the ende being found peruerse and stubborne and not able to iustifie himselfe or his doings after he had taken exceptions and cauilled against the witnesses he was depriued of his Bishopricke by the authoritie of the king and sentence geuen by the Archbishop of Canterburie Winchester depriued among other bishops and Iudges appointed for the cause From this sentence Gardiner appealeth to the king but all in vayne As S. Gardiner was the professed enemie of the Gospell so was Doctor Redman Doctor Redman a fauourer of the gospell in those dayes for his learning famous a fauourer of the same and at his death which was anno 1551. made profession thereof in the presence of M. Yong and others Anno 1552. W. Gardiner a Marchants seruant of Bristow the first day of September in the very solemnization of a marriage betwixt the sonne of the king of Portingall and the Spanish kings daughter in the presence of the princes and Cardinals and Bishops determined to haue stepped to the Cardinall at the Altar and to haue wroong the chalice out of his hands and to haue defaced their popish God but that the prease of people did hinder him So the next sunday where like pompe was vsed and no lesse Idolatry than before W. Gardiner W. Gardiner in the presence of the king and all his Nobles and Citizens with the one hand snatched away the cake from the priest and trode it vnder his féete and with the other ouerthrew the chalice which made them all amazed Then one drawing out his dagger gaue him a great wound in the shoulder and as he was about to haue stricken him againe to haue slaine him the king twise commaunded to haue him saued So by that meanes they abstained from murther After the tumult was ceased he was brought to the K. by whom he was demaunded of his Countrey and how hée durst doe such a déede To whom he declared that he was an Englishman and that for gréefe to sée such Idolatrie hée could not abstaine When they heard that he was an Englishman they were more earnest to know the Procurour The Idolatrie he answered wherwith they prophaned the Lords Supper only procured him They not content therewith vrged him with torments and caused a linnen cloth to be sowed round like a ball the which they with violence put downe his throte vnto the bottom of his stomach tyed with a small string which they helde in their hands and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence so plucking it vp and downe They cast also into prison all the rest of the Englishmen amongst whom one Pēdegrace Pendegrace because he was his bedfellowe was gréeuously tormented and examined more then the residue and scarcely was deliuered after two yeres imprisonment the other were much sooner set at libertie by the intercession of a certaine Duke At the last when al torments and tormentors were weried they asked him whether he did not repent his déede He answered as touching the déed if it were to do he should do it againe But he was sorie it was done in the Kinges presence to the disquiet of his minde After they had vsed al kinde of torments and saw there could be nothing more gathered of him and also that through his wound and paines he could not long liue they brought him thrée dayes after to execution And first of all bringing him vnto the Vestrie cut of his right hand which he taking vp with his left hand kissed Execution done vpon W. Gardiner with all manner of crueltie Then he was brought into the Market place where his other hand was cut of which he knéeling downe vpon the ground also kissed These things thus done his armes being bound behinde him and his féete vnder the horse bellie he was carried to the place of execution where there was a certaine engine from the which a great rope cōming downe by a Pulley was fastened about the middle of the Christian martyr which first pulled him vp then was there a great pile of wood set on fire vnderneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe not with his whole bodie but so that his féete onely felt the fire in which fire the more terribly he burned the more feruently hée praied At last when his féete were consumed the tormentors asked him if he did not repent exhorting him to call vpon our Lady and the Saints whereto he answered that he had doone nothing to repent of and that when Christ did cease to be our Aduocate then he would pray to our Lady The marueilous constancie of William Gardiner said Eternall God father of all mercies I beséech thée looke downe vpon thy seruant c. And when they sought by all meanes to stop his praying he cried out with a loud voice rehearsing the 34. Psalm Iudge me O Lord and defend my cause against the vnmercifull people He was not come to the latter end of the Psalme when the rope being burnt asunder he fell into the fire and so gaue ouer The very same night one of the kings ships was burned in the hauen being set on fire by a sparke of Gardiners fire driuen thither with the winde and the kings sonne who then was married died within halfe a yéere after the death of William Gardiner Anno 1552. 1552 Protector put to death for fellonie the 22. of Ianuarie in the sixt yéere of the reigne of Edward the Duke of Somersette Lord Protector was executed on Tower hill for felonie being accused and quitte of treason And the next yere after deceassed the king him selfe about the moneth of Iune Anno 1553. A Prince of such towardnesse as the worlde neuer had the like before by whom the remnants of Popish Idolatrie and superstition were abolished and the church restored to her sinceritie which died again with him and popery restored in the time of Mary who succéeded him The end of the ninth Booke The tenth Booke WHat time King Edward began to appeare more féeble and weake during the time of his sicknesse a marriage was concluded and also shortly also vpon the same solemnized in the moneth of Maie betwéene the lord Gilford sonne to the duke of Northumberland and the Lady Iane L. Gilford and Lady Iane maried together the duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother then being aliue was daughter to Marie king Henries second sister And when no hope séemed of recouery of the King it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the nobility but also of the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme that the King by this Testament did appoint the aforesaid Lady Iane to be Inheritrice to the crown of England passing ouer his two sisters Marie and Elizabeth To this order subscribed all the Kinges Counsell and chiefe of the nobilitie the Mayor of the citie of London almost all the iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Realme sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent Iustice
at Rochester to Durelind The Sea of Durham began or Durelin whereupon the Bishoppes Sea of Duresine first began This king was greatly vexed with the Danes and was faine to redéeme peace with great summes of money yerelie which was called Dane-gelt Danegelt from x. thousand to xl thousand a yere An. 1000. In the xxi of his reigne he married with Emma daughter to Richard D. of Normandie which caused the king to haue great confidence in himselfe and by presumption thereof sent secrete and straight Commissions to the Rulers of euerie towne in the lande that vpon Saint Brices day at a certaine houre appointed the Danes should be sodenly slaine Danes slaine which was in like manner performed But the Danes and their king hearing thereof entered againe and made great waste In so much that the king was fayne to take peace with them and gaue to King Swanus thirtie thousand poundes whereupon he returned But the peace lasted not long for the next yeare one named Turkillus Turkillus a Dane Great vexation of the Danes a Prince of the Danes inuaded againe and was fayne to be pleased with giftes So the inuasion of the Danes and the molesting of Englishmen by them neuer ceased wherewith the Countrey was brought to great miserie After this Swanus the king of Danes who had made a couenant of peace before with the K. brake it and hearing of the increase of his people in the land came and landed in Northumberlande and there proclaymed himselfe king of the Land After much destruction in other places at length he came to Canterburie which he besieged and was resisted twenty dayes but at last by treason of a Deacon Treason of a Deacon called Almaricus whom the Bishop had preserued from death before wan it and tooke the goods of the people and set the towne on fire and tithed the Monkes of Saint Augustines abbey Monkes tithed by the Danes killing nine by cruell torment and kéeping the tenth aliue for slaues So they slue there of religious men to the number of nine hundred of other men women and children they slue aboue eight thousand And finally when they had kept the Bishop Elphegus in straight pryson the space of eight moneths because he would not agrée to giue them thrée thousand poundes after many villanies doone vnto him at Gréenewich they stoned him to death Elphegus stoned by the Danes The K. Egelred in the meane time fearing the end of this persecution sent his wife Emma with his two sonnes Alphred and Edward to the Duke of Normandie with whom also he sent the bishop of London whether also himselfe went after he had spent a great parte of the Winter in the I le of Wight whether hée was chased of the Danes The king chased of the Danes Whereof Swanus hearing and inflamed with pride reared great exactions vppon the people and among other hée required a great summe of monie of Saint Edmunds landes which the people there clayming to bee frée from kings tributes denied to pay For this Swanus entred the territory of S. Edmund wasted the country and despised the holy martyr menacing also the place of his sepulcher wherefore the men of the country fell to fasting prayer Fasting and prayer Shortly after Swanus died suddainly crying and yelling among his knights In feare whereof Canutus his sonne that ruled after him graunted them the fréedome of al their libertie and moreouer ditched their land with a déepe ditch and granted to the inhabitants thereof great fréedome quitting them from all tributes and after builded a Church ouer the place of his Sepulture ordained there an house of monks and endewed them with rich possessions And after that time it was vsed that kings of Englād when they were crowned sent their crownes for an offering to S. Edmunds shrine The crowne of England offered to S. Edmunds shrine and redéemed the same afterward with a condigne price King Egelred hearing of the death of Swanus made prouision and returned into England for whose suddaine comming Canutus being vnprouided fled to Sandwich and there cutting of the noses and the handes of the pledges which his father left with him sailed into Denmarke and the next yeare returned againe with a great nauie and landed in the South countrie and entered the countrie of West-saxon forcing the people to bée sworne to him and to giue pledges In this season king Egelred beyng at London was taken with sickenesse and there died and was buried in the Northside of Paules Church behind the quire after that he had raigned vnprosperously six thirtie yéeres leauing behind him his eldest sonne Edmund Ironside and Alphred and Edward which were in Normandy This king with his councell gaue foorth wholesome lawes and precepts for iudges and it is recorded that he deposed or depriued from all possessions a certaine iudge or iustice named Walgeatus A false iudge deposed whom the king loued Edmund slain the sonne of one Leonet for false iudgement and other prowde doings whom notwithstanding he loued aboue all other After the death of Egelred variance fell betwixt the Englishmen for the election of the king the one part standing for Edwin the eldest sonne of Egelred the other for Canutus the sonne of Swanus the Dane By means wherof there were diuerse battels fought betwéene them and in the end the Princes thēselues tried the matter hand to hand and when they had assaied each other a while by the motion of Canutus hastely they were agréed and kissed each other to the comfort of both hostes and shortly after agreed vpon partition of the land and loued as brethren Soone after a sonne of wicked Edericus by the means of his father espying Edmund at the draught thrust him into the fundament with a speare and slue him after that he had raigned two yéeres He left behind him two sons Edmund and Edward whom Edrick the wicked Duke after the death of their father tooke from their mother not knowing yet of the death of her husband and presented them to King Canutus and saluted him haile king alone Canutus being King alone sent the sonnes of Edmund to his brother Swanus king of Sweueland to be slaine who abhorring that déede sent them to Salomon king of Hungary where Edmund being married to the K. daughter died Edward was married to Agatha daughter of his brother Henrie the 4. Emperor Canutus being established King A promise well performed hauing promised the false Duke to make him higher then all the Lordes of the land caused his head to be stricken of and to be set vppon London bridge and his body to be cast into the town ditch other say he caused him to be bound and throwen into the Thames The reward of Traitors Likewise Canutus did disdaine all those whom he knewe to haue dealt falsely against Edmund and his heires In the meane time Swanus king of Denmarke brother to
of the pope and of his filthie clergie calling him a murtherer of soules a spiller The Pope compared and a piler of the flocke of Christ more abhominable then the Iewes more cruell then Iudas more vniust then Pilate worse then Lucifer himselfe she prophecieth that the sea of Rome shall be throwne downe into the déepe like a milstone c. And that the Cleargy haue turned the ten commandements into two words Da pecuniam The x commādemēts turned into 2. words da pecuniam that is giue money About the same time also 1379. liued Catherina Senensis Katherina Senensis which hauing the spirite of prophecie much cōplained of the church of Rome prophecied before of the great schisme which then followed in the Church of Rome and endured al the councel of Constance the space of 39 of yeres and declared also before of the reformation of religion that nowe is Mathias Parisiensis of Antichrist Also about the yéere 1370. liued Mathias Parisiensis a Bohemian who wrote a large booke of Antichrist and prooueth him alreadie come and noteth the Pope to be the same besides other abuses in the Romish Church against which he doeth inueigh Shortly after anno 1384. liued Iohannes Mountziger I. Mountziger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme who preached against the worshipping of the Sacrament and was resisted by the Friers till the Senate and Councel of the Citie was faine to take vp the matter betwixt them About this time liued Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica Nilus Archb. of Thess and wrote a large worke against the Roman Church and layeth the fault of the Schisme betwixt the East and West Church vpon the Pope and very copiouslie reprooueth manie pointes of Poperie as his Supremacie c. About the yere 1371. liued Henricus de Iota H de Iota whome Gerson doth much commend and also his companion Henricus de Hassia H. de Hassia who in a certaine Epistle which he writeth to the Bishoppe of Normacia Iacobus Cartusiensis doth greatly accuse the Spirituall men of euery order yea and the most holiest of all the Pope himselfe of many and great vices He citeth also out of the prophecie of Hildegardis The deuils bellie full of the Popes voluptuousnes these wordes Therefore doeth the deuill himselfe speake vnto you Priestes daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men In so much that mine Eyes mine Eares my bellie and my veynes are euen filled with the froath of them and so foorth About the yere 1390. there were buried at Bringa 36. Citizens of Maguntia for the doctrine of Waldenses as Brushius affirmeth and Masseus recordeth of diuers 36. burned for the trueth 140. suffered for refusing the decretals to the number of an hundred and fourtie which in the Prouince of Narbone chose rather to suffer whatsoeuer gréeuous punishment by fire then to receue the decretals of the Romish Church contrarie to the vpright trueth of the Gospell Also foure and twentie suffered at Paris 24 suffer at Paris in the yere of our Lord 1210. And in the same author is testified that in the yere there were 400. vnder the name of heretikes and fourescore beheaded Prince Armericus hanged and the ladie of Castile stoned to death In the seuentéene yere of Edw. the third the Commons found great fault at prouisiōs comming from Rome wherby Strangers were dishabled within this land to enioy ecclesiasticall dignities and shewed how the Pope had graunted in most couert wise to two new Cardinals and namely to Cardinall Peragoth aboue one thousande markes of yearelie taxes They therefore required the king and Nobles to finde some remedie for that they neuer coulde nor woulde leaue those oppressions c. or els to helpe them to expel the popes authoritie by force Whereupon the king Lords and commons sent for the acte made at Carlil an 35. of the reigne of king Edward the first vpon like complaint thereby forbidding that any thing should be attempted or brought into the realme that should tend to the blemishing of the kinges prerogatiue or preiudice of the Lords The Act of prouision made or Commons And so at this time the statute called The act of Prouision was made by common cōsent which generally forbiddeth the bringing in of bulles or any such trinkets from the Court of Rome or vsing allowing or enioying of any such bill processe instrument c. The penaltie of which statute was as folowed in the next Parlement anno regni 18. the transgressors thereof to lie in perpetuall prison or to be forbidden the land and that all Iustices of Assise Gaole deliuerie or Oier and determiner may determine the same required withall that the same act and prouision should continue for euer And notwithstanding the bishops were neither named nor expressed with the other Lords of the Parlement yet it stood in full force notwithstanding In which Parlement were also diuers points enacted touching presentments of Ecclesiasticall dignities An act to continue for euer Decrees against the oppression of the Pope and Benefices Also in the Parlements the 20. 25. 38. 40. 50. 51. of the kings reigne were enacted decrées against the oppression of the Pope and his filthie and rauenous Cleargie besides diuers other against them Moreouer in the booke of the actes and rolles of the king it appeareth that he sent Iohn VVickliffe Reader at that time of the Diuinitie Lecture in Oxforde with certaine other Lordes and Ambassadors to treate a marriage betwéene his Daughter and Leonell Sonne vnto king Edward whereby is to be noted the good will which the King bare to Wickliffe and what small regard he had of the sea of Rome This Wickliffe liued in the raigne of King Edward the third in the yéere of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred thée score and eleuen and then withstood greatly the popes procéedings and the Popish clergy Hée was a man very well learned as testifieth of him Walden his most bitter and cruell enemy who in a certaine Epistle written to Pope Martin the fifth saith that hée was wonderfully astonished at this his most strong arguments with the places of authoritie that hée had gathered and the vehemencie and force of his reasons c. In Wickliffes time In VVickliffes time the worlde was in worst case was the worlde in most desperate state and in greatest blindnesse and ignoraunce both of the power of the Gospell and all other good learning and the Churche of Rome most cruell and voyde of all good gift and grace of GOD and religion turned to superstition Wickliffe first of matters of religion began with the Idolatrie committed in the Sacrament VVickliffe against images which he did not so soone attempt but the whole glut of monkes and begging Friers made against him and after them Simon Sudburie Archbishop of Canterbury tooke the matter in hand and for the same cause depriued Wickliffe of his benefice at
thousand besides a great number Vespasian slue in subduing Galile seuentéene thousands mo that were sold for slaues Stephen Stephen the Deacon was the first martyr put to death at Ierusalem and stoned by the Iewes After Stephen suffered Iames Iames. the brother of Iohn whom Herod Herod slew with the sword and with him the partie that was cause of his persecution who beyng moued in conscience as Iames went to execution confessed himselfe to be a Christian also and were both beheaded together The same day that Stephen suffered Nicanor Nicanor one of the 7. deacons with 2000. 2000. other christians suffered for the faith Simon Simon one of the deacons and afterward bishop of Bosrum in Arabia was there burned and Parmenas Parmenas also an other of the Deacons suffered for the faith Thomas Thomas who preached to the Parthians Medes Persians Germans Heraconies Bactries and Magies suffered in Calamina a citie in Iudea beyng slaine with a dart Simon Zelotes Simon Zelotes who preached in Mauritania and in the countrie of Aphrike and in Britaine was crucified Iudas Iudas brother of Iames called Thaddeus and Lebeus who preached to the Edissens and to al Mesopotamia was slaine vnder Augarus Augarus king of the Edissens in Berito Simon Simon brother to Iude and Iames the yoonger which were sonnes of Mary Cleopha and of Alpheus called Cananeus bishop of Ierusalem after Iames as Dorotheus recordeth was crucified in a citie of Egipt in the time of Traianus Traianus Emperour but as Abdias writeth he was slaine with his brother Iude by a tumult of the people of Suanir a citie of Persidis Marke the Euangelist first B. of Alexandria preached the Gospel in Egypt and there being drawn with ropes to the fire was burned and afterward buried in a place called there Bucolus vnder the reigne of Traianus the Emperor Bartholomeus Bartholomeus is said to haue preached to the Indians and to haue conuerted the Gospel of S. Mathew into their tongue where he continued a great space doing many miracles At last in Albania a citie of great Armenia after diuers persecutions he was beaten downe with staues then crucified and after being excoriate hee was at length beheaded Iohan. de monte regali Andrew Andrew the Apostle and brother of Peter was crucified at Patris a citie in Achaia by the Gouernour Egeas Egeas embracing the crosse and ioying therein the day before the Kalends of December Matthew Matthew otherwise called Leui first a publicane then an Apostle after that he had conuerted to the faith Ethiopia and all Egypt Hircanus Hircanus their king sent one to runne him through with a speare Iohan. de monte regali Matthias Matthias also after that he had preached to the Iewes was stoned and beheaded by them Philip the Apostle Philip and his daughters after he had much laboured among the barbarous nations was crucified and stoned to death in Hierapolis a citie of Phrygia where he was buried and his daughters with him Isodor Iames Iames. being required of the Iewes to disswade the people from the faith of Christ Other and that he should stand speak from the battlements of the temple that he might more conueniently be heard The Iewes he contrary to their expectation preaching Christ was throwne downe from the battlementes headlong and stoned and one being present tooke a Fullers instrument wherewith they beate cloth and smote him on the head whereof he died and was buried in that place At which time also other were put to death among the Iewes for the testimony of Christ The first Persecution THe first was stirred vp by Nero Domitius Nero Domit. the 6. Emperour about the yere 67. Whose cruelty was such against Christians that he had neither regarde of sexe condition of life or age so that open stréetes were spread with the dead carkases of Christians He caused persecution throughout al the prouinces of the Romaine empire and endeuoured vtterly to abolish the name of Christians In that persecution Peter Peter was crucified his head downward himselfe requiring it should be so as vnworthy to be in all manner executed like Christ Iesus The cause was thought to be the reuenge of the death of Simon Magus Simon Magus who pretending to the people of Rome to flée from the mount Capitolinus vp into heauē by the praier of Peter was brought headlong downe wherwith his legges ioynts being broken he died At that time also Peters wife Peters wife suffered béeing much encouraged by the words of her husband Peter whiles he hanged vpon the crosse Vnder the same Nero Paul Paul was beheaded in the 14. yéere of Nero the same day that Peter was crucified and was buried in the way of Ostia But others as Prudentius in his Peristephano writeth that they were put to death in one day but Paule a yeere after Peter The second Persecution THe Church hauing had some rest vnder Vespasian Domitian Domitian brother to Titus moued not long after the 2. persecution He put to death al the nephews of Iuda Nephewes of Iuda called the Lords brother and caused to be sought out and slain al that could be found of the stock of Dauid as Vespasian also did before him least yet he were to come of the stocke of Dauid that should enioy the kingdome In the time of this tirant Simeon Simeon Bishop of Ierusalem after other torments was crucified to death whom Iustus Iustus afterward succéeded in that bishoprick This Tyrant exiled Iohn Iohn the Apostle and Euāgelist into Pathmos an 97. And vnder Pertinax he was released and came to Ephesus anno 100. where he continued vntill the time of Traianus and there gouerned the Church in Asia where also he wrote his gospel And so liued til the yere 68. which was the yere of his age 99. Euseb Flauia Flauia daughter to Flauius Clemens one of the Roman Consuls suffered for the name of the Lord Iesus and was with many other banished out of Rome into the I le Pontia Euseb lib. 3 A remnant of the flock of Dauid as yet remayned who being brought to Domitian to be slaine and hee percyuing them to be poore and vnderstanding from them that the kingdome of Christ should not be a worldly but an heauenuenlie kingdome let them goe and staied the persecution They being dismissed had afterwarde the gouernment of Churches and so continued in peace till the time of Traianus Egesip Euseb lib. 3. cap. 20. In these persecutions no kind of torment was omitted that could be deuised against the Christians The 2. persecution and no kinde of slaunder kept back that might empaire their credite their bodies after death not being suffered to be buried and yet the Church did dayly more and more encrease Euaristus Euaristus Bishop of Rome next to Clement succéeded in the
honorable parentage and not mariageable when she professed Christ wherefore being brought before the iudge she was threatned torments which she contemned then was she threatned to be cōmitted to the common stewes yoonkers appointed to assaile her whom when she refused cōmandement was giuen that shee should bee tied at a corner of a stréete naked where cōmon strumpets vsed to resort At this the multitude being greatly ashamed went away sauing one who beholding the virgin with vnchast eies was stricken with lightning A miracle his eies dasht out of his head whom Agnes praied for restored In the end she was beheaded and greatly reioyced to sée the executioner preferring him before all the amorous companie There are many miracles reported of her Catharine Katherine openly resisted the Emperour Maxentius to his face rebuking him for his crueltie wherefore after shee had felt the racke and the foure sharpe cutting wheeles she was beheaded about the yeere of the Lord 310. There was also one Iulitta Iulitta who was dispossessed wrōgfullie of her goods by the Emperors Deputie for which shée complayned to the Emperor but the couetous and false deputie accused her of Christianitie wherefore she could haue no redresse Whereupon being commaunde to doe sacrifice with Incense she refused it and confirmed and encouraged others She was burnt in the fire so slept in the Lord. Also Barbara a noble womā in Thuscia after she had suffered most cruel torments as cordes burning of her sides was at the last beheaded Also Fausta Fausta the virgin who suffered vnder Maximinus by whom Euelasius a ruler in the Emperors palace and Maximinius the president were both conuerted suffered martyrdome Also Iuliana of Nicomedia vnder Maximinus Item Anisia a mayd of Thessalonica vnder the same Maximinus Iustina which suffered with Cyprianus bishop of Antioch Also Lucia Agatha and Tecla who rather suffered vnder Nero as most doo agrée which all holy virgins suffered in the tenth persecution of Dioclesian Succession of Bishops of Rome Now during the time of this persecution these Bishops succéeded one the other Caius who succéeded next after Xistus Marcellinus Marcellus Eusebius and then Miltiades all which died martyrs in the time of this persecution Marcellinus hauing giuen place to Dioclesian and sacrificed was excommunicated but repented and was martyred with Claudius Cyrinnus and Antonius Marcellus also refusing to doe sacrifice was beaten with wasters and expelled the citie and entred into the house of Lucina Lucina a widow assembled the congregation Which the tyrant hearing of turned the house of Lucina into a stable and made Marcellus a kéeper of beasts and so with stinch thereof and miserable handling he died Eusebius sate Bishop of Rome two moneths some say eight some sixe moneths Miltiades by the testimonie of Platina sate thrée yéeres seuen moneths suffered vnder Maximinus Which séemeth not to be true because he died before Miltiades He was the last of the bishops of Rome that were in danger to suffer Yet persecutiō in Asia Now in the East partes in all Asia as yet for the space of iiij yerers persecutiō did not cease by the meanes of wicked Licinius vnder whom suffered diuers as Hermylus a Deacon and Stratonicides a kéeper of the prison Which both after punishments sustayned were strangled in the floud Ister Now also vnder Sapores Vnder Sapores king of Persia suffered Acyndinus Pegasius Anempodistus and Epidephorus also Simeon Archbishoppe of Selentia with Ctesiphon another Bishop in Persia with other ministers and religious men 128. martirs to the number of 128. The Magicians of Persia accused Simeon and Ctesiphō to Sapores that they fauoured the Romane Empire and reuealed to the Emperor such things The magiciās raise persecution as were done in Persia Whereupon he called for Simeon the chief Bishop and endeuoured to perswade him to doe sacrifice which he refusing was committed to prison and in the way going to the Gaole there was sitting at the kings gate a certaine Eunuche an olde Schoolemaster and Tutor of the kinges named Vsthazares Vsthazares who had fallen from Christianitie to Idolatrie who séeing the. B. passing by led to prison rose vp did reuerence vnto him Simeon Simeon againe with sharpe words rebuked him and cried out against him Whereat the Eunuche burst out into teares and laying away his Courtly attire put vpon him a mourning wéede and sate before the Court gates wéeping and saying within himselfe woe is me with what hope shall I hereafter looke for my God whē Simeon my familiar acquaintance so much disdayneth me Which being made known vnto the king A notable historie and he confessing himselfe a christian after many perswasible words in vain he was by the kings commandement led away to be beheaded Going vnto execution hée desired that the king woulde graunt him for the old and faithfull seruice he had done him that it might be proclaimed by a Crier that Vsthazares was not beheaded for any offence against the king or Realm but onlie because he was a christiā Which he required because his shrinking from the faith gaue great offence to many Christians that heard thereof And so it was granted vnto him Simeon being in prison and hearing thereof was very glad and the next day suffered also with an hundred more An hundred suffer All which were put to death before Simeon who confirmed them and at last with two other ministers of his Church Abedecalaus and Ananias he was also put to death At which time one Pusices séeing Ananias an old father to shrinke at the sight of those that suffered said vnto him O father a litle moment shut thine eyes and be strong and shortly thou shalt sée the sight of God Which being reported to the king he caused an hole to be made in his neck there out pulled his tongue and so was he put to death who was the kings seruant and ouerséer of his Artificers At which time also the daughter of Pusices a godly virgin was put to death for the testimonie of Iesus The next yere following on the day of the Lords passion A cruel edict the king set foorth an Edict for the vtter extinguishing of all the Christians that were in his Dominions So that an infinite number were slaine in Towne and Citie by the procurement of the Magicians Magicians and diuers in the kings Court suffered martirdome among whom was Azades Azades whom he did most entirely loue Of whose death when hée heard The teachers onely put to death he tooke it so heauelie that he commaunded after that time no Christians should be put to death but onely those that were teachers In the same time the Quéene fell into a certaine disease vpon occasion whereof the cruel Iewes Magicians falsly accused Trabula Trabula the sister of Simon the Martir a godly virgin with another Sister of hers that they
be set on fire that he broke open houses that he dranke to the Diuell that hée neuer crossed himselfe c. For the which causes he was deposed by the consent of the Emperour and the Prelates and Pope Leo placed in his roome But after thorough the harlots of Rome Pope restored by harlots and their great promises hée was restored againe and Leo put out At length about the tenth yéere of this Pope he being found without the citie with another mans wife was so wounded of her husband that within eight dayes after he died Pope killed in adultery After him the Romans elected Pope Benedictus the fift without the consent of the emperor whervppon Otho besieged Rome and set vp Pope Leo againe the eight of that name Which Leo to gratifie him again crowned Otho for Emperor and entituled him Augustus also the power which Carolus magnus gaue to the Cleargy and people of Rome touching the election of the B. of Rome this Leo by a synodall decrée gaue to the Emperour and his successors The election of the Pope giuen to the Emperour by the Pope The Emperour againe restored to the Sea of Rome al such possessions which Carolus magnus tooke from the Lombards and gaue to them After Pope Leo had raigned a yéere and thrée moneths succéeded Pope Iohn the 14. Against whom for holding with the Emperor Petrus the head captain of the citie with two Consuls and twelue Aldermen diuers other nobles gathering their power together laid handes vppon him in the Church of Laterane and clapt the pope in prison eleuen moneths The Pope put in prison Whereof the Emperour hearing sped him to Rome and did execution vpon the offenders and committed Petrus to the Popes arbitrement The cruell reuenge of the Pope whom he caused first to be stript naked then his beard being shauen to be hanged by the haire a whole day together after that to be set vpon an Asse his face turned backward and his handes bounde vnder the Asses tayle to be led through the Citie that done to be scourged with roddes and so banished the citie And thus the holy father loued his enemy according to the rule of the Gospel From this Pope procéeded first the christening of bels The christning of belles 971. After him followed Pope Benedictus the 6 who was in like maner apprehended by Cinthius a captain of Rome and cast in prison where he was strangled The Pope strangled or as some say famished for lacke of meat Then came Pope Donus the 2 after whom Bonifacius the 7. was pope who was constrained to hide himselfe for feare of the Citizens conspiracie séeing no place for his safety tooke the treasure of Saint Peters Church so priuily stole to Constantinople in whose stéed the people set vp Pope Iohn the fiftéenth Not long after Boniface returning againe from Constantinople by his money procured a garrison to take his part by whose meanes Pope Iohn was taken his eies put out and so throwen in prison The popes eies put out he famished in prisō where he was as some say famished some say he was slaine by Feruchus Neither did Boniface liue many daies after but sodainly died whose carkas after his death was drawne by the féete through the stréetes of Rome The dead body of the Pope drawn through the streets the people shriking and exclaiming against him An. 276. Next Pope after him was Benedictus the seuenth by the consent of the Emperour Otho the second and raigned 19. yéeres In the time of this Pope Hugh Cappet the French king tooke Charles the right heire to the crowne by treason of the Bishop of Laon and when he had imprisoned him hée also imprisoned Arnoldus Archbishoppe of Rames and placed in his roome Gilbertus a Necromancer who was Schoolemaister to D. Robert the kings sonne but Pope Benedictus calling a councel at Rhemes restored Arnoldus againe and displaced Gilbertus After Benedictus succéeded in the sea of Rome Pope Iohn the 16. and died the 8. moneth of his papacie next to whom came Iohn the seuentéenth and after him Gregory the fift ann 995. This Gregory called before Bruno was a Germaine borne and therefore more maliced the Cleargie and people of Rome Whervpon Crescentius with the people and cleargy agréeing against the same Gregory set vp pope Iohn the 18. wherevpon Gregory went to Otho the third who vpon his complaint came to Rome tooke in the city of Rome both Crescentius the consul Iohn the pope Which Iohn hauing his eies put out The popes eies put out was after depriued of his life Crescentius the Consul was set vppon a wilde horse hauing his nose and eares cut of Crueltie and so was ledde through the Cittie his face turned to the horse tayle and after hauing his Members cutte off was hanged vpon a Gibbet Pope Gregorie being thus restored to his former state raigned foure yeres in his Papacie although some say but two yeares During which time he assembled a Councell at Rome A Councell at Rome wherein to establish the Empire in his owne coūtrey by the consent and councell of Otho he ordeyned seuen Princes of Germanie to be Electors of the Emperor The seuen Electors of the Empire thrée Bishoppes and thrée Princes the Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Marques Brandenbourge vnto whome was added the king of Boheme to geue a casting voice if néede so required The Bishoppes were of Magunce of Treuers and of Colone This constitution being first begun in the yere of our Lord nine hundred ninetie seuen was afterward established in Germanie by Otho the Emperor an 1002. Now concerning king Egelred or Elred the sonne of Alfrith He raigned 38. yeres Our English Cronicles report his raigne to be vngracious in the beginning A strāge reign of a king wretched in the middle and hatefull in the end There fell a variance betwixt this king and the Bishop of Rochester so that he made warre against him besieged the Citie till the Bishop offered him an C.l. of golde which he receiued and so departed The Danes in the time of this king did much molest the Lande in so much that the King was gladde to graunt vnto them great summes of money for peace Peace bought for money of the Danes For the assurance of which peace Analeffe the Captaine of the Danes became a Christian and so departed the Countrey About the xi or as some say the ix yere of this kings reign died Dunstan after whome succeeded Ethelgarus or as Iornalensis saith Stilgarus After him Elfricus as sayeth Guilielmus lib. 1. de Pontif. But as Polidorus saith Sirifius After him Elfricus came but after the minde of Williā lib. 1. Siricius But Polidorus saith Aluritius then Elphegus c. About the same time Anno 995. Aldwinus Bishoppe translated the bodie of Saint Cutbert from Chester which first was in a Northerne Iland then
William of York Hée was poysoned in his chalis Archb. poysoned in his chalice by his Chaplains In the xvi yere of the reigne of this king Theobaldus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Legate to the Pope held a Councell at London wherein was concluded appellations from Councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of Winchester In the time of King Steeuen died Gracianus a Monke of Bononia who compiled the booke called The Popes decrées also his brother Petrus Lombardus Petrus Lombardus Bishop of Paris Maister of Sentences wrote his foure bookes of Sentences These two were the greatest doers in finding out that the similitude onely of bread and wine remained in the sacramentes Some write that Petrus Comestor Petrus Comestor the writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother In this time also liued Hildegard the Nunne and prophetisse Hildegard the nunne and prophetisse in Almaigne By this K. was builded the abbey of Feuersham where his sonne and he were buried He builded the monasterie of Finerneys and of Fomitance Much about the same time came vp the order of the Gilbertines Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Iacoline a knight of Lincolnshire Theobald Priests no rulers in worldly matters the Archb. of Canterb. among other matters decréed that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should teach the Lords praier Créed in english Mattheus Parisiensis writeth how Stephen K. of England reserued to himselfe the bestowing of spiritual liuings and inuesting of prelats ann 1133. At which time also Lotharius the Emperour began to doe the like had not Bernardus giuen him contrary councel Then came into the Church the manner of cursing with booke bell and candle Booke bel and candle deuised in the Councell at London holden by William B. of Winchester vnder P. Celestinus who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius succéeded in the Empire Conradus the nenew of Henricus 5. an 1138. Who onely among the Emperors is founde not to haue receaued the Crowne at the popes hand In the dayes of this Emperour who reigned fiftéene yeares were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius 2. Eugenius 3. Betwixt P. Lucius Lucius and the Romanes was great strife for the Romanes would haue recouered their auncient libertie in choosing their consuls and Pope Lucius in the fight was well beaten and liued not long after Pope Eugenius Eugenius after him followed the same course An. 1145. and compelled them to abolish their consuls and to take such Senators as he should assigne Then followed Anastasius Anastasius the 4. And after him Adrianus the 4. an Englishman Adrianus pope an Englishmā by his name called Breake speare belonging once to S. Albons He likewise kept great stur preuailed against the Romanes for the former causes and thundered against Fredericus the Emperour Hildegardis a Nunne and as many iudged euen the papistes themselues a Prophetisse liued anno 1146. and prophecied against the whole rowte of Romish prelats and of the fal of that Church especially against the senior Friers and such other bellies of the same In a certain place she hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people Hildegard prophecieth against the kingdome of the Pope which neglect to teach and to doe good things The maister likewise and the Prelates doe sleepe despising iustice and laying it aside c. And in another place Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be no religion among the Apostolicall order and for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name shall set ouer them other men and other Archbishops In so much that the Apostolike sea of that time by the diminution of his honor shall haue scarce Rome and a fewe other Countreyes thereabout vnder his dominion And these things shall come to passe partly by incursiō of warres and partly by a common Councell Iustice flourish when the Pope is ouerthrowen and consent of the Spirituall and Secular persons Then shall Iustice flourish so that in those dayes men shall honestly applie themselues to the ancient customes and discipline of auncient men and shal obserue them as men in times past haue done c. Shee prophecied also of the Friers In those dayes shall rise a senselesse people proud gréedie without faith and subtill which shall eate the sinnes of the people holding a certain order of foolish deuotion vnder the fained cloke of beggery c. But this order shall be accursed of all wise men and faithfull Christians they shall cease from all labour and giue themselues ouer to idlenesse choosing rather to liue by flattery and begging hauing familiaritie with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbandes by their flattery and deceitfull wordes and to robbe for them for they will take all these stolen euill gotten goods and say giue it vnto vs we will pray for you so that they beyng curious to hide other mens faults do vtterly forget their owne And alas they will receiue all things of rouers pickers spoilers théeues sacrilegious persons vsurers adulterers heretikes schismatikes apostataes whores and bawdes of noblemen periurers merchants false iudges souldiers tyrants princes of such as liue contrary to the law and of many peruerse and wicked men following the perswasion of the Diuell the swéetnesse of sinne a delicate and transitorie life and fulnes euen vnto eternall damnation c. Henry the 2. sonne of Ieffrey Plantagenet and of Mawd the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first raigned after Stephen and continued 35. yéeres Within a yéere or twaine after the entry of his raigne he made Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Lord Chauncellor of England About the yéere of our Lord 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis did earnestly preach agaynst the Church of Rome mainteyning Gerhardus against the church of Rome that prayer is not more holie in one place then in another that the Pope is Antichrist Pope Antichrist that the Clergie and Prelates of Rome were reiect and the very whore of Babilon Whore of Babilon prefigured in the Apocalips c. These two Anno one thousand one hundred and fiftie eight brought with them thirtie into England who by the king and prelates were burned in the forehead and so sent out of the realme And after as Illyricus writeth were put to death by the Pope Put to death by the Pope The Emperour Fredericus successor to Conradus marched vp to Italy to subdue there certaine rebels The Pope hearing thereof came to méet him with his Cardinals at Sutrium the Emperour seing the Bishop alighted of his horse to receyue him The Emp. holdeth the popes stirrop on the wrong side holding the stirrop on the left side whereat the Pope shewed himselfe somewhat agréeued but the next day with holding the right stirrop
plate and this was about the 5. yere of his reigne and then it was obteyned of the P. that Priests might celebrate with Chalices of latin and tinne Chalices of lattin tinne which continued long after In the time of the kinges captiuitie Philip the French K. incensed Iohn the brother of king Richard to take on him the kingdome of his brother For which fact Ioh. at his brothers returne submitted himselfe vnto him and craued pardon which the king graunted About this time there was one Fulco Fulco some say hée was Archb. of Roan called Gualter who came vnto the king and tolde him The kings three daughters bestowed he had three daughters to bestow willing him to bestow them in time that is pride couetousnes and luxuriousnes Which words the king tooke in good part calling his Lords declared vnto them what Fulco had councelled him and said I geue my daughter swelling pride to be wife to the proude Templars My greedy daughter auarice to the couetous order of the Cistercian mōks And last of al my filthy daughter Lururie to the riotous prelates of the Church The king laying siege to a castle called Galuz belonging to the Lord Bemonice in little Brittaine thinking there to haue obtained great substaunce of treasure was shot into the arme by a souldier named Beytādus Cordomi K Richard slaine wherevpon the yron remaining and festering in the wound the king within nine daies after died hauing first forgiuen the souldier before his death After the death of king Richard King Iohn raigned his brother Iohn Earle of Morton An. 1200. Diuorce was made betwixt king Iohn and his wife because they were in the 3. degrée of kinred An. 1205. Hubert archb of Canterbury deceased Before his body was yet committed to the earth the yoonger sort of the monks elected Reignold their superiour and placed him in the Metropolitane sea without the Kings licence and knowledge Who being sent vnto by the elder sort of mōks requiring his gratious license to choose their Archb. consented therevnto requiring them also instantly at his request they would shew fauour to Iohn Gray bishop of Norwich which they also did electing him into that sea And for the full establishing the king sent of his owne charges to haue the matter ratified by the Pope The two Suffraganes of Canterbury not beyng made acquainted with the matter sent spéedily to Rome to haue both the elections stopped wherevpon grew great tumult for the Pope condemning both their elections created Stephen Langton with his owne hand in the high Church of Viterby vpon which occasion the king conceiued an excéeding displeasure against the Clergy and Monks of Canterbury and banished 64. of them out of the land and doth also sharply expostulate by letters with the Pope for that he had chosen Stephen Langton a man brought vp amongst his enimies a long time in the kingdome of France besides the derogation to the liberties of his crowne threatning except he would fauour the kings liking of the B. of Norwich The king threatneth the Pope hée would cut of the trade to Rome and the profites that came thether from the land The Pope writeth in the behalfe of R. Langton a froward and arrogant letter and not long after sendeth a commandement and charge into England to certaine bishops that if the king would not yéeld they should interdict him through his realme For the executiō whereof foure bishops were appointed William B. of London Eustace bishop of Ely Walter bishop of Winchester and Giles bishop of Hereford Which foure bishops went to him shewing their cōmission The king interdicted willing him to consent which the king refusing they went and pronounced the generall interdiction through out the realme and so the Church dores were shut vp with keies walles and other fastnings c. Which with other demeanour so incensed the king that hée tooke all the possessions of the foure Bishops into his handes appointing certaine men to kéepe the liuing of the Clergie throughout the realme and that they should inioy no part thereof he also proclaimed that all those that had Church liuing and went ouer the sea should returne at a certaine day or else lose their liuings for euer and charged all Sheriffes to inquire if any churchman receiued any commaundement that came from the Pope The king against the Clergie and that they should take their bodies and bring them before him and also that they should take into their hands for the kings vse all the church lands that were giuen to any man by the Archbishop Stephen or by the priors of Canterburie from the time of the election of the Archbishop and further charged that all the woods that were the Archbishops should be cut downe and sold Which things the pope hearing of sendeth two Legates Pandulph and Durance Pandulph and Durance Legates to charge the king to make restitution and cease from those wrongs doone to the church which when he refused to doo he procéeded to excommunicate him to assoile all his subiects from their oth of obedience Subiects assoiled of their oth of obediēce assoiling also all those of their sins that would rise against the K. And a while after vpon the Legats returne the Pope summoned all bishops The king accursed of the Pope abbots clarkes to repaire to Rome to cōsult what was to be doone therin where he accursed the K. and sent vnto the French king vpon remissiō of all his sins and of all that went with him that he should take with him all the power that he might and so inuade the Realme of England to destroy king Iohn Moreouer he gaue sentēce that the K. should be deposed another put in his place appointing the deposing to the french K Philip The pope giueth England to the French king promising to giue him remission of al his sins and the cléere possession of all the Realme of England to him his heires if he did either kill him or expel him Whervpō the next yere 1212. the Frēch K. begā to inuade but the Englishmen took 300. of his ships wel ladē with al prouision burnt another hundred within the hauen and tooke the spoile yet the K. considering the conspiracies of the pope and the sharpe inuasion of the French K. with the treasons at home by reason of the popes dispensation with the oath of obediēce in the 13. yéere of his raign sent Embassadors to the pope requiring peace The king submitteth to the Pope promising to satisfie him in al things with due satisfaction whervpon the pope sent Pandulph again into Englād with other Embassadors To whō in the behalfe of the court of Rome the K. submitted himself resigning gaue vp his dominiōs of England Ireland frō him his heires that should come of him for euermore with this condition that he shold take these 2. dominions of the pope again to
visiō to the pope and with a seuere countenaunce and terrible voice speaketh vnto him beyng in his rest and smiteth him on the side vehemently with his crossestaffe saying O thou scurffie lazie old bald lowsie wretched doting Pope hast thou purposed to cast my bones out of the Church to the slaunder and shame of mée how came this rashe wilfulnesse into thy head it were more méete for thée to make much of the zealous seruantes of God although departed Grosted striketh the Pope with other wordes of reproofe and so departed from him leauing him stroken and halfe dead so that hée neuer enioyed anie prosperous day or could haue anie quiet night til the morning vnto his death which happened shortly after hee being at Naples ann 1255. or as N. Treuet recordeth 1254. After Innocent the 4. succéeded in the Popedome Innocent dieth Alexander the 3. Alexander 3. After this about the yéere 1260. fell debate betwixt the King and his Nobles but so was it compounded that the King and the Lords did sweare at Oxford that what lawes and decrées in the same assembly shoulde bée prouided to the profit of the King and the Realme the same vniuersally shoulde be kept and obserued to the honour of God and peace of the Realme Besides the king and the Lordes there were also 9. Bishops which swearing to the same end excommunicated all such as should gainstand the said prouisions there made Wherevppon diuers wholesome lawes Wholesome lawes were enacted which misliked the King in such sort that he required of the Pope for himselfe and his sonne Edward to be dispensed with of their othes Anno 1261. Which being easily obtained The Pope dispenseth with othes Pope dieth the king steps back from all that was before concluded The same yéere died pope Alexander after whom succéeded Vrban the 4. who also reuiued and renewed the releasement of the kings oath aforesaid wherevpon grew war betwixt the king and the Barons P. Vrban 4 War betwixt the king and the Barons Anno 1264. died Pope Vrban and after him succéeded Clement 4. Clement 4. who as Nicholas Riuet affirmeth was first a married man had wife and children and was the sollicitor and Counseller to the French K. then after the death of his wife was Bishop intituled Padiensis after that Vrban dieth Archb. of Narbourn and at last made Cardinall who being sent of Pope Vrban in legacie for reformation of peace in his absence was elected Pope by the Cardinalles Thomas of Aquine Bonauenture About this time florished Thomas of Aquine Reader at Paris among the Dominick Fryers and Bonauenture among the Franciscan Friers ex Nichol. Riuet Anno 1265 the pope graunted that the Church of England should pay tenthes of all reuenewes as well temporall as spiritual to the King to continue thrée yeares space the yeare after Tenthes to the Kinge the popes Legate Octobonus caused to be proclaimed a new graunt of pope Clement to the King and Quéene of all the tenthes for 7 yeares to come Anno 1267 peace was concluded betwéene the King the Barons and Octobonus departed the land This Octobonus enrolled to perpetuall memorie Peace betwixt the K. and the Barons the valuation of all the Churches in the realme of England so narrowly as by any meanes he might enquire the certainty thereof Cathedrall churches popes pensions The same was he that made al the Cathedral conuentuall churches to pay pensions so that those churches that gaue not the vacancie of their benefices to their Clerkes and straungers should pay vnto them a certaine yearly pension during the vacancie of the benefices they should haue Clement 4. dieth The same yeare dyed pope Clement the 4. after whose death the church of Rome was vacant 2. yeares and then was chosen an Archdeacon Pope whose name was Theardus as he was taking his iourney into the holy land and called him Gregory the tenth Gregory 10. During the raigne of King Henry the 3. Edward the Kinges sonne was one that made a generall expedition against the Saracens Against the Saracens to Ierusalem and in the yeare 1270 in the moneth of May he set forward in his iourney About the time when Prince Edward was preparing his iourney towardes Asia Boniface the Archb of Canterbury ended his life in the countrie of Sebaudia going belyke to Rome or comming thence In whose stead Gregory the tenth placed Robert Kilwardly neither according to the minde of the Monkes who agréed vpon the Prior of their house named Adam Chelendine nor of the king who spake in the behalfe of Robert Burnell there Chancellor About this time came out the great Concordances Great Concordances by an English frier called Derminghton Ex Eulogio Anno 1273. Pope Gregory the tenth called a generall Councell A generall Councell at Lions about the controuersie betwixt the Gréeke Church and the Latine and for the vacancie of the sea apostolicall This yéere in the moneth of Aprill Richard King of Almaigne died at the Castle of Barthamstéed and was buried at the Abbey of Hailes Abbey of Hailes King dyeth which hée buylded from the ground This yeare 1273. dyed King Henry the 16. day before the calendes of December in the 56. yeare of his raigne Westminster church was buryed at Westminster The stéeple and church wherof in his life time he began to build but did not fully finish the same before his death After Henry the 3. succéeded his sonne Edward and was crowned anno 1274. Anno. 1276. began the foundation of the Black fryers by Ludgate Blackfryers by Ludgate And in the yeare 1285. the new worke of the church of Westminster that began in the 3. year of Henry the third was finished which was 66 yeares in edifying An. 1291. The Iewes were vtterly banished the realm for which the Commons gaue to the K. a Fiftéene King Edward had sharpe warre with the Scottes Iewes banished the realm vtterly and subdued them thrée times who séeing they could not make their partie good against the King sent priuilie to P. Boniface for his ayde and councell who immediatly sendeth downe his precept to the king that he should herafter cease to molest the Scottes for that they were a people exempt The Scots pertain to the Popes chappell and properly pertayning vnto his Chappell and therefore it coulde not otherwise bee but that the Citie of Ierusalem must néedes defende her owne Citizens and as the mount Sion maintaine such as trust in the Lord. Wherevnto the king made answere with an oth that hée would mainteine that which was his right euidently knowne to all the world The next yéere after which was the 29. of the kings raigne the Pope directeth his letters to the king againe wherein he chalengeth the kingdome of Scotland to be proper to the Church of Rome and not subiect to the king of England and therefore it was
Remen Senoren Narbonen Turonen the Bishops of Landuiren Belnacen Catolacen Antisiodoren Meldimen Nurmen Carnoten Aurelianen Ambiauen Mornen Silanen Andeganen Abricen Constant Ebroicen Lexonicon Sagien Caloromont Lemonicen Auicen Mascicoren c. With Abbots c. This appeale was made the 9. yeare of Bonifaces popedome at Lupara in Paris After these things thus in the Parlement agréed the Prelates of the Cleargie consulting among themselues what was best to be done in so doubtfull a matter and dreading the Popes displeasure for that which was done alredy to cléere themseues in the matter they contriued a letter to the Pope partly to certifie him what there was done and partly to admonish him what he should doe These things thus done anno 1304. about the natiuitie of the Virgin Marie came a garison of harnessed Souldiers well appoynted sent partly by the French king partly by the Cardinals Columpna whom the Pope before had deposed vnto the gates of Auragum where the Pope did hide himselfe The pope hideth himselfe because he was borne in the towne the captaines of which armie was one Schaira brother to the foresaid cardinals and another William de Longareto high steward to the French king who inuading the Popes towne and finding the gates open gaue assault to the Popes Frontier where hée with his Nephew or Marques and foure other Cardinals were immured The townesmen séeing all their strength to be bent against the pope caused the common bell to be rong and so assembling themselues in a common counsell ordeined Adulphus Adulphus one of the chiefest rulers of the towne for their Captaine who vnknowen to them was a great aduersary to the Pope This Adulphus bringing with him Reginaldus de Supina Reginaldus de Supina a great Lorde in Campania and the two sons of Iohn Chitan a noble man whose Father the Pope had then in prison at length ioyned him with the French companie against the Pope and so beset his palace on euery side and first setting vppon the pallaces of the thrée Cardinals which were then chiefe about the Pope The cardinals goods rifeled rifeled and spoyled all their goodes the Cardinals by a backe doore hardly escaped their hands But the popes palace through munition and strength of the Marques was something better defended At length the Pope perceiuing himselfe not able to make his partie good desired truce with Schaira and his company Pope craueth truce which was granted him from one of the clock till nine During which time of truce the Pope sendeth priuily to the Townsmen of Aruagum desiring them to saue his life which if they would doe he promised to enrich them that they should all haue cause neuer to forget The Pope reiected or to repent the benefite bestowed To this they made answere againe excusing themselues that it lay not in their power to doe him any good for that the whole power of the Towne lay with the Captaine Then the pope all destitute desolate sendeth to Schaira beséeching him to draw out in Articles wherein hée had offended him The pope glad to make amends Conditions offered to the Pope and he would make him amendes to the vttermost Schaira maketh answere againe that hée should not escape with life but vpon thrée conditions First to restore againe the two Cardinals of Columpna his brethren whom he had before depriued with all other of their stocke and kinred Secondly that after their restitution hee should renounce his papacie Thirdly his body to remaine in his power and custodie These cōditions the pope would none of The gates of the popes paface fired so that the time of truce expired the captaines and souldiers first fired the gates of the palace whereby the army hauing a full entrance fell to rifle and spoile the house at length they burst in to the pope whom they put to choise either presently to leaue his life or to forgo the popedome But that hée denied stifly to doo rather choosing to die for it saying The pope rather would die then renounce his popedome Lo here my neck lo here my head protesting that he would neuer while hée liued renounce his papacie Then Schaira went about and was ready to slay him but by certaine that were about him hée was stayed the Souldiers in the meane time did lade themselues with gold and treasure that as Robert Auesb. reporteth The pope spoiled of infinite treasure all the Kinges of the earth together were not able to disburse so much out of their treasurie in a whole yéere as then was taken and carried out of the Popes palace and of the palaces of the thrée Cardinals and Marques Thus Boniface bereaued of al his goods remained in their hands thrée daies during the which space they had set him on a wild and vnbroken colt The Pope homely vsed his face turned to the horse tayle causing the horse to runne and course while the Pope almost was breathlesse The pope almost starued moreouer they kept him so without meat that hée was thereby almost famished to death After the three daies the Aruagians with 10000. souldiers slue the kéeper The pope deliuered almost famished burst into prison and deliuered Boniface almost famished whom the people refreshed with vittaile and receiued his blessing From thence he tooke his iourney to Rome beyng accompanied with a great number of harnessed souldiers where shortly after partly for feare which he was in partly for famine partly for sorrow of his inestimable treasure lost Pope dieth Benedict 9. he died After whom succéeded Benedict the 9. of whom these verses are written A re nomen habe Benedic Bene fac Benedicte Aut rem peruerte Maledic Malefac Maledicte Boniface afore mentioned was the Author of the Decretals Decretals About this time in the daies of king Edward Boniface directed a Bull to Iohn Peckham archbishop of Canterburie whom he had placed against the minde of the king and Church of Canterburie as also vnto all other quarters of the Church vniuersall in which was decréed that no Church nor Ecclesiasticall person should hencefoorth yéeld to his king or temporall magistrate eyther any giuing or lending or promising of tribute subsidies or portion whatsoeuer of the goods and possessions vnto him belonging but should be cléerely exempted and discharged of such subiection or tallage Clergy exempt from subsidie to be exacted of thē in the behoofe of the prince and his affaires Not long after the King held his Parlement at Saint Edmunsburie where was graunted vnto him of all Cities and Boroughs an eight and of the commons a twelfth of their goods onely the clergy by reason of the bull stood stout wherevpon the king likewise secludeth them from vnder his protection The clergy out of the kings protection and sauegard of his lawes and because the Archbishop was more stout and an inciter of the rest hée seised vpon his goods and caused an
Oxford notwithstanding he well supported Iohn of Gaunt Lord H. Percie fauourers of VVic and friended of the King and other as Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henrie Percie by whom he bare out the malice of the friers till the yere of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred seuentie seuen The opinions for which he was depriued in Oxforde The opinions of VVic were these That the Pope had no more power to excommunicate any man than an other and that to absolue is as much in any Priestes power as in his That when Ecclesiasticall persons doe sinne habitualiter continuing in the same still the Temporall powers may and likewise ought to take away from them that which hath béene before bestowed vpon them c. He touched also the matter of the sacrament prouing that in the same the accidents did not remaine without the substaunce both by the Scriptures and ancient Doctours About the yéere 1376. the Bishops still vrging and stirring vp their Archbishop Simon Sudbury which before had depriued him and afterward prohibited him not to stirre any more in those kind of matters had obtained by processe and order of citation to haue him brought before them wherevpon both place and time for him to appeare after their vsuall forme was to him assigned The Duke hauing intelligence that Wickliffe his Client should come before the bishops fearing that he being but one should be too weak against such a multitude calleth vnto him out of the orders of Friers foure Batchelers of diuinity out of euery order one to ioyne them with Wickliffe for the more surety Whē the day was come for Wickliffe to appeare which was Thursday the 19. of February Iohn Wickliffe accompanied with the Friers Wickliffe brought before the Bishops and with them also the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Henry Piercey Lord marshall of England the said Lord Piercey going before him to make roome and way where Wickliffe shoulde come such was the throng of the multitude in Paules Church which was the place appointed that the Lordes for all the puissaunce of the high Marshall scarce could with great difficultie gette way thorough In so much that the Bishop of London Wil. Courtney sonne to the Earle of Deuonshire séeing the stirre that the Lord Marshall kept in the Church among the people speaking to the Lorde Piercie said that if hee had knowen what masteries he would haue kept in the church he would haue stopped him for comming in there Whereupon grewe words At last after much wrastling they preased thorow and came to our Ladies Chappell where the Duke and barons were sitting together with the Archbishops and other Bishops before whom stood Iohn Wickliffe to know what should be laid against him To whom first spake the Lord Percie bidding him sit downe saying Wickliffe bid sit downe hée had many things to answere vnto and therefore had need of some soft seate But the Bishop of Lincolne cast into a fumish heat sayd he should not sit there neither said he was it according to law c. wherevpon grewe great heat of speach among them The Duke also taking part with the Lord Percie From braule to threates rebuked the Bishop who went so farre beyond the Duke in rayling that the Duke as the Author saith was ashamed because hée could not ouerpasse the Bishop in brawling and therefore fell to plaine threatning wherevpon the contention grew so great that the councell broken vp with scolding and brauling for that day was dissolued before nine of the clocke About this time a proude bishop of Norwich was wounded and sore hurt A prowde B. wounded with his traine dispersed at the towne of Lennam for that he presumed to take vpon him to cōmaund a mace or tipstaffe belonging to the chiefe gouernour of the towne to be carried before him Anno 1377. In the moneth of Iune 21. day died Edward 3. that after he had raigned 51. yéeres who of all the kings of the realme vnto king Henry the 8. K. Edward dieth the greatest brideler of the pope was the greatest brideler of the Popes vsurped power whereby Iohn Wickliffe was maintained with ayd sufficient Richard the second succéeded his father beyng but eleuen yéeres of age and in the same yéere of his Fathers decease was crowned at Westminster anno 1371. Wickliffe notwithstanding he were forbidden by the bishops continued yet with his fellowes going barefoot and in long friers gownes Wickliffe goeth barefoote preaching Articles out of Wickliffes preachings as their manner was preaching diligently to the people out of whose Sermons chiefly these articles were collected That the Eucharist is the body of Christ but figurately That Rome is not the head of churches and that Peter had no more giuen vnto him then other apostles That the pope had no more the keies then any other within the order of priesthood that the Lords temporall may take away the temporalities of the clergy offending habitualiter are bound vnder paine of damnation to take them away frō any Church so offending That the gospell is the onely sufficient rule of life That neither the Pope nor any other prelate of the church ought to haue prisons wherein to punish transgressors c. Which were collected with diuerse more by the Bishops and sent to Pope Gregory at Rome where the Articles beyng perused and read Wickliffes articles condēned for hereticall were condemned by 23. Cardinals to be hereticall An. 1378. pope Gregory sendeth his Bull by the hands of one M. Edmund Stafford directed vnto the vniuersitie of Oxford rebuking them sharply imperiously like a pope for suffering so long the doctrine of Wickleffe to take roote which Bull when it came to be exhibited to their hands The Popes bull against Wickliffe the Proctors and Maisters of the vniuersitie ioyning together in consultation stood long in doubt deliberating with themselues whether to receiue the Popes Bull with honour or to reiect it with shame Beside this Bull sent to the Vniuersitie of Oxford pope Gregory directed moreouer his letters the same time to the Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Sudbury and to the Bishop of London William Courtney with the conclusions of Iohn Wickliffe therein enclosed commaunding them by vertue of those his letters apostolicall and straightly inioyning them to cause the sayd Iohn Wickliffe to be apprehended and cast into prison and that the King and the Nobles should be admonished The Pope diligent against Wickliffe not to geue any credit to the doctrine of Wickliffe c. Besides this Bull to the Archbishop of Canterburie and the Bishop of London he wrote two other letters concerning the same matter to the same Bishops dearing the same date of day and yéere in the seuēth yéere of his papacie 11. Kalend. Iunij Moreouer besides all these buls letters he directeth an other Epistle bearing the same date vnto king Richard the 2. touching the same matter The articles included in the
of Canterburie with the Abbey of Christes-church of saint Augustines Shrewesburie Coggeshall and Saint Osiris 20000. markes by the yere In the Sea of Durham and other abbeyes there 20000. markes In the Sea of Yorke and other abbeyes there as much In the Sea of Winchester and abbeyes there as much In the Sea of London and abbeyes there and other houses as much In the Sea of Lincolne with the abbeies of Peterborow Ramsey and other as much In the Sea of Norwich and abbey of Burie other as much In the Sea of Elie Spalding as much In the sea of Bath with the abbey of Okinburn other as much In the sea of Worcester with the abbey of Euesam Abingdon and others as much In the sea of Chester with the precinct of the same and the seas of S Dauid Salisburie Exceter with their precincts as much with many other abbeyes bishopricks c. Moreouer they alledged that diuers in Englād possessed so many temporalties as might suffice to find yerely 15000. priestes clarkes euery priest to be allowed vij markes by the yere To this bil no answere was made but that the K. would take some aduisemēt deliberatiō Anno 1413 Henrie the 4. died in a chamber at Westminster called Ierusalem and was buried at Canterburie by the tombe of Thomas Becket After him succéeded his sonne Henrie the fift and not long after his coronation a Parlement was holden after Easter at Westminster an 1413. At which time Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterburie collected in Paules church at London an vniuersal Sinode of al the bishops and clergie in England In which Sinode among other matters it was determined that the day of S. George and of saint Dunstan shoulde be double feast Now the Popish feastes are thus deuided either they be double feastes or simple The double feast is subdiuided into principall double The kindes of popish feastes greater double lesser double and inferior or lower double To the principall double feast belonged eight dayes in the yere so the greater double had geuen vnto him in this Conuocation the day of Saint George and of S. Dunstan And albeit it was so decréed yet by custom it was not so vsed Notes of principall soules feast The principal double and the greater double were knowen from al other by 4. notes By seruice in the kitchen by seruice in the church both the which were double by ringing in the stéeple with double peale by copes in the quire and censing of the altar For in these two great and principall double feastes the vij the viij and ix lessons must be read with silken copes and at the saide feasts in the time of the Lessons the altars must be censed likewise the lesser double and inferior double had their peculiar seruice to them belonging And thus much of their double feasts The simple is also deuided into ether triple inuitorie or double inuitorie or else single Of the which moreouer some haue thrée lessons some haue 9. c. And thus much of popish feastes The chiefe cause of the Synode was to oppresse the Gospel as recordeth the chronicle of S. Albōs And to withstād the Noble and worthy Lord Cobham The noble and worthy Lord Cobham who principally mainteyned and receiued the preachers and set them vp to preach whom the Bishop had not licensed which was against a constitution principall of theirs In the meane time as they were talking and conspiring against the Lord Cobham there resorted vnto them 12. Inquisitors for heresie whom they appoynted at Oxford the yéere before to search out for Heretikes with all Wickliffes bookes who brought 246. conclusions which they had collected as heresies out of the said bookes The names of the Inquisitors were these Iohn Witnā Inquisitors for heresie a maister in new colledge Iohn Langdom monke of Christ church in Canterb. William Vfford regent of the Carmelits Thomas Clayton regēt of the Dominicks Robert Gilbert Richard Enthisdale Iohn Luck Richard Sindishame Richard Fleming Thomas Rotborn Robert Rowberry Richard Grafdale who all cōcluded that the chiefe fauourers were first to be dealt against there present the noble knight sir Iohn Oldcastle L. Cobham was complained of by the generall proctors to be the chiefe principall and a mighty mainteiner of suspected preachers in the dioces of London Rochester and Hereford cōtrary to the mind of the ordinaries and to haue assisted them by force of armes And last of all they accused him to be far otherwise in beliefe of the sacrament of the altar of penance of pilgrimage of image worshipping and of the ecclesiasticall power then the holy Church of Rome had taught many yéeres before Vpon this it was concluded among them that without any further delay processe should be awarded out agaynst him Processes against the Lord Cobham as against a most pernitious heretike and because they considered his great birth and the fauour he was in with the K. counsell was giuen they were aduised first to know his pleasure who thē remained at Keningstone which they did Who although he too much yéelded to them yet required thē in respect of his Noble stocke and Knighthood that they would if it were possible without rigour reduce him again to the vnitie of the Church and promised them also that in case they were not contented to take some deliberation himselfe would seriously common the matter with him which he anon after accordingly did and sent for the L. Cobham whē he was come he called him secretly admonishing him betwixt him himself to submit himselfe to his mother the holy church as an obedient child to acknowledge himselfe culpable The answere of L. Cobham to the king vnto whom the Christiā knight made this answer You most worthy prince saith he I am alwaies prompt ready to obey for asmuch as I know you a christian prince the minister of God bearing the sword to the punishment of euill doers safegard of them that are vertuous vnto you next vnto my eternall God owe I most reuerēce submit therevnto as I haue doone euer all that I haue either of fortune or nature ready at all times to fulfil whatsoeuer you in that Lord cōmaund me But as touching the pope his spiritualtie I owe them neither suit nor seruice for somuch as I know him by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist The Pope knowne by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist the sonne of perdition the open aduersary of God and the abhomination standing in the holy place When the King had heard this with such like sentences more hée would talke no longer with him but left him vtterly and the archbishop resorting againe vnto him The L. Cobham forsaken of the king he gaue him full authority to cite him examine him punish him according to their diuelish decrées wherevpon after a priuate citatiō by one Iohn Butler the archbishops somner
and were contented onely with their yerely pension which the K. payeth to euery page of the Heluetians to kéep peace The day and yere when this reformation began with them they caused to be engrauen in a piller with letters of golde A monument of their reformation 1528 for a perpetuall memorie to all posteritie to come This was an 1528. By these examples the ministers of Strausburgh began also to affirme and teach that the masse was naught The P. clergie laboured on the contrary part The Senat would haue brought it to a disputation but the Priests would agrée to no reasoning wherevpon the magistrates commaunded them silence The Bishop desired the Senate to perseuer in their old religiō but not preuailing they did sollicite the assembly of the Empire at Spires who sent a solemne Embassade to Strausborough requiring them to alter nothing but to refer all things to a generall Councell In like manner the Bishop of Heldessem hauing béene with them a litle before exhorted them in the name of the Emperour But the Senate of Strawsborough seing the matter did now hange in controuersie two yéeres the preachers dayly calling vpō them for reformatiō also suite being made by other Citizens assembled their great Citizens to the number of 300. in which the most voyces went against the masse Wherevpon immediatly the twentith of February ann 1529. 1529 Masse put downe in Strawsborough Basill reformed a decrée was made that the masse should be laid downe til the contrary part could proue it to bee lawfull by the scriptures Anon after at Basill also the masse was excluded and twelue Senatours fauouring popery displaced by the commons and the images throwne out of the churches and a decrée made that the masse and images should bee abolished through their whole iurisdiction in this citie taught Oecolampadius A memorial of their reformation The day of burning their images which was Ashwednesday they doe with mirth and pastime solemnise at this day Anno 1529. Ferdinando the Emperors brother and his Deputie in Germanie decréed against the Protestantes at Spires and refused to admitte the Ambassadors of Strausburgh because they had reiected the masse The other princes which were receiued as the Duke of Saxonie George of Brandenburgh Ernesus and Franciscus Earles of Lueburgh Lantgraue Anhaldius did withstād the decrée and shewed their cause in a long protestation written which done all such Cities as subscribed and consented to the Protestation of the Princes ioyned themselues in a common league with them whereupon they were called protestāts The names of the Cities were these Strausburgh The name of Protestants Norembergh Vlmes Constance Ruteling Winsenium Mēning Lindania Campodinum Hailburnim Isua Wesseburgum Norling and Sangallum The other Pages on the contrarie side made like confederacie which were especially fiue Lucernates Vrani A diuision of the Pages for religion Suicences Vnterualdij and Tugiani purposing to ouerrun the religion of Christ who also despitefully hanged vp the armes of the Cities Zurich and Berne vpon the gallowes In so much that Berne and Zurich raysed a power against the Suitzers aforesaid But as they were both readie to encounter through the meanes of the Citie of Strausburgh and other Intercessors they were parted at that time and so returned Which peace continued two yeares betwéene them till by reason of contumelies against the reformed cities the Tigurins and Bernates stopping al passage suffered no corn nor vitle to passe one to the other this was 1531. The French king with the Glarians Friburnians and Soliturnians endeuored to make peace betwixt them vpō certaine conditions which the other fiue Pages refused and armed themselues and approching néere Surich ouermatched them of Zurich with multitude and discomfited the armie among whom at that time Zuinglius was slaine Zuinglius slaine also the Abbot of Capella and Commendator Cunacensis with 13. other learned men as it is thought being falsly betrayed and brought into the hands of the enemie The maner of the Suitzers is when they goe to warre the chiefe Minister of their Church goeth with them which was the cause why he was present at the warre The minister goeth with the armie After he was slaine they burnt his bodie being dead Ex Sleid. li. 8. Zuinglius was 44. yeres of age when hee died They tooke the Abbot Capellensis being slaine and put out both his eyes and cloathed him in a Monks coule and so set him in a pulpit to preach rayling on him in most despitefull maner This battle was the xi of October The Bernats hearing of this ouerthrow armed themselues to make reuēge and attempting to take Tugie were ouermatched of the Page-men At the last through mediation a league was made betwéene them A league betwixt the Canons D. of Saxon dieth 1532 that the Tigurins Bernats and Basilians should forsake the league made with Strausburgh and the Lantgraue and likewise the v. pagemē their league with Ferdinandus And hereof were obligations sealed the last of Nouember Oecolampadius hearing of the death of Zuinglius departed this life also the last of Nouember being of the age of 49. The next following in the yere of our Lord 1532. in the moneth of August died Iohn Frederike Duke of Saxonie a great mainteiner of the trueth After whom succéeded Iohn Frederike his sonne 1533 H. Voes I. Ech burned Anno 1527. Two young men were burned at Bruxels one named Henrie Voes of the age 24. The other Ioh. Ech which were before of the order of Augustine Friers they were persecuted by Egmondanus the Popes Inquisitor the diuines of Louane The examiners were Lochestratus and others The cause was that they denied it was deadlie sinne to transgresse the decrées of the fathers and of the B. of Rome They were burned the first of Iuly marueylously ioying at their death in so much that one of them séeing fire kindled vnder his féete said me think you strowe roses vnder my féete The courage of the martir After their death their Monasterie was dissolued the President thereof called Iacobus Lutherianus after diuers afflictions was forced to recant at Bruxels but afterward being deliuered departed and fled to Luther An. 1524. About the citie of Diethmar was H. Sutphen monk burned wtout al order of iudgement or iust condēnation He was preacher at Breame greatly wtstoode by the chanons and prelates but mainteined by the senat people in so much that being sent for to the Archbishop and to a prouinciall councell at Burstade they refused to send him thether foreseing the malice of the councell But when the time came that the Lord would haue him witnes his truth an 1524. he was set vpon on a sudden at Meldorph in Diethmar whether he went to preach by the rude multitude through the instigatiō of the Frāciscane friers associated with certaine presidēts of the country who to the intent the husbandmen of the country should be more couragious gaue
After these were condemned M. Alfonz Perez priest of Valence Christoph Del citizen of Samora Christopher de Padilla Anthony de Huizuelo Katherine Roman Frauncis Erreni Katherin Ortega Isabel Strada Iane Valesques and a certaine Smith They were all first strangled sauing Anthony Huizuelo who was burned aliue because he did with more vehemency detest the Pope then the rest They which had their goodes confiscate were these Don Petro Sarmiento knight of the order of Alcantara dwelling at Valence sonne of the marques de Poza was iudged to beare a Sanbenita Sanbenita all his life and cōdemned to perpetuall prison with losse of his order all his goods to whō it was moreouer enioyned neuer to weare any more gold siluer precious stones c. Dame Mencia his wife was adiudged to the same punishment Don Louis de Ropas sonne and heire of the the marques of Poza through great suit made for him was condemned only to weare a Sanbenita vnto the town-house and his goods to be confiscat The same iudgement was also giuen of dame Anne Henriques daughter of the marques Alcauses mother to the marques de Peza and wife to Lorde Alphonsus de Fonseca Dame Iane de Silua wife to Iohn de Biuero brother to Doctor Cacalla was enioyned to beare a mantle all her life for penance her goods confiscate The like did Leonard de Lisuers wife to Huizuelo Doct. of diuinity suffer Item Marina de Saiauera wife of Cisneras de Sareglio Itē Daniel Quadra born at Pedrosa al which 3. were condemned to perpetual prison with their mantels cōfiscation of al their goods dame Mary de Roias was iudged to beare her mantel to the town house and her goods confiscate Anthony Dominicke de Pedrosa was condemned to thrée yeares imprisonment clothed with a Sanbenita and his goods cōfiscate Anthony Basor an Englishman was enioyned to beare his mantell to the Towne house and was thrust into a cloyster for one yeare there to be instructed There was a Iew likewise burned at that time for reuolting from his christēdome to Iudaisme It is reported besydes these aforesaid 37. other prisoners yet remained at Validolie reserued to another tragedy of that bloudy Inquisition Besides Spaine Naples also and Cicill are subiect to to this barbarous Inquisition in which kingdome of Cicill it is credibly reported that euery thirde yeare a certaine number are brought out to martirdome Sometime twelue sometime sixe sometime more or lesse among whō an 1559. One comming from Geneua to Cicill vpon zeale to doe good was condemned to the fire and as hee should take his death was offered by the hangman to bee first strangled but hee refused the same saying he woulde féele the fire and so endured singing with all his might vnto the Lorde till he lost both life and voice by force of the fire A note of Italian Martirs Anno 1546. N. Encenas 1546 N. Encenas otherwise Dryander a Spaniard brother to Franciscus Encenas a man of great learning he was also instructour to Diazius the Godly Martir aboue mentioned this man was first offred the Sanbenita made in forme of a mantell before and behind him with signes of the red crosse which when he refused hee was adiudged to be burnt so was at Rome in sight of the Cardinals and face of the Apostolicall sea Pantal. lib. 6. Crispin c. Franciscus Encenas Franciscus Encenas brother to this Nicholas beyng in the Emperours court at Bruxels offered vnto Charles the fifth the New testament translated into Spanish for the which cause hée was cast into prison where hée indured sorowfull captiuitie and calamitie the space of 15. moneths looking for no other but death At last thorough the maruellous prouidence of almighty God the first day of February Anno 1545. at eight of the clocke after supper hée found the dores of the pryson open and so tooke the occasion and escaped and went into Germany Anno 1550. Fauinus 1550 Fauinus borne in Fauentia was burned at Ferraria by the earnest perswasions of his wife friends he did first relent wherof he conceiued such sorow of mind that he could not bée quiet till hée had fixed his minde to venture his life for the testimonie of the trueth wherevpon he went about all the countrey of Romaigna publikely preaching the doctrine of Christ So anno 1547. hée was apprehended againe in a place called Bagnacauallo where also hée was condemned to bée burned but hée sayd his houre was not yet come and the same to bée but the beginning of his doctrine and so it was for shortly after hée was remooued to Ferraria where hée was deteyned two yeres At last the Popes Inquisitors condemned him to death an 1549. And yet his time being not come he remayned after that till the moneth of September an 1550. At length being brought to a prison where diuers Lordes and Captains were that stirred vp factions They first scorned him and tooke him to be of a melancholike braine but after he so wrought with them that their merrie cheare was altered into a newe kinde of countenance hauing him now in admiration whom before they had in derision When the imprisonment of this Fauinus was knowen to his parents kinsfolk his wife and friends came to him with wéeping perswasions to whom he answered that it was enough for them that he had once for their sake fallen into that cowardlinesse they knew A constant martyr wherefore he desired them to depart in peace and solicite him no more therein About the same time died Pope Paulus the 3. and after him succéeded Iulius the 3. Pope Paulus the 3. died Pope Iulius 3. which then sent letters that Fauinus should be executed the newes wherof beyng brought him he gaue the messenger thankes So early in the morning after he had praied most earnestly vnto God he was strangled thrée houres before day in the citie of Ferraria to the intent the people should not sée him nor heare him speake Afterward about dinner time his body in the same place was burned at the burning whereof came such a fragrant smel to all them there present and so stroke their senses that they were therewith maruellously refreshed Pant. lib 7. Crisp Anno 1550. Dominicus de Basuna 1550 Dominicus de Basuna was hanged at Placentia after certayne monethes imprisonment for preaching of true confession against Purgatorie Pardons c. Hee was offered pardon if hée woulde recant but he refused so to doe and receiued martyrdome Pantal. lib. 7. Anno 1551. Galeazius Trecius 1551 Galeazius a Gentleman of good calling was burned at Laus Pompeia in Italie A litle before he should be burned there was a controuersie betwixte the mayor of the citie and the Bishops Clergie for the expences of wood which should goe to his burning He hearing thereof sent worde to both parties to agrée for he himselfe of his owne goods would sée the cost of that matter discharged But
Wats went and praied priuatly to himselfe Tho. Wats martyr and afterward came to his wife and sixe children being there two of which company offered to burne with him and comforted him and when he had kissed them all was carried to the fire Where he hauing kissed the stake said vnto my Lord Rich beware my Lord beware for you do against your cōscience c. And so patiently he ended in the Lords quarrell In the beginning of this moneto of Iune the time was thought to be nigh of Quéene Maries Queen Mary proued not with child trauaile but their expectation was deceiued and the Prelates and their fauourers confounded so that they dealt with one Isabell Mault dwelling in Aldersgate stréete in Horne Alley to helpe the matter Who before witnesses made this declaration that she being deliuered of a man childe vpon Whitsunday in the morning the xj of Iune there came to her the L. North and another Lord to her vnknowen dwelling about Olde Fishstréete Who demaunded of her if she would part from her childe and would sweare that she neuer had nor knew any such childe Which if she would her sonne should they said be wel prouided for and she should take no care for it With many faire offers if she would parte with her child After that came other women also of whom one she said should haue béene the Rocker T. Mault should haue bin Queene Maries childe but she would not part with her Sonne who was at the writing of this History aliue of the age of xiij yeres and vpward and called Timothie Mault About this time came out a Booke called a Caueat for England A Caueat for England giuing warning to Englishmen of the practises of the Spaniardes and restoring of Abbey lands Wherupon came foorth a straite Proclamation against any booke or writing that should empaire the Popes dignitie whereby great peril grew vnto diuers people With Thomas Haukes were sent downe thrée other to be burned for the testimonie of the trueth Nicholas Chamberlaine Nicholas Chāberlaine at Colchester the xiiij of Iune Thomas Sommer Th. Sommer at Maningtrée the xv of Iune William Bamforde W. Bamford alias Butler at Norwich the same xv of the Moneth of Iune All which men patiently and constantly endured the torment for his names sake Within iij. dayes after that Master Bradforde had saued M. Bourne who preached a seditious Sermon at Paules Crosse he was sent for to the Tower where the Quéene was then to appeare there before the Counsell Where he was charged with the acte of sauing Bourne which act they called seditious and also obiected against him for preaching and so by them he was committed first to the Tower and afterwardes to the Kinges Bench and after his condemnation to the Counter He was a man of singular pietie and great learning and a speciall patterne of all vertue where he became Bishoppe Farrar being in the kinges Bench after much labouring with had promised the Papistes to receiue the Sacrament of the Altar with them at Easter in one kinde Then it happened by Gods prouidence on Easter euen the day before he should do it that M. Bradforde was brought to the kings Bench prisoner Where he reclaimed M. Farrar that he did not satisfie the Papistes in receiuing as hée had purposed When the Kéepers wife had brought him worde he should on the morow be had to newgate and so to be burned he put off his cap and lifted vp his eyes to heauen and sayde Bradford reioyceth at the newes of his Martirdome I thanke God for it for I haue looked for the same a long time and therefore it commeth now vnto me not sodainely but as a thing wayted for euery day and euery hower and the Lorde make me woorthie thereof And so thanking her he departed vp into his Chamber and went secretelie him selfe and prayed a long time aboue and spent the euening in prayer and other good exercises with his friendes The time they carried him to Newgate was about xi or xij of the clocke in the night for feare of the people And the next morning at nine of the clock he was brought into Smithfield whither as he went there came to him a brother in law of his called R. Beswicke and tooke M. Bradford by the hand Which when Woodrooffe being Sheriffe did behold he came and brake M. Beswickes head that the bloud ranne about his shoulders Being come to the place of execution hee fell flatte to the grounde secretely making his prayers to almightie God Then rising vp againe and putting off his clothes vnto his shirte he went to the stake and holding vp his handes and casting his countenance to heauen said thus O Englande Englande repent thée of thy sinnes beware of Idolatrie beware of false Christes take héede they doe not deceiue you With which words the sheriffe was greatly offended So hauing comforted I. Leafe that suffered at the same Stake with him embracing the Réedes he sayd thus Straight is the way and narrowe is the Gate that leadeth to eternall saluation and fewe there be that finde it M. Bradfords words at the stake And so constantly he ended this mortall life Hee remayned in the Tower of London before his remoouing to other Prisons from the Moneth of August in the yere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred fiftie thrée to the 22. of Ianuary Anno 1555. vpon which day he was called out to examination before Stephen Gardiner and other commissioners before whom he appeared thrée times and had great reasoning touching the reall presence with him with Boner Worcester and at the last was condemned by Winchester the last of Ianuarie Which sentence beyng pronounced he fell downe on his knées and hartily thanked God that he counted him worthie to suffer for his sake After condemnation diuerse conferred with him as Boner Willerton Creswell Harding Harpsfielde and other mo as Doctor Heath archbishop of Yorke Day Bishoppe of Chichester Alphonso the Kinges confessor and another Spanish Frier Doctor Weston Doctor Pendleton c. With maister Bradford was burned one Iohn Lease Iohn Leafe 19. yeere old burned with Bradford an apprentice of the age of ninetéen yéeres Who when two billes were sent vnto him into the Counter the one contayning a recantation and the other his confession to know to which of them he woulde put his hand to First hearing the byll of recantation read vnto him because hée coulde not reade nor write himselfe that hée refused and when the other was read vnto him which he well liked of instéede of a penne he tooke a pinne and so pricking his hand sprinkled the bloud vpon the same bill willing the Reader thereof to shew the B. that he had sealed the same with his bloud already And so being condemned Iohn Leafe a notable young man a martir he suffered patiently with M. Bradford Within halfe a yere after God did so strike the forenamed
imprisoned a yéere and a halfe in the kings bench and afterwarde 8. wéekes in the Bishops colehouse lacking one day His first apprehension was for reprouing a Preacher in the pulpit in the Parish of Wambleton where he dwelt For which hée was twise before the Bishoppe of Chichester and fiue times before the Commissioners and then sent to Londons Cole-house and manie times called before him He was sixe times examined in the Colehouse and 26. times before so that his examinations in all were 32. The second time he was found out and taken by means of his father and brother Father against the sonne who had as much goodes of his in their handes as were well woorth sixe and fiftie pounds a yéere a Lordship and an honor and halfe a Lordshippe which hée had deliuered vnto their handes to pay his debtes and the rest to remaine to his wife and children which was two hundred pounds better then the debt came to The same day that Philpot was burned which was the 18. of December hée with foure more were deliuered out of Boners hands with very good conditions in such sort as Woodman said of him that his heart was so drunken with that blood of Philpot Boner drunke with the blood of Philpot. that he thought he could not tell what he did For two daies before said he he promised them they should be condemned that same day they were deliuered Yet the morning after they were deliuered hée sought earnestly for some of them again waxing dry after his great drunkennes Before his second apprehension he continued in a Wood vnder a towre 6. or 7. wéekes with his Bible penne and ynke and other necessaries his wife bringing him meate daily Anno 1557. the 14. of April he was brought before the Bishop of Chichester Doct. Story and Doct. Cooke of whō after examination of diuers pointes as of marriage of priests concerning the assurance of hauing the spirit of God which the Papists account arrogancie to affirme and concerning the 7. sacraments he was had to the marshalsea and there remained till the 27. of Aprill At which time he appeared againe before Chichester two of his Chaplains and Doctor Story of whom he was examined of the seuen Sacraments and not agréeing with them therein hée was commaunded againe to the marshalsea no man to speake with him The 12. of May he was examined again of Doct. Langdall parson of Buxted in Sussex and Chaplaine to my Lorde Mountague and maister Iames Gage at my Lord Mountagues house in Southwarke where he set Langedall vp in diuers pointes of religion as of the force of Baptisme whether it bée of necessitie of saluation to all and of the state of infants that die without it touching the Sacrament of the Altar c. and so was had againe to prison till the fiue and twentie of May. On which day hée was examined agayne of Winchester Rochester and a certaine Doctor with diuers other Priestes and Gentlemen sitting in Saint Georges Church in Southwarke of whom béeing wrangled with touching Priestes mariages and his reproouing of a reuolting Preacher hée was dismissed againe to the marshalsea till the fifteene of Iune At which day he appeared before Winchester the Archdeacon of Canterbury Doctor Langdall c. and woulde not answere nor sweare before Winchester because hée was not his ordinarie Who when he threatned him made answere I looke for no helpe of men God is on my side I praise him therefore I will not care who bée against mée neyther doe I. So was hée had to the marshalsea againe where hee remayned till the sixtéenth of Iuly on which day he was condemned by Winchester chiefly for the poynt of the Sacrament of the Altar and so was burned with nine other which were taken not past two or thrée dayes before their iudgement and burned before the writ could come downe Quicke dispatch Such quicke dispatch they made They suffered the two and twentith day of Iune at Lewes About the same tyme one Ambrose died in Maidstone prison who else should haue béene burned in the quarrell of Christ About the same time was one Richard Lush condemned of Cutbert Bourne B. of Bath and Welles and giuen to the secular power for the sinceritie of the Gospell whether he were burned or not it is vncertaine In the moneth of Iuly next ensued the martyrdome of Simon Miller of Linne and Elizabeth Cooper Simon Miller Simon Miller Eliza. Cooper being at Norwich and séeing the people comming from their Popish seruice asked them where hée might haue the Communion At which words a Papist said he would bring him where hée should not misse and brought him to the Chauncellour of Norwich who as hee was examining him spied his confession which hee had put into his shoe which did appeare and asked if he would stand to the same Which when he sayd he constantly would do he was committed to a kéeper in the Bishops house from whence on what condition it is vncertaine he was dismissed and went home to his house at Linne Where when hee had set all things in order he returned againe to his Prison in the Bishops house and there continued constant in the profession of the trueth till by the B. and his Chancellour he was condemned to death Elizabeth Cooper was a Pewterers wife dwelling in Saint Andrewes parish in Norwich where before she had recanted and being vnquiet in mind and greatly troubled in conscience for the same at the last she came into the church the people being at their Superstitious Seruice and before them all bewailed her fall Elizab. Cooper repenteth of her recantation and greatly repented of that she had done For which she was taken by M. Sutterton the Shiriffe burned with Simon Miller When the fire came vnto her shee a litle shronke thereat crying ah a. Which when Simon Miller heard he put his hand behinde towards her and willed her to be strong and of good cheare we shall haue a ioyfull and swéet supper Whereby she was strengthened still and quietly ended her combate with victorie Of those 22. which were before mentioned that were then deliuered by the meanes of the Cardinall Poole was William Moūt of much Bentley in Essex husbandmā W. Mount Alice his wife Rose Allen. with Alice his wife and Rose Allen maid the daughter of the said Allice Mount They comming home againe refrayned from their parish Church and frequented the company of good men Wherefore a wicked priest of the towne Syr Thomas Tye who by reason he himselfe had béen a professor knew all their haunt complained of them to the Lorde Darcie and wrote also against them to Boner So the 7 day of March at two of the clock in the morning one maister Edmund Tyrrel who came of the Tyrrels that murdered K. Edward the 5. and his brother tooke with him the Baylieffe of the hundred called William Samuel dwelling in Colchester and the two Constables of
age of foure and fiftie yéeres dwelling in the Dioces of Exceter not farre from Lawceston burned at Exceter for the testimonie of the truth Shée was persecuted of her husband and children The wife was persecuted of husband and children and condemned by the Bishop whose name was Troubleuile Among other communication when the Bishop had said let this mad woman bée put downe to prison till we send for her husband she answered him no I haue but one husband which is here already in this cittie meaning Christ and in prison with me from whom I will neuer depart Christ the martyrs husband After that saying they thought good to giue her a moneths libertie to prooue if she might thereby be chaunged during which time of her libertie it happened that shée entring into Saint Peters church beheld there a cunning Dutchman how he made new noses to certaine fine Images which were disfigured in King Edwards daies What a mad man art thou said she to make them new noses which within a few dayes shall also loose their heads The Dutchman accused her and layd it to her charge And moreouer she sayd vnto him thou art accursed and so are thine Images He called her whore Nay sayd shée thine Images are whores A worthy martyr and thou art a whore hunter for dooth not God say You go a whoring after straunge Gods figures of your owne making and thou art one of them Then was shée sent for and clapt fast At the last when they perceiued her to bée past remedie and had withstood all their threatnings and flattery shée was deliuered to the temporall power Of whom shée was exhorted yet to call for grace and to leaue her fond opinions and go home to thine husband sayd they thou art an vnlearned Woman thou art not able to answere to such high matters Note I am not sayd shée yet with my death I am content to be a witnesse to Christes death and I pray you make no longer delay with mée my heart is fixed I will neuer otherwise say nor turne to your superstitious dooings Then the Byshop did say the Diuell did lead her No my Lord sayd shée it is the Spirit of God which leadeth mée and which called mée in my bedde and at midnight opened his truth vnto mée for once especially at midnight praying to God for strength and assistaunce shée found it plentifully In the end after shée had receyued sentence of death shée lifted vp her voyce and thanked God saying I thanke thée my Lord God this day haue I found that I haue long sought After iudgement giuen agaynst her they promised to spare her life if shée would yet recant Nay that will I not said shée God forbid that I should loose the life eternall Note for this carnall and short life I will neuer turne from my heauenly husband to my earthly husband from the fellowship of Angels to mortall children And if my husband and children bée faithfull then am I theirs God is my Father God is my mother God is my sister my brother my kinsman God is my friend most faithful so being brought to the place of slaughter she méekly suffered calling vpon the name of God saying God be merciful to me a sinner God be me mercifull to me a sinner The 7. of May were burned at Bristow being condemned by M. Dalbney the Chancelour Richad Sharp Weauer of Bristow and Thomas Hall Tho. Hall Shoemaker of the same towne Sharpe Ioh. Sharpe by the perswasion of the Chancelor had recanted and afterward felt such anguish of minde and conscience that shortly after comming to his parish Churche called Temple he came to the quire doore and said with a loude voyce Neighbors beare me record that yonder Idoll pointing to the altar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied the Lorde my God Wherupon he was apprehended and burned with the other at one stake which they chéerefully suffered embracing the flame The 27. of the same moneth Tho. Benion Tho. Benion was burned at Bristow being condemned by the same Chauncellour Dalbney The 10. of Nouember suffered fiue of Gods children at Canterburie being hastened to the fire by the bloody Archdeacon notwithstanding he had heard in what danger Q. Mary was Their names were Ioh. Cornford Ioh. Cornford of Worthā Christoph Brown Christopher Browne of Maidstone Iohn Herst Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Alice Snoth Katherin Knight Kath. Knight aliâs Tilney an aged woman Against these when sentence should be read and they excommunicated one of them Iohn Cornford stirred with a vehement spirite of the zeale of God procéeding in a more true excommunication against the Papists in the name of them all pronounced sentence against them in these words following In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ The martyr excommunicateth the Papists the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite and the authority of his Apostolike church c. proceding with his excōmunication against all mainteiners of the false church Which sentence tooke such effect against the enemy that within sixe daies after Quéene Mary died and the tyranny of all English Papists with her Note Alice Snoth or Agnes Snoth who was burnt before being at the stake called for her Godfather and Godmothers whom when the maide saw she asked them what they had promised for her and so immediatly rehearsed her faith and the commaundements of God and required if there were anie more that they had promised in her behalfe and they said no. Then said she I die a Christian woman beare witnes of me And so was she with fire consumed These godly martyrs in their praiers which they made before their martirdome desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and so it was There were diuers of Gods children in prison which by the death of Quéene Marie escaped some after sentence of death pronounced Of which sort were Iohn Hunt and Richarde VVhite who after two yéeres captiuitie were condemned by Doctour Geffery the Bishops Chancellour The Sheriffe béeing vrged very vehemently to burne them refused because they had no writ Which comming down not long after one M. Michael Syr Anthony Hungerfords vndersheriffe a godly man took it burnt it saying I will not be guiltie of these mens blood Within foure daies after the Chauncellour dieth and the confessors of the Gospel remained in prison till the happie daies of Queene Elizabeth There was a godly man named Iohn Fette a Tailor of 42. yéeres dwelling in the parish of Clarkenwell accused by his owne wife The husband accused by his wife imprisoned by the B. in Lollards tower where he suffered great extremity hanging in the stocks This poore man had a childe of 8. or 9. yéeres olde that came to visite his father to whom a Priest of the Bishops house said why thy