untill thou say Masse in Ierusalem thou shalt liue At length the Pope in Lent saying Masse in the Temple of the Holy Crosse which Church vnknowne to him was called Ierusalem then hee knewe hee should dye then repenting hee confessed his fault before all the people â—fâ—er him succeeded Iohn the 19. which brought in the Feast of All-Soules to bee celebrated next after All-Saints day by the meanes of Odilo Abbot of Clâ—nake This Abbot thinking that Purgatory should bee in Mount Eâ—na dreamed vppon a time that hâ—e by his Masâ—es had dâ—liuered diuerse Souâ—es from thence saying that hee heard the voyces and lamentatious of Dâ—uils crying out for that the Soules were taken from them by Masses and Dirges funâ—rall Pope Iohn the 20. succeeded him and after him Sergius the 4 after him Benedictus the 8. then Iohn the 12. who was prâ—moted by Arte Magicke of diuerse Sorcerers He brought in the fast of Saint Iohn Baptist eauen and of Saint Laurence After him followed Pope Benedictus the 9. aspiring to his Papacie by Magicke practising Inchaâ—tments and Conâ—â—rations in words he resisted the Emperour Henricus the third sonne of Conradus and placed in his roome Peâ—â—us King of Hungary After for feare of Henricus he was faine to sell his Seaâ— so Gratianus called Gregorie the sixt for 1500. lib. at which time there was three Popes in Rome together raigning one against another Benedictus the 9. Siluester the 3. Gregorius the 6. for which
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
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
honors and luker of the world if he be a Shepheard taking his name of féeding his shéepe if as Christ commandeth he feed the shéep with the word and good example then is he the Uicar of Christ but if he walke contrary because there is no society betwixt Christ and Beliall and Christ saith He that is not with me is against me How is he the Uicar of Christ and not rather the Uicar of Antichrist Christ called Peter Sathanas when he contraried him but in one word why should not any other then being more contrary to Christ be called Sathanas and Antichrist 9 The Pope is the same beast of whom it is spoken in the Reuelation Power is giuen him to make warre vpon the Saints 10 It is lawfull to preach notwithstanding the Popes inhibition Answere The Article is euident because the Apostles did preach contrary to the commaundement of the Bishop And S. Hialry did the like contrary to a Pope that was an Arian and Cardinals contrary to the commaundement of Pope Gregory the 12. sent throughout all Realmes such as should preach against him 11 If the Popes commaundement be not agréeable to the word of God it is not to be obayed Answer S. Isidore saith He that ruleth and commaunds any thing contrary or besides the word of God he is honored as a false witnes and a Church-Robber therefore we are bound to obay no Prelate but in case he commaunds the commaundements of Christ. And Saint Augustine speaking of the Chaire of Moses saith They teach in the Chaire of Moses the Law of God therefore God teacheth by them but if they will teach you any of their owne inuentions heare them not neyther doe as they commaund you let therefore my Aduersaries and Slanderers learne that there be not onely twelue Councels in the Gospell but as many Councels as there be Commaundements of God binding vs thereunto vnder the paine of deadly sinne 12 It is lawfull for the Cleargy and Layty to iudge by their iurisdiction of all thinges pertaining to saluation and of the workes of Prelates Answere Subiects ought first to examine themselues 1. Cor. 11. Secondly to examine all thinges which appertaine to their saluation for a spirituall man iudgeth all thinges therefore I say a Lay man ought to iudge and examine the workes of his Prelate and to bewarâ— of false Prophets and they ought to examine their workes that if they be good they may reioyce in GOD and if they be euill be sory for them but not to do the like least they be damned with them according to the saying If the Blind lead the Blind they shall both fall into the ditch 13 God doth suspend euery wicked Prelate from his Ministry whilst hee is in actuall sinne because then he sinneth in whatsoeuer he doth Answere 1. Cor 11. Paul suspendeth all such as are in any greeuous crime from the eating of the â—odie of the Lord and the drinking of his blood and so consequently suspenâ—â—th all sinfull Prelats from the ministration of the Sacrament and God doth suspend the wicked from the declaration of his righteousnesse Psal. 49. To suspend is to prohibite the ministry of any other good thing for the offence sake or as the new law terms it to interdict or forbid 14 The Cleargy for their owne preferment and exhaltation doth vndermine the Lay people and multiply their owne couetousnesse cloaketh their malice and prepareth a way for Antichrist The answere which is made to the 25. Article in priâ—on sufficeth for this the first part he proueth by the example of Peter de Luna which named himselfe Benedict and of Angelus Coriarius who named himselfe Gregory the twelth of Iohn the 23. and by the 13. and 14. of Ezechiell and out of Gregory who saith What shall become of the flocke when the Shepheards are become wolues The second part is proued by Ierome Gregory 17. Homily and by Barnard vpon the Canonicals the third is proued by experience for who defendeth the wickednes of any scisme but only the Cleargy alledging Scriptures bringing reasons therefore They excuse symony couetousnes in heaping together many benifices luxuriousnes and fornication how many now say it is no deadly sin alleadging the saying of Genesis Increase and multiply heereby also the fourth part is verified for Barnard vpon the Canonicals saith wicked Priests prepare the way for Antichrist 15 Iohn Hus openly teacheth that these Articles are true Answer Some of these I did publish and some mine enemies fained now adding then diminishing now falsly imputing the whole proposition vnto me which the Commissaries did confesse before me whom I desired that they might be punished for the false faining of those Articles 16 All the foresaid conclusions be false erronious and seditious and weaken the power of the Church inuented contrary to the scriptures and the Church Answer If there be any such I am ready most humbly to reuoke and recant the same 17 They obiected against him to change the Treatise that hee wrote against Pallets and Stanislaus de Zuoyma Answer I desired for Gods sake that it might be openly read in the audience of the Councell and that I would submit my selfe to thâ— iudgement of the whole Councell 18 Iohn Hus preached he should go to Constance if he should be forced to recant that which he had taught he neuer purposed to do it with his mind because what he had taught was pure doctrine of Christ. Answer This Article is full of lies God saith to the inuenter thereof All the day long thou hast imagined wickednes and with thy tongue as with a sharp razor thou hast wrought deceit thou hast delighted to talke of wickednes rather then of Iustice. I wrote an Epistle left it to be read vnto the people that they should pray for me perseuer stedfastly in the doctrine of Christ knowing certainly that I neuer taught any such errors as mine enemies ascribe vnto me and if I should be ouercome with false wilnesses they should not be troubled but continue stedfastly in the truth First the councell condemned all his bookes to be burned and condemned al his Articles to be hereticall and himselfe to be an heretick when the sentence was ended knéeling down on his knées he said Lord Iesu Christ forgiue mine enemies by whom thou knowest I am falsly accused and that they haue vsed false witnesse and slanders against me forgiue them for thy great mercy sake and the chiefe of the Priests derided his prayer Seauen Bishops which were appointed to disgrade him commanded him to put on his priestly garments when he put on his white vesture hee remembred the Albe that Herod put on Christ to mocke him withall and in all other thinges comforted hee himselfe by the example of Christ when hee had put on his vestures the Bishops exhorted him to change his mind and prouide for his honor and safegard and according to the manner of the Ceremony going to the top
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
so bound the word of God that it should not he preached in his dayes such was the death of Steuen Gardner These may be terrible spectacles for such as occupie their tongue and braines to stop the course of Gods word but his tyranny dyed not with him but succeeded with his Office in Henry Chichley and in more of the spitefull Spiritualty They confederated with the Lord Powis a great gouernour in Wales féeding him with large gifts and promises anâ— being 〈◊〉 with Iudas vnder pretence of amitie tooke the Lord Cobham and sent him to London where he was imprisoned in the Tower againe and after they condemned him againe of Heresie and Treason according to the aforesaid Act of Parliament Hee rendred thankes to God that he had appointed him to suffer for his name At his execution hé◠was laide vpon an Hurdle as a Traytor and drawne into Saint Giles Field whereâ—s they had set vp a new paire of Gallowes When he was taken from the Hurdle he fell deuoutly vpon his knees desiring God to forgiue his enemies then stood vp and exhorted the multitude in most godly manner to follow the Lawes of God written in the Scripture and to bâ—ware of such Preachers that are contrary to Christ in their conuersations with many other speciall Councels then was he hanged by the middle in chaines and so consumed aliue in the fire praising the name of God so long as his life lasted and â—o commended his Soule to God and departed mâ—st Christianlike in the sixt yeare of the raigne of Henry the fifth The people shewed great dolour but the Priest blasphemed and accursed him requiring the people not to pray for him but to iudge him damned in Hell because he departed not in the obedience of the Pope ¶ The Councell of Basell THE Councell of Basell began which was most troublesome and endured longer then any other Councell almost 17. yeares wherein was concluded as in the Councell of Constance that the generall Councell was aboue the Pope Unto this Councell came the Emperour Sygismund Pope Martin dyed after he had summoned This Councell and Eugenius the 4. succéeded Pope who would haue drawne the Councell vnto Bonony from Basell pretending the Gréekes would come to the Councell and be vnited to the west Church and that they would not passe the Alpâ—s And he cited the Fathers of the Councell vnto Bonony and they cited him againe to bee at the Councell or his Embâ—ssadours Whereupon sprung a doubtfull question amongst the Deuines some held the Pope an Hereticke because hee had contemned the commaundement of the Church others that hee was an Heretâ—cke and relaps and vpon long arguments contentions and fallings out and when by no meanes â—e would allow the Councell of Basell hee was dâ—priued by the Councell and Amedeus Duke of Sauâ—y chosen Pope ¶ The rest of the Story of the Bohemians THe Story of the Bohemians being in this Treatise before set forth vntill it was agreed that the Bohemians chose foure Ministers to dispute vpon the foure Articles and the Councell chose foure to dispute against them at the day appointed Rochezantus one of the foure Ministers chosen by the Bohemians propounded the first Article touching the Communion to be ministred in both kindes and desputed thereof three dayes in the forenoones Then Venceslaus disputed vpon the second Article touching the punishment of sinne two dayes after whom Vldaâ—icus propounded and disputed vpon the third Article two dayes touching the free preaching of the word of God Last of all Peter Paine an Englishman disputed three daies vpon the fourth Article touching ciuill Dominion of the Clergie and after gaue Copies of their diâ—putations vnto the Councell with heartie thankes that they were â—eard The three last somewhat inueyed against the Councell commending Iohn Hus and Iohn Wickliffe for their Doctrine One Ragusio answered the first point and 〈◊〉 puted eight dayes thereon Egidius Carlerius answered the second point by the space of foure dayes One Henricus answered the third Article three daies One Iohn Pollomarius answered the fourth Articles three daies the Bohemians stil stood to their Articles At length the Councel and the Bohemians were agreed and receiuing the Communion in both kinds was permitted vnto the Bohemians and Articles drawne vnder the hands and Seales of the Councel of one part and the Bohemians on the other concerning the other Articles After all this the Bohemians put vp these petitions following vnto the Councell First for the extirpation of diuerse discentions which will follow amongst our people vpon the 〈◊〉 of the Communion that you would grant an vniforme order of Communion vnto all men vnder both kinds vnto our Bishops hauing charge of Soules and to their Uicars and flocks for this done by your benefite the whole Kingdome shall bee comforted without measure and established in brotherly loue whereby an vniforme obedience shall bee perpetually attributed to holy Church 2 That to auoid the doubtfulnesse of many which suppose that the Councell doth suffer the said Communion vnder both kinds vnto vs but for a time as neither profitable nor wholsome we desire that you would confirme and continue it by thâ— buls of your Letters 3 Wee beseech you for the finall defence and obseâ—uation of all things compounded and for the good order in the Spiritualties you would prouide for vs a good and lawfull Pastor which shall seeme to vs most meete for our Kingdome 4 Wee desire you for the worthy 〈◊〉 of our Realme that you will direct Letters of the sacred Councell declaring to all Princes Seculer and Spirituall Cities and Communalties according to the compositions 5 Wee desire you that in the discussing of the matter of the Communion vnder both kinds that you will proceede no otherwise then according to the Lawe of God the Order of Christ and his Apostles the generall Councell and minds of holy Doctors truely grounded vpon the Lawe of God 6 Weâ— dâ—sire that for the great affection of our people you will giue vs the libertie to communicate to â—oung children the Sacrameâ—t of the Supper for if thiâ— vse of Communicating be taken away which our Kingdome being godly mooued by the wrâ—tings of most great and holy Doctors and brought in by examples hath receiued as Catholicke and exercised now a long time it would rise vp to an intollerable offence amongst the people and their mindes would bée grieuously vâ—xed and troubled 7 Wee require you that you would permit at least the Gospels Epistles and Crede to bee read in the Church in our vulger tongue to moue the people to deuotion for it hath beene so vsed of olde time in the Church and in our 〈◊〉 8 Wee desire that Prebends and collacions of certaine benefices oâ— Cathedral 〈◊〉 Churches may bee annexed and incorporated vnto the Uniuersitie of Prage that it may be increased and preâ—erred 9 Wee râ—quire that with allâ—are and studie you will watch and séeke for that long desired and most
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
also lampes tapers and such other things profit nothing 8 That no Images should be set vp to bee worshipped â—p the Scriptures and therefore they are to be taken downe in Churches 9 That Matrimony is prohibitâ—d to no kindâ— of men by the worde but euery whoremonger is by the word sequestred from the Communion of the Church 10 That single life vnchast filthy is most vnséemely for priesthood The Bishops would not come but sent their Diuines then the disputation was begun by Swinglius Oecolampadius Bucer Capito Blaurer and diuers others defended the Conclusions Amongst others Conrado Treger an Austine Fryer of great fame impugned them who at last when hee sought for help besides the Scriptures the Masters of the Disputations would not suffer him so to doe Wherefore hee departed out of the place the disputations ended the foresaid conclusions were approued by the common consent of the most part and were ratified obserued in Berâ—e and proclaimed by the Magistrate in sundry places thereabouts and Masses Altars and Images abolished in all places and immediately after was the like reformation at Constance and after at Geneua Pope Clem 7. in this yéere conspired with the Uenetians raised a great army and proclaimed war against the Emperor about the possession of Italy the Empâ—â—ror sent his army to Millaine tooke the City Castle marching towards Rome took it spoiled it besieged Pope Clement with his Cardinals in mount Adrian and took the pope who could not be ransomed vnder 40000. Floreines This Pope bare great hatred against the Family of the Columni because it was imperiall and threatned the Cardinall thereof to take away his Cardinals hat who answered if he so did he would put on a helmet to ouerthrow the Popes triple Crowne Our Cardinall of England hearing of the captiuitie of his father the Pope stirred vp the King all he might fight with the Emperour and defend the Faith and he should receiue a great reward of God The King answered he was sorie for it but where you would haue me defend the Faith I assure you this warre is not for thâ— Faith but for temporall possessions I and my people can by no meanes rescue him but if any treasure may helpe him take that which seemeth to you conuenient Then the Cardinall made out of the Kings treasure twelue score thousand pounds which he carried ouer the Sea with him then the Cardinall sent his commission to all Bishops commanding fastings and solemne processions to be had wherein they did sing the Letany after this sort Sancta Maria ora pro Clemente Papa Sancte Petre ora pro Clemente Papa c. The Cardinall passing the Seas went out of Callice with the Bishop of London the Lord Sandes the Kings Chamberlaine the Earle of Derby Sir Henry Gilford Sir Thomas Moore with many other Knights and Esquires to the number of one thousand and two hundred horses hauing in his carriage foure score Wagons and threescore Mules and Sumpter Horses he bestowed great summes of money in hyring Souldiers and furnishing out the French Kings armie and appointed certain English Captains in the K. of Englands name to go against the Emperor to rescue the Pope hee caused Clarentius king at Armes to ioyne with the French Herald openly to defie the Emperor wherupon ensued great troubles in England Spain the low Countries of Flanders Brabant and Zeland all which his priuie policies and treasons were shortly after known to the King In this yeare a Iew in Constantinople was baptized and became Christian which thing vehemently exasperated the Turks against him and fearing it should be some detriment to their Mahumeticall law they sought to kill him which they did and cast his dead carkasse into the stréets commanding that none should burie it Wherin the glorie of Christ appeared for the dead corps lying there nine daies was as fresh coloured without corruption or smell as if it had bin aliue whereat the Turks being astonished took it vp and buried it The Cardinall hauing defied the Emperour as before and made him displeased with the King of England he further whispered in the Kings eare that the Emperour had euill intreated and imprisoned the Kings Embassadours in Spaine by which meanes the Emperours Embassadour in England was imprisoned and his goods seised vntill Letters came to the contrarie and then he was set at libertie When the Embassadour complained vnto the Cardinall hee layed all the fault vpon Clarentius and that Clarentius had defied the Emperour without the Kings knowledge by the request of the Herald of France and that at his returne he should lose his head at Callice Clarentius hearing hereof came priuily into England and was brought vnto the King before the Cardinall knew it to whom he shewed the Cardinalls commission and their gentle intreatie When the King heard hereof and had mused a while he said O Lord Iesus hee that I trusted most told me all these things contrary well Clarentius I will be no more so light of credence And from thence the King neuer put any more trust in the Cardinall Some write that the Cardinall did beare the Emperour such malice because when the Pope was imprisoned as before the Cardinall wrote vnto the Emperour to make him Pope and he sent him an answere that pleased him not whereupon he writ menacing Letters vnto him that if he would not make him Pope hee would make such a rufling betwixt Christian Princes as was not this hundred yéers before to make the Emperour repent yea though it cost the whole Realme of England the Emperour returned him answere bidding him looke well vnto it lest through his doings it should cost him the Realme of England indeede Thus King Henry came to the Title of Defender of the Faith When Luther had vtterd the abomination of the Pope and his Clergie and diuers books were com into England Our Cardinall to find a remedie for it sent to Rome for this title of Defender of the Faith After the Uicar of Croydon preached that the K. would not lose it for all London and twenty miles about it When this glorious title was come from Româ— the Cardinall brought it to the King at Gréenwich and although the King had read it yet in the morning were all the Lords and Gentlemen sent for that could be to come and receiue it with honor In the morning the Cardinall went thorough the backside to the Frier obseruants and som went round about and met him from Rome part met him halfe way and some at Court gate and the King met him in the Hall and brought him into a great chamber where was a seat prepared on high for the King and Cardinall Whilst the Bull was read with all pompe wise men laughed then the King went into his Chappâ—ll to heare masse the Cardinall being inuested to sing masse the Earle of Essex brought the bason of water the Duke of Suffolke gaue the asasy the Duke of Northfolk
held the Towell and so he prâ—ceeded to Masse When Masse was done the Bull was againe published the Trumpets blew the Shawmes and Sackbuts played in honor of the Kings new stile and in the midst of dinner the Heralds proclaymed his new stile this was ended with great solemnity Not vnlike to this was the receiuing of the Cardinals hat when one had brought it to him to Westminster vnder his cloak he clothed the messenger in rich aray and sent him back to Douer appointed the Bishop of Canterbury to méet him besides an other company of Lords and Gentlemen when it came to Wâ—stminster it was set vpon a cubbord with Tapers about it the greatest Duke in the land must curtsiâ— thereto and to him empty seat And thus much touching Cardinall Wolsey He founded a certaine new Colledge in Oxford for furniture whereof he gathered together all the best learned hee could heare of amongst whom were Clerke Tindall Frith and Tauerner who after were found to be hereticks as they call them and were cast into a prison of the Colledge where salt fish lay through the stinke whereof they being infected the said Clerke being singular in learning died One Simon Grineus hearing a Sermon of Faber Bishop of Uienna after the Sermon he followed Faber and declared vnto him that of good zeale he had somewhat to say to him and said he was very sorie that a man of such learning should confirme such â—â—nâ—â—â—elious errours which might be refuted by manifest Scripture Polycarpus vsed to stop his eares when he heard any monstâ—â—us errours how then do you think he would haue heard you reason what the Mouse did eate when she gnaweth the consecrated Host who would not bewayle the blindnesse and ignorance of the Church Then Faber asked his name he tolde him his name was Grineus and he fained he was sent for by the King and had no leisure now to reason vpon this matter and shewed that he was desirous of his acquaintance and intreated him both for his owne matter and the Common-welth he would come the next day vnto him He willingly promised him When he was returned to supper a stranger an old man of great grauitie told him the Sergeants would by and by come vnto the lodging sent by he King to carrie Grineus to prison whom Faber had accused vnto the King exhorting Grineus straight way to depart the Town without delay and so departed Thâ—n we tooke Grineus and carried him vnto the Riuer Rhyne and conueyed him ouer in a Boat and returned In the meane time the Sergeants were at the lodging wherefore we iudged that this cruell purposâ— was frustrate by Gods prouision therefoâ—e let vs giue thanks to God which giueth his Angels to be our kéepers and with quiet minds fulfill the office of our vocation Pâ—trus Flistedius and Adolphus Clarbachus singular Diuines for differing from the Papists touching the supper of the Lord with diuers other of the Popes traditions and ceremonies by the Archbishop and Senate were burned in Cullen this was by reason som diuines had preached that the punishment death of such as these were would pacifie the wrath of God which at this time plagued Germany for the sweating sicknes did then mortally rage and raigne throughout all Germany In this yeare Solymanus the Turkish Emperour passed thâ—rough Hungarie with an Armie of fourtéene thousand fighting men and came into Austrich where he exercised extreame crueltie some he bereft of sight some he rent and mangled in pieces cutting off their noses eares handes armes and priuie members deflouring Uirgins cutting off womens paps openings their wombes with childe and burning the yong babes then he besieged Uienna and assayed to vndermine it and the wals being ouâ—rthrowne he assaulted it desperatly and seeing the Souldiers within desend the breach valiantly a month he brake vp the siege and returned with great dishonor The Emperour came to Strawsborough and commanded the Protestants to be present at Masse which they refused to do and he called the Prince Elector of Saxony to beare the Sword before him at the Masse and the Diuines resolued because he was sent for to beare the Sword and not to heare Masse therefore hee might there present himselfe There was an Assembly holden and diuers Decrées made against the Protestants and Faber and Eckius forged confutations against them with diuers other troubles At this time the new Testament was newly translated and imprinted by William Tindall wherewith the Bishoppe of London was grieued and deuised how he might destroy it The Bishop being at Antwarp and desirous to bring this purpose to passe communed how he would buy the New Testaments One Packington which was a fauourer of Tindall but made the Bishop otherwise beleeue said My Lord I can doe more in this matter then most Merchants for I know them that haue bought them of Tindall and for money I will assure you to haue euery booke of them that is printed and vnsolde Hee â—ade him get them and hee would pay for them for he intended to burne euery booke of them at Paules Crosse. Hee hereupon declared the matter to William Tindall so the Bishop had all the bookes After this Tindall corrected the same againe and had them the second time newly reprinted so they came abundantly into England The Bishop sent for Packington to know the reason thereof he said he bought all that were there and these were new printed One George Constantine was apprehended by Sir Thomas Moore L. Chancelor of England for heresie My Lord asked him who it was that maintained Tindall Ioy and a great many more of you I know they cannot liue without helpe and thou being one haddest thy part thereof I pray tell me who helpeth them thus My Lord quoth Constantine I will tell you truly It is the Bishop of London for he hash bestowed amongst vs a great deale of money vpon New Testaments to burne them which hath bin and yet is our only succour By my troth quoth Moore I think the same I told the Bishop so much before The Townes of Zurick and Berne being at contention with the Townes of the Cantons stopped all the Straits that there could no victuals passe vnto them wherefore they prouided a power to come against them of Berne and Zurick and fought a great conflict with them in which fight Swinglius being Minister of Zurick was slain and after his dead corps taken by his enemies and burned when his body was burned to ashes his heart was found in the midst of the fire whole which could not be without the great miracle of God The like happened after to Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury In this yeare the King held a Parliament at Westminster diuers Articles were put vp against the Clergie touching their excesses and extortions and there was prouided for pluralties and non-residents and for buying and selling of pardons This so displeased the Clergie that they called the commons hereticks and schismaticks and
that they should in no wise pray for them no more then they would for a Dog whereat Frith smiling desired the Lord to forgiue him and so departed About this time High Latimer was inhiâ—ited by the Bishop of London to preach in his Dioces and yet after he preached in the Precinâ—t of the Fryers Augustines of London The Lady Anne of Bullen although she was not yet married to King Henry yet she was in great fauour and daily she inclined the Kings mind more more against the Papists so that the same yeare the King and certaine of his Lords came into the Parliament house and he complained of the Cleargy that they were but halfe his Subiects yea and scarse our Subiects for their oath to the Pope at their consecration is cleane contrary to that which they make to vs and he deliuâ—râ—d to the Parliament the coppies of both their oaths These Oaths being thus receiued and â—pened to the people were the occasion that the Pope lost al his iurisdiction in England shortly after The matter falling out more and more against the Pope Sir Thomas Moore a great maintainer of the Pope was driuen to resigne his Chancelorship â— deliuer vp the great seale into the Kings hands After whom succéeded Sir Thomas Audley kéeper of the great seale a great fauorer of Christs Religion Lady ANNE of Bullen WIthin short time after the King married the Lady Anne Bullen Mother to Quéene Elizabeth who was the secret ayder and comforter of al the Professors of the Gospell and her almes shewed her life was accordingly which was a hundred gownes wéekly and other apparell yearely before she was married both to men women she also gaue much priuate almes to the widdowes and poore hoâ—sholders continually vntill she was apprehended And she euer gaue thrée or foure pounds at a time to them to buy them Kine and sent her Sub-almner about to the Townes where she lay that the Parisheners should make a bâ—ll of all the poore housholders in thâ—ir parish and some parishes receiued 7. 8. or 10. pounds to buy Kine withall Also she maintained many lâ—arned men in Cambridge so did the Earle of Wiltshirâ— her Father and the Lord Roch her Brothâ—r and she brought them in fauour with â—ing Henry She caried alwaies about her a little purse out of which she was wont daily to scatter abroad some almes to the needy thinking no day well spent wherein none had fared the better for her She kept her Maids and such as were about her imployed in making shirts and smocks for the poore but the Lady Dowager beeing deuorced made the Pope to curse the King and interdict the realme In the meane time Queene Anne beinâ— great with child in the next yeare following was crowned with high solemnity at Westminster and not long after brought to â—ed at Greenewich of the faire Lady Elizabeth The Lord Maior of London and his Brethren with forty cheefe Cittizens were commanded to be present with all the Nobles and Gentlemen The Kings Palace and all the wals to the Fryers were hanged with Arras â—â—d the Friers Church The Font war of Siluer and stood in the midst of the Church thrée steps high which was couered with fine linnen and diuers Gentlemen with aprones and towels about their necks gaue attendance about it Ouer the Font hung a faire Canopy of Crimson Sattin fringed with Gold The holy Maid of Kent CErtaine Monkes put into the heads of many of the Kings Subiects that they had Râ—uelation of God and his Saints that he was highly displeased with king Henry for the diuorcement of the Lady Katherine and surmised that God had reuealed vnto a Nun called Elizabeth Barton whom they called the Holy Maid of Kent that if the King did diuorce her he should not be King of this Realme one month after and not one day nor houre in Gods fauour She would shew marueilous alteration of her visage and body as if she had béene wrapt in a trance and inspired of God She spoke against sinne and reprooued the Gospell which she called heresies and spoke diuers things to the reproach of the King and Quéene and to the establishing of Idolatry Pilgrimage and derogation of Gods glory The Archbishop the Lord Cromwell and Maister Hugh Latimer with great labour found out her naughtinesse and condemned her and put her to death with certaine of her councell VVILLIAM TRACY Esquire A Little before this time William Tracy of Todington in Gloster-shire made his Will that he would haue no funerall pomp at his burying nor Masse and said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saued and not by any Saint His Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury that then was to proue it which he shewed to the Conuocation and they iudged him to be taken vp and burned as an heretick and sent a commisson to Doctor Parker Chancelor of Worcester to execute their sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing thereof sent for the Chancelor who laid the fault on the Bishop yet it cost him three hundred pount erâ— he could haue a pardon The storie of twenty foure burned at Paris IN this yearâ— were diuers writings set vp in Paris vpon the Porches and gates against the Masse and other papisticall superstitions whereupon many were apprehended and cast into prison but twenty foure were executed in seuerall places of the Citie of Paris The bearer of the Popes curse and interdictment against King Henrie and the Realme durst not come into the Realme with it but set it vp in Dunkerk in Flanders the king hearing thereof took great displeasure against the said Princesse Dowager and so stomacked the matter that the next yeare he called a Parliament and caused it to be prouided by sufficient Acts that the Pope should be vtterly abolâ—sht and himselfe to be establisht supreme head of the Church at which thing Sir Thomas Moore the Bishop of Rochester grudged and would not consent vnto it but openly resisted the same wherefore they were condemned of treason and headed at Tower-hill Likewise three Charter-Monks were hanged drawne and quartred at Tyburne for speaking trayterous words against the Kings Maiestie This yere the King set forth a Proclamation for the abolishing of the vsurped power and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome wherein is declared that not onely the secular men granted him this iurisdiction but all the spiritualty in the Conuocation house vnder their seales wherin also he signified that he had addressed Letters vn-the Bishops of the Diocesse straitly commanding them that forthwith the sincere word of God should be preached euery Sonday and Holy-day vnto the people and Our stile and iurisdiction of supreme head appertayning onely to our Crowne and Dignity royall to be publisht and that the Popes vsurped name should be put out of all prayers masses or other books except it be to his reproach The life and storie of M. William Tindall FIrst he
for that being besides his wits by chance he came into a Church where a Priest was saying masse and was come to the holding vp and shewing the Sacrament Collins in like manner took vp a little Dogge holding it ouer his head shewing him vnto the people wherefore hee was condemned and burned and the Dogge with him LEYTON and PVTTEDVE LEyton was a Monke of Aye in Suffolke and was burned at Norwich for speaking against a certaine Idoll which they of Aye were wont to carry about in processions and for affirming both kindes in the Sacrament and Puttedue comming into a Church merily taunted the Priest that after he had drunke vp all the wine alone he blessed the hungry people with the empty Chalice wherefore hee was condemned and burned Cowbridge THis Cowbridge came of a good stocke his auncestors euen from Wickliffes time hetherto had been alwaies fauourers of the Gospell and addicted to the setting sorth thereof in English Hee was borne in Colchester his Father was head Bayly thereof hee was burned at Oxenford for affirming that euery poore Priest being neuer so poore and needy being of a good conâ—ersation hath as great power and authoritie in the Church of God and ministration of the Sacraments as the Pope or any other Bishops they almoststerued him whilst hee was in prison in Bocardo and a little before his examination they promised him meate if at his execution he would say such things as they would minister vnto him which he promised to do whereupon he was well cherished and recouered some part of his sense When he was come to execution contrary to their expectation often times calling vpon the Name of the Lord Iesuâ— with great quietnesse and méeknesse he yéelded his spirit into the hanâ—s of the Lord. This yeare one Peter a Germaine and another with him constantly indured death by the fire at Colchester for the Lords Supper Fryer Forrest hanged for Papistry HE was an obseruant Fryer and had secretly in confessiâ—ns declared to certaine of the Kings Subiects in confessions that the King was not supreame head of the Church and being examined how he could say the King was not supreme head being sworne to the contrary he answered he took his oath with his outward man and his inward man neuer consented thereto he was further accused of diuers damnable Articles conuicted after he was hanged in Smithfâ—eld aliue in chaines by the arme-holes and middle and fire made vnder him and so he was consumed to death There was a scaffold prepared for the Priuy Cauncell and the Nobles to sit on to graunt him pardon if he repented there was also a Pulpit where Mâ—ster Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester declared his errours and conâ—uted them by Scripture with many exhortations to repent but he would neither heare nor speak A little before the execution a great Image was brought out of Wales to the gallows which was called Daruell Gatheren whom the Welch-men much worshipped and had a prophesie amongst them That this Image should set a whole Forest on fire which took effect for he set this Forest on fire consumed him to nothing When the Frier saw the fire comming vnto him he took hold on the ladder and would not let it goe but died so vnpatiently as neuer did any that put his trust in God Certaine Iniunctions giuen out in the thirtieth yeare of King HENRIES raigne AGainst printing and bringing from beyond Sea any books and offering to sell them without acquainting the King or some of his Councell first vpon paine of forfeyting their goods and chattels and their bodies to be imprisoned at the Kings pleasure That there shall none argue about the Sacrament of the Altar vpon paine of death and loosing their goods except it be the learned in Diuinity in their schooles and appoyâ—ted places for such matters And that holy bread holy water and procession creeping to the Crosse setting vp of lights before the Corpus Christi bearing of candles on Candlemas day Puriâ—â—cation of women deliuered with childe offâ—ring of Chrisomes kéeping of the foure offering dayes paying their Tithes these to be obserued vntill the King doe abrogate any of them Married Priests to be counted Laymen and loose their Spirituall promotion That all Cleargy men should diligently in their cures preach and teach the people the glory of God and the truth of his word declaring the difference betwixt the things that God commands and the rightes and ceremonies then vsed least the people thereby grow into further superstition And that Thomas Becket was a trayâ—or and not a saint his Images to be plucked downe in euery place and his holy dayes not to bee kept and that the Anthiphens Collects and prayers to him be not read but raced out of the bookes Launcelot Iohn a Painter Gyles Germaine Iohn Painter and Gyles Germaine were accused of Heresie and whilst they were 〈◊〉 examination at London before the Bishoppe and other Iudges by chance there came one of the Kings guarde one Launcelot a tall man and of as goodly a mind hee standing by séemed by his gesture to fauour the cause and the poore men whereuppon he was apprâ—hended examined and condemned with them and the next day at â—â—ue of the clocke in the morning was burned in St. Giles in the fields Sir Iohn Bortrucke a Scotish Knight his confutation of certaine Arcicles vpon which hee was condemned by the Cardinall and most of the Nobles and chiefe of Scotland FIrst touching the Popes Supremacy these holy ones magnisse their Lord as common theâ—ues preâ—erre their Captaines calling them euery where most honest men for it is euident that none in the whole world is giuen to more ryot noâ— séeketh more gréedily to all kind of delicates and wantonnesse and aboundeth with al vices as treason murther rapine and all kind of such euills as He. And where they affirme him to bee Christ Uicar on earth it shall appeare that he cannot exercise more power then other Bishops for whereas they say Peter had power ouer the Apostâ—es and consequently ouer the whole Church the which power succéeds to the Bishop of Rome but by the Scriptures wee may easily sée how 〈◊〉 they lie in the Councell in the 15. of the Acts Peter heard them speake theiâ— minds receaued their Iudgment and followed their decree is this to haue powâ—r ouer others and in his first Epistle writting to the Bishops and Pasâ—ors he saith â— beséech the Bishops and Pastors which are amongst you for so much as I my selfe 〈◊〉 also a Bishop and witnesse of the afflitions of Christ partaker of the glory which shall be reuealed that they diligently feed the flocke committed vnto them why then doe they challenge the authority of S. Peter which he neuer acknowledged in himselfe I doubt not but it Peter were here he would rebuke their madnes as Moses did Iosua which was so zealous towards him And in the eight of the Acts he is
Latine VVALTER MILL AMongst the rest of the Martirs of Scotland the constancy of Walter Mill is not to be passed in silence out of whose Ashes sprang thousands of his opinion who chose rather to dye then to bee any longer ouer-trodden with the cruâ—â—l beastly and ignorant Byshops Abbots Monkes and Fryers and scone after his Martyrdome the Congregation began to debate true Religion against the Papists He climbing vp into a Pulpet to be examined before the Bishops they séeing him so weake partly by age and partly trauell and euill intreatment that hee could not climbe vp without helpe they thought they should not haue heard him but when he spake he made the Church sound with great stoutnesse that the Christions reioyced and the Aduersaries were ashamed At first hee knéeling praying long and was commaunded to rise and answere his Articles calling him Sir Walter Mill He said he ought to obay God more then Men and where you call me Sir Walter call me Walter for I haue bin ouer long one of the Popes Knights Oliphant What think you of Priests marriage Mille. I hold it a blessed band for Christ made it free to all men but you abhorre it and take other mens wiues and daughters you vow chastitie and breake it Paule hade rather marrie then burne the which I haue done for God neuer forbade marriage to any estate or degrée Oliph Thou sayest there is not seuen Sacraments Mille. Giue me the Lords Supper and Baptisme and take you the rest and if there be seuen why omit you one of them to wit marriage and giue your selues to whoredeme Oliph Thou art against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Mill. If a King bid many to a feast and when they sit downe to eate he turn his back to them and eate vp all himselfe doth he not mock them euen so do you mock the people eating and drinking the Sacrament and giuing them none the Sacrament of God is not to be taken carnally but spiritually and stands in faith onely Your masse is wrong for Christ was once offered vpon the Crosse for mans trespasse and will neuer be offered againe Oliph Thou deniest the office of a Bishop Mill. I affirme those which you call Bishops doe not the workes of Bishops but liue after their sensuall pleasures and take no care for the flocke nor yet regard the word of God but desire to be honoured and called Lords Oliph Thou speakest against pilgrimages Mill. I say it is not commaunded in Scripture and that there is no greater whoredom in no places then at your pilgrimages except in common Brothell-houses Oliph Thou preachest priuatly in houses and openly in fields Mill. Yea man and in the Sea also sayling in a ship Oliph If thou wilt not recant I will pronounce sentence Mill. You shall know that I will not recant for I am corne and not chaffe I will not be blowne away with the winde nor burst with the flaile but I will abide both When sentence was pronounced and he to be deliuered to the temporall Iudge his constancie so moued the hearts of many that the Prouost of the Towne Patricke Learmond though he were Steward of the Bishops regalitie refused to bee his temporall Iudge and the Bishops Chamberlaine being therewith charged would not take vpon him so vngodly an office the Bishops seruants could get neuer a cord in the whole towne for money to tye him to the stake withall nor a Tarre barrell to burne him when he came to the stake He said to Oliphant Put me vp with thy hands and take part in putting me to death for by Gods law I am forbidden to lay hands on my selfe Then he put him vp with his hands and he ascended gladly saying Introibo ad altare Dei and desired he might speake to the people which was denied him they saying he had spoken too much already Then some of the yong men committed the burners and the Bishops their Masters to the Diuell and bade him speake what he pleased Then after he had prayed standing vpon the coales said I die onely for the defence of the faith of Christ for the which the faithfull Martyrs haue offered themselues gladly before being assured after the death of their bodies of eternall felicitie And I praise God he hath called me of his mercie amongst the rest of his seruants to seale vp his truth with my life therefore as you will escape eternall death be not seduced with the lies of Priests Monks Friers and the rest of that Sect but depend onely vpon the death of Iesus Christ and his mercie that you may in the time to come be deliuered from condemnation All the while the multitude greatly mourned perceiuing his mighty patience constancie and boldnesse whereby their hearts were so much enkindled and inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland euer after for religion After this by Gods iust iudgement in the same place where Walter Mill was burned the Images of the great Church of the Abbey which passed in number and costlines were burned in time of reformation Heere followeth in the booke of Martyrs the names of diuers which were omitted by him in King Henrie the eighth his time and an instrument of the Popes definitiue sentence against Henrie the eighth for his diuorse with Katharine Dowager and the instrument of the Bull of Pope Leo against Martin Luther and his answer to it in which for breuitie sake I leaue thee to the booke at large if thou be disposed to see them and also the last Will and Testament of King Henry and the manner of his death A Storie of certain Friers in France in the Citie of Orleance in the yeare 1534. THe Mayors wife of the Citie prouided in her Will that she should be buried without any pompe or solemnitie for the Bell did vse to warne euery one to pray for the dead corps and when it is carried forth all or the most part of the begging Friers goe before it with Torches and Tapers and the more pompe is vsed the greater is the concourse of people but this woman would none of this gears the which buriall of hers her husband performed according as she required in her Will. Then one Colman and Steuen Arras Doctors of Diuinitie and the first a Coniurer set a young man which was a nouice ouer the Uault of the Church and when they came according to their vse to Mattins at mid-night he made a wonderfull noyse and shrieking then this Colman went to crossing and coniuring but the other aboue would not speake and being charged to make a signe whether he were a dumbe spirit or no hee ratled and made a great noyse againe Then they tolde some of the chiefest of the Citie what a heauie chance had happened and intreated them to come to their seruice at night When they were there and the seruice begunne he aloft made a great noyse being demaunded what he would he made signes he could not speake
then he was commaunded to answere Intergatories by signes and when any question was asked he strook vpon the Table so that he might be heard then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there then they reckoned vp diuers and at last the Mayors wife here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman then he was asked whether he was damned for Couetousnesse Pride Lecherie or not doing workes of Charitie or else for Lutheranisme then by striking twise or thrise vpon the Table gaue them to vnderstand that Luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried â—hence he made signes it should be so then the Friers desired the Citizens to set their handes to a writing testifying that which they had séene but for feare of the Mayor they refused to subscribe then the Friers took the Pixe with the Host and the Lords body and all the reliques of Saints and carried them to another place and there they said their masses then the officiall came thither and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more â— Then the Mayor informed the King of the whole matter and the King sent certaine to know whether it were so or no then they put the dâ—ers thereof into seuerall Prisons and examined them apart and a great while they would confesse nothing at length the Iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme nor come no more into the Fryers hands he declared to them the whole matter in order wherupon they were committed to Orleance to prison And it was certainly reported that the King would haue plucked down the House but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the Lutherans and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the Order and a cause of much reioycing to the Lutherans These were Francisâ—an Fryers A Storie of certaine Monks of Sueuia GVnrame a noble Baron in the yeare 1130. builded an Abbey in Sueuia called Salmesuille of Cistercian Monks Amongst many Benefactors to the said House the Earles of Montfort had bestowed vpon that Monasterie many new Liberties and Priuiledges vpon condition that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger Horse-man or Foot-man for one night but this hospitalitie did not long continue through a subtile deuise of one of the Monks who would counterfeit the Diuell ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie and so continued this a long space At length an Earle of the house of Montfort was lodged at the Monasterie when the Earle was at his rest in the night the Monke after his wonted manner began to play the Diuell roring thundering spitting of fire and making a noyse the Earle hearing thereof tooke a good heart and taking his sword slew the Monk And thus the Diuell of the Abbey was coniured which stopped the guests from comming to the House Who lift to see more and worse pranks of Friers and Monks played in their Houses Cloysters let them resort to the Epistle of Erasmus and he shall find ynough to infect the aire IOHN BROVVNE a blessed Martyr burned at Ashford in the second yeare of Henrie the eighth Anno 1511. THe said Iohn Browne passing to Graues-end in a Barge a Priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him at length said Doest thou know who I am thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes No sir said the other I tell you said he I am a Priest What sir are you a Parson or Uicar or some Ladies Chaplain No said he I sing for a Soule I pray you said the other where find you the Soule when you go to Masse I cannot tel said he I pray where do you leaue it when you haue done Masse I know not said the Priest How then said the other can you saue the Soule I perceiue thou art an Heretick said the Priest Within three daies after by vertue of a Warrant â—rom the Archbishop with a Baylife and two of the Bishops men they came suddenly into the house of the said Browne as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests for his wife was that day Churched they layd hands on him and carried him to Canterburie where they kept him fortie dayes in which time he was so pitifully entreated by Warram the Archbishop and Fisher Bishop of Rochester that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales to make him denie his Faith which he bare patiently and continued in maintaining the Lords quarrell vnremoueable then he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned where he was set in the Stocks all night his wife sate all the while by him to whom he declared the whole Tragedie of his handling how they burned his â—eâ—t to the bones that he could not set them to the ground to make him denie his Lord here which if I should haue done he would denie me hereafter therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring vp thy children in the feare of God where the next day he was burned This Iohn Browne bare a Faggot seuen yeares before this whose sonnâ— named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Canterburie in the later time of Queene Marie and should haue beene burned with two more but the next day after Queene Marie died and they escaped by the Proclamation of Queenâ— Elizabeth THE NINTH BOOKE CONtayning the Acts and things done in the Raigne of King EDVVARD the sixt AFter the death of Henrie the eight succeeded King Edward the sixt his sonne being of the age of nine yeares Touching his commendations I leaue you to the Booke at large who because he was so young and tender was committed to sixtéene Gouernours amongst whome especially the Lord Edward Semer Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned as Protector of him and the Commonwealth a man of noble vertues especially for his fauour to Gods 〈◊〉 throâ—gh the industrie of whom that monstrous Hydra with sixe heads the 〈◊〉 Articles which deuoured so many were abolished whereby the proceedings of Gardner began to decay who storming thereat wrote to the Lord Protector in the cause thereof He restored the Scriptures to the Mother tongue and extinguished Masses and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of Churches such as fled for the danger of the Truth were againe receiued to their Countrey the most part of Bishops were changed dumbe Prâ—lates were compelled to giue place to such as would Preach and learned men were sent for out of other Countries as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius the first of whom taught at Oxford and the other two at Cambridge with great commendations Bonner Bishop of London was committed to the Marshalsie
and for his contempt and misdemeanor deposed Gardener Bishop of Winchester with Tunstall Bishop of Durham were cast into the Tower for their disobedience In this time of King Edward vnder this noble Protectoâ— this one commendation is proper vnto them that amongst all the Popish â—ort of whom some priuily stâ—le out of the Realme manie were craftie dissemblers some open aduersaries â— yet there was not one that lost his life during the whole time of the Raigne of this King for any matter of Religion Papist or Protestant except lone of Kentan English woman and one George a Dutchman who died for certaine Articles not necessarie to be rehearsed THOMAS DOBBE THis man in the beginning of King Edwards Raigne comming from S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge to London as he passed through Paules Church there was a Priest at Masse at the South side of the Church being at the eleuation this yong man repleate with godly zeale pittying the ignorance and Idolatry of the people in honouring that which the Priest lifted vp he exhorted the people not to honour that visible bread as God which was neither God nor ordained of God to be honoured wherefore he was apprehended by the Mayor and accused to the Bishop of Canterburie and was committed to the Counter in Bread-stréete where shortly falling sicke he died whose pardon was obtained of the Lord Protector if he had liued IOHN HVNNE IN the first yeare of the Kings raigâ—e one Master Lewnax of Wresell and his wife sent this Iohn Hunne their seruant vnto the Bishop of Canterbury for denying the flesh and bloud of Christ to be really in the Sacrament of the Altar and saying he would neuer vaile his Hatte to it if he should be burned for it and that if he should heare masse he should be damned But because I finde nothing done therein I leaue it When this godly yong Prince was peaceably established in his Kingdome and had a godly wise and zealous Councell about him especially the Duke of Sommerset he earnestly desired the aduancement of the true honour of God and planting of sincere Religion and the sâ—ppressing of all Idolatry Superstition and hypocrisie throughout his Dominions Following the good example of the good King Iosias and being he found most of his Lawes repugnant to his zealous enterprise He by the aduice of his wise and Honorable Councell of his own regall authoritie did prosecute his godly purpose vntill by consent of the whole estate of Parliament he might establish a more free and vniforme order and those certaine wiâ—e learned and discreet personages for Commissioners generally to visit all the Bishopricks of this Realme to vnderstand and redresse the abuses of the same and diuided them into seuerall companies and assigned them seuerall Diocesses to be visited appointing to euery company one or two godly Preachers which should preach to the people at euery Sessions the true Doctrine of the Gospell of Christ and exhort them to all loue and obedience of the same and earnestly dehort them from their old superstition and wonted Idolatry and that they might the more orderly be directed in this their Commission there were deliuered vnto them certaine iniunctions and Ecclestasticall orders drawne out by the Kings learned Councell the which they should both inquire of and also command in his Maiesties behalfe to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whom they did seuerally appertaine within their seuerall circuits the which Iniunctions if thou beest disposed for to reade I leaue thee for breuitie to the Booke at large Now during the time the Commissioners were in their circuits about diligent execution of their godly and zealous orders of the King and Councell deâ—iring a further reformation as well in Ecclesiasticall as in Ciuill gouernment appointed a Parliament to be summoned on the fourth of Nouember in the first yeare of his raigne which continued vntill the twenty foure day of December then next following Whereby he caused to be enacted that all Acts of Parliaments and Statutes touching menciâ—ning or any wise concerning Religion or opinions to wit the Statute of the first yeare of Richard the second and the statute made in the second yeare of the raign of Henry the fift and the statute madâ— in the fiftéenth yeare of the raigne of Henry the eight concerning the punishments and reformation of Hereticks and Lolards and the sixe Articles made in the thirty one yeare of Henry the eight and the statute made in the thirty thrée year of Henry the eight against the bookes of the old and new Testament in English and the printing and vttering of English or bookes writings and preaching the Scriptures an another Statute in the 35. yeare of Henry the eyght touching the qualification of the Statâ—te of sixe Articles and aâ—l and euery other Act or Acts of Parliament concerning Doctrine or matters of Religion should from thenceforth bee repealed and of none effect by occasion whereof all his godly subiects abiding within the Realme had free liberâ—y to professe the gospell and those beyond Sea wer not onely licensed to retâ—rne home but incouraged bouldly and faithfully to trauell in their calling so that God was much glorified and the people edified And in this Parliament it was enacted that the Sacrament should be ministred in both kinde and letters missiue were sent frâ—m the Councell to the Bishops of the Realme concerning the communion to bee ministred in both kinds and from Bishop to Bishop as thou maist sée in the booke at large Another Parliament was assembled in the second yeare of his Raigne beginning vppon the foorth day of Nouember 1548. continuing vntill the 14. day of March wherein a booke in English intituled the Booke of Common prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other Rightes and Ceremonies of the Church after the vse of the Church of England was concluded vppon by the Clergy which his highnesse receauing with great comfort did exhibiâ—â— it vnto the Lords and Commons of the Parliament who for the honour of God and great quietnesse which by the grace of God should ensue vppon that one vniforme right and order in such Common prayer rites and externe Ceremonies to bee vsed throughout England Wales Calice and the Marches of the same authoriseâ— the sayd Booke by Act of Parliament and set great penalty vpon them that woâ—ld bee disobeâ—ient thereto as is to be seene in the booke at large Aâ—so the mariage of Priests was authorized by the sayd Parliament by these procéedings and the Iniunctions which thou maiest see in the book at large thou maiest well perceaue the great zeale of the King and the Lord Protector in reformation of tâ—ue Religion and also the lingring slacknesse on the other side of others especially of the Bishops and old Popish Curats by whose cloked contempt and wilfull winking the Booke of Common prayers was long after the publishing thereof very irreuerently vsed throughout many places of this Realme which when the King by diuers
complaintes vnderstood hee wrote spéedily to all the Bishope of the Realme for the spéedy redresse thereof and because Bonner was one of the backwardest hee was peremtorâ—ly admonished vnder paine of depriuation to preach the next Sunday three weekes after the date there of at Paules Crosse none but such Doctrine as was appoynted him in the said Iniuntion and should preach the same Doctrines euery quarter of a yeare yearely â—f sicknesse or some reasonable cause did not let Secondly you your selfe in person shall from henceforth celebrate the Communion at the high Altar in Paules euery such dayes as your Predecessors were wont to sing Masse The Popish Priests grudging and mourning to see their old Popâ—sh Church of Rome to decay ceased not by all subtile and sinister meanes first vnder Gods name and the Kings and vnder colour of religion to perswade the people to rebellion This first burst out in Cornwell and Deuonshire of whom the chiefe Gentlemen Captaines were Humfrey Arundell Esquire Iames Rosogan Iohn Rosogan Iohn Walkock Iohn Payne Thomas Vnderhill Iohn Soleman and William Segar There were eâ—ght Priests gouernours of the Campes and principall stirrers besideâ—â— multitude of other Popish Priests there was ten thousand stout traytors in this rebellion Commotions likewise beganne to broyle in Oxford-shire Yorke-shire and especially in Northfolke and Suffolke these aforesaid hearing thereof tooke courage hoping they should well â—aue fortiâ—ied the same quarrell their intent was to inuade the Citty of Exeter and twise they burned the gates thereof but gayned thing but shotte beeing put from Exeter they fell on spoyling and robbing where or howsoeuer they might catche then laying their heads together they consulted of certaine Articles to be sent vp to the King as followeth First they would haue that their Curats should minister the Sacrament of baptisme at all times of néede as well in the weeke dayes as on the holydayes and their Children confirmed of the Bishop whensoeuer wee resort to him Secondly because they did constantly beléeue that in the Sacrament after consecration there is the very body and blood of Christ and no substance of bread and wine remaineth therefore we will haue the Masse celebrated as in times past without any man communicating with the Priests because many presuming vnworthâ—â—y to receiue the same put no difference betwixt the Lords body and other bread and wée will haue the consecrated body of our Lord reserued in our Churches Thirdly wée will haue holy bread and holy water in remembrance of Christs body and blood Fourthly we will that our Priests shall sing and say with an audible voyce Gods seruice in the Quire of the Parish Churches and not to haue it set forth as a Christmas play Fiftly because Priests be men dedicated to God to celebrate the blessed sacraments and preaching of Gods word wee will that they shall liâ—e chast without marriage Sixtly we will the sixe Articles shall stand in force To which Articles the King did particularly answer and set forth reasons against them in writing and shewed that he would spend his life and all that hee had to maintaine the Godly reformation which was begun yet hee offred them pardon if they would desist from the deceitfull counsell of the séekers of dissention who sought for nothing els but to vndâ—e them their wiues and children and if they would not be moued to repentance with his fatherly kindnes shewed vnto them hee would procéed against them as against the Heathen with force and Armes Aâ—d because they would not accept mercy Sir Iohn Russell Knight Lord priuy seale was sent by the King and councell against them and next to him were ioyned Sir William Harbert Sir Iohn Paulet Sir Hugh Paulet Sir Thomas Speck with the Lord Gray and others Thus the Lord Priuy seale accompanied with the Lord Gray aduancing his power against the rebells yet by Gods prouidence they gaue them the repulse who recouering themselues againe encountred the second time the Lord priuy seale but by Gods helpe they with their whole cause of false religion were vtterly vanquished the popish rebells not onely lost the field but a great part of them lost their liues lying slaine the compasse of two miles diuers were taken as Humphry Arundell Berry Thomas Vnderhill Iohn Soleman William Seger and two Priests Tempson and Barret and two Mayors Henry Bray and Henry Lee with diuers mo all which afterward were executed These rebells to make their part more sure by the presence of their consecrated God brought with them vnto the Battaile the pixe vnder his Canopy riding and in a Cart neither was there lacking Masses Crosses Banners Candlestickes with Holy-bread and Holy-water plenty to defend them from Diuells and all enemies which could not saue them from their enemies but both the consecrated God and all the trumpery about him was taken in the Cart leaâ—ing a Lesson of better experience how to put their confidence in such vaine Idolls Like vnto this was the field of Musclebrough fought in Scotland the yeare before this when the Scots incamping theÌ„selues against the Lord Protector the Kings power sent into Scotland they likwise brought into the field the Gods of their Altars with Masses Crosses Banners and all their popish stuffe hauing great affiance therein to haue a great day against the English army as to mans indgement might seeme not vnlike The number of the Scots armie farre excéeded ours but the arme of the Lord so turned the viâ—tory that the Scots in the end with all their Masses and Trinkets were put to the worsâ— of whom were slaine betweene thirtéene and fourtéene thousands and not passing a hundred English men The cause of this warre was because the Scots had promised King Henry the eight that the yong Scottish Queeâ—e should marry with King Edward which promise they afterward brake and payed therefore and this victory was the same day and houre when the Images were burned openly in London There was the like commotion in Oxford and Buckingham but that was soon appeased by the Lord Gray of whom two hundred were taken and twelue of them ringleaders deliuered to him where of certaine were executed In Norfolk the parts thereabouts the Marquesse of Northampton was sent to represse the rebellion who was appointed to kéep the field and passages to stop them from victuals whereby they might the sooner be brought to acknowledge their fault and séeke pardon who pined himselfe within the Citie of Norwich but the Rebels pressed vpon the Citie and at length obtained it yet there was but a hundred on both sides slaine and the Lord Shefield then the Earle of Warwick was sent against them by whom the confused rabble was ouerthrown to the number of foure thousand and both the Kets chiefe stirrers of that Commotion were put to death and one of them hanged in chains In this yeare likewise the like commotion began at Semer in the North-riding of Yorke shire and continued in the East-riding of
life is the gift of God The historie of VVILLIAM GARDNER an Englishman who constantly suffered in Portingall for the Truth HEe was borne at Bristow and gaue himselfe vnto the trade of Merchandise he was sent into Spaine by Master Paget being sixe and twenty yeares old the ship arriued by chance at Lishborne the chiefe Citie of Portugall he tarrying there about merchandise became a profitable seruant to his Master and others yet he reserued his religion in that popish countrey there were also besides him diuers good men in the same Citie neither lacked he good books nor the conference of good and honest men to whom he would often bewaile his weakenesse that he was not sufficiently touched with the hatred of his sinnes nor inflamed with the loue of godlinesse There was a solemne marriage celebrated betwéen two Princes the sonne of the King of 〈◊〉 and the daughter of the King of Spain to which marriage there was great resort of nobles and there lacked no Bishops with Miters nor Cardinals with Hats to set out this royall wedding William Gardner was there when they went forward to the celebrating of the Masse for that alone did serue for all purposes the Cardinall did execute it with much singing and Organ-playing the people stood with great deuâ—tion and silence praying looking knéeling and knocking their minds fully bent vpon the external sacrament which did grieuously prick and moâ—e this young man to sée so many noble personages and others so seduced with this Idolatriâ— that if the prease of people had not hindered him he would that day haue done some notable thing in the Kings presence he came home and made vp all his accounts of that was due to him and that which was owing to others that no man could aske any thing of him he fell to prayer and meditation of the Scriptures The Sunday came againe to be celebrated with like pompe and solemnitie The said William was early present and stoode as neere the Altar as he could When the King with all his Nobles were come the Masse began which was solemnized by a Cardinall when hee began to â—osse the Host too and fro round about the Chalice making certaine circles The said William Gardiner not able to suffer any longer hee ran to the Cardinall in the presence of the King Nobles and Citizens with the one hand hee snatched away the Cake and trâ—de it vnder his féet and with the other hand ouerthrew the Chalice Wherevpon rose great tumult and one wounded him with a Dagger in the soulder The King commanded to saue him whereby they abstained from murdering him When he was brought before the King he demanded what country man he was and how hee durst worke such a contumacie against his Maiestie and the Sacraments of the Church Hee answered hee was an English man by birth and Religion and am come hither for traffick of Marchandize and when I saw in this famous assembly so great Idolatry committed my conscience neither ought nor could any longer suffer but must needs doe that you haue séene me doe which was not done for any contumacy of your Maiestie but of purpose as before God I do confesse to séek the saluation of this people then vnderstanding that king Edward had restored Religion in England and thinking he had beene set on by some others they would know who set him on He answered he was not mooued thereto by any man but by his owne conscience but that hee owed this seruice first vnto God and secondly vnto their saluation and they ought to impute the act onely to themselues which so vnreuerently vsed the holy Supper of the Lord vnto so great Idolatry to the perill of their owne soules except they repented He was like to faint with the aboundance of blood that ranne out of his wound and Surgeons were sent to cure it then all English-men were committed vnto Prison and one Pendigrace because that he was his Bed-fellow was greeâ—ously tormented and examined and scarse deliuered after two yeares imprisonment Then they caused a Linnen Cloath to bee sowed round like a Ball which they violently put downe his throat to the bottome of his belly tyed with a small string which they held in their handes and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence so plucking it too and fro through the meat pipe When all torments and tormentors were wearied they asked him if he did not repent his wicked deed he answered if it were to doe againe he thought he should doe it but he was sorie it was in the presence of the King the fault ought to be ascribed to the King and not to him in that he hauing power would not prohibit so great Idolatrie vsed amongst his people Three dayes after they brought him to execution when they had vsed all kind of torments against him then they cut off his right hand which he tooke vp with his left and kissed it then they cut off his other hand which he kneeling downe kissed and so he was carried to the place of execution where was an Engine from the which a great rope comming downe by a pullie was fastened about this Christian which first pulled him vp then there was a great pile of wood set on fire beneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe not with the whole body but so that his feet only felt the fire then he was hoysed vp and so let downe againe in the which torment he continued with a constant spirit and the more terribly he burned the more vehemently he prayed When his feet were burned the tormentors asked him whether he did not yet repent and exhorted him to call vpon our Ladie and other Saints he answered he had done nothing whereof he did repent and needed not our Ladies nor Saints help and what torments soeuer they vsed hee remained alwaies one desiring them to leaue off such vanities and follies for when Christ ceased to bee our Aduocate then he would pray our Lady to be his Aduocate and when they sought to stop his prayers he said Iudge mee O Lord and reuenge my cause against the vnmercifull people before he had ended the Psalme pulling him vp downe in the fire for the more torment the rope was burned hee fell into the middest of the fire where he changed his Temporall paines for eternall quietnes Thus GOD by this message did prouoke the Portugales to the sincere knowledge But this cruelty was not vnreuenged for with a sparke from the fire of his burning one of the Kings Shippes was burned and the Kings Sonne that was married died halfe a yeere after and the next yeare the King himselfe dyed The Clergy appointed a solemne Fast certaine daies for penance to purge that fact there be some yet as I haue heard diuers report out of whose remembrance this constant Martyr can neuer be pulled and is so fresh yet amongst them as if it were but lately done his
to the Catholike Church 〈…〉 all the Realme and receiue mercy Rog. Before I could not tell what this mercie meant but now 〈…〉 it is a mercy of the Antichristian Church of Rome which I vtterly refuse and your rising from error which you speak of is a very falling into error I can proue the doctriâ—e which I preach by the Scriptures and the fathers that liued vntill foure hundred years after Christ he answered I was a priuate man and was not to be heard nor to be permitted to proue whether the whole realme had done right or wrong when the Parlament had concluded a thing I answered no lawes of man must rule the word of God but they all must be iudged therby and obey therto and neither my conscience nor any Christian mans conscience could be satisfied with such lawes as did disagree from that word Then I was asked of the reall presence in the Sacrament I said I could not vnderstand really and substantially but corporally and corporally Christ is only in heauen aâ—d cannot be corporally in the sacrament also When definitiue sentence was read against him the Lord Chancellor sayd I was in the great curse what a vengable dangerous matter it were to eate and drink with vs accursed or to giue vs any thing for they that so did should be partakers of the same great curse Well my Lord quoth I I neuer willingly taught false doctrine and therefore haue a good conscience before God and men and I shall be found a true member of the Catholike Church of Christ and euerlastingly saued you néed not excommunicate me from your Church the Lord be thanked I haue not been in â—t this twentie yeares now you haue done what you can I am sure you and I shall appeare before Christ and then I shall be as good a man as you Then I earnestly desired my wife might com to me whilst I liued for we haue ten children and â— would counsaile her what is best for her to do which he would not grant saying that she was none of my wife Then I haue tried all your charity said I you make your selfe highly displeased with marriage of priests but you maintaine open whoredome in Wales euery Priest hath his whore openly and so the Pope suffereth all the Priests in the Low-countries and France to do the like He prophesied truly of the destruction of Papistrie shortly in England and the dispersed English flock of Christ shall be brought againe into their former estate or better then in K. Edwards time and the bloudy Babylonicall Bishop and the whole crown-shorn company brought to vtter shame and destruction for God wil not suffer their abominable lying and false doctrine bloud-thirst whordom idlenes and poysoned stomacks which they beare towards poore and miserable Christians some of them shall haue their iudgement in this world and they that doe escape in this world shall not escape in the world to come euerlasting damnation this shall be your sauce O yee wicked Papists make merry as long as you may and hee exhorted the faithfull to be carefull then to displace Papists and to put good ministers into cures or else your end will be worse then ours As he came to the fire he sang Miserere by the way all the people wonderfully reioyced at his constancy whilst he was burning he wash his hands in the flame his pardon was brought him at the stake which he refused he was the first martyr in Quéen Maries time that gaue first aduenture vpon the fire The martyrdom of Laurence Sanders HEe was parson of All-hallowes in Breadstrâ—et and being minded to giue ouer another Church which he had in Leicester-shire called Churchlangton about that time came the broile about the clayme that Q. Mary made to the crown by reason whereof he could not accomplish his purpose In this trouble he preached at Northampton boldly vttered his consciâ—nce against popish doctrine and Antichrists damnable errors which were like to spring vp again in England as a iust plage for the litle lâ—ue which the English nation did bear to Gods word which had béene so plentifully offered vnto them the Quéens men which were there heard were highly displeased with him for his Sermon and kept him amongst them as a Prisoner but for the loue of his Brethren and Friends which were chéeâ—e doâ—rs for the Quéene and because there yet was no Law against him they dismissed him He being inflamed with the fire of godly zeale preached with diligence at both his Benifices as time could serue him vntill the Proclamation was put forth as aforesaid at which time he was at his Benefice in the Countrey where contrarie to the proclamation he â—aught diligently Gods truth confirming the people therein and arming them against false Doctrine vntill he was commaunded to cease and with force reâ—â—sted then he returned towards London to visite the flock which he had there in charge and as he was comming nigh to the Citty Sir Iohn Mordant a Counceller to Queene Mary ouertooke him and asked him whether hee went I haue said Sanders a Cure in London and I go to instruct my people according to my duty If you will foâ—low my councell quoth Maister Mordant let them alone and come not at them Sanders answered How shall I then bee discharged before GOD Did not you quoth Mordant preach such a day in Breadstreete Yes said he That is my Cure I heard you quoth Mordant and it please you said he you shall heare me againe in the same place to morrow where I will affirme by the authority of Gods word all that I then said and whatsoeuer I haue formerly taught them I would counsaile you not to preach sayd he If you can or will forbidde me by law I must obey Nay quoth he I will not forbid you but giue you counsaile and so they departed Mordant tolde Bonner that Saunders would preach in his cure the next Sonday One that was about Saunders perceiuing by him that he was troubled asked him how he did indeede sayd he I am in prison vntill I be in prison meaning he was vnquiet vntill he had preached and then hee should be in quiet though he were put in prison The next day he preached vpon the second to the Corinthians and the eleuenth Chapter I haue coupled you a pure Virgin to Christ but I feare as the Serpent beguiled Eue so your wills should be corrupted from the singlenesse which you had toward Christ Iesus He reioyced in the summe of that true doctrine whereby wee are coupled so Christ and saued by free iustification by his bloud he compared the papisticall doctrine to the Serpents deceauing and left they should be deceiued by it he made a comparison betwixt the voyce of Christ and the popish Serpent wherein he shewed the difference betwixt the Seruice set forth by King Edward in the English tâ—ng and the popish seruice then vsed in the Latine tong And that the first was good
receiued water but would haue giuen money for the Holy Ghost and Iohn had the Holy Ghost in his mothers wombe before Baptisme and Cornelius Paule the Queen of Candaces seruant with many others receiued the holy Ghost before baptisme and although your generation haue set at naught the word of God and turned it vpside downe yet must his Church keepe the same order which he left them which his Church dareth not breake and to iudge children daâ—â—ed dying without baptisme is wicked Bonner What say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith You must call it the Sacrament of misorders for all orders are appointed of GOD but your shauing annointing greasing poling and rounding no such things are appointed in Gods book and my Lord if you had grace or intelligence you would not so disfigure your selfe as you do Boner What say you to holy bread and holy water the Sacrament of annointing and the rest of such Ceremonies of the Church Smith They be bables for fooles to play withall and not for Gods children then Boner and Mordant departed then certaine Doctors baited me halfe an houre of whom I asked where were all you in the daies of King Edward that you spake not that which you speake now they said they were in England I said but then you had the faces of men but now you haue put on Lions faces you haue for euery time a visar if another King Edward should arise you would then say down with the Pope for he is Antichrist and so are all his Angels then I was all to reuilâ—d Doctor You allow not Auriculer confession I said it is because the word of GOD alloweth it not He said it is written Thou shalt not hide thy sinnes I said no more doe I when I confesse them to God Hee said you cannot hide them from God therefore you must vnderstand it is spoken to bee vttered vnto them that do not know them Smith Then must the Priest confesse himselfe to me as I to him for I know his faults no more then â—e knoweth mine but if you confesse to a Priest and not to God you shall haue the reward that Iudas had for hee confessed himselfe to the Priest and yet went and hanged himselfe and those that acknowledge not there faults to God are said to hide them Doctor What did they that came to Iohn Baptist I said that they confessed to God he said and not to Iohn I said if it were vnto Iohn as you cannot proue yet it was to God before Iohn and the whole congregation he said Iohn was alone in the wildernes Smith Yet hee made many Disciples and many Saduces and Pharisies came vnto his Baptisme therefore if they confessed themselues to Iohn it was vnto all the congregation as Paul confessed openly in his Epistle to Timothy that hee was not worthy tâ— bee called an Apostle because hee had been a tyrant but as for eare Confession you neuer heard it allowed by the Word of God For as Dauid saith I will confesse my sinnes vnto the LORD so all his Children doe and euer did Then they called mee Dogge and said I was damned Then I said you are Dogges because you will â—â—ay your friends for offering vnto you all things I may say with Paul I haue fought with beasts in the likenes of men for I haue béene baited this two daies of my Lord and his great Buls of Basan and in the hall I haue béene baited with the rest of his band Bonner Then he came and asked the Doctors whether they had done him any good and they said no. And I said How can an euill Tree bring forth good fruit He said Wilt thou neither heare me nor them Thou shalt bee burned in Smithfield Smith And you shall burne in hell if ye repent not I perceiue you and your Doctors will not come vnto me and I am not determined to come to you then with many rayling sentences I was sent away The last examination Smith THen I with my Brethren were brought into the Consistory before Bonner the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffes Bonner By my faith my Lord Mayor I haue shewed as much fauour as any man liuing might do but I perceiue all is lost â—n him and all his company I said My Lord you must not sweare then he said I was Maister Controller and pointed to my Brother Tankerfield and said This is Maister speaker Mayor Thou speakest against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Smith I deny it to be any Sacrament and I stand here to make probation of the same if my Lord or any of his Doctors can proue the name or vsage of the same I will recant then Then spake my Brother Tankerfield and defended the probation which they call heresie Bonner By my troth Maister speaker you shall preach at a stake Then I said well sworne my Lord you kéepe a good watch he said well Maister Controller I am no Saint Smith No my Lord nor yet a good Bishop a Bishop saith Saint Paul Should be faultlesse and a dedicate vessell to God and are you not ashamed to sit in iâ—dgment and be a blasphemer condemning Innocents My Lord Mayor I would require you in Gods Name that I may haue Iustice we are heare to day a great many of Innocents wrongfullie accused of heresie I require but the fauour that Festus and Agrippa Heathen men shewed to the Apostle which gaue him leaue to speake for himselfe and heard the probation of his cause then the Lord Mayor hanging downe his head said nothing Bonner Thou shalt preach at a stake and so Sheriffe Woodroffe cried with the Bishop away with them Thus came I in foure timâ—â— before them desiring Iustice to be heard but could haue none at length my Friends required with onâ— voyce the same and could not haue it so we were condemned because they all ten held the same opinions in effect Smith When the sentence began to be read in Dei nomine I answered he began in a wrong name for he could not finde in Scriptures to giue sentence of death against any man for his conscience He was burned at Uxbridge when hee was come to the stake he mightily comforted the people and told them he doubted not â—ut God will shew you some token that I die in a good cause at length he being â—ell-nigh halfe burned all blacke with fire clustered together in a lump like a black â—â—le all men thinking him dead suddenly he arose vpright lifting vp the stumpes of his armes clapping them together declaring a reioycing heart to them and so diâ—d He also wrote many godly Letters as you may sée in the Booke more at laâ—ge Stephen Harwood was burned at Stratford and Thomas Fust was burned at Ware When William Hayle of Thorpe in Essex was condemned O good people said he â—eware of this Iâ—olater and Antichrist pointing to Bonner He was burned at Barâ—et George King Thomas Leyes and Iohn Wade sickned in Prison and dyed and were
hée should saâ—â— black is white or darknesse light Bish. Thou art gone from the Catholick Church where was thy Church before King Edwards daies I asked where was the Church in Elias his time and in Christs time He said Elias only complained of the ten Tribes I said there was no Prophet at that time in the other two Tribes then the Bishop commanded me to be caried vnto a more strait Prison declaring that he would finde a meanes at his returne to wéede such wolues out of the way After the Chancelor a Prebendary called Tensea came to him and exhorted him by all meanes possible to submit himselfe vnto the Church Robert I would gladly submit my selfe vnto the Church which submitteth it selfe to Gods word but how quoth he can you come to the knowledge of the word of God but as you be led by the Church I answered the Church is not aboue the word of God because it declareth it no more then Iohn Baptist is aboue Christ by shewing Christs comming vnto the people or if you should tell one this is the King and therefore you should say you were aboue the King Bish. after he was sent for againe before the Bishop he perswaded him to bee a member of his Church Robert I told him I was a member of the true Church that was founded vpon the Apostles and Prophets the chéefe and principall piller beeing Christ Iesus This Church was from the beginning and no maruell though according vnto the course of this world it doth not shew forth the externall light for it is afflicted with continuall crosses that it hath no respite from feare and tirannicall vsage the Bishop contended that he was of the Church so said I the whole congregation once cryed against the Prophets The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord but when I said any thing for my selfe the Bishop commaunded me vpon my alleagiance to hold my tongue calling me proud and arrogant Hypocrite After for denying that there were any more then two Sacraments and that the Masse was neither Sacrament nor Sacrifice because it differeth from the true institution of Christ and taketh it cleane away and that he denied Confession to a Priest he was condemned and burned at Couentree Cornelius Bungey IN the same fire which the said Robert Glouer was burned Cornelius Bungey a Capper of Couentry who was condemned by the said Bishop First for that he did maintaine that the Priest had no power to absolue a sinner from his sinnes and that there be but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper And that there was not the Lords body and bloud of Christ in the Sacrament of their popish Altar And that the Pope is not head of the Church WILLIAM WOLSEY and ROBERT PYGOT Painter THese were condemned and burned by the Bishop and Chancellor of Ely and both in one fire at Ely were burned NICHOLAS RIDLEY Bishop of London and HVGH LATIMER Bishop of Worcester NIcholas Ridley came of a gentle stock borne in Northumberland he was first Bishop of Rochester and after Bishop of London in which offices he so occupied himselfe in preaching the holsome Doctrine of Christ that neuer child was so dearely beloued of his parents as he was of his flocke he preached euery Holiday or Sunday in some one place or other to whom the people swarmed like Bées He did carefully instruct his Family hee gaue them euery one a New Testament and would giue them money to learne certaine principall Chapters by hart being maruellous carefull ouer them that they might be a spectacle of vertue and honesty to others He called Mistris Boner Bishop Boners Mother his mother and when he was at his house at Fulham the dwelling there he euer sent for her to meales and placed her in a Chaâ—â—e at the Tables end and shee was neuer displaced of her seate though the Kings Councell were there but hee would tell them that this place of right and custome is for my mother Boner but he was well recompenced therfore by Boner who was the destruction of him and his He was immediately after the comming of Queene Mary committed vnto prison and carried to Oxford like a most heynous traytor and heretick with Cranmer and Latimer accompanied with a band of Souldiers as is before mentioned The Conference of RIDLEY and LATIMER vpon the obiection of ANTONIAN Antonian ALL men maruell why you goe not to Masse which is a thing much esteemed of all men and of the Queene her selfe Ridley Because no man that layeth hand on the plough and looketh back is fit for the Kingdome of God Saint Paul would not suffer Titus to be circumcised that the truth of the Gospell might remaine with vs vncorrupt and if I build againe the things which I destroyed I am a trespasser And another cause is least I should seeme to allow that which I know to bee contrarie to sound Doctrine and to be a stumbliâ—g stock to the weake so wâ— should be to me by whom ofâ—ence commeth it were better wee were cast into the Sea with a Milstone about our neckes Anto. What is it in the Masse that so offendeth you that you will not heare nor see it haue you not in times past said Masse your selfe Rid. I am sory therfore and I trust God hath forgiuen me for I did it ignorantly these things in the Masse are contrary to Gods Word and offend me The strange tongue the want of shewing the Lords death the Sacrament is not communicated vnto all vnder both kinds the sign is worshipped for the thing signified Christs passion is iniured by affirming the Masse to purge sinnes and there are manifold superstitions and trifling fondnes in the same Anto. It is a great crime to seperate from the Communion or fellowship of the Church and make a Schisme you hated the Anabaptists and impugned them This was the errour of Nouatus and of the heretickes called Catheri that they would not communicate with the Church Rid. I take not the Masse for the Communion of the Church but for a popish deuice whereby the institution for the remembrance of his death is eluded the people of God deluded The sect of the Anabaptists the heresie of Nouatus are to be condemned they separat themselues from the Communion without any â—ust cause for they did not alledge that the Sacraments were vnduely ministred but alwaies reprouing something either in the Ministers or in the communicants with them for the which they abstained from the Communion as from an vnholy thing Lat. Caluin saith the name of peace is beautifull and the opinion of vnitie is fayre But Saint Paul when he requireth vnity he â—oynes strait with all according to Iesus Christ and no further Piotrephes now of late did much harpe vpon vnity vnity Yea Sir quoth I in verity and not in popery Anto Admit there bee somewhat in the Masse that might be amended Cyprian and Augustine say Communion of Sacraments doth not deâ—â—le a
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
that he was commended by the Ambassadors to the king for his singular wisedome grauitie and learning that he wonne such great credit that he was alone sent Ambassador to the Emperour to debate this businesse but the Emperour refused to determine the matter but remitted the whole question to the Popes court after he was sent to Rome Ambassadour to the Pope where he behaued himselfe with â—o lesse diligence that he compelled the Popes chiefe diuines by arguments to grant the mariage to be against the law but yet by the dispensation of the Pope it might be made lawfull Warram Archbishop of Canterbury dying he was sent for by king Henrie and made Archbishop of Canterbury then came in the question of the Popes supremacy and all the weight of the businesse was chiefly laid vpon Cranmers shoulders he therefore alone receiued answered and confuted all the obiections of the Papists he proued that the Popes Lordship was not brought in by any authoritie of Scriptures but by ambitious tyranny and that the chiefest power on earth belonged to the Emperor to kings and Potentates to whom the Pope Cardinals Bishops Priests by Gods commandement were no lesse subiect then other men and therefore it were best by the consent of the king and other estates the ambitious Lordship of the Pope being driuen out of England should keepe it selfe within his owne Italy as a riuer is kept within his bankes which was performed by act of Parliament then by little and little he reformed the Church into a more wholesome discipline of Christ and laboured to banish the Popes errours heresies and corruptions and he obtained of the king that certaine learned men should make a booke of Ecclesiasticall institutions which was called the Bishops Booke then the abolishing of Monasteries began to be talked of the kings desire was that all the Abbey lands should come vnto his coffers the Archbishop and others would haue them imployed to other good vses whereby the king being bent against Cranmer especially by the instigation of Gardiner Bishop of Winchester which sought all occasions to hinder the Gospel he set forth the 6. Articles by full consent of Parliament which contained the summe of Popish religion What slaughter by the space of 8. yeares these Articles made is already declared but after he forgoing his anger with the Archbishop séeing he stood against him in conscience not in stubburnesse he began to fauour him and thought to haue taken away the 6. Articles and reformed other matters if he had liued but Cranmer and the Lord protector brought it to passe in king Edwards dayes his story how he was vsed in Quéene Maries reign is mentioned before and his disputations at Oxeford and how he was condemned there and left in prison vntill this time And because the sentence was voyde in law because it was giuen by persons excommunicated for they were not then absolued by the Pope nor his authoritie receiued in the realme therefore there was a new commission sent from the Pope for the conuiction of Cranmer Latimer and Ridley and the Bishop of Glocester was appointed the Popes delegate and after they had condemned Latimer and Ridley as before is said The said Legate and his company being set in Saint Maries Church apparelled in his Pontificalibus as if the Pope in person had bene there the Bishop of Canterbury was brought before them putting off his cappe he did obeysance to the king and quéenes proctors then looking in the Legats face he put on his bonnet againe making no obedience toward him wherefore the Bishop sayd vnto him that it might beséeme him well waying the authoritie which he did represent to doe his duety to him he answered hee had sworne neuer to admit the Pope into this Realme and therefore he would commit nothing by signe or token which might argue his consent to the reâ—eiuing of him and that he did it not to any contempt of his person Then the Legate made an eloquent oration to put him in remembrance that from a meane gentleman he was raised to bee a Princes Ambassadour and further to be Archbishop and Primate of the Realmealmost 30 yeares and sâ— farre in trust with the king that he made him president of his councel and after left him in speciall trust for the gouernement of the young Prince during his minoritie such blessing God had giuen him whilest he continued in the Catholicke faith He exhorted him on the other side to consider how he was now fallen from his dignities and officices and in high displeasure of the King and Quéene iudged to die for high treason and all these things to haue happened vnto him only because he had seuered himself from the Sea of Rome and was become a father of new deuised religion and although your estate is so miserable that the meanest in this assembly will not change his condition and calling with you yet further he was like to fall by the iust iudgement of God into hell and euerlasting damnation if he did not repent of his errours and schismes whilest he had time of repentance whereunto he exhorted him earnestly repeating many places of Christs mercies to them that repent and shewed that to returne to the Church was the oâ—ely way to saue both body and soule and I doubt not but the King and Quéene will perdon your condemnation of treason if you will returne vnto the Church and forsake your opinions which I desire you to do Then Cranmer desired license to speake which was gently granted him first he made protestation that hee did not answere to him as to a lawfull Iudge because he was deputed for the Pope but to giue a reason of his faith which God hath commanded him to doe to euery one that shall demand a reason thereof Then he said My Lord you haue learnedly put me in remembrance of many things touching my selfe which I will not answere I acknowledge Gods goodnesse vnto me and thanke him as heartily for this estate that now I am in as euer I did for the time of my prosperity shewing that his greatest griefe was to sée the Popes Iurisdiction restored to England againe Alas what hath the Pope to do in England whose lawes are so farre different from the Lawes of this realme that whosoeuer sweareth to both must néedes incurre periury in the one And I am heartily sorry to thinke that her grace the day before her Coronation tooke an oath to obserue the lawes of this realme and also tooke an oath to the Bishop of Rome promising to maintaine that Sea which was impossible but shee must néeds be forsworne in the one And as for the matter of Heresie wherewith you charge mee I call God to witnesse I know none which I maintaine but if it be heresie to deny the Popes authority and the religion which the sea of Rome hath published vnto the world these latter yeares then all the ancient Fathers of the primitiue Church the Apostles and Christ himselfe
said that the Sacrament of the Altar as it is now vsed is no Sacrament at all These thrée blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ Simpson Fox and Deuenish as they were all together apprehended at Islington so they suffered together in Smithfield WILLIAM NICOLE HEe was an honest simple poore man apprehended the ninth of Aprill by the Popes Champions for speaking certaine words against the cruell kingdome of Antichrist he was butcherly burned and tormented at Hereford west in Wales where he ended his life in a blessed estate and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lord. Willam Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson WIlliam Seaman was a husbandman dwelling in Mendlesam in the County of Suffolk he was taken the ninteenth of May by one Robert Balden his neighbour whom he greatly trusted as they were leading him by night to Sir Iohn Tyrill there fell a light out of the Element betwixt them and parted them albeit this Balden was then in his best age yet after that time â—e neuer enioyed good day but pined away euen vnto death Sir Iohn Tyril asâ—ed him why hee would not goe vnto Masse and receiue and worship the Sacrament He said it was an Idol and therefore would not receiue it Whervpon he was sent to the Bishop of Norwich who condemned him He had a wife and three children who because shee would not goe vnto Masse all her corne and goods were taken away from her by Christopher Cole being Lord of the towne of Mendlesham Thomas Carman was apprehended for pledging Richard Crashford at his burning he was brought before the Bishop of Norwich and answered no lesse in his maisters quarrell thâ—n th' other and he had the like reward Thomas Hudson was of Aylesham in Norffolke a Glouer hee bore so good will vnto the Gospell that in the daies of King Edward the sixt that when hée was thirty yeareo old he learned to reade wherein he so greatly profited that in Queene Maries raigne auoiding all their beggerly ceremonies of superstition he absented himselfe and trauelled from place vnto place and returning home vnto his owne house to comfort his Wife and Children When hee perceiued that his continuance there would be very dangerous hee and his wife deuised to make him a place in his Faggots to hide himselfe in where hee remained all the day reading and praying for halfe a yeare In the meane time came thither one Berry Uicar of the Towne and inquired of his Wife for him Shee said shee â—new not where hee was Then hee threatned to burne her because shee would not bewray her husband After this Hudson waxed euery day more zealous then other and the people often resorted vnto him to heare his Sermons at last hee walked abroad for certaine daies into the towne crying out against the Masse and all their trumpery at the length one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went with speed to the Constables to certifie them that hee was at home who went about to catch him in the breake of the day Whâ—n Hudson saw them hee said now mine houre is come welcome friends you bee they that shall leade mee vnto life euerlasting I thanke GOD therefore and the Lord inable mee for his mercy sake Then they ledde him vnto Berry their Uicar being Commissarâ—e as before who asked him where hee kept his Church foure yeares before Hee answered wheresoeuer hee was there was the Church Then hee asked him whether hee beleeued in the Sacrament of the Altar He answered that was but wormes meate my beliefe is in Christ crucified Then he asked him whether hee did not beléeue that the Masse taketh away sinnes Hudson It is a patched monster and a disguised puppit more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple Then Berry seemed as a mad man and said wel I will write vnto my Lord and thou shalt be handled according vnto thy deserts Oh Sir said Hudson there is no Lord but God though there bee many Lords and Gods With that Berry thrust him back with his hand and bound Richard Clifford to the good behauiour for saying I pray bee good vnto the poore man Then the said Berry writ vnto the Bishop and sent Hudson bound like a Theefe vnto him who went thither with ioy and singing as merry as euer hee was where he was condemned These thrée were burned without the Bishops gaâ—e in Norwich in a place called Lolords pit aftor they had made their prayers they went vnto the stake and standing with their chaines about them Iohn Hudson being troubled in minde went from them and prayed his fellowes exhorted him in the bowels of Christ to be of good chéere At last the Lord according vnto his old mercies sent him comfort and then rose â—e with great ioy as a man new changed from death vnto life and said now I thanke God I am strong and passe not what man can doe vnto mee at the length they all suffered most ioyfully together to the terrour of the wicked the comfort of Gods children and the magnifying of the Lords Name After this Berry caused two hundred of the towne of Cylesham to creepe to the crosse at Penticost besides other punishments which they suffered This Betry vpon a time strooke a poore man of his parish with the swingell of a â—laile for speaking words that hee presently dyed And after hee méeting one Alice Oxes going into his Hall hee as before moued he smote her with his fist and the next day shee was found dead in his Chamber to write how many Concubines and whoores hee had none would beleeue but such as knew him where be dwelt He was rich of great authoritie a great swearer altogether giuen vnto women and persecuting the Gospell and compelling men vnto Idolatry he troubled sundry good men burned all good books that he could get and deuorced many men and women for religion When hee heard Queene Mary was dead and the glory of his triumph quailed On a Sunday hee made a great Feast and had one of his Concubines there with whom he was in his Chamber from dinner vntill euening song then hee went to the Church and after euening song in going from Church homeward hee fell downe dead made an heauy grone and neuer stirred and those that had his riches so consumed with them that they be poorer now then when they had his goods which iudgement the Lord executed in the eyes of all men At that time Dâ—nning the cruell Chancellor of Norwich died in Lincolneshire as sodainely as the said Berry died Ioane Seaman Mother of the said William Seaman SHe was threescore and six yeares old She was persecuted from her house by the said Sir Iohn Tyrill because she would not goe vnto the Masse nor receiue against her conscience sometimes shee was glad to lye in the bushes Groues and Fields but her husband beeing fourescore yeares old and falling sick she returned vnto her house to shew her duety vnto her husband vntill hee dyed then she fell
Tower and to bee tâ—ssed from thence from prison to prison from post to piller at length also she was prisoner iâ— her owne house garded with a sort of cut-throates which euer gaped for the spoilâ— of her In the beginning of Quéene Maries Raigne the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtenay were charged with false suspition of Sir Thomas Wiats rising and the Lady Elizabeth being at her house at Ashredge Quéene Mary sent her two Lords and Sir Iohn Williams afterward Lord Tame with their retinue and troupes of horsemen to the number of two hundred and fifty who found her sore sick in her bed and very feeble and weake of body and at ten of the clock at night they rushed into her Chamber without leaue whereat her Grace beeing not a little amazed She said my Lords is your hast such that it might not haue pleased you to haue come to morrow in the morning They answered that they came from the Queene for her and that she must be at London the seuenth day of that month she answered that no Creature was more glad then shee to come vnto her Maiesty and that she was sorry she was not able to goe with them they answered That their Commission was such that we must needs bring you with vâ—â—liue or dead In conclusion they willed her to prepare against the morning at nine of the clocke to goe with them and on the next day morrow at the time prescribed they had her forth as she was very faint and féeble and in such case that she was ready to sound thrée or foure times betweene them From Ashridge all sicke in the Litter she came vnto Redborne where shee was garded all night from thence to Saint Albons to Sir Raphe Rowlets house where she tarriâ—d all night both feeble in body and comfortlesse in minde from thence shee came to Maister Dodds house at Mimmes where also they remained all night and from thence to Highgate where she being very sicke tarried all night and next day During which time of her abode there came many Purseuants and Messengers from the Court vnto the Lords but about what I cannot tell from thence shee was conuayed vnto the Coâ—rt where she was straitwaies shut vp and kept as close prisoner a fortnight The Friday before Palmesunday the Bishop of Winchester with nineteene others of the Priuy Councell came vnto her Grace and bâ—rdened her with Wiats Conspiracy which she vâ—terly deniâ—d then they charged her with the busines made by Sir Peter Carew and the rest of the Gentlemen of the West country which also shee vtterly denied Then they told her that it was the Queenes pleasure that shee should goe vnto the Tower vntill the matâ—â—r were further tryed Then shee desired them to bee a meane vnto the Queeâ—e that shee would be gracious vnto her declaring that sheee was innocent in all the matters wherein they had burdened her and that shee was a true woman vnto to the Queene in thought word and deede that shee might not be committed vnto so notorious and dolefull a place The Lords answered that there was no remedy for the Queene was determined that she should goe vnâ—o the Tower wherewith the Lords departed with their hats hanging ouer their eyes but about an houre after foure of the aforesaid Lords of the Councell with the Guard who warding the next chamber vnto her secluded all her Gentlemen Yeomen Ladies and Gentlewomen one Gentleman Usher thrée Gentlewomen and two Groomes of her Chamber were appointed in their roomes by the Quéene to giue attendance vpon her that none should haue accesse vnto her At which time there was 100. of Northen souldiers in white coats watching aboâ—t the Gardens all night and two Lords with their bands companies watched in the hall The next day two Lords of the Councell certified her Grace that forthwith she must goe vnto the Tower the Barge being prepared for her the tyde now readie which tarrieth for no body but she got leaue of the Earle of Sussex which was one of the two to tarrie till day to write to the Q. and he promised to deliuer it contrary to the will of the other the next day being Palm-sonday about nine of the clock she took her Barge with the said two Lords houering vpon the water an boure because they could not shoot the Bridge when they did shoot the bridge the stâ—rn of the 〈◊〉 strook vpon the ground the fall was so bigge the water so shallow then her Grace desired the Lords that she might not land at the staires where al traytors offendors vse to land whiâ—h they would not grant then she protested that here steppeth as true a subiect as euer was towards the Queens highnesse and before thee O God I speak it hauing none other friends but only thee when she came into the Tower she rested her selfe vpon a colde stone the Lieutenant said Madam you were best come out of the raine for you sit vnwholsomly she answered it was better to sit there then in a worse place for God knoweth I know not whether you will bring me then her Gentleman Usher wept and she asked him what his meaning was in that be vsed her so vncomfortably so she went into the prison and the doores were locked and boulted vpon her then she called to her Gentleman for her booke desiring God in no wise to suffer her to build her foundation vpon the sands but vpon the rocke whereby all blasts of blustering windes should not hurt her the Lords consulting about her straight keeping the Lord of Sussex said My Lords let vs take héed that we doe no more then our Commission will warrant vs whatsoeuer shall or may happen hereafter for shee was the King our Masters daughter whereunto they all agreed and departed It would make a strange storie to recite what examinations and rackings of poore men there were to finde out that knife which should cut her throate what gaping amongst the Lords of the Clergie to see the day wherein they might wash their white Rochets in her innocent bloud but most especially Steuen Gardner Bishop of Winchester then Lord Chancellor and then rulâ—r and gouernour of the rost who within few dayes after came vnto her with diuers of the Councell and very strictly examined her about a purpose that she had to remoue to her house at Donnington Castle and likewise they examined Sir Iames Acroft about the same matter She answered what is that to the purpose my Lords but that I may go vnto mine owne houses at all times but my Lords you doe examine euery meane prisoner concerning mee wherein you doe me excéeding great iniurie I beseech you ioyne not me in this sort with any of these offendors When they were departing Sir Iames Acroft knâ—eled downe and said hee was sorie to bee brought as a witnes against her Grace and that hee had beene meruâ—iâ—ously tossed and examined touching her Highnes but I take GOD to
secret friend to submit her selfe vnto the Quéen which would be to her great commoditie she answered she would not submit her selfe vnto them which she had not offended if I haue offended I craue no mercy but law I would I were as cléere out of the perrill of mine eâ—emies as I know my selfe out of the danger of the law About this time there was great consulting amongst the Bishops and Gentlemen touching a marriage for her Grace which some of the Spaniards wished to be with some stranger that she might goe out of the Realme with her portion then a Lord said that the King should neuer haue quiet Common-wealth in England except her head were striken from her shoulders the Spaniards answered God forbid that their King and Master should consent to such a mischiefe From that day the Spaniards neuer left good perswasions vnto the King that he should neuer obtaine the like honour as he should in deliuering the Lady Elizabeth out of prison whereby at length she was happily released of the same Shortly after she was sent for to Hampton Court Sir Henry Benifield and his souldiers with the Lord of Tame and Sir Ralph Chamberlaine guarding of her the first night she came to Ricot the next to M. Dormers house and so to Colbrook where she lay at the George all night as she came thither thréescore of her Gentlemen and Yeomen met her which had not séene her Grace a long season before but they were commanded in the Quéens name to depart the towne and shée was not suffred to speak with them that night al her men were taken from her but her Gentleman vsher thrée Gentlewomen and two Grooms one of her Wardrop the next day her Grace entred Hampton Court where she lay a fortnightere euer any had recourse vnto her at length came the Lord William Howard to â—er who vsed her Grace maruellous hanourably she requested him to be a meane that shée might speak with some of the Councell Not long after came to her Gardner Bishop of Winchester the Lord Arundel the Lord of Shrewsbury and Secretary Peter who with great humility humbled themselues vnto her Grace My Lords quoth she I am glad to sée you for me thinks I haue bin kept a great while from you desolatly alone wherefore I would desire you to be a meane to the King and Quéens Maiesties that I may be deliuered from prison wherein I haue bin kept a long space Then Gardner knéeled down and requested her to submit her selfe to the Quéen and then he doubted not but her Maiestie would be good vnto her she answerd rather then she would do so she would lie in prison all the dayes of her life adding that she craued no mercy but the law if euer she did offend her Maiesty in thought word or déed and in yeelding I should confesse my selfe to be an offendor which I neuer was towards her Maiesty by occasion wherof the King and Quéen might euer hereafter conceiue an ill opinion therefore it were better for me to lie in prison for the trâ—th then to be abroad and suspected of my Prince So they departed promising to declare her message to the Quéâ—n The next day Gardner came again vnto her Grace and knéeling down declared that the Quéen maruailed that she would so stoutly vse her selfe not confessing â—o haue offended so that it should séeme the Quéens Maiesty wrongfully to haue imprisoned her Grace Nay quoth she the Quéen may punish me as it pleasâ—th her Nay quoth Gardner her Maiesty willed me to certifie you that you must tell her another tale ere that you be at liberty her Grace answered that she had as liue be in prison with honesty and truth as to be abroad suspected of hâ—r Maiesty this I will stand vnto for I will neuer bely my selfe Then he knéeled down and said then your Grace hath aduantage of me and other the Lords for your long imprisonment I take God to record quoth she I séeke no vantage at your hands for your so dealing with me then the other kneeled downe and desired her Gracâ— that all might be forgotten and so they departed A seuen-night after the Queenâ— sent for her at ten of the clocke at night then she desired her Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to pray for her for that she coâ—ld not tell whether she should euer seâ— them againe When she came vnto the Queâ—ne she kneeled downe and desired God to preserue her Maiestie not in any wise doubting but that she should proue her selfe as true and faithfull a subiect towards her Maiestie as euer did any and therefore she desired her Maiestie so to iudge of her and said she should not â—nd other of her whatsoeuer report had gone of her the Queen answered you will not confesse your offence bâ—t stand stoatly in your truth I pray God it may so fall out It it do not quoth she I desire no fauour nor pardon at your Maiesties hands Wel said the Queene you stiffely still perseâ—ere in the truth belike you will not confesse but that you haue bâ—ene wrongfully punished I must not say so if it please your Grace to you why then said the Queene belike you will vnto others no quoth she I haue borne the burden and must beare it I humbly beseech your Maiestie to haue a good opinion of me and to thinke me to be your true subiect not only hitherto but as long as life lasteth and so they parted with a few comfortable words in English but what she said in Spanish God knoweth It is thought that King Philip was there behinde a cloth and not seene and that he shewed himselfâ— a very friend vnto that matter Thus her Grace went vnto her lodging againe aâ—d the seuen-night after she was released of Sir Henry Benifield and was set at libertie from imprisonment she went into the Countrey and had appointed to goe with her Sir Thomas Pope one of the Queens Councellors M. Gage one of her Gentlemen Ushers And thus straightly was she looked vnto all the time of Q. Maries raigne Then there came vnto her house Maister Ierningham and Norris Gentleman Usher Quéene Maries Men who tooke from her Grace Mistris Ashly to the Fléet and thrée other of her Gentlewomen vnto the Tower which was no little trouble vnto her Grace saying That shee thought that they would fetch all away in the end but God be praysed shortly after was fetched away Gardiner whereby the life of this so excellent a Princesse the wealth of all England was preserued for the said wicked Gardner had long laboured his wits and bent all his deuises to bring this our deere Soueraâ—gne out of the way as by his words and doings did well appeare After the death of this Gardner followed the death also and dropping away of other her enemies whereby by little and little her iâ—opardy decreased and more gentle entertainmant did daily grow vnto her vntill in the moneth of Nouember the seauenteenth day
Three yeares after the death of Stephen Gardner followed the death of Quéene Mary as is before declared the same day Queene Elizabeth was proclaimed Queene with as many glad hearts of her subiects as euer was any King or Queene in this Realme The next day after the death of Queene Mary Cardinall Poole died and shortly after Christopher Bishop of Chichester and Hopton Bishop of Norwich died and Doctor Weston which was the cheefe Disputer against Cranmer Ridley and Latimer First fell into displeasure with the Cardinall and other Bishops because he would not depart from his Deanerie of Westminster vnto the Monks being remoued from thence he was made Deane of Windsor where being apprehended in aduoutry was by the saâ—d Cardinall put from all his spirituall liuings wherefore he appealed vnto Rome and flying out of the Realme he was taken by the way and clapt into the Tower where he remained vntill Queene Elizabeth was proclaimed then being deliuered he fell sick and died The fifteenth day of Ianuary Queene Elizabeth was crowned with triumphant and honourable entertainment of the Citie of London with such celebritie praâ—ers wishes welcommings cryes tender words Pageants Interlâ—des declâ—mations and verses set vp as the like hath not been seene arguing a wonderfull affection of louing hearts towards their Soueraigne and many Letters gratulatory were sent vnto her Maiestie from sundry forraine places as from Zuricke Geneua Basil Berne Wertenberge Argentine Franckfort c. It pleased the Queens most excellent Maiesty to haue a conuenient chosen number of the best learned of either part to conferre together their opinions and reasons and thereby to come to some good and charitable agreement For the Papists were appointed the Bishops of Winchester Lichfield Chester Carlile Lincolne Doctor Cote Doctor Harpsfield Doctor Langdall and Doctor Chedsey For the Protestants were appointed the Bishop of Chichester Doctor Coxe M. Whitehed M. Grindall M. Horne Doctor Sands M. Gest M. Aelmer M. Iuell The matters which they should talk of follow 1 It is against the word of God and the custome of the auncient Church to vse a tongue vnknowne to the people in Common-prayer and the administration of the Sacraments 2 Euery Church hath authority to appoint take away change ceremonies and Ecclesiasticall Rites so the same be vnto edification 3 It cannot be proued by the word of God that there is in the masse offered by a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead It was resolued by the Quéens Maiesty with the aduice aforesaid that it should be in writing on both parts and that the Bishops should first declare their mindes touching the matters with their reasons in writing and they on the other part should the same day declare their opinions in like manner and each of them deliuer their writings vnto the other to consider what were to be improued therin and the same also to declare in writing some other day the parties of this conference were to put and reade their assertions in the English tongue before the Nobles and States of the Realme that thereupon in the Court of Parlament consequently following some lawes might be grounded The first méeting was the last of March in Westminster Church the Lords and others of the priuie Councell were present and a great part of the Nobilitie the Bishop of Winchester and his Colleagues alleadged that they had mistakeâ— that their reasons should be written but they were readie to argue and dispute this séemed somwhat strange to the Councell yet it was permitted so Doctor Cole Deane of Paules was appointed the vtterer of their mindes who partly by spéech and partly by reading authorities written and somtimes was informed by his Colleagues what to say made a declaration of their meanings and reasons to the first proposition which being ended they were asked by the Councell if they had any more to say and they said no so the other part was licensed to shew their minde which they exhibited in a booke written which after a prayer made most humbly vnto Almighty God for the induing them with the holy spirit and a protestation to stand to the doctrine of the Catholike Church builded vpon the doctrines of the Prophets and Apostles the effect of the protestation iâ— as here followeth We referre the whole iudgement of the controuersie vnto the holy Scriptures and the Catholike Church of Christ whose iudgement vnto vs ought to be most sacred notwithstanding by the Catholike Church we vnderstand not the Romish Church whereunto our aduersaries attribute such reuerence but that Church which S. Augustine and other fathers affirme ought to be sought in the holy scriptures and which is gouerned and led by the spirit of Christ. It is against the word of God and the custom of the primitiue Church to vse a tongue vnknowne vnto the people in the common prayers and in administration of the Sacraments by the word of God wemeane the written word of God or Canonicall Scriptures and by the custome of the primitiue Church we meane the order most generally vsed in the Church for fiue hundred years after Christ in which time liued Iustine Ireneus Tertullian Cyprian Basill Chrysostome Hierome Ambrose Augustine c. This assertion hath two parts first that it is against the word of God and secondly that it is against the vse of the primitiue Church The first is proued by Saint Paule in 1. Cor. 14. where he intreateth of this matter ex professo purposely and though some say that he there meaneth of preaching and not of prayer it appeareth by the exposition of the best writers that he speaketh of prayer and thanksgiuing and of all other publique actions which require any speach in the Church of prayer he saith I will pray with my spirit and with my vnderstanding and of thanksgiuing he saith Thou giuest thanks wel but the other is not edified and how can the vnlearned say Amen at thy giuing of thankes when hee vnderstandeth not what thou sayest then he concludeth that all things ought to be don to edification and he vseth the similitude of a Trumpet If it giue an vncertaine sound who can prepare to battell so if thou speake with vnknowne tongues you speake in the ayre that is in vaine In the old Testament all things belonging vnto publike prayers benedictions thanksgiuings and sacrifices were alwayes in their naturall tongue if they did so in the shaddowes of the law much more ought we to doe the like S. Augustinâ— in his fourth booke De doctrina Christiana and the tenth Chapter saith If they for whose cause we speake vnderstand not our speaking there is no cause why we should speake The barbarous Heathen of all nations and sorts of men euer made their prayers and sacrifices to their gods in their mother tongue which sheweth that it is the very light and voyce of nature Touching the second part of the assertion that it is against the custome of the primitiue Church it is a matter so
and thus he did vntill hee came vnto the stake but as soone as the fire was put vnto Abbes this blasphemer was striken with madnes wherewith he had charged the good martyr he cast off his shooes the rest of his clothes cried out thus did Abbes that true seruant of God who is saued but I am damned Thus hee ranne about the towne of Berry still crying Iames Abbes was a good man and saued but I am damned The Sheriffe tyed him vp in a darke house but he continued his old note and being brought to his Masters house in a Cart within halfe a yeere he died And beeing ready to die the parish Priest came to him with the Crucifix and the Host of the Altar but he cryed out of the Priest and defied all that baggage saying that the Priest aâ—d such other as he was were the cause of his damnation And that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued Clarke an open enemie of the Gospell and all good preâ—chers in King Edwards dayes hanged himselfe in the Tower of London The great and notable Papist called Troling Smith of late fell downe suddenly in the street and died Dalâ— the Promoter was eaten in his body with Lice and so died Cox a Protestant in King Edwards daies and in Quéene Maries daies a Papist and a Promoter being well when he went to bed he was dead before morning Alexander the keeper of Newgate who to hasten the poore lambes vnto the slaughter hee would goe to Boner Story and Colmley and others crying out rid my prison I am too much pestered with hereticks and he dyed very miserably being swollen and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him and Iames his son being left very rich in three yeares brought it to nâ—ght and shortly after as he went in Newgate market he fell downe suddenly and died Iohn Pether sonne in law to this Alexander ad horrible blasphemer of God and no lesse cruell vnto the prisoners rotted away and so died who commonly when he affirmed any thing he would say if it be not true I pray God I rot ere I die Iustice Lelon persecutor of Ieffrey Hurst died suddenly Robert Baulding aâ— the taking of William Seaman was striken with lightning wherevpon he pined away and died Beard the Promoter died wretchedly Robert Blomfield persecutor of VVilliam Browne consumed away miserably In K. Henries time Iohn Rockwood who in his horrible end cried All to late which were the words that he vsed in persecuting Gods children at Callice The Lady Honer a persecutor and George Bradway a false accuser were both bereft of their wits Richard Long a persecutor drowned himselfe Sir Rafe Ellerker as he was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlip he being slaine of the Frenchmen after they had mangled him and cut off his priuy members would not leaue him vntill they saw his heart cut out Doctor Foxford Chancelor to Bishop Stokely a cruell persecutor died suddenly Pauier or Pauie towne Clarke of London a bitter enemy vnto the Gospel hanged himselfe Doctor Pendleton died miserably and at his death he repented that euer he had yeelded to the Doctrine of the Papists Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochestâ—â— and Sir Thomas Moore after they had broâ—ght Iohn Frith Bayfield and Bainham and diuers others to death shortly after they themselues were made a publike spectacle of bloudy death at tower hil These persecuting Bishops died a little before Quéene Mary Coates Parfew Glune Brookes King Peto Day Holiman After Quéene Mary immediately followed Cardinall Poole and these persecuting Bishops Iohn Christopherson Hopton Morgan Iohn VVhite Rafe Bayne Owen Oglethorpe Cutbert Tonstall Thomas Raynolds And about the same timâ— died Doctor VVeston Maister Slethurst Seth Holland VVilliam Copinger and Doctor Steward great persecutors The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of death were depriued and committed vnto prisons these Bishops were committed vnto the Tower Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Thurlby Thomas Watson Dauid Poole Gilbert Burne Richard Pates Troublefield and Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Wesâ—minster and Iohn Boxell Dean of Windsor and Peterborough were committed with the said Bishops vnto the Tower Gouldwell Bishop of Saint Asse aâ—d Maurice Elect of Bangor ranne away Boner Thomas Wood Bishops were committed to the Marshalsey Cutbert Scot Bishop of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Loâ—ane and there dyed These were committed vnto the Fleete Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpsfield Arch-deacon of London Nicholas Harpsfield Arch-deacon of Canterbury Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Huntington William Chadsey Archdeacon of Middlesex One Iohn Apowell mockeâ— one William Maulden as he was reading an English Seruice Booke in a Winters Euening mocking him at euery word with contrariâ— gaudes and flouting words Wherefore the said William checked him saying hee mocked not him but God As the said William was reading these words Lord haue mercy vpon vs Christ haue mercy vpon vs The other with a start suddenly said Lord haue mercy vpon me The said William asked him wherfore he was afrayd He answered when you reade Lord haue mercy vpon vs me thought the hayre of my head stood vpright with a great feare that came vpon me The next day in the morning he fell mad and after that hee lay day and night and his tongue neuer ceased crying out of the Diuell of hell I would see the Diuell of hell there he is there he goeth and such like words Thus he lay six daies that his Maister and all the rest of the house was weary of the noise and sent him to Bedlam At Waltamstow six miles from London certaine children were talking what God was and one said he was a good Old Father and a Maide of twelue yéeres old named Denys Benifield said what he is an old doting Foole The next day she was suddenly striken by the hand of God that all one side of her was black and she speechlesse and so she died the same night Some beeing in communication about Cranmer Ridley and Latimer in an house of Abingdon in Barkeshire One Leâ—ar â— plowman dwelling at Brightwell said that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when hee was burned and that he had téeth like a horse at which time and houre the son of the said Leauer most wickedly hanged himselfe in Shepton a mile from Abbington Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury gaue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died himselfe before him being sâ— striken in his tongue that he could neither swallow nor speake a good while before his death When Patrick Hamelton was burned for the truth in Scotland in the fire hee cited and appealed Frier Campbell that accused him to appeare before the High God to answere whether his accusation was iust or not betwixt that and a day of the next moneth which he named The said Frier dyed immediatly before the day came Haruy a Commissary which condemned a
Liset Chiefe President of the said Court and one of the Authors of the said burning Chamber fell mad and was put from his office Iohn Morin after he had beene the death of many Christians was striken with a disease in his legs called the Wolues wherewith he lost the vse of them and died out of his wits denying and blaspheming God Iohn Andrew the Booke-binder of the Pallace became a spy to find out Protestants died in madnesse The Inquisitor Iohn de Roma in Prouence his flesh fel from him by péece meal and so stinking that no man might come neere him Iohn Minerius of Prouence which was the death of a great number of men women and Children at Cabriers and Merindoll died with bléeding in the lower parts the fire hauing taken his belly blaspheming and dispising of God Thus farre out of the Letter Henry the second the French King notwithstanding the aforesaid examples might giue him sufficient warning yet would he not surceaâ—e his cruell persecution against Gods Children but being at the Parliament house which was kept at the Fryer Augustines in Paris because the Pallace was a preparing â—or â—he marriages of his Daughter and his Sister and hauing heard the opinion in Religion of Anne du Bourg an eloquent and learned Councellor he caused him and Loys du Faur another Councellor to bee committed Prisoners vnto the Count Mongomery The King said to the said Anne du Bourg These eyes of mine shal sée thee burned and a day was appointed for the hearing the cause at which day the King employed all the morning in examining as wel the Presidents as Councellors of the said Parliament against the Prisoners and other their Companions that were charged with the same Doctrine then they went to dinner after dinner the King went to running at the Tilt and brake many staues as well as could be whereupon he was highly commended of the Lookers â—n and being inflamed with hearing his yraise he would néedes runne with Montgomery who knéeled downe and asked pardon not to runne with him the King commaunded him vpon his Alleagiance to runne and himselfe put his staffe into his hand and as the King and he met the vizard of his helmet suddenly fell downe whereby the King was stricken in one of his eyes so that his braines perished and it so â—estered that no remedy could be found so that the eleauenth day after hee dyed He said he feared he was stricken for casting poore Christians wrongfully in Prison but Cardinall Lorraine said that it was the enemy that tempted him to think so By this meanes the hall that was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes was now a place to keepe the dead Corps beeing hanged with mourning-cloath and there was heard mourning for the space of forty daies In the yeare 1561. there were certaine Gentlemen put to death at Amboyse for taking â—rmes against the house of Guise The last that was put to death thrust his hands into the blood of the others which were beheaded and lifting them vp vnto heauen cryed with a loud voyce Lord behold the blood of thy Children thou wilt in time and place reuenge it Not long after Councellor Oliueâ— the condemner of them through great remorce of conscience fell sicke and shriked vpon a suddaine with an horrible cry and said to the Cardinall of Lorraine O Cardinall thou wilt make vs all to be damned and shortly after died Francis the second succéeded his Father Henry the second in the Kingdome of France he at the perswasion of the Cardinall of Lorraine and others assembled the Estates of the Realme in Orleance to maintaine the Papall Sea to the ouerthrow of those that should liue after the Gospell but being sicke of a Feauer thorow an Impostume in his left care he died The Emperor Charles the fift being an enemy and a great terror vnto the Gospell was cut off from doing any more hurt vnto the Church Anno 1558. but thrée months before the death of Quéene Mary and ten months before the death of Henry the second Not long after Anne du Bourgs death the President Minard who was a sore Persecutor and the Condemner of the said Anne du Bourg as hée returned from the Councell Chamber vnto his owne house was flaine with a Dagge and it was neuer knowne who did it The King of Nauarre Brother vnto the Prince of Condie after a while maintained the Gospell hee was perswaded by the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine his Brother in hope to haue his Lands restored againe which the King of Spaine detained from him to be â—entented to alter his Religion and to ioyne side with the Papists and being in Campe with the Duke of Guise at the siedge of Roane he was shot in with a Pellet after which wound he did vehemently repent his back sliding from the Gospel promising earnestly vnto God that if he might escape that hurt hee would bring to passe that the Gospell should be preached freely throughout al France notwithstanding within fiue or six daies he dyed And the Duke of Guise himselfe the great Arch-enemy of God and his Gospell with the whole Triumuirat of France that is three the greatest Captaines of Popery were cut off for doing any more hurt The Duke of Guise before Orleance the Constable of France before Paris the Marshall of Saint Andrew before Drewx THE ABRIDGEMENT OF A Christian Dialogue called PASQVINE in a Trance THE Author of this Treatise was called Caelius Secundus Curio an Italian a zealous godly learned man by whom vnder the witty and pleasant inuention of Pasquines going to Heauen Purgatorie and Hell the whole packe of the Popes pedlary wares is laid open that we may sée what stuffe it is It was written in the time of pope Paule the third the cheefe substance whereof breefely followeth Superstition and Hypocrisie are the diuels Rhetorick by which Friers make the world beleeue so many falsehoods and toyes for by nothing else can Faith so easily be ouerthrowne The apparell of the Fryers was deuised of the Deuill that by these shéeps skins they might not séeme Wâ—olues but by the strangenesse thereof to make the simple people to thinke them holy Their Monasteries are a true representation of the qualities of the World their raigneth nothing but passions in euery one to aduance themselues and driue out others their pictures of Saints being Gods of stone very much differ from that which they were when they were vpon earth The Uirgin Mary was not honored with so many chaines bracelets perfumes gold siluer and wax as she is now vpon the Altar with paintings on her face and on her head crownes full of Iewels She is attired with costly and many sorts of garments like a yong gyrle they make her most couetous and niggardly and to giue nothing to the poore but to bestow all that is giuen her which is aboundance vpon Cardinals and Hipocrites to be bestowed vpon Whores Dogs and Horses The
send an armie to restore the Roman Religion in England he would pray that the Roman armie might preuaile in that case and in that faith he would spend ten thousand millions of liues if hee had them whereupon hee was likewise condemned to bee hanged drawne and quartered Robert Sutton Priest was indited for the same treasons he said the Quéen was supreme gouernour within her Highnesse Dominions ouer all persons but not ouer all causes he was found guiltie and had his iudgement as the rest It was proued that Welden was sent ouer into the Low-countries to kill the Earle of Leicester who apprehended him and sent him ouer into England to which he answered he had done nothing but as a Catholike Priest ought to doe by the direction of our most holy Father the Pope being the head of the Church who onely hath authority ouer all persons and in all causes Ecclesiasticall and in this Roman Religion I will die Then he prayed all Catholikes to pray for him and so mumbling certaine Latin prayers he died The other likewise died as obstinate traytors as himselfe Doctor Lopez Stephano de Ferrera de Gama Manuell Lewis Tyuaco Portugalls DOctor Lopez was fauourably receiued into the Quéens house a long time as one of her physitians the other two were Portugalls lately receiued to the seruice of the King of Spain yet colourably resorting into this Realme Lopez confessed that hee was of late yeares allured secretly to doe seruice vnto the King of Spaine and from one of his Priuie Councell he receiued a Iewell of gold of good value garnished with a large Diamond and a large Rubie and afterward he assented to take away the Quâ—â—ns life by poysoning vpon reward promised him of fifty thousand crownes for which purpose hee sent a messenger ouer to Callice to confer with the Count â—uents for this practise and that after he sent an other messenger vnto Ibarra the King of Spaines Secretary and to the said Count Fuentes promising to poison the Queene if â—hee might haue the fifty thousand crownes that were offered deliuered vnto him and he confessed the other two were his messengers in the aforesaid messages and conspired with him to execute the same and they all confessed that the stay that it was not done proceeded much against their mindes for want of the deliuerie of the said fifty thousand crownes which was promised by a day But the King of Spaine finding fault that the messenger which should carry the money was too base a fellow to be trusted wâ—â—h so much deferred the sending thereof but after billes of Exchange were deliuered by the Count Fuentes for the money by the direction of the King of Spaine at the very instant when it should haue been done it pleased God of his goodnesse towards her Maiestie to suffer this conspiracie to be very happily diâ—couered by the diligence of one of the Lords of her Maiesties Priuy Councell so all the thrée offenders were taken with their Letters and writings expressing their owne actions and Councels and the directions of the King of Spaines Councellors and the other two confessed the like in effect as Lopez had done wherevpon they were all three condemned for treason and executed accordingly Manuel Lewis repented at his death and prayed God that all those things that are atchieued by the King of Spaâ—ne against the Quéenes Maiestie might take none effect and that all the treasons which are wrought may bee discouered that God would prolong the life of the Quéenes Maiestie as shee deserueth and her faithfull subiects desire Edmund Yorke and Richard Williams NOt long after Lopez his treason another like conspiracie was concluded at Bruxells to murder the Queene whereof Stephano Ibarra the King of Spaines Secretary procuring the sâ—me to bee done by the said Yorke and Williams and others and Hugh Owen an English Rebell a Spanish Pentioner deliuered vnto the said Yorke an assignation in writing subscribed by the said Secretarie Ibarra his hand for assurance of payment of forty thousand crownes to bee giuen vnto him from the King of Spaine if hee would kill the Queene or if hee would assist Richard Williams or any other that should haue performed the same and the assignation was deliuered vnto Holt a Iesuit an old English Rebell who produced the Sacrament and kissed iâ— and sware in the presence of Yorke and other Rebels that he would surely pay the same Money vnto him as soone as the fact should be committed and vpon this matter were three seuerall consultations of Englishmen being Rebels and Fugitiues and Pentioners of the King of Spaine The names of the principall parties of the consultations are William Stanley the said Holt a Iesuit Thomas Throgmorton the said Hugh Owen Doctor Gifford Doctor Worthington Charls Paget one Tipping Edward Garret and Michaell Moody but bâ— Gods good prouidence the said Yorke and Williams were taken comming into England and confessed the whole matter as aforesaid Holt said to Yorke many Englishmen haue failed to perform this enterprise but if it should not be performed by you he would after imploy strangers in it Patricke Cullen an Irishman HE was likewise a Pentioner of the King of Spaine and a Fencer he was perswaded by William Stanley and one Iaques who was his Lieutenant and one Shirwood and the said Holt to come secretly into England and to kill her Maiestie and he assented thereunto and had thirty pound of Stanley Iaques towards his iourney with offer of great reward and comming into England he was taken and by good proofes charged there with he confessed the same in the manner as is before here expressed Richard Hesketh HEe was a Gentleman of Lancashire well acquainted with the Lord Strange he was sent into England by Cardinall Allen William Stanley and Thomas Worthington to intice Ferdinand the Lord Strange sonne and heire to the Earle of Darby to take vpon himselfe the title to be heire vnto the crowne of England and to shew him the opinion of the Cardinall and many others that he should take vppon him the title of King with assurance of treasure and forreine forces to maintaine the same which the said Hesketh did very diligently performe with many reasons as he was instructed but the Lord Strange being at Heskeths comming newly Earle of Darbie by the death of his father was so wise and dutifull that he stayed Hesketh who vpon the Earles report was apprehended and confessed the whole matter wheupon he was condemned and shewed great repentance and cursed his instructors and was executed SQVIRE THis Uiper Squire was likewise sent by the inticement of the aforesaid Serpentine generation beyond Sea to kill her Maiestie his plot was to so poyson the pummell of her Saddle that if she did lay her hand vpon it her whole bodie should be therewith poysoned but by the sure prouidence of God which euer did preserue her and â—oreshew vnto her all her dangers to the preuention of them this practise came
to light before it was executed and the said Squire had the same most iust reward of his foresaid treason as his predecessors in like plots had The Earle of Essex Conspiracie LAstly I will conclude with the conspiracie of the late Earle of Essex for although it is not to be doubted but that his heart with many of his followers was vpright vnto the Quéene yet notwithstanding hee had many Papists in the plot with him whose hearts he knew not and by whom if his practise had tooke effect the Queene should haue beene in as great trouble and danger as euer she was in her life but the Lord of his accustomable wonderfull mercie deliuered her Maiestie from this danger likewise who both by his holy spirit of comfort preserued her mind still ioyfull without feare of her enemies and also her royall person and her realme by the safe custodie of his holy Angels from all wicked practises and treasons whatsoeuer vntill her olde age and vntill he at his time appointed called her Maiestie vnto himselfe out of her bedde in peace from a blessed Kingdome wherin she had long raigned in great glory in this world to raigne with his Sonne Iesus Christ in the Kingdome of vnspeakeable and eternall ioy and glorie in the world to come By this storie of Queen Elizabeth the Papists that haue any eie-sight of true vnderstanding may see by what wicked meanes the Pope and their Catholik Church hath alwaies gotten and maintained their most vnlawfull supremacie ouer kings And although they haue wonderfully preuailed against all superstitious Emperours and Kings by such like excommunications warres murthers and treasons as he vsed against Queene Elizabeth yet as God preserued her heart purely to sâ—icke to his sincere word and to despise all the Popes errors superstitions and trash so God mercifully preserued her and her Kingdome from all the Popes treacherous practises foure and fortie yeares fiue moneths and odde dayes with such glorie and peace as neuer Christian King had more her manifest protections of God were as apparant and as manifest as Dauids and as he and Salomon builded a most glorious materiall Temple in despite of their enemies most gloriously did she build vp the spirituall Temple and Spouse of Christ in despite of the Papists and the Pope and all kings that tooke their part her outward glorie and honour was â—quall wâ—th Salomons and she oâ—â—matched him in that neither her glorie in this world nor any other means could withdraw her from her true zeale in setting forâ—h the pure word of God wherefore all honour and glorie be giuen vnto God by this Realme of England and all his Church world without end Amen OVR MOST GRATIOVS King IAMEâ— WHen the Papists triumphing that their long â—xpected houre was come by Gods taking away thâ— most blessed Quéenâ— Elizabeth yet the Lord of his great mercie brought their ioy to nought by pâ—anting our deare Soueraigne Iames by his especiall grace to succeede Queene Elizabeth in these Realmes one that is as zealous of the word of God as she and one whom the Lord hath beene as prouident ouer in all his wayes as ouer her and indued with the like ioy in the Holy-Ghost in the assurance of Gods prouidence in time of danger wherefore no doubt but as the Lord hath so he will couer him and his Realmes with the shâ—dow of his wings from all papisticall treacheries euen as he did Queene Elizabeth This is worthie to be recorded vnto the perpetuall honour of his Maiestie that hee being hâ—ire apparant vnto Quâ—ene Elizabeth could neuer be inticed by any Prince or Papist to oppose himselfe against her When the rising was in the North and the rebels were â—led into Scotland he tooke the Quéens part though it were to the great ruine of much of his Kingdome he made a Proclamation in Anno 1588. that none of the â—panâ—sh Fléet should land vpon his coasts but that the English should be relieued of any thing they néeded and in the yeare 1592. hee executed as traytors in Scotland diuers for conspiring with the King of Spaine against England and before the comming out of the Spanish Fléet Don Barnardin Mendoza in an open Assembly did say in a 〈◊〉 that the young King of Scots whom hee called a boy had deceiued the King of Spaine but if the Kings Nauie might prosper against England the King of Scots should lose his crowne whereby it manifestly appeareth how true and faithfull his Maiestie was â—uâ—r vnto the late Quéene of famous memorie Touching GODS wonderfull preseruations ouer his royall person who hath safely preserued him a King almost this eight and fortie yeares in despite of all his enemies forreigne and domesticall and no doubt but heâ— had many yeâ— it doth most manifestly appeare in some great and vnheard of dangers out of which the Lord hath most miraculously deliuered him as from Gowries Treason and the Gun-powder Treason and others GOWRIES conspiracie against his Maiestie the fift of August being Tuesday Anno Dom. 1600. MAâ—â— Alexander Ruthwen second brother vnto the late Earle Gowrie came to his Maiestie as he was a hunting and told him that it chaunced the night before as he walked about the Towne of S. Iohnstone hee met a base fellow vnknowne vnto him and hauing suspition of him he narrowly looked to him and examined him and he said he found a great wide pot to be vnder his arme full of coined gold in great quantity whereupon he took him no body knowing thereof and bound him in a priuie darke house and locked many doores vpon him and said that he came in haste to aduertise his Maiesty thereof according to his bounden duety earnestly requesting his Maiestie with all diligence and â—ecrecie to take order therwith before any know thereof swearing that he had concealed it from all men yea from the Earle his brother whereupon the King suspected that it had béene some forreigne golde brought thither by some Iesuits for practising Papists to stirre vp some new sedition as they had often 〈◊〉 before and that the fellow that carried it was some Seminary so disguised for the more sure transporting thereof and with many earnest perswasions he got the Kings Maiesty as soone as he had done hunting to ride with him to the Earle Gowrâ—es house to dinner with a very small number with him and after dinner his Maiesty being ready to rise from the table and all his seruants in the hall at their dinner M. Alexander standing behinde his Maiesties backe pulled him softly rounding in his Maiesties eare that it was time to goe but that he would fainâ— haue been quit of the Earle his brother wishing the K. to send him out into the hall to entertain his guests whereupon the K. called for drink and in a mâ—rrie and homely manner sayd to the â—arle That although the Earle had séene the fashion of entertainment in other countreyes yet he would teach him the Scottish fashion séeing he was a
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
the Priest and would 〈◊〉 no â—euerence He said he did well therein Item that he said he doubted whether in the Sacrament of the Altar were the very body of Christ or no. This Article he confessed to be true Item that he beleeued that a man ought not to confesse his sinnes to a Priest This Article he also confessed After he was conuicted and enioyned for penance three whippings about the Cloyster of the Cathedrall Church of Norwich before a solemne Procession barefooted and bare headed as the aforesaid ponitentiaries and to be kept in prison vntill the Bishop came into the Dioces least he should enuenoms the flocke Thus you haue the troubles which in the aforesaid foure yeares hapned in Norfolke and Suffolke hauing shewed certaine notable examples sufficient to declare the rest for their opinions neither their penance did differ otherwise then by these examples may bee seene Thomas Bagley Priest Uicar of Malden being a valiant Disciple and adherent of Wickliffe was condemned by the Bishops of Heresie at London about the middest of Lent and was disgeaded and burned in Smithfâ—eld The same years was Paul Craws a Bohemian taken at Saint Andrewes by the Bishop and deliuered to the Seculer power to be burned for holding contrary opinions touching the Sacrament of the Altar the worshipping of Saints auriculer confession with other of Wickliffes opinions Thomas Rhedon a Frenchman a Carmelits Frier which take their name of Mount Carmelus came with the Uenitian Embassadors into Italy trusting that hee should finde there some by whose good life hee might bée edified but the successe of the matter did frustrate his hope for hee found nothing but hypocritie and golde and siluer in stead of heauenly gifts pompe and pride raigned in place of godlinesse in stéed of learning and studie floâ—hâ—ulnesse and superstition and for Apostlolike simplicity tyranny and hautinesse they did so passe all measure and patiencs that hee could by no meanes refraine his tongue in so great corruption of the Church and by continual preaching got great enuie and hatred The Rulers began to consult together by what meanes they might circumuent this mans life for it is a continuall custome amongst the Prelates that if any man displease them and speake any thing which is hurtfull so their lucre by and by they frame Articles of some heresie against him ouerwhelme him with suspition seeke to intangle him with questions and so condemne him and destroy him This is their godlâ—nesse and peaceable order they gathered these Articles against him That the Church lacketh reformation That it shall be punished and reformed That 〈◊〉 Iewes Turkes and Moores shall be conuerted vnto Christ in the latter daies And that abhominations are vsed at Rome That the vniust excommunication of the Pope is not to be feared and those which doe not obserue the same doe not sinne Eugenius was Pope then this good man Thomas Rheden was taken and brought before him and from thence to prison and after sundry greeuous torments was brought before the Iudges and was condemned to be burned foure yeares after he came to Rome In this yeare the maruellous inuention of Printing was first found out by one Iohn Guttenbergh in Strawsborrow and afterwards by him made perfect in Ments our dayes declare how profitable this hath beene vnto all the world if wee consider that thereby ignorance is vtterly banished the truth declared and the Pope and Antichrist vtterly subuerted which could neuer haue been if this most worthy Science had not been found out for before Bookes were so scarce and at such excesse price that few could thereby attaine to knowledge heerein the prophesie of the Sybils is fulfilled that Flaxe and Lime should ouerthrow Antichrist Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester was for his godlinesse and profession of the Gospell afflicted and tormented and made to recant and after put to death in prison he was brought before Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth in which Conuocation the Duke of Buckingham was present whereas besides many other Articles the presence of bread in the Sacrament was laid vnto Pecock insomuch that the Sacrament the knot of amitie ordained by Christ to the great comfort of the Church through the enuy of Sathan it turned into a matter of most greeuous discord that no matter hath continued so many yeares more pernitious to mans saluation Hee declared many things worthy of a good Diuine they laboured for their dignitie and gaine and so much the more earnestly because they had gotten an Aduersarie whose authoritie the higher it was in the Church iâ— would bring the greater ruine of their tyranny and estimation among the people First the matter was attempted by priuate Coloquies after by a terrible Iudgement threatning present death with threatning exhortations mingled with flattering promises granting him further time to consult that the delay of death might make his life the sweeter They gaue him hope of his life and Dignitie if hee would recant till at length his minde began to quaile by and by a recantation was made by the Bishoppes the effect whereof followeth Which when he declared vnto the people hee did so pronounce that hee was carried againe to prison from whence hee could not bee deliuered but by death The Articles that were mentioned in the Recantation to bee recanted were that first it is not necessarie to beleeue that CHRIST after his death descended into Hell that it is not necessarie to Saluation to beleeue in the Catholicke Church nor to beleeue the Communion of Saints neither the body materiall in the Sacrament and that the vniuersall Church may eâ—re in matters pertaining vnto Faith and that it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the generall Councell Wee shewed before in the latter end of the Councell of Basil how Eugenius was deposed and Foelix Duke of Sauoy elected Pope Wherevpon arose great discords Eugenius sent his Orators into Germany to perswade them to infringe the Councell of Basil and the Dolphin of France set on by the said Eugenius led an armie of fiue and twenty thousand men into Alsatia and laide siege vnto Basil to disturbe the Councell hauing there a great conflict with the Germaines with great slaughter whereby the Councell could not bee kept any longer in Germany but in France through the pragmaticall sanction of the French King After Eugenius brought to passe by the Emperour and his Orators of which Aeneas Siluius was one that they were content to giue ouer the Councell of Basil. Frederick of Austridge not beeing yet Emperour but labouring for the Empire brought to passe that Foelix which was chosen Pope in the Councell of Basil was content to resigne his papacie vnto Nicholas the eight successor to Eugenius of the which Nicholas the said Frederick was confirmed Emperour at Rome and there crowned in the yeere one thousand foure hundred fifty and one This Pope to gather great summes of Mony appointed a Iubile in the yeare of our Lord 1450. there
resorted great number of people to Rome more then at any time before were seene there At which time as there were a great sort of people going to Mount Uaticane to behold the Image of our Sauiour which they had there to shew to Pilgrims a Mule of the Cardinals of Saint Marke comming that way the people for multitude being not able to voyde the way one or two falling vpon the Mule there was such a throng that two hundred men and thrée horses were strangled vpon the bridge and many fell ouer into the water and were drowued wherefore the Pope caused the small houses to bee plucked downe to make the Bridge broader In the yeare 1453. Constantinople was taken by the Turkes In the yeare one thousand foure hundred fifty fiue when the death of Pope Nicholas was published the Germaines bewayling their miserable estate perswaded the Emperour that he should be no longer vnder the Popes obedience except they first obtained certaine thinges touching the Charter of Apeales shewing that they were in worse case then eyther the French-men or Italians and as it were their Seruants and especially of the Italians that they alone had not the vse of their Lawes and that the French Nation had not made their sute in vaine vnto their King against the exactions of the Popes by whom they were defended which also prouided decrées for the liberty of his people The Emperour promised hee would prouide for them no lesse then the King of Fraunce had done for the French-men But Aeneas Siluius brake off the matter saying Though there bee variance amongst Princes in waighty matters yet peace may be made againe but betweene the Prince and the Common people there is alwaies mortall hatred and because he should be Successour vnto the Pope hee concluded he thought it better to accord to the Pope then to follow their desires whose minds are led with couetousnesse rather then by reason and the Emperour chose him Ambassadour to Pope Calixtus to sweare vnto him in his Name and to promise the absolute obedience of all Germany Thus twice Fridericke of Austrich contemned and derided the Germaines frustrating them of their natiue ordinances and brought them into subiection vnder the Pope which was the cause that seauen yeares before his death he caused his Sonne Maximillian to bee crowned King of the Romaines least after his death the Empire should be transported vnto another Familie as it afterwards came to passe Whereupon Germany being in this miserable pouerty and greeuous subiection of the Popes tyranny and polling with teares and sighes lamenting their estate continued so almost vnto Luthers time as those Histories hereafter doe testifie The Ambassadour of the Arch-bishop of Maydenburge Henry Token writeth that in the Councell of Basill the Arch-bishop of Lyons did declare that in Pope Martines time there came out of Fraunce to the Court of Rome nine millions of Gold which was gathered by the Byshops and Prelats besides the poore Clergy which daily without number runne vnto the Court of Rome carrying with them all their whole substance The Arch-byshoppe of Turonne said also at Basill that three Millions of Gold in his time came to Rome in foureteene yeares of the Prelates besides the poore Cleargy which daily runne to that Court. Let the man which feareth God iudge what a deuouring Gulfe this is a million containeth ten hundred thousand Sir Roger Ounley followed the Lord Cobham and Sir Roger Acton being a Knight of like Nobility and Order and pertaker of the like cause a man endewed with like valiantnesse and godlinesse whom we reade in certaine Annals to be hanged for the truth 1441. Although there haue beene many Women which haue followed their spouse Christ by torments banishment and death yet the first that commeth to our handes is Elinor Cobham a Woman nothing degenerating from her stocke kindred and name albeit wee can finde no other thing of her but for suspition of heresie that is to say for the loue and desire of the truth she was by the papists banished into the Iâ—e of Man whom a fewe yeares after there followed a woman who for her constancy and vertue was greatly to be praised being mother of the Lady Yong she perseuered vnto the fire with a stout and manly courage for the profession of the Gospel and was burned Hieronimus Sauonarola being singularly well learned and a Monke in Italy preached sore against the euill life of the spiritualtie especially of his owne order saying they were the springs of all mischiefes and by the help of certaine learned men began to seeke reformation in his owne order The Pope fearing him being in great reputation amongst all men least hee should diminish his authoritie hee ordained his Uicar to reforme this matter But the said Hierome withstood him alwaies wherefore hee was accursed yet he left not off preaching but threatned Italy with the indignation of GOD and prophesied that the Land should bee ouerthrowne for the pride and wickednesse of the people and for the vntruth and hypocrisie of the Clergy which came to passe when King Charles came to Rome and besieged Pope Alexander that hee was forced to make composition with him Because the said Hierome would not leaue preaching hee was commanded to appeare before the Pope to giue account of his new learning but hee went not Then was hee againe forbidden to preach and his learning condemned as false and seditions whereby he left off preaching But when the people â—ore hungred for Gods Word and were instant vpon him that hee would preach againe hee beganne againe to preach in Florence many exhorted him to the contrarie but he regarded it not but went forward freely When the Pope and his Shauellings heard thereof they were greatly inflamed against him and cursed him as an obstinate heretick yet hee proceeded in teaching the people saying men ought not to regard such curses which is against the true doctrine and the common Prophets for by preaching wée should be learned and amended Christs Kingdome inlarged and the Kingdome of the Diuell ouerthrowne He desired to teach no other thing then the pure word of God often protesting that all men should certifie him if they heard him teach any thing contrary therunto for in his conscience he knew nothing which he had taught but the pure word of God What his doctrine was may easily be iudged by his books he wrote After that he was taken with two Friers with him which fauoured his learning named Dominick and Siluester and carried to prison where he wrote a godly meditation vpon the most comfortable one and fiftieth Psalme wherein hée excellently described the strife betwixt the flesh and spirit The Popes Legats came to Florence and called forth these thrée good men threatning them maruellously but they continued still constant Then they gathered Articles against them whereuppon they were condemned and were first hanged vp openly in the market-place after burned to ashes and the ashes
question for it and so handled him that they made him to recant or else they would haue dissolued him and his argument in the fire ANNE ASKEW AFter she had bin many times examined and she had answered so wisely that though she had affirmed the truth of the Sacrament yet none could touch her for her arguments by the law Then she wrote her minde of the Sacament as followeth I perceiuâ— deare friends in the Lord that you are not yet perswaded of the truth in the Lords Supper because Christ sayth Take eate this is my bodie but he giuing the bread as an outward signe to be receiued with the mouth hee meant in perfect beléefe they should receiue his body which should die for the people and to thinke his death the onely saluation of their soules The â—read and Wine were left vs for a Sacramentall communion of the benefite of his death and that we should be thankefull for the grace of redemption And in the closing thereof he sayth This doe in remembrance of me so often as you eate and drinke or else we should haue béene forgetfull of that we ought to haue in daily remembrance and also been vnthankefull therefore we ought to pray to GOD for the true meaning of the Holy Ghost touching this communion for the letter slayeth and the spirit giueth life In the sixth of Iohn all is applied vnto â—aith and in 1. Cor. 4. The things which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are euerlasting and in the third of the Hebrewes Christ ruleth ouer his house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and reioycing of hope vnto the end and the dead Temple is not his house Wherefore to day if you will heare his voice harden not your hearts Her confession in Newgate CHrist took the bread saying to his Disciples Take eate this is my body which shall be broken for you meaning his body the bread but a signe and Sacrament and so he said He would break downe the Temple and in three dayes build it vp againe signifying his body by the Temple although there be many that cannot perceiue the true meaning thereof for the vayle that Moses put euer his face before the children of Israell remayneth to this day but when God shall take it away then shall these blinde men see For it is plainly expressed in the Historie of Bell O King saith Daniell be not deceiued for God will be worshipped in nothing that is made with hands of men O what stiffe-necked people are these that will alwayes resist the Holy Ghost as their fathers haue done Truth is layde in prison Luk. 21. The law is turned to wormwood Amos 6. and there can no right iudgement goe forth Esay 59. Her condemnation THey said I was an heretick and condemned by the law if I would stand to my opinion I said touching my Faith I said and wrote to the Councell I would not deny because I knew it true then they would knowe whether I would denie the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud I answered yea for the same Sonne of GOD that was borne of the blessed Uirgin Mary is now glorious in the heauens and will come againe at the last day as he went vp and that which you call your God is a peece of bread and for more proofe thereof let it lie in a boxe but thrée monthes and it will be mouldy and turne to nothing that is good therefore I am perswaded it is no God Then they willed me to haue a Priest and then I smiled then they asked mee if it were not good I sayd I would confesse my faults vnto God for I was sure hee would heare me with fauour and so we were condemned by the quest This was my beléefe which I wrote to the Councell that the Sacramentall bread was left vs to bee receaued with thanksegiuing in the remembrance of his death the onely remedy of our soâ—les recouery and thereby we also receaue the whole benefit of his passion then they would needs know whether the bread in the boxe were God or no I sayd God is a spirit and will bee worshipped in spirit and truth then they sayd will you plainely deny Christ to bee in the Sacrament I answered I beléeue the eternall sonne of God not to dwell there in witnes whereof I recited againe the history of Bell and the 7. and 17. of the Acts and the 24 of Mathew concluding I neither wish death nor feare it God haue the praise thereof with thankes then she wrâ—te to the Lord Chancelour and the King but it preuayled not After she was sent from Newgate to the Tower then Maister Rich and one of the Councell charged me vppon mine obedience to shew vnto them if I knew any of my Sect I answered I knew none they asked me of my Lady Suffolke my Lady Sussex my Lady Hereford my Lady Denny and my Lady Fitzrallins I sayd if I should pronounce any thing against them I am not able to proue it they said the King was informed I could name if I would a great number of my sect I sayd the King was as well deceaued in that behalfe as dissembled with in other matters Then they commanded mee to shewe how I was maintayned in the Counter and who willed me to stick to mine opinion I sayd there was none did strengthen me therein and I was maintayned in the Counter by the meanes of my Mayde for she made mone vnto the Prentises and they by her did send mee money but who they were I know not Then they sayd diuers Gentlewomen gaue me money but I know not their names then they said many Ladies sent me money I answered there was a man in a blew cote deliuered me ten shillings and said my Lady of Hereford sent it me and another in a Uiolet cote gaue me eyght shillings and sayd my Lady Denny sent it mee but I am not sure who sent it me then they said there were of the Councell which did maintaine mee and I said no. Then they put mee vpon the Racke and kept me there a long time because I would not confesse any Gentlewomen or Ladies on my opinion and because I did not cry my Lord Chancelor and Sir Iohn Baker tooke paines to racke me with their owne hands vntill I was nie dead Then the Liefetennant caused mee to be loosed from the racke and incontinently I swounded and they recouered me againe after I sat two houres reasoning with my Lord Chancâ—llor vppon the bare floure where with flattering words hee perswaded me to leaue my opinions but God gaue mee grace to perseuere and will doe I hope then I was brought to bed with as painefull bones as euer pacient Iob then my Lord Chancellor sent me word if I would leaue mine opinions I should lacke nothing if I would not I should to Newgate and be burned I sent him word againe I would die rather then breake my faith She was borne
of such a kindred that she might haue liued in great prosperity if she would rather haue followed the world then Christ at the day of her execution she was brought into Smithfield in a chaire because she could not goe on her feete by meanes of her torments she was tyed by the middle with a chaiâ—e that held vp her body then Doctor Shaxton began his Sermon Anne Askew hearing and answering againe vnto him where hee sayd well she confirmed the same where hee iaid amisse she said hee speaketh without booke There was at the same time three burned with her One Nicholas Belemy a Priest of Shropshire Iohn Adams a Taylor and Iohn Lacels Gentleman of the Court and Kings houshold Wrisley Lord Chancellor the old Duke of Norfolke the Earle of Bedford and the Lord Mayor Wrisle sent Anne Askew the Kings Pardon if shee would recant she said the came not thither to deny her Lord and master Then were the Letters likewise offered vnto the others who in like maner followed the constancie of the woman Wherevpon the Mayor commanded the fire to bee put vnto them Sir George Blage of the Priuy Chamber was imprisoned condemned and should haue been burned but that the King pardoned him For saying the Masse auailâ—th neither quick nor the dead being asked what then it was good for he said belike to keep a horse from stumbling The troubles of Katherine Parre Henry the eight his last Wife for the Gospel by the meanes of Gardiner and others A Yéere after the King came from Bullen he was informed that the Quéens Katherine Parre was much giuen to the reading and study of â—he Scriptures and that shee had retained diuers godly learned Preachers to instruct her therein with whom shee vsed priuately to conferre and in the afternoones one of them made collation to her her Ladies and Gentlewomen and others disposed to heare in which Sermons they oftentimes touched the abuses in the Church and often shee would debate with the King touching Religion and perswade him as hee had to the glory of GOD and his eternall fame bâ—gunne a godly worke in banâ—shing that monstrous Idoll of Rome so hee would purge his Church from the dregges thereof wherein was yet great superstition And though the King in the later end grew oppâ—nionate and would not bee taught nor contended withall by Argument yet towards her he refrained his accustomed manner for neuer handmaide sought more to please her Mistresse then she to please his humour and she was of such singular beauty fauâ—ur and comely personage wherein the King was greatly delighted but Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Wrisley Lord Chancelor and others of the Kings Priuy Chamber practised her death that they might the better stop the passage of the Gospell and hauing taken away the patronesse of the professors of the truth they might inuade the remainder with fire and sword but they duâ—st not speake to the King touching her because they saw the King loued her so well At length the King was â—â—cke of a sore legge which made him very froward and the Queene being with him did not faile to vse all occasions to mooâ—â— him zealâ—usly to proceed in the reformation of the Church The King shewed some tokens of mislike and broke off the matter and knit vp the Arguments with gentle words and after plâ—asant talke she tooke her leaue The Bishop of Winchester beeing there the King immediately vpon her departure vsed these words It is a good hearing when women become such Clarks and much to my comfort to come in mine old age to be taught by my Wife Then the Bishop shewed a mislike that the Queene would so much forget her selfe to stand in Argument with his Maiestie whose Iudgement and Diâ—initie hee extolled to his face aboue Princes of that and other ages and of Doctors professed in Diuinitie and that it wss vnseemely for any of his Subiects to argue with him so malapertly and that it was gréeuous to all his Councelors and Seruants to heare the same inferring how perilous it hath euer been for a Prince to suffer such insolent words of a Subiect who as they are bold against their Soueraignes words so they want not will but strength to ouerthwart them in deeds Then the Religion by the Queene so stiffely maintained did dissolue the politick gouernâ—ment and made the peoples opinions so odious and perillous vnto the Princes estate that they daâ—e affâ—â—me that the greatest Subiect in the Land defendeth those arguments which they doe yet he said he would not neither durst without good warranty from his Maiestie speake his knowledge in the Queenes cause though many apparant reasons made for him and such as his duety and zeale to his Maiesâ—ies preseruation would not licence him to conceale though the vttering thereof through her and her faction might be his dâ—struction and theres which tendred his Maiesties safety without his Maiestie would be his protector which if hee would doe hee with others of his faithfull Councelors could disclose such Treasons cloked with heresies that his Maiestie should casâ—ly perceiue how perilous a matter it is to cherish a Serpent within his owne bosome and he crept so farre into the King at that time that he and his fellowes filled the Kings mistrustfull minde with such feares that the King gaue them warrant to consult together about drawing of Articles against the Queene wherein her life might be touched Then they thought it best at first to begin with such Ladies as she most esteemed and werâ— priuy to all her doing as the Lady Harbert after Countesse of Pembroâ—ke the Queenes Sister and the Lady Iane and the Lady Tirwit all of her Priuy Chamber and to accuse them vpon six Articles and to search there Closets and Coffers that they might finde somewhat to charge the Queene and that being found the Queâ—ne should bee taken and carried in a Barge by night to the Tower of which aduice the King was made priuy by Gardiner and the Lord Chancelor to which they had the Kings consâ—nt and the time and place appointed This purpose was so finely handled that it grew within few daies of the time appointed and the poore Quâ—ene suspected nothing but after her accustomed manner visited the King stillâ—â—â— deale with him touching Religion as before After the King brake the whole practise to one Doctor Wendy one of his Physitions telling him that hee would no longer bee troubled with such a Doctresse as shee was but charged him vpon his life not to vtter it to any But it came to passe that the Bill of Articles drawne against the Queene and subscribed with the Kings owne hand falling from the bâ—some of one of the Councell was found of some godly person and brought to the Queene who seeing it fell into a great agony and Melancholy The King hearing what perill of life she was in sent his Phisition vnto her and the said Doctor Wendy perceiuing the matter by her words brake with