detested the execrable simony of the Court of Rome hee made his repaire home againe to his countrie vnconfirmed declaring to the whole nobilitie of that land how the case stood Wherevpon all the Church of the Grecians hearing this at the same time departed vtterly from the Church of Rome Insomuch that the Archbish of Constantinople comming afterward to the Councel of Lions declared there openly that whereas he had before time aboue thirtie Bishoprickes and Suffraganes now he had not thrée Adding moreouer that all the Grecians and certaine other with Antioch the whole Empire of Romania euen to the gates almost of Constantinople were gone from the obediēce of the church of Rome Paris f. 112. f. 186. By occasion of which separation in the yere 1237. Germanus 1237 Germanus Archb. and Patriarke of Constantinople wrote vnto Gregorie the ninth desiring him to study séeke meanes of vnitie and that he would not refuse to méete him in the midwaye to debate of the matter that vnitie might bee recouered But the Pope refused and shortlye after sent foorth his preaching Friers to moue all Christians to take the signe of the Crosse and to fight against the Grecians The signe of the crosse to fight against the Grecians euen as it were against the Turkes and Saracens In so much that in the I le of Ciprus many good men and martyrs were slaine for the same as by letters of the said Germanus doeth appeare who wrote to the Pope and Cardinals to reforme themselues which was so taken of the Pope that shortly after he prepared to send men of war signed with the crosse to fight against the Grecians Whereupon the Archb. of Antioch with the foresaid Germanus solemnlie excommunicated the Pope The pope excommunicated Intollerable exactions of the pope The exactions of the Pope were so intollerable in the land that king Henrie the third wrote to Pope Innocent the fourth for releasement in most humble and gentle māner anno 1244. the 28. yere of the kings reigne Yet it booted not for the Pope was not ashamed to take of Dauid Prince of North-wales fiue hundred markes a yeare to set him against the King of England and exempted him from all his fealtie and obedience which he had sworne In the yeare one thousande two hundred fourtie fiue Prince of Wales set against the king of England the whole Nobility of the Realm by generall consent with the kings knowledge caused all partes of the Sea side to be layde that no Messenger with the Popes letters Bulles from Rome should be permitted to enter the realm Wherupon No messenger permitted to or fro Rome some were taken at Douer there stayed Notwithstanding when complaint thereof was brought to the king by Martinus the Popes Legate there was no remedie but the K. must néedes cause the letters to be restored againe and executed to the full effect Then the king vpon aduise caused a view to be taken through euerie Shire in Englād to what summe the whole reuenewes of the Romans and Italians amounted to which by the popes authoritie went went out of England The whole summe whereof was foūd yerely to be 60000. 60000. marks yerely to Rome markes To which summe the whole reuenewes of the crowne did not amount The Nobles then vnderstanding the miserable oppression of the Realme being assembled together at Dunstable for certaine causes sent one Fulco in the name of the whole Nobilitie vnto Martinus that he should with spéede departe the land The P. Legate departeth England except he would be cut all to péeres Which message the Legat shewed to the king and demaunded if his consent were thereto and finding small comfort tooke his leaue and departed an 1245. After this followed immediatly a generall Councell at Lions Councel at Lions to the which the estate and Lords of the Realme with consent of the Communaltie sent two billes the one containing a generall Supplication to the Pope and Councell the other with the articles of such gréeuances as they desired to haue redressed The Supplication was sent by Sir Roger Bigotte knight and William de Powick Esquire and Henrie de la Mare with other knights and Gentlemen After that it was there opened read P. Innocent first kéeping silence differred to answere thereto making hast to procéed to his detestable sentence of excommunicatiō curse Emp. Fred. cursed by the Pope against the good Emperor Fred. Which curse being done the Pope tolde them flatly they should not haue their requestes fulfilled and incontinent during the same councell he caused euery B. of England to put to his hand and seale to the obligation made by the king Iohn for the Popes tribute threatning moreouer that if hée had once brought downe the Emperour Fredericke he would bridle the insolent pride of England well enough In the beginning of the next yéere following An. 1246. Pope Innocent came to Cluniake Pope perswadeth warre against England where he perswaded the French king Lewes to make warre against the king of England whereto the French king would not agrée but shortly after concluded with him longer truce Ouer and beside all other exactions the Pope sending downe his letters from the sea Apostolike charged the prelates to find him some ten some fiue some fiftéene able men well furnished with horse and harneis for one whole yéere to fight in the Popes warres The Popes warres and least the king should haue knowledge hereof it was enioined them vnder paine of excommunication that they should reueale it to none but to kéepe it secrete onely to themselues Pope Innocent now intending to subdue the Gréeke church sent the prouinciall of the Grayfriers with other associates of the same order into England with his precepts authenticall that all goods gotten by vsury should be attached for his warre against the Gréekes Warre against the Greekes and that all those should be absolued from all their sinnes that would take on them the crosse to fight against the Grecians c. with other articles tending to the Popes profite The same yéere 1246. The Pope commaunded the Prelates of England that all beneficed men in the realme of England which were resident vpō their benefices should yéeld the third part of their goods and they which were not resident should giue the one halfe of their goods for the space of thrée yéeres together which summe beyng estéemed together was found to amount to 60000. l. 60000. pounds exacted by the Pope The executiō of this commission was cōmitted to the B. of London but as consultation was had about the matter at Paules the King sendeth straight charge that they should not consent thereto Parisiensis fol. 207. And afterward An. 1247. about February the king called a parlement and directeth Embassadours with letters and also to make manifest the grieuances of the land vnto the court of Rome The grieuāces of England whereto the Pope maketh a
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
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
at Rochester to Durelind The Sea of Durham began or Durelin whereupon the Bishoppes Sea of Duresine first began This king was greatly vexed with the Danes and was faine to redéeme peace with great summes of money yerelie which was called Dane-gelt Danegelt from x. thousand to xl thousand a yere An. 1000. In the xxi of his reigne he married with Emma daughter to Richard D. of Normandie which caused the king to haue great confidence in himselfe and by presumption thereof sent secrete and straight Commissions to the Rulers of euerie towne in the lande that vpon Saint Brices day at a certaine houre appointed the Danes should be sodenly slaine Danes slaine which was in like manner performed But the Danes and their king hearing thereof entered againe and made great waste In so much that the king was fayne to take peace with them and gaue to King Swanus thirtie thousand poundes whereupon he returned But the peace lasted not long for the next yeare one named Turkillus Turkillus a Dane Great vexation of the Danes a Prince of the Danes inuaded againe and was fayne to be pleased with giftes So the inuasion of the Danes and the molesting of Englishmen by them neuer ceased wherewith the Countrey was brought to great miserie After this Swanus the king of Danes who had made a couenant of peace before with the K. brake it and hearing of the increase of his people in the land came and landed in Northumberlande and there proclaymed himselfe king of the Land After much destruction in other places at length he came to Canterburie which he besieged and was resisted twenty dayes but at last by treason of a Deacon Treason of a Deacon called Almaricus whom the Bishop had preserued from death before wan it and tooke the goods of the people and set the towne on fire and tithed the Monkes of Saint Augustines abbey Monkes tithed by the Danes killing nine by cruell torment and kéeping the tenth aliue for slaues So they slue there of religious men to the number of nine hundred of other men women and children they slue aboue eight thousand And finally when they had kept the Bishop Elphegus in straight pryson the space of eight moneths because he would not agrée to giue them thrée thousand poundes after many villanies doone vnto him at Gréenewich they stoned him to death Elphegus stoned by the Danes The K. Egelred in the meane time fearing the end of this persecution sent his wife Emma with his two sonnes Alphred and Edward to the Duke of Normandie with whom also he sent the bishop of London whether also himselfe went after he had spent a great parte of the Winter in the I le of Wight whether hée was chased of the Danes The king chased of the Danes Whereof Swanus hearing and inflamed with pride reared great exactions vppon the people and among other hée required a great summe of monie of Saint Edmunds landes which the people there clayming to bee frée from kings tributes denied to pay For this Swanus entred the territory of S. Edmund wasted the country and despised the holy martyr menacing also the place of his sepulcher wherefore the men of the country fell to fasting prayer Fasting and prayer Shortly after Swanus died suddainly crying and yelling among his knights In feare whereof Canutus his sonne that ruled after him graunted them the fréedome of al their libertie and moreouer ditched their land with a déepe ditch and granted to the inhabitants thereof great fréedome quitting them from all tributes and after builded a Church ouer the place of his Sepulture ordained there an house of monks and endewed them with rich possessions And after that time it was vsed that kings of Englād when they were crowned sent their crownes for an offering to S. Edmunds shrine The crowne of England offered to S. Edmunds shrine and redéemed the same afterward with a condigne price King Egelred hearing of the death of Swanus made prouision and returned into England for whose suddaine comming Canutus being vnprouided fled to Sandwich and there cutting of the noses and the handes of the pledges which his father left with him sailed into Denmarke and the next yeare returned againe with a great nauie and landed in the South countrie and entered the countrie of West-saxon forcing the people to bée sworne to him and to giue pledges In this season king Egelred beyng at London was taken with sickenesse and there died and was buried in the Northside of Paules Church behind the quire after that he had raigned vnprosperously six thirtie yéeres leauing behind him his eldest sonne Edmund Ironside and Alphred and Edward which were in Normandy This king with his councell gaue foorth wholesome lawes and precepts for iudges and it is recorded that he deposed or depriued from all possessions a certaine iudge or iustice named Walgeatus A false iudge deposed whom the king loued Edmund slain the sonne of one Leonet for false iudgement and other prowde doings whom notwithstanding he loued aboue all other After the death of Egelred variance fell betwixt the Englishmen for the election of the king the one part standing for Edwin the eldest sonne of Egelred the other for Canutus the sonne of Swanus the Dane By means wherof there were diuerse battels fought betwéene them and in the end the Princes thēselues tried the matter hand to hand and when they had assaied each other a while by the motion of Canutus hastely they were agréed and kissed each other to the comfort of both hostes and shortly after agreed vpon partition of the land and loued as brethren Soone after a sonne of wicked Edericus by the means of his father espying Edmund at the draught thrust him into the fundament with a speare and slue him after that he had raigned two yéeres He left behind him two sons Edmund and Edward whom Edrick the wicked Duke after the death of their father tooke from their mother not knowing yet of the death of her husband and presented them to King Canutus and saluted him haile king alone Canutus being King alone sent the sonnes of Edmund to his brother Swanus king of Sweueland to be slaine who abhorring that déede sent them to Salomon king of Hungary where Edmund being married to the K. daughter died Edward was married to Agatha daughter of his brother Henrie the 4. Emperor Canutus being established King A promise well performed hauing promised the false Duke to make him higher then all the Lordes of the land caused his head to be stricken of and to be set vppon London bridge and his body to be cast into the town ditch other say he caused him to be bound and throwen into the Thames The reward of Traitors Likewise Canutus did disdaine all those whom he knewe to haue dealt falsely against Edmund and his heires In the meane time Swanus king of Denmarke brother to
William of York Hée was poysoned in his chalis Archb. poysoned in his chalice by his Chaplains In the xvi yere of the reigne of this king Theobaldus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Legate to the Pope held a Councell at London wherein was concluded appellations from Councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of Winchester In the time of King Steeuen died Gracianus a Monke of Bononia who compiled the booke called The Popes decrées also his brother Petrus Lombardus Petrus Lombardus Bishop of Paris Maister of Sentences wrote his foure bookes of Sentences These two were the greatest doers in finding out that the similitude onely of bread and wine remained in the sacramentes Some write that Petrus Comestor Petrus Comestor the writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother In this time also liued Hildegard the Nunne and prophetisse Hildegard the nunne and prophetisse in Almaigne By this K. was builded the abbey of Feuersham where his sonne and he were buried He builded the monasterie of Finerneys and of Fomitance Much about the same time came vp the order of the Gilbertines Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Iacoline a knight of Lincolnshire Theobald Priests no rulers in worldly matters the Archb. of Canterb. among other matters decréed that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should teach the Lords praier Créed in english Mattheus Parisiensis writeth how Stephen K. of England reserued to himselfe the bestowing of spiritual liuings and inuesting of prelats ann 1133. At which time also Lotharius the Emperour began to doe the like had not Bernardus giuen him contrary councel Then came into the Church the manner of cursing with booke bell and candle Booke bel and candle deuised in the Councell at London holden by William B. of Winchester vnder P. Celestinus who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius succéeded in the Empire Conradus the nenew of Henricus 5. an 1138. Who onely among the Emperors is founde not to haue receaued the Crowne at the popes hand In the dayes of this Emperour who reigned fiftéene yeares were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius 2. Eugenius 3. Betwixt P. Lucius Lucius and the Romanes was great strife for the Romanes would haue recouered their auncient libertie in choosing their consuls and Pope Lucius in the fight was well beaten and liued not long after Pope Eugenius Eugenius after him followed the same course An. 1145. and compelled them to abolish their consuls and to take such Senators as he should assigne Then followed Anastasius Anastasius the 4. And after him Adrianus the 4. an Englishman Adrianus pope an Englishmā by his name called Breake speare belonging once to S. Albons He likewise kept great stur preuailed against the Romanes for the former causes and thundered against Fredericus the Emperour Hildegardis a Nunne and as many iudged euen the papistes themselues a Prophetisse liued anno 1146. and prophecied against the whole rowte of Romish prelats and of the fal of that Church especially against the senior Friers and such other bellies of the same In a certain place she hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people Hildegard prophecieth against the kingdome of the Pope which neglect to teach and to doe good things The maister likewise and the Prelates doe sleepe despising iustice and laying it aside c. And in another place Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be no religion among the Apostolicall order and for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name shall set ouer them other men and other Archbishops In so much that the Apostolike sea of that time by the diminution of his honor shall haue scarce Rome and a fewe other Countreyes thereabout vnder his dominion And these things shall come to passe partly by incursiō of warres and partly by a common Councell Iustice flourish when the Pope is ouerthrowen and consent of the Spirituall and Secular persons Then shall Iustice flourish so that in those dayes men shall honestly applie themselues to the ancient customes and discipline of auncient men and shal obserue them as men in times past haue done c. Shee prophecied also of the Friers In those dayes shall rise a senselesse people proud gréedie without faith and subtill which shall eate the sinnes of the people holding a certain order of foolish deuotion vnder the fained cloke of beggery c. But this order shall be accursed of all wise men and faithfull Christians they shall cease from all labour and giue themselues ouer to idlenesse choosing rather to liue by flattery and begging hauing familiaritie with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbandes by their flattery and deceitfull wordes and to robbe for them for they will take all these stolen euill gotten goods and say giue it vnto vs we will pray for you so that they beyng curious to hide other mens faults do vtterly forget their owne And alas they will receiue all things of rouers pickers spoilers théeues sacrilegious persons vsurers adulterers heretikes schismatikes apostataes whores and bawdes of noblemen periurers merchants false iudges souldiers tyrants princes of such as liue contrary to the law and of many peruerse and wicked men following the perswasion of the Diuell the swéetnesse of sinne a delicate and transitorie life and fulnes euen vnto eternall damnation c. Henry the 2. sonne of Ieffrey Plantagenet and of Mawd the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first raigned after Stephen and continued 35. yéeres Within a yéere or twaine after the entry of his raigne he made Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Lord Chauncellor of England About the yéere of our Lord 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis did earnestly preach agaynst the Church of Rome mainteyning Gerhardus against the church of Rome that prayer is not more holie in one place then in another that the Pope is Antichrist Pope Antichrist that the Clergie and Prelates of Rome were reiect and the very whore of Babilon Whore of Babilon prefigured in the Apocalips c. These two Anno one thousand one hundred and fiftie eight brought with them thirtie into England who by the king and prelates were burned in the forehead and so sent out of the realme And after as Illyricus writeth were put to death by the Pope Put to death by the Pope The Emperour Fredericus successor to Conradus marched vp to Italy to subdue there certaine rebels The Pope hearing thereof came to méet him with his Cardinals at Sutrium the Emperour seing the Bishop alighted of his horse to receyue him The Emp. holdeth the popes stirrop on the wrong side holding the stirrop on the left side whereat the Pope shewed himselfe somewhat agréeued but the next day with holding the right stirrop
hée made him amends and when they were come together Hadrian would not crowne him for the Popes at that time had brought the Emperours to that passe except hée would of his owne charges helpe to the recouery of Apulia out of the handes of the Duke William whereto the Emperour agréed and so the next day was crowned In the meane time the Pope excommunicateth the Duke and incenseth Immanuell the Emperour of Constantinople against him but the Duke putteth Immanuell to flight and placed his siege agaynst Bonauenture where the Pope with his Cardinals were looking for victory and forced the Pope to entreat for peace which hée graunted on condition that hée should make him King of both Sycils The Pope returning to Rome and there finding that hée could not preuaile against the consuls of Rome remooued to Arciminum In this meane time the Emperour requireth homage of the Bishops of Germanie Popes Legats forbidden in Germanie forbidding the Popes Legates to be receiued in Germanie except hée sent for them Besides hée prefixed his owne name in his letters before the Popes name wherevpon passed letters of displeasure betwixt them and Hadrianus not content with the Emperours answere directeth a bull of excommunication and stirreth vp William duke of Apulia and the clergie against him The Emperour purgeth himselfe by letters sent thorough his Empire very pithie and sharpe The Pope on the other side accuseth the Emperour to the bishops of Germanie The Germans excuse the Emperour and incenseth them against him but they would not so far yéeld vnto the Pope but excused the Emperour This Pope onely continued foure yéeres The Pope choked with a flie and odde moneths and walking with his Cardinals to a place called Anagnuia or Arignam he was choked with a flie that got into his throat About this time rose vp the order of the Hermites The order of the Hermites by one William once Duke of Aquitania and afterward a Frier After Hadrian succéeded Alexander 3 Alexander 3. Pope and at the same time the emperor with 9. Cardinals set vp Victor 4. so that there fell much debate about the matter til at the last Alexander by the help of Philip the French king obtained the sea against whom the Emperor made his power and comming to Rome forced the Pope to saile to Venice whither he sent Otho his sonne after Who attempting rashly against his fathers commandement was ouercome and taken Whervpon the Emperour to redéeme his sonne was faine to séek peace and comming to Venice at S. Markes Church The Emperor faine to seeke peace with the Pope The Pope sets his feete vpon the Emperors necke where he should take his absolution he was bid to knéele at the popes féet and the pope setting his féet vpon the Emperors necke pronounced the verse of the Psalme Thou shalt walke vppon the Adder and the Basilisk and shalt tread downe the Lion and the Dragon To whom the Emperor answered not to thée but to Peter The pope againe both to me to Peter In fine the Emperour was absolued on condition hée would receiue Alexander for true Pope and restore againe to the Church all that he had taken away This Pope who raigned 27. yéers kept sundry councels Against marriage of priestd both at Turo and at Lateran wherein he concluded against marriage of priests At this time liued Thomas Becket whos 's first preferment was to the Church of Branfield which he had by the gift of Saint Albons After that he entred into the seruice of the Archbishoppe of Canterburie and was put of Theobald the Archbishop to king Henrie to bridle the yong king that he should not be too fierce against the Cleargie of whom hée was made Lord Chauncellour and afterward in the 44. yéere of his age was made priest and the next day made bishop afterward there fell great variance betwixt the king and him for ouerlightly punishing the Clearkes that offended his lawes Variance betwixt the King and Becket and standing with the king therein Besides he resisted diuers ancient lawes of the land and would not submit himselfe or his Cleargie therevnto moreouer there were other lawes also made at Claredoune Executed for a Traitor that brought curse from Rome in Normandy whereto Becket would giue no allowance as if any person should be found to bring from the Pope or from the Archb. of Canterbury anie writing containing a curse or indict of the land Peterpence denied he should bée executed for a traytour c. That Peterpence should no more be paide yet at the length hée answered he would agrée to the Kinges ordinances saluo ordine suo Saluo ordine suo Which clause the king greatly misliked but notwithstanding great intreate by the Bishoppe of Norwich and Salisbury and the teares of two of the chiefe of the Templars called Richard de Hast and Constans de Henerio hée would not relent til the king signified by expresse message Becket relenteth to the K. that hée should look what to trust to if he yelded not at his request so at length hee relented And the king called a Councell of States where he requiring the Archb. to set to his seale to instruments drawn cōcerning the matter but he refused so to do til farther deliberation which also the king was contented with yet after Thomas repented him of that he had done by the motion of his crossebearer who put him in mind how preiudicial it was to the Church that he had yéelded vnto Wherevpon he required absolution of the Pope for his fact who graunted the same and gaue him courage to bee constant in his quarrell begun Becket stout to the king and therevppon he waxed stoute and would haue departed the lande to flee to the sea of Rome but hee was staied The quarell ceassed not for Becket being Legatus a latere greatly staied the kings purposes Wherevpon the king sent to the Pope requiring that the same authority might be bestowed vppon some other after his appointment which was the Archb. of York but the P. would not notwithstanding at the request of the Kinges Clergie he was content that the K. should be Legate himselfe whereat hee tooke great indignation The K. Toulde be the Popes Legate which moued the Pope at the length to yelde to the request of the bestowing of the Legacie vpon the Archbishop of Yorke yet so that he would Thomas should take no harme thereby The king hauing this straight began with the Inferiors of the Church that had broken his lawes as Felons Robbers felons murtherers among the Clergie Robbers Quarrellers Breakers of the peace and Murtherers whereof more then an hundred were prooued at that time vpon the Cleargie This Thomas could not abide as derogating from the libertie of holy Church The king on the contrarie part was greatly incensed and caused him to be cited to appeare on a certaine day at the Town of Northhampton
where Tho appeared not but sente another This the king tooke in great displeasure and laid diuers actions against him of reconings c. The other Bishops endeuoured to perswade Thomas to consider what he did and not to stande so stiflie against the king others encouraged him and at last they agréed with common consent to cite him vp to Rome vpon periurie and appointed him his daye of appearance Which when the Archbishop heard he also sent to Rome to whom the Pope directeth againe his letters of comfort that made Becket still to hold himselfe stout against the King who was so incensed against him that if he had not fledde the Court he had béene laid in prison Becket flieth and turneth his name to Derman for not answering to certaine accompts the king had to charge him withall But he sped him away changing his name and calling himselfe Derman and taking shippe at Sandwich fled into Flanders from thence to Ludouicus the French king who notwithstanding Letters and request to the contrarie gaue him entertainment and wrote to the Pope in his behalfe and although the K. had sent vnto him Ambassadors Robert Archbishoppe of Yorke with other Bishoppes and Nobles requiring him to deale otherwise thorow the French Kings letters did wholy encline to Becket But forasmuch as he could not be placed as yet in England the Pope sendeth him in a monks habite to the Abbey of Pontiniake in Fraunce where hée remayned two yeares And from thence he remoued to Senon B. in exile seuen yeres where he abode fiue yeres So his exile continued in all seuen yeres Now the king vnderstanding of the Popes fauor toward Becket sayling out of England into Normandie directeth ouer certaine Iniunctions against the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterburie Besides an 1166. it was set foorth by the kings Proclamation that all manner of persons both men women of Beckets kinred Beckets kinred banished should be banished without carrying away any penyworth of their goods Hee sent also to Guarrin the Abbot of Pontiniakes threatning him that if he would not put away Tho. hee would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his order Whereupon Becket was faine to depart to Lewes the French king who placed him at Senon and there found him the space of fiue yeares In which time of his absence he wrought all hee might against the king and those that he knew did not fauour him diuers letters passed to and from Becket to the Pope the king very seditious rebellious Frō which dealing a very pithie letter written by the Suffraganes of the Church of Canterburie could nothing perswade him but prouoked him very sharply to replie against them He reiected also the letters of the Empresse that endeuored to perswade him After these letters sent to and fro anno 1169. the King fearing least the Archbishoppe should procéede against his owne person by excommunication made his appeale to the Pope The K. feareth Becket whereupon he sent two Cardinals Guilielmus and Otho o take vp the matter at Grisorsium in Fraunce but it came to no conclusion Where William requiring Becket for the peace of the Church which hée pretended to resigne his Bishoprike so that the King would giue ouer his customes answered that the proportion was not like saying that hée sauing the honour of his Church and person could not so doo but the king Because the Pope had cōdemned them it stood on his soules health to renounce those ordinances and customes because the Pope had condemned them After the Cardinals were returned the French king also thought to haue preuayled with Thomas and laboured to perswade him but could not Thomas alwaies adding his obedience Saluo honore Dei very captiously that he might thereby make escape if néede were wherewith the King was greatly displeased After this there fell other displeasure betwixt them Anno 1170. And the sixtéenth yere of the Kings raigne at which time hée kept his Parlement at Westminster hée caused his sonne Henry to be crowned King with consent of Lordes Spirituall and Temporall which Coronation was doone by the handes of Robert Archbishop of Yorke with assistance of other Bishopses whereat Becket tooke great displeasure because hée was not called for and complayned thereof to the Pope at whose instaunce the Pope sent downe sentence of excommunication against the Archbishop and London Salisbury Duresme and Rochester that were doers with him in the Coronation and sendeth also two Legates the Archb. of Rhothomage and the Archb. of Nauerne with full commission either to driue the King to reconciliation or to interdict him by the Popes censure out of the Church wherevpon the king at last through the mediation of the French king and diuerse prelates great Princes was content to yéeld to reconciliation but would not graunt him his possessions and landes of his church before he repaired into England The king yeeldeth to Becket and should shew how peaceably he would agrée with the kings subiects This peace being thus cōcluded Thomas after 6. yéers of his banishment returned and was commanded of the yoong king to kéepe his house The Bishops before excommunicated required absolution of him but hée would not graunt therevnto simply without cauteles so they cōplained to the king who tooke it heauenly lamented oft sundry times that none would reuenge him of his enemy which certaine to the number of 4. hearing prepared themselues came into England out of Normandie about Christmasse time repaired to Thomas commanded him in the kings name to come to the yoong K. to doo his duty to him to restore the bishops whom he had excōmunicated for the kings coronatiō which Thomas would not grant vnto touching the absolutiō referring it to the pope who had excōmunicated thē In the end so disorderly Thomas behaued himselfe that they said he had spoken against his owne head and rushed out of the dores cōmaunding the monks to kéepe him forth comming What quoth Thomas thinke you I will fly away nay neither for the K. nor for any man will I stir one foote frō you and so cried after them Foure armed men kill Thomas Becket here here shall you find me laying his hand vpon his crowne The 4. whose names were Reynold Bereson Hugh Morteuill Wil. Thracy Richard Brito went to harnesse themselues returned the same day slue Becket méeting him about euēsong time with his crosse in his hand euery one striking him with his sword into the head they after fled into the North at length with much adoo The murtherers do penāce hauing obtained their pardon of the pope went to Ierusalem in linnen clothes barefoote fasting and praying whereof in few yéeres after they died Anno 1220. There was a question as saith Cesarius the monke at Paris whether Becket were saued or damned Roger a Normand holding against him Whether Becket were saued or damned
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
vpon Vigill dayes Who after their purgation made escaped more easilie away Whose names followe here subscribed Robert Skirring of Harlestone William Skirring Iohn Terry of Ersham Iohn Aibre of Ersham Iohn Middleton of Haluergate Iohn Warde of Ersham Richard Clark of Sething Thomas VVhite of Bedingham Master Robert Beert of Berrie and Richard Page of Clepslie The other were more cruellie handled and some of them burned among whome speciall mention is made of these 3. Father Abraham Father Abraham William White priest I. Wad priest burned of Colchester VVilliam VVhite Priest and Iohn VVaddon Priest The residue abiured and suffered penance as Iohn Beuerley I. VVardon Io. Middleton Iohn Baker I. Knight Margerie Baxter Iohn Skillie Iohn Godhold Tomas Albeck Iohn Pierce Nicholas Canon of Ey Thomas Pie Iohn Mendham Io. Middleton Thomas Chatris Thomas VVade VVilliam Taylour Iohn Capper Vicar of Tunstall with thrée score and two other The articles which they held were these Against auricular confession That there remayneth bread and wine after the wordes of consecration and that no priest can make the bodie of Christ That euery true Christian is a Priest to God Articles That no man is bound to Lent or any dayes prohibited by the Church of Rome That the pope is Antichrist That necessitie vrging it is lawfull to doe bodilie labour on holie-daies That Priestes may marrie That Ecclesiasticall censures of the Prelates are not to be regarded Against swearing in priuate causes Against Pilgrimage Against honouring of Images Against holy water That the death of Becket was neither holy nor meritorious That Relikes ought not to be worshipped That prayers in all places are acceptable vnto God That no Saint is to bée prayed vnto That Bel-ringing was ordeyned to fill Priestes purses That it is no sinne to withstand the Ecclesiasticall processes That the Catholike Church is only the congregation of Gods elect In these articles they all agréed and it séemeth Williā White scholler to Wickliffe they had the doctrine from William White who was scholer and follower of Iohn Wickliffe This William White gaue ouer his priesthood benefice and tooke vnto him a godly woman to his wife named Ione yet ceassed not he from his dutie of teaching but preached continually wrote and instructed the people at Canterbury Before time he had recanted these points That men should séeke for the forgiuenes of sinnes onely at Gods hands That the wicked liuing of the pope and his holy ones is a diuelish and heauy yooke of Antichrist That men ought not to worship images nor holy men after they be dead That the Romish church is the fig trée which Christ accursed That such as weare coules or be annointed or shorne are the launceknights of Lucifer c. Which articles he abiured An. 1424. before Henry Chichesly at Canterb. but now being stronger in the truth endured to the end was condemned of 30. White burned in Norwich articles was burned at Norwich in the moneth of September 1428. hauing labored diligently before in teaching the people of Norfolke He was a man very godly deuout in somuch that all the people had him in great reuerence were woont to desire him to pray for them When he was come vnto the stake thinking to open his mouth to speake vnto the people to exhort and cōfirme them in the truth one of the Bishops seruāts stroke him on the mouth Crueltie thereby to force him to kéepe silence and so there patiently he ended his course being made a witnes of Christ Iesus His wife Ione followed her husbands footesteps and confirmed many in the truth and therefore suffered much trouble punishment at the Bishops handes the same yéere About the same time also suffered by burning father Abraham of Colchester and Iohn Waddon priest for the like articles Iohn Beuerly alias Batild was enioyned that the Friday and Saturday next after his dismission he should fast bread and water and vppon the Saturday to be whipped from the Palace of Norwich goyng round about by the Tomlands and by S. Michaels Church by Cottell Row and about the market hauing in his hand a waxe candle of two pence to offer to the Image of the Trinitie after hée had doone his penance c. and this doone hée should depart out of the Dioces and neuer come there any more Besides the same yéere diuerse did penaunce and abiured and the yéere following 1429. diuerse did the like penance to the number of 16. or 17. An. 1430. R. Houedon Rich. Houedō a woolwinder citizen of Lōdon was burnt at the Towrehill for the doctrine of Wickliffe Anno 1431. Thomas Bagley Thom. Bagley a Priest vicar of Monenden beside Malden beyng a valiant disciple of Wickliffe was condemned of Heresie by the Bishops at London about the midst of Lent was disgraded and burned in Smithfield The same yéere also Paule Craw Paule Crawe a Bohemian was takē at S. Andrewes by the Bishop Henry deliuered ouer to the secular power to be burnt for holding against the faith of Rome touching the sacrament of the Lords supper worshipping of Saints auricular confession with other of Wickliffes opinions Tho. Rhedon at Rome An. 1436. Th. Rhedon a Frenchman and a Carmelite frier was burned at Rome for these articles which notwithstanding they gathered falsly against him That the church lacketh reformation and that it shall be punished and reformed Articles That Infidels Iewes Turkes and Mores shall be cōuerted vnto Christ in the later daies That abominations are vsed at Rome That the vniust excommunication of the Pope is not to be feared Eugenius at this time was Pope Eugenius Pope and succéeded Pope Martin a litle before After sundry torments he was condemned for an heretike and was burned He was accused by William of Roan cardinall of S. Martins in the mount vicechancellor of the court of Rome About the same time Persecution about Germany diuers other suffered in the places about Germany as Henry Grunfelder priest of Ratispone ann 1420. Henry Rodgeber priest in the same citie anno 1423. Ioh. Draendorf a priest of noble birth at Wormes ann 1424. Peter Thraw at Spire ann 1426. Mathew Hager also suffered at Berline in Germany not long after Ex Basilei Centur. sept After the death of pope Martine who reigned 14. yéeres succéeded Eugenius the fourth about the yeere 1431. He began first to celebrate the Councel at Basill Eugenius beginneth the Councel at Basill which Councel Martine had before intended In the 39. session of the councel of Constance it was decréed prouided Order for the times of general councels concerning the orders and times of such general councels as shold after folow The first that shold next ensue to be kept the 5. yere after the councel of Cōstance The 2. 7. yeres after that so orderly al other to folow successiuely frō x. yere to x. yere Wherfore according to this
paide for the will of Syr William Compton knight as Syr Henrie Guilforde knight one of the executors declared in open Parliament The second cause the great polling which the spirituall men vsed in taking of corpes presents or mortuaries The thirde that priestes being surueyors stewards and officers to Bishops Abbots c. had and occupied farmes graunges and grasing in euery countrey The fourth cause was that Abbots Priors and spirituall men kept Tannehouses and bought and solde wooll cloth and all manner of marchandise as other temporall marchants did The fift cause was their non residencie from their flocks and residencie in the court of Lords houses The sixt was that vnlearned priestes had tenne or twelue benefices and learned scholers in the vniuersities wanted both benefice and exhibition all which grieuances were redressed the same parliament During the same parliament there was brought downe to the commons the booke of Articles which the Lordes had put vp to the king against the Cardinall the chiefe whereof were these First that hée without the Kinges consent had procured himselfe to bée Legate Articles against the Cardinall 2. In all writinges that hee wrote to Rome he wrote I and my King 3. That hée slaundered the Church of Englande to the Court of Rome I and my king which hée saide was facta in reprobum sensum 4. Hée without the Kinges assent carried the great seale with him into Flaunders when hee was sent Embassadour to the Emperour 5. Without the kinges consent hee sent commission to Iohn Gregorie de Cassalis Knight to conclude a league betweene the king and the Duke of Ferrarie 6. That he hauing the Frenchpockes presumed to come and breath on the king The Cardinall had the Frēchpocks The Cardinal confesseth the Articles 7. That hee caused the Cardinals hatte to bee put on the kinges coyne 8. That hee had sent innumerable substance to Rome for the obtayning of his dignities to the impouerishing of the Realme These Articles were confessed all of the Cardinall and assigned with his hand Anno. 1531. Notwithstanding the kings goodnesse towardes him the Cardinall being in his Dioces The Cardinal vnthankfull to the king wrote to the Court of Rome and to diuers other Princes letters in reproche of the king and endeuoured to winne fauour of the people with pompe and great gifts to the Gentlemen which the king although he knew his doings dissembled all that yeare till he saw his heart so lifte vp with pride that hee thought it not conuenient to suffer him any longer so he directed his letters to the Earle of Northumberland The Cardinall arrested and prisoned willing him with all diligence to arrest him and to deliuer him to the Earle of Shrewsburie which was accordingly done and the vi day of Nouember he was conueied from Cawood to Sheffielde Castle and there deliuered to the Earle of Shrewesburies keeping When the Cardinall was thus arrested the king sent Sir William Kingstone knight Captaine of the Garde and Constable of the Tower of London to fetch the Cardinall to the Tower when the Cardinall saw the Captain of the Garde he was so sore astonished that shortly after hee became sicke men said he willingly tooke such quantitie of a strong purgation that his nature was not able to beare it and the matter that came from him was so blacke that the stayning thereof could not be gotten out of the Blankettes by any meanes By easie iourneies he was brought to the Abbey of Leicester the xxvij day of Nouember where for very feeblenesse of nature The Cardinall dieth caused by purgations and vomits he died the second night following and there lyeth buried It is testified by one yet liuing in whose armes the Cardinall died that his bodie being dead was blacke as pitche and was so heauie that sixe could scarce beare him and furthermore did so stincke aboue the ground The Cardinals bodie did stinke aboue ground that they were constrayned to hasten the buriall thereof in the night season before it was day At the which buriall such a tempeste with such a stinke there arose that all the Torches went out and so he was throwen into the Tombe This Cardinall founded a new Colledge in Oxford for the furniture whereof he had gathered together all the best learned he could heare of amongst which number were these Clarke Tyndall Sommer Frith and Tauerner with other mo Which holding assemblie together in the Colledge were counted to be Heretikes and thereupon were cast into a prison of the Colledge where was kept Saltfish through the stinke whereof the most part of them were infected and Clarke thereof died being young and tender and a man of singular learning among them all And other in other places in the Towne also of the same infection deceassed In the time of the Cardinall Master Humfrey M. Humfrey who was a right godly and sincere Alderman of London was troubled and put in the Tower for the Gospel of Christ and for the mainteyning of them that fauoured the same but at length he was forced to abiure Abiure and after was made knight by the king and Sheriffe of London Anno 1530. Thomas Hitten 1530. Tho. Hitten Martyr a Preacher at Maidstone after long torments sundry imprisonments by Wil. Warham Bishop of Caunterburie and Fisher Bishop of Rochester was burned at Maidston for the testimonie of the trueth Anno 1531. Thomas Bilney 1531. Tho. Bilney of Cambridge professour of both Lawes conuerted Thomas Arthur and M. Hugh Latimer then Crossebearer at Cambridge on procession daies and preached against the intollerable pride of the Cleargie and the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome being associate with Arthur whereof the Cardinall hearing cast him into prison and anno 1527. accompanied with a great number of Bishops as Caunterburie Cutbert of London Iohn of Rochester c. came into the chapterhouse at Westminster where Bilney Arthur were brought before them Where the Cardinall demaunded whether Bilney had preached any of the opinions of Luther contrarie to the Catholike Church Whereto Bilney answered negatiuely being asked againe of the Cardinall whether he had not taken an oath not to preach or defend any of the opinions of Luther he graunted he had so sworne but not lawfully Which Interrogatories so ministred and answere made the Cardinal caused him to sweare to answere plainly to the Articles and errours preached and set foorth by him Who hauing béene thus sworne and examined the Cardinal procéeded to the examination of M. Arthur there present causing him to take the like oath Then the Cardinall and the Bishops by their authoritie ex officio did call for witnesses against M. Bilney Iohn Huggen chéefe Prouinciall of the Fryers Preachers throughout all England Geffrey Iulles and Richard Iugwoorth Professors of diuinitie of the same order Also W. Ierkett Gentleman William Nelson and Thomas Williās and so the Cardinall because he was otherwise occupied in the affaires
and vttered his diuerse argumentes where hée desired to be satisfied The matter was concerning the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ Tailor desired him to deferre the matter till another tyme and to wryte his minde whiche hée did and at last it brake out to bée a publicke matter so that he was sent for by the Archbishop of Canturbury and was forced to defend his cause openly In that disputation it is said that Lambert did appeale from the Bishops to the king and the rumour of the disputation was spred to the court Now at this time Stephen Gardiner then bishop of Winchester A wicked persuasion was in authoritie among the kinges Counsellours and perswaded the kinge by the burning of Lambert to quiet the people who grudged at diuerse of his dooinges bothe touchyng his diuorce and pullinge downe the Popes pride and thereby to declare how stoutly he would resist Heretikes whereby the people might take some contentment So by these perswasions a day was set Lambert brought forth where besides he had the kings fierce countenance against him Lambert disputeth he had x. disputers against him frō xij of the clocke till v. at night among which were the archbishop Stephen Gardiner Tunstall B. of Durham Stokesley bishop of London In fine through Winchesters perswasion to gratifie the people the king himselfe condemned Lambert and commanded Cromwell the chiefe friend of the gospellers to read the sentēce The king condemneth Lambert Cromwell readeth the sentence against Lambert Cromwell craueth pardon of Lambert Vpon the day that was appointed for this holy martyr to suffer he was brought out of the prison at viij of the clocke in the morning vnto the house of the L. Cromwell so caried into his inner chamber where as it is reported of many Cromwell desired him of forgiuenes for that he had doone from thence he was brought into the hall and so into Smithfield where he suffered most terrible torments for after his legges were burned vp to the stumps that the wretched tormentors had withdrawē the fire from him so that but a small fire was left vnder him two that stood on each side of him with their halbards pitched him vpon their pikes as farre as the chaine would reach then he lifting vp such handes as he had and his fingers euer flaming with fier cried vnto the people in these wordes Lambert a worthy martyr None but Christ none but Christ and so beyng let downe againe from their Halbards he fell into the fire yéelded vp the ghost Lamberts treatice of the Sacrament During the time that he was in the Archbishops house he wrote a treatise to the king touching the Sacrament wherein he prooued that the bodie could be but in one place and that the Sacrament was a mysticall matter The same yéere 1538. Robert Packington Mercer brother of Austen aboue mentioned because he little fauoured the clergie being a man of courage and a burges of the parliament house for the Cittie and was thought to haue had some conference with the king to the disaduauntage of the clergie at fiue of the clocke in the morning as he was woont going from his house in Cheapside to prayers at a church called S. Thomas of Acres but nowe Mercers chappell he was slaine with a gun by an Italian Robert Packington slaine going to prayers whome D. Incent Deane of Paules had hired for lx crownes to doo that feat as he himselfe afterward on his death bed confessed The same yéere was Collins a mad man and his dogge burned Collins his dogge burned together because as the priest lifted his God so Collins in the Church at the same time lifted his dogge ouer his head his dogge was burnt also with him Likewise another mad man called Cowbridge Cowbridge was burned at Oxford the same yéere who what euer his madnesse was before yet in the middes of the flame he lifting vp his hand to heauen soberly and discréetly called vpon the name of the Lord Iesus and so departed About the same time and yéere Putdewe Putdewe was put to death for saying merily to a priest after he had drunke the wine he blessed the hungrie people with the emptie Chalice At the same time also was condēned W. Letton Williā Letton a moonke of Aye in the Countie of Suffolke was burned at Norwich for speaking against an idoll that was vsed to be carried in procession at Aye and for holding that the Sacrament ought to bée ministred in both kindes Somewhat before the burning of these men Nich. Peke Nicholas Peke was burned at Ipswich and when the firres were set on fire he was so scorched that he was as blacke as pitch Doctor Reading standing there before him with Doctor Heirre and Doctor Springwell hauing a long white wande in his hand did knocke him vpon the right shoulder and sayde Peke recant and beléeue in the Sacrament The notable courage of the martyr to whom Peke answeared I defie thée and it also and with greate violence hee spatte from him blood which came by reason the veynes brake in his bodie for extreme anguish Which when hée saide Doctor Reading graunted by the authoritie of the Bishoppe of Norwich fourtie dayes of pardon to so many as should cast a sticke to burne the heretike wherevpon Baron Curson Sir Iohn Audley knight and others were moued so to do and cutte downe boughes and threw them into the fire This yéere the king was againe required by the Emperour and other States to be a sender to the generall Counsell at Vincence For the Duke of Mantua woulde suffer none there The king againe refuseth the Counsell except the pope would with a sufficient armie gard this city The king again refused and sendeth his protestation in way of defence for himselfe to the Emperour and other Christian princes which he concludeth with this farewell Thus mighty Emperour fare yée most heartely wel and you Christian princes The kings farewell to the princes Anno Reg. the pillers and stay of Christendome fare ye heartily wel also you what people soeuer you are which doe desire that the Gospel and glory of God may flourish fare ye heartily well As Thomas Cromwell fauoured the Gospel so Stephan Gardiner B. of Winchester practised all he coulde against the same and wrought so with the king that the yéere 1539. seuere Iniunctions were set out by the kinges authoritie against English scripture bookes without examination against translations Search iniunctions without the authors name were put to it against sacramentaries that no man should dispute of the sacrament with the rest the canon of Becket rased c. and in fine so was he nusled by Winchester that Anno 1540. 1540. The king nusled by Winchester The whippe with vi strings The vi Articles He summoned a parlament to be holden at Westminster the xxviij of Aprill also a synode of
printers themselues which before they neuer intended and imprinted out the said Bible in London and after that printed sundry impressions of them but yet not without great trouble and losse through the hatred of Steeuen Gardiner and his fellowes Steeuen Gardiner alwaies an enemie to the Gospel In those dayes there were two sundrie Bibles in English printed and set foorth bearing diuers titles and printed in diuers places The first was called Thomas Mathewes Bible Th. Mathewes bible printed at Hamborough about the yere 1532. The Corrector of which Printe was Iohn Rogers the Printers were Richard Grafton and Whitchurch In the translation of this Bible the greatest doer was William Tindall who with the helpe of Miles Couerdale had translated all the bookes thereof except onely the Apocrypha and certaine notes in the Margent which were added after But because William Tindall in the meane time was apprehended before his booke was fullie perfected it was thought good to them that had the dooing thereof to chaunge the name of William Tindall because that name was then odious and to further it by a straunge name of Thomas Matthew Iohn Rogers being the same time corrector to the print who had then translated the residue of the Apocrypha and added also certaine notes thereto in the Margent and thereof came it to be called Thomas Matthewes bible Which bible of Thomas Matthewes after it was imprinted and presented to the Lord Cromwell and the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who liked very well of it Cromwell presented it to the king The Bible in English presented to the king and obtained that it might fréely passe to be read of subiects with his graces licēce So that there was printed on the same booke one line in red letters with these wordes Set forth with the Kinges most gracious licence This book did greatly offend the Bishops both for the prologues and especially for a table called of the common places of the Bible and the scriptures for the approbation of the same and chiefly about the supper of the Lord and priests marriages and the masse which there was said not to bée found in the Scripture After the restraint of this bible of Mathew another came to be printed at Paris anno 1540. which was called the bible of the large volume The Bible of the large volume The Printed that printed it was the former the ouerseer was Miles Couerdale who conferred Tindalles Translation with the Hebrewe and mended diuers places there In this Bible although the former notes of Thomas Mathew were omitted yet sundrie marks and hands were annexed in the margent which meant that in those places should be made certaine notes wherewith also the Clergie was offfended and Cromwel being dead complaintes were made to the king of the translation of the Bible and of the Preface of the same and then was the sale of the Bible cōmanded to be staied the B. promising to amend and correct it but neuer performed it The Bishops promisse to amend the Bible but performed it not Then Grafton was called for and troubled cast in the Fléete where hée remained sixe wéekes and before he came out was bound in 300.l neither to print to sell nor cause to be printed any mo bookes till the king and the clergie should agrée on the translation and thus was the Bible staied from that time during the reigne of king Henry the eight Anno 1541. D. Cutbert Barnes Doctor Barnes Thomas Garret and William Hierome were burned in Smithfield for the testimonie of Iesus Christ after the death of the lord Cromwell who whiles he liued was a great defence vnto diuerse that professed the truth but he being taken away many godly christians in diuerse places went to wracke Doctor Barnes after that he came from the vniuersitie of Louaine went to Cambridge where hée was made Prior and Maister of the house of Augustines at which time the knowledge of good letters was very scant in the Vniuersitie which Barnes thinking to redresse read in his house Terence Plautus and Cicero so that what with his labour and helpe of Thomas Parnell his scholer whom he brought from Louaine with him reading Copia verborum rerum he caused the house shortly to florish with good letters and made a great part of his house learned as M. Cambridge M. Field M. Coleman M. Burley M. Couerdall c. After these foundations laid he did openly read in the house S. Paules Epistles and put by Duns Dorbell Duns Dorbell put out of Cambridge and yet though he were a questionarie himselfe in short space made he diuerse good diuines obseruing disputations of necessarie points of faith in his house Disputations of points of faith rare in Cābridge in those daies also in the schooles when he should dispute with any man The first man that answered Doctor Barnes in the Scriptures was M. Stafford for his forme to be batchellour of diuinitie Which disputation was marueilous in the sight of the great blind Doctors notwithstanding all this till he was conuerted by Bylney D. Barnes conuerted by Bylney he remained in his superstition still The first Sermon that euer he preached according to the truth of the Gospell was the Sunday before Christmas day at S. Edwards church belonging to Trinitrie hall in Cambridge by the pease market whose theame was the Epistle of the same Sunday Gaudete in Domino c. For which Sermon he was immediatly accused of heresie by two fellows of kings hall Then the godly mē flocked and conferred together the house that they most commonly resorted vnto was the white horse which for dispite of them to bring Gods word into contempt was called Germany The White-horse in Cambridge called Germany This house was especially chosen because they of S. Iohns Kings and Quéenes Colledges might come on the backeside thether Doctor Barnes was accused in the regent house and constantly continued with much preaching of diuerse parties one against another in trying out Gods truth till within sixe dayes before Shrouetide then was there sent downe a Sergeant at armes called maister Gibson dwelling in Saint Thomas Apostle in London who suddainly arrested Doctor Barnes D. Barnes arrested in the Regent house and priuely they had determined to make searche for Luthers bookes and all the Germanes workes suddainly but by Doctor Farmans warning of Quéenes Colledge the bookes were conueyed away thirtie persons they had in speciall suspition Doctor Barnes was carried to Cardinall Wolsey and after hée had a while stood constant by the perswasion of Doctor Gardiner his secretarie and Foxe he relented and submitted himselfe Barnes submitteth himselfe and with fiue Stylliard men he bare his faggot at Paules the bishop of Rochester there preaching against Luther Doctor Barnes Notwithstanding his submission the Bishop commaunded hée shoulde be had to the Fléete againe and bée permitted to haue such libertie as other prysoners
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
the L. Graie Sir George Carew and Sir Richard Greenfield who purged the town of the slander although for a time they were in displeasure yet wtin a while after they came into greater fauor then before and were rewarded with xx l. a yéere a péece at the least Rockwood one of the fearcest persecutors fell into dispaire Rockwood a persecutor despaireth Gods iudgements and at the last breath cried he was vtterly damned for that he said malitiously he sought the death of such good men The Vndermarshall also another persecutor suddenly fell downe in the counsell chamber and neuer spake worde and the rest of the persecutors had the reuenging hand of God following after them Adam Damlip Adam Damlip taken againe who before escaped lay hid in the West-country teaching a schoole about a yéere or two by the miserable inquisition of the six articles was againe taken and brought vp to London where he was by St. Gardiner commanded to the Marshalsea there lay the space of other two yéeres where thinking he had béene forgotten he in the Latine tongue wrote an epistle to the B. of Winchester wherin he said he would write his obedience submission for said he I had rather die then here to remaine and not to be suffered to vse my talent to Gods glorie This he said to M. Marbecke then prisoner in the Marshalsea This epistle he deliuered to his kéeper about Saturday in the morning which was about the ij wéeke before Whitsontide desiring him to deliuer it at the court to the B. of Winchester which he did The B. made such quicke dispatch that the kéeper came home at night very late brought with him a precept for the executiō of Adam Damlip So vpon munday early in the morning the kéeper other of the knight Marshals men cōueied Adam vnto Calice vpon the Ascension euen there cōmitted him to the Maiors prison because they could not burthen him with any thing within a sufficient cōpasse of time to condemne him they laid to his charge he had receiued a French crowne of cardinall Poole at Rome where before his first comming to Calice he was requested to read thrée lectures a wéeke in Cardinall Pooles house therefore they condemned him and executed him for treason Adam Damlip put to death which death he most méekely and hartely tooke Iohn Butler and sir Daniell the curate before mentioned after ix moneths imprisonment were with much labour permitted to returne to Calice againe William Steuens aboue mentioned who had remained all this time in the Tower was condemned also of treason with his guest Adam Damlip pardoned by the king Adam Damlip had sometimes béene a great papist chaplaine to Fisher B. of Rochester after the death of his maister trauelled France Dutchland and Italie and came to Rome where he would not for the wickednes of the place abide to remaine though cardinall Poole offered him maintenance to read iij. lectures a wéeke in his house which he refused for receiuing onely a French crowne he was condemned and executed for treason he receiued it at the Cardinals hand to drinke and beare some charge of expence By the preaching of Adam Damlip in Calice among others there was a poore mā whose name is not yet certainly knowne who was conuerted to the truth therfore condemned by one Haruey there being cōmissarie whom this Haruey in time of his iudgement called Hereticke and said he should die a vile death the poore man aunswered againe and said that he was no hereticke but was in the faith of Christ and whereas thou saidest said he that I shall die a vile death thou thy self shalt die a viler death and that shortly And so it came to passe for within half a yéere after Haruey was hanged Gods iudgement drawne and quartered for treason in the same towne of Calice After the burning of this poore man there was also a certaine other schooler coūted to be a dutchman named Dodde who comming out of Germany was there taken with certaine Germane bookes about him being examined standing stoutly to the doctrine of the gospell he was burned A little before this time Will. Bolton alias Crosbowmaker for saying the Pope wanted Charitie if he could and would not release soules out of Purgatorye by Doctor Darlie parson of our Ladies Church in Calice then Commissarie for Archbishoppe Warham was made to beare a fagotte and lost his wages which was vi pence a day who complaining thereof to the king and declaring vnto his maiestie the cause sent him to Calice againe and after that gaue him viij pence a day As for the vi articles many good men were put to death so for the Popes supremacie diuerse suffered And about this time Larke a priest of Chelsey for the supremacie and Germine Gardiner néere kinseman to Stephen Gardiner and his secretarie for practising for the Pope against the King were put to death By an act of parlament holden An. 1544. 1544. The rigour of vi articles mitigated the rigour of the vi articles was asswaged a little at the first time it was permitted that they which offended against them might recant which if they refused to doe and offended againe they should beare a fagot and should be admitted to abiure if the third time they offended then they should sustaine punishment according to law Notwithstanding this Parlament had thus mittigated the rigor yet remained the poison and all manner of bookes bearing the name of Williām Tindall or what other booke soeuer contained any thing against the vi articles were debarred In this Parlament also it was permitted onely to noblemen and gentlemen Noblemen and Gentlemē permitted to reade the scripture to reade the scriptures to their edifying so they did it without discussing or vrging therevpon In this Parlament also it was permitted to the party detected to trye his cause by witnesses as many or more in number as the other which deposed against him Anno 1545. 1545. Sixe articles more qualified the vi articles were yet much more qualified by Act of Parlament whereby it was also decréed that the king should haue full power to appoint 32. persons to wit sixetéene of the Cleargie and sixetéene of the temporaltie to peruse and ouersée examine the Canons constitutions and ordinances of the canon law aswell prouinciall as synodall and so according to their discretions to establish an order of ecclesiastical lawes such as should be thought by the king most conuenient This yeere 1544. Iohn Heywood recanted the Popes supremacie and Iohn At h the trueth of the sacrament About the yeere 1546. 1546 Saxy hanged one Saixe a priest was hanged in the porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner not without the consent of the Bishop as it is supposed there was also a seruant in Colchester named Henrie burned for the testimony of the trueth Henry burned This yeere 1546. One Kerby Kerby was
indignation that their olde doctrine should be impugned and stirred vp a Gray fryer called Frier Toyttes to teach the people to pray yet to Saints A controuersie in Scotland whether the Lords prayer should be said to Saints or not Whereupon fel such a schisme that not only the Cleargie but also the people were deuided among themselues for the matter in so much that there rose a prouerbe to whom say you your Pater noster And the cleargie for to decide the same controuersie to put the people out of doubt assembled thēselues yet notwithstanding it so depended that it was thought good to call a principal coūsel to decide the matter which being assēbled at Edēburgh the papists wāting reason brast out into vnséemly spéech as frier Toyt being asked to whom he should say his pater noster The Fryer biddeth say the pater noster to the deuil answered say it to the deuil knaue In the end they that were called churchmē were deuided for some of the bishops and diuines consented that it should be said to saints but the B. of S. Andrewes Caitenes and Athenies refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally it was declared vnto the people that it should be said vnto God with certeine restrictions and so by little and little the bruite ceassed Anno 1558. W Mill 1539. Walter Mill. was the last that was burned in Scotland for the doctrine of the gospel the xx day of April before the B. of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin a number of other prelates He was brought to the metropolitane church where he was put in a pulpet before the bishops to be accused his weakenes partly of age ill vsage being such as it was thought he should not be able to be heard speake But when he began to speake he made the church ring sound againe to the confusion of the aduersaries and comfort of the godly And being long in his praiers sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Bishops priests called him sir Walter Mill arise and answeare to the Articles for you hold my Lord here ouer long In déede said he I haue béene ouer long one of the Popes knights for he had béene before a Papist but I am called Walter and not Sir When neither threates nor allurements could preuaile they condemned him for the article of Priestes marriages the seuen Sacraments the sacrament of the Altar pilgrimage Before sentence was pronounced Oliphant asked him wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinions and if thou wilt not I will pronounce sentence against thée I am accused of my life saide hée againe I knowe I must die once friend therfore as Christ said to Iudas doe it quickly yée shall knowe that I will not recant the truth for I am corne I am no chaffe I wil not be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but I wil abide both A notable speech of the martyr Such was his maruellous boldnesse constancie which did so moue the hearts of many that the B. steward of his regaltie prouost of the towne called Patrike Learmend refused to be his temporal Iudge to whom it appertained Also the Bishoppes Chamberlaine being therewith charged would in no wise take vpon him so vngodly an office Yea the whole town was so offended with his vniust condemnation that the bishops seruāts could not get for their money so much as one corde to tie him to the stake or Tarre barrell to burne him but were constrayned to cut the cords of their masters owne Pauilion to serue their turne So being tied to the stake hauing exhorted the people and praied fire being put vnto him he ended in the Lord with such chéerfulnes and constancie enduring his martyrdome that he was the last martyr in Scotland this was in the time of Mary Longawale Quéene regent of Scotland and Iohn Hamelton bishop of Saint Andrewes and primate of Scotland Anno 1511. Vnder William Warrham Archb. of Canturburie certaine martyrs that were omitted whiche suffered at that time with him because they are not to be forgotten are to be referred to that yéere They suffered for deniyng the Sacrament of the Altar c for auricular confession the extréeme vnction images pilgrimages prayer to saints holy bread holy water c. They denie all that they had vttered any thing against those popishe pointes yet witnesses who had partly abiured before and others against nature as the husband against the wife and children against the mother being brought forth they were condemned and put to death Their names were William Carder of Tenderden Weauer Agnes Grebill of the same towne of thréescore yéere old Robert Lawson of Halden of the age 60. Iohn Browne of Ashford Edward Walker of Maidston Cutler who all notwithstanding they promised to submitte themselues yet were they condemned The cause why the good woman so stood as she did to the deniall of those articles obiected against her was for that she neuer thought that her husband and her owne children who only were priuie of her religion would haue testified against her which when she perceiued she repented the time that euer she bare those children of her bodie So notwithstanding that she offered conformitie she was condemned and put to death Her husbandes name was Iohn Grebill her sonnes Christopher and Iohn Besides these which were put to death a number vnder Warren were forced to abiure the trueth against the reall presence confession sacrament of matrimony vnction pilgrimages Images Saintes holie water holie bread c. Also omitted before anno 1539. Iohn a Painter and Giles Germaine who were accused and condemned for heresie at London before the Bishop and other Iudges where by chaunce comming in one of the kings seruaunts named Lancelot a very tall man and séeming by his countenance and gesture to fauour the cause of the poore men was also examined and condemned with them and the next day at fiue a clocke in the morning was carried with them into Saint Giles fieldes and there burned Also about the latter end of Tonstals time bishop of London one Stile was burned in Smithfield with the Apocalips whereon he vsed to read about his necke Stile burned with the Apocalips about his necke Which booke when he saw fastened to the stake with him hée lifted vp his voice and said O blessed Apocalips how happie am I that I shall be burned with thée and so with the booke was he consumed with fire Also ouerpassed before about the second yéere of the raigne of king Henry the eight Iohn Browne of Ashford after xl daies imprisonment when the Archbishop and Doctor Fisher had burned his féete with hote coles to the stumps to make him recant On Friday before Whitsunday he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned and a yoong maide of his house espying him in the stockes told hir mistresse who ranne and sat by him also all night to whome hée gaue exhortation and declared
least he should come in danger for his sake required W. Hunter to depart from him which he did and came to Burntwood where his Father dwelt with whom he remained about the space of half a quarter of a yéere till being suspected for reading the vj. of Iohn in the chappell of Burntwood One Father Otwell a sumner and one Thomas Wood vicar of Southweild with whom also he disagréed in reasoning of points of the sacrament he was cōplained of by the vicar to iustice Browne but Hunter being afraid of the vicars threats fled Browne sent for Hūters father with the Constable threatned him punishment except he would bring vnto him his son The father to satisfie the expectation of Browne road ij or iij. daies iourneis in the high way William met with his Father who after he had with many teares declared what charge Browne had giuen him the sonne said he would go home with him to saue him harmeles whatsoeuer came of it The father cōpelled against the sonne So he was brought to iustice Browne who after he had reasoned with him out of the sixt of Iohn and could not peruert him made a letter immediatly and sent William Hunter with a Constable to the bishop of London who not able to alter Hunters minde neither by threates nor flatteries commaunded his men to put him in the stockes in his gatehouse where hée sat two dayes and nightes onely with a crust of brownebread and a cup of water After two daies the B. assaied him againe and finding him constant sent him to the conuict prison and commaundeth the kéeper to lay irons enough on him So hée continued in prison thrée quarters of a yéere in the whiche time hée had béene before the Bishop fiue times besides the time when he was condemned the ix day of February in the consistory of Paules with fiue other mo After sentence of condemnation of them all the Bishop called for William Hunter and perswaded with him saying if thou wilt yet recant I will make thée a frée man in the Citie and giue thée fortie pounds in good mony to set vp thine occupation withall or I will make thée Stewarde of my house and I will preferre thée c. Whereto after William had said he counted all wordly thinges but losse and dunge in respect of the loue of Christe with the rest hée was ledde to Newgate where they remayned aboute a moneth and afterwarde were sent downe William to Burntwood and the other to other places in the Countrie Now when William was come downe into the Countrie to Burntwood whiche was the Saturday before the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary that followed on the Munday after William remained till the Tuesday because they would not put him to death then for the holynes of the day In the meane time his father mother came and comforted him Hunters mother encourageth him to be constant and encouraged him his mother saying that shée was glad that euer shée was so happie to beare suche a sonne who coulde finde in his heart to loose his lyfe for Christes names sake Then William aunswered for my little payne whiche I shall suffer whiche is but short Christ hath promised me said he a crowne of ioy may you not be glad of that mother with other such words of ioy and comfort on both partes Thus passing away saterday Sunday and munday on Tuesday morning when it was morning the Sheriffe maister Brocket called on to set forward to the burning of William Hunter Whose sonne yet did imbrace and comfort William At the place of his martyrdom there was a Popish priest that endeuoured to peruert him at the stake and saide vnto him as thou burnest here so shalt thou burne in hell To whom William answered thou lyest false prophet away thou false prophet away His brother béeyng by saide vnto him William Hunters brother encourageth him thinke on the passion of Christ and bée not afrayde of death To whom hée aunswered I am not afrayde then lift hée vp his handes to heauen and saide Lorde Lorde Lorde receiue my spirite And casting downe his head againe into the smothering smoke hée yéelded vp his life for the trueth The eight of August Anno 1553. William Sarton William Sarton weauer of Bristow was brought before Dalbie Chancellour of Bristow and by him condemned for holding against the sacrament of the altar He was burned the 18. of September Anno 1556. At Bedaile a market towne in Yorkeshire were two men persecuted for the trueth of the Gospell in the latter dayes of Quéene Marie the one named Iohn Suell and the other Richarde Suell their imprisonment was so sore that their toes rotted off In the ende the one of them at length yeelded to heare masse and within thrée or foure dayes after his libertye hée drowned himselfe in a riuer running by Richmonde called Swaile the other endured to the ende béeyng condemned by Doctour Dakins Who after sentence giuen against the martyr came home to his house and neuer ioyed after but died Anno 1555. the xxvi of March Maister Higbed and Maister Canston Gentlemen of Essex were put to death for the testimonie of the Gospel the one at Hornden of the hill and the other at the parish of Thundrest Boner perceiuing these two Gentlemen to bée of woorshipfull estate least anie tumult shoulde thereby arise came downe himselfe accompanied with Fecknam and certaine other and laboured with faire promises and threatninges Which when they saw would not preuaile the B. carried them both with him to London and with them certaine other prisoners also which about the same time were in those quarters apprehended Not long after this these prisoners were committed to straight prison and there attempted sundry waies by the B. and his chaplains to reuoke their opinions At length when no perswasion would serue they were brought to open examination at the Consistory at Paules the 17. day of February Anno 1555. Where being demaunded whether they would recant and they denying so to do were assigned the next day to appeare againe the 18. of Februarie On which day among many other things the Bishop read vnto them seuerall Articles and gaue them respite till the next day to answere and so committed them to prison againe The articles did touch the reall presence and that the godly martyrs who were burned were heretikes with other to this effect These béeyng giuen them in writing the next daie was assigned to them to giue their answere Vpon which day béeyng the first of Marche they did exhibite their aunsweres contrarie to the determination of the Romish Churche and denying to recant they were againe dismissed and commaunded to appeare the Wednesday nexte after at twoo of the clocke at after noone there to receyue definitiue sentence The next Friday they were called for agayne and no hope being had of their recantation were againe dismissed to pryson and commaunded to appeare the nexte day in the consistorie of
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
of executiō Who considering the shortnes of time his saying was that although the day were neuer so long yet at the last it ringeth to euensong c. About ij of the clocke he was brought to the place called Romeland a gréene néere the west end of the abbey church After he had prayed at the stake he said with a chéerfull voice that although he had a sharp dinner yet he hoped to haue a ioyful supper in heauen While the reeds were set about him a priest came to perswade him to beléeue in the sacrament But Tankerfield cried vehemētly I defy the whore of Babilon fie on the abhominable idol Whereat the maior was sore offended and said though he had but one lode of fagots in the world he would geue them to the burning of him There was a certaine knight by that went vnto Tākerfielde and tooke him by the hand and said good brother be strong in Christ This he spake softly and Tankerfield said Oh sir I thanke you I am so I thank God Fire being put to him The patience of the martirs caused the people to say they had the deuil he embraced the flame and bathed his hands therin and so gaue vp his soule into the handes of Christ Whose patience was such that certaine superstitious olde women did say the deuill was in him and in all such Heretikes and therefore they could not almost féele any payne Robert Smith Robert Smith was brought to Newgate the fifth of Nouember in the first or second yere of the Q. by I. Mathew yoman of the gard by the commandement of the Counsell First he was seruant to sir Th. Smith prouost of Eaton frō whence he was preferred to a clerkship of x. l in Eaton Hée was much confirmed in the truth by the preachings readings of one M. Turner of Windsor and others Wherfore at the cōming in of Mary he was depriued of his clerkship and not long after their examinations wherein boldly and wisely he behaued himselfe in the cause of Christ he was condemned in the consistorie the xij of Iuly and from thence was had to Newgate with other of the brethren He wrote diuerse letters in prison to sundry fréends Hée suffered at Vxbridge the viij of August Being at the stake he comforted the people willing them to thinke well of his cause and not to doubt but his body dying in that quarrell should rise againe to life And said he I doubt not but God will shewe you some tooken therof At length he being well nigh halfe burnt and blacke with fire The martyr giueth a signe clustered together as in a lumpe like a blacke cole all men thinking him for dead suddainly rose vpright before the people lifting vp the stumpes of his armes and clapping the same together and so hanging ouer the fire slept in the Lord. About this time died Stephen Harwood Stephen Harwood at Stratford Thomas Fust Thomas Fust at Ware both for the testimonie of Iesus Also about the end of August William Haile Williā Haile was burned at Barnet and constantly suffered for the truth George King Thomas Lewes and Iohn Wade sickened in Lollardes tower died and were cast into the fieldes and buried in the night by the brethren So also William Andrew died in pryson who was brought to Newgate Anno 1555 by Ihon Motham Cōstable of Maulden in Essex The principall promoter of him was the Lord Rich. The xxxj of August suffered Robert Samuell preacher minister at Barfold in Suffolke his chéefe persecutor was M. Foster a iustice of Cobdock a litle from Ipswich where he caused M. Samuell to be apprehēded put in the goale of Ipswich frō whence being remoued to Norwich he fell into the cruell hands of the bishop Doctor Hopton Dunnings his chancellour who first caused him to be chained bolt vpright to a great post in such sort that standing onely on tiptoe hée was faine to stay vp the whole waight of his bodie besides he so pined him with hunger thirst his allowance being only two or thrée mouthfuls of bread and thrée sponefuls of water for his dayly sustenance that his body was so dried vp that he could not make one drop of vrine to relieue his thirst He had diuerse visions during the time of his imprisonment Samuell hath a vision which he for modesties sake concealed Sauing this one he declared that after he had béene pined iij. daies he fell in a sléepe or slumber one clad all in white séemed to stand before him which ministred vnto him comfort in these wordes Samuell Samuell be of good chéere and take a good hart vnto thée for after this day shalt thou neuer hunger nor thirst Which came so to passe accordingly As hée came to the fire a certaine mayde came vnto him and kissed him her name was Rose Nottingham Rose Nottingham Next after the suffering of Robert Samuell Robert Samuell about the beginning of September was burned Williā Allen W. Allen. in Walsingham laboring man At his suffering such was his credite among the Iustices by reason of his well tried conuersation among them that he was suffered to go vntied to his suffering and there with patience and constancie gaue witnes to the truth by shedding of his bloud The same yéere in the moneth of Septēber Roger Coo Roger Coo. of Melford in Suffolke a sheareman and an aged father after sundry conflicts with his aduersaries was committed to the fire at Yexford in the countie of Suffolke Hée was condemned the xij of August by the bishop of Norwich With the aforesaid was also condemned Thomas Cobbe Tho. Cobbe of Hauerhill butcher and was burned in the towne of Tetford in the moneth of September About the vj. of September Robert Catmer of Hith Robert Streater of Hith Anthony Burward of Calete George Brodbridge of Bromfield Iames Tutley of Brēchley were condemned by Thornton S. of Douer About the mids of Septemb Thomas Hayword Th. Hayword Iohn Gareway Ioh. Gareway suffered at the towne of Lichfield for the testimonie of the trueth About this time there was a godly gentleman M. Iohn Glouer M. Ioh. Glouer in the dioces of Lichfield and Couentry whom the B. by his letters charged the maior of Couentry to apprehend But so soon as he had receiued the letters he sent a priuie watchword to Iohn to escape and shift for himselfe who with his brother William was not so soon departed out of his house but that yet in the sight of them the Sheriffe and other searchers came in to take him But when Iohn could not be found one of the officers going into an vpper chamber foūd there Robert the other brother a maister of art in Cābridge lying sicke of a long disease which was by him incontinent brought before the sheriffe by whom he was committed to the gaole forthwith Not being called to his answere he was moued to
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
imprisoned a yéere and a halfe in the kings bench and afterwarde 8. wéekes in the Bishops colehouse lacking one day His first apprehension was for reprouing a Preacher in the pulpit in the Parish of Wambleton where he dwelt For which hée was twise before the Bishoppe of Chichester and fiue times before the Commissioners and then sent to Londons Cole-house and manie times called before him He was sixe times examined in the Colehouse and 26. times before so that his examinations in all were 32. The second time he was found out and taken by means of his father and brother Father against the sonne who had as much goodes of his in their handes as were well woorth sixe and fiftie pounds a yéere a Lordship and an honor and halfe a Lordshippe which hée had deliuered vnto their handes to pay his debtes and the rest to remaine to his wife and children which was two hundred pounds better then the debt came to The same day that Philpot was burned which was the 18. of December hée with foure more were deliuered out of Boners hands with very good conditions in such sort as Woodman said of him that his heart was so drunken with that blood of Philpot Boner drunke with the blood of Philpot. that he thought he could not tell what he did For two daies before said he he promised them they should be condemned that same day they were deliuered Yet the morning after they were deliuered hée sought earnestly for some of them again waxing dry after his great drunkennes Before his second apprehension he continued in a Wood vnder a towre 6. or 7. wéekes with his Bible penne and ynke and other necessaries his wife bringing him meate daily Anno 1557. the 14. of April he was brought before the Bishop of Chichester Doct. Story and Doct. Cooke of whō after examination of diuers pointes as of marriage of priests concerning the assurance of hauing the spirit of God which the Papists account arrogancie to affirme and concerning the 7. sacraments he was had to the marshalsea and there remained till the 27. of Aprill At which time he appeared againe before Chichester two of his Chaplains and Doctor Story of whom he was examined of the seuen Sacraments and not agréeing with them therein hée was commaunded againe to the marshalsea no man to speake with him The 12. of May he was examined again of Doct. Langdall parson of Buxted in Sussex and Chaplaine to my Lorde Mountague and maister Iames Gage at my Lord Mountagues house in Southwarke where he set Langedall vp in diuers pointes of religion as of the force of Baptisme whether it bée of necessitie of saluation to all and of the state of infants that die without it touching the Sacrament of the Altar c. and so was had againe to prison till the fiue and twentie of May. On which day hée was examined agayne of Winchester Rochester and a certaine Doctor with diuers other Priestes and Gentlemen sitting in Saint Georges Church in Southwarke of whom béeing wrangled with touching Priestes mariages and his reproouing of a reuolting Preacher hée was dismissed againe to the marshalsea till the fifteene of Iune At which day he appeared before Winchester the Archdeacon of Canterbury Doctor Langdall c. and woulde not answere nor sweare before Winchester because hée was not his ordinarie Who when he threatned him made answere I looke for no helpe of men God is on my side I praise him therefore I will not care who bée against mée neyther doe I. So was hée had to the marshalsea againe where hee remayned till the sixtéenth of Iuly on which day he was condemned by Winchester chiefly for the poynt of the Sacrament of the Altar and so was burned with nine other which were taken not past two or thrée dayes before their iudgement and burned before the writ could come downe Quicke dispatch Such quicke dispatch they made They suffered the two and twentith day of Iune at Lewes About the same tyme one Ambrose died in Maidstone prison who else should haue béene burned in the quarrell of Christ About the same time was one Richard Lush condemned of Cutbert Bourne B. of Bath and Welles and giuen to the secular power for the sinceritie of the Gospell whether he were burned or not it is vncertaine In the moneth of Iuly next ensued the martyrdome of Simon Miller of Linne and Elizabeth Cooper Simon Miller Simon Miller Eliza. Cooper being at Norwich and séeing the people comming from their Popish seruice asked them where hée might haue the Communion At which words a Papist said he would bring him where hée should not misse and brought him to the Chauncellour of Norwich who as hee was examining him spied his confession which hee had put into his shoe which did appeare and asked if he would stand to the same Which when he sayd he constantly would do he was committed to a kéeper in the Bishops house from whence on what condition it is vncertaine he was dismissed and went home to his house at Linne Where when hee had set all things in order he returned againe to his Prison in the Bishops house and there continued constant in the profession of the trueth till by the B. and his Chancellour he was condemned to death Elizabeth Cooper was a Pewterers wife dwelling in Saint Andrewes parish in Norwich where before she had recanted and being vnquiet in mind and greatly troubled in conscience for the same at the last she came into the church the people being at their Superstitious Seruice and before them all bewailed her fall Elizab. Cooper repenteth of her recantation and greatly repented of that she had done For which she was taken by M. Sutterton the Shiriffe burned with Simon Miller When the fire came vnto her shee a litle shronke thereat crying ah a. Which when Simon Miller heard he put his hand behinde towards her and willed her to be strong and of good cheare we shall haue a ioyfull and swéet supper Whereby she was strengthened still and quietly ended her combate with victorie Of those 22. which were before mentioned that were then deliuered by the meanes of the Cardinall Poole was William Moūt of much Bentley in Essex husbandmā W. Mount Alice his wife Rose Allen. with Alice his wife and Rose Allen maid the daughter of the said Allice Mount They comming home againe refrayned from their parish Church and frequented the company of good men Wherefore a wicked priest of the towne Syr Thomas Tye who by reason he himselfe had béen a professor knew all their haunt complained of them to the Lorde Darcie and wrote also against them to Boner So the 7 day of March at two of the clock in the morning one maister Edmund Tyrrel who came of the Tyrrels that murdered K. Edward the 5. and his brother tooke with him the Baylieffe of the hundred called William Samuel dwelling in Colchester and the two Constables of
father is an heretike No said the boy my Father is no heretike but you are an heretike For you haue Balaams marke With that the Priest tooke the child and scourged him so sore that he was al on a gore bloud and so caused Clunie to carrie him to his Father naked the Sumner hauing his coate vpon his arme At his comming to his Father the childe fell downe vpon his knées and asked him blessing And being demaunded by his Father who had vsed him so he made answere that a Priest with Balaams mark Balaams marke had done it And with that Clunie with violence pulled him from his father and kept him thrée dayes after in the Bishoppes house Who to salue vp ths matter deliuered the father and the childe Crueltie of the Balamites But the childe died within xiiij dayes after Anno 1560. Nicholas Burton 1560. N. Burton burned in Ciuil a Marchant of London dwelling sometimes in the Parish of little Saint Bartholmewes was burned in the Citie of Ciuill in Spaine Who died so chearefullie and with such patience that the Tormentors and enemies said that the deuill had his soule before he came to the fire and therefore said they his sences of féeling were past him After his death another marchant of Bristow for whom Burton was Factor sent his Atturney into Spaine called Iohn Fronton a Citizen of Bristow to claime those goods which belonged to the other Marchant Against whō after imprisonment because he could not say his Aue Maria after the Romish fashion Aue Maria after the Romish fashion they gaue sentence that he shoulde lose all the goods he sued for though they were not his owne and besides suffer a yeares imprisonment At what time Burton suffered which was anno 1560. was also martired another Englishman with thirtéen mo one of them being a Nunne and another a Frier both constant in the Lord. The ij day of Nouember was burned Iohn Baker and William Burgate both Englishmen apprehended in Calis and burned in Ciuil Anno Domini one thousande fiue hundred and thréescore Marke Burges M. Burges an Englishman Master of an English Ship called the Minion was burned in Lishborne a citie in Portugall and Williā Hooke W. Hooke of the age of xvi yeres stoned to death by certaine young men of Ciuill for the confession of his faith As the most were burned and tormented to death so some were torne with scourging as Richard Wylmot and Thomas Fairefaxe both whipped in Drapers hall through the crueltie of Brookes then Master of the Companie That Wylmot could not lie in his bed vi nights after and neither of them enioyed health after They were thus scourged for saying they were sory for D. Cromes recantation After these two was one Green scourged because he had a booke called Antichrist and woulde not bewraye more matter to their minde He was accused by his Master called Iohn Waylande a Printer and brought before Doctor Storie by whom after long stocking and euill vsage in prisō he was adiudged to be whipped Which was performed vpon him in the presence of Doctor Storie in Christes Hospitall Also Steeuen Cotton burned as before at Brainforde was twise beaten by Boner Likewise was Iames Harris of Byllerica in Essex scourged by Boner in his garden So likewise Robert Williams endured the same torment by the bloudy Bishop With these also is to be numbred a poore Beggar which was whihped at Salisburie after hee had béene put into a Dungeon because he would not receiue the Sacrament at Easter in the towne of Colingborowe As some were tried by burning racking and scourging so vpon other some the Lorde did lay a lighter hande of imprisonment as vpon William Liuing and his wife in the citie of London Iohn Lythall Elizabeth Yong and William Wats of Tunbridge who fled away his kéepers beyng tippled and fallen asléepe Alexander Winshurst a priest that escaped by negligence of Cluny who left none at home to kéepe him fast in whose house he was prisoner Bosomes wife the Lady Kneuet of Northfolke towards an hundred yéeres old the Lady Vane who with much trouble yet passed these terrible daies with life In the time of King Henry the eight Anno 1546. there was one Iohn Dauis a childe of twelue yéeres old Iohn Dauis a child of twelue yeeres old dwelling with one Maister Iohnson Apothecarie in Worcester who beyng complained of by his Mistris the wife of Maister Iohnson for that he had written something against the six Articles and had the Ballad called Come downe for all your shauen Crowne After long imprisonment with bolts of irons on his legges was arraigned being holdē vp at the barre in mens armes before the iudges who were Portman and Meruen and by the death of king Henry was deliuered else had hée béene burned for that offence He endured the prison from the fouretéenth of August till within seuen daies of Easter Likewise Mistris Roberts by Gods prouidence escaped daunger dwelling in Hawkhurst in Sussex Mistris Anne Lucie of Nottingham c. Likewise a congregation at Stoke in Suffolke was deliuered by Gods mercifull prouidence but especially that of London was diuerse times in perill and alwayes was preserued of God in which congregation were sometimes fortie The congregation in Lōdon sometimes an hundreth sometimes two hundreth sometimes mo sometimes lesse About the latter end of Quéene Mary it greatly increased From the first beginning which was about the first entrie of Quéene Maries raigne they had diuerse ministers First Maister Scamler then Thomas Foule The ministers of the congregation in London after him Maister Rough then Maister Augustine Benher and last Maister Bentham who likewise was by Gods prouidence wonderfully preserued Likewise at Calis few there were of the professors of the gospell that miscaried especially Iohn Thorpe and his wife were mercifully preserued and succored of straungers To these are to be added Edward Benet Ieffery Hurst in the towne of Shakerley in Lankeshire who were saued by the death of Quéene Mary William Wood of Kent of the parish of Strowd who was deliuered by the disagréement of Kennall and Chadsey two popish Doctors that examined him as Paule was deliuered by the contention of the Phariseis and Saduces Likewise was Symon Greeuens mercifully deliuered beyng at the assembly held at Spire and complained of to the king by Faber the B. of Vienna whom he had gently reprooued for maintaining certaine errours in his Sermon which he had there preached So likewise the Lady Katherine dutches of Suffolke hardly escaped and passed the seas into Germany where she suffered the afflictions of a straunger in another land Also Th. Sprat and William Porredge escaped very narrowly persecution by M. Brent Iustice in Kent and the two Blachendines Iohn Cornet prentise with a minstrell was onely whipped by the commaundement of the Earle of Oxford and banished the towne of Roughedge So likewise Thomas Brice professor of the gospell hardly
of Corpus Christi day béeing of the age of threescore yeeres and aboue About the same time diuerse others suffered trouble for the doctrine of the trueth as vnder Doctour London Maistresse Alice Dolie béeing accused of her mayde Elizabeth Wighthill for holding against Purgatorie agaynst Images for the articles of the Créede in English this was about 1520. Anno 1525. Frier Hackman for holding frée saluation by grace Anno 1525 Also Robert West priest of S. Andrewe vnder shaft for commending Martin Luther c. for which he was abiured ibid. Father wife and sisters against the Christians Anno 1530. Iohn Ribourne was accused by both his sisters his owne wife and of his owne father who were compelled by Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne to depose against him concerning meates Purgatorie pilgrimage prayer in the English tongue c. Iohn Eaton and Cecill his wife of the parish of Spure were detected by Richarde Ryburne for holding downe their heades at the sacring time and when the belles did ring at the feast of exaltation of the holie crosse betweene Mattines and Euensong for saying What a clampering of belles is here Tho. Lounde Thomas Lounde priest who had beene with Luther two yeeres béeing afterwarde cast in the Fleete at London was a great instructer of Iohn Ribourne afore mentioned At the same time vnder Iohn Longland Bishoppe of Lincolne Iohn Simonds was molested for denying Purgatorie for denying singlenes of priestes it was also testified against him that he conuerted eight priests had holpen two or thrée friers out of their orders Vnder the same Bishop about that time Abiured were these persons following examined excommunicated and abiured for being together in Iohn Taylors house of Hichenden and there hearing Nicholas Fielde of London to reade a parcell of Scripture in Englishe to them and expounde to them many thinges against images offerings prayer in the Latine tongue against the Sacraments of the Altar purgatorie c. Their names were these William Wingraue Thomas Haukes of Hichenden Robert Hawes of West Wickam Iohn Taylor Iohn Hawkes Thomas Herne of Colshill Nicholas Fielde Richard Deane Thomas Clarke the yonger William Hawkes of Chesham Vnder Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne Simon Wisdome of Burford was molested for the Gospell the Psalter the summe of holie Scripture in English so Iames Alger or Aliger because he sayde euerie Christian man liuing after the lawes of God is a Priest hee woulde no dole for his soule and denyed Purgatorie c. He had not of long time beene confessed and for denying the Priestes power of absolution with the other before was compelled to seeke reconcilement in the Church and to abiure the trueth Anno 1526. Pope Clement the seuenth absolueth the othe made of the French king to the Emperour and ioyneth together a confederacie of the Venetians and other Princes against the Emperour whereof the Duke of Burbone and other of the Emperours Captaynes hauing intelligence gathered their armies together and after muche fighting and bloudshed about Millan Hawde and Cremona at length they approched and bent their siege against Rome and after thrée sharpe assaults obtained the Cittie with the whole spoyle thereof Rome spoiled and the Pope taken prisoner Where he besieged the foresaied Pope with his Cardinals in the mount of Adrian and tooke him prisoner Anno 1527. In the Castell of saint Angell at which tyme Rome suffered more spoyle then of the Goathes and Vandalles the Souldiours that dayly laie at the siege of the Castell made iestes of the Pope Rimes made of the Pope sometime they had one riding like the Pope with a whore behinde him sometimes hée blessed and sometime he cursed and sometime they would with one voice call him Antechrist c. When the Cardinall Wolsey here in England heard how his father of Rome was taken prysoner he laboured to the Kinge to fight against the Emperour for the deliuerie of the Pope whiche the Kinge refused by his owne person or his people to doe but yéelded to the Cardinall of his treasure to take what himselfe thought conuenient who therevpon made out of the Kinges treasure twelue score thousand pounds 220000. li. out of the kings tresure to fight against the Emperour and caried it ouer the sea with him whiche when he came to the kinges court at Amiens he conuerted to the hiring of Souldiours and furnishing out the French kinges armie appointing also certaine Englishe Captaines in the king of Englands name to goe agaynst the Emperour to restore the Pope all whiche armie was paide with the kinge of Englandes mony The cause why the Cardinall bare the Emperour this malice after some wryters appeareth to be this At what tyme as Pope Clement was taken prysoner the Cardinall wrote vnto the Emperour that hée shoulde make him Pope but when he had receiued an aunswere that pleased him not he waxed furious madde and wrote manie menacing letters vnto the Emperour that if hee would not make him Pope hee woulde make suche a ruffeling betweene Christian princes as was not this hundred yéeres before Proude Prelats yea though it should cost the whole Realme of England Whose ambitious endeuour the king himselfe did also fauour as it appeareth by instructions giuen of the King to his Ambassadours at Rome to that effect that Wolsey might be placed in the papacie after the death of Pope Clement to the ende hée might compasse his cause of diuorce To the end the king might compasse his cause of diuorce While the Ambassadours were trauelling at Rome for the aduauncement of the Cardinall to bee Pope if Clement were dead hee played héere the Persecutour at home First hée caused Fryer Barnes an Augustine Fryer to beare a fagotte for certaine pointes which hée called heresie hée caused two marchauntes of the Still yeard to beare fagottes for eating fleshe on Friday This was about Anno 1526. Anno 1528. The Cardinall caused Arthur Bilney Geffery Lound and Garret to be abiured for speaking against the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride Anno 1529. The Cardinall was cast in a Premunire 1529 The proude Cardinal cast in a Premunire and execution performed vppon him hee forfeited all his Landes Tenementes goodes and cattell and should haue beene put out of the Kinges protection The K. gracious to the Cardinall but the king sent him a sufficient protection and of his gentlenesse lefte to him the Bishoprickes of Yorke and Winchester and gaue vnto him plate and stuffe conuenient for his degree Anno 1530. 1530. A Parliament In the moneth of Nouember was summoned a generall parliament to be holden at Westminster in which Syr Thomas Moore succeedeth in the Lorde Chauncelourship vnto the Cardinal The Commons in this Parliament propounded their griefes against the spiritualtie Griefe of the communalty against the spiritualtie which were especially sixe First the excessiue fynes that the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Testaments as a thousande markes
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
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