comming to Rome booted and spurred set vp 90. Picus Mirand to dispute in the same with any in Christendome whosoeuer would come against him Of the which diuers were touching the matter of the Sacrament against whom none in all Europe was found to dispute But the Prelates appointed by the Pope consulted to enquire vpon his Conclusions 90. Conclusiōs to be disputed on by Picus Whereupon they did articulate against him for suspition of heresie He died being of the age of 32. of great learning In his sicknes Charles the eight French king moued with the fame of his learning came to visit him The furniture of Mirandulas Studie The furniture of his bokes cost him 7000 Florens A little before his death he was minded to geue al away and to take a Coule to goe about and preach With two Popes that is with Pope Innocent and Alexander 6. he had much vexation The names of the Archbishops of Canterbury in this sixt booke continuing 62 Iohn Stratford eight yeres 63 Iohn Kemp thrée 64 Thomas Burchier thirty thrée 65 Iohn Morton fourtéene 66 Thomas Langton ws elected Archbishop and died before he was confirmed 67 Henrie Dene two 68. William Warrham twenty eight A briefe note of Ecclesiastical Lawes ordeyned by certaine auncient kings of this land for gouernment of the church before the Conquest Lawes of K. Iuas or Iua That Ministers should frame their conuersation according to the forme in lawes prescribed That Infants should be baptised within thirtie dayes That no man should labour on the Sunday Also hée established immunitie of Churches and Sancturarie and tooke order for the true payment of Church duties and of the first fruites of all that was sowen to be paid at the day of S. Martin Anno 712. Lawes of king Alured or Alfred He enlarged the priuilege of Sanctuarie hée laid double paine vppon such as committed offences in the solemnities of certaine feastes also against them that committed Sacriledge hée made a law against Priestes committing murder also he made a law against whoredome adultery and fornication he appointed daies of fasting and ceasing from labour Item he set order for making and kéeping of vowes Ecclesiasticall lawes of king Edward the Elder and Githine the Dane king They agréed vpon the sanctuary they forbad paganisme they laid punishment vpon the Clergie committing theft periurie or murder fornication or any capitall crimee they made a law against all buying selling and labour vpon the Saboth Item that no execution be doone on the Sunday also against witches and sorcerers Lawes of king Ethelstane Anno 924. He commaunded that euery village of his owne should giue a mōthly Corrody to a poore person That 50. psalmes should be soong daily for the king c. He also ordained punishment for witches and sorcerers c. Lawes of king Edmund Anno 94. He prouided lawes against the vnchast liuing of churchmē He made lawes cōcerning tithes first fruites of euery mans crop and almesse mony duely to be paid that Bishops of their owne charges should repayre churches and admonish kings for furnishing of the same For periurie also and fighting within the Church Lawes of King Edgar Anno 959. He ordained that Sunday should be kept holy from Saterday at noone till Munday morning also concerning fréedome and liberties of the Church tithes first fruits of corne and paying of Peter pence For holydaies and fastingdaies That Synodes should be kept twise euery yéere whereat as well the Bishop of the Dioces as the ciuill magistrate should be present King Canutus 1016. That ecclesiasticall persons beyng accused of fighting murder or any other offence should answere to their purgation therein That Priestes should be disgraded for periurie and put in sureties of good behauiour hée limited the degrées of marriage he commaunded touching the Sabbath day that which Edgar did before he commaunded euery christian to come to the housell thrise euery yéere at least That they inquire and search after Gods lawe and commaundementes That euerie Christian vnderstand the points of his faith at least that he learne perfectly the Lords prayer and Créede els to be excluded from the Eucharist and vndertaking for others at Baptisme That Bishops and Priestes should doo their duties That at the court of euery shire the Bishop of the Dioces shall be present with the Sheriffe and that the one shall teach them Gods lawe and the other mans King Henry 7. finished his course of life 1509. after whō succéeded his sonne Henry 8. Henry 8. and shortly after married Lady Katherine the daughter of Ferdinandus K. Henrie 7. dieth his late brother Prince Arthurs wife by the dispensation of pope Iulius and the requests of Ferdinandus her father At this time was renewed the old strife betwixt the Dominicke fryers the Franciscans Old strife betwixt the Dominicks and Franciscans about the conception of the the virgin Mary the Franciscans held that the virgin was without original sinne the Dominicks were of the contrary mind Ann. 1476. Pope Sixtus 4. ioyned with the Franchiscans The feast of the virgin Maries conception ordayned a solemnization of the feast of the virgins conception offering all men women which would heare masse seruice from the first euensong of the same feast to the Octaues of the same as many daies pardon as Pope Vrban 4 and Martin 5 did graunt for hearing seruice of Corpus Christi day He made also an addition to the Aue Marie An addition to the Aue Mary graunting pardon of sins to all that would with the same addition pray vnto the Virgin The addition is and blessed is Anna thy mother of whom thy virgins flesh hath procéeded without blotte of original sinne This did pope Sixtus afterward that the Dominicks might conforme themselues thereto confirme with a bull dated 1483. whereby the Dominicks were compelled to giue to the virgin euery night an Antheme in praise of her conceptiō and to subscribe to the Franciscane doctrine The virgin Mary conceiued without sinne Although the greatest number of the schoole Doctors were of the contrary faction Petrus Lombard Thomas Aquinas Bernardus Bonauenture c. After the renewing of this dissention ann 1509. certaine of the Dominicks deuised a certain image of the virgin that they might make to stirre to make gestures to complain Sleight of Friers to wéep to grone by their deuises to make answere to them that asked for which déede the false friers were taken burned at Bernes the same yéere Peucer Munster Carion c. Their names were Iohannes Vetter Franciscus Vliscus Stephanus Balisthorst and Henricus Steinegger Pope Iulius was condemned an 1510. in the councel of Turon in France an 1512. being vanquished of Lewes the French K. about Rauenna on Easter day the next yere died Pope Leo. after whom succéeded Leo the 10. It appeareth by the registers of Richard Fitziames in the dioces of London that betwixt the yéere 1509.
had where Doctor Barnes continued halfe a yéere at length was deliuered and committed to be frée prisoner at the Austen friers in London Where being vndermined and complained of it was determined he shoulde be remoued to the Austine friers in Northampton there to be burned he himselfe knowing nothing thereof but by the aduise of Maister Horne who brought him vp he made escape came to London and by long Seas went to Antwerpe and so to Luther D. Barnes escapeth out of prison and there fell to studie till hée had made answere to all the byshoppes of the Realme and had made a Booke entituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum Acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henrie And such fauour God gaue him in fight of the Duke of Saxonie and the King of Demarke that the king of Denmarke sent him with the Lubeckes as Ambassadour to King Henrie the eyght and was lodged with the Lubeckes Chancellour at the Stillyarde Syr Thomas Moore the Chauncellour would faine haue entrapped him but the king woulde not suffer him For Cromwell was his great friend and ere he went the Lubeckes and he disputed with the Bishoppes of this Realme in defence of the trueth and so departed with them agayne without resistaunce and afterwarde hauing set forward in Germanie his woorkes in print that hée had begunne hée returned againe in the beginning of the reigne of Quéene Anne and after that was sent Ambassadour by king Henrie the eight to the Duke of Cleue for the marriage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted therefore vntill the time that Stephen Gardiner came out of Fraunce after which time neyther religion prospered nor the Queene nor Cromwell nor the Preachers for not long after Doctour Barnes with his brethren were apprehended and carryed before the Kinges maiestie at Hampton Court and there was examined Where the Kinges maiestye séeking the meanes of his safetie and desirous that Winchester and he might agrée graunted him leaue to go home to conferre with the Bishop but they not agréeing through certaine complaints Barnes and his fellowes were inioined to make thrée sermons the next Easter following at the spittle In which not satisfying the Prelates they were sent for to Hampton Court again D. Barnes sent to the tower and from thence to the Tower by Sir Iohn Gostwicke from whence they came not out til they came to their death And thus much concerning Doctor Barnes About the yéere 1526. Maister Garret Curate of Honie lane in London came to Oxforde and dispersed there certaine Bookes in Latine not agréeable to the Romish superstition with Tindalles Testament and had not long béene there but hée was searched for in London to bée apprehended for an Heretike and afterwarde a priuie searche was made in Oxforde whereof Garret béeyng warned by Maister Cole of Magdalene Colledge who after was crosse bearer to Cardinall Wolsey he departed out of Oxforde in the morning before Shrouetide towards Dorcetshyre where hee woulde haue for a time hidde himselfe But altering his mynde on the Friday night next hée returned to Oxforde and laye in Radlies house where by the priuie searche the same night hee was taken and kept prisoner in Doctour Cotfords chamber maister of Lincolne Colledge then being Commissary of the Vniuersitie from whence when the Commissary and his company was at Euensong Garret putting backe the locke of his doore with his finger escaped againe and chaunging his apparrell by the helpe of Anthonie Delaber scholer of Alborne hall departed but afterward was againe taken by maister Cole or his men going Westward at a place called Hincksey a little beyonde Oxeford and so being brought back agayn was committed to ward that done hee was conuented before the Commissarie Doctor London and doctor Higden Deane of Frisewides now called Christes Colledge into Saint Maries Church where they compelled him to carrie a Fagot in open Procession and Delaber with him and after were sent to Osney there to be kept in prison till further order was taken Yet againe after this M. Garret flying from place to place Barnes Garret and Hierom burned together escaped till the time he was apprehended and burned with Doctor Barnes with whom also W. Hierome sometime Vicar of Stepney was likewise drawne into Smithfield and together with them endured constantly martyrdome in the fire This Hierome for preaching at Paules the 4. Sundays in Lent and saying that all that were of the Fréewoman Sara were freely iustified for preaching that wee are not bound to princes lawes further than according to the word of God and that workes are no part of our saluation was committed to the Tower and the xxx of Iulie two daies after the death of the Lorde Cromwell An vniust proceeding not comming to any answere nor yet knowing any cause of their condemnation without any publike hearing processe being made out against them by the kings Counsel in the Parlament time Barnes Hierome and Garret were brought together from the Tower into Smithfield and by constant suffering the rage of the fire they gaue testimonie to the trueth After they had made confession of their faith and prayed there was one asked Doctor Barnes if the Saintes prayed for vs he said he would referre that vnto God and if they did then I trust said he to pray for you within this halfe houre M. Sheriffe and asked the Sheriffe if he had any Articles against him for which he was condemned The Sheriffe answered no Then said he is there any man els that knoweth wherefore I die or that by my preaching hath taken any errour let them now speake and I will make them aunswere And no man answered So praying earnestly for his persecutors hee gaue himselfe to suffer and required master Sheriffe to haue him commended vnto the king and to shew him that he required of his grace foure requestes First Doctor Barnes his 4. requestes to the king that he would bestowe parte of the Abbey possessions on the reliefe of the poore Secondly that he woulde sée matrimone to be had in more reuerence Thirdly that swearers might be punished Fourthly that he woulde set vp Christes true religion The same yere and day and in the same place were foure Papistes executed for denying the kings Supremacie Foure papists executed for denying the knigs supremacie which brought the people to a marueylous admiration Their names were Powell Fetherstone and Abel All 3. drawen hanged and quartered It fell out thus by reason the kings Counsell was deuided in Religion the one side hastening the execution of the Papistes and the other of the Protestants The fauourers of the trueth in king Henries dayes The patrones of poperie in those dayes The fauourers of the trueth were these Caunterburie Suffolke Vicount Beauchampe Vicount Lisle Russell Treasourer Paget Sadler Awdeley The fauourers of the Papistes Winchester Duresme Norfolke Southhampton Anthonie Browne William
together The xxj of Nouember being Wednesday Cardinall Poole landeth Cardinall Poole landed at Douer and the xxviij day he made an Oration in the Parlement house exhorting them to returne to the Sea Apostolicke and to abrogate such lawes as had disioyned them from the same The next day after the Lordes and Commons exhibited a Supplication wherein they desired pardon and absolution for that which had passed against the Apostolik Sea Vpon this Supplication Cardinall Poole in the name of Pope Iulius the third geueth them absolution Absolution geuen to the Lords and Commūs Wherof the king and the Cardinall sent spéedie report to Rome to the great ioy of the Pope and his c. About the second of December a Poste was sent from the whole Parlement to the Pope to desire him to confirme the sale of Abbey landes Purchases of Abbey lands to be confirmed by the Pope and Chaunterie landes For the Lordes and the Parlement would not graunt any thing in the Popes behalfe before their Purchases were fully confirmed The vj. day of December all the whole Conuocation with Bishops and other were sent for to Lambeth to the Cardinall who the same day forgaue them all their periurations schismes heresies and all they knéeled downe and receiued his absolution Vpon New yeres day at night certaine honest men and women of the Citie to the number of thirtie and a minister with them named Master Rose were taken as they were in a house in Bowchurchyarde at the Communion and the same night were committed to prison and on the Thursday following being the thirde of Ianuarie M. Rose M. Rose sent to the Tower was before the Bishoppe of Winchester being Lord Chauncellor and thence the same day he was by him committed to the Tower The Act of the Popes Supremacie Queen Marie with childe The same day the Act of Supremacie passed in the Parlement house About this time there was a certaine opinion that the Quéen was great with childe many prayers were made in diuers places for her and for the childe that it might be a male childe wel fauoured and wittie And the xix of Ianuarie the lower House of the Parlement with the Speaker came to White hall to the king and there offered vnto him the gouernement of the Realme and of the issue if the in the Quéene should faile which was confirmed by act of Parlement within ix daies after In this Parlement among other thinges the Bishop of Rome was established and all such Lawes as were made against him since the twentith yéere of King Henry the viij were repealed and also Cardinall Poole Bishop Pates Lilly and other were restored to their blood Also in this Parlement thrée statutes were reuiued for triall of Heresie One made in the fifth yéere of Richard the second and another in the second yéere of Henry the fourth the thirde in the second yéere of Henry the fifth Also the doings of Maister Rose and the other that were with him was communed of in this Parlement and vpon that occasion an act was made that certaine euill prayers should bée treason The prayers of these men were these Certaine euill praiers to be treason God turne the heart of Quéene Mary from Idolatrie or else shorten her dayes The two and twentith of Ianuary all the preachers that were in pryson were called before the Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor and certaine other at his house in S. Mary Oueries from whence after they had refused to conforme themselues they were committed to straighter pryson then before with charge that no man should speake with them amongst whom one Iames George died in prison Iames George and was buried in the field The eight and twentith of Ianuary the bishop of Winchester by vertue of Commission from the Cardinall in S. Mary Oueries church called before him and certaine of the Counsell Maister Hooper Maister Rogers and Maister Cardmaker of which Cardmaker Cardmaker submitteth that day submitted himselfe the other were returned to pryson till the next day The xxx of Ianuarie Doctor Taylor Doctor Crome M. Bradford M. Saunders and Doctor Farrar sometime bishop of S. Dauies were before Winchester of which number Taylor Saunders and Bradford were excommunicated and sentence pronounced against them Sentence pronounced against Taylor Saunders and Bradford and so committed to the Shiriffes Doctor Crome according to his desire had two moneths respite and M. Farrar was againe committed to prison till another time After examination and condemnation of these good men Commissioners and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all partes of the Realme to the afflicting of a great number of godly persones especially in Kent Essex Northfolke and Suffolke The preachers before had put vp a supplication to the king and parlement requiring indifferencie in their cause but all in vaine The end of the tenth Booke The eleuenth Booke THe fourth day of February suffered maister Iohn Rogers M. Iohn Rogers martyr he was of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge from whence at length hee was chosen to bee Chaplaine to the marchantes at Antwerpe in Brabant where hée fell in companie with maister William Tindall and with Miles Couerdale by conference with whom he came to great knowledge in the Gospel and cast off poperie and ioyned himself with them as in the translating of the Bible intituled the translation of Thomas Mathew After he was married hée went to Wittenberge in Saxonie where he so profited in knowledge and in the Duitch tongue that the charge of a Congregation was committed vnto him In which ministerie he faithfully serued till the time of king Edwarde And béeyng orderly called he returned into Englande againe without certayntie of any condition of liuing where he preached diligently Then Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London gaue him a Prebend in Paules M. Rogers diuinity reader in Paules Church and the Deane and Chapter therechose him to reade the diuinity Lecture In which place hée remayned till the time of Quéene Marie After the Quéen was come to the Tower of London he being orderly called therevnto made a vehement sermon at Paules crosse confirming the doctrine taught in king Edwardes time and exhorting the people to constancie For which he was called into question and made such answere as for that time he was cléerly dismissed But after the proclamation which prohibited true preaching the Counsell quarrelled with him concerning his doctrine and commanded him as prisoner to keepe his owne house where he remained a long time and might haue escaped if hee would At length by Boners procurement hée was put among the théeues and murtherers in Newgate for a great space He was first examined the 22. of Ianuary by Winchester Rogers condemned with the rest of the cōmissioners Then again the 28. 29. of the same moneth in the end they read the sentence of condemnation against him mentioning there but 2. articles First that he affirmed the church of Rome
the people therewith being offended in his conscience did strike and wounde him vpon the head and also vpon the arme and hande with his woodknife W. Flower woundeth a priest at masse the Priest hauing the same time in his hand a Challice with certaine consecrated hostes therein which were sprinckled with the bloud of the same Priest Which acte he him selfe after confessed to haue béene euil done and therefore would submit himselfe to the punishment but as concerning his beléefe in the Sacrament he would not submit himselfe to the Popish administration Vpon this acte William Flower being first apprehended was laid in the Gatehouse at Westminster where he had giuen two groates before the same day to one saying hée would shortly come to him with as many Irons as he could beare Afterward he was conuented before Boner his Ordinarie the xix of April 1555. Where after the Bishop had sworne him vpon a booke according to his ordinarie maner he ministred Articles vnto him and laboured at thrée seuerall appearings to reduce Flower to his superstition from the trueth of the Gospell To whom when Flower answered do what you will I am at a poynt for the heauens shall assoone fall as I wil forsake mine opinion c. The Bishop called for depositions of certaine witnesses and pronounced sentence against him Vpon the xxiiij day of April he was brought to the place of Martirdome which was in Saint Margarets Churchyarde at Westminster where the fact was committed And there comming to the stake whereat he shoulde bee burned first he maketh his praier vnto God with a confession of the Christian faith At the striking off of his hand he did not once shrinke but once he stirred a little his shoulders And thus fire was set vnto him who burning there cried with a loud voice thrée times Oh Sonne of God haue mercy vpon me And when his voice fayled he held vp his armes till he died being stricken downe for wante of fire sufficient where his nether partes were burned yet he being in the fire his tongue moued in his head The iij. of May a letter was sent to George Colt and T. Daniel to make search for and to apprehend I. Bernard and I. Welch who vsed to repaire to Sudburie and carrying about with them the bones of Pigot that was burned shewed them to the people perswading them to be constant in his religion This day St. Aps was committed to little ease in the Tower there to remaine two or thrée dayes vntill further examination The xij day Master T. Rosse Preacher was by the Coūsels letters deliuered from the Tower to the Sheriffe of Norfolke to be deliuered to the B. of Norwich to reduce him to recant or to procéede against him according to law The xvj day a letter was sent to the L. treasorer signifying what the Lords had done for Rosse and that order should be geuen according to his Lordships request for letters to the Bishops And as for Aps whom the Lieftenant of the Tower reported to be mad his L. perceiuing the same to be true should commit him to Bedlem and there to remayne vntill their further order The xxvj a letter was sent to the L. Treasorer to confer with the B. of London and the Iustices of peace in that Countie where they were to be executed that were alreadie condemned for religion and vpon agréement of places to giue order for their execution accordingly The 28. a letter was sent to the L. Treasuror Queene Maries ioyfull deliuerance of child to cause spéedy preparation to be made of such mony as was appointed for such persons as should carrie the ioyfull tidinges of Quéene Maries good deliuerance of childe The 29. day was a letter directed to sir Frauncis Inglefield to make search for one Iohn D. at London and to apprehend him and send him to the Counsell and to make search for such papers and bookes as might touch the same D. or one Benger Vpon the 30. day of May suffered together in Smithfield Iohn Cardmaker otherwise called Taylor prebendarie of the Church of Wels and Iohn Warne vpholster of the parish of Saint Iohn in Walbrooke Cardmaker was an obseruant Frier afterward a married minister and in King Edwardes dayes appoynted to bée reader in Paules Where the Papistes were so much gréeued at him for his doctrine that in his reading they cut mangled his gowne with their kniues He beyng apprehended in the beginning of Quéene Maries dayes with Maister Barlow bishop of Bath was brought to London and layed in the Fléeter King Edwards lawes yet beyng in force till the Parlement ended which deliuered the Bishops authoritie and power ouer the professors of the Gospell At which time these two were both brought before Winchester other cōmissioners who answered in such sort vnto thē that Winchester with his fellow commissioners allowed them for catholicke glad to haue a forged example of a shrinking brother which also they obiected against others commending the sobernesse of them twaine This notwithstanding Barnard was led againe to the Fléete From whence he afterward beyng deliuered did by exile constantly beare witnesse to the truth Cardmaker was conueyed to the Counter in Bredstréete the Bishop of London procuring it to be published that hée should shortly be deliuered after that hée had subscribed to Transubstantiation and certaine other Articles To the same prison where Cardmaker was Laurence Saunders was brought after sentence of death was giuen against him they had great comfort one of another After whose departure Cardmaker remained alone bayted of the Papistes Against whom Doctor Martine tooke vpon him to be a chéefe dooer by writing whome Cardmaker did substantially confute When the Bishop perceiued no hope to peruert these constant seruants of God hée pronounced sentence against them And vpon the xxx day of Maie Iohn Cardmaker with Iohn Warne were brought by the Shiriffes to the place where they should suffer Who being come to the stake firste the Shiriffes called Cardmaker aside and talked with him secréetly so long that in the meane time Warne had made his prayers was chayned to the stake and had réede sette aboute him so that nothing wanted but firing but stil abode Cardmaker with the Shiriffes The people which before had heard that Cardmaker would recant and beholding this manner of dooing were in a merueylous dumpe and sadnes thinking in déede that Cardmaker would now recant at the burning of Warne At length Cardmaker departed from the Shiriffes came towards the stake and in his garments as hée was knéeling downe made a long prayer in silence to himselfe yet the people confirmed themselues in their fantasie of his recanting séeing him in his garmentes praying secréetly and no resemblance of any burning His prayers being ended hée rose vp put of his clothes vnto his shirte went with bolde courage to the stake and kissed it swéetely hée tooke Warne by the hand and comforted him hartely Cardmaker Warne
AN ABRIDGEMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ACTS AND MONVMENTES OF THE CHVRCH Written by that Reuerend Father Maister Iohn Fox and now abridged by Timothe Bright Doctour of Phisicke for such as either through want of leysure or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history All day long are we counted as Sheepe for the slaughter Psal 44. How long Lord holy and true Apocal. Cap. 6. verse 10. Imprinted at London by I. Windet at the assignment of Master Tim Bright and are to be sold at Pauls wharf at the signe of the Crosse-keyes 1589. Cum gratia Privilegio Regia Maiestatis To the Christian Reader COnsidering the great vse and profite of that worthie worke of Actes and Monumentes written by Master Iohn Fox of blessed memorie and by reason of the largenes of the volume and great price how the most were bereaued of the benefite of so necessarie an Historie J often wished some man would take the paines to draw the same into an Abridgement that both those that are busied in affaires or not able to reach to the price of so great a booke might also haue vse of the historie with them that neither want leisure nor hability sufficient But seeing hetherto nothing done that way nor hearing of any that had it in purpose J vētured vpon the labor my self thus haue performed it for thy vse wherein J haue omitted nothing to my remembrance and as my iudgement serued me that is materiall to the historie so farre as the nature of an Abridgement would permitte As for Treatises Disputations Epistles and such like J leaue them to be read all together in the large Booke which I doe exhort thee gentle Reader the rather for my Abridgements sake to buy and vse For as the copiousnes of that notable worke hath hid the riche treasures of the same through charge of price and mens affaires So this my labour may geue thee an assay and appetite to know further whereof thou maist here take as it were the taste J assure thee in mine opinion there is not a booke vnder the Scriptures more necessarie for a Christian to be conuersant in There is no Burgesse of a Citie that hath care of his corporation but would be glad to know how in times past the world went with his Corporatiō that therby he may vnderstād the better how to be haue himselfe therein as occasion shall serue and not onely woulde desire to knowe the lawes of the same but also what examples haue any way beene geuen touching the same Euen so it becommeth much more Christians that are Citizens of the church of Christ and haue a communitie in that bodie to know not onely the lawes of this Citie which is the word of God but also what hath befallen either good or bad and euerye accident whereupon experience may arise by example and wisdome thereof to be put in vse accordingly We may read what hath befallen the worthiest Commonwealths in this world and what stormes they haue endured and all sunke vnder them This Common-wealth of the Church standeth for euer though the stormes that haue blowen vpon it haue beene more boysterous than any other state hath endured And by reason of cōtinuāce geueth great varietie of examples of Gods prouidence of his mercie of his fatherly chastizements and correction and of that holy faith which hath ministred inuincible strength of constancie patience to this heauenly state of Christes Church in the middest of all stormes of tryall And here mayst thou reade not onely what hath beene suffered of the olde Fathers of the church who haue with their bloud purchased vnto vs this freedome of the Gospell but of late times what thy father thy mother thy broher and thy friēd haue suffered for like testimonie wherby the sincerity of the Gospel standeth at this day When I say in this Abridgement thou maist reade these things J mean much more in the large volume where all such matters lie open at the full and whereto I pray thee let this my labour be as it were an introduction And if thy hability serue thee or any other disposition thereto J pray thee let not this booke withdraw thee For Abridgements in all kinde of learning haue byn vsed for such respects as J haue before mentioned besides the memorie embraceth them more readily and not to hinder great volumes Neither doo they of their own nature work such effect If slouth of some persons neglect them so are they punished therfore in wanting that belongeth vnto them to know yet through Abridgementes haue some furniture of that profitable instruction whereof otherwise they would be vtterly ignorant It is said Iustines Abridgement lost Trogus Pompeius Trogus peraduenture is lost but whether through Iustines Abridgement that hardly can be proued and had it not beene for Iustine we had lost with Trogus the history too The case is far otherwise since printing was knowen for who would lose a leafe of Liuie for any Abridgement Before it may be charge of written Copies might be some cause why the large volumes were not so vniuersall And I pray thee if the Author him self the fittest of all men being an History so meet euen for the meanest Christian especially in these times and conteyning recordes of such things as are els no where to be had had takē it in hand had it not byn thanks-woorthy Yet so had beene greater danger in decaying the booke at large in regard of the more sufficient performance of the worke than by this of mine I trust the matter needeth no An Abridgement of the first volume of the Ecclesiasticall history of Acts and Monuments of Martyrs The History is deuided into fiue partes 1 The first is of the suffering time of the Church 300. yeere after Christ 2 The growyng and florishing time of the same other 300. yeeres 3 The declining time other 300. vntill the losing of Sathan about the thousand yeere after Christ 4 The time of Antichrist which cōtinued in full swinge 400. yeeres 5 The time of reformation these later 288. yeeres IN the 17. of the raigne of Tiberius Nero Tiberius Nero. Christ Christ suffered the 34. yéere of his age Tiberius raysed no further persecutiō yet liued he seuen yéeres after the death of Christ and raigned in all 23. yéeres Him succéeded C. Caligula C. Caligula hée commaunded his Image to be set vp in the temple at Ierusalem and to be worshipped And after him succéeded C. Nero C. Nero. D. Nero. D. Nero. Claudius raigned 13. yéeres Domitius 14. In the latter end of whose raigne Peter Paule Peter and Paule were put to death for the faith of Christ Anno 69. About this time an 73. and 40. yéeres after the passiō of Christ the 3. yéere after the suffering of Peter and Paule the Iewes were destroied Titus Vespasian Iewes destroyed by Titus and Vespasian his father who succéeded Nero to the number of eleuen hundred
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
third yere of Traianus and suffered the xij yere of his Raigne Alexander Alexander who succéeded Euaristus conuerted a great part of the Senators of Rome to the faith Among whom one Hermes Hermes a great man in Rome whose sonne being dead he raised to life and restored sight to his maide being blinde Which Adrianus the Emperor hearing of sent word to Aurelianus Gouernor of Rome to apprehend Alexander with Euentus Euentus and Theodulus Theodulus otherwise called Theodorus his two Deacons and Hermes Hermes to committe them to Warde with Quirinus the Tribune whose daughter named Albina Albina he cured which mooued Quirinus Quirinus with all his house to be baptized and suffred also for the faith of Christ In the second yere of Hadrian Aurelianus tooke Alexander with Hermes his wife children and whole housholde 1250. and threw them into prison and not long after burnt them all in a Furnace Whose crueltie being rebuked by Theodulus another Deacon of Alexander caused also vnto himselfe the same martirdome Quirinus the same time as saith Antoninus hauing first his tongue cut out then his handes and féete afterwarde was beheaded and cast to the dogges The thirde Persecution The third persecution BEtwixt the second persecution and the third was but one yere vnder the Emperor Nerua Nerua After whom succéeded Traianus Traianus who raysed the thirde persecution which was so grieuous that Plinius Secundus Plinius Secundus moued with compassion being himselfe an Infidel wrote to the Emperour and certified him that so many thousandes were put to death without cause sauing that they vsed to gather themselues together before day to sing hymnes to a certaine God whom they worshipped called Christ Whereupon the persecutions were greatly alaied The summe of Plinies letters to the Emperor Plinies letter for mitigation of the persecution THe summe of the Epistle was that the Emperour would resolue how long to inflicte the punishment with respecte of Age Sexe or Degrée Whether any Pardon might be graunted vnto such as would denie the faith or whether that offēce alone should so grieuously be punished or if other offences did aggrauate the fault who their Religion and excepted their worshipping of Christ els cōmitted they nothing against the lawes as euē such that had renoūced their faith confessed as he had made proofe by laying 2. christian maids on the racke to proue if they could haue extorted confession of further crime And that for asmuch as some although many of them encreased gaue their names to doo sacrifice with incēse vnto the image of the Emperor and sacrifices were more then before brought to be sold if space were granted they might be amended which else by great multitudes might run into daunger of condemnation To whom the Emperor made answere The Emperours answere that he would not haue the christiās sought for but if any were brought cōuicted such should suffer executiō such as vnfainedly denied the faith would do sacrifice in opē place should be receiued to mercy Certaine Sectaries there were of the Iewes that accused Simeon Simeon then B. of Ierusalem sonne of Cleophas to come of the stocke of Dauid and that he was a Christian Wherevpon he was scourged by Attalus Attalus commaundement then Proconsull during the space of many daies together being of the age of 120. and with great admiration giuen of his constancie he ended his course vpon the crosse Vnder this Traiane which next followed Nerua amōg others Phocas Phocas B. of Pōtus suffered whō Traianus because he refused to do sacrifice to Neptune cast into a hot furnace and after into a scalding bath Anton. Eginl fascic temporum In the same persecutiō suffered also Sulpitius Sulpitius Seruilianus Seruilianus two Romanes whose wiues are said to be Emphrosina Emphrosina Theodora Theodora whom Salma Salma did conuert to the faith and afterward were also martyred This Salma was beheaded of C. Lepidus the gouernour in the mount Auentine in the daies of Hadrian vnder whom also suffered Seraphia Seraphia a virgin of Antioch Moreouer in this time of Traiane suffered Nereus Nereus and Achilleus Achilleus at Rome about which time also one Sagaris Sagaris suffered martyrdome in Asia Seruius Paulus beyng then Proconsull in that prouince In this time suffered Ignatius Ignatius Some say that he being sent from Syria to Rome was giuē to wild beasts to be deuoured passing through Asia he confirmed the churches and cōming to Smirna where Polycarpus Polycarpus was he wrot diuerse epistles one to Ephesus an other to Magnesia Magnesia being at Meander another to Trallis He now being iudged to the beasts hearing the Lions roare I am the wheat or graine said he of Christ I shall be ground with the téeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread He suffered the 11. yéere of the raigne of Traianus Euseb Hieronimus About this time many thousands died for the faith among them one Publius Publius bishop of Athens Next to Traianus succéeded Hadrian Hadrian vnder whom suffered Alexander bishop of Rome with his two Deacons Euentius Euentius and Theodorus Theodorus also Hermes Hermes and Quirinus Quirinus with their families In this time of Hadrian Zenon Zenon a noble man of Rome with 10023 were slaine for Christ Henricus de Erfodia Bergomensis lib. 8. make mention of 10000. in the daies of this Hadrian to be crucified in the mount Ararat crowned with crownes of thorne thrust into the sides with sharpe darts after the example of the Lords passiō whose captains were Achaicus Achaicus c. Heliades Theodorus and Carcerius c. Vnder Hadrian suffered also Eustachius Eustachius a captaine whō Traianus had sent in times past against the Barbarians hauing now subdued them was honorably met in his iorney of Hadrian the Emperor himselfe who first by the way would do sacrifice to Apollo for the victory willing Eustachius to do also Which he refusing not withstanding all meanes to draw him to it was brought to Rome where with his wife children he suffered martyrdome vnder the same Hadrian Faustinus Faustinus Iobita Iobita citizens of the citie of Brixia suffered martyrdome with gréeuous torments At the sight whereof one Caelocerius Caelocerius seing their so great patiēce in such tormēts cried out with these words Verè magnus Deus christianorum Verily great is the God of the Christians Wherevpon he was presently apprehended and suffred with them Ex Ant. Equi One Anthia a godly woman who committed her sonne Eleutherius to Anicetus Bishop of Rome to be brought vp in the faith who was afterward B. of Apulia was there beheaded with her sonne Eleutherius Nicephorus Vnder this Hadrian suffered also Iustus Iustus and Pastor Pastor twoo
Now this Basilides being required a while after to giue an oath in a matter by the Idols and the Emperour as the manner of the oath was refused so to doe confessing himselfe to bée a Christian and was beheaded for the faith At that time there was one Alexander Alexand. who after great tormentes escaped aliue and was afterwarde Bishoppe of Hierusalem together with Narcissus Narcissus who being thréescore and thrée yéeres olde was vnweldy to gouerne alone He continued Bishop in Hierusalem 40. yéeres till the persecution of Decius and there erected a famous library where Eusebius had his chiefest helpe in writing his ecclesiastical history He wrote also diuers Epistles and licensed Origen to teach openly in his Church At length being very aged was brought to Cesarea vnder Decius where after his constant confession the second time he died in prison Vnder Seuerus suffered also Andoclus Andoclus whome Polycarpus had sent before into Fraunce who was apprehended of Seuerus and first being beaten with bats was afterward beheaded In that time Asclepiades Asclepiad confessed also and suffred much and was after ordeined Bishop of Antioch and continued there 7. yéeres About the fourth or fift yéere Ireneus Ireneus with a great multitude beside were martired Hée was the scholler of Polycarpus He was appointed Bishop of Lyons and there continued 23. yéeres In his time the question of keeping of Easter was renued betwéene Victor Victor Bishoppe of Rome and the churches of Asia and when Victor would haue excommunicated them as Schismatikes Ireneus with other brethren of the French Church wrote vnto Victor to staye his purpose therein and not to procéede thereto for such a matter Not long after Ireneus followed Tertullian Tertullian about the time of this Seuerus and Antoninus Caracalla who writte very learned Apologies for the Christians and confuted all the slaunders obiected against them He writte also diuers bookes whereof part remaine at this day Victor succéeded Eleutherius in the bishoprick of Rome and died a Martir as some say after he had sitten ten or xij yeres This Victor was earnest in the matter of Easter the yere of our Lord 260. and would haue excommunicated all of the contrarie minde had not Ireneus disswaded him With Victor stoode Theophilus Theophil c Bishop of Cesarea Narcissus of Ierusalem Ireneus of Lyons Palmas of Pontus Panthillus of Corinth the Bishop of Ostrena and other more who agréed to haue Easter vpon the sunday because they would differ from the Iewes in all things and partly because the resurrection of the Lorde fell on that day On the other side were diuers Bishops of Asia Among whom the chiefe was Policrates Policrat c. Bishop of Ephesus alledging the example of Philippe the Apostle with his iij. daughters at Hierapolis of Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist at Ephesus Polycarpus at Smirna Thraseas at Eumenia Bishop and Martir Likewise the example of Sagaris at Laodicea Bishop and Martir holy Papirius Melito at Sardis beside diuers others Notwithstanding Victor procéeded to excommunication yet by the wise handling of Ireneus other the matter was staied who shewed that variāce and difference of Ceremonies was no strange thing in the Church of God not only in the day of Easter but also of fasting and diuers other vsages among the Christians and yet kept the vnitie of faith and concord among themselues and brought forth examples of Telesphorus Pius Anicetus Soter Eleutherius and such other After Victor succéeded in the Sea of Rome zephyrinus Zephyrinus in the dayes of Seuerus about the yere 203. Eusebius saith he died in the raign of Caracalla and sate xvij yeres Platina saith that he died vnder Seuerus and sate viij yeres And so Nauclerus Damasus saith that he sate xvi yeres and ij Moneths Vnder this Seuerus suffered also Perpetua Perp. c. Felicitas and Rouocatus her brother Also Saturninus and Satyrus brethren Secundulus which were throwen to wild beastes and of them deuoured in Carthage and in Africa sauing that Saturninus being brought againe from the beasts was beheaded and Secundulus died in prison about the yere 202 Seuerus raigned xviij yeres and was slaine at Yorke by the Northerne men and Scots the yere 214. Leauing behinde him two sonnes Bassianus and Geta. Which Bassianus Bassianus surnamed Carocalla after he had slain his brother here in Britain gouerned the Empire alone the space of sixe yeres After whose death he also being slaine of his seruantes succéeded Marianus with his sonne Diadumenus who after they had raigned one yere were both slain by their own people After them succéeded Varius Heliogab Varius Heliogabalus who after he had raigned very vitiously ij yeres viij moneths was slain by the souldiers drawne through the citie throwne into Tyber He hauing no issue adopted his heire Aurelius Alexander Seuerus the sonne of Mammea He entered his raigne the yere 224. and continued xiij yeres wel commended for vertue and fauoured the Christians Mammea Mammea the mother of this Emperor whō Ierom calleth a deuout religious womā hearing of the fame of Origē sēt for him to Antioch to whō Origē resorted and staying a while with the Emperor and his mother returned again to Alexandria Thus hauing raigned xiij yeres at a cōmotion in Germany with his mother Mammea he was slaine After him succéeded Maximinus Maximinus although the church in the time of Alexander had no open persecution yet vnder Iudges there were many martyred because there was no edict to the contrary As vnder Almachus Calixtus Calixtus B. of Rome who succéeded Zephyrus aboue mentioned and after him Vrbanus who suffered vnder Alexander Seuerus Vincentius saith Calixtus was tied to a great stone and so out of a window was throwne into a ditch Eusebius saith he sat 5. yéeres Platina 6. Sabellicus 7. and so Damasus After Calixtus followed Vrbanus Vrbanus about the yéere 227. he died a martyr as Marianus Scotus Sabellicus Nauclerus doo hold in the dayes of Seuerus after he had gouerned there as Damasus Platina say foure yéeres as Marianus eight yéeres Damasus and Platina witnesse of him that hée conuerted diuerse Ethnicks among whome were Tiburtius Tiburtius and Valerianus Valerianus the husband of Cecilia which being both noble men of Rome remayned constant vnto martyrdome Vnder the same Alexander suffered also one Agapitus Agapitus of the age of fiftéene yéeres who beyng condemned at Preneste in Italie because he would not doo sacrifice after other torments was beheaded The executor of these punishmēts was one Antiochus who while the torments were executing fell suddenly from his Iudiciall seat crying out that all his inward bowels burned within him died Vnder him also suffered Calepodius Calepodius a minister of Rome who was drawen through the citie cast into Tiber after him suffered Pammachus Pammachus a Senator of Rome with
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
no money for baptizing of infants 10. The L praier and Creed in the English tongue That they should both learn teach the Lords prayer and the Créede in the English tongue 11. That al should ioyne together after one vniforme order in their Ministerie 12. That with a modest voyce they should sing in the Church 13. That all Holidayes should be celebrated at one time 14. That the Sabboth day be reuerently obserued 15. That the seuen houres Canonicall be euery day obserued 16. That the Rogation dayes both greater and lesser should not be omitted 17. That the feast of Saint Gregorie and Saint Augustine our Patron should be obserued 18. That the Feast of the foure times shoulde be kept 19. That Monks and Nunnes should goe regularlie apparrelled 20. That Bishops should sée these Decrées not to be neglected 21. That the Churchmen should not geue themselues to drunkennes 22. That the communion shoulde not be neglected of the Churchmen 23. That the same also should be obserued of the Lay men as time required 24. That Lay men shoulde first be wel tried before they enter into Monkerie 25. That almes be not neglected 26 That Bishops should sée these decrées notified to the people 27 They disputed also of the profite of almesse 28 Of the profite of singing Psalmes 29 That the congregation should be constitute after the habilitie of their goods 30 That Monkes should not dwell among lay men 31 That the publike prayer should be made for Kings and Princes These decrées among them concluded Cutbert Cutbert the Archbishop sendeth the copie thereof to Boniface Boniface the Pope an Englishman otherwise called Winfride an English man that was then Archbishop of Mentz This Boniface wrote a letter to Ethelbald who was present at the former Synod Boniface a great maintainer of nunnes admonishing him of his vicious life of his Nobles wantonnes euen with the Nunnes of which order this Boniface was a great setter vp maintainer afterward This Ethelbald after the departing of K. Celulph to his monkery spoiled the country of Northumberland and exercised mortall warre a great while against Cudred of some called Cutbert K. of West-saxons who encountering with Ethelbald that had the greater power by means of a certaine warriour a Consull called Edellim ouerthrew him Notwithstanding the next yéere he renewed battell was slaine of one Beornered after he had raigned 41. yéeres in Mercia where Beornered raigned after in that dition but a small time For Offa nephew to the said Ethelbald expulsed Beornered and succéeded king in that prouince of Mercia after he had raigned 39. yéeres Boniface before mētioned Religious fathers permitted to carry Nunnes about with them a preaching permitted religious fathers to carry about nunnes with them a preaching founded many monasteries canonized many Saints Among other he founded the great monastery of Fulde in Germany of English monkes into the which no women might enter but Libda Tecla Libda Tecla two English nunnes He deposed Childericus king of Fraunce by authoritie from Pope Zacharie Childerike deposed by the Pope and Pipinus the betrayer of his Maister was confirmed From this Boniface procéeded that detestable doctrine that although the Pope led with him innumerable soules into Hell A detestable doctrine of Boniface yet ought no man to rebuke him In the time of this Archbishop Pope Gregory the second Great maisteries wrought against the Greeke Emp. by Popes Philippicus the Emp. lost both his eyes and Empyre also Gregory the third and pope Zacharie and before these Pope Constantine the first wrought great maisteries against the Gréeke Emperours Philippicus and Leo and others for the maintayning of Images to be set vp in the Churches of whom Philippicus lost both his eies and his Empire Leo for the same cause was excommunicated of Gregory the third This Gregory the third is like to be he which wrote the 4. bookes of Dialogs in Gréeke falsly bearing the name of Gregory the first which bookes afterward Zacharie his successor translated into Latine Also this Gregory the third brought into the Masse Canon The clause for reliques the memoriall and offerings for the dead the clause for Reliques beginning Quorum solemnitates hodie in conspectu c. Item he brought into the same the memoriall the offering and sacrifice for the dead Like as Zacharie brought in the Priests vesture and ornaments And Constantinus the first The Priests vesture was he that gaue his féete to be kissed of the Emperour Constantinus the first gaue his feete to be kissed of the Emperour In the time of Egbert king of Northumberland Sigibert or Sigbert raigned in the West Saxonie and was for his cruelty deposed and wandering in a wood alone without comfort was slaine by the Swineherd of the earle Combranus whome hée before had slaine for giuing him counsell to gouerne his people and himselfe after a better sort This Sigebert beyng slaine in his place succéeded Kenulphus Anno 748. who with the agréement of the West-saxons was one of the chéefe doers against Sigebert his master Kenulphus reigned 31. yéeres till hée resorted to a paramour of his whō he kept at Merton where he was beset and slaine by a kinsman of Sigebert named Clito or Cliton Moreouer in the raigne of the foresaid Egbert king of Northumberland and the eight yéere of Kenulphus king of West Saxons Offa after he had slaine the tyrant Beornredus who before had slaine Ethelwald king of Mercia vncle to this foresaid Offa reigned king of that prouince Offa had such displeasure against the citizens of Canterburie that he remoued the Arthbishops sea and the lands of Lambrith Archbish of Canterbury by the agréement of Pope Adrian vnto Lichfield Lambrith to Lichfield About the later time of the raigne of Offa king of Mercia Ethelbert king of Eastangels came to sue to marrye with Offas daughter but the Quéene suspecting worse matter without cause caused him to be beheaded hauing trained him into a conuenient place by one Gnimbertus the yeere 793. but the Quéene liued not thrée moneths after and at her death was so tormented that shée bit and rent her tongue asunder with her téeth The K. giueth the tenth of his goods to the Church And Offa vnderstanding of the innocencie of this king gaue the tenth part of his owne good to holye Churche and to the Church of Hereford in remembrance of this Ethelbert he bestowed great lands Moreouer hee builded the abbey of Saint Albones c and went after to Rome to doe penance where he gaue to the Church of Saint Peter a peny through euery house in his dominion which was commonly called Romescot or Peter-pence Romescot or Peter-pence and there at length was transformed from a King to a Monke Anno 794. with Kenredus king of Northumberland although some denie that hée was a Monke After Offa when he had reigned 39. yéeres succéeded
him to be put in an old rotten boate in the broad sea onely with one Esquier with him who being perplexed with the rage of the Sea and wearie of his life threw him selfe into the Sea This act Ethelstane lamented vij yeres and buylded the two Monasteries of Middleton and of Michelendes for his brothers sake or as the Stories say for his soule About this time the Empire began to be translated from Fraunce where it had continued about an hundred yeres into Germanie The Empire translated out of France into Germanie where it hath euer since remayned This king gaue his thirde Sister to Henricus Duke of main for his sonne Otho the first Emperour of the Ger-Almanes This king set foorth diuerse lawes for the gouernment of the clergy he prescribed also constitutions touching tithes geuing And among his lawes to the number of 35. diuerse things are comprehended pertaining as well to the spiritualtie as to the temporaltie Out of the lawes of this king first sprong vp the attachment of théeues that such as stole aboue 12. d. Attaching of theeues Stealing aboue twelue pence and were aboue twelue yéeres old should not be spared He raigned about the space of 16. yéeres and died without issue Anno 940. After him succéeded his brother Edmund sonne of Edward the elder by his third wife being of the age of twentie yéeres About this time Mōkery came into England Monkery commeth into England There was at that time and before a monasterie in France called Floriake after the order of Benedict from the which monastery did spring the greatest part of our English monkes who being there professed and after returning into England did gather men daily to their profession so at length grew in fauour with kings and princes who founded them houses mainteined their rules and enlarged them with possessions Among the Monkes that came from Floriake especially was one Oswaldus first a monke of Floriake then Bishop of Worcester and Yorke a great patrone and setter vp of monkery Oswaldus a monke a great Patrone of monkery This king builded and furnished the abbey of Glastenburie and made Dunstan abbot thereof He was slaine of a felon with a knife He ordeyned lawes also for the Spiritualtie touching tithes against deflouring of Nunnes touching reparation of Churches c. In the time of this Edmund was Odo Archbishoppe of Caunterburie who was the first from the comming of the Saxons till this time that was Archb. being no Monke for all before him were Monkes of whom a great part had béen Italians vnto Berctualdus Notwtstanding after he sayled into France and receiued that order at Flo-riake Vlstan bishop of York at the same time is noted to differ in habite from other Bishops Odo continued Bishop the space of twentie yeres after whom Elsinus was elected and ordeyned by the king to succéede through fauour and money but going to Rome for the Popes pall in his iourney through the Alpes he died for colde after whom succéeded Dunstan This Edmund gaue to saint Edmund the Martir aboue mentioned the towne of Bredrichcepworth now called S. Edmondsburie Saint Edmondsburie with great reuenues and landes belonging to the same He was buried at Glassenburie by Dunstane He left two sonnes behinde him Edwine and Edgar by his wife Elgina But the children beeing vnder age Edred brother to the king was made Protector in the mean time who faithfully behaued him selfe towardes the young children In his time Dunstane was promoted by the meanes of Odo from Abbot of Glassenbure to be Bishop of Worcester and after of London By this Dunstan Edred was much ruled So that he is reported in stories too much to submitte himselfe to fonde penance layde vpon him by Dunstane After his Vncle Edred Edwin the eldest sonne of King Edmund beganne his raigne anno 955. being crowned at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterburie He is reported the first day of his Coronation to haue departed from the company of his Lords into a secret chamber to the disorderly companie of a woman whose husband he had slain Now Dunstan being yet but Abbot of Glassenburie followed the king into the chamber and brought him out by the hand and accused him to Odo the Archb. and caused him to be separated from the said woman and to be suspēded out of the church by the same Odo Whereupon the king being offended with Dunstane D. causeth the king to be suspended for adulterie banished him and forced him for a season to flie into Flaunders where he was in the Monasterie of Saint Amandus About the same season the Monasticall order of S. Benedict or as they call them blacke monkes began to increase in England in so much that other Priestes Chanons were displaced and they set in their roomes But king Edwine for displeasure he bare to Dunstan did vexe al that order of Monkes so that in Malmsburie Glassenburie other places he thrust out the Monkes set Secular priests in their roomes In the end being hated for his euill demeanor hee was deposed from the Crowne The K deposed and his brother Edgar receiued in his roome so that the riuer of Thames deuided both their kingdomes Edwine when he had raigned foure yeres departed leauing no issue of his bodie Wherefore the rule of the land fell vnto Edgar his younger brother in the yere of the Lorde nine hundred fiftie and nine he being about the age of sixtéene yeres but hee was not crowned till fourtéene yeares after In the beginning of his reigne he called home Dunstane whom Edwine before had exiled Then was Dunstane before Abbot of Glassenbury made B. of Worcester and after of London Not long after this Odo the Archbishop of Canterburie deceased after he had gouerned the Church xxxiiij yeres After whom Brithelinus Bishoppe of Winchester was first elected but because he was thought vnsufficient Dunstan was chosen and the other sent home againe to his own Church So Dunstan being made Archbishoppe by the K. went to Rome for his Pall to Pope Iohn the thirtéenth which was about the beginning of the Kinges raigne Dūstan hauing obteined his Pall returned and obteined of the king that Oswaldus who was made a Monke at Floriake was created B. of Worcester and not long after through the meanes of Dunstan Ethelwoldus first Monke of Glassenburie then Abbot of Abbindon was made Bishoppe of Winchester These thrée bishops were great vpholders of Monks by whose councell king Edgar is recorded in histories to haue builded either new out of the groūd or caused to be reedified monasteries decaied by the Danes more then fortie Moreouer thorough the instigation of them the king in diuerse Cathedrall Churches where Prebendaries and Priestes were before displaced them and sette in Monkes and Nunnes Priests displaced and monks placed After that the kings minde was thus perswaded to aduance Monkery Oswaldus bishop of Worcester also made Archbishop of Yorke after the death of
yeeres void to the kings vse and the goods of the church was spent to the kings vse the king pretending to take deliberation to choose one answerable to those that went before The same yéere after his death Ely made a bishopricke the king conuerted the abbey of Ely to a bishoprick which was before vnder the bishopricke of Lincolne placing there Henrie B. of Bangor the first Bishop of that sea Ann. 1115. Rodolphus B. of Rochester an English maÌ„ was promoted to be Archb. of Canterbury and Thurstinus the kings Chaplaine was elected Archb. of Yorke who because he refused to professe obedience to the same Sea was depriued by the king and therevpon went to complaine to Pope Paschalis who wrote that he would haue the order of Gregorie stand therein But Thurstine stood stiffely in the matter renounced his Archbishoprick promising he wold neuer either make claime to it or molest those that should enioy it Now afterward when Calixtus had called a CouÌ„cell at Rheims in Fraunce Thurstine wrought so that hée was in that Councell consecrated and had his pal notwithstanding the Pope had promised the king faithfully to the contrarie For which deede the K. was sore discontented with Thurstine and warned him the entrie of his land In the Councel of Rheims were gathered 434. Prelates A Councel of 434. Prelates The pointes there concluded were for establishing their owne authoritie in dispensing of Ecclesiasticall Offices in prohibiting Priestes marriages and sequestring theÌ„ from their wiues Which articles were sent to the Emperor to trie his mind before the Councell should breake vp who was contented with all sauing that he could not away to haue the inuesting of ecclesiasticall function taken from him The Pope excoÌ„municateth the Emperor wherevpon the pope procéedeth against him to excommunication It was not long after but the Pope came to Gisortium where Henry king of England resorted to him desiring that he would send no more Legates into the land except he himselfe desired because they spoiled the realme of great treasures The king of England sueth to the Pope and also that he would graunt him to vse all the customes vsed before of his auncestors in England and in Normandie To these petitions the Pope graunted and required againe of the king that he would license Thurstin the Archbishop aboue mentioned to returne with fauour into the land but the king vtterly denied that except he would submit to Canterbury Submit to Canterbury Anno 1120 the yéere following Pope Calixtus directeth his letters to the king for Thurstinus and to Rodulph Archbishop of Canterbury in which he doth interdict the Churches of Canterbury and Yorke and threatneth the King with excommunication except within a moneth after the the same Thurstine were receyued into the Sea of Yorke The Pope Thurstine Wherevppon Thurstine for feare was immediately sent for and receaued and was placed in the Sea Anno 1122. Within two yeares after Rodolfe Archbishoppe of Canterburie died whom Gulielmus de Turbin succéeded About which time in the xxvij yere of the kings reigne the Gray friers The Graye friers by procurement of the king came first into Englande and had their house first at Canterburie Anno 1125. the king called a Councell at London where the spiritualtie of England not knowing whereabout it was required graunted the king to haue the punishment of maried Priestes The Priests pay to the K. for their wiues Whereupon the Priestes paying to the K. a certain summe were suffered to retaine their wiues stil to the great gaine of the king This king Henrie buylded the Abbey of Reading for ioy of Saint Iames hand which his daughter Mawde who had maried with the Emperor Henrie the fift brought vnto him after the decease of her husband She was after maried to Geffrey Plantagenet Earle of Aniou of whome came Henrie the second About this time was founded the Priorie of Norton in the Prouince of Chester by one William the sonne of Nichelle This K. an 1131. Danegelt released by the king released vnto the land the Danegelt which his father and brother renued Hee erected also a new Bishoprick at Carlill After Calixtus succéeded Honorius 2. Notwithstanding that the Cardinals had elected another Honorius B yet he by that meanes of certaine Citizens obteyned it An. 1125. Vnto this time liued Henricus v. after that hee had reigned xx yeres died out issue Next after Henricus the Empire fell to Lotharius D of Saxon an 1127. In the time of P. Honorius 2. there was one Arnulphus Arnulphus some say Archbishop of Lugdune Trithemiê° saith he was a Priest that for sharpe rebuking of the Cleargie of Rome was layde waite for and priuily drowned He preached very boldly against their abuses Sabellicus and Platina say they hanged him About the time of this Arnulphus if it were not his own worke there was written a booke called Opus tripartitum Opus tripartitum that coÌ„playneth of many abuses and enormities of the Church as first Abuses of the church preached against of the number of holy dayes also of curious singing in the Church of the multitude of begging Friers and professed womeÌ„ with diuers other points of abuse About the yere of our Lord 1128. Knights of the Rhodes and Templars the order of Knights of the Rhodes called Ioannites and the order of Templars rose vp After Honorius Honorius succéeded Innocentius the second in the yere of our Lord one thousande one hundred and thirtie but after hee was chosen the Romanes elected Anacletus Betwixt which Popes great strife and contention rose Contention betwixt the popes till Lotharius the Emperor began to assist and take part with Innocentius This P. decréed that whosoeuer did strike a Priest Strike a Priest shauen should be excommunicate and not be absolued but only of the pope himselfe An. 1135. King H. dieth in Normandie after that he had reigned in England thirtie fiue yeares and odde monethes leauing for his heires Matilde the Empresse his daughter with her young sonne Henrie to succéede But the Prelates and Nobilitie contrarie to their oath made Steuen Earle of Boloign king sisters sonne to Henrie Hee entered his reigne an 1136. But the empresse about the 6. yere of his reign came into England and tooke him sent him to Bristow to be kept prisoner WheÌ„ce he escaped out and pursued the empresse her parte and caused her to flie the Realme the sixt yere of his reigne But after that Henrie Duke of Normandie inuaded in the quarrell of his Mother and so preuayled that Steeuen was contented to holde the kingdome but for his life time and that Henrie in the meane time should be proclaymed Heire apparant The same yere about October Steeuen ended his life after he had reigned xix yeres periuredly As Theobald succéeded after William Archb. of Cant. so in York after Thurstane followed William who was called S.
palace of Canterbury After the death of Langton fell strife betwixt the King and the Monks of Canterburie for the election of their Archbishop the Monkes choose one of their owne societie named Walter Heuesham the King preferred Richard Chauncellour of Lincolne and articulated against the other that hée was the sonne of a Felon conuicted and hanged also that hée had lyen with a Nunne and had children by her c. The matter beyng presented before the Pope and like to go hard on the Kings part the Kings proctors promised and graunted in his name The tenth of al the goods of England and Scotland to be geuen to the Pope to be giuen to the Pope the tenth part of all the goods of the Realme of England and Scotland moueable to sustaine his warres agaynst the Emperour so that hée would encline fauourably to the Kings suit whereat the Pope boyling as saith Parisiensis with vnmeasurable desire of subduing his enemy the Emperour and cherished with so great promises graunted vnto them This was doone An. 1229. These things thus finished at Rome the Pope sendeth his owne chaplain Stephen legate into England to require the tithes of all moueable goods of England Ireland and Wales which were promised vnto him Wherevpon the king called a Councell at Westminster to common of the matter where in fine notwithstāding the dislike of the most part yet for feare of curse and of interdiction the summe was gathered so that the Prelates hauing no other remedy The prelates driuen to sell there chalices and copes were driuen to sell their chalices cruets copes iewels and other Church plate and some to lay to morgage such things as they had some also to borrow vpon vsury to make the mony which was required Moreouer the said Stephen as saith Parisiensis brought with him into England for the same purpose Vsurers brought into England by the Popes Legate bankers and vsurers who lending out their monie vpon great interest did vnreasonably pinch the English people which Merchant vsurers were then called Caursini and such exactions were then vpon the poore Englishmen that not only their present goods were valued and taxed The corne growing against the next haruest tithes to pay the Pope but also the corne yet growing against the next haruest was tithed c. Onely the Earle of Chester named Radulphus stood stoutly against the pope suffering none within his dominion either lay men or clarks to yéeld any tēths to the Popes proctors Parisiensis pag. 74. This yéere 1229. was finished the New church of Couentrie by Alexander bishop of the same citie and partly by the helpe of the king which Church Richard his predecessor bishop of Couentry had begon The French men againe about this time assayled Raymundus Earle of Tholouse The Earle of Tholouse assailed againe but preuailed not the Earle hauing in the conflict taken 500. and many slaine of their seruitours to the number of two thousand were taken with their armour Yet thrise the same Summer did they assault the godly Earle and were put to flight and discomfited Parisiensis pag. 96. Richard Archb. of Canterbury beyng now confirmed in his seat came to the king complaining of Hubert lord chiefe Iustice for withholding the Castle and towne of Tumbridge from him with the appertenance thereto belōging other lands of the Earle of Clare lately deceassed which lands pertained to the right of that sea and to the Church of Canterbury for the which the said Earle his auncestors were bound to doe homage to him and his predecessors and therefore required the kéeping of the foresaid castle with the demeanes to be restored vnto him The king misliking the demand answered not to the appetite of the Archb. wherby he was so moued that he brast forth into excommunication of al such as held those possessions or tooke their part the K. onely excepted which done he prosecuteth his matter before the Pope The K. hearing thereof sendeth vp M. Roger Contelu with certain other against the Archb. The Archb. among other the articles complaineth to the Pope of certaine Bishops his suffragans who neglecting their pastoral functiō did sitte on checker matters belonging to the king and exercised sessions and iudgements of blood Bishops set on checker matters exercised sessions and iudgements The pope neglecteth the K. and satisfieth the Archb. he complained also of beneficed parsons and Clearks within orders for hauing many benefices ioyned with the cure of soules and that they also taking example of Bishops did intermeddle in secular matters and in iudgements of Lay men The Pope neglecteth the kings allegations fauoureth altogether the Archbishop and sent him away satisfied in his requests who in his returning homward within 3. daies of his setting forth died in the house of the gray Friers at Saint Gemmes Parisiensis After the death of Richard the monkes did choose Randulph Neuell Randulph Neuell Bishop of Chester and the Kings Chauncellour a man faithful vpright and constant The King approued of the election and onely the Popes confirmation was wanting Wherevpon the monks addressed thē to Rome to haue the popes liking and first requiring help for the expences of the iourney of the new Archbish hee denied the same he should séeme in any sort ambitiously to séeke after it A good bishop and holding vp his handes to heauen thus prayed O Lorde God if I shall be thought woorthy to bée called although indéed vnworthy to the seat and office of this Church so be it as thou hast disposed But if otherwise in this troublesom office of Chauncery and this my inferiour ministery whervnto I haue béene assigned I shall séeme more necessary for this thy kingdom people I refuse not my labour thy will be done The monkes notwithstanding procéeded on their iourney shewed the matter to the pope the popes holinesse inquired of the qualities of the man of Simon Langthon brother of Stephen Langthon Archbish before mentioned who did so depraue Radulph Neuell to the Pope that hée charged the monkes to procéed to a new election who agréed vpon Iohn their prior to be Metropolitane but he no other fault being found notwithstanding he had bin examined in 3. daies together of the Cardinals was repulsed for that he was too aged though he were able to take a iourney to Rome and home againe Anno 1231. the exactions of the pope were so grieuous in the land that it was deuised of some of the nobles that certaine letters vnder the pretensed colour of the kings authority should be sent abroad commanding that such corne and graine other reuenewes as were taken vp for the Pope should be staied forth cōming by a certain day in the said letters appointed These letters wer thought to procéed chiefly from Hubert L. chief iustice Hubert Lord chiefe Iustice of England who then next vnder the K ruled the most affaires of the realme This done they sent these letters by
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
ordeine the Masse 7. If the Pope be an euil man hee hath no power ouer faithfull Christians except it be giuen him from the Emperour 8 Since the time of Vrban 6. there is none to be receiued for Pope but to liue after the manner of the Greeks 9. That church goods may be taken from the Clergie if they so deserue The erronius opinions were these 10 That no prelate ought to excōmunicate any man except he knew him first to be excmōunicated of God 11 That he which doth so excommunicate is therby himself excommunicated or an heretick 12 That any person excōmunicating him that hath appealed to the king or counsel is thereby himselfe a traitor 13 That they that for feare leaue the hearing or preaching of the word of God are therefore already excommunicated and in the day of iudgement shall be counted as traitors to God 14 That it is lawfull for any Deacon or Prieste to Preache without licence of the Pope or Popishe Clergie 15. That so long as a man is in deadly sinne he is neither Bishop or prelate in the church of God which article séemeth to be hardly gathered of them 16. That all the temporall Lordes may take away temporall goods from the churchmen if they so deserue 17. That tenths are pure almesse Tenths are pure almesse 18. That all speciall prayers applied to any priuate or particular person by any religious man or Prelate doth no more profite the same person then generall or vniuersall prayers doo profite others which be in like state with them 19. That whosoeuer entereth into any priuate religion is thereby made the more vnapt to kéepe the commaundements of God 20. That holy men which haue instituted priuate religions haue grieuously offended 21. That religious men in their pryuate religions are not of the Christian religion 22. That Friers ought to liue by their labour 23. That whosoeuer giueth almesse fo Friers is in daunger of cursse Now when the Archbishop Suffraganes and Prelates c. were assembled at the Grayfriers in London vpon saint Dunstons day after dinner about two of the clocke and should go about their busines a terrible earthquake A terrible earthquake fell thorough all England The Archbishop endeuored by all means to abolish Wickliffe and his doctrine and to that effect wrote both to the Bishop of London to the commissary of Oxford and also sollicited the king against the same Vpon Wickliffes conclusions were examined Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington and Iohn Ashton bachelers of diuinitie who at length with somwhat adoo confessed Wickliffes articles to be heretical or erronious after a sort some of them being taken in some sense construed which kind of answere because it pleased not the prelats they were appointed to be examined againe of certaine speciall points where their answere was not direct and full before In the examination of Iohn Ashton the archb required that he would answere in the Latine tongue because of the Lay people that stood about him but Ashton refused so to do and answered in his mother tongue and so behaued himselfe that the Archbishop called him hereticke and erronious Persecution and at the same time the archbishop being desirous as he pretēded to be informed by Thomas Hilman bacheler of diuinitie there being present somewhat fauouring Iohn Ashton what his iudgement was touching the said conclusions assigned vnto him also a deliberation to appeare with Nicholas Herford Phillip Repingdon at which time Thomas appeared and pronounced the articles all hereticall or erronious Nicholas and Phillip for not appéering were excommunicated for contumacie Against which excommunication the parties excōmunicated exhibited an appeale vnto the B. of Rome which appeale the archb vtterly reiected sent a letter to M. Rigge cōmissary of Oxford to make diligent search for Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington to apprehend them to send them vp personally to appéere at a certaine day prescribed for the same and sollicited the King to ioyne his sword to assist him whereto he also yéelded and directeth his letters to that effect both to the Archb. and to the Vicechancellor of Oxford which was anno 1382. The vicechancellor the same time was Robert Rigges the proctors Iohn Huntman and Walter Dish who then as far as they durst fauoured the cause of Iohn Wickliffe that side in so much that the same time yéere 1382. when certaine sermons publike should be customably appointed at the feast of the Ascension and of Corpus Christi to be preached in the cloister of S. Frisewide now called Christ church before the people by the Vicechancellor the Proctors the doing thereof was committed to Phillip Repington The fauourers of Wickliffe appointed to preach Nicholas Herford so that Nicholas should preach on the Ascēsion day Repington on the Corpus Christi day In which sermon on Corpus Christi day Phillip preached among other matters that the Pope and Bishops ought not to be recommended aboue temporall Lords and that in all moral matters he would defende Wickliffe as a true Catholike Doctor And finally his sermon concluded hee dismissed the people with this sentence saying I will in the speculatiue doctrine as pertaining to the matter of the Sacrament of the altar kéepe silence till such time as GOD otherwise shall instruct and illuminate the heartes of the Cleargy Against this Philip Peter Stokes a Carmelite Stokes an enimy to Wickliff was a great aduersarie And a while after the Vicechauncelor and Brightwell went vp to London to purge themselues and their adherentes of the accusations of this Frier and béeing examined vppon the articles of Iohn Wickliffe they did consent that they were woorthely condemned and so were with somewhat adoe discharged and commaunded séeke out the fauourers of Iohn Wickliffe whereof Nicholas Herford and Philip Repington hauing priuy warning by the Vicechauncellour conueyed themselues away and fledde to the Duke of Lancaster Duke of Lancaster forsaked the scholers of Wickliffe who yet forsooke them for feare or somewhat else not expressed So soone as they were fledde the Archbishoppe directeth letters to the Vicechancellour and to the Bishop of London named Robert Braisbrocke to excommunicate them and to lay for them both in Oxford and in London that they might bée apprehended This was the fourtéenth of Iuly Anno 1382 after which Repington in the same yéere the thrée and twētieth of October was reconciled to the Archb. and so was Iohn Ashton About the 23. of September the same yéere Repington reconciled and so Aishton the king called a parlement for a subsidy and the Archbishops and Prelats a Conuocation in the monastery of Saint Friswide in Oxford where in the third day of the assembly in the presence of the prelates Philip Repington Repington abiureth otherwise called of the brethren afterward Rampington abiured his former conclusions and the doctrine of Wickliffe immediatly after was brought in Iohn Aishton who refused to answere and
afterward was cited and condemned by Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury but what became afterward of him it is not certaine It is plaine by the Chronicle of S. Albons that the Londoners did hinder the Archb. himselfe sitting in the citie of London when he would haue made processe against Iohn Aishton The Londoners fauorers of trueth anno 1382. Nicholas Herford during the time of this Conuocation did not appeare and therefore had the sentence of excommunication against him against which he put in his appeale to the King and his Councell the Archbishoppe woulde not admitte it but caused him to bee apprehended and inclosed in prison yet hee escaped and returned to his former preaching in secrete manner Wherevpon the Archbishop thundered out excommunication against him and wrote letters to the king requiring his sword to chop of his necke In this meane time it is not certainly knowne what became of Wickliffe but as it may bee gathered out of Walden Wickliffe banished it appeareth that he was banished but whersoeuer he were at that time hée wrote a letter to Pope Vrban the sixt purging himselfe therein and also in the same declareth a briefe confession of his faith But this Pope Vrban otherwise called Turban was so hotte in his warres against Clement the French Pope his aduersarie that he had neither leysure nor list to attend vppon Wickliffes matters By reason of the schisme Wickliffe is more quiet by reason of which schisme Wickliffe was in more quiet Anno 1383. Pope Vrban employed Henry Spencer B. of Norwich who was hardly intreated at Lennam for striuing for the mayors mace in suppressing of the Antipope at Auinion in Fraunce and sent Bulles to the same Henry about this time to Croysser whosoeuer would go with him into France to destroy the Antipope that named himself Clement to make wars with al those the tooke his part which was takē in hād accordingly to the end was giuē to the Bishop the fiftinth which was graunted to the king the Parlement before and about the moneth of Maie being come to Canterbury there tarying for a wind in the Monastery of S. Augustine receiued a writ from the king that he should returne to him and know further his pleasure The B. fearing he should be staied notwithstāding the writ entred the seas and arriued at Calis and afterward besieged Grauendie that held with the Antipope and tooke it and there slue man woman and child A cruell Bishop Ex Chron. Mon. D. Albons And after that he had slaine at Dunkirke in the chase twelue thousand of the Frēch of his men only seuen missing and had in vaine besieged Ipres and could not kéepe Graueling returned againe into England In this meane time Iohn Wickliffe eyther béeyng banished or kept in some secrete place Lutterworth VVickliffes parish Church returned agayne within short space and repayred to his parishe Churche at Lutterworth whereof hée was parson and there dyed in the beginning of the yeere one thousand thrée hundred eightie and foure vpon Siluesters day and died olde of whom Thomas Walden his aduersary testifieth VVickliffes constancie that the same pleased him in his olde age which pleased him beyng young This Wickliffe had written diuers and sundry workes which anno 1410. were burnt at Oxforde the Abbot of Shrewesburie being the Commissarie and sent to ouersée that matter and not onely in England but in Boheme also the bookes of Wickliffe were set on fire by one Subincus Archbishop of Prage The number of the volumes which he is said to haue burned being most excellently written W. bookes burned richlie adorned with bosses of gold and rich couerings as Aeneas Siluius writeth were aboue 200. Iohannes Cocleus in his Hist Hus recordeth that there was a certaine Bishop in England which wrote vnto him that he had yet remaining in his custody two mighty volumes of Wickliffes workes which for the quantitie might séeme to be equall to the workes of S. Augustine He wrote also certaine answers to king Richard the second touching the Title of the King and the Pope and whether the king may for his defence in time of necessitie withhold his treasure from the Pope In which he declareth the Popes vsurpation and that Lordly dignitie which by the institution of the Apostles is forbidden him c. Wickliffe had many fauourers euen of the Nobilitie as well as of the lower sort His speciall fauourers were these Iohn Clenbone Wickliffes fauourers Lewes Clifford Richard Sturmes Thomas Latimer William Neuell Iohn Mountague which plucked downe all the Images in his Church Beside all these was the Earle of Salisbury who for contempt in him noted toward the Sacrament in carrying it home to his house was enioyned by Badulph Ergon Bishop of Salisbury Penance to make in Salisbury a crosse of stone in the which all the story of the matter should be written and hee eue Fridaye during his life to come to the Crosse barefoote and bareheaded in his shirt and there knéeling on his knées to doe penance for his fact Ex Chro. Mon. de albon In vita Rich. 2 The Londoners at this time trusting in the mayors authoritie the cleargy spirituall men being choked with bribes The Londoners take vpon them c. and winking at vice tooke vppon them the office of the B. in punishing vices belonging to the ciuil law as fornication adulterie c. Ex eod Wickliffe had diuers testimonies of his great learning and godlinesse as of the Vniuersitie of Oxford sealed with the Vniuersitie Seale But so farre did his doctrine take place that the Councell of Constance to destroy it did decrée that fourty fiue of his articles were hereticall and 41. yeres after his death VVic bones burned after his death Persecution commanded his bones to be taken vp and burned Thomas Walden in his booke de sacramentis sacramentalibus saith that after Wickliffe many suffered most cruell death and many also did forsake the Realme In the number of whom was William Swinderbie Walter Brut Iohn Puruey Richard White VVilliam Thorpe Raynolde Peacock Bishop of Asaph and afterwardes of Chichester Iohn Scotte and Philip Norris which being excommunicate by Pope Eugenius the fourth anno 1446. appealed to a general or oecumenical Councel Peter Paine who flying from Oxford into Boheme did stoutly withstande the Sophisters as touching both kindes in the Sacrament of the supper and afterward among the rest of the Orators was one of the fourtéene that were sent to the Councell at Basil where by the space of thrée dayes he disputed vpon the article touching the ciuill dominion of the Cleargie in the yere 1438. Also the Lord Cobham fauoured and followed VVickliffes doctrine as did the Bohemians who by the meanes of a Bohemian Student in Oxford of a noble stocke that carried with him into Bohemia certaine of VVickliffs booke De realibus vniuersalibus de ciuili iure diuino de Ecclesia
but hée giueth full remission of all manner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that would bestow any thing to the Monastery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield resorting to the said Church any of these daies following On maundy thursday goodfriday the feast of the Annunciation from the first ensuing to the latter But within the same yéere hée died and after him succéeded Iohn 23. Pope Iohn 23. In the time of Alexander great trouble grew in Bohemia by reason of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe which were embraced of diuerse but specially of Iohn Husse Iohn Husse by whose means the people began to grow to great knowledge wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that caused by by Iohn Husse to be cited vp to Rome when he came not directed his letters to the archb Swinco charging him to forbid that way condemne such as he should apprehend for heretikes except they would recant Against which Bull Husse obiected many things shewed how it stood against the word of God An appeale to the same better aduised and therefore saith he from this mandate of pope Alexander I doo appeale to the said Alexander being better aduised And so as he was prosecuting his appeale immediatly Alexander died Then Swinco when he saw that Iohn Husse contemned the bull and had no hope in Vinceslaus the king of redresse he wēt to complaine to Sigismund king of Hungary and brother to Vinceslaus with whom after hée had spoken immediatly he died for sorrow By reason of whose death the Gospell tooke roote among the Bohemians Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power against the Bohemiās which held not long for Iohn the 23. bent all his might against the Bohemians About the yéere 1412. Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady with certaine Auies to bee saide The tolling o Auies and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the same and for the ratifying hereof he directeth his mandate to the B. of London He graunted to euery one that shoulde say the Lords praier and salutation of the Angel fiue times at the morning peale with a deuout mind totiens quotiens 40. daies of pardon for saying Auies how oft soeuer 40. daies of pardon This Archb. was so proud that because the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie Bels steeple organs suspended by a proud Bishop he suspended both belles stéeple and organs til the ministers of such churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and mercie For this cause of ringing belles debate also fel betwéene the B. of Worcester and Pryor of the towne insomuch that the Archb. was saine to take vp the matter betwixt them such was the pompe and pride of Prelates in those daies Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney Predecessour to Arundell who because certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horse in cartes but in sackes did call and cite them before him sitting in his tribunal seate Pro littera A contention pro littera for litter that is for litter after his owne Latine and after their submission enioyned them penance that they going leisurely before procession Penance for bringing litter in sacks not in Carts euery one of them should carry openly his sacke or bagge stuffed with hay and straw so that the hay and straw might appeare hanging out of the mouths of the sacks being open the names of the poore men were Hugh Pennie Iohn Forestall Iohn Boy Iohn Wanderton William Hayward and Iohn White tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham In this kings time diuers actes were established against the authoritie of the Pope and excesse of his Cleargy In the first yéere it was obiected against Richard 2. that he procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope to confirme certaine statutes of his which seemed to the Parlement to tend to the disgrace of the crowne and dignity and against the liberties of the land In the 2. yéere it was required in the Parlement that all such persons as should be arrested by force of the statute made against the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled and fréely make their purgation In the eight yéere it was propounded that none shoulde sue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice collation or presentation of the same vnder paine of the statute of Prouisoes made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted Item in the same parlement it was put vp in petition that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parsons benefice not resident thereon wherevnto the king answered that Ordinaries shoulde doe their dueties therein or els he woulde prouide further remedy or staye their pluralities The 9. yéere of the kings raigne the commons required the king that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie to haue any benefice of any incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabitation wherof the processe is not foūded vpon Citation made within the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all their benefices vntil it be proued by due inquest in the court of the K that the citations whervpon such priuations inhabitations are granted were made within the realme if such ordinaries do or haue presented or others doe present to the contrary that thē they and their procurators c. incurre the pain conteined in the statute made against prouisoes ann 13. Richard 2. Also that no Popes collectour shoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme for first fruits of any ecclesiastical dignitie vnder paine of incurring the statute of prouisoes A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy Besides in the same parlement the commons of the land put vp a bill vnto the king to take the temporalties out of the spiritual mens hand The effect of the bill was that the temporalties disorderly wasted by men of the Church might suffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles fiftéene hundred knights sixe thousand two hundred Squires and an hundred houses of almes more then were in those dayes in the land And ouer all these charges the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers 20000. l. Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerelie rent 3000. markes euery knight 100 markes and foure Plow land euery Squire 40. markes by the yere with two plow land and euery almes house with ouersight of two true Seculars to euerie house and also with prouision that euerie Township should kéepe al poore people Towne-dwellers which might not labor for their liuing with condition that if mo fell in a towne than it was able to mainteine the said almes houses to reléeue such townes And to beare these charges they alledged by their bill that the Temporalties being in the possession of Spiritual men amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thousande markes by the yere whereof they affirmed to be in the sea
be taken in this mans case vnto whome there is no faith nor credite to bee geuen How be it this they wil vpon the fift day of Iune next Iohn Husse shal be brought againe to Constance and there haue frée libertie to speake his minde fréely before the Councell and that they would louingly heare him but in the end the matter fel out farre contrarie to this promise The same day the barons Lords presented a supplication to the Emp. requiring him to further the supplication put vp to the councel to which what answere the Emp. made it is not certain but likely it was by processe of the matter that the Emp. was fayne to breake his promise The Emperor breaketh promise with H. touching the safeconduct which he promised Husse by reason as they pretended that no defence of safeconduct might be geuen vnto him that was suspected or iudged to be an heretike The fift day of Iune the Cardinals c. in the Couent of the Franciscans in Constance purposed in the absence of I. Husse to haue condemned him in those articles which they had drawen against him but for a Notarie named I. Meadoniewitz who loued Iohn Husse and went to M. Vencelat de Duba and Iohn de Clum and told them the matter who went and made report thereof to the Emperor The Emp. vnderstanding their intēt sent Lewes the countie Palatine of Heydelberge and the L. Frederike Burgraue of Noremberg to signifie vnto them which ruled the coūcel that nothing should be done in the cause of I. H. before it were hard with equity that they would sēd him al such articles as were laid against the sayd Husse which were either false or Hereticall and he would do so much that the said Articles should be examined by good and learned men Then according to the Emperours will the iudgement of the principals of the councell was suspended vnto such time as the said Husse himselfe were present Now Iohn Husse beyng brought forth beginning to answere Husse beginneth to answer for himselfe scarse had he opened his mouth but they all began to cry out against him that he had not leasure to speake one word besides some did outrage in words against him other some spitefully mocked him so that he seing himselfe ouerwhelmed with this rude barbarous noise that it profited nothing to speake he determined finally to hold his peace kéepe silence After that time they cried he is dumbe he is dumbe thinking they had won the field this is a signe he consenteth to these his errours But some more moderate then the rest misliking the dealing departed from the councell for that present and appointed to méete there againe the morrow to procéed in iudgement The next day which was the 7. of Iune in which the Sunne was almost wholy eclipsed somewhat after about 7. of the clocke the same flocke assembled againe in the cloister of the Friers minorites and by their appointmēt Iohn Husse was brought before them Husse appeereth againe accompanied with a great number of armed men thether went also the Emp. whom M. De Duba and Clum and the notarie named Peter did follow to sée what the end might be When they were come thether they heard the accusation of Michaell de Causis who first obiected against him the matter of reall presence that hée should mainteine after the wordes of consecration there remayned materiall bread which article Iohn Husse denied that euer hée mainteyned Vpon that matter there grew dispute among them Then was there read an article wherin was obiected that he mainteined Wicklifs errors which he also denied Besides diuerse false accusations were brought against him which doone and Palletz hauing endeuoured asmuch against him as malice would serue Iohn Husse was committed to the custody of the Bishop of Rigen vnder whom Ierom of Prage was also prisoner but before hée was led away the Cardinall of Cambray exhorted him to submit himselfe vnto the Councell and so did also the Emperour which if hée refused to doo he said he would sooner make the fire with his owne hands to burne him then he would suffer him to hold such opinions c. And so hauing thanked the Emperour for the safeconduit Husse not suffered to proceede in his answere and procéeding farther to make answere he was cut of and led away with the sergeants The morrow after which was the 8. of Iune the same company assembled againe at the Franciscans in this assembly was Iohn Husse De Duba De Clum and Peter the notary his friends In which assembly there were read against Husse 39. 39. articles against Husse articles the which they said were drawen out of his bookes Husse acknowledged all those that were faithfully collected of which sort there were but a fewe as That their is but one vniuersall Church the company of the predestinate That Paule nor Peter were euer mēbers of the Diuell although some their acts did resemble the malignant Church That no true member of the Church doth at any time fall away from the body That the Predestinate is alwaies a member of the Church although not in present iustice That there is no sensible signe that cā make a man the member of the Vniuersall Church That a reprobate man neuer is a member of the Vniuersall church That Iudas was neuer a true Disciple That the congregation of the Predestinate whether they bée in the state of grace or not according vnto present Iustice is the holy vniuersall Church That Peter neuer was neyther is the head of the vniuersall church That if he that is called the vicar of Christ doo not walke according to Christ he is the messenger of Antichrist That all those that vse simonie doo not know the duties of the keies and censures of the church That the papall dignitie is sprong from the Emperours authority That no man would reasonably affirme that any man is the head of any particular Church That it ought not to be beléeued that the Pope may be the head of anie particular Church vnlesse he be predestinate or ordained of God That the Popes power of Vicarship is but vaine Articles auowed of Husse if he do not conform his life according to Iesus Christ That the Pope is most holy onely if he doe follow Christ in humility gentlenes patience c. That the Cardinals are not the true successors of the apostles of Christ except they fashion themselues to the kéeping of Christs cōmandements That ecclesiasticall censure ought not to procéede to execution of death That the nobles of the world ought to compel the ministers of the church to kéepe the law of Iesus Christ That the Cleargies ecclesiastical obedience is inuented without warrant of the scriptures That he appealed from the Pope to Christ and did not estéeme the Popes curses That a vitious man liueth vitioustly and a godly man godlily That if a minister be wrongfully forbidden to preach
he ought not to obey for any commandement of power to the contrarie because it is a worke not of indifferency but of expresse commandement The next article was almost one with this That the ecclesiasticall censures are antichristiā which Husse denied to be vttred in that form That there ought no interditement or curse to be appointed vnto the people And these were the articles both alleadged out of his booke of the Church and by himselfe auouched before them Besides these there were other articles brought against him among which were 19. that brought him into prison That Paul according to present iustice was a blasphemer but the childe of God by predestination That Christ more loueth a predestinate man being sinful then a reprobate in what grace soeuer he be for the time That al sinful according to presēt iustice are not faithful That the words of Christ touching binding and losing except they bee well vnderstood bring much feare or much presumption That the binding and loosing by God is simply and plainly the principall That priests doe onely heap vp those things out of the scriptures which serue for their bellies That the Popes power when he doth wickedly is not to be feared That an euil Pope is not the successor of Peter but of Iudas That the Pope is the beast spoken of in the Apocalipse This he denied to haue béen vttered by him That it is lawfull to preach notwithstanding the Popes inhibition That the Popes commandement béeing not agréeable to the Gospel is not to be obeyed That the Cleargy and Laitie may iudge of the works of prelats That God himselfe doth suspend euery wicked priest from his ministery That the Cleargie supplanteth the Laye people c. To these Articles aboue mentioned were other also annexed which the Parisiens had set downe against him to the number of 19. The chiefe author wherof was one Gerson Chancellour of the Vniuersitie of Paris wherevnto hée had no time to answere Now when the foresaid articles were read with their testimonies the cardinal of Cambray with the rest exhorted Ioh. Husse to submit himself to the councel to suffer patiently that they would determine which was that he shold confesse himselfe to haue erred in the articles promise by oath neither to teach nor mainteine them moreouer openly recant all of them To this the Emp. moued him also with the rest to whom he answered that whatsoeuer were repugnāt to the scriptures being so proued vnto him he would recāt renounce otherwise durst he not do against his conscience after much debating Husse will not recant many false accusations Iohn Husse was caried to prison again Ioh. de Clum following cōforting him who after he was carried away the Emp. mightily inueyed against him The Emperor against Husse incited the Councel against him and his scholer Hierom of Prage to all seuerity as also against his friends and fauourers and so they departed out of the cloister and brake vp the assembly for that time The day before his condemnation which was the sixt of Iuly the Emperour Sigismund sent vnto him foure Bishops with M. Vincelat de Duba and Iohn de Clum to vnderstand of him what he would doo and when he was brought out to them and his minde demaunded he deliuered his resolution that he was ready to be reformed if it could be prooued by the scriptures that he had erred Which the Bishops counted an arrogant answere and commaunded him to be carried to prison againe The next day the Emperour with all the spirituall and temporall Lords held a generall Session in the head church of the city of Constance in which Iohn Husse was disgraded condemned deliuered to the ciuil power Husse disgraded condemned and deliuered to the seculars When Ioh. Husse was brought thither he fell downe vpon his knees prayed a long time In the meane while the B. of Lundy went vp and made a sermon when his sermon was ended the Procurer of the Councell rising vp named Henricus de Pyro required that the processe of the cause of Iohn Husse might be continued so procéed vnto the definitiue sentence then they alleadged other articles against him And last of all that he should say there should be a fourth person in the diuinitie whereto Iohn Husse saide O miserable and wretched man which am forced and compelled to feare such blasphemie slander Afterward the article was read how he appealed to Christ and that by name was called hereticall Whereunto Iohn Husse answered O Lord Iesu Christ whose word is openly condemned in this Councell vnto thée againe I make my appeale who H. appealeth to Christ when thou wast euill intreated of thine enemies diddest make thine appeale vnto God thy father committing thy cause to a most iust Iudge that by thy example we also being oppressed with manifold wrōgs iniuries should flie vnto thée Last of al was read the article touching the contempt of his excommunicatiō wherto after he had yelded a reasonable lawful answere one of the iudges read the definitiue sentence against him When the sentence and iudgement against him was ended Husse prayeth for his enemies is derided knéeling downe vpon his knées he said O Lord Iesu Christ forgiue mine enemies by whom thou knowest that I am falsly accused and that they haue vsed false witnesse and slanders against mée forgiue them I say for thy great mercies sake This his praier the greater part especially of the Priests derided At the last the 7. bishops disgraded him euery one taking a péece from him when they came to the rasing of his shauen crowne before the Bishops would go in hand with it there fell a great contentiō among them with what instrument it should be done with a razor or a paire of shieres The courage of Husse In the meane season Iohn Husse turning toward the Emperour said I maruel much that they being all of like cruell mind Cruelty of the bishops against Husse and stomake yet they cannot agrée of their kind of crueltie Notwithstanding at the last they agreed to cut of the skin of his head with a paire of shieres which being done they caused to be made a certaine crowne of paper almost a cubite high in the which were painted 3. ougly diuels of a wonderfull ougly shape and this title set ouer their heads Heresiarcha The which when he saw he saide My Lord Iesu Christ for my sake did weare a crown of thorns why should not I then for his sake againe weare this light crowne be it neuer so ignominious Truely I will doe it and that willingly When it was set vpon his head the Bishops said now we committe thy soule to the deuill But I said Ioh. Husse lifting his eyes toward the heauens doe committe my spirite vnto thy handes O Lord Iesu Christ to thée I commēd my soule which thou hast redéemed So after hee was committed to
nothing was said thereto But vpon the necke of this ensued the condemnation of the Duchesse and within six yeres after the destruction of the Duke himselfe Anno 1445. H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterbury died by whom the Ladie Eleanor the Duchesse was condemned in S. Steuens Chappel at Westminster Pennance for penāce to beare a taper through Chepesyde thrée sundry times and afterward outlawed to the I le of Man vnder the custodie of Sir Iohn Standley knight This Henrie Chichelesley builded in his time 2. Colledges in Oxford the one called Alsoln colledge Alsoln and Bernard Colledge of Oxford and the other called Bernard colledge About the yeare 1447. Henry Bewford Cardinall and William de la poole duke of Suffolke with the Quéen conspired duke Humfreyes death deuised how to trappe him and for the more speedy furtherance thereof a parliament was sommoned to be kept at Berry far from the citizens of London whither resorted all the Péeres of the Realme and amongest them the Duke of Glocester who on the second day of the Session was by the Lord Beumond high constable of England being accompanied with the duke of Buckingham and others arested apprehended Duke Humf. imprisoned and put in prison and vpon the same all his seruauntes put from him of whom 32 of the principall being also vnder the arrest were dispersed into diuers prisons After this arrest thus done and the duke put into ward the night after saith Hall sixe nightes saith Fabian and Polychronicon he was found dead in his bedde the twenty fourth of February D. Humfrey found dead in prison and his Bodie shewed vnto the Lordes and commons as though hée had béene taken naturally with some suddaine disease This was the end of the good Duke after he had politikely by the space of 25. Good Duke Humfrey yéeres gouerned this realme The next day after the Cardinall died an 1448. in great impatiencie saying fie will not death be hyred nor will mony doo nothing c. The desperate Cardinall Mary Magdalens colledge in Oxford After the Cardinall succéeded William Wainfleet in the Bishopricke of Winchester who founded the colledge of Mary Magdalene in Oxford Anno 1450. William de la Poole beyng accused of treason to the land and indeuouring to flie into Fraunce was encountred with a ship of warre belonging to the tower whereby hée was taken and was brought into Douer rode and there on the side of a shipboat one strake off his head and this ende had the other of the good Dukes enimies The yéere 1450. printing was first inuented by one Ioh. Faustus a goldsmith dwelling first at Argentine afterward a Citizen of Mentz Printing inuented who perceiuing the inuention to come wel to passe made one Iohn Guttemberg Peter Scafford of his counsell binding them by oath to kéepe silence for a while After fiue yéeres Iohn Guttemberg Copartner with Faustus beganne then first to broch the matter at Strasborough Vlricus Han in Latin called Gallus first brought it to Rome This printing was after the inuention of gunnes which were inuented in Germanie an 1380. 130. yeres Printing later then gunnes 130. yeres Anno 1453. Constantinus Paleologus being Emperour of Constantinople the great Citie of Constantinople was taken by the Turke Mahumet after the siege of 54. dayes which siege began in the beginning of Aprill Within the citie beside the Citizens were but onely 6000. Constantinople taken by the Turkes rescuers of the Gréekes and 3000 of the Venetians Genowayes Against these Mahumet broght an army of 400000. collected out of the Countries and places adioyning néere about as out of Grecia Illyrica Wallachia Dardanis Triballis Bulgaris out of Bithinia Galatia Lidia Cicilia and such other which places had yet the names of Christians thus one neyghbour for luker sake helped to destroy another One neighbor destroyeth an other for gayne The Emperour Palaeologus séeing no way but to flée making toward the gate either was slayne or troden downe with multitude The citie beyng thus got the Turkes sacking and ranging about the streetes houses and corners did put to the sword most vnmercifully whosoeuer they found Cruelty of the Turkes both aged and yoong matrons virgins children and infants sparing none the Noble matrons virgins were horribly rauished the goods of the citie and treasures in houses the ornaments in Churches were all sacked and spoyled the pictures of Christ opprobriously handled in despite of Christ The spoile and hauocke of the citie lasted thrée dais together These things thus being done and the tumult ceassed after thrée daies Mahumetes the Turke entereth into the Citie and first calling for the heads and ancients of the Citie such as he found to be left aliue he cōmanded to be mangled and cut in pieces It is also saide as the authour reporteth that in the feasts of the Turkes honest matrones and virgins and such as were of the kings stocke after other contumelies were hewen and cutte in pieces for their disport This end had the noble Citie Constantinople which continued before flourishing equallie with Rome 1120. yeres Ex. Hist Wittenberg Peucer After the death of Henrie Chichesley next succéeded Ioh. Stafford an 1445. who continued 8. yeres After him came Iohn Kemp anno 1453. who sate but thrée yeres Then succéeded Thomas Bursther In the time of which archbishop Raynolde Peacock bishop of Chichesley was afflicted by the Popes Prelates for his faith and profession of the Gospel and being cited vp to Lambeth was caused to recant these points That we are not bound by necessitie of Faith to beléeue that our Lord Iesus Christ after his death descended into hell That it is not necessarie to saluation to beléeue in the catholike church That it is not necessarie to saluation to beléeue the communion of Saints That it is not necessary to saluation to affirme the body materially in the Sacrament That the vniuersall Church may erre in matters which pertaine to faith That it is not necessary for the Church to hold that which euery generall councell shall ordaine With this Pecocke were diuerse mo condemned for heretikes and notwithstanding his recantation he was deteyned still in pryson where some say he was priuily made away by death Pope Nicholas 5. made Felix who renounced his Popedome vnto him a cardinall crowned Fredericke for working the feat and confirmed him to be full Emperour The Emp. not Emp. but king of the Romans before the pope confirmed him for before they be confirmed by the Popes they are not Emperours but are called kings of the Romanes This Pope for to get great summes of mony appointed a Iubile A Iubile in the yéere 1450. Also in his time one Math. Palmerius wrote a booke De Angelis in defending whereof hée was condemned by the Pope and burned at Crona Anno 1448. Ex Tritemio After him succéeded Calixtus 3. P. Calixtus who amongst diuers other things ordained both at noone
came thither with the Popes pardons Anno 1530. the Doctors and Friers of Louane and Colen condemned the bookes of Luther as hereticall against whom also Luther effectually defendeth himselfe and sheweth to the nobilitie of Germanie in another booke The yeerely mony that wēt out of Germany to Rome that the mony that goeth yéerely out of Germanie to Rome amounteth to 3000000. Florens Now a while after the coronation of the Emperour the Pope sendeth againe to Duke Fredericke requiring him to cause Luthers bookes to be burned and that hée would eyther sée Luther executed himselfe or send him fast bound to Rome To the Embassadours the Duke answered that before the matter were disputed and the cause made manifest hée might not with any equitie or honour procéede in such sort Two Cardinals notwithstanding tooke and burned Luthers bookes whereof he hearing Luther burneth the popes Decrees burned also as many of the Popes Decrées as he could get and the late Bull also set out against him openly and solemnly with a great number of people following him This was doone the 10. of December On Maunday thursday the Pope curseth Luther Pope curseth Luther and shortly after he hauing the Emperours pasport Luther appeereth at Wormes and beyng sent for also by him appéereth at an assembly at Wormes Anno one thousand fiue hundred and one and twentie about seuentéene dayes after Easter his friendes greatly dissuaded him to whom he answered as touching himself since he was sent for he was resolued to enter Worms in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ although he knew that there were as many Diuels Luthers courage as there are tiles to couer the houses at Wormes The fourth day after his repaire to Wormes at foure of the clocke in the afternoone he appéered before the imperiall maiestie Princes Dukes c. where Eckius aboue mentioned who was then B. of Triers generall officiall with a loud voice propounded vnto him in the name of the assembly two questions Eckius questions to Luther 1. Whether the bookes that went abroad in his name were his 2. Whether hée would recant them if they were his To the demaundes Luther answered that the bookes whose titles they had read vnto him hée did acknowledge and as for the second poynt hée craued respite of deliberation that hée might without preiudice of the woord of God and perill of his owne soule answere the interrogatorie which was graunted vnto him till the next day the same houre and then his opinion should not be in writing but pronounced by word of mouth Luthers books of three sortes The next day hée appéered and answered his Bookes were of thrée sortes The first in whiche hée simply declared the religion of Christian faith and good works which the popes Bull it self iustifieth and is not to be reuoked The second sort wherein he had inueighed against the papacie the crueltie exhortiō of the same which if he should reuoke it should adde more force to their tyrannie and open wide gates to their impietie The third sort which he had written was against priuate persons which laboured to mainteine the Romane tyranny and to withstand the true doctrine which hée had professed In which hée confessed hée might haue dealt not with such vehemencie of spirit yet that he could cal nothing of the same backe without preiudice of the cause Albeit he offred himself both to be shewed wherin he erred and to hearken to those that could giue reason and out of the scriptures to the contrary c. These wordes thus pronounced Eckius the Emperours prolocutor with a sterne countenance refused his answere as not direct and plaine Then Luther considering saith hée your soueraigne maiestie and your Honours require a plaine answere this I say and professe as resolutely as I may without doubting or sophistication that if I bee not conuicted by testimonie of the Scriptures and by probable reasons for I beléeue not the Pope nor generall Councels which haue erred many times and haue béen contrary to themselues my conscience is so bound and captiued in these Scriptures and worde of God which I haue alleadged that I may not Luthern answereth directly nor will not reuoke anie manner of thing considering it is not lawfull nor godlie to doe any thing against conscience Herevppon I stand and rest I haue not what els to answere God haue mercie vpon me To this answere Eckius replied againe as insufficient and indirect and fled to the councels but Luther replied and declared how they haue erred and were not méete to determine matters of faith The officiall againe answered that could not be prooued that the councels haue erred but Luther promised to proue it and now night approching the Lordes arose and departed Vpon Friday following the Emperour signified to the States of Germany by his letters that he minded to extirpate Martine Luther and his doctrine The munday following before supper The Emperor purposeth to roote out the Gospell the Archb. of Triers aduiseth Luther that on Wednesday next he shoulde appeare before him at nine of the cloake before dinner and assigned him the place Luther appeares where in the presence of the Archbishop Marques of Brandēburg Duke of Saxonie and other States Doct. Vocus the marques of Bades chaplaine exhorted Luther with a rhetorical oration to recant and spake in defence of the Councels To whom Luther replied that he spake not against al councels but that they might erre it appeared by the councell of Constance which condemned this article of Wickliffe the Church is the communion of the predestinate with other words more which being finished he was bid to stand aside and in the mean while the princes conferred sent for him againe and exhorted him To whom he answered except he were ouerthrown by the scriptures he might not yéeld with a safe conscience Afterward the Archbishop himselfe with gentle and courteous wordes exhorted Luther to submitte which would not be So that within a while after the Archb. officiall declared vnto Luther from the Emperour that hée should within 20. daies return home vnder his safeconduct from whence he came And the sixe twentith of April hee returned Luther returneth the Emperors Herald Gasper Sturm safely conducting him Afte this the Doctours and Schoole-men of Paris wrote against Luther and condemned his bookes and not long after The Emp. outlaweth Luther c. Charles the Emp. directeth a writte of outlawrie against Luther and all them that tooke his part commanding wheresoeuer he might bée gotten to apprehend him and his bookes to bee burned Vppon this Duke Fredericke conueyeth Luther away secretly by certaine faithfull Noble men in which time hee wrote among other Bookes one intituled De abroganda Missa De abroganda Missa dedicated to his companie of Augustine Friers who vppon that beganne to laye downe their priuate Masses This doctrine Wittemberg fauoureth Luther the Vniuersitie of Wittemberg
hée trusted he which gaue him grace not to deny the trueth would also giue him patience to abide the fire The same yéere Leonardus de Prato Leonardus de Prato going to Bar a towne in Burgondie from Dyion with two false brethren with whom he talked of religion was bewraied of them and burned Ioh. Taffingnon Also the same yéere Iohn Taffingnon Ioane his wife Simon Mareschall Ioan his wife William Michliot Iames Bonleraw and Iames Bretany of the citie of Langeres wer committed to the fire and suffered with great constancie especially Ioan Simons wife reserued to the last place because she was the yonger confirmed her husband and al the rest declaring that they should the same day be married to the Lord Iesus Pantal. Crisp alii Michael Mareschal c. The same yéere about the same time were Michael Mareschall Iohn Cam great Iohn Camus and Iohn Seraphin condemned by the Senate of Paris and there burned Ex eisdem Anno 1548. Octauian Blonds 1548 Octauiā Blōds a marchant of precious stones was first apprehended at Lions and there after a while confessing and standing to the maintenance of the trueth at length through importunitie of his parentes and friends gaue ouer his confession notwithstanding Gabriel of Sacconer presentener his persecutor not leauing him so appealed him vp to the high court of Paris where being asked touching his faith which of the two confessions hée would stand to he beeing admonished before of his fall and offence geuen said he would liue and die in his first confession and so was he condemned to be burned Crisp l. 6. Anno 1549. Hubert Cherrer 1549 H. Cherrer Taylor a young man of 19 yeres constantly suffred at Dyion for the testimony of the trueth notwithstanding all threatnings of persecutors or allurements of parents The same yere M. Florence Venot F. Venot after he had endured 4. yeres imprisonmēt at Paris where he suffered greeuous torments and among other had béen put in a brake like an Hipocras bagge that hee could neither stande nor lie seuen weekes together At length when there was a great shewe in Paris the king comming to the citie and diuers other martirs in sundrie partes of the Citie put to death he with his tongue cut out was brought to the execution of thē all And last of all in the place of Maulbert was burned the 9. of Iuly in the afternoone Crisp The same yeare also Anne Andebert A. Andebert an Apothecaries wife and a widow was burned at Orleance and condemned by the councel of Paris When the rope was put about her she called it her wedding girdle wherewith she should be maried to Christ Notable constancie and courage in a woman and being appointed to be burned vpō a Saterday she said On a Saterday was I first maried and on a saterday shal I be maried againe Ex Crisp The same yere when diuers were burned at Paris for a spectacle not long after the coronation of Henrie 2 among them was a poore taylor dwelling not farre of the kinge palace in S. Anthonies streete A poore tailor who for that he wrought vpon an holie day was clapt in prison and the matter béeing brought to the Court the poore taylor was presented euen before the king into the Palace where hee so couragiouslie behaued himselfe against Petrus Castellanus B. of Mascō whom the king willed to talke with this poore Taylor in his presence that the king seemed to muse with himselfe as one amazed so that least his behauiour should be any meanes to worke in the kings mind he was commaunded againe to the hands of the Officer and within few daies condemned by the high steward of the kings house to be burned aliue And so his execution was sharpe and cruell before the church of Saint Marie the king himselfe being present where it pleased God to geue such strength to his seruant in suffering that the beholding thereof did more astonish the king then all the other did before Io. Crisp Pantal. li. 7. The same yere was one Claudius Claudius burned at Orleance comming from Geneua to his Countrey for the Gospel Crisp The same yere the Councell of Paris condemned Leonard Galimard L. Galimard to be burned the same time that Leonard Venate suffered at Paris Also at Troys suffered Macaeus Morreow M. Morreow for the testimonie of the trueth Ex eod An. 1550. Ione Godean 1550 I. Godean and Gabriel Berardinus were burned being apprehended for rebuking a priest of swearing Gabriel began to shrinke for feare of torment yet being confirmed by the constant death of Ione recouered againe hauing first his tongue cut out was burned Eod. An. 1551. Thomas Spaāulinus 1551 T. Sanpaulinus a notable martir of 18. yeres of age for rebuking one that did sweare at Paris was suspected of Lutheranisme and so miserably racked in prison that he shoulde either forsake his opinion or confesse other of his religion through the setting on of one Mallard other Sorbonists that the sight thereof made Aubertus one of the Councell to turne his back and wéepe The young man when hee had made the Tormentors wearie with racking and yet would confesse none at laste was had to Maulbers place in Paris to be burned where he being in the fire was plucked vp againe vpon the gibet and asked whether he would turne Marueilous constancie To whom he said that he was in the way toward God and desired them to let him goe And so he ended his life Ibid. Anno 1551. Mauricius Secenate was burned in Prouence for the testimonie of the trueth who first answered in such sort that they had no great aduantage against him for which hée was so troubled in conscience that beyng afterward called before the iudge answered so directly that hée burned for the same Ex eodem The same yéere was Iohannes Put or de Puteo Iohannes Put. surnamed Medicus burned at Vzez in Prouence for the Sacrament of the Lords body Ibidem The same yéere at Lions was Claudius Mouerius Claudius Mouerius after much dangerous afflictions prisonments burned for the profession of the truth He was noted to be of so mild cōditions so constant and learned withall that certaine of the iudges could not forbeare wéeping at his death Anno 1552 Renat Poyet 1552 Renat Poyet the sonne of William Poyet which was chauncellor of Fraunce for the constant witnessing of the truth was burned at Salmure The same yéere Iohn Loyer Iohn Loyer and his seruaunt a yoong man comming from Geneua were taken by the way and had to Tholouse where they were both condemned When they were brought to the stake the yoong man first going vp began to wéepe the Maister fearing least hée should giue ouer ranne and comforted him so they began to sing as they were in the fire the Maister standing vpright to the stake shifted the fire from himselfe to his
euer before since the death of her husband vsed to go in mourning apparell A notable widdow but the same day going to burning she put on her French hood and decked her selfe in her best apparell as going to a new marriage Grauell Clinet were burned aliue Philip was strangled after she had a little tasted the flame with her féet and visage At the time of execution she neither changed colour nor countenaunce being of an excellent beautie Crisp lib. 6. Of the same company were Nicholas Cene a Physician brother to Phillip Cene aboue mentioned and Peter Gabart a sollicitour of processes about the age of thirtie yéeres the time of execution beyng come they had their tongues cut out and were drawen to the Suburbes of Saint Germane where they endured great torment for they were holden long in the ayre ouer a smal fire and their lower parts burnt of before their higher parts were much burned notwithstanding they endured constant to the end Bibles and testamēts burnt At the same time many Bibles and Testamentes were burnt Of the same number also Fredericke Danuile and Frauncis Rebizies Fredericke Danuile and Frauncis Rebizies scholers and neyther of them past twentie yéeres of age were burned at Paris the same yéere of our Lord 1558. They were examined thrée times of diuerse points of Poperie of the Church of the Sacrament of Purgatorie power of the Keies c. by the Sorbone doctors and Friers About the two and twentie day of October they were brought vp to a chamber in the castle to be racked that they might vtter the rest of the congregation Rebizies beyng drawne and stretched in the ayre cried come Lord and shew thy strength that man doo not preuaile c. After him they racked also his companion and then burnt them both at the place Maulbert in Paris one of them comforting another Worthy martyrs saying be strong my brother be strong Sathan away from vs. Of the same cōpany were also Rene Seaw Rene Seaw Iohn Almericke I. Almericke who were almost racked to death that Almericke could not go when he was called to the court to be iudged both of them died in prison constantly standing to the truth Ibidem About this time 1558. Villegaignon Villegaignon Lieutenant for the french K. after that he had a while professed the truth reuolted and in the land of Bresil where he had taken an Iland hée murdered and drowned in the Sea Iohn Bordell Iohn Bordel and Mathew Vermeille and Peter Hurdon for the profession of the truth There was a fourth Andrew de Feaw whō by allurements and threatninges he drew from the truth The same yeare Geffrey Varagle Geffrey varagle who before had said masse 17. yeres and was afterward a preacher in the valley of Angrogn was first strangled and then burned at Thuris in Piedmont by the kinges lieftenant He was questioned with about workes of supererogation iustification fréewill predestination confession satisfaction indulgences images purgatorie the Pope c. It is said that at the time of his burning a Doue was séene as is credibly reported of many flying and fluttering diuers times about the fire Crisp lib. 6. The same yeere also Benet Romane Benet Romane a mercer first being pitifully racked was hanged in the Aire and so burned at Draguinian in Prouence The fame of his constancy being known in the town Iudge Barbose a man blind ignorāt and no lesse deformed came to sée him asked what do they beleeue saith hee in any God at Geneua Romane loking vpon him said what art thou that so wretchedly dost blaspheme I am sayd he the ordinarie iudge of this place And who hath put thée said Romane so grosse deformed a person in such an office Thinkest thou we be infidels and no Christians And if the Deuils themselues do confesse a God suppose you that they of Geneua do deny their God no no we beléeue in God we inuocate his name and put all our trust in him Whereof Barbose tooke such indignation that he pursued him to the death There was great disputation after his death some said if good men had béene about him it had gone better with him and that those priestes and monkes which were about him were whoremaisters and infamous Other went away maruelling and disputing of his death and doctrine c. Crispine Anno 1558. Frauncis Viuax Francis Viuax was strangled and burned at Dyion beyng betraied by a Priest whose Sermon he reprehended and who pretēding friendship required farther conference which being appointed in the couent of the Iacobins there was he apprehended witnessed the truth by martirdome Anno 1559. Peter Arondeaw 1559 Peter Arondeaw being taken by the priestes at Rochel was conueyed to Paris and the 15 day of Nouēber was there burned quicke at the place called S. Iohn in Greue His chiefe accuser was one Monroy who was not long after stryken with an Apoplexie and died The Lieutenant also for causes of extortion was deposed within a while after Crisp lib. 6. The same yéere was Thomas Montard Tho. Montard being conuerted from a vitious life burned quick for the testimony of Iesus at Valencius because he said the God of the host was abhominable Crisp lib 6. The residue of the French martyrs Ann du Burg. ANn du Burg Councellour of Paris Andrew Coiffyer Iohn Isabew Iohn Iudet martyrs of Paris Gefferey Guerneis Iohn Morell Iohn Berbeuill Peter Cheuet Marin Marie Margaret Riche Adrian Daniffe Giles de court Phillip Parmentier Marin Rosseaw Peter Milot Iohn Berfoy besides the tumult of Amboise The tumult of Amboise Marlorate the persecution of Vassay Austen Marlorat maister Mutonis The residue of Dutch Martyrs IAmes de Lo of the I le of Flaunders Iohn de Binsons at Antwerp Peter Pettit Iohn Denis Simon Guilmyn Simeon Herme of the I le of Flanders Iohn de Lannoy at Tourney Alexander Dayken of Brainchastell William Cornu at Henalt Anthonie Carou of Cambray Renandine de Franckvile Certaine suffered at Tourney Michel Robibert of Arras Nichaif de la Tombe at Tourney Roger du Mont. A note of Spanish Martirs Anno 1540. Frances Sauromanus 1540 F. Sauromanus a Spanishe Marchant so profited in one moneth by hearing of M. Iacobus sometime Prior of the Augustine Friers in Antwerp and afterward Preacher at Breame that hee exhorted diuers of his friendes at Antwerpe by letters bewayling their ignorance He wrote also to Charles the Emperor requiring him that he would reforme the miserable corruption of religion in Spaine And besides this he wrote a Catechisme and diuers other Treatises in the Spanish tongue This Frances comming to Antwerp and purposing there to conferre of matters of religion and to instruct his Countreymen was by them betrayed and boldly confessed his faith and religion and reasoned with the Friers with such zeale that the Spaniards thinking he had not béene wel in his wittes conueied him into
sparing none Before he came to Merind he rāsakt burnt certaine townes namely La Roche S. Stephens ville Laure Lormarin la motte Cabrieretter S. Martin Pipu The cruelty of Antichrist and other places mo notwithstanding the arrest onely extended to Merindole where the most of the inhabitants were murthered and slayne without any resistance women and maidens rauished women with child and little infants most cruelly murdered the paps of many women which gaue sucke to their children cut of and the children staruing at the breasts of there dead mothers such crueltie as was neuer before séene The Merindolians séeing all on a flaming fire about them left their houses with women and children and other few and with them certaine ministers of their Churches Miniers in the meane time had deuided his army into two parts marching with the one partie himselfe towards Merindoll and hauing knowledge by espiall whether the Merindolians were fledde hée sent the other part of his armie to set vppon them on a sudden who came and found them assembled at prayers and spoyled them of all that they had pulling their garmentes from their backes Popish crueltie some they rauished some they whipped and scourged some they sold away like cattle c. The women were in number about fiue hundred In the meane time Miniers came to Merindoll where hée found none but a yoong man named Maurice Blanc Maurice Blanc who had yéelded himselfe to a Souldier promising him for his raunsome 2. French crownes Miniers would haue had him away by force but it was answered the souldier ought not to loose his prisoner Miniers therefore paying the two crownes himself tooke the yoong man caused him to be tied to an Oliue trée shot through with harquebushes and so cruelly martired the yoong man still calling on God so hée razed Merindoll and laid it euen with the ground Merindoll razed and layed euen with the ground When he had so done he laid siege to Cabriers which whē he could not ouercome by force he promised thē fairly if they would let him enter in swearing hée would harme none of them wherevpon the people let him in who when he was once entered Miniers breaketh his oth with Cabriers falsified his oth and first picked out about thirtie men caused them to be caried to a certaine medow bound and there to bée miserably cut and hewen in péeces of his Souldiers hée exercised also great cruelty ouer the women and caused fortie of them to be taken of whom many were with childe and put them into a barne full of hey and straw and caused it to be set on fire at foure corners kéeping them that would breake out with pikes and halberts there was a Souldier which being moued with pittie at the lamentation of the women opened a dore to let them out but as they were comming forth the cruell tyrant caused them to be slaine and cut in péeces opening their bellies Meruailous crueltie that their children might fall out whom they trode vnder their féete many were fledde into the wineseller of the Castle and many hidde themselues in caues whereof some were caried into the medow and there stripped naked were slaine other some were bound two and two together and caried into the hall of the Castle where they were slaine by the Captaines reioycing in their buchery That doone this tyrant commaunded captain Iohn de Guy with a band of ruffians to go into the church wher was a great number of women children and yoong infants to kill all that he found there he although at first refusing yet being threatned performed the same The number of them which were slaine 1000. slaine was a thousand persons men women and children the infants which escaped their furie were baptized againe of their enemies In token of this ioly victory the Popes officers caused a piller to be erected in the place of Cabriers in which was engrauen the yeare and daye of sackyng the towne by Iohn Miniers Lord of Oped and chéefe president of the Parlement of Prouence In this meane season they of Merindoll and Cabriers which had fled to the mountaines being in great necessitie of victuals procured certaine men which were in fauour with Miniers to intreate him they might depart safely onely with their liues although they had no more but their shirts to couer their nakednes Whervnto he answered not one of them shal escape my hands I will send them to dwell in hell among the diuels After this there was a power sent vnto Cossa Cossa destroyed which likewise they ouerran and committed there great slaughter Many of the inhabitants fled away and went into an Orchard where the souldiers rauished the women maidens and when they had kept them there a day and a night they handled them so beastly that they died shortly after They which escaped to the woods and went wandring by mountains were taken and set in gallies or els were slaine outright many which hid themselues in rocks and dark caues some were famished some smoothered with fire smoke put to thē And this was the destruction of Merindol Cabriers This cause was afterward in the time of Henry the second fiftie times pleaded to and fro by one called Aubrius Aubrius against Minerius and another named Robertus the defendant but it could not be determined and Minerius was let out of prison and restored to his possessions and libertie agayne vpon condition made to Charles Cardinall of Loraine that he should expell the true professors out of al prouinces which he after his restoring practised accordingly Gods iudgmēt vpon Minerius other persecutors till being stricken of God he died of a rotting in his guts his entrals being eaten with wormes yelding a horrible stēch Lewis de Vanie brother in law to the president the brother son in law to Peter Durand maister Butcher of the town of Aix flew one another vpon a strife that fel betwixt them and on them the same day the judge of Aix who accompanied Minerius in the same persecution as he returned home going ouer the riuer of Durance fell of his horse and was drowned Pantal. The histories of the persecutions and warres against the Waldenses in the valleies of Angroigne Lucern S. Martin Perouse and other in the countrie of Piedmount from the yeere 1555. till the yeere 1561. ALbeit these people had before this time certaine to preach the word of God minister the sacraments vnto them priuatly yet in the yere of our Lord 1555. in the moneth of August the Gospel was openly preached in Angroign for which cause they built thē a church in the mids of Angroign wherin assemblies were made sermons preached It happened at that time that one Ioh. Martin of Griqueras a myle from Angroign which vaunted euery where that he would slitte the ministers nose of Angroign was assaulted with a wolfe which bit of his nose that he
bring them into order againe and yet no creature followed them On the saturday morning the army mustered in the medow ground néere to Angroign they of Angroigne had sent certaine to kéepe the passages and stop the army that they should not enter if it were possible the number was but few who perceiuing their enemies prepared to fight prayed first of all to God to assist them When they perceyued their enemies comming toward them the combat began and endured a long time in the passages of Angroigne At length the Waldois perceyuing themselues oppressed with the multitude of their enemies retyred to the toppe of the mountaines where they defended themselues till night When they had found a place where they might withstand their enemies still pursuing them they turned themselues and slue diuerse of them and hurt many When the euening came the enemies rested went about to encāp thēselues there to rest al night Which things when the Angroigniās perceiued they fell to praier but the enemies flouted them then the people deuised a policie to send a drum into the valleis hard by as they were making their praier vnto God the drum sounded in the valley the Lord of Trinitie caused his souldiers which were about to encāpe themselues to remoue thence which was a great refreshing to the poore people Many of the enemies that day were slaine many hurt of the which very few escaped of the Angroignians that day were but thrée slaine one hurt who was after healed well againe The L. of Trinitie after ward placed garisons there much molested the Angroigmans after they had cōmended thēselues to god by praier they sent vnto them of Perouse of S. Martin and of Pragella for aid sent them all the helpe that they were able The next day after there came letters to Angroigne frō the L. of Trinitie in which he excused the outrage that was doone and required them to shew themselues obedient to the Duke They againe cōplaining of their wrongs offered thēselues with all obedience to be reformed by the word of God where they had erred beséeching him and all the Lords of Piedmont to be their intercessors to the duke in this behalf Vpon Munday being 4. of Nouember the L. of Trinitie sent his army to Villers Tailleret the lesser cōpany ascended toward Villers the people séeing their enemies approch after they had with praier cōmēded thēselues to God strongly withstood them slue many many also were hurt some fled The other cōpany ascended toward Tailleret although they of the place were but few in nūber that part of the army greater yet making their praiers commending their cause to God they likewise defended thēselues valiātly In the meane season they of Villers emboldned by their late victory came to assist their neighbors being assembled together couragiously pursued their enemies put them to flight In this pursuit it chaunced that this poore people by an ambush of their enimies which came another way were suddenly enclosed and like to be destroied but yet by Gods helpe they all escaped and onely thrée hurt which were soone cured again on the enemies side there were so many slaine that they lay together by cartlodes The same day also 17. of Roccapiata put to flight a great number of the inhabitants of Sanson néere to Roccapiata that went thether and spoiled a rich man there of all that he had After that the L of Trinity had receiued the request and letters of the Angroignians he sent his secretary Gastant to moue the people to prosecute a supplication to the Duke promising that he would returne with his armie In which while they of Angroign perceiued that a part of the armie ascended the hil of Tailleret and the other part had already gottē the way which led to the medow of Tower by which meanes they of Angroign might easily be enclosed they sent certain to kéep the way who encountering with their enimies obtained the victorie not one of them being so much as hurt that day This trechery the Lord of Trinity excused putting the fault in them of Tailleret who had slain certaine of his men in the high way The 9. of Nouember he vsed the like communication as before touching an agréement sending for certaine of Angroign to that intent as he pretended whom he perswaded in token of obedience to laye downe their armour c. Which when they had done he falsified his promise his soldiers in the meane time spoiling their armour A few daies after he sēt his secretary Gastāt to Angroign to make a ful resolution of the agréement that the people of Angroign shold sue for grace to the Duke in that they had taken vp armour for their defence that they should humbly beséech him to giue thē liberty to continue in their religion they professed c. Whervnto they of S. Ioh of Roccapiata of S. Bartholomew of Perouse with other of the valley of Perouse agréed Now while they were treating of this agréement the L. of Trinity vexed cruelly them of Tailleret pretending the cause for that they came not to this agréement for which cause his souldiers spoyled and sacked most lamentably diuers daies together Al which being done the L. of Trinity caused the chiefe of the people to assemble together and demanded 20000. crowns toward the charges of the Dukes maintenāce of his army against thē in time past But by the means of his secretary Gastant who was promised an 100 for a bribe 4000. were cut of so they graunted 16. thousand whereof the Duke released the one halfe The poore people being required to pay the 8000. presently were faine to sell that they had for a little to make a summe and although the money were paide yet the army retired not but demāded anew forced them to promise the payment of 8000. crownes which the Duke released This done he went about to slea their ministers but chiefly the minister of Angroign whom when they could not gette they spoiled his house and burnt his bookes and spoiled 40. houses in Angroign broke their milles and carried away the corn and meale which they found there and to be short the practises of cruelty shewed vpon the poore people continually was very strange as for example they tooke at Tailleret Odul Gemet Odull Gemer a man of sixtie yéers of age and put him to a cruel death for when they had bound him they tooke a kind of thing called in French Escarboth and put them to his nauell couering them with a dishe which within short space pearced into his bellie and killed him The messengers which were sent to the Duke after they had béene detained there 6. wéeks and cruelly handled notwithstanding the miseries sustained before brought a new commaundement that al must go to masse wherevppon they sent and declared their distresse to them of the same profession in Daulphin who hearing therof ioyned themselues
put downe in England In this Parlament also the decrées and prouinciall constitutions were committed to be examined of 32. persons chosen by the king out of the higher and lower house and at their discretions to be abrogated or to stande in strength Also it was decréed that the Cleargie of this Realme submitting themselues to the king should and did promise in verbo Sacerdotij neuer to assemble their Conuocations without the kings writte No Conuocations without the kings writ nor to enact or to execute such constitutions without his Royall assent Moreouer that no person should appeale prouoke or sue to the Court of Rome vnder paine of prouisures prouisure or premunire Item that no Annuales and first fruites of Bishops and Archbishops should be paid to Rome for any Bulles Bréeues Palles c. Item that the king should nominate the person to be elected into any Ecclesiasticall dignitie and so the Prior and Couent Deanrie Chapter of those Cathedrall Churches where the Seate was vacant by the vertue of the kings letters missiues shoulde within 12. dayes choose that person nominated by the king c. Moreouer it was decréed against all intollerable exactions of the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peterpence procurations fruites c. And finally in this Parlament it was consulted concerning the lawfull succession of the Crowne in ratifying it to the heires of the kings body and Q. Anne In which Parlament also the degrées of marriage were plainly set out according to the word of God Not long after the king required an oath of the Spiritualty to be made vnto him abolished that which they were woont to make to the Pope In which only they acknowledged the king to be Supreme head Which oath Sir Thomas Moore misliking was enforced to resigne vp his Chauncellorship The oath of the Cleargie to the Pope abolished Moore resignth the Chauncellourship and to deliuer vp the great Seale of England into the K. hands After whom succéeded Sir Th. Awdley knight who fauourably inclined to the doctrine of the Gospell Not long after the king procéeded to marrie the Ladie Anne Bulleine who was a speciall fauourer of the gospell The K. renoūceth the Pope and so was diuorced both from the Lady Dowager and the Pope together The Princesse Dowager after the diuorce procured from the Pope an interdictment of the king and the whole Realme Anno 1533. 1533. Lady Elizabeth borne Quéene Anne was crowned and not long after her coronation the 7 of September she was brought a bed and deliuered of a faire Ladie named at the Font Elizabeth the Archbishop of Caunterburie being Godfather and the olde Dutches of Norfolke and the olde Marchionesse of Dorcet widowes Godmothers After this the Monkes and Friers and other euill disposed persons feigned that God had reueyled to a Nunne Elizabeth Barton whom they called the holy maid of Kent The holy maid of Kent that if the king procéeded in that diuorce he should not be K. of this Realme one moneth after and in the reputation of God not one day nor houre This dissimulation was found out by the diligence of the Archbishoppe of Caunterburie the Lord Cromwell and Master Hugh Latimer and she condemned and put to death with certaine of her counsell in the moneth of Aprill anno 1533. as Henrie Golde Bacheler of diuinitie Richard Master Parson of Aldington Edwarde Bocking Monke of Caunterburie Iohn Dearing Monke of Caunterburie Hugh Ritch Frier Warden of the Graye friers of Caunterburie Richarde Risbie attaint of treason by acte of Parlament and so put to death Others of the same conspiracie as Fisher bishop of Rochester Thomas Golde Thomas Laurence Edward Thwates Iohn Adeson and Thomas Abell being conuicte and attainted of mesprision were condemned to prison and forfeyted their goods and possessions to the king This yere 1533. one Pauier or Pauie Towneclarke of the Citie of London a notorious enemy of Gods trueth and a verie busie fellow about the burning of Rich. Bayneham hanged himselfe Gods iudgement he saide rather than he woulde sée the scripture in English to be read of the people he would cutte his owne throate but hee made his choise rather of an halter About this time also died Doctor Foxforde Chauncellour to the B. of London a common butcher of Gods saints who was the condemner of all those which were put to death troubled or abiured vnder Stokesley throughout all the Dioces of London He died sitting in his chaire sodainlie his belly being burst his guttes falling out before him About the same time also died Wil. Warham Archbishop of Canterburie whom succeeded Th. Cranmer Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie This yere at Dunkirke in Flaunders a writte of Excommunication was set vp against the king for the diuorce which beeing knowen vnto the king hee caused to be discharged a great sort of the princesse Dowagers seruaunts and they that remained still were sworne to serue her as a Princesse onely and not as Quéene and because she refused to be serued of such she remained with a very few liuing after this sort the space of two yéeres An. 1534. Vpon the iij. of February the parliament was assembled againe wherein was made an act of succession whereto euery person should be sworne Preaching against the popes supremacie During this parlament time euery Sunday preached at Paules crosse a bishop which declared the pope not to be head of the Church Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester sir Thomas Moore and Doctor Nicholas Wilson parson of S. Thomas Apostles in London refused the oath to the Act of succession made then wherfore they were sent to the Tower In the end the Doctor was content to dissemble the matter and so escaped but the other two remained obstinate The third of Nouember this parliament was again assembled in which the Pope and Cardinals with his pardons and indulgences were wholly abolished The Popes pardons wholly abolished to the abolishing whereof and to the ratifying of the kings title of supreme head Stephen Gardiner gaue his othe so did Iohn Stokesley B. of London likewise Edward Lee Archbishop of Yorke Cuthbert B. of Duresme and all the rest of the Bishops in like sort to this title agréed also the sentence of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Also Ed. Bonner then Archdeacon of Leicester Gardiners booke de obedientia with Bonners notes was of the same iudgemēt and prefixed his preface to Steuen Winchesters booke de obedientia of the same argument To this also agreed the whole Cleargie of the Church of England and subscribed with the handes of the Bishoppes and other learned men to the number of 46. doctors of diuinitie and of both lawes Anno 1535. Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore were executed for refusing the oath of supremacie which all the other Bishoppes and Cleargie yéelded vnto one was executed the xxij of Iune the other the vj. of Iulie The ruine of Religious houses
Shortly after the ouerthrowe of the Pope by little and little began the ruine of the Abbeys and Religious houses and the same yéere in the moneth of October the king hauing then Thomas Cromwell of his counsell sent Doctor Lee to visit the Abbeies Priories and Nunneries in all England and to set at libertie all such religious persons as desired to be frée and all other that were vnder the age of xxiiij yéeres prouiding withall that such Moonkes Chanons and Friers as were dismissed shoulde haue giuen them by the Abbot or Prior in stéede of their habite a secular priestes gowne and xl shillings of money and likewise the Nunnes to haue such apparell as secular women did then commonly vse and suffered to goe where they woulde At which time also from the saide Abbeies and monasteries were taken the chiefe Iewels and and reliques Chiefe iewels and reliques taken from the Abeies After these things done of the king against the Pope hée endeuoured by al meanes to entertaine the fauour friendship of other princes as the Emperour the king of France the king of Scottes to whom hee purgeth himselfe concerning his diuorce and lawfulnesse of his marriage with the Ladie Anne and declareth the manifolde iniuries which the Pope had done vnto him and how hée deferred the cause of his diuorce and second marriage which he did fearing the malice of the Pope and prelates least they shoulde stirre them vp to warre against him which they laboured by all meanes to bring to passe especially Cardinall Poole plaied his part therein Anno 1536. Wil. Tindall 1536 Wil. Tindall burned who translated the new Testament in English and the fiue bookes of Moses with many other godlie woorkes was burned at the towne of Filforde in Flaunders by vertue of the Emperors decrée made in the assembly at Auspurgh He was first strangled and after consumed with fire At the stake he cried with a feruent zeale and lowde voice Lord open the king of Englands eies Tindall was borne aboute the borders of Wales and brought vp from a child in the Vniuersitie of Oxford where he increased in knowledge of artes and tongues From thence he went to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge where hauing abode a while hée departed and resorted to one Maister Welch a knight of Glocestershire and was there Schoolemaister to his children where he so behaued himselfe boldly in disputing with Abbots Deanes Archdeacons c. that he was faine to depart that coūtrie Such was the grudge of the priests against him especially after they perceiued by his means that they were not so welcome to M. Welches house as in times past From master Welche Tindall commeth vp to London sought to serue Tunstall B. of London but being refused of him he aboad notwithstanding in London the space almost of a yéere finding no place in England to translate the New testament hauing some aid prouision ministred vnto him of Humfrey Monmouth certaine other godly men Tindall takes in hand the translation of the New testament he departed into Germanie and there tooke in hand the translation of the New testament which he finished first Anno 1527. After he had continued a while in Germanie as in Saxonie where he had conference with Luther and other learned men he came downe into the Low countries and had his moste abiding in the towne of Antwerpe vntill the time of his apprehension whiche was about one whole yéere in the house of Thomas Poynes an Englishman who kepte an house of English merchants Aboute which time came thither one out of England whose name was Henry Phillips his Father beyng customer of Poole This Phillips grewe into acquaintance with Tindall and pretended much fauour vnto him After this Phillips goeth from Antwerpe to the court of Bruxels which is from thence xxiiij English miles the King hauing then no Ambassadour there and procured to bring from thence with him to Antwerpe that procurour generall which is the Emperours atturney with other certaine officers Within a while after Poynes siting at his doore Phillips man came vnto him and asked whether M. Tindall were there and said his maister would come to him and so departed Poines within iij. or iiij daies being departed out of the towne to Barrow xviij miles from Antwerp Phillips cōmeth again to Poines wife asketh for M. Tindall and what good chéere there was in the house whether he would dine with him that doone he goeth out to prouide and set the officers which he had brought from Bruxels in the stréete and about the doore Then about noone he came againe went to M. Tindall and said he had lost his purse and praied him to lend him xl s̄ which M. Tindall did Then saied Phillips to M. Tindall you shall be my guest here this day No saied M. Tindall I go foorth this day you shall go with me and be my guest where you shall be welcome So when it was dinner time M. Tindall went out with Phillips and at the going foorth of Poines house Maister Tindall would haue put Phillips before him but Phillips would in no wise pretending a shewe of great humanitie so M. Tindall went before him He had set officers on either side the doore vpon seates to whome Phillips pointed with his finger ouer M. Tindals head that the officers might sée it was he so should apprehend him Who there tooke him brought him to the Emperors atturney the procuror generall where he dined Frō whence he was had to the castle of Filford xviij miles from Antwerpe where he remained til he was put to death Poines labouring for the release of M. Tindall with letters directed out of England by the Lord Cromwell other to the court of Bruxels Then the Lord of Barowe was also clapt in prison after long imprisonment was faine to escape by flight But good Maister Tindall could not escape but was put to death for the testimonie of the trueth Of whome the Emperours Atturney left this testimonie that he was a learned good Tindals protestation touching his trāslation and godly man Concerning his translation of the new testament thus himselfe protested I call God to record against the day in which I shal appeare before the Lord Iesus to giue a reckoning of my doings that I neuer altered one syllable of Gods word against my conscience nor would do this day if all that is in earth whether it be honour riches or pleasure might be giuen me The same yéere that Tindall was burned Anno 1536. In the beginning of the yéere first died Ladie Katherine Princesse dowager in the moneth of Ianuarie after whom the same yéere in the moneth of May next following Quéen Anne who had nowe béene married to the king the space of thrée yéeres was put to death Queene Anne put to death very likely by the practises of the prelates against her who was an earnest fauourer of Gods people and
prelates in which the sixe articles were concluded touching matters of religion which were commonly called the whippe with sixe strings The first article was concerning transubstantiation 2 Against the communicating in both kindes 3. That priestes might not marry after the order of priesthood receiued 4. that the vowes of chastity made aboue 21. yéeres of age of widowhood aduisedly made should be obserued 5. The establishing of priuate masses 6. Auricular confession to be expedient The punishment for breach of the first article was burning without any abiuration with losse of all goods lands as in case of treason Treason Felonie the default against the other fiue articles was fellony without any benefit of cleargy c. Against these articles only D. Cranmer Cranmer disputeth against the vi articles Archbishop of Canterbury stood vp and thrée daies disputed against them with such strength of reason that the king who euer bare especall fauour vnto him well liking his zelous defence onlie willed him to depart out of the parlament house vnto the Counsell chamber for a time for safegarde of his conscience till the Act shoulde passe and bée graunted which hée notwithstanding with humble protestation refused to doe After the parlament was finished the king sent the Lord Cromwell who in few dayes after was apprehended the twoo Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and all the Lordes of the parlament house to dyne with the Archbishoppe at Lambith and to comfort him and within few daies also vpon the same required that hee woulde giue a note of all his doings and reasons in the said parliament which Cranmer eftsoones accomplished accordingly and sent the copie thereof to the king Besides these sixe Articles in the same parliament was ordained that if Priestes were taken in Adultery or Fornication and duely conuict for their not Caste nor Caute at first tyme they shoulde forfaite their goods Against adultery and fornication of priests and for the second faulte be taken and executed as fellons this was brought in by the Lord Cromwels aduise Who if he might haue had his will the firste crime of these concubinarie Priestes aswell as the second no doubt had béene punished with death but so Gardiner did barre that article with his shifts that the first was losse of goodes and the second death and the next yéere he so prouided that the paine of death by Act of parlament was cleane repealed So that by this statute it was prouided Death for adulterie repeated for all such votaries as liued in whordome and adultery For the first offence to lose his goodes and all his spiritual promotions except one For the second to forfeite all that he had to the king For the third conuiction to sustaine continual imprisonment Anno 1541. The eight and twentith day of Iuly the noble lord Cromwell the maule of the Pope and Papists in this land and the great fauourer of the gospell was put to death at Tower hill 1541. Cromwell the maule of the P. put to death The crimes obiected against him were first heresie and that he was a supporter of Barnes Clarke and many other whom by his authoritie and letters written to Sheriffes and Iustices in diuers Shires he had discharged out of prison Also that hee did disperse bookes of heresies among the kinges Subiects Item that he caused to be translated into English diuers bookes that conteined matter against the Sacrament c. Besides all this there were brought in certaine witnesses which charged him with wordes that he should speake against the king in the Church of S. Peter the poore in the xxx yere of the kings reigne In the moneth of Iuly during the Parliament being in the Counsell chamber he was sodainly attainted and carried to the Tower the xix of the moneth of Iulie the xxviij day put to death He was borne of a simple parentage at Putney or there abouts being a Smiths sonne his mother married after to a Sherman Cromwell The life of L. Cromwell being ripe of yéeres was at Antwerp retained to be secretarie to the merchants there From whence being procured by Geffery Chambers with another companion whom the men of Boston sent to Rome for the renewing of their priuiledges to go to Rome and aid them in their suite he departed and accompanied the Boston mens Ambassadours to Rome where he aduised with himselfe how he might haue best accesse vnto the pope and best dispatch of his busines and hauing knowledge how that the popes holy tooth greatly delighted in new fangled strange delicates it came into his mind to prepare certaine fine dishes of gelly made after our countrey maner here in England which to them of Rome was not knowen nor séene before This done Cromwell obseruing his time as the pope was newly come from hunting into his pauiliō hée with his companions approched with his English presents brought in with a thréemans song as we call it in the English tongue and all after the English fashion The pope sodainly marueiling at the strangenes of the song and vnderstanding that they were Englishmen and that they came not emptie handed willed them to be called in Cromwel there shewing his obedience and offring this iolie Iunkets such as kings Princes onely vsed said he in the Realm of Englande to féede on desired that to be accepted in good part which he his companions as poore Suters vnto his Holinesse had there brought and presented as Nouelties méete for his recreation Pope Iulius so liked their Iunkets that he desired to know the making of their daynties And vnderstanding their suites without any more adoe stamped both their pardons both the greater and the England the king also wrote in like manner to Boner his Ambassadour to assist the doers thereof in all their reasonable suites whereto the king of Fraunce gaue licence Boner shewed himselfe very diligent about the worke The Bible in English printed at Paris So the booke was printed euen to the last part then was quarrels picked to the printer who was sent for to the inquisitors of the faith there charged with certaine articles of heresie Then were sent for the Englishmen that were at the cost charge therof Richard Grafton and Whitchurch the corrector Miles Couerdale but hauing warning what would follow the Englishmen posted away leauing behind them their Bibles to the number of 2500. called the Bibles of the great volume and neuer recouered any of them sauing the Lieuetenant criminal sold foure great dryfats of them to an Haberdasher to lap in caps and those were brought again but the rest were burnt at the place called Maulbert in Paris But notwithstanding the losse after they had recouered some part of the foresaid books and were comforted and incouraged by the L. Cromwell the same men went agayne to Paris and there got the presses letters and seruants of the foresaid printer and brought them to London and there they became
Paulet Iohn Baker Rich Chauncellour of the Augmentation Winckfielde Vice-chauncellour There suffered besides those traytors in the time of king Henrie for the cause of Supremacie to the number of foure and twentie in all Such was the furious prosecuting of the commission for the vi Articles that in London a great number came into question and great trouble to the number almost of two hundreth persons and out of other quarters such a number were apprehended through this Inquisition that al the prisons in London were too little to holde them All prisons in London too litle to hold the persecuted in so much that they were fayne to lay them in Halles At the last through the meanes of the Lord Awdeley such pardon was obteyned of the king that the Lord Awdeley then Lorde Chauncellour being content that one should be bound for another they were all discharged Edmund Boner Boner turneth his opinion and becōmeth a persecutor who had before béen aduanced by Cromwell and preferred before another way being now B. of London shewed himselfe a most cruell executor of the commission in such sort that he burned Richard Mekins being but of xv yéeres of age for chauncing to speake against the Sacrament of the Altar as he had heard other say and other were caused to recant as Towling parson of S. Anthonies and Alexander Seaton a Scotish man and a worthy preacher this was Anno 1541. An. 1541. Iohn Porter a yoong man was by Boner cast into prison in Newgate for reading the Bible in Paules yet the king had commaunded it should be read and Boner himselfe in the daies of Cromwell appointed that vj. bibles of the great volume should be set vp in the church of Saint Paules in London for the people to read Six Bibles set vp in Paules to be read of the people Wherevpon great multitudes would resort thither to heare this Porter read Hereat Boner beyng grieued caused him to be put in the dungeon of Newgate where he was fettered in irons both legges and armes with a coller of iron aboute his necke fastened to the wall in the dungeon From this torment by suite of his brother and many other hée was released to be among the other prysoners fellons and murtherers whose blasphemie and wickednesse hée beyng not able to beare and therewith finding fault and giuing them instructions he was complained of and carried downe againe and layd in the lower dungeon of all and oppressed with boltes and irons It is thought that he was fettered with one Ingine in the pryson called The Deuill in the necke The diuell in the necke whiche is so deuised that within thrée or foure houres it breaketh and crusheth a mans backe or body in péeces Iohn Porter killed in pryson so that within six or eight dayes after being heard pitifully crying and groning he was found dead In the time of the Cardinall Thomas Somers an honest Merchant was in pryson in the Tower for hauing of Luthers bookes and penaunce beyng inioyned that hée should with thrée other Merchaunts ride with bookes into Cheapeside hanged about their neckes with a bason tinged on before them and there cast their Testamentes in the fire Now because he cast his booke ouer or through the fire and woulde not cast it into it Thomas Somers dieth in the Tower hée was complained of and cast againe into the Tower by the Cardinall where hée died In the diocesse of Lincolne vnder Iohn Longland and Doctor Dracot his Chancellour great persecution was about Buckingham and Amersham for the sixe Articles and the same time the Bishop burned two in one day the one named Thomas Barnarde Thomas Barnard Iames Morton martyrs and the other Iames Morton the one for teaching the Lordes prayer in English and the other for kéeping the Epistle of saint Iames translated into English In Oxford also the same time or much there about recanted one maister Barber a master of arts of that Vniuersitie a man excellently learned His cause was the matter of the Sacrament Not long before his recantation there was one maister Malarie maister of arts of Cambridge of Christs Colledge who for like opinions contrary to the Romish faith was conuented before the Bishoppes and in the end sent to Oxford there openly to recant and to beare his faggot to the terrour of the studentes of that Vniuersitie at whose recantation while Doctor Smith preached and treated of the Sacrament there rose a false imagination of firs that shoulde bée ouer their heades and suche impression it tooke in Doctor Smith that in manner hée first of all cried out in the pulpet A popish feare these are the traynes and subtilties of Heretikes agaynst mée Lorde haue mercie vppon mée Lorde haue mercie vppon mée c. Claymunde with other of the aged sorte that coulde not runne and make shift for themselues knéeled downe before the highe Altar committing themselues and their liues vnto the sacrament all ful of terror While the rest thronged thrust to get out of the Church among them there was a boy that séeing the dores so stopped with presse that he could not get out climed vp vpon the dore among them gate out ouer mens heads being vpon the doore he saw a Monke comming towardes him which had a great wide cowle hanging at his backe which the boy perceiuing leapes downe into the Monkes cowle the Monke at the first perceiuing nothing but after a while féeling his cowle heauie and hearing the voyce of the boy thought it had béene a diuell and began to coniure him in the name of God and all saints I commaund thée to declare what thou art that art behind my backe to whom the boy answered I am Bartrams boy Bartrams boy The diuell in the Monkes cowle But I saide the Monke adiure thée in the name of the vnseparable trinitie that thou wicked spirite doe tell mée who thou art from whence thou camest and that thou gette thée hence I am Bartrams boy sayde hée good maister let mée go and with that his cowle beganne to cracke vpon his shoulders the monke when he perceiued the matter tooke the boy out and discharged his cowle the boy tooke his legges and ran away as fast as he could and this was the perplexitie of the good Catholikes in that assemblie which rose vpon the crying of fire in the stréetes by one Hewster who sawe a chimney on fire and according to the custome cried Fire fire as hée passed by Saint Maries Church Nowe as touching the Heretike because hée had not done his sufficient penaunce there by occasion of this hurliburly therefore the next day hée was reclaymed into the Church of Saint Frisewide where hée supplied the rest of his penance that lacked An. 1541. By the sentence of the cōuocation house the Lady Anne of Cleue was diuorced Lady Anne of Cleue diuorced the king permitted to mary with the L. Katherine Hawarde and within a while she
also was put to death for incontinency with Tho. Culpeper The same yéere in the moneth of August 1541 sixe were executed at Tiborne for the matter of supremacie Sixe put to death for the supremacie The Prior of Dancaster Giles Horne a monke of the Charterhouse of London Thomas Epsame a monke of Westminster who was the last in king Henries daies that ware a monks wéede the fourth one Philpot the fift one Carew the sixt was a Frier The king after the death of his first wife now more and more he missed his olde Counsellour Cromwell The king misseth Cromwell and partly smelling the waies of Winchester beganne a little to set his foote in the cause of religion and now the want of Cromwell did more mightely knit his affection to Cranmer whō he alwaies before loued wel And in the same yéere the moneth of October after the execution of this Quéene the king vnderstanding some abuses yet to remaine vnreformed namely about pilgrimages and idolatrie c. directed his letters to the Archb. of Canterburie for spéedy redresse of the same this was Anno 1542. The yeere 1543. 1543. Whitemeates permitted in Lent in the moneth of Februarie followed another Proclamation giuen out by the Kinges authoritie whereby whitemeates were permitted to be eaten in Lent Anno 1544. Anthony Parson priest Henrie Filmer Iohn Marbeck were sent from London to Windsor by the Sheriffes men the Saterday before S. Iames day and laid fast in the towne gaole Robert Testwood who had kept his bed was brought out of his house vpon crowches and laide with them Robert Bennet was the fourth apprehended with them and being sicke of the pestilence and a great sore running vpon him he was left behind in the Bishop of Londons gaole whereby he escaped the fire Now these being brought to Windsor there was a session specially procured to be holden the Thursday after which was S. Agnes day Against which sessions by the counsell of Doctour London and Simons a cruell Persecutour were all the Farmers belonging to the Colledge of Windsor warned to appeare to be the iurers The Iudges were these Doctor Capon bishop of Salisbury sir William Essex knight sir Thomas Bridges knight sir Humfrey Foster knight Franckelen Deane of Windsore and Fachell of Readyng Robert Ockam occupied the clarke of peaces roume who called Anthony Parson and read his indictement whiche was preachyng agaynst the reall presence Thomas Testwood whom they alleadged against that hée mocked the Priest at the lifting c. Next Filmer whome his owne brother accused for the matter of the reall presence there being none but his owne brother to witnes against him whom Doctor London flattered and entertayned in his owne house to that ende Lastly Iohn Marbecke béeyng called was charged to haue resembled the lifting vp of the Sacrament to the setting vp of Ieroboams calues and for speaking agaynst the Masse In which Articles they were founde guiltye by the Quest one Hyde dwelling beside Abington in a Lordeshippe belonging to the Colledge of Windsor spake in the mouth of the rest Then the Iudges beholding the prisoners a good while some with waterie eyes made curtesie who shoulde giue iudgement which when Fachell that was the lowest in the benche perceyued if no man will doe it then will I said Fachell and so gaue iudgement So were they had away who with comforting one another prepared themselues to die the next day All the night till dead sléepe tooke them they continued still calling on the name of the Lord and praying for their persecutors On the next morowe which was Friday as the prisoners were all preparing themselues to suffer the Bishop of Sarum and others had sent a letter by one of the Sherifes Gentlemen called master Frost to the bishop of Winchester the Court being then at Oking in the fauour of Marbecke Marbecke pardoned at the sight of which letter the Bishop straight way went to the king and obtained his pardon which was to the end he might betray others On the Saturday morning the other thrée were had to suffer and all thrée beyng bound to the post a certaine yong man of Filmers acquaintance brought him a pot of drinke asking him if he would drinke Yea quoth Filmer I thanke you and so they encouraging themselues drancke one to another Filmer reioycing in the Lord said be merie my brethren and lift vp your hearts to God for after this sharpe breakefast I trust we shall haue a good dinner in the kingdome of Christ our Lord and redéemer Filmer Testwood Porson burned at which wordes Testwood lifting vp his hands and eies to heauen desired the Lord aboue to receiue his spirite And Anthonie Parson pulling the strawe vnto him laide a good deale thereof vpon the toppe of his head saying This is Gods hatte nowe am I dressed like a true souldier of Christ by whose merites only I trust this day to enter into his ioy Notable martyrs and so they yéelded vp their soules vnto the Lord with such patience as it was marueilous to the beholders The meaning of Gardiner was after this to haue dealt with great personages had not the Lord preuented his cruell practises On the Munday after the men were burnt it was determined by the Bishoppe of Salisburie that Robert Ockam should go to the Bishop of Winchester with the whole processe done at the Sessions the thursday before And also had writings of those that were priuilie endicted whereof one of the Quéenes men named Fulke hauing knowledge gat to the Court before and tolde Sir Thomas Cardine and other of the priuie Chamber how all the matter stoode Whereupon Ockam was laide for passing the stréetes by the Earle of Bedfordes lodging was pulled in by the sleeue and kept secrete at my Lorde priuie Seales till certaine of the priuie Counsel had perused all his writings Among which they found certaine of the priuie Chamber endicted with other the kings Officers and their wiues That is to say Sir Thomas Cardine Sir Philip Hobbie with both their Ladies Master Edmund Harmon Master Th. Weldowe with Snowball and his wife All these they had endicted by the force of the vi articles as ayders helpers and mainteyners of Anthonie Parson And besides them they had endicted of heresie a great number mo of the kings true and faithfull Subiectes Whereof the kings Maiestie being certified gaue vnto them his gratious pardon The king pardoneth And so had Benet a discharge withall and being certified of the sheriffe and Sir Humfrey Foster of the death of the poore men at Windsor the king turning from them to depart sayde Alas poore Innocents And after this withdrew his fauour from Winchester caused Doctor London Winchester cast out of fauour and Simons the Lawier and a fierce persecutor of them to be apprehended and brought before the Counsell and examined vpon their oath of alleigeance who for denying their wicked fact were found periured and were
iudged as periured persons to weare papers in Windsor and Ockam to stande vpon the Pillorie at Newberie where he was borne False Iudges and accusers punished The iudgement of the thrée was to ride about Windsor Reading and Newberie with papers on their heads and their faces turned to the horsetailes and so to stande vpon the Pillorie in euerie of those Townes for false accusation of the forenamed Martyrs and for periurie Anno 1539. There was commission sent to Calice to enquire of heresie through a complaint made of the entertainement and accepting of Adam Damlip alias George Bucker who there for xx dayes or more preached euery day at vii of the clocke He preached very godly sermōs against Transubstantiation and adoration of the sacrament Damlip by this Commission was cited and appeared before the Archb. of Canterbury Winchester Chichester and diuers others before whom constantly he mainteined the trueth of the sacrament and being dismissed for that time enioyned to appeare the next day Adam Damlip by the secret warning of the archb of Cant. he stept aside into the West countrey while great trouble was kindled against Gods people in Calice namely against sir W. Smith curate a zelous preacher T. Brook R. Hare sir I. Butler then Commissarie Iames Cocke alias Coppē Persecution in Calice D. Lane I Barber and others Of the which persons T. Brooke R. Hare Coppen D. Lane I. Barber were apprehended and sent ouer and committed to prison in Westminster gate and then commaunded to appeare before the Archb. Winchester Chichester and ten other appointed by the kings maiestie Sir W. Smith preacher and I. Butler by commandement were apprehended in Calice and boūd by suretie not to passe the boundes of Calice Sir William Smith was accused to preach against our ladie and praying to saints good works c. Brooke for speaking against the sacrament Rafe Hare for speaking against holy bread holy water Butler was charged to haue mainteined Adam Damlippe for which he was dismissed of his Commissariship And it was determined that sir W. Smith Rafe Hare Iames Cock and Iames Barber should be sent to Calice and there to abiure and do penance where sir Williā Smith was enioyned to make the sermon R. Hare I. Cock and Iames Barber there standing with fagots vpon their shoulders sauing because he dwelled there Barber was enioyned to beare his fagot iiij miles of Calice on the market day where sir W. Smith preached also as before and so ordered the matter in his sermon that in effect he denied nothing he had taught before His accuser was one R. Long a man at armes in Calice who falsly swore that he had eaten flesh in Lent at Brookes house after which oath he hauing taken displeasure some way ran out of his house and in the eyes of a number of people went drowned himselfe After this commission which was executed by M. Greenfield sir I. Butler the K. mason others through the rage of the enimy and complaint to the king that the commons were in perill through dissention of opinions there were sent ouer new commissioners the earle of Sussex lord great Chamberlaine the lord S. Iohn sir Iohn Gage knight sir Iohn Baker knight M. Layton clerke of the closet and D. Currin with speciall instructions besides signed with the kings owne hand so that if God had not taken compassion there had an hundreth béene burnt or hanged shortly after but it hapned far otherwise for of the number of those accusors iiij were by the cōmissioners sent ouer into England to wit Clement Philpot seruant to the L. Lisle sir Edmund curate of our Ladies church Thomas Towchet a postmaister Peter Requet Gods iudgement and deliuerance of his people of the which Philpot and the Curat were drawne hanged and quartered at London and contrarily of them that were accused not one lost an haire of his head Inquisition being made Thomas Brooke aforementioned was committed to ward and so were Anthony Pickering Gent. Henry Turney gentleman Sir George Darby priest Iohn Shepheard William Pellam William Reuerdall Iohn Whitewood Iohn Boote Robert Clodder Copen de Lane Mathew de Lound sent to close prison William Stephens likewise who was Adam Damlips host The L. Lisle dieth in the Tower was sent into England and clapt in the Tower and after him the L. Lisle deputie who died in the Tower The seconde day after Easter Thomas Brooke was sent for and committed to close prison in the maiors gaole and George Brodway was suborned by the Counsel of Calice who threatened him greatly if he woulde not burthen Brooke with some concealementes which he at length by straite imprisonment threats did and set to his hand that Brooke had for a long time concealed foure groates euery day for his Clarkes wages for which after a while Brodway being gréeued in his conscience with a knife wēt about to cut his owne throte had not the gaoler preuēted him who heard him grone with the pain he felt of the woūd after through guilt of conscience and shame he fell out of his wittes Gods iudgement vpon a false accuser Of this dealing with Brooke his wife gaue intelligence to the lord Cromwell wherein shée desired the lord Cromwell to be a meanes to the king that the afflicted and their causes might be heard in England which he with spéed did accomplish and wrote to the Commissioners in the kings name that Brooke and xij or xx of his complices should be sent ouer into England with their accusers Now by the time that the Commissioners had receiued these letters they had made out precepts for viij or ix score honest men more to be cast in prison but these Letters appalled and staied them notwithstanding they banished the men before named out of the towne for an hundreth yeres and sent them back to prison staying them there vpon hope that the Lord Cromwell should sooner come into captiuitie then he did but at last they sent xiij prisoners with Brook who within xxiiij houres were at anker before the Tower wharfe whom when the Lord Cromwell vnderstood to be come he commanded their yrons to be smote off at the tower wharfe and the prisoners to be brought vnto him whom hee greatly comforted After that they were sent to the Fleete and whiles they were in the Fleete and William Steuens in the tower the xix day of Iuly Anno 1541 the Lorde Cromwell their great fauourer was beheaded at Tower hill so that all hope seemed to them to haue beene vtterly lost of any deliuerance but the Lord had them in remembrance and stirred vp the Lord Awdley L. Awdley a friend to the afflicted Lord Chauncellour of England without further examination to deliuer them And at length two yeres after he deliuered William Steeuens also by the kings owne motion The vniust Coūsellers who charged the Towne with sedition and heresie fell afterward into the kings displeasure and
burned in Ipswich for the testimony of the truth and the matter of the real presence at whose death the Lord Wentworth who gaue sentēce against him with others wept bitterly He was burnt the Saterday before Gang munday and at the same barre also was condemned one Roper Roper Clearke of Mendesham was burned at S. Edmundsbury the Gang munday after He suffred great pains tormēts in his burning for the wood was gréen so that he was choked with smoke and moreouer being set in a pitch barrell was therewith sore payned at length one standing by took a fagot stick and striking at the ring about his neck stroke him belike vpon the head so he sunke down and was dissolued The other Kerby being disswaded by maister Robert Wingfield A notable speech of the constant seruant of Christ that declared vnto him the painfulnes of the death said vnto him Ah Maister Wingfield be at my death and you shal say there standeth a Christian souldier in the fire At the later end of this yéere 1545. in the moneth of Nouember was granted vnto the king besides other subsidies of money al Colledges Chauntries Frée chappels hospitals Fraternities brotherhoods guildes perpetuities of stipendarie priests to be disposed at his pleasure The next Lent following D. Crome D. Crome recanteth made a dilemma against priuate masses but the Prelates did so handle the matter that on Easter next they made him to recant Anno 1546. About the moneth of Iune Anne Askewe Iohn Lacels gentleman of the Court Iohn Adams a Tailor Nicholas Belleman a priest of Shropshire were burned at one fire in Smithfield Anne Askew 1545. Anne Askewe in the moneth of March was first examined by C. Dare Inquisitor at sadlers hall touching the Sacrament of the Altar Masses confession the kings booke and afterward committed by him to be examined of a Priest who propounded also concerning the sacrament to whom she would make no answere neither vnto the Inquisitor touching that matter He enquired also concerning priuate Masses which shee said was idolatrous From thence they had her to my Lord Mayor who examined her as they had done before to whom she made such answere as she did to the quest before which was in some things directly in other some by question Againe because she said she would not cast Pearles among swine From thence the L. Mayor commanded her to ward without baile so she remained in the Counter xi daies and no friend admitted to speak with her sauing a priest was sent vnto her by the B. to examin her of his points of superstition The xxiii of March her Cosen master Britaine went to my Lord Mayor desiring of him shee might be bayled who said he would not do it without the consent of the Spiritual Officer Whereupon he went to the Chauncellour but the matter was so haynous that he durst not do it without the B. of London were made priuie to it So from him he went to Bonner who said to master Britaine that hee was well contented that she should come foorth to a communication and appointed her to appeare the next day at iij. of the clocke at after noone but sent for her at one of the clock and by flattering wordes endeuoured to perswade her to declare her whole minde without feare and promised her that no vauntage should be taken of any worde she should there speake but she would declare nothing Wherwith the bishop being offended charged her with words she should be reported to speake against the sacrament of the altar against the masse with other such like questions some true some false wherto she made such answere as was not to the B. contentmēt yet subtilly he drew out a circumstance as it were a recantation required her to subscribe to it which she saide shée would do so far foorth as the holy scripture doth agrée vnto Frō thence she was caried againe to prison vntil the next morow at which time she was cōmanded to appeare at the guild hal from whēce againe she was commited to prison neither could she yet be bayled Thē were her sureties cōmanded to come before thē the next morow in Paules church where with much a do they took a bond of them of recognisaunce for her foorth comming and so she was deliuered Anno. 1546. she was examined againe before the kings counsel at Gréen wich to whō she answered in many things parabolically Anne Askew answereth parabolically when the B. of Winchester bad her make a direct answere she said she would not sing a new song of the Lord in a strāge land The next day she was again brought before the Counsel and as before was questioned with touching the Sacrament of the altar to whom she boldly and roundly with some checke vnto the aduersaries made aunswere in such sort A. Askew answereth boldly and roundly as they could take no direct vauntage against her On the sunday after she fel sore sick desired to speake with M. Latimer which might not be permitted After that she was sent to Newgate in her extremitie of sicknes Anne Askew condemned from thence they brought her to the guild hall where she was condēned for the article of the real presēce in the sacramēt After her condemnation on Tuesday she was sent from Newgate to the signe of the Crowne where M. Riche the Bishop of London and N. Shaxton laboured to perswade her to recant by faire words but it would not preuaile then M. Rich sent her to the tower where she remained till 3. of the clock then came M. Rich one of the counsel charged her vpon her obedience to shew vnto them if she knew any man or woman of her Sect and asked of the Lady of Suffolke of Sussex of Hertforde my Lady Dennie and my Lady Fitzwilliams which she would not disclose nor any other Then they put her on the racke Anne Askew racked till she was nigh dead because she cōfessed no Ladies nor Gentlewomen to be of her opinion and thereon they kept her a long time and because shée lay still and did not crie my Lord Chancellour and Maister Rich tooke paines to racke hir with their owne handes till she was nigh dead then the Liefetenant caused her to be loosed from the racke which doone incontinently she souned Then they recouered her againe and after that she sat two long houres reasoning with the lord Chancellour vpon the bare floore who with flattering woordes perswaded her to leaue her opinion Then was she brought to an house and layd vpon a bed with painefull bones after which the lord Chancellour sent her word that if she would leaue her opinion she should want nothing if she would not she should to Newgate and thence to the fire To whom she sent word againe that she would rather die then breake her faith The king vnderstanding by the Liefetenaunt of her cruell racking The king displeased with
the racking of Anne Askew was greatly displeased therewith The day of her executiō being appointed she was brought into Smithfield in a chaire because she could not go on her féete by reason of her racking and was girded by the middle with a chaine that might hold vp her bodie and so was shée with her fellowes a witnesse of the truth and sealer of the same with her bloud Anne Askew hauing letters of pardon offered her at the stake by Wrisley lord Chancellour if shée would recant she refused so much as to looke on them They were there also offered to the rest The martyrs had pardon at the stake but they by her example were confirmed and likewise refused the same About the same time and yéere Doctor Ripse bishop of Norwich did incite the old duke of Northfolke against Rogers in the countie of Northfolke who was condemned and suffered for the cause of the sixe Articles An. 1546. Winchester practized against Q. Catherine Parre the last wife to king Henry who was very zealous towardes the Gospell Winchester practiseth against the life of the Queene and had perswaded with the king to make a perfect reformation and so farre he preuailed with the king persuading him of the factious disposition of the gospellers and of the daungerous example of the Quéene his wife that before that he and the L. Chancellor and others who conspired together against her departed the king had giuen out cōmandement with warrant to certaine of them made for that purpose to consult together about drawing of certaine articles against the Quéene wherein her life might be touched which the king by their persuasions pretended not to spare hauing any rigor or colour of law to coūtenance the matter With which cōmission they departed that time from the king resolued to put their pernitious practise in executiō first determined to deale with those whō they knew were great about her as the Lady Harbert afterward the Countesse of Penbrooke and sister to the Quéene and chiefe of her priuie chamber the lady Lane being of her priuie chamber and also her cosin Germane the lady Terwit beyng of her priuie chamber It was deuised that these thrée should first of all haue béene accused brought to answere to the six articles and vpon their apprehension in the court their closets and coffers should haue béen searched that somewhat might haue béene found whereby the Quéene might be charged which being found she her selfe presently should haue béene taken likewise caried by barge in the night to the Tower To all this the king séemed to giue his assent and afterward opened all the matter to D. Wendy his Physicion charging him withall vpon perill of his life not to vtter it to any person Now the time drawing nigh when they minded to put their mischéefes in practise the bill of articles drawne out against the Quéene and subscribed with the Kinges owne hand falling from the bosome of one of those wicked counsellours was found and taken vp of some godly person and brought immediatly to the Quéene who séeing the same fell into a marueilous perplexitie almost to the perill and daunger of her life whereof the king hearing he sent his Phisition Wendie and came also himselfe to comfort her to whom she delared her griefe but the king gaue her most comfortable wordes and so when he had tarried an houre with her he departed Shée afterwardes being recouered came to the King and founde suche fauour with him and had so satisfied him in those thinges The king much altered concerning their practises against the Queene for which the Prelates conspired against her that his minde was fully altered and detested in his heart the bloudie conspiracie of those Traytours who yet notwithstanding the next day determined to haue carried the Quéene to the Tower and at the houre appointed the Lord Chauncellour with fourtie of the garde at his héeles commeth into the garden where the Quéene was with the King and those thrée Ladies in pleasaunt communication fully determining from thence to haue taken the Quéene and those thrée Ladies and to haue carried them to the Tower whom the King stearnely beholding and breaking of his myrth with the Quéene stepped aside and called him knaue arrant knaue beast and foole The Queene deliuered from her daunger and commaunded him presently to auoide out of his presence So departed the Chauncellour with his train and all his deuises brought to naught and the subtletie of Gardiner discouered who was alwayes a cruell enimie against the Gospell and professors of the same Gardiner not onely practised in England against reformation but also when the King was minded to reforme in England he being Ambassadour beyond the seas for the agréement of a league betwéene England Fraunce and the Emperour he wrote vnto the king and perswaded him that if he procéeded to alter any whit in England in matters of religion the league would not go forwarde whereby the Kinges determinate purpose for that time was altered although before he had commanded the Archb. Cranmer to cause two letters in his name to be drawne for the abolishing of Roodlofts and ringing on allhallow night After this Anno 1546. The matter of reformation beganne to be reuiued and the French king and the king of England did agrée to make a perfect reformation The kings of England and France agree to make a perfect reformatiō of religion and were so fully resolued therein that they meant also to exhort the Emperour to doe the same in Flaunders and other his countries or else to breake off from him And herein the king commaunded the Archbishop Cranmer to penne a forme thereof to bée sent to the French king to consider of but by the death of these Princes that purpose was cut off About this time Sir Hugh Cauerley knight maister Litleton falsly accused Sir George Blage one of the kings priuie chamber the sunday before Anne Askew suffered before Wriseley Lord Chauncellour Sir George Blage condemned to be burned the next day he was carried to Newgate from thence to the guild hall where he was condemned the same day and appointed to be burned the wednesday after They laid to him that he shold say that if a mouse did eate the bread they should by his consent hang vp the mouse with other such light matters When the King vnderstood hereof hée was sore offended with their doinges and sent him his pardon and so was he set at liberberty Who comming after to the kings presence ah my pig said the king to him for so he was wont to call him Yea said he if your maiestie had not béene befter vnto me then your Bishoppes were your pigge had béene rosted ere this time After the death of Anne Askew the Prelates made out straight proclamation against English bookes of scripture and whatsoeuer might giue any light to the word and drew out a number of heresies as they call them out
of September and was committed to the tower close prisoner hauing his seruant Austine to attend vpon him The same day the Archbishop of Canterbury appearing before the Counsell was commaunded to appeare againe the next day at after noone in the starre chamber where hauing charged him with treason and spreading abroade seditious libels Cranmer to the Tower he was committed from thence to the tower there to remaine till farther iustice at the Quéenes pleasure The 15. of September there was a letter sent to maister Horne Deane of Durham for his appearance and another the 7. of October for his spéedy appearance The 16. of Septem there were letters sent to the maiors of Douer and Rye to suffer all French protestants to passe out of this Realme French protestants suffered to passe hence except such whose names should be signified to them by the French Ambassadour The first day of October Quéene Marie Mary crowned was crowned at Westminster and the tenth day of the same moneth beganne the Parlament A parlement with a solemne masse of the holie Ghost in the pallace of Westminster To the which among other Lords should come the Bishops which yet remained vndeposed which were the Archbishoppe of Yorke Doctor Taylor of Lincolne Iohn Harley Bishop of Hereford of the Bishops Doctor Taylor and maister Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie and taking their place amongest the Lordes after they sawe the masse beginne not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the companie for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne béeing examined and protesting his faith was vpon the same commanded to attend Who not long after at Anker wicke by sicknesse departed Maister Harley because he was married was excluded both from the Parlement and from his Bishopricke This statute repealed Statutes repealed all the statutes made in the time king Henrie the viij for Premunire and statutes made in king Edward the vj. time for the administration of common bread and the Sacraments in the English tongue In this meane while many men were forward in erecting of Altars and Masses in Churches and such as would sticke to the Lawes made in K. Edwards time till other were established some of them were marked and some presently apprehēded Among whom sir Iames Hales Sir I Hales of kent apprehended and imprisoned a knight in kent and Iustice in the common place was one Who notwithstanding he had ventured his life in Q. Maries cause yet for that he did at a Quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in king Edwards time and Henrie the eight for the supremacie and religion he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Counter and Fléet and so cruelly handled and put in feare by talke that he thought to ridde himselfe out of his life by wounding him selfe with a knife and afterward was contented to say what they willed him Whereupon he was discharged but after that he neuer rested The lamentable end of Sir Iames Hales till he had drowned him selfe in a Riuer halfe a mile from his house in Kent During the time of the parlament the Cleargie had also their Conuocation with a disputation appointed by the Q. commaundement at Paules about the 18. of October In which Conuocation Harpsfield preached and D. Weston Deane of Westminster was chosen Prolocutor The disputation continued vj. dayes Disputation of vi dayes about the matter of the Sacrament wherein D. Weston was chéefe on the popes part The first day D. Weston inueyeth against the Catechisme and booke of Common prayer of king Edward and signified that on Friday next the xx of October it should be lawful for all men fréely to speake their consciences in matters of Religion The Friday being come in steade of disputation the Prolocutor exhibited two seuerall Billes vnto the House the one of the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament and the other that the Catechisme was not set out by the houses consent requiring all to subscribe to these Billes as he himselfe had done To which motion all did assent sauing the Deane of Rochester the Dean of Exceter the Archdeacon of Winchester the Archdeacon of Hertforde and the Archdeacon of Stow and one other And while the rest were subscribing Iohn Philpot stoode vp and declared that the Catechisme was set out by the assent of the house and as touching the poynt of naturall presence that it was against reason that men should subscribe before the matter were discussed and withall desired the Prolocutor that he would be a meane to the Counsell that some of those that were the setters out of the same catechisme might be brought into the house to shew their learning that moued them to set forth the same and that D. Ridley M. Rogers with two or thrée more might be licensed to be present at this disputation and to be associated with them The bishops made answere it was not for them to cal such persons vnto the house since some of them were prisoners but they would be Petitioners in this behalfe to the Counsell and in case that any were absent that ought to be of the house they willed them to be taken in vnto them if they listed After this they minding to haue entered into disputation worde was geuen that the Lorde great Master and the Earle of Deuonshire woulde be present at the Disputation and therefore the Prolocutor deferred the same till the next Mundaye at one of the Clocke at after Noone At which time many Nobles being assembled to heare the Disputation the Prolocutor sayde that they of the house had appointed this Disputation not to call the trueth in doubt the which they had all subscribed sauing fiue or sixe but that those gainesayers might be resolued Then hée demaunded of Master Haddon whether hée woulde reason against the questions proposed To whome he answered hée would seing the request for those learned men to assist would not bée graunted and so aunswered M. Elmer and said that little or nothing it might auaile for the trueth since now all they were determined to the contrarie After this he demaunded of Maister Cheney who allowed of the presence but denied the transubstantiation Master Cheney answered he would gladly haue his doubts resolued on that point and so propounding his doubts the Prolocutor assigned M. Mooreman to aunswere By this meanes Maister Elmer was driuen to stand vp and so M. Philpot who reasoned against M. Mooreman and grauelled him Then stood vp the deane of Rochester M. Philpot who disputed of the real presence whom Weston answered and Watson tooke his parte Vpon whome Philpot replieth againe and in the end the disputation grew to be confused The disputation confused by reason many would take vpon them to answere On Wednesday the xxv of October Iohn Philpot according to the appointment was ready to dispute about the reall presence and was ready to enter into a Latine oration made to interpret the question this the Prolocutor
would not suffer and besides contrary to their order compelled him to make his arguments in English which he did was so interrupted by the Prolocutor that he fell downe on his knées before the Earles and Lords desiring them that he might haue libertie to prosecute his argument but the Prolocutor still interrupted The Prolocutor alwaies interrupteth Philpot. Doctor Chadsey being the respondent in the end hée hauing scarse spent one argument of a doozen in the matter of the presence in the Sacrament was threatned of the Prolocutor to bée sent to pryson except hée gaue ouer So Philpot séeing himselfe and the good cause so oppressed ended saying thus A sort of you here which hitherto haue lurked in corners and dissembled with God and the worlde are nowe gathered together to suppresse the sincere trueth of Gods woorde and to sette foorth euerie false deuise whiche by the Catholicke doctrine of the Scripture you are not able to maintaine Then stepped foorth M. Elmer M. Elmer Chaplaine to the duke of Suffolke whom M. Mooreman tooke vpon him to answer and after him the prolocutor called M. Haddon Deane of Exceter to confirme M. Elmers argument to whome Doctor Watson tooke vpon him to answere Then stept foorth M. Perne and in argument made declaration of his minde against Transubstantiation and confirmed the sayinges of of M. Elmer and M. Haddon whome the prolocutor blamed because the Friday before he had subscribed to the contrary and so for that the night did approch and the time was spent the Prolocutor giuing them praises for their learning The Romish church against reason or scripture did yet notwithstanding conclude that all reason set apart the order of the holy church must be receiued and all things must be ordered thereby On Friday the xxvij of October M. Haddon Deane of Exceter did enter dispute against Watson Morgan and Harpsfield and when Watson was driuen to a pinch and to denie Theodoret for that he said hée was a Nestorian hée desired he might aunswere maister Chenie and after much dispute with Watson and his fellowes then asked the Prolocutor of maister Haddon and his fellowes whether they would answere them other thrée daies Haddon Chenie and Elmer said no but the Archdeacon of Winchester M. Philpot a hartie man maister Philpot stood vp and said that although all other did refuse to answere yet he would not but offered to answere them all one after another With whose proffer the Prolocutor beyng not contented railed on him and said hée should go to Bedlem To whome the Archdeacon answered that hée was more worthie to be sent thither Who vsed himselfe so ragingly in that disputation without any indifferent equalitie Then rose Doctor Weston vp said all the company hath subscribed to our Articles sauing onely these menne which you sée wée haue aunswered them thrée daies vppon promisse that they shoulde aunswere vs againe as long and if they be able to defend their doctrine let them so doe Then Elmer affirmed that they neuer promised to dispute but only to testifie their consciences neither now said he doe we meane to answere til our arguments which we haue propounded be soluted according as it was appointed for we should profit nothing seing the matter is already decréed vpon On munday following béeing the thirtie of October the Prolocutor demanded of maister Philpot whether he would answere who said he would so doe if they would according to their former determination first answere sufficiently some of his argumentes yea euen but one although hée had a dozen So he was permitted to propound His arguments was Christ is ascended into heauen therefore he is not present on the earth corporally This argument Morgan Philpots argument Weston Harpesfield were grauelled with And when Philpot denied that the Church was before the Scripture and denied a friuolous reason which he brought to prooue the same Morgan saide fye fye hée hath no learning With whome when Philpot compared himselfe the Prolocutor commaunded him that hée shoulde come no more into the house To whom Philpot sayde hée might thinke himselfe happie to bée out of their companie Then after Morgan had rounded the Prolocutor in the eare hée sayde vnto him wée are content you should come into the house so yée bée apparrelled in a long gowne and a tippet as we be and that you shall not speake but when I command you Then quoth Philpot I had rather bée absent altogether At length the thirtéenth of December Quéene Marie commaundeth Boner to breake vp the Conuocation The Conuocation breaketh vp During the time of this disputation the twentieth day of Nouember the Mayor of Couentry sent vp to the Lords of the Counsell Baldwine clearke Iohn Careles Thomas Wilcockes and Richarde Estlin for their behauiour on on alhallow day last before Wherevpon Careles and Wilcocks were committed to the gatehouse and Clarke and Estline to the Marshalsea The 3. of December Iohn Huntington preacher who had made a rime against D. Stokes and the sacrament appeared before the Counsell and vpon his submission was suffered to depart In the moneth of December the Parlement brake vp in which there was a communication of marriage betwixt the Emperours sonne Philippe and the Quéene Communication of marriage betwixt Q. Mary and king Philip. and in the meane while Cardinall Poole was sent for by the Quéene Anno 1554. 1554. D. Crome to the Fleete the 13. of Ianuary Doctor Crome for his preaching without licence on Christmas day was committed to the Fléete The 21. of Ianuary Maister Thomas Wotton Esquier was for matters of religion committed to the Fléet close prisoner The conclusion of the marriage betwixt the Emperours sonne Philip Quéene Mary stirred vp the minds of many against her Among whom the 3. of February Sir Thomas Wiat Wiat beheaded was resisted at Temple barre and was taken and executed at Tower hil The 12. of February the Lady Iane was beheaded to whom two daies before her death was sent M. Fecknam to reduce her to the Popish religion whom she constantly and with great power of Gods spirit resisted With her also was beheaded her husband the Lord Gilford Lady Iane and L. Gilford beheaded The iudgment of God vpon iudge Morgan Iudge Morgan who gaue sentence against the lady Iane shortly after he had condemned her fell mad and in his rauing cried out continually to haue the Lady Iane taken away from him and so ended his life Anno 1554. the 24. of February Boner Bishop of London sent down commissioners to al curates pastors of his dioces to take the names of suche as woulde not come to auricular confession in Lent and receiue at Easter The moneth of March following the fourth day of the moneth there was a letter sent from the Quéene to Boner with Articles thereto annexed to bée put in spéedie execution 1. Articles That the Ecclesiasticall lawes of King Henry the viij should
be put in practise beyng not directly against the Statutes and Lawes of the Realme 2. That no Bishop or Prelate doo vse the clause Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That no sacramentarie be admitted to benefice 4. That all Bishoppes do labour especially in the Clergie to suppresse heresies 5. Against bookes writings 6. Against priests mariages and that such as would depart from their wiues should be vsed more fauourably and admitted to the same function But in another place and for want of priests that one priest should serue two places That processions be vsed that holy daies and fasting daies be frequented that the ceremonies be vsed confirmation of children be put in practise and the like prescript also with articles was sent from the Quéene to the Lord Maior of London About the same yéere and time when Doctour Boner set foorth this prescript there came from the Quéene a Proclamation against straungers such as professed the Gospel Vpon this Proclamation not onely the strangers in King Edwardes time receiued into the Realme for religion among whom Peter Martir Iohn Alasco vncle to the king of Poleland but many Englishmen fled some into Frizeland some to Cleueland some to high Germanie wel neare to the number of 800. persons Neare 800. persons flie beyond the seas In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whō the Quéene at her first entrie deliuered out of the Tower and Ladie Elizabeth also the Quéenes sister were both in suspition to haue béene of Wiats conspiracie Lady Elizabeth and Lord Courtney sent to the Tower and for the same this March were apprehended and committed to the Tower And although Wiat at his death cleared them both as vnacquainted with the matter yet Gardiner practised to bring them both within the compasse of the same and the Lord Shandoys ioyned therein with him Not long after this a parliament was holden at Westminster in Aprill where the Quéene propounded concerning her marriage to king Phillip and restoring the Popes supremacie Her marriage was agréed vppon but the supremacie would not be obtained as then The Popes supremacie wold not be obteyned The same time when this parliament was summoned the Quéene summoned a conuocation of Bishops writing vnto Boner whom she made Vicegerent in stead of Cranmer being in the Tower after the manner of a new stile leauing out supreme head Likewise Boner giuing her certificate vpon the same leaueth out Authoritate illustriss legitime suffultus which parcels both at the length were taken away at that Parlement In this Conuocation Boner extolling the office of priesthood breaketh out into such an hyperbolicall prayer Boners commendation of Priesthood that they were to be honoured before all kinges of the earth Princes and nobles for said he a Priest is higher then a king happier then an Angell maker of his creatour c. and in some sort like to the virgin Marie for as by speaking sixe wordes fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum shee did conceiue Christ so the Priest by the wordes of Consecration doeth chaunge the bread into the body of Christ Anno. 1554. The x. of March a letter was sent to the Léeftenant of the Tower to deliuer the bodies of Master Doctor Cranmer the Archbishop of Caunterburie Master Ridley and M. Latimer to Sir I. Williams to be conueied by them both to Oxford The xxvj of March there was a letter sent to sir Henrie Doel and one Foster to attach the bodies of D. Taylor parson of Hadley and of Henrie Askew and to sende them vp to the Counsell About the tenth of Aprill Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer sometime B. of Worcester Cranmer Ridley and Latimer sent prisoners to Oxford were cōueied as prisoners from the Tower to Windsor and from thence to the Vniuersitie of Oxford there to dispute with the Diuines and learned men of both Vniuersities about the presence substance and sacrifice of the Sacrament Their names were these Disputers at Oxford Of Oxford D Weston Prolocutor D. Tresham Doctor Cole D. Oglethorpe D. Pie D. Harpsfielde M. Fecknam Of Cambridge Doctor Yong. Vicechauncellour D. Glinne D. Seaton D. Watson D. Sedgewick D. Atkinson The questions whereon they should dispute Questions to be disputed of were these 1. Whether the naturall bodie of Christ be really in the sacrament after the wordes of consecration be spoken by the Priest 2. Whether any substance doe remaine after the words sauing the bodie and bloud 3 Whether the Masse be a sacrifice propiciatorie On Saterday being the xiiij of April after dinner the Commissioners and Disputers went all to Saynt Maries church in Oxford and there after a short consultation in a Chappel they came all into the quire and sate all on seats before the Altar to the number of 33. persons 33. Commissioners Cranmer brought before the Commissioners Vnitie with Veritie And first they sent to the Mayor that he should bring in D. Cranmer whō he brought with a great number of rustie Bilmen And being come the Prolocutor exhorted him to vnitie To whom the Archb. modestly answered he would embrace it gladly so it were ioyned with veritie And after a discourse of the same in fewe words the Prolocutor caused the questions to be propounded vnto him and required him to subscribe thereunto Which the Archb. refusing the Prolocutor first willed him to write his minde of them that night and saide moreouer he should dispute on them and caused a copie of the Articles to be deliuered vnto him assigning him to answere thereunto on munday next and so charged the Maior with him againe to be had to Bocardo where he was kept before Then was D. Ridley Ridley appeareth brought who hearing the articles read vnto him answered without any delay and said they were all false and being asked whether he would dispute he answered that as long as God gaue him life they should not onely haue his heart but also his mouth and Penne to defende his trueth But hée required to haue time and bookes They sayde he coulde not And that he should dispute on Thursdaye and till that time he shoulde haue Bookes Then gaue they him the Articles and bad him write his minde of them that night and so he did Then they commanded the maior to haue him from whence he came M. Latimer appeareth Last of all came in Master Latimer who after his deniall of the Articles had Wednesday appoynted for disputation He alleadged age sicknesse disease and lack of bookes wherefore he refused to dispute but he sayd he would declare his minde in wryting or by woordes and woulde stande to all that they coulde laye vpon his back complayning that hee was permitted neither to haue penne nor Inke Neither the Masse nor maribones nor sinowes therof in the scripture nor any Booke sauing the new Testament in his hand which he said he had read ouer seuen times deliberatelie and yet
returneth to the yéere before 1553. vpon Friday the iiij of August Doctor Day was deliuered out of the Fléete The v. day Boner was deliuered out of the Marshalsea and one M. Edward Vnderhil cōmitted to Newgate Also the same day at night Doctor Cockes was committed to the Marshalsea And the same day Doctor Tonstall and Stephen Gardiner were deliuered out of the Tower and Gardiner receiued to the Quéenes priuie Counsell and made Lord Chancellor The xvj day of August M. Bradford M. Beacon and M. Veron were committed to the Tower Bradford Beacon and Veron to the Tower with whom also M. Sampson should haue béene cōmitted but was not found being diligently sought for at M. Elsenges house in Fléet-stréet where M. Bradford was taken Vpon the xix of August a letter was sent vnto sir Henry Tyrrell Anthony Browne and Edmund Brown Esquires praying them to commit to warde all such as shoulde contemne the Quéenes order of religion and did kéepe themselues from Church Vpon Sunday the xx of August Doctor Watson Winchesters Chaplaine preached at Paules and two hundred of the garde were there with their Halbards least the people should make a sturre against the preacher The xxj of August the Quéene set foorth a proclamation signifying that shée could not any longer hide the religion which she from her infancie had professed inhibiting in the same proclamation printing and preaching Vpon Sunday the xxvij of August the B. of Canterbury Sir Thomas Smith and the Deane of Paules were cited to to appeare the wéeke following before the Quéenes Commissioners in the Bishops consistory in Paules In the meane time it was falsly noysed abroad that the Archbishop to currie fauour with the Quéene should promisse to say Dirge Masse after the old custome for king Edward that he had already said masse at Canterbury A false rumor of the Archb. To stop these rumors the 7. of Sept. the Archb. set forth a letter which was also printed in purgation of himself The 13. of September Hugh Latimer was committed to the Tower The next day after that the Archb. was committed to the tower The first day of October which was the day of her coronation the Quéene gaue general pardon out of which were excepted all the prisoners in the Tower and in the Fléete and 62. more of which number maister Whitchurch and maister Grafton were two Vpon the 4. of October the Archbishop of Yorke was committed to the Tower The fift of October the Bishop of Lincolne Hereford and Westchester were discharged from the Parlement and Conuocation The 15. of October Laurence Saunders preacher at alhallowes in Bredstréete in the morning declared the abhominablenes of the masse about noone the same day hée was sent for by the Bishop of London and from thence committed to the Marshalsea The 26. of October the Vicechauncellour of Cambridge displaced D. Madew of the maistership of Clarehal because he was married and placed maister Swinborne The 28. of October the Papistes in the Kinges Colledge in Cambridge Kings Colledge Papists very forward not tarrying the making of any law had their seruice againe in the Latine tongue contrary to the law then in force About the last of December a priest at Canterbury said masse on the one day and the next day after he came into the pulpit and desired the people to forgiue him for he saide hée had betraied Christ and there made a long Sermon against the masse Vpon Saterday being the 13. of Ianuary D. Crome was committed to the Fléet and one maister Addington to the Tower The 20. of Ianuarie the court of first fruits and tenths were dissolued The 26. of Ianuary Iustice Halles was committed to the marshalsea and maister Rogers to Newgate About the 24. 25. of February such priestes within the dioces of London as were married were diuorced from their liuings and commanded to bring in their wiues within a fortnight that they might also be diuorced from them This the Bishop did of his owne power The 27. of February certain Gentlemen of Kent were sent downe to be executed among whom there were two of the Mantels the elder of which at his casting of the ladder brake the rope Then they would haue had him recant and receiue the sacrament of the altar and then they said he should haue the Quéenes pardon but he refused so to doe and chose rather to die Vpon the 18. day of March the Lady Elizabeth the Quéenes sister was brought to the Tower Ladie Elizabeth to the Tower In the moneth of May it was bruted that a disputation should be holden at Cambridge betwéene M. Bradford M. Saunders M Rogers and others of that side and the Doctors of both vniuersities on the other side like as had béene in Oxforde before This the godlye Preachers that were prisoners did accept so that the disputation might bee before the Queene or before the Counsell or before the Parlement houses or els if they might dispute by writing remembring the disorder at Oxford And they directed out of prison a declaration of their mindes by writing the seuenth day of May exhorting the people to submitte themselues with all patience and humilitie c. Anno 1554. Their names were Robert Menauen aliâs Robert Ferrar Rowlande Taylor Iohn Philpot Iohn Bradforde Iohn Wigorne and Gloce. Episcopus Iohn Hooper Edward Crome Iohn Rogers Laurence Saunders Edmunde Laurence I. P. T. M. Miles Couerdale agréeing also with them The xix of the same Moneth the Lady Elizabeth Sister to the Quéen was brought out of the Tower and committed to the custodie of sir I. Williams after Lord Williams of Thame who gently entreated her Lady Elizabeth sent to Woodstock and afterwarde she was had to Woodstocke and there committed to the kéeping of Sir Henrie Benefield who excéeded in harde dealing with her About the fifth of October and within a fortnight following there were about sixtye imprisoned in London for hauing and selling certain bookes which were sent ouer by Preachers that fledde beyond the Seas among whome was M. Brown a Goldsmith M. Sparke a Draper Randall Diuer a Stationer M. Beston a Marchant with many other The ninth of Nouember M. Barlowe late B. of Bathe and M. Cardmaker Barlowe and Cardmaker to the Fleete were brought before the Counsell in the Starrechamber and after communication commanded to the Fléete In this moneth or the moneth before Against writing of Scriptures on church walles Boner directeth his precepts against al writings of scripture on church walles About this time in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge and also of Oxforde many good wittes and learned men departed the Vniuersities because of the alteration of religion 24. places void together in S. Iohns colledge in Cambridge Of whō some of their owne accord gaue ouer some were thrust out of their Felowships some were miserably handled In so much that in Cambridge in the Colledge of saint Iohns there were 24. places voyde
the last he saide maister Sheriffe my maisters all I heartily thanke you for your goodwil I haue hearkened to your words and marked well your counsels and to be plaine with you I doe perceiue that I haue béene deceiued my selfe and am like to deceiue a great many in Hadley of their expectations With that word they all reioyced yea good maister Doctor quoth 〈◊〉 Sheriffe Gods blessing on your heart holde you there 〈◊〉 it is the comfortablest worde that wée hearde you 〈◊〉 yet what should you cast away your selfe in vain 〈◊〉 a wise mans part and I dare warrant you you shall 〈◊〉 fauour Thus they reioyced very much at the wordes and were â—â—â—â—y merry At the last good maister Doctor quoth the sheriffe what meane you by this that you thinke you haue â—â—ene deceiued your selfe c. Would you know my meaning plainely quoth he I will tell you I haue béene deceiued and as I thinke I shal deceiue a great manie I am as you sée a man that hath a very great carkas which I thought shoulde haue béene buried in Hadley Churchyarde if I had died in my bed as I well hoped I shoulde haue done But herein I sée I was deceiued and there are a great number of woormes in Hadley Churchyarde which should haue had iolly féeding vpon this carrion which they haue looked for manie a day The wormes deceiued by D. Taylors burning But nowe I know wée be deceyued I and they for this carkas must bée burnt to ashes and so shall they loose their baite and féeding When the Sheriffe and his companie heard him say so they were amazed maruelling at his constancie Departing thence and comming within two myles of Hadley hée desired to light of his Horse to make water which done he leapt and fetcht a friske or twaine D. Taylor of a marueylous courage as men commonly doe in daunsing Why M. Doctor quoth the sheriffe how do you now He answered well God be praised good M. sheriffe neuer better for now I know I am almost at home And at the last comming to Aldam Common the place assigned where he should suffer and vnderstanding it was the place he saide Thanked be God I am euen at home so lighted from his horse and with both his handes rent the hood from his head and profering to speake to the people who prayed for him and saluted him one or other thrust a tipstaffe into his mouth and would in no wise permitte him to speake For he was threatned and so were others that he should haue his tongue cutte out of his head except he would promise to kéepe silence at his death WheÌ„ he had praied he kissed the stake and set himselfe into a pitch barrell which they had set for him to stande in So praying They strike out D. Tailors braines at the fire and calling on the name of God he endured the torment til one Soice with an halbert strooke him on the head that the braynes fell out and the dead corps fell into the fire Within viij or ix dayes after S. Gardiner had geuen sentence against M. Hooper M. Rogers M. Saunders Doctor Taylor and Master Bradford being the viij of Februarie sixe other good men were brought before the bishoppes to be examined for their Religion Whose names were William Pigot Butcher St. Knight Barber Tho. Tomkins Weuer Thomas Hawkes Gentleman Iohn Lawrence Priest and William Hunter Prentice From which day Steeuen Gardiner Gardiner putteth of the butchering of the Saints to Boner would meddle no more in such kinde of condemnations but referred the whole doing thereof to Boner Bishoppe of London Who taking the matter in hande in the Consistorie of Paules the Lord Mayor and certaine Aldermen sitting with him the ix day of Februarie he read the sentence of condemnation against the sixe persons which were not executed before the moneth of March. Vpon the xiij day of Februarie Master Robert Farrar Bishop of saint Dauies was sent towardes saint Dauies there to be condemned and executed The xviij day of Februarie Quéene Marie after long delay made ful answere to the king of Denmarkes letters who had written two before to her in the behalfe of Miles Couerdale Miles Couerdale graunted to the King of Denmarke for his deliuerance whereunto she in the ende yelded The xix of Februarie there was a certaine intimation printed in the name of Boner where charge was geuen to euery man and woman within his Dioces to prepare them selues against Lent to receiue reconciliation sent from pope Iulius 3. by Poole his Cardinall and Legate de latere and so to be absolued Of the vj. before mentioned condemned by Boner Tho. Tomkins Thomas Tomkins Martyr was the first that suffered the xvj of March 1555. in Smithfield His dwelling was in Shordich in the Dioces of Lond. He was kept in prison by Boner halfe a yere and was of him most cruelly vsed beaten about the face and parte of his bearde pulled off by Boner Wherefore he caused him to be shauen pretending that then he woulde looke like a Catholike After that hauing with him M. Harpsfield M. Pendleton Doctor Chadsey M. Willerton and other standing by the Bishoppe tooke Tomkins by the fingers and helde his hande directly ouer the flame of a Taper hauing thrée or foure wéekes supposing by the payne thereof to terrifie him and cause him to leaue off the profession of the trueth In the which burning he neuer mooued till the veines shrunke They burne Tomkins hand with a Taper and the sinewes burst and the water did spirte in Master Harpsfieldes face In so much that Harpsfield mooued with pittie desired the Bishoppe to stay saying he had tryed him enough This burning was in the Bishops Hall at Fulham He was sundrie times examined The first time after he had béene imprisoned about halfe a yere the 8. of Februarie His Articles were touching the Sacrament of the Altar The next day he appeared againe at eight of the clocke before noone and againe the third tyme the same day at two of the clocke in the after noone where remayning constant in the doctrine of the Gospell the Bishop gaue sentence of death against him and so beyng deliuered to the Shiriffe of London was carried to Newgate where he remayned most ioyous and constant vntill the xvj of March next after Tomkins burned in Smithfield On which day in Smithfield he sealed vp his faith in the flaming fire The same yéere the xvj of March William Hunter of the age of ninetéene yéeres was martyred for the testimonie of the truth he being a prentise in London in the first yéere of Quéene Marie was commaunded at the Easter next followyng to receiue the Communion at a Masse by the Priest of the parish where he dwelt in Colman stréete in London which because he refused he was threatned to be brought before the B. of London Wherfore his master one Th. Taylor a silke maÌ„ fearing
to Sir Nicholas Hare and sir Thomas Cornewallis willing them to examine Maister Flowre alias Branch what hée meant to were about his necke written Deum time Vitium fuge Deum time Vitium fuge and whom else he knew to weare the like praying them also to speake to Boner B. of London spéedely to procéede agaynst him for his Religion according to the Lawes and that the Iustices of peace of Middlesex should likewise procéede against him for shedding of bloud in the Church according to the Statute so as if hée continue in his opinion hee might be executed at the farthest by the latter end of this wéeke and that his right hand the day before his execution or the same day might be stricken of The two and twentith of Aprill there was a letter sent to the Iustices of peace of Middlesex with a writ for the execution of the said Flower M. Flower The xxix of Aprill Maister Robert Hornbye seruaunt then to the Ladie Elizabeth was conuented before the Counsell for his religion and constantly standing thereto was commited to the Marshalsea Anno 1555. the xxiiij of Aprill George Marsh George Marsh suffered most constantly at Winchester for the testimonie of the truth For a while he was Curate to Laurence Saunders in which condition he continued for a space But at length by detection of certaine aduersaries hée was apprehended and kept in close pryson by George Cotes then Bishop of Chester in straight prison in Chester in the bishops house about the space of foure moneths beyng not permitted to haue reléefe and comfort of his fréends The Wednesday before Palmesunday he voluntarily presented himselfe being sought for before Master Barton who sent him the next day before the Earle of Darbie and his Counsell at Lathā Where appearing before them and not answering to their contentment touching the Sacrament of the Altar he was committed to ward in a cold wide stone house where he lay two nights without any bed sauing a few canuasse tentclothes and a paire of shéets without woollen clothes and so continued he till Palmesunday beyng occupied in prayer and godly meditation On Palmsunday at after dinner he appeared again and comming with the Vicar of Prescot the Vicar made report to the Earle that the answer which he made was sufficient for a beginner vnto such time as he should learne farther Wherewith the Earle was very well pleased and so after few words commanded he should haue a bed with fire and liberty to go among his seruants so he would not hurt them with his communication Thus he departed more troubled then before because he had not with more boldnes confessed Christ but in such sort as the aduersaries thought they might preuaile against him So he praied to God for more strength And after a day or two confessed more plainly and more boldly in such sort as the Vicar was not well pleased After which within a day or two came to him againe M. Moore bringing with him certaine articles whervnto Doctor Crome had subscribed in the daies of king Henrie the viij requiring him also to subscribe whereto he would in no sort agrée and so he departed Within a short space after on shrouethurseday the Vicar sent for him againe saying my Lord would be at a short point with him if he woulde not subscribe to 4. articles wherof thrée tended to the masse and the fourth touching confession These articles he denied to subscribe vnto and was committed to the Porters ward where he continued till Low-sunday On which day after dinner his kéeper Richard Scot signified vnto him that 2. young men came to carrie him to Lancaster And so was he carried thither by them and appeared at the sessions among malefactors and was thrise arraigned among théeues with yrons on his féete and with boldnes confessed Christ Within few daies after Marsh was remoued from Lācaster and comming to Chester was sent for of D. Cotes the B. to appeare before him in his hall no body being present but they twaine Where the B. communed with him and laboured to peruert him but all in vaine And after he had taken his pleasure in punishing him and reuiling him he caused him to be brought forth into a chappel in the Cathedrall church in Chester called our Ladies Chappel before him at two of the clocke in the after noone who was there placed in a chaire for that purpose and Fulke Dutton maior of that citie D. Wall and other priests assisting him And after they had caused him to take an othe they ministred articles vnto him To which he answered according to the doctrine taught in king Edwards daies which being registred he was returned againe to his prison Within thrée wéekes after he appeared againe and after many vain perswasions to recant he receiued sentence of condemnation and was carried away and put into a darke prison where he had smal comfort of any creature til his death Yet some of the citizens that feared God would comfort him at a hole in a wall of the citie and giue him money When the day appointed came that he should suffer the sheriffes of the city Amry Cooper with their officers tooke him out of the Northgate where he was prisoner who came with thē most méekly with a locke on his foot being at the place of his death he refused the pardon of the Quéen which was offred him if he would recant Which he said he would gladly accept but forasmuch as it tended to plucke him frō God he would not receiue it vpon such condition So after he had praied he put off his clothes to his shirt being fastned to the post by reason the fire was vnskilfully made he suffered with great patience grieuous torment So that when he had a long time bin tormented in the fire without mouing hauing his flesh so broyled and puft vp that it couered the chaine wherwith he was fastned hee therefore was supposed to be dead Notwithstanding sodainly he spread abroade his armes George Marsh of great patience saying Father of heauen haue mercy on me so yelded Vpon this the people said he was a martyr And the Bish to quiet them shortly after made a sermon affirming that he was an Heretike c. and a firebrand in hell Whom in recompence not long after the hand of God did so strike that hee dyed as it was thought burned of an Harlotte This Martir did write diuers and sundrie bookes out of prison The xxiiij of Aprill William Flower sometime a Monke of Ely and a Priest but afterward being married liued by teaching of children was put to death for the testimony of the trueth and had his hand first stricken of for striking a Priest saying masse Comming from Lambeth where he dwelt about tenne or eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone into Saint Margarets Church at Westminster where he finding and séeing a priest called Iohn Cheltam ministring the Sacrament of the Altar to
martyrs and so also gaue himselfe to be bound to the stake most gladly The people séeing this so sodainly done contrary to their fearful expectation as men deliuered out of great doubt cried out for ioy with so great a showte as hath not lightly bin heard a greater saying God be praised The people encourage Cardmaker at his death the Lorde strengthen thée Cardmaker the Lord Iesus receiue thy spirit and this continued till the executioner put fire to them Which being done they both passed through the fire to their eternal rest The twelfth day a letter was sent to the Lord Treasurer to cause writtes to bee made to the Sheriffe of Sussex for the burning and executing of Dericke a Bruer at Lewes and other two one in Stainings and the other at Chichester The 23. of Iune a letter was sent to Boner to examine a report giuen to the Councel of 4. parishes within the Sooken of Essex that should still vse the English seruice and to punish the offenders if any such were With maister Cardmaker Iohn Warne vpon the same day and in the same company and for the same cause were also condemned Iohn Ardeley and Iohn Simson which was the 25. of May. They were both husbandmen in the parish of Wigborow in Essex and almost both of one age saue that Simson was of the age of 34. and the other of 30. Valiant martyr Ioh. Ardley Iohn Ardley being vrged by the B. to recant saide boldly vnto the B. with many other wordes of like constancie If euery haire of my head were a man I would suffer death in the faith that I am now in So the 25. of May they both receiued sentence of condemnation and were both in one day put to death in Essex the 10. of Iune Iohn Simson Iohn Simson martyr at Rotchford and Iohn Ardley at Rayley which they patiently endured for Christes sake About the same time one Iohn Tooly Iohn Tooly was executed as a fellon for rayling on a Spaniard at S. Iames. And at the gallowes hee defied the Pope and his indulgences and saide hée trusted onely on the merits of Christ with other words against the Pope For which after he had béene buried the mitered prelates caused him to be taken vp out of his graue after they had excommunicated him for want of appearance and committed him to the Sheriffe of London to be burned the 4. of Iune Thomas Hawks was one of the 6. men condemned in one day of Boner the 9 of February and put to death the tenth of Iune Hee was borne in Essex and by profession a Courtier and seruant to the Earle of Oxforde till God tooke King Edward out of this world He had borne to him a sonne whose baptisme he deferred to the thirde wéeke for that hée would not haue him baptised after the Papisticall manner For which cause the aduersaries laid hands on him and brought him to the Earle of Oxford The Earle sendeth him vp to London with letters to Boner With whom Boner after much communication and conference of his Chaplens with maister Hawkes hee remained at Fulham and the B. the next day departed to London and came home againe at night Vpon the munday morning very early the B. called for him agayne and there Harpesfield Archdeacon of London reasoned with maister Hawkes touching Baptisme and the masse c. But Hawkes remayned constant withstood him with mightie power of the Scriptures as also the B. himselfe Fecknam and Chadsey at foure sundrie times after The first day of Iuly the B. did call him himselfe from the Porters lodge and commanded him to prepare himselfe to prison and so was hee sent to bée kept close prisoner in the gate house where he remayned thirtéene daies and then sent Boner two men to know how he did and whether hée were the same man To whom he answered constantly for the trueth After which answere he heard no more of the bishop till the 3. of September on which day he was priuately examined againe of Boner and woulde haue had his hand to a bill of articles to whom when Hawkes had said it should neither come into his hand hart nor minde the bishop wrapt it vp and put it into his bosome and in a great anger went his way and tooke his horse and rode on visitation into Essex and Hawkes went to prison againe After these priuate conferences perswasions and long debatings M. Hawkes was cited to appeare in the B. consistorie the viij of February again the ix Where being exhorted by the B. with many faire wordes to returne againe to the bosome of the mother Church after that hée had said to the Bishop no my Lord that will I not for if I had an hundreth bodies I would suffer them all to be torne in pieces rather then I will abiure or recant at the last Boner readeth the sentence of death vpon him and so was hée dismissed to prison againe till the 10. of Iune Then was he committed to the handes of the Lorde Riche who being assisted had him into Essex to suffer martyrdome at Coxhall Certain of his friendes praied him to giue thē a signe whether the payne of burning was so great that a man might not there kéepe his patience in the fire which thing hee promised them to doe That if the payne were tollerable then hée woulde lift vp his handes aboue his head towards heauen before hée gaue vp the Ghost Which thing hée performed vnto them For after he had continued a long time in the fire and when his spéech was taken away by the violence of the flame his skinne also drawen together and his fingers consumed with the fire that now all men thought certainelye that hee had béene gone Haukes geueth a signe to his friendes then sodeinly he reached vp both his handes burning on a light fire ouer his head to the liuing God and so with great reioysing as it séemed did strike or clappe them thrée seuerall times together Haukes writte diuers comfortable epistles At which sight the people gaue a marueylous showte And so the blessed Martyr straightway sinking down into the fire gaue vp the ghost He wrote diuers comfortable Epistles The xxvj of Aprill Thomas Wattes of Byllirica in Essex a linen draper was apprehended and brought before the Lord Rich and other Commissioners at Chelmesford who after short communication had with him sent him vp to Boner who after foure appearances and much labouring of him to recant in the end pronounced sentence agaynst him and deliuered him to the Shiriffes of London by whom he was sent to Newgate where hée remained till the ninth of Iune or as some record till the xxij of Maie At which time he was carried to Chelmesford and there was brought to Scots house kéeping an In where they were at meat with Hawkes the rest that came downe to their burning They praied together both before and and after their meate
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
sherife Master Woodrooffe which so cruelly handled M. Bradforde Gods iudgement that his right side being stricken with a palsey hee so remayned till his dying day eyght yeres together Master Bradford wrote a whole volume of Letters Bradfordes Letters to sundrie persons out of prison And greatly strengthened and comforted many to the Citie of London to Cambridge into Lankesshire and Chesshire to the towne of Walden with a nūber other to priuate persons The next day after M. Bradford Iohn Leafe did suffer in Smithféeld Williā Munge préest died in pryson at Maidstone being there in bondes for religion like to haue suffered if he had liued Vpon the iij. of Iulie Anno 1555. died one Iames Treuisam in the parish of S. Margaret in Lothberie and was borne vpon a table without coffin or any thing else into Moore-féeld and there buried The same night the body was cast vp aboue the ground and his sheete taken from him and he left naked After this the owner of the field seeing him buried him again The dead body summoned to appeare to answere And a fortnight after the sumner came to his graue and summoned him to appeare at Paules before his ordinary to answere such thinge as should be laide against him The 13. of Iuly Iohn Bland parson of Adesham in Kent I. Frankesh Nicholas Sheterden and Humfrey Middleton were all foure burned together at Canterbury Foure martyrs in Canterbury for one cause whereof Frankesh and Bland were ministers and preachers He was twise before put in prison for the Gospell and by suite of friends deliuered but because he coulde not kéepe silence in his liberty but preach vnto the people he was the third time imprisoned The xiij or xiiij of Februarie he was sent to Canterburie gaole where he lay x. wéekes and then was bayled and bound to appeare at the next Sessions at Canterburie But the matter being exhibited to the Spirituall Court there it was heard So that the xviij of May he was examined by Harpsfielde and againe the xxi And from them tossed to the Sessions at Gréenewich the xviij and xix of Februarie And after much reasoning with the Commissarie and other of the Spirituall Court he was condemned the xxv day of Iune by the S. of Douer R. Thornton sometimes a Professor assisted by the Commissarie Robert Cellius and the archdeacon Nicholas Harpsfield The same day were the rest afore named condemned and suffered ioyfully together at Canturburie the xij of Iuly at two stakes al in one fire The same moneth of Iuly next after the suffering of the Kentishmen aboue named Nicholas Hall bricklayer and Christopher Wade Nicholas Hall Christopher Wade martyrs of Dartford suffered were condemned by Maurice B. of Rochester about the last day of the moneth of Iune Nicholas Hall was burned at Rochester about the xix of Iuly In which moneth of Iuly thrée other more were condēned by Maurice whose names were Ioane Breach widow Iohn Horpoll of Rochester and Margerie Polley Christopher Wade of Dartford in the Countie of Kent lynen draper was appointed to be burned at Dartford About x. of the clocke the Shiriffe bringeth Wade pinioned and by him one Margerie Polley Margerie Polley comforteth Wade of Tunbridge both singing a Psalme Which Margerie so soone as shée spied a great multitude gathered about the place where she should suffer wayting her comming she said vnto Wade very lowde and chéerefully you may reioyce Wade to sée such a company gathered to celebrate your mariage this day Wade cōming to the stake tooke it in his armes embracing it kissed it and being setled thereto his handes and eies lift vp to heauen He spake with a chéerefull and lowde voice the last verse of the 86. psalme Shew some good tokē vpon me O Lord Wades praier that they which hate me may sée it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me comforted me Néere vnto the stake approched a Frier intēding some matter while Wade was a praying Whom when he spied he cried earnestly to the people to beware of the doctrine of the whore of Babylon with such vehemencie that the Frier withdrew himselfe without speaking any word Thē réeds being set about him he pulled embraced them in his armes alwaies with his hands making a hole against his face that his voice might be heard which they perceiuing that were his tormentors alwaies cast faggots at the same hole Which he notwithstanding stil as he could put off his face being hurt with the end of a faggot cast thereat Then fire being put to him he cried vnto God often Lord Iesus receiue my soule And beyng dead and altogether rosted his handes were held ouer his head as though he had béene staied with a prop. The 22. of Iuly was burned at Lewes within the countie of Sussex one Dyrick Caruer Dyrick Caruer Béerebrewer in the parish of Bright-hamstéed in the same countie the next day was also burned at Steining Iohn Lander Iohn Lander late of Godstone in the county of Surrie Which two mē with others about the end of the moneth of October were apprehended by Edw. Gage gentleman as they were at praier in the house of Dyrick by him were sent vp to London to the Counsell who after examinatiō sent them to Newgate there to attend the leisure of Boner From whence they were brought the viij of Iune next after into the B. chāber in his house at Londō Where being examined earnestly perswaded with and no hope to peruert thē after diuerse examinations they were condēned the x of Iune of the B. in his cōsistorie at Paules afterwards were conueyed to the places afore mentioned where they gaue their liues chéerfully and gladly for the testimonie of the truth Dyrick was a man blessed with tēporall riches which notwithstanding were no clog to him during his imprisonment although he was well stricken in yéeres as it were past the time of learning yet he so spent his time that being at his first apprehensiō vtterly ignorāt of any letter of the booke yet could he before his death read any printed English In his praier at the stake he vttered these words oh Lord my God thou hast writtē he that will not forsake wife childrē house and all that euer he hath take vp thy crosse follow thée is not worthy of thee Dyrick Caruers words at the stake but thou Lord knowest that I haue forsaken all to come vnto thée Lord haue mercy vpō me for vnto thée I commend my spirit my soule doth reioyce in thée These wordes were the last that hée spake till the fire was put vnto him And after the fire came to him he cried Lord haue mercy vpon me and so died At Chichester about the same moneth was burned one Tho. Iueson Tho. Iueson of Godstone in the county of Surrey Carpenter after perswasion in vaine to recant When he had said
enter in bonds and so to be dismissed But that he refused to doe because they had nothing to lay to his charge So he remained prisoner in Couentry the space of 10. or 11 daies being neuer called of the maisters to answere The 2 day after the B. comming to Couentrie M. Warren came to the guildhall willed the chiefe gaoler to carrie him to the B. With whom after much disputation when he could not agrée he was returned againe to the cōmon gaole On the Friday morning being the next day after he with other brethren was carried to Lichfield whither they came at 4 a clock were friendly entertained at the Sun But the same night they were put in prison by Iephcot the Chancellors man being destitute on the sodain of al necessaries He put him into a prison where he continued til he was condēned a place next to the dungeō narrow of room strong of building very colde with smal light where he was allowed a būdell of straw in stéed of a bed without any thing els to ease himself withal was alowed no help neither night nor day nor company of any man notwithstāding his great sicknes Within 2. daies after the Chancellour one Temsey a prebendary came to exhort him to conformity to whō he gaue none eare He was also in the mean time of his imprisonmēt assailed by tēptations of Satan but God vpheld his seruant At the B. first comming to Lichfield after his imprisonment he was called before him none being present but his chaplains and seruants sauing an old priest with whom he had reasoning of the church and of the sacrament c. and to the end he continued constant in the truth After that he was condemned of the B. Austen Bernher a minister reporteth of him that for 3. or 4. daies before his death his heart grew lumpish so that he feared least the Lord shold not assist though he had earnestly praied for the same This his tēptation he signified to Austen his familiar friēd who exhorted him with patience to waite the Lordes leysure and if consolation came hee would shew some signe vnto him thereof God sendeth the spirite of comfort whereby he might also witnes the same so he departed The next day when he came to the sight of the stake sodainly he was so mightily replenished with heauēly comfort that he cried out clapping his hands to Austen and saying in these words Robert Glouer Austen he is come he is come c. In the same fire was burned with him Cornelius Bungey Cornelius Bungey a Capper of Couentry and condemned by the B. of Couentry and so they ioyfully suffered together about the 20. of September Iohn Glouer and William died after and were prohibited to be buried Iohn a twelue moneth after being condemned to be taken vp and cast ouer the wall as Doct. Dracot gaue sentēce The other was prohibited to be buried by one Iohn Thirlme of Weme in Shropshire Where hee died and Barnard the Curate with him In the same dioces also M. Edward Bourton who required of his friende that hee might not bee buried after the popish manner was prohibited buriall and was buried in his owne garden In the same countie of Salop Olyuer Richardine Olyuer Richardine of the parish of Whitchurch was burned in Hartford West Sir Iohn Yong beyng Shiriffe Which séemeth to haue béene about the latter end of king Henry the eight After the martyrdome of those aforesaid followed next the condemnation of William Wolsey W. Wolsey and Robert Pygot Robert Pygot paynter who were iudged and condemned at Ely by Iohn Fuller Chauncellour Doctor Shaxton his Suffragan Robert Steward Deane of Ely Iohn Chrystopherson Deane of Norwich c. Anno 1555. The eleuenth of October they were burned in Wisbich Wolsey was a Constable at Welles and was brought to death by one Richard Euerard Gentleman a Iustice of peace He might haue departed if he listed being willed so to do by D. Fuller but he said he would be deliuered by law and no otherwise Pigot being called at the sessions at Wisbich would not absent himselfe but appeared was with the other carried to Ely to prisō where they remained til they suffred During which time there came to thē one Peter Valentius a French man who had bin a remainer there about xx yeres strēgthened them in the faith Shaxton had béene a professor and became a reuolt and laboured with them and said good brethren remember your selues and become new men for I haue béene of this fond opinion c. To whome Wolsey answered Ah are you become a new man wo be to thée thou wicked new man God shall iustly iudge thée In the ende sentence was geuen against them and they committed to the stake where they did sing the 106. psalme clapping as it was thought certaine new Testaments to their breasts which were throwen into the fire to be burned with them The same yere moneth and day in the which the foresaide martyrs were burned at Ely which was an 1555 the sixtenth of October followed also at Oxford the slaughter of M. Ridley B. of London and M. Latimer B. sometimes of Worcester M. Ridley M Ridley was sometimes maister of Penbrooke hall in Cambridge afterward was made Chaplen to king Henry the eight and promoted by him to be bishop of Rochester and from thence in king Edwards daies translated to London He was replenished with singular vertues and great learning He shewed great compassion on Boners mother in K. Edwards daies whose sonne now full vncourtuously requited him He was first conuerted to the truth by reading Bertrames booke of the Sacrament whom also the conference with Peter Martyr bishop Cranmer did much confirme When Quéene Marie came in first he was committed to the tower from thence with the Archb. of Canterbury and Latimer to Oxford and there inclosed in the common gaole of Bocardo Where at length being disseuered from them he was committed to custodie in the house of one Irish Sundry letters and tractations of Ridley where he remained till his martyrdom Which was from the yéere 1554. till 1555 the xvi of October He wrote diuers letters and sundry tractations in time of his captiuity Maister Latimer M. Latimer of the Vniuersity of Cambridge was first a zealous Papist and a railer against those that professed the Gospel as he did plainly declare in his Oration against Philip Melancthon when he procéeded Bachelour of Diuinitie M. Latimer a zealous papist sometime and conuerted by Bilney But especially he could not abide Master Stafforde Diuinitie Reader there But M. Bilney had compassion of his blinde zeale and after a time came to Latimers studie and desired him to heare him make his confession In hearing whereof he was so touched that thereupon he lefte his Schoole diuinitie and grewe in further knowledge of the trueth After he came to the knowledge of the
and behynde hym kneeled Maister Latimer as earnestly calling vppon GOD as hee Doctour Smith who recanted preached a Sermon scant in all a quarter of an houre against them in the meane while that they were a preparing to the fire M. Ridley being in his shirt stood vpon a stone at the stake and held vp his hands and saide Oh heauenly father I giue vnto thée most hearty thankes for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée euen to the death c. Then the smith tooke a chaine of yron and brought the same both about D. Ridleyes and Latimers middles and as hee was knocking in the staple maister Ridley tooke the chayne in his hand and shaked the same for it did gyrd in his bellie and looking aside to the smith saide Good fellow knocke it in hard for the flesh will haue his course Then his brother brought both him and maister Latimer gunpowder which he said he would take as sent from God then brought they a fagot kindeled with fire and laide it downe at Ridleyes féete Latimer prophecieth at the stake To whom maister Latimer spake in this maner be of good comfort M. Ridley and play the mā we shal this day light such a candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shal neuer be put out And so the fire was giuen vnto them When Doctor Ridley sawe the fire flaming vp towardes him he cried with a woonderfull loude voyce In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum Domine accipe spiritum meum And after repeated often in English Lorde Lorde receiue my spirite maister Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side Oh father of heauen receiue my my soule who receiued the flame as it were imbracing it and soone died M. Ridley by reason of the euil making of the fire had his nether partes all burnt before the vpper parts were touched and endured great torment with much patience so they both slept in the Lorde faithfull witnesses of his trueth Diuers letters and treatises Maister Ridley wrote diuers letters and treatises of exhortation The next moneth after the burning of Ridley M. Ridley and Latimer which was the moneth of Nouember died Stephen Gardiner Stephen Gardiner dieth a man of an vnconstant mind a man hated of God and all good men He was during the time of Queene Anne an enemie to the Pope but after her decease the time carried him away that hée became a Papist till agayne in King Edwardes time hée beganne to rebate from certaine pointes of poperie Agayne after the decay of the Duke of Sommerset he quite turned to poperie and became a cruell Persecutour Hée hauing intelligence of the death of Ridley and Latimer deferring his dinner til thrée or foure of the clock at after noone commeth out reioysing to the olde Duke of Norfolke who tarried for his dinner till then at Gardiners Gods iudgement vpon Gardiner house and said Now let vs goe to dinner And being set downe began merely to eate and had eaten but a fewe bittes when the sodaine stroke of Gods terrible hande fell vpon him so that immediatly he was taken from the table and brought to his bed where he so continued xv dayes and then died his tongue being blacke and swolne in his head When Doctor Day Bishop of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with words of Gods promises with frée iustification in the bloud of Christ our Sauiour repeating the Scriptures vnto him Winchester Winchesters words at his death hearing that what my Lorde saide he will you open that gap now then farewel all together To me and to such other in my case you may speake it but open this window to the people then farewel all together Next after the death of Master Ridley and Master Latimer followed thrée other couragious Souldiers of Iesus Christ Iohn Webbe Gentleman George Roper and Gregorie Parke Iohn Webbe I Webbe G. Roper G. Parker Martirs was brought before the suffragan of Douer the sixtéenth day of September before the other two long after Which beside sundrie other times the the iij. day of October were all thrée together brought before the said Iudge and by him condemned And about the ende of October or in the latter end of Nouember as it is otherwise found they were brought out of prison to their martirdome who by the way said certaine Psalmes mournfullie Roper was a young man of a fresh colour courage and complexion The other two were somewhat more elderly Roper comming to the stake and putting off his gowne fet a great leape So soone as the flame was about him he putte out both his armes from his bodie like a Roode and so stoode stedfast continuing in that maner not plucking his armes in till the fire had consumed them and burnt them off And thus these woorthie Martirs at Canterburie gaue witnesse to the trueth The xiij of December died William Wiseman in the lolards Tower a Clothwoorker of London Some thought that through famine or other euill handling hee was made away After his death he was throwen into the fields and charge geuen that none should burie him But the brethren buried him in the night In the same yeare about the vij of September Iames Gore deceased in prison at Colchester being captiue for defence of the trueth Master Iohn Philpot after he had béene imprisoned by the Lord Chauncellour a yere a halfe for his frée spéech in the conuocation house was the second of October an 1555. called for before the Quéenes Commissioners M. Cholmeley Master Roper Doctor Storie and one of the Scribes of the Arches at Newgate Sessions Hall Where they had nothing particular to charge him with by the Lawe neyther would he otherwise answere So they sent him againe to prison Afterwardes hee was commaunded to appeare the xxiiij day of October which he did And after much railing against him and many threatenings they sent him to the B. of Londons Colehouse where he found Tho. Whittle Priest in the stockes who once through infirmitie had relented to the Papistes but féeling remorse and torment in his conscience went to the B. Register desiring to sée his bill againe Which as soone as he had receiued he tare in péeces and after that was ioyfull receiued comfort Whē the B. heard thereof he beate him and pulled a greate péece of his beard from his face and cast him into prison Which he endured ioyfully for Christes name Boner vnderstanding of master Philpots imprisonment sent him bread and meate and drinke with faire wordes and promise of fauour And within a while after one of his Gentlemen was sent for him and brought him to the presence of Boner Who vnderstanding by Master Philpot the cause of his trouble to haue risen by his speach in the cōuocation house said he would not as then burthen him with his conscience and said moreouer that he meruailed they were so merrie in prison
his bodie touched the ground After all this hee was brought before the Mayor of Reading and there those false Brethren which before had robbed his studie obiected against him Treason Sedition Murther and Adulterie c. Which when they coulde not proue they laide vnto his charge the writings that they had stolne out of his Studie Wherefore once againe he was called out of pryson and appeared before the Mayor and Byrd the officiall and two other Iustices to render an accompt of his faith And when they had gathered of his owne mouth sufficient matter to entrap him they deuised a byll of instructions against him to be directed to Doctor Geffery who had determined to hold his visitation the next tuesday at Newbery beyng the sixtéenth day of Iuly So he was sent to Newbery and came thether on the Munday at night and with him Thomas Askins his felow prisoner where they found Iohn Grome their faithfull brother in the Lord. So the xv of Iuly the prysoners appeared before Doctor Geffery and other Commissioners where after reasoning of the authoritie and vniuersalitie of the church of Rome and of the presence in the Sacrament c. when no allurements nor perswasions would preuayle they were all thrée condemned and burned together Being at the place of their martyrdome Palmer comforteth his fellowes with the promises of God and pronounced with an audible voice the xxxj Psalme But the other two made their prayers secretly to almightie God all thrée falling to the ground and as Palmer beganne to rise there came behind him a popish priest exhorting him to recant to whome Palmer Palmer at the stake answered Away away tempt me no longer away I said from mée all yée that worke iniquitie for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my teares And foorthwith they put of their rayment went to the stake and kissed it and when they were bound to the post Palmer said good people pray for vs that we may perseuere to the end and for Christes sake beware of popish teachers for they deceiue you Which as hée spake a seruaunt of one of the Bayliffes threwe a faggot at his face that the bloud gushed out in diuerse places Thus fire being put to them they all crying Lord Iesu strengthen vs Lord Iesu assist vs Lord Iesu receiue our soules they ended this mortall life Palmer was about 24. yeares old when he suffered The last time of his being at Oxford one Barwicke then fellow of Trinitie Colledge a rancke papist began to reason with him and perceiuing him to be earnest and zealous said vnto him in the hearing of Maister Thomas Perrey others there present Well Palmer well now thou art stoute and hardie in thyne opinion but if thou were once brought to the stake I beléeue thou wouldest tell me another tale I aduise thée beware of the fire it is a shrewd matter to burne Truly said Palmer Palmer diuers times in daunger of burning I haue bene in daunger of burning once or twise and hetherto I thanke God I haue escaped it but I iudge verily it wil be mine end at the last welcom be it by the grace of God In déed it is an hard matter for them to burne that haue the minde and soule linked to the bodie as a théefe is tyed in a paire of Fetters But if a man be once able through the helpe of Gods spirite to separate and deuide the soule from the bodie for him it is no more maisterie to burne then for me to eate a péece of bread For whom it is easy to burne About the same moneth of Iuly Agnes Wardal of the towne of Ipswich a vertuous woman and one that hated the Romish trash was persecuted by Richard Argentine a phisition in the towne Phillip Vlmes Edmond Leach Iohn Steward and Mathew Butler malicious enemies of Gods children But by Gods great prouidence they escaped their handes and was deliuered In the same moneth also Peter Mone a Tailer of the towne of Ipswich with his wife were called before the B. kéeping visitation at Ipswich and through frailtie yelded to the Byshop Whereof after they fsll into great griefe of conscience when they came home to their house and looking when they should be sent for againe to the B. the next day who had appointed them then to appeare The time appointed drawing nigh they heard the belles ring for the B. departure out of the towne So they escaped farther trial Against these was one Richard Smart a Portman of the towne an earnest member of the Popish Church but afterwardes he repented him thereof with teares In the Isle of Gernesey 3. women Katherine Couches Catherine Couches Guillemme Gilbert Perotine Massey The mother and 2. daughters at Gernsey the mother and one Guillemme Gilbert and Perotine Massey her daughters were burned for the cause of the Gospel refusing to come to Church Notwithstanding they protested to hold nothing against the Popish Church neither was there heard any information against them neither were they examined before of their religion at anye time yet were they condemned by Syr Iames Amy Dean and the Curates of the Isle to be burned for Heretikes Which when the Bayliefes and Iurates vnderstood howe they had not examined them of their faith yet condemned them for heretikes they would not sit in iudgement that day but ordeyned they should first bée examined of them Which being done an Act and sentence was deliuered against them to the former effect that they should be executed as heretikes no accuser hauing béene heard against them Cruelty against the mother and her 2. daughters and the innocent parties protesting they would entirely obey the ordinances of the Church So sentence being giuen against them by Elier Gosseline Bailieffe notwithstanding they had appealed from the same to the king Quéene and Councel yet were they the 18. of Iuly all burned together at 3. stakes the mother in the middest the eldest daughter on the right side and the youngest on the left They were first strangled but the rope brake before they were dead so the poore women fell into the fire Marueilous cruelty Perotine great with child brast asunder by the vehemencie of the fire and her infant being a faire manchild fell into the fire and eftsoones taken out of the fire by one W. Howse was laid vppon the grasse from thence it was had to the prouost and from him to the Baylife Whose censure was that it should be caried backe and cast into the fire so was the child baptized in his owne blood to fil vp the number of the saints Néere about the same time that these 3. women with the infant were burned there suffered for the doctrine of the Gospel at Gréenstéed in Sussex two men Thomas Dungate Tho. Dungate and Iohn Foreman Iohn Forman and one woman called mother Dree the 18. of Iuly About the 26. of Iune one Tho. Moore Tho. More of the age of
hill and fire put too Bucer Phagius corps burned with many good bookes were burned and a number of condemned bookes with them which while they were burning that gaue the people cause greatly to mislike their crueltie on the market hill Doctor Watson enueyeth against them in the pulpet in S. Maries church although Bucer taught no other thing then both he and Scot had subscribed to in king Edwards daies The next day after the B. of Chester went with great solemnitie to the Church of our Lady and Saint Michaell Which doone the Commissioners bestowed a fewe dayes in punishing such as they thought had offended and enacted certaine Statutes prescribing at how many Masses euery man should be day by day and how many Pater nosters and Auies euery man should say when he should enter into the Church And in his entrance after what a 〈◊〉 his should â—owe himselfe to the Altar and at what time of the Masse a man should stand when sit downe with a number of such superstitious toyes Which thinges being thus ordered the Vniuersitie bestoweth the degrée of Doctor vpon Ormaneâ— and Cole and to the holy reformers depâ—â—â— who yet before they departed The holy commissioners depart from CaÌ„bridge gaue commaundement that the Maisters of euery house should copie out their Statutes which contained certayne 〈◊〉 rules for euery house particularlie Swineborne maister of Clare hall beeing demaunded whether he would haue their engrossed in paper or parchment answered it made no matter paper would for continuance serue the turne well enough Accordyng as they dealt with the bodies of Bucer and Phagius at Cambridge so likewise at Oxford they vsed Per Martyrs They take Peter Martyrs wiues corpes at Oxford wife while she liued a graue and sober matrone Anno 1552. she departed this life Now when B. Brookes of Glocester Nichol Ormanet Datary Robert Morwen president of Corpus Christi Colledge Cole Wright Doctors of the Ciuil law came thither as the Cardinals visitors They among other things hauing commission for the same ministred an oath to such as had acquaintance with her that they shold not conceale what they knew touching religion concerning her faith Who because they vnderstood not her language answered they could know nothing Which the commissioners also certified the Cardinall But that notwithstanding he left not the matter so but wrote down his letters a good while after to Marshall the Deane of Friswides that he should digge her vp and lay her out of Christian burial because she was buried nigh S. Friswides reliques Whose commandement Doct. Marshall calling his spades and mattockes together in an Euening when he was well whitled did fulfill and buried her in a dunghill Anno 1557. 10 of the 15. persons mentioned in the other booke that were in prison in the castle of Canterbury wherof fiue were famished were coÌ„mitted to the fire by Thornton called B. or suffragan of Douer otherwise called Dick of Douer and by Nicholas Harpesfield Archdeacon of the same prouince The names of those tenne be these Iohn Philpot Iohn Philpot. W. Waterer Steph. Kempe W. Haydhith Th. Hudson Mathew Brodbridge Tho. Stephens Nich. Finall W. Lowicke W. Prowting of Tenderden W. Waterer of Bedington Stephen Kempe of Norgate W. Haidhith Th. Hudson of Shalenge Mathew Brodbridge of Tenderden Thomas Stephens of Bedingden Nicholas Finall of Tenderden W. Lowicke of Crambrooke W. Prowting of Thoneham Of these sixe were burned at Canterbury about the xv of Ianuary twoo that is Stephen and Philpot at Wye About the same moneth other two Finall and Brodbridge at Ashford the 16. of the same moneth In february following came out another bloody commission from the king and Quéene Another bloody commission yet more to inflame the fire of persecution After the publishing of which Commission the eight of February persecution did rage most fiercely in all quarters so that the prisons were full of prisoners namely in the dioces of Canterbury And in the towne of Colchester it was so fierce that 22. together men and women were apprehended at one clappe 14. men and 8. women of which some escaped the other were driuen vp like a flocke of Christian lambes to London with 2. or 3. leaders at the most The blood of which people Boner woulde haue sucked had not Cardinall Poole Cardinall Poole mercifull staied his rage Who although he were a papist and an enemy yet was he not so bloody as the other were So these people being suffered to draw themselues out a submission were deliuered notwithstanding diuers of theÌ„ afterward were taken and suffered The names of that multitude were these Robert Coleman of Walton in the Countie of Essex labouring man Ioan Winsley of Horsley magna in the same Countie Stephen Glouer of Railey in the same Countie Glouer Ri charde Clarke of much Holland in the same Countie mariner W. Munt of much Bentley in the same Countie husbandman Thomas Winseley of much Horsley in the same Countie sawyer Margaret Field of Ramsey in the same Countie Agnes Whitlocke of Douercourte Alice Munt of much Bentley Rose Allen of the same towne Richard Bongeor of Colchester Currier Richard Atkyn of Halstéed weauer Robert Barcock of Whistone carpenter Rich. George of Westbarfolt labourer Rich Gelly of Colchester mariner Tho. Feresham mercer of Colchester Robert Debnam late of Dedham Cisley Warren of Cockshall Christian Pepper widow of the same towne Allen Simson Eline Euring Alice the wife of Rob. Wil. at colchester William Bongeor of Colchester Glaster Their chiefe trouble was for the article of the Lords supper The same yeare 1557. 1557 T. Losebie H Ramsey T Thirtell M. Hyde A. Stanley the xij of April suffered v. godly Martirs in smithfield Thomas Losebie Henry Ramsey Thomas Thyrtel Margaret Hyde and Agnes Stanley The vij of Ianuarie they were examined by Darbishire then Chauncellour to Boner Who dealt so with them that they were dismissed for that time but the B. taking the matter into his handes the vi of March dealt more hardly with them And againe the first day of April conuented them and finding them constant in the truth neither to be moued by his threates nor allurements procéeded to their condemnatioÌ„ The afternoone the B. first called for Loseby who when in reading of his articles mention was made of the Sacrament of the altar the Bishop putting off his cappe The valeaunt Martir his felowes said My Lorde séeing you put off your cap I will put on mine and therewithall did put on his cap. So sentence was pronouÌ„ced vpon him and the rest seuerally Who couragiously and constantly defied to the bishops face their Popish Idolatrie and superstition And so were they deliuered to the Sheriffes of London who the xij day of Aprill brought them into Smithfielde Where all together in one fire ioyfully they slept in the Lord. In the Moneth of May following thrée other suffered in Saint Georges fieldes in Southwarke whose names were William
down vpon his knées hauing his booke by him reading singing psalms continually without ceassing for 3. daies and 3. nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crowch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof For Berrie the Vicar of the Towne did commaund openly to watch for him and the Constables vnderstanding the same tooke him by breake of day The two and twenty of Aprill when Hudson sawe them come in he saide nowe mine houre is come welcome friendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to life in Christ Note I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enable mée thereto for his mercies sake So they ledde him to Berry the Commissary who wrote vnto the Bishop letters against him and sent him to Norwich bound like a théefe whither hee went with ioy and singing chéere In prison he was a moneth where hee did continually reade and inuocate the name of God After they had all thrée béene chained to the stake Thomas Hudson immediatly commeth foorth from them vnder the chaine fell downe vpon his knées and praied vehemently vnto the Lord for comfort for he was at the very stake distressed thē rose he with great ioy as a man new chaunged from life to death and said now I thanke God I am strong passe not what man can doo vnto me Note so with his fellowes gaue testimony to the truth in the flames of fire Somewhat before this time was one mother Seaman mother to Wil. Seaman persecuted for the gospell being of the age of 66. and was glad to liue sometimes in groues in bushes c. After she was dead the Lord taking her away by sicknesse one M. Simonds the commissary dwelling at Thornden gaue commaundement she should not come in Christian buriall so she was buried in a pit vnder a moats side Likewise one mother Bennet of the towne of Wetherset after her departure this life was laide in a graue by the high way side The 26. of May suffered at Colchester William Harris W. Harris Rich. Day Rich. Day Christian Gorge Christ Gorge a wife whose husband had another wife burnt before this Christian whose name was Agnes Gorge that suffered with the 13. at Stratford the Bow After the death of Christian he maried an honest godly woman and in the end being taken with his wife with her he remayned in prison till the death of Q. Marie was deliuered by our most gratious Quéene Elizabeth A sharpe proclamation against godly bookes In the moneth of Iune came forth a Proclamation very sharpe against godly bookes by the king and Quéene On the backside of the town of Islingtō were assembled xl godlie persons men and women vertuouslie applying thēselues in prayer and reading the worde Wherof 22. were by Sir Roger Cholmeley and the Recorder sent prisoners to Newgate where they lay eight dayes before they came to examination Of these xxij thirteene were burned seuen in Smithfield and six at Brainford In prison two died in Whitson wéeke the names of whom were Mathew Withers and T. Taylor Seuen of them which remained escaped with their liues hardly without burning whose names were these Iohn Milles Thomas Hinshaw Robert Bayly wolpacker Robert Willers Hudleys Thomas Ceast haberdasher Roger Sandey The 7. that suffered were brought before Boner the 14. of Iune to make answere to such articles as should be obiected Which when they constātly did according to the truth of the Gospell they were by Boner condemned and the 17. day of Iune were sent againe to Newgate where they remained til the 27. day On which day they chéerfully suffered in Smithfield in the fire Their names were these Henrie Pond Henry Pond Raynold Eastland Rain Eastland Robert Southam Rob. Southam Mathew Richarby Mat. Richarby Iohn Floyd Iohn Floyd Iohn Holiday Iohn Holiday Roger Holland Rog. Holland This Holland was a merchant taylour in London sometimes apprentice with one maister Kempton at the blacke boy in Watlingstréet Hee was before his conuersion a Papist and a very lewd yong man and was brought to the knowledge of the trueth by the exhortation of a sober maide that was seruant in the same house whom afterward he did marry and liued vertuously together til such time as the cruell Papists made separation by fire The same day they suffered Proclamation was made that none should be so bolde to speake or talke any word vnto them A straight Proclamation or receiue any thing of them or to touch them vpon payne of imprisonment without eyther Baile or mainprise Notwithstanding the people cryed out desiring God to strengthen them and they likewise prayed for the people the restoring of the word of God R. Holland at the stake At length Roger embracing the stake and the Réedes said these wordes Lorde I most humbly thanke thy maiestie that thou hast called me from the state of death vnto the light of thy heauenly word and now vnto the felowship of thy Saintes that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of Hostes and Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord blesse the people saue them from idolatrie And so with the rest of his felowes ended his life lauding and praysing God The fourtéenth day of Iuly suffered other sixe at Brainforde seuen miles from London Their names were these Robert Milles R. Milles. Steeuen Wight S. Wight a Tanner Steeuen Carton S. Carton Iohn Slade I. Slade Robert Denis R. Denis and William Pikes W. Pikes or Pikers They were condemned by the Bishops Chauncellour D. Darbishire in the presence of Sir Edward Hastinges and Sir Thomas Cornwalles and suffered ioyfully for the testimonie of Iesus Of the sixe of that companie which escaped burning two were scourged by Bishoppe Boner in his Garden Thomas Hinshawe about the age of ninetéene or twentie yeares being Apprentice and dwelling in Paules Churchyarde with one M. Puggeson and Iohn Milles a married man on whom he spent two roddes and on Hinshaw one Hinshaw was deliuered by reason he fell sicke of a burning ague Boner not thinking he would liue when he had béene a yere in prison In which space Quéene Marie died and hee shortly after recouered health Iohn Milles was a Capper a right faithfull seruant of God The cause why he was scourged was because when Boner asked him what time he crept to the crosse he answered not since he came to the yeres of discretion nor woulde not but rather bée torne in péeces with wilde horses Boner ofttimes speaking to Iohn Milles would say they call me bloudie Boner a vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you but you haue a delight in burning but if I might haue my will I would sowe your mouthes and put you into sackes and drowne you On a day
his wife being great with childe and looking euery day to be deliuered goeth vnto Bishoppe Boner and entreateth him for her husband saying she woulde not depart but would lay her bellie in his house except he were deliuered So Boner required of him but onely to say in Latine In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti and so sent him away The tenth day of Iulie was Richarde Yeoman R. Yeoman martyred for the testimonie of Iesus Christ Hee was about the age of 70. yeres and had béen D. Tailors Curat in Hadley after he had bin kept close a yeare in his owne house and got his liuing by carding of wool which his wife did spinne He was taken by one Parson Newall who had gotten the Benefice and put him into the Cage and set him in the Stockes where he founde Iohn Dale who for reproouing Newall his Curat calling them blinde Guides was also stocked in the cage They were both sent to Burie gaole by sir H. Doel after they had pinnioned them as they had bin théeues boūd their legs vnder the horses bellies Where they were put into the lowest Dungeon where Iohn Dale fell sicke and died and was buried in the fieldes He was of the age of sixe and fourtie yeares by occupation a Weauer well learned in the Scriptures and faithfull in all his conuersation After Iohn Dale was dead Richarde Yeoman was remooued to Norwich prison where hee remayning stedfast in his confession of the trueth was condemned and suffered death for the name of Christ About this time there was a young man in the Towne of Hadley named Iohn Alcocke a Sherman by his occupation who because hee woulde not geue reuerence to the Procession was sent vp to London by Newall And being put in the lowest Dungeon in Newgate died in prison and was buried on a Dung-hill The xxix of Iulie was burned Thomas Benbridge T. Benbridge a a Gentleman for witnessing to the Gospell Hée was of the Dioces of Winchester and sustained sundry conflictes for the truthes sake at Doctor Wyle the Bishops handes and beyng condemned and now tied to the stake Doctor Seaton who had once béene with him before to entice him came againe and exhorted him to recant To whom hée said away Babilonian away So when they saw hée would not yéeld before he was any thing like couered with faggots they put fire vnto him which first tooke away a péece of his beard whereat he nothing shrancke at all then it came on the other side tooke his legges the neather stockings of his hose beyng leather made the fire to pearce the sharper so that the intollerable heate thereof made him cry I recant They sodainly therwith thrust the fire from him A notable conflict betwixt the flesh the spirit of God which was also remoued in haste by certaine of his friends that stood by and helped thereto So the sheriffe who was Syr Richard Peckhall tooke him from the stake for the which he was sent to the Fléete and laye a certayne time When he was taken from the stake Doct. Seaton wrot him articles wherto with much ado he subscribed But afterwards it grieuously repented him that he had done so did he write to Doct. Seaton Whervpon declaring his conscience he was the same day seuenight burnt indéed Where the vile Tormentors did rather broyle than burne him About the beginning of August not long before the sicknesse of Quéene Marie by D. Hopton being Bishoppe of Norwich and Doctor Spencer supplying the roome of his Chauncellor these foure Iohn Cooke I. Cooke a Sawyer Robert Miles R. Miles otherwise called Plummer a Shereman and Alexder Lane A. Lane a Whéelewright and Iames Ashley I. Ashley a Bacheler were burned at S. Edmundsburie The same yeare the fourth day of Nouember Alexander Gouche A. Gouche and Alice Driuer A. Driuer were persecuted by M. Moone a Iustice in Suffolke a bloudie Tiraunte and were sent to Melton gaole where they remained a while and at lēgth they were carried to Burie against the Assise at S. Iames tide and being there examined of matters of faith did boldly stand to confesse Christ crucified defying the Pope with all his papisticall trash Among other thinges Driuers wife likened Quéene Mary in her persecution to Iezabell For which foorthwith her eares were cut of which she ioyfully and gladly endured for his name After the assise at Burie they were carried to Melton goale againe where they remained a time Alexander Gouch was of the age of xxxvj a weauer of shredding couerlets dwelling at Woodbridge in Suffolke and borne at Vfford in the same Countie Driuers wife was about the age of 30. and dwelt at Grosborough where they were taken in Suffolke her husband was an husbandman They were afterward carried from Melton to Ipswich where they were examined before Doctor Spenser Driuers wife was twise examined and with great boldnesse and constancie mainteined the trueth and by power of the word did put to silence both the Chancelor and Doctor Gascoyne so that they one looked on another and had not a worde to say quoth she God be honoured you bée not able to resist the Spirite of God in me a poore woman I was an honest poore mans daughter neuer brought vp in the Vniuersitie as you haue béene A. Driuer of an excellent spirit but I haue driuen the plough before my father I thank God yet notwithstanding in the defence of Gods truth I will set my foote against the foote of any of you all And if I had a thousande liues they shoulde all goe for payment thereof So the Chauncellor rose vp and read the Sentence of condemnation against her And so was she sent to prison againe as ioyfull as the Birde of daye Praysing and glorifying the name of the Lorde After her was condemned Alexander Gouch By seuen of the clocke in the morning they were come from Melton six miles of Ipswich and beyng in their prayers were greatly molested by Sir Henry Doell then Shiriffe but especially by Richard Smarte one of the Bayliffes Then they being tied to the stake and the iron chaine beyng put about Alice Driuers necke Oh said shée here is a goodly neckerchiefe blessed be God for it Then diuerse persons came and tooke them by the handes The Shiriffe cried lay hands on them lay hands on them With that a great multitude ranne to the stake which when the Shiriffe saw he let them all alone There was one Bate a barbour a busie dooer against them at the fire who within thrée or foure wéekes after died very miserably In the same moneth that Quéene Mary died were thrée martyred at Burie Phillip Humfrey Phil. Humfrey Iohn Dauid Iohn Dauid Henry Dauid Henry Dauid his brother these were burned notwithstanding it was knowne Quéene Mary was past remedy In the same moneth was the wife of one called Priest Priests wife of the
and demaunded of them whether she might bée remoued from thence with life or no. Whos 's answere was that she might So in conclusion they willed her to prepare against morning at ix of the clock to goe with them On the morrow at the time prescribed they had her foorth as she was very faint and féeble and in such weake case that she was readie to sowne thrée or foure times betwixt them So all sicke in the Litter she came to Redborne where she was garded all night From thence to Saint Albons to Sir Rafe Rowlets house where she taried that night both féeble in bodie and comfortlesse in minde From that place they passed to Master Doddes house at Mimmes Where also they remayned that night And so from thence she came to Highgate where being very sick she taried that night and the next day From that place she was conueyed to the Court. Now when she came to the Court her Grace was there straightway shutte vp and kept as close Prisoner the space of a fortnight which was till Palme-sunday séeing neyther King nor Quéene nor Lorde nor friende in all that time but onelie the Lorde Chamberlayne Sir Ioh. Gage and the Vicechamberlayne who was attendant vnto the dores The Friday before Palme-sunday the Bishop of Winchester with ninetéene of the Counsel came vnto her grace L. Elizabeth falsly accused from the Quéene burdened her with Wiates conspiracie and charged her also with the businesse made by Sir Peter Carewe and the rest of the Gentlemen of the West Countrey Which she vtterly denied and cléered her innocencie therein In conclusion they declared vnto her that it was the Quéenes pleasure she should goe to the Tower vntill the matter were further examined and then they departed Within the space of an houre or little more came foure Lordes of the Counsell which were the Lorde Treasurer the Bishoppe of Winchester the Lorde Stewarde the Earle of Sussex with the Garde who warding in the next Chamber to her secluded all her Gentlemen and yeomen Ladies and Gentlewomen sauing that one Gentleman Vsher thrée Gentlewomen and two Groomes of her chāber were appointed in their roomes three other men of the Quéenes and thrée wayting women to geue attendance that none should haue accesse to her Grace At which time there were an hundred of Northerne Souldiers An hundred northren souldiers watch the L. Elizabeth al in white coates wayting about the gardens all that night and likewise two Lordes watching there also with their bands and companie Vpon Saterday folowing two Lords of the Counsel the one was the Earle of Sussex came and certified her grace that forthwith she must goe vnto the Tower The barge being prepared for her and the tide now redie in heauie moode her Grace requested the Lords that she might tary another tide But one of them replied that neither tide nor time was to be delayed And when her Grace requested that she might write to the Quéene he made answere he durst not permitte that But the other Lorde the Earle of Sussex knéeling downe tolde her Grace that shee shoulde haue libertie to write and as he was a true man he woulde deliuer it to the Quéenes Maiestie and bring her Grace an answere thereof againe whatsoeuer came thereof Whereupon being not permitted to speake with the Quéene she wrote vnto her Maiestie On Palmesunday about nine of the clocke those two Lordes returned again declaring that it was time for her grace to depart So shée tooke her Barge with the two Lordes thrée of the Quéenes Gentlewomen and thrée of her owne her Gentleman Vsher and two of her Groomes lying and hoouering a certaine space vpon the water because it was yet dangerous for them to shoote the Bridge At the length comming to the staires when she lāded and comming out of the barge hauing one foote vpon the staiers Here landeth said she as true a subiect being prisoner The Lady Elizabeth had none other friends but God as euer landed at these stayers and before thée O God I speake it hauing none other fréends but thée alone After shée came to the Tower was imprysoned the doores were bolted and forted vppon her Lady Elizabeth prisoned in the Tower At which time shée called to her Gentlewoman for her booke desiring God not to suffer her to buylde her foundation vppon the sandes but vppon the rocke whereby all blastes of blustering weather should haue no power against her Within fiue daies after commeth Stephen Gardiner the ruler of the rost with diuerse other of the Counsaile and examined her of the talke that was at Ashridge betwixt her and Sir Iames a Croft concerning her remouing thence to Dunnington castle To whom she said she remembred that M. Hobby and her Officers and Sir Iames a Croft had such wordes but what is that to the purpose my Lord said shee but that I may goe to mine owne houses at all times That day or there about diuers of her owne Officers brought prouision for her meate offering and making request to the Lord Chamberlaine Constable of the Tower they might serue the same Whose request he with great indignation and threatnings refused saying for that shée is a prisoner she should be serued with none other but the Liefetenants men Vpon this occasion her graces officers made sute vnto the Counsaile that some might be appointed to bring her diet vnto her which was graunted and thereupon were appointed one of her Gentlemen the Clark of her kitchen and her two purueyors to bring in her prouision once in a day And vpon the same sute of her Officers were appointed to waite vpon her Grace two Yeomen of her Chamber one of her Robes two of her Pantrie and Ewrie one of her Butterie and another of her Sellar and likewise two of her kitchen and one of her larder all which continued with her the time of her trouble After this sort hauing lien a whole moneth there in close prison and beyng very euill at ease she desired of the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord Shandoys that she might haue libertie to walke in some other place because she felt not her selfe well at ease This request could not be granted till the next day the Lord Shandoys had obtained of the Counsaile that she might walke into the Quéenes lodgings so that he and the Lord Chamberlaine and thrée of the Quéenes gentlewomen did accompany her the windowes being shut and she not suffered to looke out at any of them Afterward there was libertie graunted her to walke in a little garden the doores and gates shutte At which times of her walking there the Prisoners on that side were straightly commaunded not to speake or looke out into the garden till her Grace were gone away hauing to that purpose their kéepers to waite vppon them for that time The L. Chamberlaine harde to the Ladie Elizabeth During this time there vsed a little boy a mans child of the tower to
bring her Grace flowers who was forbidden any more to do so by the Lord Chamberlaine The next day as she was walking in the garden the childe peeping in at a hole in the doore saide vnto her Mistresse I can bring you no more flowers Whereat shée smyled vnderstanding thereby what they had done The fifth day of May the Constable was discharged of his office in the Tower and one Sir Henrie Benefield Sir Henrie Benefield placed in his roome He brought with him an hundred Souldiers in blewe cotes which did much amaze her so that shee asked whether he were of that conscience or no that if her murdering were secretely cōmitted to his charge he would sée the execution thereof They perswaded her that God would not suffer such wickednesse to procéede saying they knew not what maner of man he was Well quoth shee God grant it be not so for thou O God canst mollifie all tyrānous harts disapoint al such cruell purposes I beséech thée heare me thy creature which am thy seruant at thy commandement trusting by thy grace euer so to remaine On Trinitie Sunday being the 19. of May she was remooued from the Tower the Lord Treasuror beyng then there for the loading of the cartes and discharging the place of the same where sir Henry Benefield being appointed her gailor did receiue her with a company of rakehels to garde her besides the Lord of Darbies band vnto whom at length came the Lord of Tame ioyned in Commission with sir Henry for the safegarding of her person Lady Elizabeth to Woodstocke and they together conueyed her grace to Woodstocke The first day they conducted her to Richmond where she continued al night beyng restrained of her owne men and Benefields souldiers appointed in their roomes on which night she looked for none other but to haue béene murthered Lady Elizabeth in great feare and passed the same night in great feare Afterwards passing ouer the water at Richmond going towards Windsore her grace espied certaine of her poore seruants standing on the other side who were very desirous to sée her whom when shée beheld turning to one of her men standing by shée said yoonder I sée certaine of my men go to them and say these wordes Tanquam ouis Tāquam ouis So passing forward that night she was lodged at Windsore at the deanes house From thence she was garded the next night to Maister Dormers house On the morrow her grace passing from M. Dormer where was for the time of her abode there a straight watch kept shée came to the Lord of Tames house where shée lay all the night beyng very Princely entertayned both of Knights and Ladies Gentlemen Gentlewomen whereat Sir Henry grunted and was offended Wherevnto the L. of Tame answered that he was well aduised of his dooings being ioyned in Commission aswell as he adding with warrantise that her grace should bée merrie in his house The next day as she should take her iourney towardes Woodstocke the Lord of Tame with another Gentleman being at tables playing and dropping vie Crownes the Lady Elizabeth passing by staied and said she would sée the game out which sir Henry would scarse permit After this sir Henry went vp into a chamber where was appointed for her grace a chayre two cushions and a foote carpet very faire and princely wherein presumptuously he sat S. Henry Benefield presumptuous vnciuill and called one Barwicke his man to pull of his bootes When supper was doone hée called my Lord and willed him that all the Gentlemen and Ladies should withdraw themselues euery one to his lodgyng maruelling much that hée would permit such a company considering so great a charge committed to him Sir Henry quoth my Lord content your selfe all shall be voided your men and all Nay my Souldiors quoth Sir Henry shall watch all night The Lord of Thame answered it shall not néede Well said hée néede or néede not they shall so doo The next day she was carried to Woodstocke where she was inclosed as before in the Tower of London At length she had gardens appointed for her walke but alwayes when shée did recreate her selfe therein the doores were fast locked vp in as straight manner as in the Tower being at the least 5. or 6. lockes betwéene her lodging her walkes Sir Henry kéeping the keyes and trusting no man therewith Wherefore she called him her gailer After she had bin at Woodstocke a while she was permitted by the Counsell to write vnto the Q. and so she did sir Henry alwaies at hand to obserue what she wrote neither would he permit her letters to be carried 4. or 5. daies after the writing thereof till at the last he deliuered them to one of her Gentlemen Then about the 8. of Iune came downe D. Owen and Doctor Wendie to minister phisicke to her for that she was sickly Whereof she being amended they returned againe to the Court making there good report to the Q. of her Graces behauiour humblenes towards the Quéenes maiesty which the Q. tooke very thankfully About this time was there a great consulting among the B. gentlemen-touching a marriage for her Grace Which some of the Spaniards wished to be with some straunger that she might go out of the Realme with her portion A Lord being there at the last said that the King shoulde neuer haue any quiet common wealth in England The Spaniards are against the murdering of Lady Elizabeth vnlesse her head were stricken from her shoulders Wherevnto the Spaniards answered God forbid that their king and maister should haue that minde to consent to such a mischiefe Frō that day the Spaniards neuer left their good perswasions to the king that the like honor he should neuer obtaine as he should in deliuering the Lady Elizab. grace out of prison L. Elizabeth deliuered out of prison Wherby at length she was happily released from the same Herevppon shortly after shee was sent for to come to Hampton Court from her comfortlesse captiuitie in Wodstocke where she was at sundry times in great daunger of life first through fire which began to kindle betwéene the boords séelings vnder the Chamber where she lay done of purpose as it was credibly thoght of a knight who was ioyned in commission with Sir Hen. It was thought and also was affirmed of one Paule Peny a kéeper of Woodstocke a notorious ruffian butcherly wretch that he was appointed to kill the Lady Elizabeth who both saw the man oft in her sight and also knew thereof An other time one of the priuie chamber a great man about the Quéen and chiefe dearling of Stephen Gardiner named maister Iames Basset came to Blandebridge a myle from Woodstocke with 20. or 30. priuy coates and sent for Sir Henrie to come and speake with him But so it happened a little before Sir Henrie was sent for by Post to the counsel leauing straight word behind him
with his brother that no man whatsoeuer he were though comming with a bill of the Queenes hande or any other warraunt should haue accesse to her before his returne againe By reason whereof maister Benefields brother comming to him at the bridge God deliuereth L. Eliza. would suffer him in no case to approch nigh who otherwise as is supposed was appoynted to murder the innocent Ladie Her Grace being in the Tower of London a writ came downe subscribed with certaine hands of the Counsaile for her execution but that God stirred vp maister Bridges the Lieftenaunt the same time of the Tower to come in haste to the Quéene to giue certificate thereof and to knowe further her consent touching her sisters death Wherevppon the deuise which was Winchesters diuellish platforme was disappoynted Moreouer during her imprisonment one maister Edmund Tremanie was on the rack and maister Smithwike and diuers others in the Tower were examined and diuers offers made them to accuse the innocent Ladie Which when shée heard of departing from Woodstocke she wrote these verses with her diamond in a glasse window Much suspected by me nothing proued can be quoth Elizabeth prisoner Elizabeth prisoner Now departing from Wodstocke Sir Henrie and his souldiers with the Lorde of Thame and Syr Rafe Chamberlaine garding her the first night shee came to Rocet In which iourney such a mightie wynd did blow that her seruantes were faine to hold downe her clothes about her insomuch that her hood was twise or thrise blown frō her head Whereuppon shee desirous to returne to a Gentlemans house néere there could not be suffered by Sir Henrie but was constrayned vnder an hedge to trimme vp her head so well as she could After this the next night they came to M Dormers and so to Colbrooke where she lay all that night at the George On which night all her men were taken from her sauing her Gentleman Vsher thrée gentlewomen two Groomes and one of her wardrobe the souldiers watching warding about the house and she close shut vp This was because certaine of her Gentlemen and Yeomen to the number of 60. came to méete her and salute her The next day folowing her Grace entred Hāpton court on the backside into the Princes lodging the dores being shutte to her and she garded as before with Souldiers Shée lay there a fortnight at the least before any body had recourse vnto her At the length came the Lorde William Howarde who marueylous honourablie entertayned her And not long after came the Bishoppe of Winchester the Lorde of Arundell the Lorde of Shrewsburie and Secretarie Peter whom she required to be a meane for her deliuerie out of prison S. Gardiner requested her to submit her self to the Quéene and to craue pardon Which she said shée would not doe hauing neuer offended and that she had rather lie in prison all the daies of her life requiring lawe if she had offended The next day he came againe to her and vsed perswasions to haue her acknowledge her selfe faultie She againe refuseth adding that it were as good for her to be in prison with honestie and trueth as abroade suspected of her Maiestie And this that I haue said I wil quoth she stand vnto for I will neuer belie my selfe So Winchester and the rest knéeling downe prayed that all might be forgotten and so departed leauing her fast locked as before A seuennight after the Quéene sent for her Grace at ten of the cloke in the night to speake with her for she had not séene her in two yeres before So Mistresse Clarentius conducted her to the Quéenes bedchamber where her Maiesty was At the sight of whom her Grace knéeled downe and desired God to preserue her Maiestie saying she mistrusted not but she should proue her selfe as good a Subiect to ward her Maiestie as euer did any And desired her Maiestie euen so to iudge of her To whom the Quéene answered you will not confesse your offence but stande stoutly to your trueth I pray God it may fall out so If it doe not quoth the Lady Elizabeth I request neither fauour nor pardon at your handes Thus her Grace departing went to her lodging againe and the seuennight after shee was released of Sir Henry her Gaoler And so being sette at libertie shee went into the Countrey and had appointed to goe with Sir Thomas Pope a Counseller and one of the Quéenes Gentlemen Vshers Then there came to Lamheire Master Iermingham and master Norris gentleman Vsher Quéene Maries men and tooke away from her Grace Mistres Ashley to the Fléete and thrée other of her gentlewomen to the Tower Shortly after God tooke away Gard. Gardiner dieth her mortal enemy and after him other of her enemies dropped away one after another and her libertie still increased till at the length in the Moneth of Nouember the seuentéene day of the same thrée yeres after the death of Gardiner died Quéene Mary Queene Marie dieth Of which Quéene this may truely be affirmed that before her was neuer read in storie of any king or Quéen of England since the time of king Lucius vnder whom in time of peace by hanging heading burning and imprisonment so much Christian bloud was spilled within this Realme as was vnder the reigne of Quéene Marie for the space of iiij yéeres to be séene The vnprosperous successe of Q. Marie while she persecuted the children of God FIrst incontinently after she had receiued the Pope the fairest greatest ship she had called great Harrie was burned A vessel not matchable in al these parts of Europe Then fel there such a dearth that her poore subiects were faine to eate Acornes for want of corne Moreouer Calice was lost in her time besides the ill lucke shee had in her childbirth and her husband for saking her and in the end her short raigne euen the shortest of any King or Quéene since the conquest onely excepted king Richard the third The seuere punishment of God vpon the persecutors of his people OF Gardiner mention hath béene made before Morgan B. of S. Dauids who cōdemned B. Farrar was so striken by God that his meat would not go downe but rise and pick vp againe sometimes at his mouth sometime blow out of his nose most horribly to behold so cōtinued till he died Iustice Morgan that sat vpon the death of the L. Iane not long after fel mad and so died euer hauing in his mouth Lady Iane Lady Iane c. D. Dunning died before Q. Mary fitting in his chaire he was the bloody Chauncellor of Norwich Likewise suddaine death fell vpon Berry Commissarie of Norwich who fell downe suddainly to the ground gaue an heauy grone and neuer stirred after B. Thorneton Suffragan of Douer looking vpon his men playing at the boules fell downe in a palsey willed to remember God yea said he and my Lord of Canturbury too Another Suffragan that succéeded him brake his necke downe a paire of
staires in the Cardinals chamber at Gréenewich after hée had receiued the Cardinals blessing One Grundwood of Hitcham who was procured by William Fenning to witnes salsly against a godly man one Cooper of Watsame that he should wish if God would not that the Diuell would take away Quéene Mary as hée was in his labour staking vp a gulphe of corne suddainly his bowels fell out and so he died The Parson of Crondall in Kent hauing receiued the Popes blessing from Cardinall Poole shrunke downe in the pulpet and was found dead D. Geffery Chancellor of Salisbury hauing appoynted the day before his death to call 90. persons before him to examination was preuented by Gods hand and so died Master Woodroof who was cruell against M. Rogers was stricken the one halfe of his body that he lay benummed and so continued seuen or eight yéeres till he died and scarse escaped any of them but the hand of God strangely was vpon them all before their death Popish prelates die thicke together about the death of Queene Mary that had defiled themselues with the blood of Gods children Especially it is to be noted how many of the popish prelates died not long before Quéene Mary or not longer after Before her died Coates B. of Winchester Parfew B. of Harford Glinne B. of Bangor Brookes B. of Glocester King B. of Thame Peto elect of Salsbury Day B. of Chichester Holyman B. of Bristow After her Cardinall Poole the next day of some Italian Phisicke as some did suspect then I. Christophorsen B. of Chichester White B. of Winchester Hopton B. of Norwich Morgan B. of S. Dauids Rafe Bayne B. of Liechfield and Couentrie Owine Oglethorpe B. of Carlill Cutbert Tonstall who was no bloudy persecutor B. of Durham Thomas Raynolds elect of Hereford after his depriuation died in pryson Doctor Weston Deane of Westminster after Deane of Windsore chiefe disputer against Cranmer Ridley and Latimer Maister Slythurst maister of trinitie Colledge in Oxford who died in the Tower Seth Holland Deane of Worcester and Warden of Alsoule colledge in Oxforde William Copinger monke of Westminster fell mad and died in the Tower Doct. Steward Deane of Winchester Such of the Popish Cleargie as escaped death and were committed to prison were these In the Tower Nicholas Heath Archb. of Yorke and Lord Chancellor Th. Thurleby B. of Ely Th. Watson B. of Lincolne Gilbert Bourne B. of Bath Welles Rich. Pates B. of Worcester Troublefield B. of Exceter Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Westminster Iohn Baxall Deane of Windsor Peterborow Godwel B. of S. Asse and Maurice elect of Bangor ran away In the Marshalsea Edmond Boner Tho. Wood B. elect In the Fléete Cuthbert Scot Bishop of Chester whence he escaped to Louain and there died Henrie Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpesfield Archdeacon of London and Deane of Norwich Nicholas Harpesfield Archd. of Canterbury Anthonie Dracot Archd. of Huntington William Chadsey Archdeacon of Middlesex Anno 1572. Iohn Whiteman Iohn Whiteman a notable martyr Shoemaker of Rye in Sussex a married man of 23. yéeres It being seruice time at Ostend in Flanders went to the Church and at the time of the heaue offering stept to the sacrificer and tooke from ouer his head his Idoll saying these wordes in the Duitch tongue Is this your God And so breaking it cast it down vnder his féete and trode thereon Forthwith he was taken and on Tuesday after had sentence giuen against him first to haue his hand cut off and his body scorched to death and after to be hanged vp Which sentence he tooke so patiently and the execution thereof with such willingnes that so soon as he was out of the prison to be carried to execution he made such haste and as it were a ranne to the place of execution that he drew the hangman after him There was prepared for his execution a post with spars from the top therof aslope down to the ground in maner of a tent to the end that he should be scorched to death and not burned When he was come to the place the hangman commanded him to lay down his right hand vpon a block which he immediatly with an hatchet smote of the goodman stil cōtinuing patient constant Then the hangman stept behind him bids him put out his tongue which he forthwith did as far as he could out of his head through the which he thrust a long instrument like a packnéedle and so let it sticke So being stript into his shirt he was put into the tent made fast with two chaines and fire put round about him which broiled him scorched him al black and when he was dead he was carried to be hanged vpon a Gibbet besides the towne Anno 1558. the last day of March was appointed a day of conference betwixt 9. priests and 9. protestants concerning matters of religion A conference for matters of religion The names of the Papistes were these Winchester Lichfield Chester Carlile Lincoln Cole Harpesfield Longdale Chadsey The names of the Protestants Story B. of Chichester Cox Whitehead Grindall Horne Sands Best Elmer Iewell Three propositions to dispute of The matter they should dispute of was comprehended in these propositions 1 It is against the word of God the custome of the ancient Church to vse a tongue vnknown to the people in common praier administratiō of the sacramēts 2 Euery Church hath authority to appoint take away and change ceremonies and Ecclesiastical rites so the same be to edification 3 It cannot be proued by the word of God that there is in the masse offered vp a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead It was decréed according to the desire of the papists that it should be in writing on both partes for auoiding of much altercation of words and each of them should deliuer their writings to other to consider what were improued therein and to declare the same againe in writing some other conuenient day This was agréed on of both parts The Lords also of the parlement made means to her maiesty that the parties of this conference might reade their assertions in the English tongue and that in the presence of the nobility and others of the parlement house for the better satisfaction and the better enabling of their owne iudgements to treate and conclude of such lawes as might depend therevpon This was thought very reasonable and agréed vpon the day being appointed the last of March the place Westminster church Notwithstanding this former order appointed cōsented vnto on both parts The assēbly being now made the B. of Winchester his collegues alleadging that they had mistaken that their assertions and reasons should be writtē so only recited out of a booke said that their booke was not then ready written but they were ready to argue dispute The Papists flee from the agreement and therefore they would for that time repeate in spéech that which they had
to say to the first probation This varying of theirs from the first order was permitted without any great refusing because they excused themselues with mistaking the order and agréed again that they would not faile but put it in writing according to the former order and deliuer it to the other part So the B. of Winchester his Colleagues appointed D. Cole Deane of Paules to be the vtterer of their mindes Who partly by spéech only and partly by reading authorities written at certaine times informed by his colleagues what to say made a declaration of their meanings and their reasons to their first propositions Which being ended they were asked by the priuy Counsaile if any of them had any more to say and they saide no. So the other were licensed to shew their mindes which they did according to their first order exhibiting all that which they ment to propound in a booke written which after prayer made most humbly to God for the endewing of them with his holy spirit a protestation also to stand to the doctrine of the Catholike church builded vpon the Scriptures and the doctrine of the Prophets Apostles was distinctly read by one Robert Horne batcheler of Diuinitie after B. of Winchester Which whē he had doone with some likelihood it séemed that the same was much allowable to the audience certayne of the B. began contrary to their former answere to say that they now had much to say to this matter So it was ordered agréed vpon on both parts in full audience that vpon munday following the Bishops should bring their minds and reasons in writing to the second assertion and the last also if they could and first reade the same And that done the other part should bring likewise theirs to the same being read each of them should deliuer to other the same writings and in the meane time the Bishoppes should put in writing not onely that which Doctor Cole had that day vttered but all such other matters as they any otherwise coulde thinke of for the same And assoone as they might possible to send the same booke touching that first assertion to the other part and they should receiue of thē the writing which Master Horne had read there that day And vpon Munday it should be agréed what day they should exhibite their answers touching the first proposition This both parties assented vnto and so the assemblie was quietly dismissed On Munday the assemblie being mette by the Lordes of the Counsell and other of the Nobilitie c. the Popish Bishops brake againe their order agréed vpon Papists break order againe and refused to deale in the second Question according as it was agréed vpon but would néedes reade that which they had written of the first proposition Moreouer they refused to beginne but would haue the other part to beginne first and beyng glad to auoyd altogether the cause for which they were assembled began to cauill with Maister Horne of what Church hée was of his fellowes my Lord Kéeper perceiuing their digressiō from the purpose admonished them thereof In the end they would not be brought to begin So the assembly was faine to breake vp nothing being doone for which their wilfulnesse and contempt Wilfulnes contempt in the popish bishops the Bishops of Winchester Lincolne were committed to the Tower the rest sauing the Abbot of Westminster who was willing to begin stood bound to make dayly their appearance before the Counsaile and not to depart the citie of London Westminster vntil further order were taken with them for their disobedience contempt About the time that the B. aforesaid were committed to the Tower Boner was committed to the Marshalsea In this Parlement Doctor Storie vaunted himselfe opēlie of his crueltie in Quéene Maries daies as indéed he was one of the cruellest lamenting that he had not laide to the roote as his intent was but rather shrubbed off the twigs Storie vaunteth of his crueltie saying he was once at the burning of an heretike for so hée tearmed the Martirs at Vxbridge where he tost a fagot at his face as he was singing Psalmes and set a whinbush of thornes vnder his féete a little to prick him With many other wordes to like effect In this Parlement the Pope lost his supremacie Popes Supremacie repealed The Gospell aduaunced and the bloudie Actes of Q. Marie were repealed the Gospel aduāced and the olde Bishops deposed for refusing to subscribe to the Quéenes lawfull Title In whose roomes and places succéeded first to Cardinall Poole D. Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterburie In the place of Heath succéeded Doctor Yong In the stead of Boner Edmund Grindall was Bishoppe of London Popish Bishops displaced and Protestāts placed For Hopton Thurlebie Tonstall Pates Christopherson Peto Coates Morgan Feasie White Oglethorpe c. were placed D. Parkhurst in Norwich D. Cox in Ely Iewel in Salisburie Pilkenton in Duresme D. Sandes in Worcester M. Downam in Westchester Bentame in Couētrée Lichfield Dauid in Saint Dauids Allie in Exceter Horne in Winchester Scorie in Hereford Best in Carlil Bullingham in Lincolne Scambler in Peterborow Bartlette in Bath Ghest in Rochester Bailie in Chichester c. About the moneth of Iune anno 1581. one Richard Atkins and englishmā borne in Hartfordshire came to Rome and hauing found the English Colledge knocked at the dore and after other spéech declareth vnto his Countreimen that he came louingly to rebuke the great disorder of their liues and to let the proud Pope vnderstande that he offendeth the heauenlie Maiestie committing Idolatrie c. When they heard these wordes one Hugh Gryffon a welchman caused him to be put into the Inquisition From whence vpon what condition it is not knowen within few dayes he was set at libertie againe And one day going in the stréete he met a Priest carrying the Sacrament which offending his conscience to sée the people so worship it hée caught at it to haue throwen it downe but missing of his purpose being iudged by the people to haue caught at the holinesse which they say commeth from the Sacrament of méere deuotion he was let passe R. Atkins ouerthroweth the Chalice at Rome Within fewe dayes after he came to S. Peters Church where the Priest was at the Eleuation and shewing no reuerence stepped among the people to the Altar and threwe downe the Chalice with the wine striuing also to haue pulled the Cake out of the Priestes handes For this fact he was caried to prison and being condemned within a while after was set vpon an Asse without any Saddle he being from the middle vpwarde naked and all the way as he went to execution foure did nothing els but thrust at his naked bodie with burning Torches Whereat he neuer moued nor shrunke any iote but with a chéerefull countenance laboured to perswade the people oft bending his bodie to méete the Torches as they were thrust at
him would take them in his owne hand hold them stil burning vpon his bodie whereat the people wondred not a litle Thus he continued almost the space of halfe a mile till he came before S. Peters where the place of execution was When he came to the place of execution they had made a deuise to burne him by péecemeale Which he suffered with such constancie and chéerefulnesse that when they offered him a crosse he put it away with his hand saying they were euill men to trouble him with such paltrie when hée was preparing him selfe to God whom he beheld in maiestie and mercie readie to receiue him into his eternall rest They séeing him in that constant mind left him commended him to the deuil whom they said he serued thinking he had béene possessed This is faithfully aduouched by I. Yong that thē serued M.D. Morton at Rome who seing his martirdome when he came home to his house in presence of M. Smith his sonne Maister Creede and Iohn Yong his man spake as followeth Surely this fellow was marueylous obstinate hée nothing regarded the good counsell which was giuen vnto him nor shrancke all the way when the torches were thrust at his naked body beside in the place of execution hée did not faint nor crye one iote in the fire albeit they tormented him very cruelly and burned him by degrées yet all this he did but smile at Doubtles but that the worde of God cannot bée but true else wée might iudge this fellow to be of God for who could haue suffered so much paine as he did But truely I beléeue the Diuell was in him Anno 1572. 1572. The Admiral of France the two and twentieth day of August the Admirall of Fraunce comming from the Counsell table by the way was strikē with a pistol charged with 3. pellets in both his armes and at a Watchwoorde giuen was afterward slaine foorthright and murtherers appointed the whole cittie through to masacre the poore Protestants men women old yoong to the number of 10000. in thrée daies The masacre of Paris although the rage endured longer In which number was slaine Petrus Ramus Petrus Ramus the restorer of all liberall artes especially the greatest M. of Logike and the perfectest practiser of the same that euer liued before him Also Lambinus Plateanus Lomenus Chapesius with others suffered this barbarous and more then beastly crueltie which did not containe it self onely within Paris walles but extended it selfe to other partes of Fraunce especially to Orleans Tholouse Roane In which cities it is almost incredible what crueltie was shewed in numbers destroied so that within the space of one moneth 30000. 30000. martyrs in Frāce of religious and christian Protestants are numbred to be slaine This murther did so reioyce the Pope that he with his Cardinals went a procession with their gunshot and sang Te Deum and in honor of that act commaunded a Iubelie with great indulgence Likewise in France the 18. of the same moneth the king commaunded processions bonfires and ringings singings giuing thankes to God for so worthy a victory vpon S. Bartholomewes day against the innocent protestants The same yéere about the 4. of Decēber he began to lay siege to Rochell Rochell besieged a towne belonging to the Protestants which endured 7 moneths In which when the poore began to lacke corne victuall there was sent to them euery day in the riuer by the hand of the Lord a great multitude of fish Gods prouidence called Surdons which the poore people did vse in stéede of bread Which fish the same day that the siege brake vp about the 10. of Iune departed and came no more At this siege were slaine of the kings captains 132. of the which the chiefest was Duke D'Aumale In the end an agréement pacificatory was concluded containing 25. articles in which also were contained certain other cities protestants Which the 10. of Iune Anno 1572. was solemnly proclaimed at Rochel The yéere following died the cardinall of Louā a pestilēt Achitophel against the children of God Charles of France the 9. the bloodiest Tyrant that euer the earth bare the 25. of May being fiue and twentie yéeres of age His disease was such that his blood gushing out by diuers partes of his body he tossing in his bedde and casting out many horrible blasphemies lying vpon pillowes with his héeles vpward and head downwarde voyded so much bloud at his mouth that in fewe houres after he died The Tyrant dieth FINIS A Table of all the principall matters conteyned in this Booke TIberius Nero pag. 1. Christ eadem Caius Caligula eadem Caius Nero eadem Peter and Paule eadem Titus pag. 2 Vespasian eadem Iewes destroyed eadem Stephen eadem Iames eadem Herod eadem Nicanor eadem Simon eadem Parmenas eadem Thomas eadem Simon Zelotes eadem Iudas eadem Augarus eadem Simon eadem Traianus eadem Bartholomeus pag. 3 Andrew eadem Egeas eadem Matthew eadem Hircanus eadem Matthias eadem Phillip and his Daughters eadem Iames eadem Other eadem The Iewes eadem Nero Domit. pag. 4 Peter eadem Simon Magus eadem Peters wife eadem Paule eadem Domician eadem Nephewes of Iuda eadem Simeon pag. 5 Iustus eadem Iohn eadem Flauia eadem The 2. persecution eadem Euaristus eadem Alexander eadem Hermes eadem Euentus pag. 6 Theodulus eadem Hermes eadem Albina eadem Quirinus eadem The third persecution ead Nerua eadem Traianus eadem Plinius secundus eadem Plinies letter for mitigation of the persecution ead The Emperours aunswere pag. 7 Simeon eadem Attalus eadem Phocas eadem Sulpitius eadem Seruilianus eadem Emphrosina eadem Theodora eadem Salma eadem Seraphia eadem Nereus eadem Achilleus eadem Sagaris eadem Ignatius pag 8 Polycarpus eadem Magnesia eadem Publius eadem Hadrian eadem Euentius eadem Theodorus eadem Hermes eadem Quirinus eadem Zenon eadem Achaicus eadem Eustachius eadem Faustinus eadem Iobita eadem Caelocerius eadem Iustus pag. 9 Pastor eadem Sympronissa and her seuen children eadem Sophia and her two children pag. 10 Quadratus eadem Aristides eadem Serenus eadem Persecution asswaged in Asia eadem Antonius Pius eadem Persecution ceaseth ead Ma. Antoninus pag. 11 Verus eadem Lucius eadem Germanicus eadem Polycarpus eadem Irenarchus pag. 12 Herodes eadem Nicetes eadem Metrodorus pag. 13 Pionius eadem Carpus eadem Papylus eadem Agathonica eadem Felicitas with her seuē children eadem Iustinus eadem Lucius pag. 14 Concordus eadem Symmetrius eadem Vetius eadem Sanctus eadem Maturus eadem Attalus eadem Blandina pag. 15 Bibledes eadem Photinus eadem Alexander eadem Pontius eadem Melito pag. 16 Claudius Apollinaris ead Quadratus eadem Aristides eadem Athenagoras eadem Persecution staied eadem Miracle eadem Commodus eadem Martia eadem Apollonius eadem Vincentius pag. 17. Eusebius eadem Iulius eadem Peregrinus eadem Xistus eadem Telesphorus eadem Hyginus eadem Pius
How the temporalties of the clergy should bee bestowed eadem Boniface impudēt in selling of pardons 404 Order against the Schisme eadem P. Gregorie the 12. 305 P. Gregory periured ead 200000. Christians slaine in a popish quarrell ead The K. writeth to the P. ead Pope Alexander 5. 306 Three popes together ead Pope Iohn 23. eadem Iohn Husse eadem Appeale better aduised ead Pope Iohn bendeth all his power against the Bohemians eadem The tolling of Auies 307 40. daies pardon for saying of Auies eadem Steeple belles and organes suspended eadem Contention for litter ead Penance for bringing litter in sackes and not in cartes eadem A bill put into the Parlement to take temporalties from the clergie 308 The kinds of popish feastes 310 Notes of principall soules feasts eadem Lord Cobham 311 Inquisitors for heresie ead Processe to L. Cobham ead Lord Cobhams answere to the king 312 Pope knowne by the scriptures to be Antichrist ead The king forsaketh L. Cobham eadem Confession of L. Cobhams faith 313 L. Cobham arrested by the kings cōmandement 314 L. Cobhams answere ead L. Cobham mocked 315 L. Cobham condemned ead A worthy martyr eadem Lord Cobham escapeth 316 36. martyrs eadem Thomas Arūdell dieth ead Henry Chichesley eadem Eate not tast not touch not 317 Craft of the clergy eadem Husse accused eadem Husse excommunicated for an heretike eadem Persecution in Boheme 318 Prage deuided 319 The people against the Prelates eadem None to control Husse ead A Councell at Constance to pacifie the schisme of three popes 320 A councell lasted 4. yeares had 45. sessions eadem Coūcell ought to iudge the pope eadem The pope repenteth wel doing eadem 40. articles against P. Iohn 321 Pope Martin eadem The Emperour leadeth the popes horse eadem The popes Indulgence ead 3940. Prelates at the Councell 322 450. cōmon womē belonging to the Councell ead Good testimony of Iohn Husse eadem Wenecelate de Duba 323 Iohn de Clum eadem I. Husse commeth to Constance eadem I. Husse kept in prison 324 I. Husse falleth sicke ead Articles against Husse ead An aduocat denied to Husse 325 Husse cruelly hādled in prison eadem The Emperor breaketh promise with Husse 326 Husse aunswereth for himselfe 327 Husse appeareth again ead Husse not suffered to proceed in his answere 382 39. articles against Husse eadem Articles auowed of Husse 329 Iohn Husse will not recant eadem The Emp. against Husse ead Husse disgraded condēned and deliuered to the seculars 331 Husse appealeth to christ ead Husse derided for praying for his enimies 332 The courage of Husse eadē The Bishops cruelty against Husse eadem The behauiour of Husse at his death 333 The ashes of Husse cast into the Rhine 334 Treatises of Husse in prison eadem Hierome of Prage commeth to Constance eadem Treason against Hierome of Prage 335 Ierom carried to prison ead Peter the notary Vitus ea Ierome falleth sicke 336 Ierome abiureth eadem New accusations against Ierome eadem D. Naso a great enimy to Ierome eadem New articles against Ierom. 337 Ierome constant eadem Ierō grieuously fettered ead Ierome prophecieth eadem Ierome condemned 338 Ierome singeth after his cōdemnation eadem Ierome singeth at the stake eadem Letters of the nobles of Boheme to the counsel sealed with 54. seales 339 Iohn Claidon eadem Richard Turming eadem The lantern of light 340 The causes of persecutiō ead Sharp constitutions 341 Iohn Barton Robert Chappel eadem Chappel submitteth eadem Articles inioined Chap. ead Diuers caused to abiure 342 Collection to mainteine the popes warre against the Bohemians eadem William Clerke eadem William Russell eadem Radulph Mungin eadem Kent wel affected 343 The L. Powes taketh the L. Oldcastle in Wales 364 L. Cobham condēned ead All mischiefe imputed to the Lollards ead Bohemians cited to the coūcell at Constance eadem Lawes to bridle the Bohemians ead 75000. li. the P. goods 345 The Iewes offer their ceremonies to the pope ead Pope threateneth the Bohemians eadem Yeerely memoriall for the death of Iohn Husse and Ierome of prage ead Monasteries suppressed ead Captaine Nicholas ead The king threatneth Nicholas eadem The kings cruel determination disappoynted by his owne death 346 Zisca eadem Tabor builded by Zisca ead Zisca putteth the Emperor to flight 337 Zisca loseth his eye eadem Iohan. Premōstratensis his cōpanions put to death ea Dissention betwixt prage Zisca 348 Reconciliation ead Zisca dieth ead The epitaph of zisca eadem Zisca buried in a hallowed place in despite of the P. 349 The popes bull against the partakers of Wickliffe Husse or Hierome eadem Procopius eadem Conradus ead Orphans ead 3. armies flie before they see their enimies 350 40000. horse against the protestants 351 The popish army flee before they see their enimies ead 50. towns destroyed ead Councel at Basill ead Ambassage of the Bohemiās to Basill 352 Peter an English man ead Foure poyntes wherein the Bohemians dissent frō the church of Rome ead A disputation continued fifty dayes eadem Henry the 5. prince of priests 353 The names of Archb. of Cāterbury ead William Taylor 354 William Taylor recāted ead Foure heretical points of W. Taylor 355 William Taylor condemned and burned ead Iohn Florence eadem I. Florence his articles ead Submission 356 Penance eadem Richard Belward eadem His articles eadem Iohn god de Cell eadem Sir Hen. Pie eadem William White priest 357 Great vexatiō for the truth of Christ eadem Father Abraham 358 William White priest ead Iohn Weddon priest ead Many abiure eadem William White Wickliffes scholler 359 White burnt in Norwich ea Crueltie eadem Richard Houedon 360 Th. Baghley Paul Craw. ea Thomas Rhedon burned at Rome eadem Pope Eugenius ead Persecution about germany 361 Eugenius began the coūcell at Basil ead Order for the times of general councels ead The troublesō councel at Basil continued 17. yeres ead Contention between the P. the fathers of the coūcel 362 Nicholaus Casnanus 363 Eugenius pronoūced an heretike relapse ead 8. verities ead Disputation of sixe daies against Eugenius 364 Panormitan defender of Eugenius ead Iohn Segonius ead Panormitane wil haue the P. Lord of the church 365 Seruant of seruants the most honourable title of the pope ead The councel aboue the P. ea Card. Arelatensis 366 Great discord in the Councel 367 Nicholas Amici ead Panormitan obstinate ead Policie of Arelatensis 368 Arelatensis concludeth ead Bishop of Lubeck 369 B. of Lubeck fauoureth the trueth 370 Promoter of the faith 371 Prayers with teares 372 The princes ambassadoures yelded ead Eugenius deposed 373 Death of pestilence at the Councel ead Oath of the Electors to the pope ead The manner of choosing the pope 374 Amideus Duke of Sauoy eadem Sigismund dieth 375 Rochezanus dieth eadem Disputations vpon the Bohemians articles eadem Vincelaus eadem Vldericus eadem Peter Paine eadem Rhagusius eadem The Bohemiās offēded ead Popish disputers