came to the ship to see hym many of them Some gaue hym a petycoate and some a shyrt some hosen and some money alwayes noting how he cast away his money and kept his booke And many of the women wept when they heard and sawe hym And Maister Gouernour of the English nation there had hym before hym and talked with hym of all the matter and pitieng hys case commaunded the Officer of the English house to goe with hym to the free oste houses amongst the English merchaunts and I with them and at three houses there was giuen him vj. pound x. shillyngs And so from thence hee went with me to Roane where the people also came to hym to see hym meruailing at the great workes of God And thus much concerning this poore man with hys new Testament preserued in the sea which testament the Popes clergy condemneth on the land ye haue heard as I receiued by the relation of the partie aboue named who was the doer thereof and yet alyue dwellyng in Lee well knowen to all merchants of London In which story this by the way vnderstand good Reader which rightly may be supposed that if this poore man thus found preserued in the sea with a new Testament in his bosome had had in stead of that a pixe with a consecrated hoste about hym no doubt it had bene rong ere this tyme all christendom ouer for a miracle so far as the Pope hath any land But to let the Pope with his false miracles go let vs returne againe to our matter begun adioine another history of much lyke condition testified likewise by the information of the sayd Tho. Morse aboue mētioned to the intent to make known the worthy acts of the almighty that he may be magnified in all hys wonderous works The story is thus declared which happened an 1565. about Michaelmas ¶ Another like story of Gods prouidence vpon three men deliuered vpon the Sea THere was a ship saith the sayd Tho. Morse whereof I had a part goyng toward the Bay for salt with two ships of Bricklesey which were altogether goyng for salt as before is sayd At what tyme they were within x. myle of the North Foreland otherwyse called Tennet the wynd did come so contrary to our ship that they were forced to go cleane out of the way and the other two shippes kept their course still vntill our ship was almost out of sight of them And then they sawe a thing driuyng vpon the sea hoysed out their boat and went vnto it and it was three men sittyng vpon a piece of their ship which had sitten so two dayes and two nights There had bene in their shippe eight men more which were drowned beyng all Frenchmen dwelling in a place in France called Olloronne They had bene at Danswike and lost their ship about Orford Nas as might be learned by their words They were men that feared God the one of them was owner of the ship Their exercise while they wer in our ship was that after the comming in they gaue thankes for their deliueraunce both mornyng and euenyng they exercised praier and also before after meat and when they came into Fraunce our ships went to the same place where these men dwelled and one of them dyd sell vnto our men their ships lading of salt and did vse thē very curteously and friendly and not at that tyme onely but alwayes whensoeuer that ship commeth thether as she hath bene there twise since he alwayes doth for them so that they can lacke nothyng I should haue noted that after our ship had taken vp those iij. men out of the Sea they had the wynd fayre presently and came and ouertooke the other two ships agayne and so they proceeded in their voiage together ¶ For the more credite of this story aboue recited to satisfie eyther the doubtfull or to preuent the quareller I haue not only alledged the name of the partie which was the doer thereof but also expressed the matter in his owne wordes as I of him receiued it the partie reporter hymself beyng yet alyue dwellyng at Lee a man so wel known amongst the Merchants of London that who so heareth the name of Thomas Morse will neuer doubt thereof And agayne the matter it selfe beyng so notoriously knowen to Merchaunts as well here as at Andwerpe that though hys name were not expressed the story can lacke no witnesses ¶ The death of William Slech in the Kinges Bench. THe last day of the sayd moneth of May in the yeare aforesayde Wil. Slech beyng in prison for the sayd doctrine of the Lordes Gospel and the confession of his truth died in the kyngs Bench and was buried on the backside of the sayd prison for that the Romish catholike spiritualtie thought hym not worthy to come within their Pope-holy churchyards neither in any other christian burial as they call it ¶ The story of foure men condemned at Lewys the 6. day of Iune IN Iune next followyng about the sixt day of the same moneth 4. Martyrs suffered together at Lewys whose names were these Thomas Harland of Woodmancote Carpenter Iohn Oswald of Woodmancote Husbandman Thomas Auington of Ardingly Turner Thomas Read To Thomas Harland I finde in the bishop of Londons registers to be obiected for not comming to church Whereunto he answered that after the Masse was restored he neuer had will to heare the same because sayd he it was in Latine whiche hee dyd not vnderstande and therefore as good quoth hee neuer a whit as neuer the better Ioh. Oswalde denyed to aunswere any thyng vntill hys accusers should bee brought face to face before hym and neuerthelesse sayd that fire and Fagottes coulde not make hym afraid but as the good Preachers which were in Kyng Edwardes tyme haue suffered and gone before so was he ready to suffer and come after and woulde bee glad thereof These foure after long imprisonment in the Kynges Bench were burned together at Lewys in Sussex in one fire the day of the moneth aforesayd ¶ The Martyrdome of Thomas Whood and Thomas Milles. IN the same towne of Lewys and in the same moneth likewyse were burned Thomas Whoode Minister and Thomas Milles about the xx day of the same moneth for resisting the erroneous and hereticall doctrine of the pretensed catholike church of Rome ¶ Two dead in the Kyngs Bench. IN the which moneth likewyse William Adherall Minister imprisoned in the Kyngs Bench there dyed the xxiiij day of the same moneth was buried on the backside Also Iohn Clement Wheelewright who dying in the sayd pryson in lyke sort vpon the dunghill was buried in the backeside two dayes after videlicet the xxv day of Iune ¶ A Merchauntes seruaunt burnt at Leycester THe next day followyng of the sayd month of Iune we read of a certaine yong man a merchants seruant who for the lyke godlynes suffred cruell persecution of the Papists and
of Christ and promotion of Christes doctrine to the edificatioÌ„ of christeÌ„ soules then the mayntenaunce of hys own authoritie reputation and dignitie considering right well as he sayd that what authoritie so euer he had it was to edification and not to destruction Now I thinke it were no reproch to my lord but very commendable rather to ioy with saynt Paule be glad that Christ be preached quouismodo yea thoughe it were for emâ—y that is to say in disdayne despite and contempt of his Lordship Which thing no man well aduised will enterprise or attempte then when the preachyng can not be reprooued iustly to demaunde of the preacher austerely as the Phariseis did of Christ qua authoritate haec facis aut quis dedit tibi istam autoritatem as my authoritie is good enough and as good as my Lorde can geue me any yet I would be glad to haue hys also if it wold please his Lordship to be so good Lorde vnto me For the vniuersitie of Cambridge hath authoritie Apostolicke to admitte 12. yearely of the which I am one and the kynges highnes God saue his grace did decree that all admitted of Uniuersities should preache throughout all hys realm as loÌ„g as they preached well without distreine of any maÌ„ my Lorde of Caunterbury my Lorde of Duresme wyth such other not a fewe standing by and hearyng the decree nothing again saying it but consenting to the same Now to contemne my Lord of Londons authoritie were no litle fault in me so no lesse fault might appeare in my Lorde of London to contemne the kinges authoritie and decree yea so Godlye so fruitefull so commendable a decree pertayning both to the edification of christen soules and also to the regard and defence of the popish grace and authoritie Apostolique To haue a booke of the kinges not inhibited is to obey the kyng and to inhibite a preacher of the king admitted is it not to disobey the kinge is it not one king that doth inhibite and admitte and hath hee not as great authorititie to admitte as to inhibite He that resisteth the power whether admitting or inhibiting doth he not resist the ordinaunce of God we low subiectes are bound to obey powers and their ordinaunces and are not the highest subiectes also who ought to geue vs ensample of such obedience As for my preaching it selfe I trust in God my Lorde of London cannot rightfully belacke it nor iustly reproue it if it be taken with the circumstance thereof and as I spake it or els it is not my preaching but hys that falsely reporteth it as the Poet Martiall sayd to one that depraued hys booke quem recitas meus est o Fidentiue libellus sed male cum recitas incipitesse tuus But now I heare say that my Lorde of London is informed and vpon the sayd information hath informed the king that I go about to defend Bilney and his cause agaynst his ordinaryes and iudges whiche I ensure you is not so for I had nothing to do with Bilney nor yet with hys Iudges except his Iudges did him wrong for I did nothing els but monishe all Iudges indifferently to doe right nor I am not altogether so foolish as to defende the thing which I knewe not It might haue become a preacher to say as I sayd though Bilney had neuer bene born I haue known Bilney a great while I thinke much better then euer did my Lord of London for I haue bene his ghostly father many a time and to tell you the truth what I haue thought alwayes in him I haue knowne hetherto few such so prompt and ready to doe euery man good after hys power both frends and foe noysome wittingly to no man and toward hys enemy so charitable so seking to reconcile them as he did I haue knowne yet not many and to be shorte in a summe a very simple good soule nothing fitte nor meete for thys wretched worlde whose blinde fashion and miserable state yea farre from Christes doctrine he could as euill beare and would sorow lameÌ„t and bewayle it as much as any man that euer I knew as for his singular learning as well in holy scripture as in all other good letters I will not speake of it Notwythstanding if he eyther now of late or at any tyme attempted any thing contrary to the obedience whiche a christian man doth owe eyther to hys prince or to hys byshoppe I neyther do nor will allowe and approue that neyther in hym nor yet in any other man we be all men and readye to fall wherfore he that standeth let hym beware hee fall not Now he ordered or misordered hymself in iudgemeeÌ„t I cannot tell nor I will not meddle wythall God knoweth whose iudgementes I will not iudge But I cannot but wonder if a man liuyng so mercifully so charitablye so paciently so continently so studiously and vertuously and killyng hys old Adam that is to say mortifie his euill affections blynde motions of hys hart so dilligently should dye an euill death there is no more but let hym yâ— standeth beware that he fall not for if such as he shall dye euill what shall become of me such a wretch as I am but let this goe a little to the purpose and come to the poynt we must rest vpon Eyther my Lord of London wil iudge my outward man onely as it is sayde Omnes vident quae foris sunt or els he will be my God iudge mine inwarde manne as it sayd Deus autem intuetur cor if he will haue to do onely with mine outward man and meddle with mine outward conuersation how that I haue ordered my selfe towarde my christen brethren the kynges liege people I trust I shall please and content both my Lorde God and also my Lorde of London for I haue preached and teached but accordyng to holy scripture holy fathers and ancient interpretours of the same with the whiche I thinke my Lord of London will be pacified for I haue done nothing els in my preaching but with all diligence moued my auditours to fayth and charitie to do theyr duety and that that is necessary to be done As for thinges of priuate deuotion meane thynges and voluntary thinges I haue reproued the abuse the superstition of them without condemnation of the thinges themselues as it becommeth Preachers to do which thyng if my Lord of London will do himselfe as I would to God he would doe he shoulde be reported no doubt to condempne the vse of such thynges of couetous men which chaue dammage and finde lesse in theyr boxes by condemnation of the abuse whiche abuse they sayd rather should continue stil then your profite should not continue so thorny be theyr hartes if my Lord wyll needes coste and inuade my inward man will I nill I anâ— breake violently into my hart I feare me I shall either displease my Lord of London which I would be very lothe or els my Lord GOD which I
and forgeue them Well sayde the gentle Archbishop God make you both good men I neuer deserued this at your hands but aske God forgeuenesse agaynst whom you haue highly offended If suche men as you are not to be trusted what should I doe alyue I perceyue now that there is no fidelitie or truth amongest men I am brought to this point now that I feare my left hand will accuse my right hand I neede not much meruaile hereat for our Sauior Christ truly prophesied of such a world to come in the latter dais I beseech him of his great mercy to finish that time shortly and so departyng he dismissed them both with gentle and comfortable wordes in such sort that neuer after appeared in hys countenaunce or wordes any remembrance thereof Nowe when all those letters and accusations were found they were put into a chest the kings Maiesty minding to haue perused some of them and to haue partly punished the principals of it The chest and writynges were brought to Lambeth At what tyme began the Parliamēt Lord what ado there was to procure the kyng a subsidie to the intent that thereupon might ensue a pardon which in deed followed and so nothyng was done other then their falsshood known This was the last push of the pike that was inferred agaynst the sayd Archb. in king Henry the 8. his dayes for neuer after durst any man moue matter agaynst hym in hys tyme. And thus haue ye both the working and disclosing of this popish conspiracy against this worthy Archbishop Martyr of Christ Thomas Cranmer In the which conspiracie for so much as complaint was also made vnto the kyng of his chaplaines and good preachers in Kent it shal not be out of the story somethyng likewyse to touch thereof especially of Richard Turner then preacher the same time in this Archbishops Diocesse and Curate to maister Morice the Archbishops Secretary in the towne of Chartham by whose diligent preaching a great part of this hartburning of the Papists toke his first kindling against the Archbishop Touching the description of which storie because by me nothing shal be said either more or lesse then is the truth ye shall heare the very certeinty thereof truely compiled in a letter sent the same time to Doct. Buttes and Sir Anth. Deny to be shewed vnto the kyng and so it was written by the foresaid M. Moryce Secretary then to the Archbishop farmour of the same benefice of Chartham and patrone to M. Turner there minister and Preacher aforesaid ¶ A Letter or Apologie of M. Morice sent to Sir Will. Buttes and Sir Anthony Denny defending the cause of M. Richard Turner preacher agaynst the Papistes THe letter first beginnyng in these wordes I am certain right worshipfull that it is not vnknown to your discrete wisdoms c. And after a few lynes commyng to the matter thus the said letter proceedeth As your worships wel know It was my chance to be broght vp vnder my L. of Caunterbury my maister in writyng of the ecclesiasticall affaires of this Realme as well touchyng reformation of corrupt religion as concernyng the aduauncement of that pure and sincere religion receyued by the doctrine of the Gospel which I take to be so substantially handled and builded vpon the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that hell gates shal neuer preuaile agaynst it The consideration whereof compelled me being a Farmer of the personage of Chartham in Kent to retaine with me one named M Richard Turner a man not onely learned in the scriptures of God but also in conuersation of lyfe towards the world irreprehensible whome for discharging of my conscience I placed at Chartham aforesayd to be Curate there This mā because he was a stranger in the countrey there and so thereby voyd of grudge or displeasure of any old rancor in the country I thought it had bene a meane to haue gotten hym the better credite in his doctrine but where malice once taketh fire agaynst truth no pollicie I see is able to quench it Well this man as hee knew what appertained vnto his office so he spared not weekely both Sundayes and holydayes to open the Gospell and Epistle vnto his audience after such a sort when occasion serued that as well by his vehement inueying against the bishop of Romes vsurped power and authoritie as in the earnest settyng forth and aduauncing of the kyngs Maiesties supremacie innumerable of the people of the countrey resortyng vnto his sermons changed their opinions and fauoured effectually the religion receyued The confluence of the people so daily encreased that the church beyng a faire ample and large church was not now and then able to receyue the number The fame of this new instruction of the people was so blasted abroade that the popishe priestes were wonderfully amased and displeased to see their Pope so to bee defaced their prince so highly aduanced Now thought they it is high tyme for vs to worke or els all will here be vtterly lost by this mans preaching Some thē went with capons some with hennes some with chickens some with one thyng some with another vnto the Iustices such as then fauoured their cause and faction and such as are no small fooles as sir Iohn Baker sir Christofer Hales sir Tho. Moyle Knightes with other Iustices The Prebendaries of Christes Church in Cāterbury were made priuy hereof geuyng their succour and ayd thereunto So that in conclusion poore Turner and other preachers were grieuously complained of vnto the Kynges maiestie Whereupon my Lord of Caunterbury and certaine other commissioners were appoynted at Lambheth to sit vppon the examination of these seditious preachers Howbeit before Turner went vp to hys examination I obtayned of sir Thomas Moyle that he in Easter weeke was content to heare Turner preache a rehearsall Sermon in hys parish Church at Westwell of all the doctrine of hys Sermons preached at hys Cure in Charteham whiche hee moste gently grauntyng heard Turner both before noone and after noone on the Wednesday in Easter weeke laste past and as it seemed tooke all thynges in good part remittyng Turner home to his sayd Cure with gentle and fauourable wordes I supposed by this meanes to haue stayed Maister Turner at home from further examination hopyng that sir Thomas Moyle would haue aunswered for hym at Lambheth before the Commissioners Notwithstandyng after Maister Moyles commyng to London suche information was layed in agaynst Turner that he was sent for to make aunswere hymselfe before the sayd Commissioners and there appearyng before them he made such an honest perfect and learned aunswere vnto the Articles obiected that he was with a good exhortation discharged home agayne without anye manner of recantation or other Iniunction Now when the Pope catholicke Clergy of Kent vnderstoode of his commyng home without controllement so that hee preached as freely as he did before agaynst their blynde and dumme ceremonies straightway by
while her husbande was in prison Where the keepers wife named Agnes Penycote had secretlye heated a key fire hoate and laid it in grasse on the backeside So speaking to Alice Coberley to set her the key in all haste the said Alice went with speed to bring the key and so taking vp the key in hast did pitiously burne her hand Wherupon she crying out at the sodein burning of her hand Ah thou drabbe quoth the other thou that canst not abide the burning of the key howe wiâ—e thou be able to burne the whole body and so she afterward reuoked But to returne agayne to the story of Coberley who being somewhat learned and being at the stake was somewhat long a burning as the wynde stoode After his bodye was skorched with the fire and hys leafte Arme drawne and taken from hym by the violence of the fyre the fleshe beinge burnt to the whyte boare at length he stouped ouer the cheyne and wyth the ryghte hande being somewhat starckned knocked vpon his brest softly the bloud and matter issuing out of his mouth Afterward when all they thought he had bene deade sodenly he rose right vp with his body agayne And thus muche concerning these three Salisbury Martyrs ¶ A discourse of the death and Martyrdome of sixe other Martyrs suffering at London whose names here folow ABout the xxiij day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1556. were burned in Smithfielde at one fire these sixe constaunt Martyrs of Christ suffering for the profession of the Gospell viz. Robert Drakes Minister William Tyms Curate Richard Spurge Shereman Thomas Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller They were al of Essex and so of the dioces of London and were sent vp some by the Lord Rich and some by others at suÌ„dry times vnto Stephen Gardiner B. of Winchester then Lord Chauncellor of England about the 22. day of March an 1555. Who vpon small examination sent them some vnto the kinges Benche and others vnto the Marshalsea where they remained almost all the whole yere vntill the death of the sayd Bishop of Winchester and had during that time nothing said vnto them Wherupon after that Doctor Heath Archbishop of Yorke was choseÌ„ to the office of Lord Chauncellorshippe foure of these persecuted brethren being now wery of this theyr long imprisonmeÌ„t made theyr supplication vnto the said D. Heath requiring his fauour and ayd for their deliueraunce the copy whereof ensueth * To the right reuerend father Tho. Archb. of Yorke Lord Chauncellour of England MAy it please your honorable good Lordship for the loue of God to tender the humble sute of your lordships poore Orators whose names are subscribed which haue lien in great misery in the Marshalsea by the space of x. monethes and more at the commaundement of the late Lord Chauncellour to their vtter vndoing with theyr wiues children In consideration wher of your Lordships sayd Oratours do most humbly pray and beseeche your good Lordship to suffer them to be brought before your honour and there if any man of good conscience can lay any thing vnto our charge we trust either to declare our innocency agaynst theyr accusations or if otherwise theyr accusations can be proued true and we faulty we are ready God helping vs with our condigne punishments to satisfy the law according to your wise Iudgement as we hope ful of fatherly mercy towardes vs and all men according to your Godly office in the which we pray for your Godly successe to the good pleasure of GOD. Amen This Supplication was sent as is sayd and subscribed with the names of these 4. vnder folowing Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell * Richard Spurge VPon the receipt and sight hereof it was not long after but Syr Richard Read Knight then one of the Officers of the Court of the Chauncery 16. day of Ianuary was sent vnto the Marshalsea to examine the sayd foure prisoners therefore beginning first with Richard Spurge vpon certaine demaundes receiued his answeres therunto the effect whereof was that he with others were complayned vpon by the Parson of Bocking vnto the Lorde Rich for that they came not vnto theyr Parish Church of Bocking where they inhabited and therupon was by the sayd Lord Rich sent vnto the late Lord Chauncellour about the xxij day of March last past videl an 1555. And farther he sayd that he came not to the Church sithens the first alteration of the English seruice into Latin Christmasse day then a tweluemoneth only except that because he misliked both the same and the Masse also as not consonant and agreing with Gods holy word Moreouer he required that he might not be any more examined vpoÌ„ the matter vnles it pleased the Lord ChauÌ„cellour that then was to know his fayth therein which to him he would willingly vtter * Thomas Spurge THomas Spurge being then next examined made the same aunswere in effect that the other had done confessing that he absented himselfe from the church because the word of God was not there truely taught nor the Sacramentes of Christ duely ministred in such sort as was prescribed by the same word And being farther examined of his beliefe concerning the sacrament of the aultar he said that if any could accuse him thereof he would then make aunswere as God had geuen him knowledge therein ¶ George Ambrose THe like answere made George Ambrose adding moreouer that after he had read the late Byshop of Winchesters booke intituled De vera obedientia with Boners preface thereunto annexed inueying both against the authority of the Bishop of Rome he did much lesse set by theyr doinges then before ¶ Iohn Cauell IOhn Cauell agreyng in other matters with them aunswered that the cause why hee did forbeare the comming to the Churche was that the Parson there had preached two contrary doctrines For firste in a Sermon that hee made at the Queenes first entrye to the crowne he did exhort the people to beleue the Gospell for it was the truth and if they did not beleue it they shoulde be damned But in a second Sermon he preached that the Testament was false in forty places which contrariety in him was a cause amongest other of his absenting from the Church ¶ Robert Drakes ABout the fourth day of Marche next after Robert Drakes also was examined who was ParsoÌ„ of ThuÌ„dersley in Essex and had there remayned the space of three yeares He was first made Deacon by Doctour Taylour of Hadley at the commaundement of Doctour Cranmer late Archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury And within one yeare after which was the thyrd of the reigne of kyng Edward he was by the sayd Archbyshop and Doctour Ridley Bishop of London admitted Minister of Gods holy word Sacramentes not after the order then in force but after such order as was after established was presented vnto the sayd benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich at the
for that there was a Peuter dishe whereof the name was scraped out theyr bodyes vpon the same were attached put in prison theyr moueable goodes taken by inuētory Within a few daies after these things this done past these 3. sely women abiding thus in durance in the castle made theyr supplication to the Iustices to haue iustice ministred vnto them videlicet If they had offended the law then to let them haue the law if not beseeching to graunt them the benefite of Subiects c. Which supplication put vp thereupon were they appoynted to come to theyr answere the fift day of Iune in the yeare aforesayd Uppon which day after straight examining of the matter and the honest aunswering of the cause by the sayde good woman at the last they submitted them to the report of their neighbours that they were no theeues nor euill disposed persons but liued truely and honestly as became Christian women to do the false and vntrue report of theyr accusers notwithstanding So the cause being thus debated after the inquirye made by the kinges Officers they were founde by theyr said neighbors not guilty of that they were charged wyth but had liued alwayes as honest women among them sauing onely that to the commaundementes of holy church they had not bene obedient c. Upon this triall verdit of the neighbours it was in fine adiudged firste that the sayd Uincent Gosset being atteinted of fellonye and condemned for the same should be whipped and after her eare being nailed to the pillory should so be banished out of the Isle without further punishment And as touching the other three women the Mother with her two daughters for theyr not comming to the Church they were returned prisoners agayn into the Castle the first of Iuly And thus farre concerning the true discourse of this matter with all the circumstaunces and appurtenaunce of the same in euery poynt as the case stoode according to the faythfull tenour and testimony of the Garnesey menne written with theyr owne handes both in Frenche and English tongue Wherein you see what false surmised matter was pretended agaynst these women and nothing proued and howe by the attestation of theyr neighbours they were fully clered of that facte and should by the temporall Courte haue bene dismissed had not the spirituall Clergy men picking matter of religion agaynst them exercised such extremitye in persecuting these miserable prisoners that in no case they could escape theyr bloudye handes till at length they had brought them as you shall heare to theyr finall ende For after the time of this declaration aboue mentioned made by the neighbours whereby they were purged of al other thinges being then known of theyr not comming to the Church the Bailiefes Lieutenaunt and the Iustice thinking the matter not to perteyne to them but to the Clergy forthwith wrote theyr letters or Mandate vnder theyr signes to the deane whose name was Iaques Amy and Curates of the sayd Isle The contentes wherof here foloweth ¶ A Letter sent from the Bailieffes Lieutenaunt and Iurates of Saynt Peters Port to the Deane and Curates of the Isle of Garnesey MAyster Deane and Iustices in your Court and iurisdiction after all amiable recommendations pleaseth you to know that we are informed by the deposition of certayn honest men past before vs in maner of an inquiry in the which inquiry Katherine Cawches and her two daughters haue submitted themselues in a certayne matter criminall Wherein we be informed that they haue bene disobedient to the commaundementes and ordinances of the Church in contēning and forsaking the masse and the ordinances of the same agaynst the will and commaundement of our souereigne Lord the king and the Queene Wherof we send you the sayd matter for as much as the matter is spirituall to the end you may proceed therein after your good discretions and as brieflye as you can possible and also that it perteined to your office recommēding you to God the which geue you grace to do that perteineth to right and iustice Written the first day of the moneth of Iuly the yeare of our Lord. 1556. After these letters and information thus addressed to Iaques Amy Deane and to other of the Clergy the sayde women were agayne commensed before the Iustice aforesaid with his assistances In the presence of whom they being examined of theyr fayth concerning the ordinances of the Romish church made their aunswere that they would obey and keepe the ordinaunces of the king Queene the cōmaundementes of the church notwithstanding that they had sayd and done the contrary in the time of K. Edward the 6. in shewing obedience to his ordinaunces and commaundementes before After which aunswere taken they were returned againe to prison vntill the other had an answere of their letter frō the deane his cōplices During which time the Deane curates gaue their information touching the sayd women and deliuered the same to the Bailiefe and Iurates cōdemning and reputing them for hereticks the women neither hearing of any information neither yet being euer examined at any time before of theyr fayth and religion Wherupon when the said Bailife Iurates vnderstood that the sayd Deane Curates had not examined the women of theyr fayth would not fitte in iudgement on that day but ordeined the women to come first before the Deane and Curates to be examined of their fayth And so the Officers at the commaundement of the Iustices did fetch and present them before the sayd Deane and Curates The which being accomplished and done they were examined a parte seuerally one from an other After which examination they incontinently were returned agayne into prison Then the xiiij day of the sayd moneth of Iuly in the yeare aforesayd after the examination aboue specified before Elyer Gosselin Bailiffe in the presence of Thomas Deuicke Pierres Martine Nicolas Cary Iohn Blondel Nicolas de Lisle Iohn Lauerchaunt Iohn le Feuer Pierres Bonnamy Nicolas Martin Iohn de la March Iurates Syr Iaques Amy Deane and the Curates dyd deliuer before the Iustice vnder the seale of the Deane vnder the signes of the Curates a certayne Act and Sentence the summe whereof was that Katherine Cawches and her two daughters were found heretickes and suche they reputed them and haue deliuered them to Iustice to do execution according to the Sentence of the which the tenour foloweth ¶ The Sentence AN. dom millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo sexto die verò .xiij. mensis Iulij apud Ecclesiam diui Petri in portu maris insula promotor per nos Dominum Decanum inquisitio facta fuit de fide Catholica super Sacramenta Ecclesiastica videlicet super Sacramentum Baptismi confirmationis poenitentiae ordinis Matrimonij Eucharistiae extremae vnctionis nec non super ceremonias Ecclesiae ac de veneratione honoratione beatae Mariae sanctorum de Missa eius efficacia
theyr skinnes to be pluckt of for the Gospels sake Notwithstanding the Bishops afrayd belike of the nuÌ„ber to put so many at once to death sought meanes to deliuer them and so they did drawing out a very easy submission for them or rather suffring them to draw it out theÌ„selues notwithstanding diuers of theÌ„ afterward were takeÌ„ againe suffered as hereafter ye shall heare God willing declared Such as met them by the way coÌ„ming vp saw them in the fieldes scattering in such sort as that they might haue easily escaped away And when they entred into the townes their keepers called them againe into aray to go two two together hauing a band or line going betweene them they holding the same in theyr handes hauing another corde euery one about his arme as though they were tied And so were these fourteene men eight women caried vp to London the people by the way praying to God for them to geue them strength At the entring into London they were pinioned so came into the city as the Picture here shortly after folowing with their names also subscribed doth describe But first let vs declare concerning their taking and their attachers conteined in the Commissaryes letter written to Boner then the Indenture made betwene the commissioners and the popish coÌ„missary The letter of the Commissary is this ¶ The Letter of the Commissary called Iohn Kingston written to Bishop Boner AFter my duety done in receiuing and accoÌ„plishing your honorable and most louing letters dated the 7. of August Be it knowne vnto your Lordship that the 28. of August the Lorde of Oxenford Lord Darcy H. Tyril A. Brown W. Bendlowes E. Tyrill Ric. Weston Roger Apleton published their coÌ„missioÌ„ to selfe landes and tenements goodes of the fugitiues so that the owners should haue neither vse nor commodity thereof but by InueÌ„tory remaine in safe keeping vntill the cause were determined And also there was likewise proclaimed the queenes graces warrant for the restitution of the Church goods within Colchester the hundredes thereabout to the vse of Gods seruice And then were called the parishes particularly the hereticks partly coÌ„mitted to my examination And that diuers persons should certify me of theyr ornamentes of theyr Churches betwixt this and the Iustices next appearaunce which shal be on Michaelmas euen nexte And that parish which had presented at two seuerall times to haue all ornamentes with other thinges in good order were exonerated for euer til they were warned againe others to make theyr appearaunce from time to time And those names blotted in the Indenture were indited for treason fugitâ—ues or disobedients and were put foorth by M. Brownes commaundement And before the sealing my Lord Daâ—cy said vnto me apart and M. Bendlowes that I should haue sufficient time to send vnto your Lordship yea if need were the heretickes to remayne indurance till I had an answere from you yea to the Lord Legates graces Commissioners come into the Country And mayster Browne came into my Lord Darcyes house parlour belonging vnto M. Barnaby before my sayd Lord and all the Iustices and laid his hand of my shoulder with a smiling couÌ„tenaunce and desired me to make his harty commeÌ„dations vnto your good Lordship and asked me if I would and I said Yea with a good will Wherefore I was glad and thought that I should not haue bene charged with so sodeine carriage But after dinner the Iustices councelled with the Bayliffes and with the Gaolers and then after tooke me vnto them and made collation of the Indentures and sealed and then Mayster Browne commaunded me this after noone being the 30. of August to go and receyue my prisoners by and by And then I sayd it is an vnreasonable commaundemeÌ„t for that I haue attended of you here these three dayes and this Sonday early I haue sent home my men Wherefore I desire you to haue a conuenient time appoynted wherein I may know whether it will please my Lord my maister to sende his Commissioners hither or that I shall make carriage of them vnto his Lordship Then M. Browne We are certified that the Councell hath written vnto your mayster to make speed and to rid these prisoners out of hand therefore go receiue your prisoners in haste Then I Sir I shall receiue them within these tenne dayes Then M. Browne The limitation lyeth in vs and not in you wherfore get you hence Syr ye haue indited and deliuered me by this Indenture whose fayth or opinions I know not trusting that ye will grauÌ„t me a time to examine them least I should punish the Catholicks Well sayd Maister Browne for that cause ye shall haue time betwixt this and Wednesday And I say vnto you maister Bailiffes if he do not receiue them at your handes on Wednesday set open your doore and let them go Then I My Lord and maisters all I promise to discharge the towne and countrey of these heretickes within ten dayes Then my Lord Darcy sayd CoÌ„missary we do and must all agree in one Wherfore do you receiue them on or before Wednesday Then I My Lord the last I carryed I was goyng betwixte the Castell and Sayncte Katherines Chappell two howres and an halfe and in great preasse and daunger Wherefore thâ—s may be to desire your Lordship to geue in commaundement vnto my Mayster Sayer Bayliffe here present for to ayd me thorough his liberties not onely with men and weapons but that the Towne clarke may bee ready there with his booke to write the names of the most busie persons and this vpon three houres warning all whiche both my Lorde and M. Browne commaunded And the 31. of August William Goodwin of Muchbirch husbandman this brynger and Thomas Alsey of Copforde youre Lordships Apparitour of your Consistory in Colchester couenaÌ„ted with me that they shoulde hyre two other men at the leaste whereof one should be a Bowman to come to me the next day about two of the clocke at after noone so that I might recite this bargayne before M. Archdeacon and pay the money that is 46. shillinges 8. pence Wherefore they should then go foorth wyth me vnto Colchester on Wednesday before three of the clock in the morning receiue there at my hand within the Castell and Motehall fourteen men and eight women ready bound wyth giues and hempe and driue cary or lead and feede with meat drinke as heretickes ought to be found continually vnto suche time that the sayd William and Thomas shall cause the sayde 22. persones for to be deliuered vnto my Lord of Londons Officers and within the safe keeping of my sayd Lorde and then to bring vnto me againe the sayd Giues with a perfect token of or from my sayd Lord and then this couenant is voyde or els c. Maister Bendlowes sayde vnto mee in my Lorde of Oxenfordes Chamber at the kinges head after I had sayd Masse before the Lordes that on
the morow after Holy Roode day when wee shall meete at Chelmesford for the deuision of these landes I thinke Mayster Archdeacon you and Mayster Smith shal be fayn to ride with certaine of the Iury to those porcions and manours in your part of Essex and in like case deuide our selues to tread and view the ground with the Quest or els I thinke the Quest will not labour their matter and so doe you saye vnto Mayster Archdeacon Alice the wyfe of William Walleys of Colchester hath submitted herselfe abiured her erroneous opinions asked absolution promised to do her solemne penance in her Parish Church at Saint Peters on Sonday next and to continue a Catholicke a faythfull woman as long as GOD shall send her lyfe And for these couenauntes her husband standeth bounde in fiue pounde Which Alice is one of the nine women of this your Indenture and that shee is bigge with childe Wherefore she remayneth at home and this done in the presence of the Bayliffes Aldermen towneclarke And for that Maister Browne was certyfied there was no Curate at Lexdon he inquired who was the Farmer The aunswere was made Syr Fraunces Iobson Who is the Parson They of the Questmen aunswered Syr Roger Chostlow When was he with you Not this fourtene yeares How is your Cure serued Now and then Who is the Patron My Lord of Arundell And within shorte tyme after Syr Fraunces Iobson came with great curtesy vnto my Lord Darcies place And of all GentlemeÌ„ about vs I saw no more come in Sir Robert Smith Priest sometime Chanon of Bridlington now Curate of Appledote in the wild of Kent came to Colchester the 28. day of Aug. with his wife bigge with childe of late diuorced taken on suspition examined of the Lordes and M Browne tolde me that they haue receiued letters from the counsell for the attachment of certayn persons and eâ—peciallye of one Priest whose name is Pullen but hys right name is Smith doubting this Priest to be he the sayd Pullen although neither he nor his wife would confesse the same Wherfore he lyeth stil in prison but surely this is not PulleÌ„ If it please your Lordshippe to haue in remembraunce that the housholders might be compelled to bring euerye man his owne wife to her owne seate in the Churche in time of Diuine seruice it would profite much And also there be yet standing Hospitals and other of like foundation about Colchester whiche I haue not knowne to appeare at any visitation as the Maister and Lazars of Mary Magdalene in Colchester the Proctour of saynct Katherines Chappell in Colchester the hospitall or Beadhouse of the foundation of Lord H. Marney in Laremarny the Hospital and Beadman of little Horksley Thus presuming of youre Lordships goodnes I more then bold euer to trouble you with thys worldly busines beseeching almightye God to send your honorable Lordship a condigne reward From Eastthorp this present xxx of August We found a letter touching the Maryage of Priestes in the handes of the foresayd Syr Robert Smith Also I desired Mayster Browne the doer of all thinges to require the audience to bring in theyr vnlawfull writinges and bookes Who asked me if I had proclaymed the Proclamation I sayd yea Then he sayd openly on the Benche that they shoulde be proclaimed euerye quarter once And then take the Constables and Officers and they alone â—ake and punish the offenders accordingly By your poore Beadman Iohn Kingston Priest An Indenture made betweene the Lordes and the Iustices within specified and Boners Commissary concerning the deliuery of the prisoners aboue named THis IndeÌ„ture made the xix day of August in the third and 4. yeres of the raygnes of oure soueraigne Lord and Lady Philip and Mary by the grace of God King Queene of England Spayne Fraunce both Cicils Ierusalem and Ireland defenders of the fayth Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Burgundy Myllayne Brabant Countyes of Hasburgh Flaunders and Tirell betwene the ryght honourable Lord Iohn de Ueere Earle of Oxenford Lord high Chamberlayne of England Thomas Lord Darcy of Chiche Henry Tirel Knight Anthony Browne the King and Queenes Maiestyes Sergeaunt at lawe William Bendelowes Sergeaunt at lawe Edmund Tirel Richard Weston Roger AppletoÌ„ Esquiers Iustices of Ooyer and determiner of the peace within the sayd County of Essex to be kept of the one party and Iohn Kingstone clerke Bacheler at law Commissary to the Bish. of London of the other party witnesseth that Ro. Colman of Walton in the County of Essex labourer Ioan Winseley of Horseley Magna in the said County Spinster Steuen Glouer of Raylye in the County aforesayd Glouer Richard Clerke of much Holland in the sayd County Mariner William Munt of much Bently in the sayde County husbandmaÌ„ Tho. Winseley of much Horseley in the sayd County Sawyer Margaret field of Ramesey in the sayd County Spinster Agnes Whitlocke of Douercourt in the sayd Countie Spinster Alice Munt of much Bentley in the sayd Countye Spinster Rose Alin of the same towne and County Spinster Richard Bongeor of Colchester in the sayd County Corier Richard Atkin of Halstead in the sayd County Weauer Robert Barcocke of Wiston in the sayde Countye of Suffolke Carpenter Rich. George of Westbarhoult in the county of Essex laborer Rich. Iolley of Colchester in the said County Mariner Tho. Feeresanne of the same towne and County Mercer Robert Debnam late of Dedham in the said couÌ„ty Weauer Cicely Warren of Cocksall in the sayd county Spinster Christian Peper widow of the same town and County Allin Simpson Elene Euring Alice the wife of William Walles of Colchester Spinster and William Bongeor of Colchester in the sayd County Glasier being indited of heresie are deliuered to the sayde Iohn Kingstone Clerke Ordinary to the Byshop of London according to the statute in that case prouided In witnesse wherof to the one part of this Indenture remayning with the sayd Erle Lord and other the Iustices the sayd Ordinary hath set to his hand and seale and to the other part remayning with the sayd Ordinary the sayd Earle Lord and other the Iustices haue set to their seueral handes seales the daye yeares aboue written Oxenford Thomas Darcy Henry Tyrell Antony Browne William Bendelowes Edmund Tyrell Richard Weston Roger Appleton These xxii aforesayd prisoners thus seÌ„t from Colchester to London were brought at length to B. Boner As touching the order and maner of their comming brynging the sayd Boner himselfe writeth to Cardinall Poole as you shall heare * A letter of B. Boner to Cardinall Poole MAy it please your good grace with my most humble obedience reuerence and duetie to vnderstand that going to London vpon Thursday last and thinking to be troubled with M. Germaynes matter onely and such other common matters as are accustomed enough to wery a right strong body I had the day following to comfort my stomacke withall letters from Colchester that either
not the persecuting thurst of the Papistes For immedyately after euen the same month vpon the xxvi day was seene the like murther also at Colchester in Essex of two men and a woman lying there in prison appoynted ready to the slaughter who were brought forth the sayde daye vnto a place prepared for them to suffer and accordinglye gaue theyr liues for the testimonye of the trueth whose names likewise hereafter followeth William Harryes Richard Day Christian George These three good soules were brought vnto the stake and there ioyfully and feruently had made theyr prayers vnto the Lord. At the last being setled in theyr places and chayned vnto theyr postes with the fire flaming fiercely round about them they like constaunt Christians triumphaÌ„tly praysed God within the same and offered vp their bodyes a liuely sacrifice vnto his holy Maiestie in whose habitation they haue now theyr euerlasting tabernacles his name therfore be praysed for euermore Amen The sayd Christian Georges Husbande had an other wife burnt before this Christian whose name was Agnes George which suffered as you haue heard with the thirteene at Stratford the Bow And after the death of the sayde Christian hee maryed an honest Godly woman agayne and so they both I meane the sayd Richard George and his last wife in the end were taken also and layde in prison where they remayned til the death of Queene Mary and at the last were deliuered by our most gracious soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth whom the Lorde graunt long to raygne among vs for hys mercies sake Amen In the month of Iune came out a certayne proclamation short but sharpe from the king and the Queene agaynst wholesome and godly bookes which vnder the false title of heresie and sedition here in the sayd Proclamation were wrongfully condemned By the king and Queene WHereas diuers bookes filled both with heresie sedition and treason haue of late and be dayly brought into thys Realme out of forreine countryes and places beyonde the seas and some also couertly printed within this Realme and cast abroad in sundry partes thereof whereby not onely God is dishonored but also an encouragemeÌ„t geuen to disobey lawfull princes and gouernours The king and Queenes maiesties for redres hereof doth by this theyr present Proclamation declare publish to all theyr subiectes that whosoeuer shall after the proclayming hereof be found to haue any of the sayde wicked and seditious bookes or finding them do not forthwith burne the same without shewing or reading the same to any other person shall in that case be reputed and taken for a rebell and shall wythout delay bee executed for that offence according to the order of Martiall law Geuen at our Manor of S. Iameses the sixt daye of Iune Iohn Cawood Printer The order and occasion of taking certayn godly men and women praying together in the fieldes about Islington of whom 13. were condemned by Boner after suffered in the fire for the truthes sake as in the story here following may appeare SEcretly in a backe close in the fielde by the Towne of Islington were collected and assembled together a certayne companye of Godly and innocent persons to the number of fourty men and women Who there sitting together at prayer and vertuously occupied in the meditation of Gods holy worde first commeth a certayne man to them vnknowne who looking ouer vnto them so stayed saluted them saying that they looked like men that meant no hurt Then one of the sayd company asked the man if he could tel whose close that was and whether they might be so bold there to sit Yes sayd he for that yee seeme vnto me such persons as entende no harme and so departed Within a quarter of an houre after commeth the constable of Islington named king warded with sixe or seueÌ„ other accompanying him in the same busines one wyth a bow an other with a Bill and other with theyr weapons likewise The which sixe or seuen persons the sayde Constable left a little behinde hym in a close place there to bee ready if need should be while he with one with him shuld go and view them before Who so doyng came throughe them looking and viewing what they were doyng and what bookes they had and so going a little forward and returning backe agayne bad them deliuer theyr bookes They vnderstanding that he was Constable refused not so to do With that coÌ„meth forth the residue of his fellowes aboue touched who bad them stande and not to departe They aunswered agayne they would be obedient ready to go whether so euer they would haue them so were they first caryed to a bruehouse but a little way of whyle yâ— some of the sayd souldiers ran to the Iustice next at hand But the Iustice was not at home Whereupon they were had to sir Roger Cholmley In the meane tyme some of the women being of the same number of the foresayde xl persons escaped away from theÌ„ some in yâ— close some before they came to the bruehouse For so they were caryed .x. with one man 8. with an other and with some moe with some lesse in such sorte that it was not hard for theÌ„ to escape that would In fine they that were caryed to Sir Roger Cholmley were 27. which Sir Roger Cholmley the Recorder taking their names in a Bill calling them one by one so many as answered to theyr names they seÌ„t to Newgate In the whiche number of them that answered and that were sent to Newgate were 22. These 22. were in the sayde prison of Newgate seuen weekes before they were examined to whome word was sent by Alexander the keeper that if they woulde heare a Masse they should all be deliuered Of these foresayd xxii were burned 13. In Smithfield 7. at Braynford 6. IN prison 2. dyed in Whitson weeke the names of whoÌ„ were Mathew Wythers T. Taylar Seuen of them which remayned escaped with theyr liues hardly although not without much trouble yet as GOD woulde without burning Whose names were these Iohn Milles. Thomas Hinshaw R. Baily wolpacker Robert Willeys Hudleys T. Coast haberdash Roger Sandey The first seuen were brought forth to examination before Boner and so hauing their condeÌ„nation were burnt as is sayd in Smithfield The other 6. followed not long after and suffered at Brayneford whereof specially here followeth now in order of story to be seene The examination and condemnation of seuen godly and faythfull Martyrs of Christe burnt in Smithfield COncerning the examination and condemnation of these abouesayd whiche were apprehended and taken at Isâ—ington 7. first were produced before Boner the 14. of Iune to make aunswere to suche articles and interrogatoryes as by the sayd Byshop should be ministred vnto them The names of these seuen were Henry Ponde Raynold Eastland Robert Southam Mathew Richarby Iohn Floyd Iohn Holydaye Roger Holland To these 7. constant and godly Martyrs produced before
the 13. and 14. articles they confesse and graunt the contents of them to be true in euery part When at the daies before specified these good men were produced before Boners Chancellour Thomas Darbishire and had the foresaide articles ministred vnto them and they as ye haue heard had made aunswere vnto the same in the ende the Chauncellor commaunded them to appeare before them againe the 11. day of Iuly after in the sayde place at Paules Where when they came he required of them whether they woulde tourne from their opinions to the mother holy church and if not that then whether there were anye cause to the contrarye but that they might procede with the sentence of condemnation Wherunto they all answeared that they would not go from the truthe nor relent from any part of the same while they liâ—â—ed Then he charged them to appeare before him againe the next daye in the afternoone betweene one and two of the clocke to heare the definitiue sentence redde agaynste them according to the Ecclesiasticall lawes then in force At which time he sitting in iudgemeÌ„t talking with these godly and vertuous men at the last came into the sayde place syr Edwarde Hastings sir Thomas Cornewales knights two of Quene Maries officers of her house and being there they sate them down ouer against the Chancellor in whose presence the sayde Chancellor condemned those good poore Lambes and deliuered them ouer to the secular power who receiued and caried them to prisonne immediately and there kept them in safetie till the daye of their deathe In the meane time this naughty Chancellor slept not I warrant you but that day in which they were condemned he made certificate into the Lorde Chancellors office from whence the next daye after was sent a writ to burne them at Brainforde aforesaid which accordingly was accomplished in the same place the said 14. daye of Iulye Whereunto they being brought made theyr humble praiers vnto the Lorde Iesus vndressed themselues wente ioyfully to the stake whereto they were bounde and the fire flaming about them they yelded their soules bodies and liues into the handes of the omnipotent Lorde for whose cause they didde suffer and to whose protection I commend thee gentle Reader Amen The burning of sixe Martyrs at Brainforde Among these 6. was due William Pikes as yee haue heard who sometime dwelt in Ipswiche in Suffolke by his occupation a Tanner a very honest godly man of a vertuous disposition a good keper of hospitalitie and beneâ—icial to the persecuted in Queene Maries daies Thys saide William Pikes in the 3. yeare of Queene Maries raigne a little after Midsomer being then at libertie weÌ„t into his Garden and tooke wyth him a Bible of Rogers translation where hee sitting wyth his face towardes the South reading on the said Bible sodenly fell downe vpon his booke betwene a 11. and 12. a clocke of the day foure drops of fresh bloud he knew not from whence it came Then he seeing the same was sore astonished coulde by no meanes learne as I sayd from whence it should fall and wiping out one of the droppes with his finger called his wife and said In the vertue of God wife what meaneth this Wil the Lord haue 4. sacrifices I see wel enough the Lorde will haue bloude his wil be done and geue me grace to abide the triall Wife let vs pray sayde hee for I feare the day draweth nigh Afterwarde he daily looked to be apprehended of the papistes and it came to passe accordingly as yee haue heard Thus much thought I good to wryte heereof to stirre vp our dull senses in considering the Lordes woorkes and reuerently to honour the same His name therefore be praised for euermore Amen Moreouer concerning the sayd William Pikes as he was in Newgate sore sicke and at the poynte of deathe so that no man looked he should liue 6. houres there declared to them that stoode by that he had bene twise in persecution before and that now he desired the Lord if it were his will that he might glorifie his name at the stake and so as he prayed it came to passe at Brainford Ye hard before of those 22. taken at Islington 13. were burned and 6. escaped albeit very hardly some of them not without scourging by the hands of the bishop In the which number was Thomas Hinshaw Ihon Milles according to the expresse Picture here after purported Ex epigrammate Ennij apud Ciceronem allusio Si fas caedendo coelestia scandere cuiquam est Bonnero coeli maxima porta patet In effigiem Boneri carmen QVae noua forma viri quid virga quid ora quid aluus Pondera quid ventris crassitiesue velit Corpus amaxaeum disten to abdomine pigrum Rides anne stupes lector amice magis Vasta quid ista velint si nescis pondera dicam Nam nihil hic mirum venter obesus habet Carnibus humanis sanguine vescitur atro Ducentos annis hauserat ille tribus Ergo quid hoc monstri est recto vis nomine dicam Nomen nec patris nec gerit ille matris Qui patre Sauago natus falso que Bonerus Dicitur hunc melius dixeris Orbilium The same in English MUse not so much that natures woorke is thus deformed now With belly blowen and head so swolne for I shall tell you how This Canniball in three yeares space three hundreth Martyrs slew They were his foode he loued so bloud he spared none he knew It should appeare that bloud feedes fat if men lie well and soft For Boners bellie waxt with bloud though he semde to fast oft O bloudy beast bewaile the death of those that thou hast slaine In time repent since thou canst not their liues restore againe G. G. In Bonerum CArnificis nomen debetur iure Bonero Qui sine Christicolas crimine mactat oues Certe carnificis immitis nomine gaudet Siue isto peius nomine nomen amat Carnificem vocitas ridet crudelia facta Narrisâ— rem gratam non facis ipse magis Det Deus vt sapias meliora Bonere vel istis Te feriant meritis munera digna precor The scourging of Thomas Hinshaw ⧠The right Picture and true Counterfet of Boner and his crueltie in scourging of Gods Sainctes in his Orchard a Fulham The next mornyng the Bish. came and examined hym himselfe and perceiuyng no yelding to his mynde he sent M. Harpsfield to talke with him who after long talke in the end fell to raging words callyng the sayd Thomas Hinshaw pâ—euish boy and asked him whether he thought he went about to damne his soule or no c. Unto whiche the sayd Tho. answered that he was perswaded that they laboured to maintaine their darke and diuelish kingdom and not for any loue to truth Then Harpsfield beyng in a mighty rage told the B. thereof Whereat the B. fumed fretted that scant for anger beyng able
to Inne offring large mony for small lodging they were refused of all the Inholders suspecting Mayster Bertye to bee a Launceknight and the Duches to be hys woman The Childe for cold and sustenaunce cryed pittifully the mother wept as fast the heauens rayned as fast as the cloudes could poure Mayster Bertie destitute of all other succour of hospitalitie resolued to bring the Duchesse to the porche of the great churche in the towne and so to buy coales victualls and straw for theyr miserable repose there that night or at least till by Gods helpe he might prouide her better lodging Mayster Berty at that time vnderstoode not muche dutche and by reason of euill weather and late season of the night he could not happen vppon any that coulde speake english Frenche Italian or Latine till at last goyng towardes the Church porch he heard 2. striplinges talkyng Latin to whom he approched and offered thē two stiuers to bring him to some Wallons house By these boyes and Gods good conduicte hee chaunced at the first vppon the house where Mayster Perusell supped that night who had procured them the protection of the Magistrates of that towne At the first knocke the goodman of the house himselfe came to the dore and opening it asked Mayster Berty what he was Maister Berty sayd an englishman that sought for one M. Peruselles house The Wallon willed M. Bertie to stay a while who went backe and told Mayster Perusell that the same english gentleman of whome they had talked the same supper had sent by likelihoode his seruaunt to speake with hym Whereupon M. Perusell came to the dore and beholding Mayster Bertie the Duchesse and theyr childe their faces apparelles and bodyes so farre from their old forme deformed with durt wether heauines could not speake to them nor they to him for teares At length recouering them selues they saluted one an other and so together entred the house God knoweth ful ioyfully Mayster Berty chaunging of his apparrell with the goodman the Duchesse with the good wife and theyr childe with the childe of the house Within fewe dayes after by M. Peruselles meanes they hyred a very fayre house in the towne and did not let to shew themselues what they were in such good sort as their present condition permitted It was by this tyme through the whole towne what discurtesie the Inholders had shewed vnto them at their entrie in so muche as on the Sonday following a preacher in the Pulpit openly in sharpe termes rebuked that great inciuillitie towardes straungers by allegation of sundry places out of holye scriptures discoursing how not onely Princes sometyme are receiued in the Image of priuate persons but Angels in the shape of men and that God of his Iustice woulde make the straungers one daye in an other lande to haue more sense of the afflicted hart of a straunger The time was passing foorth as they thought themselues thus happily setled sodainly a watchworde came from sir Iohn Mason then Queene Maries Ambassador in Netherland that my Lorde Paget had fayned an errant to the Bathes that waies and whereas the Duke of Brunswick was shortly with x. ensignes to passe by Wesell for the seruice of the house of Austricke agaynst the frēch king the sayd Duchesse and her husband shoulde be wyth the same charge and company intercepted Wherfore to preuent the cruelty of these enemies M. Berty with his wife and childe departed to a place called Winheim in high Dutchland vnder the Palsgranes Dominion where vnder his protection they continued tyll their necessaries began to fayle them and they almost feynting vnder so heauy a burden began to fayle of hope At what tyme in the middest of theyr dispayre there came sodeinly letters to them from the Pallatine of Uilua and the kyng of Poole being instructed of theyr hard estate by a Baron named Ioannes Alasco that was sometyme in England offering them large curtesie This puruison vnlooked for greatly reuiued theyr heauye spirites Yet considering they shoulde remoue from manye theyr countrymen and acquaintaunce to a place so farre distant a Country not haunted with the English and perhappes vpon their arriuall not finding as they looked for the end of their iourny should be worse then the beginning they deuised thereupon with one M. Barloe late Byshoppe of Chichester that if he would vouchsafe to take some payns therein they woulde make him a fellowe of that iourny So finding him prone they sent with him letters of great thankes to the king and Pallatine and also with a fewe principall Iewelles which onely they had lefte of many to solicite for them that the king woulde vouchsafe vnder his seale to assure them of the thing whiche hee so honourably by letters offered That sute by the forewardnes of the Pallatine was as soone graunted as vttered Upon whiche assurance the sayd Duchesse and her husband with their familye entred the iorney in Aprill 1557. from the Castle of Wineheim where they before lay towardes Franckford In the which their iorney it were long here to describe what daungers fell by the way vpon them and theyr whole company by reason of theyr Lantgraues Captain who vnder a quarrell pretensed for a spaniell of M. Berties set vppon them in the high way with his horsemen thrusting their bore-speares through the wagon where the Children and Women were M. Bertie hauing but 4. horsemen with hym In the which brable it happened the Captaynes horse to be slayne vnder him Whereupon a rumour was sparsed immediately thorough townes and villages about that the Lantgraue captayne should be slayne by certayne Wallons which incensed the ire of the countrymen ther more fiercely against M. Bertie as afterward it proued For as he was motioned by his wife to saue himselfe by the swiftnes of his horse and to recouer some towne there by for his rescue hee so doing was in worse case then before for the townsmen and the Captaines brother supposing no lesse but that the Captayne had bene slaine pressed so egerly vpon him that he had bene there taken and murthered among them had not he as God would spying a ladder leaning to a wyndow by the same got vp into the house and so gone vp in to a garret in the top of the house where hee with his dagge and rapyre defended himselfe for a space but at lengthe the Burghmayster comming thither with an other Magystrate which could speake latin he was counselled to submit himselfe to the order of the law Mayster Bertye knowing himselfe cleare and the Captayne to be aliue was the more bolder to submit himselfe to the iudgement of the law vpon condition that the Magistrate woulde receiue hym vnder safe conduct and defend him from the rage of the multitude Whiche being promised M. Bertie putteth him selfe and his weapon in the Magistrates hande so was committed to safe custodye while the trueth of hys cause should be tryed Then
the Riuer Now she good woman thinking to be so serued tooke thereby such feare that it brought the begynning of her sickenesse of the whiche at length she dyed Then at the last was she called before the Margraue and charged with Anabaptistry whiche shee there vtterly denyed and detested the error declaring before hym in Dutch her fayth boldly wythout any feare So the Margraue hearyng the same in the end beyng well pleased with her profession at the sute of some of her frends deliuered her out of prison but tooke away her booke and so shee came ouer into England agayne ¶ William Mauldon I Lightly passe ouer here the tedious afflictions of William Mauldon how in the daungerous time of the 6. articles before the burning of Anne Askew hee was scourged being young of his father for professing and confessing of true Religion and afterward being examined in auricular confession by the Priest hys bookes were searched for and so at length hee was presented vp by the same Priest in a letter written to the Byshop Which letter had it not bene burned by an other Priest to whose handes it came as the Lord would haue it it had vndoubtedly cost hym his life This one thinge in the sayde William Mauldon is to bee noted that being younge in those dayes of kinge Henry when the masse moste florished the aultars wyth the sacrament therof being in their moste high veneration that to mans reason it might seeme vnpossible that the glory and opinion of that Sacramente and Sacramentalles so highly worshipped and so deepely rooted in the hartes of so many could by any meanes possible so soone decay and vanish to naught yet notwithstanding hee being then so young vnder the age of xvii yeares by the spirite no doubt of prophesie declared then vnto his parentes that they should see it shortly euen come to passe that both the Sacrament of the altar and the altars themselues with al such plantations which the heauenly father did not plant should be plucked vp by the rootes and euen so within the space of very fewe yeares the euent thereof followed accordingly the Lorde therefore bee praysed for his moste gratious reformation ¶ Robert Horneby I Let passe lykewise the daungerous escape of Robert Horneby seruaunt sometyme and groome of the Chamber to Ladye Elizabeth shee being then in trouble in Queene Maryes dayes who being willed to come to Masse refused so to doe and therefore comming afterward from Woodstocke to Hampton Courte was called before the Counsayle by them committed to the Marshalsey and not vnlyke to haue susteyned further daunger had not the Lordes goodnes better prouided for him who at length by Doctour Martyn was deliuered ¶ Mistres Sandes THe lyke also may be testified and recorded of Mistres Sandes nowe wyfe to Syr Morice Bartlet then Gentlewooman wayter to the sayde Ladye Elizabeth being in the Tower Which Mistres Sandes denyed in lyke maner to come to Masse and therefore beside the heauye displeasure of her father was not onely displaced from her roume and put out of the house but also was in greate ieopardye of further tryall But the Lorde who disposeth for euery one as he seeth beste wroughte her way out of her enemyes handes by flying ouer the Seas where shee continued amongest other banished exiles in the Cittye of Geneua of Basil till the death of Queene Marye * The storye of Thomas Rose yet liuing a Preacher of the age of lxxvi yeares in the towne of Luton and Countye of Bedford THis Thomas Rose a Deuonshyre man was borne in Exmouth and being made Priest in that coūtrey was brought out of it by one M. Fabiā to Polsted in Suffolke where the sayd M. Fabian was Parson in short tyme after by his meanes was placed in the town of Hadley wher he first cōming to some knowledg of the gospel began first there to intreat vpon the Crede therupon to take occasiō to inueigh against Purgatory praying to Saints Images about the tyme that M. Latimer began first to preach at Cambridge in the tyme of Bilney Arthur .47 yeares ago or thereabout in so much that many imbracing the truth of Christes Gospell against the sayd Purgatory and other poynts and the number of them daily increasing the aduersaries beganne to stirre agaynst him in so muche that M. Bale who afterwarde became a godly zelous man was then brought to preach agaynst the sayd Thomas Rose so did This notwithstanding he continued still very vehement agaynst Images the Lorde so blessed his labours that many began to deuise how to deface and destroy them and especially foure men whose names were Ro. King Ro. Debnam Nic. Marsh and Ro. Gard. which vsually resorted to his sermons vpō his preaching were so inflamed with zeale that shortly after they aduentured to destroy the Roode of Douercourt which coste three of them theyr liues as appeareth before pag. 1031. The three persons which suffered and were hanged in chaynes wer offered theyr liues to haue accused the sayd Thomas Rose as of counsell with them which refused so to do and therfore suffered The sayd Tho. Rose had the coat of the sayd Roode brought vnto him afterward who burned it The Roode was sayde to haue done many great myracles and great wonders wrought by him and yet being in the fire could not help him selfe but burned like a block as in very deede he was At this time there were two sore enemies in Hadley Walter Clerke and Iohn Clerke two brethren these cōplayned to the Counsayle that an hundred men were not able to fetch the sayde Thomas Rose out of Hadley who then was vpon examination of his doctrine committed to the Commissaries keeping And in deede such was the zeale of a number towardes the truth thē in that towne that they were much offended that their Minister was so taken frō them and had therefore by force fet him from the Commissary if certain wise men hadde not otherwise perswaded which at length also with more quiet did set him in his office agayne which thing so angred the two brethren Walter Clerke Ioh. Clerk that they complayned to the counsaile as aforesayd wherupon a serieant at armes named Cartwright was sent from the counsayle who arested the sayd Thomas Rose brought him before the counsayle Then his aduersaries being called they layd to his charge that hee was priuy of the burning of the Rood of Douercourt and vpon this he was committed to the prison in the Bish. of Lincolns house in Holborne Bishop Langly the kinges Confessor and there remayned he in prison frō Shroftide till tyll Mydsomer very sore stocked tyll after Easter The stocks were very hye great so that day night he did lye with his backe on the ground vpon a litle straw with his heeles so hye that by meanes the bloud was fallen from his feete his feet wer almost without sense
for a long time he herewith waxed very sicke in so much that hys keeper pittying his estate and hearing him cry sometyme thorow the extremetie of payne went to the bishop told him that he would not keep him to dye vnder his hand vpon this he had some more ease libertie Now at thys time his mother was come froÌ„ Hadley to see him but she might not be suffered to speake with the saide Tho. Rose her son such was their cruelty but the B. flattered her gaue her a payre of pardon beades bade her go home pray for she might not see him which thing pierced the harts both of the mother sonne not a litle At this time also certain meÌ„ of Hadley very desirous to see him trauayled to speake with him but might not be suffered til at length they gaue the keeper 4. s. yet then might not speake to him or see hym otherwise then through a grate And thus continued he til midsomer in prison there Then was he remoued to Lambeth in the first yeare of D. Cran. consecration who vsed him much more courteously then euer the B. of Lincolne did at length worked his deliuerance set him at liberty but yet so that he was bounden not to come within xx myles of Hadley After this he came to London and there preached the gospell halfe a yeare till Hadley men hearing therof labored to haue him to Hadley agayn in deed by meanes of sir Iohn Rainsford knight obtained at the Archbishops haÌ„d to haue him thither howbeit by meanes one was placed in the cure at Hadley he could not enioy his office again there but went to Stratford three miles off and ther coÌ„tinued in preaching the word 3. yeares til at lengthe the aduersaries procured an inhibition from the Bysh. of Norwiche to put him to silence But a great number trauayled to haue him continue in preaching subscribed a supplication to the archb with seueÌ„ score hands who vnder their seales also testified of his honest demeanor so that the aduersaries this way preuayling not they indicted him at Bury in Suffolk so that he was constrayned to flee to loÌ„don to vse the aid of the L. Audly then Lord Chauncellor who remoued the matter from theÌ„ called it before hym after certain examination of the matter did set him free did send him by a token to the Lord CroÌ„well then L. pryuie Seale for a licence froÌ„ the king to preach which being obteyned by the L. Cromwell his meanes who hereupon also had admitted the sayd Thomas Rose his chaplayne forthwith he was sent into Lincolnshyre and to Yorke In the meane time such complaynt was made to the Duke of Northfolke for that he had preached against auricular coÌ„fession transubstantiation such other poyntes conteined in the 6. articles whiche then to haue done by lawe was death that the Duke in his owne person not onely sought him at Norwich but also beset al the hauens for him from Yarmouth to LondoÌ„ being Lieuetenant coÌ„maunded that who soeuer could take the said T Rose should hang him on the next tree Howbeit the sayd Tho. Rose at hys commyng home hauing warning hereof by certayne godly persons was conueyed away passed ouer to Flanders and so to Germany vnto Zuricke where a tyme he remayned with M. Bullinger afterward went to Basill there hosted with M. Grineus till letters came that M. Doct. Barnes shuld be B. of Norwiche things shuld be reformed he restored But wheÌ„ he came ouer into Eng. againe it was nothing so therfore forthwith fâ—ed agayne beyond the seas being so beset as if the mighty prouidence of God had not sent him in readines to receaue him the self same man bote and boy that before caryed him ouer it had not bene possible for him to haue escaped But such was the goodnes of god towards him that he safely was conueyed liued at Barow the space of 3. yeares til at length purposing to come ouer into EnglaÌ„d about busines that he had he his wife their chyld being but a yeare three quarters old vpoÌ„ the sea the ship being in great danger wherin they sayled for the mast being hewn downe in that perill they wer caried whither soeuer the waues tossed them they with dyuers others made a full accompt of death Howbeit at lengthe they wer taken prisoners caryed into Deepe in France hauing al their stuffe takeÌ„ froÌ„ them xl li in mony There they remayned prisoners froÌ„ Michaelmas til Hallowtide in great heauines not knowing what woulde become of theÌ„ but depending onely vpon Gods prouideÌ„ce it pleased God at the same time that one M. Young of the towne of Rye who had heard hym preach before came thither for the redeeming of certayne English men there takeÌ„ prisoners This M. Young moued to see them in this case muche pitied them comforted them and told them hee would pay their ransome so he did had them away brought them to Rye from thence by stealth came they to London At length the honourable Earle of Sussex hearing of the said Tho. Rose sent for him his wife his childe had them to his house at Attelborough where they continued til at length it was blased abroade that the Earle was a mainteiner of such a man to reade in his house as had preached against the Catholicke fayth as they terme it The Earle being at the parlament hearing thereof wrote a letter to warne him to make shift for himselfe to auoyd So that froÌ„ thence he passed to London making strayt shiftes for a yeare there somewhat more til the death of king Henry After the kinges death he others which in the kings general pardon were excepted therefore dead men if they had bene taken whilest king Henry liued by certaine of the CouÌ„sayle were let at liberty at length after K. Edward was crowned were licensed to preach againe by the king who gaue vnto the said Tho. Rose the benefice of Westham by London But at the death of that vertuous and noble prince he was depriued of al so should also haue bene of his life had not God appointed him friends who receiued him in London secretly as their teacher in the congregation amongest whom for the pore prisoners at their asseÌ„blies x.li a night oftentymes was gathered And thus he continued amongest them with the Lady Uane almost a yeare in the raigne of Q. Mary But although he oftentymes escaped secretly whilst he read to the godly in sundry places of London yet at length through a Iudas that betrayed them he with .xxxv. that were with him were takeÌ„ in Bowchurchyard at a Shiermans house on Newyeres day at night being Tuesday The residue being coÌ„mitted to prisons the sayd Tho. Rose was had to the B. of Winchester Ste. Gardiner but the Bishop would not speeke
Smith Ye falsify the worde and racke it to serue your purpose For the wine was not onely the shewing of his passion but the bread also for our Sauiour sayth So oft as ye do this do it in remembraunce of me And S. Paule sayth So oft as ye eate of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall shewe the Lordes death till he come And here is as much reuerence geuen to the one as to the other Wherefore yf the bread be his body the cuppe must be his bloud and as wel ye make his body in the cup as his bloud in the bread Then vp rose my Lorde and went to the table where my Lorde Maior desired me to saue my soule To whome I answeared I hope it was saued thorow Christ Iesus desiring him to haue pity on his owne soule and remember whose sword he caryed At which I was caryed into the Garden and there abode vntill the rest of my frendes were examined and so were we sent away with many foule farewelles to Newgate agayne my Lord Bishop geuing the keeper a charge to lay me in limb◠¶ An other examination of Robert Smith before the sayd Bishop VPon Saterday at eight of the clocke I was brought to his chamber agayne and there by him examined as foloweth Boner Thou Robert Smith c. sayst that there is no catholicke Church here on earth Smith Ye haue heard me both speake the contrary and ye haue written it as a witnes of the same Boner Yea but I must aske thee this question how sayest thou Smith Must ye of necessity beginne with a lye it maketh manifest that ye determine to end with the same But there shall no Lyers enter into the kingdome of God Neuerthelesse if ye will be aunsweared aske mine articles that were written yesterday and they shall tel you that I haue confessed a Church of God as well in earth as in heauen and yet all one Church one mans members euen Christ Iesus Boner Well what sayest thou to auriculer confession is it not necessary to be vsed in Christes Church and wilt not thou be shriuen of the priest Smith It is not needefull to be vsed in Christes Church as I aunswered yesterday But if it be needefull for your Churche it is to picke mens purses And such pickepurse matters is all the whole rabble of your ceremonies for all is but mony matters that ye maynteyne Boner Why how art thou able to proue that confession is a pickepurse matter Art thou not ashamed so to say Smith I speake by experience For I haue both hearde and seene the fruites of the same For firste it hath bene we see a bewrayer of kinges secretes and the secretes of other mens consciences Who being deliuered and glad to be discharged of theyr sinnes haue geuen to Priests great summes of mony to absolue them sing Masses for theyr soules health And for ensample I beganne to bring in a pageant that by report was played at saynt Thomas of Acres and where I was sometime a childe waiting on a Gentleman of Northfolke which being bounde in conscience through the perswasion of the Priest gaue away a great summe of his goodes and forgaue vnto M. Gressam a great summe of money and to an other as much The priest had for his part a summe and the house had an annuitie to keepe him the which thing when his brother heard he came down to London after declaration made to the Counsayle how by the subtilty of the Priest he had robbed his wyfe children recouered a great part agayne to the value of two or three hundred poundes of Maister Gressam and his other frende but what he gaue to the house could not be recouered This tale began I to tell But when my Lord saw it sauored not to his purpose he began to reuile me sayde By the Masse if the Queenes maiesty were of his mynde I should not come to talke before any man but should be put into a sacke â—ogge tyed vnto the same so should be throwen into the water Smith To which I answered againe saying I know you speake by practise as much as by speculation for both you your predecessors haue sought all meanes possible to kyll Christ secretely record of M. Hunne whom your predecessor caused to be thrust in at the nose with hot burning needles and then to be hanged sayde the same Hunne to haue hanged himselfe and also a good brother of yours a Byshop of your professioÌ„ hauing in his prison an innoceÌ„t maÌ„ whom because he saw he was not able by the scriptures to ouercome he made him priuily to be snarled his flesh to be torne and plucked awaye with a payre of pinsers and bringing him before the people sayd the Rattes had eaten him Thus according to your othe is all your dealing and hath bene and as you taking vpon you the office doe not without othes open your mouth no more do you without murder maynteyne your traditions Boner Ah ye are a generation of lyers there is not one true word that commeth out of your mouthes Smith Yes my Lorde I haue sayde that Iesus Christ is dead for my sinnes and risen for my iustification and thys is no lye Boner Then made he his man to put in my tale of the gentleman of Northfolke and would haue had me recite it agayne which when I would not doe he made his man to put in suche summes as he imagined At the ende of thys commeth in M. Mordant knight and sate downe to heare my examination Then sayd my Lord. Howe sayest thou Smith to the seuen sacramentes Beleeuest thou not that they be Gods order that is to say the sacrament of c. Smith I beleue that in Gods Church are but two Sacramentes that is to say the sacrament of regeneration the sacrament of the Lordes supper and as for the Sacrament of the aultar and all your sacraments they may wel serue your church but Gods church hath nothing to do with them neither haue I any thing to do to aunswere them nor you to examine me of them Boner Why is Gods order chauÌ„ged in baptisme In what poynt do we dissent from the word of God Smith First in halowing your water in coniuring of the same in baptising children with annoynting and spitting in their mouthes mingled with salt and with many other lend ceremonies of which not one poynt is able to be proued in Gods order Boner By the masse this is the vnshamefast heretique that euer I heard speake Smith Well sworne my Lord ye keepe a good watch Boner Well M. Controller ye catche me at my wordes but I will watch thee as well I warrant thee Mordant By my troth my Lord quoth M. Mordant I neuer heard the like in all my life But I pray you my lord marke well his aunswere for Baptisme He dissalloweth therin holy
daunger to libertie of life then as one passing out of the world by any paines of death Such was the change of the meruailous workyng of the Lordes hand vpon that good man ¶ Cornelius Bongey felow Martyr with Mayster Robert Glouer IN the same fire with him was burned also Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Couentrey and condemned by the sayd Radulph Byshoppe of Couentry and Liechfield As concerning the Articles which were to him obiected the effect therof was this Firste it was articulate agaynste him that these three yeres last in the City of Couentry and Liechfield other places about he did hold mainteyne argue and teach that the Prieste hath no power here to absolue any sinner from his sinnes Secondly that by Baptisme sinnes be not washed away because he sayd that the washing of the flesh purgeth the flesh outwardly and not the soule Thirdly that there be in the Church onely two sacramentes that is Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Fourthly that in the sacrament of theyr popish aulter was not the reall body bloud of Christ but the substance of bread wine there remayning stil because S. Paul calleth it bread and wine c. Fiftly that he within the compasse of the sayd yeares time did hold maintayne and defend that the Pope is not the head of the visible church here in earth c. Sixtly that he was of the dioces and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Couentry and Liechfield c. Seuēthly that the premises are true manifest and notorious and that vpō the same there hath bene is a publick voice and fame as well in the places aboue rehearsed as in other quarters also about c. ¶ His aunsweres Unto the which articles he aunswering agayne to the first he graunted and to euery part therof meaning after the Popish maner of absolution The second he graunted first after reuoked the same To the thyrd also he graunted adding withall that in scripture there be no more conteined To the fourth touching the sacrament he graunted to euery part therof To the fift concerning the Pope likewise Also to the sixt he graūted and likewise to the seuenth Upon these articles and his answeres to the same the sayd Radulph the Bishop read the sentence and so cōmitted him also after the condemnation of Mayster Roberte Glouer to the seculer power Thus this foresayd Cornelius falsely condēned by the Bishop before mentioned suffered at the same stake wyth the Christian Martyr Mayster Robert Glouer at Couentry about the xx day of September ¶ The burning of Mayster Robert Glouer and Cornelius Bongey at Couentry ¶ Here foloweth the story of Iohn Glouer and William Glouer how they were excommunicate and cast out after theyr death and buried in the fieldes NOwe that wee haue discoursed the storye of Mayster Robert Glouer something also woulde bee touched of his other two brethrē Iohn and William Glouer Who albeit they were not called to finishe theyr course by lyke kinde of Martyrdome in the fire as the other did yet because for theyr constaunt profession of Gods Gospell vnto the latter ende they were exempted after theyr death cast out of the same Church as the other was I thought them not vnworthy therefore in the story to be ioyned together which in one cause and the same profession were not sūdered one from the other And first concerning Mayster Iohn Glouer the eldest brother what inward stormes and agonies he susteined by the ghostly enemy partly ye heard before described nowe what his bodily enemies wrought against him remaineth to be declared Whose rage and malice although god so restrained that they coulde litle preuayle agaynst him so long as his life endured yet after his decease hauing power vpon him what they did ye shall now vnderstand After the Martyrdome of mayster Robert Glouer although Iohn Glouer seing his brother to be apprehended for him had small ioy of his life for the great sorow of his hart wherewith he was sore oppressed and would gladly haue put himselfe in his Brothers stead if frendes had not otherwise perswaded with him shewing that in so doyng he might intangle himselfe but should doe his brother no good He thus in great care and vexation endured yet notwithstanding rubbing out as well as he could til at lēgth about the latter end of queene Mary there was a new search made for the sayd Iohn Glouer Whereupon the Sheriffes with theyr vnder Officers and seruauntes being sent to seek him came into his house where he and his wife were It chaūced as he was in his chamber by himselfe the Officers brusting into the house and searching other roomes came to the Chamber doore where this Iohn Glouer was Who being within and holding the latch softly with his hand perceiued and heard the Officers buskeling about the doore amongest whome one of the sayd officers hauing the string in his hand was ready to draw and plucke at the same In the meane time an other comming by whose voice he heard and knew bad them come away saying they had bene there before Whereupon they departing thence wēt to search other corners of the house where they found Agnes Glouer his wife who being had to Liechfilde there examined before the bishop at length after much ado was constrayned to geue place to their tyranny Ioh Glouer in the meane time partly for care of his wife partly through cold taken in the woodes where he did lye tooke an Agew whereupon not long after he left this life which the cruell Papistes so long had sought for Thus by the mighty protectiō of the almighty Lord how Iohn Glouer was deliuered and defended frō the handes of the persecuting enemies during all the time of hys life ye haue hearde Nowe what befell after his death both to him to William his brother it is not vnworthy to be remēbred Who after that he was dead buried in the churchyard without Priest or Clerke D. Dracot then Chauncellour sixe weekes after sent for the parson of the Towne demaunded howe it chaunced that hee was there buryed The parson aunswered that he was then sicke and knewe not of it Then the Chauncellour commaunded the parson to go home and to cause the body of the said Iohn Glouer to be taken vp to be cast ouer the wall into the hie way The Parson agayne answered that he had bene 6. weekes in the earth so smelled that none was able to abide the sauor of him Well quoth D. Dracot then take this byll and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soule and a twelue moneth after take vp his bones for then the fleshe will be consumed and cast thē ouer the wall that cartes and horses may tread vpon them and then will I come hallow againe that place in the churchyard where he was buried Recorded by the Parson of the towne who tolde the same to Hugh Burrowes dwelling at
he will bestow him I trust to God it shall please him of his goodnes to strengthen me to make vp the trinitie out of Paules Churche to suffer for Christe whom God the father hath annoynted the holy spirite doth beare witnes vnto Paule all the Apostles preached Thus fare you well I had no paper I was constrayned thus to write Besydes these letters of Byshop Ridley diuers other tractations also were written by hym partly out of prison partly in prison as namely amongest certaine other there remayneth in my handes certayne notes answearing to the two notable Sermons of D. Watson Bishop of Lincolne c. ¶ Here beginneth the lyfe actes and doynges of maister Hugh Latimer the famous Preacher and worthy Martyr of Christ and his Gospel NOw consequently after the lyfe of B. Ridley with other his letters whiche partly we haue expressed partly we haue differred to our later appendix followeth lykewyse the lyfe and doynges of the worthy champion and olde practised souldiour of Christe M. Hugh Latimer of whose actes and long trauayles euen from his fyrst yeares and tender age to beginne here to entreate fyrst he was the son of one Hugh Latimer of Thirkesson in the Countie of Leicester a housebandman of right good estimation with whom also he was brought vp vntyll he was of the age of fower yeares or thereabout At which tyme his Parentes hauyng hym as then left for their onely sonne with sixe other daughters seeyng his ready prompte and sharpe witte purposed to trayne him vp in erudition and knowledge of good literature wherein he so profited in his youth at the common Scholes of his owne countrey that at the age of xiiij yeares he was sent to the Uniuersitie of Cambridge Where after some continuaunce of exercises in other thynges he gaue hym selfe to the studie of such schole Diuinitie as the ignoraunce of that age did suffer Zelous he was then in the Popyshe Religion and therewith so scrupulous as hym selfe confessed that beyng a Priest and vsyng to say Masse he was so seruile an obseruer of the Romishe Decrees that he had thought he had neuer sufficiently mingled his Massing wine with water and moreouer that he shoulde neuer be damned if he were once a professed Frier with diuers suche superstitious fantasies And in this blinde zeale he was a very enemie to the professours of Christes Gospell as both his Oration made when he proceeded Bachlour of Diuinitie agaynst Philip Melancthon and also his other workes did playnely declare But especially his Popyshe zeale coulde in no case abyde in those dayes good Maister Stafford reader of the Diuinitie Lectures in Cambridge moste spitefully raylyng agaynst hym and willyng the youth of Cambridge in no wyse to beleeue hym Notwithstandyng suche was the goodnesse and mercifull purpose of God that when he saw his good tyme by the whiche waye hee thought to haue vtterly defaced the professours of the Gospell and true Church of Christ he was at lengthe hym selfe by a member of the same pretily caught in the blessed nette of Gods woorde For M. Thomas Bilney whose storye is before described beyng at that tyme a tryer out of Sathans subtilties and a secrete ouerthrower of Antichristes kyngdome seeyng M. Latimer to haue a zeale in his waies although without knowledge was striken with a brotherly pittie towardes hym bethought by what meanes he might best winne this zelous ignoraunt brother to the true knowledge of Christe Wherefore after a shorte tyme he came to M. Latimers study and desired him to here him make his confession Which thing he willingly graunted by hearyng whereof he was through the good spirte of God so touched that hereuppon he forsooke his former studying of the schole Doctors and other suche fopperies and became a earnest student of true Diuinitie as he hym selfe aswell in his conference with M. Ridley as also in his fyrst sermon made vpon the Pater noster doth confesse So that whereas before he was an enemy and almost a persecutor of Christe he was now a zelous seeker after hâ—m chaunging his old maner of cauilling and rayling into a diligent kind of conferring both with M. Bilney and others came also to M. Stafford before he dyed and desired him to forgeue him After this his winning to Christ he was not satisfied with his owne conuersion onely but like a true Disciple of the blessed Samaritane pitied the misery of others and therefore became both a publike Preacher and also a priuate Instructer to the rest of his brethren within the Uniuersitie by the space of 3. yeres spending his tyme partly in the Latin tongue among the learned partly amongst the simple people in his naturall and vulgar language Howbeit as Satan neuer slepeth when he seeth his kingdome to begin to decay so likewyse now seeyng that this worthy member of Christ would be a shreud shaker therof he raued vp his impious impes to molest trouble him Amongest these there was an Augustine Frier who tooke occasion vpon certaine Sermons that M. Latimer made about Christenmas 152â— aswell in the church of S. Edward as also in S. Augustins within the Uniuersitie in Cambridge to inuey against him for that M. Latimer in the sayde Sermons alludyng to the common vsage of the season gaue the people certaine cardes out of the 5.6.7 Chapiters of S. Matthewe whereupon they might not onely then but alwayes els occupy their tyme. For the chiefe triumph in the cardes he limitted the Hart as the principall thing that they shoulde serue God with all wherby he quite ouerthrew all hypocriticall and externall ceremonies not tending to the necessarie furtheraunce of Gods holy word and Sacramentes For the better atteyneng hereof he wished the Scriptures to be in Englysh wherby the common people might the better learne their dueties aswell to God as their neighbours The handling of this matter was so apt for the tyme and so pleasantly applyed of him that not only it declared a singuler towardnesse of witte in the Preacher but also wrought in the hearers much fruite to the ouerthrowe of Popish superstition and setting vp of perfect Religion This was vpon the Sundaye before Christenmas day on which day commyng to the Church and causyng the Bell to be tolled to a Sermon he entered into the Pulpit takyng for his text the wordes of the Gospell aforesayd red in the Church that day Tu quis es c. In deliueryng the whiche cardes as is abouesayd he made the Harte to be triumph exhortyng and inuityng all men thereby to serue the Lord with inwarde hart and true affection and not with outward ceremonies adding moreouer to the prayse of that triumph that though it were neuer so small yet it woulde make vp the best cote carde beside in the bunch yea though it were the kyng of Clubs c. meanyng thereby how the Lorde would be worshipped and serued in simplicitie
with the fore sayd Maister Bilney he went with hym to visite the prisoners in the Tower in Cambridge and beyng there among other prysoners there was a woman which was accused that she had killed her owne chylde which acte she playnly and stedfastly denied Whereby it gaue them occasion to searche for the matter and at length they founde that her husbande loued her not and therefore soughte all meanes he coulde to make her away The matter was thus A child of hers had bene sicke a whole yere at length died in haruest tyme as it were in a consumption Which when it was gone shee went to haue her neighboures to helpe her to the buriall but all were in Haruest abroade whereby she was enforced with heauinesse of heart alone to prepare the chyld to the buriall Her husband comming home and not louyng her accused her of murtheryng the child This was the cause of her trouble and M. Latimer by earnest inquisition of conscience thought the woman not guilty Thē immediatly after was he called to preach before king Henry the 8. at Windsore where after his sermon the kyngs maiestie sent for hym and talked with him familiarly At which tyme M. Latimer finding oportunitie kneeled downe opened hys whole matter to the kyng and begged her pardon which the kyng most graciously granted and gaue it hym at his return homeward In the meane tyme the woman was deliuered of a chylde in the prison whose Godfather was M. Latymer and maistres Cheeke Godmother But all that whyle he would not tel her of the pardone but laboured to haue her confesse the truth of the matter At length tyme came when she looked to suffer and Maister Latymer came as he was woont to instruct her vnto whome shee made great lamentation and moue to be purified before her suffring for she thoght to be damned if she should suffer without purification Then M. Bilney beyng with maister Latimer both told her that that law was made to the Iewes and not to vs and howe women bee as well in the fauour of GOD before they be purified as after and rather it was appointed for a ciuill and politike lawe for naturall honestye sake then that they should any thyng the more be purified from sinne thereby c. So thus they trauayled wyth this woman till they had brought her to a good trade and then at length shewed her the Kyngs pardon and let her goe This good act among many other at this tyme happened in Cambridge by M. Latimer and Maister Bilney But this was not alone for many mo lyke matters were wrought by them if all were known wherof partly some are touched before such especially as concerne M. Bilney mention whereof is aboue expressed But as it is commonly seene in the naturall course of thynges that as the fire beginneth more to kyndle so the more smoke aryseth withall in much lyke sort it happened with Maister Latymer whose towardnesse the more it beganne to spryng hys vertues to be seene and hys doynges to bee knowen the more hys aduersaries began to spurne and kindle against hym Concernyng these aduersaries and such as did molest him partly their names bee aboue expressed Among the rest of this number was Doct. Redman of whome mention is made before in the raigne of king Edward a man sauouring at that tyme somewhat more of superstition then of true religion after the zeale of the Phariseis yet not so malignant or harmfull but of a ciuill and quiet disposition and also so liberall in well doyng that few poore Scholers were in that vniuersitie which fared not better by his purse This Doct. Redman beyng of no little authoritie in Cambridge perceiuyng vnderstandyng the bold enterprise of M. Latymer in settyng abroad the word and doctrine of the Gospell at thys tyme or much about the same writeth to hym seeking by perswasion to reuoke the sayd Latimer from that kynde maner of teachyng to whom M. Latimer maketh aunswer agayne in few words The summe and effect of both their letters translated out of Latine here followe to bee seene ¶ The summe of the Epistle written by Doctor Redman to M. Latymer GRace be vnto you and true peace in Christ Iesu. I beseeche you hartily and require most earnestly euen for charities sake that you wyll not stand in your owne conceite with a mind so indurate nor preferre your owne singular iudgement in matters of religion and controuersies before so many learned men and that more is before the whole Catholike Church especially consideryng that you neither haue any thyng at all in the word of God to make for you nor yet the testimony of any autenticall wryter Nay nay I beseech you rather consider that you are a man and that lying and vanitie maye quickely bleare your eye which doth sometyme transforme it selfe into an Aungell of lyght Iudge not so rashly of vs as that wicked spirite hath tickled you in the eare Witte you well that we are carefull for you and that we wish you to be saued and that wee are carefull also for our owne saluation Lay downe your stomacke I pray you and humble your spirite and suffer not the Church to take offence with the hardnes of your hart nor that her vnitie and Christes coate without seame as much as lyeth in you should be torne a sunder Consider what the sayeng of the wyseman is and be obedient thereunto Trust not in your owne wisedom The Lord Iesus Christ c. ¶ The summe of M. Latymers aunswer to Doct. Redman REuerend M. Redman it is euen enough for me that Christes sheepe heare no mans voyce but Christ and as for you you haue no voyce of Christ agaynst me whereas for my part I haue a heart that is ready to harken to any voyce of Christ that you can bring me Thus fare you well and trouble me no more from the talkyng with the Lord my God After Maister Latymer had thus trauailed in preachyng and teachyng in the Uniuersitie of Cambridge about the space of three yeares at length he was called vp to the Cardinall for heresie by the procurement of certain of the sayd Uniuersitie where he was content to subscribe and graunt to such Articles as then they propounded vnto hym c. After that he returned to the Uniuersitie again where shortly after by the meanes of D. Buttes the kyngs Phisition a singuler good man and a special fauourer of good procedyngs he was in the number of them which laboured in the cause of the kyngs supremacie Then went he to the Court where he remayned a certaine tyme in the sayd D. Buttes chamber preachyng then in London very often At last beyng weary of the Court hauyng a benefice offred by the kyng at the sute of the L. Crumwell and D. Buttes was glad thereof seekyng by that meanes to bee rid out of the Court wherewith in no case he could agree and so hauyng a
geuen him by the scorneful Papistes was cast agayne into the Tower where he being assisted with the heauenly grace of Christ susteined most pacient imprisonment a long time notwithstanding the cruel and vnmercifull handlinge of the Lordlye Papistes whyche thought then theyr kingdome would neuer fall yet he shewed hymselfe not onely pacient but also chearefull in and aboue all that which they could or woulde worke agaynst him yea such a valiaunt spirit the Lord gaue him that he was able not onely to despise the terriblenesse of prisons tormentes but also to deride and laugh to scorne the doinges of his enemies As it is not vnknowne to the eares of many what he aunswered to the Lieuetenaunt beynge then in the Tower For when the Lieutenauntes man vpon a time came to him the aged Father kept without fire in the frosty winter and wellâ—ye starued for colde merely bad the man tell his Mayster that if he did not looke the better to him perchaunce he would deceiue him The Lieutenaunt hearing this he thought hymselfe of these wordes and fearing least that in deede he thought to make some escape beganne to looke more straightly to his Prisoner and so comming to him beginneth to charge him with his wordes reciting the same vnto him whiche his man had told him before how that if he were not better looked vnto perchaunce he would deceiue them c. Yea Mayster Lieutenaunt so I sayd quoth he for you looke I thinke that I shoulde burne but except you let me haue some fire I am like to deceiue your expectation for I am like here to starue for cold Many such like answeres and reasons mery but sauery comming not from a vayne minde but from a constant and quiet reasoÌ„ proceded from that man declaring a firme and stable hart litle passing for all this great blustering of theyr terrible threates but rather deriding the same Thus Mayster Latimer passing a long time in the tower with as much pacience as a manne in his case coulde do from thence was transported to Oxforde with Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Caunterbury and Mayster Ridley Byshop of London there to dispute vpon Articles sent downe from Gardiner Bishop at Winchester as is before touched the maner and order of whiche disputations betwene them and the Uniuersitye Doctours is also before sufficiently expressed Where also is declared how and by whome the sayd Latimer with his otherfelow Prisoners were condemned after the disputations and so committed agayne to the Prison and there they conâ—umed from the Moneth of Aprill aboue mentioned to this present Moneth of October where they were most godly occupied either with brotherly conference or with feruent prayer or with fruitfull writing Albeit M. Latimer by reasoÌ„ of the feblenes of his age wrote least of them all in this latter time of his imprisonment yet in prayer he was feruently occupyed wherin oftentimes so long he continued kneeling that hee was not able to rise without helpe and amongst other things these were three principall matters he prayed for First that as God had appoynted him to be a preacher of his worde so also he woulde geue him grace to stand to his doctrine vntill his death that he might geue his harte bloud for the same SecoÌ„dly that God of his mercy would restore his gospell to Englande once agayne and these wordes once agayne once agayne he did so inculcate beat into the eares of the Lord God as though he had sene God before hym and spoken to him face to face The third matter was to pray for the preseruation of the Queenes Maiesty that now is whome in his prayer he was wont accustomably to name and euen with teares desired God to make her a comfort to his comfortles realme of England These were the matters he prayed for so earnestlye Neither were these thinges of him desired in vayne as the good successe thereof after following did declare for the Lord most graciously did graunt all those his requestes First concerning his constancy euen in the most extremity the Lord graciously assisted him For when he stoode at the stake without Bocardo gate at Oxford and the tormentors about to sette the fire to him and to the learned and Godly Byshop Mayster Ridley he lifted vp his eyes towardes heauen with an amiable and comfortable countenaunce saying these wordes Fidelis est Deus qui non sinit nos tentari supra id quod possumus God is faythfull whiche doth not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our strength and so afterwarde by and by shedde his bloude in the cause of Christ the whiche bloud ranne of his hart in suche aboundaunce that all those that were present being godly dyd maruell to see the most part of the bloud in his body to bee gathered to hys hart and with such violence to gush out his body being opened by the force of the fire by the whiche thing God most graciously graunted his request whiche was that he might shed his hart bloud in the defence of the Gospell How mercifully the Lord heard his second request in restoring his Gospell once agayne into this Realme these present dayes can beare record And what then shall England say now for her defence whiche being so mercifullye visited and refreshed with the word of God so slenderlye and vnthankfully considereth either her own misery past or the great benefite of God nowe present The Lorde be mercifull vnto vs. Amen Agayne concerning his third request it seemeth likewise most effectuously grauÌ„ted to the great praise of God the furtherance of his Gospell and to the vnspeakable coÌ„fort of this Realme For whether at the request of his praiyr or of other Gods holy Sayntes or whether God was moued with the cry of his whole Church the truth is that when all was deplorate and in a desperate case and so desperate that the enemies mightily florished and triumphed Gods word was banished Spanierdes receiued no place left for Christes seruauntes to couer theyr heades sodenly the Lord called to remembraunce his mercye and forgetting our former iniquity made an end of al these miseries and wroughte a maruellous chaunge of thinges at the chaunge whereof the said Queene Elizabeth was appointed and annoynted for whome this graye headed father so earnestly prayd in his imprisonment through whose true naturall and imperiall Crowne the brightnesse of Gods word was set vp agayne to confound the darcke and false visoured kingdome of Antichrist the true temple of Christ reedified the Captiuitye of sorowfull Christians released which so long was wished for in the prayers of so manye good men specially of this faythfull and true seruaunt of the Lord M. Latimer The same God which at the requestes of his holy and faythfull Sayntes hath poured vpon vs such benefites of his mercy peace and tranquility assiste our most vertuous and Christian Princesse and her Subiectes that wee may euery one in his state
law and what tht pseudapostles aduersaryes to sainct Paule would so haue taken them and accused sainct Paule of the same to my Lord of London if my sayd Lord would haue heard sainct Paule declare hys owne mynde of his owne wordes then he shoulde haue escaped and the false Apostles put to rebuke if he would haue rigorouslye followed vtennque allegata probata and haue geuen seÌ„tence after relation of the accusers then good S. Paule must haue borne a fagot at Paules crosse my Lord of LoÌ„don being hys iudge Oh it had ben a goodly sight to haue seene saynct Paule with a fagot on his backe eueÌ„ at paules crosse my Lord of London Byshop of the same sitting vnder the crosse Nay verily I dare say my Lord shoulde sooner haue burned him for saynct Paule did not meane that christen men might breake law and doe what soeuer they would because they were not vnder the law but hee did meane that Christen men might keepe the law fulfill the lawe if they woulde because they were not vnder the law but vnder Christ by whome they were deuided from the tyranny of the law and aboue the law that is to saye able to fulfill the lawe to the pleasure of him that made the law which they could neuer do of their own strength and without Christ so that to be vnder the law after Saynct Paules meaning is to be weake to satisfie the lawe and what could saynt Paule doe withall though his aduersaries would not so take it But my Lord would say peraduenture that men will not take the preachers woordes otherwise then they meane therein bona verba as though S. Paules woordes were not otherwise taken as it appeareth in the thyrd chapiter to the Romaynes where hee sayth quod iniustitia nostra dei iustitiam commendat that is to say our vnrighteousnes commeÌ„deth and maketh more excellent the righteousnes of God which soundeth to many as though they should be euill that good shoulde come of it and by vnrighteousnes to make the righteousnes of God more excellent So saynct Paule was reported to meane yet he did meane nothing so but shewed the inestimable wisedome of God which can vse our naughtines to the manifestation of his vnspeakable goodnes not that we shuld do noughtily to that end and purpose Now my Lord will not thinke I dare saye that S. Paule was to blame that he spake no more circumspectly more warely or more playnely to auoyd euill offense of the people but rather he will blame the people for that they took no better heede and attendaunce to Paules speaking to the vnderstanding of the same yea he will rather pitty the people whiche had bene so long nozeled in the doctrine of the Phariseis and wallowed so long in darcknes of mans traditions superstitions and trade of liuinge that they were vnapt t s receaue the bright lightnes of the truthe and wholsome doctrine of God vttered by Saynt Paule Nor I thinke not that my Lord wil require more circumspection or more conuenience to auoyd offense of errours in me then was in sainct Paule when hee did not escape maleuolous corrections sclaunderous reportes of them that were of peruerse iudgementes whiche reported hym to say what soeuer he appeared to theÌ„ to say or what so euer seemed to them to follow of his saying but what followeth sic aiunt nos dicere sic male loquuntur de nobis so they report vs to say sayth sainct Paule So they speake euill of vs sed quorum damnatio iusta est but such whose damnation is iust sayth he and I thinke the damnation of al such that euill reporten preachers nowe a dayes likewise iust for it is vntruth nowe and then Yea Christ himselfe was misreported falsely accused both as touching his words and also as concerning the meaning of his wordes First he sayd destruite that is to say destroy you they made it possum destruere that is to say I can destroy he sayd templum hoc this temple they added manu factum that is to say made with hand to bring it to a contrary sense So they both inuerted his wordes and also added vnto hys wordes to alter his sentence for he did meane of the temple of his bodye and they wrast it to Salomons temple Now I reporte me whether it be a iust fame raysed vpp and dispersed after this manner Nay verely for there be three maner of persons which can make no credible information First aduersaries enemies Second ignoraunt without iudgement Thirdly susurrones that is to saye whisperers and blowers in mennes eares whiche wyll spew out in hudder mudder more then they dare auow openly The first will not the second cannot the third dare not therefore relation of such is not credible and therfore can make no fame lawfull nor occasion anye indifferent Iudge to make processe agaynst anye man nor it maketh no litle matter what they be themselues that report of any man neyther well or euill for it is a great commendation to be euill spoken of of them that be naughty themselues and to be commended of the same is many tymes no lytle reproche God send vs once all grace to wish one to an other and to speake well one vpon an other Me semes it were comely for my Lord if it were comely for me to say so to be a preacher himselfe hauing so great a cure as he hath then to be a disquieter and a troubler of Preachers and to preache nothing at all himselfe If it woulde please his Lordship to take so great laboure and payne at anye tyme as to come preache in my little Byshoppricke at Westkington whether I were present or absent my selfe I would thank his Lordship hartily and thinke my selfe greatly bounden to hym that hee of his charitable goodnes would go so farre to helpe to discharge me in my cure or els I were more â—â—naturall then a beast vnreasonable nor yet I would dispute contende or demaunde by what authoritie or where he had authoritye so to do as long as his predicatioÌ„ were fruitfull to the edification of my parishioners As for my lord may do as it pleaseth his lordship I pray God he do alwayes as wel as I would wishe him euer to do but I am sure S. Paule the true minister of god faythfull dispensour of Gods miste ries right exemplar of all true and very byshoppes saith in the first chapter to the Philippians that in hys tyme some preached Christ for enuy of hym thinking therby so to greeue hym withall and as it were to obscure him and to brynge hys authoritie into contempt some of good wil and loue thinking thereby to comfort him notwithstanding sayth hee by all manner of wayes and after all fashions whether it be of occasion or of truth as ye would say for truthes sake so that Christ be preached and shewed I ioy and will ioy so much he regarded more the glory
N quid sit opprimere fraudare in negotio fratrem and what followeth thereof It is truely sayde non tollitur peccatum nisi restituatur oblâ—tum No restitution no saluation which is as well to bee vnderstand de rebus per fraudes technas dolos as de rebus per manifestum furtum latrocinium partis Wherefore let not your brother mayster N. by cauillation continue in the Deuils possession I will doe the best I can and wrestle with the Deuill omnibê° viribus to deliuer you both froÌ„ him I will leaue no one stone vnmoued to haue both you and your brother saued There is neither Archbishoppe nor Byshoppe nor yet any learned man either in Vniuersities or elswhere that I am acquaynted withal that shall not write vnto you and in theyr writing by their learning confute you There is no Godly man of Lawe in this realme that I am acquaynted withall but they shall write vnto you and confute you by the law There is neither Lord nor Lady nor yet anye noble personage in this Realme that I am acquaynted withall but they shall write vnto you and Godlye threaten you with their authoritie I will doe all this yea and kneele vppon both my knees before the kinges maiestie and all his honourable Counsaile with most humble petition for youre reformation rather then the Deuill shall possesse you still to you â—inall damnation So that I doe not dispayre but verely trust one way or other to plucke bothe you and also your crabbed brother as crabbed as you saye hee is out of the Deuilles clawes maugre the Deuilles heart These premisses well considered looke vppon it good maister N. that wee haue no farther adoe Gods plague is presentlye vppon vs therefore let vs now dilligently looke about vs and in no wise defend but willingly reknowledge and amend what soeuer hath bene amisse These were the capitall poyntes of youre talke as I was informed after you had perused that my nipping and vnpleasaunt letter and I thought good to make you some aunswere to them if perchaunce I might so moue you the rather to call your selfe to some better remembrance and so more earnestly apply your selfe to accomplish and performe what you haue begunne and promised to doe namely the thing it selfe being of suche sorte as apparantly tendeth both to your worship and also to Gods high pleasure Thus loe with a madde head but yet a good will after longe scribling I wotte not well what but I knowe you can reade it and comprehende it well enough I bid you most hartily to fare in the Lord with good health and long life to Gods pleasure Amen From Baxsterley the xv of Iuly During the time that the said M. Latimer was prisoner in Oxford we read not of much that he did wryte besides his conference with Doctor Ridley and his protestation at the time of hys disputation Otherwise of letters we finde very fewe or none that he did write to his friendes abroad saue onely these few lynes whiche hee wrote to one maistres Wilkinson of LondoÌ„ a godly matron and an exile afterwarde for the Gospels sake Who so long as she remayned in England was a singular patronesse to the good saynctes of God and learned Byshoppes as to mayster Hooper to the Byshop of Hereford to Mayster Couerdale M. Latimer Doctor Cramner with many other The copy and effect of which hys letter to Maystres Wilkinson here followeth ¶ A letter sent to maystres Wilkinson of London widowe from mayster Hugh Latimer out of Bocardo in Oxford IF the gifte of a pot of a cold water shall not bee in obliuion with God how can God forget your manifolde bountifull giftes when he shall say to you I was in pryson and you visited me God graunt vs all to do and suffer while we be here as may be to hys will and pleasure Amen Yours in Bocardo Hugh Latimer Touching the memorable actes and doynges of thys worthye man among many other this is not to bee neglected what a bold enterprise he attempted in sendyng to kyng Henry a present the maner whereof is this There was then and yet remayneth still an old custome receaued from the old Romaynes that vpon Newyeares day being the first day of Ianuary euery Bishoppe with some handsome Newyeares gifte shoulde gratify the king and so they did some with golde some with siluer some with a purse full of money and some one thing some an other but maister Latimer being bishoppe of Worcester then among the rest presented a new Testament for his New-yeares gifte with a napkyn hauing this posie aboute it Fornicatores adulteros iudicabit Dominus And thus hast thou gentle reader the whole life both of maister Ridley of mayster Latimer two worthy doers in the churche of Christ seuerally and by themselues sette foorthe and descrybed with all theyr doynges writinges disputations sufferinges their paynefull trauayles faythfull preachinges studyous seruice in Christes Churche their patiente imprisonmente and constaunt fortitude in that whiche they had taught with all other their proceedinges from time to time synce theyr first springinge yeares to thys present tyme and Moneth of Queene Mary beyng the Moneth of October Anno. 1555. In the whiche Moneth they were bothe brought foorth together to theyr finall examination and execution Wherfore as we haue heretofore declared both theyr liues seuerallye and distinctlye one from the other so nowe ioyntly to couple them bothe together as they were together both ioyned in one society of cause and Martyrdome we will by the grace of Chryst prosecute the rest that remayneth concerning their latter examination disgrading and constant suffering with the order and maner also of the Commissioners which were Mayster White Byshop of Lincolne Mayster Brookes Bishop of Glocester with others and what were theyr wordes theyr obiections theyr Orations there vsed and what againe were the aunsweres of these men to the same as in the processe here followeth to be seene The order and maner of the examination of Doctour Ridley and mayster Latimer had the xxx day of September 1555. FIrst after the appearyng of Thomas Cranmer Archbyshop of Caunterbury before the Popes Delegate and the Queenes Commissioners in S. Maryes Church at Oxford about the xii day of September whereof more shal be sayde by the Lordes grace when wee come to the death of the sayd Archbyshoppe shortly after vpon the 28. day of the sayd month of September was sent downe to Oxforde an other Commission from Cardinall Poole Legate a latere to Iohn White Byshoppe of Lincolne to Doctour Brokes Byshop of Glocester and to Doctour Holiman Byshoppe of Bristowe The contentes and vertue of which Commission was that the sayd Iohn of Lincoln Iames of Glocester and Iohn of Bristow they or two of them shoulde haue full power and authoritye to ascite examine and iudge mayster Hugh Latimer and M. Doctour Ridley pretensed Byshoppes of Worcester and London for dyuers
and sundrye erroneous opinyons whiche the sayde Hugh Latymer and Nicholas Ridley dyd holde and mayntayne in open disputations had in Oxford in the Monethes of Maye Iune and Iuly in the yeare of our Lorde 1554. as longe before in the tyme of perdition and sithen The whyche opynions if the named persons woulde now recant geuynge and yealdyng themselues to the determination of the vnyuersall and Catholicke Churche planted by Peter in the blessed Sea of Rome that then the deputed Iudges by the sayd authority of theyr Commission should haue power to receaue the sayde penitente persons and forthwith minister to them the reconciliation of the holye Father the Pope but if the sayd Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley woulde stoughtly and stubburnely defend and mayntaine these theyr erroneous and assertions that then the sayd Lordes by theyr Commission should proceede in forme of Iudgement accordyng to the lawe of Hereticks that is degradyng them from theyr promotion and dignitie of byshops priests al other Ecclesiastical orders shoulde pronounce them as Heretickes and therefore cleane to cut them off from the Churche and so to yealde them to receaue punishementes due to all such heresy and schisme Wherefore the last of September the sayde two persones Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were ascited to appeare before the sayd Lordes in the diuinitie schoole at Oxforde at viij of the clocke At what time thether repayred the Lords placyng themselues in high seat made for publicke lectures and disputations accordynge to the vsage of that schoole beyng then fayre set and trymmed with clothe of Tissue and cushynges of Ueluet and after the sayde Lordes were placed and set the sayd Latymer Ridley were sent for and first appeared mayster Doctour Ridley and anone mayster Latymer But because it seemed good seuerally to examine them M. Latymer was kept backe vntill Doctour Ridley was throughly examined Therefore soone after the comming of Doctour Ridley into the schoole the Commission was published by an appoynted Notary and openly read But Doctour Ridley standing bare headed humblye expectinge the cause of that hys appearaunce eftsoones as he had heard the Cardinall named and the Popes holines put on hys cappe Wherefore after the commission was published in forme and sense aboue specified the Bishop of Lincolne spake in sense followyng Lincolne M. Ridley although neyther I neyther my Lordes here in respecte of our owne persones doe looke for cappe or knee yet because we beare represent such persones as we doe that is my Lorde Cardinalles grace Legate a latere to the popes holinesse as well in that he is of a noble parentage and therwith mayster Ridley mooued hys cappe with lowly obeysaunce descendyng from the regall bloud as in that he is a man worthy to be reuerenced with all humility for hys great knowledge and learning noble vertues and godly lyfe and especially in that he is here in Englande deputye to the popes holynesse it should haue becommed you at his name to haue discouered your head Wherefore excepte you will of youre owne selfe take the paynes to put your hand to your heade and at the nomination as well of the sayde Cardinall as of the Popes holines vncouer the same least that this your contumacy exhibited how before vs should be preiudiciall to the sayd moâ—â—e reuerende persones whiche thing we may in no case suffer you shall cause vs to take the payne to cause some manne to plucke off youre cappe from you To whome mayster Ridley makinge his petition for lycence aunswered Ridley As touching that you sayd my Lord that you of your owne persones desire no cappe nor knee but only require the same in consideration that you represent the Cardinalles graces persone I doe you to wit and thervpon make my protestation that I did put on my cappe at the naming of the Cardinalles grace neither for anye contumacye that I beare towardes your own persones neither for any derogation of honour towarde the Lorde Cardinalles grace For I know him to be a man worthy of all humilitie reuerence and honour in that he came of the most regall bloud in that he is a man indued wyth manifolde graces of learning and vertue and as touching these vertues and poynts I with all humilitie therwith he put of his cap and bowed his knee and obeysance that I may will reuerence and honour his grace but in that he is Legate to the Byshop of Rome and therewith put on his cap whose vsurped supremacy and abused authoritie I vtterly refuse and renouÌ„ce I may in no wise geue any obeysaunce or honour vnto him least that my so doing and behauiour might be preiudiciall to mine othe derogation to the veritie of Gods word and therfore that I might not onely by confession professe the veritye in not reuerencing the renounced authoritie contrarye to Gods worde but also in gesture in behauioure and all my doinges expresse the same I haue put on my cappe and for this consideration onely and not for anye contumacye to your Lorshipp neither contempt of this worshipfull audience neither derogation of any honour due to the Cardinall his grace both for his noble parentage and also his excellent quallities I haue kept on my cappe Lincolne M. Ridley you excuse your selfe of that with the whiche we pressed you not in that you proteste you keepe on your cappe neither for anye contumacie towardes vs which looke for no such honour of you neyther for anye contempt of this audieÌ„ce which although iustly they may yet as I suppose in this case do not require any suche obeysaunce of you neither in derogation of any honor but to my Lord Cardinalles grace for his regall discent at which worde M. Ridley moued his cap excellent quallities for although in all the premisses honour be due yet in these respects we require none of you but onely in that my Lorde Cardinals grace is here in England deputy of the Popes holinesse at whiche worde the Lordes and others put of their caps and mayster Ridley put on hys and therefore we say vnto you the second time that except you take the paynes your selfe to put your hande to your head and put of your cap you shall put vs to the payne to cause some man to take it from you except you alledge some infirmitie and sickenes or other more reasonable cause vpon the consideration whereof we may doe as 〈◊〉 thinke good Ridley The premisses I sayd onely for this end that it might as wel appeare to your Lordships as to this worshipfull audience why and for what consideration I vsed such kinde of behauiour in not humbling my selfe to youre Lordships with cap and knee and as for my sickenes I thanke my Lord GOD that I am as well at â—ase as I was this long season and therfore I doe not pretend that which is not but onely this that it might appeare by this my behauiour that I acknowledge
appoint the same to Rome that there and no where els is the foundation of Christes churche But I am fully perswaded that Christes church is euery where founded in euery place where his Gospell is truly receaued effectually followed And in that the churche of God is in doubte I vse here in the wise counsayle of Vyncentinus Lyranensis whō I am sure you will allow who geuing preceptes howe the catholicke churche maye be in all schismes and heresies knowne writeth in thys maner When sayth he one parte is corrupted with heresyes then preferre the whole worlde before that one part but if the greatest parte bee infected then preferre antyquitie In like sort now when I perceaue the greatest parte of Christianitie to be infected with the poyson of the sea of Rome I repayre to the vsage of the primitiue church which I finde cleane contrary to the Popes decrees as in that the Priest receaueth alone that it is made vnlawfull to to the Laitye to receaue in both kindes and such lyke Wherefore it requireth that I preferre the antiquitie of the primatiue church before the nouelty of the Romysh church Lincol. Mayster Ridley these faults which you charge the Sea of Rome withall are in deede no faultes For first it was neuer forbid the Laitie but that they myghte if they demaunded receaue vnder bothe kyndes You know also that Chryst after hys resurrection at what tyme he went wyth hys Apostles to Galile opened hym selfe by breaking of bread You know that saynct Paule after hys longe sayling towardes Rome brake breade and that the Apostles came together in breakyng of bread whiche declareth that it is not vnlawfull to minister the Sacrament vnder the forme of breade onely and yet the churche hadde iust occasion to decree that the laytye shoulde receaue in one kinde onely thereby to take away an opinion of the vnlearned that Chryst was not wholy both flesh and bloud vnder the forme of bread Therfore to take away theyr opinion and to establishe better the peoples faythe the holy Ghost in the churche thoughte good to decree that the Laitie woulde receaue onelye in one kynde and it is no newes for the Church vppon iust consideration to alter rites and ceremonies For you read in the Actes of the Apostles that saynct Paule writyng to certayne of the Gentiles whiche had receaued the Gospel biddeth them to abstayne a suffogato sanguine from thynges stifled and from bloud so that this seemeth to bee an expresse commaundement yet who will saye but that it is lawfull to eate bloudings how is it lawfull but by theyr permission of the Church Ridly My Lord such thinges as saynct Paule enioyned to the Gentiles for a sufferaunce by a little and little to win the Iewes to Christ were onely commandementes of tyme and respected not the successours but Chrystes commaundement do this that is that which he dyd in remembraunce which was not to minister in one kind onely was not a commaundement for a tyme but to perseuer to the worldes end But the Bishop of Lincolne not attending to this answere without any stay proceeded in his Oration So that the Churche seemeth to haue authoritie by the holy Ghost whome Christ sayd he woulde send after hys ascension whiche should teache the Apostles all truthe to haue power and iurisdiction to alter suche poyntes of the Scripture euer reseruing the foundation but wee came not as I sayd before in this sort to reason the matter wyth you but haue certayne instructions ministred vnto vs according to the tenour of the whiche wee must proceede proposing certayne articles vnto the which we require your aunswere directly eyther affirmatiuely eyther negatiuely to euery of them eyther denying them either graunting them without farther disputations or reasoning for we haue already stretched our instructions in that wee suffered you to debate and reason the matter in such sort as wee haue done the whiche articles you shall heare now and to morrow at eyght of the clocke in saynct Maryes Churche we will require and take youre aunsweres and then according to the same proceede if you require a copy of them you shall haue it pen inke and paper also all such bookes as you shall demaunde if they be to be gotten in the Uniuersitie The Articles IN dei nomine Amen Nos Iohannes Lincolne Iacobus Glocest Iohannes Bristol Episcopi per reuerendis dominum Reginaldum miseratione diuina S. Mariae in Cosmedin c. 1 We doe obiecte to the Nic. Ridley and to thee Hughe Latimer ioyntly and seuerally first that thou Nicholas Ridley in this high Uniuersitie of Oxford Anno. 1554. in the monthes of Aprill May Iune Iulye or in some one or moe of thē hast affirmed and openly defended maintayned and in many other tymes and places besides that the true and naturall body of Christe after the consecration of the priest is not really present in the sacrament of the altar 2. Item that in the yeare and monthes aforesayde thou hast publickely affirmed and defended that in the Sacrament of the altar remayneth still the substaunce of breade and wine 3. Item that in the sayde yeare and monthes thou hast openly affirmed and obstinately mayntayned that in the Masse is no propiciatory Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead 4. Item that in the yeare place and monthes aforesayd these thy foresayd assertions solemnly haue bene condemned by the scholasticall censure of this schoole as hereticall and contrarye to the Catholicke fayth by the worshipful M. Doctor Weston Prolocutour then of the conuocation house as also by other learned men of bothe the Uniuersities 5. Item that all and singular the premisses be true notorious famous and openly knowne by publicke fame as well to them neare hand as also to them in distaunt places farre of Examination vppon the sayd Articles ALl these articles I thought good here to place together that as often as hereafter rehearsall shall be of any of them the reader may haue recourse hether and peruse the same and not to trouble the storye with seuerall repeticions thereof Lincolne After these Articles were read the Bishoppes tooke counsayle togethers At the last the Bishop of Lincolne sayde these are the very same Articles whiche you in open disputation here in the Uniuersitie did mayntayn and defend What say you vnto the first I praye you aunswere affirmatiuely or negatiuely Ridly Why my Lorde I supposed your gentlenes had bene such that you would haue geuen me space vntyll to morow that vpon good aduisement I might bring a determinate aunswere Lincoln Yea M. Ridley I meane not that youre aunsweres nowe shall be preiudiciall to your aunsweres to morow I will take your aunsweres at this tyme and yet notwithstāding it shal be lawfull to you to adde diminish alter and chaunge of these answeres to morow what you will Ridly In deede in like maner at our laste disputations I hadde many thinges promised and fewe performed It was sayde
therefore make no more a do but put this surples vpon you Rid. Truly if it come vpon me it shal be against my wil. Brok. Will you not do it vpon you Rid. No that I will not Brok. It shal be put vpon you by one or other Rid. Do therein as it shall please you I am well contented with that and more then that the seruaunt is not aboue his Maister If they delt so cruelly with our Sauiour Christe as the Scripture maketh mention and he suffered the same patienly howe muche more doth it become vs his seruaunts and in saying of these wordes they put vppon the sayde Doctor Ridley the surples with all the trinkettes appertaynyg to the Masse and as they were puttyng on the same Doctor Ridley did vehemently inuey against the Romysh Byshyp and all that foolysh apparell callyng hym Antichrist and the apparell foolysh and abominable yea to fond for a Uice in a play in so muche that Brokes was exceeding angry with him and bad hym holde his peace For he dyd but rayle Doct. Ridley aunsweared agayne and sayde so long as his tounge and breath woulde suffer hym he woulde speake agaynst their abominable doynges what so euer happened vnto hym for so doyng Brok. Well you were best to holde your peace lest your mouth be stopped At which wordes one Edridge the reader then of the Greeke Lecture standing by sayd to Doct. Brokes Syr the lawe is he should be gagged therefore let hym be gagged At which wordes Doct. Ridley lookyng earnestly vpon him that so sayd wagged his head at hym and made no aunswere againe but with a sigh sayd Oh well well well So they proceeded in their doinges yet neuerthelesse D. Ridley was euer talkyng things not pleasant to their eares although one or other bad hym hold his peace least he should be caused against his wyll When as they came to that place where as D. Ridley should hold the chalice and the wafer cake called â—he singyng bread they bade hym holde the same in hys hande And Doct. Ridley sayd they shal not come in my hands for if they do they shall fall to the ground for all me Then there was one appoynted to hold them in his hand while Bishop Brookes red a certaine thyng in Latine touching the degradation of spirituall persones accordyng to the Popes law Afterward they put a booke in hys hand and withall red as is before sayd a certayne thing in Latin the effect therof was We do take from you the office of preachyng the Gospel c. At which wordes D. Ridley gaue a great sâ—gh lookyng vp toward heauen saying Oh Lorde God forgeue them this their wickednes And as they put vppon hym the Masse geare so they began with the vppermost garment in taking it away agayne reading a thyng in Latine accordyng to the order contayned in the sayd booke of the Popes law Now wheÌ„ all was taken from him sauing onely the surples left on his backe as they were readyng and takyng it away D. Ridley sayd vnto them Lord God what power be you of that you can take from a man that which he neuer had I was neuer singer in all my lyfe and yet you will take from me that which I neuer had So when all this their abhominable and ridiculous degradation was ended very solemnely D. Ridley sayde vnto D. Brookes haue you done If you haue done then geue me leaue to talke with you a little concernyng these matters Brookes answered and said M. Ridley we may not talke with you you be out of the Church and our law is that we may not talke with any that be out of the church Then M. Ridley sayd seeyng that you will not suffer me to talke neyther will vouchsafe to heare me what remedy but patience I referre my cause to my heauenly Father who will reforme thynges that be amisse when it shall please hym At which words they would haue bene gone but that M. Ridley sayd My L. I would wish that your Lordship would vouchsafe to read ouer and peruse a litle booke of Bertrams doyngs concernyng the Sacrament I promise you you shall finde much good learnyng therein if you will read the same with an indifferent iudgement D. Brookes made no aunswer to this but would haue bene gone away Then M. Ridley sayd Oh I perceyue that you cannot away with this maner of talke Well it bootes not I will say no more I wil speake of worldly affaires I pray you therfore my Lord heare me and be a meane to the Queenes maiestie in the behalfe of a great many of poore men and especially for my poore sister and her husband which standeth there They had a poore liuing graÌ„ted vnto them by me whiles I was in the Sea of London and the same is taken away from them by hym that now occupieth the same roume without all law or conscience Here I haue a Supplication to the Queenes maiestie in their behalfes You shal heare the same red so shal you perceyue the matter the better Then he red the same and when he came to the place in the Supplication that touched hys Sister by name then he wept so that for a little space he could not speake for weepyng After that hee had left of weepyng he sayde This is nature that mooueth mee But I haue now done and with that read out the rest and deliuered the same to hys Brother commaundyng hym to put it vp to the Queenes Maiestie and to sue not onely for hymselfe but also for suche as had any Leases or Grauntes by hym and were put from the same by Doctour Boner then Byshop of London whereunto Brookes sayd In deede Maister Ridley your request in this Supplication is very lawfull and honest therfore I must needes in conscience speake to the Queenes Maiestie for them Ridley I pray you for Gods sake do so Brookes I thinke your request will be granted except one thyng let it and that is I feare because you do not allow the Queenes proceedyngs but obstinately withstand the same that it will hardly be graunted Ridley What remedy I can doe no more but speake and write I trust I haue discharged my conscience therein and Gods will be done Brokes I will doe what lyeth in me The copy of this supplication written to the Queene here followeth ¶ M. Ridley to the Queenes Maiestie IT may please your Maiestie for Christ our Sauiours sake in a matter of conscience and now not for my selfe but for other poore men to vouchsafe to heare and vnderstande this mine humble supplication It is so honourable princesse that in the tyme whyles I was in the Ministerie of the Sea of London diuers poore men Tenants thereof haue taken new Leases of their Tenantries and holdyngs and some haue renewed and chaunged their old and therefore haue payed fines and summes of money both to me and also to the Chapter of Paules for the confirmation
of your being here I pray you tell me what was the cause of your sending hither for I promise you I knew nothing thereof as yet neither I woulde you shoulde thinke that I was the cause thereof and I maruell that other men wyll trouble me with theyr matters but I must be obedient to my betters and ywis men speake otherwise of me then I deserue Phil. I shewed him the summe of the matter that it was for the disputation in the conuocation house for the which I was agaynst all right molested Boner I maruell that you shoulde be troubled therefore if there was none other cause but this But peraduenture you haue mainteyned the same since and some of your frendes of late haue asked whether you doe stande to the same and you haue said Yea and for this you might be cōmitted to prison Phil. If it shall please your Lordshippe I am burdened none otherwise then I haue tolde you by the Commissioners who haue sēt me hither because I would not recant the same Boner A man may speake in the parliament house though it be a place of free speech as he may be imprisoned for as in case he spake wordes of high treason against the king or queen so it might be that you spake otherwise then it become you of the Church of Christ. Phil. I spake nothing which was out of the articles whiche were called in question and agreed vpon to be disputed by the whole house and by the Queenes permissiō and the Counsell Boner Why may we dispute of our fayth Phil. Yea that we may Boner Nay I trow not by the law Phil. In deed by the Ciuill law I know it is not lawfull but by Gods law we may reasō therof For S. Peter saith Be ye ready to render accompt vnto all men of that hope whiche is in you that demaund you of the same Boner In deede Saynt Peter sayth so Why then I aske of you what your iudgement is of the Sacramente of the Aultar Phil. My Lord Saynt Ambrose sayth that the disputatiō of faith ought to be in the congregation in the hearing of the people and that I am not bound to render account therof to euery man priuately vnlesse it be to edify But nowe I cannot shewe you my minde but I muste runne vpon the pikes in daunger of my life therfore Wherfore as the said Doctor sayd vnto Ualentinian the Emperour so say I to your Lordship Tolle legem fiet certamen Take awaye the lawe and I shall reason with you And yet if I come in open iudgement where I am bound by the law to aunswere I trust I shall vtter my conscience as freely as any that hath come before you Boner I perceiue you are learned I would haue such as you be about me But you must come be of the church for there is but one Church Phil. God forbid I should be out of the church I am sure I am within the same for I know as I am taught by the scripture that there is but one catholick church Vna Colūba vna Sponsa vna Dilecta One Doue one Spouse one beloued Congregation out of the which there is no saluation Boner How chaunceth it then that you go out of the same and walke not with vs Phil. My Lorde I am sure I am within the boundes of the Church whereupon she is builded which is the word of God Boner What age are ye of Phil. I am foure and forty Boner You are not now of the same fayth your godfathers and godmothers promised for you in the which you were baptised Phil. Yes that I thank God I am for I was baptised into the fayth of Christ which I now hold Boner How can that be there is but one fayth Phil. I am assured of that by Saynt Paule saying That there is but one God one fayth and one baptisme of the which I am Boner You were xx yeare ago of an other fayth then you be now Phil. In deede my Lorde to tell you playne I was then nullus fidei of no fayth a neuter a wicked liuer neither hoat nor colde Boner Why doe you not thinke that wee haue nowe the true fayth Phil. I desire your Lordship to hold me excused for answering at this time I am sure that Gods worde throughlye with the Primitiue church and all the aūcient writers doe agree with this fayth I am of Boner Well I promise you I meane you no more hurte then to mine owne person I will not therfore burthē you with your conscience as nowe I maruell that you are so mery in prison as you be singing and reioysing as the prophet saith Exultātes in rebus pessimis reioising in your naughtinesse Me thinketh you do not wel herein you should rather lament and be sory Phil. My Lord the myrth that we make is but in singing certayne Psalmes according as we are commaūded by S. Paule willing vs to be mery in the Lord singing together in Hymnes and Psalmes and I trust your Lordship can not be displeased with that Boner We may say vnto you as Christ said in the Gospel Tibijs cecinimus vobis non planxistis Phil. Here my Lorde stumbled and coulde not bring forth the text and required his Chapleines to help and put him in remembrance of the text better but they were mumme and I recited out the text vnto him whiche made nothing to his purpose vnles he would haue vs to mourn because they if they laughe sing still sorrowfull thinges vnto vs threatning fagots and fire We are my Lord in a darcke comfortlesse place therefore it behooueth vs to be mery least as Salomon sayeth sorrowfulnesse eate vp our harte Therefore I truste your Lordship will not bee angrye for our singing of Psalmes since Saynt Paule sayth If any man bee of an vpright minde let hym sing And we therefore to testifye that we are of an vpright minde to God though wee be in misery doe sing Boner I will trouble you no further as nowe If I can doe you any good I will bee glad to doe it for you God be with you good Mayster Philpot and geue you good night Haue him to the Sellar and let him drinke a cup of wine Thus I departed and by my Lordes Register I was brought to his Sellar doore where I dranke a good cup of wine And my Lords Chapleine M. Cousin folowed me taking acquayntance saying that I was welcome wished that I would not be singular Phil. I am well taught the contrary by Salomon saying Vae soli Wo be to him that is alone After that I was caryed to my Lordes Colehouse agayne where I with my sixe felowes do rouse together in the straw as chearefully we thanke God as other do in theyr beds of Downe Thus for the third fitte ¶ The fourth examination of M. Philpot in the Archdeacons house of London the sayd moneth of October
the Lords supper can not be verified For Christe commaunded aswell Take ye eate ye as This is my body Chadsey Christ sayd Take eate this is my body and not take ye eate ye Phil. No did Mayster Doctour Be not these the wordes of Christ Accipite manducate and do not these wordes in the plurall number signifie Take ye eate ye and not take thou eate thou as you would suppose Chadsey I graunt it as you say Phil. Likewise of consequencie you Mayster Doctour must needes deny which you haue sayd that these words This is my body being onely spoken be sufficient to make the body and bloud of Christe in the sacrament as you haue vntruely sayd London Then came in the bishop agayne and sayd what is it that you would haue mayster Doctor deny Phil. My Lord M. Doctor hath affirmed that these words This is my body spoken by the prieste onely doe make the sacrament London In deede if mayster Briges shoulde speake these wordes ouer the bread and wine they woulde be of none effect but if a priest speake them after a due maner they are effectuall and make a reall body Phil. Mayster Doctor hath sayd otherwise London I thinke you mistake him for hee meaneth of the wordes duely pronounced Philpot. Let hym reuoke that he hath graunted and then will I begin agayne with that whiche before was sayde that This is my bodye hath no place except blesse take and eate duely go before And therfore because the same words do not go before This is my body but preposterously follow in your sacrament of the Masse it is not the sacrament of Christ neither hath Christ in it present Chadsey If This is my body onely do not make the Sacrament no more do blesse take and eate Philpot. I graunt that the one without the other cannot make the sacrament And it can be no sacrament vnlesse that whole action of Christ doth concurre together accordynge to the first Institution Chadsey Why then you will not haue it to be the bodye of Christ vnlesse it be receaued Phil. No verely it is not the very body of Christ to none other but to such as condignely receaue the same after hys Institution London Is not a loafe a loafe being set on the table though no body eate therof Phil. It is not like my Lord. For a loafe is a loafe before it â—e set on the Table but so is not the Sacrament a perfecte Sacrament before it be duely ministred at the table of the Lord. London I pray you what is it in the meane while before it is receaued Phil. It is my Lord the signe begon of a holy thing yes no perfect sacrament vntill it be receaued For in the sacrament there be two thinges to be considered the signe and the thing it selfe which is Christ and hys whole Passion it is that to none but to such as worthily receaue the holy signes of bread wine according to Christes institutioÌ„ Winsor There were neuer none that denyed the words of Christ as you do Did he not say This is my body Philpot. My Lord I pray you be not deceaued We do not deny the wordes of Christ but we say these wordes bee of none effect being spoken otherwise then Christe did institute them in hys last supper For an example Chryst biddeth the churche to baptise in the name of the father the sonne and the holy Ghost if a Priest say those wordes ouer the water and there bee no childe to be Baptised those wordes onely pronounced doe not make Baptisme And agayne Baptisme is not onely Baptisme to suche as bee baptised and to none other standing by L. Chamb. I pray you my Lord let me aske him one question What kinde of presence in the sacrament duely minystred according to Christes ordinaunce do you allow Philpot. If any come worthely to receaue then do I confesse the presence of Christ wholy to bee with all the fruites of his Passion vnto the sayd worthy receauer by the spyrite of God and that Christ is therby ioyned to hym and he to Christ. L. Chamb. I am aunswered London My Lordes take no heede of him for hee goeth about to deceaue you His similitude that he bryngeth in of Baptisme is nothing like to the sacrament of the aultar For if I should say to sir Iohn Briges beyng with me at supper hauing a fat CapoÌ„ take eate this is a fat Capon although he eate not thereof is it not a Capon still And likewise of a peece of Beefe or of a cup of wyne if I saye drinke this is a good cup of wyne is it not so because hee drinketh not therof Phil. My lord your similitudes be to grosse for so high misteryes as wee haue in hande as if I were your equall I could more playnly declare and there is much more dissimilitude betweene common meates and drinkes then there is betweene baptisme and the sacramente of the body and bloud of Christ. Like must be compared to lyke spirâ—tuall things with spirituall and not spirituall things with corporall things And meates and drinkes be of theyr owne natures good or euill and your woordeÌ„s commending or discommeÌ„ding do but declare what they are But the sacraments be to be considered according to the worde which Christ spake of them of the which Take ye eate ye besome of the chiefe concurrent to the making oâ— the same without the which there can be no sacraments and therfore in Greeke the Sacrament of the body and bloude of Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .i. Communion and likewyse in the Gospell Christe commaunded saying Diuidite inter vos i. Diuide it among you Chadsey S. Paule calleth it a Communication Phil. That doeth more expresly shew that there must be a participation of the Sacrament together Lon. My Lords I am sory I haue troubled you so long with this obstinate man with whom we can do no good I wil trouble you no longer now and with that the Lordes rose vp none of them saying any euil worde vnto me half amazed in my iudgement God worke it to good Thus endeth the sixt part of this Tragedie The seuenth looke for with ioy The vij examination of Iohn Philpot had the xix of Nouember before the Bishops of London and Rochester the Chauncellour of Lichfield and Doctour Chadsey LOndon Syrha come hither How chance you come no sooner It is wel done of you to make master Chauncellor and me to tary for you this houre by the faith of my body halfe an houre before masse and halfe an houre euen at masse looking for your comming Phil. My Lorde it is not vnknowen to you that I am a prisoner and that the doores be shut vpon me I can not come when I list but as soone as the dores of my prison were open I came immediately London We senâ— for thee to the intent thou shouldest haue come to Masse Howe
strikers and my womanish backe to theyr burthens of reproofe and so in the strength of my God I truste to leape ouer the wall for his sweetenesse ouercommeth me dayly maketh al these poticary druggs of the world euen medicinelike in my mouth For the continuance wherof I beseech thee my deare fellow souldior make thy faythful prayer for me that I may with a strong and gladsome conscience finish my course and obtayne the reward though it be no whit due to my worke I am not content that you so often gratifie me with thankes for that which is none worthy but duty on my part small reliefe to you But if you would loue me so much that I might supply your lackes then would I think ye beleued my offers to be such as agreed with my hart And for the short charges ye speake of the meanes are not so pleasant if god who my trust is in will otherwise prepare but Salomō saith Al things haue here their time You to day I to morow so the ende of Adams line is soone ronne out The mightye God geue vs his grace that during this time his glory be not defaced through our weakenes Because you desire to shew your selfe a worthy souldiour if neede so require I will supply your request for the Scarfe yee wrote of that ye may present my handy worke before your Captayne that I be not forgotten in the odours of incense which our beloued Christ offereth for his owne to whom I bequeth both our bodies and soules Your owne in the Lord. F.E. Ouer and besides these letters the Bishops did also bring forth a supplication made by mayster Philpot vnto the high Court of Parliament whereof mention is made in the first of the two letters last mentioned the copy wherof doth here ensue as followeth To the King and Queenes Maiesties highnesse the Lordes spiritual and temporall and the commons of this present Parliament assembled IN most humble wise complayneth vnto this honorable Courte of Parliament Iohn Philpot Clarke that where there was by the Queenes highnesse a parliament called in the first yeare of her gracious raygne and after the olde custome a Couocation of the Clergy your suppliant then being one of the sayd Conuocation house and matters there rising vppon the vsing of the Sacramentes did dispute in the same knowing that there all men had and hath had free speach and ought not to be after troubled for any thinge there spoken and yet that notwithstanding not long after the sayd Parliament your sayd suppliant without any acte or matter was commaunded to prison to the kings Benche by the late Lord Chauncellour where he hath remayned euer sithens vntil now of late that my Lord the B. of London hath sent for your sayd suppliant to examine him being none of his Dioces vpon certayn matters wherein they would haue your Oratour to declare his conscience whiche the sayd bishop sayth hee hath authoritie to do by reason of an Acte of Parliament made in the first and second yeares of the king and queeenes Maiesties raignes for the reuiuing of three Satutes made agaynst thē that hold any opinion agaynst the Catholicke fayth whereby he affirmeth that euery Ordinary may Ex Officio examine euery mans conscience and for that your sayde Oratour hath and doth refuse that the sayd Bish. of London hath any authoritie ouer your sayd Oratour for that he is neyther Diocesane nor hath publyshed preached nor held any opinion against the Catholicke faith notwithstanding the said Bishop of London deteineth him in the Colehouse in the stockes without eyther bed or any other thing to lye vpon but straw and for that your sayde Oratour cannot appeale for his reliefe from the sayd Bishop to anye other Iudge but the same bishop may refuse the same by theyr law and therefore hath no succour and helpe but by this high Courte of Parliament for the explanatiō of the sayd Acte therefore it may please you that it may be enacted by the kinge and Queenes Maiesties the Lordes spirituall and temporall and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled and by the authoritie of the same that no Byshop nor Ordinary shall committe nor detayne in prison any suspect person or persones for the Catholicke fayth except he or they haue spoken written or done some manifest Act against the Catholicke fayth and the same to be lawfully proued agaynst euery such person and persons by the testimony of two lawfull witnesses to be brought afore the sayd person or persons so accused before he or they shal eyther be committed to prison or conuict for any such offence or offences the sayd former statute made in the sayd first second yeare of our said soueraigne Lord and Lady notwithstanding Whereby your sayde Oratour shal not only bee set at libertie diuers other mo remayning in prison but also the bloude of diuers of the Quueenes Maiesties true and faythfull subiectes preserued The condemnation of the worthy Martyr of God Iohn Philpot. THese bookes Letters Supplications and other matters being thus read the bishop demaunded of him if the booke intituled The true report of the disputation c. were of his penning or not Whereunto Philpot aunswered that it was a good and true booke and of hys owne penning and setting forth The bishops waxing now weary and being not able by any sufficient ground either of Gods worde or of the true ancient Catholicke fathers to conuince ouercome him fell by fayre and flattering speach to perswade wyth him promising that if he would reuoke his opinions and come home agayne to their Romishe and Babilonicall Church he should not onely be pardoned that which was past but also they would with al fauour and chearefulnes of hart receiue him agayne as a true member therof Whiche words when Boner saw would take no place hee demandeth of M. Philpot and that with a charitable affection I warrant you whether he had any iust cause to alledge why he shoulde not condemne him as an hereticke Well quoth M. Philpot your idolatrous sacrament which you haue found out ye would fayne defend but ye cannot nor neuer shall In the end the Byshop seeing hys vnmoueable stedfastnes in the trueth did pronounce openly the sentence of condemnation against him In the reading wherof when he came to these words Teque etiam tanquam haereticum obstinatum pertinacem impoenitentem c. M. Philpot said I thanke God that I am an hereticke out of your cursed Church I am no hereticke before God But God blesse you and geue you once grace to repent youre wicked doinges and let all men beware of your bloudy church Moreouer whiles Boner was about the middest of the sentence the bishop of Bath pulled him by the sleeue sayd My Lord my Lord knowe of him first whether hee will recant or no Then Boner sayd full like himselfe oh let me alone and so read forth the sentence And
wil of God be don We are not so good as Iohn the Baptist which was beheaded in prison Darknes cannot abide the light Therefore their doings must declare what they are We are as shepe appoynted for a sacrifice to the Lord. We must not feare the fire for our Lord is a cōsuming fire which will put out the fiercenes of raging torments from vs. Be not afraid of them that can kil the body but feare him that can cast both body and soul into hel fire God forbid that we should reioyce otherwise then in the crosse of Christ pray that he would make vs worthy to suffer for his sake God wil haue our faith tried knowen and therefore let vs willingly humble our selues vnder the mighty hād of God that he may gloriously lifte vs vp in his good time There is none perfectly faithfull in deede till he can say with S. Paule I am perswaded that neither death neither life neyther aungels neither princes or powers neither things present neither things to come neither highnes neither lownes neither any other creature is able to separate me from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. This faith God plant both in you and me vnmooueably In this faith we haue to reioyce and in none other All the tribulations of the worlde are not worthy of the eternall weighte of glory which is prepared for them that here do with pacience abide the crosse Wherefore let vs be stronge with the strengthe in him that is able to make vs strong lament the weakenes I might say the infidelitie of our faint gospellers Christ whome we woulde pretend to haue put vpon vs is the strēgth of God and how then may they be weake where Christe is We haue more to be glad touching our selues of this time then we haue had of any time before in the which we haue so ready a way to goe vnto God and so good occasion to shew our duety in glorifying his holy name For if we be imprisonned in this cause we are blessed If we loose all that we haue we are blessed a 100. fold If we die we are blessed eternally so that in suffering of persecutions all is full of blessings Be blessed therefore O elect Lady of God with the blessed of God and flee as you do the concupiscence of the worlde Embrace that which is perfect and ioyfully looke for the comming and crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ. c. Thus desiring God to preserue you to his true peace to geue you victorie of that temptation which now is come to try our faith Christe be with you and blesse you both in body and soule and my praier shal folow you wheresoeuer you goe as I desire that you may be with me The last weeke I sent your beneficence to Oxforde I coulde not before haue a conuenient messenger As soone as I haue worde you shall be satisfied of your request Loue me as you doe and the God of loue be with you The 20. day of August By yours with all his power in the Lord Iohn Philpot. An other Letter full of spiritual consolation to the sayd Ladie THe mercye of God the father the consolation of the holy ghost thorow Iesus Christ be with you strengthē you my deare mother and sister in the Lord in these daungerous dayes to the crowne of eternall glorye whiche is nowe offered to all faithfull souldiours in the Gospell Amen As your good Ladiship doeth desire to heare from me so am I desirous to wryte as your gentlenesse and daily goodnes binedeth me But Sathan of late hath letted me who enuying al good exercises which I haue had and receiued by mine easie imprisonment in times past hath brought me out of the kings Bench into the bishop of Londons Colehouse a darke and a vgly prison as any is about London but my darke body of sinne hathe well deserued the same and the Lord now hath brought me into outward darkenes that I might the more be lightened by him as he is moste present with his children in the middest of darkenesse where I can not be suffred to haue any candle light neither inke nor paper but by stealth Wherefore I can not wryte to you as I would neither as my duety is As Christ my maister was sent frō Annas to Caiphas so am I sent from Winchester Dioces to London I trust to make a speedye ende of my course God geue mee grace and patience to be a faithfull follower of my master I haue beene already this seuennight in his Colehouse and haue of late bene foure times called to mine answere but hitherto not called to iudgement which I do daily looke for but I feare they wil prolong me and trie me by straight imprisonmēt a whyle in the which Gods will be done Pray deare Lady that my faith faint not which I praise God is presently more liuely wyth mee then it hathe beene in tymes past I taste and feele the faithfulnesse of God in his promise who hathe promised to be wyth hys in their trouble and to delyuer them I thanke the Lorde I am not alone but haue sixe other faithfull companions who in our darknesse doe chearfully sing Hymnes and praises vnto God for his great goodnesse Wee are so ioyful that I wish you part of my ioy For you that are so carefull of my bodely reliefe howe can I but wish you spirituall consolation and that aboundantly Let not deare heart my straite imprisonment any thing molest you for it hath added and daily doth vnto my ioy but rather be glad and thankfull vnto GOD with me that it hath pleased him to make me most wretched sinner woorthy to suffer any thing for his sake Hitherto we haue not resisted vnto bloud God make vs neuer to count our bloud more precious in our eyes then his truth Ah my deare sister I thanke you againe for your last letter you sent me it is a singular comfort vnto me as oft as I reade the same I haue it in my bosome and wil carie the same euen to the stake with me in witnesse that Christ hath so constant and faithfull a Ladie in Englande God succoure and keepe that spirite in you for it is the verye spirite of adoption of the childe of God Suche chearefull and holy spirites vnder the crosse bee acceptable sacrifices in the sight of God for Christ came to cast fire into the earth and looketh that it shoulde be kindled Be you feruent in spirite in our Christes cause as you haue begonne for that is the principall spirite wherewithall Dauid desired to be confirmed O howe I doe reioyce your Ladiship to goe arme in arme with me vnto Christe or rather before me I can not but ioye of suche a worshipfull fellowe Me thinketh I see you to mourne and desire to be loosed out of the earthly and fraile habitacle of this body O how amiable and pleasant is it
to dwel in the Lords tabernacle Our Christe and his heauenly companye looke for vs let vs haste and runne thereto for beholde the Lord is ready to embrace vs. Mine owne bowels in the Lorde be merry in the Lorde with your afflicted brother who daily offereth your merciful almes which most vnworthely I do receiue still of you vnto the Lorde But nowe deare mother you neede not to burden so muche your selfe as my last letters did signifie for that my chargeable imprisonment is cut off and a litle nowe serueth me wherefore I praye you sende no more vntill I sende to you for I haue sufficient and abounde Gods peace be with you for euer Out of my Lord of Londons Colehouse the last of October Your owne Iohn Philpot. An other Letter of Maister Philpot to the sayde Ladie wherin partly he complaineth of the dissimulation and periurie of English men falling againe to the Pope and partlye he expresseth his ioy in his afflictions I Cannot but ioy with you my hearty beloued in Christ of the fall of Senacherib since it is to the glory of God and to the consolation of his church to see the fall of theyr enemies before their face according as it is wrytten The iust shall reioyce when hee seeth the vengeaunce of the wicked God make this your ioy perfite for as cōcerning my self I counte not to see those good dayes whereof you haue a glimmering in this life For although the Cockatrice be dead yet his pestilent chickens with the whore of Babylon yet liueth But a great hope there is of their shorte confusion because god doth not prosper their doings according to their expectation Most happiest shal he be whome the Lorde shall moste soonest take out of this life that he may not see the plagues which the manifest periurie and the manifolde idolatrie and detestable dissimulation and that of such as do know the truth do threaten to come The Lord is iust all vnrighteousnes displeaseth him either heere or els in an other world he will punish this grosse infidelity of the worlde but his elect and such as he loueth wil he punish here that they should not be condēned heereafter with the world eternally we haue nothing so much to reioyce in as in the crosse of Iesu Christ and in that we are partakers of his afflictions which be the earnest penie of that eternall kingdome which he vppon the crosse for vs hathe purchased For as Paule hys faithfull witnes saith If we suffer with him we shall raigne with him If we die with him we shall liue with him Wherefore mine owne deare bowels praise God with me moste intirely that it hath pleased him now mercifully to visite the sinnes of my youth my huge vnthankfulnes and by the same doth geue me such consolation that he assureth me of his great goodnesse mercy and turneth his fatherly castigation into my crown of glory O good God what am I on whome he should shew this great mercy To him that is immortal inuisible and onely wise be all honor praise and glory therfore Amen This is the day that the Lord hath made let vs reioyce and be glad in the same This is the way though it be narrow which is ful of the peace of God leadeth to eternal blisse O how my heart leapeth for ioy that I am so neare the apprehēsion therof God forgiue me mine vnthākfulnes and vnworthines of so great glory The swordes whyche pearced Maries hart in the passion of our Sauiour whych daily also go through your faithful hart be more glorious and to be desired then the golden Scepters of this world O blessed be they that mourne in this world to Godwarde for they shall eternally be comforted God make my stony heart to mourne more then it doth I haue so muche ioy of the reward that is prepared for me most wretched sinner that though I be in a place of darknes mourning yet I cā not lament but both night day am so ioyfull as though I were vnder no Crosse at all yea in all the dayes of my life I was neuer so merry the name of the Lorde be praised therfore for euer euer and he pardon mine vnthankfulnes Our enemies do freat fume and gnash their teeth to see and heare that we vnder this grieuous affliction in the world can be so mery We are of them counted as desperate persones for the certaine hope feeling which we haue of our euerlasting saluation and it is no maruell for the worldly man can not perceiue the things of God it is meere foolishnesse and abhomination to them Be thankefull vnto our God mine owne deare helper for his wonderous working in his chosen people Praye instantly that this ioy be neuer taken from vs for it passeth all the delightes of this worlde This is the peace of God which surmounteth all vnderstanding this peace the more his chosen be afflicted the more they feele therfore can not faint neither for fire neither for water Lette vs pray for our weake brethren sisters sake that it may please God to alleuiate the greeuous and intollerable burden of these cruel daies But touching our selues let vs hartily besech our sauiour to vouchsafe to geue vs this glorious gifte to suffer for hys Gospels sake and that we may thincke the shame of the world to be our glory as it is in deede God increase our faith and open our eyes to beholde what is prepared for vs. I lack nothing praise be to God I trust my marriage garment is ready I will send you my examinations as soone as I can get them wrytten if you be desirous of them God of his mercy fill your mercifull heart with all ioy and consolation of the hope to come Out of the colehouse the 19. of Nouember Your owne louer Iohn Philpot. A Letter of M. Philpot to a frende of his prisoner the same time in Newgate wherein is debated and discussed the matter or question of Infants to be baptised THe God of all lighte and vnderstanding lighten your heart wyth all true knowledge of his word and make you perfect to the day of our Lorde Iesus Christ wherevnto you are nowe called through the mighty operation of his holy spirite Amen I receiued yesternight from you deare brother S. and felow prisoner for the truth of Christes Gospell a Letter wherein you gently require my iudgement cōcerning the Baptisme of infantes which is the effect thereof And before I doe shewe you what I haue learned out of Gods word of his true infallible church touchyng the same I thinke it not out of the matter first to declare what vision I had the same night whiles musing on your letter I fell a sleepe knowing that God doth not without cause reueale to his people who haue their mynds fixed on him speciall and spirituall reuelations to their comfort as a tast of their ioy and kingdome
the Ordinarye neyther whether I were before him acquitted or condemned shoulde it take awaye the former fault Then my Lord affirming that I was not brought before him but for heresie and the other Gentleman saying that doubtles I was discharged of my former matter my desire was that I might bee charged according to the order of the lawe to heare my accusers Then Doctour Chadsey was sent for who reported that in the presence of Mayster Mosley the Lieuetenant of the Tower I spake agaynst the reall presence and the sacrifice of the Masse and that I affirmed that theyr Church was the Churche of Antichrist Is not this true quoth my Lord I sayde yea Will you continue therein quoth he Yea sayde I. Wilt thou then mayntayne it by learning sayd he Therein quoth I I should shewe my selfe to haue little witte knowing myne owne youth and ignoraunce if I would take on me to mayntayne any controuersie agaynste so many graue and learned men But my conscience was satisfied in the truth which was sufficient to my saluation Roper Conscience quoth M. Roper so shall euerye Iewe and Turke be saued We had hereafter much talke to no purpose and especiallye on my part who felt in my selfe through colde and open ayre muche dullnesse of witte and memorye At the length I was asked what conscience was and I sayde the certifying of the trueth M. Welch With that M Welch rose vp desiring leaue to talke with me alone So he taking me aside into an other chamber said that he was sory for my trouble and woulde gladly see me at libertie he maruayled that I being a young man would stande agaynst all the learned men of the realme yea and contrary to the whole determination of the Catholicke Churche from Chrystes time in a matter wherin I could haue no great learning I ought not to thinke mine owne wit better then all mennes but shoulde beleue them that were learned I promise you quoth hee I haue read all Peter Martyrs booke and Cranmers and all the rest of them and haue conferred them with the contrary as Roffensis and the Byshop of Winchester c. and could not perceiue but that there was one continuall truth whiche from the begynning had bene mayntayned and those that at anye time seuered from this vnitie were aunswered and aunswered agayn This was the summe of hys tale whiche lacked neyther witte nor eloquence M. Greene. Then spake I. For asmuche as it pleaseth youre Maystership to vse me so familiarly for hee so behaued hymselfe towardes me as though I had bene hys equall I shall open my mind freely vnto you desiring you for to take it in good worth I consider my youth lack of wit and learning which would god it were but a little vnder the opinion that some men haue of me But God is not bounde to time witte or knowledge but rather choseth infirma mundi vt confunderet fortia Neyther can men appoynt bondes to Gods mercy For I will haue compassion sayth he on whome I will shew mercy There is no respecte of persons with God whether it be olde or young riche or poore wise or foolish Fisher or Basket maker God geueth knowledge of hys truth through hys free grace to whome he liste Iames. i. Neither doe I thinke my selfe onely to haue the trueth but steadfastly beleue that Christ hath hys spouse the Catholicke and vniuersall Church dispersed in many realmes where it pleaseth him spiritus vbi vult spirat no more is hee addicted to any one place then to the person and qualitie of one man Of this Church I nothing doubt my selfe to be a member trusting to be saued by the fayth that is taught in the same But how this Church is knowne is in a maner the end of all controuersie And the true markes of Christes Church is the true preaching of his worde and ministering of his sacramentes These markes were sealed by the Apostles and confirmed by the auncient fathers till at the length they were through the wickednes of men and the deuill sore worne and almost vtterly taken away But God bee praysed that he hath renewed the print that hys truth may be knowne in many places For my selfe I call God to witnesse I haue no hope in mine owne wit and learning whiche is very small but I was perswaded thereto by hym as by an instrument that is excellent in al good learning and liuing And God is my record that chiefly I sought it of hym by continuall prayer with teares Furthermore what I haue done herein it is not needefull for me to speake but one thing I say I wish of God with all my hart that all men which are of contrary iudgement woulde seeke the truth in like maner Now I am â—rought hether before a great many of Byshops and learned men to be made a foole and laughing stocke but I waygh it not a rushe For God knoweth that my whole study is to please hym Besides that care I not for mannes pleasure or displeasure M. Welch No M. Greene quoth he thinke not so vncharitably of any man but iudge rather that men labour for your soules health as for theyr owne And alas how will you condemne all our forefathers Or how can you thinke your selfe to bee of the catholicke Church without anye continuaunce and contrary to the iudgement of all learned men Greene. Then sayde I Syr I haue no authoritie to iudge anye manne neuerthelesse I doubte not but that I am of the true catholicke Church howe soeuer our learned men here iudge of me Welche Why then sayd he do you suppose your own wyt and learning better then all theirs if you doe not geue credite onely to them other learned men shall resort vnto you that shal perswade you by the Scriptures and Doctours Greene. Sir ê™ I God knoweth that I refuse not to learn of any childe but I would embrace the trueth from the mouth of a naturall foole in any thing wherein I am ignorauÌ„t and that in all thinges sauing my faith But concerning the truth wherein I am throughly perswaded I cannot submit my selfe to learne vnlesse it be as youre maistership sayd that I perused the bookes on both sides For so might I make my selfe an indifferent iudge otherwise I may be seduced And here we fell out agayne in a long talke of the Churche wherein his learning and wit was much aboue myne but in the ende I told hym I was perswaded and that hee did but lose his labour Welch Why then ê™ he what shall I report to my Lord Greene. Euen as pleaseth you ê™ I or els you may say that I would be glad to learne if I had bookes on both sides So he going in the Bishoppes euen then risen and ready to depart asked how he liked me He aunswered in fayth my Lord he will be glad to learne whiche wordes when they were taken least they
he were not among the lawyers such a phenix that he had very few or no fellowes to fâ—ye with hym or to followâ— hys steppes But God is to be praysed that although we read of few or none among that sort that dyed as he did yet good witnesse doe spring vpp dayly of the same profession to such towardnes and Godly zeale that some hope already appeareth shortly to come to passe that this godly Phenix shall not flye alone These foresayde notes and gatheringes of his out of the Doctoures were taken from him by Boner being found about hym which was to him no little griefe Hee among the rest was first apprehended but last of them condemned which was the xv day of Ianuary and afterward burned with the other Martyrs the 27. of the same moneth 3. Thomas Browne Martyr THomas Browne borne in the Paryshe of Hyston wythin the Dyoces of Elye came afterwarde to London where hee dwelled in the Parysh of Sainct Brides in Fleetestreete a maryed manne of the age of 37. yeares who because he came not to hys parish church was presented by the Constable of the Parishe to Boner As touching whose articles wherupon he was examined by the sayd Boner with his aunsweres also annexed to the same mention goeth before as in the generall processe of him and of the rest may appeare This Tomas Browne being had to FulhaÌ„ with the other thereto be examined was required vpon Thursday being the xxvi day of September to come into the Chappell to heare Masse whiche he refusing to doe went into the warren and there kneled among the trees For this hee was greatly charged of the Bishop as for an haynous matter because he sayd it was done in despite and contempt of theyr masse which seemed to the Byshop and his Chaplaynes no small offence At length being producted to his last examination before the sayd Bishop xv day of Ianuarye there to heare the sentence diffinitiue agaynst him first hee was required wyth many fayre wordes and glosing promises to reuoke hys doctrine to whome the foresayd Byshoppe speaking these woordes sayde Browne ye haue bene before me many tymes and ofte and I haue trauailed with thee to wynne thee from thyne erroures yet thou and suche like haue and doe reporte that I goe about to seeke thy bloud c. To whome the sayd Thomas Browne aunswered agayne yea my Lord sayd he in deede ye be a bloudsucker I would I had as much bloud as is water in the Sea for you to sucke Boner then proceeding to the articles when he hadde red them vnto him agayne as he had done diuers tymes before asked him whether he was content and willing to relinquishe those hys heresies and erroneous opinions as he called them and returne agayne vnto the vnitie of the catholicke fayth Whereunto he made aunswere again saying if they were heresies he would forsake them They be heresies quoth the Byshoppe Howe will ye proue it sayd Browne for I will not goe froÌ„ mine aunsweres except you caÌ„ proue them to be heresies which ye shal neuer do For that whiche you call heresie is no heresie Wyth that Boner not able or els not disposed to supply the part of a sufficient teacher in prouing that which the other had denyed by good authoritie and doctrine of the scripture went about with wordes and promise of pardon to allure him to renounce those his heresies as he called them and to returne vnto the vnitie of his mother the Catholicke Churche c. To whom the sayd Thomas inferred agayne as followeth Proue it sayd he to be heresie that I do hold and mayntayne and I will turne to you But you condemne me because I wil not confesse and beleue the bread and in the sacrament of the aultar as you call it to be the body of Christ and therfore ye spill myne and such like innocents bloud being the Queenes true subiectes for whiche you shall aunswere and that shortly After this being spoken Boner as hee had done to the other before read in writing the sentence diffinitiue agaynst him The copie and forme of which sentence wherwith the Papistes were wont to condemne all the innocent saynts of Christes is aboue expressed pag. 1417. And so this done he was committed to the Sheriffes to be had away and burned the xxvii day of the sayd moneth of Ianuary constantly abiding with the other the Popes tormentes for the true confession of his Christian fayth 4. Iohn Tudson Martyr THe same daye and tyme when the foresayde Iohn Browne with his fellowes was condemned as is aboue rehearsed being the xv day of Ianuarye was also producted Iohn Tudson with the rest of the sayde company vnto the like condemnation This Iohn Tudson was borne in Ipswich in the Countye of Suffolke after that apprentise in London dwelling with one George Goodyeare of the parishe of saynct Mary Botulphe within the dioces of London who being complayned of to Sir Richard Cholmley and Doct. Story was by them sent vnto Boner bishop of London and was diuers tymes before him in examination The Articles and interrogatories ministred vnto hym as vnto the rest before are specified with hys aunsweres also to the same annexed c. After this hee was brought vnto the open Consistory where the sayd blessed and true seruaunt of the Lord Iohn Tudson appearyng before the sayde byshoppe and his complices was moued with sundry perswasions as theyr maner is to goe from his opinion which they named heresie and to persiste in the vnitie of the Churche which they were of but hee constaÌ„tly persisting in that which he had receiued by the preachers in king Edwardes tyme refused so to doe saying there was no heresie in his answeres For I sayd he defy all heresie The Byshop yet still vsed his olde accustomed perswasions to remoue him promising moreouer all hys offences and erroures as he called them to bee forgeuen hym if he would returne c. Then sayde Tudson Tell me wherein I haue offended and I will returne Then sayd the Byshop In your aunsweres No sayd Tudson agayne I haue not therein offended and ye my Lord pretend Charitie but nothing therof appeareth in your workes Thus after a few wordes the bishop did likewise promulgate agaynst hym sentence of condemnation whiche being red the godly and constant martyr was committed to the secular power and so wyth much pacience finished this life with the other aboue named the xxvii daye of Ianuary 5. Iohn Went Martyr IOhn Went borne in Langham in Essex within the Dyoces of London of the age of 27. a Shereman by occupation first was examined as partly is touched before by Doctor Story vpon the sacrament of his popishe Aultar and because the poore man did not accord with him throughly in the reall presence of the body and bloud of Chryst the sayd Story did send hym vp to Boner Byshop of London Who
was passed contrary to hys allegations Hee moste humblye thancked the Kings maiestie of hys greate goodnesse towardes hym and them for all their paines saying I hope in God that heereafter my allegations and authorityes shall take place to the glorye of God and the commoditie of the Realme in the meane time I will satisfie my selfe wyth the honourable consent of your honoures and the whole Parliament Heere is to be noted that this mans stoute and godly defence of the truthe heerein so bounde the Princes conscience that he woulde not permitte the truth in that man to be cleane ouerthrown wyth authoritie and power and therefore this way God woorking in the Princes minde a playne token was declared heereby that all thynges were not so sincerely handled in the confirmation of the sayde sixe Articles as it oughte to haue beene for else the Prince mighte haue hadde a iust cause to haue borne hys great indignation towardes the Archbishop Let vs pray that both the like stoutnesse maye be perceiued in all Ecclesiasticall and learned men where the truthe ought to be defended and also the like relenting and flexibilitie maye take place in Princes and Noble menne when they shall haue occasion offered them to maintaine the same so that they vtterly ouerwhelme not the truth by selfe wil power and authority Now in the end this Archb. cōstancie was such towardes Gods cause that he confirmed al hys doinges by bitter death in the fire without respecte of anye worldly treasure or pleasure And as touching hys stoutnesse in his Princes cause the contrary resistaunce of the Duke of Northumberland against him prooued right wel his good minde that waye which chaunced by reason that hee woulde not consent to the dissoluinge of Chaunteries vntill the Kynge came of age to the intent that they myghte then better serue to furnishe hys royall estate then to haue so greate treasure consumed in hys nonage Which his stonenesse ioyned with suche simplicitie surely was thought to diuers of the Counsaile a thing incredible specially in such sorte to contende with him who was so accounted in this realm as few or none would or durst gainstande him So deare was to him the cause of God and of hys Prince that for the one he would not keepe his conscience clogged nor for the other lurke or hide his heade Otherwise as it is sayde his very enemies might easily intreat him in any cause reasonable and such things as he graūted hee did without any suspition of rebroiding or meede therefore So that hee was altogether voide of the vice of stubbernnesse and rather culpable of ouer muche facilitie and gentlenesse Not angrie Then foloweth Not angrie Surely if ouermuch pacience may be a vice this man maye seeme peraduenture to offend rather on this part then on the contrary Albeit for all his doings I cannot say for the most parte suche was his mortification that way that few we shal finde in whom the saying of our Sauiour Christ so much preuailed as with him who would not onely haue a man to forgiue his ennemies but also to pray for them that lesson neuer went out of his memory For it was knowen that he had many cruel ennemies not for his owne deserts but only for his religion sake and yet what soeuer he was that either sought his hinderance either in goods estimation or life and vpon conference woulde seeme neuer so slenderly any thing to relent or excuse himself he would both forget the offence committed and also euermore afterwards frendly entertaine him shew such pleasure to him as by any meanes possible he might performe or declare In so muche that it came into a common prouerb Do vnto my Lord of Canterb displeasure or a shrewed turne and then you may be sure to haue him your frende whiles he liueth Of which his gentle disposition in abstaining from reuengement amongst many examples thereof I wil repeat heere one It chaunced an ignoraunte Priest and parsone in the North parties the Towne is not now in remembrance but he was a kinsman of one Chersey a grocer dwelling within London being one of those priestes that vse more to studie at the alehouse then in his chamber or in his studie to sit on a time with his honest neighbours at the alehouse within his owne Parish where was communication ministred in commendation of my Lorde Cranmer Archbishop of Cant. This said parson enuying his name only for Religion sake sayd to his neighbors what make you of him quod he he was but an Hostler and hathe no more learning then the Goslings that goeth yonder on the greene with suche like sclaunderous and vncomelye woordes These honest neighbours of his not well bearing those his vnseemely woordes articled against hym and sent their complaint vnto the Lorde Cromwell then Uicegerent in causes Ecclesiasticall who sent for the priest and cōmitted hym to the Fleete minding to haue had him recant those his sclaunderous woordes at Paules Crosse. Howbeit the Lord Cromwell hauing great affairs of the Prince then in hand forgate his prisoner in the Flete So that this Chersey the Grocer vnderstanding that his kinsmanne was in duraunce in the Fleete onely for speaking woordes against my Lord of Canterb. consulted wyth the Priest and betwene them deuised to make sute rather vnto the Archbishoppe for his deliuerance then to the Lord Cromwel before whome he was accused vnderstanding right well that there was greate diuersitie of natures betweene those two estates the one gentle and full of clemencie and the other seuere and somewhat intractable namely against a Papist So that Chersey tooke vppon him firste to trie my Lorde of Caunterburies benignitie namely for that his cousins accusation touched onely the offence against him and none other Whereupon the sayde Chersey came to one of the Archbish. Gentlemen whose father bought yearely all his spices and fruite of the sayde Chersey and so thereby of familiar acquaintance with the Gentleman who openinge to him the trouble wherein his kinsman was requested that hee woulde be a meanes to my Lorde his maister to heare his sute in the behalfe of his kinsman The matter was mooued The Archbishop like as he was of nature gentle and of much clemencie so woulde he neuer shewe him selfe straunge vnto suters but incontinently sent for the saide Chersey When hee came before him Chersey declared that there was a kinsman of his in the Fleete a Priest of the North countrey and as I maye tell your grace the truth quod Chersey a man of small ciuilitie and of lesse learning And yet he hath a personnage there which now by reason that my lord Cromwel hath laid him in prisone being in his cure is vnserued and hee hath continued in durance aboue 2. monethes and is called to no answer and knoweth not when he shall come to any ende so that this his imprisonment cōsumeth his substaunce and will vtterly vndoe him vnlesse your grace be
his good Lord. I know not the maÌ„ sayd the Archbishop nor what he hath done why he should be thus in trouble Said Chersey againe hee onely hath offended against your grace and against no man els as maye well be perceiued by the Articles obiected against him the copie wherof the sayd Chersey then exhibited vnto the sayd Archb. of Canterbury Who well perusing the sayd Articles sayde This is the common talke of all the ignorant Papisticall Priests in England against me Surely sayde he I was neuer made priuie vnto this accusation nor of his indurance I neuer heard before this time Notwithstanding if there be nothing els to charge him withall against the Prince or any of the Counsail I will at your request take order with him and send him home againe to his cure to doe his duetie and so therupon sent his ring to the Warden of the Fleete willing him to sende the prisonner vnto him with his keeper at after noone When the keeper had brought the prisoner at the hour appoynted and Chersey had well instructed his cousin in any wise to submit himselfe vnto the Archbishop confessing his fault where by that way hee shoulde moste easely haue an ende and winne his fauour thus the persone being brought into the garden at Lambeth and there sitting vnder the vine the Archbishop demaunded of the parsone what was the cause of his induraunce and who committed him to the Fleete The parsone answeared and sayde that the Lord Cromwel sent him thether for that certaine malicious parishioners of his parish had wrongfully accused him of woordes which hee neuer spake nor meante Chersey hearing his foolish cousin so farre out of the way from his former instruction sayde Thou dasterdly dolte and varlet is this thy promise that thou madest to me Is there not a great number of thy honest neighbors handes against thee to prooue thee a lier Surely my Lorde quod Chersey it is pitie to do him good I am sorie that I haue troubled your grace thus farre with him Well said the Archb. vnto the parsone if you haue not offended me I can doe you no good for I am intreated to helpe one out of trouble that hath offended against me If my Lord Cromwel hath committed you â—o prison wroÌ„gfully that lieth in himselfe to amende and not in mee If your offence onely toucheth me I will be bold to do some what for your friendes sake heere If you haue not offended against me then haue I nothing to doe with you but that you maye goe and remaine from whence you came Lorde what adoe his kinsman Chersey made wyth him calling him all kinde of opprobrious names In the end my Lorde of Caunterburie seeming to rise and goe hys waies the fond priest fell downe on his knees and sayde I beseeche your grace to forgeue me this offence assuring your grace that I spake those woordes being druncke and not well aduised Ah said my Lord this is somewhat and yet it is no good excuse for drunkennes euermore vttereth that which lieth hid in the heart of man when he is sober alleadging a text or twaine out of the Scriptures concerning the vice of drunckennesse which commeth not nowe to remembraunce Now therfore said the Archbishop that you acknowledge somewhat your fault I am coÌ„tent to common with you hoping that you are at this present of an indifferent sobrietie Tell me then quod hee did you euer see me or were you euer acquainted with me before this day The Priest answered and sayd that neuer in his life he saw his grace Why than saide the Archbishop what occasion had you to call me an Hostler and that I had not so muche learning as the Goslings which then went on the greene before your face If I haue no learning you may nowe trye it and be out of doubt thereof therfore I pray you appose me either in Grammer or in other liberall sciences for I haue at one time or other tasted partly of them Or els if you are a Diuine say somewhat that way The priest being amased at my Lords familiar talke made answere and sayd I beseeche your grace to pardon me I am altogether vnlearned and vnderstand not the Latin toung but very simply My onely studie hath bene to say my seruice and Masse faire and deliberate which I can do aswel as any priest in the countrey where I dwel I thanke God Well said the other if you will not appose me I wil be so bolde to appose you and yet as easely as I can deuise and that only in the storie of the Bible nowe in English in which I suppose that you are daily exercised Tel me therfore who was king Dauids father sayd my Lord The Priest stoode still pausing a while and sayd In good fayth my Lord I haue forgotten his name Then said the other agayne to him if you cannot tel that I pray you tel me then who was Salomons father The fonde foolishe priest without all consideration what was demaunded of hym before made answer Good my L. beare with me I am not further seene in the Bible then is daily read in our seruice in the Church The Archb. then aunswering sayd this my question may be found well answered in your seruice But I now well perceiue howsoeuer ye haue iudged heretofore of my learnyng sure I am that you haue none at all But this is the common practise of all you which are ignorant and superstitious Priestes to slaunder backbite and hate all suche as are learned and well affected towardes Gods word and sincere religion Common reason myght haue taught you what an vnlikely thyng it was and contrary to all maner of reason that a Prince hauyng two Uniuersities within his realme of well learned men desirous to be resolued of as doubtfull a question as in these many yeares was not mooued the lyke within Christendome should bee driuen to that necessitie for the defence of hys cause to send out of his Realme an Hostler beyng a man of no better knowledge then is a gosling in an ambassade to answer all learned men both in the court of Rome and in the Emperours court in so difficult a question as toucheth the kings matrimony and the diuorce thereof I say if you were men of any reasonable consideration you might thinke it both vnseemly and vncomely for a Prince so to doe But looke where malice raigneth in man there reason can take no place and therefore I see by it that you all are at a poynt with me that no reason or authoritie can perswade you co fauor my name who neuer ment euill to you but your both commoditie and profite How be it God amend you all forgeue you and send you better myndes With these words the Priest seemed to weepe and desired his grace to pardon his fault and frailetie so that by hys meanes he myght returne to hys cure agayne and he would
the booke to hym willyng hym to peruse the same When the Archb. had red the Articles and saw hymselfe so vncurteously handled of his owne church whereof he was head I meane of the Prebendaries of his Cathedral Church and of such his neighbours as he had many wayes gratified I meane the Iustices of the Peace it much grieued hym Notwithstāding he kneeled downe to the kyng and besought hys Maiesty to graunt out a Commission to whomsoeuer it plesed his highnesse for them to try out the truth of this accusation In very deede sayde the kyng I doe so meane and you yourselfe shall be chiefe Commissioner to adioyne to you such two or three more as you shall thinke good your self Then it will bee thought quoth the Archb. to the kyng that it is not indifferent if it please your grace that I should be myne owne iudge and my Chaplains also Well sayde the kyng I will haue none other but your selfe suche as you will appoynt For I am sure that you will not halt with me in any thyng although you bee driuen to accuse your selfe and I know partly how this geare proceedeth and if you handle the matter wisely you shall find a prety conspiracy deuised agaynst you Whome will you haue wyth you sayde the kyng Whome it shall please your grace to name quoth the Archb. I will appoynt Doc. Belhouse for one name you the other said the kyng meete for that purpose My Chancellor D. Coxe and Hussey my Register sayd the Archb. are men expert to examine such troublesome matters Well sayd the kyng let there be a Commission made forth and out of hand get you into Kent aduertise me of your doyngs They came into Kent and there they sate aboue three weekes to bult out who was the first occasion of this accusation for thereof the kyng would chiefly be aduertised Now the Inquisition beyng begunne by the Commissioners euery man shronke in his hornes and no mā would confesse any thyng to the purpose For D. Coxe and Hussey being friendly vnto the Papistes handled the matter so that they would permit nothyng materiall to come to sight This thyng beyng well perceyued by one of the Archbishops seruants his Secretary he wrote incontinently vnto Doct. Buttes and Master Deny declaring that if the Kynges Maiestie did not send some other to assist my Lord then those that then were there with him it were not possible that any thing should come to light and therefore wished that Doct. Lee or some other stoute man that had beene exercised in the Kings Ecclesiasticall affaires in his visitations might be sent to the Archbishop Upon these letters Doct. Lee was sent for to yorke by the King and hauing the kings farther mind declared vnto him when he came to the Court he resorted incontinently into Kent so that on Alhallow euen he deliuered to the Archbishop the kings Ring with a declaration of his highnes farther pleasure and by and by vpon his message done he appointed the Archbishop aforesaid to name him a dosen or xvi of his Officers and gentlemen such as had both discretion wit and audacitie to whom he gaue in Commission from the King to search both the purses Chestes and chambers of all those that were deemed or suspected to be of this confederacie both within the Cathedrall church and without and such letters or writinges as they could find about them to bring them to the Archbishop and him These men thus appointed went in one houre and instant to the persons houses and places that they were appointed vnto and within foure houres afterwardes the whole conspiracie was disclosed by finding of letters some from the Bishop of Winchester some from D. London at Oxford and from Iustices of the Shiere with other so that the first beginning the proceeding and what should haue beene the ende of their conspiracie was now made manifest Certaine chambers and Chests of Gentlemen of the shiere were also searched where also were found letters seruing to this purpose Amongst all other came to my Lords hands two letters one of the Suffragan of Douer and an other of Doct. Barbar a Ciuilian whom continually the Archbishop reteined with him in housholde for expedition of matters in sute before him as a counsellour in the Law when need required These two men being well promoted by the Archbishop he vsed euer in such familiarity that when the Suffragan being a prebend of Caunterbury came to him he alwaies set him at his owne messe and the other neuer from his table as men in whom he had much delight and comfort when time of care and pensiuenes chaunced But that which they did was altogither counterfait and the Deuill was turned into the Aungell of light for they both were of this confederacy When my Lord had gotten these their letters into his hands he on a day when it chanced the Suffragan to come to him to his house at Bekisburne called to him into his studie the said Suffragan of Douer and D. Barbar saieng come your waies with me for I must haue your aduise in a matter When they were with him in his study all togethers he said to them you twaine be men in whom I haue had much confidence and trust you must now giue me some good counsaile for I am shamfully abused with one or twaine to whom I haue shewed all my secretes from time to time and did trust them as my selfe The matter is so nowe fallen out that they not onelie haue disclosed my secretes but also haue taken vpon them to accuse me of heresie and are become witnes against me I require you therfore of your good aduice how I shall behaue my selfe towards them You are both my frends and such as I alwaies haue vsed when I needed counsell What say you to the matter quoth the Archbishop Mary quoth Doct. Barbar such vilens and knaues sauing your honour were worthy to be hanged out of hand without any other law Hanging were to good quoth the Suffragan and if there lacked one to do execution I would be hangman my selfe At these words the Archbishop cast vp hys handes to heauen and sayd Oh Lord most mercifull God whome may a man trust now adayes It is most true whiche is sayde Maledictus qui confidit in homine ponit carnem brachium suum There was neuer man handled as I am but oh Lord thou hast euermore defended me and lent me one great friend and maister meanyng the kyng wythout whose protection I wer not able to stand vpright one day vnouerthrowen I prayse thy holy name therfore and with that he pulled out of his bosome their two letters sayd Know ye these letters my maisters With that they fell downe vpon their knees and desired forgiuenesse declaring how they a yeare before were attempted to do the same and so verye lamentably weeping and bewailyng their doynges besought hys grace to pardon
of two Papists of the parish of Chartham his vtter enemies Sander and Browne by name for a Sermon preached at Chartham or Passion Sunday which chanced on S. Gregories euen they both beyng absent that day at Wye faire as it is well prooued namely for that he preached against the Masse saying that our Sauiour Christ was the onely soule Priest which song Masse on the aultar of the Crosse there sacrifising for the sinnes of the worlde once for euer and that all other Masses were but remembraunces and thankesgeuing for that one sacrifice or such wordes in effect Wherefore to conclude right worshipfull knowyng your godly zeales as well towardes the preferment of sincere Religion as your no lesse affection towardes the Kyng hys Maiesties persone and his godly proceedinges I most humbly beseeche you in the bowels of our Sauiour Christ so to ponder the weightye consideration of the premisses as by your trauailes vnto the Kinges Maiestie or to the honourable Counsaile we here in Kent that haue now of late our heartes bent towardes the obseruation of the lawe of God and the Prince thorough Turners godlye perswasions may receyue from your worships some comfortable worde of his deliueraunce or els certaynely many an honest and simple man lately embracing the trueth may perhaps fall away desperately from the same not without danger of their soules In accomplishing whereof your worships shall not onely do vnto almighty God and the Prince most true and acceptable seruice but also binde the sayd M. Turner with all other to whom this cause doth apperteine both dayly to pray for your prosperities and also to bee at your commaundementes during theyr lyues From Caunterbury the second day of Nouember Your worships euermore at commaundement R. M. And thus much conteineth the letter sent as is sayd by M. Morice to Doctor Buttes and Syr Anthony Denye Now what successe and speede this letter had it foloweth to be declared For Doctour Buttes the kinges Phisition aforesayd after the receipte of these letters considering the weighty contentes of the same as he was euer a forwarde friend in the Gospels cause so he thought not to forsâ—acke this matter to the vttermost of his diligence and so spying his time wheÌ„ the king was in trimming and in washing as his maner was at certayne times to call for his Barbar Doctour Buttes whose manner was at such times euer to be present and with some pleasaunt conceites to refresh and solace the kinges minde brought with hym in his hand this Letter The king asking what newes Doctour Buttes pleasantly and merely beginneth to insinuate vnto the king the effect of the matter and so at the kinges commaundement read out the letter which when the king had heard and paused a little with himselfe vpon the same commaunded agayne the letter to be read vnto him The hearing and consideration wherof so altered the kinges minde that wheras before he commaunded the sayde Turner to be whipped out of the countrey he now commaunded him to be reteined as a faythfull Subiect And here of that matter an end Let vs now returne to the Archbishop agayne Who although he was compassed about as is sayde with mighty enemies and by many crafty traynes impugned yet through Gods more mighty prouideÌ„ce working in the kinges hart so to fauor him he rubbed out all Kyng Henryes time without blemishe or foyle by meanes of the kinges supportation who not onely defended the sayd archbishop agaynst all his conspired aduersaryes but also extended such speciall fauour vnto him in such sort that he being not ignorant of hys wife whoÌ„ he had maryed before at Noremberge being Niece to the wife of Osiander keping her also all the sixe Articles time contrary to the law notwithstanding he both permitted the same and kept his counsell Then after the death of Kyng Henry immediatelye succeeded his sonne K. Edwarde vnder whose gouernement and protection the state of this Archbishoppe beyng his Godfather was nothing appayred but rather more aduaunced During all this meane time of king Henry aforesayd vntill the entring of king Edward it seemeth that Cranmer was scarsly yet throughly persuaded in the right knowledge of the Sacrament or at least was not yet fully rypened in the same wherin shortly after he being more grouÌ„dly confirmed by confereÌ„ce with Bishop Ridley in processe of time did so profite in more ryper knowledge that at last he tooke vpon him the defence of that whole doctrine that is to refute and throw downe first the corporall presence secondly the phantasticall Transubstantiation Thirdly the Idolatrous adoration Fourthlye the false errour of the Papistes that wicked menne doe eate the naturall body of Christ and lastly the blasphemous sacrifice of the Masse Whereupon in conclusion he wrote fiue bookes for the publicke instruction of the Church of England which instruction yet to this day standeth and is receiued in this Church of England Agaynste these fiue bookes of the Archbishop Steuen Gardiner the archenemy to Christ and his Gospell being then in the Tower slubbereth vp a certayne answere such as it was which he in open Court exhibited vp at Lambeth being there examined by the Archbishop aforesayd other the kinges CoÌ„missioners in king Edwardes dayes which booke was intituled An Explication and assertion of the true Catholick fayth touching the blessed SacrameÌ„t of the aultar with a confutation of a booke written against the same Agaynste this Explication or rather a cauilling Sophistication of Steuen Gardiner Doctour of law the Archbishop of Caunterbury learnedlye and copiously replying againe maketh aunswere which also he published abroad to the eies and iudgementes of all men in print All which writinges and bookes as well of the one part as of the other our present story woulde require here to be inferred but because to prosecute the whole matter at length wyll not be comprehended in a small roome and maye make to long taryaunce in our story it shall therfore be best to put of the same vnto the place of the Apendix folowing wherin the Lord willing we intend to close vp both these and other diuers treatises of these learned Martyrs as to this our story shall apperteine The vnquiet spirite of Stephen Gardiner beyng not yet contented after all this thrusteth out an other booke in Latine of the like Popishe Argument but after an other title named Marcus Anthonius Constantius Whereunto first the Archbishoppe agayne intending a full confutation had already absolued three partes of his aunsweare lying in prison Of the which partes two perished in Oxforde the other yet remayneth in my handes ready to bee seene and set forth as the Lord shall see good Also Bishop Ridley lying likewise the same time in prison hauing ther the sayd booke of Marcus Antonius for lack of penne and paper with a lead of a window in the margent of the booke wrote annotations as strayghtnesse of time would serue him in refutation of the
purpose the rest they committed to all aduenture as became men of that religion to doe The Queene hauing nowe gotten a time to reuenge her old grieef receiued his recantation very gladly but of her purpose to put him to death she would nothing relēt Now was Crāmers cause in a miserable taking who neither inwardly had any quietnes in his owne cōscience nor yet outwardly any helpe in his aduersaries Besides this on the one side was praise on the other side scorne on both sides daunger so that neither he could die honestly nor yet vnhonestly liue And where as hee sought profite hee fell into double disprofite that neyther with good men he could auoid secrete shame nor yet with euill men the note of dissimulation In the meane time while these things were a doyng as I said in the prison among the doctours the Queene taking secrete Counsel howe to dispatch Cranmer out of the way who as yet knew nothing of her secrete hate and looked for nothing lesse then death apoynted D. Cole and secretely gaue him in commandement that against the 21. of March he should prepare a funerall sermon for Cranmers burning so instructing him orderly and diligently of her wil pleasure in that behalfe sendeth him away Soone after the Lord Williams of Tame the Lorde Shandoys syr Thom. Bridges and syr Iohn Browne were sent for with other woorshipfull men and Iustices commanded in the Queenes name to be at Oxford at the same day wyth their seruauntes and retinue least Cranmers death should raise there any tumult Cole the Doctor hauing this lesson geuen hym before and charged by her commandement returned to Oxford ready to play hys part who as the day of execution drewe neare euen the day before came into the prison to Cranmer to try whether he abode in the catholicke faith wherin before he had left him To whom when Cranmer had aunsweared that by Gods grace he would daily be more confirmed in the catholicke faith Cole departing for the tyme the next day following repaired to the Archb. agayne geuing no signification as yet of hys death that was prepared And therefore in the morning which was the 21. day of Marche appoynted for Cranmers execution the sayde Cole comming to hym asked if he hadde any money To whome when he answeared that he had none he deliuered hym 15. crownes to geue the poore to whome hee woulde and so exhorting him so muche as hee coulde to constancie in Faith departed thence aboute hys businesse as to hys Sermon appertained By this partly and other like Argumentes the Archbishop began more and more to surmise what they went about Then because the day was not farre past and the Lordes and Knightes that were looked for were not yet come there came to him the Spanish frier witnes of hys recantation bringing a paper with articles which Cranmer shoulde openly professe in hys recantation before the people earnestly desiring him that hee woulde wryte the sayd instrument with the articles with his owne hande and signe it with his name which when he had done the said frier desired that he would wryte an other copy thereof which should remaine with him and that he did also But yet the Archbishop being not ignoraunt whereunto theyr secreat deuises tended and thinking that the time was at hande in which he could no longer dissemble the profession of his faith with Christes people he put secretely in hys bosome his Prayer with his exhortation wrytten in an other paper which he minded to recite to the people before he should make the last profession of hys faith fearing least if they had heard the confession of his faith first they woulde not afterward haue suffered hym to exhort the people Soone after about 9. of the clocke the Lord Williams Syr Thomas Bridges syr Iohn Browne and the other Iustices wyth certaine other noble men that were sent of the Queenes counsell came to Oxford with a great traine of wayting men Also of the other multitude on euerye side as is wōt in such a matter was made a great concourse and greater expectation For first of all they that were of the Popes side were in great hope that day to heare somthing of Cranmer that should stablish the vanitye of their opinion the other parte which were endued with a better minde coulde not yet doubte that he which by continuall studie and labour for so many yeres had set foorth the doctrine of the gospel either would or could nowe in the last Acte of hys life forsake his part Briefly as euery mannes wil enclined eyther to this part or to that so accordyng to the diuersitie of their desires euery mā wished and hoped for And yet because in an vncertaine thing the certaintye could be knowen of none what would be the end al theyr mindes were hanging betwene hope and doubt So that the greater the expectation was in so doubtfull a matter the more was the multitude that were gathered thether to heare and beholde In this so great frequence and expectation Cranmer at length commeth from the prison Bocardo vnto s. Maries churche because it was a foule and a rainy daye the chiefe church in the vniuersity in this order The Mayor went before next him the Aldermen in their place and degree after them was Cranmer brought betwene two friers which mumbling to and froe certaine Psalmes in the streetes aunsweared one an other vntill they came to the Church doore and there they began the songe of Simeon Nunc Dimittis and entering into the Churche the Psalme saying Friers brought hym to his standing and there left him There was a stage set vp ouer against the pulpit of a meane height from the ground where Cranmer hadde hys standing wayting vntill Cole made him ready to his Sermone The lamentable case and sight of that man gaue a sorrowfull spectacle to al Christian eyes that beheld him He that late was Archbishop Metropolitane and Primate of England and the Kings priuy Councellor being now in a bare and ragged gowne and ill fauouredly cloathed wyth an olde square cappe exposed to the contempt of all men did admonish men not onely of his owne calamitie but also of theyr state and fortune For who woulde not pitie hys case and bewaile his fortune might not feare his owne chaunce to see such a Prelate so graue a Councellour and of so long continued honoure after so manye dignities in hys olde yeares to be depriued of his estate adiudged to die and in so painefull a death to end his life and now presently from such fresh ornaments to discende to such vile and ragged apparell In this habite when hee had stoode a good space vpon the stage tourning to a piller neare adioyning thereunto he lifted vppe hys handes to heauen prayed vnto God once or twise till at the length D. Cole comming into the pulpit and beginning his sermon entred first into mention of Tobias and Zacharie
God and with the infallible testimonies of holy scripture For although Gods mercy is ouer all his woorkes yet it doth not extende but onely to them that holde fast the confidence and reioysing of hope vnto the ende not being weary in well doing but rather waxing euery day stronger and stronger in the inward man Therfore in the Reuelation of S. Iohn wher it is entreated of the Beast and his image it is also sayde Heere is the sufferance of Saintes and heere are they that keepe the commaundements and the faith of Iesus Christ. Where by almighty God doth shewe plainely that he doth vse those wicked men as instruments for a time to try the pacience and faith of his peculiar people wythout the performance whereof we can haue no part among the liuing but as it is sayd in the same Reuelation The fearfull shall haue theyr parte in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone whyche is the second death But peraduenture ye will obiect say vnto me what shall we do Shal we cast our selues headlong to death I say not so But thys I say that we are all bounde if euer we looke to receiue saluation at Gods hande in thys case wholy to be obedient to hys determinate counsell foreknowledge expressed by the gift of the spirit in holy scripture and then to cast all our care vpon him who worketh all in all for the best vnto them that loue him and thus he geueth commaundement saying Come awaye from her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receue not of her plagues Nowe who hearing this terrible voyce of God which must needes be fulfilled will not wyth all speede and diligence applye him selfe to doe thereafter except such as will presumptuously tempt him And as touching such the Wise man sayeth Hee that loueth pearill and daunger shall pearish therein But they that be of the Faith of Abraham euen as he did so will they in all assayes and trials be obedient to the heauenly voyce how soeuer it semeth contrary to their owne naturall wil and carnal reason according to the sure worde of faith which saith Hope thou in the Lorde and keepe his way holde thee stil in the Lord and abide patiently vpon him Let not thy ielousie moue thee also to doe euill Come out from among them and ioyne not your selues to your vnlawfull assemblies yea do not once shew your selues with the least part of your body to fauour theyr wicked doinges but glorifye God as moste right is so well in your whole bodye outwardlye as inwardly in your spirite or els you can doe neither of both well for your body doth belong to God so well as youre spirite At the dreadfull day of iudgement we shall all receiue the workes of our bodies according to that we haue done whether it be good or bad Therefore what soeuer we doe we may not bryng the spirite in bondage to the body but contrariwise we must subdue the body and the will of the flesh to the spirit that the spirite maye freely accomplishe the will of God in all things for otherwise we shall neuer be partakers of hys promise with the true childrē of Abraham For as s. Paul sayeth They which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God If we shall liue according to the flesh we shall dye For to be carnally mineded is death but to be spiritually mineded is life and peace because that the fleshly mineded is enmitie to God for it is not obedient to the lawe of God neyther canne be So then they that are in the flesh can not please God Nowe chuse you which way you will take either the narow way that leadeth vnto life which Christ hymself and hys faithfull followers haue gone throughe before or else the broad path way that leadeth to destruction which the wicked worldlinges take theyr pleasure in for a while I for my part haue now wryttē thys short admonition vnto you of good will as God be my witnesse to exhort you to that way which at length you your selues shuld prooue and finde to be best yea and reioyce thereof And I do not onely wryte thys but I will also wyth the assistaunce of Gods grace ratifie and confirme and Seale the same wyth the effusion of my bloude when the full tyme shall be expired that hee hath appoynted whych so farre soorth as I maye iudge must needes be within these few daies Therefore I nowe bidde you all moste heartely farewell in the Lorde whose grace bee wyth youre spirite Amen Watch and pray watch and pray pray pray So be it Iohn Hullier Besides these letters the said Iohn Hullier leaft also a godly prayer whiche if any be disposed to peruse it is extant in the old booke of Acts to be found pag. 1515. The death and Martyrdome of sixe constant professours of Christ burned at Colchester for the testimonie of the Gospell the 28. day of Aprill NOt long after the death of Robert Drakes William Tymmes and the other Essex Martyrs executed in Smithfielde as is aboue specified followed in the same order likewise of martyrdome at one like fire in the town of Colchester where the most parte of them did inhabite sixe other blessed Martyrs whose names be these Christopher Lyster of Dagneham Husbandman Iohn Mace of Colchester Apothecarie Iohn Spenser of Colchester Weauer Symon Ioyne Sawyer Richard Nichols of Colchester Weauer Iohn Hamond of Colchester Tanner With these sixe was also ioyned an other whose name was Roger Grasbroke but he afterwarde submitted him selfe These aboue named the Byshoppe because he as it semeth by the short processe recorded by his register waxed now weary made a very quicke dispatche For soone after that they were deliuered vnto one Iohn Kingstone Bacheler of Ciuil law and then Commissarye to the Bishop by the Earle of Oxford other Commissioners as appeareth by a bil endented made betwene the Commissioners and the said Commissary for the receit of the sayd prisoners dated the 28. day of Marche Anno regni regis Reginae Philippi Mariae secundo tertio which is the yere of our Lord 1556. and by him sent vp vnto hys Lord and Maister the Bishop caused them to be broughte vnto hys house at Fulham Where in the open Churche iudicially were ministred vnto them the same Articles that were propounded vnto Bartlet Grene and others mentioned before To the whych they made their seuerall answeres agreeing altogether in one truthe as by the summe and effect thereof heere ensuing more plainly appeareth 1 To the first article they al consented and agreed Iohn Spenser adding further thereto that the churche malignant which is the Church of Rome is no parte of Christes Catholike church and that he neither hath nor dothe beleeue the doctrine and religion taughte and set foorth in the sayd Romish and malignant
also to the encouragemēt of others in the same quarell to doe the like The Lorde of strength fortify vs to stand as his true soldiors in what standing soeuer he shall thinke it good to place vs. Amen ¶ In the examinatiō of Roger Bernard ye heard a litle before how he was compared by the Priestes there to Iohn Fortune called his scholer This Iohn Fortune otherwise called Cutler of Hintlesham in Suffolke was by his occupation a Blacke Smith whom they had before them in examination a litle before the 20. day of Aprill In spirit he was zelous and ardent in the Scriptures ready in Christes cause stout and valiant in his answeres maruellous no lesse patient in his wrongfull suffering then constant in his doctrine Whether he was burned or dyed in prison I cannot certenly find but rather I suppose that he was burned Certeine it is howsoeuer he was made away he neuer yelded What his aunswers and examinations were before D. Parker and the Bishop ye shall heare him although not with his owne mouth speaking yet with his owne hande you shall see written what he did saye as foloweth ¶ The examination of Iohn Fortune before Doctour Parker and Mayster Foster FIrst Doct. Parker asked me how I beleued in the Catholicke fayth And I asked him which fayth he meant whether the sayth that Steuen had or the fayth of them that put Steuē to death D. Parker being moued said what a noughty felow is this you shall see anon he will denye the blessed Sacrament of the aulter M. Foster Then sayd Mayster Foster I know you well enough You are a busy marchant How sayest thou by the blessed Masse Fort. And I stood still and made no aunswere Fost. Then sayd M. Foster why speakest thou not and make the gentleman an answere Fort. And I sayde silence is a good aunswere to a foolishe question Park Then sayd the Doctour I am sure he will denye the blessed Sacrament of the aulter also Fort. And I sayd I know none such but onely the sacrament of the body and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. Park Then sayd he you deny the order of the seuen sacramentes And why doest thou not beleue in the Sacrament of the aulter Fort. And I sayd because it is not written in Gods booke Park Thē sayd he you will not beleue vnwrittē vereties Fort. And I sayd I will beleue that those vnwritten verities that agree with the written verities be true but those vnwritten verities that be of your owne making inuented of your owne brayne I do not beleue Fost. Well sayd M. Foster you shall be whipped and burned for this geare I trow Fort. Then sayd I if you knew how these wordes do reioyce my hart you would not haue spoken them Fost. Why thou foole doest thou reioyce in whipping Fort. Yea sayd I for it is written in the Scriptures and Christ sayth thou shalt be whipped for my names sake since the time that the sworde of tyrannye came into your handes I heard of none that was whipped Happy were I if I had the maydenhead of this persecution Away with him then sayde he for he is tenne times worse then Samuel and so was he caried to prison again ¶ The second examination of Iohn Fortune before the Bishop of Norwich WHen I came before the Bishop he asked me if I did not beleue in the Catholick church I sayd I beleue that Church wherof Christ is the head Then sayd the Bishop doest thou not beleue that the Pope is supreame head of the Churche And I sayde no Christ is the head of the true Church Bish. So do I beleue also but the Pope is Gods Uicar vpon earth and the head of the Churche and I beleue that he hath power to forgeue sinnes also Fort. Then sayd I the Pope is but a man and the Prophet Dauid sayth That no man can deliuer his brother nor make agreement for him vnto God For it cost more to redeeme their soules so that he must let that alone for euer Bysh. And the Bishop agayne fetching about a great circumstaunce sayd like as the Belweather weareth the bell and is the head of the flocke of sheepe so is the Pope our head And as the hiues of Bees haue a Mayster Bee that bringeth the bees to the hiue again so doth our head bring vs home agayne to our true Church Fort. Then I asked him whether the Pope were a spirituall man and he sayde yea And I sayde agayne they are spitefull men for in xvij moneths there were three Popes and one poysoned an other for that presumptuous seat of Antichrist Bysh. It is maliciously spoken sayd he for thou must obey the power and not the man And thus was the pope denied to be supreme head Well sayd he what sayst thou to the Ceremonyes of the Church Fort. And I aunswered All thinges that are not planted by my heauēly father shal be plucked vp by the rootes saith christ For they are not from the beginning neither shall they cōtinue to the end Bysh. They are good and godly and necessary to be vsed Fort. S. Paule called them weake and beggarly Bysh. No that is a lye Fortune I hearing that sayd that Saynt Paule writeth thus in the fourth to the Galathians You foolish Galathians sayth he who hath bewitched you that ye seeke to bee in bondage to these weak and beggarly Ceremonies Now which of you do lye you or Saynt Paule And also it is sayde that woorkes instituted and enioyned without the commaundement of GOD perteyne not to the worship of God according to the text In vayne doe men worshippe mee with mens traditions and commaundementes And Sayncte Paule sayth Wherefore doe ye cary vs away from the grace of Christ to another kind of doctrine And Christ opēly rebuked the Scribes Lawyers Phariseis Doctors Priestes Bishoppes and Hypocrites for making Gods commaundementes of none effect to support theyr owne tradition Byshop Thou lyest there is not such a worde in all the Scriptures thou noughty hereticke Thou art woorse then all other heretickes for Hooper sayd he and Bradford alow them to be good and thou doest not Away with him ¶ Here you may perceiue howe that the Catholicke church can not erre but whatsoeuer they say must needes be true And so my Lord Bishop can not lye as it may appeare to all men most playnely in the text ¶ The third examination of Iohn Fortune before the Byshop of Norwich THe next day I was brought before the sayd Bishop agayne where he made a Sermon vpon the 6. chapter of S. Iohns Gospell of Christes wordes I am the breade that came downe from heauen c. and therupon had a great bibble babble to no purpose So in the end I was called before him and he sayd to me Bish. How beleuest thou in the Sacrament of the aultar doest thou not beleue that after the consecration
but neuer without his white miniuer hoode such doctrine as was shamefull to heare saying Masse and carying about the pixe in high processions Furthermore leadyng the boy S. Nicholas with his miniuer hood about the streetes for apples and belly cheere And who so would not receiue him he made them heretikes and such also as would not geue his fagot to the bonfire for Queene Maries child And thus continued he at Ipswich the most part of Queene Maries dayes molestyng there good men some for not goyng to the Churche some for not beyng confessed some for not receiuyng c. till at length toward the end of Queene Mary he came to London and in this Queens time began to shewe himselfe againe a perfect protestant And thus much of Argentine Ex testimon Petri Moonaei ¶ The trouble of Peter Moone and his Wife and of other Godly Protestantes at Byshop Hoptons visitation in Ipswich IN the yeare of our Lord God 1556. The sceane or visitation being kept before Whitsontide in the Towne of Ipswich in Suffolcke by Doctour Hopton being then Byshop of Norwich and Myles Dunninges being then his Cauncellour diuers and sondry godly Protestantes through the accusation of euill men where sore troubled presented before him among whom were accused one Peter Moone a Taylor and Anne his wife for theyr disobedience to the law in not shewing theyr readinesse to come to the Church and to be partaker of such Romish obseruances as at that time were vsed And first the sayd Peter Moone was commaunded to come before the Bishop where he was examined of three sondry Articles to wit 1. Whether the pope were supreme head 2. Whether King Philip and Queene Mary were right inheritors to the crowne 3. And whether in the Sacrament of the aulter was the very body of Christ substācially and really there present Unto the which the sayde Peter being timerous and weake fearing more the face of man then the heauy wrath of God affirmed and in maner graunted vnto the demaūdes Whereupon the Bishop being in good hope that although he had not come to the Church nor receiued theyr Sacrament of the Aultar nor bene ready to doe his duetye as the law had commaunded yet there shewing his mind sayd that he liked well the man for such as haue bene sayd he earnest in euill thinges will also be earnest in that that is good and godly if once they be wonne Thus as this Spirituall father was commending his carnall child and rather preferring him to hell fire thē vnto the sincere word and commaundementes of GOD it chaunced amongest many others in the chamber was one of the portmen of the same towne named Smart an earnest member of theyr Romish law doing of a very conscience that he did who after the death of Queene Mary lyued not many yeares but rendred his life in godly repentaunce protesting that if God should suffer him to liue he woulde neuer be the man he had bene before what lawes so euer should come agayne so that before the time of hys sicknes he frequenting earnestly the Sermons in the same Towne by diuers godly learned woulde weepe as it had bene a childe being notwithstanding of courage as stout a manne as any was in Ipswich Such is the maruellous mercy of God in calling to his kingdome whom when he pleaseth This portman aforesayd perceiuing the Bishop thus as it were at an end with the sayd Moone and so he lyke to be discharged sayd vnto the Bishop my Lord in deed I haue a good hope in the man and that he will be conformable but my Lord he hath a perrillous woman to his wife For I will tell you my Lorde she neuer came to Churche yet since the Queenes reigne except it were at Euensong or when shee was Churched And not then vntill Masse were done Wherfore your good Lordship might do a good deed to cause her to come before you and to see if ye coulde do any good And therefore I beseech your good Lordshyp to commaund him to pray her to come before your Lordshippe At the which words Moone was somewhat styrred in that he sayde commaunde him to pray her to come before your Lordship And he sayd vnto him vnder my Lordes correction I speake I am as able to cōmaund her to come before my Lorde as ye are to commaund the worst boy in your house Yea my Lord sayd the other I cry your Lordship mercy I haue informed your Lordship with an vntroth if this be so But if he be so able as he saith he might haue commaunded her to haue come to Church in all thys time if it had pleased him Well sayde the Bishop looke ye come before me agayne at afternoone and bring your wife with you I will talke with her As my Lordes dinner at that time was seruing vppe Moone departed and taryed not to take parte thereof hauing such an hard breakefast geuen him before to digest At afternoone Moone delayed and wayted his time bethinking whē he might most conueniently come especially whē his accuser his wiues shoulde not haue bene there And accordinge to the commaundement came with his wife which was not so secretly but his accuser had knowledge thereof and came with all expedition in such poste speede that in a maner he was windlesse entring into the bishops chamber The Bishoppe hearing that Moone and his wife were come called for them and sayd to Moone is this your wife Moone Yea my Lord sayd he O good Lord sayd the Byshop how a man may be deceiued in a woman I promise you a man would take her for as honest a woman by all outward appearaunce as can be Why my Lorde sayde Moones wife I trust there is none that can charge me with any dishonesty as cōcerning my body I defy all the worlde in that respect Nay quoth the Bishop I meane not as concerning the dishonesty of thy bodye but thou hadst bene better to haue geuen the vse of thy body vnto xx sundry men thē to doe as thou hast done For thou hast done as much as in thee lyeth to plucke the King and the Queenes maiesties out of theyr royal seates through thy disobedience in shewing thy selfe an open enemy vnto Gods lawes theyr proceedinges Then began the Bishop to examine the said Moone agayne with the aforesayd Articles and his wife also And hearing her husband relēt did also affirme the same whiche turned vnto either of them no small trouble of minde afterwarde but yet neither were they like thus to escape but that in the meane time Dunning the Bishops Chaūcellour came vp in great haste and brought newes to the Bishop that there were such a number of hereticks come of which some came from Boxford some from Lanham about from the Cloth Country that it would make a man out of his wittes to heare them and there are amōg them both heretickes and Anabaptistes sayd
fire and there also with the sely mother most cruelly burnt In teÌ„der consideration whereof and for so much as this bloudy murther was not in due order of any law or in any maner according to iustice but of meere malicious hatred as the true copy of the whole procedinges in this matter by the sayd Deane and his accomplices here ready to be shewed to your honours will make very playne and manifest It may therefore please your good and gracious Lordships of the zeale that you beare to iustice and for our Lord Iesu Christes sake to haue due consideration in iustice of such horrible murther so cruelly committed as aforesayd according to the right demerite therof And that it may please your honourable Lordships to order decree also that all the goods of all the sayd parties by pretence aforesayd wrongfully taken as confiscate may be deliuered to your sayd poore beseecher to whom of right they do belong And your honors sayd Suppliant will dayly pray to God for your long preseruation to his glory and your euerlasting health This supplication being presented in maner aforesaid to the Queenes honourable Commissioners in the yeare 1562. such order therein was taken that the matter beyng returned agayne downe to the sayd country further to be examined the Deane therupon was committed to prison and dispossessed of all his liuinges So that in conclusion both he and all other partakers of that bloudy murther whether of conscience or feare of the law were driuen not long after to acknowledge theyr trespasse and to submitte themselues to the Queenes Pardon The tenour of whose seuerall submissioÌ„s as they are left in the Rolles I thought here to publish to the world for a memoriall of more truth of this story * The seuerall submission of certayne Garnesey men confessing theyr trespasse in the wrongfull condemnation of the three women aboue specified HElyer Gosseline of the Parish of Saynt Peter le porte in Garnesey Marchaunt Nicholas Carie the elder Iohn Marchant Peter Bonamie of the Parish of Saint Martin and Nicholas Martin Sonne of Iohn hauyng humbly submitted themselues to the Queenes most excellent Maiestye acknowledging theyr erroneous Iudgementes aswell agaynst Katherine Cawches and Guillemine and Perotine her two Daughters and the Infant of the sayd Perotine executed by fire for supposed heresy as also for the acquiting of Nicholas Normain a wilfull murtherer and other matters conteined in theyr seuerall Submissions praye the Queenes Maiestyes Pardon for the sayd crimes and others coÌ„mitted in theyr seuerall submissions Iohn Blondell the elder of the Parish of Saynt Sauiour within the Isle of Garnesey vppon lyke Submission and acknowledging of his offence prayth like grace and Pardon for his consent geuen to the execution of the sayd three women Richard de Uike of the Parish of saynt Peter le port Marchant prayeth like grace and pardon for his consent and Iudgement geuen for the acquitting of the sayd Norman according to his Supplication and Submission late presented by Peter Bonamie the same De Uike and Peter Pelley of the Parish of Saynt Peter le port Marchauntes The sayd Peter Pelley prayeth the benefite of the said Pardon to be extended vnto him according to his submismission in the sayd supplication Iaques Amy Clerke prayeth the benefite of the sayde pardon for his sentence with the Clergies against the said women according to his Submission Thomas Effart of the Parish of Saynt Peter le port humbly prayeth as procurour lawfully constituted by the Chapiter Bailiffe and Iurates that the same pardoÌ„ may extend to acquite all the inhabitantes of the sayd Isle of the arrerages c. ¶ The Copy of the Queenes pardon folowing vpon ther Submission as in forme here vnder ensueth REgina omnibus ad quos c. Salutem Sciatis quod nos de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostris pardonauimus remissimus relaxauimus ac pro nobis haeredibus successoribus nostris per praesentes pardonamus remittimus relaxamus Hillerio Gosselyne de Parochia sancti Petri in Portu infra insulam nostram de Garnesey Mercatori Iohanni Blundell de Parochia Sancti Saluatoris infra praedictam insulam de Garnesey seniori Marchant Nicolao Carie seniori de dicta Parochia sancti Petri in Portu infra eandem insulam de Garnesey Mercatori Ioanni Marchant de eisdem Parochia in insula Generoso Nicolao Martin filio Iohannis de dicta Parochia sancti Petri in Portu infra praedictam insulam de Garnesey Mercatori Richardo Deuike de dicta Parochia sancti Petri in Portu infra praedictam insulam de Garnesey Mercatori Petro Pelley de dicta Parochia sancti Petri in Portu infra praedictam insulam de Garnesey Mercatori Iacobo Amy de Parochia saÌ„cti Saluatoris infra dictam insulam de Garnesey Clerico eorum cuilibet coniuÌ„ctim diuisim seu quocunque alio nomine siue quibuscunque alijs nominibus cognominibus siue additionibus nominis vel cognominis officiorum artium vel locorum ijdem Hillerius Nic. Carie Iohannes Nicholaus Martin Iohannes Blundell Richardus Petrus Iacobus censeantur voceÌ„tur siue nuncupentur aut nuper censebantur vocabentur siue nuncupabantur aut quocunque alio nomine seu cognomine aut additione nomininis vel cognominis dignitatis officij artis aut lo ci aliqui eorundem Hillerij Nicolai Carie Iohannis Marchant Nicolai Martin Iohannis Blundel Richardi Petri Iacobi censeantur voceÌ„tur siue nuncupentur aut nuper censebantur vocabantur siue nuncupabantur omnia omnimoda murdra homicidia felonias felonicas intersectiones Katherinae Cauches Guilleminae Perotinae filiarum eiusdem Katherinae earum cuiusâ—â—bet ac accessarias earundem ac omnia singula felonias insultus verberationes vulnerationes combustiones transgressiones offensas riotas routas conuenticula illicita assemblationes congregationes insidiationes conspirationes accesâ—arias auxiliationes compercussiones procurationes abbettationes confortationes manutentiones concelamenta foresfacturas contemptus impetitiones negligentias alia malefacta quaecuÌ„que murdra homicidia felonicam interfectionem praedictaruÌ„ Kathetinae Guilleminae Perotinae seu alicuius earum tangen in aliquo seu concernen perpraefatos Hillerium Nicolaum Carie Iohannem Nicolaum Martin Iohannem Blundell Richardum Petrum Iacobum seu eorum aliquem vel aliquos ante praesentem diem qualitercunque fact habit commiss siue perpetrat ac omnes singulas fugam fugas quascunque per praefatos Hillarium Nicolaum Carie Iohannem Nicolaum Martin Iohannem Blundell Richardum Deuicke Petrum Pelley Iacobum Amy seu eorum aliquem siue aliquos ratione seu occasione murdra homicidia aut felon cam interfectionem praed fact siue habit adeo plene integrè ac in tam amplis modo forma prout si quilibet praedictorum Hillerij Gosseline Nicolai Carie Iohannis Marchant Nicholai Martin
number of Sacraments some graunting one sacrament that is the body of Christ hanging vpon the crosse some moe some lesse c. yet in the principal matter touching the doctrins of saluation for faith to stay vpon and in disagreing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish church they moste agreed Concerning the not praying to saints and for the deade in Purgatorie for not creepynge to the crosse for faith onely to iustifie for taking of an oth such other like he graunted as the other had done This father Archer by his occupation a Weauer of the towne of CraÌ„broke of the age of 50. yeres was attached and imprisonned by syr Iohn Gilforde knighte And thus haue yee the cause and imprisonment of these 5. godly prisoners Now as touching the cruelty of theyr death for that yee shal not surmise the suspicion or relation thereof to proceede of my selfe ye shall heare theyr own testimonie and certification by their owne letter thrown out of the prison concerning the vnmercifull dealing of the Catholicke tyrantes in famishing them as is aforesayde The woordes and copye of theyr letter is this The copie of a Letter wrytten and cast out of the Castle of Cant. by the prisoners there in bands for Gods word declaring how the Papistes went aboute to famishe them to death of the which companie fiue were famished amongest them all ready BE it knowen to all men that shall read or heare redde these our letters that we the pore prisoners of the Castle of Canterburie for Gods truth are kept and lie in cold yrons our keepers wil not suffer any meat to be brought to vs to comfort vs. And if any man do bring any thyng as bread butter cheese or any other foode the saide keeper wil charge them that so bring vs any thing except mony or raiment to carie it with them againe or els if he do receiue any foode of any for vs he doeth keepe it for himself and he and his seruaunts do spend it so that we haue nothing thereof and thus the keeper keepeth away our victuals from vs. In so muche that there are 4. of vs prisonners there for Gods truthe famished already and thus is it his minde to famish vs all and we thinke he is apoynted thereunto of the Bishops and priestes and also of the iustices so to famish vs and not onely vs of the saide Castel but also all other prisoners in other prisons for the lyke cause to be also famished notwithstanding we wryte not these our letters to that entent we moughte not aforde to be famished for the Lord Iesus sake but for this cause and entent that they hauing no law so to famish vs in prison should not doe it priuely but that the murtherers heartes should be openly knowen to all the world that all menne may know of what church they are who is their father Out of the Castel of Canterburie The trouble and vexation of good people in the Diocesse of Lichfield THese foresayde monethes of September Nouember and December as they were troublesome to diuers other places and especially to the Dioces of Canterburie by reason of the Archdeacon aboue named so likewyse they brought no little busines in the countrey of Lichfield and Couentrie by a cruel bishop there called Rafe Bane and a more cruell Chauncellor named Doctour Draycot through the fierce inquisition of whome great stirre was there amonge the people being called to examination for theyr Faith and many caused to beare fagottes Who althoâ—h they were not put to the torment of death yet because it may appeare what a number there is in the countrys of England abroade which in theyr hearts haue a misliking of the Popes Romish lawes and religion if for fear they durst vtter theyr mindes I thought to make a rehearsall of theyr names which in the foresayde Diocesse of Couentrie and Lichfielde were taken in suspicion and examined for theyr Religion And first amongst them that were detected and inioyned to the popish penance that is to beare a fagot candel and beades about in procession were Agnes Forman detected examined and by witnesse conuicted and bare a fagot the 12. of Septemb. Likewise Margery Kirry Thomas Norreis Thomas Stiffe William Kayme Robert Katrenes Thomas Smith Iohn Borsley the younger Iteâ— Iohn Waterhouse against whom came in witnesse and accusers Richarde Caterbanke I. Edge William Smith Robert Cooke laying against him for seldome coÌ„ming to the Churche for geuing no reuerence at the leuation of the Sacrament but looking vpon his booke for not kissing the paxe c. Robert Bissel Leonard West Richard Baily of the parish of Whiteacre These were depriued Nicholas Cartwright Doctor Richard Iurdian Priest Edmund Crokel Priest Thomas Whitehead Priest William Taylour Priest Anselme Sele Priest Richard Slauie Priest maryed Edward Hawes Priest maried Robert Aston Priest depriued Henry Tecka Priest depriued Rob. Mossey priest maried depriued Beside these were diuers other which in like sort were detected accused and examined although they bare no fagot but were dimissed as Richard Kempe Iohn Frankling William Marler Ielius Dudley Eustache Bysacre William Shene Antonie Afterwittel Tho. Steilbe Henry Birdlim William Mosley Iohn Leeche Iohn Richardson Anthony Iones alias Pulton Thom. Wilson Thomas Lynacres and Hugh Lynacres hys sonne Isabel Parker Martine Newman William Enderby Cicely Preston Thomas Saulter Ihon Stamford shomaker Richard Woodburne Thomas Arnall Shoomaker Iohn Robinson Hugh More Shoomaker Iohn Adale Thomas Arche Fraunces Warde Iohn Auines Richard Foxal Thomas Underdoune Rich. Weauer The next moneth following being October came vnder examination Ioyce Lewes gentlewoman of whome we deferre to speake vntil the next yeare at what time she was burned These forenamed persones with many moe folowing in the next yeare after although they did subscribe and relent through feare of death yet for thys cause I doe heere recite them that by them it myght appeare what a number there were not onely in the countrey of Lichfield but also in other parties in heart set against the Popes procedings if that feare rather then conscience had not compelled them to the contrary ⧠The conclusion of this XI Booke with a briefe storie of Syr Iohn Cheeke c. ANd thus haue yee the whole persecution of thys yere declared which was the yeare of our Lord 1556. and the fourth of Quene Maries raigne with the names and causes of all them which suffered Martyrdome within the compasse of the sayd yeare the number of all which slayne Martyred in diuers places of England at sundry times this yere came to aboue 84. persons whereof many were women wines widowes and maidens besides them which otherwise by secreate practise were made awaye or driuen out of goodes and houses or out of the Realme or els within the realme were put to penaunce and coacted by forceable violence to recante saue onely that I haue omitted the story of Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight
of diuine seruice 13 Item if there be any that doe practise or exercise any artes of Magike or Necromancy or do vse or practise any Incantations Sorceries or witchcraft or be vehemently suspected therof 14 Item whether any be maried in the degrees of affinity or consanguinitye prohibited by the Lawes of holye church or that do mary the banes not asked or do make any priuy contractes 15 Item whether in the time of Easter last any were not confessed or did not receiue the blessed sacrament of the aultar or did reuerētly behaue themselues in the receiuing thereof 16 Item whether any do keepe any secret conuenticles preachinges lectures or readinges in matters of religion contrary to the lawes 17 Item whether any do now not duly keep the fasting and embring dayes 18 Item whether the aultars in the Churches be consecrated or no. 19 Item whether the Sacrament be caryed deuoutly to them that fall sicke with light and with a little Sacring Bell. 20 Item whether the common scholes be well kept and that the scholemaisters be diligent in teathing and be also Catholicke and men of good and vpright iudgemēt that they be examined and approued by the Ordinary 21 Item whether any do take vpon them to minister the goodes of those that be dead without authority from the Ordinary 22 Itē whether the poore people in euery parish be charitably prouided for 23 Item whether there do burne a Lampe or a Candle before the sacramēt And if ther do not that then it be prouided for with expedition 24 Item whether infantes children be brought to be confirmed in conuenient time 25 Item whether any do keepe or haue in theyr custody any erroneous or vnlawfull bookes 26 Item whether any do withhold any mony or goodes bequeathed to the amending of the high wayes or any other charitable deede 27 Item whether any haue put away theyr wyues or any wiues do withdraw thēselues from theyr husbandes being not lawfully diuorced 28 Item whether any do violate or breake the sondaies and holy dayes doing theyr daily labors exercises vpon the same 29 Item whether the Tauernes or Alehouses vpon the sondayes and holy dayes in the time of Masse matins and Euensong do keepe open theyr doores and do receiue people into theyr houses to drink and eat and therby neglect theyr dueties in comming to the church 30 Item whether any haue or do depraue or contemne the authority or Iurisdiction of the Popes holynes or the See of Rome 31 Item whether any Minstrels or any other persons do vse to sing any songes against the holy sacramēts or any other the rites and ceremonies of the church 32 Itē whether there be any hospitals within your parishes whether the foundations of them be duely truly obserued and kept And whether the charitable contributions of the same be done accordingly 33 Item whether any goodes plate iewels or possessions be taken away or withholden from the sayd Hospitals and by whom ¶ A History of tenne Martyrs condemned and burned within the Dioces of Caunterbury for the testimony of Iesus Christ and trueth of his Gospell MEntion was made a little before of the persecution in Kent pag. 1860. Where we declared that fiftene were in the Castle of Canterbury imprisoned and cōdemned for Gods word Of the which fiftene moreouer we shewed declared fiue to be famished vnto death within the said castle and buryed by the high waye about the beginning of Nouember The other tenne in the first month of the next yeare folowing which was the yeare of our Lord. 1557. were committed vnto the fire and there cōsumed to ashes by Thornton called Bishop or Suffragane of Douer otherwise called Dicke of Douer and by Nicholas Harpsfield the Archdeacon of the sayd Prouince The names of these tenne godly and Christian Martyrs be these Iohn Philpot of Tēterden W. Waterer of Bedingden Stephen Kempe of Norgate W. Haye Hythe Thomas Hudsonne of Salenge Mat. Bradbridge of Tenterden Thomas Stephens of Bedingden Nich. Finall of Tenterden W. Lowicke of Crābroke W. Prowting of Thornhā What the ordinarye articles were commonly obiected to them of Canterbury Dioces is before rehearsed Pag. 1672. saue onely that to some of these as to them that folowed after as the time of theyr persecution did growe so theyr articles withall did encrease to the number of two twenty conteining such like matter as serued to the mainteinaunce of the Romish See To these articles what theyr answeres were likewise needed here no great rehearsall seeing they all agreed together though not in the same fourme of woordes yet in much like effecte of purposes first graunting the Churche of Christ and denying the Church of Rome denying the seuen Sacramentes refusing the Masse and the hearing of Latine Seruice praying to Saynctes iustification of works c And though they did not al answere vniformely in some smaller thinges as theyr learning serued them yet in the most principall and chiefest matters they did not greatly discord c. ¶ The burning of sixe Martyrs at Caunterbury Of these tenne Godly Martyrs of Christe sixe were burned at Canterbury about the fiftene of Ianuary that is Kempe Waterer Prowting Lowike Hudson and Haye Other two that is Stephēs and Philpot at Wye about the same moneth Other two which were Finall Bradbrige were burned both together at Ashford the xvj of the same The next moneth folowing whiche was Februarye came out an other bloudy Commission from the king and Queene to kindle vp the fire of persecution as though it were not hoate enough already the contentes of whiche Commission I thought here not to pretermit not for lack of matter whereof I haue too much but that the Reader may vnderstand how kinges princes of this world like as in the first persecutions of the primitiue Church vnder Ualerianus Decius Maximian Dioclesian Licinius c. so now also in these latter perillous dayes haue set out all theyr maine force and power with lawes policy authorit to the vttermost they coulde deuise agaynst Christe and his blessed gospel And yet notwithstāding al these lawes constitutions Iniunctions and terrible proclamations prouided agaynst Christ and his Gospell Christ yet styll continueth his gospel florisheth truth preuaileth kings and Emperors in their owne purposes ouerthrown their deuises dissolued theyr counselles confounded as exāples both of this of all times ages do make manifest But now let vs heare the intent of this Commission in tenor as foloweth ¶ A bloudy Commission geuen forth by King Philip and Queene Mary to persecute the poore members of Christ. PHilip and Mary by the grace of God king Queene of England c. To the right reuerend Father in God our right trusty welbeloued Counsellour Thomas B. Elye and to our right trusty welbeloued Williā Windsore knight L. Winsore Edw. North knight L. North and to our trusty welbeloued Counsellours Io.
mindfull of my bloud Wint. Now you may see hee will not aunswere to these but as he hath aforesayd Then spake the Counterfeit Ordinary agayne and sayd Counterf My Lord aske him what he sayth to the Sacrament of the aultar Then the Byshop asked me as my Counterfeit Ordinary required him Grat. My Lord I doe beleue that in the sacrament of the Supper of the Lord truely ministred in both kinds according to the institution of Christ vnto the worthy receauer he eateth mistically by fayth the body and bloud of Chryst. Then I asked him if it were not the truth And hee sayde yes Then sayd I beare witnesse of the truth Winchester Then the Bishop of Winchester whose head being subtilest to gather vpon my wordes sayd My Lord see you not how he creepeth away with his heresies and couereth them priuely Note how hee here seperateth the Sacrament of the aulter from the supper of the Lord meaning it not to be the true sacrament also how he condemneth our ministration in one kinde and alloweth that the vnworthy receauer doth not eate and drinke the body and bloud of Christ which be sore matters truely wayed being couered very craftely with his subtill shiftes of sophistry but he shall aunswere directly or euer he depart Grat. My Lord this is but your gathering of my wordes for you before confessed the same sayinges to be the truth this you catch at me and fayne woulde haue a vauntage for my bloud but seeing you iudge me not to meane the sacramēt of the aultar nowe come to the probatiō of the same sacrament and proue it to be the true sacrament and I am with you or els if you can proue your Church to be the true Church I am also with you But then he called to memory the last probation of the Churche and sacramentes howe hee before was driuen to forsake the scriptures and to shew me by good reason how they might minister the sacrament in one kinde his reason was this Like as a man or woman dyeth on a sodayn and so when we haue geuen him the body of Christ in the meane time the partie dyeth and so he eateth the bodye of Christ not drinketh his bloud And this was his simple shift in the prouing of their Sacramentes so that he was now halfe abashed to begin that matter agayne But yet a little subtile shift he brought in and sayd Winc. What sayest thou by the administration of the priests euery day for them selues and they minister in bothe kindes To that I aunswered you haue two administrations for I am sure at Easter you minister but in one kinde and therfore it is not according to the institution of Christ but after your owne imaginations Winc. Why then what sayest thou to these wordes Take eate this is my body These are the wordes of Christe Wilt thou deny them Grat. My Lord they are the words of scripture I affirme them and not deny them Rochest Why then thou doest confesse in the sacrament of the aulter to be a reall presence the selfe same body that was borne of the Uirgine Mary and is ascended vp into heauen Grat. My Lord what do you now meane do you not also meane a visible body for it cannot be but of necessitie if it be a reall presence and a materiall body it must be a visible body also Winc. Nay I say vnto thee it is a reall presence and a materiall body and an inuisible body to Grat. My Lord then it must needes be a phantastical body for if it shoulde bee materiall and inuisible as you affirme then it must needes be a phantasticall body for it is aparaunt that Christes humayne body was visible and seene Winc. Then the Bishop brake out and said when diddest thou see him I pray thee tell me Grat. To that I aunswered and sayd a simple argument it is Because our corporall eyes cannot comprehend christ doth that proue or follow that he is inuisible because wee cannot see him Winc. And with that the Bishop began to waxe weary of his argument and remoued his talke to Iudas in eatyng the sacrament said he eat him wholy as the Apostles did Grat. And then I asked him if he meant Christes flesh and bloud the which he speaketh of in the 6. of Iohn and saith he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall lyfe in me Winc. To that he aunswered and sayd yea Grat. Then sayd I of necessitie Iudas must needes be saued because hee eate the fleshe and dranke the bloude of Christ as you haue affirmed and also all the vngodly that dye without repentance because they haue eaten your sacrament which you say is the flesh bloud of Christ therfore of necessitie they shall receiue the benefite thereof that is eternall life Which is a great absurditie to graunt then of necessitie it must follow that all that eate not drynke not of your sacrament shall finally pearish and bee damned for Christ sayth except you eate my fleshe and drinke my bloud you can haue no life in me And you haue afore sayd that your sacrament which you say is the same flesh bloud that Christ speaketh of and here I proue that all children then that dye vnder age to receaue the sacrament by your owne argument they must be damned whiche is horrible blasphemy to speake Nowe here I turne your owne argument vpon you aunswere it if you can Winc. My Lord do you not see what deceitful arguments he bringeth in here agaynst vs mingled with sophistry keepeth himselfe in vauntage so that we can get no holde vpon him But I say vnto thee thou peruerse hereticke I see now thou art a peruerse fellowe I had a better opinion of thee but now I see we lose our time about thee yet I aunswere thee S. Paule doth open the sixte of Iohn playne if thou wilt see for he sayth they eate Christes body and drinke his bloud vnworthely and that was the cause of their damnation Grat. My Lord take heede ye doe not adde vnto the texte for he that addeth vnto the text is accursed of God and I am sure here you haue brought more then Paule hath spoken for he sayth not because they haue eaten his body and dronke his bloud vnworthily but S. Paule sayth Who so euer shall eate of this bread and drinke of the Cuppe vnworthely shall be giltie of the body and bloud of Christ. Note my lord he saith not as you haue affirmed but clene contrary And with that they were all in a great rage Winch. And the bish of Winchester said I belied the text Grat. And then I called for the text Winch. And he said I asked thee euen now if thou vnderstoodest Latine and thou saidest whether I can or no the people shall beare witnesse in English Grat. And so I called againe for the Testament whether it were Latin or English for the
Robert Maynard the Bayliffe and such like which Maynard commonly when he sate in iudgment vpon life and death would sit sleeping on the Bench many times so careful was his mind on his Office Further shee willed halting Gospellers to beware of bloud for that would cry for vengeaunce c. And in the end she told them all laying her hand on the Barre if they dâ—d not repent their wicked doynges therin that vndoubtedly the very barre should be a witnes agaynst them at the day of iudgement that they had there that day shed innocente bloud This Elizabeth Folkes the day before she was condemned was examined onely vpon this article whether she beleued that there was a Catholicke Church of Christ or no. Unto which she answered Yea. Then was she immediately by Bowsels meanes the Scribe deliuered vnto her vncle Holt of the same towne of Colchester to keep who caried her home vnto hys house shee being there might haue departed thence many tymes if she had wold for there was meanes offered to conuey her awaye But she hearyng that some doubted that shee hadde yealded to the Pope although it was most vntrue would in no wise content her selfe but wept and was in suche anguishe of minde and terrour of conscience that no remedye shee woulde to the Papistes agayne for any perswasions that could bee and commyng before them at Cosins house at the white Harte in Colchester she was at vtter defiaunce with them and their doctrine and so had as ye haue heard in the end a papisticall reward as the rest of her brethren had ¶ The Lordes faythfull prisoners in Colchester Castle WIlliam Munt of Muchbentley in Essex of the age of 61. yeares sayde that the sacrament of the Aultar was an abhominable Idoll and that if he should obserue any part of their popish proceedinges he should dysplease God and bring his curse vpon him and therfore for feare of his vengeaÌ„ce he durst not doe it This good father was examined of many thinges but God be thanked he stoode to the truth and in the end therfore had sentence of condemnation read agaynst hym Iohn Iohnson of Thorpe in Essex wydower of the age of xxxiiii yeares was examined as the rest and made answere in suche sorte as the Papistes counted them none of theirs and therefore condemned him with theyr bloudye senteÌ„ce as they had done the rest before This Ioh. Iohnson affirmed that in the receauing of the sacrament accordyng to Christes institution he receiueth the body of christ spiritually c. Alice Munt the wife of the sayde William Munt of the age of xli yeares being also examined as the rest sayd and confirmed the same in effect as her husband dyd and was therefore also condemned by their bloudy sentence in lyke maner Rose Allyn mayd the daughter of the sayd Alice Munt of the age of twenty yeares being examined of auricular confession goyng to the church to heare Masse of the Popish seuen sacramentes c. aunswered stoutlye that they stanke in the face of God and she durst not haue to do with them for her life neyther was she she sayde anye member of theirs for they were the members of Antichriste and so shuld haue if they repented not the reward of Antichrist Being asked further what she could saye of the Sea of the Bishop of Rome whethere she would obey hys authoritie or no she aunswered boldly that she was none of hys As for hys See quoth she it is for Crowes kytes owles and Rauens to swimme in such as you be for by the grace of God I shall not swimme in that See while I lyue neither will I haue any thing to doe therewith Then read they the sentence of condemnation agaynst her and so sent her vnto prison agayne vnto the rest where she song with great ioy to the wonder of many Thus these poore condemned Lambes beyng deliuered into the handes of the secular power were committed agayn euery one vnto the Prison from whence they came where they remayned with much ioy great comfort in continuall reading and inuocating the name of God euer looking and expecting the happy day of their dissolution In which time the cruell Papistes left not their mischieuous attemptes agaynst them although they would seeme now to haue no more to doe with theÌ„ for bloudy Boner whose throte neuer cryed ho shortly aâ—ter got a writ for the burning of the foresayd ten good creatures and to shewe the more dilligence in the cause he sent hys owne trusty man downe with it named Edward Cosin and with hym also his letter for the furtheraunce of the matter the thirtye day of Iuly the next month after the condemnation The writ being thus receiued of the sayde Bayliffes they hauing then no leysure thereaboutes appoynted the day of the executioÌ„ therof to be the second day of August next following And because the faythfull soules were in two seuerall Prisons as the Castle was for the Countrey and Mote Hall for the Towne therfore it was agreed among them that they in Mote Hall should be burnt in the forenoone and those at the Castle by the Sheriffe of the Shyre in the after noone as here thou mayest see it more playne how it came to passe accordingly ¶ The martyrdome of three men and three women at Colchester burned in the forenoone besides 4 other burned at after noone When all sixe were also nayled likewise at their stakes and the fire about them they clapped their handes for ioy in the fire that the standers by which were by estimation thousandes cryed generally all almost The Lord strengtheÌ„ them the Lord comfort them the Lord poure his mercies vpon them with such like wordes as was wonderfull to heare Thus yealded they vp theyr soules and bodyes into the Lordes handes for the true testimony of his trueth The Lord graunt we may imitate the same in the like quarrell if hee so vouche vs worthye for hys mercies sake Amen In like manner the sayde day in the afternoone was brought forth into the Castle yard to a place appoynted for the same W. Munt Iohn Iohnson Alice Munt and Rose Allyn aforesayd which godly constant persons after they had made theyr praiers and were ioyfully â—yed to the stakes calling vpon the name of God and exhorting the people earnestly to flee from Idolatry suffered their martyrdome with such triumphe and ioye that the people did no lesse showte therat to see it then at the other that were burnt the same day in the morning Thus ended all these glorious x. soules that day their happy liues vnto the Lord whose ages all did growe to the summe of 406. yeares or thereaboutes The Lord graunt we may well spend our yeares and dayes likewise to his glory Amen ¶ Iohn Thurston dyed in Colchester Castle BEfore you haue heard of the taking of one I. Thurston at Muchbentley in the house of one William Munt
sithens the 10. day of Ianuarie last or to vse receiue or alow any ceremonies sacramēts or other rites then vsed in the church To all these Articles he answeared affirmatiuely denieng precisely none of them sauing to this clause contained in the 12. article that a man is not bounde to fast and pray but at his owne will pleasure he sayde that he had affirmed no such thing but he confessed that he had not fasted nor prayed so oft as he was bounde to doe And vnto this answer he also subscribed in this sorte Except it be prooued otherwise by the holy Scripture I doe affirme these articles to be true By me Rafe Allerton The next examination was the fourth daye of Iulie The actes whereof because they do appeare more amply in hys other examination had the 10. daye of September I doe heere omit geuing you farther to vnderstande that vppon the seuenth daye of the same moneth of Iulie hee was brought before Doctor Darbishiere in the Byshops Palace who examined him againe vppon the former Articles and after perswaded him to recant threatning hym that otherwise he should be burned To whome he boldly answeared I woulde I mighte be condemned euen to morrowe for I perceiue my Lord meaning Boner doth nothing but seeke mennes bloud Uppon whiche sayinge Darbishire committed him againe to prisone and the 10. day of September the Bishop caused him with the other thre aboue named to be brought vnto Fulham and there in his priuate Chappell wythin his house hee iudiciallye propounded vnto him certaine other newe Articles of the whyche the tenours of the first fifte sixte and seuenth are already mentioned in the seconde thirde and fourthe former obiections as for the rest the contentes thereof here followeth Thou Rafe Allerton canst not denie but that the Information geuen against thee and remaining now in the Actes of this court of thine Ordinarie Edmunde Bishop of London was and is a true information This information was geuen by Tho. Tie Curate of Bentley of whome yee haue already heard and certaine other of the same parishe and affinitie as namelye Iohn Painter William Harris Iohn Barker Iohn Carter Thomas Candeler Ieffrey Bestwoode Iohn Richarde Richard Meere The effect whereof was that one Laurence Edwards of Bentley aforesayde had a child that was vnchristened and being demaunded by the sayde Tye whye hys childe was not Baptised he made aunsweare it should be when he coulde finde one of his religion meaning a true professour of Christes gospell Whereat the Curate sayd Ah ye haue hadde some instructer that hathe schooled yo◠of late Yea quoth the sayd Edwardes that I haue and if youre doctrine be better then his then I will beleeue you and therewithall fondly offered to fetch him Wherupon the Cōstable going with him they brought before the said curate the said Rafe Allerton of whome in this information they make this reporte that he was a seditious person who sithens his comming down from the bish had set vpon the Constables doore certaine seditious Letters moouing and perswading thereby the people to folow his malicious disobedience and that these his perswasions had taken effecte in manye And farther that the saide Rafe Allerton the Curate asking him whether he had instructed thys Laurence Edwardes that it was agaynst Gods commandement to enter into the church casting abroad his hands should say Oh good people now is fulfilled the saying of the godly Priest and Prophet Esdras who sayeth The fire of a multitude is kindled against a fewe they haue taken away their houses spoiled their goods c. Which of you all haue not seen this day who is he here amongest you that seeth not all these things done vpon vs this day The church which they call vs vnto is the church of Antichrist a persecuting church and the church malignant With these and many mo words said they most maliciously and falsly alledged out of the Scriptures he thus perswaded a great multitude there present as muche as in him lay vnto disobedience For the which cause the constables did then apprehend him 3. Item thou Rafe Allerton canst not denie but that the letter sent vnto me by my Lorde Darcie beginning wyth these woordes pleaseth it your Lordship c. was thine owne letter and was subscribed by thine owne hand The contents of the letter mentioned in this Article and wrytten by Allerton vnto the Lorde Darcie was a confession of his demeanor before his first apprehension the effect and purport whereof because it appeareth in the beginning of this his Historie I doe heere omit 4. Item thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny but that the other letter sent also to me from my said Lord Darcy beginning thus pleaseth it youre Lordship c. and ending with these woordes whensoeuer it be is thine owne very letter and subscribed with thine owne hand This was also an other letter wrytten by hym vnto the Lorde Darcie the contents whereof were that where the said Lorde had commaunded him to declare where he had bene euer sithens Whitsontide last before hys first apprehension this was to certifie his Lordship that he was not able so to do otherwise then as he had already shewed him by his former letters And moreouer where as hee charged him to haue read vnto the people abroade in the woodes he certified him that he did neuer read any thyng abroad sauing once whē he was in the cōpany of George Eagles and others Richarde Roth tooke a wryting out of his bosome and desired the saide Rafe to read it which request heethen accomplished and demaunding of hym whose doing the same was the said Roth told that it was maister Cranmers late Archbishop of Canterburie and farther he could not shew him Neuertheles he was ready and willing to suffer such punishment as his lordship should thinke meete desiring yet that the same myghte be with fauour and mercye although hee feared neither punishment nor death praying the Lord that it might be in his feare when soeuer it should be 8. Item thou Rafe Allerton canst not denie but that the letters wrytten with bloud beginning with these words Grace mercy and peace c. and ending thus Farewell in God remaining nowe Registred in the Actes of thys Court were wrytten voluntarily with thine owne hand He wrote this letter in the prison with bloud for lacke of other inke and did meane to send the same vnto Agnes Smith alias Siluerside at that time imprisoned and afterwardes burned at Colchester for the testimonie of the Gospell of Christe as before is mencioned The Copie of which letter heere ensueth A letter wrytten by Rafe Allerton vnto Agnes Smith Widowe GRace mercy and peace from God the father and from our Lord Iesus Christ with the assistance of Gods holy spirite and the aboundant health both of soule and body I wish vnto you as to mine owne soule as GOD knoweth who is the searcher of all secretes Forasmuch as it hath pleased
vnto death Feare it not saith Christ for I haue ouercome death saith he Oh deare hearts seeing that Iesus Christ will be our helpe oh tary you the Lordes laisure Be strong let your hearts be of good comfort wait you stil for the Lord. He is at hand Yea the angel of the lord pitcheth his tent rounde about them that feare him and deliuereth them which way he seeth best For our liues are in the lords hands and they can doe nothing vnto vs before God suffer theÌ„ Therefore geue all thankes to God Oh deare hearts you shall be clothed with long white garments vpon the mount Sion with the multitude of Saintes and with Iesus Christ our Sauiour which will neuer forsake vs. Oh blessed virgins ye haue plaied the wise virgines part in that you haue taken oyle in your lamps that ye may go in with the bride grom when he commeth into the euerlasting ioy wyth hym But as for the folish they shal be shut out because they made not theÌ„selues ready to suffer with Christe neither goe about to take vp his crosse O deare hearts howe precious shall your death be in the sight of the Lord for deare is the death of his saintes O fare you well and pray The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be wyth you all Amen Amen Pray pray pray By me Rich. Roth wrytten with mine bloud This letter he confessed in dede vpon the sayd examination to haue wrytten with his bloude that he meant to haue sent the same vnto suche as were condempned at Colchester for the gospel of Iesus Christ and were afterwardes burned there as ye haue already heard The bish then farther asked him what he thought hys prison fellow Rafe Allerton to be He aunsweared that he thought hym to be one of the elect children of God and that if at any time heereafter he happened to be put to death for his faith and religion hee thought he shoulde die a true Martyr And moreouer finding him selfe agreued with the Bishoppes priuie and secrete condeÌ„ning of Gods people he said vnto him in this sort My Lord because the people should not see behold your doings ye cause me and others to be brought to our examinatioÌ„s by night being afraid belike to do it by day Foure Martyâ—s burned at Islington The Bishop not greatly caring for this talke proceeded to examine hym of other matters amongest whiche this high and waighty thyng was one videlicet how he did lyke the order and rites of the Churche then vsed here in England To whome he said that hee euer had and yet then did abhorre the same with all his heart Then diuers of the Bishops complices entreated and perswaded him to recant and aske mercy of the bishop No quoth Roth I will not aske mercy of hym that cannot geue it Wherupon he was as the rest before meÌ„tioned condemned and deliuered vnto the Shiriffe and the xvij day of September they all most ioyfully ended their lyues in one fire at Islington for the testimonie of Christ as before is declared ¶ Agnes Bongeor and Margaret Thurston two godly Christian women burnt at Colchester for the sincere professing of Christes Gospell A Little before gentle Reader was mention made often that suffred Martyrdome at Colchester pag. 2007. at whâ—ch tyme there were two other women also one called Margaret Thurston and the other Agnes Bongeor that should haue suffered with them and were likewyse condemned at the same tyme and place that the other aboue named ten were for the like cause and aunswered also in their examinations the like in effect as the other did But the one namely Margaret Thurston that 〈◊〉 she should suffer with those that went from the Castle was for that tyme deferred What the cause was the testimonie of Ioâ—e Cooke shal declare vnto vs. Which Ioâ—e Cooke the wife now of Iohn Sparke beyng then in the castle of Colchester for religion did demaund of this widow Thurston whose husband died in the prison being imprisoned for religion wherefore the sayd Margaret beyng a condemned woman should be reserued when the other suffred in the Castle Baily She aunswered that it was not for any feare of death but beyng prepared as the rest were that suffered the same day she felte in her selfe a great shiuering and trembling of the flesh Whereuppon forsaking the company she went aside to pray And whilest she was a praying she thought that she was lifted vp with a mighty wynd that came round about her Euen at that instant came in the Gaoler and company with hym whilest she turned her selfe to fetch her Psalter they tooke the other prisoners and left her alone Shortly after shee was remooued out of the Castle and put into the Towne prison where she continued vntill Friday seuennight after her company were burnt That day not two howers before her death she was brought to the Castell agayne where shee declared thus much to the aforesayde Ioane Cooke The other named Agnes Bongeor who should haue suffred in like maner with the 6. that went out of Motchal was also kept backe at that tyme but not in lyke sort because her name was wrong written within the writte as in the Bailiffes letters of Colchester sent to Boner about the same more plainely doth appeare in the booke of our first edition pag. 1632. The same morning the 2. of August that the sayd sixe in Motehall were called out to goe to their Martyrdome was Agnes Bongeor also called with them by the name of Agnes Bowyer Wherefore the Bailiffes vnderstaÌ„ding her as I sayd to be wrong named within the writ commanded the sayd Agnes Bongeor to prison agayne as ye haue heard in the letter before named and so from Motehall that day sent her to the Castle where shee remayned vntill her death But when she saw her selfe so separated from her sayd prison fellowes in that sort Oh good Lord what piteous mone that good woman made how bitterly shee wepte what strange thoughts came into her mynde how naked and desolate she esteemed her selfe and into what plunge of dispayre and care her poore soule was brought it was piteous and wonderful to see which all came because she went not with them to geue her lyfe in the defence of her Christ for of all thyngs in the world lyfe was least looked for at her hands For that morning in which she was kept backe from burnyng had she put on a smocke that she had prepared onely for that purpose And also hauyng a child a little yong Infant suckyng on her whom she kept with her tenderly all the tyme she was in prison agaynst the day likewyse did she send it away to another Nurse and prepared her selfe presently to geue her selfe for the testimonie of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ. So little did shee looke for lyfe and so greatly did Gods gifts worke in her aboue nature that death seemed a
great deale better welcome then lyfe But this tooke not effect at that time as she thought it would and therfore as I sayd was she not a little troubled Beyng in this great perplexitie of mynde a friend of hers came to her and required to knowe whether Abrahams obedience was accepted before God for that hee did sacrifice his sonne Isaac or in that he would haue offered hym Unto which she answered thus I know quoth she that Abrahams will before God was allowed for the deede in that he would haue done it if the Aungell of the Lorde had not stayed him but I said she am vnhappy the Lorde thinketh me not worthye of this dignitie and therfore Abrahams case and mine is not alyke Why quoth her friend would ye not willingly haue gone with your company if God should so haue suffered it Yes said she with all my hart and because I did not it is now my chiefe and greatest griefe Then said her friend My deare sister I pray thee consider Abraham and thy self well thou shalt see thou doest nothing differ with him in will at all Alas quoth she there is a farre greater matter in Abraham then in me for Abraham was tried with the offering of his owne childe but so am not I and therefore our cases are not lyke Good sister quoth her friend way the matter but indifferently Abraham I graunt sayd he would haue offered his sonne and haue not you done the lyke in your little suckyng babe But consider further then this my good sister sayd he where Abraham was commanded but to offer his sonne you are heuy and grieued because you offer not your selfe which goeth somewhat more neere you then Abrahams obedience did therefore before God assuredly is no lesse accepted allowed in his holy presence which further the preparing of your shroud also doth argue full well c. After which talke betweene them she began a little to stay her selfe and gaue her whole exercise to readyng and prayer wherein she found no little comfort In the tyme that these foresayd ij good women were prisoners one in the Castle the other in Motehall God by a secret meane called the sayd Margaret Thurston vnto his truth agayne who hauyng her eyes opened by the workyng of his spirit did greatly sorrow and lament her backsliding before and promised faithfully to the Lord in hope of his mercies neuer more while she liued to doe the like agayne but that she would constantly stand to the cōfession of the same against all the aduersaries of the crosse of Christ. After which promise made came in short tyme a writ from London for the burning of them which accordyng to the effect thereof was executed the 17. day of September in the yeare aforesayd * The burning of Margaret Thurston and Agnes Bongeor at Colchester to Laxfield to bee burned and on the next day mornyng was brought to the stake where was ready agaynst hys commyng the foresayd Iustice M. Thurstō one M. Waller then beyng vnder shiriffe and M. Tho. Louell beyng high Constable as is before expressed the which commanded men to make redy all things meete for that sinful purpose Nowe the fire in most places of the streete was put out sauyng a smoke was espied by the said Tho. Louell proceeding out from the top of a chimney to which house the shiriffe and Grannow his man went and brake open the dore and thereby got fire and brought the same to the place of execution When Iohn Noyes came to the place of execution When Iohn Noyes came to the place where he should be burned he kneeled downe and sayde the 50. Psalme with other prayers and then they making haste bound hym to the stake and beyng bounde the sayd Iohn Noyes sayd Feare not them that can kill the body but feare hym that can kill both bodye and soule and cast it into euerlastyng fire When he saw his sister weeping and making mone for him he bade her that she should not weepe for hym but weepe for her sinnes Then one Nich. Cadman beyng Hastler a valiaunt champion in the Popes affaires brought a fagotte and set agaynst him and the said Ioh. Noyes tooke vp the fagot and kissed it and sayd Blessed bee the tyme that euer I was borne to come to this Then he deliuered his Psalter to the vndershirife desiring him to be good to his wyfe and children to deliuer to her that same booke and the shiriffe promised hym that he would notwithstāding he neuer as yet performed his promise Then the sayd Iohn Noyes sayd to the people They say they can make God of a piece of bread beleeue them not Then sayd he good people beare witnes that I do beleeue to be saued by the merites passion of Iesus Christ and not by myne owne deedes and so the fire was kindled and burned about him and thē he sayd Lord haue mercy vpon me Christ haue mercy vppon me Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me ¶ The burnyng of Iohn Noyes Martyr And so he yelded vp his lyfe and when his body was burned they made a pit to bury the coales and ashes and amongst the same they found one of his feet that was vnburned whole vp to the anckle with the hose on and that they buried with the rest Now while he was a burnyng there stoode one Iohn Iaruis by a mans seruant of the same towne a plaine fellow which sayd Good Lorde how the sinewes of hys armes shrinke vp And there stood behynd hym one Gran now and Benet beyng the shiriffes men and they sayd to their maister that Iohn Iaruis said what villeine wretches are these And their maister bade lay hand on hym then they tooke hym and piniond hym and caried hym before the Iustice that same day and the Iustice did examine hym of the words aforesayd but he denied them and aunswered that he sayd nothing but this Good Lorde howe the sinews of his armes shrinke vp But for all this the Iustice did bynd his father and his maister in v. poundes a piece that he should be forth commyng at all tymes And on the Wednesday next hee was broughte agayne before these Iustices M. Thurston and M. Kene they sittyng at Fresingfield in Hoxton hundred and there they did appoint and commaund that the sayd Iohn Iaruis shoulde be set in the stockes the next market day and whipt about the market naked But his Maister one William Iaruis did after craue friendship of the Constables and they dyd not set him in the stockes till Sonday morning and in the after noone they did whip hym about the market wyth a dog whip hauyng three cords and so they let hym go Some doe geue that Iohn Iaruis was whipped for saying that Nich. Cadman was Noyes Hastler that is such one as maketh and hasteth the fire The copy of a certaine letter that he sent to comforte his Wyfe at such tyme as he lay
being then commaunded to appeare the Friday next following was brought vnto the Iustice Hall without Newgate where he had the like conflictes with the foresayde Bishoppe and diuers other Iustices At length he was assigned the Saterdaye folowing to be present in the Bishops consistory Court to heare his finall sentence At whiche day and place the sayd Examinate appearyng as he was commaunded the Byshop after other matter of communication asked hym if he knew any cause why the sentence should not be read agaynst hym To whom the sayd Mayster Gibson aunswered that the Bishoppe had nothing wherefor iustly to condemne him The Bishops reason was agayne obiected to him that men sayd he was an euil man To whom Gibson replying agayne yea sayth he and so may I saye of you also To be short after this and such other talke the Bishop hasted vnto the sentence Which being read Gibson yet agayne admonished to remember himselfe and to saue his soule sayd that he would not heare the Byshops babling and sayde moreouer boldly protesting and affirming that he was contrarye and an enemye to them all in his mind and opinion although he had afore time kepte it secret in minde for feare of the law And speaking to the bishop blessed sayd he am I that am cursed at your handes We haue noâ—hing now but thus will I. For as the bishop sayth so must it be And now heresy is to turne the trueth of Gods word into lyes and that do you meaning the bishop and his felowes Thus this valiaunt souldiour fighting for the Gospel and sincere doctrine of Gods trueth and religion agaynst falsehood and errour was committed with his felowes to the secular power And so these three godly men Iohn Hallingdale William Sparrow and Maister Gibson being thus appointed to the slaughter were the xij day after theyr condemnation which was the xviij day of the sayde Moneth of Nouember burnt in Smithfielde in London And beyng brought thyther to the stake after theyr prayer made they were bound thereunto with cheines and wood sette vnto them and after wood fire in the which being compassed about and the fierye flames consuming theyr fleshe at the last they yelded gloriously and ioyfully theyr soules and lyues into the holy bandes of the Lord to whose tuition and gouernement I commend thee good Reader Amen ¶ It is a litle aboue declared in this story of Richarde Gibson how Boner ministred vnto the layd Gibson certeyne Articles to the nuÌ„ber of nine Now let vs see lykewise the Articles which the sayde Gibson ministred agayne to Boner according to the same number of nine for him to aunswere vnto as by the same here vnder written may appeare ¶ Articles proponed by Richard Gibson vnto Edmund Boner Byshop of London by him to be aunswered be yea or nay or els to say he cannot tell 1. WHether the Scriptures of God written by Moyses other holy Prophetes of God through fayth that is in Christ Iesus is auayleable doctrine to make all men in all thinges vnto saluation learned without the helpe of anye other doctrine or no. 2. What is authority and from whence it commeth to whom it apperteineth and to what end it tendeth 3. Whether the holy word of God as it is written doth sufficiently teach all men of what dignity estate or calling by office so euer he or they be theyr full true and lawfull duety in theyr office and whether euery man of what dignity estate or calling by office so euer he or they be are bound vpon the payne of eternall damnation in all thinges to do as they are hereby taught commaunded and in no wise to leaue vndone any thing that is to be done being taught and commaunded by the same 4 Whether any man the Lorde Iesu Christ God and man onely except by the holye ordinaunce of God euer was is or shall be Lord ouer fayth and by what lawfull authority any man of what dignity estate or calling by office soeuer he or they be may vse Lordship or power ouer any man for fayth sake or for the secrecy of his conscience 5. By what lawfull authority or power any man of what dignity estate or calling so euer he or they be may be so bolde as to alter or chaunge the holy ordinaunces of God or any of them or any part of them 6. By what euident tokens Antichrist in his Ministers may bee knowne seing it is written that Sathan can chaunge himselfe in to the similitude of an Aungell of light and his ministers fashion themselues as though they were the Ministers of righteousnesse and how it may be knowne to him that is desirous thereof when he is one of that number or in the daunger thereof or when he is otherwise 7. What the beast is the which maketh warre with the Sayntes of God and doth not onely kill them but also will suffer none to buy nor sell but such as worship his Image or receiue his marke in theyr right handes or in theyr foreheades his name or the number of his name or do worship his Image which hy the iuste and terrible sentence of God already decreed shal be punished in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the lambe and they shall haue no rest day nor night but the smoake of their torment shall ascend vp for euermore Also what the gorgious glittering whore is the which sitteth vpon the beast with a Cup of gold in her hand full of abhominations with whom the kings of the earth haue committed fornication and the inhabitours of the earth and she her selfe also is dronken with the bloud of Sainctes which is the wine of her fornication whose flesh the hornes of the beast shall teare in pieces and burne her with fire For god hath put in their hartes to do his will 8. Whether a king ouer all those people whiche are borne and inhabite within his owne dominions regions and countryes or any part of them of what dignity estate or calling by office soeuer they be here vpon this earth immediately vnder Christ by the holy ordinaunce of God is lawfull supreame and chiefe Gouernor or no And whether a king ouer all those people within his dominions regions and countryes and euery part of them by holy ordinaunce of God lawfully may and ought not otherwise to doe nor suffer otherwise to be done then in his owne name power and authority the name of God onely except as lawfull supreame and chiefe heade in all thinges that belongeth to rule without exception to gouerne and rule And whether all those people of what dignity estate or calling soeuer they be are bouÌ„d by the holy ordinaunce of God to owe theyr whole obedience and seruice in all thinges without exception theyr duety to god onely excepted to their king onely as to theyr supreame and chiefe Gouernour vpon earth immediately vnder Christ And whether a king without offence agaynst GOD and his people maye
of hys former life it well appereth of what sort he is the queenes highnes hath willed vs to remit him vnto your Lordship to the ende that being called before you out of prison as ofte as your Lordship shall think good ye may proceed both to his further examination and otherwise ordering of him according to the lawes as the case shall require And thus we bidde your Lordshippe hartely well to fare From Saynt Iames the 15. day of December 1557. Your Lordships louing frendes Nicholas Ebor. F. Shrewsbery Edward Hastinges Antony Mountague Iohn Bourne Henry Iernegam Boner nowe minding to make quicke dispatche dyd wythin three dayes after the receipt of the Letter the xviij day of December send for this Rough out of Newgate and in his Palace at London ministred vnto him 12. Articles Many whereof because they conteine onely questions of the profession and Religion of that age wherein both he and his Parentes were Christened which in sūdry places are already mentioned I doe here for breuity omitte minding to touche suche onely as perteyne to matters of fayth now in controuersy and then chiefely obiected agaynst the Martyrs and Saynts of God which in effect are these 1. FIrst that thou Iohn Rough diddest directly speake agaynst the 7. Sacramentes vsed commonlye and reuerently as thinges of estimation and great worthines in the catholick churche and also diddest reproue and condemne the substance of the sayd Sacramentes but especially the Sacrament of the aultar affirming that in that same is not really and truely the very body bloud of Christ and that confession to the priest and absolution geuen by him as the minister of Christ for sinnes is not necessary or auayleable in any wise 2. Item thou hast misliked and reproued the religion and ecclesiasticall seruice as it is now vsed in this realme and hast allowed the religion and seruice vsed in the latter yeares of king Edward the 6. and so much as in thee hath leyne hast by word writing deed set forwardes taught and preached the same openly and in sundry places affirmed that the sayde Englishe seruice and doctrine therein conteined is agreable in all poyntes to Gods word and vnto the truth condemning vtterly the Latine seruice nowe vsed in the Queenes reigne and inducing other by thine example to do the like 3. Item thou hast in sundrye places within this Realme commended and approued the opinion doctrine of Thomas Cranmer late Archbishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley Hugh Latimer concerning the Sacrament of the aultar affirming that in the Sacrament there remayneth after the wordes of consecration materiall breade and materiall wine without any transubstantiation 4. Item thou hast in sundrye places of this Realme since the Queenes reigne ministred and receiued the Communion as it was vsed in the late daies of king Edward the sixt and thou knowest or credibly hast heard of diuers that yet do keepe bookes of the sayd Communion and vse the same in priuate houses ou◠of the Church and are of opinion agaynst the Sacrament of the aultar 5. Item that thou in sundry places of this realme hast spoken agaynst the Pope of Rome and his Apostolicke sea hast plainely contemned despised the authority of the same misliking not allowing the faith and doctrine therof but directly speaking agaynst it and by thine example hast induced other the subiects of this realme to speake and do the like 6. Item thou doest knowe and hast bene conuersaunt with all or a great part of such English men as haue fledde out of this Realme for Religion and hast consented and agreed with them in theyr opinions and hast succoured maynteyned and holpen them and hast beene a conueyer of theyr seditious Letters and bookes into this realme 7. Item that thou hast sayd that thou hast bene at Rome and taryed there about 30. dayes or more and that thou hast sene litle good or none there but very much euill Amongest the which thou sawest one great abhomination that is to say a man or the Pope that shoulde goe on the ground to bee carried vppon the shoulders of foure men as though he had bene God and no mā Also a Cardinall to haue his harlot riding openly behinde hym And thirdly a Popes Bull that gaue expresse licence to haue and vse the stewes and to keepe open bawdry by the Popes approbation and authority 8. Item that thou sithens thy last comming into England out of the parties beyond the sea hast perniciously allured and comforted diuers of the subiectes of this Realme both young olde men and women to haue and vse the booke of Communion set forth in this Realme in the latter daies of king Edward the sixt and hast also thy selfe read and sette forth the same causing others to doe the like and to leaue theyr comming to their parish churches to heare the Latine seruice now vsed 9. Item that thou the thirde sondaye of Aduent the xij daye of this December 1557. wast apprehended at the Saracens heade at Islington in the county of Middlesexe and dioces of London by the Queenes Vicechamberlayne with one Cutbert a Taylour Hugh a hosier and diuers other there assembled vnder the colour of hearing a playe to haue read the communion booke and to haue vsed the accustomed fashion as was in the latter dayes of king Edward the sixt The aunsweres of Iohn Rowgh to the foresayd Articles 1. TO the first he said and confessed that he had spoken against the number of the sayde sacramentes being fully perswaded that there be but onely two Sacramentes to wit baptisme and the supper of the Lord and as for the other fiue he denyed them to be sacramentes and therefore hath spoken agaynste them And as concerning the sacrament of the aultar which he then called the supper of the Lord he confessed that he had spoken and taught that in the sayde sacrament there is not really and substantially the very body and bloud of Christ but that the substance of bread and wine doth remayne in the sayde Sacrament withou any transubstantiation at all Farther as touching confession of sinnes to the priest he answered that he thought it necessary if the offence were done vnto the priest but if the offēce were done to another then confession made to the priest is not necessary but reconciliation onely to bee made to the partye so offended 2. To the second he aunswered that he then did and had before misliked the order of latine seruice then vsed and also did allowe the seruice vsed in the latter time of King Edwardes reigne for that the holy scripture doth the same and therefore he graunted that he did teach and set forth the sayd Englishe seruice as in the same article is obiected 3. To the third he graunted that he had approued the doctrine of the parties articulate as agreable to Gods word and that they were godly learned men and such as had perfect
for dreames he sayd were but phantasies and not to be credited Then maister Rough straightly charged him in the name of the Lord to doe it Whereupon the sayde Cutbert tooke suche notes out of the booke as hee had willed hym to doe and immediately left the booke with M. Roughes wife The next day following in the night the said Maister Rough had an other dreame in his sleepe concerning hys owne trouble The matter wherof was this He thought in his dreame that he was caried himselfe forceably to the Bishop and that the Bishop pluckt of his beard and cast it into the fire saying these wordes Nowe I may saye I haue had a peece of an heretick burned in my house and so according it came to passe Now to returne to Cutbert agayne as we haue touched something coâ—cerning these visions so nowe remayneth to story also of his paynes and sufferinges vpon the racke and otherwise like a good Laurence for the congregations sake as he wrote it with his owne hand ¶ A true report how I was vsed in the Tower of London being sent thether by the Counsell the xiii day of December ON the Thursday after I was called vnto the warehouse before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of Londer Maister Cholmley they commaunded me to tell whome I did will to come to the Englishe seruice I aunswered I would declare nothing Wherupon I was set in a racke of Iron the space of three houres as I iudged Then they asked me if I would tell them I aunswered as before Then was I losed and caried to my lodging agayne On the sonday after I was brought into the same place agayne before the Lieuetenaunt and the Recorder of London and they examined me As before I had sayde I aunswered Then the Lieuetenaunt did sweare by god I shuld tell Then did they binde my 2. forefingers together and put a small arrowe betwixt them and drewe it through so fast that the bloude followed and the arrowe brake Then they racked me twise Then was I caryed to my lodging agayne and x. dayes after the Lieuetenant asked me if I would not confesse that which before they had asked me I sayd I had sayd as much as I would TheÌ„ fiue weekes after he sent me vnto the high Prieste where I was greatly assaulted and at whose hande I receiued the Popes curse for bearing witnesse of the resurrection of Iesus Christ. And thus I commend you vnto God and to the worde of his grace with all them that vnfaynedly call vpon the name of Iesus desiring God of his endles mercy through the merites of hys deare sonne Iesus Christe to bringe vs all to hys euerlasting kingdome Amen I prayse God for his great mercy shewed vppon vs. Syng Osanna vnto the highest with me Cutbert Simson God forgeue me my sinnes I aske all the worlde forgeuenesse and I doe forgeue all the worlde and thus I leaue thys world in hope of a ioyfull resurrection A note for Cutbert Simsons patience NOw as touching this Cutbert Simson this further is to be noted that Boner in his Consistory speaking of Cutbert Simson gaue this testimony of hym there to the people saying ye see this man sayth he what a personable man he is and after hee had thus commended hys persone added moreouer And furthermore concerning his pacience I say vnto you that if hee were not an hereticke hee is a manne of the greatest pacience that yet euer came before me For I tell you he hath bene thrise racked vppon one day in the Tower Also in my house hee hathe felt some sorrowe and yet I neuer see hys pacience broken c. ⧠A true description of the racking and cruell handeling of Cutbert Simson in the Tower It is thought and sayd of some that that arrowe whiche was grated betwixt his fingers being tyed together was not in the tower but in the Bishops house The day before the blessed Deacon and Martyr of god Cutbert Simson after his paynfull racking should go to his coÌ„deÌ„nation before Boner to be burned being in the Bishops colehouse there in the stockes he had a certayne vision or apparition very straunge which he himself with hys owne mouthe declared to the Godly learned man M. Austen to his owne wiâ—e and Thomas Simson and to others besides in the prison of Newgate a litle before his death The relation whereof I stande in no little doubte whether to reporte abroad or not considering with my selâ—e the greate diuersitie of mennes iudgementes in the reading of historyes and varietie of affections Some I see will not beleue it some will deride the same some also will be offended with setting forth things of that sorte incertayne esteeming all thinges to bee incertayne and incredible whatsoeuer is straunge from the common order of Nature Other will be perchaunce agreeued thinking with theÌ„ selues or els thus reasoning with me that althoughe the matter were as is reported yet for somuch as the common error of beleuing rash miracles phantasied visions dreames and appparitions thereby may be confirmed more expedient it were the same to be vnsetforth These and such lyke will be I know the sayinges of many Whereunto brieflye I aunswere grauntynge firste and admyttyng wyth the woordes of Basill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is not euery dreame is strait waye a Prophecie Agayne neither am I ignoraunt that the Papistes in their bookes and legendes of saintes haue theyr prodigious visions and apparitions of Aungelles of our Lady of Christ and other sayncts which as I wil not admit to be beleeued for true so will they aske me agayne why should I then more require these to be credyted of them then theirs of vs. First I write not this binding any manne precisely to beleue the same so as they do theyrs but onely reporte it as it hath bene heard of persons knowne naming also the parties who were the hearers thereof leauing the iudgment therof notwithstanding free vnto the arbitremente of the reader Aâ—beit it is no good argument proceedyng from the singular or particular to the vniuersall to saye that visions be not true in some ergo they be true in none And if any shall muse or obiect agayne why should suche visions be geuen to him or a few other singular persons more then to all the rest seeing the other were in the same cause and quarrell and dyed also martyrs as well as hee To thys I say concerning the Lordes tymes and doings I haue not to meddle nor make who may woorke where and when it pleaseth him And what if the Lorde thought chiefly aboue the other with singular consolation to respecte him who chiefly aboue the other and singularly did suffer most exquisite tormentes for his sake What greate maruell herein but as I sayd of the Lords secrete tymes I haue not to reason This onely whiche hathe out of the mans owne mouth bene receiued so as I receiued it of the
these articles thus ministred and layd to Cutbert Simson with his aunsweres likewise vnto the same the Bishop calling them altogether obiected to them other positions and articles the same whiche before are mentioned in the story of Bartlet Greene. pag. 1736. onely the 8. Article out of the same omitted and excepted which Articles because they are already expressed in the page aboue mentioned we neede not here to make anye newe reporte thereof but onely referre the Reader to the place assigned ¶ The aunsweres generall of Cutbert Simson Hugh Foxe and Iohn Deuinishe to the Articles by the Bishop to them generally proposed TO the first Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely but Iohn Deuenishe added that that Churche is grounded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles Christe being the head corner stone and how in that Churche there is the true fayth and religion of Christ. To the second Article they all confessed and beleeued that in Christes Catholicke Churche there are but two Sacramentes that is to witte Baptisme and the supper of the Lord otherwise they do not beleue the contentes of this Article to be true in any part therof To the 3. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely To the 4. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely ¶ Three godly Martirs burned in Smithfield To the sixt Article they al answered and denied to acknowledge the authoritie of the sea of Rome to be lawfull and good eyther yet his religion To the seuenth Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely that they haue and will doe still while they liue and Iohn Deuinishe adding thereto sayde that the sacrament of the aultar as it is now vsed is no sacrament at all To the 8. Article they all confessed and beleued all thynges aboue by them acknowledged and declared to be true and that they be of the Dioces of London and iurisdiction of the same These three aboue named persons and blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ Cutbert Foxe and Deuenish as they were altogether apprehended at Islington as is aboue declared so the same all three together suffered in Smithfield about the xxviii day of March in whose perfect constancie the same Lorde in whose cause and quarrell they suffered giuer of all grace and gouernour of all thinges be exalted for euer Amen ¶ The suffering and Martyrdome of William Nichole put to death by the wicked hands of the papistes at Herefordwest in Wales WE finde in al ages from the beginning that Sathan hath not ceassed at all times to molest the Churche of Christ with one affliction or other to the tryall of theyr fayth but yet neuer so aparauntly at anye time to all the worlde as when the Lorde hath permitted him power ouer the bodyes of hys saynctes to the shedding of theyr bloud and peruerting of religion for then sleepeth he not I warrant you from murdering of the same vnlesse they will fall downe with Achab and Iesabell to worship him and so kill and poyson their owne soules eternally as in The burning of W. Nicole at Herefordwest in Wales these miserable latter dayes of Queene Mary we haue felt heard and seene practised vppon Gods people Amonge whome wee finde recorded an honest good simple poore man one William Nicole who was apprehended by the Champions of the pope for speaking certayne wordes agaynst the cruell kingdome of Antichriste and the ninth day of Aprill 1558. was butcherly burnt and tormented at Herefordwest in Wales where he ended his life in a most happy and blessed state and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lorde whose goodnes bee praysed for euer Amen This William Nicoll as we are informed was so simple a good soule that many esteemed him half foolish But what he was we know not but this are we sure he died a good man and in a good cause what soeuer they iudge of hym And the more simplicitie of feeblenes of wit appeared in him the more beastly and wretched dothe it declare their cruell tyrannicall acte therin The Lord geue them repentaunce therefore if it bee his blessed will Amen Amen The Martyrdome of William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson put to death by the persecuting papists at Norwich in the county of Norfolke IMmediately after William Nicoll succeeded in that honourable and glorious vocation of Martyrdome three constaunt godly menne at Norwiche in Northfolk who were cruelly and tyrannically put to death for the true testimony of Iesus Christ the xix of May. an 1558. Whose names be these William Seaman Thomas Carman Thomas Hudson The sayde William Seaman was an Husbandman of the age of xxvi yeares dwelling in Mendlesham in the county of Suffolke who was sūdry sought for tymes by the commandement of Sir Iohn Tirrell knight at laste he himselfe in the night searched his house and other places for him notwithstanding hee somewhat mist of his purpose God be thanked Then he gaue charge to hys Seruauntes Robert Baulding and Iames Clarke wyth others to seek for him Who hauing no officer went in the euening to hys house where he being at home they took him and caryed him to theyr Mayster Syr Iohn Tirrell This Baulding being Seamans nighe neighbour and whome the sayde Seaman greatly trusted as a speciall friend notwithstanding to doe hys Mayster a pleasure now became enemy to hys chiefe friend and was one of the busiest in the taking of him Now as they were goyng to cary hym to theyr Mayster Syr Iohn Tyrrell in the night it is credibly reported that there fell a lyghte betweene them out of the element and parted them Thys Baulding being in company with the rest when the light fell and albeit he was then in hys best age yet after the time neuer enioyed good daye but pyned away euen vnto the death Well for all that straunge sight as I sayd they caried him to theyr Mayster Who when he came asked him why he would not goe to Masse and to receaue the sacrament and so to worship it Unto which William Seaman aunswered denying it to bee a sacrament but sayde it was an Idoll and therefore would not receaue it After whiche wordes spoken sir Iohn Tirrel shortly sent hym to Norwiche to Hopton then Bishop and there after conference and examination had with him the bishop read his bloudy sentence of condemnation agaynst him and afterward deliuered him to the secular power who kepte him vnto the day of Martyrdome This sayd William Seaman left behynde him when he dyed a wife and three children very young and wyth the sayd young children hys wife was persecuted oute of the sayde towne also of Mendlesham because that shee would not go to heare Masse and all her corne and goods seased and taken awaye by Mayster Christopher Coles officers he being Lorde of the sayd towne Thomas Carman who as is sayd pledged Richarde Crashfield at hys burning and thereupon was apprehended being prisoner in Norwiche was about
one time wyth the rest examined and brought before the sayde Byshop who aunswered no lesse in his Maysters cause then the other and therfore had the like rewarde that the other had which was the Byshops bloudy blessing of condemnation and deliuered also to the Seculare power who kept him with the other vntill the day of slaughter which hasted on and was not long after Thomas Hudson was of Ailesham in Norfolke by his occupation a Glouer a very honest poore manne hauing a wife and three children and laboured alwayes truly and dilligently in hys vocation being of thirtye yeares of age and bearing so good a will to the Gospell that he in the dayes of king Edward the 6. two yeares before Q. Maryes raygne learned to read Englishe of Anthony Thomas Norgate of the same Towne wherin he greatly profited about the tyme of alteration of Religion For when Queene Mary came to raygne and had chaunged the seruice in the Churche putting in for wheate draffe and darnill and for good preaching blasphemous crying out agaynst truthe and godlinesse he then auoyding all theyr ceremonies of superstition absented hymselfe from hys house and went into Suffolkl a longe tyme and there remayned trauelling from one place to an other as occasion was offered At the last hee returned backe agayne to Northfolke to his house at Aâ—lesham to comfort his wyfe and children being heauy and troubled with hys absence Nowe when he came home and perceiued hys contynuance there would be daungerous he and hys wife deuised to make hym a place among hys fagottes to hide him selfe in where he remayned all the day in steede of hys chamber reading and praying continually for the space of halfe a yeare and his wife lyke an honest woman being carefull for hym vsed her selfe faythfullye and dillygently towards him In the meane time came the Uicare of the Town named Berry who was one of the Byshoppes Commissaries a very euill manne and inquired of this sayd Thomas Hudsons wife for her husband Unto whom he answered as not knowing where hee was Then the sayde Berry rated her and threatned to burne her for that shee would not bewraye her husbande where hee was After that when Hudson vnderstoode it hee waxed euerye day more zelous then other and continually read sange Psalmes to the wonder of many the people openlye resorting to him to heare hys exhortations and vehement prayers At the last he walked abroad for certayne dayes openly in the Towne crying out continually agaynst the Masse and all theyr trumpery and in the ende commyng home in hys house he sate him downe vpon hys knees hauyng his book by hym reading and singing Psalmes continually without ceassing for three dayes and three nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof for Berry commanded openly to watche for hym and the Constables vnderstanding the same went cruelly to catche hym in the breake of the day the xxii of the moneth of Aprill Anno 1558. Now when Hudson saw them come in he sayd Now myne houre is come Welcome frendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to lyfe in Christ I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enhable me thereto for hys mercyes sake For his desire was and euer he prayed if it wer the Lordes will that hee might suffer for the Gospell of Christ. Then they tooke him and lead him to Berry the Commissarye whiche was Uicar of the towne and the sayde Berrye asked him first where hee kepte hys Church for foure yeares before To the whiche the sayde Hudson answered thus where so euer he was there was the church Doest thou not beleue sayth Berry in the sacramente of the aultar What is it Hudson It is wormes meate my beliefe saythe hee is in Christ crucified Berry Doest thou not beleeue the Masse to putte awaye sinnes Hudson No God forbidde it is a patched monstre and a disguised Puppet more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple At whiche wordes Berry stamped fumed and shewed himself as a mad man and sayd well thou villayn thou I wil write to the B. my good Lord and trust vnto it thou shalt be handled according to thy desertes Oh sir sayde Hudson there is no Lorde but God though there be many Lordes and many Gods With that Berry thrust hym backe with hys hand And one Richard Cliffar standing by sayde I pray you sir bee good to the poore man At which wordes Berry was more mad then before and woulde haue had Cliffer bound in a recognysaunce of 40. poundes for hys good abearyng bothe in worde and deede whiche his desire tooke no effecte Then he asked the sayd Hudson whether he would recant or no. Unto whiche wordes Hudson sayde the Lorde forbid I had rather dye many deathes then to do so Then after long talke the sayde Berry seeing it booted not to perswade with him tooke hys penne and inke and wrote letters to the Bishop thereof and sent this Hudson to Norwiche bound like a theefe to him whiche was 8. miles from thence who with ioy and singing chere weÌ„t thether as mery as euer he were at anye tyme before In prison he was a month where hee dyd continually read inuocate the name of God These three Christians and constaunt Martyrs William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson after they were as ye haue heard condemned the xix day of May. 1558. were caryed out of prison to the place where they should suffer whyche was without Byshoppes gate at Norwich called Lollards Pit And being al there they made their humble prayers vnto the Lorde That beyng done they rose and went to the stake and standing al ther with their chaynes about them immediately this sayde Thomas Hudson commeth foorth from them vnder the Chayne to the great wonder of many whereby diuers feared and greatly doubted of hym For some thought hee would haue recanted other iudged rather that he went to aske a further day and to desire conference and some thought he came forth to aske some of hys parentes blessing So some thought one thinge and some an other but hys two companions at the stake cryed out to him to comforte him what they coulde exhorting him in the bowelles of Christ to be of good cheare c. But this sweete Hudson felt more in hys heart and conscience then they could conceaue in him For alas good soule hee was compassed God knoweth with great dolour and griefe of minde not for hys death but for lacke of feeling of his Christ and therefore beyng verye carefull he humbly fell downe vppon his knees and prayed vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord who at the last according to hys olde mercies sent him comfort and theÌ„ rose he with great ioy as
a man new chaunged euen from death to life and sayd Now I thanke God I am strong and passe not what man can do vnto me So going to the stake to his fellowes agayne in the end they all suffered most ioyfully constaÌ„tly and manfully the deathe together and were consumed in fire to the terror of the wicked the comforte of Gods Children and the magnifiyng of the Lordes name who be praysed therfore for euer Amen Three godly Martyrs burned at Norwich After this the forenamed Commissarye Berry made great stirre about other which were suspected within the sayd towne of Aylsham and caused two hundred to creep to the crosse at Penticost besides other punishmentes which they sustayned On a tyme this Berry gaue a poore man of his parish of Marsham a blowe with the swingell of a flayle for a worde speaking that presently thereon he dyed and the sayd Berry as is sayd held vpp his hande at the Barre therefore Then after that in his parishe of Aylesham also ann 1557. there was one Alice Oxes came to his house and going into the Hall hee meeting her being before moued smote her with his fist whereby shee was fayne to be caryed home and the next day was founde dead in her chamber To write how many concubines and whores he had none would beleue it but such as knew him in the countrey he dwelt in He was riche and of great authoritie a great sâ—earer altogether geuen to women and persecuting the Gospell and compelling men to idolatry One Iohn Norgate a man learned godly and zelous who would not goe to their trashe but rather dye being sore hunted by the sayd Berry prayed hartely to God and the Lorde shortly after in a consumption deliuered hym Notwithstanding the rage of this wicked manne waxed more fiercer and fiercer Hee troubled sundry men burnt all good bookes that he could get and diuorsed many men and women for religion When he heard say that Queene Mary was dead and the glory of theyr triumph quayled the sonday alter being the xix of Nouember an 1558. he made a great feast had one of hys concubines there with whome he was in his chamber after dinner vntill Euensong Then went he to Church where hee had ministred Baptisme and in going from Church homeward after euensong betwene the churchyard and his house being but a little space as it were a churchyarde bredth asunder he fell downe sodainly to the ground with a heauy grone and neuer stirred after neyther shewed any one token of repentaunce Thys hapned his neighbors being by to the example of al other The Lord graunt we may obserue his iudgementes And those that had his great riches since his death haue so consumed with them that they be poorer now then they were before they had his goodes such iudgement hath the Lord executed to the eyes of all men At that tyme one Dunning Chauncellor of Lincolne which in some part of Queene Maryes dayes was ChaÌ„cellor of Norwiche and a very mercilesse tyrant as liued died in Lincolnshyre of as sodayne a warning as the sayd Berry dyed Thus haue I shewed thee good reader the constancie boldnes and glorious victory of these happy Martyrs as also the tyrannicall cruelty of that vnfortunate Commissary and his terrible end The Lorde graunt wee may all effectually honour the iudgementes of God and feare to displease his holy Maiesty Amen The persecution of mother Seman ABout this tyme or somewhat before was one Ioane Seman mother to the foresayd William Seman being of the age of 66. yeares persecuted of the sayde Syr Iohn Tyrrell also out of the towne of Mendlesham aforesayd because she would not goe to masse and receyue agaynst her conscience Which good old woman being froÌ„ her house was glad sometime to lye in bushes groues fieldes and sometyme in her neighhors house when shee could And her husband beyng at home about the age of 80. yeares fell sicke and she hearing thereof with speede returned home to her house agayn not regarding her life but considering her duetie and shewed her dilligence to her husband most faythfully vntill God tooke him awaye by death Then by Gods prouidence she fell sicke also and departed this lyfe within her owne house shortly after And when one M. Simondes the Commissarye heard of it dwelling thereby in a towne called Thorndon he commaunded straitely that she shuld be buryed in no Christian buriall as they call it where through her frendes wer compelled to lay her in a pit vnder a motes side Her husband and she kept a good house and had a good report amongest theyr neighbours willing alwayes to receiue straungers and to comfort the poore and sicke and lyued together in the holy estate of Matrimony very honestly aboue forty yeares and shee departed thys life willingly ioyfully with a steadfast fayth and a good remembraunce of Gods promise in Christ Iesus The persecution of mother Benet IN the sayde time of Queene Mary there dwelte in the towne of Wetherset by Mendlesham aforesayde a very honest woman called mother Bennet a widowe whiche was persecuted out of the same towne because she woulde not goe to masse and other theyr beggarly ceremonyes but at rhe last shee returned home agayne secretly to her house and there departed this lyfe ioyfully But Syr I. Tyrrell M. Simondes the Commissary would not let her be buryed in the Churchyarde So was she layde in a graue by the high way side The same good old woman mother Benet in the tyme of persecution met one of the sayd mother Semans neighbours and asked her how the sayd mother Seman did she aunswered that she did very wel God be thanked Oh sayd she mother Seman hath slept a great sleepe before me for she was neuer couetous that I could perceiue Her husband in his mirth would say vnto her O woman if thou were sparing thou mightest haue saued me an C. markes more then thou hast To the whiche shee woulde aunswere agayne gently and saye O man be content and let vs be thankefull for God hath geuen vs enough if we can see it Alas good husband would shee saye I tell you truth I cannot â—irken vp my butter and keep my cheese in the chamber and wayte a great price and let the poore want and so displease God But Husband let vs be riche in good workes so shal we please the Lord haue al good thinges geuen vs. c. This good wâ—man of that vice of couetousnesse of all that knew her was iudged least to be spotted of any infirmitie she had The Lord roote it out of the hartes of them that be infected therwith Amen ¶ The Martyrdome of three constant and godly persons burnt at Colchester for the defence and testimony of Christes Gospell THou hast heard good Reader of the forenamed three that were burnt at Norwich whose bloud quenched
theirs God is my father God is my mother God is my Sister my Brother my Kinsman God is my frend moste faythfull ¶ The cruell burning of a woman at Exeter Touching the name of this woman as I haue nowe learned she was the wife of one called Prest dwelling in the Dioces of Exeter not farre from Launceston ¶ The Persecution and Martyrdome of three godly men burnt at Bristow about the latter yeares of Queene Maries reigne IN writing of the blessed Sayntes which suffered in the bloudy dayes of queene Mary I had almost ouerpassed the names and story of three godly Martyrs whiche with theyr bloud gaue testimony likewise to the gospell of Christ being condemned and burnt in the town of Bristow The names of whom were these Richard Sharpe Thomas Benion Thomas Hale First Richarde Sharpe Weauer of Bristowe was brought the 9. day of Marche an 1556. before M. Dalbye Chauncellour of the Towne or City of Bristow and after examination concerning the sacrament of the aultar was perswaded by the sayde Dalbye and others to recant and the 29. of the same moneth was enioyned to make his recantation before the Parishioners in his parish Churche Which whē he had done he felt in his cōscience such a tormenting hell that he was not able quietly to worke in his occupation but decayed and chaunged both in colour and liking of his body Who shortly after vpon a sonday came into his parish Church called Temple after high masse came to the queere doore sayd with a loud voyce Neighbors beare me recorde that yonder Idoll and poynted to the aultar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied my Lord GOD. Then the Constables were commaunded to apprehende him but none stepped forth but suffered him to goe out of the Church After by night he was apprehended and caried to Newgate shortly after he was brought before the sayd Chauncellor denying the sacrament of the aultar to be the body bloud of Christ sayd it was an Idoll and therfore was cōdemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby He was burnt the 7. of May. 1557. and dyed godly paciently and constantly confessing the articles of our fayth ¶ Thomas Hale Martyr THe Thursday in the night before Easter .1557 came one M. Dauid Herris Alderman Iohn Stone to the house of one Thomas Hale a Shoomaker of Bristowe caused him to rise out of his bedde brought hym foorth of his dore To whō the said Tho. Hale said You haue sought my bloud these two yeares now much good do it you with it Who being committed to the watchmen was caried to Newgate the 24. of April the yere aforesaid was brought before M. Dalby the Chancelor committed by him to prison after by him condemned to be burnt for saying the sacrament of the altar to be an Idoll He was burned the 7. of May with the foresayd Rich. Sharpe godly paciently and constantly embracing the fire with his armes Two Godly Martyrs burned at Bristow Richard Sharpe Thomas Hale were burned both together in one fire and bound backe to backe Thomas Benion THomas Benion a Weauer at the commaundement of the Commissioners was brought by a Constable the thirtenth daye of August 1557. before Mayster Dalbye Chauncellour of Bristow who committed him to pryson for saying there was nothing but bread in the Sacrament as they vsed it Wherefore the twenty day of the sayd August he was condemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby for denying fiue of theyr Sacramentes and affirming two that is the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptisme He was burnt the seuen and twenty of the sayd moneth and yeare and dyed godly Thomas Benion burned at Bristow constantly and patiently with confessing the articles of our christian fayth ¶ The Martyrdome of fiue constant Christians which suffered the last of all other in the time of Queene Mary THe last that suffred in Queene Maries time were fiue at Caunterburye burned about sixe dayes before the death of Queene Mary whose names follow here vnder written Iohn Corneford of Wortham Christopher Browne of Maydstone Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Katherine Knight otherwise called Katherine Tynley an aged woman These fiue to close vp the finall rage of queene Maries persecution for the testimony of that word for whiche so many had died before gaue vp theyr liues meekly and paciently suffering the violent malice of the Papistes Which Papists although they then might haue either well spared them or els deferred theyr death knowing of the sicknesse of Queene Mary yet such was the implacable despite of that generation that some there be that say the Archdeacō of Canterbury the same time being at London vnderstanding the daunger of the Queene incontinently made al post hast home to dispatch these whom before he had thē in his cruell custody The matter why they were iudged to the fire was for beleuing the body not to be in the sacrament of the aulter vnlesse it be receiued saying moreouer that we receiue an other thing also beside Christes body which we see and is a temporall thing according to S. Paule The thinges that be sene be temporall c. Item for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue Christes body Because no man hath the sonne except it be geuen him of the father Item that it is Idolatry to creepe to the crosse and S. Iohn forbidding it sayth Beware of Images Itē for confessing that we should not pray to our Lady and other Sayntes because they be not omnipotent For these and such other articles of Christian doctrine were these fiue committed to the fire Agaynst whom whē the sentence shoulde be read and they excommunicate after the maner of the papistes one of them Iohn Cornford by name styrred with a vehemēt spirit of the zeale of god proceeding in a more true excōmunication agaynst the papistes in the name of them all pronounced sentēce against them in these wordes as folow In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite the authority of his holy catholick Apostolick church we do geue here into th◠handes of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of all those blasphemers hereticks that do mainteine any error agaynst his most holy word or do cōdemne his most holy truth for heresy to the mainteinaunce of any false Churche or fayned Religion so that by this thy iuste iudgement O most mighty God against thy aduersaries thy true religion may be knowne to thy great glory and our comfort and to the edifying of al our natiō Good Lord so be it Amen This sentence of excommunication beyng the same time openly pronounced and registred proceeding so as it seemeth from an inwarde fayth and hartye zeale to Gods trueth and
to intreat for thee and they haue informed me that thou hast bene a very honest a quiet neighbor amongest them and I thincke it be Gods will that I should deliuer thee before my Lorde come home For if he come and thou go home againe I will be burned for thee for I knowe his minde already in that matter Lith I geue you hearty thankes for your gentlenesse and my neighbours for their good report Chauncellour Lithall if thy neighbours will be bounde for thy foorth comming wheÌ„soeuer thou shalt be called for and also thou wilt be an obedient subiect I shal be content to deliuer thee Neighbours If it please your woorship we will be bounde for him both in body and goodes Chauncellour I will require no such bond of you but that two of you will be bound in 20. pound a peece that he shal come to aunswere when he shall be called Lithall Where finde you maister Chancelloure in all the Scripture that the Churche of God did binde any manne for the profession of his faithe whiche profession you haue heard of me that all oure iustification righteousnesse and saluation commeth onely and freely by the merites of our Sauiour Iesus Christe and all the inuentions workes of men be they neuer so glorious be all together vaine as the wise man sayeth Chauncellour Loe where he is now I put no such matter to you for in that I beleeue as you doe but yet S. Iames sayth that a man is iustified by woorkes Lithall Sainte Iames spake to those that boasted themselues of faithe and shewed no woorkes of faith But O maister Chauncellour remember I praye you howe all the promises and Prophesies of the holy Scripture euen from the firste promise that God made to Adam and so euen to the latter ende to the Reuelation of Sainte Iohn doe testifie that in the name of Iesus and onely by hys merites all that beleeue shal be saued from all their sinnes and offences Esay sayeth I am founde of them that sought mee not and am manifest to them that asked not after mee but against Israel he sayeth All daye long haue I stretched oute my hande to a people that beleeue not And when the Iayler asked S. Paule what he shoulde doe to be saued the Apostle sayde Beleeue in the Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued and all thy housholde Againe S. Iohn sayeth in the Reuelation that there was none neither in heauen nor in earth neither vnder the earth that was able to open the booke nor the seales therof but onely the Lambe Iesus our onely Sauiour And S. Paule sayth With one offering hath he made perfecte for euer them that are sanctified Chaunc With vaine glory you reherse much Scripture as al the sort of you do but you haue no more vnderstanding then a many of sheepe But to the purpose Will you that your neighbors shall enter into boÌ„ds for you or not Lith By my minde they shall not Wherfore I desire you that you would not binde me but let me serue God with my conscience freely For it is wrytten They that leade into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie and they that strike wyth the sworde shall pearish with the sworde Also it is wrytten in the Gospel of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that who so doeth offend one of these little ones whych beleeue in mee it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his necke and that he were cast into the depth of the sea Of the which I am assured by his holye spirite that I am one Wherefore be you well assured that such mercy as you shew vnto you shall be shewed the like Chaunc You are a mad man I would not binde you but that I must needes haue somewhat to shewe for your deliueraunce Then he called ij of my neighbours Thomas Daniel and Saunders Maybe which offered themselues to be bounde and called me before them and sayd I haue a letter of his own hand wryting with his name and seale at it with a booke also againste the Regiment of women for the which I coulde make him to be hanged drawen quartered but on my faith I will him no more hurt then I meane to mine owne soule Lith I desire you that be my neighbours and frends that you wil not enter into bondes for me for you knowe not the danger therof neither I my selfe It goeth against my conscience that ye should so doe Chaunc Why I wil not binde you to do any thing against your conscience Neighbours Then they made the bonde and sealed to it and willed me that I shoulde seale to it also and I saide that I would not neither could I obserue the bond and therfore I would not set too my hand Chaunc It is pitie that thou hast so much fauour shewed thee yet for these honest mens sake I wil discharge thee Notwithstanding all these dissembling woords of maister Darbishire pretending for fauoure of his sureties to set him at libertye it was no suche thing nor anye zeale of charitie that mooued him so to do but onely feare of the time vnderstanding the daungerous and vnrecouerable sicknesse of Queene Mary which then began somwhat to asswage the cruel proceedings of thesâ— persecutors wherby they durst not do that they would for els Lithall was not like to haue escaped so easily Edward Grew MOreouer there was one Edward Grewe priest and Appline his wife compelled to flie from theyr dwelling at a Towne called Broke and the man being verye aged trauailed abroade to keepe a good conscience At the last he was taken and laid in Colchester Castle where he remained till Quene Elizabeth came to her regal seat and by the alteration of Religion he was deliuered His wife good womaÌ„ was in great care for him and to her power did what she could to succour him William Browne WIlliam Browne Parson of Little Stanham in the Countie of Suffolke made a Sermon in the sayde Towne incontinently after the buriall of our good King Edward and in his sermon he sayde there goeth a report that our good king is buried with a Masse by the Bishop of Winchester he hauing a miter vpon his head But if it were so sayeth hee they are all traitours that so doe because it is bothe againste the truthe and the lawes of thys realme and it is greate Idolatrie and blasphemie and against the glory of God and they are no frends neither to God the king nor yet vnto the realm that so do For this his preaching one Robert Blomefielde an aduersarye to the truth being then constable of the sayd towne and bailâ—â—se vnto sir Iohn Ierningham knight the chiefe lord of the towne immediatly rode foorth brought home with him one Edward Goulding which was then vnder sheriffe Syr Thomas Cornewalis being then high sheriffe So the sayd Golding and Blomfield sent for certaine men of the sayd Towne and examined
as yet for those bookes that I had you Commissioners haue them all Martin Thou traitorly whore we knowe that thou haste sold a number of bookes yea and to whom and how many times thou hast beene here and where thou layest and euery place that thou hast bene in Doest thou thinke that thou hast fooles in hand Eliz. No syr you be too wise for me for I can not tel howe manye places I haue beene in my selfe but if I were in Turkey I should haue meate and drinke and lodging for my money Mart. Thou rebel whoore thou hast spoken euil woordes by the Queene and thou dwellest amongest a sort of traitours and rebelles that can not geue the Queene a good woorde Eliz. I am not able to accuse any man thereof nor yet is there any man that can approoue anye such things by me as ye lay vnto my charge For I know by Gods woorde Gods booke hath taught me what is my duetie to God and vnto my Queene and therefore as I sayd I am assured that no man liuing vpon the earth can approoue any such things by me Mart. Thou rebell and traitourly whoore thou shalt be so racked handled that thou shalt be an example to all such traitorly whoores and heretikes And thou shalt be made to sweare by the holye Euangelist and confesse to whome thou haste solde al and euery of these heretical bookes that thou haste solde for wee knowe what number thou haste solde and to whome but thou shalt be made to confesse it in spite of thy bloud Eliz. Here is my carkas do with it what ye wil and more then that ye can not haue Master Martin ye can haue no more but my bloude Then fared he as though hee had bene starke mad and sayd Martin Why callest thou me Martin Eliz. Sir I knowe you well enough for I haue bene before you ere now Ye deliuered me once at Westminster Martin Where diddest thou dwell then Eliz. I dwelled in the Minories Martin I deliuered thee and thy husband bothe and I thought◠then that thou wouldest haue done otherwyse then thou dost now For if thou hadst bene before any Bishop in England and said the woordes that thou didst before me thou haddest fried a fagot and thoughe thou didst not burne then thou art like to burne or hang now Eliz. Syr I promised you then that I woulde neuer be fed with an vnknowen tongue no more I will not yet Martin I shall feede thee well enoughe Thou shalte be fedde with that I warrant thee which shall be finally to thine ease Eliz. Doe what God shall suffer you to doe for more yee shall not And then he arose and so departed and went to the keepers house and sayd to the wife Whom haste thou suffered to come to this vile traitourly whoore and heretike to speake wyth her Then sayde the keepers wife as God receiue my soule here came neither mā woman nor childe to aske for her Mart. If any man woman or childe come to aske for her I charge thee in paine of death that they be layed fast and geue her one day bread and an other day water Eliz. If ye take away my meat I trust that God wil take away my hunger and so he departed and sayde that was too good for her and then was shee shutte vppe vnder two lockes in the Clincke where shee was before The third examination before Doctour Martin againe THen was shee broughte before hym in his Chamber within my Lorde Chauncellours house Who asked her saying Elizabeth wilt thou confesse these thynges that thou hast bene examined vppon For thou knowest that I haue bene thy frende and in so doing I wil be thy frende againe geuing her manye faire woordes and then demaunding of her how many Gentlemen were beyond the Seas Eliz. It is too much for me to tel you how many are on the other side Mart. No I meane but in Franckford Emden where thou hast bene Eliz. Syr I did neuer take accounte of them it is a thing that I looke not for Martin When shall I heare a true woorde come out of thy mouth Eliz. I haue tolde you the truth but because that it soundeth not to your minde therefore ye will not credite it Martin Wilt thou yet confesse and if thou wilt that that I haue promised I will doe and if thou wilt not I promise thee thou must goe euen hence to the racke and therfore confesse Eliz. I can say no more then I haue sayde Martin Well for as muche as shee will confesse no more haue her awaye to the Racke and then shee will be marred Then aunsweared a Priest that sate there and sayde Woman take an othe and confesse Wilt thou be hurte for other men Eliz. I can confesse no more then I haue Doe with my carkas what yee will Martin Did yee euer heare the like of thys Heretique What a stoute heretique is thys We haue the truthe and we knowe the truth and yet looke whether shee will confesse There is no remedie but shee muste needes to the Racke and therefore away with her and so commaunded her out of the doore and called her keeper vnto hym and sayde to him There is no remedie but this heretike must be racked and talked with him more but what it was she heard not Then he called her in againe and sayde Wilte thou not confesse and keepe thee from the Racke I aduise thee so to doe for if thou wilt not thou knowest not the payne yet but thou shalt do Eliz. Syr I canne confesse no more Do with my carkas what yee will Martin Keeper away with her Thou knowest what I sayde Let her knowe the paine of the Racke And so shee departed thinking no lesse but that she should haue gone to the Racke till shee sawe the keeper tourne towarde the Clincke againe And thus did God alienate their heartes and diminish their tyrānous power vnto the time of further examination for she was brought before the byshop the Deane and the Chauncellour and other Commissioners first and last thirteene times The fourth examination was before the Byshop of London Syr Roger Cholmley Doctour Cooke the Recorder of London Doctour Roper of Kent and Doctour Martin as concerning her faith c. FIrste shee being presented by Doctour Martin before the Bishop of London Doctour Martin beganne to declare against her saying The Lord Chauncellour hath sent you heere a woman which hath brought bookes ouer from Emden where al these bookes of heresie and treason are printed and hathe therewith filled all the lande wyth Treason and heresie neither yet will shee confesse who translated them nor who printed them nor yet who sent them ouer Wherfore my Lord Chācellor committeth her vnto my Lorde of London he to doe with her as he shall thinke good For shee will confesse nothing but that shee bought these said bookes in Hamsterdame and so
God brake the bond shortened her iourney for hee tooke her home to hymselfe out of this lyfe in peace This good old woman long before she went to prison had the fallyng sicknesse and told a friend of hers one Symon Harlston after she was apprehended that she had it neuer more but liued in good health ioy of hart through her Lord Christ. She had a very vnkinde man to her husbande who while shee was in prison solde away her raimente and would not helpe her and after she was out of prison shee returned home vnto him yet would he shew her no kindnesse nor helpe her neither and yet the house land that he dwelt in he had by her wherfore as long as she lyued she was found of the congregation The said Elizabeth Lawson also had a sister wyfe to one Rob. Hollon of Mickfield in the same countie of Suffolk which likewise was persecuted and driuen out from house to house a yong man her sonne with her because they would not go to the church to heare masse receyue the sacrament of the aultar ¶ Thomas Christenmasse and William Wattes IN this perillous rage of Queene Maries raigne were two men persecuted one called Tho. Christenmas the other Wil. Wats of Tunbridge in Kent As these trauailed from place to place not resting two nights together in one place it happened them on a tyme to come to Rochester in Kent where as they entryng into the Towne euē at the Townes ende met with a little Damosell of eyght yeares of age but whether she went they knewe not It was then night and they wery and fayne therfore would haue lyen in the same town but could not tell where they feared so the bloudy Catholickes At last they deuised to aske the Damosell whether there were any heretikes in the towne or no and she said yea They asked her where She aunswered them At such an Inne tellyng them the name and where the Inne was Shortly after as they were gone from her they bethought themselues better and God so moouyng their hartes they went to the childe agayne and asked her how she knew that the Innekeper of whome shee spake before was an heretike Marrie quoth she well enough and his wyfe also How knowest thou prety mayden said they I pray thee tel vs. How know I sayd she Marrie because they go to the church and those that will not holde vp their handes there they will present them and hee hymselfe goeth from house to house to compel them to come to Church When these two men heard this they gaue God prayse and auoyded that house takyng the warnyng of that Mayde of good bringyng vp as it should seeme to be Gods maruelous prouidence towards them ¶ Another escape of William Wats THis foresayd William Wats dwelling in Queen Maries dayes at Seale in Kent the last yere of her raigne saue one was apprehended by his enemies and brought by the Constables before the Bish. and Iustices at Tunbridge where the B. and Iustices would haue perswaded hym all they coulde to turne from the truth howbeit in vayne for they could not remooue him although they spēt all the forenoone therabouts with many flattring words so mercifull was the Lord vnto hym Now when dinner tyme was come as they shoulde rise they committed the prisoner to the constables againe and so rose vp to go to diner The Constables tooke Wats and led him to a vitailing house where after they had wel filled themselues they fel a sleepe supposing their prisoner to be sure enough vnder their handes Wats wife beyng then in the house with her husband and very carefull for his well doyng seyng the Constables thus fast a sleep desired her husband to depart and go thence for so much as the Lord had made such away for hym Unto which her words he would not consent althogh she perswaded him all that she could At the last they replieng one against an other a strāger heard them and asked her what the matter was that shee was so earnest with her husbande The wyfe tolde hym Then sayde the straunger vnto Wats these words Father goe thy wayes in Gods name and tary no longer the Lorde hath opened the way vnto thee Wherevpon the sayde Wattes went hys way and his wyfe departed from hym and went home to her house at Seale thinkyng her husband had gone another way Nowe as she was goyng in at her dore tellyng her friendes of hys deliueraunce immediately came the sayd Wattes in also and they all beyng amased thereat willed hym in all haste to get hym away for they thought there would bee search for hym immediately Then Wats sayd he would eate meate first and also pray which he did and afterward departed thence So soone as he was out of the dores and had hid hymselfe in an holly bush immediately came the said constables with thirtie persons into the sayd house to search for him where they pierced the Fetherbeds broke vp hys Chestes and made such hauocke that it was wonderfull and euer among as they were searchyng the Constables cryed I will haue Wats I will haue Wats I tel thee I wil haue Wattes but God be thanked Wats could not be found And when they saw it booted not to search for hym in the ende they tooke his wyfe and set her in a payre of stockes where she remayned two dayes and she was very bolde in the truth and at the last deliuered thorough the prouidence of God whose name be glorified in all his workes Amen * Iohn Glouer of Manceter Gentleman WHat a fatherly and manifest prouidence of the Lord likewyse did appeare in the preseruyng of M. Iohn Glouer in the Diocesse of Couentry and Lichfield in the Towne of Manceter first at the takyng of Robert hys brother At which tyme although the Commission came downe for hym yet so God ordered the matter that hys brother beyng sicke was apprehended and yet hee beyng whole escaped wherof mention is made before pag. 1709. And agayne another tyme how miraculously the mercifull prouidence of the Lorde wrought his escape oute of his enemies handes they beyng at his chamber dore and drawyng the latch to search for hym and how hys wyfe the same tyme was taken and sent to Lichfielde read before pag. 1714. ¶ One Dabney THere was at London a certaine honest godly person a Painter named Dabney whom Iohn Auales in the tyme of Queene Mary had brought before Boner to bee examined for his fayth It happened the same tyme. as the sayde Dabney was there that the Bishop was occupied with examination of other so that hee was bidde to stand by and to wayte the Bishops laysure Uppon the same or not long after sodainely commeth worde to the Bishop to prepare hym in all speede the generall procession taried for hym The Bishop hearyng that settyng all businesse aparte bustleth hymselfe with all speede
euermore be praysed Amen ¶ Lady Kneuet in Northfolke AMong the number of the godly that were kept vnder the prouidence of the Lord in those perillous dayes I may not forget an auncient good Lady of much worship called Lady Anne Kneuet who till her death dwelte in Norfolke in a towne named Wimonâ—ham vj. miles from Norwich Which sayd good Lady in Queen Maries days beyng iudged by the common people more then an hundreth yeare of age and by her owne estimation well towards a C. kept her selfe from their popish church or hauyng any papisticall trash ministred in her house but only the seruice that was vsed in the latter dayes of K. Edward the 6. which daily she had sayd before her either by one M. Tollin who was then by Gods prouidence preserued in her house or els by one of her Gentlewomen or houshold seruant that could serue the place in the sayd M. Tollins absence Now this worshipfull Lady continuing in this maner of true seruyng of God she and her familie were many tymes threatened by messengers that the Bish. would visite her therfore Unto which messengrs she would always answer that if his Lordship sent word before what day he would come he should thereafter be entertained at her hand But God whose prouidence ruleth the ragyng seas neuer suffred them al that toyling tyme to molest her Although oftentimes wheÌ„ she had seruice before her there were very great enemies to the truth and of much authoritie that came in and kneled to prayer among them and yet had no power to trouble her therfore This good Lady gentle Reader kept good hospitalitie as any in that countrey of her liuyng She also succored many persecuted that came to her house in the said M. Maries dayes Were they neuer so simple they were esteined of her as the frends of the gospel and departed not froÌ„ her without money and meat Borne she was long before K. Edward the 4. dyed and ended her life in the Lord Iesus peace about the beginning of the 2. yeare of our most soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeths raigne as one fallyng into a most sweete sleepe Unto whom not vnworthely may bee compared the Lady Elizabeth Uane who likewyse beyng a great harborer and supporter of the afflicted Martyrs and Confessors of Christ was in great â—assards daungers of the enemies and yet notwithstandyng thorough the mercifull prouidence of the Lord remained still vntouched Of this Lady Uane thou shalt read before ¶ Iohn Dauis of the age of twelue yeares and vnder AN Dom. 1546. and the last yeare of King Henry the 8. Iohn Dauis a child of xij yeares vnder who dwellyng in the house of M. Iohnson Apothecarie in the toune of Worcester his vncle vsing sometymes to read of the testament and other good English bookes was complained of by Alice Iohnson his maistresse which Alice beyng an obstinate person consulted with one Tho. Parton one Alice wyfe to Nich. Brooke Organemaker with certaine of the Canons and M. Iohnson Chancellor to D. Heath their Bish. The meanes wherby he was entrapped was wrought by the foresayd Alice Brooke who procured Olyuer her sonne schoolefellow with the sayd Iohn Dauis to faine friendship with hym and vnder pretence to be instructed to see his English bookes and especially to gette some thyng of his writyng against the vj. Articles Which beyng had was soone brought to the Canons of the church and the Chauncellor Wherupon Tho. Parton whether beyng sent or of his owne mynd came to apprehend him and his Uncle was forced agaynst his will to bynde the poore boyes armes behynd him and so hee was brought to the Officers of the towne where he lay from the 14. of August till the last of September Then was he commaÌ„ded to the Free mans prison where one Rich. Howborough commyng to perswade him from burnyng willed hym to prooue first with a candle who then holdyng hys finger and the other the candle vnder it a good space yet as the partie hymselfe to me assureth felte no burnyng therof neither would the other that held the candle beleue hym a great while til he had looked and saw no skorching of the candle at all appeared Then was the child remooued from thence to an inner prison called Peepehole where the lowe Bailiffe called Rob. Youl l layd vpon hym a paire of bolts so that he could not lift vp his small legs but leanyng on a staffe slipt theÌ„ forward vpon the ground the coldnesse of which irons he feeleth yet in his anckles and shall so long as he lyueth with these bolts his lying was vpon the cold ground hauyng not one locke of strawe nor cloth to couer him saue onely two sheepe skins neither durst father nor mother or any of his friends come at hym Besides this and many great threates of the papists there was a mad man put to hym in the prison with a knife about hym wherewyth he oft tymes in his frantike rage profered to thrust hym in After this came to him one Iolyfe and N. Yewer two Canons which had his writings against the sixe Articles and his Ballet called Come downe for all your shauen crowne to see whether he would staÌ„d to that he had writen Which done with many great raging wordes not long after sate M. Iohnson the Chancellour in the Guild hall vpon the poore lad Where first were brought in hys accusers and sworne then were sworn also 24. men which went on his Quest and found hym guiltie but hee neuer came before the Chancellor Upon this he was sent to the common Gaole among thieues and murtherers there to tary the commyng of the iudges and so to be had straight to execution But the mighty mercy of the Lord who helpeth the desolate miserable when all other helpe is past so prouided for this silly condemned lad that the purpose of all his hard harted enemies was disappointed For before the Iudges came God tooke away Henry the 8. out of this lyfe By reason whereof the force of the lawe was then staied howbeit he was neuerthelesse arraigned beyng holden vp in a mans armes at the Barre before the Iudges who were Portman and Maruen Which when they perceiued that they could not burne him would haue hym presently whipped But M. Iohn Bourne Esquire declared to the Iudges how hee had whipping enough After that hee had lyen a weeke more in prison had hym home to hys house his wyfe annoynted his legs her selfe with ointment which then were stiffe and nummed with irons till at length when M. Bourne and his wyfe sawe they could not winne hym to the beliefe of their Sacrament they put him away least he should infect their sonne Anthony as they thought with heresie Thus Iohn Dauis of the age aforesayde in what damage he was for the Gospell ye see and howe the Lorde preserued hym ye vnderstand He endured in prisone from the 14. day of August till within seuen dayes
Officers could not tell what to say nor whom to accuse And thus much concerning the congregation of the faythfull assembling together at London in the time of Queene Mary The said M. Bentham an other time as he passed thorow S. Katherines intending to walke and take the ayre abroad was enforced by two or three men approching vpon him needes to go with them to a place whether they would lead him M. Bētham astonied at the sodeinnes of the matter and maruelling what the thing shoulde be required what theyr purpose was or whether they woulde haue him They aunswered that by the occasion of a man there found drowned the Crowners quest was called and charged to sit vpon him of the whiche quest he must of necessity be one c. He agayne loth to medle in the matter excused himselfe alledging that in such kind of matters he had no skill and lesse experience if it would please them to let him goe they should meete with other more meete for theyr purpose But when with this they would not be satisfied he alledged further that he was a scholer of Oxford and thereby was priuiledged from being of any inquest The Crowner demaunded the sight of his priuiledge He sayd if he woulde geue him leaue he would fetch it Then sayd the Crowner the queene must be serued without all delay so cōstrayned him notwithstanding to be with thē in hearing the matter Beyng brought to the house where the Crowner and the rest of the quest were sitting as the maner is a booke was offered him to sweare vpon M. Bentham opening the booke and seing it was a papisticall Primer refused to sweare thereupon and declared moreouer what superstition in that booke was conteined What sayde the Crowner I thinke we shall haue here an hereticke among vs. And vpon that after much reasoning amongest them he was committed to the custody of an officer till further examination by occasion wherof to all mens reason hard it had bene and ineuitable for M. Bentham to haue escaped had not the Lord helped where man was not able What folowed Incontinent as they were thus contending and debating about matters of heresye sodeynly commeth the Crowner of the Admiralty disanulling and repealing the order calling of that inquest for that it was as he sayde perteining to his office and therefore the other Crowner and his company in that place had nothing to do And so the first Crowner was discharged and displaced by reasō whereof M. Bentham escaped theyr handes hauing no more sayd vnto him * English men preserued at the taking of Calice THe worthy workes of the Lordes mercy toward hys people be manifolde and can not be comprehended so that who is he liuing in the earth almost who hath not experienced the helping hand of the Lord at some time or other vpon him Amōgst many other what a piece of gods tender prouidence was shewed of late vpon our English brethren and country men what time Calice was takē by the Tyrant Guise a cruell enemy both to Gods truth and to our English nation And yet by the gracious prouision of the Lorde few or none at all of so many that fauoured Christ and his Gospell in that terryble spoyle miscaried In the number of whome there was a godly couple one Iohn Thorpe and his wife which feared the Lord and loued his trueth who being sicke the same time and cast out into the wild fieldes harbourles desolate and despayring of all hope of life hauing theyr young infant moreouer taken from them in the sayd fieldes and caried awaye of the souldiors yet the Lord so wrought that the poore woman being almost past recouery of life was fet and caried the space welnigh of a mile by straungers whome they neuer knewe into a village where both shee was recouered for that night also the next day comming toward England they chaunced into the same Inne at the next town where they found theyr young child sitting by the fire side ¶ Edward Benet ONe Edw. Benet about the second yeare of the reigne of Q. Mary then dwelling at Quenehieth with one Grynocke a Baker was desired of one Tyngle prisoner then in Newgate to bring him a new testament He procuring one of M. Couerdals translatiō wrapt it in a handkerchiefe saying to George the keeper whiche asked hym what he had that it was a piece of pondred biefe Let mee see it sayd he Perceiuing what it was he brought him to Syr Roger Cholmley who examined him why he did so saying that booke was not lawfull so committed him to the Counter in woodstreet wher he continued 25. weekes Doctor Story comming to the prison to examine other Prisoners this Benet looking out at the grate spake to him desiring him to be good vnto him and to helpe hym out for he had lien long in prison To whom D. Story thē aunswering What sayd he wast not thou before me in Christes Church Yes forsooth sayd Benet Ah sayd Story thou doest not beleue in the Sacrament of the Aultar Mary I will helpe thee out come sayd he to the keeper turne him out I will helpe him and so tooke Benet wyth him and brought him to Cluney in Pater noster Row and bade him bring him to the Colehouse and there he was in the stockes a weeke Then the Bishoppe sent for him to talke with him and first asked him if he were shriuen No sayd Benet He asked him if he would be shriuen No sayd he Then he asked him if the Priest could take away his sinnes No sayd Benet I do not so beleue Then he and Harpsfielde laughed at him and mocked him asking him if he did not beleue that what so euer the Prieste here bounde in earth should be bound in heauen and what so euer he loosed in earth shoulde be loosed in heauen No quoth Benet But I beleue that the Minister of God preaching Gods word truely and ministring the Sacramentes accordyng to the same whatsoeuer he bindeth in earth shal be bound in heauen and what so euer he looseth c. Then the Bishop putting him aside sayd he should go to Fulham and be whipped Then came to him M. Buswell a Pries◠lying in the Colehouse in the stockes and brought Cranmers recantation saying that he had recanted My fayth sayth the other lyeth in no mans booke but in him which hath redeemed me The next saterday Benet with fiue other was called for to come to masse into the Chappell The Masse being done and they comming out fiue of thē went to prison and were after burned Benet being behind and comming toward the gate the porter opening to a company goyng out asked if there were no prisoners there No sayd they Benet standing in open sight before him with other seruing men whiche were there by reason that Boner made many priestes that day hauing one of his sleues and halfe the fore part of his coat
immediatly and I am sure you receiued them for I committed the truste of them to no worsse man but to Mayster Solicitour and I shall make you an example to all Lyncolnshyre for your obstinacy M. Berty denying the receipt of any humbly prayed his Lordship to suspend his displeasure the punishment till he had good trial therof then if it pleased him to double the payne for the fault if any were Well quoth the Byshoppe I haue appoynted my selfe this day according to the holines of the same for deuotion and I will not further trouble me with you but I enioyn you in a thousand pouÌ„d not to depart without leaue and to be here againe to morow at 7. of the clocke M. Berty well obserued the houre and no â—ote â—ayled At whiche time the B. had with him M. Seriant Stampford to whoÌ„ he moued certayn questions of the sayd M. Berty because M. Serieaunt was towardes the Lorde Wriothesley late Earle of Southhampton and Chauncellour of England with whom the said M. Berty was brought vp M. Seriant made very frendly report of M. Berty of hys owne knowledge for the time of theyr conuersation together Wherupon the Bishop caused M. Berty to be brought in and first making a false trayne as God would without fire before he woulde descend to the quarrell of Religion he assaulted him in this maner Winch. The Queenes pleasure is quoth the Byshoppe that you shall make present payment of 4000. pound due to her father by Duke Charles late husband to the Duchesse your wife whose executor she was Bert. Pleaseth it your Lordshippe quoth M. Berty that debt is estalled and is according to that estallement truly aunswered Winch. Tush quoth the Byshop the Queene will not be bounde to estallementes in the time of Kettes gouernement for so I esteme the late gouernement Bert. The estallement quoth M. Berty was appoynted by king Henry the 8. besides the same was by speciall coÌ„missioners confirmed in king Edwardes tyme and the Lord treasurer being an executor also to the Duke Charles soly and wholly tooke vpon him before the sayd Commissioners to discharge the same Winch. If it be true that you saye quoth the Byshoppe I will shew you fauor But of an other thing M. Berty I will admonish you as meaning you well I heare euill of your Religion yet I hardly can thinke euil of you whose mother I know to be as Godlye and Catholicke as any within this Lande your selfe brought vp with a mayster whose education if I should disallow I might be charged as author of his errour Besides partly I know you my selfe and vnderstande of my frendes enough to make me your frend wherefore I will not doubt of you but I pray you if I may aske the question of my Ladye your wife is she now as ready to set vp the Masse as she was lately to pull it downe when she caused in her progresse a dog in a Rochet to be caried called by name or doth she think her lambes now safe enough which sayd to me wheÌ„ I vailed my bonnet to her out of my chamber window in the tower that it was mery with the lambes now the Wolfe was shut vp Another time my Lord her husband hauing inuited me and diuers Ladies to dinner desired euery Lady to choose him whom she loued best and so place themselues My Ladye your wife taking me by the hande for that my Lord would not haue her to take himselfe sayd that for so much as she could not sit downe with my Lord whom she loued best she had chosen me whom she loued worst Of the deuise of the Dogge quoth M. Berty she was neither the author nor the allower The wordes though in that season they sounded bitter to your Lordship yet if it should please you without offence to know the cause I am sure the one will purge the other As touching setting vp of Masse which she learned not onely by strong perswasions of diuers excellent learned men but by vniuersall consent and order whole vj. yeares past inwardly to abhorre if she should outwardly allowe she should both to Christ shew her selfe a false Christian and to her prince a masquing subiect You know my Lord one by iudgemeÌ„t reformed is more worth then a thousand transformed teÌ„porizers To force a confession of Religion by mouth coÌ„trary to that in the hart worketh damnation where saluation is pretended Yea mary quoth the Bishop that deliberation would do well iâ— she neuer required to come from an old Religion to a new But now she is to returne from a newe to an auncient Religion Wherin when she made me her gossip she was as earnest as any For that my Lord sayd M. Berty not long sithen she aunswered a frend of hers vâ—ing your Lordships speach that Religion went not by age but by truth and therefore she was to be turned by persuasion and not by commaundement I pray you quoth the Bishop thinke you it possible to persuade her Yea verely sayd M. Berty with the truth for she is reasonable enough The bishop thereunto replying sayd it will be a maruellous griefe to the Prince of Spayne and to all the nobility that shall come with him when they shall finde but two noble personages of the spanish race within this laÌ„d the Queene and my Lady your wife and one of theÌ„ gone from the fayth M. Berty aunswered that he trusted they should find no fruites of infidelity in her So the Bishop perswading M. Berty to trauell earnestly for the reformation of her opinion and offring large frendship released him of his bande from further appearaunce The Duchesse and her husband dayly more and more by their frendes vnderstanding that the Bishop meant to call her to an accouÌ„t of her fayth whereby extremity might followe deuised wayes how by the Queenes licence they might passe the Seas M. Berty had a ready meane for there rested great summes of mony due to the old Duke of Suffolke one of whose executers the Duches was beyond the Seas the Emperour himselfe being one of those debters M. Berty communicated this his purposed sute for licence to passe the Seas and the cause to the Bishop-adding that he tooke this time most meet to deale with the Emperour by reason of likelyhoode of Mariage betwene the Queene and his sonne I like your deuise well quoth the bishop but I think it better that you tary the Princes comming and I will procure you his letters also to his father Nay quoth M. Berty vnder your Lordships correction and pardon of so liberall speache I suppose the tyme will then be lesse conuenient for when the Mariage is coÌ„suÌ„mate the Emperour hath his desire but till then he will refuse nothing to win credit with vs. By S. Mary quoth the Bishoppe smiling you gesse shrewdly Well proceed in your sute to the Queene and it shall not lacke my helping hand M.
his course till at length he came to a steepe downe hil at the hedge end downe the which hil he ran from them for they could not ride downe the hill but must fetch a great compasse about and so this Thomas Sprat ran almost a mile and as god would got a Wood. By that tyme he came to the Wood they were euen at hys heeles but the night drew on and it began to rayne and so the malice of these persecutors was at an ende the Lord working for his seruauntes whose name be praised for euer and euer Amen Not long after this one of the two Blanchendens aforesayd which so cruelly sought the destruction of other was cruelly murdered by hys owne seruauntes ¶ Iohn Cornet HEre might also be recited the hard adueÌ„tures and sufferinges of Iohn Cornet and at lengthe his deliueraunce by Gods good working out of the same Who being a prentise with a minstrell at Colchester was sent by hys mayster about the 2. yeare of Queene Maryes raygne to a wedding in a towne thereby called Roughhedge where hee being requested by a companye there of good men the Constables also of the parish being present thereat so sing some songes of the scripture chanced to sing a song called Newes out of London whiche tended agaynst the Masse and agaynst the Queenes misproceedinges Whereupon the next day he was accused by the Parson of Roughhedge called Yackesley and so committed first to the Constable where both his mayster gaue hym ouer and hys mother forsooke and cursed him From thence hee was sent to the next Iustice named M. CaÌ„nall and then to the Earle of Oxford where he was first put in yrons chaynes and after that so manacled that the bloude spurt out of hys fingers endes because he woulde not confesse the names of them which allured hym to sing And marueile it was that the cruell Papistes were so contended that they sent him not also to Bishop Boner to suffer the extremitie of the fire But Gods gracious prouidence disposed otherwise for hys seruaunt For after hee was manacled the Earle coÌ„maunded hym to be brought agayne to the towne of Roughhedge there to be whipped till the bloud followed and to be banished the towne for euer and so hee was during all the time of Queene Mary ¶ Thomas Bryce IF our story should proceede so wide and so large as dyd the exceeding mercy of Gods prouidence in helpyng hys seruauntes out of wretchednes and thraldome of those bloudy dayes our treatise I thinke would extende to an endlesse processe For what good man or woman was there almost in all this tyme of Queene Mary who eyther in carying a good conscience out of the land or tarying within the realm could well escape the Papistes handes but by some notable experience of the Lordes mightye power and helpyng hand working for him What shoulde I here speake of the myraculous deliueraunce of Thomas Bryce who beyng in the house of Iohn Seale in the parish of Horting and the Bayliffe with other neighbours comming in sent by Sir Iohn Baker to search and apprehend hym knowing perfectly both hys stature and colour of his garments yet had no power to see or know him standing before their faces So mightely the Lorde did blinde their eyes that they asking for him and looking vpon him yet notwithstanding he quietly tooke vpp his bagge of books and so departed out of the house wythout anye hand layd vpon him Also an other time about the 2. yeare of Queene Mary the sayde Thomas Bryce with Iohn Bryce his elder brother comming then from Wesell meeting together at their fathers house as they iornyed towardes London to geue warning there to one Springfield whiche els was like to bee taken vnawares by his enemies wayting for him vpon Gaddes hill fell in company with a promoter which dogged them and followed them again to Grauesâ—ad into the towne and layed the house for them where they were and all the waies as they should go to the water side so that it had not bene possible for them to haue auoyded the present daunger of those persecutors had not the Lordes prouident care otherwise disposed for hys seruauntes through the Hostler of the Inne couertly to conuey them by a secret passage whereby they tooke Barge a mile out of the towne and so in the ende both the liues of them and also of Springfield was preserued through the Lordes gracious protection ¶ Gertrude Crockhey GErtrude Crokehey dwelling at S. Katherines by the Towne of London and being then in her husbandes house it happened in the yeare 1556. that the Popes childish S. Nicholas went about the parish Whiche shee vnderstanding shut her dore agaynst him not suffering him to enter into her house Then Doct. Mallet hearing thereof and being then Mayster of the sayd S. Katherines the next daye came to her wyth twenty at hys tayle thinking belike to fray her and asked why shee woulde not the night before let in S. Nicolas and receaue hys blessing c. To whom she aunswered thus Syr I knowe no S. Nicholas sayd she that came hether Yes quoth Mallet here was one that represented S. Nicolas In deede sir sayd she here was one that was my neighbours childe but not S. Nicolas for S. Nicholas is in heauen I was afrayde of them that came with him to haue had my purse cut by them for I haue hearde of men robbed by S. Nicolas clerkes c. So Mallet perceiuyng that nothing could be gotten at her handes went his way as he came and she for that time so escaped Then in the yeare 1557. a little before Whitsontide it happened that the sayde Gertrude aunswered for a childe that was baptised of one Thomas Saunders whyche childe was christened secretly in a house after the order of the seruice booke in king Edwardes time and that beyng shortly knowne to her enemies she was sought for Whiche vnderstanding nothing therof went beyond the Sea into Gilderland to see certayne landes that should come to her children in the right of her first husband who was a straunger borne being there about a quarter of a yeare at the lengthe comming homeward by Andwarpe shee chaunced to meete with one Iohn Iohnson a Ducth manne alias Iohn de Uilla of Andwerpe shipper who seeing her there went of malice to the Margraue and accused her to be an Anabaptist whereby shee was taken and caryed to prison The cause why this naughty manne did thus was for that he claymed of M. Crokhay her husband a peece of mony whiche was not his due for a ship that Mayster Crokhay bought of him and for that hee coulde not get it he wrought this displeasure Well she being in prison lay there a fortnight In the whiche time she sawe some that were prisoners there who priuily were drowned in Renish wine fattes and after secretly put in sackes and cast into
as both may be to the glorye of God the discharge of the storie the profite of the Reader and hurte to none suppressing the names of some whome heere although I could recite yet I thought not to be more cruell in hurting their name then the Queene hath bene mercifull in pardoning their liues Therefore now to enter into the discourse of thys tragical matter first here is to be noted that Queene Marye when shee was first Queene before shee was crowned would goe no whither but would haue her by the hande and send for her to dinner and supper but after shee was crowned shee neuer dined nor supped wyth her but kept her aloofe from her c. After this it happened immediatly vpon the rising of sir Thomas Wiat as before was mentioned pag. 1418.1419 that the Ladye Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney were charged with false suspition of Syr Thomas Wyates rising Whereuppon Queene Marye whether for that surmise or for what other cause I know not being offended with the sayde Elizabeth her sister at that time lying in her house at Ashridge the next day after the rising of Wyat sent to her three of her Counsailours to wit Sir Richard Sowthwel syr Edwarde Hastings then maister of the horse and Syr Thomas Cornwalles with their retinue and troupe of horsemen to the number of 200. and 50. Who at their sodaine and vnprouided comming founde her at the same time sore sicke in her bedde and very feeble weake of body Whither wheÌ„ they came ascending vp to her graces priuie Chamber they willed one of her Ladies whome they mette to declare vnto her grace that there were certaine come from the court which had a message from the Queene Her grace hauing knowledge therof was right glad of their comming howbeit being then very sicke and the night farre spent which was at 10. of the clock she requested them by the messenger that they would resort thither in the morning To this they answeared and by the sayde messenger sent woorde againe that they must needes see her and would so do in what case soeuer she were Wherat the Lady being against went to shewe her grace theyr woordes but they hastely folowing her came rushing as soone as shee into her graces chamber vnbidden At whose so sodaine comming into her bed chamber her grace being not a litle amased sayd vnto them 〈◊〉 the hast suche that it myghte not haue pleased you to 〈…〉 morrow in the morning They made answere that they were righte sorye 〈◊〉 her in that case And I quoth shee am not glad to see 〈◊〉 here at this time of the night Whereunto they answered that they came from the Queene to doe their message and duetie which was to this effecte that the Queenes pleasure was that she shoulde be at London the 7. day of that present moneth Whereunto shee sayde Certesse no creature more glad then I to come to her maiestie being right sorie that I am not in case at this time to waite on her as you your selues doe see and can well testifie In deede we see it true quoth they that you doe say for which we are very sorie Albeit we â—ette you to vnderstande that our Commission is such and so straineth vs that we must needes bring you with vs eyther quicke or dead Wherat she being amased sorowfully said that their Commission was very sore but yet notwithstanding she hoped it to be otherwise and not so strait Yes verely said they Whereupon they called for two Phisitions Doctor Owen and Doctor Wendy demaunded of them whether she might be remoued from thence with lyfe or no. Whos 's aunswere and iudgement was that there was no impediment to theyr iudgement to the contrary but that shee might trauayle without daunger of lyfe In conclusion they willed her to prepare agaynst the morning at nine of the clocke to goe with them declaring that they had brought with them the Queenes Lytter for her After much talk the messengers declaring how there was no prolonging of times daies so departed to theyr chamber being entertained and cheared as appertained to their worships On the next morow at the time prescribed they hadde her forth as shee was very faynt and feeble and in suche case that shee was ready to swound three or foure tymes betweene them What shoulde I speake here that cannot well bee expressed what an heauy house there was to behold the vnreuerend and doulefull dealyng of these men but espcially the carefull feare and captiuitie of their innocent Lady and Mistresse Now to proceed in her iourney from Ashrydge al sick in the Litter she came to Redborne where she was garded all night From thence to S. Albones to Syr Rafe Rowlets house where she taryed that night both feble in body and comfortles in minde From that place they passed to Maister Doddes house at Mymmes where also they remayned that night and so from thence she came to Highgate where she being very sicke taryed that night and the next day During whiche time of her abode there came many Purseuantes and messengers from the court but for what purpose I cannot tell From the place she was conueied to the Court whereby the way came to meete her many Gentlemen to accoÌ„pany her highnesse which were very sory to see her in that case But especially a great multitude of people ther were standing by the way who then flocking about her Luter lameÌ„ted and bewailed greatly her estate Now when she came to the Court her grace was there straight wais sâ—â—t vp and kept as close prisonner a fortnight which was till Palme sonday seeing neither King nor Queene nor lead nor frend all that time but only then the Lord Chamberlaine Syr Iohn Gage and the Uicechamberlaine which were attendant vnto the dores About whiche time Syr William Sentlowe was called before the Counsaile To whose charge was laid that he knew of Wyats rebellion Which he stoutly denied protesting that hee was a true man both to God his Prince defying al traytors and rebels but being straitly examined he was in coÌ„clusion committed to the Tower The Friday before Palme sonday the B. of Winchester with xix other of the Counsaile who shall bee here namelesse came vnto her grace from the Queenes Maiestie and burdened her with Wiates conspiracie which she vtterly denied affirmyng that she was altogether gilt lesse therin They beyng not contented with this charged her grace with busines made by sir Peter Carew and the râ—st of the Gentlemen of the West country which also she vtterly denying cleared her innocencie therein In conclusion after long debating of matters they declared vnto her that it was the Queenes will pleasure that she should go vnto the tower while the matter were further â—ried and examined Whereat shee beyng agaste said that shee trusted the Queenes Maiestie would bee more gracious Lady vnto her and that her highnesse would not
watch euery man declaring his opinion in that behalfe agreeing straightly and circumspectly to keepe her Then one of them whiche was the Lorde of Sussex swearing sayd my Lordes let vs take heede and doe no more then our commission will beare vs what soeuer shal happeÌ„ hereafter And further let vs consider that she was the king our Maistres daughter and therfore let vs vse such dealing that we may aunswere vnto it hereafter if it shall so happen for iust dealing quoth he is alwayes answerable Whereunto the other Lords agreed that it was well sayde of him and thereupon departed Being in the Tower within two daies commaundement was that she should haue Masse within her house One M. Yong was then her Chapleyne and because there was none of her men so well learned to helpe the priest to say masse the masse stayed for that day The next day two of her Yeomen who had gone long to schoole before and were learned had two Abcies prouided and deliuered them so that vppon the Abcies they should helpe the Priest One of the sayd Yeomen holdyng the Abcie in his hand pretending ignoraunce at Kirie â—leyson set the priest making as though he could aunswere that no farther It would make a pittiful and and a strange story here by the way to touche and recite what examinations and rackinges of poore men there were to finde out that knife that should cut her throat what gaping among my Lords of the clergy to see the day wherein they might wash their goodly white rochetes in her innocent bloud but especially the Bysh. of Winchester Steuen Gardiner then L. Chauncellour ruler of the rost who then within fiue days after came vnto her with diuers other of the counsell and examined her of the talke that was at Ashridge betwixt her and sir Iames Acroft concerning her remouing from thence to Dunnington Castle requiring her to declare what she ment thereby At the first she being so sodainly asked did not wel remember any such house but within a while well aduising her selfe she sayde In deede quoth she I doe now remember that I haue such a place but I neuer laye in it in all my lyfe And as for any that hath mooued me thereunto I do not remember Then to enforce the matter they broght forth sir Iames Acroft The B. of Winchester demaunded of her what she said to that man She answered that shee had little to say to hym or to the rest that were then prisoners in the tower But my Lordes quoth she you do examine euery mean prisoner of me wherein me thinkes you doe me great iniury If they haue done euill and offended the Queenes Maiesty let them answer to it accordingly I beseech you my Lords ioyne not me in this sort with any of these offenders And as concerning my goyng vnto Dunnington Castle I do remember that M. Hobby and mine officers and you sir Iames Acroft had such talk but what is that to the purpose my Lordes but that I may goe to myne owne houses at all tymes The L. of Arundell kneeling downe said your grace sayth true and certainly we are very sory that we haue so troubled you about so vayne matters She then sayd my Lordes you do sift me very narowly But well I am assured you shall not do more to me then God hath appointed and so God forgeue you all At their departure sir Iames Acroft kneeled downe declaring that he was sory to see the day in which he shuld be brought as a witnesse against her grace But I assure your grace sayd he I haue bene maruelously tossed and examined touching your highnesse which the Lord knoweth is very strange to me For I take God to record before all your honours I do not know any thing of that crime that you haue layd to my charge and will thereupon take my death if I should be driuen to so strait a triall That day or thereabouts diuers of her owne officers who had made prouision for her diet brought the same to the vtter gate of the Tower the common rascall souldiors receiuing it which was no small griefe vnto the Gentlemâ—n the bringers therof Wherfore they required to speak with the Lord Chamberlaine being then Constable of the Tower Who commyng before his presence declared vnto his Lordship that they were much afrayd to bryng her graces diete and to deliuer it vnto such common and desperate persons as they were which did receiue it beseeching his honor to consider her grace and to geue such order that her viands might at all tymes bee brought in by them which were appointed thereunto Yea Sirs said he who appointed you this office They answered her graces counsaile Counsaile quoth he There is none of them which hath to do either in that case or any thing els within this place and I assure you for that she is a prisoner she shall be serued with the Lieuetenaunts men as other the prisoners are Whereat the Gentlemen sayd that they trusted for more fauour at his hands considering her personage saying that they mistrusted not but that the Queene and her Counsaile would be better to her grace then so therewith shewed themselues to be offended at the vngratefull words of the L. Chamberlaine towards their Ladye and maistresse At this he sware by God strikyng hymselfe vpon the brest that if they did either fronne or shrug at him he wold set them where they should see neither sunne nor Moone Thus takyng their leaue they desired God to bryng hym into a better mynde toward her grace and departed from hym Upon the occasion wherof her graces Officers made great sute vnto the Queenes Counsaile that some might be appointed to bring her dyet vnto her and that it might no more be deliuered into the common Souldiours of the Tower Which beyng reasonably considered was by theÌ„ granted And thereupon were appointed one of her Gentlemen her clarke of her kitchin her two Purueiers to bring in her prouision once a day All which was done the Warders euer waiting vpon the bringers thereof The Lord Chamberlaine himselfe being always with them circumspectly and narowly watched and searched what they brought and gaue heede that they should haue no talke with any of her graces waiting seruauntes and so warded them both in and out At the said sute of her officers were sent by the commandement of the Counsaile to waite vppon her grace two Yeomen of her chamber one of her Robes two of her Pantry Ewry one of her Buttry another of her Seller two of her Kitchin one of her Larder all which continued with her the tyme of her trouble Here the Constable beyng at the first not very well pleased with the commyng in of such a company agaynst his will would haue had his men still to haue serued with her Graces men Which her seruaunts at no hand would suffer desiring his Lordship to be
further to be furnished Shee being desirous to knowe what hee meant thereby demaunded wherewith He answeared with such matter as the Queene and Counsail were determined in that behalfe whereof he had no knowledge and so departed In conclusion on Trinitie Sonday being the 19. day of Maye shee was remooued from the Tower the Lorde Treasurer being then there for the lading of her Carâ—es and discharging the place of the same Where Syr Henry Benifielde being appoynted her Gailer did receiue her wyth a companie of rakehelles to Garde her besides the Lorde of Darbies bandâ— wayting in the Countrey about for the mooneshine in the water Unto whome at lengthe came my Lorde of Tame ioyned in Commission with the sayd Syr Henry for the safe guiding of her to prisone and they together conueied her grace to Woodstocke as hereafter followeth The first day they conducted her to Richmond where she continued al night being restrained of her owne men whych were lodged in oute Chambers and Syr Henrye Benifields souldiours appointed in their roumes to geue attendance on her person Wherat she being maruelously dismaid thinking verely some secret mischief to be a working towards her called her Gentleman Usher and desired him with the rest of his company to pray for her For this night quoth she I thinke to die Wherwith he being stricken to the heart sayde God forbid that any such wickednes should be pretended against your grace So comforting her as well as he coulde at last hee brust oute into teares and went from her downe into the Courte where were walking the Lorde of Tame and Syr Henrye Benifielde Then he comming to the Lorde of Tame who hadde profered to him muche friendship desired to speake wyth him a woord or two Unto whome he familiarly sayde he should with all his heart Which when Syr Henry standing by heard he asked what the matter was To whom the Gentleman Usher answeared no great matter Syr sayd he but to speake with my Lord a woord or two Then when the Lorde of Tame came to him he spake on this wise My Lord quoth he you haue ben alwayes my good Lord and so I beseech you to remain The cause why I come to you at this time is to desire your honor vnfainedly to declare vnto mee whether any daunger is meant towardes my Mistresse this nighte or no that I and my poore fellowes may take suche part as shall please God to appoynt for certainely we wil rather die then she should secretely and innocently miscarie Mary sayde the Lord of Tame God forbid that any such wicked purpose should be wrought and rather then it shuld be so I with my men are ready to die at her foote also and so praised be God they passed that dolefull nighte wyth no â—â—â—tle heauinesse of heart Afterwards passing ouer the water at Richmond going towardes Wyndsore her grace espied certaine of her poore seruauntes standing on the other side whiche were very desirous to see her Whom when she beheld turning to one of her men standing by she sayde yonder I see certaine of my men goe to them and say these woordes from me Tanquam ouis So she passing forward to Windsore was lodged there that night in the Deane of Windsores house a place more meete in deede for a Priest then a Princesse And from thence her Grace was garded and brought the next night to M. Dormers house where much people standing by the waye some presented to her one gifte and some an other so that sir Henry was greatly moued therwith and troubled the poore people very sore for shewing their louing hearts in suche a maner calling them rebels and traitors with such like vile woordes Besides as she passed through the villages the townes men rang the bels as being ioyful of her comming thinking verely it had bene otherwise then it was in deede as the sequele prooued after to the sayd poore men For immediately the saide syr Henry hearing the same sent his souldiours thether who appreheÌ„ded some of the ringers setting them in the stockes otherwise vncourteously misusing other some for their good willes On the morrow her grace passing from maister Dormers where was for the time of her abode there a straight watch kept came to the Lord of Tames house where she lay all the night being very princely entertained bothe of Knightes and Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Whereat Syr Henry Benifield grunted and was highly offended saying vnto them that they coulde not tell what they did and were not able to answere to their doings in that behalfe letting them to vnderstand that shee was the Queenes Maiesties prisoner and no otherwise aduising them therefore to take heede and beware of after clappes Wherunto the Lord of Tame answered in this wise that he was wel aduised of his doings being ioyned in Commission as well as he adding with warraÌ„t that her grace might and should in his house be merry The next day as she should take her iourney froÌ„ Richmond toward Woodstocke the Lord of Tame with an other Gentleman being at Tables playing and droppyng vie crownes the Ladie Elizabeth passing by stayed and sayde she would see the game plaied out which sir Henry Benifield would scarse permit The game running longe about and they playing drop vie crownes come on sayth he I will tarie sayth she and will see this game out After this sir Henry went vp into a chamber where was appointed for her grace a chaire two cushions and a foote carpet very faire princelike wherein presumptuously he sate and called one Barwike his maÌ„ to puâ— of his bootes Which as soone as it was known among the ladies and Gentles euery one mused therat and laughed him to scorne obseruing his vndiscrete maners in that behalf as they might very well When supper was done he called my L. and willed him that all the Gentlemen and Ladies should withdraw themselues euery one to his lodging meruailing much that he would permit there such a coÌ„pany considering so great a charge committed to him Sir Henry quoth my Lord content your self all shal be voyded your men and all Nay my souldiours quoth sir Henry shall watch all night The Lord of Tame aunswered it shall not need Well sayd he neede or neede noâ— they shall so do mistrusting belike the company whiche God knoweth was without cause The next day her grace tooke her iourney from thence to Woodstocke where she was inclosed as before in the Tower of London the souldiors garding and wardyng both within and without the walles euery day to the number of three score and in the night without the wals xl during the tyme of her imprisonment there At length shee had gardens appointed for her walke which was very comfortable to her grace But alwayes when she did recreate her selfe therein the dores were â—ast locked vp in as straite maner as they were in the Tower beyng at the least v.
they had sore laboured for vnlesse they made frendes to buy it with money of the sayd Sheriffe so cruel and greedy was he and his officers vpon such things as were there left Wel now this innoceÌ„t man is dead his goods spoiled his wife and children left desolate and comfortlesse and all things is hushte and nothing feared of any parte yet the Lord who surely doth reuenge the guiltles bloud would not stil so suffer it but began at the length to punish it him selfe For in the haruest after the sayde Grimwood of Hitcham one of the witnesses before specified as hee was in his labour staking vp a goffe of corne hauing hys health and fearing no pearill sodenly his bowels fell out of hys body and immediately most miserably he died suche was the terrible Iudgement of God to shâ—we his displeasure against this bloudy act and to warne the rest by these hys iudgements to repentance The Lorde graunt vs to honour the same for his mercies sake Amen This foresaid Fenning who was the procurer of this tyrannie against him is yet aliue and is nowe a minister which if he be I pray God he may so repent that fact that he may declare himselfe hereafter such a one as may well aunswere to his vocation accordingly But since we haue heard that he is no chaungeling but continueth still in his wickednes therfore presented before the woorshipfull Mayster Humerston Esquire and Iustice of Peace Coram for that he had talke with some of his friendes as he thoughte how many honest women to their great infamy were in the Parish of Wensthaston wherein he is now Uiâ—are resident wherfore he was commaunded the next sonday ensuing to aske all the Parish forgiuenes vpoÌ„ his knees openly in seruice tyme which he did in Wensthaston Church beforesayd moreouer the abouesayd Fenning is reported to be more lyke a shifter then a Minister To these examples also may be added the terrible iudgment of God vpon the Parson of Crondall in Kent who vpon Shrouesonday hauing receiued the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole came to his Parish and exhorted the people to receiue the same as he had done himselfe saying that he stoode now so cleare in coÌ„science as wheÌ„ he was first borne cared not now if he should dye the same houre in the clearenes of conscience whereupon being sodenly stricken by the hand of God leaning a little on the one syde immediately shronke down in the Pulpit so was found dead speaking not one word more Read before pag. 1560. Not long before the death of Queene Mary dyed Doctour Capon Bishop of Salisbury About the which tyme also followed the vnprepared death of Doctour Geffrey Chancellour of Salisbury who in the midst of his buildings sodainly being taken by the mighty hand of God yelded his lyfe which hadde so little pittye of other mens lyues before Concerning whose crueltye partly mention is made before pag. 2055. As touching moreouer this foresayde Chauncellour here is to be noted that he departing vpon a Saterday the next day before the same he hadde appoynted to call before him .90 persons and not so fewe to examine them by Inquisition had not the goodnes of the Lord and his tender prouidence thus preuented him with death prouiding for his poore seruauntes in tyme. And now to come from Priests to Lay men we haue to finde in them also no lesse terrible demonstrations of Gods heauy iudgement vpon such as haue beene vexers and persecutours of his people Before in the story of M. Bradford .1624 mention was made of Maister Woodroffe who being theÌ„ Sheriffe vsed much to reioyce at the death of the poore Saints of Christ and so hard he was in his office that when Mayster Rogers was in the cart going toward Smithfield and in the way his childreÌ„ wer brought vnto him the people making a laue for them to come Maister Woodroffe bad the carmans head should be brokeÌ„ for staying his cart But what happened He was not come out of his office the space of a weeke but he was stricken by the sodaine hand of God the one halfe of his body in suche sorte that he lay be nummed and bedred not able to moue himself but as he was liâ—ted of other and so contynued in that infirmity the space of 7. or 8. yeares tyll his dying day pag. 1624. Lykewise touching Rafe Lardyn the betrayer of George Eagles it is thought of some that the sayd Rase afterward was attached himselfe arraegned and hanged Who being at the barre had these woordes before the Iudges there and a greate multitude of people This is most iustly fallen vpon me saythe he for that he hadde betrayed the innocent bloud of a good iust man George Eagles who was here condemned in the time of Queene Maryes raygne thorough his procurment who sold hys bloud for a little money Not much vnlyke stroke of these seuerally was shewed vpon W. Swallow of Chemlford his wife also vpon Rich. Potto Iustice Browne cruel persecutors of the sayd George Egles concerning whose story Reade before pag. 2009. Amonge other persecutours also came to our handes the cruelty of one Maister Swingfield an Aldermans Deputye about Thamis streete who hearing 〈◊〉 Angelles wyfe a midwyfe that kepte her selfe from their Popishe Church to be at the labour of one Mistres Walter al crooked Lane ende tooke three other with him and besette the house about and tooke her and caryed her to Boners officers bigge with childe 28. weekes gone who layd her in Lollardes Tower where as the same daye shee came in thorough feare and a fall at her taking she was deliuered of a man childe could haue no woman with her in that needefull tyme. Lying there 5. weekes she was deliuered vnder suertyes by friendship and Doctor Story hearing thereof charged her with fellony and so sent her to Newgate The cause was for that she had a womaÌ„ at her house in her labour that dyed and the child also and so he charged her with their death But when Syr Roger Cholmley hearde her tell her tale he deliuered her and not much more then 10. weekes after if it were so long dyed the sayd Maister Swingfield and the other three that came to take her Because some there be and not a few which haue such a great deuotion in setting vp the Popish Masse I shal desire theÌ„ to marke well this story following There was a certain Bailiffe of CrowlaÌ„d in Lincolnshire named Burton who pretending an earnest frendship to the Gospel in king Edwards dayes in outward shew at least although inwardly he was a Papist or Atheist and wel knowen to be a man of a wicked adulterous life set forth the kinges proceedinges lustely till the time that king Edward was dead and Queene Mary placed quietly in her estate Then perceiuing by the first proclamation concerning Religion how the world was lyke to turne
most miserably died Who commonly when he woulde affirme any thing were it true or false vsed to say If it be not true I pray God I rotte ere I die Witnesse the Printer heereof with diuers other With these I mighte inferre the sodeine death of Iustice Lelond persecutor of Ieffray Hurst mentioned before pag. 2076. Also the death of Robert Baulding stricken with Lightning at the taking of William Seamen whereuppon hee pined away and died the storie of the which W. Seaman see pag. 2035. Likewise the wretched end of Beard the promoter Moreouer the consuming away of Rob. Blomfielde persecutor of William Browne specified pag. 2065. Further to returne a little backewarde to king Henries time here might be induced also the example of Ihon Rockewoode who in his horrible ende cried all to late with the same woordes which he had vsed before in persecuting Gods poore people of Calice pag. 1055. Also the iudgement of God vpon Lady Honor a persecutor and of George Bradway a false accuser both bereft of theyr wittes page 1227. And what a notable spectacle of Gods reuengyng iudgement haue wee to consider in Syr Rafe Ellerker who as hee was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlyp whom they most wrongfully put to death so shortly after the sayd Syr Rafe Ellerker being slaine of the Frenchmen they all too mangling him after they had cutte off hys priuie members woulde not so leaue hym before they myght see hys heart cutte oute of hys bodye pag. 1229. Doctor Foxlorde Chauncellor to bishop Stokesley a cruell persecutor died sodeinly read pag. 1055. Pauier or Pauie Towne Clearke of London and a bitter enemie to the Gospell hanged him selfe pag. 1055. Steuen Gardiner hearing of the pitiful end of Iudge Hales after he had drowned himself taking occasiō thereby called the following and professiō of the Gospel a doctrine of desperation But as Iudge Hales neuer fell into that inconuenience before hee had consented to Papistrye so who so well considereth the ende of Doctour Pendleton which at hys death ful sore repented that euer he had yeelded to the doctrine of the Papists as he did and likewise the miserable ende of the moste parte of the Papistes besides and especially of Steuen Gardiner him selfe who after so longe professinge the doctrine of Papistrie when there came a Bishop to him in his deathbed and put him in remembraunce of Peter denying his Maister he aunswearing againe sayd that he had denied with Peter but neuer repented with Peter and so both stinckingly vnrepentantly died will say as Steuen Gardiner also hym selfe gaue an euident exāple of the same to all men to vnderstand that Poperie rather is a doctrine of desperation procuring the vengeaunce of almighty God to them that wilfully do cleaue vnto it Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Syr Thomas More in Kyng Henryes time after they hadde brought Iohn Frith Baifield and Baynham and diuers other to theyr death what great reward wanne they therby with almighty God Did not the sworde of Gods vengeaunce light vpon their owne neckes shortly after and they them selues made a publicke spectable at the tower hil of bloudy deathe which before had no compassion of the liues of others Thus ye see the saying of the Lord to be true Hee that smiteth with the sword shall pearish with the sword So was Heliodorus in the old time of the Iewes plagued by Gods hand in the Temple of Hierusalem So did Antiochus Herode Iulian Ualerianus the Emperour Decius Maxentius with infinite others after they had exercised theyr crueltye vppon Gods people feele the like striking hand of God them selues also in reuenging the bloud of his seruaunts And thus much concerning those persecutors as well of the Clergy sort as of the laity which were stricken and died before the death of Quene Mary With whom also is to be numbered in the same race of persecuting Byshops which died before Quene Mary these bishops folowing Bishops Coates Bishop of Westchester Parfew Bishop of Harford Glinne Bishop of Bangor Brookes Bishop of Glocester King Bishop of Tame Peto Elect of Salisburie Day Bishop of Chichester Holyman Bishop of Bristow Now after the Queene immediately followed or rather waighted vpon her the death of cardinal Poole who the next day departed Of what disease although it be vncertaine to many yet to some it is suspected that hee tooke some Italian Physicke which did him no good Then folowed in order Bishops Iohn Christopherson B. of Chichester Hopton B. of Norwich Morgan B. of S. Dauids Iohn White B. of Winchester Rafe Baine B. of Lichfield and Couentrie Owen Oglethorpe B. of Carlile Cuthert Tonstall B. of Durham Thomas Rainolds elect of Herford after hys depriuation died in prison Besides these Bishops aboue named first died at the same time D. Weston Deane of Westminster afterwarde Deane of Windsore chiefe disputer against Cranmer Ridley and Latimer M. Slerhurst maister of Trinitie colledge in Oxforde who died in the Tower Seth Holland deane of Worcester and Warden of Alsoule Colledge in Oxforde William Copinger Monke of Westminster who bare the great Seale before Steuen Gardener after the death of the sayde Gardener made him selfe Monke in the house of Westminster and shortly after so fell madde and died in the Tower Doctor Steward Deane of Winchester ¶ To beholde the woorking of Gods iudgements it is wonderous In the first yeare of Quene Marie when the Clergy was assembled in the Conuocation house and also afterwarde when the Disputation was in Oxford against Doctor Cranmer Ridley and Latimer he that had seene then Doctor Weston the Prolocutoure in his ruffe howe highly he tooke vpon him in the Schooles and how stoutly he stoode in the Popes quarell against simple and naked truth full litle would haue thought and lesse did he thinke him self I dare say that his glory and lofty lookes shoulde haue bene brought downe so soone especiallye by them of hys owne Religion whose part he so doughtely defended But such is the rewarde and ende commonly of them who presumptuouslye oppose them selues to striue against the Lord as by the example of this Doctorly prolocutor right wel may appeare For not long after the disputation aboue mentioned against Bishop Cranmer and hys fellowes God so wrought against the sayd Doctour Weston that hee fell in great displeasure wyth Cardinall Poole and other Bishops because hee was vnwilling to geue vp his Deanery and house of Westminster vnto the Monkes and religious men whom in deede he fauoured not although in other things he maintained the Churche of Rome Who notwithstanding at last through importunate sute gaue vp Westminster was deane of Windsore Where not long after he was apprehended in adulterie and for the same was by the Cardinall put from all hys spirituall liuings Wherefore he appealed to Rome and purposed to haue fledde out of the Realme but was taken by the way and committed
most of the Deuill of hell Thus he lay without amendment about 6. daies that his maister and all his houshold was weary of that trouble and noyse Then his maister agreed with the keepers of Bedlem and gaue a peece of money and sent hym thether It seemeth that he was possessed with an euill spirit from the which God defend vs all This is a terrible example to you that be mockers of the word of God therfore repent amend lest the vengeance of God fall vpon you in like maner Witnes heereof William Mauldon of Newington The same William Mauldon chaunced afterwarde to dwel at a Towne 6. miles from London called Waltamstow where his wife taught yong children to read which was about the yeare of our Lorde 1563. and the 4. yeare of Queene Elizabeths raigne Unto this schoole amongest other children came one Benfieldes daughter named Dennis about the age of twelue yeares As these children sate talking together they happened among other talke as the nature of children is to be busy with many things to fall in communication of God and to reason among them selues after their childish discretion what he should be Whereunto some answered one thing some an other Among whom when one of the children had sayd that he was a good olde father the foresayd Denis Benfielde casting out impious woordes of horrible blasphemie what he sayd shee is an olde doting foole What wretched and blasphemous wordes were these yee heare Nowe marke what followed When William Mauldon heard of these abhominable woordes of the girle hee willed his wife to correcte her for the same Which was appoynted the nexte day to be done But wheÌ„ the next morow came her mother would nedes send her to the market to London the wenche greatly intreating her mother that she might not go being marueilously vnwilling thereunto Howebeit thorough her mothers compulsion shee was forced to goe and went And what happened Her businesse being done at London as she was returning againe homewarde and being a little past Hackney sodenly the yong girle was so stricken that all the one side of her was black and she speachles Wherupon immediately she was caried backe to Hackney and there the same night was buried Witnes of the same storie William Mauldon and his wife also Benfielde her father and her mother which yet be all aliue A terrible example no doubt both to old and young what it is for children to blaspheme the Lord theyr God and what it is for parentes to suffer their young ones to grow vp in such blasphemous blindnes not to nurture them betime in the rudimeÌ„ts of the christian Catechisme to know first their creation and then their redemption in Christ our Sauiour to feare the name of God and to reuerence his Maiestie For els what do they deserue but to be taken away by â—â—eathe whiche contemptuously despise him of whome they take the benefite of life And therefore let all young maides boyes and yong men take example by this wretched seely wench not only not to blaspheme the sacrede Maiestie of the omnipotent God their creator but also not once to take his name in vaine according as they are taughte in hys commaundementes Secondly let all Fathers Godfathers and Godmothers take this for a warning to see to the instruction and Catechising of their children for whom they haue bounde them selues in promise both to God and to hys Churche Which if the Father and godfather the Mother and godmothers had done to this younge girle verely it maye be thought this destruction had not fallen vpon her Thirdly al blinde Atheists Epicures Mammonists belly Gods of this worlde and sonnes of Beliall hypocrites infidelles and mockers of Religion which saye in their hearts there is no God learne also hereby not only what God is and what he is able to doe but also in thys miserable creature here punished in this world to behold what shall likewise fall on them in the world to come vnlesse they will be warned betime by such examples as the Lord God doth geue them Fourthly and lastly heere may also be a spectacle for all them which be blasphemous and abhominable swearers or rather tearers of God abusing his glorious name in suche contemptuous and despitefull sort as they vse to do Whome if neither the woorde and commaundemente of God nor the calling of the preachers nor remorse of conscience nor rule of reason nor theyr wytheringe age nor hory haires will admonish yet let these terrible examples of Gods districte Iudgement somewhat mooue them to take heede to them selues For if thys young maiden who was not fully 12. yeares old for her vnreuerent speaking of God and that but at one time did not escape the stroke of Gods terrible hande what then haue they to looke for which being men growen in yeares and stricken in age being so often warned preached vnto yet cease not continually with theyr blasphemous othes not only to abuse his name but also most coÌ„tumeliously and despitefully to teare him as it were and all his partes in peeces About the yeare of our Lorde 1565. at Bryhtwell in the County of Backshyre vppon certaine communication as touching the right reuerende Martyrs in Christ Byshop Cranmer Bishop Ridley and maister Hughe Latimer there came into an house in Abyngdon one whose name is Leuar being a Plowman dwelling in Bryhtwel afore sayd and sayd that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when he was burned And also in despite sayd that he had teeth like a horse At which time and hour as neare as could be gathered the sonne of the sayde Leauer moste wickedly hanged him selfe at Shepton in the Countie aforesayd within a mile of Abingdon These wordes were spoken in the hearing of me Thomas Ienens of Abyngdon Did not Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterburie geue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died him self before him being so stricken in his toung that neither he could swallow nor speake for a certain space before his death pag. 588. Frier Campbell the accuser of Patricke Hamelton in Scotlande what a terrible ende hee hadde reade before pag. 957. Haruey a Commissarie that condemned a poore man in Calice was shortly after hanged drawen and quartered pag. 1229. William Swallow the cruell tormentor of George Egles was shortly after so plagued of God that al the hair of his heade and nailes of his fingers and toes went off his eyes welneare closed vppe that hee coulde scante see Hys wife also was stricken wyth the falling Sickenesse wyth the whych Maladie shee was neuer infected before pag. 2010. Likewise Richard Potto an other troubler of the sayd George Egles vppon a certaine anger or chafe with hys seruauntes was so sodenlye taken with sicknesse that falling vpon his bed lyke a beast there he died neuer spake woorde pag. 2010. Richard Denton a shrinker from the Gospel while he refused to suffer the fire in
824. Dauid Beaton Archbishop of s. Andrewes in Scotland shortly after the beginning of M. George Wisard how hee by the iust stroke of God was slaine and wretchedly ended his lyfe within his owne Castle in the discourse of his story is euident to see who so listeth further to read of that matter pag. 1272. Ioannes Sleidanus in his 23. booke maketh relatiâ—â— of Cardinall Crescentius the chiefe President and moderator of the Councell of Trident ann 1552. The story of whom is certain the thing that hapned to him was straÌ„ge and notable the exaÌ„ple of him may be profitable to others such as haue grace to be warned by other meÌ„s euils The narration is this The 25. day of March in the yere aforesaid Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trident was sitting all the day long vntill darke night in writing letters to thâ— Pope After his labour when night was come thinking to refresh himselfe he began to rise and at his rising beholde there appeared to hym a mighty blacke dogge of a huge bignes his eyes flamyng with fire and his eares hanging low downe welneere to the ground to enter in and straite to come toward hym so to couch vnder the boord The Cardinall not a little amased at the sight thereof somewhat recouering himselfe ralled to his seruauntes which were in the outward chaÌ„ber next by to bring in a candle and to seeke for the dog But when the dog could not be found neither there nor in no other chamber about the Cardinall thereupon striken with a sodaine conceit of mynd immediately fell into such a sicknes wherof his Phisitions which he had about hym with all their industry and cunnyng coulde not cure hym And so in the towne of Uerona died this popish cardinall the Popes holy Legate and President of this couÌ„cel wherein his purpose was as Sleidane saith to recouer and heale againe the whole authoritie and doctrine of the Romish see and to set it vp for euer There were in this Councell beside the Popes Legates and Cardinall of Trident lxij Bishops Doctours of Diuinitie xlij And thus was the ende of that Popishe Councell by the prouident hand of the almighty dispatched and brought to naught Ex Sleidano Li. 23. This Councell of Trident being then dissolued by the death of this Cardinal was afterward notwithstanding recollected againe about the yeare of our lord 1562. against the erroneous proceedings of which Councel other writers there be that say enough So much as pertaineth only to story I thought hereunto to adde concernyng two filthy adulterous bishops to the sayd Councel belonging of whome the one haunting to an honest mans wife was slaine by the iust stroke of God with a Borespeare The other Bishop whose haunte was to creepe through a window in the same window was subtilly taken and hanged in a grinne layed for hym of purpose and so conueied that in the mornyng hee was seene openly in the streete hangyng out of the windowe to the wonderment of all that passed by Ex protestatione Concionatorum Germa aduersus conuentum Trident. c. Amongst all the religious order of Papists who was a stouter defender of the Popes side or a more vehement impugner of Martin Luther then Iohn Eckius who if his cause wherein he so trauailed had bene godly had deserued no doubt great fauour and condigne retribution at the hands of the Lord. Now for so much as we cannot better iudge of him then by his ende let vs consider the maner of his departing hence and compare the same with the end of M. Luther In the which M. Luther beyng such an aduersarye as he was to the Pope and hauyng no lesse then al the world vpon him at once first this is to bee noted that after all these trauailes the Lord gaue him to depart both in great age and in his owne natiue countrey where he was born Secondly he blessed him with such a quiet death without any violent hande of any aduersary that it was counted rather a sleepe then a death Thirdly as the death of hys body was myld so his spirit mynde continued no lesse godly vnto the end continually inuocating and calling vpon the name of the Lord and so commending his spirite to hym with feruent prayer he made a blessed and an heauenly ending Fourthly ouer and besides these blessings almighty God did also adde vnto him such an honourable buriall as to many great Princes vnneth happeneth the like And this briefly concernyng the ende of M. Luther as ye may read before more at large pag. 863. Now let vs consider and conferre with this the death of Iohn Eckius and the maner thereof which we find in the English translation of the history of Iohn Carion fol. 250. in these words expressed This yere saith he died at Ingold state Doctor Eckius a faithful seruant and champion of the Pope and a defender of the abhominable Papacie But as his lyfe was full of all vngodlines vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pitifull in so much that his last wordes as it is noted of many credible personnes were these In case the foure thousand guildens were ready the matter were dispatched c. Dreamyng belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Some say that the Pope had granted him a certaine Deanry which he should haue redeemed from the Courte of Rome with the foresayd summe Now what a heauenly ende this was of M. Eckius I leaue it to the Readers iudgement In the Citie of Andwerpe was as they terme hym there a Shoulted that is to say the next Officer to the Markgraue one named Iohn Uander Warfe a Bastard sonne of a stocke or kinred called Warfe of good estimation amongest the chiefest in Antwarpe Who as he was of nature cruell so was he of iudgement peruerse and corrupt and a sore persecutor of Christes flocke with greedines seekyng and sheddyng innocent bloud and had drouned diuers good men and women in the water for the which he was much commended of the bloudy generation Of some he was called a bloudhound or bloudy dog Of other he was called Shildpad that is to say Sheltode for that hee beyng a short grundy and of little stature did ride commonly with a great broad hat as a churl of the countrey This man after he was weary of his office wherein he had continued aboue xx yeres he gaue it ouer and because he was now growen rich and welthy he entended to passe the residue of his lyfe in pleasure and quietnes During which tyme about the second yeare after hee had left his office he came to Antwarpe to the feast called our Ladies Oumegang to make mery which feast is vsually kept on the Sonday followyng the assumption of our Lady The same day in the after noone about foure of the clock he being wel loden with wine rode homewards
this lyfe where euery one should be purified and cleansed He aunswered that he had red ouer the whole Bible and could finde no such place but that the death of Christ was his Purgatory with many other questions proceedyng after their order vntill hee came to pronounce hys condemnation But or euer the sayd condemnation was red foorth the iudgement of God was laid vpon the sayd Borough maister who sodainly at that present instaunt was striken with a Palsey that his mouth was drawen vp almost to his eare and so hee fell downe the rest of the Lordes by and by standing vp and shadowyng him that the people coulde not well see hym and also the people were willed to depart who beyng still called vpon to depart aunswered the place was so small to go out that they could goe no faster Then the Borough maister beyng taken vp was caried to his house and it is not yet vnderstood nor commonly knowen that euer he spake word after he was first striken but was openly knowen to bee dead the next day followyng And yet notwithstandyng that this was done about tenne of the clocke they burned the sayd William de Weuer within three houres after on the same day The 4. day of March 1566. the lyke example of the Lordes terrible iudgement was shewed vpon sir Garret Triest knight who had long before promised to the Regent to bring downe the preachyng For the which act as the report goeth the Regent agayne promised to make hym a Graue which is an Erle Of the which sir Garret it is also said that he commyng from Bruxels towardes Gaunt brought with him the death of the Preachers and beyng come to Gaunt the sayde sir Garret with other of the Lordes hauyng receiued from the Regent a Commission to sweare the Lordes and Commons vnto the Romish Religion the sayd sir Garret the 4. day of March aboue noted at night beyng at supper willed the Lady his wyfe to call hym in the mornyng one houre sooner then he was accustomed to ryse for that hee should the nexte day haue much businesse to doe in the towne house to sweare the Lordes and people to the Romish Religion But see what happened The sayd sir Garret goyng to bedde in good health as it seemed when the Lady his wife called him in the mornyng accordyng to his appoyntment was found dead in her bedde by her and so vnable to prosecute his wicked purpose The fift day of March 1566. which was the day that Sir Garret Triest appoynted to be there and the Lords of Gaunt were come into the Towne house as they had afore appoynted to proceed and to geue the othe accordyng as they had their Commission and Maister Martin de Pester the Secretary beyng appoynted and about to geue the othe as the first man should haue sworne the sayd Martine de Pester was striken of God with present death likewyse and fell downe and was caried away in a chaire or settell and neuer spake after Witnes hereunto Peter de Bellemaker Abraham Rossart Maerke de Mill. Lieuen Hendrickx Ian Coucke Roger Vanhulle Ioys Neuehans Lyauin Neuehans Wil. vanden Boegarde Ioys de Pitte About the borders of Sueuia in Germany not farre from the Citie of Uberlyng there was a certayne Monastery of Cistercian Monkes called Salmesnisie founded in the dayes of Pope Innocent 2. by a noble Baron named Guntherame about the yeare of our Lord 1130. This Celle thus beyng erected in processe of tyme was enlarged with more ample possessions findyng manye and great benefactoures and endowers liberally contributyng vnto the same as Emperours Dukes and rich Barons Amongest whome most especiall were the Earles of Montforte who had bestowed vpon that monastery many new liberties and great priuiledges vpon this condition that they shoulde receiue with free hospitalitie any stranger both horseman or footeman for one nightes lodging who so euer came But this hospitalitie did not long so continue through a subtile and diuelish deuise of one of the Monkes who tooke vpon hym to counterfeite to play the part of the Deuill ratling and raging in his chaynes where the straungers should lie after a terrible maner in the night tyme to fray away the gestes by reason wherof no stranger nor traueller durst there abide and so continued this a long space At length as God would it so happened that one of the Earles of the sayde house of Mountforte benefactours to that Abbey commyng to the Monastery was there lodged whether of set purpose or by chance it is not knowen When the night came and the Earle was at hys rest the Monke after his woonted maner beginneth his pageant to play the tame yea rather the wylde Deuill There was stampyng rappyng spittyng of fire roring thunderyng bounsing of boordes and ratling of chaines enough to make some man starke mad The Erle hearing the sodaine noyse and beyng somewhat peraduenture afraid at the first although he had not then the feate of coniuring yet taking a good hart vnto him running to his sword he layd about him well fauoredly and followyng still the noyse of the deuill so coniured him at last that the monke which counterfeited the deuill in iest was slayne in hys owne likenes in earnest Ex Gaspare Bruschio in Chronologia Monasteriorum Germaniae ⧠After the imprisonment of the congregation which were taken hearyng Gods word in S. Iames streete in Paris an 1558. as is aboue storied was a letter written to the king which was diuulgate abroad proouing declaring by diuers histories what afflictions and calamities from tyme to tyme by Gods righteous iudgement haue fallen vppon such as haue bene enemies to his people and haue resisted the free passage of his holy word In which letter forsomuch as beside the sayd examples much other good fruitfull matter is conteined worthy of all mē to be read and especially of Princes to bee considered I thought here good to copy out the whole as the Frenche booke doth geue it The translation of the which letter into English is after this tenor as followeth ¶ A Letter translated out of French into English written to K. Henry the 2. French kyng COnsider I pray you sir and you shall finde that all your afflictions haue come vpon you since you haue set your selfe agaynst those which are called Lutherans When you made the Edict of Chasteaubriant God sent you warres but when ye ceased the execution of your sayde Edict and as long as ye were enemye vnto the Pope and goyng into Almanie for the defence of the libertie of the Germaines afflicted for Religion your affaires prospered as ye would wishe or desire On the contrary what hath become vpō you since you were ioyned with the Pope agayne hauing receiued a sword from him for his own safegard And who was it that caused you to breake the truce God hath turned in a moment your prosperities into such afflictions that they touch not onely
stroke of gods iust reuenge the same king by credible report of storâ— is sayd to dye of bleeding not onely at his eares and nose but in all other places of his bodye where bloud might haue any issue Unto these afore recited historyes of king Henry and hys two Sonnes might also be added the death of the Emperour Charles the fift Who in like maner beyng an enemy and a great terrour to the Gospell was cut of like wise for doing any more hurt to the Church muche about the same time an 1558. which was but three monethes before the death of Queene Mary and ten monethes before the death of the sayd Henry the 2. Touching the death of which Charles and Henry Fraunces this Epitaph folowing was written in Latine verses and printed in the French story booke aboue alledged Consilijs Christum oppugnans fraudibus ingens Regum ille terror Carolus Ipsis ridiculus pueris furiosus excors Totus repentè corruit Tuque Henrice malis dum consultoribus vtens Sitis piorum sanguinem Ipse tuo vecors inopina caede peremptus Terram imbuisti sanguine Henrici deinceps sectans vestigia patris Franciscus infoelix puer Clamantem Christum surda dum negligit aure Aure putrefacta corruit Versuti fatui surdi haec spectacula Reges Vos sapere vel mori iubent Not long after Anne du Bourges death the President Minard who was a sore persecutour and the condemner of the sayd Anne du Bourg as he returned from the Pallace or Counsell chamber to his owne house beyng vpon his Mule euen hard by his house was slayne with a Dag but who was the doer thereof or for what cause hee was slayne for all the inquisition and dilligent searche that coulde be made it was neuer knowne Amongst many other examples worthy to be noted let vs also consider the end of the K. of Nauarre brother to the worthy Prince of Condy who after he had susteined a certayne time the cause of the Gospell at length being allured by the flattering words of the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother and vpon hope to haue his landes restored againe which the king of Spayne reteyned from him was contented to alter his religion and to ioyne side with the Papists and so being in camp with the Duke of Guise at the siege of Roane was there shot in with a pellet After which wound receiued being brought to a towne three miles from the campe called Preaux hee did vehemently repent and lament his backsliding from the Gospell promising to God most earnestly that if hee might escape that hurt he woulde bring to passe that the Gospell should be preached freely through all Fraunce Notwithstanding within fiue or sixe dayes after he dyed Neyther did the Duke of Guise himselfe the greate Archenemy of God and his Gospell continue in life long after that but both he with the whole triumuirat of France that is three the greatest captayns of popery were cut off for doyng any more hurt to wit the Duke of Guise before Orleance the Constable before Paris the Marshal of S. Andrew before Dreux ¶ Of the Emperour Sigismundus Amongest others here is not to bee past ouer nor forgotten the notable examples of Gods iust scourge vppon Sigismundus the Emperour of whoÌ„ mentioÌ„ is made before in the condemnation of Iohn Husse Hierome of Prage pag. 596. After the deathe and wrongfull condemnation of which blessed martyrs nothing afterward went prosperously with the sayd Emperour but all contrary so that both he dyed without issue in his warres euer weÌ„t to the worst And not long after Ladislaus his daughters sonne king of Hungary fighting agaynst the Turk was slayne in the fielde So that in the tyme of one generation al the posteritie ofspring of this Emperor perished Besides this Barbara his wife came to suche ruine by her wicked leudnes that she became a shame and slaunder to the name state of all Queenes Whereby all Christian princes and Emperours may sufficiently bee admonished if they haue grace what it is to defile themselues with the bloud of Christes blessed sayntes and Martyrs ¶ A note of Christopher Parker CHristopher Parker called Parker the wilde mentioned before in this booke of Monumentes pag. 1986. who being a persecuter of Richard Woodman did manacle his handes with a corde did cast himselfe into a pond and so drowned himselfe at Herstnonceux in Sussex the 8. of September 1575. * The story of one Drayner of Kent commonly called Iustice Nyne hooles I May not in this place omit the tragedy of one Drayner of Smarden in the Counâ—y of Kent Esquire who bearing grudge against one Gregory Doddes Parson of the sayde towne for reprouing his vicious lyfe sent for hym by two men which tooke hym brought him before him where he was had into a Parlour as it were to breakfast In which behinde the doore he had placed one Roger Mathew secretly to beare witnes what he shuld say no more being in sight but the sayd Drayner one of hys men who willed and perswaded him to speake freely his minde for that there was not sufficient record of his wordes to hurt him But the Lord kept his talke without perill wherby the sayd Drayner sent hym to the next Iustice called M. George Dorell who perceiuing it to be done more of malice theÌ„ otherwise deliuered him vpon sureties to appeare at the next Sessions at Cant. and at length was banished the Countrey This sayd Drayner afterward being chosen Iustice to shew himselfe diligent in seeking the trouble of his neighbors made in the Rodeloft nyne hooles that he might looke about the church in Masse tyme. In which place alway at the sacring therof he would stand to see who looked not or held not vp his hands therto which persoÌ„s so not doing he would trouble punish very sore Wherby he purchased a name ther is called to this day Iustice nine holes who now God be thanked is Iohn out of office glad of his neighbors good will It so fell out that since this was published the sayde Drayner came to the Printers house with other associate demaunding Is Foxe here To whome aunswere was geuen that maister Foxe was not within Is the Printer within quoth Drayner It was aunswered yea Wherevpon being required to come vp into his house was asked what his will was Mary sayth he you haue printed me false in your booke Why sayth the Printer is not your name M. Drayner otherwise called Iustice nine holes It is false sayth he I made but v. with a great Augure and the Parson made the rest It was answered I haue not read that a Iustice shoulde make him a place in the Roode loft to see if the people held vppe theyr handes He sayd where as you alleadge that I did it to see who adored the sacrament or who not it is vntrue for
and burning them hee denyed not but that he was once at the burning of an herewygge fo◠so he termed it at Uxbridge where he tost a faggot at his face as hee was singing Psalmes and set a wynbushe of thornes vnder his feete a little to pricke him wyth many other words of like effect In the whiche words he named moreouer syr Phillip Hobby an other knight of Kent with such other of the richer and higher degree whom his Counsell was to plucke at to bring them vnder coram wherein sayd he if they had followed my aduise then had they done well and wisely This or much like was the effect of the shameles and tyrannicall excuse of hym selfe more meete to speake with the voyce of a beast then of a man Although in this Parliament some diuersitie there was of iudgement opinion betweene parties yet notwithstanding through the mercifull goodnes of the Lord the true cause of the Gospell had the vpper hand the Papistes hope was frustrate and theyr rage abated the order and proceedinges of king Edwardes time concerning religion was reuiued agayne the supremacie of the Pope abolished the articles and bloudy statutes of Queene Mary repealed briefly the furious firebrandes of cruell persecution which had consumed so many poore mens bodyes were now extinct and quenched Finally the olde Byshops deposed for that they refused the othe in renouncing the pope and not subscribing to the Queenes iust and lawfull title In whose rowmes and places first for Cardinall Poole succeeded D. Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury In the place of Heth succeeded D. Young In steede of Boner Edmund Grindall was Bishop of London For Hopton Thurlby Tonstall Pates Christoferson Peto Coates Morgan Feasy White Oglethorpe c. were placed Doctor Iohn Parkust in Norwich D. Coxe in Ely Iuell in Salisbury Pilkenton in Duresme Doctor Sandes in Worcester Mayster Downam in Westchester Bentam in Couentry and Lichfield Dauid in S. Dauies Ally in Exceter Horn in Winchester Scory in Hereford Best in Carlile Bullingham in Lincoln Scamler in Peterbury Bart let in Bath Gest in Rochester Barlo in Chi. c. ¶ And here to make an end of this Story Now it remayneth to proceed further to the Appendix in supplying such thinges as haue either bene omitted or newly inserted as foloweth ⧠The Appendix of such Notes and Matters as either haue bene in this History omitted or newly inserted IN this Story of Sir Roger Acton aboue mentioned pag. 587. I finde that with him were taken many other persōs that all the prisons in about London were replenished with people The chiefe of thē which were 29. were condemned of heresy atteynted of high treason as mouers of war agaynst theyr king by the temporall law in the Guild hall the 12. day of December and adiudged to be drawne and hanged for treasō and for heresy to be consumed with fire Gallowes and all which iudgement was executed in Ianuary following on the sayde Syr Roger Acton and 28. other Some say that the occasion of theyr death was the cōueyance of the Lord Cobham out of Prison Other write that it was both for treason as the aduersaries termed it and heresy Certayne affirme that it was for feyned causes surmised by the spiritualty more of displeasure thē truth as seemeth more neare to the truth * Concerning Iohn Frith of his life and story this foloweth more to be added and to be referred to the page 103◠FIrst this Iohn Frith was borne in the Towne of Westrame in Kent who after by diligent especialles was takē in Essex flying beyond the seas brought before the Counsaile Syr Thomas More thē being Chauncellor and so from them committed vnto the Tower where he remayned prisoner the space of a quarter of a yeare or there about It chaunced that Doctour Curreyne ordinary Chapleyne vnto King Henry the eighte preached a Sermō in Lent before his Maiesty And there verye sore enueying agaynste the Sacramentaryes as they thē termed and named which fauored not the grosse opinion that Christes body was carnally reall in the Sacrament he so farre discoursed in that matter that at the length he brake out thus far and sayd It is no maruayle though this abhominable heresye doe muche preuayle among vs for there is one nowe in the Tower of London so bolde as to write in the defence of that heresye and yet no man goeth about his reformation meaning Iohn Fryth who then had aunsweared Syr Thomas More in writing agaynste a confutation of that erroneous opinion which of late before the sayd Maister More had writen agaynst Iohn Frythes assertion in that behalfe This Sermon of purpose was deuised and appoynted by the Byshop of Winchester and other to seeke the destruction of Fryth by putting the king in remembraunce that the sayd Fryth was in the Tower there stayd rather for hys sauegarde then for his punishment by suche as fauoured hym as the Lorde Cromwell who being Uicegerent in causes Ecclesiasticall came then into suspition therefore For in suche sorte was the matter handeled before the Kyng that all men mighte well vnderstande what they meant The Kynge then being in no poynte resolued of the true and sincere vnderstanding of the doctrine of that Article but rather a peruerse stout Aduersary to the contrary called to hym my Lorde of Caunterburye and my Lord Cromwell and willed them forthwith to call Fryth vnto examination so that he might eyther be compelled to recant or elles by the Lawe to suffer condigne punishment Frythes long protract in the Tower withouten examination was so heynously taken of the King that nowe my Lorde of Caunterburye with other Byshoppes as Stokesly thē bishop of London other learned mē were vndelayedly appoynted to examine Fryth And for that there shuld be no concourse of Citizens at the sayd examination my L. of Canterbury remoued to Croydon vnto whome resorted the rest of the Commissioners Nowe before the day of execution appointed my Lord of Cant. sent one of his gentlemen and one of his porters whose name was Perlebene a Welchman borne to fetche Iohn Frith from the Tower vnto Croydon This gentleman hadde both my Lords letters and the kings ring vnto my Lord Fitzwilliams Constable of the Tower then lying in Canon row at Westminster in extreme anguish and payne of the strangulion for the deliuery of the prisoner Mayster Fytzwilliams more passionate then patient vnderstanding for what purpose my Lordes gentleman was come banned and cursed Frith and all other heretickes saying take this my King vnto the Lieuetenaunt of the Tower and receiue your man your hereticke with you and I am glad that I am ridde of him When Frith was deliuered vnto my Lord of Canterburyes Gentleman they twaine with Parlebeane sitting in a Wherry and rowing towardes Lambeth The sayd Gentleman much lamenting in his mind the infelicitie of the sayd Frith began in this wise to exhort him to consider in what estate
Gentleman He shall be sure cast away if we once bring him to CroydoÌ„ surely quoth the Gentleman before God I speake it if thou Perlebeane were of my mind we would neuer bring him thither Say you so quoth the Porter I knowe that you be of a great deale more credit then I am in this matter and therfore if you can deuise honestly or finde some reasonable excuse wherby we may let him goe prouide for himselfe I will with all my hart condescend to your deuise As for that quoth the gentleman it is already inueÌ„ted how which waies he shall conuey himselfe without any great daunger or displeasure taken towardes vs as the matter shal be handled You see quoth the gentlemaÌ„ yonder hill before vs named bristow cawsy 2. miles froÌ„ LoÌ„don there are great woodes on both sides when we come there we will permit Frith to go into the woodes on the left hand of the way wherby he may coÌ„uey himselfe into kent amoÌ„g his frends for he is a kentish man borne wheÌ„ he is gone we will linger an houre or twayn about the high way vntill that it somewhat draw towardes the night Then in great hast we will approch vnto Streatham which is a myle and a halfe of and an outcry in the Towne that our prisoner is broken from vs into the woodes on the right hand towardes Waynisworth so that we will drawe as manye as wee may of the Towne to search the country that way for our prisoner declaring that wee followed aboue a myle and more and at length loste him in the woodes because wee hadde no more companye and so wee wyll rather then fayle lye out one night in searching for him and sende worde from Stretham to my Lorde of Canterbury at Croyden in the euening of the prisoners escape and to what Coast hee is fledde So that by the morning if hee haue any good lucke at all hee will so prouide for himselfe that the Byshoppes shall fayle of their purpose I assure you quoth Perlebeane I like very well the deuise herein and therefore goe ye to Frith and declare what wee haue deuised for hys deliuery for nowe we are almost at the place When my Lorde of Caunterburyes gentleman came nyghe to the hill he ioyned himselfe in companye wyth the sayd Frith and calling him by hys name sayd Now Mayster Frithe let vs twayne commune together an other whiles you must consider that the iourney whiche I haue nowe taken in hande thus in bringing you to Croyden as a sheepe to the slaughter so it greeueth me and as it were ouerwhelmeth me in cares and sorrowes that I little passe what daunger I fall in so that I could finde the meanes to deliuer you oute of the Lyons mouthe And yet yonder good fellowe and I hâ—ue so deuised a meanes whereby you maye bothe easily escape from this great and Imminent daunger at hande and wee also bee rydde from any vehement suspicion And thereupon declared vnto Fryth the full processe discoursed before how euery thing in order should be handled When Frith had dilligently heard all the matter concerning hys deliuery he sayd to the gentleman Oh good Lorde wyth a smiling countenaunce is this the effecte of youre secret consultation thus longe betweene you twayne Surely surely you haue loste a great deale more labour in tymes past and so are you lyke to doe this for if you should both leaue me here and goe to Croyden declaring to the Byshoppes that you had lost Fryth I would surely follow as fast after as I might and bring them newes that I hadde founde and brought Fryth agayne Do you thinke quoth he that I am afrayde to declare my opinion vnto the Byshoppes of Englande in a manifest trueth You are a fonde manne quoth the Gentleman thus to talke As thoughe youre reasoning with them might do some good But I doe much maruell that you were so willing to flye the Realme before you were taken and nowe so vnwilling to saue youre selfe Mary there was and is a great diuersitie of escaping betweene th one and thother quoth Frith Before I was in deede desirous to escape because I was not attached but at libertie which liberty I woulde fayne haue enioyed for the maynteynance of my study beyond the See where I was a reader in the Greeke tong according to S. Paules Counsaile Howbeit now being taken by the higher power and as it were by almightye gods permission and prouidence deliuered into the hands of the Bishops only for religion doctrines sake namely such as in conscience and vnder paine of damnation I am bound to maynteyne and defend if I should now start aside and runne away I should runne from my God and from the testimony of his holy worde worthy then of an 1000. hels And therfore I most hartily thanke you both for your good willes towards me beseching you to bring me where I was appointed to bee brought for els I will go thether all alone And so with a chearfull mery countinance he went with them spending the time with pleasant godly communication vntil they came to Croyden where for that night he was wel entertained in the Porters lodge On the morow he was called before certayn Bish. and other learned men sitting in commission with my Lorde of Cant to be examined where he shewed himself passing ready ripe in answering to all obiections as some then reported incredible and contrary to al mens expectatioÌ„s And his allegations both of S. Augustine other ancient fathers of the Church was such that some of them muche doubted of S. Augustines authoritie in that behalf Insomuch that it was reported of suche as were nigh and about the Archbishop of Caunterbury who then was not fully resolued of the sincere truth of that article that when they had finished their examination with Frith the Archbyshoppe conferring wyth Doctour Heathe priuately betwene themselues sayd This man hath wonderfullye trauayled in this matter and yet in mine opinion hee taketh the Doctours amisse Well my Lord should D. Heth say there was no man that coulde auoyd his authorityes of S. Augustine Wherein sayd my Lord. Then Doctour Heth began to repeate the sayd authorities of Saynt Augustine againe inferring and applying them so strayghtly agaynst my Lord of Caunterbury that my Lord was driuen to this shotte anker and sayd I see by it quoth he to Heth that you with a little more studye will bee easely brought to Frythes opinion or such like wordes in effect And some Chapleines there were of my Lorde of Caunterburyes which openly reported that Doctor Heth was as able to defend Frythes assertion in the Sacrament as Fryth was himselfe This learned young man being thus throughly sifted at Croydon to vnderstand what he could say or do in his cause there was no man willing to preferre hym to aunswere in open disputation as poore Lambart was But nowe without regarde of learning or good knowledge hee
exorcistatus officio interdicto DegradatioÌ„ from the order of Readership Degradatio ab ordine Lectoratus Librum Lectionum aufert pontifex degradator dicens IN Ecclesia Dei non legas vlterius neque cantes neque panes aut fructus nouos vllatenus benedicas quia tuum officium non impleuisti fideliter deuote DegradatioÌ„ from the order of Dorekepership or Sextonship Degradatio ab ordine Hostiariatus Claues ecclesiae aufert pontifex degradator dicens QVia in clauibus errasti claues dimitte quia hostia cordis tui male daemonibus ob serasti amouemus à te officium hostiarij vt non percutias cymbalum non aperias ecclesiam non sacrarium non librum amplius praedicanti  Degradatio à prima tonsura Superpellicium degradando extrahit pontifex degradator dicens AVtoritate dei omnipotentis patris filij spiritus sancti ac qua fungimur in hac parte tibi auferimus habitum clericalem nudamus te religionis ornatu atque deponimus degradamus spoliamus exuimus te omni ordine beneficio priuilegio clericali velut clericali professione indignum redigimus te in seruitutem ignominiam habitus secularis ac status Eum forficibus toÌ„dere incipiat pontifex Degradator per Barbitonsorem ibidem praesentem totaliter tonderi faciat caput degradaÌ„di dicens Te velut ingratum filium à sorte domini ad quam vocatus fueras abijcimus coronam tui capitis regale quidem signum sacerdotij de tuo capite amouemus propter tui regiminis prauitatem Deinde si velit pontifex dicat Quod ore cantasti corde non credidisti nec opere impleuisti ideò cantandi officium in ecclesia Dei à te amouemus Tum ministri pontificis exuunt degradatum veste habitu clericali ipsum induunt habitu seculari Si degradatus tradi debeat curiae seculari Pontifex degradator degradatum amplius non tangit sed in huÌ„c modum pronunciat dicens Denunciamus vt hunc exutum omni ordine ac priuilegio clericali curia secularis in suum forum recipiat Rogat iudicem seculareÌ„ vt citra mortis periculum c. Domine iudex rogamus vos cum omni effectu quo possumus vt amore Dei pietatis misericordiae intuitu nostrorum interuentu precaminum miserrimo huic nullum mortis vel mutilationis periculum inferas ¶ A Note concerning Doctor Cranmer in his disputation THat day wherein Doctour Cranmer late Bishoppe of Caunterbury aunswered in the diuinity schoole at Oxford there was alledged vnto him by Doctor Weston that he the sayd Cranmer in his booke of the Sacrament falsely falsified the saying of the Doctours and specially the saying of S. Hilary in these wordes Vero for Vere shewing a print or two thereof to haue defaced his doinges therein but Doctor Cranmer with a graue and fatherlye sobriety aunswered that the print of S. Hylaryes works whereout he tooke his notes was verbatim according to his booke and that coulde his bookes testify if they were there to be sene Saying further that he supposed Doctor Smith in that order rehearsed it in his booke of the SacrameÌ„t to the which Doctor Smith there present though he were demaunded the aunswere thereof stood in silence As Canis mutus non valens latrare But by and by Doctour Weston without shame to shadow Doctor Smithes silence spitefully sayde to Cranmer belike you tooke your learning out of M. Doctor Smithes booke All this already is testified pag. 1437. IT chaunced â—t that present to be in the schole one William Holcot gentleman theÌ„ a soiourner in the Uniuersity Colledge he hearing the same vntruth remembring that he had amongest his bookes in his study the said book of Doctor Smith At his returne to his sayde study desirous to see the truth therein found it agreable to the writing and affirmation of Doctor Cranmer And the sayde Holcot then and there better remembring himselfe found emongest his bookes the booke of Stephan Gardiner intituled the Deuilles Sophistry In which booke the sayde saying of S. Hylary alledged by the said Stephen verbat both in Latine and English according to Doctor Cranmers confirmation Then the sayd William Holcot supposing for the manifest opening and tryall of the trueth therein to haue deliuered the sayde Gardiners booke to Doctour Cranmer brought it to Bocardo the Prison of Oxford where Doctor Cranmer then remayned but ther in the deliuery thereof he was apprehended by the Bayliefes and by them brought before Doctor Weston his Colleagues then at diner at Corpus Christi Coledge who strayt wayes layd treason to the charge of the sayd William Holcotte for the maynteinaunce of Cranmer in his naughtines as they called it and so vpon strayt examination to know who were priuy to his doinges in deliuery of the sayd Gardiners booke committed him to the sayde prison of Bocardo where he soiorned slept in the straw that night And in the morrow in the morning Doctor Cole yet aliue then Deane of Paules and Doctor Ieffrey two of theÌ„ then Uisitours further examined the sayd Holcotte of that his doinges Threatning him to lay treason to hys charge and so to send him for the triall thereof to the then Lord Chauncellor Stephen Gardiner willing him presently to subscribe to the Articles then in question but he refused desiring respite vntill the lawes of the realme had determined the same And so was he againe committed to the sayd Prison And after three dayes Doctor Weston the residue of the Uisitours solemnely in Saynt Maryes Church pronouncing sentence agaynst the late Bishops Cranmer Ridley and Latimer Amongest other called ther before them the sayd Holcot willing him to subscribe to theyr three Articles he demaunding them then these demaundes first whether they thought in theyr consciences that the articles whereunto they willed him to subscribe were according to the scriptures and that the religioÌ„ that they went about to plant were the true religion of Christ they aunswered all with one voyce yea yea Then asked he them whether they thought themselues able to aunswere and would aunswere before God for him if he subscribed thereunto as they willed him And they likewyse aunswered yea yea And so he the sayd Holcot through feare and frayltye of the fleshe As Neophitus vpon theyr threates subscribed Then they with many fayre flattering wordes deliuered him but would not let him haue again his book brought to Bocardo least as it semed he should shew it to theyr shame And they priuily willing the maister and the felowes of the sayd Uniuersity colledge to see the sayd William Holcot forth comming And if they with in a fortnight after did not heare froÌ„ the then L. Chauncellour what should be done with him that then they at the fortnightes end to expell him out of the said Colledge which they would haue done if the then Uicechauncellor had not willed theÌ„ to the contrary Which
Now this Uicars making meanes to Boner for the same Boner put the matter ouer to Darbishyre hys Chauncellour who enioyned her to geue certeyne money to poore folkes and to goe on the Wednesday and sonday after to Church to Euensong which she so did and afterward had such trouble in her conscience thereby that shee thought verely God had cast her off and that she shoulde be damned and neuer saued so not long after this it happened mayster Rough of whom mention is made Page 2034. came to her house vnto whō she made mone of her vnquietnes for going to Church and desired his counsell what she might doe that should best please God and ease her troubled soule c. Unto whō M. Rough replied many comfortable sentences of scripture to comfort her and in the end gaue her counsell to goe to the christian congregation which secretly the persecuted had and confesse her fault vnto them and so to be receiued into theyr felowship agayne which hearing that was glad and entended so to do and so would haue done if sore sicknes had not immediatly preuented the same But when doctor Mallet heard by one Robert Hemminges Woodmonger that she laye very sicke in deed which Hemminges was her great enemy he came to her twise to perswade her to recant and to receiue as the Papistes terme it the rites of the Church Unto whom she aunswered she could not nor would for that she was subiect to vomet and therfore he would not she was sure she sayd haue her to cast vp theyr God agayne as she should do if she did receiue it And so immediatly vometed in deed wherfore he seing that went frō her into the hall to her daughter named Clare sacke and tolde her if her mother would not receiue she should not be buryed in christian burial as he termed it Then Clare went and tolde her sicke mother what he sayde vnto her Which hearing the same spake these wordes following Oh sayd she how happy am I that I shall not rise wyth them but agaynst them Well quoth she the earth is the Lordes and all that therein is and therfore I commit the matter to him c. Shortly hereupon that is the 27. day of March 1558. the sayd Doctor Mallet came agayne to her with one D. West Queene Maryes Chapleyne And comming in hee saluted her and tolde her that he had brought her a good learned man to perswade her who was one of the queenes Chapleines c. and therefore he desired her to heare and beleue him in that he should say c. Then D. West exhorted her to receiue theyr Sacrament and to be aneled for he sayd she was strong enough for it c. Unto whom she aunswered that shee was able and strong enough to receiue it in deede but she woulde not for that it was abhominable c. Then sayd West ye be in an ill minde doe ye thinke to dye a christian woman yea sayd she that I do I pray you sayd West how came you first into that opinion Mary sayd she there he is that first taught it me meaning D. Mallet at the mariage of my brother his sister where I heard him earnestly preach this doctrine whiche I now do holde And if God shall lay our sinnes to our charge if we repent not muche more damnable is his offence being once a publicke Preacher of the same nowe to turne from it Then Mallet tolde her he was then deceiued by little newfangled two peny bookes as you bee now sayd he but now I am otherwise perswaded as I would haue you and to receiue the Sacrament whiche if you would you should I warrant you be saued my soule for yours At those wordes she earnestly desired them to be content for sayth she ye be come to rob and to draw me from my Christ which I tell you truth you shall not doe for I will neuer consent to you while I liue When West heard her saye so he drewe his stoole nigher to heare her speake and being dronken he fell downe whereby Mallet was fayne to helpe him vp agayne and so immediatly after they departed thence And the xiij day of Aprill next after that she dyed constantly in the Lord and yelded her soule and life into his holy handes with these wordes Oh Lord into thy handes receiue my soule and so immediatly gaue vp her life vnto the Lord to whome be prayse for euer Amen While she was beyond sea as is sayd before Mayster Crokhay her husband by the procurement of D. Mallet was cited to come before Mayster Hussey the Commissary who had it not bene for that he made meanes vnto the sayd Hussey before woulde haue sent him to prison and bound him in recognisaunce to seeke her out But he more easily escaped theyr handes by frendship as before I haue sayd Now when D. Mallet heard of her death M. Crokhay and one Robert Hemminges Bailiefe of S. Katherins being before him for the burying of her he sayd plainely she should be buried nigh to some high way a marke set vp in token that an hereticke was buryed there Then the sayd Hemminges tolde him the hogges would scrape her vp which were not decent nor best and M. Crokhay intreated she might be buryed in his Garden whiche at length he graunted and willed the sayde Hemminges to set it done and that he should be sure he buryed her there in deede After when the corpes was brought to the sayd Garden the sayd Robert Hemminges the Bailife would needes see it opened which when the couer was taken of the wife of the sayd Hemmings put her hand wtin the sheete felt the hayre of the sayde dead corpes saying now will I iustify that she is here and so she did telling Mallet that those her handes did feele her this is the effecte of thys Story Now since the comming in of Queene Elizabeth the sayd D. Mallet came to the sayd M. Crokhay and asked him forgeuenes alleadging this verse of the Poet. ¶ Amantium irae amoris redintegratio est The Lord geue him repentaunce and grace to seeke perfect frendwip with him if it be his blessed will Amen ¶ A note of William Woode ACcording as I haue sent vnto you the true recorde of my examination before the Doctors aboue mētioned so I thougt it not inconuenient to send you likewise certayne uotes of my other two deliueraunces in Queene Maryes time and this I doe not as God knoweth to get any prayse to my selfe or to reproche any other but that God may be glorified in his workes and that our brethrē may knowe that though there be many times but little help in earth yet that there is more in heauen About a month after my examination there was one Apleby and hys wife that were persecuted from Maydstone in Kent came to my house in Strowde desired me that he might haue a place in my house for him and his
rauening extortioning or with vsury oppressing the poore and nedy but stedfast vnmoueable liuing in the feare of Gods iudgementes and trust vpon his mercy mortifying our brutish and carnall lustes being mercifull and helpeful to the poore and nedy wayting for the blessed time when Christ shall call vs to be ready accepted before him Our merciful Lord good Father graunt vs grace so to doe for the loue of his deare sonne Iesus Christ our certayne and most deare Sauior to whom with the father the holy ghost be all honor for euer and euer Amen Psalme Cxv. Precious in the sighte of the Lord is the death of his sayntes Apocalips vi These are they which are come out of great troubles and haue washed theyr clothes and made them white in the bloude of the lambe ¶ Certayne Cautions of the Authour to the Reader of thinges to be considered in reading this story AMongst other escapes and ouersightes in the Edition of this story committed part of them we leaue to thine owne gentle castigation gentle reader certaine other specialities there be whereof wee thought it good and expedient to geue thee warning as hereafter followeth First when mention is made pag. 34. of Peters being at Rome and suffering at Rome following certayne Authors yet forsomuch as other writers there be reasons to proue that he was not at Rome I desire thee therfore that this my affirmation may not preiudice other mens iudgementes if anye see or can say further in that matter Touching the story of the Turkes where as I in following our Christian Authours writing of the Turkes haue noted in the pag. 747. Solymannus to be the 12. Turke after Ortomannus as they do all record I haue found since by the computation of the Turkes set forth in the Table of theyr owne discent the sayde Solymannus to be but the 6. emperor of the Turks this Solimannus his sonne which now reygneth to be but the twelfe Which I thought here to signifie vnto thee because of theyr own turkish prophecie noted in the pag. 771. lest in construing of that Prophecie being in the same place expounded thou be deceiued Item 1245. where mayster George Blag is named to be one of the priuie chamber here is to be noted also that although he were not admitted as one of the priuy chamber yet his ordinary resort thither and to the kinges presence there was such as although hee were not one of them yet was he so commonly taken Item pag. 1367. in the story of the Duke of Somerset where it is sayde that at the returne of the Earle of Warwicke out of Norfolke there was a consultation amongst the Lordes assembling themselues together in the house of M. Yorke c. agaynst the Duke of Somerset here is to be noted that the comming of the Lordes to the said house of M. Yorke was not immediately vpon the Duke of Northumberlandes returne but first hee went to Warwicke and from thence after a space came to the house aforesayd Item here is also to be noted touching the sayd Duke of Somerset that albeit at his death relation is made of a sodeine falling of the people as was at the taking of christ this is not to be expounded as though I compared in any part the Duke of Somerset with Christ. And though I do something more attribute to the coÌ„mendation of the sayd Duke of Somerset which dyed so constantly in his religion yet I desire thee gentle reader so to take it not that I did euer meane to derogate or empeyre the martiall prayse or â—actes of other men which also are to be commended in suche thinges where they well deserued Item touching the same Duke of Somerset where the story sayth pag. 1367. he was attaynted read indited Item pag. 1418. where mention is made of one Nicolas Underwood to be the betrayer of the Duke of Suffolke ioyne with the sayd Underwood also Nicolas Laurence alias Nicolas Ethell keeper of Asteley Parke who taking vpon him and promising to keepe the Duke for 2. or three dayes vntill hee might finde some meanes to escape conueyed him into an hollowe tree and after moste trayterously bewrayed him Item fol. 1419. in the Storye of Syr Thomas Wyat there is also to be corrected that where the story sayth that he was taken by Syr Clement Parson which was not so nor he no such knight amend it thus that he first came to Clarentius being sent vnto him and afterward yealded him to Syr Mortis Bartly Briefly and in generall besides these castigations aboue noted if thou finde any other committed in the printing hereof gently I desire thee gentle reader to bestowe a little paynes with thine owne hand to amend them * Notes omitted of them that were burnt at Bristowe THe viij daye of August 1953. was brought Wil. Sarton weauer of Bristow before one Dalbie Chauncellour of Bristow aforesaid and by him committed to prison and also condemned for holding that the sacrament was a signe of an holy thing also he denyed that the flesh and bloud of Christ is there after their words of consecration he was burned the xviij of september 1556. and as he weÌ„t to the fire he sang the Psalmes The Sheriffe Ioh. Griffith had prepared greene wood to burne him but one mayster Iohn Pikes pitieng the man caused diuers to goe wyth him to Ridland halfe a myle of who brought good store of helme sheaues which in deede made good dispatch with little payne in comparison to that he should haue suffered with the greene woode In the meane space whilest they went for the sheues the sayde Sarton made many good exhortations to the people and after dyed constantly and patiently with great ioyfulnes * A note of Prestes wyfe of Exceter IN Cornewall not farre from Launceston within the Dioces of Exceter in Queene Maryes dayes dwelled a poore man whose name was Prest his wife beyng an honest woman very simple but of good zeale and vpright life being taught by God in hearing of his worde albeit it was in those dayes very seldome preached anye where and feeling a sweete taste thereof framed her lyfe a new after the rule of the same And banished quite from her all the popishe dregges of superstition and hipocrisie gaue her selfe wholly to prayer and inuocating the name of God both for the afflicted Church of Christ in those dayes very dangerously rost and tormoyled as also for her own inward contentation and spirituall consolation whiche she no little felt to her vnspeakeable ioy and incomparable comfort And when some who before had known her sawe that marueilous chaunge in her and as the cruell serpent enueying her felicitie went vpoÌ„ the same immediately and accused her to certayn Iustices of the shire being extreme enemies to the truth and very persecutors of the same who taking the matter in hande as very glad of such occasion sent for her to the place where she was and
1742. fell out of the pulpit and brake his legge 1743 Hudson Martyr his story and persecution 1970. Hudson Martyr his story 2035. Hugh Foxe Martyr his story and martyrdome 2033.2034 Hugo Bishop of Lincolâ—e redeemeth hys Byshoppricke for a 1000. markes 258. Hugo de sancto victore 201. Hugh Lauerocke martyr 1910 Hugh Pye Priest 660. Hugh Spencer hys sonne there exceeding and far surmounting pride .371 executed as they well deserued 373. Hugh Latimer martyr his actes doinges 1730. first a Papist conuerted by M. Bilney ibid. his exellente sermon in Cambridge of the Cardes .1731.1732.1734 his story in sauing a poore woman .1735 his reply to a certayne barking frier in Cambridge .1734 1735. cited 1736. his letter to the archbishop of Canterbury 1736.1737 Articles deuised by the bishop for him to subscribe vnto 1737. made Bishop of Worcester 1738. preacheth before K. Edw. 6. 1739. cast into the Tower .1740 his letter to M. Morice .1741 writ agaynst by Sherwoode .1743 hys aunswere .1744 his other godly letters to sondry persons .1746.1748.1750 1752.1755 his appearaunce before the Commissioners .1762 hys examination and answeres .1763.1766 hys martyrdome death in Oxford 1769.1770 Huggard meeter to eate a puddyng rather then to dispute of Scripture 1591. Hulderiche byshop of Ashborough his exile in defence of Priestes mariage 137. Hull seruaunt to Doctor Taylour 1520. Hullier his story and martyrdome .1907.1908.1909 a note of hym further 2004. Hullier martyr hys story 1906.1907 Humfrey Duke Lord protectour agaynst the Cardinall of Winchester 703. hys articles exhibited agaynst the sayde Cardinall 704. his story and death 704.705.706 Humfrey Middleton Martyr hys story and persecution .1673 hys martyrdome 1676 Humfrey Mummouth hys story 997. Humanitie of Christe cannot be in many places at once 1687.1951 Humilitie the porâ—er of Chrystes schoole 1788. Hunne martyr hys story 805. articles obiected agaynst him with hys aunsweres .806 murthered in prison .806.807 burned after hys death .808 hys defence agaynst Syr Thomas More and Ala. Copus 811. Hunter hys letter to hys mother 2150. Huniades gouernour of Hungary 720. Huniades hys victoryes agaynst the Turkes 740. Hunt confessor his story 2054. Hunter martyr hys excellent story 1536.1577 Hurst deliuered by Gods prouidence 2075.2076.2077 Hurst Martyr 1914.1915 Hurly burly betweene Popes 200 Hus his publique defence of Wickliffe 451.452.453 Hus hys excellent story cited by the pope and excommunicate .588 banished Prage .590 hys obiections agaynst the Doctours degrees .599.590 his safe conduct with hys letters certificatory of hys goyng vpp to the Councell .596 hys personall appearaunce before the Pope and Cardinals 599. falleth sicke in prison hathe articles obiected agaynst hym with his aunsweres 600. hys books writteÌ„ in prison .601 his protestation .604 hys false accusations .606 hys appeale from the Councell .611 his degradation .623 hys sentence definitiue of condemnation .622.624 hys deathe and martyrdome for the gospell of Iesus Christ .624 his letters 626.627.628 Hutt martyr her story and martyrdome 1910.1911 I A. IAcobus Latomus enemy to the gospel brought to madnes and desperation 2106 Iacobus Misnensis an olde auncient writer agaynst the Pope 420 Iacobus priest Martyr 98 Iackson his story 1950.1949 Iackson Martyr his story martyrdome 1914.1915 Iacke Cade 711 Iacke Straw his rebellion in england 434 Iacke Upland 261.264 Iames Abbes Martyr hys story 1683 Iames Ashley Martyr hys storye and martyrdome 2047 Iames Austoo Martyr his story and martyrdome 2013.2014.2016.2017.2018.2019 Iames Bainham Martyr .1027 articles ministred agaynst hym he submitteth hymselfe .1028 his abiuration and penance .1030 he returneth to the truth again and is condemned .1029 hys godly death and martyrdome 1030 Iames Brewster Martyr 818. Iames George his death in prison and buried in the fields 1482 Iames Gore his trouble for the gospell died in prison 1795 Iames Harris scourged 2062 Iames Morden martyr his story and martyrdome 774 Iames Morton martyr 1207 Iames Morris Martyr his story and martyrdome 1983.1984 Iames the apostle elected bishop of Ierusalem .32.33 cast downe from the pynacle of the Church and Martyred for the trueth of Iesus Christ. ibid. his accuser conuerted martyred with him ibid. Iames the apostle how it chanceth that he is thought of some to bee the setter vp of the masse 1401 Iames Pilkington his sermon at the restoring of Mar. Bucer Paulus Phagius again 1966.1967 Iames Tuttie Martyr 1708 Iames Tyrrell a bloudy murtherer 728 Iames Treuisam buried in the fieldes and summoned after hys death 1665 Iane daughter to Henrye Lorde Gray Duke of Suffolk proclaimed Queene .1406 beheaded immediatly after .1422 her Epitaph 1423. her godly letters 1420 Iane Lady her lamentable storye trouble and death 1419.1420.1422 Iane Lady wife to the Lord Gilford brought into displeasure with the Lady Mary for her Godlye zeale by Lady Anne Wharton 2128 Iane Queene maried to K. Henry the 8. 1083. her death in child-bed 1087 Ianizarie amongest the Turkes what they be 741.730 I D. Idle and vayne swearing pestiferous 538 Idolatry offensiue to Infidels 1001 Idoll and Image their difference 1588 I E. Iewes destroyed .235 one baptised and after reuolted agayne ibid. they slayne theyr houses burnt in London ibid. they crucifye a childe at Lincolne .327 at Norwich another 201 banished out of England and Fraunce 327 Iew through his owne superstitioÌ„ drowned in a Priuy 327 Theyr fayth 22 Iewes burnt at Northhampton 327 Iew martyred in Turky kept still his colour sauor lying 3. dayes in the streetes 972 Iewes destroyed by Titus Uaspasion .31 their second destruction .41 euer enemies to Christians 43 Ieffrey Hurst deliuered by Gods prouidence 2075.2076.2077 I G. Ignatius his martyrdome deuoured with wilde beastes His godly life and Christian zeale 40.41 Ignoraunce of the trueth will not excuse any man 1775 I L. I le of Wight last conuerted to the fayth of Christ. 124 Ile of Ely assaulted by Prince Edward 335 I M. Imber fast first ordeyned by whoÌ„ and where 58.197 Images in England abolished 1095.1096 Image of the Trinity an abhominable thing 508.534 Images with theyr false lying miracles reproued 534. Images not to be worshipped 470 563.564.1110 Images subuerted by Emperours and maynteined by the Pope 129 Images of God what be 1111 Images suppressed by kinge Edward the 6. 1300 Image maker burned in Spayne for the trueth of Christes Gosspell 930 Images are not to be worshipped adored ne to be placed in Churches or oratories 2128.2129.2130.2131.2132 Images good to roste a shoulder of mutton by but good for nothing els 2144 Images destroyed at Zuricke 869 Images of the Gentiles and of the Christians 868 Image of the Crucifix at ConstaÌ„tinople 742 Image worship who first decreed 130 Images in England abolished 1095.1096 Image of the Trinity an abhominable thing 508.534 Images defended to be laye mens bookes by Pope Adrian 130 Imprisonment perteyneth not to the Clergy 354 Images reproued by Thorpe 534 Image of Antichrist exalting himselfe aboue all that is called God 784 Immunity of the Clergy 860 Images
Mary agaynst the poore seruauntes and members of Christ. Persecutors The meaning of the Gospellers falsely reported and sclauÌ„dered What watch is here to keepe downe Christ but yet he will ryse Anno 1557. Aprill Enormities or misbehauiours Not comming to the Church seruice Heretickes to be committed to their Ordinary Vacaboundes or maisterles men Decay of Churches and Chappell 's Prisoning of the obstinate Persecution about Colchester 22. For Gods word apprehended The aray order of these 22. prisoners comming vp to London Lorde of Oxford L. Darcy H. Tyrrell Anthony Browne William Bendelowes Edmund Tyrrell Richard Weston Roger Appleton Iohn Kingstone Commissarye persecutors Maister Browne a hoate and hasty Iustice in persecuting Gods people Anno 1557. March Indenture betweene the Iustices and Boners Commissary for receâ—uing of prisoners The names of Christes prisoners persecuted The names of the persecutors B. Boners letter to Cardinall Poole concerning the 22. prisoners aforesayd The maner how these 22. prisoners were brought vp from Colchester to London by 3. keepers B. Boners crueltye somewhat stayed by the Cardinall Cardinall Poole a Papist but no bloudy Papist Card Poole halfe suspected for a Lutheran at Rome Their opinion and iudgement of the Lords Supper Christes language to speake in parables The cause why the bread and cup waâ— geuen in the Supper Anno 1556. Aprill How the Scriptures ought to be examined Idolatry in worshipping the Sacramentall bread and wyne A letter or 〈◊〉 of the prisoners to the Iudges Aprill 12. 5. Martyrs Touching these articles read before pag. 1672. Their answeres to the articles Two SacrameÌ„ts onely Crafty dealing of the Papistes Simple ignoraunce deceiued Anno 1557. Aprill They which separate themselues from certayne trashe â—rought into the Church do not seperate themselues froÌ„ the Church Other new articles propounded to them by B. Boner Masse and 7. Sacramentes English seruice Comming to Church Ashes Palmes Creeping to the Crosse Holy bread Holy water c. Confession Absolute necessitye Christening of infantes Praying for the dead Mâ—â—tyrs that suffered Fasting dayes SacrameÌ„t of the Aultar Taking of an oth Their aunsweres to the articles before obiected True fasting Thomas Losebyes wordes to the Bishop Thomas Thyrtells wordes to Boner Henry Ramseys wordes to Boner Margaret Hydes wordes to Boner Agnes Stanleys wordes to Boner Losebyes wordes to the Byshop Sentence geuen agaynst Loseby Anno 1557. Maye The wordes of Margaret Hyde to the â—â—â—hop Sentence 〈◊〉 agaâ—nst Margaret Hâ—de The wordes Agnes 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Bishop The wordes 〈◊〉 Thomas Thâ—rtell to the Bishop Thâ—mas Thâ—rtell â—â—â—demned Tâ—e aunâ—were and 〈◊〉 HeÌ„â—â— Ramsey Maye W. Morant Stephen Gratwicke One King Martyrs The straunge dealing of the Byshops with Stephen Gratwicke Martyr The vnordinate handling of Stephen Gratwicke written and testified by his owne recorde The story and examination of Stephen Gratwicke Martyr vnder the B. of Winchester Rochester c. Stephen Gratwicke appealeth from the B. of Winchester to his owne Ordinary The Byshop of Rochester commeth in Catholicke conueyance among these Bishops Stephen Gratwicke not of Rochester Dioces Anno 1557. February· The Byshops counterfayte a false Ordinary against Stephen Gratwicke See what care these men haue of poore mens bloud Here commeth in the vice in the play Christ bringing the truth could not be heard of the Scribes and Phariseys Obiections of the Bishops owne making Sacrament of the Lordes Supper The Sacrament of the Aultar no Sacrament The wicked eate not the body of the Lord. The Bishop of Winchesters reason to proue the Sacraments in one kind The Catholickes make a Phantasticall body in the Sacrament If the wicked do eate the body of Christ they must needes be saued And if Infantes eate him not they must be condemned by the Popes doctrine Falsehoode in alleaging the Scriptures The Byshops fayled of their purpose and in a rage Anno 1557. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cruelty 〈…〉 vpon 〈…〉 True ChristiaÌ„s not suffered to purge themselues He meaneth agaynst the 〈◊〉 presence Winchester condemneth Stephen Gratwick and why Stephen Gratwicke condemned agaynst order both of temporall and spirituall lawe Stephen Gratwicke constant in Christ and in his death Gratwicke after his condemnation prayeth for his enemyes Stephen Gratwicke to the Reader Winchester attempteth Stephen Gratwick with flattering and praysing Iune 18. Richard Thornton Nicholas Hartsfield persecutorâ— The names of the Martyrs The story of Edmund Alen with his trouble and examination before Syr Iohn Baker Edmund Allen went to Calice Edmund Allen returneth againe from Calice and is apprehended Marke what a holy Masse saying was here what a charitable religion is this Witnesses to the story Iohn Doue Tho. Best Tho. Linsey Perciual Barbel persecutors Tho. Henden Priest persecutor The examination of Edmund Allen before Syr Iohn Baker Priuate reading or expounding of the scriptures forbidden to no man Luke 4. Preaching without licence in the olde Testament Coloss. 1. * Albeit the positiue law of Moses Iudicials do not binde the Gentiles with the same necessity absolutely in euery condition as it did the Iewes to whom it was peculiarly geuen yet may the Gentiles borow out of the same law such thinges that shall be expedient for theyr regiment Neyther can they borow any lawes better then out of Moses In tyme of publicke corruption in want of true teachers it is not forbidden to any man to teach Pope Gregory the 9. first restrayned lay men to teach or instruct others in Scriptures 〈◊〉 6. 〈◊〉 12. The reuenewes of Bishops and Prelates in England The Martyrdome of 5. women and 2. men at Cant. Anno. 1557. Iune 18. Iune 19. The story of 7. other Martyrs Vnmercifull cruelty of the Catholickes agaynst poore women * This Bradbridges wyfe was thought to be with childe Roger and Tho. Hall two godly brethren of Alice Benden The imprisonment of Alice Benden and maner of her handling M. Robertes of Crambroke persecutor Alice Benden imprisoned for not comming to the Church Alice Benden deliuered by suâ—e of her neighbours Anno 1556. Iune The husband procureth the trouble and imprisonment of his wyfe Syr Iohn Gilford commandeth Alice Benden to the Castle of Canterbury The spare dyet of Alice Benden and Potkins wyfe in Canterbury Castle The husband complayneth of his wiues broâ—â—er Roger Hall Alice Benden remoued from the Byshops prison The Byshops prison described Example of Gods mercyfull prouidence in relieuing his Saintes Alice Benden kept in the Byshops prison 9. weekes with bread and water The affliction of Alice Benden at her first comming to prison Alice Benden receaueth comfort of the Lord in the middest of her miseryes Alice Benden called before the Bishop The aunsweres of Alice Benden to the Bishop Alice Benden from the Byshops prison sent to Westgate Alice Benden condeÌ„ned sent to the Castle in Canterbury 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 neither 〈◊〉 Patâ—ence nor Charitye Mathew Pâ—aâ—e ExaminatioÌ„ 〈◊〉 Mathew Pâ—â—se before the B. oâ— Douer Harpsfieâ—d Archdeacon and Collins Câ—mmisiaâ—â— c. Ose. 6. Math. 12. The Cathoâ—â—â—â—
sute of Maister Caustâ—n and Maister Treheron and now notwithstanding was sent vp by the sayde Lord Riche with the others before mentioned and at his comming to the Bishop of Winchester was by him demaunded whether he would conforme him self like a subiect to the lawes of this realme then in force To the which he sayd he would abyde all lawes that stode with the lawes of GOD and thereupon was committed to prison where he and the rest aboue named did remaine euer sithens ¶ William Tyms NOW remaineth likewise to declare the examinatioÌ„ of William Tyms DeacoÌ„ Curate of Hocley in Essex But before I come to his examination first here is to be opened and set forth the order maner of his trouble how and by whom he was first apprehended in Essex and froÌ„ thence sent vp to London the story whereof followeth in this maner * The Story of William Tyms Deacon and Curate of Hockeley with the maner of his taking THere was at Hocley in Queene Maries dayes two Sermons preached in the Woodes the which woodes weare appertayning to Maister Tyrrell and the name of the one wood was called Plumbrow wood and the other Becheswood and there was at the same Sermons an honest man and his wife with him whose name was Iohn Gye the which Gye was Maister Tyrrels seruaunt and did dwell vnder him being his Herd at a farm of his called Plomborow Shortly after it was knoweÌ„ to Maister Tyrrell how that his woods were poluted with Sermons the which he did take very euill and much matter did rise about it as an vnlawfull assembly the which was layd to Iohn Gyes charge because he did not disclose that vnlawfull acte to his Maister being then in the coÌ„mission of the peace appointed at that tyme to keep down the Gospell that which he did to the vttermost as it may appeare in many of his actes Good God geue him repeÌ„tance if it be thy will Shortlye after it pleased Mayster Tyrrell to come to Hockley to sift out this matter and to know who was at these preachings Well there were found many faultes for it is supposed there were a hundred persons at the least So it pleased Mayster Tyrrell to begin first with Iohn Gye and asked him where that noughty felow was that serued theyr parish one Tyms for it is tolde me sayde he that he is the causer to bring these noughty felowes into the couÌ„try Therfore I charge thee Gye to fet me this noughty felow Tyms for thou knowest where he is No said Gye I doe not knowe So in no wise he could not make him fette him Then stepped forth an other of M. Tyrrels men willing to shew his Mayster pleasure whose name was Richard Shereffe sayd to his mayster Syr I know where he is Well said mayster Tyrrell go to the Constables and charge them to bring him to me So this Shereffe being diligent made sure work and had him brought before his Maister with the Constables whose names be these Edward Hedge and Ioh. Iames. So when he came before Maister Tyrrell then Mayster Tyrrell commauÌ„ded all men to depart it was wisely done for hee was not able to open his mouth agaynste Tyms without reproch and there he kept him about three houres But there were some that listened at the walles and heard M. Tyrrell say thus to Tyms Me thinketh sayd he that wheÌ„ I see the blessed Rood it maketh me thinke of God Why Syr sayde Tyms if an Idoll that is made with mans handes doth make you remember God how much more ought the creatures of God as man being his workmaÌ„ship or the grasse or the trees that bringeth forth fruit make you remember God So Mayster Tyrrell ended his talke with Tyms it should seme in an heat for he brast out and called him traytorly knaue Why Syr sayd Tyms in king Edwardes dayes you did affirme the truth that I do now Affirme quoth Tyrrell nay by Gods body I neuer thought it with my hart Well sayd Tyms then I pray you M. Tyrrell beare with me for I haue bene a Traytor but a while but you haue bene a Traytor 6. yeares After this Tyms was sent to LondoÌ„ to the byshop from him to the Bishop of Winchester and so from him to the Kynges Bench then was Mayster Tyrrels rage seased with theÌ„ that were in the woods at the sermons So M. Tyrrel took away Gyes coate gaue it to Ioh. Traiford and sent him to S. Tosies to see good rule kept there WheÌ„ Tyms came before the Bishop of London there was at that time the Bishop of Bathe there was William Tyms examined of his fayth before them bothe So mightely god wrought with this true harted man that he had wherwith to aunswere them both for the Constables did say that brought him before the byshop that they neuer heard the like Then the bishop as though he would haue had Tyms to turne froÌ„ the truth sayd to the Constables I pray you sayd he geue him good counsell that he may turne from his errour My Lord sayd the Constables he is at a poynt for he will not turne TheÌ„ both the Byshops waxed wery of him for he had troubled them about a sixe or seuen houres Then the Byshops began to pity Tyms case to flatter him saying Ah good felow sayd they thou art bold thou hast a good fresh spirit we would thou hadest learning to thy spirit I thanke you my Lordes sayd Tyms and both you be learned I would you had a good spirit to your learning So thus they broke vp sent Tyms to the Bishop of Winchester and there were Edward Hedge and Iohn Iames the CoÌ„stables aforenamed discharged Tyms was commaunded to the Kinges Bench whereas he was mightely strengthened with the good men that he found there And thus hitherto ye haue heard first vpon what occasion this William Tyms was apprehended how he was entreated of M. Tyrrell the Iustice by him seÌ„t vp to the Ordinary of the Dioces which was Rishop Boner who after certein talke debating he had with the sayd Tyms at length directed him to the Bishop of Winchester beyng then Lord Chauncellour and yet liuing and so was commaunded by him vpon the same to the Kinges Bench. Here by the way is to be vnderstanded that Tyms as he was but a Deacon so was he but simply or at least not priestly apparelled forasmuch as he went not in a gown but in a coat and his hosen were of two colours the vpper part white the neather stockes of sheepes russet WhervpoÌ„ the proud prelate sending for him to come before him and seeing his simple attyre began to mocke him saying Ah syra are you a Deacon Yea my Lord that I am quoth Tyms So me thinketh said the Bishop ye are decked like a Deacon My Lord sayde Tyms my vesture doth not so much vary from a Deacon but