proue that which I haue sayd by good authoritie I will be content to be counted an hereticke and an ignoraunt person and further what you please Story Let vs heare what wise authoritie thou canst bring in Phil. It is the saying of Christe in S. Iohn Verbum quod locutus sum iudicabit in nouissimo die The word which I haue spoken sayth Christ shall iudge in the last day If the worde shal iudge in the last day much more it ought to iudge our doings now And I am sure I haue my iudge on my side who shall absolue and iustifie me in an other world How soeuer now it shall please you by authoritie vnrighteously to iudge of me and others sure I am in an other world to iudge you Story What you purpose to be a stincking Martyr to sit in iudgement with Christ at the last day to iudge the 12. tribes of Israell Phil. Yea sir I doubte not thereof hauing the promise of Christ If I dye for righteousnes sake which you haue begon to persecute in me Story I told you it is but vayne to argue with this hereticke he is drowned in his heresies without all learning Phil. Syr I haue brought you for that I haue sayd good authoritie out of Gods booke to the whiche you answere nothing but go about still to geue rayling iudgement aagaynst me without any cause Story I will come to you by and by When as the Iudge in Westminster hall geueth sentence doth the worde geue sentence or the Iudge tell me Phil. Ciuill matters be subiect to Ciuell men they haue authoritie by the worde to bee iudge of them But the word of God is not subiect to mans iudgemeÌ„t but ought to iudge all the wisedome thoughtes and doynges of men and therefore your comparison disproueth nothing that I haue sayd neither answereth any whit therto Story Wilt thou not allow the interpretation of the church vpon the scriptures Phil. Yes if it be according to the word of the true church and this I say to you as I haue sayd heretofore that if yee can proue the church of Rome wherof ye are to be the true Catholicke Church which I ought to follow I wil be as ready to yeld therto as long as it can be so proued as you may desire me Story What a fellow is this He will beleeue nothing but what he list himselfe Are we not in possessioÌ„ of the church Haue not our forefathers these many hundred yeares takeÌ„ this church for the catholicke church wherof we are now And if we had none other proofe but this it were sufficieÌ„t for prescription of time maketh a good title in the law Philpot. You doe well mayster Doctour to alledge prescription of many yeares for it is all that you haue to shew for your selues But you must vnderstand Ex diuinis nulla occurrit praescriptio that prescription hath no place in matters belonging to God as I am abâ—e to shewe by the testimony of many Doctours Story Well sir you are like to go after your fathers Latimer the Sophister and Ridley who had nothing to alledge for hymselfe but that hee had learned his heresie of Cranmer Where I came to him with a poore Bacheler of Arte he trembleÌ„d as though hee had had the palsey as these heretickes haue alwayes some token of feare whereby a man may know them as you may see this mans eies do tremble in his head But I dispatched them and I tell thee that there hath bene yet neuer a one burnte but I haue spoken with him haue bene a cause of his dispatch Phil. You haue the more to aunswere for Mayster Doctor as you shall feele in an other world how much soeuer you do now triumph of your proceedinges Story I tell thee I will neuer be confessed therof And because I cannot now tary to speake with my Lord I pray one of you tell my Lord that my comming was to signifie to his Lordship that he must out of hand rid this hereticke away And going away he sayd vnto me I certifie thee that thou mayst thanke none other man but me Phil. I thanke you therfore with all mine hart and God forgeue it you Story What doest thou thanke me if I had thee in my study halfe an houre I thinke I should make you sing an other song Phil. No maister Doctour I stand vpon to sure a ground to be ouerthrowne by you now And thus they departed al away from me one after an other vntil I was left al alone And afterwards with my keeper going to my Cole-house as I went I met with my Lord of London who spake vnto me geÌ„tly as he hath hetherto in words saying London Philpot if there be any pleasure I may shewe you in my house I pray you require it and you shall haue it Philpot. My Lord the pleasure that I will require of your Lordship is to hasten my iudgement which is committed vnto you so dispatche me forth of this miserable world vnto my eternall rest And for all this fayre speache I can not attain hetherto this fortnight space neither fire nor caÌ„dle neither yet good lodging But it is good for a man to be brought low in this world to be counted amongst the vilest that hee may in time of rewarde receiue exaltation glory Therfore praised be God that hath humbled me geuen me grace with gladnes to be content there withall Let all that loue the truth say Amen Thus endeth the fift Tragedy * The sixt examination of Iohn Philpot had before the right honourable Lordes Lorde Chamberlayne to the kinges Maiesty the Vicount Herford commonly called Lord Ferrers the Lord Rich the Lord S. Iohns the Lord Winsor the Lord Shandoys Sir Ioh. Bridges Lieutenant of the Tower and two other moe whose names I know not with the B. of London and Doctour Chadsey the sixt day of Nouember An. 1555. PHilpot Before that I was called afore the Lordes and whiles they were in sitting downe the Byshop of LoÌ„don came aside to me and whispered in myne eare willing me to vse my selfe before the Lordes of the queenes maiesties Councell prudently and to take heede what I sayd thus he pretendeth to geue me counsaile because he wished me to do well as I might now do if I list And after the Lordes other worshipfull gentlemen of the queenes Maiesties seruauntes were set my Lorde of London placed himselfe at the end of the table called me to hym by the Lords I was placed at the vpper end agaynst him where I kneeling downe the Lordes commaunded me to stande vp and after in this manner the Byshop began to speake London M. Philpot I haue heretofore both priuately my selfe and openly before the Lordes of the Clergy mo times then once caused you to bee talked withall to reforme you of your errours but I haue not found you yet so
sayde by the fayth I owe to God I take this man here my L. of Canterbury to bee of all other a most faythfull subiect vnto vs and one to whom we are much beholding geuyng him great commendations otherwise And with that one or two of the chiefest of the Counsaile makyng their excuse declared that in requesting his induraunce it was rather ment for hys triall and his purgation agaynst the common fame and slaunder of the world then for any malice conceyued agaynst hym Well well my Lordes quoth the kyng take hym and well vse hym as he is worthy to be and make no more adoe And with that euery man caught hym by the hand and made fayre weather of altogethers which might easily bee done with that man And it was much to be meruailed that they would go so far with hym thus to seeke his vndoyng this well vnderstandyng before that the kyng most entirely loued him and always would stand in hys defence whosoeuer spake against hym as many other tymes the Kynges pacience was by sinister informations agaynst hym tried In so much that the Lorde Cromwell was euermore woont to say vnto hym My Lord of Caunterbury you are most happy of all men for you may doe and speake what you list and say what all men can agaynst you the kyng wyll neuer beleeue one worde to your detriment or hinderance I am sure I take more paynes then all the counsaile doth and spend more largely in the Kings affayres as well beyond the seas as on this side yea I assure you euen very spies in other forreine Realmes and at Rome else where costeth me aboue one 1000. markes a yeare and doe what I can to bryng matters to knowledge for the commoditie of the King and the Realme I am euery day chidden and many false tales now and then beleeued agaynst me and therefore you are most happy for in no poynt can you be discredited with the kyng To this the Archbishop agayne aunsweryng If the kyngs Maiestie were not good to me that way I were not able to stande and endure one whole weeke but your wisedome and pollicy is such that you are able to shift well enough for your selfe Now when the kyngs highnes had thus benignly mercifully dispatched the sayd Archbishop from this sore accusation by the Counsaile layd agaynst hym all wise mē would haue thought that it had bene meere follye afterwards to haue attēpted any matter agaynst hym but yet looke where malice raigneth there neither reason nor honesty can take place Such therfore as had conceiued deep rancor and displeasure agaynst hym ceased not to persecute hym by all possible meanes Then brought they against him a new kynde of accusation and caused sir Iohn Gostwike knight a man of a contrary religion to accuse the Archb. openly in the Parliament house laying to hys charge his sermons preched at Sandwich his Lectures red at Canterbury wherein should be conteined manifest heresies agaynst the Sacrament of the aultar c. Whiche accusation came to the kyngs eare Why quoth the kyng where dwelleth Gostwike As I take it eyther in Bedfordshire or Buckinghamshire and hath he so opē an eare that he can heare my L. of Cant. preachyng out of Kent This is very like sayde the kyng If hee had bene a Kentishman there had bene some thyng worthy of consideration but as for Gostwike I know him well enough and what good religion he is of Go to hym and tell hym sayd the king to one of his priuy chamber if he go not to my L. of Cant. and so reconcile hymselfe to hym that he may become hys good Lord I will pull the Goslings fethers so that hereafter he shall haue little lust to slaunder the Metropolitane or any other learned man When sir I. Gostwike heard these words it was no neede to bid hym hast hymselfe to Lambheth vnto the Metropolitane makyng to hym as many friends as possible he myght When hee came to the Archb. he was fayne to disclose vnto hym by what meanes he was procured to doe that he did requestyng hys clemency to be his good lord or els he tooke him selfe vtterly vndone beyng so in the kyngs indignation as he vnderstood he was by that afore declared which sute was soone wonne at hys hand and so the Archb. castyng into the satchell behynd him all those sir Iohn Gostwikes ingratitudes went to the king and wan to sir Iohn hys princes fauour agayne And thus the kyng made a short end of this accusation Well here you may perceyue that malicious inuention went not the wisest way to worke to procure a stranger dwellyng a farre of to accuse the Archbishoppe of hys doctrine preached in his Diocesse and therfore hath blind malice learned some more wisedome nowe to accuse the Archbishop in such sort as he shall neuer be able to auoyd it And therfore it was procured by hys ancient enemies that not onely the Prebendaries of his Cathedral Church in Caunterbury but also the moste famous Iustices of Peace in the Shire should accuse hym and Article against hym which in very deed was most substantially brought to passe and the Articles both well written and subscribed were deliuered to the kyngs highnesse as a thyng of such effect that there must needes follow to the said Archbishop both indignation of the prince and condigne punishment for hys grieuous offence committed by him and his chaplaines in preachyng such erroneous doctrine as they did within his Diocesse of Cant. whereof they beyng such witnesse of credite no man had cause to doubt of their circumspect doyngs This accusation articularly sent out was deliuered to the Kyng by some of the Counsailes meanes When the kyng had perused the booke he wrapt it vp and put it into hys sleeue and findyng occasion to solace hymselfe vpon the Thames came with hys Barge furnished with hys Musitions a long by Lambeth bridge towards Chelsey The noyse of the Musitions prouoked the Archb. to resort to the bridge to do his duety and to salute hys prince Whome when the kyng had perceyued to stand at the bridge eftsoones he commaunded the Watermen to draw towards the shore and so came straite to the Bridge Ah my Chaplaine sayd the kyng to the Archb. Come into the barge to me The Archb. declared to his highnes that he would take his owne barge and waite vppon hys maiestie No sayd the kyng you must come into my barge for I haue to talke with you When the kyng the Archbishop all alone in the barge were set together sayde the kyng to the Archb. I haue newes out of Kent for you my Lord. The Archb. answered Good I hope if it please your highnes Marry sayd the king they be so good that I now know the greatest heretike in Kent and with that pulled out of hys sleeue the booke of Articles agaynst both the said Archb. and his preachers and gaue
and forgeue them Well sayde the gentle Archbishop God make you both good men I neuer deserued this at your hands but aske God forgeuenesse agaynst whom you haue highly offended If suche men as you are not to be trusted what should I doe alyue I perceyue now that there is no fidelitie or truth amongest men I am brought to this point now that I feare my left hand will accuse my right hand I neede not much meruaile hereat for our Sauior Christ truly prophesied of such a world to come in the latter dais I beseech him of his great mercy to finish that time shortly and so departyng he dismissed them both with gentle and comfortable wordes in such sort that neuer after appeared in hys countenaunce or wordes any remembrance thereof Nowe when all those letters and accusations were found they were put into a chest the kings Maiesty minding to haue perused some of them and to haue partly punished the principals of it The chest and writynges were brought to Lambeth At what tyme began the Parliamēt Lord what ado there was to procure the kyng a subsidie to the intent that thereupon might ensue a pardon which in deed followed and so nothyng was done other then their falsshood known This was the last push of the pike that was inferred agaynst the sayd Archb. in king Henry the 8. his dayes for neuer after durst any man moue matter agaynst hym in hys tyme. And thus haue ye both the working and disclosing of this popish conspiracy against this worthy Archbishop Martyr of Christ Thomas Cranmer In the which conspiracie for so much as complaint was also made vnto the kyng of his chaplaines and good preachers in Kent it shal not be out of the story somethyng likewyse to touch thereof especially of Richard Turner then preacher the same time in this Archbishops Diocesse and Curate to maister Morice the Archbishops Secretary in the towne of Chartham by whose diligent preaching a great part of this hartburning of the Papists toke his first kindling against the Archbishop Touching the description of which storie because by me nothing shal be said either more or lesse then is the truth ye shall heare the very certeinty thereof truely compiled in a letter sent the same time to Doct. Buttes and Sir Anth. Deny to be shewed vnto the kyng and so it was written by the foresaid M. Moryce Secretary then to the Archbishop farmour of the same benefice of Chartham and patrone to M. Turner there minister and Preacher aforesaid ¶ A Letter or Apologie of M. Morice sent to Sir Will. Buttes and Sir Anthony Denny defending the cause of M. Richard Turner preacher agaynst the Papistes THe letter first beginnyng in these wordes I am certain right worshipfull that it is not vnknown to your discrete wisdoms c. And after a few lynes commyng to the matter thus the said letter proceedeth As your worships wel know It was my chance to be broght vp vnder my L. of Caunterbury my maister in writyng of the ecclesiasticall affaires of this Realme as well touchyng reformation of corrupt religion as concernyng the aduauncement of that pure and sincere religion receyued by the doctrine of the Gospel which I take to be so substantially handled and builded vpon the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that hell gates shal neuer preuaile agaynst it The consideration whereof compelled me being a Farmer of the personage of Chartham in Kent to retaine with me one named M Richard Turner a man not onely learned in the scriptures of God but also in conuersation of lyfe towards the world irreprehensible whome for discharging of my conscience I placed at Chartham aforesayd to be Curate there This mā because he was a stranger in the countrey there and so thereby voyd of grudge or displeasure of any old rancor in the country I thought it had bene a meane to haue gotten hym the better credite in his doctrine but where malice once taketh fire agaynst truth no pollicie I see is able to quench it Well this man as hee knew what appertained vnto his office so he spared not weekely both Sundayes and holydayes to open the Gospell and Epistle vnto his audience after such a sort when occasion serued that as well by his vehement inueying against the bishop of Romes vsurped power and authoritie as in the earnest settyng forth and aduauncing of the kyngs Maiesties supremacie innumerable of the people of the countrey resortyng vnto his sermons changed their opinions and fauoured effectually the religion receyued The confluence of the people so daily encreased that the church beyng a faire ample and large church was not now and then able to receyue the number The fame of this new instruction of the people was so blasted abroade that the popishe priestes were wonderfully amased and displeased to see their Pope so to bee defaced their prince so highly aduanced Now thought they it is high tyme for vs to worke or els all will here be vtterly lost by this mans preaching Some thē went with capons some with hennes some with chickens some with one thyng some with another vnto the Iustices such as then fauoured their cause and faction and such as are no small fooles as sir Iohn Baker sir Christofer Hales sir Tho. Moyle Knightes with other Iustices The Prebendaries of Christes Church in Cāterbury were made priuy hereof geuyng their succour and ayd thereunto So that in conclusion poore Turner and other preachers were grieuously complained of vnto the Kynges maiestie Whereupon my Lord of Caunterbury and certaine other commissioners were appoynted at Lambheth to sit vppon the examination of these seditious preachers Howbeit before Turner went vp to hys examination I obtayned of sir Thomas Moyle that he in Easter weeke was content to heare Turner preache a rehearsall Sermon in hys parish Church at Westwell of all the doctrine of hys Sermons preached at hys Cure in Charteham whiche hee moste gently grauntyng heard Turner both before noone and after noone on the Wednesday in Easter weeke laste past and as it seemed tooke all thynges in good part remittyng Turner home to his sayd Cure with gentle and fauourable wordes I supposed by this meanes to haue stayed Maister Turner at home from further examination hopyng that sir Thomas Moyle would haue aunswered for hym at Lambheth before the Commissioners Notwithstandyng after Maister Moyles commyng to London suche information was layed in agaynst Turner that he was sent for to make aunswere hymselfe before the sayd Commissioners and there appearyng before them he made such an honest perfect and learned aunswere vnto the Articles obiected that he was with a good exhortation discharged home agayne without anye manner of recantation or other Iniunction Now when the Pope catholicke Clergy of Kent vnderstoode of his commyng home without controllement so that hee preached as freely as he did before agaynst their blynde and dumme ceremonies straightway by
and scholemaster sometimes to king Edwarde The worthinesse of which man deserueth much to be sayd but his fall woulde rather be couered in silence and obliuion Onely to note a woorde or two of a few things to the present storye moste principally appertaining it shall suffice First M. Cheeke being in the countrey of Germanie out of all danger of persecution with many moe of his owne countreymen and acquaintance was not onely in safetie but also with reputation accordingly esteemed among the Germaines and also well placed in the Citie of Strausbourgh Where if he had contented himself to haue remained rather geuing place to time then to presume vppon aduentures peraduenture it had bene better wyth hym But what fatall instigatiō wrought in his mynd I know not In the ende so it fell that he woulde needes take hys iourney with Sir Peter Carew from hie Germanie vnto Bruxels and that as I haue credibly hearde of them which knew somwhat not without the forecasting of his aduentured iourney by the constellation of starres disposition of the heauens aboue For as he was a man famously expert and trauailed in the knowledge of sundrye artes and sciences so was he a little too much addicted to the curious practising of this Starre diuinitie which we call Astrologie But how soeuer it was or what soeuer it was that the starres did promise him truth was that mē heere in earth kept litle promise with him For hauing as it is sayde king Phillips safeconduct to passe and repasse and that by the meanes as I find of the Lord Paget and Sir Iohn Mas. pledging for his safegarde king Phillips fidelitie he came to Bruxels to see the Quenes Ambassadors and hauing brought the lord Paget on his way toward England in the retourne betweene Bruxels Anwarpe was taken with sir Peter Carewe by the Prouest Marshal spoiled of their horses and clapped into a carte theyr legges armes and bodies tied wyth halters to the body of the carte and so shipped being blindfielde vnder the hatches and so brought to the tower of London Thus the good man being intrapped in the handes now of his enemies had but one of these 2. wayes to take either to chaunge his religion or to chaunge his life Other remedy with those holy catholikes there was none Neither could his conscience excuse him nor truth defend him nor learning helpe him Albeit M. Fecknam whether by the Queene suborned or vppon his owne deuotion and frendship towarde his olde acquaintance tooke vpon him the defence commendation of M. Cheeke speaking in his behalfe yet no mercy coulde be had with the Queene but he must needes recant and so did he The copie of whose recantation prescribed vnto him because it is knowen and in the handes of diuers it needeth not heere to be expressed Then after his recantation he was throughe the craftie handling of the Catholickes allured firste to dine and companie with them at lengthe drawen vnwares to sitte in place where the poore Martyrs were broughte before Boner and other Bishops to be condempned the remorse whereof so mightely wroughte in hys heart that not long after he left thys mortall life Whose fall although it was full of infirmitie yet his rising againe by repentaunce was great and hys ende comfortable the Lorde bee praysed ⧠The ende of the XI Booke ⧠Heere beginneth the XII Booke containing the bloudye doings and persecutions of the aduersaries against the Faithfull and true seruantes of Christ with the particular processes and names of such as were put to slaughter from the beginning of Ian. An. 1557. and the fifte of Queene Marie The order and maner of the Cardinals visitation in Cambridge with the condemning taking vp and burning the bones and Bookes of Bucer and Paulus Phagius An. 1557. Ian. 9. CArdinall Poole three yeares after his retourne into Englande hauinge somwhat withdrawn his mind from other affaires of the realme and hauing in all poyntes established the Romish religion began to haue an eye to the vniuersity of Cambridge whiche place amōg other speciallye seemed to haue neede of reformation out of hand To perform this charge were chosen Cuthbert Scot not long before consecrated Bishop of Chester Nicholas Ormanet an Italian Archpriest of the people of Bodolon in the dioces of Ueron professed in bothe the lawes and bearing the name of the popes Datary Tho. Watson elected Bish. of Lincolne Iohn Chrystopherson elected bish of Chichester and Henry Cole Prouost of the colledge of Eaton There was good cause why the matter was especially cōmitted to these persons For as touching Ormanet it is wel knowen that he was a man of much estimation with Iulius the 3. at that time B. of Rome and was appoynted to come into Englande with Cardinall Poole because without his knowledge as in whome hee put his chief trust and confidence the B. would haue nothing done that was of any importance or weight These persones thus appoynted in the meane while as the visitors were addressing themselues to their iourney sent their letters with the Cardinals Citation before doctor Andrew Perne Uicechācellor then of Cambridge with the other Commissioners associate commāding him to warne all the Graduates of the Uniuersitie in theyr name to be in a readinesse against the 11. day of Ianuarie betwixt 8. and 10. of the clocke in the churche of S. Marye the virgin willing him especially to be there hym selfe in presence and also to sette forward all the residue to whose charge it belonged that they should search out all Statutes Bookes Priuiledges and Monuments appertaining to the Uniuersitie or to any of the Colledges or finally to any of thēselues and these to present the same before them at the day appoynted and euery mā to appeare there personally for they woulde not faile but be there at the same time to lay before them such things as should seme necessary to this charge of reforming the vniuersitye and further to geue charge of all such things as should seeme most for the profit behoue of the same together with such thyngs as were to be done on theyr parte accordinge as shoulde seeme most agreeable to the Decrees of the Canon lawe This citation of the Cardinal being brought to Cambridge by master bullocke was first exhibited in the Conuocation house of Regents and there openly redde by the Orator of the Uniuersitie the 11. of December After thys vppon the 24. of December whyche was Christenmasse euen the Uicechancellor wyth the heads of houses meeting together in the Schooles it was there cōcluded that the visitors charges should be borne by the vniuersitie and Colledges which then cost the Uniuersitie an 100. pound thicke and also that no master of any Colledge should suffer any of the fellowes scholers or ministers to goe foorth of the towne but to retourne before the Uisitation On friday the 8. of Ianuarie the Queenes Commissioners
the morow after Holy Roode day when wee shall meete at Chelmesford for the deuision of these landes I thinke Mayster Archdeacon you and Mayster Smith shal be fayn to ride with certaine of the Iury to those porcions and manours in your part of Essex and in like case deuide our selues to tread and view the ground with the Quest or els I thinke the Quest will not labour their matter and so doe you saye vnto Mayster Archdeacon Alice the wyfe of William Walleys of Colchester hath submitted herselfe abiured her erroneous opinions asked absolution promised to do her solemne penance in her Parish Church at Saint Peters on Sonday next and to continue a Catholicke a faythfull woman as long as GOD shall send her lyfe And for these couenauntes her husband standeth bounde in fiue pounde Which Alice is one of the nine women of this your Indenture and that shee is bigge with childe Wherefore she remayneth at home and this done in the presence of the Bayliffes Aldermen towneclarke And for that Maister Browne was certyfied there was no Curate at Lexdon he inquired who was the Farmer The aunswere was made Syr Fraunces Iobson Who is the Parson They of the Questmen aunswered Syr Roger Chostlow When was he with you Not this fourtene yeares How is your Cure serued Now and then Who is the Patron My Lord of Arundell And within shorte tyme after Syr Fraunces Iobson came with great curtesy vnto my Lord Darcies place And of all GentlemeÌ„ about vs I saw no more come in Sir Robert Smith Priest sometime Chanon of Bridlington now Curate of Appledote in the wild of Kent came to Colchester the 28. day of Aug. with his wife bigge with childe of late diuorced taken on suspition examined of the Lordes and M Browne tolde me that they haue receiued letters from the counsell for the attachment of certayn persons and eâ—peciallye of one Priest whose name is Pullen but hys right name is Smith doubting this Priest to be he the sayd Pullen although neither he nor his wife would confesse the same Wherfore he lyeth stil in prison but surely this is not PulleÌ„ If it please your Lordshippe to haue in remembraunce that the housholders might be compelled to bring euerye man his owne wife to her owne seate in the Churche in time of Diuine seruice it would profite much And also there be yet standing Hospitals and other of like foundation about Colchester whiche I haue not knowne to appeare at any visitation as the Maister and Lazars of Mary Magdalene in Colchester the Proctour of saynct Katherines Chappell in Colchester the hospitall or Beadhouse of the foundation of Lord H. Marney in Laremarny the Hospital and Beadman of little Horksley Thus presuming of youre Lordships goodnes I more then bold euer to trouble you with thys worldly busines beseeching almightye God to send your honorable Lordship a condigne reward From Eastthorp this present xxx of August We found a letter touching the Maryage of Priestes in the handes of the foresayd Syr Robert Smith Also I desired Mayster Browne the doer of all thinges to require the audience to bring in theyr vnlawfull writinges and bookes Who asked me if I had proclaymed the Proclamation I sayd yea Then he sayd openly on the Benche that they shoulde be proclaimed euerye quarter once And then take the Constables and Officers and they alone â—ake and punish the offenders accordingly By your poore Beadman Iohn Kingston Priest An Indenture made betweene the Lordes and the Iustices within specified and Boners Commissary concerning the deliuery of the prisoners aboue named THis IndeÌ„ture made the xix day of August in the third and 4. yeres of the raygnes of oure soueraigne Lord and Lady Philip and Mary by the grace of God King Queene of England Spayne Fraunce both Cicils Ierusalem and Ireland defenders of the fayth Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Burgundy Myllayne Brabant Countyes of Hasburgh Flaunders and Tirell betwene the ryght honourable Lord Iohn de Ueere Earle of Oxenford Lord high Chamberlayne of England Thomas Lord Darcy of Chiche Henry Tirel Knight Anthony Browne the King and Queenes Maiestyes Sergeaunt at lawe William Bendelowes Sergeaunt at lawe Edmund Tirel Richard Weston Roger AppletoÌ„ Esquiers Iustices of Ooyer and determiner of the peace within the sayd County of Essex to be kept of the one party and Iohn Kingstone clerke Bacheler at law Commissary to the Bish. of London of the other party witnesseth that Ro. Colman of Walton in the County of Essex labourer Ioan Winseley of Horseley Magna in the said County Spinster Steuen Glouer of Raylye in the County aforesayd Glouer Richard Clerke of much Holland in the sayd County Mariner William Munt of much Bently in the sayde County husbandmaÌ„ Tho. Winseley of much Horseley in the sayd County Sawyer Margaret field of Ramesey in the sayd County Spinster Agnes Whitlocke of Douercourt in the sayd Countie Spinster Alice Munt of much Bentley in the sayd Countye Spinster Rose Alin of the same towne and County Spinster Richard Bongeor of Colchester in the sayd County Corier Richard Atkin of Halstead in the sayd County Weauer Robert Barcocke of Wiston in the sayde Countye of Suffolke Carpenter Rich. George of Westbarhoult in the county of Essex laborer Rich. Iolley of Colchester in the said County Mariner Tho. Feeresanne of the same towne and County Mercer Robert Debnam late of Dedham in the said couÌ„ty Weauer Cicely Warren of Cocksall in the sayd county Spinster Christian Peper widow of the same town and County Allin Simpson Elene Euring Alice the wife of William Walles of Colchester Spinster and William Bongeor of Colchester in the sayd County Glasier being indited of heresie are deliuered to the sayde Iohn Kingstone Clerke Ordinary to the Byshop of London according to the statute in that case prouided In witnesse wherof to the one part of this Indenture remayning with the sayd Erle Lord and other the Iustices the sayd Ordinary hath set to his hand and seale and to the other part remayning with the sayd Ordinary the sayd Earle Lord and other the Iustices haue set to their seueral handes seales the daye yeares aboue written Oxenford Thomas Darcy Henry Tyrell Antony Browne William Bendelowes Edmund Tyrell Richard Weston Roger Appleton These xxii aforesayd prisoners thus seÌ„t from Colchester to London were brought at length to B. Boner As touching the order and maner of their comming brynging the sayd Boner himselfe writeth to Cardinall Poole as you shall heare * A letter of B. Boner to Cardinall Poole MAy it please your good grace with my most humble obedience reuerence and duetie to vnderstand that going to London vpon Thursday last and thinking to be troubled with M. Germaynes matter onely and such other common matters as are accustomed enough to wery a right strong body I had the day following to comfort my stomacke withall letters from Colchester that either
to intreat for thee and they haue informed me that thou hast bene a very honest a quiet neighbor amongest them and I thincke it be Gods will that I should deliuer thee before my Lorde come home For if he come and thou go home againe I will be burned for thee for I knowe his minde already in that matter Lith I geue you hearty thankes for your gentlenesse and my neighbours for their good report Chauncellour Lithall if thy neighbours will be bounde for thy foorth comming wheÌ„soeuer thou shalt be called for and also thou wilt be an obedient subiect I shal be content to deliuer thee Neighbours If it please your woorship we will be bounde for him both in body and goodes Chauncellour I will require no such bond of you but that two of you will be bound in 20. pound a peece that he shal come to aunswere when he shall be called Lithall Where finde you maister Chancelloure in all the Scripture that the Churche of God did binde any manne for the profession of his faithe whiche profession you haue heard of me that all oure iustification righteousnesse and saluation commeth onely and freely by the merites of our Sauiour Iesus Christe and all the inuentions workes of men be they neuer so glorious be all together vaine as the wise man sayeth Chauncellour Loe where he is now I put no such matter to you for in that I beleeue as you doe but yet S. Iames sayth that a man is iustified by woorkes Lithall Sainte Iames spake to those that boasted themselues of faithe and shewed no woorkes of faith But O maister Chauncellour remember I praye you howe all the promises and Prophesies of the holy Scripture euen from the firste promise that God made to Adam and so euen to the latter ende to the Reuelation of Sainte Iohn doe testifie that in the name of Iesus and onely by hys merites all that beleeue shal be saued from all their sinnes and offences Esay sayeth I am founde of them that sought mee not and am manifest to them that asked not after mee but against Israel he sayeth All daye long haue I stretched oute my hande to a people that beleeue not And when the Iayler asked S. Paule what he shoulde doe to be saued the Apostle sayde Beleeue in the Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued and all thy housholde Againe S. Iohn sayeth in the Reuelation that there was none neither in heauen nor in earth neither vnder the earth that was able to open the booke nor the seales therof but onely the Lambe Iesus our onely Sauiour And S. Paule sayth With one offering hath he made perfecte for euer them that are sanctified Chaunc With vaine glory you reherse much Scripture as al the sort of you do but you haue no more vnderstanding then a many of sheepe But to the purpose Will you that your neighbors shall enter into boÌ„ds for you or not Lith By my minde they shall not Wherfore I desire you that you would not binde me but let me serue God with my conscience freely For it is wrytten They that leade into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie and they that strike wyth the sworde shall pearish with the sworde Also it is wrytten in the Gospel of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that who so doeth offend one of these little ones whych beleeue in mee it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his necke and that he were cast into the depth of the sea Of the which I am assured by his holye spirite that I am one Wherefore be you well assured that such mercy as you shew vnto you shall be shewed the like Chaunc You are a mad man I would not binde you but that I must needes haue somewhat to shewe for your deliueraunce Then he called ij of my neighbours Thomas Daniel and Saunders Maybe which offered themselues to be bounde and called me before them and sayd I haue a letter of his own hand wryting with his name and seale at it with a booke also againste the Regiment of women for the which I coulde make him to be hanged drawen quartered but on my faith I will him no more hurt then I meane to mine owne soule Lith I desire you that be my neighbours and frends that you wil not enter into bondes for me for you knowe not the danger therof neither I my selfe It goeth against my conscience that ye should so doe Chaunc Why I wil not binde you to do any thing against your conscience Neighbours Then they made the bonde and sealed to it and willed me that I shoulde seale to it also and I saide that I would not neither could I obserue the bond and therfore I would not set too my hand Chaunc It is pitie that thou hast so much fauour shewed thee yet for these honest mens sake I wil discharge thee Notwithstanding all these dissembling woords of maister Darbishire pretending for fauoure of his sureties to set him at libertye it was no suche thing nor anye zeale of charitie that mooued him so to do but onely feare of the time vnderstanding the daungerous and vnrecouerable sicknesse of Queene Mary which then began somwhat to asswage the cruel proceedings of thesâ— persecutors wherby they durst not do that they would for els Lithall was not like to haue escaped so easily Edward Grew MOreouer there was one Edward Grewe priest and Appline his wife compelled to flie from theyr dwelling at a Towne called Broke and the man being verye aged trauailed abroade to keepe a good conscience At the last he was taken and laid in Colchester Castle where he remained till Quene Elizabeth came to her regal seat and by the alteration of Religion he was deliuered His wife good womaÌ„ was in great care for him and to her power did what she could to succour him William Browne WIlliam Browne Parson of Little Stanham in the Countie of Suffolke made a Sermon in the sayde Towne incontinently after the buriall of our good King Edward and in his sermon he sayde there goeth a report that our good king is buried with a Masse by the Bishop of Winchester he hauing a miter vpon his head But if it were so sayeth hee they are all traitours that so doe because it is bothe againste the truthe and the lawes of thys realme and it is greate Idolatrie and blasphemie and against the glory of God and they are no frends neither to God the king nor yet vnto the realm that so do For this his preaching one Robert Blomefielde an aduersarye to the truth being then constable of the sayd towne and bailâ—â—se vnto sir Iohn Ierningham knight the chiefe lord of the towne immediatly rode foorth brought home with him one Edward Goulding which was then vnder sheriffe Syr Thomas Cornewalis being then high sheriffe So the sayd Golding and Blomfield sent for certaine men of the sayd Towne and examined
to the king Note the glorious head of D. Stephens D. Cranmer sent for to the Kâ—ng D. Cranmer seeketh excuses both to come vnto the kinges presence D. Cranmer brought to the king Talke betweene the king and D. Cranmer The king troubled in conscience Marke this you Papistes which so rashly iudge the kinges diuorce and the Popes ouerthrowe to haue sprong of light causes D. Cranmer excusing and disabling himself to the king D. Cranmer assigned by the king to search the Scriptures in the cause of his diuorce The king first geuen to vnderstand that the Pope hath no authority to dispence with the word of God The kinges 〈…〉 the Popeâ— CanoÌ„â—â—â— to the 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—â—â—tures The kinges mariage found by Gods word vnlawfull Doctor Cranmer with other sent to Rome Ambassadour to the Pope The English Ambassadours not hasty to kisse the Popes foote The vnmanerly nature of a Dogge presuming to kisse the Popes foote Arguing to the Popes face that contrary to the word of God he had no power to dispense Doctor Cranmer made the Popes Penitenciary Doctor Cranmer Ambassadour to the Emperour Conference betwene B. Cranmer Cornelius Agrippa tâ—e order 〈◊〉 Cranâ—â—â— study The gentle nature of Doctour Cranmer Cranmer stout and constant in Gods cause D. Cranmer a stout enemy agaynst the 6. articles Of this coÌ„ming of the L. Cromwell and the two Dukes to the Archbishop read before Example for Ecclesiasticall pastors Archbishop Cranmer in displeasure about the imploying of Chauntrey landes The singular patience of this Archbishop A story betwene the Archbishop of Canterbury a popish priest his enemy The rayling of a Popish Priest agaynâ—t Doctor Cranmer Chersey suing for his kinsman to the Archbish. The Priest sent for to the Archbishop The Archâ—bishopâ— wordes to the Parson The Priest confesseth his fault to the Archbishop The rashe tongues of men sclauÌ„derously speaking euill by men whom they neuer knew nor saw before The Priests aunswere The Lord Câ—omwell offended wâ—en the Archbiâ—hop 〈…〉 Priest Not geuen to filthy luker but harberous The liberall doinges of this Archbishop The Archbishop clearing all his debtes before his attainder The large expenses of Doct. Cranmer The Bishops landes sought Vnâ—roth told to the king of the Archbiâ—hop of Canterburyes housekeeping The kinges answere to the coÌ„playner of the Archbishop The Archbishop of Canterburyes house keeping The comylayneâ— asketh pardon of the king for his vntrue report The King speaketh in defence of 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Canterbury The almes of the Archbishop towardes the poore To cleaue fast to the worde of doctrine able to exhorte in holsome learning to reproue the gayn-sayer Titus 1. Archbishop Cranmer euer constaÌ„t in defence of Christes truth and Gospell 〈◊〉 Papists 〈…〉 the Arcâ—bishop out of 〈◊〉 wâ—th 〈◊〉 The Archb. agayne 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 The kingeâ— wordes and aduise for the supportation of the Archbishop The Archbishops aunswere to the king The kinges fauorable care and consideration toward the Archbishop of Canterbury The king sendeth his signet in the behalfe of the Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop being one of the Counsel made to stand at the Counsell chamber dore wayting D. Buttes the kings Phisition a friend of the Archbishops The Archb called before the Counsayle The Counsaile being set against the Archb he sheweth the kinges ring and appealeth from them The kinges wordes to the Counsaile in defence oâ— the Archbishop The Lordes of the Counsaile glad to be friendes agayne with the Arrhbishop The king a great supporter of Cranmer The L Cromwells wordes to the Archbishop An other accusation brought into the Parlament house by Sir Iohn Gostwicke agaynst the Archb. Gostwicke checkâ—e of the king for accusing the Archbishop Gostwâ—â—â—â— glad to 〈◊〉 in agayâ—â—â— with th◠〈…〉 New 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 Iustice◠〈◊〉 Kent agaynst the Archb. Articles put to the King agaynst D. Cranmer The king maketh the Archbishop priuy of the articles CommissioÌ„ appointed to be sent into Kent for tryall of the articles Commissioners appointed to Cranmer Doct. Bellowes D. Coxe Chime M. Husley Register The false Suffragan and Barbar the Ciuilian aske the Archbishop forgiuenes The Archbishop forgiueth his enemyes Practise to get pardon for malefactors Richard Turner a faithfull preacher in Kent Papistes set against the Archbishop by occasion of Turners Preaching The troubleâ— of Richard Turner minister at Cartham M. Raphe Morice patrone of Richard Turner Preacher The great concourse of people to M. Turnerâ— Preaching Syr Iohn Baker Syr Christopher Hales Syr Tho. Moile Iustices with the Prebendaryes of Canterbury persecuters of Gods people Syr Thomas Moile hearing Turner could finde no fault with his doctrine M. Turner appearing before the Commissioners at Lambeth was discharged and sent home New matter made agaynst Richard Turner The practise of of Papistes to hold vp their kingdome with lyes The king deceiuâ—d by sinister information New matter made agaynst Richard Turner Conspiracye against the Archbâ—â—â—op Cranmer by the Iustices of Kent Sander and Browne 2. perâ—ecuting Papistes This Archbiâ—hop maryed his second wyfe at Noremberge The true 〈…〉 of the â—acrament 〈◊〉 bookes 〈◊〉 forth by 〈◊〉 Archb. 〈◊〉 Cant. The aunswere of D. Cranmer Archb. of Câ—nterbury agaynst Stephen Gardiner Marcus Anthonius written by Stephen Gardiner Archbshop of Cant. about an aunswere to Marcus Anthonius Notes of D. Ridley agaynst Marcus Anthonius Peter Martyrs booke of defeÌ„ce agaynst Marcus Anthonius Lady Iane. Cranmer refuseth to sweare to Lady Iane. Cranmer thorough the perswasion of the Counsell the king and lawyers subscribed to K. Edwardes Testament Manet alta mente repostuÌ„ Iudicium paridis â—pretaeque iniuria matris Virgil. Aeneid 1. This Doctour Thornton was after the Bishop of Douer a cruell and wicked persecuter This Bishoppe was D. Heath Bishop after of Yorke Cranmer condemâ—â— of treasoâ— Cranmer released treason 〈◊〉 accused 〈◊〉 heresie Cranmer had to Oxford D. Brookes D. Martyn D. Storye Commissioners agaynst the Archb. D. Martyn not so bitter in this persecution as other CoÌ„missioners were The order of 〈◊〉 placing 〈◊〉 Commiâ—â—â—â—oners The appeâ—â—â—ng of the Archb. of Canterbury before the Commissioners The Archb. goeth reuerence to the Quenes Câ—mmâ—â—â—â—â—ners D. Cranmer 〈…〉 reuereâ—ce to 〈…〉 The Oration of Bish. brookes Apoc. â— Heresâ—e 〈◊〉 treason 〈◊〉 to Doct. Cranmer That is without the Church there is no saluation That is for in hell there is no redemption That is remember from wheÌ„ce thou hast fallen That is for in hell there is no redemption That is remember from wheÌ„ce thou hast fallen Cyprian lib. â— Epist. 6. Prouoking to the Scripture Breaking of vowes That is repent and do thy first workes Ezech. 33. Orig. in Epist. Paul ad Rom. Berengarius * That is according to the hardnes of your hart ye treasure vp to your selfe anger in the day of wrath A good conscience Marke of an euill conscience Abuses in the Church require a reformation and not a defection Cogite intrare Clarkely expounded Math. 5· Melle lita pernicâ—es
of them a token a bowed grote and desire them for Gods sake to helpe vs with theyr prayers Haue litle Katherine in minde Commend me vnto all good friendes Continue in prayer Beware of vanitie Let not God be dishonored in your conuersation but like a good Matron keepe your vessel in holines The peace of God rest with you for euer Amen My brother Iuison sendeth to you a tokē to your mother a token and to Katherine a token iij. pence Iohn Launder sendeth you a peece of Spanish mony father Heralt a peece of vi d. William Androwes sendeth you a rase of Ginger and I sēd your mother one and a Nutmeg I send Katherine Comfites for a token to eate I haue sent you a keyclog for a token Your husband Robert Smith A letter sent to his frende THe eternall God keepe you in his feare I haue hearty commendations vnto you and your husbande beseeching almighty God to preserue you in well doing and in perfecte knowledge of his Christe that yee may be founde faultles in the day of the Lorde I haue heard saye that my frende is geuen ouer to vanitie it breaketh my hearte not onely to heare that he so doeth but also teacheth other that it is vnhurtful to goe to all abhominations whych nowe stand in the Idols temples neuerthelesse deare frende be ye not mooued to follow sinners for they haue no inheritance with God and Christe But looke that by going into the Idoll temple ye defile not the temple of God for light hath no felowship with darkenesse But looke what the Lord hath commaunded that doe For if not going to Churche were without persecution they would not learne you that lesson But all thing that is sweete to the flesh is allowed of the fleshly The Lord shal reward euery man according to his woorkes and he that leadeth into captiuitie shall go into captiuitie and hee that by the fleshly man is led in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption The Lorde Iesu geue thee his holy spirite Amen I haue sent thee an Epistle in metre whiche is not to be laid vp in thy cofer but in thy heart Seeke peace and ensue it Feare God loue God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength Thy frend and al mens in Christ Iesus Rob. Smith Scribled in much hast from N. the 12. of May. Robert Smith to all faithfull seruants of Christ exhorting them to be strong vnder persecution Content thy selfe with pacience With Christ to beare the crosse of paine Which can and will thee recompence A thousande folde with ioyes againe Let nothing cause thy heart to quaile Lanch out thy boate hale vp thy saile Put from the shore And be thou sure thou shalt attaine Vnto the port that shall remaine For euermore The burning of Steuen Harwood and Thomas Fust martyred for the testimonie of the Gospel ABout this time died also by cruell fire these two martyrs of God that is to saye Steuen Harwoode at Stratford and Thomas Fust at Ware Which both two as they were about one time burned with the fore mētioned Robert Smith and George Tankerfield although in sundry places so were they also examined and openly cōdemned togethers wyth them Their processe because it was ioyned all in one with the processe of Robert Smith other of the said company aboue mentioned I thought it superfluous againe to repeate the same saue that of Thomas Fust this is to be added that where as he in his last appering the 12. of Iuly was mooued by the Byshop to reuoke his opinion thus he answered No said he my Lorde for there is no truth commeth out of your mouth but all lyes Yee condemne men and will not heare the truthe Where can ye finde any annoynting or greasing in Gods booke I speake nothing but the truthe and I am certaine that it is the truthe that I speake This answere of hym onely I finde noted by the Register although howe slenderly these Registrers haue dealt in vttering such matters that is in omitting those thinges which moste woorthy were to be knowen by their doings it is easie to be seene But to be short after their answeres made both he Thomas Fust were for their faithfull perseuerance condemned together by the Bishop in his accustomed pitie as heretikes to be burned and so as before ye haue heard finished they their martyrdom the one at Stratford and the other at Ware in the moneth of August and yere abouesayd The constant Martyrdome of William Haile burned at Barnet OF the same companie of these x. aboue recorded whych were sent vp to Byshop Boner by sir Nicholas Hare and other Commissioners in the companie of George Tankerfielde and Roberte Smith was also Willyam Hayle of Thorpe in the Countie of Essex who lykewise being examined with the rest the 12. day of Iuly receiued with them also the sentence of cōdemnation Geuing thys exhortation with al to the lookers on Ah good people sayd he beware of this Idolatrer and thys Antichriste poynting The martyrdome of VVilliam Haile vnto the Bishop of London and so was he deliuered to the Sheriffes as an heretique to be burned who sente him to Barnet where about the latter ende of August hee moste constantly sealed vp his faith with the consuming of his bodye by cruell fire yeelding hys soule vnto the Lorde Iesus his onely and most sure redeemer George King Thomas Leyes Iohn VVade sickened in prisone and were buried in the fieldes YEe hearde before of ten sundry personnes sent oute of Newgate by Maister Hare and other Commissioners to be examined of Boner Bishoppe of London Of whome sixe already haue bene executed in seuerall places as hathe beene shewed whose names were Elizabeth Warne George Tankerfielde Robert Smith Steuen Harwoode Thomas Fust and William Haile Other three to witte George King Thomas Leyes and Iohn Wade sickening in Lollardes Tower were so weake that they were remooued into sundry houses wythin the Citie of London and there departed and cast out into the fieldes and there buryed by nighte of the faithfull brethren when none in the day durste doe it propter metum Iudaeorum The last that remained of thys foresayde company was Ioane Layshe or Layshforde the Daughter in lawe to Iohn Warne and Elizabeth Warne Martyrs but because shee was reprieued to a longer day her storie and Martyrdom we will deferre till the moneth of Ianuarie the next yeare following William Andrewe THe like catholike charitie was also shewed vpon William Andrew of Horsley in the Countie of Essex Carpenter who was brought to Newgate the firste day of Aprill 1555. by Iohn Motham Constable of Mauldon in Essex The first and principall promoter of hym was the Lorde Riche who sent him first to prisone An other great doer against him also seemeth to be sir Richard Southwel Knighte by a letter wrytten by him to Boner as
it in very deed but to knowe whether non linguam sed facta attendamus viuendi genus nuÌ„ studeamus officia vocationis praestare an non studeamus immo persuasi forte sumus non necesse esse vt praestemus sed omnia in primitiuam ecclesiam tempora praeterita c. quasi nobis sat sit dominari seculaâ—ibus negotijs nos totos voluere ac voluptatibus pompae inhiare and yet we will appeare vel soli ex Deo esse sed longe aliter Christum confitentur qui confiteÌ„do ex Deo esse comprobantur And yet as long as they minister the word of God or his Sacramentes or any thing that God hath ordeined to the saluation of mankinde wherewith GOD hath promised to be present to worke with the ministration of the same to the end of the world they be to be heard to be obeyed to bee honoured for Gods ordinaunce sake which is effectuall and fruitefull whatsoeuer the minister be though he bee a Deuill and neyther Churche nor member of the same as Origene saith and Chrisostome so that it is not all one to honour them and trust in them Saynt Hierome sayth but there is required a iudgement to discerne when they minister Gods woorde and ordinaunce of the same and theyr owne least peraduenture we take chalke for cheese whiche wyll edge our teethe and hinder digestion For as it is commonlye sayd the blinde eateth many a flye as they did which were perswaded à principibus sacerdotum vt peterent Barrabam Iesum autem crucifigeâ—ent i. Of the high Priestes to aske Barrabas and to crucify Iesus and ye know that to followe blinde guides is to come into the pit with the same And will you know sayth Saynt Augustine how apertly they resist Christ when men beginne to blame them for theyâ— misliuing and intollerable secularity negligence they dare not for shame blaspheme Christ himselfe but they will blaspheme the ministers and preachers of whome they be blamed Therefore whereas yee will pray for agreement both in the truth and in vttering of the trueth when shall that be as longe as we will not heare the trueth but disquiet with crafty conueiance the Preachers of the trueth because they reprooue our euilnesse with the truth And to say trueth better it were to haue a deformity in preaching so that some would preach the truth of God and that which is to be preached without cauponation and adulteration of the word as Lyranus sayth in his time few did what they do now a dayes I report me to them that can iudge then to haue such an vniformity that the sely people should be thereby occasioned to continue still in theyr lamentably ignorance corrupt iudgement superstition and Idolatry and esteeme thinges as they doe all preposterously doyng that that they neede not for to doe leauing vndone that they ought to doe for lacke or want of knowing what is to be done and so shewe theyr loue to God not as God biddeth which sayth Si diligitis me praecepta mea seruate And agayne Qui habet praecepta mea facit ea hic est qui diligit me but as they bid qui quaerunt quae sua sunt non quae Iesu Christi i. Which seeke theyr owne thinges not Christes as though to tythe mynt were more then iudgement fayth and mercy And what is to liue in state of Curates but that hee taughte which sayd Petre amas me pasce pasce pasce Peter louest thou feede feede feede which is now set aside as though to loue were to doe nothing els but to weare ringes miters and rochets c. And when they erre in right liuing how can the people but erre in louing and all of the new fashion to his dishonor that suffered his passion and taught the true kinde of louing whiche is nowe turned into piping playing and curious singing which will not be reformed I trow nisi per manuÌ„ Dei validam And I haue both S. Austen and S. Thomas with diuers other that lex is taken not alonely for Ceremonies but also for Moâ—als where it is sayd Nâ— estis sub lege though your frendes reproue the same But they can make no diuision in a christian congregation And whereas both you and they would haue a sobernes in our preaching I pray god send it vnto vs whatsoeuer ye meane by it For I see well whosoeuer will be happy and busye with vae vobis he shall shortly after come coram nobis And where your frendes thinke that I made a lye when I said that I haue thought in times past that the Pope had bene Lord of the world though your frendes bee much better learned then I yet am I sure that they knowe not what eyther I thinke or haue thought better then I iuxta illud nemo nouit quae sunt hominis c. as though better men then I haue not thought so as Bonifacius as I remember Octauus the great learned manne Iohn of the burnt Tower presbiter Cardinalis in his book where he proueth the Pope to be aboue the counsell Generall and Speciall where he sayth that the Pope is Rex â—egum Dominus dominantium i. The King of Kinges and Lord of Lordes and that he is verus Dominus totius orbis iure licet non facto i. the true Lord of the whole worlde by good right albeit in fact he be not so and that Constantinus didde but restore his owne vnto him when he gaue vnto him Rome so that in propria venit as S. Iohn sayth Christ did sui eum non receperunt and yet I heare not that any of our Christian congregation hath reclamed agaynste him vntill now of late dissention began Who be your frendes I cannot tell but I would you woulde desire them to be my good maysters and if they will doe me no good at the least way do me no harme and though they can do you no more good then I yet I am sure I would be as loth to hurt you as they either with mine opinions maner of preaching or writing And as for the Popes high dominion ouer al there is one Raphaell Maruphus in London an Italian and in times past a Marchaunt of dispensations which I suppose woulde dye in the quarell as Gods true Knight and true Martyr As touching Purgatory and worshipping of Sayntes I shewed to you my minde before my Ordinary and yet I maruelled something that after priuate communication had with him ye would as it were adiure mee to open my minde before him not geuing mee warning before sauing I cannot interpret euill your doinges towardes me yet neither mine Ordinary nor you disalowed the thing that I sayd and I looked not to escape better then Doctor Crome â—ut wheÌ„ I haue opened my mind neuer so much yet I shall be reported to denye my preaching of them that haue belyed my preaching as he was Sed
and the Apostles doctrine wherof in particularity I haue touched something before in my talke had with the Sea of London and in other treatises more at large wherein if it shall please God to bring the same to light it shal appeare I trust by Gods grace plainly to the man of God and to him whose rule in iudgement of Religion is Gods word that that Religion that rule order that doctrine and fayth which this whore of Babylon and the Beast whereupon she doth sit mainteineth at this day with all violence of fire and sword with spoyle banishment according to Daniels Prophecy and finally with all falshood deceit hypocrisy and all kinde of vngodlines are as cleane contrary to Gods word as darkenesse is vnto light or light vnto darckenes white to blacke or blacke to white or as Beliall vnto Christ or Christ vnto Antichrist himselfe I know my Lordes and foresaw when I wrote this that so many of you as should see this my writing not beyng before endued with the spirite of grace and the light of gods word so many I say would at these my words lordlike stampe and spurne and spitte thereat But sober your selues with pacience and be still and knowe ye that in my writing of this my minde was none other but in God as the liuing God doth beare me witnes both to do you profite and pleasure And otherwise as for your displeasure by that time this shal come to your knowledge I trust by gods grace to be in the hands and protection of y◠almighty my heauenly father and the liuing Lord which is as S. Iohn sayeth the greatest of all and then I shall not need I trow to feare what any Lord no nor what kyng or prince can do vnto me My Lordes if in times past ye haue bene contented to heare me sometimes in matters of religion before the prince in the Pulpit and in the Parliament house and haue not seemed to haue despised what I haue sayd when as els if ye had perceiued iust occasion yee might then haue suspected me in my talk though it had bene reasonable eyther desire of worldly gayne or feare of displeasure how hath thē your Lordshyppes more cause to harken to my word and to heare me paciently seing now ye can not iustly think of me being in this case appoynted to dye and lookyng dayly when I shall be called to come before the eternall iudge otherwise but that I onely study to serue my Lord God and to say that thyng which I am perswaded assuredly by Gods woorde shall and doth please him and profite all them to whome God shall geue grace to heare and beleue what I do say And I do say euen that I haue sayd heretofore both of the Sea of Rome and of the Byshop thereof I meane after this theyr present state at this day Wherin if ye will not beleue the Ministers of GOD and true preachers of his word verely I denounce vnto you in verbo domini except ye do repent betime it shall turne to your confusion and to your smart on the latter day Forget not what I say my Lordes for Gods sake forget not but remember it vpon your bed For I tell you moreouer as I knowe I muste bee countable of this my talke and of my speaking thus to the eternall Iudge who will iudge nothing amisse so shall you be countable of your duety in hearyng and you shall bee charged if ye will harken to Gods word for not obeying to the truth Alas my Lords how chaunceth this that this matter is now a new again to be perswaded vnto you Who would haue thought of late but your Lordships had bene persuaded in deed sufficiently or that ye coulde euer haue agreed so vniformelye with one consent to the abolishment of the vsurpation of the bishop of Rome If that matter were then but a matter of policy wherin the prince must be obeyed howe is it now made a matter wherin as your Clergy sayth now so sayth the Popes lawes in deed standeth the vnity of the Catholicke church and a matter of necessity of our saluation Hath the time being so short since the death of the two last kinges Henry the 8. Edward his sonne altered the nature of the matter If it haue not but was of the same nature and daunger before God then as it is now be now as it is sayd by the Popes lawes and the instructions set forth in Englishe to the curates of the dioces of Yorke in deed a matter of necessity to saluation how then chaunced it that ye were all O my Lordes so light and so litle passed vpon the catholicke faith and the vnity therof without the which no man can be saued as for your Princes pleasures which were but mortall men to forsake the vnity of your catholick fayth that is to forsake Christ and his gospell And furthermore if it were both then and nowe is so necessary to saluation how chaunced it also that ye all the whole body of the Parliament agreeing with you did not onely abolish and expell the Bishop of Rome but also did abiure him in your owne persons and did decree in your actes great othes to bee taken of both the spiritualtye and temporalty whosoeuer shoulde enter into any weighty chargeable office in the common wealth But on the other side if the law decree which maketh the supremacy of the sea bishop of Rome ouer the vniuersall church of Christ be a thing of necessity required vnto saluation by an Antichristian law as it is in deed such instructiōs as are geuen to the Dioces of Yorke be in deed a setting forth of the power of that beast of babilon by the craft falshood of his false Prophetes as of truth compared vnto Gods word and truely iudged by the same it shall playnely appere that they be then my Lordes neuer thinke other but the daye shall come when ye shal be charged with this your vndoing of that that once ye had well done and with this your periury and breache of your othe which othe was done in iudgement iustice and truth agreable to Gods lawe The whore of Babilon may wel for a time dally with you and make you so dronken with the wine of her filthy stewes whooredome as with her dispensations and promises of pardon à poena culpa that for dronkennesse and blindenesse ye may think your selues safe But be ye assured whē the liuing Lord shall trye the matter by the fire and iudge it according to his word when al her abhominations shal appeare what they bee then ye my Lordes I geue your Lordships warning in time repent if ye be happy loue your owne soules health repent I say or els wythout all doubt ye shall neuer escape the handes of the liuing Lord for the guilt of your periury and breach of your oth As ye haue banquetted and layne by the
triall of our faith that we might bring foorth that excelleÌ„t vertue pacience by the which we are made like to our redeemer Christ with whome we heere being like in suffering assuredly shall heereafter be pertakers of his eternall glory Therefore s. Paul saith God forbid that I should glory in any thing but in the crosse of our lord Iesus Christ. I that am vnder the crosse with you thankes be geuen to God therefore haue felt in the same more true ioye and consolation then euer I did by any benefite that God hath geuen mee in my life before For the more the world doth hate vs the nigher God is vnto vs and there is no perfect ioy but in God Wherefore Christ sayd In me you shall haue ioy but in the worlde affliction Blessed be God which sendeth vs this affliction that we mighte perfectly ioy in hym For this cause in the ripest time of iniquitie and in the moste feruent season of persecution of the true church which Christ in the 21. of Luke prophesied to come he willeth vs to be of good chere and to lift vp our heads for our redemption is at hand O that the Lorde would come and deliuer vs from this worlde which is a vale of miserie vnto his owne kingdome where floweth perpetuall ioy and consolation And verily that is the true and onely ioy which is conceiued not of the creature but of the Creator the which when we doe possesse no body canne take it away from vs. To the which ioy all other ioyes being compared are but mournings all delights sorrow al sweetenes sower all beauty filth and finally al other things that be counted pleasant are tediousnes Your owne selfe is better witnes of thys then I aske your selfe with whom you are best acquainted Doeth not the holy Ghost speake the same in your heart Haue you not perswaded your selfe this to be true before I wrote thereof For howe should you being a woman and a yong Gentlewoman beautifull and at your owne liberty haue ouercome this your fraile kinde and age and despised your excellent beautie and estate vnlesse all those things which be subiect to the senses had bene counted of you vile lâ—tle to be estemed in coÌ„parison of those things which inwardly do comfort you to ouercome the flesh the world and the deuil c. God encrease your ioy in all spirituall things and establish your hope to the day of eternal rest You haue forsaken darkenes and are entred into light God graunt the same may shine stil in you vntil the perfect day come of the Lord in the which is all our consolation Here we must be darkened that there we may appeare as brighte as the sunne in the face of the whole world of all them that now condemne vs for our wel doing whose iudges then we shall be to their horrible griefe though nowe wrongfully they iudge vs. Pray hartily that often that God once again for his Christes sake woulde be mercifull to his afflicted church in England Faithfull prayer is the onely remedy that we haue against the fierie dartes of the Deuil that be kindled against vs. By prayer the Amalechites shall be ouercome and the roarings of the Lion which seeketh still to deuoure vs shal be stopped put to silence The Lorde stoppe Leuiathans mouth that he swalow not vp Gods seely people according to his expectation Praise the Lord for the faithfull testimonie and sacrifice which 2. of our brethren of late haue through fire rendred to the truth of the gospell which nowe triumpheth by the death of godly Martyrs The Lorde is at hande therefore watche and pray The last of May. 1555. Captiue in the kings Bench. Yours with heart in Christ Iohn Philpot. An other letter of maister Philpot to the godly Ladie Vane GOd the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ encrease in your godly heart the faith of the gospell which is your eternall inheritance the holy ghost comfort your spirite with all spirituall consolation to the day of the Lord. Amen I can not but praise God moste highly earnestly my deare faithful lady for the great vnfained loue whych you beare vnto me in Christ declared oftentimes as wel now as of late by manifest and liberal tokens Blessed be God that hath made you so worthy a meÌ„ber in his kingdome For it can not be but such shal reape with abuÌ„dance in time of reward that here do sowe so plenteously in well doing Albeit I am moste vnwoorthy to receiue any suche benefit at your hands as in respect of a piller of Christes church which am scarse a shadow thereof But the zeale of Christes church in you wisheth me to be such a one as the time doth require God fulfill your desire of me that I may be fouÌ„d constant no wandring starre I am not worthy of the name of a prophet or of a minister of Gods woorde for that I haue being letted by the iniquitie of time little or nothing labored therein I am a friend of our common spouse Iesus and do reioyce of the veritie of his woorde for the which praised be hys name hee hath counted mee worthy to suffer and in deede who that geueth a draughte of water in the name of a disciple as Christ hath promised shall not lose his reward Therefore that your gentlenes doth in the name of him which I am not the Lorde recompence vnto you in all hys blessings which he is accustomed to powre on them which loue his flocke vnfainedly Good Lady you haue to ioy that the kingdome of God is thus continually before your eies and that you are not ashamed of the bands of Christ which you with his people in part do suffer They may be assured of the glory euerlasting which heere are not ashamed to take vp the crosse of Christ to folowe him Heere we must weepe and lament whiles the worlde laugheth triumpheth ouer vs but our teares shall shortly be turned into vnspeakeable ioy and we shall eternallye be merrye together when the world shall lament their infidelitie without ende c. I woulde I were able to doe any thing that myght shewe condigne thaÌ„ks for that sincere loue you beare vnto me in Christ. You adiure me as it were by your gentle letters to be bolde on you in all my needes I thanke God whych ceaseth not to prouide for his I lacke nothing at this present but only hability to thank your faithful hart for your goodnesse towards me I loue you and not yours as it is meete christians to loue one an other in God your faith which I beholde in you is more woorth vnto me then al your possessioÌ„s And I thinke I shal not neede long to be chargeable vnto you for that this weeke I looke for commissioners to sit on me my fellow prisoners in prison least the spirit of our breath might blowe further abroade The
he styrred vp his seruauntes the Bishops and Pharises to kill his body wherby notwithstanding the Deuill loste his title and interest whiche hee had to mans soule and man by his precious passion and death was raunsomed from the Deuil death and Hell to immortality life euerlasting and so when Sathan thought to haue wonne all in killing of Christ he lost all and so shall he doe in vs if wee abide constaunt◠and strong in the fayth of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe vnto the ende God graunte it for his mercyes sake in Christ. Blessed are all they that put theyr trust in him Amen Wherefore my hartely beloued brethren and sisters be of good comfort through Iesus Christ for he that is in vs is stronger then he that is in the world Therfore draw ye neare to God and he will drawe neare to you Resist the Deuill and he will as Iames sayth flee frō you Beware of the leuen of the Phariseis Touch not pitch least ye be defiled therewith Eate no Swines flesh for it is agaynst the law I meane defile not your selues neither inwardly nor outwardly with this false and wicked religion of Antichrist for it is nothing els but pitche and Swines fleshe Beware of the beastes marke least ye drinke of the cup of Gods wrath If God haue geuen you knowledge faith dissemble not therewith Denye not the knowne veritye before men least Christ deny you before his Father Come away from Babilon as Iohn biddeth you and touche no vncleane thinge but separate your selues from the company of the vngodly as Paule commaundeth you Whatsoeuer ye haue done amisse heretofore now repent amend for with the Lorde there is mercy and plenteous redemption The thirde thing and note which I gather out of the forsayd wordes of Peter is this that he sayth Reioyce because ye are pertakers of Christes Passion Our sufferinges my welbeloued are Christes sufferinges and that iniury that is done to vs for his sake he reckoneth it to be done to himselfe as he sayd to Paule Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Therefore we ought to reioyce in our sufferinges as Paule writeth whiche we suffer with Christ and one with another as Peter sayeth and so to fulfill that whiche is behinde of the Passions of Christ in our flesh whiche Christ hath by his Passion fully redeemed and saued vs in his owne person how be it hys electe must suffer with hym and for him vnto the worldes ende that he may be glorified in them and they thereby corrected and cleansed from sinne in this worlde and bee made more meete Temples for the holy Ghoste and also obteyne a greate rewarde in heauen for theyr suffering for righteousnesse sake according to his promise And therfore I saye my Brethren reioyce in the Lorde alwayes and agayne I say reioyce Let vs reioyce in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to vs and we to it And why shoulde wee so greatly reioyce in the Crosse of Christ which we now suffer Because sayth Peter when his glory appeareth we may be mery and glad And this is the fourth note that I gather out of his wordes aboue written Wherein is set out the reward of suffering not to be had in this worlde but at his comming to iudgement when we shal be raysed agayne and then shal they that haue sowne in teares reape in ioy as Christ sayth Blessed are they that weepe here for they shall laughe Blessed are ye when men hate you and thrust you out of theyr companye raylinge on you and abhorring your name as an euill thing for the sonne of mans sake reioyce ye in that day and be gladde for your reward is greate in Heauen Wherefore my dearely beloued through the hope of this heauenly ioy and rewarde which he that can not lye hath promised whiche ioye is so greate that no eare hath heard no eye hath sene nor the hart can thinke where we shall dwell for euer in the heauenly City the celestiall Ierusalem in the presence of God the Father Iesus Christ our Mediatour as Paul sayth and in the company of innumerable Angels and with the spirites and soules of all faythfull and iust men reioyce and be glad and seing ye be called to so great glory see that ye make your election and vocation sure by good workes and specially by sufferinge aduersitye for the Gospelles sake for it is geuen vs of GOD sayth Paule not onely to beleue in Christ but also to suffer for his sake Continue in prayer and praye for me that I may ende my course with ioy Haue Brotherly loue amongest your selues whiche is a token that ye be Christes Disciples Edify and comfort one an other in the word of the Lord and the God of peace and loue be with you alwayes Amen For your liberality and kindnesse shewed vppon the Prisoners and afflicted people of GOD in thys time of persecution the Lorde wyll reward you when he commeth to reward euery man according to theyr deedes and will not leaue a cuppe of colde water bestowed vpon his faythfull people vnrewarded God make you riche in all grace that ye alwayes hauyng sufficient maye be riche vnto all manner of good woorkes The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of GOD and the felowship of the holy ghost be with you alwayes Amen Your brother now in bondes for the Gospell Thomas Whittell * To my louing and faythfull brother Iohn Careles Prisoner in the kinges bench THe same fayth for the which Abraham was accounted iust Mary blessed whereby also all iust men liue the Lord GOD our louing father encrease and stablish in you and me to the obteining of eternal life in our alone and sweet Sauior Iesus Christ. Amen I can not worthely and sufficiently prayse GOD my hartely beloued brother for the consolation and ioy that I receiued by reason of your louing letters repenting me much that I being so long so neare you did not enterprise to styrre vppe familiarity and communication betweene vs by writing to mutuall consolation in Christe For what is there vpon earth wherein to reioyce where all thinges are transitory and vayne yea manne himselfe respecting this life but as Dauid sayeth the Saynctes that dwell vpon the earth and such as excell in vertue But here now I consider that if the felowshippe loue and ioye of faythfull men and children of God being as wee nowe be in double bondage the body within clay walles and the soule within these frail earthly bodies be so greate and comfortable how vnspeakeable will these ioyes be when we shall be deliuered from all corruption into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God Where we shal be present together continuallye in our glorified bodies beholding the face of our father presently whō now we see but in the glasse of fayth with his deare sonne
but that within a fewe yeares they began to waxe hungry agayne for so much as no more could be scraped now out of the Abbeys they began to seeke how by some other pray to satisfie their appetites which was to tickle the kings eares with the rich reuenue of the bishops lands And to bring this deuise to passe they procured sir Thomas Seimour knight of the priuy chaÌ„ber to be a promooter of the matter who not in all pointes much fauouryng the Archbishop hauing time and a conuenient occasion declared to the king that my Lord of Caunterbury did nothyng els but sell his woods and let hys Leases by great and many fines makyng hauocke of all the Roialties of the Archbishoprike and that not onely to the intent to gather vp treasure for his wyfe and hys children keepyng no maner of hospitalitie in respect of so great a reuenew aduertising the Kyng further that it was the opinion of many wyse men that it were more meete for the bishops to haue a sufficient yerely stipend in money out of the Exchequer then to be comhered with those temporall affaires of their Roialties beyng impedimentes vnto their studie and pastoral charge and hys hyghnesse to haue their Landes and Royalties conuerted to hys proper vse whiche besides their honest stipends would be vnto his maiestie no small commoditie and profite When the kyng had heard hys faire tale he sayd little thereunto other then this Well quoth he we wil talke more of this matter an other tyme. Nowe within a fortnight after or thereabout whether by chance or of set purpose it is not knowen it came to passe that one day hys highnes going to diner had washed sir Thomas Seimor then holdyng the Ewer he sayd to the sayd sir Tho. Goe you out of hand to Lambeth vnto my L. of Caunterbury bid hym to be with me at two of the clocke at after noone and faile not Sir Tho. straightwayes went to Lambeth and as he came to the gate the Porter beyng in the lodge came out and conueighed hym to the Hall whiche was throughly furnished and set both with the housholde seruants straÌ„gers with 4. principal hed messes of officers as daily it was accustomed to be When sir Thomas Seimor sawe that stately large Hall so well set and furnished beyng therewith abashed and somewhat guiltie of an vntruth told to the Kyng before he retired backe and would needes haue gone to the Archbishop of Caunterbury by the Chappell and not through the Hall Richard Neuell Gentleman then Steward of the household perceiuyng hys retire came by and by vnto hym and after gentle intertaynment demanded of hym whether he would speake with my Lord or no. Sir Tho. sayd that he must needes do so from the Kyngs highnesse saying to hym and this way I am goyng to my Lords grace Sir said the Steward you cannot go that way for the dore is fast shut in the diner tyme and so by gentle meanes brought hym vp to my Lordes chamber through the Hall who then was at diner with whom he dined after he had done his message whose ordinarie fare might alwayes well beseeme a right honorable personage When dinner was scarce done Sir Thomas tooke hys leaue of my Lorde and went againe to the Court. So soone as the Kyngs highnesse sawe hym he sayde to hym Haue you bene with my Lord of Caunterbury Sir Thomas aunswered That I haue if it please your Maiestie and he wyll be with your Highnesse strayghtwayes Dined you not with hym sayd the Kyng Yes sir sayd he that haue I done And wyth that worde whether hee espied by the Kinges countenaunce or by hys wordes any thing tendyng to displeasure he straightway without delay kneeled downe vppon hys knee and sayd I beseech your Maiestie to pardon me I doe now well remember and vnderstand that of late I tolde your highnesse a great vntruth concernyng my Lord of Canterburies house keepyng but from hencefoorth I entend neuer to beleeue that person which dyd put that vayne tale into my head For I assure your hyghnesse that I neuer sawe so honourable a Halle set in this Realme besides your Maiesties Hall in all my lyfe with better order and so well furnished in eche degree If I had not seene it my selfe I could neuer haue beleeued it and hymselfe also so honourably serued Ah sir quoth the Kyngs highnesse Haue you now espied the truth I thought you would tell me another tale when you had bene there Hee was a very varlet quoth the kyng that told you that tale for he spendeth ah good man sayd the kyng all that he hath in housekepyng But now I perceyue which way the wynde bloweth There are a sorte of you to whome I haue liberally geuen of the possessions and reuenewes of the suppressed monasteries which lyke as you haue lightly gotten so haue you more vnthriftily spent some at dice other some in gay apparell other ways worse I feare me now as al is gone you would fain haue me make another cheuance with the Bishops lands to accomplish your gredy appetites But let no other bishops bestow their reuenewes worse then my L. of Cant. doth then shall you haue no cause to complain of their kepyng of house And thus the tale beyng shutte vp and ended by the kings highnes neither sir Tho. Seimor nor none els on hys behalfe euer after durst renue or reuine that sute any more in K. Henries dayes so that it may be euident to all indiffereÌ„t men the liberality of the Archb. in housekeping what it was which beyng defended and commended by the prince himselfe rather may geue a good example to his posterity to follow then was then to be depraued of any priuate subiect such as knew hym not In which Archb. this moreouer is to be noted with a memorandum touchyng the reliefe of the poore impotent sicke and such as then came from the warres at Bullen other partes beyond the seas lame wounded destitute for whom he prouided besides hys mansion house at Beckjsborne in Kent the Personage barne well furnished with certayne lodgyngs for the sicke and maymed souldiours To whom were also appoynted the Almosiner a phisitioÌ„ and a surgeon to attend vppon them and to dresse cure such as were not able to resort to their countries hauyng dayly from the bishops kitchin whoâ—e broth and meate for otherwyse the common almes of the housholde was bestowed vpon the poore neighbours of the shiere And wheÌ„ any of the impotent dyd recouer and were able to trauail they had conuenient money deliuered to beare their charges accordyng to the number of myles from that place distant And this good example of mercy and liberal benignity I thought here good not in silence to be suppressed wherby other may be mooued accordyng to their vocatioÌ„ to walke in the steps of no lesse liberality then in hym in this behalfe appeared ¶ One
of hys former life it well appereth of what sort he is the queenes highnes hath willed vs to remit him vnto your Lordship to the ende that being called before you out of prison as ofte as your Lordship shall think good ye may proceed both to his further examination and otherwise ordering of him according to the lawes as the case shall require And thus we bidde your Lordshippe hartely well to fare From Saynt Iames the 15. day of December 1557. Your Lordships louing frendes Nicholas Ebor. F. Shrewsbery Edward Hastinges Antony Mountague Iohn Bourne Henry Iernegam Boner nowe minding to make quicke dispatche dyd wythin three dayes after the receipt of the Letter the xviij day of December send for this Rough out of Newgate and in his Palace at London ministred vnto him 12. Articles Many whereof because they conteine onely questions of the profession and Religion of that age wherein both he and his Parentes were Christened which in sūdry places are already mentioned I doe here for breuity omitte minding to touche suche onely as perteyne to matters of fayth now in controuersy and then chiefely obiected agaynst the Martyrs and Saynts of God which in effect are these 1. FIrst that thou Iohn Rough diddest directly speake agaynst the 7. Sacramentes vsed commonlye and reuerently as thinges of estimation and great worthines in the catholick churche and also diddest reproue and condemne the substance of the sayd Sacramentes but especially the Sacrament of the aultar affirming that in that same is not really and truely the very body bloud of Christ and that confession to the priest and absolution geuen by him as the minister of Christ for sinnes is not necessary or auayleable in any wise 2. Item thou hast misliked and reproued the religion and ecclesiasticall seruice as it is now vsed in this realme and hast allowed the religion and seruice vsed in the latter yeares of king Edward the 6. and so much as in thee hath leyne hast by word writing deed set forwardes taught and preached the same openly and in sundry places affirmed that the sayde Englishe seruice and doctrine therein conteined is agreable in all poyntes to Gods word and vnto the truth condemning vtterly the Latine seruice nowe vsed in the Queenes reigne and inducing other by thine example to do the like 3. Item thou hast in sundrye places within this Realme commended and approued the opinion doctrine of Thomas Cranmer late Archbishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley Hugh Latimer concerning the Sacrament of the aultar affirming that in the Sacrament there remayneth after the wordes of consecration materiall breade and materiall wine without any transubstantiation 4. Item thou hast in sundrye places of this Realme since the Queenes reigne ministred and receiued the Communion as it was vsed in the late daies of king Edward the sixt and thou knowest or credibly hast heard of diuers that yet do keepe bookes of the sayd Communion and vse the same in priuate houses ou◠of the Church and are of opinion agaynst the Sacrament of the aultar 5. Item that thou in sundry places of this realme hast spoken agaynst the Pope of Rome and his Apostolicke sea hast plainely contemned despised the authority of the same misliking not allowing the faith and doctrine therof but directly speaking agaynst it and by thine example hast induced other the subiects of this realme to speake and do the like 6. Item thou doest knowe and hast bene conuersaunt with all or a great part of such English men as haue fledde out of this Realme for Religion and hast consented and agreed with them in theyr opinions and hast succoured maynteyned and holpen them and hast beene a conueyer of theyr seditious Letters and bookes into this realme 7. Item that thou hast sayd that thou hast bene at Rome and taryed there about 30. dayes or more and that thou hast sene litle good or none there but very much euill Amongest the which thou sawest one great abhomination that is to say a man or the Pope that shoulde goe on the ground to bee carried vppon the shoulders of foure men as though he had bene God and no mā Also a Cardinall to haue his harlot riding openly behinde hym And thirdly a Popes Bull that gaue expresse licence to haue and vse the stewes and to keepe open bawdry by the Popes approbation and authority 8. Item that thou sithens thy last comming into England out of the parties beyond the sea hast perniciously allured and comforted diuers of the subiectes of this Realme both young olde men and women to haue and vse the booke of Communion set forth in this Realme in the latter daies of king Edward the sixt and hast also thy selfe read and sette forth the same causing others to doe the like and to leaue theyr comming to their parish churches to heare the Latine seruice now vsed 9. Item that thou the thirde sondaye of Aduent the xij daye of this December 1557. wast apprehended at the Saracens heade at Islington in the county of Middlesexe and dioces of London by the Queenes Vicechamberlayne with one Cutbert a Taylour Hugh a hosier and diuers other there assembled vnder the colour of hearing a playe to haue read the communion booke and to haue vsed the accustomed fashion as was in the latter dayes of king Edward the sixt The aunsweres of Iohn Rowgh to the foresayd Articles 1. TO the first he said and confessed that he had spoken against the number of the sayde sacramentes being fully perswaded that there be but onely two Sacramentes to wit baptisme and the supper of the Lord and as for the other fiue he denyed them to be sacramentes and therefore hath spoken agaynste them And as concerning the sacrament of the aultar which he then called the supper of the Lord he confessed that he had spoken and taught that in the sayde sacrament there is not really and substantially the very body and bloud of Christ but that the substance of bread and wine doth remayne in the sayde Sacrament withou any transubstantiation at all Farther as touching confession of sinnes to the priest he answered that he thought it necessary if the offence were done vnto the priest but if the offēce were done to another then confession made to the priest is not necessary but reconciliation onely to bee made to the partye so offended 2. To the second he aunswered that he then did and had before misliked the order of latine seruice then vsed and also did allowe the seruice vsed in the latter time of King Edwardes reigne for that the holy scripture doth the same and therefore he graunted that he did teach and set forth the sayd Englishe seruice as in the same article is obiected 3. To the third he graunted that he had approued the doctrine of the parties articulate as agreable to Gods word and that they were godly learned men and such as had perfect
brought before the sayd Chancellour and the Scribe the Chancellor sayd vnto her Woman thou hast bene twise before me but thou I coulde not agree and here be certaine articles that my Lorde the B. of London would that thou shouldst make answer vnto which are these First how many Sacramentes thou doest allow Eliz. Sir as many as Christes Church doth allowe and that is twaine Then sayd the Scribe Thou wast taught 7. before K. Edwards dayes Chanc. Which two Sacraments bee those that thou doest allow Eliz. The sacrament of the body bloud of Iesus Christ and the sacrament of Baptisme Chaunc Doest thou not beleeue that the Pope of Rome is the supreme head of the Church immediately vnder God in earth Eliz. No sir no man can be the head of Christes Churche for Christ himselfe is the head and hys word is the gouernour of all that be of that Church where so euer they bee scattred abroad Chanc. Doest thou not beleeue that the Byshop of Rome can forgeue thee all thy sinnes hereticall detestable and damnable that thou hast done from thine infancie vnto this day Eliz. Sir the Bishop of Rome is a sinner as I am and no man can forgeue me my sinnes but hee onely that is without sinne and that is Iesus Christ whiche dyed for my sinnes Chanc Doest thou not know that the Pope sent ouer hys Iubilies that all that euer would fast and pray and go to the church should haue their sinnes forgeuen them The Scribe Sir I thinke that she was not in the Realme then Chanc. Hast thou not desired God to defend thee from the tiranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities Eliz Yes that I haue Chanc. And art thou not sory for it Eliz. No sir not a whit Chanc. Hast thou not sayd that the Masse was wicked the sacrament of the aultar most abhominable Eliz Yes that I haue Chanc. And art thou not sory for it Eliz. No sir not a whit Chanc. Art thou content for to go to the Church and heare Masse Eliz. I will not goe to the church either to Masse or Mattins till I may heare it in a tong that I can vnderstand for I will be fed no longer in a strange language And alwaies the Scribe did write euery of these articles as they were demanded and answered vnto Then the Scribe asked her from whence she came The Chauncellor sayd this is she that brought ouer all these bookes of heresie and treason Then sayd the Scribe to her Woman where haddest thou all these bookes Eliz. I bought them in Amsterdam and brought them ouer to sell thinking to gayne thereby Then sayd the Scribe what is the name of the booke Eliz I cannot tell The Scribe Why wouldst thou buy bookes and knowe not their names Then sayd Cluny the keeper Sir my L. Bishop did sende for her by name that she should come to Masse but she would not Chanc. Yea did my Lord send for her by name and would she not go to masse Eliz. No sir I will neuer go to masse till I do vnderstand it by the leaue of God Chanc. Understand it why who the deuill can make thee to vnderstand Latine thou beyng so old Then the Scribe commaunded her to set to her hande to all these sayd thyngs Elizabeth sayd sir then let me heare it read first Then sayd the Scribe M. Chauncellor shal she heare it read Chanc. Yea let the heretike heare it read Then she heard it read and so she set to her hand ¶ The eight examination before the Bishop WHen she was brought before the B. he asked the keper is this the woman that hath the three children And the keeper sayd yea my Lord. Bish. Woman here is a supplication put vnto my handes for thee In lyke case there was another supplication put vp to me for thee afore this in the which thou madest as though that I should keepe thy children Eliz. My L. I did not know of this supplication nor yet of the other Then said the Bish. M. Deane is this the womā that ye haue sued so earnestly for The Deane Yea my Lord. The Deane Woman what remaineth in the sacrament of the aultar when and after that the Priest hath spoken the words of consecration Eliz. A piece of bread But the Sacrament of Christes body and bloud which he did institute and leaue amongest his disciples the night before he was betrayed ministred according to his word that sacrament I do beleeue The Deane How doest thou beleeue concernyng the bodye of Christ where is his body and how many bodies hath hee Eliz. Sir in heauen he sitteth on the right hand of God The Deane From whence came his humane body Eliz. He tooke it of the Uirgin Mary The Deane That is flesh bloud bones as mine is But what shape hath his spirituall body hath it face handes and feete Eliz. I knowe no other body that he hath but that bodye whereof he ment when he sayd This is my body whiche is geuen for you and this is my bloud which shall be shed for you Whereby he plainly meaneth that body no other which he tooke of the virgin Mary hauyng the perfect shape and proportion of a humane body Story Then said Story Ye haue a wise body for ye must go to the stake The Deane Art thou content to beleeue in the faith of Christes Church But to aske of thee what Christes church is or where it is I let it passe Eliz. Sir to that church I haue ioyned my faith and from it I purpose neuer to turne by Gods helpe The Deane Wouldst thou not be at home with thy children with a good will Eliz. Sir if it please God to geue me leaue The Deane Art thou content to confesse thy selfe to bee an ignorant and a foolsh woman and to beleeue as our holy Father the Pope of Rome doth and as the Lorde Cardinals grace doth and as my Lord the Bishop of London thine Ordinary doth and as the Kinges grace and the Queenes grace and all the Nobilitie of England do yea and the Emperors grace and all the noble princes in christendome Eliz Sir I was neuer wise but in fewe wordes I shall make you a briefe answer how I do beleeue I do beleeue all thynges that are written in the Scriptures geuen by the holy Ghost vnto the Church of Christ set foorth and taught by the church of Christ. Hereon I ground my faith and on no man Then said Story and who shall be Iudge Eliz. Sir the scripture Story And who shall read it Elizabeth He vnto whom God hath geuen the vnderstandyng Bish. Womā be reformable for I would thou were gone and M. Deane heare hath earnestly sued for thee Deane Woman I haue sued for thee in deede and I promise thee if thou wilt be reformable my Lord will be good vnto thee Elizabeth I haue bene before my
his course till at length he came to a steepe downe hil at the hedge end downe the which hil he ran from them for they could not ride downe the hill but must fetch a great compasse about and so this Thomas Sprat ran almost a mile and as god would got a Wood. By that tyme he came to the Wood they were euen at hys heeles but the night drew on and it began to rayne and so the malice of these persecutors was at an ende the Lord working for his seruauntes whose name be praised for euer and euer Amen Not long after this one of the two Blanchendens aforesayd which so cruelly sought the destruction of other was cruelly murdered by hys owne seruauntes ¶ Iohn Cornet HEre might also be recited the hard adueÌ„tures and sufferinges of Iohn Cornet and at lengthe his deliueraunce by Gods good working out of the same Who being a prentise with a minstrell at Colchester was sent by hys mayster about the 2. yeare of Queene Maryes raygne to a wedding in a towne thereby called Roughhedge where hee being requested by a companye there of good men the Constables also of the parish being present thereat so sing some songes of the scripture chanced to sing a song called Newes out of London whiche tended agaynst the Masse and agaynst the Queenes misproceedinges Whereupon the next day he was accused by the Parson of Roughhedge called Yackesley and so committed first to the Constable where both his mayster gaue hym ouer and hys mother forsooke and cursed him From thence hee was sent to the next Iustice named M. CaÌ„nall and then to the Earle of Oxford where he was first put in yrons chaynes and after that so manacled that the bloude spurt out of hys fingers endes because he woulde not confesse the names of them which allured hym to sing And marueile it was that the cruell Papistes were so contended that they sent him not also to Bishop Boner to suffer the extremitie of the fire But Gods gracious prouidence disposed otherwise for hys seruaunt For after hee was manacled the Earle coÌ„maunded hym to be brought agayne to the towne of Roughhedge there to be whipped till the bloud followed and to be banished the towne for euer and so hee was during all the time of Queene Mary ¶ Thomas Bryce IF our story should proceede so wide and so large as dyd the exceeding mercy of Gods prouidence in helpyng hys seruauntes out of wretchednes and thraldome of those bloudy dayes our treatise I thinke would extende to an endlesse processe For what good man or woman was there almost in all this tyme of Queene Mary who eyther in carying a good conscience out of the land or tarying within the realm could well escape the Papistes handes but by some notable experience of the Lordes mightye power and helpyng hand working for him What shoulde I here speake of the myraculous deliueraunce of Thomas Bryce who beyng in the house of Iohn Seale in the parish of Horting and the Bayliffe with other neighbours comming in sent by Sir Iohn Baker to search and apprehend hym knowing perfectly both hys stature and colour of his garments yet had no power to see or know him standing before their faces So mightely the Lorde did blinde their eyes that they asking for him and looking vpon him yet notwithstanding he quietly tooke vpp his bagge of books and so departed out of the house wythout anye hand layd vpon him Also an other time about the 2. yeare of Queene Mary the sayde Thomas Bryce with Iohn Bryce his elder brother comming then from Wesell meeting together at their fathers house as they iornyed towardes London to geue warning there to one Springfield whiche els was like to bee taken vnawares by his enemies wayting for him vpon Gaddes hill fell in company with a promoter which dogged them and followed them again to Grauesâ—ad into the towne and layed the house for them where they were and all the waies as they should go to the water side so that it had not bene possible for them to haue auoyded the present daunger of those persecutors had not the Lordes prouident care otherwise disposed for hys seruauntes through the Hostler of the Inne couertly to conuey them by a secret passage whereby they tooke Barge a mile out of the towne and so in the ende both the liues of them and also of Springfield was preserued through the Lordes gracious protection ¶ Gertrude Crockhey GErtrude Crokehey dwelling at S. Katherines by the Towne of London and being then in her husbandes house it happened in the yeare 1556. that the Popes childish S. Nicholas went about the parish Whiche shee vnderstanding shut her dore agaynst him not suffering him to enter into her house Then Doct. Mallet hearing thereof and being then Mayster of the sayd S. Katherines the next daye came to her wyth twenty at hys tayle thinking belike to fray her and asked why shee woulde not the night before let in S. Nicolas and receaue hys blessing c. To whom she aunswered thus Syr I knowe no S. Nicholas sayd she that came hether Yes quoth Mallet here was one that represented S. Nicolas In deede sir sayd she here was one that was my neighbours childe but not S. Nicolas for S. Nicholas is in heauen I was afrayde of them that came with him to haue had my purse cut by them for I haue hearde of men robbed by S. Nicolas clerkes c. So Mallet perceiuyng that nothing could be gotten at her handes went his way as he came and she for that time so escaped Then in the yeare 1557. a little before Whitsontide it happened that the sayde Gertrude aunswered for a childe that was baptised of one Thomas Saunders whyche childe was christened secretly in a house after the order of the seruice booke in king Edwardes time and that beyng shortly knowne to her enemies she was sought for Whiche vnderstanding nothing therof went beyond the Sea into Gilderland to see certayne landes that should come to her children in the right of her first husband who was a straunger borne being there about a quarter of a yeare at the lengthe comming homeward by Andwarpe shee chaunced to meete with one Iohn Iohnson a Ducth manne alias Iohn de Uilla of Andwerpe shipper who seeing her there went of malice to the Margraue and accused her to be an Anabaptist whereby shee was taken and caryed to prison The cause why this naughty manne did thus was for that he claymed of M. Crokhay her husband a peece of mony whiche was not his due for a ship that Mayster Crokhay bought of him and for that hee coulde not get it he wrought this displeasure Well she being in prison lay there a fortnight In the whiche time she sawe some that were prisoners there who priuily were drowned in Renish wine fattes and after secretly put in sackes and cast into
with him that night but committed him to the Clinke tyl Tuesday after * The first examination of Thomas Rose before Winchester at saint Mary Oueryes ON Thursday being brought before the B. of Winchester at S. Mary Oueries the said Tho. Rose spake as followeth Rose It maketh me to maruayle my Lord quoth he that I should be thus troubled for that which by the worde of God hath bene established by the lawes of this Realme allowed by your own writing so notably in your booke De vera obedientia confirmed Bysh. Ah sirha hast thou gotten that Rose Yea my Lord I thanke God and do confesse my self much thereby confirmed For as touching the doctrine of the supremacie agaynst the B. of Romes vsurped authoritie no man hath sayde further And as I remember you confesse in it that when this truth was reuealed vnto you you thought the scales to fall from your eyes Bishop Thou lyest like a varlet there is no such thinge in my booke but I shall handle thee and suche as thou art well enough I haue lōg looked for thee at length haue caught thee I will knowe who be thy maynteiners or els I will make thee a foote longer Rose My Lord you shall doe as much as pleaseth God no more yet the lawe is in our hand but I haue God for my maynteiner none other At these wordes one of his seruāts stepped forth and said my lord I heard this man preach by Norwich in sir Iohn Robsters house in hys praier he desired God to turne Q. Maries hart or elles to take her out of the world and this was in K. Edw. time Rose My Lord I made no such prayer but next after the king I prayed for her after this sort saying Ye shall pray for my Lady Maries grace that God wil vouchsafe to indue her with his spirite that she graciously may perceiue the misteries conteined within his holy lawes and so render vnto him her hart purified with true fayth true loyall obedience to her soueraigne lord and king to the good ensample of the inferiour subiects And this my Lord is already aunswered in mine own hand writing to the counsel Unto this he sayd little but turning his face to certayne that were by him This is he quoth the Bishop that my Lord of Norwich told me had begotten his mayd with chylde Rose This is no heresie my Lord although it be a lye In deed certayn wicked persons raysed this report of me for the hatred they bare to the doctrine whiche I preached but for purgatiō of my self herein I had no lesse then 6. of the counsails hands that there might be due dilligent examination for this matter in the country by men of worship appointed for that purpose who can al testifie I thank god that I am most cleare frō such wickednes in deede they haue cleared me frō it therfore I doubt not but all good mē will espye the mischieuous deuise of mine aduersaryes whych when other wayes fayled by such sinister means went about to draw me into discredite hatred but God which is the helper of the innocēt searcher of mens harts hath doth defend me hath layd open thinges that wer hid to their shame One of the chief reporters of this that I should so abuse my self was one M. Clarke seruaunt in some estimation with the old Lord Treasurer of England reputed taken for a coniurer who afterwards for his good demerites hanged himself in the Tower Then the bishop commanded that I shoulde be caryed to the tower be kept safely where I did lye til it was the weeke before Whitsōtide Before which time I was twise called when as the bish came to the tower about other prisoners Notwythstanding the B. had no great talk with me but spake frēdly Howbeit one sir Rich. Southwell knight still accused me for my prayer sayde I did put a difference betwixte Lady Mary Lady Elizabeth for that I prayed in king Edwardes fayth prayed that he would confirme Lady Elizabeth in that which was well begō in her Unto this the bish sayde little but in the weeke before Pentecost I was conueyed from the tower to Norwich there to be examined by the bish and his clergy as concerning my faith the maner wherof here followeth ¶ The second examination of Tho. Rose before the bishop of Norwiche Hopkins by name in his owne Palace in the presence of sir William Woodhouse knight M. Stewarde the Chauncellor Doct. Barret with diuers others the Wednesday in Whitson weeke an Domini 1553. AFter I was presented by my keeper the bishop immediately asked me what I was I told him I had bene a Minister Bishop What is this to the purpose were yee a Fryer or a Priest Rose Fryer was I neuer but a Prieste haue I bene and beneficed by the kinges Maiesty Byshop Where were ye made Priest Rose In Exceter in the county where I was borne Thē the bishop required of me my letters of orders I told hym I knew not where they were become for they wer things of me not greatly regarded Byshop Well you are sent to me to be examined what say you will you submit your selfe to the order of the Churche of England Rose My Lord I trust I am not out of the order of chrystes Church in England neither do I knowe my selfe an offender there agaynst Bysh. What ye◠ye haue here preached moste damnable deuilish doctrine Rose Not so my lord The doctrine by me here preached was both true sincere holy But in deede the doctrine that is now set forth is most wicked and damnable yea that both agaynst Gods lawes mans But as for the doctrin by me preached it is grounded vpon the word of God set out also by the authoritie of two most mighty kings with the consent of all the Nobilitie and clergy of the same so that I preached nothing but their lawfull proceedinges hauing their lawfull authoritie vnder their broad Seales for confirmation of the same for which my doyng ye cannot iustly charge me For why sithens the lawe ceased I haue kept silence so that the Counsaile which sent me vnto you haue not charged me therwith Wherefore ye doe me open wrong to burden me with that wherein I am free Chanc. What sir ye are very captious answerest thou my Lord after such a sort Rose Syr sayd I I aunswere for my selfe and accordyng to the truth wherwith ye ought not to be offended if ye be of God Chaunc Thou art an euill man Wast thou not abiured before now Rose No ye vntruely report me and are in no wise able to proue that whiche ye haue spoken so that your wordes appeare to proceede altogether of malice whiche I haue not deserued at your handes But in this I well perceiue ye are made an instrument to vtter other mennes malice conceiued of olde Chaunc
to the Tower of London and there remained vntill Queene Elizabeth was proclaimed Queene at whych time he being deliuered fell sicke and dyed The common talke was that if he had not so sodēly ended his life hee woulde haue opened and reuealed the purpose of the chiefe of the Cleargy meaning the Cardinall whyche was to haue taken vp K. Henries body at Windsore and to haue burned it And thus much of doctor Weston The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of deathe were depriued and committed to prisones the Catalogue of whose names heere followeth In the Tower Nicholas Death Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chauncellour Thomas Thurlby B. of Ely Thomas Watson B. of Lincolne Gilbert Burne B. of Bath and Welles Richard Pates B. of Worcester Troublefield B. of Exetor Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Westminster Iohn Boxal Deane of Windsore and Peterborough Of Dauid Poole B. of Peterborough I doubte whether he was in the Tower or in some other prisone Ran away Goldwell B. of S. Asse Maurice Elect of Bangor Edmunde Boner B. of London in the Marshalsea Thomas Wood B. Elect in the Marshalsea Cutbert Scothish of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Louane and there died In the Fleet. Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpesfield Archdeacon of London and Deane of Norwich Nicholas Harpesfield Archd. of Cant. Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Hūtington W. Chadsey Archdeacon of Midlesex ¶ Concerning which Doctour Chadsey here is to be noted that in the beginning of king Edwards raigne he recanted and subscribed to 34. Articles wherein hee then fully consented and agreed with his owne hand wryting to the whole forme of doctrine approoued allowed then in the church as well concerning iustification by faith only as also the doctrine of the two sacramentes then receaued denying as well the Popes supremacie transubstantiation Purgatory Inuocation of Saints eleuation and adoration of the Sacrament the sacrifice veneration of the Masse as also all other like excrements of Popish superstition according to the kings booke then set foorth Wherefore the more maruel it is that he being counted such a famous and learned Clearke would shew himselfe so fickle and vnstable in hys assertions so double in hys doinges to alter hys Religion according to time and to maintein for truth not what he thought best but what he myght most safely defend So long as the state of the lord Protectour and of hys brother stoode vprighte what was then the conformitie of this D. Chadsey hys owne Articles in Latine wrytten and subscribed wyth hys owne hand doe declare which I haue to shewe if he will denye them But after the decay of the kings vncles the fortune of them turned not so fast but his Religion turned withall and eftsoones he tooke vppon hym to dispute agaynste Peter Martyr in vpholding Transubstantiation at Oxforde which a little before with his owne hād wryting he had ouerthrowen After this ensued the time of Queene Mary wherein doctor Chadsey to shew hys double diligence was so eger in his commission to sit in iudgement to bring poore mē to their death that in the last yeare of Quene Mary when the Lord Chauncellor Syr Thomas Cornwalles Lorde Clinton diuers other of the Counsell had sent for hym by a special letter to repaire vnto London out of Essex he wryting againe to the bishop of London sought meanes not to come at the Counsels bidding but to continue still in his persecuting progresse The Copie of whose letter I haue also in my handes if neede were to bring foorth Mention was made not long before of one William Mauldon who in king Henries time suffered stripes and scourgings for confessing the veritie of Gods true religion It happened in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth that the sayd W. Mauldon was bound seruaunt with one named Maister Hugh Aparry then a wheat taker for the Quene dwelling at Grenewich Who being newly come vnto him and hauing neuer a booke there to looke vpon being desirous to occupie himself vertuously loked about the house and founde a Primer in English whereon hee read in a winters euening Whiles he was reading there sat one Iohn Apowel that had ben a Seruing man about 30. yeres of age borne toward Wales whom the said M. Hugh gaue meat and drink vnto til such time as he could get a seruice And as the foresayd William Mauldon read on the Booke the sayde Iohn Apowell mocked hym after euery worde with contrary gaudes and flouting wordes vnreuerently in so muche that he coulde no longer abide him for grief of hart but turned vnto him and sayd Iohn take heede what thou doest Thou doest not mocke mee but thou mockest God For in mocking of his word thou mockest hym and thys is the word of God though I be simple that read it and therfore beware what thou doest Then Mauldon fell to reading agayne and still hee proceeded on in hys mocking and when Mauldon had redde certayne Englyshe Prayers in the ende he redde Lorde haue mercye vppon vs Christe haue mercye vpon vs. c. And as Mauldon was reciting these wordes the other with a start sodenly sayd Lord haue mercy vpon me With that Mauldon tourned and sayde what ailest thou Iohn He sayee I was afraide Whereon wast thou afraide said Mauldon Nothing now sayd the other and so he would not tel hym After thys when Mauldon and he went to bedde Mauldon asked him whereof he was afraide He sayde when you red Lord haue mercye vppon vs Christ haue mercy vppon vs me thought the haire of my head stoode vpright with a great feare which came vpon me Then sayd Mauldon Iohn thou mayest see the euill spirite could not abide that Christ should haue mercy vppon vs. Wel Iohn said Mauldon repent and amend thy life for God will not be mocked If we mocke and iest at his woord he will punish vs. Also you vse rebauldry woordes and swearing verye much therfore for Gods sake Iohn amend thy life So I will sayd he by the grace of God I pray God I may Amen said the other with other words and so went to bed On the next day about 8. of the clocke in the morning the foresaid Iohn came running downe out of his chamber in his shirt into the Hall and wrasteled with hys mistresse as he would haue throwen her downe Wherat she shriked out and her seruauntes holpe her and tooke hym by strength and caried him vp vnto his bed bound him downe to his bed for they perceiued plainely that he was out of his right minde After that as he lay almoste day and night his toung neuer ceased but he cried out of the deuill of hell and hys woordes were euer stil O the deuill of hell now the deuill of hell I would see the deuill of hell thou shalt see the deuil of hel there he was there he goeth with other words but
and burning them hee denyed not but that he was once at the burning of an herewygge fo◠so he termed it at Uxbridge where he tost a faggot at his face as hee was singing Psalmes and set a wynbushe of thornes vnder his feete a little to pricke him wyth many other words of like effect In the whiche words he named moreouer syr Phillip Hobby an other knight of Kent with such other of the richer and higher degree whom his Counsell was to plucke at to bring them vnder coram wherein sayd he if they had followed my aduise then had they done well and wisely This or much like was the effect of the shameles and tyrannicall excuse of hym selfe more meete to speake with the voyce of a beast then of a man Although in this Parliament some diuersitie there was of iudgement opinion betweene parties yet notwithstanding through the mercifull goodnes of the Lord the true cause of the Gospell had the vpper hand the Papistes hope was frustrate and theyr rage abated the order and proceedinges of king Edwardes time concerning religion was reuiued agayne the supremacie of the Pope abolished the articles and bloudy statutes of Queene Mary repealed briefly the furious firebrandes of cruell persecution which had consumed so many poore mens bodyes were now extinct and quenched Finally the olde Byshops deposed for that they refused the othe in renouncing the pope and not subscribing to the Queenes iust and lawfull title In whose rowmes and places first for Cardinall Poole succeeded D. Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury In the place of Heth succeeded D. Young In steede of Boner Edmund Grindall was Bishop of London For Hopton Thurlby Tonstall Pates Christoferson Peto Coates Morgan Feasy White Oglethorpe c. were placed Doctor Iohn Parkust in Norwich D. Coxe in Ely Iuell in Salisbury Pilkenton in Duresme Doctor Sandes in Worcester Mayster Downam in Westchester Bentam in Couentry and Lichfield Dauid in S. Dauies Ally in Exceter Horn in Winchester Scory in Hereford Best in Carlile Bullingham in Lincoln Scamler in Peterbury Bart let in Bath Gest in Rochester Barlo in Chi. c. ¶ And here to make an end of this Story Now it remayneth to proceed further to the Appendix in supplying such thinges as haue either bene omitted or newly inserted as foloweth ⧠The Appendix of such Notes and Matters as either haue bene in this History omitted or newly inserted IN this Story of Sir Roger Acton aboue mentioned pag. 587. I finde that with him were taken many other persōs that all the prisons in about London were replenished with people The chiefe of thē which were 29. were condemned of heresy atteynted of high treason as mouers of war agaynst theyr king by the temporall law in the Guild hall the 12. day of December and adiudged to be drawne and hanged for treasō and for heresy to be consumed with fire Gallowes and all which iudgement was executed in Ianuary following on the sayde Syr Roger Acton and 28. other Some say that the occasion of theyr death was the cōueyance of the Lord Cobham out of Prison Other write that it was both for treason as the aduersaries termed it and heresy Certayne affirme that it was for feyned causes surmised by the spiritualty more of displeasure thē truth as seemeth more neare to the truth * Concerning Iohn Frith of his life and story this foloweth more to be added and to be referred to the page 103◠FIrst this Iohn Frith was borne in the Towne of Westrame in Kent who after by diligent especialles was takē in Essex flying beyond the seas brought before the Counsaile Syr Thomas More thē being Chauncellor and so from them committed vnto the Tower where he remayned prisoner the space of a quarter of a yeare or there about It chaunced that Doctour Curreyne ordinary Chapleyne vnto King Henry the eighte preached a Sermō in Lent before his Maiesty And there verye sore enueying agaynste the Sacramentaryes as they thē termed and named which fauored not the grosse opinion that Christes body was carnally reall in the Sacrament he so farre discoursed in that matter that at the length he brake out thus far and sayd It is no maruayle though this abhominable heresye doe muche preuayle among vs for there is one nowe in the Tower of London so bolde as to write in the defence of that heresye and yet no man goeth about his reformation meaning Iohn Fryth who then had aunsweared Syr Thomas More in writing agaynste a confutation of that erroneous opinion which of late before the sayd Maister More had writen agaynst Iohn Frythes assertion in that behalfe This Sermon of purpose was deuised and appoynted by the Byshop of Winchester and other to seeke the destruction of Fryth by putting the king in remembraunce that the sayd Fryth was in the Tower there stayd rather for hys sauegarde then for his punishment by suche as fauoured hym as the Lorde Cromwell who being Uicegerent in causes Ecclesiasticall came then into suspition therefore For in suche sorte was the matter handeled before the Kyng that all men mighte well vnderstande what they meant The Kynge then being in no poynte resolued of the true and sincere vnderstanding of the doctrine of that Article but rather a peruerse stout Aduersary to the contrary called to hym my Lorde of Caunterburye and my Lord Cromwell and willed them forthwith to call Fryth vnto examination so that he might eyther be compelled to recant or elles by the Lawe to suffer condigne punishment Frythes long protract in the Tower withouten examination was so heynously taken of the King that nowe my Lorde of Caunterburye with other Byshoppes as Stokesly thē bishop of London other learned mē were vndelayedly appoynted to examine Fryth And for that there shuld be no concourse of Citizens at the sayd examination my L. of Canterbury remoued to Croydon vnto whome resorted the rest of the Commissioners Nowe before the day of execution appointed my Lord of Cant. sent one of his gentlemen and one of his porters whose name was Perlebene a Welchman borne to fetche Iohn Frith from the Tower vnto Croydon This gentleman hadde both my Lords letters and the kings ring vnto my Lord Fitzwilliams Constable of the Tower then lying in Canon row at Westminster in extreme anguish and payne of the strangulion for the deliuery of the prisoner Mayster Fytzwilliams more passionate then patient vnderstanding for what purpose my Lordes gentleman was come banned and cursed Frith and all other heretickes saying take this my King vnto the Lieuetenaunt of the Tower and receiue your man your hereticke with you and I am glad that I am ridde of him When Frith was deliuered vnto my Lord of Canterburyes Gentleman they twaine with Parlebeane sitting in a Wherry and rowing towardes Lambeth The sayd Gentleman much lamenting in his mind the infelicitie of the sayd Frith began in this wise to exhort him to consider in what estate
my father contÃnueth here to the intent to heare some godly and ioyfull tidynges both for soule and body whiche I trust it shal be to your singular comfort and consolation and to the great reioysing of all other of my frendes Therefore I desire you gentle mother to admonish my brother vnto a godly life with dilligent attendance and to pray for me considering his bound duety that God may by your faythfull prayer ayd and strengthen me in this my prosperous iourney and course whiche I run trusting to obtayne a crowne of euerlasting life whiche doth euer endure No more vnto you at this time but God preserue you vnto euerlasting life So be it ¶ The Oration in effecte of Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England spoken in the Starre Chamber the 29. of December in the 10. yeare of the reigne of our Souereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland Queene Defender of the fayth c. And in the yeare of our Lord God .1567 Then being present Mathew Archbishop of Caunterbury William Marques of Northhampton Fraunces Earle of Bedford Lord Clinton Admirall of England William Howard Lord Chamberleyne Byshop of London Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Edward Rogers Knight Controler Sir Ambrose Caue Knight Chanc. of the duchy Sir William Cicill Knight principall Secretary Sir Fraunces Knolles Knight Vicechamberleyne Sir Walter Mildemay Knight Chauncelor of the Eschequer Lord Cattelene chiefe Iustice of the kings bench Lord Dyer chiefe Iustice of the common place Sir William Cordale Knight M. of the Rolles Iustice Weston Iustice Welch Iustice Southcotes Iustice Carowes IT is geuen to the Queenes Maiestye to vnderstand that certayne of her Subiectes by theyr euill dispositions do sow and spread abroad diuers sedicions to the derogation and dishonor first of almighty God in the state of Religion stablished by the lawes of this Realme and also to the dishonor of her highnesse in disprouing her lawfull right of supremacy amongest her subiectes And this that they doe is not done as in secrecy or by stealth but openly auouched in all companyes disputed on And thus by theyr bold attemptes seme not to obey or regard the authority of lawes nor the quiet of her subiectes As for example by bringing in and spreading abroad diuers leud libels and sedicious bookes from beyonde the seas and in suche boldnes that they do commend those writers in their sedicious bookes conteining manifest matter agaynste the estate established Which boldnesse of men so Vniuersally and euery where seene and heard cannot be thought to be done but by the comfort and ayd or at the least way winckt at by theÌ„ whoÌ„ the Queenes highnes hath placed in authority to repres these insolencyes And the Queenes highnes can not more iustlye charge any for this disorder then such who be in commissioÌ„s chosen to represse these disorders If it be aunswered me that they cannot see such opeÌ„ boldnes factious disorders I must say that they haue no eyes to see if they heare not of suche contemptuous talke and speeche I may say that they haue no eares I would haue those men iudge what will come of these vnbridled speeches in the end if reformatioÌ„s be not had therof What coÌ„meth of factions seditions we haue bene taught of late yeares what the fruites be which I beseech God long to defend vs from If such disorders be hot redressed by law then must force violence reforme Which when they take place may fortune fall assoone on theÌ„ that seeme to haue least consideration in this matter If force and violence preuayle then ye know that law is put to silence and cannot be executed which should onely maynteine good order If it be replyed agaynst me that to the suppressing of these open talkes there is no law which by speciall letter can charge any man offender I must say that whatsoeuer the letter of the law be the meaning of the law was and is cleane contrary to the liberty of these doinges If it be sayd that no man can be charged by the law except it can be proued agaynst him that his speeche and deedes be done maliciously what ye call malice I can not tel But if the bringing in of these sedicious bookes make meÌ„s mindes to be at variance one with one another destruction of mindes maketh sedicions seditions bring in tumults tumults worke insurrections and rebellion Insurrections make depopulations and desolations and bringeth in vtter ruine destruction of mens bodies goodes landes And if any sow the roote wherof these men come yet can be sayd that he hath no mallice or that he doth not maliciously labour to destroye both publicke priuate wealth I can not tell what act may be thought to be done maliciously And further if it be sayd to me that the man which should be charged with offeÌ„ce must be proued to haue done his acte aduisedly To that I answere If any bring in those hookes distribute them to others commend defend them yet can not be charged to haue done aduisedly I haue no skill of their aduisednesse If it be sayde that the law intreateth of such actes as be directly derogatory and of none other what is direct ouerthwarting the Law when the contrary thereof is playnely treated holden and defended and the truth by argumentes condemned It maye be sayd agayne that the worlde doth not now like extremitye in lawes penal and calleth them bloudy lawes As for extreme and bloudy lawes I haue neuer liked of them But where the execution of such lawes touching halfe a dosen offenders and the not execution may bring in daunger halfe a hundred I thinke this law nor the execution therof may iustly be called extreme and bloudy In such like comparison I may vtter my meaning as to make a difference betwene whipping hanging In deed though whipping may be thought extreme yet if by whipping a man may escape hanging in this respect not whipping bringeth in this bloudinesse and extremity and not the execution of the law And better it were a man to bee twise whipped then once hanged The paynes do differre but wise men will soone consider the diuersity The truth is to suffer disobedient subiectes to take boldnes agaynst the lawes of God their prince to wincke at the obstinate minds of such as be vnbridled in theyr affections to mainteine a forraigne power of the Byshop of Rome directly agaynst the Princes prerogatiue stablished by lawes is not this to hatch dissentioÌ„ to chearish sedition To extoll the writinges of such who by all their wittes deuise to supplant the princes lawfull authority If these doinges be not meanes to the disturbance vtter ruine of the Realme I know not what is good gouernance If these be not the sparkes of Rebellion What be they Thus much hauing spoken to your wisedomes I doubt not of your assenting with me the rather also because I vtter them vnto
throwne downe at Basil. 871 Impropriations and first fruites abused by the Pope 5 Impropriations deuillish and vngodly cause of muche wickednes 862 Imber fast or deined by whō wherfore and when 58.197 Incense 1404. Inconueniences that follow the taking away of Gods word 1904 Indenture concerning the 22. prisoners apprehended at Colchester 1972. Inditement of the Lorde Cobham Syr Roger Acton and others 575. Indulgences of the Pope blasphemous and wicked 844 Infantes murthered and found in Lenton Abby 1947. Ingar and Hubbe captains of the Danes .140 slayne in Englefield 141.114 Iniunctions of king Henry 8. for reformation of religion 1094.1095.1096 Innocentius 2. pope vsurper 200. Innocentius 4. made Pope to sit in the seate of pestilence .313 hys crueltie and death ibid. Innocentius 3. Pope ennemy to Chrstes Church hys acts decrees 259. Innocentius 8. his bloudy cruelty 711. Ina his Lawes 778. Inquisition of Spayne most bloudy how it is vsed and what vnspekable hurt commeth by it 930.931.932.933 Inquisition at Cambridge by the inquisitours with the processe and burning of Bucer Paulus Phagius bones 1956.1958 1960.1962.1963.1966.1968 Inquisition agaynst euill officers 350. Inquisition at Oxford 526. Inquisitiō bloud◠of the 6. Articles by king Henry the 8. 1136. Inquisition bloudy by Pope Martin 651. Insurrections and rebellions the causes thereof 1753. Interrogatories ministred to Thomas Arthure and M. Bilney 999. Interpretation of the prophesies of the Turke and Pope 769. Introit of the Masse by whome it was introduced 1401. Inuocation 1108. Inuocation of saynctes 28. I. O. Iohn Alcocke martyr troubled for reading Gods word to the people in the absence of their pastor apprehended committed to prison and dyeth in the same 2146. Iohn Andrew bookbinder a persecutor plagued 2109. Iohn Apprice martyr 1909.1910 Ioh. Aishton troubled exam 437 Iohn Adams Martyr ibid. Iohn Auerth a popish priest 1519 Iohannes Anglicus Cardinall hys words to the Pope 290 Iohn Aucocke dyed in prison and buried in the fields 1561 Iohn Aleworth died in pryson 1683 Iohn Bradford Martyr his excellent story .1603 his lyfe and education ibid. appeaseth the rage at Paules crosse .1604 imprisoned ibid. his conference with Winchester and the commissioners .1605 his sundry examinations .1606.1607.1608.1610.1611 hys priuate talke with Harpsfield and others .1612.1613.1614 wyth certayne Bishops .1615.1616 with Friers .1617.1618 with others .1620.1622 his condemnation .1623 hys glorious martyrdome .1624 hys letters 1625 1626.1628.1630.1664.1638.1666 Iohn Badby his story and grieuous persecution .521 his constancy and martyrdome for the truth 522 Ioane Boughton Martyr 731 Iohn Barton persecuted 641 Ioane Beach Martyr 1906 Iohn Browne his story .1292 hys martyrdome 1293 Iohn Bent Martyr 1030 Iohn Baker Martyr 2058 Ioane Bradbridge Martyr her story 1979 Iohn Browne Martyr 805 Iohn Butler his story 1226 Iohn Bland preacher and Martyr his story .1665 apprehēded .1666 hys examination and aunswers .1667.1668 his appearaunce in the spirituall court with his answers there .1670 his confutation of transubstantiation .1671 1672.1674.1676 his death and prayer at the same 1676 Iobita Martyr 41 Iohn Castellane doctor and martyr his trouble and persecution .878 his degradation .879 hys martyrdome 880 Iohn Cornford Martyr his story and martyrdome 2053 Iohn Cheeke his story recantation repentance and death 1955 Iohn Clarke Iohn Archer wyth their fellowes famished in the castle at Canterb. for the Gospell 1954 Iohn Carelesse hys death in the Kings Bench his examinatiōs and aunswers .1919.1920 hys letters 1921.1922.1924.1926.1928.1930.1932.1933 Iohn Cardmaker his trouble persecution and martyrdome 1578.1579.1580 Iohn Ardley his story articles ministred against him with his answers .1582 his martyrdome 1583 Iohn Cooke Martyr his story and martyrdome 2047 Iohn Cauell Martyr his story 1895.1896 Iohn Chapman Martyr 1036 Iohn Cornet his deliuery 2081 Iohn Clarke Martyr 878 Iohn Alcocke confessor hys story and death 2046 Iohn Clement hys death and buriall 1914 Iohn Claidon Currier his story .639 hys condemnation Martyrdome 640 Iohn de Clum his great loue to Iohn Hus his Epistle of comfort vnto hym 621 Iohn de Clum frend to Ioh. Hus 599 Iohn Derifall Iohn Routh their story and martyrdome 1914 1915.1916.1917 Iohn Deny Martyr 1912 Iohn Deuenish Martyr his story 2033.2034 Iohn Dauid Martyr 2049.2050 Iohn Dighton murtherer of hys Prince 728 Iohn Dauies his trouble and deliuery 2073 Iohn Denley Iohn Newman with Patrike Patchinghā martyrs .1683 articles obiected against them .1684 their answers ibid. their christian beliefe confession 1687.1684 Iohn de Roma a terrible persecutor hys fearefull death 2107 2108.2109 Iohn the Euangelist his excellent story 36 Iohn the Euangelist exiled into Pathmos released agayne 36 Iohn Esche Martyr 874 Iōh Fishcocke Martyr his story and martyrdome for the Gospell at Cant. with vi moe his fellow Martyrs 198.1981 Iohn Floyd Martyr his story and martyrdome 2037.2038.2039 Ioh. Frankish martyr his trouble and persecution .1673 his martyrdome 1676 Iohn Foreman Martyr his story 1949. Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester an enemy to Christes Gospell .1068 beheaded in the end 1069. Iohn Frith his trouble for the gospell .2126 refuseth to be deliuered out of prison prophesieth of the restoryng of the truth in england 2127 Iohn Frith hys story .1031 set in the stocks at Reading .1032 his reasons vpō the sacrament .1033 his letter to his friendes .1034 sentence of condemnation geuen agaynst hym .1035 his constant martyrdome 1036.1037 Ioh. Frontō his trouble in Spain 2056.2057.2058 Iohn Glouer and Robert Glouer their story persecution and trouble .1709.1710.1712.1713 are excommunicate beyng dead and buried in the fields 1714 Iohn Glouer his trouble and deliuerance 2071 Iohn Galle hys trouble 642 Iohn Florence a Turner his trouble and displyng 659 Iohn Gostwicke knight accuser of Cranmer in the parliamēt house 1867 Iohn Gates knight beheded with sir Tho. Palmer 1408 Iohn Gower 839 Iohn Goddesell his trouble persecution 660 Iohn Goose Martyr 717 Iohn Holyday Martyr his story 2037.2038 Iohn Halingdale Martyr his story and martyrdome 2025.2026.2027 Iohn Hullier Martyr burned at Cambridge 2004 Iohn Huglein Martyr hys story 884 Ioh. Harpole Ioane Beach martyrs their story 1906. Iohn Hullier minister and martyr his story and letters 1906.1907 1908.1909 Iohn Hamond Iohn Spenser martyrs 1909 Ioane Hornes Martyr 1910.1911 Iohn Hamelton bishop of S. Dauids a persecuter 1272 Iohannes Huniades his victories against the Turkes 740 Iohn Herst Martyr his story and martirdome 2053 Iohn Hart Martyr hys story 1953 Iohn Horne and a woman Martyrs 1935 Iohn Hus his story cited and excōmunicate .588 banished Prage 590. his obiections agaynst the doctors decrees .599.590 his safe conduct his letters of hys goyng vp to the Councell 596. hys appearance before the Pope cardinall .599 his sicknes and imprisonment articles obiected against hym with hys aunsweres .600 his bookes writ in prisonne .601 his protestation .604 hys false accusations .606 hys appeale .611 his degradation .623 his sentence of condemnatiō .622 his martyrdome burning .624 his letters 626.627.628 Iohn Haywood his recantation
1231 Iohn Hunt Confessor his story 2054 Iohn Iohnson Martyr his storye burned at Colchester 2007.2008.2009 Iohn Iackson his story 1950.1949 Iohn Iourdelay Teler Dwarfe abiured 641 Iohn King of England his story 249 Iohn Kurd martyr his story 2021 Iohn Lacels Martyr 1240 Iohn Longlande his Sermon on good Fridaye before the king at Greenewich 1097 Iohn LawreÌ„ce his story .1542 his Martyrdome and death 1543 Iohn Longland Bishoppe of Lincolne a Persecutour of good men .820 his articles ministred to the poore members of Christ. ibid. Iohn Lomas Martyr his story 1859 Iohn Leafe Martyr his story .1623 his examinations martyrdome 1623.1624 Iohn Launder Martyr his storye his confession examination and aunsweares .1680 his articles obiected agaynste him with his aunsweres to the same 1681 Ioyce Lewes Martyr her story and martyrdome at Liechfielde 2012 Iohn Lambert his story and persecution .1101 articles obiected agaynst him with his seuerall answeres to the same articles .1102 1103.1104.1105.1106 his new trouble .1121 his learned godly disputation before the king and Nobles .1122 his condemnation .1123 his constaunt suffering of Martyrdome for the truth .1124 his treatise of the Sacrament to the king 1125 Iohn Meluyn his trouble for the Gospell his letter out of Newgate concerning the Eucharist of the Lordes supper 2140.2141 Iohn Martin plagued 2108 Iohn Morin Lieutenant criminall of the Prouost of Paris a persecutor plagued of God 2109 Ioane Manninges Martyr her story 1979 Iohn Milles scourged by Boner 2044 Iohn Martin a cruell persecutour his death 955 Iohn Maunsell a riche Priest 330 Iohannes Mountziger a Protestant agaynst the Pope 419 Iohn Maundrell William Coberley and Iohn Spicer Martyrs theyr story 1894 Iohn Marbecke his trouble persecution sondry examinations 1214. his wiues sute to the Bishop for him .1216 his Inditement .1219 saued from the fire why 1220 Iohn Mace his story and death 1909 Iohn a Neatheard Martyr 724 Iohn Norris 1917 Iohn Newman his story and examinations 1850.1951 Iohn Noyes martyr his story and apprehension .2021 his martyrdome 2022 Iohn Fortune his story his examinations and aunsweres 1918 1919 Ioane Norman 838 Iohn Oswald Martyr his story 1914. Iohn Oxlinus preacher his persecution for the Gospell 869 Iohn Puruey his recantation and imprisonment .543 hys articles collected out of his bookes 544. Iohn Patriarche of Constantinople began first to vsurpe the name of vniuersall Byshop 12. Iohn Patriarche of Alexandria his life and conuersation 119. Iohn Porter his story and Martyrdome 1206. Iohn Philpot of Tenderden martyr hys story and martyrdome 1970. Iohn Philpot martyr his excelleÌ„t story his actes and doynges .1795 his examinations and aunsweres .1796.1797.1798 hys condemnation .1826.1829 hys martyrdome and deathe .1830 his letters 1831.1832.1834.1838.1840.1842.1844 Iohannes de Poliaco 391. Iohn deâ—Poliaco recanteth at Paris 309. Iohn 10. Pope 146. Iohn 13. Pope wounded almost slayne in adultery 159. Iohn 14. Pope cast into prison 159. Iohn 15. Pope murthered 159 Iohn Roughe minister and Martyr his story and martyrdome .2028.2029.2034.2030.2031 his letters 2030.2031 Iohn de Rupe Scissa a protestant his trouble and persecution for the truth 390 Iohannes Rochtailada martyr hys story 391. Iohn Ruse persecutor plagued by the hand of God 2109. Iohn Russell Lorde priuy seale Lieuetenaunt ouer the kynges armie in the West 1307.1308 Iohn Slade Martyr 804. Iohn Segouâ—â—s in the Counsell of Basill 670. Iohannes Seneca excoÌ„municate 317 Iohn Simson martyr hys storye and Martyrdome 1582.1583 Iohn Spicer martyr hys constancie at the stake 2144. Iohn Streete hys trouble 1473. Iohn Stilman Martyr .814 hys constant martyrdome 815. Ioane Sole Ioane Catmer martyrs theyr storyes 1850. Iohn Scriuener martyr 838. Iohn Stafford Archbish. of Canterbury .383 hys letter to kyng Edward .3 382. Iohn Tewkesbury a godly martyr his story .1024 hys abiuraration .1026 his martyrdome ibid. Iohn Tudson Martyr hys story .1844 his condemnation martirdome 1857.1858 Iohn Thurstane confessor 2000. Ioane Trunchfield her trouble for the Gospell .1704 her story and marâ—yrdome 1893. Iohn Tooly hys story and deathe digged out of hys graue processe agaynst him after hys deathe .1583.1584 burned 1585. Ioane Waste a blinde woman in Darby Martyr .1951 articles ministred to her .1952 her martyrdome 1952. Ioh. Webbe martyr hys story 1794 Iohn Went artificer his story ibid. coÌ„demned .1857 martyred 1858 Ioane Warren alias Lashforde mayd her story .1844 her condeÌ„nation and constant martyrdom 1857.1858 Ioh. Wade Ioane Laishfield martirs 1689.1702 Iohn Warne hys story and martirdome 1578.1579.1580 Iohn de Wesalis persecuted .724 his Articles .726 hys opinions 726. Iohn Waldon Priest hys trouble martyrdome 661. Iohn Wickliffe his story sent ambassadour by the king .423 hys blemishes .424 his conclusions to the Bishops .432 his expositions vppon the same .433 his epistle to Pope Urbanus 6.445 hys bookes and friendes .447 his bookes condeÌ„ned in the councell of constance .449.450 his defence by Iohn Hus .451 hys bones burnt after his death .463 his bookes burnt in Prage by Swinco 607. Iohn Whiteman shoomaker martyr hys lamentable story .2112.2113.2114 hys martyrdoÌ„ ibid. I P. Ipswich persecuted 2089.2090 I R. Ireland when and by whom conuerted to England 226.227 Ironsyde king of Englande .162 his intended battell with King Canutus Stayed by an Oration ibid. Ireneus made Minister and commended to Elutherius 50 Ireneus Bishop of Lyons martir 55 Irene the Empresse burned the deade bodye of Constantine her husbande and set vp Images at Constantinople 132 I S. Isakius enemy to english men 244 Isakius king of Cyprus yeldeth to king Richard 245 Ischirion Martyr his story 62 Isabell Queene Wife to king Edward .2 goeth into Fraunce returneth agayne with a great power taketh the king and setteth vp her sonne .370.371.372 she is found with child by Syr Roger Mortimer 376 Isabell Foster Martyr her story .1844 her condemnation .1857 her martyrdome 1858 Islington persecuted and 22. godly persons taken there in prayer 2037.2038 I T. Italian Martyrs 934 Ita missa est in the Masse 1404 Italy in the number of bishopricks surmounteth all other nations 680 Italian Priests of England spoiled of theyr corne 275 ItaliaÌ„s receiued greater reuenews out of England then the crowne it selfe 389.289 I V. Iustinus his history 37. Iustine proueth all kinde of Philosophy is miraculously conuerted by an old man is baptised with all his household writeth an Apology in defence of the christians 48.49.50 Iulianus Martyr his story 62 Iudgement how vsed in the primitiue church and the maner therof 1807 Iueson Martyr his story martirdome 1682.1683 Iulius Palmer a vertuous learned young man his story .1934 his education ibid. was once an enemy to the truth .1934 his coÌ„uersion .1935 persecuted .1936 reiected of his Mother ibid. betrayed and apprehended .1937 his first examination with articles obiected agaynst him .1937.1938 his 2. examination ibid. his condemnation and martirdome .1939.1940 his Epitaph ibid. Iulins Palmer thinketh it no hard matter to burne to a spirituall man that is able to
Cranmer archbishop of Cant. 1889.1890.1891.1892 Letter of Carolus Magnus to Offa for intreaty of peace 131. Letter of Fredericke the Emperor to all the world agaynst the Pope 306.307 Letters of Germanus Patriarche of Constantinople to the Pope and Cardinals 282.283 Letter of Hadrian to Minutius Fundanus for the staying of persecution 41. Letter of Hildebrand Pope against Priestes mariage 175. Letters of M. Hooper full of godly comfort and consolation 1482. Letters moe of M. Hooper Martyr 1512.1514.1515.1516 Letter of Hulderike to Pope Nicholas in defence of Priests mariage 137.138 Letters of Iohn Hus. 626.627.628.629.630 Letters of king Richard 2. agaynst Walter Brute 504. Letter vnder the kinges authoritie to represse the Romayne benefices in England 275. Letters of the king of Denmarke in the behalfe of M. Couerdale with Queene Maryes aunsweres 1529.1530 Letter of king Henry 3. hys Confessor declaring his acts and exploytes in Fraunce 385. Letter of the Pope for an Italian boy to be Prebende or Chanon with aunswere thereto by Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne 323.324 Letter of the Prisoners of Caunterbury throwne out of Prison declaring how the Papistes had and entended to famishe them to death 1954 Letter of the Lord Protector aunswering to Winchester 1344 1345 Letters of M. Saunders martyr 1500.1501.1052 Letter of the suffraganes of CauÌ„terbury to Becket with his answere to the same 218.219 Letter of Tonstall and Stokesley to Cardinall Poole 1065 Letter of the Ladye Uane to M. Philpot. 1828 Letters agaynst Wickliffe 435 Letter of Winchester in defence of Images with aunswere thereto 1340.1341 Letters of Winchester to the Lord Protector 1342.1343 Letter of Wolsy to Gardiner lieger at Rome to be made pope 990 Leuiticall Priestes deuided froÌ„ the people and wherein 496 Lewlinus king of Wales warreth agaynst the king of England 328 Lewes the french king warreth in Englande and is expelled out of the same .257 dieth at the siege of Auinion 271 Lewes the french king his feruent sickenesse .292 his vow to visite the holy lande his preparation to the voyage ibid. Leâ—â—r of Abingdon a Blasphemer of Gods Martyrs punished 2103 Lewes the french king refuseth to warre in England .289.389 his vnfortunate voyage to the holye Land .292 ouerthrowne by the Turkes and Saracens .276.296 295 taken prisoner and rouÌ„sommed ibid. Leison Doctor his dyrefull end 2136 L I. Liberality of ConstaÌ„tine in geuing to Churches 104 Liberty of the Citizens of London in going to warre 372 Libâ—rty christiaÌ„ in outward vsages 56 Licinius Emperour a tyrant an enemy to all learning an Apostata his horrible vices .87 his death 88 Licenses to preach 532 Lie substantiall and reall 2007 Liyng miracles reproued 156.125 Lies innumerable in the Popes Church 584 Life of the Monkes and religious men abhominable 1180 Life to come the blessed state therof 681 Life of Tho. Becket Archbishop of Caunterbury and Traytour 205.206 Limits of England how farre they extend 166 Lincolne persecuted 982.983.984 Lincolne Minster buâ—â—te 184 Lincolne Dioces persecuted described in a Table 821.822 Lineall discent of the B. of Rome 1758 Lion Cawche Martyr his story constaunt Martyrdome for the truth of Gods word 1914.1915 Listâ—r his story and martyrdome 1909 Lithall his story and deliueraunâ—â— 2064. Liuingus priest a maryed manne 1176. L O. Lollards as the papists call the true professors of the worde of God burned in the cheek for theyr coÌ„stancie in the truth 774. Lollardes Tower described 1703. Lollardes as the papistes called theÌ„ or rather good Christians burned and hanged 587. Lollardes what they are and from whence deriued 465. London consumed with fire .160 besieged by the Danes ibid. London bridge built with stone 233. Londoners defend theyr bishop and fall into a great fury 427. London persecuted 802.799 Lowicke martyr his godly story and martyrdome 1970. London persecuted for the 6. articles 1202. London and Westminster at varyaunce about game 279. Londoners theyr assaulte agaynst the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Percie 427. Londoners take part with Wickliffe and are great fauoures of hys doctrine .513 complayned of to the king by the Bishoppes ibid. Longland hys sermon on good friday before the king at Greenewiche .1097 hys filthy falshood and dissimulation ibid. Lomas Martyr hys story 1859. Lord Admirall beheaded on the tower hill 1367 Lord of Alenc a good man 944 Lordes of Bohemia writ in defeÌ„ce of Iohn Hus .602 his appreheÌ„sion and cruell martyrdome 643 Lord of Reuest plagued 2108 Lord Cobham his lamentable story and persecution .557 cited .558 excommunicate ibid. his christian beliefe .559 his 1· and 2. examinations His godly answeres 560.561.562 his condemnation .564 his counterfeit abiuration by the Papistes .565 his beliefe and coÌ„fession of his fayth .566 his defence agaynste Alanus Copus .568 proued no Traytour but a Godly Martyr .568.569 his slaunders .572 his inditement with notes vpon the same 575. Lord Courtney made earle of Deuonshyre 1417 Lord Dane or Lordane 161 Lord Peter his Oration agaynst the pope in the parliament in france 353.354 Lord Gilford Dudley maryed to the vertuous Lady Iane. 1406 Lord Gray beheaded 1469 Lord Hastings beheaded 727 Lord Lifley Deputy of Calice coÌ„mitted to the Tower 1227 Lord Powes betrayer of the good L. Cobham 643 Lordes prayer in English forbidde by the Papistes 973 Lord Shandois his report agaynst the good Lady Elizabeth 1425 Lord Stanley wounded 727. Lord Shefield slayne at Norwich 1308. Lord keeper hys Oration 2150.2151 Lord of Trinitie a wicked persecucutor 962. Loosing of Sathan examined 397. Loseby martyr his story and persecution .1974 hys martyrdome 1975.1976 Lothbroke father to Inguar and Hubba hys story 140. Loue commaunded in the Gospell 483. Loue of God goeth not by our deseruings but by fayth in Iesus Christ. 1927. L V. Lucius king hys death 107. Lucius Bishop of Rome banished hys Epistles decretall 67. Lurdayne 161 Lucius a worthy martyr 45. Lucius first christened king of Enland 107. Lucius sonne of Coilus king of Britayne bringeth the christian fayth into England 107.108 Lucius king hys death 118. Lucius 1. king of Britayne christined 172. Lucifers Epistle to the Popes Clergy 502. Ludouicus king of Hungary and Boheme 723. Ludouicus Emperour crowned agaynst the good will of the Pope and therefore deposed by Benedicte the 12. and afterwarde by him poisoned 373. Ludouicus Pius and hys sonne Lotharius Emperors their godly sanctions and lawes .8 deposed and poisoned by Pope Boniface .12 373 Ludouike the yong French kyng his story 255 Ludouicus Pius Emperour and kyng of Fraunce 136 Ludouicus Pius his decre against the profession of monkery 7. Luther his story and actes .841.843 why he wrote agaynst pardons .844 his appearance before the Cardinall Caieâ—anus .845.849 hys aunswers to the Cardinall .846 hys appeale and disputation with Eckius .847 his bookes burned .848.849 he burneth the Popes buls decrees ibid. hys actes before the Emperor at Wormes .849 hee is outlawed .853 why he permitted Images to stand and wherein he dissented
make his aunswereâ— Succession of Bishopâ— alone is â—o sufficient poynt to proue the Catholicke Church Leaue your reuiling termes 〈◊〉 Lord 〈◊〉 goe to the matter Note how these men grouÌ„d their fayth not vpon Gods word but vpon the determination of their owne knowne Church My Lord of 〈◊〉 driâ—eâ— to seeke 〈◊〉 bookes August de implicitate â—â—edendi â— Philpot 〈◊〉 repâ—â—ted to 〈…〉 â— Poyntes 〈◊〉 proue 〈◊〉 Cathoâ—â—cke church 〈◊〉 of S. Austen 1. Consent of al natioÌ„s 2. Sea Apoâ—â—â—licall 3. Vniuersalitye 4. Catholicke Aunswere to the Archbishops 4. poyntes Christes church ceaseth not 〈◊〉 his Church albeit 〈◊〉 tyme of persecution iâ— be hid sometime in corners First aunswere to his reason and 〈◊〉 him obâ—tinate â—â—terward * Because 〈◊〉 Lord 〈◊〉 be not 〈◊〉 to aunswere him Anotâ—â—◠〈◊〉 of M. Philâ—â—â— before â—he â—ishop Concerning these 4. poynt aunswered sufâ—ficiently befoâ—â— It is best for you to lay so when you haue no other way to shift of his Argumentes The last examinations of M. Philpot in open iudgement with his finall condemnation by B. Boner in the consistory at Paules December 14. M. Philpot called into open iudgement 3. Speciall Articles layd to M. Philpot. * Here eyther the Register belyeth M. Philpot or els he ment as not offeÌ„ding the law thereby to be accused for otherwise â—all his former examinations doe declare that he spake against the Sacrament of the Altar B. Boner with all his Doctors not able to satisfie M. Philpots offer December 16. The last examination of Iohn Philpot. B. Stokesleys prayer when he gaue sentence vpon any B. Boner prayeth against himselfe B. Boner hath no authoritye by right to proceed agaynst M. Philpot. B. Boner noted to 〈◊〉 ignorant 〈◊〉 the lawe This law seemeth eyther blindly câ—pared of the Bishop or els not rightly collected of his Register The Lord Maioâ— with the Shâ—â—efâ—e assistanâ— to B. Boner against M. Philpot. The 3. arâ—â—â—cles agaynst Iohn Philpot agaynst repeated An exhortation of â— Boneâ— to Iohn Philpot December 16. 〈◊〉 Philpot answeâ—eth to the Bâ—â—hops exhortation before the Lord Maior To the first aâ—ticle Iohn Philpot is of the Catholicke Church but not of the â—aâ—ilonical Church To the 2. Article Iohn Philpot speaketh not agaynst the 〈◊〉 sacrifice 〈◊〉 agaynst 〈◊〉 sacrifice 〈◊〉 â—pon the 〈◊〉 vsed 〈◊〉 prâ—uate masâ—es To the 3. article Pâ—â—â—pot denyeth not 〈◊〉 Sacrament of the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 but the Sacrament of the Altar of 〈◊〉 he deâ—â—eth Philpot chargeth the clergy of Q Mar· time to be idolaters to 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 church where their 〈…〉 church 〈◊〉 England 〈◊〉 K. Edwardeâ—â—â—me B. Boner chargeth him with false surmises for want of true matter Philpot had a knife brought him vnder a pig Ergo the Church of Rome is a Catholicke church Articles concluded in Cambridge and Oxford The catechisms set forth in K. Edwards dayes The booke of report of the disputation in in the Conuocation house A letter written to M. Philpot touching the handling of M. Grene. exhibited by B. Boner Boner breaketh promise M. Grene strong in sriptures Doctors Fecknams report of Bart. Grene. This bill was a supplication to be offred vp in the Parlament A letter written to M. Philpot by the faythfull Christen Lady the Lady Vane A supplication of Iohn Philpot to the King and Queene The strayte handling of Iohn Philpot in the Bishops Colehouse Of this booke of disputation 〈◊〉 the Conuocation reaâ—â— before pag. 1410. Ah my Lord what needed this question when no reasonable aunswere could be allowed Sentence of condemnation read agaynst M. Philpot. M. Philpots words in reading the senteÌ„ce M. Philpot deliuered to the Sheriffes M. Philpot to his seruaunt M. Philpot brought into Newgate his man permitted to enter with him Talke betweene M. Philpot Alexander the keeper Good Philpot lâ—den with yrons because he would not recant at Alexanders bidding Alexander taketh Philpots tokens from his man Alexander the cruell keeper requireth 4. poundes of M. Philpot for his yrons M. Philpot 〈…〉 Note the 〈…〉 Phâ—lpot with much 〈…〉 M. Philpot warned by the Sheriffes â—o prepare him agaynâ—t the next day to 〈…〉 Decemb. â—â— M. Philpot brought to the place of Martyrdome M. Philpotâ— words going to the stake M. Philpotâ— prayers Iohn Philpot geueth the Officers money The writinges examinations of M. Iohn Philpot by the prouideÌ„ce of almighty God preserued A godly prayer to be sayd at the tyme of Martyrdome He prayeth for restoring of the Gospell and peace in England A letter of M. Philpot to the Congregation Heb. 6· Math. 25. Math. 5. Rom. 10. Math. 11. Luke 12. Math. 7. Luke 9. Math. 7. Aggeus â— Wisedome of the flesh not to be harkened vnto Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 6. Math. 16. Heb. 11. Psal. 116. Death for righteousnes bringeth felicity Godly counsell Luke 18. 3. Reg. 18. Apoc. â— 3. Reg. 31. God will not be serued after mans imagination but as himselfe prescribeth Ephe. 2. Psal. 21. Psal. 26. 〈…〉 5. 1 Cor. 3. Not lawfull 〈◊〉 true 〈…〉 Popish 〈◊〉 Not 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 God in 〈◊〉 but in 〈…〉 A lesson for large consciences Persons 〈…〉 true Christians ought in no 〈◊〉 to parâ—â—cipate with 〈◊〉 Heb. 10. Apoc. 13. 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 2. 1 Cor. 6. Apoc. 18. 〈◊〉 3. The place 〈…〉 5. 〈◊〉 Math. 24. A cursed thing to sinne vpon hope of forgeuenes Psal. 102.146 Luke 20. 1. Pet. 2. Obedience to Magistrates what and how farre Actes 4. Daniell 6. Math. 15. Agaynst such â— sinne wilfully vpon hope of Election Rom. 3. Ephe. 1. 2. Heter 1. Prouerb 24. Iohn 12. Iohn 3. Heb. 6.10 Large conscieÌ„ce 1. Cor. 4. 1. Tim. 1. Charitye Pure hart Fayth vnfayned Good conscieÌ„ce An other letter of M. Philpot to Iohn Careles Experience of the Lordes comfort in trouble Example of Christes comfort to be taken by M. Philpot. Apoc. 21. An other letter of M. Philpot to the same partye To this letter Careles maketh a very godly aunswere which you shall see after in his story Math. 15. Psal. 125. Psal. 51. Luke 7. Sorow in a Christian man ought to be moderate 1. Thess. 4. 2. Cor. 7. Rom. 5. Sathans practise to bring the godly repeÌ„tance of a sinner to desperatioÌ„ Gods children fall The deuills children lye still Luke 11. Strife agaynst sinne iâ— a token of Gods child Iames. 4. Wholsome and godly preceptes of lyfe An other letter of M. Philpot to his owne Sister full of fruitfull exhortation Spirituall consanguinitye and naturall compared The Sieue of afflictions Luke 22. Eccle. 2. Christ our first borne brother A Christen mans backe should alwayes be ready to beare Christes crosse Vngodly fellowship to be eschewed Psal. 15. 2. Tim. 2. Apoc 4. This was for the first fruites of his Aâ—chdeaconry whereof all the tyme of his imprisonmeÌ„t he had no commoditye and yet his suretieâ— were compelled to pay the same An other letter of Iohn Philpot contayning godly exhortations He commeÌ„deth their faythfull zeale to Gods word He exhorteth them
Antipas Iason Act 7. Apoc. 2.3 1. Thess. 2. Rom. 19. Act. 17. Iohn 16. Act. 9. Phil. 2. Luke 21. Iohn 1.3 1. Cor. 6. Math. 10. Christ may as well be called an hereticke as these men Math. 16. Luke 12. Deut. â— Apoc. 22. Psal. 6â— Gala. 4. Gala. 5. â— Pet 3. 〈◊〉 â—4 Aâ— other 〈◊〉 of W. Tyms to Gods faithâ—â—l seruaÌ„ts â— Boner 〈◊〉 away from 〈◊〉 Tyms 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 good Heb. 9. 〈…〉 mouth 〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉 Warning to come away froÌ„ the wicked 2. Cor. â— Sirach 13. What it is to 〈◊〉 associate in ill company A vyle seruaunâ— of B. Boners Actes 1. Anno 1556. Aprill Rom. 15. Rom. 16. Math. 24. B. Boner not able to answere to this place of Dauid * How can corruption be referred to accidences when by all Philosophy generation and corruption belong onely to the predicameÌ„t of substance Math. 10. â— Cor. 4. Actes 21. A note 〈◊〉 theÌ„ 〈◊〉 shronke 〈◊〉 way 〈…〉 Roâ— â— 8 2. Tim. 3. 1. Peter 4. 1. Reg. 19. 3. Reg. 19. Iob. 21 Dan. â— ExhortatioÌ„ not to refuse Christs Crosse. Psal. 119. Gods word neuer so sweete aâ— in trouble Rom. 5. 2. Tim. 1. Ierem. â— Ierem. 7. Ierem. 23. Experiment oâ— Gods câ—nâ—ert in 〈…〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13. The authoâ—â—tye of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 â—â—proued 1. Pet. 5. Christes men bound to obey God in his Magistrates The honour of God to be preferred before all regall honour power Q Maryes Iniunctions disagreeing from Gods worde how wherin Hest. 3. 1. Esd 4. Queene Mary euill incensed Religion set forth in K. Edwardes tyme commendeâ— Luke 9. Math. 10. Math. 12. An honest petition to Queâ—â— Mary Examples of king Manasses 4. Reg. 23. Examples of Ieroboam Foule Idolatry set out with fayre shewes pretenses Ignorance wilfully mayntayned Seruice in Latin not to be admitted Iohn 11. Agaynst Latin Mattins In the Popes seruice there is no edifying what fables be in it the Lord knoweth 2. Thess. 2. The true vse of the Lordâ— Supper extincted Causes why the Commissioners commaundement ought not to be receaued Receauing in both kyndes The Masse hath nothing in it but an heape of ceremonyes The people robbed of Goâ—s worde Phil 2. All thinges doâ—e in the Church ought to be in a knowen tongue 〈◊〉 Prieâ—tes be not 〈…〉 it is 〈◊〉 owne 〈◊〉 Gods word 〈◊〉 true 〈◊〉 cast 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 in Q. Maryes 〈◊〉 The Popish 〈…〉 Chriâ—tes 〈◊〉 in Procession â—â—â—tisme in Englishe Catechisme in English The effectes of Gods word described Suffolke and Northfolke men moued by Gods word do â—et vp the Queene Inconuenienceâ— that follow by taking away Gods word Esay 6. Mich. 6. Luke 19. Apoc. 6. Louing of Gods word made heresie All that the Papistes striue for are but mans mere inuentions beside Gods worde The Queene her Commissioners and Iustices abused by â—he Bishops True subiectes wrongfully sclaundered Rom. 1. Psalm 69. What vnquietnes followeth the lacke of Gods worde Luke 13. Warning to Q. Mary to her Counsayle and Commissioners The duety of true subiectes declared first to Christ then to the Queene How farre a Prince ought to require obedience of his subiectes True obedience how farre it stretcheth Actes 4. True obedience Example of true obedience Feare and flattery enemyes to true obedience to God and man False dissemblers worthy to all men be hated 〈◊〉 The Martyrdome of Iohn Harpoâ—e and Ioane Beâ—ch at Rochester An. 1556. Aprill 1. Iohn Hullier Martyr The Martyrdome of Iohn Hullier minister who suffred at Cambridge Anno 1556. Aprill 2. A letter exhortatory of Iohn Huller to the flocke of the faythfull Christians Mach. 24 Ephe. 6. 1. Thess â—5 Luke 14. Math. 6. 3. Reg. 18. Rom. 15. Anno 1556. Maye Iohn 10. The wilines of the subtile Serpent 2. Tim. 2. Math. 10. Iohn 14.15.16 The peace of Christ to them that sustayne the troubles of this worlde Luke 14. The strayte way of Christ better then the broad way of this world â—ohn 15. Eccle. 41. Vngodly compâ—ny tâ— be auoyded Leuit. 18. Gods stipend commeth not but to such as play his souldiours 2. Tim. 1. Fearefulnes in Christes cause disproued Math. 10. Num. 13.14 Example by the fearefull Israelites 1. Pet. 3. Phil. 1. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 3. Esay 8. Prouer. 3. Heb. 12. 1. Cor 11. 2. Reg. 7. Math. 7. 〈…〉 Apoc. 14. 1 Pet 2. 〈◊〉 3. 〈…〉 16. 〈◊〉 10. 〈…〉 16. 〈◊〉 9. Ephe 4. 1. Cor. 3. Psal. 3. Heb. 3. 2. Cor. 4. Gods mercy to whom it belongeth Obiection aunswered 1. Cor 1â— Rom. 18. Apoc. 18. Eccle. 3. Psal. 36. 2. Cor. 6. The body must adioyne with the spirite in seruing God Fythfull admonitions Aprill 28. The Martyrdome of 6. men at Colchester Roger Grasbroke Iohn Kingston B. Boners CoÌ„missary in Essex These Martyrs were deliuered by the Earle of Oxford to the Commissary by the Commissary sent to the Bishop Their answeres to the Bishops articles The Church of Rome no part of Christes Catholicke church 2. Sacramentes Profession of Baptisme To deny the beggerly vsages of the Popes Church is not to deny the Catholicke fayth of Christ. The pope ought to haue no authoritye in England The Church of Rome to be abhorred Againâ—â— Popes trumperâ—â— Agaynâ—â— transubstaÌ„tiation Against the Masse Sentence geuen agaynst them by B. Boâ—er May. 15. Two burned together at one stake Hugh Lauerrocke an olde lame man and Iohn Apprice a blynd man May. 16. Katherin Hutte Elizâ—beth Thackuell Ioane Hornes Martirs A letter of certayne persecuting Iustices to Boner The simple ignorance of these women had more neede to be instructed then they to be burned Agaynst the Masse and Sacrament of the Aultar Syr Iohn Mordant Promoter Katherin Hutte The wordes of Katherin Hutte of the SacrameÌ„t Ioane Hornes mayde The wordes and profession of Ioane Hornes touching the Sacrament The Butcherly axe of Boner Maâ—garet Ellys dyâ—â— in Newgate Elizabeth Thackuell Mayde and Martyr * i. A persecutor May 5. T. Drowry a blind boy and Tho. Croker Martyrs Persecution at Glocester Of this blynd boy read before pag. 1509. Iâ—mes 〈◊〉 Iohn 〈◊〉 W Dâ—uies persecutors Dunâ—ing 〈◊〉 persecutors The articles 〈◊〉 upon they were 〈…〉 Ceremoâ—â—â— Sacrament of the Altar Execution of burning in Northfolke done without a writte Syr Iohn Silliardes wordes Edmund Pole refuseth the Popes Church Robert Bacon an enemy Syr Iohn Tyrrell persecutor Persecution at Winson and Mendlesam in Suffolke The names of good men persecuted in Suffolke Mendlesam Gods people persecuted The fayth and doctrine of these Confessours Witnessed by the faythfull report of Suffolke men Psalm 106. A story of Gregory Crow maruelously preserued vpon the Sea with his new Testament Crowes boat broken vpon the sand Crow taketh his Testament and casteth his money away The boy beaten with Sea and drowned Crowes â—an deaâ— vpon the â—aste Gregory Crow 〈◊〉 vpon the Seas sitting 〈◊〉 a Maste Gods prouidence to be noted God a maruelâ—us 〈…〉 tyme of neede Crow with the Testament preserued on
7. Measure ought to be in mourning Phil. 4. Example of Christian charitâ—e and compasâ—â—on toward 〈◊〉 afflicted brother An other letter of Iohn Caâ—â—les to faytâ—â—full Augustine Bernheâ—â— counsell him to be circumspâ—â—â— in these daunger dayes He counselleth Augustine to be circumspect and not rashely to thrust himselfe daunger A good conscience 〈◊〉 soone troubled Conscience 〈…〉 â—here none 〈◊〉 commitâ—ed Mâ—â—h 10. Aâ—â—ther 〈…〉 Careâ—â—â— to Henâ—â— AdlingtoÌ„ 〈◊〉 a Marâ—â—â— partly 〈…〉 partly â—â—â—â—selling 〈◊〉 â—ow to 〈…〉 What a Sacrament is He instructeth him how and what to aunswere to the aduersaryes We are bound to follow our true preachers God will require a count of bloud The Catholicke Church in King Edwardes dayes in England Two speciall markes to know the true church in England in K. Edwards dayes 1. Thess 5. The Papistes haue one solution for all maner of questions Of Thomas Harland and Iohn Oswald read in the 2. impression pag. 195. 4. Reg. 2. Freewill A letter of Iohn Caâ—â—â—les writtâ—â—â— with heauenly poâ—â—er to coâ—â—fort an afflicted brâ—â—ther oppressed with pensiuenes and mourning for his sinnes Luke 1. Remission of sinnes Mich. 7. Psal. 1â—3 Testimony of Gods spirite Practise of the true keyes of the Gospell Experience of Christ working in his Chruch An other letter of Iohn Careles to a faythfull friend of his of thankesgeuing He geueth him thaÌ„kes What a treasure a trusty frend is Eccle. 6. There is no true frendship but amongest godle persons Such mourners should we be continually with thiâ— and others Gods deare children and blessed be they that so mourne An other letter of Iohn Careles to a godly christian woman Preparation to the Crosse. Consolation vnder the Crosse. Agaynst Massing Gospellers Exhortation to flye from the Masse A letter of Iohn Careles to Mistres Agnes Glascocke What an high hoâ—our it is to suffer for Christ. He exhorteth her to be strong The charity of Mistres Glaâ—câ—cke to the prisoned Saintes A note or poesy written in Mistâ—es Glascocks 〈◊〉 by Iohn Careles The effectes of fayth An other 〈…〉 letter of 〈◊〉 Careâ—â—◠〈…〉 A. G· 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 going to 〈◊〉 Masse A G. intised by her husband to go to the Masse The raysing vp of a troubled conscience after his fall God turneth all thinges to the best to them that be his Sathan when he cannot bring a-man to his seruice he prâ—sseth him with distrust of Gods mercye A letter of Iohn Careles to A. B. a faythfull seruaunt of Christ. Psal. 146. The death of the Martyrs is the lyfe of the Gospell A sowing tyme in Christes Church This counsell was that he should marry notwithstanding certayne lettes whereby Sathan sought to hinder his mariage The roote of bitternes to be weded out with the spade of patience How when the husband ought to reproue Faultes sometyme must be couered with loue Not to take vnkindenes for euery trifle An other letter of Iohn Careles to the wyfe of the partye aboue specified Sathan an eneâ—emy to all godly affayres The signe of â—ngratituâ—â— God loueth a thankeful harte A good wyfe is the giâ—tâ— of God God deliteth in the agreement betweene man and wyfe The duety of wiues toward their husbandes A chearefull countenaunce Temporaunce in apparell Note that 〈◊〉 thâ—se departed in 〈◊〉 peace the one 1565. the other 1568. 3 Martyrs 〈◊〉 at Newbery 〈◊〉 Palmer Iohn Gwin Thomas 〈◊〉 Martyrs Ioh. 16. The story of Palmer The story of the godly Martyr Iâ—â—ius Palmer fellow sometyme of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford Iulins Palmer borne in Couentrye Iulins Palmer scholer â— M. Harâ—â—â— â—chooleâ—â—â—er of Magdalen Colledge Iulins Palmer addicted to Philosophye Iulins Palmer beginneth to apply Diuinity The ciuill behauiour of Iulins Palmer Palmers prouerbe Palmer fellow of Magdalen Colledge Palmer reader of Logique in his Colledge Palmer an vtter enemy to sound religion Palmer impugner of true Preachers in K. Edwardes time Libells set vp in Oxford agaynst D. Haddon President Iulins Palmer expelled the Colledge for Poperye Iulins Palmer driuen to teach children Palmer restored agayne to his Colledge Behold the obstinacye of Papistes which knowing the truth will not yelde Behold his 〈◊〉 now he is turne to the truth Playne Palmer could neuer dissemble with his conscience The first occasion of Iulins Palmers conuersion was by the constant death of the Martyrs Note how the bloud of Martyrs worketh Palmer feruent in the Gospells cause Superstitious toyes * By these meanes he meaneth a certayne ceremony of that Colledge 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 That in Anno â—â—56 〈◊〉 Palmer 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Frier 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Palmer refuâ—â—â— to 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 Iohn â—arwickes 〈◊〉 to Palmer Palmers godly aunswere to Barwicke Iulins Palmer placed by pateÌ„t to be scholâ—master at Redding Palmer circumuented by false Iudastes Palmers studye searched for bookes Iulins Palmer forced to depart the towne of Redding Vnnaturall wordes of a mother Mothers may giue their owne curse but Gods curse they cannot giue much lesse can the Pope The father shall be diuided against the sonne the mother agaynst c. Luke 12. Palmer driuen fâ—om his mother Alane Cope a helper and supporter of Iulins Palmer Hampton of Reding a disseÌ„bling Hypocrite and a false witnesse Palmer betrayed and apprehended Palmer miserably vsed in prison The first examination of Iulins Palmer Euidence put vp agaynst Palmer Note the worshipfull proces of the quarelling Papistes Palmer cleareth himselfe Note herâ— the fruite of Romish religion Iohn Galante a zealous professor Pâ—lmer called before the Maior of Redâ—ing 〈…〉 of Gods Gospell 〈◊〉 Palâ—â—â— brought 〈◊〉 Newbery Wâ—tnesses to the 〈◊〉 parte 〈◊〉 story The examiâ—â—â—â—â—n of 〈◊〉 Palmer before D â—effâ—ey at Newbeâ—â— D. Ieffrey Syr Richard Abâ—idges Knight M. Iohn Winchcombe the Parson of Inglefield Iudges agaynst Iulins Palmer The holy ghost shall teache you in that howre what you shall aunswere Luke 2. A maruell to the Papistes that young men should haue the gifte of the holy ghost Gods spirite is not bound to place or person Note how these men dare not abide disputatioÌ„ The Churche of Rome is but a particular Church The Church is not to be beleeued for her selfe The Sacrament of the Lordes Supper The wicked receiue not the Lordes bodye The Parson â—â—nfounded 〈◊〉 his owne 〈…〉 Parsons 〈◊〉 stopped Presence in the Sacrament Baptisme of 〈◊〉 Children dying before they come to Baptisme are saued of this it followeth no Ergo children that are brought ought not to be Baptised Sir Richard Abridges â— gentle offer to Palmer Palmer refuseth worldly offers to keepe his conscience God calleth at diuers tymes and howres Iohn Gwin Thomas Askin Martyrs condemned Sir Richard Abridges Sheriffe Palmer required to set his hand to his Articles The Popish 〈…〉 Palmer 〈…〉 The words 〈◊〉 Palmer 〈◊〉 Popâ—â—â— Priests A notable spectacle in the Martyrdome of Iuliâ—s Palmer Epitaphium in Palmerum Iuly A notable story of Agnes Wardall of Ipswich D. Argentine Schoolemaster Wat. Butler Constable Phil. Vlmes Edm. Leach Iohn Steward persecutors Robert
snares for your Brethren on this manner This is now the third snare you haue layd for me First to make me confesse that the Churche of Englande is not the church of Christ SecoÌ„dly to say it is not knowne· Thirdly to say the church of God is not vniuersall but particular and this is not the office of a bishop For if an innocent had come in your way you would haue done your best I see to haue entangled him Harps Well frend quoth one of my Lordes Chapleynes you are no innocent as it appeareth Smith By the grace of God I am that I am this grace in me I hope is not in vayne Boner Well quoth my Lord laughing tell me how sayst thou of the church Smith I tolde you whereupon the true Chrch is builded and I affirme in England to be the congregation of God and also in Omnem terram as it is written Theyr sounde is gone forth into all landes and that this is the afflicted persecuted Church which ye cease not to imprison slay kyll And in Corinth was not all the congregation of God but a number of those holy and elect people of God For Paul neither Peter were present at Corinth when they wrote yet were they of the Church of God as many thousandes moe which also communicate in that holy spirit Boner What call ye Catholick and what call you church Smith Catholique is vniuersall and Church is a congregation knit together in vnity Then after much like vâ—â—ne talke it was layde to my charge that my felowe and I spake one thing Whereof I praysed God and was sent agayne to a garden Where after a while as my Brother Harwood and I had bene together commeth one of my Lords Chapleynes that much desired to common with me demaunding first if I were not a prisoner Smith I am in this fleshe a Prisoner and subiecte to my Mayster and yours but I hope yet the Lordes free man through Christ Iesu. Doct. I do much desire to talke with you louingly for because ye are a man that I muche lament with many other sweet wordes To which I aunswered Sub melle latet venenum And after much ado about his God I coÌ„pelled him to say that it must needs enter into the belly so fal into the draught To which he answered Doct. What derogation was it to Christ wheÌ„ the Iewes spit in his face Smith If the Iewes being his enemies did but spit in his face and we being his frends throw him into the draught which of vs haue deserued the greatest damnation Then by your argument he that doth iniury to Christ shal haue a most plenteous saluation Doct. Then start he away and would haue his humanity incoÌ„prehensible making a comparison betwene our soule and the body of Christ bringing in to serue his turne whiche way Christ came in among his disciples the dores being shut Smith Although it be sayd that when he came the doores were shut yet haue I as much to proue that the doores opened at his coÌ„ming as ye haue to proue he came through the dore For that mighty God that brought the Disciples out of prisons which yet wheÌ„ search came were fouÌ„d shut was able to let Christ in at the dore although it were shut and yet it maketh not for your purpose for they saw hym heard him and felt him and so can we not say ye doe neyther is he in more then in one place at once At which aunswere when he had made many scoffinges he departed away from me and we were caryed vnto my Lordes Hall where we were bayted of my Lordes band almost all the day vntill our keeper seing theyr misorder shut vs vp all in a fayre Chamber while my Lord went into his Synagogue to condemne M. Denly and Iohn Newman Then brought they vp my Lorde Maior to heare our matter aboue in the chamber and I first of all was called into the chamber where my Lord intended to sup Where my Lord Maior being set with the Bishop and one of the Sheriffes wine was walking on euery side I standyng before them as an outcast which made me remember how Pilate Herode were made frendes but no man was sory for Iosephes hurt But after my Lords had well druÌ„ke my arâ—icles were sent for read and he demaunded whether I sayd not as was written Smith That I haue sayde I haue sayde and what I haue sayd I do meane vtterly Boner Well my Lorde Maior your Lordship hath hearde somewhat what a stout hereticke this is and that his Articles haue deserued death Yet neuertheles for so much as they report me to seeke bloud and call me bloudy Boner where as God knoweth I neuer sought any mans bloud in all my life I haue stayed him from the Consistory thys day whither I might haue brought him iustly and yet here before your Lordship I desire him to turne and I will with all speed dispatch him out of trouble and this I professe before your Lordship and all this audience Smith Why my Lord do ye put out this fayre visor before my Lord Maior to make him beleue that ye seeke not my bloud to cloke your murthers through my stoutnesse as ye call it Haue ye not had my brother Tomkins before you whose hand when you had burned most cruelly ye burnt also his bodye and not onely of him but of a greate many of the members of Christ men that feared God and liued vertuously and also the Queenes Maiestyes moste true subiectes as theyr goodes and bodies haue made manifest and seing in these Sayntes ye haue shewed so little mercy shall it seeme to my Lord and this audience that ye will shew me more fauour No no my Lorde But if ye meane as ye say why then examine ye me of that I am not bound to aunswere you vnto Boner Well what sayst thou by the Sacrament of the aultar is it not the very body of Christ fleshe bloud bone as it was borne of the virgin Smith I haue aunsweared that it is none of Gods order neither any Sacrament but mans owne vayne inuention and shewed him the Lordes institution But when he was so earnest before the audieÌ„ce declaring that we knew nothing brynging out his Hoc est corpus meum to laye in my Dishe I prooued before the audience that it was a dead God declaring the destinction appoynted betwene the two creatures of bread and wine and that a body with out bloud hath no life At which Harpsfield found himselfe much offended and tooke the tale out of my Lords mouth saying Harps I will approoue by the Scriptures that ye blaspheme God in so saying for it is geuen in two partes because there is two thinges shewed that is to saye his body and his Passion as sayth S. Paule and therefore is the bread his body and the wine the representatioÌ„ of his death and bloud shedding
oyntmēt salt and such other laudable ceremonies which no Christian man will deny Smith That is a shamefull blasphemy agaynst Christ so to vse any mingle mangle in baptising young infants Boner I beleue I tell thee that if they dye before they bee baptised they be damned Smith Yee shall neuer bee saued by that beliefe But I pray you my Lord shewe me are we saued by water or by Christ Boner By both Smith Then the water dyed for our sinnes and so muste ye say that the water hath life and it being our seruaunt created for vs is our sauiour this my Lord is a good doctrine is it not Boner Why how vnderstandest thou these scriptures Except a man be borne of water and of the spyrit he can not enter into the kingdome of God And againe Suffer sayth our Sauiour these children to come vnto me and if thou wilt not suffer them to be baptised after the laudable order thou lettest them to come vnto Christ. Smith Where ye alleadge Saynt Iohn Except a man c. and will thereby proue the water to saue and so the deede or worke to saue and putte away sinnes I will send you to Saynt Paule which asketh of the Galathians Whether they receiued the spirite by the deedes of the law or by the preaching of fayth and there concludeth that the holye Ghoste accompanyeth the preaching of fayth and with the worde of fayth entreth into the harte So nowe if Baptysme preache me the washinge in Christes bloud so doeth the holy Ghost accompanye it and it is vnto me as a Preacher and not a Sauiour And where ye say I let the children to come vnto Christ it is manifest by our Sauiours wordes that ye let them to come that will not suffer them to come to him without the necessitye of water For he sayth suffer them to come vnto me and not vnto water and therefore if ye condemne them ye condemne both the merites and wordes of Christ. For our Sauiour sayeth Except ye turne and become as childrē ye cannot enter into the Kyngdome of GOD. And so broughte I out manye other ensamples to make manifest that Christ hath cleansed original sinne bringing in ensamples out of scriptures for the same Boner Then thou makest the water of none effect and then put away water Smith It is not sayth Saynt Peter the washynge awaye of the filth of the fleshe but in that a good conscience consenteth vnto GOD. And for to prooue that water onely bringeth not the holye ghost it is written in the 8. of the Actes that Simon receiued water but would haue receyued the holy ghost for money Also that the holy ghost hath come before baptisme it is written that Iohn had the holy ghost in his mothers wombe Cornelius Paule and the Queene of Candace seruant with many other receiued the holy ghost before Baptisme Yea and although your generation haue set at nought the worde of God and like swine turned hys wordes vpside downe yet must his Church keep the same in order that he lefte them whiche his Churche dare not breake and to iudge children damned that be not baptised it is wicked Mord. By our Lady syr but I beleue that if my childe dye without water he is damned Boner Yea and so do I and all Catholicke men good M. Mordant Smith Well my Lord such Catholicke such saluation Boner Well Syr what say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith Ye may call it the Sacrament of misorders for all orders are appoynted of God But as for your shauing annoynting greasing poling roūding there are no such thinges appointed in Gods book and therfore I haue nothing to do to beleue your orders And as for you my lord if ye had grace or intelligēce ye wold not so disfigure your selfe as ye do Boner Sayest thou so nowe by my troth and I wyll goe shaue my selfe to anger thee withal and so sent for his barber which immediatly came And before my face at the doore of the next chamber he shaued himselfe desiring me before he went to answere to these articles Boner What say you to the holy bread and holy water to the sacrament of annoynting to all the rest of such ceremonies of the church Smith I say they be bables for fooles to play withall not for the children of God to exercise themselues in and therfore they may go among the refuse Then went away Maister Mordant and my Lord went to shauing leauing there certayne Doctors as he called thē to assay what they could doe of whō I was baited for halfe an houre of whō I also asked this questiō Where were all you in the dayes of Kyng Edward that ye spake not that which ye speake now Doct. We were in England Smith Yea but then ye had the faces of men but nowe yee haue put on Lyons faces again as sayth S. Iohn Ye shew your selues now as full of malice as ye may be For ye haue for euery time a viser yea if an other king Edward shoulde arise ye would then say Downe with the Pope for hee is Antichrist and so are all his Angels Then was I al to reuiled and so sent away brought in agayne to come before these men one of them that baited me before asked me if I disobeyed confession Smith To whom I answered Looke in mine articles and they shall shew you what I allow Doct. Your articles confesse that you allow not auriculare confession Smith I allow it not because the word aloweth it not nor commaundeth it Doct. Why it is written thou shalt not hide thy sinnes offences Smith No more do I when I confesse them to almightye God Doct. Why ye can not say that ye can hide them frō God and therefore you must vnderstand the wordes are spoken to be vttered to them that do not know them Smith Ye haue made a good aunswere then must the priest confesse himselfe to me as I to him For I know his faultes and secretes no more then he knoweth mine But if ye confesse you to the Priest and not vnto God ye shall haue the reward that Iudas had for he confessed him selfe to the priest and yet went and hanged himselfe by and by and so as many as do not acknowledge theyr faultes to God are sayd to hide them Doct. What did they that come to Iohn to be baptised Smith The came and confessed theyr sinnes vnto almighty God Doct. And not vnto Iohn Smith If it were vnto Iohn as ye are not able to proue yet was it to God before Iohn and the whole Congregation Doct. Why Iohn was alone in the wildernes Smith Why and yet the scriptures say he had many Disciples and that many Phariseis and Saduces came to hys Baptisme Here the Scriptures and you agree not And if they confessed themselues to Iohn as ye say it was to all the Congregation as saynt Paule
rage and vehemency of this terrible persecution in Queene Maries dayes did chiefly lyght in London Essex Northfolke Suffolke and Kent as hath bene partly already declared yet notwithstandyng besides the same we finde but fewe partes of this Realme from this fatall storme but some good Martyrs or other there shed their bloud And first to begin with the Dioces of Lichfield and Couentry there we finde these two to bee condemned and also burned about the middest of the sayd month of September at the towne of Lichfield whose names were Thomas Hayward and Iohn Goreway ¶ The persecution and story of M. Robert Glouer Gentleman and of Iohn Glouer his brother in the Dioces of Lichfield VNto this present tyme and moneth of September pertaineth also the memorable Martyrdome of M. Rob. Glouer Gentleman in the Diocesse of Lichfield and Couentry Of whose apprehensiō and troubles because I cannot well entreate but I must also intermixt some mention of his brother Iohn Glouer for so much as this priuy Commission was chiefly sent downe for the said Iohn and not for Rob. Glouer albeit it pleased almighty God that Iohn escaped and Rob. in his stead was apprehended I thought therefore in one story to comprehēd them both in describing some part of their vertuous institution and order of lyfe and first to begin with Iohn the eldest brother Who beyng a Gentleman and heyre to his father dwellyng in the towne of Mancetor was endued with fayre possessiōs of worldly goods but yet much more plentifully enriched with Gods heauenly grace and inward vertues Which grace of God so working in him he with hys two other brethren Rob. and Wil. not onely receyued and embraced the happy light of Christes holy Gospell but also most zealously professed and no lesse diligētly in their liuyng conuersation followed the same much vnlike vnto our tablegospellers now adaies Virtutem qui verba putant vt lucum ligna as Horace sayth And as touchyng this foresayde Iohn Glouer who through his manifold afflictions seemed to haue a deeper taste and contemplation of spirituall thyngs ioyned with mortification from all worldly eares more then the other had although sufficient relatiō be made before in our first edition to be seene yet as concernyng his spirituall conflicts and the Lordes gracious workyng in hym because the consideration thereof is both worthy of memory and the example may worke experience peraduenture to the comfort of the godly it shal not be hurtful to reherse some part of the same So it pleased God to lay his heauy hand of inward afflictions and greuous passions vpon this mā that though he suffred not the paynes of the outward fire as his brother and other Martyrs did yet if we consider what inwardly in spirit and mynd this man felt suffred and that of so long tyme he may well be counted with his brother Rob. for a Martyr beyng no lesse desirous with hym of the same Martyrdome yea in comparison may seme to be chronicled for a double Martyr For as the sayd Rob. was spedily dispatched with the sharpe and extreme torments of the fire in a short tyme so this no lesse blessed Saint of God what and how muche more greuous pangs what sorrowfull tormentes what boyling heates of the fire of hell in hys spirit inwardly he felt and sustayned no speech outwardly is able to expresse Being yong I remember I was once or twise with him who partly by hys talke I perceiued and partly by myne owne eyes saw to be so worne and consumed by the space of fiue yeares that neither almost any brookyng of meate quietnes of sleepe pleasure of lyfe yea and almost no kynd of senses was left in hym And doubtlesse I haue greatly wondered oftentymes at the meruailous workes and operation of Christ shewed vpon hym who vnlesse he had relieued betymes his poore wretched seruant so far worne with some opportune consolation now and then betwixt it could not possible bee that he should haue susteined so vntollerable paynes and tormentes And yet the occasion thereof was not of so great moment and weight But this we see common among holy blessed men how the more deuout and godly they are hauing the feare of God before their eyes the more suspition and mistrust they haue of thē selues whereby it commeth to passe that often they are so terrified perplexed with small matters as though they were huge mountains where as contrary others there be whom most hainous very sore crimes in deed do nothyng touch or stirre at all The occasion of this was that he beyng first called by the light of the holy spirit to the knowledge of the gospell and hauyng receiued a wonderous sweet feeling of Christes heauenly kyngdom his mynd after that fallyng a little to some cogitation of his former affayres belongyng to hys vocation began by by to misdoubt hymselfe vpō the occasion of these words written in the 7. to the Hebrues For it cannot be that they which were once illumined and haue tasted the heauenly gift c. Upon the consideration of which words he fully perswaded himselfe that he had sinned verely against the holy Ghost euen so much that if hee had bene in the deepest pit of hell he could almost haue dispaired no more of hys saluation Here redily euery good man may iudge of hymselfe what terrors boylings conuulsions turmoiled in the meane tyme in his wofull brest although it be hard for any mā to iudge the greuousnes therof vnlesse he which hath experience of the lyke In comparing now the torments of all Martyrs with his paynes I pray you what paynes punishment and flames would not he willingly haue suffered to haue had some refocillation and tyme of refreshyng Who in suche intollerable griefes of mynd although he neyther had nor could haue any ioy of hys meate yet was he compelled to eate against hys appetite to the end to differre the tyme of his damnation so long as he might thinking with hymself no lesse but that he must needs be thrown into hell the breth beyng once out of the body Albeit Christ he thought did pity hys case and was sory for hym yet he could not as he imagined helpe because of the veritie of the word which sayd It cannot be c. And this I rehearse of hym not so much to open hys wounds and sorrowes as for that by his example all wee with hym may glorifie the sonne of God who suffereth none to be tempted aboue hys strength but so tempereth and seasoneth the asperitie of euyls that what seemeth to vs intollerable not onely he doth alleuate the same that we may beare it but also turneth it to our further commoditie then we can thinke Which well appered in this good seruaunt of God in no man more Who albeit as we haue sayd suffred many yeres so sharpe temptations strong buffetyngs of
Isaac and Iacob Peter and Paule and all the heauenly company of the Aungels in heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord. As yet there was neuer learned man nor anye scholer or other that visited vs since we came into Bocardo which nowe in Oxforde may be called a Colledge of Quondams For as ye know wee be no fewer then three and I dare say euery one wel contented with his portion which I do reckē to be our heauenly fathers fatherly good and gracious gift Thus fare you well We shal by Gods grace one day meete together and be merry The day assuredly approcheth apace The Lorde graunt that it maye shortly come For before that daye come I feare me the world will waxe worse and worse But then all our enemies shal be ouerthrowne and troden vnder foote righteousnes and truth then shall haue the victory and beare the bell away whereof the Lorde graunt vs to be partakers and al that loueth truely the truth We al pray you as ye can to cause all our commendations to be made to all such as ye know did visite vs and you when we were in the Tower with their frendly remembraunces and benefites Maistresse Wilkenson and maistresse Warcup haue not forgottē vs but euer since we came to Bocardo with their charitable and frendly beneuolence haue comforted vs not that els we did lacke for God be blessed he euer hitherto hath prouided sufficiently for vs but that is a great comfort and an occasion for vs to blesse God when we see that he maketh them so frendly to tender vs whom some of vs were neuer familiarly acquaynted withall Yours in Christ Nich Ridley ¶ Letter of mayster Ridley sent to a Cosin of his GOds holy spirite be with you now and euer Amen When I call to remembraunce beloued Cosin the state of those that for feare of trouble eyther for losse of goods wil do in the sight of the world those thinges that they know and are assured are contrary to the wyll of God I can do no lesse but lamēt theyr case being assured the end thereof will be so pittifull without speedy repentaunce that I tremble and feare to haue it in remembraunce I would to God it lay vpon some earthly burden so that freedome of conscience might be geuen vnto them I wrote as God knoweth not of presumption but onely lamenting the state of those whome I thought now in this dangerous time should haue geuen both you and me comfortable instructions But alas in steade thereof we haue instructions to folow I lament me to rehearse it superstitious Idolatrye Yea and that woorst of all is they wil seeke to proue it by the Scriptures The Lord for his mercy turne their hartes Amen Commend me c. Yours Nicholas Ridley ¶ To Mayster Bradford BRother Bradford I wishe you and your company in Christ yea and al the holy brotherhood that now with you in diuers prisons suffereth and beareth paciētly christes crosse for the mayntenance of his Gospell grace mercy and peace from God the father and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Sir considering the state of this chiualrie and warfare wherin I doubt not but we be set to fight vnder Christes banner and his crosse agaynst our ghostly enemy the deuill and the old serpent Satan me thinke I perceiue 2. things to be hys most perilous and moste daungerous engynes whiche he hath to impugne Christes veritie hys gospell and hys fayth and the same two also to be the most massy postes and most mightye pillers whereby hee mayntayneth and vpholdeth his Satanical sinagogue These two sir are they in my iudgement the one his false doctrine idolatrical vse of the Lordes supper and the other that wicked and abhominable vsurpation of the premacy of the See of Rome By these two Satan seemeth to me principally to mayntayne and vphold hys kingdome by these two he driueth downe mightily alas I feare me the third parte of the stars in heauen These two poysonfull rotten posts he hath so paynted ouer with such a pretense and colour of Religion of vnitie in Christes Churche of the Catholicke fayth and such like that the wily serpent is able to deceiue if it were possible euen the elect of God Wherfore Iohn sayd not without great cause If any know not Satans subtleties and the profundities thereof I will wishe him no other burden to be laden withall Syr because these be hys principall and mayne postes whereupon standeth all his falsehoode crafte and trechery therfore according to the poore power that God hath geuen me I haue bended mine artillary to shoote at the same I knowe it to be but little God knoweth that I can doe and of my shotte I knowe they passe not Yet I will not God willing cease to doe the best that I can to shake those cankered and rotten postes The Lorde graunt me good successe to the glory of hys name and the furtherance of Christes Gospell I haue now already I thanke God for this present tyme spent a good parte of my ponder in these scriblinges wherof this bearer shal geue you knowledge Good brother Bradford let the wicked surmise and say what they list know you for a certaintie by GODS grace without all doubt that in Christes Gospelles cause agaynst and vpon the foresayd Gods enemies I am fully determined to liue and dye Fare well deare brother and I beseeche you and al the rest of our brethren to haue good remembraunce of the condemned heretiques as they call them of Oxford in your prayers The bearer shall certifie you of our state Farewell in the Lorde From Bocardo Yours in Christ Nicholas Ridley * An other letter of Mayster Ridley vnto Mayster Bradforde and other his prison fellowes An. 1555. DEarely beloued I wish you grace mercy and peace According to your minde I haue runne ouer all your papers and what I haue done which is but small therein may appeare In two places I haue put in two loose leaues I had muche adoe to read that was written in your great leaues and I weene some where I haue altered some words because I could not read perfectly that which was written Sir what shall best be done with these thinges now ye must consider for if they come in sight at this time vndoubtedly they must to the fire with theyr father and as for any safegard that your custody can be vnto them I am sure you looke not for it For as you haue bene partner of the worke so I am sure you looke for none other but to haue and receiue like wages and to drynke of the same cup. Blessed be God that hath geuen you liberty in the meane season that you may vse your penne to hys glory and the comforte as I heare say of many I blesse God dayly in you and all your whole company to whom I beseeche you commend me hartily Nowe I loue my country man in deed
and aged folkes that before were not taught to know Christe in their childehood shoulde now euen with children and babes be forced to learne to know him Now therefore he roreth now he rageth But what els do they brethren which serue Satan and become his ministers slaues in mainteining of his impietie but euen the same which they did to whom Christ our Sauiour threatneth this curse in the Gospell Woe vnto you which shutte vp the kingdome of heauen before men take away the key of knowledge from them you your selues haue not entred in neither haue you suffered them that would enter to come in And from whence shall we say brethren that this horrible mischeuous darknes proceedeth which is nowe brought vpon the worlde From whence I pray you but euen from the smoke of the great furnace of the bottomlesse pit so that the sunne and the ayre are now darkened by the smoke of the pit Now euen now out of doubt brethren the pit is opened agaynst vs and the Locustes begyn to swarme and Abbadon now raigneth Ye therfore my brethren which pertaine vnto Christ and haue the seale of God marked in your foreheades that is to wit are sealed with the earnest of the spirite to be a peculiar people of God quite your selues like men and be strong for he that is in vs is stronger then he which is in the world and ye know that al that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is our victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our fayth Let the world freat let it rage neuer so much be it neuer so cruel and bloudy yet be ye sure that no man can take vs out of the fathers handes for he is greater then all who hath not spared his owne sonne but hath geuen him to death for vs all and therefore how shall he not with him geue vs all thinges also Who shall lay any thyng to the charge of Gods elect It is God that iustifieth who shall then condemne It is Christ that is dead yea rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. Who shall seperate vs from the loue of Christe Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or perill or sworde the rest ye knowe breathren We are certainely perswaded with S. Paul by the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe that no kynde of thyng shal be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Which thyng that it may come to passe by the grace and mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ to the comfort both of you of vs all as we for our partes will continually God wyllyng pray for you so deare brethren in the Lorde with all earnest and harty request we beseech you euen in the bowelles of our Lorde Iesus Christ that ye will not cease to pray for vs. Fare ye well deare brethren The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe be with you all euermore Amen ¶ A Letter of Byshop Ridley answearyng to a certayne Letter of one Maister West sometime his Chapleine I Wishe you grace in God and loue of the truth without the which truely stablished in mens hartes by the mightie hand of almighty God it is no more possible to stande by the truth in Christe in tyme of trouble then it is for the waxe to abide the heate of the fyre Sir knowe you this that I am blessed be God perswaded that this worlde is but transitorie and as saint Iohn sayth The world passeth away and the lust thereof I am perswaded Christes wordes to be true Who soeuer shall confesse me before men hym will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen and I beleue that no earthly creature shal be saued whom the Redeemer and Sauiour of the worlde shall before his father denie This the Lorde graunt that it may be so graffed established and fixed in my hart that neyther thinges present nor to come hygh nor low lyfe nor death be able to remoue me thence It is a goodly wishe that you wish me deepely to consider thinges perteyning vnto Gods glorye but if you had wished also that neither feare of death nor hope of worldly prosperitie shoulde let me to mayneteine Gods worde and his truth which is his glory and true honour it would haue liked me well You desire me for Gods sake to remember my selfe In deede sir nowe it is time so to do for so farre as I can perceiue it standeth me vpon no lesse daunger then of the losse both of body and soule and I trow then it is time for a man to awake if any thyng will awake him He that will not feare hym that threatneth to cast both body soule into euerlasting fire whom will he feare With this feare O Lord fasten thou together our frayle flesh that we neuer swarue from thy lawes You say you haue made much sute for me Sir God graunt that you haue not in suing for my worldly deliueraunce impayred and hindered the furtheraunce of Gods worde and his truth You haue knowen me long in deede in the which time it hath chaunced me as you say to mislike some thinges It is true I graunt for sodaine chaunges without substantiall and necessary cause and the heady settyng foorth of extremities I did neuer loue Confession vnto the minister which is able to instruct correct comfort informe the weake wounded and ignoraunt conscience in deede I euer thought might do much good in Christes congregation and so I assure you I thynke euen at this daye My doctrine and my preaching you say you haue hearde often and after your iudgement haue thought it godly sauyng onely for the Sacrament which thing although it was of me reuerently handled and a great deale better then of the rest as you yet in the margent you write warily and in this worlde wisely and yet me thought all sounding not well Sir but that I see so many changes in this worlde so much alteration els at this your saying I would not a litle marueile I haue taken you for my frend and a man whom I fansied for plainnes and faythfulnes as much I assure you as for your learning and haue you kept this so close in your hart from me vnto this day Sir I consider moe things then one and wil not say all that I thinke But what neede you to care what I thinke for any thing I shal be able to do vnto you eyther good or harme You geue me good lessons to stand in nothing against my learning and to beware of vayne glory Truely sir I herein like your counsell very well and by Gods grace I intend to folow it vnto my lyues end To write vnto those whom you name I can not see what it wyll auayle me For this I woulde haue you knowe that I esteeme nothyng auayleable for me
Doctor Ridley to the letter abouesayd BLessed be God our heaueÌ„ly father which enclined your hart to haue such a desire to write vnto me blessed be he againe which hath heard your request hath brought your letters safe vnto my handes and ouer all this I blesse him through our Lorde Iesus Christe for the great comfort I haue receiued by the same of the knowledge of your state and of other our dearely beloued brethren and countreymen in those parties beyond the sea Dearely beloued brother Grindall I say to you and all the rest of our brethren in Christe with you reioyce in the Lord and as ye loue me and the other my reuerend fathers and concaptiues whiche vndoubtedly are Gloria Christi lament not our state but I beseech you and them all to geue to our heauenly Father for his endlesse mercies and vnspeakeable benefits euen in the myddest of all our troubles geuen vnto vs most harty thankes For knowe ye that as the weight of his crosse hath increased vpoÌ„ vs so he hath not nor doth not cease to multiply his mercies to strengthen vs and I trust yea by his grace I doubt nothing but he will so do for Christe our Maisters sake euen to the end To heare that you and our other brethren doo finde in your exile fauour and grace with the Magistrates Ministers and Citizens at Tigury at Frankford and other where it doth greatly comfort I dare say all here that do in deede loue Christe and his true woorde I ensure you it warmed my hart to heare you by chaunce to name some as Scory and Coxe c. Oh that it had come in your mynde to haue sayd somewhat also of Cheeke of Turner of Leauer of Sampson of Chambers but I trust in God they be all well And sir seeyng you say that there be in those parties with you of studentes and Ministers so good a number nowe therefore care ye not for vs otherwyse then to wish that Gods glory may be set forth by vs. For whensoeuer God shall call vs home as we looke dayly for none other but when it shal please God to say come you blessed be God are enough through his ayde to light and set vp againe the lanterne of his worde in Englande As concerning the copies ye say ye haue with you I wonder how euer they did and could find the way to come to you My disputation except he haue that whiche I gathered my selfe after the disputation done I can not thynke ye haue it truly If ye haue that then ye haue therwithall the whole maner after the which I was vsed in the disputation As for the treatise in English Contra transubstantiationem vix possum adduci vt credam operaepretium fore vt in latinum transferatur Caeterum quicquid sit nullo modo velim vt quicquam quocunque modo meo nomine ederetur donec quid de nobis dominus constituerit fieri vobis prius certo constiterit and thus much vnto your letters Now although I suppose ye know a good parte of our state here for we are forth commyng euen as when ye departed c. You shall vnderstande that I was in the Towar about the space of two monethes close prisoner and aâ—ter that had graunted to me without my labour the liberty of the Tower and so continued about halfe a yeare and then because I refused to allow the Masse with my presence I was shut vp in close prison agayne The last Lent saue one it chaunsed by reason of the tumult styrred vp in Kent there was so many prisoners in the Tower that my Lord of Canterbury M. Latimer Maister Bradford and I were put altogether in one prison where we remayned still almost to the nexte Easter and then we three Canterbury Latimer and I were sodenly sent a litle before Easter to Oxford and were suffered to haue nothing with vs but that we caried vpon vs. About the Whitsontide followyng was our disputations at Oxford after the which was all taken from vs as pen and inke c. Our owne seruauntes were taken from vs before and euery one had put to hym a straunge man and we eche one appoynted to be kept in seuerall places as we are vnto this day Blessed be God we three at the writing hereof were in good health and in God of good cheare We haue looked long agoe to haue bene dispatched for we were all three on one day within a day or two of our disputations of D. Weston being the head Commissioner condemned for heretikes and since that tyme we remayne as we were of hym left The Lordes will be fulfilled in vs as I do not doubt but by his grace it shal be to his glory and our endles saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Likewise the Lord hitherto hath preserued aboue all our expectation our deare brother and in Christes cause a strong Champion Iohn Bradford He is likewyse condemned and is already deliuered to the secular power and writtes as we haue heard say geuen out for his execution and called in agayne Thus the Lord so long as his blessed pleasure is preserueth whom he listeth notwithstanding the wonderfull raging of the world Many as we heare say haue suffered valiauntly confessyng Christes truth and nothyng yeeldyng to the aduersary yea not for the feare or paynes of death The names of them whiche I knewe and haue nowe suffered are these Farrar the Bishop of S. Dauides Hooper the Bishop of Worcester Rogers tuus olim comprebendarius D. Tailour of Hadley M. Sanders and one Tomkins a weauer and now this last day M. Cardmaker with an other were burnt in Smithfielde at London and many other in Essex and Kent whose names are written in the booke of lyfe whom yet I do not know West your olde companion and sometyme myne officer alas hath relented as I haue heard but the Lorde hath shortned his dayes for anone he dyed and is gon Grimbolde was caught by the heele and caste into the Marshalsey but now is at liberty againe but I feare me he escaped not without some becking and bowyng alas of his knee vnto Baall My deare friende Thomas Ridley of the Bulhead in Cheape which was to me the most faythfull friende that I had in my trouble is departed also vnto God My brother Shipside that hath maried my sister hath ben almost halfe a yeare in prison for deliuering as he was accused of certayne thynges I wene from mee but now thankes be to God he is at libertie agayne but so that the Bishop hath taken from him his Parke Of all vs three concaptiues at Oxford I am kept most strait and with least libertie Vel quia viro in cuius aedibus ego custodior vxor dominatur licet modo sit Prefectus ciuitatis mulier vetula morosa superstiosiss quae etiam hoc sibi laudi ducit quod me dicatur arctissime cautissime
of the harte and veritie wherein consisteth true Christian Religion and not in the outward deedes of the letter onely or in the glisteryng shewe of mans traditions or pardons pilgrimages ceremonies vowes deuotions voluntarie workes and workes of supererogation foundations oblations the Popes supremacie c. so that all these either were nedeles where the other is present or els were of small estimation in comparison of the other The tenour and effect of these his Sermons so far as they could come to our handes here foloweth ¶ The tenoure and effecte of certayne Sermons made by mayster Latimer in Cambridge about the yeare of our Lord. 1529. TV quis es which wordes are as much to say in Englyshe Who art thou These be the wordes of the Phariseis which were sent by the Iewes vnto sainct Iohn Baptist in wildernesse to haue knowledge of hym whom he was which woordes they spake vnto hym of an euill intent thinkyng that he would haue taken on hym to be Christe and so they woulde haue had him done with their good willes because they knewe that he was more carnall and geuen to their lawes then Christ in deede should be as they perceyued by their old prophecies and also because they maruayled muche of his great doctryne preachyng and baptising they were in doubt whether he was Christ or not wherefore they sayd vnto him who art thou Then answered sainct Iohn and confessed that he was not Christ. Now here is to be noted the great and prudent answere of saincte Iohn Baptist vnto the Phariseis that when they required of him whom he was he would not directly answere of himselfe what he was him selfe but he sayd he was not Christ by the which saying he thought to put the Iewes and Phariseis out of their false opinion beliefe towardes him in that they would haue had him to exercise the office of Christ and â—o declared farther vnto them of Christ saying he is in the middes of you and amongst you whoÌ„ ye know not whose â—atchet of his shoe I am not worthy to vnlose or vndoe By this you may perceiue that saint Iohn spake much in the lande and prayse of Christ his maister professing himselfe to be in no wise like vnto him So likewise it shal be necessary vnto all men women of this world not to ascribe vnto them selues any goodnes of themselues but all vnto our Lorde God as shall appeare herafter when this question aforesayd Who art thou shall be moued vnto theÌ„ not as the Phariseis did vnto saint Iohn of an euill purpose but of a good and simple minde as may appeare hereafter Now then according to the preachers mynd let euery man and woman of a good simple mind contrary to the Phariseis intent aske this question Who art thou this question must be moued to themselues what they be of themselues on this fashion What art thou of thy only and natural generatioÌ„ betwene father mother wheÌ„ thou camest into this world What substaÌ„ce what vertue what goodnes art thou of by thy selfe which question if thou reherâ—e often times vnto thy selfe thou shalt well perceiue vnderstand how thou shalt make aunswer vnto it which must be made on this wayes I am of my selfe and by my selfe coÌ„ming from my naturall father mother the childe of the ire indignation of God the true inheritour of hel a lumpe of sinne working nothing of my selfe but all towardes hell except I haue better helpe of an other then I haue of my selfe Now we may see in what state we enter in to this world that we be of our selues the true and iust inheritours of hell the children of the ire indignation of Christ working all towardes hell whereby we deserue of our selues perpetuall dampnation by the ryght iudgement of God and the true clayme of our selues which vnthrifty state that we be borne vnto is come vnto vs for our own desertes and proueth well this example followyng Let it be admitted for the probatioÌ„ of this that it might please the kynges grace now being to accept into his fauour a meane man of a simple degre and byrth not borne to any possession whom the kynges grace fauoureth not because this person hath of himselfe deserued any such fauoure but that the kyng casteth this fauoure vnto him of his owne mere motion fantasy and for because the kings grace will more declare his fauoure vnto him he geueth vnto his sayd man a thousand poundes in landes to hym and his heyres on this condition that he shall take vpon him to be the chiefe captayne and defendour of his towne of Calice and to be trew and faythfull vnto hym in the custodie of the same agaynst the Frenche men specially aboue all other enemies This man taketh on hym this charge promysing his fidelitie thereunto It chaunceth in processe of tyme that by the singuler acquaintaunce and frequent familiaritie of this Captaine with the French men these French men geue vnto this sayde Captayne of Calice a great summe of money so that he will be content and agreeable that they may enter into the sayde towne of Calice by force of armes and so thereby to possesse the same vnto the Crowne of Fraunce vpon this agreement the French men doe inuade the sayde Towne of Calice alonely by the neglygence of this Captayne Now the Kynges grace hearyng of this inuasion commeth with a great puissaunce to defende this his sayd Towne and so by good pollicie of warre ouercommeth the sayd French men and entreth againe into his Towne of Calice Then he beyng desyrous to knowe how these enemies of his came thyther he maketh profound searche and enquirie by whom this treason was conspyred by this searche it was knowen and founde his owne Captayne to be the very authoure and beginner of the betraying of it The King seeing the great infidelitie of this person dischargeth this man of his office and taketh from him and his heyres this thousande poundes possessions Thinke you not but the Kyng doth vse iustice vnto him and all his posteritie and heyres Yes truely the sayde Capitayne cannot deny hymselfe but that he hadde true iustice consyderyng howe vnfaythfully he behaued hym to his Prince contrary to his own fidelitie and promyse so likewyse it was of our fyrst Father Adam He had geuen vnto him the spirite of science knowledge to worke all goodnesse therewith this sayd spirite was not geuen alonely vnto him but vnto all his heyres and posteritie He had also deliuered him the Towne of Calice that is to say Paradise in earth the most strong and fayrest Towne in the worlde to be in his custodie He neuerthelesse by the instigation of these Frenche menne that is to say the temptation of the Feende dyd obey vnto their desire and so brake his promise and fidelitie the commaundemeÌ„t of the euerlasting kyng his maister in eatyng of the apple by hym inhibited Now then the kyng seyng this great treason in
bee free from chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and no children Seing then when as we haue had carnall parents which chastened vs we reuerenced them shall not we much more be subiect vnto our spirituall father that we might liue And they for a litle time taughte vs after theyr owne mind but this father teacheth vs to our commodity to geue vnto vs his holinesse Al chastisment for the present tyme appeareth not pleasaunt but paynefull but afterward it rendereth the fruite of righteousnesse on them which are exercised in it Wherefore let vs bee of good cheere good Brethren and let vs plucke vppe our feeble members that were fallen or beganne to faynt hart handes knees and all the rest and let vs walke vpright and straight that no limping no◠〈…〉 bring vs out of the way Let vs looke not vpon the thinges that be present but with the eyes of our fayth let vs stedfastly behold the thinges that be euerlasting in heauen and so choose rather in respecte of that whiche is to come with the chosen members of Christ to beare Christes Crosse then for this short life time to inioy all the riches honours and pleasures of the broade worlde Why should we Christians feare death Can death depriue vs of Christ which is all our coÌ„â—ort our ioy and our life Nay forsooth But contrary death shall deliuer vs from this mortall body whiche lodeth and beareth downe the spirite that it cannot so well perceiue heauenly thinges in the which so long as we dwell wee are absent from God Wherefore vnderstanding our state in that we be Christians that if our mortall body which is our earthly house were destroied we haue a building a house not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen c. therefore wee are of good cheere and know that when we are in the body we are absent from GOD for we walke by fayth and not by cleare fight Neuerthelesse we are bolde and had rather be absent from the bodye and present with GOD. Wherefore we striue whether we be present at home or absent abroad that we may alwayes please him And who that hath true fayth in our Sauior Christ whereby he knoweth somewhat truely what Christ our Sauiour is that he is the eternall sonne of God life light the wisedome of the father all goodnesse all righteousnesse and whatsoeuer is good that heart canne desire yea infinite plentye of all these aboue that that mans hart canne either conceiue or thinke for in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godheade corporally and also that he is geuen vs of the Father and made of GOD to be our wisedome our righteousnesse our holâ—nesse and our redemption who I say is he that beleueth this in deede that woulde not gladly bee with his mayster christ Paul for this knowledge coueted to haue bene loosed from the body and to haue beene with Christ for that he counted it muche better for himselfe and had rather to be loosed then to liue Therefore these wordes of Christe to the thiefe on the Crosse that asked of him mercy were full of comfort and solace This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise To dye in the defence of Christes Gospell it is our bounden duety to Christ and also to our neighbour To Christ for he dyed for vs and rose agayne that he might be Lord ouer all And seing he dyed for vs we also sayth S. Iohn shoulde ieopard yea geue our life for our Brethren And this kinde of geuing and loosing is getting and winning in deede for hee that geueth or looseth his life thus getteth winneth it for euermore Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord and if they dye in the Lordes cause they are most happy of all Let vs not then feare death which can do vs no harme otherwise then for a momeÌ„t to make the flesh to smart but that our fayth whiche is surely fastened and fixed vnto the worde of GOD telleth vs that we shall be anon after death in peace in the handes of GOD in ioye in solace and that from death we shall go straight vnto life For Saynt Iohn sayeth he that liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye And in an other place he shall depart from death vnto life And therefore this death of the Christian is not to be called death but rather a gate or entraunce into euerlasting life Therefore Paule calleth it but a dissolution and resolution and both Peter and Paul a putting of this Tabernacle or dwelling house Meaning thereby the mortall body as wherein the soule or spirite doth dwell here in this worlde for a small time Yea this death may be called to the Christian an end of all miseries For so long as we liue here we must passe through many tribulations before we canne enter into the kingdome of heauen And nowe after that death hath shot his bolt all the christian mans enemies haue done what they canne after that they haue no more to doe What coulde hurte or harme poore Lazarus that lay at the rich mannes Gate His former penury and pouerty his misery beggery and horrible sores and sickenesse For so soone as death had stricken him with his dart so soone came the aungels and caryed him straight vp into Abrahams bosome What lost he by death who from misery and payne is set by the ministery of Aungels in a place both of ioy and solace Farewell deare brethren farewell and let vs comforte our hartes in all troubles and in death with the worde of God for heauen and earth shall perish but the word of the Lord endureth for euer Farewell Christes dearely beloued spouse here wandering in this world as in a straunge land farre from thine owne couÌ„try coÌ„passed about on euery hand with deadly enemies which cease not to assault thee euer seeking thy destruction Farewell farewell O ye the whole and vniuersall congregation of the chosen of God here liuing vpon earth the true churche militant of Christ the true misticall body of Christ the very house holde and family of God and the sacred temple of the holy ghost Farewell Farewell O thou litle flocke of the highe heauenlye pastour Christ for to thee it hath pleased the heauenlye father to geue an euerlasting and eternall kingdome Farewell Farewell thou spirituall house of God thou holy and royall priesthood thou choseÌ„ generatioÌ„ thou holy nation thou wonne spouse Farewell Farewell N. R. ¶ An other treatise of B. Ridley wherein is conteyned first a lamentation for the chaunge of Religion in England then a comparison betwene the doctrine of the Gospell and the Romish religion with wholesome instructions in the end to all christians how to behaue themselues in time of tryall ALas what misery is thy church brought vnto O lord at this day Where of late the worde of the Lord was truely preached was read and heard in euery towne in euery Church
that should do all the wonderfull thinges spoken in Iohn and yet of a Beast speaketh Iohn but I vnderstand hym so to be called not for that he shall be anye suche brute Beast but for that he is and shall bee the chylde of perdition whiche for hys crueltie and beastlye manners is well called a Beast The carnall Iewes knew there was a promise made that Helias should come before Christe the Messias the annoynted of God to prepare hys wayes they knew also there was a promise of Messias that he shoulde come and be a king and raygne in the house of Dauid for euermore but they vnderstoode al so grossely and so carnally that they neyther knewe Helias nor Messias when they came for they looked for Helias to come down from heauen in his own person and for Messias to come raigne in worldly pompe power riches and glorye when as the prophesies of both wer spiritually to haue bene vnderstāded of Helias that he shoulde come not in persone but in spirite that is one whiche shoulde be indued with the spirite and giftes of grace of Helias whiche was in deede Iohn Baptist as Christ hymselfe did declare to his Apostles And of Messias raygne all the Prophetes were to be vnderstanded of the raygne of hys spirituall kingdome ouer the house of Iacob and the true Israelites for euermore And so by that their grosse and carnall vnderstandyng they mistooke both Helias and the true Messias and when they came knew neither of them both So likewise I feare me nay it is certayne the world that wanteth the light of the spirite of God for the worlde is not able to receaue hym sayth Iohn neither dothe nor shall know the beast nor his markes though he rage cruellye and liue neuer so beastly and though his marked men be in number like the sand of the sea The Lord therfore vouchsafe to open the eyes of the blinde with the light of grace that they may see and perceaue and vnderstād the words of God after the minde of his spirite Amen Here remayneth two obiections whiche may seeme wayghty and the whiche may peraduenture moue many not to follow the former councel The former reason is A man will say O sir it is no small matter ye speake of to depart from a mans owne natiue countrey into a strange realme Many men haue so great lettes as how it is possible that they can or may do so Some haue landes possessions whiche they cannot carry with them some haue father mother wife children and kinsfolke from whome to depart is as hard a thing and all one almost as to suffer death and to go to a straunge country that thou knowest not neyther the maner of the people nor how thou mayst away either with the people or with the country Or what a hard thing it is to liue amonge a straunge people whose tongue thou doest not vnderstand c. I graunt here thou mayst heape a number of worldly incommodities which are surely very like to ensue the departure out of a mans owne natiue country I meane out of the whole realme into a straunge land but what of all these and a thousand moe of the lyke sorte I will sette vnto them one saying of our sauiour Christ whiche vnto the faythfull childe of God and to the true christian is able to counteruayle all these yea and to way them downe Christe oure sauioure sayth in Luke If any come to me and do not hate hys father and mother hee meaneth and wyll not in his cause forsake his father and mother hys wyfe children and brethren yea and hys lyfe too hee cannot bee my disciple and whosoeuer doth not beare hys crosse and come after me he cannot be my disciple And in the same place he declareth by the two parables one of a builder and the other of a king that is a warriour that euery man that wil not in Christes cause forsake all that euer he hath hee can not be his Disciple Look the places who will the matter is so playnely set forth that no gloses nor cloking of conscience to the manne of God can serue to the contrarye Many places there be for the same purpose for the imbrasing of Christes crosse when Christ and his cause layeth it vpon our backe but this is so playne that I neede here to rehearse no more This latter reason and obiection whereof I spake before is of more force and includeth a necessitie which after the common saying hath no lawe and therefore it is more hard to shape for it a good aunswere This may bee obiected of some alas sir I graunt al these thinges do greue me and because I vnderstand they doe not agree with Gods worde whiche is the rule of my conscience I loth eyther to looke on them or to heare them But sir alas I am an impotent man an aged man a sicke man a lame man or I haue so many small infantes and a lame wife which all liueth by my labour and by my prouision if I leaue them they shall sterue and I am not able to cary them with me suche is my state Alas sir what shal I do And these causes may chaunce to some men of God whereby eyther it shal be for them vtterly impossible to departe the country or els in departing they shal be inforced to forsake suche in extreme necessities of whom both God and nature hathe committed vnto them the care Alas what councel is here to be geuen O lamentable state O sorrowfull hart that neyther can depart and with out extreame daunger and perill is not able to tarye still And these are they whom our Sauiour Christe sawe before should be and called them in his prophesie of the latter time great bellyed or trauelling women and women that geue after they bee brought to bed their small babes suck The state of such are not able to flye the infection of the pestiferous plague of Antichristes abhominations Christ lamenting and not cursing sayth Wo be to the great bellyed and trauelling woman and women that geue sucke in those dayes For these alas my hart mourneth the more the lesse I am able to geue any comfortable councell but this that alwayes as they looke for euerlasting lyfe they abide still in the confession of his truth what soeuer shall befall and for the rest to put theyr trust now wholly in God whiche is able to saue them agaynst al apparance and commonly in extremities when all worldly comfort fayleth and the danger is at highest thē vnto his he is wont after his accustomed mercy to be most ready for to put his helping hand Daniel God suffered to be caste into the Denne of Lyons and the three children into the hote burning furnace and yet he saued them all Paule was plucked out of the mouthe of the Lyon as he sayth of hymselfe and in Asia he was brought in suche trouble that he looked for no other
daunger to fall in like perill again there he maketh them perfite to be without danger paine or perill after that for euermore But this hys loue towards thē howsoeuer the worlde doth iudge of it is al one both when he deliuereth when he suffereth thē to be put to death He loued as well Peter and Paul whē after they had according to hys blessed will pleasure and prouidence finished their courses and done theyr seruices appoynted them by hym here in preaching of his Gospel the one was beheaded and the other was hanged or crucified of the cruell tyraunt Nero as the Ecclesiasticall hystory sayth as when hee sent the Aungell to bringe Peter out of prison and for Paules deliuery he made all the dores of the prison to flye wide open and the foundation of the same like an earthquake to tremble and shake Thinkest thou O thou man of God that Chryst our sauiour had lesse affection to the first martyr Stephen because he suffered his enemies euen at the first conflicte to stone him to death No surely nor Iames Iohns brother which was one of the three that Paule calleth Primates or Principals amongst the Apostles of Christ. Hee loued him neuer a whit the worse thē he did the other although he suffered Herode the tyrauntes sword to cut of his head Nay doth not Danyell say speaking of the cruelty of Antichristes time Et docti in populo docebunt plurimos ruent in gladio in flamma in captiuitate rapina dierum c. Et de eruditis ruent vt conflentur eligantur dealbentur c. That is and the learned hee meaneth truely learned in Gods lawe shall teache many and shall fall vppon the sworde and in the flame that is shall bee burned in the flaming fire and in captiuitie that is shall bee in prison and be spoyled and robbed of theyr goodes for a longe season And after a little in the same place of Daniell it followeth and of the learned there be whiche shall fall or be ouerthrowne that they may be knowne tryed chosen made white he meaneth be burnished scoured a new picked and chosen and made fresh and lustye If that then was foreseene for to be done to the godly learned and for so gracious causes let euery one to whom any such thing by the will of God doth chaunce be mery in God and reioyce for it is to Gods glory and to his owne euerlasting wealth Wherefore well is he that euer he was borne for whom thus graciously God hath prouided hauing grace of God and strength of the holy Ghost so stand steadfastly in the height of the storme Happy is he that euer hee was borne whome God his heauenly Father hath vouchsafed to appoynt to glorifie him and to edifie hys Churche by the effusion of hys bloud To dye in Christes cause is an high honour to that whiche no man certaynly shall or can aspire but to whō God vouchsafeth that dignitie For no man is allowed to presume for to take vnto hym selfe any office of honour but he which is thereunto called of God Therfore Ioh. saith well speaking of them which haue obtayned the victorye by the bloud of the Lambe and by the worde of hys testimony that they loued not theyr liues euen vnto death And our sauiour Christ sayth He that shall lose his life for my cause shall finde it And this manner of speach pertayneth not to one kinde of Christians as the worldly dothe wickedly dreame but all that doe truelye pertayne vnto Christ. For when Christe had called vnto hym the multytude together with hys Disciples he said vnto thē mark that he sayde not this to the Disciples and Apostles onely but he sayd it to al who soeuer wil follow me let him forsake or deny hymselfe and take vp his crosse and followe me for who soeuer will saue his lyfe shall lose it he meaneth who soeuer will to saue hys life both forsake or leaue hym and his truth and whosoeuer shall lose his lyfe for my cause and the Gospels sake shall saue it For what shall it profite man if he shall winne the whole world and lose his owne soule hys owne lyfe or what shall a manne geue to recompence that losse of his owne lyfe and of hys own soule Who soeuer shal be ashamed of me my words that is to confesse me and my Gospell before this adulterous and sinful generation of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of hys Father with the holy Aungels Know thou O man of God that all thinges are ordayned for thy behoufe and to the furtheraunce of thee towardes thy saluation All thinges saith Paule worketh with the good to goodnes euen the enemies of God such kind of punishmentes whereby they goe about to destroy them shall be forced by Gods power might fatherly prouidence for to do them seruice It is not as the wicked thinketh that pouerty aduersitie sickenes tribulation yea paynfull death of the godly be tokens that God doth not loue them but euen cleane the contrary as all the whole course of scripture doth euidently declare for then he would neuer haue suffered hys most dearly beloued the Patriarkes to haue had such troubles his Prophetes his Apostles his martyrs and chiefe Champions and mayntayners of hys truth and Gospell so cruelly of the wicked to haue bene murdered and slayn Of the which some were racked as the Apostle sayth and woulde not be deliuered that they might receaue a better resurrection Some were tryed by mockinges scourginges yea moreouer by bondes and imprisonment they were stoned they were hewen and cut a sunder they were tempted they were slayne with the sword they wandered vp and down in sheepes skinnes and Gotes skinnes beyng forsaken afflicted and tormented such men as the world was not worthy to haue wādring in wildernes in moūtaynes in Dennes and Caues of the earth All these were approued by the testimony of fayth and receaued not the promise because God did prouide better for vs that without vs they should not be consummated They tary nowe for vs vndoubtedly longing for the day but they are commaunded to haue pacience yet saith the Lord a litle while vntill the number of theyr fellow seruauntes bee fulfilled and of theyr brethren whiche are yet to be slayne as they were Now thou O man of God for our Lordes sake let vs not for the loue of thys lyfe tary then to long and bee occasion of delay of that glorious consummation in hope and expectation wherof the departed in the Lord and the whiche also the liuing endued with Gods spirite ought so earnestly to desire and to grone for with al the creatures of God Let vs all with Iohn the seruaunt of God cry in our harts vnto our sauiour Christ Veni Domine Iesu come Lorde Iesu come For then when Christ which is our life
was brought before the Bish. of Douer and Nich. Harpesfield or some other deputed in their roume long before the other two videlicet the xvj day of September and there had propounded vnto hym such ordinarie Articles as it seemeth as was commonly ministred by Boner to those of hys iurisdiction beyng willed for that present to depart and to deliberate with hymselfe vpon the matter agaynst the next tyme of his appearance he made aunswer that hee would no otherwyse say by Gods grace then hee had already sayde which was this As touchyng the Sacrament of Christes bodye I do beleeue quoth he to be left vnto hys Churche wyth thankes geuyng in commemoration of hys death passion vntill his commyng agayne So that it is left in remembraunce of hys body and not by the wordes of consecration to be made his body really substantially and the same body that was borne of the virgin Mary I vtterly do deny that After this besides sundry other tymes the third day of October the sayd Ioh. Web Gregory Roper George Parke were brought all three together before the sayd Iudge who there and then agreeyng and stedfastly allowyng the former aunswere made before by Maister Webbe were by the bloudy Prelates adiudged heretikes and therefore about the ende of the same month of October or els as I otherwyse finde in the latter ende of Nouember they together were taken and brought out of prison to the place of Martyrdom Who by the way goyng toward the stake sayd certaine Psalmes mournefully Roper was a yonger man of a fresh colour courage complexion the other two were somewhat more elderly all goyng in white linnen with their gownes vpon Roper at his commyng to the stake puttyng of hys gowne fet a great leape So soone as the flame was about hym the sayd Roper put out both hys armes from hys bodye lyke a Rood and so stood stedfast continuyng in that maner not pluckyng his armes in tyll the fire had consumed them and burnt them of And thus these foresayde Martyrs of Christ beeyng brought as I sayde to the stake and there compassed about with a chayne were burnt and consumed all thre together in one fire at Canterbury abidyng most patiently their torments and countyng themselues happy blessed of the lord that they were made worthy to suffer for Christes Gospels sake * William Wiseman THe 13. of Decemb. in the Lollards Tower died William Wiseman a Clothworker of London where hee ⧠The order and maner of burying in the Fields such as dyed in prison and namely of William Wiseman was in prison and bands for the Gospel worde of God How and whereupon he deceased it is not fully certaine Some thought that either through famine or ill handling of some murtheryng papists he was made away By reason whereof the Crouner named Iohn Gibbes Gentleman with an enquest of twelue men were fayne to sit vpoÌ„ hym who although to the outward apperance were sayd to finde nothyng in hym els but onely Gods visitation yet what other priuy causes there might be of hys death the Lord knoweth I haue not to say After the sayd William was departed as is sayde in the Tower the holy Catholike church men cast hym out into the fieldes commanded that no man should bury him according as theyr deuout maner is to do with all such as dye in lyke sort whoÌ„ they account as prophane and worthy of no buriall but to be cast to dogs and birdes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Poet sayeth And yet all this their mercilesse commaundement not withstandyng some good Tobies there were which buried hym in the euenyng as commonly they did all the rest throwen out in lyke sort whom they were woont priuily by night to couer and many tymes the Archers in the fields standyng by and singing together Psalmes at their buriall ¶ Iames Gore IN the same month about the 7. day of Decemb. deceased also Iames Gore in the prison at Colchester layed there in bands for the right and truth of Gods word ⧠The processe and historie of M. Iohn Philpot examined condemned and Martyred for the maintenance and defence of the Gospels cause against the Antichristian Sea of Rome NExt foloweth the constant Martyrdome of M. Iohn Philpot of whome partly ye heard before in the beginning of Queene Maries time in prosecutyng the disputation of the Conuocation house He was of a worshipfull house a knights sonne borne in Hamshire brought vp in the new Colledge in Oxford where he studied the Ciuill lawe the space of 6. or 7. yeares besides the study of other liberall artes especially of the tongs wherein very forwardly he profited namely in the knowledge of the Hebrue tong c. In witâ—he was pregnaÌ„t and happy of a singuler courage in spirit feruent in religion zelous and also well practised and exercised in the same which is no small matter in a true deuine of nature and condition plaine and apert far from all flatterie farther from all hypocrisie and deceitfull dissimulation What his learnyng was hys owne examinations penned of hys owne hand can declare From Oxford desirous to see other countries as occasion serued thereunto he went ouer into Italy and places thereabouts where he commyng vpon a tyme from Uenice to Padua was in daunger through a certayne Franciscan Frier accompanying hym in hys iourney who coÌ„myng to Padua sought to accuse hym of heresie At length returnyng to England hys countrey agayne as the tyme ministred more boldnes to hym in the dayes of King Edward he had diuers conflictes with Gardiner the bishop in the Citye of Winchester as appeareth by dyuers of Winchesters letters and hys examinations Wherof read before After that hauyng an aduauson by the sayd B. he was made there Archdeacon of Winchester vnder D. Pomet who then succeeded Gardiner in that Bishoprike Thus duryng the tyme of K. Edward he continued to no small profite of those parties thereabout When that blessed king was taken away Mary hys sister came in place whose study was wholy bent to alter the state of religion in the wofull realme of England first she caused a Conuocation of the Prelates learned men to be congregate to the accomplishment of her desire In the which Conuocation M. Philpot beyng present accordyng to hys roume and degree with a few other susteined the cause of the Gospel manfully agaynst the aduersary part as is aboue recited for the which cause not withstandyng the liberty of the house promied before hee was called to accompt before B. Gardiner the Chauncellour then beyng hys Ordinary by whome he was first examined although that examination came not yet to our handes From thence agayne he was remooued to Boner and other Commissioners with whom he had dyuers sundry conflictes as in hys examination here followyng may appeare ¶ The first examination of M. Iohn Philpot before the Queenes
Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. Mary in deed you M. Doctour put me in good remeÌ„braunce of the meaning of S. Paule in that place for Apotasia is properly a departing from the fayth and thereof commeth Apostata whiche properly signifieth one that departeth from his fayth and S. Paule in the same place after speaketh of the decay of the Empyre Cole Apostasia doth not onely signify a departing froÌ„ the fayth but also from the Empyre as I am able to shew Phil. I neuer read it so taken and when you shal be able to shew it as you say in woordes I will beleue it and not before Worcest I am sory that you shoulde be agaynst the Christen world Phil. The world commonly and such as be called Christians for the multitude hath hated the truth and bene enemies to the same Gloc. Why M. Philpot doe you thinke that the vniuersall church hath erred and you onely to be in the truth Phil. The church that you are of was neuer vniuersall for two parts of the world which is Asia Africa neuer consented to the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome as at this day they do not neither do folow his decrees Gloc. Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree Phil. It was sayde so by false report after they of Asia and Africa were gone home but it was not so in deed as the sequele of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary Gloc. I pray you by whom will you be iudged in matters of controuersy which happen dayly Phil. By the word of God For Christ sayth in S. Iohn The word that he spake shall be Iudge in the latter day Gloc. What if you take the word one way and I an other way who shall be iudge then Phil. The Primitiue Church Gloc. I know you meane the Doctors that wrote thereof Phil I meane verely so Gloc. What if you take the Doctors in one sense and I in an other who shal be iudge then Phil. Then let that be taken whiche is moste agreeable to Gods word Cole My Lordes why do you trouble your selues to answere him in this matter It is not the thing which is laid to his charge but his error of the sacrament and he to shift himselfe of that brought in another matter Phil. This is the matter M. Cole to the which I haue referred all other questions and desire to be satisfied Worc. It is wonder to see how he standeth with a few agaynst a great multitude Phil. We haue almost as many as you For we haue Asia Africa Germany Denmarke and a great part of France and dayly the number of the Gospel doth encrease so that I am credibly informed that for this Religion in the whiche I stande and for the whiche I am like to dye a greate multitude doth dayly come out of Fraunce through persecution that the Cityes of Germany bee scarse able to receiue them and therefore your Lordship may be sure the word of God will one day take place doe what you can to the contrary Worc. They were wel occupied to bring you such newes and you haue bene well kept to haue such resort vnto you Thou art the arrogantest felow stoutest fond felow that euer I knew Phil. I pray your Lordship to beare with my hasty speech for it is part of my corrupt nature to speake somewhat hastily but for all that I meane with humility to do my duty to your Lordship Boner M. Philpot my Lordes will troule you no further at this time but you shall goe from whence you came and haue such fauor as in the mean while I can shew you and vpon wednesday next you shal be called agayn to be heard what you can say for mainteinaunce of your error Phil. My Lorde my desire is to be satisfied of you in that I haue required and your Lordship shall finde me as I haue sayd Worc. We wish you as well as our selues Phil. I thinke the same my Lordes but I feare you are deceiued and haue a zeale of your selues not according to knowledge Worc. God send you more grace Phil. And also God encrease the same in you and opeÌ„ your eyes that you may see to mayneteyne his trueth and hys true Church Then the bishops rose vp consulted together caused a writing to be made in the which I think my bloud by theÌ„ was bought sold thereto they put to theyr handes and after this I was caried to my Colehouse agayne ¶ Thus endeth the fourth part of this tragedy God hasten the end therof to his glory Amen BEcause I haue begon to write vnto you of mine examinations before the Bishop other more to satisfy your desire then it is any thing woorthy to be written I haue thought it good to write vnto you also that whiche hath bene done of late that the same might come to light which they do in darcknes and priuy corners and that the world now and the posterity hereafter might knowe how vnorderly vniustly vnlearnedly these rauening wolues doe proceed agaynst the seely and faythfull flocke of Christ and condemne persecute the sincere doctrine of Christ in vs which they are not able by honest meanes to resist but only by tyranny and violence * The 5. examination of Iohn Philpot had before the Bishops of London Rochester Couentry S. Asses I trow and one other whose Seas I know not Doctor Story Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with diuers other Chaplaynes and Gentlemen of the Queenes Chamber and diuers other Gentlemen in the Gallery of my Lord of Londons Palace BOner M. Philpot come you hither I haue desyred my Lordes here and other learned meÌ„ to take some paines once agayne and to do you good because I do minde to sit in iudgement on you to morow as I am commauÌ„ded yet I would you should haue as much fauor as I caÌ„ shew you if you wil be any thing coÌ„formable Therfore play the wise man and be not singuler in your opinioÌ„ but be ruled by these learned men Phil. My Lord in that you say you will sit on me in iudgement to morrow I am glad thereof For I was promised by them which sent me vnto you that I should haue bene iudged the next day after but promise hath not bene kepte with me to my farther griefe I looke for none other but death at your hands and I am as ready to yeld my life in Christes cause as you be to require it Boner Lo what a wilfull man this is By my fayth it is but folly to reasoÌ„ with him neither with any of these heretickes I am sory that you wil be no more tractable that I am compelled to shew extremity agaynst you Phil. My Lord you need not to shew extremity against me vâ—les you list neither by the law as I haue sayd you haue any thing to do with me for that you are not mine Ordynary albeit I am contrary to
proued London What say you then to the second scripture howe couple you that by the word to the other Phil. The text it selfe declareth that notwithstanding Chryst did abase himself in our humayne nature yet he is stil one in Deitie with the Father And this S. Paule to the Hebrues doth more at large set foorth And as I haue by the scriptures ioyned these two scriptures together so am I able to do in all other Articles of fayth which we ought to beleue and by the manifest word of God to expound them London How can that be seing saynct Paule sayth that the letter killeth but it is the spirite that geueth life Philpot. S. Paul meaneth not the worde of God written in it selfe killeth which is the word of life and the faythfull testimonie of the Lord but that the worde is vnprofitable and killeth him that is void of the spirite of God although he be the wisest man of the world and therfore S. Paule sayd That the Gospell to some was a sauour of life vnto lyfe and to some other a sauour of death vnto death Also an example hereof we haue in the vi of Iohn of them who hearing the worde of God without the spirite were offended thereby wherefore Christ sayd The flesh profiteth nothing it is the spirite that quickeneth London What do you vnderstand that of S. Paule and of S. Iohn so Philpot. It is not mine owne interpretation it is agreable to the word in other places and I haue learned the same of auncient fathers interpreting it likewise And to the Corinthians as it is written Animalis homo non percipit ea quae sunt spiritus Dei spiritualis dijudicat omnia The natural man perceiueth not the thinges that bee of the spirite of God but the spirituall man whiche is indued with the spirite iudgeth all thinges London You see my Lordes that this man will haue but hys owne minde and will wilfully cast away himselfe I am sory for him Phil. The words that I haue spoken be none of mine but of the Gospell wheron I ought to stand And if you my lord of London can bring better authoritie for the faythe you would draw me vnto then that which I stand vpoÌ„ I wil gladly heare the same by you or by any other in this realm Wherfore I kneeling down besought the Lords to be good vnto me a poore Gentleman that would fayne lyue in the world if I might and to testifie as you haue heard me to say this day that if any man can approue that I ought to be of any other maner of faith then that of which I now am and can proue the same sufficiently I will be neyther wilâ—ull neither desperate as my Lorde of London woulde make you beleue me to be Rich. What countrey man be you are you of the Philpots of Hampshyre Phil. Yea my Lorde I was Sir Peter Philpots sonne of Hampshyre Rich. He is my neare kinsman wherefore I am the more sory for him Phil. I thanke your Lordship that it pleaseth you to chalenge kinred of a poore prisoner Rich. In faith I would go an hundreth miles on my bare feete to do you good Cham. He may do well enough if he liSt S. Iohn M. Philpot you are my countryman I woulde be glad you should do well Rich. You said euen now that you would desire to mayntaine your beliefe before ten of the best in the realme You did not well to compare with the Nobilitie of the Realme But what if you haue tenne of the best in the Realme to heare you will you be tryed by them Phil. My Lord your Lordshippe mistaketh me to thinke that I challenge tenne of the best of the Nobilitie in thys realme It was no part of my minde but I meant of the best learned on the contrary side Rich. Wel I take your meaning What if meanes be made to the Queenes maiestie that you shall haue your request will you be iudged by them Phil. My Lord it is not meete that a man shoulde be iudged by his aduersaries Rich. By whom then would you be iudged Phil. I will make your honours iudges that shal be hearers of vs. Rich. I dare be bolde to procure for you of the Queenes maiestie that you shall haue tenne learned men to reason with you and twenty or forty of the Nobility to heare so you wil promise to abide theyr iudgement How say you will you promise here afore my Lordes so to do Phil. I will be contented to be iudged by them Rich. Yea but wil you promise to agree to theyr iudgemeÌ„t Phil. There be causes why I may not so do vnlesse I wer sure they would iudge according to the word of God Rich. O I perceaue you wil haue no man iudge but your selfe and thinke your selfe wiser then all the learned men of this Realme Phil. My Lorde I seeke not to be myne owne iudge but am conteÌ„t to be iudged by other so that the order of iudgement in matters of religion be kept that was in the primatiue Church which is first that Gods wil by his word was sought and thereunto both the spiritualty and temporaltie was gathered together and gaue theyr consentes iudgement such kind of iudgement I will stand to London My Lordes he would make you beleeue that hee were profoundly seene in auncient writers of the iudgementes of the primatiue Church and there was neuer any such maner of iudgement vsed as he now talketh of Phil. In the Epistles of S. Ciprian I am able to shewe it you London A I tell you there is no such thing fet me Cyprian hether Phil. You shall finde it otherwise when the booke commeth And D. Chedsay his Chaplayne whom he appointed to fet his booke whispered the Bishop in his care and fet not the booke by likelihoode that he should haue susteined the reproche thereof if the booke had bene fet Well my Lord quoth I mayster Doctor knoweth it is so or els he would haue fet the booke ere this Rich. You woulde haue none other iudge I see but the worde Phil. Yes my Lord I will be tryed by the word by such as will iudge according to the word As for an example if there were a controuersy betweene your Lordship and an other vpon the words of a statute must not the words of the statute iudge and determine the controuersie Rich. No mary the Iudges of the law may determine the meaning therof Load He hath brought as good an example agaynst hym selfe as can be And here the B. thought he had good handfast against me and therefore enlarged it with many wordes to the iudgement of the Church The Lordes Hee hath ouerthrowne himselfe by his owne argument Phil. My Lords it seemeth to your honours that you haue great aduauntage of me by the example I brought in to expresse my cause but if it be pondered throughly it maketh wholy
with me and nothing against me as my Lord of London hath pretended For I will aske of my Lorde Rich here whom I know to haue good knowledge in the lawes and statutes of this realm albeit a Iudge may discerne the meaning of a statute agreable to the wordes whether the same may iudge a meaning contrary to the expres wordes or no Rich. He cannot so do Phil. Euen so say I that no man ought to iudge the word of God to haue a meaning contrary to the expresse words therof as this false church of Rome doth in many things and with this the Lordes seemed to be satisfied and made no further replication herein Rich. I meruaile thē why you do deny the expresse words of Christ in the sacrament saying This is my body and yet you will not sticke to say it is not his body Is not GOD omnipotent and is not he able as well by his omnipotencie to make it his body as he was to make man flesh of a peece of clay Did not he say This is my body whiche shal be betrayed for you and was not his very bodye betrayed for vs therfore it must needes be his body London My Lord Rich you haue sayde wonderfull well and learnedly But you might haue begon with hym before also in the 6. of Iohn where Christe promised to geue his body in the sacrament of the aultar saying Panis quem ego dabo caro mea est The bread which I will geue is my fleshe How can you answere to that Phil. If it please you to geue me leaue to answere first my Lord Rich I will also answere this obiection Rich. Answere my lord of Lōdon first after come to me Philpot. My Lord of London may be soone answered that that the saying of S. Iohn is that the humanitie of chryst which he took vpon him for the redemption of man is the bread of life whereby our bodyes soules be susteined to eternall lyfe of the which the sacramentall bread is a liuely representation and an effectuall cohabitation to all suche as beleue on his Passion and as Christ sayth in the same 6 of Iohn I am the bread that came downe from heauen but yet he is not materiall neither naturall bread Likewise the bread is his flesh not naturall or substantiall but by signification and by grace in a sacrament And now to my Lord Riches argument I do not deny the expresse wordes of Christ in the sacrament This is my body but I deny that they are naturally and corporally to be taken they must be taken sacramentally and spiritually according to the expresse declaration of Christ saying that the wordes of the sacrament whiche the Capernites tooke carnally as the papistes nowe doe ought to be taken spiritually not carnally as they falsly imagine not waying what interpretation of Christe hath made in this behalfe neither follow the Institution of Christ neyther the vse of the Apostles and of the primatiue Churche who neuer taught neither declared no such carnall maner of presence as is now exacted of vs violently without any ground of scripture or antiquitie who vsed to put oute of the Church all such as did not receiue the sacrament wyth the rest and also to burne that which was left after the receiuing as by the Canon of the Apostles and by the decree of the Councell of Antioch may appeare London No that is not so they were onely Cathecumeni which went out of the Church at the celebration of the cōmunion and none other Phil. It was not onely of such as were Nouices in fayth but all others that did not receaue London What say you to the omnipotencie of God is not be able to performe that which he spake as my Lord Rich hath very well said I tell thee that God by his omnipotency may make himselfe to be this carpet if he will Phil. As concerning the omnipotencie of God I say that God is able to do as the Prophet Dauid sayth what soeuer he willeth but he willeth nothing that is not agreeable to hys word as that is blasphemy which my Lorde of London hath spoken that God may become a Carpet For as I haue learned of auncient writers Non potest Deus facere quae sunt naturae suae contraria That is God cannot doe that which is contrary to his nature as it is contrary to the nature of God to be a Carpet A Carpet is a creature God is the creator and the creator cānot be the creature wherfore vnlesse you can declare by the worde that Christ is otherwise present with vs then spiritually and sacramentally by grace as he hath taught vs you pretend the omnipotencie of God in vayne London Why wilt thou not say that Christ is really present in the sacrament Or do you deny it Phil. I deny not that Christ is really in the Sacrament to the receauer therof according to Christes institution London What meane you by really present Phil. I meane by really present present in deed London Is God really present euery where Phil. He is so London How proue you that Phil. The Prophet Esay sayth That God filleth all places and where soeuer there be two or three gathered together in Christes name there is he in the middest of them London What his humanitie Phil. No my Lord I meane the deitie accordinge to that you demaunded Rich. My Lord of London I praye you let mayster Doctour Chedsey reason with him and let vs see how hee can aunswere him for I tell thee he is a learned man in deede one that I do credite before a great many of you whose doctrine the Queenes maiestie and the whole realme doth well allow therefore heare him Lond. My Lordes I pray you wil it please you to drinke you haue talked a great while and much talke is thursty I will leaue M. Doctour and him reasoning together a while with your leaue and will come to you by and by agayne He went as I suppose to make rowme for more drinke after the Lordes had dronken Rich. My Lord Rich sayde to the Lordes I praye you let the poore man drinke for hee is thirsty and with that hee called for a cup of drinke and gaue it me and I dranke before them all God requite it hym for I was a thyrst indeede Afterwardes Doctor Chadsey began in this wise making a great processe of the which this is the effect Chadsey M. Philpot findeth fault with the Conuocation house before your Lordships that he hath layne this long in prison and that he had there a dosen Arguments wherof he could not be suffred to prosecute one throughly whiche is not so for he had leaue to say what he could was aunswered to asmuche as he was able to bring and when he had nothing els to say he fell to weeping I was there present and can testifie therof albeit there is a
the Lords supper can not be verified For Christe commaunded aswell Take ye eate ye as This is my body Chadsey Christ sayd Take eate this is my body and not take ye eate ye Phil. No did Mayster Doctour Be not these the wordes of Christ Accipite manducate and do not these wordes in the plurall number signifie Take ye eate ye and not take thou eate thou as you would suppose Chadsey I graunt it as you say Phil. Likewise of consequencie you Mayster Doctour must needes deny which you haue sayd that these words This is my body being onely spoken be sufficient to make the body and bloud of Christe in the sacrament as you haue vntruely sayd London Then came in the bishop agayne and sayd what is it that you would haue mayster Doctor deny Phil. My Lord M. Doctor hath affirmed that these words This is my body spoken by the prieste onely doe make the sacrament London In deede if mayster Briges shoulde speake these wordes ouer the bread and wine they woulde be of none effect but if a priest speake them after a due maner they are effectuall and make a reall body Phil. Mayster Doctor hath sayd otherwise London I thinke you mistake him for hee meaneth of the wordes duely pronounced Philpot. Let hym reuoke that he hath graunted and then will I begin agayne with that whiche before was sayde that This is my bodye hath no place except blesse take and eate duely go before And therfore because the same words do not go before This is my body but preposterously follow in your sacrament of the Masse it is not the sacrament of Christ neither hath Christ in it present Chadsey If This is my body onely do not make the Sacrament no more do blesse take and eate Philpot. I graunt that the one without the other cannot make the sacrament And it can be no sacrament vnlesse that whole action of Christ doth concurre together accordynge to the first Institution Chadsey Why then you will not haue it to be the bodye of Christ vnlesse it be receaued Phil. No verely it is not the very body of Christ to none other but to such as condignely receaue the same after hys Institution London Is not a loafe a loafe being set on the table though no body eate therof Phil. It is not like my Lord. For a loafe is a loafe before it â—e set on the Table but so is not the Sacrament a perfecte Sacrament before it be duely ministred at the table of the Lord. London I pray you what is it in the meane while before it is receaued Phil. It is my Lord the signe begon of a holy thing yes no perfect sacrament vntill it be receaued For in the sacrament there be two thinges to be considered the signe and the thing it selfe which is Christ and hys whole Passion it is that to none but to such as worthily receaue the holy signes of bread wine according to Christes institutioÌ„ Winsor There were neuer none that denyed the words of Christ as you do Did he not say This is my body Philpot. My Lord I pray you be not deceaued We do not deny the wordes of Christ but we say these wordes bee of none effect being spoken otherwise then Christe did institute them in hys last supper For an example Chryst biddeth the churche to baptise in the name of the father the sonne and the holy Ghost if a Priest say those wordes ouer the water and there bee no childe to be Baptised those wordes onely pronounced doe not make Baptisme And agayne Baptisme is not onely Baptisme to suche as bee baptised and to none other standing by L. Chamb. I pray you my Lord let me aske him one question What kinde of presence in the sacrament duely minystred according to Christes ordinaunce do you allow Philpot. If any come worthely to receaue then do I confesse the presence of Christ wholy to bee with all the fruites of his Passion vnto the sayd worthy receauer by the spyrite of God and that Christ is therby ioyned to hym and he to Christ. L. Chamb. I am aunswered London My Lordes take no heede of him for hee goeth about to deceaue you His similitude that he bryngeth in of Baptisme is nothing like to the sacrament of the aultar For if I should say to sir Iohn Briges beyng with me at supper hauing a fat CapoÌ„ take eate this is a fat Capon although he eate not thereof is it not a Capon still And likewise of a peece of Beefe or of a cup of wyne if I saye drinke this is a good cup of wyne is it not so because hee drinketh not therof Phil. My lord your similitudes be to grosse for so high misteryes as wee haue in hande as if I were your equall I could more playnly declare and there is much more dissimilitude betweene common meates and drinkes then there is betweene baptisme and the sacramente of the body and bloud of Christ. Like must be compared to lyke spirâ—tuall things with spirituall and not spirituall things with corporall things And meates and drinkes be of theyr owne natures good or euill and your woordeÌ„s commending or discommeÌ„ding do but declare what they are But the sacraments be to be considered according to the worde which Christ spake of them of the which Take ye eate ye besome of the chiefe concurrent to the making oâ— the same without the which there can be no sacraments and therfore in Greeke the Sacrament of the body and bloude of Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .i. Communion and likewyse in the Gospell Christe commaunded saying Diuidite inter vos i. Diuide it among you Chadsey S. Paule calleth it a Communication Phil. That doeth more expresly shew that there must be a participation of the Sacrament together Lon. My Lords I am sory I haue troubled you so long with this obstinate man with whom we can do no good I wil trouble you no longer now and with that the Lordes rose vp none of them saying any euil worde vnto me half amazed in my iudgement God worke it to good Thus endeth the sixt part of this Tragedie The seuenth looke for with ioy The vij examination of Iohn Philpot had the xix of Nouember before the Bishops of London and Rochester the Chauncellour of Lichfield and Doctour Chadsey LOndon Syrha come hither How chance you come no sooner It is wel done of you to make master Chauncellor and me to tary for you this houre by the faith of my body halfe an houre before masse and halfe an houre euen at masse looking for your comming Phil. My Lorde it is not vnknowen to you that I am a prisoner and that the doores be shut vpon me I can not come when I list but as soone as the dores of my prison were open I came immediately London We senâ— for thee to the intent thou shouldest haue come to Masse Howe
Prayer and all other good deedes I maintained only bare faith to be sufficiēt to saluation what so euer a man did besides I maintained God to be the author of all sinne and wickednes Phil. Ha my Lord haue ye nothing of truth to charge me withal but ye must be faine to imagin these blasphemous lies against me You might as well haue sayd I had killed your father The Scriptures say That God wil destroye all them that speake lies And is not your Lordshippe ashamed to saye before this woorshipfull Gentleman who is vnknowen to mee that I maintaine these abhominable blasphemies whiche you haue rehearsed whyche if I did maintaine I were wel worthy to be counted an heretick and to be burned an hundred times if it were possible London I doe obiect them vnto thee to heare what thou wilt say in them and howe thou canst purge thy selfe of them Philpot. Then it was not iustly sayd of your Lordship in the beginning that I did maintaine them since almost I hold none of these Articles you haue read in form as they are wrytten London Howe sayest thou wilt thou aunswere to them or no Phil. I will first know you to be mine Ordinary and that you may lawfully charge me with suche things and then afterward being lawfully called in iudgemēt I wil shew my minde fully thereof and not otherwise London Well then I wil make thy fellowes to be witnes against thee where are they come Keeper They be heere my Lord. London Come hether Syrs holde them a booke you shall swere by the contents of that booke that you shal all maner of affections laid a part say the truth of all such Articles as you shal be demanded of concerning this mā here present which is a very naughty man and take you hede of him that he doth not deceiue you as I am afraid he doth you much hurt and strengtheneth you in your errours Prisoners My Lord we will not sweare except we know whereto we can accuse him of no euill we haue bene but a while acquainted with him Phil. I wonder your Lordship knowing the law wil go about contrary to the same to haue infamous persones to be witnesses for your Lordship doeth take them to be heretickes and by the law an hereticke can not be a witnes London Yes one hereticke against an other may be well inough And master Sheriffe I will make one of them to be witnesse against an other Phil. You haue the lawe in your hande and you will doe what you list Prisoners No my Lord. London No will I will make you sweare whether you will or no. I weene they be Anabaptists M. sheriffe they thinke it not lawfull to sweare before a Iudge Phil. Wee thinke it lawfull to sweare for a man iudicially called as we are not now but in a blinde corner London Whye then seeing you will not sweare againste your fellowe you shall sweare for your selues and I doe heere in the presence of maister sheriffe obiect the same Articles vnto you as I haue done vnto him and do require you vnder the paine of excommunication to answer particularly vnto euery one of them when you shal be examined as you shall be by and by examined after by my Register and some of my Chaplaines Prisoners My Lord we wil not accuse our selues If any man can laye any thing against vs we are heere ready to answere thereto otherwise we pray your Lordship not to burden vs for some of vs are heere before you we knowe no iust cause why London Maister Sheriffe I will trouble you no longer with these froward men And loe he rose vp and was going away talking with maister sheriffe Philpot. Maister Sheriffe I pray you recorde howe my Lorde proceedeth against vs in corners without all order of lawe hauing no iust cause to lay against vs. And after this were all commaunded to be put in the stockes where I set from morning vntill night and the Keeper at night vpon fauour let me out An other priuate conference betwene the Bishop and Maister Philpot in the Colehouse PHil. The Sonday after the bishop came into the Cole-house at night with the Keeper and viewed the house saying that he was neuer here afore whereby a man may gesse how he hath kept Gods commandement in visiting the prisoners seeing he was neuer with them that haue bene so nigh his nose And he came not then for any good zeale but to view the place thought it too good for me ◠therefore after supper betwene 8. and 9. he sent for me saying Lond. Sir I haue great displeasure of the Queene the Counsell for keeping you so long and letting you haue so much libertie And besides that you be yōder and strengthen the other prisoners in their errours as I haue layde waite for your doings am certified of you well inough I wil sequester you therfore from them and you shal hurt no mo as you haue done and I wil out of hand dispatche you as I am commaunded vnlesse you will be a conformable man Phil. My Lorde you haue my body in your custodye you may transport it whither it please you I am content And I wold you wold make as quicke expeditiō in my iudgement as you say I long therfore and as for cōformitie I am ready to yeld to all truth if any can bring better thē I. London Why you wil beleue no man but your self what so euer they say Phil. My belief must not hang vpon mens sayings without sure authority of gods word that which if any can shew me I wil be pliant to the same Otherwise I can not goe from my certaine faith to that which is vncertaine London Haue you then the truth onely Phil. My Lord I will speake my minde freely vnto you and vpō no malice I beare to you before God You haue not the truth neither are you of the church of God but you persecute both the truthe and the true churche of God for the which cause you cā not prosper long You see god doth not prosper your doinges according to your expectation He hath of late shewed his iust iudgement against one of your greatest doers who by reporte died miserably I enuie not your authority you are in You that haue learning should know best howe to rule And seeing God hath restored you to your dignity and liuing againe vse the same to Gods glory to the setting foorth of his true religion otherwise it wil not continue do what you can With this saying he was apaused and sayd at length Lon. That good man was punished for such as thou art Where is the Keeper Come let him haue him to the place that is prouided for him Go your way before Phil. And he followed me calling the Keeper aside commaunding to keepe all men from me narowly to search me as the sequele did declare and brought me to his
ye all of this Do ye this in remembraunce of me to place in their steades Heare ye gase ye knocke ye worship ye offer ye sacrifice ye for the quicke and the dead If this be not blasphemy to God and hys Sacrament to adde and to pluck away in this sort and that contrary to the mynd of all ancient writers and contrary to the example of Christ hys Apostles tell me Harps I know you haue gathered the sayings of the Doctors together which make for your purpose I wyll talke no longer with you Phil. I pray God open both our harts to do more his wil then we haue in tymes past Harps O Keeper take hym away with you ¶ The tenth examination of Iohn Philpot before B. Boner his Register and others THe next day after diuer I was brought into my Lords vpper Hall and there he called me before hym and his Register and before Doct. Chedsey in the presence of two homely Gentlemen and a Priest which I knew not at what tyme the B. sayd London I do here lay vnto this man in your presence requiryng you to be a witnesse against him as much as you know in any of them these articles this booke of the Catechisme made in K. Edwards dayes also these conclusions agreed vpon both in Oxford and Cambridge also I lay vnto hym that he hath despised the Censures of the Church hath stood accursed more then this twelmonth and neuer required absolution thereof How say you wast thou not accursed by my L. Chancellor Phil. I was excommunicated by him wrongfully without any iust cause and without order of law beyng neuer personally cited Lond Didst not thou tell me the other day when I required thee to come to the masse that thou wast excommunicated therfore by the law couldest not heare masse How long hast thou â—ene thus excommunicate Phil. More then a xij month and a halfe Lond. Loe you may heare what he sayth Write it Phil. But as you would haue written that I haue sayd I haue bene thus long excoÌ„municated so also let him write that I did require of my L. Chauncellor that did excommunicate me my absolution but he would not geue it me saying that I was excoÌ„municatus ipso iure because I was an heretike as it pleased hym to call me therefore accursed by your law and so commaunded me to prison where I remayne Gentleman Why do you not require absolutioÌ„ at my lords hands here now Phil. Because hee is not myne Ordinary neither hath by the law any thing to do with me of right Lond. What an obstinate foole is this I tell thee I will be thine Ordinary whether thou wilt or no. Phil. And because of this your vnrighteous force towards me I haue appealed from you require you M. Register that my appeale may be entred in writyng Lond. Haue you heard such a froward fellow as this hee seemed yesterday to be very tractable I had a good hope in hym I tell thee thou art of my Diocesse Phil. I am of Winchester Diocesse and not of London Diocesse Lond. I pray you may not a man be of two Diocesses at oute Phil. No that he cannot Lond. Lo wyll you see what an ignoraunt foole is this in the law in that which he would seeme to be seene I tell thee a man may be of three Diocesses at once as if thou werâ— borne in London by reason therof thou shouldst bee of my dioces or els if thou wert not borne but haddest a dignitie here also thou art to be counted of my diocesse or els by reason of thy habitation in my dioces Phil. In none of these respects I am of your Lordshippes dioces But for all that this will not follow that I dwellyng at Winchester am at that present of London dioces London What will you lay thereof wilt thou recant if I prooue it Phil. But what shall I win if you do not Lond. I will geue thee my bishoprike if I prooue it not Phil. Yea but who shall deliuer it me if I win Lond. Thou art an arrogant foole Enter their othes and take these witnesses depositioÌ„s I must be gone to the parliament house After this spake vnto me a Priest standing by askyng me whether I was kin to my L. Rich or no Phil. I sayd he sayd so himselfe vnto me the other day but how I know not Chadsey I heard him say that he was his very nigh kinsman Baalamite Why then you I must be of kin for hee is my nigh kinsman How chance it that you and I be of contrary iudgements Phil. It is no meruail for Christ prophesied That the father shall be deuided agaynst the sonne and the sonne against the father for my truths sake Baala You do hold as I vnderstand agaynst the blessed sacrament of the aulter and agaynst the holy masse Phil. If you can prooue it a Sacrament I wil not hold agaynst you Baala What prooue it a Sacrament quoth he doth not S. Paul say Quae oculus non vidit auris non audiuit ea praeparauit Deus diligentibus se That such thinges as the eye hath not seene neither eare heard hath God prepared for them that loue hym Phil. That saying of S. Paule concerneth nothyng your sacrament but is ment of the heauenly ioyes that bee prepared for all faythfull beleeuers Baala Why then I perceiue you vnderstand not S. Paul By God you are deceiued Phil. You ought not to sweare kinsman if you will that I shall so cal you without disworship of our kinred I vnderstand S. Paul as wel as you and know what I say and with that shewed hym a Greeke Testament with Erasmus translation with the old also demaundyng him which text he was best acquainted withall Baala I knew Greeke too once as well as you I care not which you read Phil. You knowe them then all alike you vnderstand the one as well as the other With this my Baalamite kinsman departed in a fury The next day after I was brought down againe after dinner to the Chappel and there my Baalamite kinsman to verifie the scriptures as a mans owne kinsfolks shall be hys enemies came in with the B. as a witnes agaynst me and there the B. caused another that came to hym about other matters to sweare also to be a witnes against me which was a priest also saying London You shall sweare to depose all the truth of certain Articles you shall be enquired of concernyng this man here I accordyng to the lawe do bryng them forth in thy presence Phil. My Lord I doo not agree to the production of them but doo appeale from all these others your proceedinges agaynst me and require you Maister Register that my appeale may be entred I wil geue you for your labour Reg. Your appeale shal be entred at leasure Whom doe you appeale vnto tell me I
appeale to a higher Iudge as to the Lieutenaunt of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury for I know not who is bishop therof at this present With that the B. went away and my Baalamite kinsman looking big vpon me but sayd neuer a woord Thus I haue in hast scribled out all myne examinations hetherto that the same whiche hath bene done vnto me in darke myght come to lyght that the papistes vniust procedyngs and nakednes in their false religiō might be known to their confusion Iesus is Imanuel that is God with vs Amen 1555. * The 11. examination of Iohn Philpot had on S. Andrewes day before the Bishop of Duresme the Bishop of Chichester the Bishop of Bathe the Bishop of London the Prolocutor Maister Christopherson and Doct. Chedsey Maister Morgan of Oxford Maister Hussey of the Arches Doctor Weston Doctor Harpsfield Archdeacon M. Cosins and M. Iohnson Register to the Bishop of London in hys palace I Was commyng beyng sent for with my Keeper and the B. of London met me in his hall dore and full manerly he played the Gentleman Usher to bryng mee before the Lordes saying Lond. My Lordes I shal desire you to take some paynes with this man he is a gentleman and I would he should do well but he wil wilfully cast away hymselfe Dures Come hether sir what is your name Phil. My name is Philpot. Dures I haue heard of that name to be a worshipful stock and since you be a Gentleman doe as you may liue worshipfully among other Gentlemen What is the cause of your trouble now Phil. I told hym the cause as in my former examinations is expressed Dures Well all causes set apart will you now bee a conformable mā to the catholike faith and leaue all new fangled opinions and heresies Iwis I was in Germany with Luther at the beginning of these opinions can tell how they began Leaue them and follow the Catholique church throughout the whole world as the whole realme now doth Phil. My Lord I am of the Catholike fayth and desire to lyue and dye in the same but it is not vnknowen to your Lordshippe that I with others these xx yeres haue bene taught another maner of faith then you now goe about to compell vs vnto wherefore it is requisite that we haue a tyme to weigh the same and to heare how it agreeth with Gods word For fayth is not at a sodaine neither wonne neither remooued but as S. Paule saith Fayth commeth by hearyng and hearing by the worde Fides ex auditu auditus per verbum Chich. And if you will geue me leaue my L. I will shewe hym how he taketh the saying of S. Paul amisse as many other now adayes alledgyng the same do that they ought not to be compelled to beleue where as S. Paul meaneth of Infidels and not of the faithfull And so S. Augustine writyng agaynst the Donatistes sayth that the faythfull may be compelled to beleeue Philpot. Saint Bernard and if it please your Lordship doth take that sense of Saint Paule as I doe saying that Fides est suadenda non imponenda Faith must be persuaded to a man and not enioyned And Saint Augustine speaketh of suche as were first thoroughly perswaded by manifest Scriptures and yet woulde resist of stubborne wilfulnesse Chich. So Bernard meaneth of Infidels also Phil. No my Lord that he doth not for he wryteth not of the Infidels but hee writeth of such as were deceiued by errours Chichester My L. of Duresme I haue bene so bold to interrupt your Lordship of your tale I pray you now proceed on Duresme M. Philpot will you bee of the same Catholike faith and Church with vs you were baptised in and your godfathers promised for you and hold as we do and then may you be rid out of trouble I perceiue you are learned and it is pitie but you should do well Philpot. I am of the same Catholique fayth and catholique Church I was baptised vnto and in that wyll I liue and dye Dures That is wel said if you hold there you cannot doe but well Chich. Yea my Lord but he meaneth otherwyse then you do Are you of the same faith your godfathers and godmothers were or no Phil. I cannot tell what faith they were of certainly but I am of the faith I was baptised vnto which is in the fayth of Christ. For I was not baptised in the faith of my Godfathers but in the faith of Christ. Christo. S. Augustine saith that Infants are baptised in fide susceptorum In the fayth of their Godfathers Phil. S. Augustine in so saying meaneth of the fayth of Christ which the Godfathers do or ought to beleeue and not otherwyse Duresme How say you will you beleeue as we do and all the learned of the Realme or no and be of one church with vs Phil. My Lordes it is not vnknown vnto you that there hath bene alwayes two churches Chichest Nay that is not so there is but one Catholike church Phil. I shall desire your Lordships to heare out my tale to take my meanyng For I knowe there is but one true Church but always from the beginnyng there hath bene ioyned to the same true Church a false Church aduersarie to the true and that was declared at the first in Abell and Caine who persecuted and slew hys brother in whome as Saint Augustine witnesseth is represented the false true Church And after that as soone as God hath chosen his peculiar people and shewed vnto them his sanctuary holy statutes and will anone after arose the false Church and tenne of the twelue tribes of Israell deuided themselues from the true church of Iuda and Beniamin and made to themselues at Bethel set vp golden calues and yet pretended therewith to serue God and so abused his word Notwithstandyng God was displeased with them and ceased not hys wrath vntill he had vtterly destroyed them Chich. I will graunt you before the commyng of Christ there were two churches in the old law but in the newe law since Christes commyng you cannot shew it to be so by the scripture Phil. Yes my L. that I can if you will geue me leaue After Christ had chosē his xij Apostles was there not a Iudas in the new law and a Simon Magus And were not they of the false church Chich. Yea but I meane after the Gospell was written where can you find me two churches after Christ had ascended and sent the holy Ghost Phil. The Gospell was within 8. yeares after the ascension written by S. Mathew and the writyng therof is not materiall to the declaration of these two churches to haue bene always from tyme to tyme as by example it may be shewed and yet as euil as my memory is I remember in the new Testament is mention made of two churches as it appeareth in the Apocalyps and also S. Paule to the Thessalonians maketh mention that Antichrist with hys false
there sayd is not yet sufficiently knowne either because M. Philpot was not himselfe suffered to write or els for that his writings are by some kept close and not brought forth otherwise thē as the bishops Register hath noted whose handling of such matters because it is either for feare or for fauor of his Lord and maister very slender litle light of any true right meaning can be gathered especially in the behalfe of the answerer Howbeit such as it is such thought I good to put forth requiring the reader to iudge hereof according to his aunsweres in his former examinations ¶ The last examinations of M. Philpot in open iudgement with his finall condemnation by Byshop Boner in the Consistory at Paules THe Bishop hauing sufficiently taken his pleasure with M. Philpot in his priuate talkes and seeing his zealous learned and immutable Constancy thought it now high time to rid his handes of him and therefore on the 13. and 14. dayes of December sitting iudicially in the Consistory at Paules he caused him to be brought thither before him and others as it seemeth more for orders sake thē for any good affection to iustice and right iudgement The effect aswell of which two sundry their procedinges as also of one other had the 11. day of the same month in his chappell appeare in a maner to be all one The Bishop therefore first speaking to Mayster Philpot sayd Lond. M. Philpot amongest other thinges that were laid and obiected vnto you these three thinges ye were especially charged and burdened withall The first is that you beyng fallen from the vnitye of Christes Catholicke Church do refuse and will not come and be reconciled thereunto The second is that you haue blasphemously spoken agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse calling it idolatry And the third is that you haue spoken agaynst the sacrament of the aultar denying the reall presence of Christes body and bloud to be in the same And according to the will and pleasure of the Synode legatiue ye haue bene oft many times by me inuited and required to go from your sayd errors and heresies and to returne to the vnity of the catholicke Church which if you wil now willingly do ye shal be mercifully gladly receiued charitably vsed and haue al the fauor I can shew you And now to tell you true it is assigned and appoynted to geue sentence agaynst you if you stande herein will not return Wherfore if ye so refuse I doe aske of you whether you haue any cause that you can shew why I shoulde not now geue sentence agaynst you Phil. Under protestatiō not to go from my appeale that I haue made and also not to consent to you as my cōpetent iudge I say touching your first obiection concerning the Catholick Church I neither was nor am out of the same And as touching the sacrifice of the Masse and the Sacrament of the aultar I neuer spake agaynst the same And as concerning the pleasure of the Sinode I say that these xx yeares I haue bene brought vp in the fayth of the true catholick church which is contrary to your church whervnto ye woulde haue me to come and in that time I haue bene many times sworne as wel in the reign of K. Henry the 8. as in the reigne of good King Edward his Sonne agaynst the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome which othe I thinke that I am bounde in my conscience to keepe quia teneor reddere Domino iuramentum But if you or any of the Synode can by Gods worde perswade me that my sayd othe was vnlawfull and that I am bound by Gods law to come to your church faith and religion wherof you be now I will gladly yeld agree and be conformable vnto you otherwise not Boner then not able with all his learned Doctours to accomplish this his offered condition fel to perswading of him as well by his accustomed vayne promises as also by blondye threatninges to returne to theyr Churche to the which he answered Phil. You and all other of your sorte are hypocrites and I would al the world did know your hypocrisy your tyranny ignoraunce and Idolatry Upon these wordes the Bishop did for that tyme dismisse him cōmaunding that on Monday the 16. day of the same moneth betwene the hours of one three in the after noone he shoulde agayne be brought thither there to haue the definitiue sentence of condēnation pronounced against him if he remayned then in his former constancy ¶ The last examination of Mayster Iohn Philpot. AT which day and time Mayster Philpot being there presented before the bishops of London Bath Worcester and Liechfield Boner Bishop of London began hys talke in this maner London My Lorde Stokesley my predecessour when he went about to geue sentence agaynst an hereticke vsed to make this prayer Deus qui errantibus vt in viam possint redire iustitiae veritatis tuae lumen ostendis da cunctis qui Christiana professione cēsentur illa respuere quae huic inimica sint nomini ea quae sint apta sectari per Christum dominum nostrum Amen Which I will folow And so he read it with a loud voice in Latin To the which Mayster Philpot sayd Philpot. I would ye would speak in English that all men might heare and vnderstand you for Paul willeth that all things spoken in the congregation to edify should be spoken in a toung that all men might vnderstand Wherupon the Bishop did read it in English when he came to these wordes to refuse those thinges which are foes to this name Philpot said Phil. Then they all must turne away from you for you are enemies to that name meaning Christes name and God saue vs from such hypocrites as would haue thinges in a toung that men cannot vnderstand London Whom do you meane Phil. You and al other that be of your generation and sect And I am sory to see you sit in the place that you now sitte in pretending to execute iustice doe nothing lesse but deceiue all men in this Realme And then turning himselfe vnto the people he farther sayd oh all you Gentlemē beware of these men meaning the Bishops and al theyr doinges which be contrary vnto the primatiue Church And I would knowe of you my Lord by what authority you do proceed agaynst me Lond. Because I am Bishop of London Philpot. Well then ye are not my Bishop nor I haue not offended in your Diocesse and moreouer I haue appealed from you and therefore by your owne law you ought not to proceed agaynst me especially being brought hither frō an other place by violence Lond. Why who sent you hither to me Philpot. That did Doctor Story and Doctor Cooke with other the king and Queenes Commissioners my Lord is it not enough for you to werry your owne sheep but ye must also meddle with other mens sheepe Then
constant martyr Who the xviii day of December in the middest of the fiery flames yelded his soule into the handes of the almighty God and full like a lambe gaue vp his breath his body being consumed into ashes Thus hast thou gentle reader the lyfe and doyngs of this learned and worthy souldiour of the Lord Iohn Philpot with all his examinations that came to our handes first penned and written with his owne hand beyng meruaylously reserued from the sight and hands of hys enemies who by all maner meanes sought not onely to stop hym from al writing but also to spoyle and depriue him of that which he had written For the which cause he was manye tymes stripped and searched in the prison of his keeper but yet so happily these his writinges were conueyed and hid in places about him or els hys keepers eies so blinded that notwithstanding all this malicious purpose of the Bishops they are yet remayning and come to light A prayer to be sayd at the stake of all them that God shall account worthy to suffer for his sake MErcifull God and father to whome oure sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reason of death found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christe on whome Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength Most benigne holy spirite whiche in the middest of all Crosses and death diddest comfort the Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorowes and terrors haue mercy ⧠The martirdome of maister Iohn Philpot Archdeacon with the manner of his kneeling and praying at the stake vpon me miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neare the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of manifold horrible olde and new transgressions which to thyne eyes O Lorde are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto me for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine owne onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respecte of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare me measuring me with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiesty contemning thy dayly calles yet let thy mercy whiche is aboue all thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towardes me through and for the mediation of Christ our sauiour And for whose sake in that it hathe pleased thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritye and trueth taught by him to geue my life therefore to which dignitie I do acknowledge dear God that ther was neuer any so vnworthy and so vnmeet no not the theef that hāged with him on the Crosse I most hūbly therfore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly ayde helpe assiste me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christe thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paule and all others whiche for thy names sake haue suffered affliction and death I may finde so present with me thy gracious consolations that I may by my deathe glorifie thy holy name propagate and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hartes of the heauy confirme thy Church in thy veritie conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart foorth of thys miserable world where I do nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy wherof now geue and encrease in me a liuely truste sense and feelinge wherethrough the terrours of death the tormentes of fire the panges of sinne the dartes of Sathan and the dolours of hel may neuer depresse me but may be driuen away thorough the working of that most gracious spirite which now plenteously endue me withall that through the same spirite I may offer as I nowe desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight Deare Father whose I am and alwayes haue bene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the world was made to whome I commend my selfe soule and body family and frendes countrey and all the whole Churche yea euen my very enemies accordynge to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to geue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word agayn with godly peace to the teaching setting forth of the same Oh dear father now geue me grace to come vnto thee Purge and so purifie me by this fire in Christes death and Passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy God nowe and euermore world without end Amen ¶ Letters of Mayster Philpot. ¶ A letter which he sent to the christian congregation exhorting them to refrayne from the Idolatrous seruice of the papists and to serue God after his word IT is a lamentable thing to behold at this present in England the faithles departing both of men women frō the true knowledge vse of Christes sincere religion which so plētifully they haue bene taught do know their own consciences bearing witnes to the veritie thereof If that earth be cursed of God which eftsoones receiuing moisture pleasant dewes from heauen doth not bring forth fruite accordingly how much more greuous iudgemēt shal such persons receiue which hauing receiued from the father of heauē the perfect knowledge of his word by the ministery therof do not shew forth Gods worship after the same If the Lord wil require in the day of iudgemēt a godly vsury of all maner of talentes which he sendeth vnto men women how muche more wil he require the same of his pure religion reuealed vnto vs which is of al other talents the chiefest most pertayning to our exercise in this life if we hide the same in a napkin and set it not forth to the vsurye of Gods glory and edifying of his church by true confessiō God hath kindled the bright light of his Gospel which in times past was suppressed hid vnder the vile ashes of mās traditiōs and hath caused the brightnes therof to shine in our harts to the end that the same might shine before men to the honor of his name It is not onely geuen vs to beleue but also to confesse declare what we beleue in our outwarde couersation For as S. Paule writeth to the Romaynes The beliefe of the hart iustifieth and toe acknowledge wyth the mouth maketh a man safe It is al one before God not to beleue at al not to shew forth the liuely works of our belief For Christe sayth Either make the tree good and his fruites good or ells make the tree euill and the fruites euill because a good tree bringeth forth good fruites So that the person which knoweth his maysters will and doth it not shal be beaten with many stripes And not all they
wil of God be don We are not so good as Iohn the Baptist which was beheaded in prison Darknes cannot abide the light Therefore their doings must declare what they are We are as shepe appoynted for a sacrifice to the Lord. We must not feare the fire for our Lord is a cōsuming fire which will put out the fiercenes of raging torments from vs. Be not afraid of them that can kil the body but feare him that can cast both body and soul into hel fire God forbid that we should reioyce otherwise then in the crosse of Christ pray that he would make vs worthy to suffer for his sake God wil haue our faith tried knowen and therefore let vs willingly humble our selues vnder the mighty hād of God that he may gloriously lifte vs vp in his good time There is none perfectly faithfull in deede till he can say with S. Paule I am perswaded that neither death neither life neyther aungels neither princes or powers neither things present neither things to come neither highnes neither lownes neither any other creature is able to separate me from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. This faith God plant both in you and me vnmooueably In this faith we haue to reioyce and in none other All the tribulations of the worlde are not worthy of the eternall weighte of glory which is prepared for them that here do with pacience abide the crosse Wherefore let vs be stronge with the strengthe in him that is able to make vs strong lament the weakenes I might say the infidelitie of our faint gospellers Christ whome we woulde pretend to haue put vpon vs is the strēgth of God and how then may they be weake where Christe is We haue more to be glad touching our selues of this time then we haue had of any time before in the which we haue so ready a way to goe vnto God and so good occasion to shew our duety in glorifying his holy name For if we be imprisonned in this cause we are blessed If we loose all that we haue we are blessed a 100. fold If we die we are blessed eternally so that in suffering of persecutions all is full of blessings Be blessed therefore O elect Lady of God with the blessed of God and flee as you do the concupiscence of the worlde Embrace that which is perfect and ioyfully looke for the comming and crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ. c. Thus desiring God to preserue you to his true peace to geue you victorie of that temptation which now is come to try our faith Christe be with you and blesse you both in body and soule and my praier shal folow you wheresoeuer you goe as I desire that you may be with me The last weeke I sent your beneficence to Oxforde I coulde not before haue a conuenient messenger As soone as I haue worde you shall be satisfied of your request Loue me as you doe and the God of loue be with you The 20. day of August By yours with all his power in the Lord Iohn Philpot. An other Letter full of spiritual consolation to the sayd Ladie THe mercye of God the father the consolation of the holy ghost thorow Iesus Christ be with you strengthē you my deare mother and sister in the Lord in these daungerous dayes to the crowne of eternall glorye whiche is nowe offered to all faithfull souldiours in the Gospell Amen As your good Ladiship doeth desire to heare from me so am I desirous to wryte as your gentlenesse and daily goodnes binedeth me But Sathan of late hath letted me who enuying al good exercises which I haue had and receiued by mine easie imprisonment in times past hath brought me out of the kings Bench into the bishop of Londons Colehouse a darke and a vgly prison as any is about London but my darke body of sinne hathe well deserued the same and the Lord now hath brought me into outward darkenes that I might the more be lightened by him as he is moste present with his children in the middest of darkenesse where I can not be suffred to haue any candle light neither inke nor paper but by stealth Wherefore I can not wryte to you as I would neither as my duety is As Christ my maister was sent frō Annas to Caiphas so am I sent from Winchester Dioces to London I trust to make a speedye ende of my course God geue mee grace and patience to be a faithfull follower of my master I haue beene already this seuennight in his Colehouse and haue of late bene foure times called to mine answere but hitherto not called to iudgement which I do daily looke for but I feare they wil prolong me and trie me by straight imprisonmēt a whyle in the which Gods will be done Pray deare Lady that my faith faint not which I praise God is presently more liuely wyth mee then it hathe beene in tymes past I taste and feele the faithfulnesse of God in his promise who hathe promised to be wyth hys in their trouble and to delyuer them I thanke the Lorde I am not alone but haue sixe other faithfull companions who in our darknesse doe chearfully sing Hymnes and praises vnto God for his great goodnesse Wee are so ioyful that I wish you part of my ioy For you that are so carefull of my bodely reliefe howe can I but wish you spirituall consolation and that aboundantly Let not deare heart my straite imprisonment any thing molest you for it hath added and daily doth vnto my ioy but rather be glad and thankfull vnto GOD with me that it hath pleased him to make me most wretched sinner woorthy to suffer any thing for his sake Hitherto we haue not resisted vnto bloud God make vs neuer to count our bloud more precious in our eyes then his truth Ah my deare sister I thanke you againe for your last letter you sent me it is a singular comfort vnto me as oft as I reade the same I haue it in my bosome and wil carie the same euen to the stake with me in witnesse that Christ hath so constant and faithfull a Ladie in Englande God succoure and keepe that spirite in you for it is the verye spirite of adoption of the childe of God Suche chearefull and holy spirites vnder the crosse bee acceptable sacrifices in the sight of God for Christ came to cast fire into the earth and looketh that it shoulde be kindled Be you feruent in spirite in our Christes cause as you haue begonne for that is the principall spirite wherewithall Dauid desired to be confirmed O howe I doe reioyce your Ladiship to goe arme in arme with me vnto Christe or rather before me I can not but ioye of suche a worshipfull fellowe Me thinketh I see you to mourne and desire to be loosed out of the earthly and fraile habitacle of this body O how amiable and pleasant is it
you are almost glutted with suppyng so much bloud and therefore you wyll let some of the leanest dye in prysonne which wyll then bee meate good enough for your barkyng beagles Harpsfield and hys fellowes but yet my Lord it were a great deale more for your Lordshippes honour if your chaplaines myght haue the meat roasted in Smithfield at the fire of the stake yea and when it is somethyng fat and fayre likyng for now they haue nothyng but skin and bones and if the dogges come hastily to it they maye chance shortly to be choked and then your huntyng wyll be hindered greatly if it be not altogether marred I heare say my Lord that some of the butcherly curres came of late to my house to seeke their pray that they go round about the citie as Dauid sayeth grinnyng and grudgyng that they haue not meat enough therefore belyke they haue kylled my poore brethren and sistern that haue lyen so long vpon the butcherly stall and eaten them vp for I heare say their friends could not be suffred to see them this three dayes more therefore I perceyue now that if I had come againe accordyng to my promise that your Lordship lyke a rauenyng Wolf or els some of your helhounds would quickly haue weried me but I see wel my appoynted time is not yet come therefore I wyll yet lyue and thanke him for my deliueraunce with continuall songs of laude and prayse Thus haue I ben bold to trouble your lordship with telling you the truth and the very cause that I came not vnto you again accordyng to my vnpurposed promise I trust your Lordship wil take this in good part and accept it as a lawfull excuse not doubtyng but your Lordship would haue done the lyke if you had bene in my case Now as concernyng the second part that caused me to write vnto your Lordship which is to answer vnto your subtile or rather cruell demaund of my iudgement of the death of that blessed Martyr of Christ Iesus good maister Iohn Philpot I will not aunswer your Lordship simply and plainly what perill so euer shall come thereof Truly my Lord I do not onely thinke but I am also most certayne and sure that he as a very man of God dyed a true Martyr and constant confesser of hys deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whoÌ„ he did most faithfully commit his sweete soule who will surely kepe the same with hym in ioy and felicitie for euermore Also my Lord I do verily beleeue and know that your Lordship hath committed an horrible and most cruell murder in the vniustly condemnyng and killyng of hym and that you shall make as heauy an account for hys bloud which shortly shall be required at your handes as euer your great graundfather cruell Caine did or shall do for his innocent brother Abell Moreouer because I am crediblye informed that your Lordship doth beleeue and haue in secrete sayd that there is no hell I certifie you that your Lordship did neuer any thyng in all your lyfe that so much did redounde to your Lordships dishonor and perpetual shame and infamy as your killyng the body of this blessed Prophet doth especially seeyng that he was none of your Dioces nor had not offended any of your Lordships diuelish and cruel lawes Uerily I heare almost euery body say in all places where I come that your Lordship is made the common slaughter slaue to all your fellows bitesheep Bishops I would say yea the very papists themselues beginne now to abhorre your bloudthirstines and speake shame of your tiranny Lyke tiranny beleeue me my Lord euery chylde that can any whit speake can call you by your name say bloudy Boner is bishop of London and euery man hath it as perfect vppon hys fingers endes as his Pater noster how many you for your part haue burned with fire and famished in prison they say the whole summe surmounteth to forty personnes within this three quarters of this yeare Therefore my Lord though your Lordship beleeueth that there is neither heauen nor hell nor God nor deuill yet if your Lordship loue your own honesty which was lost long agone you were best to surcese froÌ„ this cruel burnyng of true christian men and also from murderyng of some in prison for that in deed offendeth mens myndes most yea euen your olde friendes the rankest papists that be For say they Felix the Heathen ruler did not forbidde Paules friends to visite hym in prison and to bring hym necessary reliefe and therfore it is a very great shame and sinne to see a Bishop that beareth the name of a christian to be more cruell vpon his poore brethren then an Heathen Turke or Infidell This is mens saying in euery place not onely of this Realme but also of the most part of the world the common talke they haue of your Lordship therfore I thought to be so bold with your Lordship as to tell you of it thogh perchance you wil geue me but small thanks for my labor Well as for that I put it to your Lordships choise for I haue as much alredy as I looke for Finally my L. I will geue you to vnderstande that the death of this constant Martyr and valiaunt souldiour of Iesus Christ hath geuen a greater shake towards the ouerthrowyng of your papisticall kyngdome then you shall euer be able to recouer agayne this 7. yeres do the best ye can and set as many crafty dawbers to patch it vp with vntempered clay as you wyll yea though pratyng Pendleton that wycked Apostata apply all hys wily wits to helpe them Uerilye my Lord by all mens reports his blessed lyfe could neuer haâ—e done the lyke sorrow to Satans Synagoge whereof some say your Lordship is a mightye member as hys happy death hath done You haue broken a pot in deede but the precious worde conteined therein is so notably therewithall shed abroad that the sweete sauour thereof hath woonderfully well refreshed all the true household or congregation of Christ that they cannot abyde any more the stinkyng sauour of your filthy ware that came from the dunghill of Rome though your Lordships Iudasses do set them a sayle euery where to fill your bagges I put your Lordship out of doubt that if you do breake mo such pots you will marre your owne market altogether for I promise you most men beginne to mislike your diuelish doyngs and wonderfully to lothe your popishe pedlary wares Thus haue I accordyng to your Lordships commandements shewed you simply what I thinke of that good mans death whose bloud cryeth for vengeaunce agaynst your Lordships butcherly bloudy proceedings in the eares of the Lord of hostes who will shortly reuenge the same vpon your pilled pate and vpon the rest of all your pollshorne brethren the very marked cattell of the great Antichrist of Rome The measure of your iniquitie is filled vp to the brimme therefore will God shortly poure in double vnto your deserued
and the authoritie of the Church of Rome To the fift article they aunswered the same to be true accordyng to the contents thereof Tho. Whittle addyng moreouer that he had swarued gone away not in whole but in part not from the whole Catholike Church but frō the church of Rome in speakyng agaynst the masse the sacrifice thereof and the Sea of Rome Ioane Lashford aliâs Ioane Warne grauntyng with the other the sayd Article addeth moreouer that she neuer hitherto swarued or went awaye nor yet doth from any part of Christs catholike faith and religion but saith that from the tyme she was xj yeres of age shee hath misliked the sacrifice of the masse the sacrament of the altar and the authoritie of the See of Rome with the doctrine thereof because they be agaynst Christes catholike church and the right fayth of the same Bartlet Greene answering with the other to this Article addeth saith that he swarued not from the Catholike fayth but only from the church of Rome c. ¶ Concernyng the sixt article that they refuse to be reconciled to the vnitie of the sayd Church of Rome To the 6. article they aunswer and confesse the same to be true rendering the cause thereof because say they the same church and doctrine therein set forth and taught disagreeth from the vnitie of Christes word and the true catholike fayth c. Whereunto Bartlet Greene answered that he is contented to be reconciled to the vnitie of Christes Catholike church but not of the church of Rome In lyke maner added also Iohn Went. ¶ Concernyng the seuenth Article that they refuse to come to heare Masse and to receyue the sayde Sacrament callyng it an Idol c. To the seuenth Article they aunswer and confesse the contents thereof to be true geuyng withall the reason and cause of this their so doyng for that the masse with the sacrament thereof as it was then vsed and set foorth in the Church of England is dissonant to the word teachyng of the Gospell c. Iohn Went furthermore said as concerning the masse that he beleueth no lesse but the masse which he calleth the supper of the Lord as it is now vsed in the realm of England is naught full of Idolatry and against gods worde so farre as he seeth it howbeit he sayd that since the Queens coronation by chance he hath bene present where the Masse hath bene sayd whereof he is sory Isabel Foster also answering to the sayd articles with the other before confessed moreouer that since Queene Maries raigne she hath not heard Masse nor receiued the sacrament but hath refused to come in place where it was ministred for she knoweth no such sacrament to bee And beyng demanded of her beliefe in the same she sayth that there is but onely materiall bread and material wine and not the substance reall of the body of Christ in the same sacrament for so she hath bene taught to beleue by the preachers in the tyme of K. Edward whom she beleeueth to haue preached the truth in that behalfe ¶ Concerning the 8. Article that they were sent by the Commissioners to the B. to be examined and imprisoned To the 8. Article they grant the same and the contents thereof to be so Thom. Whittle addyng and affirmyng that the Lord Chancellor that then was sent hym vp to the Bish. there present Bartlet Greene added that he was sent vp to the sayd B. but for no offence herein articulate Iohn Went sayd that D. Story Quene Maries commissioner examined hym vpon the Sacrament because he denied the reall presence he presented this Examinate to the bishop Iohn Tudson likewise examined by M. Cholmly and D. Story vpon the same matters and for not commyng to the Church and accused by the same because he would not agree to them was sent to the B. Tho. Browne also sayde that he for not commyng to the church of S. Brides was brought by the Constable to the B. c. Ioane Warne confessed that she was sent by Doctour Story to the Bishoppe of London about twelue weekes agoe since which tyme shee hath continued with the sayd Bishop ¶ Concernyng the 9. Article To the 9. Article they confesse and say that as they beleeue the premisses before by them confessed to be true so they deny not the same to be manifest and that they bee of the iurisdiction of London And thus hauyng expressed their Articles with their answers iointly made vnto the same yet remayneth further more fully now to discourse the stories handlyng of all the 7. aforesayd Martyrs seuerally and particularly by themselues first beginning with Tho. Whittle ⧠The history of all these 7. Martyrs particularly described in order here followeth first of Tho. Whittle who first recanting then returning agayne with great constancy and fortitude stoode to the defence of Christes doctrine agaynst the Papists to the fire IN the story of M. Philpot mention was made before of a maried Priest whom he found in the Colehouse at hys first commyng thither in heauines of mynd and great sorow for recantyng the doctrine which hee had taught in K. Edwards dayes whose name was Thom. Whittle of Essex and thus lyeth his story This Tho. Whittle after he had bene expulsed from the place in Essex where he serued went abroad where he might now here and there as occasion was ministred preachyng and sowyng the Gospel of Christ. At length beyng apprehended by one Edmund Alabaster in hope of reward promotion whiche he miserably gaped after he was brought first as prisoner before the B. of Winchester who then was fallen lately sicke of his disease whereof not long after hee dyed most straungely But the apprehender for his profered seruice was highly checked rated of the B. askyng if there were no man vnto whome he might bring such Rascals but to him Hence quoth he out of my sight thou varlet what doest thou trouble me with such matters The gredy cormorant beyng thus defeated of his desired pray yet thinking to seek and to hunt further caried his prisoner to the B. of London with whom what an euill messe of hādling this Whittle had and how he was by the B. all to beaten buffeted about the face by this his owne narration in a letter sent vnto his friend manifestly may appeare Upon Thursday which was the x. of Ianuary the B. of London sent for me Thom. Whittle minister out of the porters lodge where I had bene all night lying vpon the earth vpō a pallet where I had as painful a night of sicknes as euer I had God be thanked And when I came before hym he talked with me many thyngs of the sacrament so grossely as is not worthy to be rehearsed And amongst other thynges he asked me if I would haue come to masse that mornyng if he had sent for me Whereunto I answered that I would haue come to
tribulations that being founde constant to the end he may crowne his owne giftes in them in heauen highly reward thē Whether I trust to goe before looking for you to followe my faythfull frend that we maye sing perpetuall praise to our louing Lord God for victory ouer Sathan and sinne won for vs by Iesus Christ God and man our onely and sufficient Sauiour and Aduocate Amen Farewell and pray in fayth Yours Thomas Whittell Minister and nowe condemned to dye for the Gospels sake 1556. Ianuary 21. ¶ All my felowes salute you Salute all our faythful brethren with you ¶ To my deare frend and brother Iohn Went and other his prison felowes in Lollardes Tower HE that preserued Ioseph prisoner in Egypt fed Daniel in the Lions denne and deliuered Paul Peter and the Apostles out of prison vouchsafe of his goodnes to keep feed and deliuer you my good brother Went with the other our felow souldiors your prison felowes as may be most to his glory to your consolatiō and the edification of his Church I cannot but praise God most earnestly when I heare of your constancy in the fayth and ioye in the crosse of Christ which you now beare and suffer together with many other good members of Christ which is a token that by Christ you are counted worthy the kingdome of God as Paule sayth And though the world counteth the yoake and crosse of Christ as a most pernicious and hurtfull thing yet we which haue tasted how frendly the Lord is cannot but reioice in this persecution as touching our selues in as much as the cause for the which we suffer is the Lordes cause and not ours at whose hand if we endure to the end we shall receiue through his liberall promise in Christ not onely a greate reward in heauen but also the kingdome of heauen it selfe also in the meane season be sure to bee defended and cared for so that we shall lacke no necessarye thinges neither a heare of our heades shall perishe without his knowledge Oh what is he that would mistrust or not gladly serue so louing a father O how vnhappy are they that forsake him and put theyr trust in man But how blessed are they that for his loue and for his holy woordes sake in these troublesome dayes doe committe theyr soules and bodyes into his handes with wel doing counting it greater happines and riches to suffer rebuke with Christ and his Church thē to enioy the pleasures of this life for a litle short seasō This crosse that we nowe beare hath bene common to all the faythfull from Abell hitherto and shal be to the end because the Deuill hauyng great wrath agaynst God and his Christ can not abide that hee should for his manifolde mercies bee lauded and magnified and Christ to be taken and beleued vpon for our onely and sufficient redemer Sauiour and aduocate and therefore because we will not deny Christ nor dissemble with out fayth but openly protest and professe the same before the world he seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp his wicked members to persecute and kill the bodies of the true Christians as S. Iohn sayth the Deuill shall cast some of you into prison And Dauid sayth I beleued and therfore haue I spoken but I was sore troubled This notwithstanding goe forward deare brethren as ye haue begon to fight the Lords battel considering Christe the Captayne of your warre who will both fight for you geue you victorye and also highlye rewarde your paynes Consider to your comfort the notable and chiefe shepheardes and souldiours of Christe whiche are gone before vs in these dayes I meane those learned and godly Bishops Doctours other ministers of Gods word whose fayth and examples we that be inferiours ought to folowe as S. Paule sayth Remember them that haue declared vnto you the worde of God the ende of whose conuersation see that ye look vpon and folow theyr faith The grace blessing of God with the ministery of his holy Angels be with you for euer Amen All my prison felowes greete you From the Colehouse this 4. of December By your poore brother Thomas Whittell an vnworthy Minister of Christ nowe his prisoner for the Gospels sake Amen ¶ To all the true professors and louers of Gods holy Gospell within the City of London THe same faith for the whiche Abraham was counted righteous and Mary blessed the Lorde GOD encrease and make stable in your hartes my deare and faithfull brethren sisters of London for euer and euer Amen Dearely beloued be not troubled in this heat which is now come amongest you to try you as though some straunge thing had happened vnto you but reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christes passions that when his glory appeareth ye may be mery and glad c. Out of these wordes of S. Peter I gather most specially these 4. notes First the persecution happeneth to Christes Church for their triall that is for the probation and proofe of their fayth Which fayth like as it is knowne with God in the depth of our hartes so will he haue it made manifest to the whole worlde through persecution that so it may euidently appeare that hee hath such a Churche and people vpon earth which so trusteth in hym and feareth his holy name that no kinde of persecution paynes nor death shal be able to seperate them from the loue of hym And thus was Abraham tried and Iob tempted that their fayth whiche before laye hid almost in their hartes might bee made knowne to the whole world to be so stedfast and stronge that the deuill naturall loue nor no other enemie coulde bee able to bereaue them thereof Whereby also GOD was to be magnefied who both tryeth his people by many tribulations and also standeth by them in the middest of their troubles to deliuer them by lyfe or death as he seeth best like as he assisted Loth and deliuered hym out of his enemies handes Ioseph out of the handes of his Brethren and out of Prison Paule from his enemies in Damasco and the Apostles out of the Stockes and Prison These with many mo he deliuered to lyfe And also he deliuered Abell Eleazar Steuen and Iohn Baptist with other manye by deathe and hathe also by the tryall of their fayth made them good presidentes and examples to vs and all that come after to suffer affliction in the like cause as Saynt Iames sayeth Take my brethren sayth he the prophets for an ensample of suffering aduersity and of long pacience which spake vnto you in the name of the Lord beholde we count them happy which endure Y◠haue heard of the pacience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lord made with him for the Lord is very pitifull and mercifull Also the Lorde tryeth vs to let vs see our owne hartes and thoughtes that no Hypocrisy or Ambitiō deceiue vs that the strong
and murthering rage of Papistes The cause hereof was a Letter which Grene did write vnto the sayde Goodman conteining aswell the reporte of certayne demaundes or questions which were cast abroad in London as appeareth hereafter in a letter of hys owne penning whiche he meant to haue sent vnto M. Philpot wherein hee declareth his full vsage before the Bishop of London and others as also an aunswere to a question made by the sayd Christopher Goodman in a letter writtē vnto him in which he required to haue the certaynetye of the report which was spread amongest them on the other side of the Seas that the Queene was deade Whereunto mayster Greene aunswered simply and as the truth then was that she was not dead These letters with manye other written to diuers of the godly exiles by theyr frendes here in Englande beyng deliuered to a messenger to carry ouer came by the apprehension of the said bearer vnto the handes of the king and Queenes Councel Who at theyr conuenient leasure whiche in those daies by some of them was quickely found out for suche matters perused the whole number of the sayde letters and amongest them espyed this letter of Mayster Greenes written vnto his frend Christopher Goodman in the contentes whereof amongest other newes and priuate matters they found these woordes The Queene is not yet dead Which wordes were onely written as an answere to certifye Mayster Goodman of the trueth of hys former demaunde Howbeit to some of the Councell they seemed verye haynous woordes yea treason they would haue made them if the Law would haue suffered Whiche when they coulde not doe and being yet verye lothe to let any such depart freely whom they suspected to be a fauourer of the Gospell they then examined him vpon his fayth in religion but vpon what poyntes it is not certaynely knowne Neuerthelesse as it semeth his aunsweres were such as litle pleased them especially the annoynted sorte and therefore after they had longe detayned him in prison as well in the Tower of London as elsewhere they sente him at last vnto Boner Bishop of London to be ordered according to his Ecclesiasticall law as appeareth by theyr Letters sent vnto the Byshop with the sayd prisoner also wherein it may appeare that Syr Iohn Bourne then Secretary to the Queene was a chiefe stirrer in such cases yea and an entiser of others of the counsell who otherwise if for feare they durst woulde haue bene content to haue let such matters alone The Lord forgeue them theyr weakenesse if it be his good pleasure and geue them true repentaunce Amen ¶ A Letter sent vnto Boner Bishop of London by the Queenes Counsell dated the 11. daye of Nouember 1555. but not deliuered vntill the 17. of the same moneth AFter our right harty commendations to your good Lordship we send to the same herewith the body of one Bartlet Grene who hath of good time remayned in the Tower for his obstinate standing in matters agaynst the Catholicke Religion whome the king and Queenes Maiesties pleasures are because he is of your Lordshippes Dioces ye shall cause to bee ordered accordinge to the Lawes in suche cases prouided And thus wee bydde your Lordship hartily farewell From Sainct Iames the xi of Nouember 1555. Your good Lordships louing friendes Winchester Penbroke Thomas Ely William Haward Iohn Bourne Thomas Wharton * I Sir Iohn Bourne will wayt vppon your Lordship and signifie further of the king and Queenes Maiesties pleasures herein Now that ye may the better vnderstand the certaynty of his handling after this hys comming vnto Boners custody I haue thought it good to put forth hys own letter contayning at large the discourse of the same Whiche letter he wrote and did meane to haue sent vnto mayster Philpot but was preuented belike eyther by Phil. death or els rather by the wily watching of hys keeper for it came by what means I know not certaynly vnto the byshops hands and being deliuered vnto his register was found in one of his bookes of recorde The copye where of here followeth A letter of Barthelet Greene written vnto Iohn Philpot contayning besides other particular matter betwixt him and M. Philpot a briefe rehearsall of his handling and certain his conferences with Boner and others at his first comming to the Bishops THat whiche was lacking in talke through my defaulte at your being here I haue supplyed by writing in your absence now at the length getting some opportunitie and leysure The 17. day of Nouember beyng brought hither by two of the clocke at after noone I was presented before my Lord of London and other two byshops Mayster Deane M. Roper M. Welche Doct. Harpsfield Archdeacon of London and other two or three all sitting at one table There were also present Doct. Dale Maister George Mordant M. Dee Then after the byshop of London had read vnto himselfe the letter that came from the Counsell hee spake with mo wordes but as I remember to this effect that the cause of theyr assembly was to heare mine examination wherevnto hee had authoritie by the Counsell and had prouided Mayster Welch and an other whose name I knowe not but wel I remember though he obtayned it not yet desired hee my Lorde that I might heare the Councels letters to be there if anye matters of the common lawe shoulde arise to discusse them he intreated my Lorde to determine all controuersies of Scriptures and as for the Ciuill law he and Doctor Dale should take it on them Wherfore he demaunded of me the cause of mine imprisonment I sayd that the occasion of myne apprehension was a letter which I wrote to one Christofer Gooodman wherein certifiyng hym of such newes as happened here amonge the reste I wrote that there were certayne printed papers of questions scattered abroad Whereupon beyng suspected to be priuye vnto the deuising or publishing of the same I was committed to the Fleete but sithens heard I nothing therof after the Commissioners had receaued my submission The summe wherof was that as I was sure there neyther coulde be true witnesses nor probable coniecture agaynst me in that behalfe so refused I no punishment if they of theyr consciences would iudge me priuy to the deuising printing or publishing of those questions But my Lord affirming that there was an other cause of mine imprisonment sithens demaunded if I had not after sith I was committed vnto the Fleete spoken or written somewhat agaynst the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar Then desired I his Lordship to bee good vnto me trusting that he would put me to aunswere to no new matters excepte I were first discharged of the old And when I stoode long in that M. Welch aunswered that it was procured that I shoulde so doe right well For albeit I were imprisoned for treason if during the tyme of enduraunce I had mayntayned heresie that were no sufficient allegation agaynst
saying Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos id est By theyr fruites yee shall knowe them Why what be theyr fruites Sayncte Paule declareth Post carnem in concupiscentia in munditia ambulant potestatem contemnunt c. i. After the fleshe they walke in concupiscence and vncleannesse they contemne Potestates I gayne In diebus nouissimis erunt periculosa tempora erunt se ipsos amantes cupidi elati immorigeri parentibus proditores c. In the latter dayes there shall bee perillous times Then shall there be men louing themselues couetous proud disobedient to parentes treason-workers Whether these be not the fruites of youre Gospell I referre me to thys worshipfull audience whether the sayde Gospell beganne not with periurye proceeded with adultery was mayntayned with heresie and ended in conspiracy Now sir two poyntes more I marked in youre raging discourse that you made here the one against the holy sacrament the other agaynst the Popes iurisdiction and the authoritie of the Sea Apostolicke Touching the first ye say you haue Gods word with you yea and all the Doctoures I woulde here aske but one question of you whether Gods word be contrarye to it selfe and whether the Doctours teache doctrine contrary to themselues or no For you mayster Cranmer haue taught in this high sacrament of the Aultar three contrary doctrines and yet you pretended in euerye one Verbum Domini Cran. Nay I taught but two contrary doctrines in the same Mart. What doctrine taught you when you condemned Lambert the sacramentary in the kinges presēce in Whitehall Cran. I mayntayned then the Papistes doctrine Mart. That is to say the Catholicke and vniuersall doctrine of Christes Church And how when kinge Henrye dyed did you not translate Iustas Ionas booke Cran. I did so Mart. Then there you defended an other doctrine touchyng the Sacramente by the same token that you sent to Lynne your Printer that where as in the first Printe there was an affirmatiue that is to say Christes body reallye in the sacramente you sent then to your Prynter to put in a not whereby it came miraculouslye to passe that Chrystes bodye was cleane conueyed out of the Sacrament Cranmer I remember there was two Prynters of my sayde booke but where the same not was put in I cannot tell Mart. Then from a Lutherane yee became a Swinglian which is the vilest heresie of all in the highe misterie of the sacrament and for the same heresie you did helpe to burne Lambert the Sacramentary which you now call the catholicke fayth and Gods word Cranmer I graunt that then I beleeued otherwise then I do nowe and so I did vntill my Lord of London D. Ridley did conferre with me and by sondry perswasions and authorities of Doctoures drewe mee quite from my opinion Mart. Now sir as touching the last parte of your Oration you denyed that the popes holinesse was Supreme head of the church of Christ. Cran. I did so Mart. Who say you then is supreme head Cran. Christ. Mart. But whome hath Christ left here in earth his Uicar and head of his Church Cran. No body Mart. Ah why told you not king Henry this when you made him supreme head and now no body is This is treason agaynst his owne person as you then made him Cran. I meane not but euery king in his owne realme and dominion is supreme head and so was hee supreme head of the Church of Christ in England Mart. Is this alwayes true and was it euer so in chrystes Churche Cran. It was so Mart. Then what say you by Nero he was the mightiest Prince of the earth after Christ was ascended was he head of Christes Churche Cran. Nero was Peters head Mart. I aske whether Nero was head of the Churche or no if he were not it is false that you sayd before that all Princes be and euer were heades of the Churche wythin their realmes Cran. Nay it is true for Nero was head of the church that is in worldly respecte of the Temporall bodies of men of whome the Church consisteth for so he beheaded Peter and the Apostles And the Turke too is head of the church in Turky Mart. Then he that beheaded the heades of the Church and crucified the Apostles was head of Chrystes Churche and he that was neuer member of the Churche is head of the church by your new founde vnderstanding of Gods worde ¶ It is not to be supposed contrarye but muche other matter passed in this communication betweene them especially on the Archbyshoppes behalfe Whose answeres I do not thinke to be so slender nor altogether in the same forme of wordes framed if the truthe as it was might be knowne but so it pleased the Notarye thereof being too muche parcially addicted to his mother Sea of Rome in fauour of his faction to diminishe and driue downe the other side either in not shewing all or in reporting the thing otherwise then it was as the common guise is of moste writers to what side their affection moste wayeth theyr Oration commonly inclineth But let vs proceede further in the story of this matter It followed then sayth this reporter when the Archbishop thus hadde aunswered and the standers by began to murmure agaynst him the Iudges not contentee with hys aunsweres willed hym to aunswere directly to the Interrogatoryes whiche Interrogatories articulated agaynst him in forme of lawe were these vnder following ¶ Interrogatories obiected to the Archbishop with his aunsweres annexed to the same 1. INterrog First was obiected that hee the foresayde Thom. Cranmer being yet free and before he entered into holy orders maryed one Ioane surnamed blacke or browne dwelling at the signe of the Dolphine in Cambridge Aunswere Whereunto he aunswered that whether shee was called blacke or browne he knewe not but that hee maryed there one Ioane that he graunted 2. Interrog That after the death of the foresayd wife he entered into holy orders and after that was made Archbyshop by the Pope Auns He receiued he sayd a certayne Bull of the Pope which hee deliuered vnto the king and was Archbyshop by him 3. Inter. Item that he being in holye orders maryed an other woman as his second wife named Anne and so was twise maryed Auns To this he graunted 4. Inter. Item in the time of king Henry the 8. he kept the sayd wife secretly and had children by her Auns Hereunto hee also graunted affirming that it was better for him to haue hys owne then to doe lyke other Priestes holding and keeping other mens wiues 5. Inter Item in the time of king Edward he brought out the sayde his wife openly affirming and professing publickely the same to be his wife Auns He denyed not but he so did and lawfully might doe the same for asmuch as the lawes of the realm did so permitte hym 6. Inter Item that hee shamed not openly to glorye hym selfe to haue had
purpose the rest they committed to all aduenture as became men of that religion to doe The Queene hauing nowe gotten a time to reuenge her old grieef receiued his recantation very gladly but of her purpose to put him to death she would nothing relēt Now was Crāmers cause in a miserable taking who neither inwardly had any quietnes in his owne cōscience nor yet outwardly any helpe in his aduersaries Besides this on the one side was praise on the other side scorne on both sides daunger so that neither he could die honestly nor yet vnhonestly liue And where as hee sought profite hee fell into double disprofite that neyther with good men he could auoid secrete shame nor yet with euill men the note of dissimulation In the meane time while these things were a doyng as I said in the prison among the doctours the Queene taking secrete Counsel howe to dispatch Cranmer out of the way who as yet knew nothing of her secrete hate and looked for nothing lesse then death apoynted D. Cole and secretely gaue him in commandement that against the 21. of March he should prepare a funerall sermon for Cranmers burning so instructing him orderly and diligently of her wil pleasure in that behalfe sendeth him away Soone after the Lord Williams of Tame the Lorde Shandoys syr Thom. Bridges and syr Iohn Browne were sent for with other woorshipfull men and Iustices commanded in the Queenes name to be at Oxford at the same day wyth their seruauntes and retinue least Cranmers death should raise there any tumult Cole the Doctor hauing this lesson geuen hym before and charged by her commandement returned to Oxford ready to play hys part who as the day of execution drewe neare euen the day before came into the prison to Cranmer to try whether he abode in the catholicke faith wherin before he had left him To whom when Cranmer had aunsweared that by Gods grace he would daily be more confirmed in the catholicke faith Cole departing for the tyme the next day following repaired to the Archb. agayne geuing no signification as yet of hys death that was prepared And therefore in the morning which was the 21. day of Marche appoynted for Cranmers execution the sayde Cole comming to hym asked if he hadde any money To whome when he answeared that he had none he deliuered hym 15. crownes to geue the poore to whome hee woulde and so exhorting him so muche as hee coulde to constancie in Faith departed thence aboute hys businesse as to hys Sermon appertained By this partly and other like Argumentes the Archbishop began more and more to surmise what they went about Then because the day was not farre past and the Lordes and Knightes that were looked for were not yet come there came to him the Spanish frier witnes of hys recantation bringing a paper with articles which Cranmer shoulde openly professe in hys recantation before the people earnestly desiring him that hee woulde wryte the sayd instrument with the articles with his owne hande and signe it with his name which when he had done the said frier desired that he would wryte an other copy thereof which should remaine with him and that he did also But yet the Archbishop being not ignoraunt whereunto theyr secreat deuises tended and thinking that the time was at hande in which he could no longer dissemble the profession of his faith with Christes people he put secretely in hys bosome his Prayer with his exhortation wrytten in an other paper which he minded to recite to the people before he should make the last profession of hys faith fearing least if they had heard the confession of his faith first they woulde not afterward haue suffered hym to exhort the people Soone after about 9. of the clocke the Lord Williams Syr Thomas Bridges syr Iohn Browne and the other Iustices wyth certaine other noble men that were sent of the Queenes counsell came to Oxford with a great traine of wayting men Also of the other multitude on euerye side as is wōt in such a matter was made a great concourse and greater expectation For first of all they that were of the Popes side were in great hope that day to heare somthing of Cranmer that should stablish the vanitye of their opinion the other parte which were endued with a better minde coulde not yet doubte that he which by continuall studie and labour for so many yeres had set foorth the doctrine of the gospel either would or could nowe in the last Acte of hys life forsake his part Briefly as euery mannes wil enclined eyther to this part or to that so accordyng to the diuersitie of their desires euery mā wished and hoped for And yet because in an vncertaine thing the certaintye could be knowen of none what would be the end al theyr mindes were hanging betwene hope and doubt So that the greater the expectation was in so doubtfull a matter the more was the multitude that were gathered thether to heare and beholde In this so great frequence and expectation Cranmer at length commeth from the prison Bocardo vnto s. Maries churche because it was a foule and a rainy daye the chiefe church in the vniuersity in this order The Mayor went before next him the Aldermen in their place and degree after them was Cranmer brought betwene two friers which mumbling to and froe certaine Psalmes in the streetes aunsweared one an other vntill they came to the Church doore and there they began the songe of Simeon Nunc Dimittis and entering into the Churche the Psalme saying Friers brought hym to his standing and there left him There was a stage set vp ouer against the pulpit of a meane height from the ground where Cranmer hadde hys standing wayting vntill Cole made him ready to his Sermone The lamentable case and sight of that man gaue a sorrowfull spectacle to al Christian eyes that beheld him He that late was Archbishop Metropolitane and Primate of England and the Kings priuy Councellor being now in a bare and ragged gowne and ill fauouredly cloathed wyth an olde square cappe exposed to the contempt of all men did admonish men not onely of his owne calamitie but also of theyr state and fortune For who woulde not pitie hys case and bewaile his fortune might not feare his owne chaunce to see such a Prelate so graue a Councellour and of so long continued honoure after so manye dignities in hys olde yeares to be depriued of his estate adiudged to die and in so painefull a death to end his life and now presently from such fresh ornaments to discende to such vile and ragged apparell In this habite when hee had stoode a good space vpon the stage tourning to a piller neare adioyning thereunto he lifted vppe hys handes to heauen prayed vnto God once or twise till at the length D. Cole comming into the pulpit and beginning his sermon entred first into mention of Tobias and Zacharie
after that the scripture was translated into English by the faithfull Apostle of Englande W. Tindall became a diligent hearer and a feruent embracer of Gods true Religion so that he delighted in nothing so much as to heare and speak of Gods word neuer being without the new Testamēt about him although he could not read him selfe But when he came into any cōpany that could read his book was alwaies ready hauing a very good memory so that he could recite by hart most places of the new testamēt his conuersation and liuing being very honest and charitable as his neighbors are able to testify So it was that in the dayes of King Henry the eight at what time Doctour Trigonion and Doctour Lee dyd visite Abbayes the sayd Iohn Maundrell was brought before Doctour Trigonion at an Abbey called Edyngton within in the Countye of Wiltshyre aforesayde where he was accused that he had spoken agaynst the holy water holy bread and such like ceremonyes and for the same dyd weare a white sheete bearing a candle in his hand aboute the market in the Towne of the Deuises which is in the sayd coūty Neuertheles his feruēcy did not abate but by Gods mercifull assistaunce he tooke better hold as the sequele hereof will declare For in the dayes of Queene Mary when popery was restored agayne and Gods true religion put to silence the sayd Iohn Maūdrell left his owne house and departed into the County of Glocestershyre and into the North part of Wiltshyre wandring from one to an other to such men as he knew feared GOD with whome as a seruaunt to keepe their cattell he there did remayne with Iohn Bridges or some other at Kingeswoode but after a time he returned to his country and there comming to the Ueys to a frend of his named Anthony Clee had talk conference with him in a Garden of returning home to his house And when the other exhorted hym by the woordes of Scripture to flye from one Citty to an other he replying agayne by the wordes of the Apocalips 21. of them that be fearefull c. sayd that he needes must go home and so did Where he with Spicer and Coberley vsed at times to resort and conferre together At length vpon the Sonday folowing they agreed together to go to the parish Church called Keuell where the sayd Iohn Maundrell the other two seing the parishioners in the procession to folow worship the Idoll there caried aduertised thē to leaue the same to return to the liuing god namely speaking to one Rob. Barkesdale head man of the Parish but he tooke no regard to these wordes After this the Uicare came into the Pulpit who there being about to read his beadroll and to pray for the soules in Purgatory the sayde Iohn Maundrell speaking wyth an audible voyce sayd that that was the Popes pinfolde the other two affirming the same After which wordes by commaūdement of the Priest they were had to the stocks where they remained till theyr seruice was done and then were brought before a Iustice of peace and so the next day caried to Salisbury all three and presented before Bishop Capon and W. Geffrey being Chauncellor of the Dioces By whom they were imprisoned and oftētimes examined of theyr fayth in theyr houses but seldome openly And at theyr last examination these were the Articles whiche the Chauncellour alledged agaynst them being accompanied with the Sheriffe of the shyre one M. Saint Iohns other Popishe Priestes in the Parish Church of Fisherton Anger demaunding how they did beleue They aunswered as christen men should and ought to beleue and first they sayd they beleued in God the Father and in the Sonne and in the holy ghost the xij articles of the Creed the holy Scripture from the first of Genesis to the last of the Apocalips But that fayth the Chauncellour woulde not allowe Wherefore he apposed them in particular Articles Firste whether that they did not beleue that in the Sacrament of the aulter as he termed it after the wordes of consecratiō spoke by the priest at masse there remayned no substaunce of bread nor wine but Christes body flesh and bloud as he was borne of the virgine Mary Whereunto they aunswered negatiuely saying that the popish masse was abhominable Idolatry and iniurious to the bloud of Christ but confessing that in a faythfull Congregation receiuing the Sacrament of Christs body and bloud being duely ministred acccording to Christes institution Christes body and bloud is spiritually receiued of the faythfull beleuer Also being asked whether the Pope was supreame head of the Churche and Christes Uicar on earth they aunswered negatiuely saying that the Byshop of Rome doth vsurpe ouer Emperours and Kinges beyng Antichrist and Gods enemy The Chauncellour sayde will you haue the Churche without a head They aunswered Christ was head of his Church and vnder Christ the Queenes maiesty What sayd the Chaūcellour a woman head of the church yea sayd they within her graces dominions Also that the soules in purgatory were deliuered by the Popes pardons and the suffrages of the Church They said they beleued faithfully that the bloud of Christ had purged theyr sinnes and the sinnes of al thē that were saued vnto the end of the world so that they feared nothing the Popes Purgatory or estemed his pardons Also whether Images were necessary to be in the churches as lay mens bookes and Sayntes to be prayed vnto and worshipped They answered negatiuely Iohn Maundrell adding that wooden Images were good to rost a shoulder of mutton but euill in the Church whereby Idolatry was committed Those Articles thus aunswered for theyr Articles were one and theyr aunsweres in maner like the Chauncellor read theyr condemnation so deliuered them to the Shiriffe Then spake Iohn Spycer saying Oh M. Sheriffe now must you be theyr butcher that you may be guilty also with them of innocent bloud before the Lord. This was the 23. day of March an 1556. the 24. day of the same Moneth they were caryed out of the common Gayle to a place betwixt Salisbury Wiltom where were ij postes set for them to be burnt at Whiche men commyng to the place kneled downe and made theyr prayers secretly together then being disclothed to theyr shyrtes Iohn Maūdrell spake with a loud voyce not for all Salisbury Which wordes mē iudged to be an answere to the Shiriffe which offred him the queenes pardō if he would recant And after that in like maner spake Iohn Spicer saying this is the ioyfullest day that euer I sawe Thus were they 3. burnt at two stakes where most constauntly they gaue theyr bodyes to the fire and theyr soules to the Lord for testimony of his trueth As touching William Coberley this moreourr is to be noted that his wife also called Alice beyng apprehended was in the kepers house the same time deteined
while her husbande was in prison Where the keepers wife named Agnes Penycote had secretlye heated a key fire hoate and laid it in grasse on the backeside So speaking to Alice Coberley to set her the key in all haste the said Alice went with speed to bring the key and so taking vp the key in hast did pitiously burne her hand Wherupon she crying out at the sodein burning of her hand Ah thou drabbe quoth the other thou that canst not abide the burning of the key howe wiâ—e thou be able to burne the whole body and so she afterward reuoked But to returne agayne to the story of Coberley who being somewhat learned and being at the stake was somewhat long a burning as the wynde stoode After his bodye was skorched with the fire and hys leafte Arme drawne and taken from hym by the violence of the fyre the fleshe beinge burnt to the whyte boare at length he stouped ouer the cheyne and wyth the ryghte hande being somewhat starckned knocked vpon his brest softly the bloud and matter issuing out of his mouth Afterward when all they thought he had bene deade sodenly he rose right vp with his body agayne And thus muche concerning these three Salisbury Martyrs ¶ A discourse of the death and Martyrdome of sixe other Martyrs suffering at London whose names here folow ABout the xxiij day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1556. were burned in Smithfielde at one fire these sixe constaunt Martyrs of Christ suffering for the profession of the Gospell viz. Robert Drakes Minister William Tyms Curate Richard Spurge Shereman Thomas Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller They were al of Essex and so of the dioces of London and were sent vp some by the Lord Rich and some by others at suÌ„dry times vnto Stephen Gardiner B. of Winchester then Lord Chauncellor of England about the 22. day of March an 1555. Who vpon small examination sent them some vnto the kinges Benche and others vnto the Marshalsea where they remained almost all the whole yere vntill the death of the sayd Bishop of Winchester and had during that time nothing said vnto them Wherupon after that Doctor Heath Archbishop of Yorke was choseÌ„ to the office of Lord Chauncellorshippe foure of these persecuted brethren being now wery of this theyr long imprisonmeÌ„t made theyr supplication vnto the said D. Heath requiring his fauour and ayd for their deliueraunce the copy whereof ensueth * To the right reuerend father Tho. Archb. of Yorke Lord Chauncellour of England MAy it please your honorable good Lordship for the loue of God to tender the humble sute of your lordships poore Orators whose names are subscribed which haue lien in great misery in the Marshalsea by the space of x. monethes and more at the commaundement of the late Lord Chauncellour to their vtter vndoing with theyr wiues children In consideration wher of your Lordships sayd Oratours do most humbly pray and beseeche your good Lordship to suffer them to be brought before your honour and there if any man of good conscience can lay any thing vnto our charge we trust either to declare our innocency agaynst theyr accusations or if otherwise theyr accusations can be proued true and we faulty we are ready God helping vs with our condigne punishments to satisfy the law according to your wise Iudgement as we hope ful of fatherly mercy towardes vs and all men according to your Godly office in the which we pray for your Godly successe to the good pleasure of GOD. Amen This Supplication was sent as is sayd and subscribed with the names of these 4. vnder folowing Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell * Richard Spurge VPon the receipt and sight hereof it was not long after but Syr Richard Read Knight then one of the Officers of the Court of the Chauncery 16. day of Ianuary was sent vnto the Marshalsea to examine the sayd foure prisoners therefore beginning first with Richard Spurge vpon certaine demaundes receiued his answeres therunto the effect whereof was that he with others were complayned vpon by the Parson of Bocking vnto the Lorde Rich for that they came not vnto theyr Parish Church of Bocking where they inhabited and therupon was by the sayd Lord Rich sent vnto the late Lord Chauncellour about the xxij day of March last past videl an 1555. And farther he sayd that he came not to the Church sithens the first alteration of the English seruice into Latin Christmasse day then a tweluemoneth only except that because he misliked both the same and the Masse also as not consonant and agreing with Gods holy word Moreouer he required that he might not be any more examined vpoÌ„ the matter vnles it pleased the Lord ChauÌ„cellour that then was to know his fayth therein which to him he would willingly vtter * Thomas Spurge THomas Spurge being then next examined made the same aunswere in effect that the other had done confessing that he absented himselfe from the church because the word of God was not there truely taught nor the Sacramentes of Christ duely ministred in such sort as was prescribed by the same word And being farther examined of his beliefe concerning the sacrament of the aultar he said that if any could accuse him thereof he would then make aunswere as God had geuen him knowledge therein ¶ George Ambrose THe like answere made George Ambrose adding moreouer that after he had read the late Byshop of Winchesters booke intituled De vera obedientia with Boners preface thereunto annexed inueying both against the authority of the Bishop of Rome he did much lesse set by theyr doinges then before ¶ Iohn Cauell IOhn Cauell agreyng in other matters with them aunswered that the cause why hee did forbeare the comming to the Churche was that the Parson there had preached two contrary doctrines For firste in a Sermon that hee made at the Queenes first entrye to the crowne he did exhort the people to beleue the Gospell for it was the truth and if they did not beleue it they shoulde be damned But in a second Sermon he preached that the Testament was false in forty places which contrariety in him was a cause amongest other of his absenting from the Church ¶ Robert Drakes ABout the fourth day of Marche next after Robert Drakes also was examined who was ParsoÌ„ of ThuÌ„dersley in Essex and had there remayned the space of three yeares He was first made Deacon by Doctour Taylour of Hadley at the commaundement of Doctour Cranmer late Archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury And within one yeare after which was the thyrd of the reigne of kyng Edward he was by the sayd Archbyshop and Doctour Ridley Bishop of London admitted Minister of Gods holy word Sacramentes not after the order then in force but after such order as was after established was presented vnto the sayd benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich at the
Christe videlicet that in the blessed sacrament of the aultar vnder forme of breade and wine there is not the very body and bloude of our Sauiour in substance but onely a token and memoriall thereof and that the very body and bloude of Christ is in heauen and not in the sacrament 4 Item that she hath bene and yet is amongst the parishioners of Tunbridge openly noted and vehemently suspected to be a sacramentarie and hereticke Her personall answeres to the said Articles TO the whych foresayde articles her aunsweares were these First that shee was and is of the sayd parishe of Tunbridge in the Dioces of Rochester 2 That al persons which do preach and hold otherwise and contrary to that which the holy catholicke churche of Christ doth are to be reputed for excommunicate and heretickes adding wythall that neuerthelesse she beleeueth not the holy Catholike church to be her mother but beleueth only the father of heauen to be her father 3 Thirdly that shee hath and yet doeth verely beleeue hold and affirme in the Sacrament of the Aultare vnder fourmes of bread and wyne not to be the very body and bloud of our Sauiour in substance but onely a token and remembraunce of hys death to the faithfull receiuer and that his body and substaunce is onely in heauen and not in the Sacrament 4 Lastly as touching howe shee hath beene or is noted and reputed among the parishners of Tunbridge shee sayd shee could not tell howbeit shee beleeued shee was not so taken and reputed Examination and condemnation of Iohn Harpole and Ioane Beach THe lyke matter and the same foure Articles were also the same present time and place ministred to Iohn Harpole by the foresayde byshop Maurice who after the like aunsweares receiued of hym as of the other before adiudged and condemned them both together to deathe by one fourme of sentence according to the tenor course of their seueral sentence which ye may read before in master Rogers storie And thus these ij Christian Martyrs coupled in one confession being condemned by the bishop suffered together at one fire in the towne of Rochester where they together ended their liues about the first day of this present moneth of Aprill Iohn Hullyer Minister and Martyr NExte after these ensueth the Martyrdome of Iohn Hullyer Minister who first being brought vp in the Schoole of Eaton was afterwarde Scholler and then Conducte in the Kings Colledge at Cambridge and in the same Uniuersitie of Cambridge suffered vnder Doctour Thurlby Bishop of Elye and hys Chauncelloure for the syncere setting out of the lyght of Gods gracious Gospell reuealed in these oure dayes In whose behalfe thys is to be lamented that among so many fresh wittes and stirring pennes in that Uniuersitie so little matter is leaft vnto vs touching the processe of his iudgement and order of hys suffering whych so innocently gaue hys lyfe in suche a cause among the middest of them By certayne letters whych hee hym selfe leafte behinde him it appeareth that hee was zealous and earnest in that doctrine of truthe whych euerye true Christian man oughte to embrace His Martyrdome was about the second day of this present moneth of Aprill ¶ Letters of M. Iohn Hullier Minister A Letter of Iohn Hullier to the Christian congregation exhorting them faithfully to abide in the doctrine of the Lord. IT standeth now most in hand O deare Christians all them that looke to bee accounted of Christes flocke at that great and terrible day when a separation shal be made of that sort that shal be receiued from the other which shal be refused faithfully in this time of great afflictions to heare our master Christes voice the only true shepheard of our soules whych sayeth Who so euer shall endure to the ende shall be safe For euen nowe is that great trouble in hande as heere in England we may wel see that our Sauiour Christ spake off so long before which shoulde followe the true and sincere preachinge of his Gospell Therefore in thys time wee must needes eyther shewe that wee be hys faithfull Souldiours and continue in hys battaile vnto the ende putting on the armoure of God the buckler of faith the brest plate of loue the helmet of hope and saluation and the sworde of his holy woorde whiche wee haue heard plentifully wyth all instaunce of supplication and prayer or els if we do not woorke and labour with these we are Apostataes and false souldiours shrinking moste vnthankefully from our gracious and soueraigne Lorde and Captaine Christe and leaning to Beliall For as hee sayeth plainely Who so euer beareth not my crosse and foloweth me he can not be my disciple And no man can serue two maisters for either he must hate the one and loue the other or els he shall leane to the one and despise the other The which thing the faithfull Prophete Helias signified when hee came to the people and sayde Why halte yee betweene two opinions If the Lorde be God followe hym or if Baal be hee then folowe him Nowe let vs not thinke but that the same was recorded in wryting for oure instruction whome the endes of the worlde are come vppon as the Apostle Saint Paule sayeth What so euer thyngs are wrytten aforehande they are wrytten for our learning If Christe be that onely good and true shepheard that gaue his life for vs then lette vs that beare his marke and haue our consciences sprinkled with his bloude followe altogether for our saluation hys heauenly voyce and calling according to oure profession and first promise But if we shall not so do certainly say what we can although we beare the name of Christe yet we be none of hys sheepe in deede For he sayeth very manifestly My sheepe heare my voyce and followe me a straunger they will not followe but will flee from him for they knowe not the voyce of a straunger Therefore lette euery man take good heede in these perillous dayes whereof we haue had so much warning aforehande that he be not beguiled by the goodly outward shewe and appearance as Eue was of our olde subtile enemie whose crafte and wylinesse is so manifolde and diuers and so full of close windings that if he can not bring hym directly and the plaine straight way to consent to his suggestions then he will allure him and winde him in by some other false wayes as it were by a traine that hee shall not perceiue it to deceiue him wythall and to steale from him that goodly victorie of the incorruptible and eternall crowne of glorye which no man els can haue but he that fighteth lawfully as at thys present day if hee can not induce him thorowly as other doe to fauor his deuelish religion and of good wil and free heart to helpe to vpholde the same yet he will enueagle him to resorte to hys wicked and whorish schoolehouse and at the least
the sayde moste wholesom preceptes geuen vs of oure maister Christe and of hys Apostles and nowe in thys troublesome time wherein the Gospell is persecuted shewe our selues fearefull souldiours as it is manifestly declared in the Reuelation of S. Iohn where it is wrytten That the fearefull shall haue theyr parte wyth the vnbeleeuing and abhominable in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the seconde death Agayne it is wrytten in the same Booke for our warnyng Because thou art betwixt both and neither colde nor hote I wil spew thee out of my mouth Now therefore good christians these true testimonies of Gods liuely woord deepely considered and weighed let vs chiefly stand in awe of his most terrible iudgementes and be not as they that presumptuously tempt hym Lette him alwayes be our feare and dread He nowe chasteneth he nowe nourtereth vs for oure profite deliting in vs euen as a louing Father in his beloued childe to make vs perfecte and to haue vs to be partakers of his holynesse Hee nowe iudgeth vs not vtterly taking away hys euerlasting loue and mercy from vs as he doth from the malignant wicked that we should not be condemned with the wicked world but if we now refuse his moste louyng chastising and folow the worlde we must nedes haue our portion with the worlde Wide is the gate and broade is the way whych leadeth to destruction and many there be whych goe in thereat But straite is the gate and narowe is the waye that leadeth vnto life and fewe there bee that finde it O howe muche better is it to goe thys narrowe waye with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a time In consideration whereof let vs wythout any more slackinge and further delaies in thys greate warninge by Gods louing visitation submit our selues betime vnder hys mighty hand that he may exalte vs when the tyme is come And thus I wholely commit you to him and to the woorde of hys grace which is able to build further beseeching you most heartily to pray for me that I may be strong through the power of his might and stande perfect in all things being alwaies prepared and ready looking for the mercy of our Lorde vnto eternall rest and I will pray for you as I am most bounde So I trust he will graciously heare vs for hys promise sake made vnto all Faithfull in hys dearely beloued sonne Christe oure alone Sauioure whose grace be wyth your spirite most deare Christians for euer So be it By your Christian brother Iohn Hullier a prisoner of the Lorde Iohn Hullyer being of long time prisonner and nowe openly iudged to die for the testimony of the Lord Iesus wisheth hartely to the whole cōgregation of God the strength of his holy spirit to their euerlasting health both of body and soule I Nowe most deare Christians hauing the sweete comfort of Gods sauing health and being confirmed with hys free spirit be he only praised therefore am constrayned in my conscience thinkyng it my verye duetie to admonishe you as ye tender the saluation of your soules by al maner of meanes to separate youre selues from the companie of the Popes hirelings considering what is sayd in the Reuelation of S. Iohn by the Aungell of God touching all men The woordes be these If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receiue his marke in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drinke the wine of the wrathe of God whiche is powred into the cuppe of his wrathe and hee shall be punished with fire and brimstone before the holye Angels and before the Lambe and the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore Marke well heere good Christians who is this beast and worshippers that shal be partakers of that vnspeakeable torment This beast is none other but the carnal fleshly kingdome of Antichrist the Pope with his rabble of false Prophets and Ministers as it is most manifest which to maintaine theyr high titles worldly promotions and dignities do with much cruelty daily more and more setforth and establish theyr owne traditions decrees decretalles contrary to Gods holy ordinaunces statutes lawes and commaundements and wholy repugnante to his sincere and pure religion and true woorshipping Nowe what doe they els but worshyp this Beast and his Image who after they had once already escaped from the filthinesse of the world through the knowledge of the Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet agayne tangled therin and ouercome vsing dissimulation vnfaithfully for feare of theyr displeasure doing one thing outwardly and thinking inwardly an other so hauing them in reuerence vnder a cloke and colour to whō they ought not so much as to say God speede and adioyning themselues to the malignant congregation whych they oughte to abhorre as a den of theeues and murtherers and as the Brothel house of moste blasphemous fornicators whose voyces beynge contrary to Christes voyce if they were of his flocke they would not knowe but would flee from them as he hymselfe being the good shepeheard of our soules doth full wel in his holy gospel testify Againe what do they els I pray you but receiue the Beastes marke in theyr forheads and in theyr handes whych doe beare a faire face and countenaunce outwardly in supporting them as other do being ashamed onely to confesse Christe and hys holy Gospell But thys fainednesse and dissimulation Christe and hys Gospel will in no wise allowe Of whome it is sayd Who soeuer shall be ashamed of mee and of my woordes in thys adulterous and sinfull generation of him also shall the sonne of man be ashamed when he shal come in the glory of his father with his holy Angels Therefore sayeth almighty God by hys Prophet Malachie Curssed be the dissemblers Yee were once lyghtened and tasted of the heauenlye gifte and were become partakers of the holy Ghost and tasted of the word of God and of the power of the worlde to come And oure Sauiour Christ sayth No man that putteth hys hande to the ploughe and looketh backe is apte for the kingdome of GOD. Therefor S. Iohn the Apostle vseth this for a manyfest token that the backsliding from the true preachers of Gods woord declareth euidently that they be not of the number of them For sayeth he They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had bene of vs no doubt they woulde haue continued wyth vs. Surely so long as we vse dissimulation and to play on both hādes we are not in the light For what soeuer is manifest the same is light as the elect vessell of God S. Paule witnesseth Wherfore good Christians for Gods most dear loue deceiue not your selues through your own wisedom and through the wisedome of the worlde which is foolishnesse before God but certifye and stay your owne conscience with the sure truth and faithfull woord of
to dispatche his handes of them but could not so dispatch his conscience before the iudgement of God from the guiltinesse of innocent bloud The pore men being now in the temporal officers haÌ„ds might not there be suffered long to remain therefore the 15. day of May very early in the morning they were caried from Newgate in a cart to Stratford the Bow most quietly in the fire praising God yelded vp their soules into hys handes throughe a liuely Faith in Iesus Christe whom vnto the ende they did most constantly confesse At their death Hugh Lauerock after he was chained casting away his crooche and coÌ„forting Iohn Apprice his fellow Martyr sayd vnto him be of good comfort my brother for my Lorde of London is our good Phisition Hee will heale vs both shortly thee of thy blindenesse and me of my lamenesse And so paciently these two good Saints of God together suffered The Martyrdome of a blinde man and a lame man at Stratford the Bowe Three women the same time burned in Smithfielde Katherine Hut Elizabeth Thackuell and Ioane Homes THe nexte day after the Martyrdome of thys lame and blinde maÌ„ aboue specified in the sayd moneth of May were brought to the fire 3. women wyth whom also was adioyned an other who being in the same constancy wyth them was likewise partaker of the sayde condemnation The names of these were Katherine Hut of Bocking Widowe Ioane Hornes of Billerica Maide Elizabeth Thackuel of great Bursted Maide Margaret Ellys of Billerica Maide How these with diuers other mo were persecuted and sent vp especially by Syr Iohn Mordant and Edmunde Tyrrell Esquier Iustices of Peace this their Letter following will declare A Letter sent vnto Boner Bishop of London from Sir Iohn Mordant Knight and Edmund Tyrrell Esquire Iustices of peace for the Countie of Essex OVr humble commendations to your Lordshippe these shall be to aduertise you that we haue sent vnto your good Lordship Ioane Potter the wife of Hughe Potter Iames Harrys seruaunt of William Harrys of Bromhill Margaret Ellys for that they be not conformable to the orders of the Churche nor to the reall presence of Christes body and bloude in the Sacrament of the aultare to vse your Lordships pleasure with them as you thinke good not doubting with the punishmeÌ„t of these and the other before sent to your Lordship but that the parishe of great Burstede and Billerica shall bee broughte to good conformitye Thus committing your good Lordship to the tuition of almightie God wee take our leaue From great Burstede this present second day of March 1556. Your Lordships to command Iohn Mordant Edmund Tyrrel After the receit of these Letters Bishoppe Boner entring to examination of these 4. women aboue named laid and obiected the lyke Articles to them as after his vsuall forme he vsed to minister and are before expressed Whereunto the sayd women likewise agreeing in the same vnitie of spirite and doctrine accorded in theyr aunsweares much agreeing vnto the other before them As first to the Article in the firste place obiected they consented and graunted beleeuing the sayde Article to be true in euery part thereof 2. To the second partly they answeared they could not tel what a Sacrament is Elizabeth Thackuell and Katherin Hut adding moreouer that matrimonie Baptisme and the Lords supper were Sacraments ordained in the churche but whether the other specified in thys article be sacraments as they heard them called ordained by God or not they could not tell Margaret Ellys being examined seuerally as the other were vpoÌ„ the same how many sacraments there were answeared as a yong mayde vnskilled in her simple ignoraunce that shee coulde not tell Howbeit she had heard she sayd that there was one Sacrament but what it was she could not tell c. 3 To the thirde likewyse they graunted that they were baptised by their godfathers and godmothers which godfathers and godmothers sayde Margaret Ellys did not then know so much as shee now doth knowe Katherine Hut adding wythall and saying that shee was baptised but what her godfather godmothers did then promise for her in her name shee could not tell c. 4 To the fourth article Margaret Ellys and Elizabeth Thackuel did graunt therunto Katherin Hut said moreouer that shee beinge of the age of 14. yeares was of the faith wherein shee was Christened and yet neuerthelesse the said faith in that age shee sayde was but a deade faith because shee did not then vnderstand what she did beleue Ioane Hornes added that shee being 11. yeares of age began to learne the faith set foorth in K. Edwards dayes in the which faith and religion she sayd she hath hetherto yet doth so wil hereafter continue God so assisting her 5 To the fift article they answeared and confessed according al in this effect that as touching the Masse they knew no goodnesse in it and as touching the Sacramente of the altar they beleeued that Christes natural body is in heauen and not in the sacrament of the altar And as concernyng the sea of Rome they acknowledged no such supremacy in that sea neither haue they any thing to do therewith 6 In aunswearing the sixt article they did all generally refuâ—e to be reconciled or vnited to the church of Rome or anye other Churche contrary to that wherein they nowe stoode and did professe 7 To the seuenth article they aunsweared likâ—wyse that they had so done sayde in all things as is in thys article contained Katherine Hutte adding moreouer the reason why for that sayd she neither the seruice in Latin Masse Mattens and Euensong nor the Sacraments were vsed and ministred according to gods word And furthermore that the Masse is an idoll neither is the true body bloud of Christ in the Sacramente of the aultare as they make men beleeue 8 Their aunswere to the eight Article declared that they were all and euery one sent vppe to Boner by syr Iohn Mordant knight and iustice of peace in Essex the Lord of his mercy send vs better Iustices I beseeche him for that they coulde not affirme the presence of Christes bodye and bloude to be truely and really in the Sacramente and for that they came not to theyr popish parish Church 9 To the ninth article they aunswered and confessed the premisses thereof to be true and denied not the same saue that Katherin Hut sayd that she was of Bocking in Essex of the peculiare iurisdiction of Canterbury and not of the diocesse and iurisdiction of London After these their answeres receiued they were produced againe about the 13. of Aprill to further examination and so at length to their finall iudgement where Katherin Hut widowe standing before the bishop boldly constantly stoode to that which she hadde sayde before neither yeelding to his faire promises nor ouerthrowne with his terrour Who being required of the Sacrament to say her minde and to
Idole at the commandement of sir Iohn Tirrell knight of Gippyng hall in Suffolke and certaine other Iustices there who sent both hym and them to Eay dungeon in Suffolke till at length they were all three together broght before Dunnyng then Chauncellor of Norwich and M. Myngs the Register sittyng at the Towne of Beckles to be examined And there the sayd Chancellour perswading what he could to turne them from the truth could by no meanes preuaile of his purpose Whereby mynding in the ende to geue sentence on them he burst out in teares intreatyng them to remember themselues and to turne agayne to the holy mother church for that they were deceiued and out of the truth and that they should not wilfully cast away thēselues with such like wordes Now as he was thus labouryng them and semed very loth to read the sentence for they were the first that he condemned in that dioces the Register there sittyng by beyng weary belike of tarying or els perceiuyng the constant Martyrs to be at a point called vpon the Chauncellour in hast to ridde them out of the way and to make an ende At which wordes the Chauncellour read the condemnation ouer them with teares and deliuered them to the secular power ¶ Their Articles THe Articles obiected to these and commonly to all other condemned in that Diocesse by Doctor Hopton Bishop of Norwich and by Dunnyng his Chauncellor were these 1. First was articulate agaynst them that they beleeued not the Pope of Rome to bee supreme head immediately vnder Christ in earth of the vniuersall Catholike Church 2. Item that they beleeued not holy bread and holy water ashes palmes and all other lyke ceremonies vsed in the Churche to be good and laudable for stirring vp the people to deuotion 3. Item that they beleeued not after the wordes of consecration spoken by the Priest the very naturall body of Christ and no other substance of bread and wine to be in the sacrament of the Altar 4. Item that they beleeued it to be Idolatry to worship Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar 5. Item that they tooke bread and wine in remembrance of Christes Passion 6. Item that they would not follow the Crosse in procession nor be confessed to a Priest 7. Item that they affirmed no mortall man to haue in himselfe free will to do good or euill For this doctrine and articles aboue prefixed these three as is aforesayd were condemned by Doctor Dunning committed to the secular power Syr Iohn Sylliard being the same tyme hyghe Sheriffe of Northfolke and Suffolke And the next day following vpon the same they were all burnt together in the sayd towne of Beckles Whereupon it is to be thought that the writte De comburendo was not yet come downe nor could not be the Lord Chaunlour Bish. Heath being the same time at London Which if it be true then it is playne that both they went beyond their Commission that were the executioners also the Clergy which were the instigatours thereof cannot make good that they now pretend saying that they did nothing but by a lawe But this let the Lord finde out when he seeth his tyme. In the meane tyme while these good men were at the stake had prayed they sayd there beliefe and when they came to the reciting of the Catholicke Church Syr Iohn Silliard spake to them That is well sayd Syrs quoth he I am glad to heare you say you do beleeue the Catholicke Church That is the best word I heard of you yet To which his sayinges Edmund Pole aunswered that though they beleeue the Catholicke Churche yet doe they not beleeue in their Popish Church which is no part of Christes Catholicke Churche and therefore no part of their beliefe When they rose from prayer they all went ioyfully to the stake and being bounde thereto and the fire burning about them they praysed God in such an audible voyce that it was wonderfull to all those which stoode by and heard them Then one Robert Bacon dwelling in the sayd Beckles a very enemye to Gods truth and a persecutour of his people being there present within hearing thereof willed the tormentours to throw on fagots to stoppe the knaues breathes as he termed them so hotte was his burning charitye But these good men not regarding there malice confessed the truth and yelded their liues to the death for the testimony of the same very gloriously ioyfully The which their constancye in the lyke cause the Lord graunt we may imitate and follow vnto the ende Whether it be death or lyfe to glorifye the name of Christ Amen And forasmuch as we haue here entred into the persecution of Northfolke and Suffolke it commeth therefore to minde by occasion hereof brieflye to touche by the way some part for the whole matter cannot bee so exprest as it was done touching the troubles of the towns of Winson and Mendlesam in Suffolke raysed and stirred by the sayd Syr Iohn Tyrrell other Iustices there of the lyke affinitye The summe and effecte of which briefly is thus signifyed to me by writing * The persecution in the Townes of Winson and Mendlesam in Suffolke BY the procurement of Syr Iohn Tyrrell Knight and other of his Colleagues there were persecuted out of the Towne of Winson in Suffolke these persons hereafter following Anno. 1556. Maistresse Alice Twaites Gentlewoman of the age of three score yeres and more and two of her seruaunts Humfrey Smith and his wyfe William Katchpoole and his wyfe Iohn Maulyng and his wyfe Nicholas Burlingham and his wyfe And one Rought and his wyfe Such as were persecuted and driuen out of the towne of Mendlesam in the Countie of Suffolke Symon Harlstone and Katherine his wife with his fiue children William Whitting and Katherin his wife Thomas Dobson and his wife Thomas Hubbard and his wife Iohn Doncon and his wife his maide William Doncon Thomas Woodward the elder One Konnoldes wife A poore widow One mother Semons maide Besides those that were constrained to do against their conscience by the helpe of the parishe Priest whose name was sir Iohn Brodish ¶ These be the chiefest causes why those aboue named were persecuted FIrst they did hold and beleeue the holy word of God to be the sufficient doctrine vnto their saluation Secondly they denied the Popes vsurped authoritie and did hold all that church of Antichrist to be Christs aduersaries And further refused the abused sacraments defied the masse and all popish seruice and ceremonies saying they robbed God of his honour Christ of his death and glory and would not come at the Church without it were to the defacyng of that they did there Thirdly they did hold that the ministers of the church by Gods word might lawfully marry Fourthly they helde the Queene to be as chiefe head and wicked rulers to bee a great plague sent of God for sinne c. Fiftly
was burnt at Leicester the 26. of the moneth of Iune aboue named ⧠Thirteene Martyrs burned at Stratford the Bowe NOt long after the death of the Merchaunts seruaunt before mentioned there followed in this happye and blessed order of Martyrs burned in one fire at Stratford the Bowe by London a xj men and two women whose dwellings were in sundry places in Essex whose names hereafter followeth Henry Adlington Laurence Pernam Henry Wye William Hallywell Thomas Bowyer George Searles Edmund Hurst Lyon Cawch Rafe Iackson Iohn Deryfall Iohn Routh Elizabeth Pepper Agnes George Unto whom the 6. of Iune an 1556. D. Darbyshiere Boners Chancellour in forme of law ministred the same Articles that were propounded vnto Tho. Whittle hys company mentioned before to the which they made their seuerall answers in simplicitie and in a good conscience The summe and effect whereof ensueth To the first they all answered affirmatiuely but Lyon Cawch added further that he beleued that the true fayth and religion of Christ is wheresoeuer the word of God is truly preached To the second Article they all answered in effect deniyng that there be 7. sacraments some affirmyng that in the Church of Christ there be but two sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Others referryng themselues to beleeue as the scripture teacheth them And other some refused to make aunswer because of theyr simplicitie To the third article they all answered affirmatiuely To the fourth Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely sauing Iohn Routh who sayd he would make no answer thereunto But Lyon Cawch added that he beleued the article to be true but it was because he had no better knowledge And Agnes George added that in king Edward the 6. his tyme she went from her old fayth and religion and beleued in the faith and religion that was then taught and set forth To the fift they all aunswered in effect affirmatiuely sauing Iohn Routh whose aunswer was that the Masse is such a thyng which cannot nor will not enter into hys conscience And Henry Adlington answered that for 9. or 10. yeres before he misliked the Masse and also the Sacrament of the aultar because they cannot bee prooued by the scriptures And as touching the authoritie of the Sea of Rome he beyng but xiiij yeares of age tooke an othe agaynst the same which othe he sayd he intended to keepe by the grace of God To the vj. they all aunswered affirmatiuely sauyng Iohn Routh and Wil. Halywel who both refused to answer because they knew not what they meant by this article But the two women added that they refused to bee reconciled to the fayth and religion that was then vsed in the Realme of England And Laurence Pernam added that he neuer refused to bee reconciled and brought to the vnitie of the catholike church of Christ. To the vij Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely but Wil. Halywell denied that euer he called the Masse Idolatry and abhomination And Henry Wye affirmyng the Article to be true yet he confessed hys infirmitye that he went to hys parish church and receyued before he was put in prison To the viij Article Edmund Hurst Rafe Iackson George Searles aunswered affirmatiuely Henry Wye sayd he was brought before certaine Iustices of Peace in Essex concernyng one Higbed his late maister and therevpon he was committed to Colchester Castell and from thence sent to London to the Bishop to be further examined Wil. Hallywell affirmed the like confession as Henry Wye did onely Higbed excepted Iohn Derifall said he was called before the Lord Rich and Maister Mildmay of Chelmesford and was by them sent to Boner Bish. of London to be further by hym examined Tho. Bowyer sayd he was brought before one M. Wiseman of Felsed by hym was sent to Colchester castle and from theÌ„ce was caried to Boner bishop of London to be by hym further examined Lion Cawch sayd that he was sent to come before the Kyng and Queenes Maiesties Commissioners and there before them appearyng three tymes was sent to Boner bishop of London to be by hym further examined Henry Adlington sayd that he commyng to Newgate to speake with one Gratwike there beyng prisoner for the testimony of Iesu Christ was apprehended and brought before D. Story and by hym sent to Boner bish of London to be by hym further examined Iohn Routh sayd that he was conuented before the Earle of Oxford and by hym sent to the castle of Colchester from thence conueyed to Boner B. of London to bee by hym further examined Laurence Pernam sayd that he was committed to Harford prison because he would not go to church and from thence sent to Boner B. of London to be by him further examined Agnes George sayd that she was committed to prison in Colchester at the commaundement of one M. Maynard an Alderman of the towne because she would not go to church and from thence was sent to Boner B. of London to be by hym further examined Elizabeth Pepper sayd she was apprehended by two Conâ—â—ables and an Alderman for that shee woulde not come to church and by them was sent to Boner B. of London to be by hym further examined To the ix Article they all beleued the premisses to bee true aboue by them confessed and that they were of the dioces and iurisdiction of London But Elizabeth Pepper added that she was of the towne of Colchester And Agnes George added that she was of the Parish of Barefold And Lyon Cawche added that he was then of the Citie of London by reason that he was at that present a merchant there Henry Wye Brewer was of the parish of Stantford le Hoxe and of 32. yeres of age William Hallywell was a Smith of the Parishe of Waltham Holle crosse and of the age of 24. yeres or theraboutes Rafe Iackson was a seruingman of Shepping Onger and of the age of 24. yeares Laurence Parnam was a Smith of Hodsâ—on within the parish of Amwell in the County of Hartford of the age of 22. yeres Iohn Derifall was a Labourer of the parish of Rettington in Essex and of the age of 50. yeres Edmund Hurst was a Labourer of the parish of S. Iames in Colchester and of the age of fiftye yeares and aboue Thomas Bowyer was a Weauer of Much Dunnemow and of the age of 36. yeares George Searles was a Tailor betwene 20. 21. yeres of age of the parish of White Nottle where he was taken and caried to the Lord Rich who sent hym to Colchester castle with a commaundement that no friend he had shuld speake with hym There he lay 6. weekes and was sent vp to London where he was sometyme in the Bishops colehouse sometyme in Lollards Tower and last of all in Newgate He was appreheÌ„ded in Lent about a fortnight before Easter in the place aforesayd Lyon Cawch was a Broker borne in
not awaye all thy true preachers forth of this realme O Lord but leaue vs a seede least England be made like vnto Sodome and Gomorre when thy true Lothes be gone But what goe I aboute to mingle your myrthe wyth my mourning and your iust ioy with my deserued sorow If I loued you in deede as I haue pretended I shoulde surely reioyce with you most hartily praise god on your behalfe from the very bottome of my hart I should prayse God day and night for your excellēt election in through his great mercy and should geue him most humble thākes for your vocation by his Gospell your true knowledge in the same I should earnestly prayse him for your sweete iustification wherof you are most certayne by Gods grace and spirite should instantly pray vnto him for your glorification which shall shortly ensue I should reioyce and be glad to see you so dignifyed by the crowne of Martyrdome and to be appoynted to that honour to testify hys truth and to seale it with your bloud I should highly extoll the Lord who hath geuen you a glorious victory euer al your enemies visible and inuisible and hath geuen you grace and strength to finish the Tower that you haue begunne to build Finally if I loued you I should most hartily reioice and be glad to see you deliuered from this body of sinne and vile prison of the fleshe and brought into that heauenly tabernacle where you shal be safely kept and neuer offend him more This and much more should I do if I had a good hart towardes God or you his deare childe But alas I am an hypocrite do seeke nothing but mine owne commodity I would haue gods euerlasting prouidēce geue place to my peeuish will purpose although it were to the hinderance of his glory and your sweet commodity God forgeue me my horrible ingratitude sinnes offēces agaynst him and good brother do you forgeue me my great negligence and vnthankfulnes towards you and henceforth I promise you I will put my will to Gods wil pray that the same may be fulfilled in you so long as you be on this earth and when you are taken hence I will most hartely prayse the Lord for you so lōg as I haue my being in this world Ah my deare hart nowe I muste take my leaue of you and as I thinke my Vltimum vale in this lyfe but in the life to come I am righte well assured we shall merilye meete together that shortly I trust And in taking of my leue of you my deare hart in the Lord I shall desire you faythfully to remēber all the sweet messages that the Lord our good God most deare louing father hath sent you by me his most vnworthy seruaunt which as they are moste true so shall they be most truly accōplished vpon you eternally and for the more assurance and certificate thereof to your godly cōscience he hath cōmaunded me to repeat the same vnto you agayne in his owne name and word Therfore now geue eare and faithfull credence Harken O ye heauens and thou earth geue eare and beare me witnes at the great day that I do here faythfully and truly the lordes message vnto his dear seruant his singularly beloued and elect childe Iohn Bradford Iohn Bradford thou man so specially beloued of God I pronoūce testify vnto thee in the word name of the Lord Iehoua that all thy sinnes whatsoeuer they be be they neuer so many so grieuous or so great be fully freely pardoned released forgeuen thee by the mercy of God in Iesus Christ thyne onely Lord sweet sauiour in whom thou doest vndoubtedly beleue Christ hath cleansed thee with his bloud and clothed thee with his righteousnes and hath made thee in the sight of God his father without spotte or wrinckle so that when the fire doth his appoynted office thou shalt be receyued as a sweete burnt sacrifice into heauen where thou shalt ioyfully remayn in Gods presence for euer as the true inheritor of his euerlasting kingdome vnto that whiche that wast vndoubtedly predestinate ordeined by the Lords vnfallible purpose and decree before the foundation of the worlde was layde And that this is most true that I haue sayd I call the whole Trinity the almighty and eternall maiesty of God the father the sonne and the holy ghost to my record at this present whom I humbly beseech to confirme and stablish in thee the true and liuelye feeling of the same Amen Selah Now with a mery hart and a ioyfull spirit something mixed with lawful teares I take my farewel of you mine owne deare brother in the Lorde who sende vs shortly a merye meeting in his kingdome that we maye both sing prayses together vnto him with hys holy Aungelles and blessed spirites for euer euer Farewel thou blessed of the Lord farewell in Christ depart vnto thy rest in the Lorde and pray for me for Gods sake As I had made an ende of this simple Letter I hearde some comfort both of good Maister Philpots seruant and yours but alas I doe scarcely beleue them Well I wyll hope in God pray all night that God will send me some comfort to morrowe and if the Lorde geue you sparing to morow let me heare foure words of comfort from you for Gods sake The blessing of God be with you now and for euer Amen Yours for euer in the Lord Iesus Iohn Careles liuing in hope agaynst hope In reading this letter of Iohn Careles to M. Bradford aboue prefixed wherein he maketh so much mētion of a certayne letter of his sent to him and of the great exceeding consolation he receiued of the same thou wilt wishe peraduenture good louing Reader in thy mynd to haue some sight also of the sayd Letter of M. Bradford Wherein to satisfy thy desire or rather to preuent thy petition I haue hereunto annexed the same to the entent thou mayest not onely vnderstand the contentes therof but also receiue fruit therof to thy cōsolation likewise The purport of the letter here foloweth ¶ Mayster Bradford to Careles ALmighty God our deare father through and for the merits of his dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ be mercifull vnto vs pardon vs our offences vnder the winges of his mercy he protect vs from all euill from henceforth and for euer Amen Deare brother Careles I hartely pray you to pray to GOD for me for the pardon of my manifold sinnes and most grieuous offences whiche neede none other demonstration vnto you then this namely that I haue behaued my selfe so negligently in aunswering your godly triple letters whiche are three witnesses agaynst me God lay not them nor none other thing to my charge to condemnation though to correction not my will but his wil be done Concerning your request of absolution my dearest brother what shall I saye but euen as trueth is that the
Lorde of all mercy and Father of all comfort through the merites and mediation of his deare sonne thy onely Lord and Sauiour hath clearely remitted and pardoned all thy offences whatsoeuer they bee that euer hitherto thou hast committed agaynst his maiesty and therefore he hath geuen to thee as to his childe deare Brother Iohn Careles in token that thy sinnes are pardoned he I say hath geuen vnto thee a penitent and beleuing hart that is a hart which desireth to repent and beleue For suche a one is taken of him he accepting the will for the deede for a penitent and beleuing hart in deed Wherefore my good Brother be mery gladde and of good cheare for the Lorde hath taken away thy sinnes thou shalt not dye Goe thy wayes the Lord hath put away thy sinnes The East is not so farre from the West as the Lord now hath put thy sinnes from thee Looke how the heauēs be in comparison of the earth so far hath his mercy preuayled towardes thee his deare chylde Iohn Careles through Christ the beloued Say therfore with Dauid prayse the Lord oh my soule and all that is within me prayse his holy name for he hath forgeuen thee all thy sinnes as truely he hath And hereof I desire to be a witnesse God make me worthy to heare from you the like true message for my selfe Myne owne dearly beloued you haue great cause to thanke God moste hartily that he hath geuen you such repētance and fayth the lord encrease the same in you and me a most miserable wretch whose hart is harder then the Adamant stone or elles I coulde not thus long haue stayed from writing vnto you If I liue and may I purpose and promise you to make amendes Praye for me my moste deare brother I hartely beseech you and forgeue me my long silence God our father be with vs for euer Amen Yours in the Lord Iohn Bradford ¶ To my most deare and faythfull brethren in Newgate condemned to dye for the testimony of Gods euerlasting truth THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the cōtinual ioy strength and comfort of his most pure holy mighty spirite with the increase of fayth liuely feeling of his eternall mercy be with you my most deare faythfull louing brother Tyms with all the rest of my deare hartes in the Lord your faithfull felow souldiers most constant cōpanions in bonds yea of men condēned most cruelly for the sincere testimony of Gods euerlasting truth to the full finishing of that good worke which he hath so graciously begon in you all that the same may be to his glory the commodity of his poore afflicted church and to your euerlasting comfort in him Amen Ah my most sweet and louing brethrē and dearest hartes in the Lord what shall I say or how shall I write vnto you in the least poynt or part to vtter the great ioy that my poore hart hath cōceiued in God through the most godly example of your christian constancy and sincere confession of Christes verity Truely my tongue can not declare nor my pen expresse the aboūdance of spirituall myrth and gladnes that my minde and inward man hath felte euer since I heard of your harty boldnes and modest behauior before that bloudy butcher in the time of al your crafty examinations especially at your cruell condēnation in theyr cursed Consistory place Blessed be God the Father of all mercy praysed be his name for that he hath so graciously performed vpon you his deare darlinges his most sweete and comfortable promises in not onely geuing you the cōtinuall aide strength and comfort of his holye and mighty spirite to the faythfull confession of his Christ for whose cause O most happy mē ye are condemned to dye but also in geuing you such a mouth wisedom as al your wicked enemies were not able to resist but were fayne to cry Peace peace not suffer you to speake As truely as God liueth my deare brethrē this is not only vnto you a most euident probation that God is on our side and a sure certainty of your euerlasting saluatiō in him but also to your cruell aduersaries or rather gods cursed enemies a plaine demōstration of their iust eternall woe damnatiō which they shal be full sure shortly to feele whē ye shal ful sweetly possesse the place of felicity pleasure prepared for you frō the beginning Therefore my dearly beloued cease not so long as ye be in this life to prayse the Lord with a lusty courage for that of his great mercy and infinite goodnesse he hath vouched you worthy of this great dignity to suffer for his sake not onely the losse of goodes wife and childrē long imprisonment cruell oppressiō c. but also the very depriuation of this mortall life with the dissolution of your bodies in the fire The which is the greatest promotion that GOD can bring you or any other vnto in this vale of misery yea so great an honour as the highest Aungel in heauen is not permitted to haue yet hath the Lord for his dere sonne Christs sake reputed you worthy of the same yea and that before me and many other which haue both long looked longed for the same Ah my most deare brother Tyms whose time resteth altogether in the handes of the Lorde in a full happy time camest thou into this troublesome world but in a much more blessed houre shalt thou depart forth of the same so that the sweete saying of Salomon or rather of the holye ghost shall be full well verified vpon thee yea and all thy faythfull fellowes Better is the day of death sayth hee then the day of byrth This saying cannot be verified vpon euery man but vpon thee my deare brother and suche as thou art whose death is most precious before God full deare shal your bloud be in his sight Blessed be God for thee my deare brother Tymmes and blessed be God agayn that euer I knew thee for in a most happy time I came first into thy company Pray for me deare brother pray for me that God will once vouch me worthye of that great dignitie whereunto he hath now brought you Ah my louing brother Drake whose soule draweth now nigh vnto God of whom you haue receiued the same ful glad may you be that euer God gaue you a life to leaue for his sake Full well will he restore it to you agayne in a thousand fold more glorious wife Prayse God good brother as you haue great cause and pray for me I beseeche you which am so muche vnworthy so great are my sins of that great dignitie whereunto the Lord hath called you and the rest of your godly brethren whome I beseech you to comfort in the Lorde as you can full well praysed be God for his giftes which you haue hartily applyed to the setting forth of his glory and the commoditie of his
poore afflicted Church Which thing shal surely redound to your euerlasting ioy and comfort as you shall most effectually feele or euer it be long though the wicked of the world iudge farre otherwise Ah mine owne hartes and most dearely beloued brethren Cauell Ambrose and both the Spurges blessed be the Lord on your behalfe and praysed be his name which hath geuen you such a glorious victory Full valiant haue you shewed your selues in the Lords fight ful faithfully in your paynefull seruice Faint not but go on forward as ye haue most godly begun for great shall your reward be at the end of this your trauell Ah my good faythfull brethren all what shall I say or what shall I write vnto you but euen the same that good Elizabeth did say to her godly kinswoman Mary the blessed mother of Christe Happy art thou quoth that good woman which hast beleued for al thinges which the Lord hath spoken to thee shal be fulfilled So I say to you my deare heartes in the Lorde happy are ye all yea twise happy shall ye bee for euermore because yee haue stedfastly beleued the most sweete promises which god the father hath made vnto you with his owne mouth in that he hath promised you which are the faythfull seede of the beleuing Abraham that ye shall be blessed euer world without end The promises of God your sweet father as ye do beleue so do ye beare record that God is true The Testymony wherof ye haue full worthily borne to the worlde shortly will full surely seale the same with your bloud yea euen to morow I do vnderstand Oh constant Christians oh valiant souldiers of the high captayne Iesus Chryste who for your sake hath conquered the deuill death sinne hel hath geuē you full victory ouer them for euermore Oh worthy witnesses and most glorious martyrs whose inuincible fayth hath ouercome that proude sturdye bragging Prince of the world al his wicked army ouer whom ye shall shortly triumph for euermore Ah my sweet harts the euerlasting treasures are full surely layd vp for you in heauen The immercessible and moste glorious crowne of victory is already made and prepared for you to be shortly clapt vpon all your happy heades The holy Aungelles of your heauenly father are already appoynted to conducte your sweete soules into Abrahams bosome All the heauēly host reioyseth already for that they shall shortly receiue you with ioy felicitie into their blessed fellowship Selah Reioyce with double ioy and bee glad my deare brethren for doubtles ye haue more cause then can be expressed But alas I that for my sinnes am left behinde may lye and lament with the holy Prophet saying Woe is me that the dayes of my ioyfull rest are prolonged Ah cursed Satan which hath caused me so sore to offend my most deare louing father whereby my exile and banishmente is so much prolonged Oh christ my deare aduocate pacifie thy fathers wrath which I haue iustly deserued that he may take me home to him in his sweete mercye Oh that I might now come home vnto thee with my blessed brethren Wel thy will O Lord be effectuously fulfilled for it is onely good and turneth all thinges to the best for suche as thou in thy mercies hast chosen And now farewell my deare heartes most happy in the Lord. I trust in my good God yet shortly to see you in the celestiall citie wherof vndoubtedly the Lord hath already made you free citizens Though ye be yet with vs for a litle time your very home is in heauē where your treasure doth remayne with your sweet Lord and Redeemer Iesus Christe whose calling you haue heard with the eares of youre heartes and therefore yee shall neuer come into iudgement but passe from death to life Your sinnes shall neuer be remembred be they neuer so many so greeuous or so great for your sauiour hath cast them all into the bottome of the sea he hath remoued them from you as farre as the East is from the West and his mercy hathe muche more preuayled ouer you then is distaunce betweene heauē and earth and he hath geue you for an euerlasting possession of the same al his holinesse righteousnesse and iustification yea and the holy Ghost into your harts wherwith ye are surely sealed vnto the daye of redemption to certifie you of your eternall election and that yee are hys true adopted sonnes whereby yee may boldly crye vnto God Abba deare father for euermore so that now no creature in heauen earth nor hell shall be able to accuse you before the throne of the heauenly king Satan is now cast out from you he himselfe is iudged and hathe no parte in you He will once more byte you by the heele and then he hath don for at that time you shall squise his head through your owne good Christ and so haue you finall victory for euermore In ioyfull triumphe whereof yee shall sweetly ascend into the place of eternall rest whether youre eldest brother christ is gone before you to take possession for you and to prepare your place vnder the holy aultar with Cranmer Latimer Ridley Rogers Hooper Saunders Farrar Taylour Bradford Philpot with many other who will be full glad of your comming to see sixe moe of their appoynted number that their bloud may so muche the sooner be reuenged vpon them that dwell on the earth Thus I make an ende committing you all to Gods most mercifull defence whose quarrell yee haue defended whose cause ye haue promoted whose glory yee haue sette forth and whose name ye haue constantly confessed Farewell for a while my deare hartes in the Lord I wil make as much haste after you as I may All our deare brethren salute you They pray for you and prayse God for you cōtinually Blessed be the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours sayth the holy Ghost and their workes follow them Your owne Iohn Careles a most vnprofitable servaunt of the Lord. Pray pray pray ¶ In the pag. 1742. ye heard before the letter of Thomas Whittel written to Iohn Careles wherin he yeldeth great thankes vnto him for the singular ioy and consolatiō receiued by his letters The copie of which letters sent vnto him if any be disposed to peruse here vnder foloweth to satisfie his desire ¶ To M. Greene M. Whittel and certaine other prisoners in Newgate condemned and ready to be burnt for the testimonie of our Lord Iesus THe euerlasting peace in Iesus Christe the continual comfort of his most pure and holy spirite be with you my most deare and faithfull brethren and sisters of Newgate the Lordes appointed sheepe vnto the slaughter to the good performaunce of the great and notable worke of the Lord which he hath so graciously begon in you al that the same may redoūd to the setting forth of his glory to the commoditie of his
sake we suffer whose cause we defend and what glorious reward we shall haue at the day of our victory then doubtles the consolation of these things will make sweete all our suffringes soone swallowe vp all the sorrowes that we are sowâ—ed in for Gods sake I coulde recite diuers textes of the Scriptures to confirme this pointe But I neede not for I am well assured that you do knowe them most perfectly alreadye The Lorde geue you strength and assist you with his holy spirite that you may continually walke in all pointes according to your godly knowledge And then shall you not doe as the moste parte of our Gospellers doe nowe adaies the more is the pitie There are a greate manye in Englande that doe perfectlye knowe that the Idolatrous Masse is abhominable Deuelishe and detestable in the sight of God And yet alasse they be not afrayde to pollute and defile theyr bodyes whych oughte to be the temples of the holy Ghoste with being present at it so sinning against God and theyr owne conscience But dere sister K. do you flie from it both in body soule as you would flie from the very Deuill himselfe Drinke not of the whore of Babylons cuppe by no meanes for it will infecte the body and poyson the soule Be not partakers of her sinnes sayth the Aungell least you be partakers of the plagues that shortly shall be powred vppon her O what an aray is this that so many that know Gods truth wil nowe tourne againe and defile them selues in the filthy puddle of antichristes stinking religion They goe about to saue theyr liues wyth their dowble dissimulation but doubtlesse they shall loose euerlastinge life by it if they doe not repent in time and tourne vnto the Lorde But deare sister my trust is that you doe vtterly abhorre the comming to anye such thyng I hope that you wil not by any meanes turne backe into Egypt nowe but that you will boldly venter throughe the wildernesse of trouble and persecution that you may come into the lande that floweth with all kinde of heauenly pleasures and ioyfull delectations and possesse the same for euer Lette vs consider howe that euery one of vs doeth owe vnto God a death by nature and howe soone the Lord wil require it of vs we knowe not O howe happye are we then if God of hys goodnesse appoynt vs to pay natures dette wyth sufferyng for hys trueth and Gospels sake and so making vs his faithfull witnesses wyth the Prophetes Apostles Martyrs and Confessours yea wyth his dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whome he doeth heere begin to fashion vs lyke in suffering that we myght be like hym also in glory Thus my dearely beloued sister I haue ben bold to trouble you a little with my rude simple letter being made in hast as it doth appeare Yet I desire you to take it in good woorthe as a token of my poore zeale vnto you and to accept my good will And if it please God to spaâ—e me life and libertye I trust heereafter to wryte vnto you more largely Fare yee well deare sister E.K. the Lorde blesse you and all yours and powre vpon you the heauenly dewe of his grace The Lorde endue you wyth plentifull knowledge of hys verity and fill you with hys holy and mighty spirite that you may continuallye reioyce in the comfortes of the same nowe and euer Amen Pray pray pray with stedfast faith Your daily Oratour Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. ¶ In the letters of William Tymmes ye heard before page 1897. much mention made of Agnes Glascock Thys Agnes Glascocke through infirmity and her husbandes perswasion was allured to goe to Masse For whyche cause shee falling in great sorrow and repentance was raised vppe againe by the comfortable Letters of William Tymmes and Iohn Careles as before you maye reade and after that was constante in the syncere profession of the verity and in danger for the same of persecution vnto whome Iohn Careles wryteth therefore thys letter as followeth A letter of Careles to Agnes Glascocke THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continuall aide strengthe and comfortes of his moste pure holye and mighty spirite be with you my deare faithfull sister Glascock to the good performance of that good woorke which God hath so graciously begun in you to his glory the commoditye of hys poore afflâ—cted Churche and to your owne eternall comfort in hym Amen In our Lorde I haue my most humble and hearty commendations vnto you my deare sister most faithfull mother Glascocke with all remembrance of you in my daily prayers geuing God most hearty laude praise and thankes for you and on your behalfe in that he of his great mercye hath hetherto so mightely strengthened you constantly to cleaue vnto youre Captayne Christ notwithstanding the great assaultes and manifold temptations that you haue had to the contrary Doubtles deare heart it can not be expressed what ioy and comfort it is vnto my very soule to see howe mightely the Lorde hathe magnified hym selfe in you and other his deare electe darlings whome hee will shortly glorify with himselfe as he hath done other of his sweete Sainctes that are gone before you Reioyce therefore be glad for verilye you haue good cause if you diligentlye consider the great dignitie that God hath called you vnto euen now in your olde age to be one of his woorthy witnesses vnto the worlde and I thinke you shall wyth mee and other youre brethren in bonds seale the Lords verity with the testimony of your bloud Surely sweete sister this is the greatest promotion that God caÌ„ bring you or any other vnto in this life and an honour that the highest aungel in heauen is not permitted to haue Therefore happye are you Oh faithfull daughter of Abraham that the Lorde will nowe preferre you before many other yea or any other of your age that I doe know in Englande Oh faithfull and vertuous matrone which wilt not be moued from the sure rocke Christe vppon whome you haue so firmely built your house that neither stormes nor tempestes neither yet bell gates or any other temptations shall euer be able once to preuaile against it Full wel doeth it appeare by your constant continuance that you haue played the parte of a wise builder in counting the cost afore hand belonging to the finishing of your tower And I doubt not but through Gods gift you haue sufficient to the performaunce thereof that the hypocrites of theyr parte shall haue no iuste cause to triumphe againste you or to mocke you saying loe thys woman beganne to builde but is not able to make an ende Therefore goe on boldlye and feare not for God is faithfull as S. Paule sayeth which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength but eyther will hee geue you grace and strength to stande vnto the death whych is the gate and entraunce into
life or els hee will make suche an outscape for you as shall be to the setting foorth of hys glorye the whych aboue all other thinges we that are his chosen children oughte for to seeke yea euen with the losse of oure owne lyues beyng yet well assured that the same shall not be shortned one minute of an houre before the time that God hathe appoynted Cast therefore deare sister all your care vppon the Lorde whych as S. Peter sayeth careth for you Great is his prouidence for you and mighty is his loue and mercy towardes you Wyth his grace hee will defende you and with his holye spirite he will euermore guide you wherewith hee hath surely sealed you vnto the day of redemption hee hathe also geuen you the same in earnest for the recouerye of the purchased possession whych hee hath prepared for you before the foundation of the worlde was layed Be strong therefore and take a good heart as I heare say you be God for euer be blessed for you whych hath graft hys loue in your good heart that nothing is able to separate you from the same but will rather chuse to suffer aduersitie wyth the people of God then to enioy the pleasure of sinne for a little season Oh happye woman that canst finde in thine heart to esteeme the rebukes of Christe to be greater richâ—sse then all the treasures of the world as good Moyses did Doubtles great is your reward in heauen which you shall shortly receiue of his free gift and not of any deseruing Thus deare mother Glascocke I haue bene bolde to trouble you wyth my rude and simple letters desiring you to take them in good woorthe being done in great haste as it doeth appeare but yet proceeding from a poore hearte whych floweth ouer in loue towardes you as my dailye prayers for you can testifie whych I truste shall supplye that parte of my duetye towardes you that my penne nowe wanteth I thanke you deare hearte for all your louing tokens and for the great kindnesse you haue hetherto shewed vnto my poore brother Tymmes and hys wife and children wyth all other of Gods people to whom you daily doe good the Lorde recompence the same seuenfolde into your bosome as I doubte not but hee will according to hys vnfallible promises I praye you haue my hearty commendations vnto your husbande I beseeche the Lorde strength hym in the confession of hys truthe as my tâ—ust is that he will that we may all ioyfully rest with Abraham Isaac Iacob in the kingdome of God vnto the whych he bryng vs that with his most precious bloud hath bought vs. The blessing of God bee wyth you nowe and euer Amen Your daily Oratour and vnfayned louer Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. Pray pray pray A briefe admonition wrytten to Mistres Agnes Glascocke in a booke of hers when shee came to the prisone to visite him THere is nothyng that the holye Scripture throughout dothe so muche commende vnto vs as true Faithe and stedfaste trust in the promyses of Gods eternall mercies towardes vs in Iesus Christe For from the same as foorthe of the chiefe fountaine and well sprynge of life doe flowe all kindes of vertues and godlye fruites speciallye true loue towardes God in the whyche wee oughte purelye to serue hym all the dayes of oure lyfe and also Christian charitye towardes oure neyghbours as well to helpe them at all needes as also not to hurte them by any meanes Therefore praye earnestly for the increase of Faythe and liuely feelinge of Gods mercie for all thinges are possible vnto him that can vndoubtedly beleue Faith is that thing which assureth vs of Gods mercye and whereby we vanquishe all the fierye dartes of the deuill oure victorie that ouercommeth the worlde the knife that killeth and mortifieth the flesh and finally that whiche setteth vs at peace wyth God and quieteth oure consciences alwaies before him and maketh vs merry and ioyfull vnder the crosse wyth many moe things then I can now expresse Pray therefore for faith in faith And for the Lordes sake beware of Popery and Popish Idolatrye the Idol of the wicked Masse and other idolatrous seruice Make not your body which is a member of Christ a member of Antichrist Remember that we shall receiue of god according to that we do in the body be it good or euil Therfore glorifie god in your body which is derely bought Betray not the truthe least the Lorde deny you If God be God followe hym You can not serue two maisters I wryte not thys as doubting you but by the way of admonition God keepe you from all euill My sister deare God geue you grace With stedfast faith in Christes name His Gospell still for to embrace And liue according to the same To die therefore thinke it no shame But hope in God with faithfull trust And he will geue you praise with fame When you shall rise out of the dust For which most sweete and ioyfull day To God with faith your prayer make And thinke on me I do you pray The which did wryte this for your sake And thus to God I you betake Who is your castell and strong rocke He keepe you whether you sleepe or wake Farewell deare Mistres A Glascocke ¶ An other Letter of Iohn Careles to Mistres A.G. to comfort her in her repentaunce after shee had bene at Masse fruitefull for all them to be reade which haue fallen and are to be raised vp againe THe peace of God in Iesus Christe the eternall comfortes of hys sweete spirit be with you and strength and comfort you my deare and faithfull sister Amen Although the pearillous dayes be come wherof Christ prophesied that if it were possible the very elect should be deceyued yet let the true faithfull Christians reioyce and be gladde knowing that the Lorde him selfe is theyr keeper who will not suffer one haire of theyr heades to pearish wythout his almighty good will and pleasure neyther wil suffer them to be further tempted then hee will geue them strengthe to beare but will in the middest of theyr temptation make away for them to escape out So good and gracious a God is hee to all his chosen children And though sometimes he doe lette hys elect stumble and fall yet no doubt hee will raise them vppe againe to the further encrease of theyr comforte and to the setting foorth of hys glory and praise Which thing my deare and faithfull louing sister I trust shall be well verified on you For I doe heare say that by the manifolde allurementes inticements procurementes yea and enforcements that you deare hart haue had your fote hath chaunced to slippe foorth of the way to the greate discomfort of your soule and the heauinesse of your heart but my good sister be of good cheare for the Lorde wil not so leaue you but he will raise you vppe againe and make you stronger then euer you were so that
your fall shall tourne to hys glorye and youre profite For if you hadde not by this prooued the experience of your owne strength or rather your owne weakenes you would haue stande too muche in your owne conceite or perchaunce haue glorified in your selfe and haue despised and condempned other weake personnes that haue committed the like offence Therfore now you may see what the best of vs all can do if God leaue vs to our selues Which thing ought to moue you to be diligent to call earnestly vpon God for his grace and the strength of his holy spirite without the which we are not able to stande one houre to be most thankefull for the same when you haue it and then to be more circumspecte in time to come Therefore deare sister seeing that you haue done otherwise then the word of God and your owne cōscience would allow yet deare hart do you not thinke that God therfore wil cast you cleane away but know that he hath mercy enough in store for al them that truely repent and beleeue in him although the sinnes of them were as many in number as the sandes in the sea and as great as the sinnes of the whole worlde It is a greater sinne to mistrust the mercye and promises of God then to commit the greatest offence in the world Therefore good sister beware in any wise that you doe not once mistrust the promises of Gods mercy towardes you but knowe for a very surety that all youre sinnes be vtterlye forgeuen you for Christes sake be they neuer so many so grieuous or so great But now deare heart take heede and beware that you doe not cloake that sinne and increase the same daily in communicating with the wicked in their Idolatrie and deuelish doinges at their denne of theeues Do not I say deare sister come at any of their Antichristian seruice least by little and little you vtterly lose a good conscience and at length esteeme it for none offence as alas a great nomber doth at this day to the great pearill of theyr soules The Lorde be merciful vnto them and geue them grace to repent in time and tourne to the Lorde and then they shal be sure to finde mercy at the Lordes hand as doubtles you haue done praised be his name therefore Ah my deare sister you may nowe see the wordes of Christe verified vppon your selfe that a mans greatest foes shall be they of his owne household for your husband hath gotten you to do that which all the tyrants in the world could neuer haue made you to doe Doubtlesse he may be sory for it God geue him grace to repent or els without doubt it will be laid to his charge one day when he would not by his will heare it for all the goods in the worlde Well I thinke my brother Tymmes will wryte him a letter shortly that shall touche his conscience if hee haue anye conscience at all But now againe to you dere sister The thing that is done can not be vndone and you are not the first that hath offended neither are you so good and so holy as hath at a time slipt forth of the way Therfore I would not haue you to be so much discomforted as I heare saye you be as thoughe God were not able to forgeue you your offence as he was to forgeue his deare Saints that offended him in times past or as though God were not as mercifull nowe as euer he was Where as in very deede There is with the Lord as the Prophet sayth mercy and plentiful redēption and his mercy farre surmounteth all his workes and he neuer faileth any that put their whole trust and confidence in him howe great an offender or howe wicked a trespasser so euer he bee No he maketh their falles and backeslidings manye times to tourne to their profite and commoditie and to the settynge foorth of his glorye As doubtlesse deare sister yours shall doe if you put your whole faith hope and trust only in his infinite and eternall sweete mercies Oh what a suttel crafty lying serpent is that Sathan our old enemie that when he seeth that he can not make vs to continue in our wickednes to do him seruice would then bring vs into a doubting and mistrusting of the mercye of God whyche is the greatest offence that can be yea infidelitye is the roote and originall of all other sinnes Therefore my sweete sister geue no place to that cruell aduersary of mankinde who hath bene a lier and a murtherer from the beginning but stedfastlye beleeue the Lord who hath sent you word by me his most vnworthy seruāt that all your sinnes be pardoned forgeuen and cleane released for Iesus Christes sake our only Lorde and Sauiour To whome with the father and the holy Ghost be all honour glory praise thankes power rule and dominion for euer for euer Amen Farewell my deare sister and be of good cheare Beleeue in the Lorde and you shall liue for euer The Lord increase your faith Amen Amen Your poore brother and daily faithfull Oratour Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. Pray for me An other letter of Iohn Careles to A.B. a faithfull Minister of the Lorde containing certaine frutefull precepts of Matrimonie I Beseech the same euerlasting Lord my deare and faithful brother that blessed yong Tobias with his wife Sara brought them together in due time with reuerence and feare preserue and blesse you both and your seede after you that they may encrease the number of the faithful by thousandes and thousandes And as the Lord of his great mercy and fatherly prouidēce hath bene alwaies carefull for you and nowe hath for your comforte accomplished his good worke in coupling you with a faithfull mate so see that you be thankefull for his prouidence towardes you that it may euery way in you be an encrease of loue godlinesse yea of Christian ioye and gladnesse in these sorrowfull dayes but yet so that you mourne with the true mourners of Syon and be sorie yet in measure for the hurt of the same Pray also in faith for her prosperity that the Lord may builde vp the walles of Hierusalem againe Oh that the Lord would turne Syons captiuity as the riuer into the South Then shoulde our hearts be made glad and oure mouthes filled with laughter Then woulde the heathen hypocrites say the Lord hath done much for them Oh the Lord hath done great things for vs already wherof let vs heartely reioyce and praise his name therefore For though we nowe sowe wyth teares yet shall wee be sure to reape with gladnesse and as wee now goe foorth weeping bearing foorth good seede so shall we come againe with ioy and bring our sheaues full of corne Yea the death of the Martyrs which is most precious in hys sighte shal be the life of the Gospell spite of the Papists hearts Pray for me deare heart that I may
benefites not only for your election creation redemption and preseruation but also for his other temporal gifts wherwith he hathe indued you amongst the which the chiefe and moste excellent is as testifieth the holy Ghost your good godlye and faithfull louynge husbande For as the wise man sayeth Goods and possessions may come to a man by the death of his frendes but a good wife is the gift of God which the Lord will geue for a good portion to suche as feare him And the like is of a good husband as the Lord hathe nowe geuen you praised be his name therfore He hath not geuen you an ignorant froward churlish brawling wastfull rioting dronken husband wherwith he hath plagued many other as he myght also haue done you but he hath geuen you a moste godlye learned gentle louing quiet patient thriâ—tye diligent sober husband by whom he wil nourish cherish kepe and defend you instructe and teach you yea care and prouide for you and your childreÌ„ the which he wil also by him geue you such things as be necessary for you He hath not dealt so with euery body and yet he hath done this and much more for you my deare sister wil therto increase ioy and loue betwene you For as he delighteth in the loue godly agreement of man and wife together so is it he only that maketh them and all the whole houshold to be of one mind Vnto the which his gracious work he requireth your diligence and will vse you as his instrument and meane the more effectuously to accomplish the same And therefore I nowe require you to obserue this my simple counsel the which I haue here wrytten as a testimonial of my good will towardes you because I thinke in this life I shall neuer more see you Nowe as I haue shewed you how you shoulde be thankefull vnto God for his good giftes so I exhort you and as much as in me lieth charge you to be euermore thankfull vnto your deare louing husband who hath geuen him selfe vnto you whych is a more precious iewel in the Church of God then perchance you are yet aware of Thincke your selfe vnwoorthy to be matched with suche an instrument of God and also reuerence euermore the gifts of God in him and seeke with true obedience and loue to serue him in recompence of his true painful hart towards you Be lothe in any wise to offend him yea rather be carefull diligent to please him that his soule maye blesse you If at anye time you shall chaunce to anger him or to doe or speake anye thing that shall grieue him see that you neuer rest vntill you haue pacified him and made him merry againe If at any time he shall chance to blame you without a cause or for that you can not doe therewith whiche thyng happeneth sometimes of the best men liuing see that you beare it paciently and geue hym no vncomely or vnkinde woorde for it but euer more looke vppon him wyth a louing and chearefull countenaunce and rather take the fault vppon you then seeme to be displeased Be alwaies mery and chereful in his company but not with too muche lightnesse Beware in any wise of swelling powting or lowring for that is a token of a cruel and vnlouing heart except it be in respect of sinne or in the time of sickenesse Be not sorowful for any aduersity that God sendeth but beware that nothing be spilte or goe to waste through your negligence In any wise see that you be quicke and cleanly about his meat and drinke and prepare him the same according to his diet in due season Goe cleanely and wel fauouredly in your apparel but beware of pride in any wise Finally in woord and deede shewe your selfe wise humble merry and louing towardes him and also towardes suche as he doeth loue and then shall you leade a blessed life I could speake of many things the whiche I haue learned and prooued true by experience but I knowe that you will doe in all thyngs muche better then I can teache you because you haue that annoynting that teacheth you all thyngs who hath also geuen you an heart to obey and serue hym Yet I trust you will not be offended for this whych I haue wrytten but rather accept my good will towardes you whom I loue in the Lord as well as I do my daughter Iudith Thus as mine owne soule I commende you bothe to God desiring him to blesse you with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly thinges and also wyth the dewe of heauen and fatnesse of the earth that in all thynges you maye be made ryche in Iesus Christe our Lorde and onely Sauiour The Lorde increase and blesse the fruite of your bodyes that your children maye stande rounde about your table thicke fresh and lustie lyke the Oliue braunches God geue you both a long life that you maye see and blesse your childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation and teach them the true feare and loue of God and that faith for the which they shal be accepted in his sight God lette you see the prosperitie of Syon for whose lying in the dust let your hearts mourne The Lorde make perfecte your loue together in hym and alwaies encrease the same and bryng you bothe in peace to your graues at a good age And nowe I bid you bothe moste heartely farewell and I thinke I shall now take my leaue of you for euer in this life I beseeche you both to aide me with your continuall prayers as I wil not forgette you in mine that I may haue a ioyfull victorie through Iesus Christ To whose most mercifull defence I doe moste heartely for euer commende you to be kepte vnblameable vntill hys comming The which I beseeche him to hasten for his mercies sake Your owne vnfainedly Iohn Careles prisonner of the Lord. Heere endeth the Letters of Iohn Careles The hystorie and Martyrdome of a learned and vertuous yonge man called Iulins Palmer sometime fellow of Magdalene Colledge in Oxford with two other Martyrs to wit I. Gwin and Thomas Askine burned together in Newberie at a place there called the Sande pittes THe same moneth of Iuly in which Careles as before is declared was released out of prison by death in short time after about the 16. day of the sayd moneth of Iuly suffered these 3. godly and constante Martyrs aboue mentioned at Newbery in which number was Iulins Palmer sometime student and fellowe of Magdalene Colledge in Oxford and afterwardes Schoolemaister in the towne of Reading Concerning whose storie and Martyrdome here foloweth although not so much as he deserueth to be sayde yet so much as sufficiently may set foorth the great woorking of God in this yong man Iulins Palmer AS all Gods woorkes are wonderous in calling of all sorts of men to confirme hys truth and to beare witnesse vnto his assured and infallible woord which the aduersaries
the doore beyng shut to them forsooth When this euidence was geuen vp the Maior dismissed them went to dinner commaunding Palmer to the cage to make him an open spectacle of ignominy to the eyes of the world And Thackham the better to couer hys owne shame caused it to bee bruited that he was so punished for his euill lyfe and wickednesse alredy prooued against hym In the after noone Palmer came to his aunswer and did so mightily and clearely deface their euidence and defend his owne innocencie proouyng also that the sayd letters were by themselues forged that the Mayor himselfe was so much ashamed that he had geuen such credite vnto them and so much borne with them so that hee sought meanes how they might conuey him out of the countrey priuily But here among other thyngs this is not with silence to be passed ouer that one Iohn Galant a zealous professor of the Gospell a little after this came to the prison and found hym somewhat better intreated then before When he beheld hym O Palmer sayeth he thou hast deceiued diuers mens expectation for we heare that you suffer not for righteousnes sake but for your owne demerites O brother Galant sayth he these be the old practises of that Sathanicall brood But be you well assured God be praysed for it I haue so purged my selfe and detected theâ—r falshood that from henceforth I shal be no more molested therewith And there hauyng pen and inke he dyd write somwhat wherby part of his story here rehersed is well confirmed But now to these bloudy aduersaries Aâ—ter this when they sawe the matter frame so ill fauouredly fearing that if he should escape secretly their doyngs would tend no lesse to their shame and danger then to the Maiors dishonesty they deuised a newe pollicie to bring to passe their song hiddeÌ„ and festered malice against hym which was by their extreme refuge For where as before they were partly ashamed to accuse hym of heresie seyng they had bene counted earnest brethren themselues and partly afrayd because they had broken vp hys study and committed theft yet now least their iniquitie should haue bene reuealed to the world they put both feare and shame aside and began to refricate and rip vp the old sore the scarre whereof had bene but superficially cured as you haue heard and so to colour their former practises wyth the pretence of hys reformation in religion they charged hym with the writynges that they had stollen out of his studie Thus Palmer was once agayne called out of the pryson to appeare before the Maior and Bird the Officiall two other Iustices to render an accompt of his fayth before them to aunswer to such Articles and informations as were layd agaynst hym And when they had gathered of his own mouth sufficient matter to entrappe hym they deuised a certificate or bill of Instructions against hym to be directed to Doctor Ieffrey who had determined to holde hys Uisitation the nexte Tewsday at Newbery which was the xvj of Iuly And thus were the false witnesses and bloudy accusers winked at and the Innocent deliuered to the Lyon to be deuoured When it was therfore concluded that Palmer should be sent ouer to Newbery the sayd letters testimoniall were conueyed ouer together with hym the contents wherof shal partly appere hereafter In the meane tyme I thinke it good here to rehearse one example among other both of charitable affection toward hym and of his modestie correspondent to the same M. Rider of Reding a faythfull witnes of gods truth hearyng how cruelly Palmer had bene delt withall in the prison and pined away for lacke of necessaries and how euidently he had prooued hymselfe innocent before the Officers of such crimes as were obiected agaynst hym hee sent to him his seruant secretly the night before his departure to Newbery with a bowed grote in tokeÌ„ of his good hart toward hym requiring hym to let hym vnderstand if he lacked necessaries and he would prouide for him Palmer answered the Lord reward your M. for his beneuolence toward me a miserable abiect in this world and tell hym that God be praised I lacke nothyng In the mornyng before they tooke their iourney Tho. Askme aliâs Roberts beyng fellow prisoner with hym in Christes cause sittyng at breakefast and beholdyng Palmer very sad leaning to a window in the corner of the house asked why he came not to breakfast Because I lacke money saith Palmer to discharge the shot Come on man quoth he GOD be praised for it I haue enough for vs both Which thing when M. Rider heard of it cannot be expressed how much it grieued him that Palmer had deceiued hym with so modest an answer Thus to Newbery they came on Monday night and forthwith they were committed to the comfortable hostrie of the blynd house where they found Iohn Gwin their faythfull brother in the Lord. Now how they came before the Consistorie of Doctor Ieffrey and how Palmer was examined it doth in part appeare by this examinatioÌ„ here vnto annexed which although it be not perfectly and orderly penned as the report goeth it was spoken nor perchaunce altogether in such forme of wordes yet as exactly as we were able to compact and dispose it beyng gathered out of seuerall notes of Richard Shipper Ioh. Hunt Iohn Kirry of Newbery Richard White of Marleborough which were oculati testes and present at the hearyng thereof ¶ The second examination and accusation of Iulins Palmer at Newbery in the hearyng of moe then three hundreth persons IN the yere 1556. the xv of Iuly foure or fiue seats were prepared in the Quire of the Parish Churche of Newbery for the Uisitours whose names here ensue Doctor Ieffrey for the Bishop of Sarum Sir Richard Abridges Knight and then high Shiriffe of the Shiere Sir William Rainsford Knight Maister Iohn Winchcombe Esquier and the Person of Inglefield After the Prisoners were presented the Commission read and other thynges done in order accordingly Doctor Ieffrey called to Palmer and sayd Art thou that iolly writer of three halfepeny bookes that we heare of Palmer I know not what you meane Ieffrey Haue you taught Latin so long that now you vnderstand not English To this he answered nothing Then D. Ieffrey standyng vp said We haue receiued certaine writings and articles against you from the right worshipfull the Maior of Reading and other Iustices whereby we vnderstand that beyng conuented afore theÌ„ you were conuict of certaine heresies First that you deny the Popes holines supremacie Next that there are but two Sacraments Thirdly that the Priest sheweth vp an Idoll at masse and therfore you went to no masse since your first coÌ„ming to Redyng Fourthly that there is no Purgatorie Last of all that you be a sower of sedition and haue sought to deuide the vnitie of the Queenes subiects The Shiriffe You were best see
number of Sacraments some graunting one sacrament that is the body of Christ hanging vpon the crosse some moe some lesse c. yet in the principal matter touching the doctrins of saluation for faith to stay vpon and in disagreing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish church they moste agreed Concerning the not praying to saints and for the deade in Purgatorie for not creepynge to the crosse for faith onely to iustifie for taking of an oth such other like he graunted as the other had done This father Archer by his occupation a Weauer of the towne of CraÌ„broke of the age of 50. yeres was attached and imprisonned by syr Iohn Gilforde knighte And thus haue yee the cause and imprisonment of these 5. godly prisoners Now as touching the cruelty of theyr death for that yee shal not surmise the suspicion or relation thereof to proceede of my selfe ye shall heare theyr own testimonie and certification by their owne letter thrown out of the prison concerning the vnmercifull dealing of the Catholicke tyrantes in famishing them as is aforesayde The woordes and copye of theyr letter is this The copie of a Letter wrytten and cast out of the Castle of Cant. by the prisoners there in bands for Gods word declaring how the Papistes went aboute to famishe them to death of the which companie fiue were famished amongest them all ready BE it knowen to all men that shall read or heare redde these our letters that we the pore prisoners of the Castle of Canterburie for Gods truth are kept and lie in cold yrons our keepers wil not suffer any meat to be brought to vs to comfort vs. And if any man do bring any thyng as bread butter cheese or any other foode the saide keeper wil charge them that so bring vs any thing except mony or raiment to carie it with them againe or els if he do receiue any foode of any for vs he doeth keepe it for himself and he and his seruaunts do spend it so that we haue nothing thereof and thus the keeper keepeth away our victuals from vs. In so muche that there are 4. of vs prisonners there for Gods truthe famished already and thus is it his minde to famish vs all and we thinke he is apoynted thereunto of the Bishops and priestes and also of the iustices so to famish vs and not onely vs of the saide Castel but also all other prisoners in other prisons for the lyke cause to be also famished notwithstanding we wryte not these our letters to that entent we moughte not aforde to be famished for the Lord Iesus sake but for this cause and entent that they hauing no law so to famish vs in prison should not doe it priuely but that the murtherers heartes should be openly knowen to all the world that all menne may know of what church they are who is their father Out of the Castel of Canterburie The trouble and vexation of good people in the Diocesse of Lichfield THese foresayde monethes of September Nouember and December as they were troublesome to diuers other places and especially to the Dioces of Canterburie by reason of the Archdeacon aboue named so likewyse they brought no little busines in the countrey of Lichfield and Couentrie by a cruel bishop there called Rafe Bane and a more cruell Chauncellor named Doctour Draycot through the fierce inquisition of whome great stirre was there amonge the people being called to examination for theyr Faith and many caused to beare fagottes Who althoâ—h they were not put to the torment of death yet because it may appeare what a number there is in the countrys of England abroade which in theyr hearts haue a misliking of the Popes Romish lawes and religion if for fear they durst vtter theyr mindes I thought to make a rehearsall of theyr names which in the foresayde Diocesse of Couentrie and Lichfielde were taken in suspicion and examined for theyr Religion And first amongst them that were detected and inioyned to the popish penance that is to beare a fagot candel and beades about in procession were Agnes Forman detected examined and by witnesse conuicted and bare a fagot the 12. of Septemb. Likewise Margery Kirry Thomas Norreis Thomas Stiffe William Kayme Robert Katrenes Thomas Smith Iohn Borsley the younger Iteâ— Iohn Waterhouse against whom came in witnesse and accusers Richarde Caterbanke I. Edge William Smith Robert Cooke laying against him for seldome coÌ„ming to the Churche for geuing no reuerence at the leuation of the Sacrament but looking vpon his booke for not kissing the paxe c. Robert Bissel Leonard West Richard Baily of the parish of Whiteacre These were depriued Nicholas Cartwright Doctor Richard Iurdian Priest Edmund Crokel Priest Thomas Whitehead Priest William Taylour Priest Anselme Sele Priest Richard Slauie Priest maryed Edward Hawes Priest maried Robert Aston Priest depriued Henry Tecka Priest depriued Rob. Mossey priest maried depriued Beside these were diuers other which in like sort were detected accused and examined although they bare no fagot but were dimissed as Richard Kempe Iohn Frankling William Marler Ielius Dudley Eustache Bysacre William Shene Antonie Afterwittel Tho. Steilbe Henry Birdlim William Mosley Iohn Leeche Iohn Richardson Anthony Iones alias Pulton Thom. Wilson Thomas Lynacres and Hugh Lynacres hys sonne Isabel Parker Martine Newman William Enderby Cicely Preston Thomas Saulter Ihon Stamford shomaker Richard Woodburne Thomas Arnall Shoomaker Iohn Robinson Hugh More Shoomaker Iohn Adale Thomas Arche Fraunces Warde Iohn Auines Richard Foxal Thomas Underdoune Rich. Weauer The next moneth following being October came vnder examination Ioyce Lewes gentlewoman of whome we deferre to speake vntil the next yeare at what time she was burned These forenamed persones with many moe folowing in the next yeare after although they did subscribe and relent through feare of death yet for thys cause I doe heere recite them that by them it myght appeare what a number there were not onely in the countrey of Lichfield but also in other parties in heart set against the Popes procedings if that feare rather then conscience had not compelled them to the contrary ⧠The conclusion of this XI Booke with a briefe storie of Syr Iohn Cheeke c. ANd thus haue yee the whole persecution of thys yere declared which was the yeare of our Lord 1556. and the fourth of Quene Maries raigne with the names and causes of all them which suffered Martyrdome within the compasse of the sayd yeare the number of all which slayne Martyred in diuers places of England at sundry times this yere came to aboue 84. persons whereof many were women wines widowes and maidens besides them which otherwise by secreate practise were made awaye or driuen out of goodes and houses or out of the Realme or els within the realme were put to penaunce and coacted by forceable violence to recante saue onely that I haue omitted the story of Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight
theyr skinnes to be pluckt of for the Gospels sake Notwithstanding the Bishops afrayd belike of the nuÌ„ber to put so many at once to death sought meanes to deliuer them and so they did drawing out a very easy submission for them or rather suffring them to draw it out theÌ„selues notwithstanding diuers of theÌ„ afterward were takeÌ„ againe suffered as hereafter ye shall heare God willing declared Such as met them by the way coÌ„ming vp saw them in the fieldes scattering in such sort as that they might haue easily escaped away And when they entred into the townes their keepers called them againe into aray to go two two together hauing a band or line going betweene them they holding the same in theyr handes hauing another corde euery one about his arme as though they were tied And so were these fourteene men eight women caried vp to London the people by the way praying to God for them to geue them strength At the entring into London they were pinioned so came into the city as the Picture here shortly after folowing with their names also subscribed doth describe But first let vs declare concerning their taking and their attachers conteined in the Commissaryes letter written to Boner then the Indenture made betwene the commissioners and the popish coÌ„missary The letter of the Commissary is this ¶ The Letter of the Commissary called Iohn Kingston written to Bishop Boner AFter my duety done in receiuing and accoÌ„plishing your honorable and most louing letters dated the 7. of August Be it knowne vnto your Lordship that the 28. of August the Lorde of Oxenford Lord Darcy H. Tyril A. Brown W. Bendlowes E. Tyrill Ric. Weston Roger Apleton published their coÌ„missioÌ„ to selfe landes and tenements goodes of the fugitiues so that the owners should haue neither vse nor commodity thereof but by InueÌ„tory remaine in safe keeping vntill the cause were determined And also there was likewise proclaimed the queenes graces warrant for the restitution of the Church goods within Colchester the hundredes thereabout to the vse of Gods seruice And then were called the parishes particularly the hereticks partly coÌ„mitted to my examination And that diuers persons should certify me of theyr ornamentes of theyr Churches betwixt this and the Iustices next appearaunce which shal be on Michaelmas euen nexte And that parish which had presented at two seuerall times to haue all ornamentes with other thinges in good order were exonerated for euer til they were warned againe others to make theyr appearaunce from time to time And those names blotted in the Indenture were indited for treason fugitâ—ues or disobedients and were put foorth by M. Brownes commaundement And before the sealing my Lord Daâ—cy said vnto me apart and M. Bendlowes that I should haue sufficient time to send vnto your Lordship yea if need were the heretickes to remayne indurance till I had an answere from you yea to the Lord Legates graces Commissioners come into the Country And mayster Browne came into my Lord Darcyes house parlour belonging vnto M. Barnaby before my sayd Lord and all the Iustices and laid his hand of my shoulder with a smiling couÌ„tenaunce and desired me to make his harty commeÌ„dations vnto your good Lordship and asked me if I would and I said Yea with a good will Wherefore I was glad and thought that I should not haue bene charged with so sodeine carriage But after dinner the Iustices councelled with the Bayliffes and with the Gaolers and then after tooke me vnto them and made collation of the Indentures and sealed and then Mayster Browne commaunded me this after noone being the 30. of August to go and receyue my prisoners by and by And then I sayd it is an vnreasonable commaundemeÌ„t for that I haue attended of you here these three dayes and this Sonday early I haue sent home my men Wherefore I desire you to haue a conuenient time appoynted wherein I may know whether it will please my Lord my maister to sende his Commissioners hither or that I shall make carriage of them vnto his Lordship Then M. Browne We are certified that the Councell hath written vnto your mayster to make speed and to rid these prisoners out of hand therefore go receiue your prisoners in haste Then I Sir I shall receiue them within these tenne dayes Then M. Browne The limitation lyeth in vs and not in you wherfore get you hence Syr ye haue indited and deliuered me by this Indenture whose fayth or opinions I know not trusting that ye will grauÌ„t me a time to examine them least I should punish the Catholicks Well sayd Maister Browne for that cause ye shall haue time betwixt this and Wednesday And I say vnto you maister Bailiffes if he do not receiue them at your handes on Wednesday set open your doore and let them go Then I My Lord and maisters all I promise to discharge the towne and countrey of these heretickes within ten dayes Then my Lord Darcy sayd CoÌ„missary we do and must all agree in one Wherfore do you receiue them on or before Wednesday Then I My Lord the last I carryed I was goyng betwixte the Castell and Sayncte Katherines Chappell two howres and an halfe and in great preasse and daunger Wherefore thâ—s may be to desire your Lordship to geue in commaundement vnto my Mayster Sayer Bayliffe here present for to ayd me thorough his liberties not onely with men and weapons but that the Towne clarke may bee ready there with his booke to write the names of the most busie persons and this vpon three houres warning all whiche both my Lorde and M. Browne commaunded And the 31. of August William Goodwin of Muchbirch husbandman this brynger and Thomas Alsey of Copforde youre Lordships Apparitour of your Consistory in Colchester couenaÌ„ted with me that they shoulde hyre two other men at the leaste whereof one should be a Bowman to come to me the next day about two of the clocke at after noone so that I might recite this bargayne before M. Archdeacon and pay the money that is 46. shillinges 8. pence Wherefore they should then go foorth wyth me vnto Colchester on Wednesday before three of the clock in the morning receiue there at my hand within the Castell and Motehall fourteen men and eight women ready bound wyth giues and hempe and driue cary or lead and feede with meat drinke as heretickes ought to be found continually vnto suche time that the sayd William and Thomas shall cause the sayde 22. persones for to be deliuered vnto my Lord of Londons Officers and within the safe keeping of my sayd Lorde and then to bring vnto me againe the sayd Giues with a perfect token of or from my sayd Lord and then this couenant is voyde or els c. Maister Bendlowes sayde vnto mee in my Lorde of Oxenfordes Chamber at the kinges head after I had sayd Masse before the Lordes that on
that great Idolatry is sprong out of the carnall vnderstanding of the word of Christ This is my body yet dayly springeth to the great dishonour of God so that men worship a peece of bread for God yea and hold that to be their maker After this confession of their fayth and doctrine being written and exhibited they also deuised a letter withall in maner of a short supplication or rather an admonition to the Iudges and Commissioners requiring that Iustice and Iudgement after the rule of Gods worde might be ministred vnto them The copye of whiche theyr letter I thought here also to shew vnto the reader in forme as followeth * A letter or supplication of the prisoners to the Iudges TO the right honourable audience before whome these oure simple writinges and the confession of our fayth shall come to be read or seene we poore prisoners being fast in bandes vpon the tryall of our faythe whiche wee offer to bee tryed by the scriptures pray most hartily that for asmuch as God hath geuen you power and strength ouer vs as concerning our bodyes vnder whom we submit our selues as obedient subiects in al things due ye being officers and rulers of the people may execute true iudgement keepe the lawes of righteousnesse gouerne the people according to right and to heare the poore and helplesse in truth and to defend their cause God for his sonne Iesus Christes sake geue you the wisedom and vnderstanding of Salomon Dauid Ezechias Moyses wyth diuers others most vertuous rulers by whose wisedome most godly vnderstanding the people were iustly ruled and gouerned in the feare of God all wickednesse was by them ouerthrowne and beaten downe and all godlinesse and vertue did florish and spring O God whiche art the most hyghest the creator maker of all thinges and of all men both great and small and carest for all alike which doest try all mens workes and imaginations before whose iudgement seate shal come both high and low rich and poore we most humbly beseeche thee to put into our rulers heartes the pure loue and feare of thy name that euen as they theÌ„selues would be iudged and as they shall make aunswere before thee so to heare our causes to iudge with mercy and to read ouer these our requestes and confessions of our fayth with deliberation and a godly iudgement And if any thing here seemeth to your honourable audience to be erroneous or disagreeing to the scripture if it shall please your Lordship to heare vs patiently whiche doe offer our selues to the scriptures thereby to make aunswere and to be tryed in so doyng wee poore subiectes being in much captiuitie bondage are most bound to pray for your noble estate and long preseruation The request of these men being so iust and theyr doctrine so sound yet all this could not preuayle with the Bishop and other Iudges but that Sentence shoulde haue proceeded agaynst them incontinent had not the goodnes of the Lord better prouided for his seruauntes then the Bishoppe had intended For as they were now vnder the edge of the axe ready to be condemned by sentence it was thought otherwise by the Cardinall and some other wiser heades fearing belike least by the death of so many together some disturbance might rise peradueÌ„ture among the people and so was decreed among themselues that rather they shuld make some submission or confessioÌ„ such as they would themselues â—nd so to be sent home agayne as they were in deed howbeit diuers of them afterward wer apprehended and put to deathe But in the meane space as touching their submission which they made this it was as in forme here followeth ¶ The submission or confession of these aforesayd prisoners BEcause our sauiour Christ at his last supper took bread and when he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it vnto his Disciples and sayde Take eate this is my bodye whiche is geuen for you this doe in the remembraunce of me Therefore according to the wordes of our sauioure Iesus Christ we do beleue in the sacrament to be Christes body And likewise he tooke the cup gaue thankes and gaue it to his Disciples and sayd This is my bloud of the newe Testament which is shed for many Therefore likewise we do beleue that it is the bloud of Christ according as Christes Churche dothe minister the same Unto the whiche Catholicke Church of Christe we do in this like as in all other matters submit oure selues promising therein to liue as it becommeth good chrystian men and here in this realme to vse our selues as it becommeth faythfull subiectes vnto our most gracious king and Queene and to all other superiours bothe spirituall and temporall according to our bounden dueties The names of them which subscribed to this submission were these Iohn Atkine Alyn Symson Richard George Thomas Firefanne William Munt Richard Ioly Richard Gratwicke Thomas Winsley Richard Rothe Richard Clerke Stephen Glouer Robert Colman T. Merse William Bongeor Robert Bercocke Margaret Hide Elyn Euryng Christian Pepper Margaret feld Alyce Munt Ioane Winesley Cysly Warren Rose Alyn Anne Whitelocke George Barker Iohn Saxebye Thomas Locker Alyce Locker ¶ A story of fiue other godly Martyrs burned at one fire in Smithfield the 12. daye of Aprill TO proceede further in this story of persecuted martyrs next in order followe fiue other burned at London in Smithfield in the foresayd yeare of the Lord. 1557. April 12. whose names were these Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thyrtell Margaret Hyde and Agnes Stanley Who being some by the Lord Riche some by other Iustices of peace and Constables their own neighbours at the first accused and apprehended for not comming to their parish Churches were in the end sent vnto Boner Bish. of London and by hys commaundement the 27. day of Ianuary were examined before Doctour Darbyshyre then Chauncellour to the sayd Bishop vppon the former generall Articles mentioned pag. 1672. Aunsweres to the Articles WHose aunsweres thereunto were that as they confessed there was one true Catholick church wherof they steadfastly beleeued and thought the Churche of Rome to be no part or member so in the same Churche they beleued there were but two sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the supper of the Lorde Howbeit some of them attributed the title and honour of a sacrament to the holy estate of Matrimony which vndoubtedly was done rather of simple ignoraunce then of anye wilfull opinion and are thereof to be adiudged as before is admonished Moreouer they acknowledged themselues to be Baptised into the fayth of that true Church as in the thyrd article is specified And here in reading as wel of these Articles as also of the rest marke I beseech you the crafty subteltie of these Catholicke Champions who intermitting certayne poyntes of faith and of the true Church with the Idolatrous and superstitious mametry of theyr romyshe Sinagogue cause the poore and simple people
mindfull of my bloud Wint. Now you may see hee will not aunswere to these but as he hath aforesayd Then spake the Counterfeit Ordinary agayne and sayd Counterf My Lord aske him what he sayth to the Sacrament of the aultar Then the Byshop asked me as my Counterfeit Ordinary required him Grat. My Lord I doe beleue that in the sacrament of the Supper of the Lord truely ministred in both kinds according to the institution of Christ vnto the worthy receauer he eateth mistically by fayth the body and bloud of Chryst. Then I asked him if it were not the truth And hee sayde yes Then sayd I beare witnesse of the truth Winchester Then the Bishop of Winchester whose head being subtilest to gather vpon my wordes sayd My Lord see you not how he creepeth away with his heresies and couereth them priuely Note how hee here seperateth the Sacrament of the aulter from the supper of the Lord meaning it not to be the true sacrament also how he condemneth our ministration in one kinde and alloweth that the vnworthy receauer doth not eate and drinke the body and bloud of Christ which be sore matters truely wayed being couered very craftely with his subtill shiftes of sophistry but he shall aunswere directly or euer he depart Grat. My Lord this is but your gathering of my wordes for you before confessed the same sayinges to be the truth this you catch at me and fayne woulde haue a vauntage for my bloud but seeing you iudge me not to meane the sacramēt of the aultar nowe come to the probatiō of the same sacrament and proue it to be the true sacrament and I am with you or els if you can proue your Church to be the true Church I am also with you But then he called to memory the last probation of the Churche and sacramentes howe hee before was driuen to forsake the scriptures and to shew me by good reason how they might minister the sacrament in one kinde his reason was this Like as a man or woman dyeth on a sodayn and so when we haue geuen him the body of Christ in the meane time the partie dyeth and so he eateth the bodye of Christ not drinketh his bloud And this was his simple shift in the prouing of their Sacramentes so that he was now halfe abashed to begin that matter agayne But yet a little subtile shift he brought in and sayd Winc. What sayest thou by the administration of the priests euery day for them selues and they minister in bothe kindes To that I aunswered you haue two administrations for I am sure at Easter you minister but in one kinde and therfore it is not according to the institution of Christ but after your owne imaginations Winc. Why then what sayest thou to these wordes Take eate this is my body These are the wordes of Christe Wilt thou deny them Grat. My Lord they are the words of scripture I affirme them and not deny them Rochest Why then thou doest confesse in the sacrament of the aulter to be a reall presence the selfe same body that was borne of the Uirgine Mary and is ascended vp into heauen Grat. My Lord what do you now meane do you not also meane a visible body for it cannot be but of necessitie if it be a reall presence and a materiall body it must be a visible body also Winc. Nay I say vnto thee it is a reall presence and a materiall body and an inuisible body to Grat. My Lord then it must needes be a phantastical body for if it shoulde bee materiall and inuisible as you affirme then it must needes be a phantasticall body for it is aparaunt that Christes humayne body was visible and seene Winc. Then the Bishop brake out and said when diddest thou see him I pray thee tell me Grat. To that I aunswered and sayd a simple argument it is Because our corporall eyes cannot comprehend christ doth that proue or follow that he is inuisible because wee cannot see him Winc. And with that the Bishop began to waxe weary of his argument and remoued his talke to Iudas in eatyng the sacrament said he eat him wholy as the Apostles did Grat. And then I asked him if he meant Christes flesh and bloud the which he speaketh of in the 6. of Iohn and saith he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall lyfe in me Winc. To that he aunswered and sayd yea Grat. Then sayd I of necessitie Iudas must needes be saued because hee eate the fleshe and dranke the bloude of Christ as you haue affirmed and also all the vngodly that dye without repentance because they haue eaten your sacrament which you say is the flesh bloud of Christ therfore of necessitie they shall receiue the benefite thereof that is eternall life Which is a great absurditie to graunt then of necessitie it must follow that all that eate not drynke not of your sacrament shall finally pearish and bee damned for Christ sayth except you eate my fleshe and drinke my bloud you can haue no life in me And you haue afore sayd that your sacrament which you say is the same flesh bloud that Christ speaketh of and here I proue that all children then that dye vnder age to receaue the sacrament by your owne argument they must be damned whiche is horrible blasphemy to speake Nowe here I turne your owne argument vpon you aunswere it if you can Winc. My Lord do you not see what deceitful arguments he bringeth in here agaynst vs mingled with sophistry keepeth himselfe in vauntage so that we can get no holde vpon him But I say vnto thee thou peruerse hereticke I see now thou art a peruerse fellowe I had a better opinion of thee but now I see we lose our time about thee yet I aunswere thee S. Paule doth open the sixte of Iohn playne if thou wilt see for he sayth they eate Christes body and drinke his bloud vnworthely and that was the cause of their damnation Grat. My Lord take heede ye doe not adde vnto the texte for he that addeth vnto the text is accursed of God and I am sure here you haue brought more then Paule hath spoken for he sayth not because they haue eaten his body and dronke his bloud vnworthily but S. Paule sayth Who so euer shall eate of this bread and drinke of the Cuppe vnworthely shall be giltie of the body and bloud of Christ. Note my lord he saith not as you haue affirmed but clene contrary And with that they were all in a great rage Winch. And the bish of Winchester said I belied the text Grat. And then I called for the text Winch. And he said I asked thee euen now if thou vnderstoodest Latine and thou saidest whether I can or no the people shall beare witnesse in English Grat. And so I called againe for the Testament whether it were Latin or English for the
in me and I in him Arch Then he faced out the matter with Sophistrie and sayde I did eate Christe as that Church was in his eye with many such like mockes but woulde not let me aunswere one woorde Commis Then the Commissarie did aske mee if I did not remember S. Paule which did rebuke the Corinthes for theyr euill behauior and because they made no difference of the Lordes body and brought in to prooue hys matter howe he called him selfe bread in the 6. of Iohn So Paul sayth So oft as ye eate of this breade meaning Christes body vnwoorthely ye eate and drinke your owne damnation because ye make no difference of the Lordes body For thus sayeth Christ The bread that I will geue you is my flesh Now it is no bread but it is his flesh And thus he alledged euery Scripture false to make vp the matter Auns Then I sayde I did beleeue the woordes of Paule very wel euen as he had spoken them For thus he sayeth He that eateth and drinketh vnwoorthely eateth and drynketh hys owne damnation because hee maketh no difference of the Lordes body Commis What is the cause that he eateth his owne damnation Auns I sayd Saint Paule declareth it plainly wyth these woordes If ye had iudged your selues ye should not haue bene iudged of the Lord. Arch. Then the Archdeacon sayde he marueiled whye I would not say that he called the breade hys bodye seeing Cranmer Ridley and Latimer with many other sayd he called it his bodye Auns I saide you haue condemned them as heretickes and you wold haue me say with them because you wold kill me Arch. Then he saide In that they said it was his bodye they did say the truth Auns I asked wherefore they were killed seeing they sayd the truth Bishop Then sayde the Byshop that he had all theyr aunsweres and that they did not beleue as they said For they sayd Christ called it his body but it was not his naturall body but thou shall answere me by and by whether it be his body or not or els I will anger thee Auns Then I sayd I had answeared him by the word already and did beleeue it also therefore if he did condemne me for that my life was not deare vnto me I was sure he should not scape vnpunished for God wil be reuenged vpon such murtherers Arch. Then the Archdeacon intreated mee to be ruled by him take mercy while it was offered for if I were condemned I must needes be burned Yet he would not say but my soule might be saued with many moe wordes and desired me that I would beleue hym for he would speake the truth beginning how Christ fed fiue thousande wyth foure loaues and how he turned the water into wine euen so Christ tooke breade and blest it and when he had done he brake it and sayd This is my body and then he commāded them to eat it and therfore it must nedes be his body Auns Then I desired him to speake the text right or els I would not beleeue him Arch. Then he stoode vp and put off his cap and thanked me for teaching of him and sayde I was a stubberne fellow and tooke scorne to be taught Auns I sayd I ought to holde him accursed if he taught doctrine contrary to Christ and his Apostles Arch. Then he asked me whether I did beleue that Christ did geue that he tooke or not Auns I said I do beleue as much as can be proued by the Scripture and more I will not beleeue Arch. Then he began with Moyses rod howe God commanded him to lay it down and it was turned into a serpent Seing that this was by Moyses being but a man how much more Christ being both God man tooke one thing and gaue to his Disciples an other Ans. I said his comparison was nothing like for Moyses rod when it was laid downe he saw that it was tourned into a verye Serpent in deede but in this Sacrament no mā can see neither qualitie nor yet quantitie to be chāged Bish. Then sayd the Bishop that mine opinion and Faith was like vnto the Capernaites Ans. I sayd theirs was more like theyr opiniō then mine Arch. The Archdeacon asked me whether Christe tooke not one thing and gaue an other Auns I sayde Looke what he brake hee gaue vnto them and had them eate and other answere I will make none contrary to the woorde Arch. Then he sayd he marueiled why I woulde not beleue them seeing this learning had continued this fiftene hundred yeares neither yet did saye as other had before howe Christ did call it his bodye Auns Then I sayde when Cranmer whyche was heere Byshop was in authoritie he sayde that he did holde the truth and commaunded vs to beleeue him and hee hathe geuen his life for his opinion and would you haue me to beleeue you because you say that you holde the truth and that which makes me beleeue chiefly is the scripture which I am sure is the truth in deede Bish. The Bishop sayd he hath spoken the truthe that I would not beleeue him Auns I sayde if he did not nowe speake the truthe I was sure he had spoken the truthe for hee had preached before doctrine cleane contrary vnto this Then were the rest of my articles read which I aunswered and in euery article we had vp this breaden god And they sent for a candle light I thought they woulde haue condemned me but God would not suffer their cruel hearts to haue theyr pleasure at that time blessed he hys name for euermore Amen Arch. Then the Archdeacon was angry began to chide with me because I woulde not desire a day of the byshop and said I was a noughty stubberne felowe and sayde it had bene my duety to haue desired him to haue bene good to me that I might haue a day Auns Then I sayde I haue spoken the truth and therefore I would aske him no day except he would geue me a day of his owne minde Commis Then sayde the Commissarie Doest thou not thinke that thou maiest be deceiued seeing hee may be deceiued that hath gone to study all the daies of his life Auns I saide Yes I mighte be deceiued in that I was a man but I was sure Gods woord could not be deceiued Com. Then hee praied me to be content and confesse that I might learne and said they would be glad to teach me Auns And I sayde I would be as glad to learne as any man And thus they roase vp and went away saying nothing What became of this Mathewe Plaise after whether he died in prison or was executed or deliuered I haue as yet no certaine knowledge The hystorie of ten true godly Disciples and Martyrs of Christ burnt together in one fire at Lewes An. 1557. Iune 22. IN the towne of Lewes were ten faithfull seruauntes of God put in one fire the xxij day of Iune whose names
me to my Lord Chamberlaine that was then to the Queene Sir Iohn Gage shewyng him that I baptised children and married folks with many such lyes to bryng me into their hands agayne Then the Commissioners sent out certaine Citations to bring me to the Court My L. Chamberlain had directed out 4. or 5. Warrantes for me that if I had come there I should haue bene attached and sent to prisō straite way Which was not Gods will for I had warnyng of their laying await for me and came not there but sent my deputie he brought me word that the Bailifs waited for me there but they mist of their pray for that tyme wherevpon they were displeased Then within 3. dayes after my L. sent 3. of his men to take me whose names were Deane Ieffrey and Frāces I beyng at plough with my folkes right in the waye as they were commyng to my house least mistrusting thē of all other came to them and spake to them asking thē how they did And they sayd they arested me in the Kyng and Queenes name and that I must goe with them to their Maister the L. Chamberlaine Which wordes made my flesh to tremble and quake because of that sodayne But I answered them that I would go with them Yet I desired them that they would go to my house with me that I might breake my fast and put on some other geare and they said I should Then I remembred my selfe saying in my hart Why am I thus afraid they can lay no euill to my charge If they kill me for well doyng I may thinke my self happy I remembred how I was contented gladly before to dye in that quarell and so had continued euer since and should I now feare to dye God forbid that I should for then were all my labour in vayne So by and by I was perswaded I praise God considering it was but the frailty of my flesh which was loth to forgo my wife childrē and goods for I saw nothing but present death before mine eyes And as soone as I was perswaded in my mynd to die I had no regard of nothing in this worlde but was as mery and glad and ioyfull I prayse GOD as euer I was This battaile lasted not a quarter of an houre but it was sharper then death it selfe for the tyme I dare say So when I had my breakfast I desired them to shew me their warrant thinkyng thereby I should haue seene wherfore I was arested to the intent I might the better answer for my self whē I came before their maister And one of them answered they had not their warrāt there Which words made me astonied and it was put in my mynde by God that I neede not to goe with them vnlesse they had their warrant Then said I to them that is meruaile that you will come to take a man without a warrant It seemeth to me that you come of your owne mind to get thāke of your maister for in deed I heard say sayd I that there was 4. or 5. warrants out for me but they were called in agayne because I had certified my L. and the Commissary by a letter that I sent to the Commissaries court that I was not faulty in that they layd to my charge which was for baptising of children and marying of folks the which I neuer did for I was neuer minister appointed to do any such thyng wherfore set your hartes at rest I will not go with you said I vnlesse you will cary me by force and if you will do so at your owne aduentures And so I rose from the boord and stepped into my chamber meanyng to goe from them if I could possible seeyng God had made the way so open for me I ment to play Peters part with them but God would not it should be so but sent a feare amongst them that as soone as I was gone into my chāber ere euer I could come out againe they were gone out of my house When I saw that I knew it was Gods doyng to set me at liberty once againe Yet I was compelled to speake to them and said If you haue a warrant I desire you for Gods sake to shew it me and I wil go with you with all my hart if not I desire you to depart in Gods peace and the kings for surely I will not go with you without the order of the law for I haue bene too simple in such things already For before I was sent to prison first I went to the Iustices to two Sessions without any warrant or cōmandement but had word by one of their men I went gently to them they sent me to prison and kept me there almost a yere and thre quarters without all right or equitie as it is openly known not hearing my cause iustly debated And it semeth to me that I should be thus euil hādled and therefore I will not go to none of them all henceforth without the extremitie of the law Then one of them answered me and said we haue not the warrant here but it is at home at my house the worst is you can but make vs fetch it Then I said Fetch it if you wil but if you come in my house before you haue it at your owne aduenture So I shut my doore and went my way out of the other doore So they got helpe to watch my house while one of them fet the Constable and many moe thinking to haue had me in my house and to haue takē me in my house caried me away with a licence but I was gone before as god would haue it Notwithstanding they sought euery corner of my house but could not preuaile I mistrusted they would search it again that night and kept me abroad and in deed there came seuen of his men the Constable and searched my house And when they sawe that they could not meete with me they were redy to rent their coats that I had scaped them so knowing they should haue such a checke of their maister When I heard that they had sought so for me againe I perceiuyng that they were greedy of their pray came home and my wyfe told me all thyngs Then I supposed that they would lay all the countrey for me and the sea coast because I should not go ouer and thē I thought that they would not mistrust that I would dare bee nigh home So I tolde my wyfe that I woulde make my lodgyng in a woode not past a flight shotte from my house as I did in deede euen vnder a tree and there had my Bible my penne and myne inke and other necessaries and there continued a sixe or seuen weekes my wife bringing me meate daily as I had neede Yea I thought my selfe blessed of God that I was counted worthy to lye in the woodes for the name of Christ. Then there came word into the countrey that
generall CouÌ„cell and his picture burned Wood. If he were an heretick I thinke he vnderstoode it not so in deed but I am sure all Christians ought to vnderstand it so Chich. O what vayne glory is in you as though you vnderstood all thing other men nothing Heare me I will shew you the true vnderstanding both of the aultar the offering on the aultar We haue an aultar sayd Paul that ye may not eate of meaning thereby that no man might eat of that which was offered on the aultar but the Priest For in Paules time all the liuing that the Priest had the people came offered it on the aultar mony or other thinges and when the people came to offer it and then remeÌ„bred that they had any thing agaynst their brother theÌ„ they left their offering vpon the aultar and went were reconciled to theyr brother and they came agayne and offred their gift and the Priest had it This is the true vnderstanding of the place that you haue rehersed wherefore you be deceiued Wood. My Lord that was the vse in the olde law Christ was the ende of that But in deede I perceiue by Paules wordes the sacrifice was offered in Paules time yet that maketh not that it was wel done but he rebuked it Wherfore it seemeth to me that you be deceiued Chich. Who shall be iudges betwixt vs in this matter Wood. The xij of Iohn declareth who shall be iudge in the last day Chich. You meane the word shall iudge the word Howe can that be Wood. Saynct Peter sayth The Scripture hath no priuate interpretation but one scripture must be vnderstand by an other Chich. And you will vnderstande it one way and I wyll vnderstand it an other way and who shal be Iudges betwixt vs then Wood. The true church of God is able to discusse al doubtes to whom I referre it Chich. I am glad you say so if you will say so in deed Wood. My Lord I neuer meant otherwise Chich. The Church of God doth allow the Sacrament of the aultar Wood. What do you offer now vpon the aultar Chich. We offer vp in the blessed Sacramente of the Aultar the body of Christ to pacifye the wrath of God the Father and therewith they put off their cappes all to that abominable Idoll Wood. Saynt Paule sayth to the Hebrues in the x. chap. We are sanctified by the offering of the body of Iesus Christ vpon the crosse once for all and euery Priest is dayly ministring oftentimes offereth one maner of offering which can neuer take away sinnes and that is the offering that you vse to offer As farre as I can see you be priestes after the order of Aaron that offered vp Sacrifice for their own sinnes and the sinnes of the people Chichest Nay Aarons sacrifice was with bloud whiche signifieth the death of Christe the whiche was ended vpon the Crosse by his bloudshedding but we are Priestes after the order of Melchisedech the whiche offered breade to the king in remembraunce and signified the geuing of Christes body in bread wine at his last supper the whiche he gaue to his disciples commaunded it to be vsed to the end of the world This is the sacrifice that we offer according to his word Woodman Me thinke you haue made the matter verye playne to me that as Christ was the ende of all Sacrifices so was he the beginning of the Sacramentes willing them to be vsed in the remembraunce of him to the worldes end Chichest What in remembraunce of hym and not hym selfe as his worde sayth Take eate this is my body It is not the signe onely but the thing it selfe How say you is it not his body after the words be spoken by the priest How say you goe briefly to worke for I can not long tary with you Wood. My Lord if you will answere me to one sacrameÌ„t I will answere you to another Chich. Yes I am very well contented with that Wood. If you say the words of baptisme ouer the water there be no childe there is there true baptisme Chich. No there must be the water the worde and the child and then it is baptisme Wood. Uerye well Then if a childe bee Baptised in the name of the Father and of the Sonne it is not truely baptised Chich. No the childe muste bee baptised in the name of the father of the sonne the holy ghost or els it is not truly baptised Wood. Then there may be nothing added nor takeÌ„ away from the Sacraments may there Chich. No sayd the Bishop Wood. Now my Lord I will answere to you if it please you Chich. Well how say you Take eat this is my body is it not Christes body as soone as the wordes be sayd Wood. My Lorde I will aunswere you by your owne wordes that you aunswered me whiâ—h is true the water the word and the childe all these together make baptisme the bread wine and the word make the Sacrament the eater eating in true fayth maketh it his body Here I proue it is not Christes body but to the faythfull receiuer For he sayd Take eat this is my body He called it not his body before eating but after eating And Saynt Augustine sayth Crede manducasti Beleue and thou hast eaten And Saynt Iohn sayth He that beleueth in God dwelleth in God and God in him wherfore it is vnpossible to dwell in God and to eat his body without a true fayth Priest Then the fayth of the receiuer maketh it his body not his word by your saying I pray you what did Iudas eate Wood. Iudas did eat the sacrament of Christ and the deuill withall Priest He eat the body of Christ vnworthely as S. Paule sayth Wood. Nay S. Paule sayth no such thing He speaketh not of eating of his body vnworthely but of the sacrament vnworthely For he sayth Who soeuer eateth of this bread drinketh of this cup vnworthely eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he maketh no difference of the Lordes body and not because he eateth the Lordes body If Iudas had eat Christes body it must needes folow that Iudas is saued For Christ sayth in the sixt of Iohn Who so euer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him vp agayne at the last day Priest My Lord this man is an interpreter after his own minde Chich. I see it is but folly to talke with you it is but lost labour How say you Doe you not beleue that after the wordes be sayd there remayneth neither bread nor wyne but the very body of Christ really make me a playne aunswere for I will talke no more with you Wood. I will make you no directe aunswere howe I beleue of the true Sacrament I doe beleue that if I come to receiue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ truely ministred beleuing that
51. Psalme In sinne was I borne and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me but in no suche sinne that shall bee imputed because I am borne of God by fayth as Sayncte Iohn sayth Therefore I am blessed as sayth the Prophet Because the Lorde imputeth not my sinne and not because I haue no sinne but because God hath not imputed my sinnes Not of our owne deseruing but of his free mercy he hath saued vs. Where is now your free will become that you spake of If we haue free will then our saluation commeth of our owne selfe not of God the which is a great blasphemy agaynst God and his word For Saynt Iames sayth Euery good gift and euery perfect gift commeth from aboue from the father of light with whō is no variablenes neither is he chaunged into darcknesse Of his owne will he begate vs. For the winde bloweth where it lusteth and we heare the soūd therof as sayth S. Iohn But we cannot tell from whence it commeth neither whether it goeth Euen so is it with euery one that is borne of God For S. Paule sayth It is God that woorketh in vs the will and also the deed euen of good will Seing then that euery good and perfect gift commeth from aboue lighteth vpon whom it pleaseth God and that he worketh in vs both the will and the deede me thinke all the reste of our owne will is little worthe or nought at all vnles it be to wickednes So me think here be places enough to proue that a man hath no free will to doe good of himselfe with a hundred places moe that I could recite if time did serue And as for originall sinne I thinke I haue declared my mind therin how it remaineth in man whiche you can not denye vnlesse you deny the word of God Now if you will suffer me I will proue my saying of Iacob and Esau that I brought in to proue that faith was before baptisme and you refused it because you sayd Iacob was not baptised If you will geue me leaue you shall see what I can say therin for me think you think my talke long This I sayd because I saw he was sore offended at my sayinges Lang. Saye what you canne For it auayleth me to saye nothing to you For I was desired to sende for you to teache you and there will no wordes of mine take place in you but you goe about to reproue me Saye what you will for me Wood. I take not vpon me to teach you but to aunswere to such thinges as you lay vnto my charge and I speake not mine owne minde but the minde of the holy Ghoste written by the Prophetes and Apostles Wyll you geue me leaue to aunswere briefly in that matter that you may report to other what I holde And he sayd he was contēted But I thinke it was for nothing but to haue caughte vauntage of my wordes Wood. First if you be remembred you said that if my child had dyed without baptisme if I had bene the cause that it had not bene baptised the child should haue bene damned and I too How say you Lang. Yea that you should Wood. That is moste vntrue For the Prophete sayeth The father shall not beare the childes offences nor the childe the fathers offences but the soule that sinneth shall dye What could the child haue done withal if it had died without baptism the childe coulde not do withall How say you vnto this And I am sure that which I brought in in the olde Law to proue that fayth is before baptisme is not disagreeable vnto the word For Circūcision was a figure of baptisme And that I may bring to proue baptisme by as wel as S. Peter did for he brought in Noes sloude whiche was a long time before Iacob Esau to proue baptisme saying While the Arke was a preparing wherein few that is to saye eight soules were saued by water like as Baptisme also nowe saueth vs not in putting away of the filth of the flesh but there is ◠good conscience consenting to God Here Peter proueth that the water had not saued Noe and the other seuen no more then it saued all the rest if it had not bene for theyr fayth which fayth now saueth vs not in putting away of the filthy sinne of the fleshe by the washing of the water but by a good conscience consenting vnto God But you sayd If they be baptised with the water if they dye before they come to yeares of discretion they be al saued the which S. Peter is cleane agaynste vnlesse you graunt that children haue fayth before they be baptised Nowe I aske you what consent of conscience the children haue being infantes For you say they beleue not before they bee Baptised Ergo then they consent not to be Baptised because they beleue not And by this it followeth that none shal be saued althogh they be baptised I would fayne see how you can aunswere to this Lang. You are the most peruerse man that euer I knewe You wote not what you say The children are baptised in theyr Godfathers and Godmothers fayth and that is the good conscience that S. Peter speaketh of and the Christening is the keeping of the law that S. Paule speaketh of saying neither is Circumcision any thing worth nor vncircūcision any thing worth but keping of the lawe is altogether Like as the Circumcision was the keping of the old law so is baptisme the keeping of the new law Wood. Ah me thought if you would talke with me you should be fayne to bring in the old law to mainteine your sayinges by for all that you refused it when I brought it in But yet it serueth not for your purpose so muche as you think for For here you haue confessed that neither circumcision auayleth nor vncircūcision the which you your selfe haue coupled with Baptisme prouing that none of them both preuaileth but keping of the law is altogether the which law is kept you say by the outward signes the which is nothing so for Abrahā beleued God that was counted to him for righteousnes And this was before he was Circumcised So the children beleue before they be either Circumcised or Baptised according to my first saying of Iacob and Esau Iacob I loued but Esau I hated These wordes declared that Iacob hadde fayth in hys mothers wombe also Iohn Baptist was sanctified in his mothers wombe and therfore it was counted to them for righteousnesse and I am sure if they had dyed before they had eyther receiued Circumcision or Baptisme as concerning the outward deed they should haue bene saued For Gods giftes and callinges are such that he cannot repent him of them But by your saying he doth both repent and chaūge For you say keeping of the outwarde law is altogether But a bad excuse is as good as none at all And where you sayd the children
specified much against his owne coÌ„science which he now earnestly repenteth This good woman being condemned and at the stake with Simon Miller to be burnt when the fire came vnto her she a little shronke thereat with a voyce crying once ha When the sayd Simon Miller hearde the same he put his hand behinde him towarde her and willed her to bee strong and of good cheare For good sister said he we shall haue a ioyfull and a sweete supper Whereat she beyng as it seemed thereby strengthened stoode as still and as quiet as one moste glad to finish that good worke whiche before most happely shee had begonne So in fine she ended her life with her companion ioyfully committing her soule into the handes of almighty God ¶ The Martyrdome of x. faythfull and blessed Martyrs fiue men and fiue women burnt at Colchester fiue in the forenoone and fiue in the afternoone for the testimony and witnesse of Christ Iesus and his glorious Gospell AS it is no nâ—w thing in those whom we call Prelates and Priestes of the Churche to be raysers vp of persecution agaynst Christ and his poore flocke so is it much to be maruelled or rather lamented that noble persons and meÌ„ of honor and worship would be made such Ministers to serue the affections of these tyrauntes as commonly as well in all the sorowful dayes of the late Queene Mary as namely in this present story is to be marked And first thou remembrest gentle Reader how mention was made a litle before pag. 1863. of xxij which were sent vp prisoners together from Colchester to London by the Earle of Oxforde the Lord Darcy Maister Tyrrell of Saynt Osithes and other Commissioners Iustices c. The which xxij as is aforesayd through a gentle submission put vnto them were afterward released deliuered In the number of these foresayd xxij was one William Mount of Muchbently in Essex husbandman with Alice his wife and Kose Allin mayd the daughter of the said Alice Mount whiche comming home agayne to their house at Muchbently aforesayde refrayned themselues from the vnsauery seruice of the Popish Churche and frequeÌ„ted the company of good men and women which gaue themselues diligently to reading inuocating calling vpon the name of God through Christ wherby they so fretted the wicked Priest of the towne called Syr Thomas Tye other like vnto him that casting theyr heades together they made a pestilent Supplication to the Lord Darcy in the name of the whole Parish the tenour whereof hereafter foloweth ¶ The maner of a Supplication to the Lord Darcy and by him deliuered to Syr Iohn Kingstone Priest and Commissary PLeaseth it your honorable Lordship to be aduertised that we confesse whilest your good Lordship laye here in the country the people were stayed in good order to our great comfort but since your Lordshippes departure they haue made digression from good order in some places namely in the Parish of Muchbentley by reason of three seditious persons William Mount and his wife Rose her daughter who by theyr colourable submission as it doth appere were dismist and sent nowne from the Bishop of London and since theyr comming home thei haue not onely in their owne persons shewed manifest signes and tokens of disobedience in not comming to the Churche nor yet obseruing other good orders but also most maliciously and seditiously haue seduced many from comming to the Church and froÌ„ obeying all other good orders mocking also those that frequent the Church and calling theÌ„ Church Owles and blasphemouslye calling the blessed Sacrament of the aultar a blind God with diuers such like blasphemies In consideration whereof may it please your honour for the loue of God and for the tender zeale your good Lorshippe beareth to Iustice and common peace and quietnes of the king and Queenes Maiesties louing subiectes to award out your warrant for the sayd William Mount his wife Rose her daughter that they being attached brought before your good Lordshippe we trust the rest will feare to offend their ring leaders of sedition being appreheÌ„ded to the quietnes of theyr obedient subiectes Your dayly Orators the Parishioners of Muchbentley Thomas Tye Priest Iohn Carter Thomas Candeler Iohn Barker Richarde Mere Iohn Paynter William Harrys Iohn Richard with other This being done the said sir Thomas Tye bethought with himselfe where the persecuted did resorte For in the beginning of Queene Maries reign for a xij moneth and more he came not to the Church but frequented the coÌ„panye of Godlye men and women which absteined from the same and as they thought he laboured to keepe a good coÌ„science but the sequele shewed him to be a false brother Now as I said he partly knowing the places of refuge for honest meÌ„ did further enquire of other about the same being therof sufficiently as he thought instructed to hys purpose immediatly about the time the supplication aboue specified was exhibited to the sayd L. Darcy wrote secretly a letter to Boner B. of LondoÌ„ wherin he maketh his accouÌ„t how he had bestowed his time coÌ„playned of diuers honest meÌ„ among the which was the sayd W. Mount hys company The tenour of which letter herafter foloweth * A Letter sent to Boner Byshop of London from Syr Thomas Tye Priest RIght honourable Lord after my bounden duety done in most humble wise these shall be to signify vnto your Lordship the state of our parties concerning religion And first since the comming downe of the 24. rancke hereticks dismissed from you the detestable sort of Schismaticks were neuer so bold since the king and Queenes Maiesties reignes as they are nowe at this present In Mucâ—bently where your Lordship is Patrone of the Churche since WilliaÌ„ Mount Alice his wife with Rose Allin her daughter came home they doe not onely absent themselues from the church and seruice of God but do dayly allure many other away from the same which before did outwardly shew signes tokens of obedience They assemble together vpon the Sabbaoth day in the time of diuine seruice sometimes in one house sometime in an other and there keâ—pe theyr priuy conuenticles and scholes of heresy The Iurates sayth the Lordes Commission is out they are discharged of theyr othe The Quest men in your Archdeacons visitation alleadged that forasmuch as they were once presented now sent home they haue no more to do with them nor none other Your Officers sayth namely Mayster Boswell that the CouÌ„sell sent them not home without a great consideration I praye God some of your Officers proue not fauorers of hereticks The rebels are stout in the Towne of Colchester The ministers of the Church are hemd at in the open streets and called knaues The blessed Sacrament of the aultar is blasphemed and rayled vpon in euery Alehouse and Tauerne Prayer and fasting is not regarded Seditious talkes and newes are rife both in towne and
countrey in as ample and large manner as though there had no honorable Lords and Commissioners bene sent for reformation thereof The occasion riseth partly by reason of Iohn Lone of Colchester Hâ—eâ—h a peruerse place which Iohn Lone was twise indicted of heresye and thereupon fled with his wife and householde and hâ—s goodes seased within the Towne of Colchester to the King and Queenes Maiesties vse Neuerthelesse the sayd Iohn is come home agayne and nothing sayde or done to him Whereupon the heretickes are wonderfully encouraged to the no litle discomfort of good and Catholicke people which dayly prayeth to God for the profite vnity and restauration of his Church agayne whiche thing shall come the sooner to passe through the trauell and paynes of suâ—h honourable Lordes and reuerend fathers as your good Lordshippe is vnto whome I wish long life and continuaunce with encrease of much honour From Colchester the xviij of December Your humble Bedes man Thomas Tye Priest When Iudasly this wicked Prieste had thus wrought his malice agaynst the people of god within a while after the stormes began to arise agaynste those poore persecuted William Mount and his company wherby they were enforced to hide themselues from the heat thereof And continuing so a litle space at last the vij day of March an 1557. being the first Sonday in Lent and by 2. of the clock in the morning one Maister Edmund Tyrrell who came of the house of that Tyrrels which murdered king Edward the v. and his brother tooke with him the Bailiffe of the hundred called William Simuell dwelling in Colchester and the two CoÌ„stables of Muchbently aforesayd named Iohn Baker William Harries with diuers other a great nuÌ„ber besetting the house of the said William Mount rouÌ„d about called to them at length to open the doore which being done M. Tyrrell with certein of his coÌ„pany went into the chamber where the sayd father Mount and his wife lay willing them to rise for sayd he ye must goe wyth vs to Colchester Castle Mother Mount hearing that beyng very sicke desired that her daughter might first fetche her some drinke for she was she sayd very ill at ease Then he gaue her leaue bad her go So her daughter the forenamed Rose Allin mayde tooke a stone pot in one hand a candle in the other went to draw drink for her mother as she came back again through the house Tyrrel met her willed to geue her father mother good couÌ„sell and to aduertise them to be better Catholicke people Rose Syr they haue a better instructour then I. For the holy Ghost doth teach them I hope which I trust wil not suffer them to erre Tyrrell Why sayd Mayster Tyrrell art thou still in that minde thou noughty houswife Mary it is time to look vpon such heretickes in deed Rose Syr with that which you call heresy do I worshyp my Lord God I tell you troth Tyrrell Then I perceiue you will burne gossip with the rest for companies sake Rose No syr not for companies sake but for my Christes sake if so I be compelled and I hope in his mercies if he call me to it he will enable me to beare it Tyrrell So he turning to his companye sayde Syrs thys gossip wil burne do ye not thinke it Mary sir quoth one proue her and you shall see what she will do by and by ⧠The burning of Rose Allins hand by Edmund Tyrrell as she was going to fetch drinke for her Mother lying sicke in her bedde Then that cruell Tyrrill taking the candell from her held her wrest and the burning candell vnder her hande burning crosse wise ouer the backe thereof so long till the very smowes crackt a suÌ„der Witnes hereof WilliaÌ„ Kandler then dwelling in Muchbently which was there preseÌ„t and saw it Also Mistres Bright of Romford with Anne Starky her mayd to whom Rose Allin both declared the same and the sayd Mistres Bright also ministred salue for the curing therof as she lay in her house at Romforde going vp towardes London with other prisoners In which time of his tyranny he sayd ofteÌ„ to her why whore wilt thou not cry Thou young whoore wilt thou not cry c. Unto which alwayes she aunswered that she had no cause she thanked God but rather to reioyce Hee had she sayd more cause to weepe then she if he considered the matter well In the ende when the sinnowes as I sayd brake that all the house heard them he then thrust her from him violeÌ„tly and sayd ha strong whore thou shamelesse beast thou beastly whore c. with such like vile wordes But she quietly suffering his rage for the time at the last said Syr haue ye done what ye will doe And he sayd yea and if thou thinke it be not well then mend it Rose Mend it nay the Lord mend you and geue you repentance if it be his will And now if ye thinke it good begin at the feet and burne the head also For he that set you a worke shall pay you your wages one daye I warrant you and so she went and caryed her mother drinke as shee was commauÌ„ded Furthermore after the searching of the house for more company at the last they found one Iohn Thurston and Margaret his wife there also whome they caried with the rest to Colchester Castle immediatly And this sayd Rose Allin being prisoner tolde a frend of hers this cruell act of the sayd Tirrell and shewing him the maner therof she sayd while my one hand quoth she was a burning I hauing a pot in my other hand might haue laid him on the face with it if I had would for no maÌ„ held my hand to let me therin But I thanke God quoth she with all my hart I did it not Also being asked of another howe she could abyde the paynefull burning of her hand she said at first it was some griefe to her but afterward the longer she burned the lesse she felt or well neare none at all And because Mayster Tyrrell shall not goe alone in this kinde of cruelty you shall heare another like example of a blynde Harpers hand burnt by Bishop Boner as is testified by the relation of Ualentine Dyngley sometime gentleman to the sayd Bishop who declared before credible witnes as followeth how the sayd Bishop Boner hauing this blind Harper before him spake thus vnto him that such blinde abiectes whiche folow a sorte of hereticall Preachers when they come to the feeling of the fire wyll be the first that will flye from it To whoÌ„ the blind man sayd that if euery ioynt of hym were burnt yet he trusted in the Lord not to flye Then Boner signifying priuily to certeine of his men about him what the should do they brought to him a burning coale Which coale being put into the poore mans hand they closed it fast again and so was his hand piteously burned
needes be the true catholicke church Rafe My Lord if you remember I spake of al the world as it is wrytten and not of all Christendome only as me thinke your Lordship taketh it the whiche kinde of speaking you doe not finde in al the Bible For sure I am that the Gospel hath bene both preached and persecuted in all lands First in Iewrie by the Scribes and Phariseis and since that time by Nero Dioclesian and such like nowe here in these our daies by your Lordship knoweth whoÌ„ For truth it is that the church which you call Catholicke is none otherwise Catholike then was figured in Caine obserued of Ieroboam Ahab Iezabell Nabuchadonozor Antiochus Herode wyth innumerable more of the like and as both Daniell and Esdras maketh mention of these last daies by a plaine prophecie and now fulfilled as appeareth and affirmed by our Sauiour Christe and hys Apostles saying There shall come greeuous wolues to deuour the flocke Boner Nowe by the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar M. Morton he is the rankest hereticke that euer came before me How say you haue you heard the like Morton I thought what he was my Lord at the first I. Boner Now by all Halowes thou shalt be brent with â—ire for thy lying thou horeson verlette and prickelouse thâ—â— Dost thou finde a prophecie in Dan. of vs nay you knaue it is of you that he speaketh off and of your false pretenâ—â—d holinesse Go too lette me heare what is the saying of Esdras and take heede ye make not a lie I aduise you Rafe The saying of Esdras is this the heat of a great multitude is kindled ouer you and they shall take away certaine of you and feede the Idols with you and hee that consenteth vnto them shall be had in derision laughed to scorne and troden vnder foote yea they shall be like mad men for they shall spare no man they shall spoile and wast such as feare the Lord c. Boner And haue you taken thys thinge to make youre market good Ah syrrha wilt thou so by my Faith a 〈◊〉 instruction and a necessary thing to be taught among the people By my trouth I thinke there be no more of thys opinion I pray thee tell me Is there any that vnderstaÌ„deth this scripture on this fashion Before God I thinke there be none in all England but thou Rafe Yes my Lord there are in England three religions Boner Saist thou so which be those three Rafe The first is that whiche you holde the seconde is cleane contrary to the same and the thirde is an Neuter being indifferent that is to say obseruing all things that are commaunded outwardly as though he were of your part his heart being set wholy against the same Boner And of these three which art thou for nowe thou must needes be of one of them Rafe Yea my Lord I am of one of them and that which I am of is euen that which is contrary to that which you teach to be beleeued vnder paine of death Boner Ah syr you were here with me at Fulham and had good cheare yea and mony in your purse when you went away and by my faith I had a fauour vnto thee but now I see thou wilt be a naughtie knaue Why wilt thou take vpon thee to read the Scripture and canst not vnderstaÌ„d neuer a woorde For thou hast brought a text of scripture the which maketh cleane against thee For Esdras speaketh of the multitude of you heretickes declaring your hate against the catholicke Churche making the simple or idle people that beleeue that all is idolatrie that we do and so intise them away vntill you haue ouercome them Rafe Nay not so my Lord. For he maketh it more plaine and sayth on this wise They shall take away their goodes and put them oute of their houses and then shall it be knowen who are my chosen sayth the Lord for they shal be tried as the siluer or gold is in the fire And we see it so come to passe euen as he hath sayd For who is not now driuen from house home yea and his goodes taken vp for other menne that neuer swette for them if hee doe not obserue as you command and set foorth Or els if he be taken then must he either deny the truth as I did in dissembling or els he shal be sure to be tried as Esdras sayeth euen as the golde is tried in the fire Whereby all the worlde may knowe that you are the bloudy church figured in Caine the tyraunte neither yet are ye able to auoide it Morton I promise you my Lorde I like hym better nowe then euer I did when he was heere before you the other time For then hee did but dissemble as I perceiued well inough but nowe me thinke he speaketh plainly Bon Mary syr as you say in dede he is plaine For he is a plaine heretike and shal be burned Haue the knaue away Let him be caried to little ease at London vntil I come Rafe And so was I caried to London vnto Little case and there remained that nighte and on the next morrowe I appeared before him againe the Deane of Paules and the Chauncellour of London being present Then were brought foorth certaine wrytings that I had set my hand vnto Boner Come on your wayes syrha Is not thys youre hand and this and this Rafe Yea they are my hande all of them I confesse the same neither yet will I denie any thing that I haue sette my hand vnto But if I haue sette my hand to anye thing that is not lawfull therefore am I sorie Neuerthelesse my hand I will not deny to be my doing Boner Well sayde Nowe yee must tell mee Were you neuer at the Churche since you went from mee at Masse and Mattens c. Rafe No my Lorde not at Masse Mattens nor none other straunge woorshipping of God Boner Yea sayest thou so Wast thou neither at thyne owne parish church nor at none other And doest thou also say that it is a straunge worshipping Why I praye thee wilt thou not beleeue the Scripture to be true Rafe Yes my Lorde I beleeue the Scripture to be true and in the defence of the same I entend to geue my life rather then I will deny any part thereof God willing Deane My Lorde this fellow will be an honest man I heare by him He will not stand in his opinion for he sheweth himselfe gentle and pacient in his talke Boner Oh he is a glorious knaue His painted termes shall no more deceiue me Ah horeson Prickelouse doeth not Christ say This is my body And howe darest thou deny these woordes for to say as I haue a wryting to shew and thine owne hand at the same Lette me see wilt thou deny this Is not this thine owne hande Rafe Yes my Lord it is mine owne hand neyther am I ashamed thereof because my confession therein is agreeable
great deale better welcome then lyfe But this tooke not effect at that time as she thought it would and therfore as I sayd was she not a little troubled Beyng in this great perplexitie of mynde a friend of hers came to her and required to knowe whether Abrahams obedience was accepted before God for that hee did sacrifice his sonne Isaac or in that he would haue offered hym Unto which she answered thus I know quoth she that Abrahams will before God was allowed for the deede in that he would haue done it if the Aungell of the Lorde had not stayed him but I said she am vnhappy the Lorde thinketh me not worthye of this dignitie and therfore Abrahams case and mine is not alyke Why quoth her friend would ye not willingly haue gone with your company if God should so haue suffered it Yes said she with all my hart and because I did not it is now my chiefe and greatest griefe Then said her friend My deare sister I pray thee consider Abraham and thy self well thou shalt see thou doest nothing differ with him in will at all Alas quoth she there is a farre greater matter in Abraham then in me for Abraham was tried with the offering of his owne childe but so am not I and therefore our cases are not lyke Good sister quoth her friend way the matter but indifferently Abraham I graunt sayd he would haue offered his sonne and haue not you done the lyke in your little suckyng babe But consider further then this my good sister sayd he where Abraham was commanded but to offer his sonne you are heuy and grieued because you offer not your selfe which goeth somewhat more neere you then Abrahams obedience did therefore before God assuredly is no lesse accepted allowed in his holy presence which further the preparing of your shroud also doth argue full well c. After which talke betweene them she began a little to stay her selfe and gaue her whole exercise to readyng and prayer wherein she found no little comfort In the tyme that these foresayd ij good women were prisoners one in the Castle the other in Motehall God by a secret meane called the sayd Margaret Thurston vnto his truth agayne who hauyng her eyes opened by the workyng of his spirit did greatly sorrow and lament her backsliding before and promised faithfully to the Lord in hope of his mercies neuer more while she liued to doe the like agayne but that she would constantly stand to the cōfession of the same against all the aduersaries of the crosse of Christ. After which promise made came in short tyme a writ from London for the burning of them which accordyng to the effect thereof was executed the 17. day of September in the yeare aforesayd * The burning of Margaret Thurston and Agnes Bongeor at Colchester to Laxfield to bee burned and on the next day mornyng was brought to the stake where was ready agaynst hys commyng the foresayd Iustice M. Thurstō one M. Waller then beyng vnder shiriffe and M. Tho. Louell beyng high Constable as is before expressed the which commanded men to make redy all things meete for that sinful purpose Nowe the fire in most places of the streete was put out sauyng a smoke was espied by the said Tho. Louell proceeding out from the top of a chimney to which house the shiriffe and Grannow his man went and brake open the dore and thereby got fire and brought the same to the place of execution When Iohn Noyes came to the place of execution When Iohn Noyes came to the place where he should be burned he kneeled downe and sayde the 50. Psalme with other prayers and then they making haste bound hym to the stake and beyng bounde the sayd Iohn Noyes sayd Feare not them that can kill the body but feare hym that can kill both bodye and soule and cast it into euerlastyng fire When he saw his sister weeping and making mone for him he bade her that she should not weepe for hym but weepe for her sinnes Then one Nich. Cadman beyng Hastler a valiaunt champion in the Popes affaires brought a fagotte and set agaynst him and the said Ioh. Noyes tooke vp the fagot and kissed it and sayd Blessed bee the tyme that euer I was borne to come to this Then he deliuered his Psalter to the vndershirife desiring him to be good to his wyfe and children to deliuer to her that same booke and the shiriffe promised hym that he would notwithstāding he neuer as yet performed his promise Then the sayd Iohn Noyes sayd to the people They say they can make God of a piece of bread beleeue them not Then sayd he good people beare witnes that I do beleeue to be saued by the merites passion of Iesus Christ and not by myne owne deedes and so the fire was kindled and burned about him and thē he sayd Lord haue mercy vpon me Christ haue mercy vppon me Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me ¶ The burnyng of Iohn Noyes Martyr And so he yelded vp his lyfe and when his body was burned they made a pit to bury the coales and ashes and amongst the same they found one of his feet that was vnburned whole vp to the anckle with the hose on and that they buried with the rest Now while he was a burnyng there stoode one Iohn Iaruis by a mans seruant of the same towne a plaine fellow which sayd Good Lorde how the sinewes of hys armes shrinke vp And there stood behynd hym one Gran now and Benet beyng the shiriffes men and they sayd to their maister that Iohn Iaruis said what villeine wretches are these And their maister bade lay hand on hym then they tooke hym and piniond hym and caried hym before the Iustice that same day and the Iustice did examine hym of the words aforesayd but he denied them and aunswered that he sayd nothing but this Good Lorde howe the sinews of his armes shrinke vp But for all this the Iustice did bynd his father and his maister in v. poundes a piece that he should be forth commyng at all tymes And on the Wednesday next hee was broughte agayne before these Iustices M. Thurston and M. Kene they sittyng at Fresingfield in Hoxton hundred and there they did appoint and commaund that the sayd Iohn Iaruis shoulde be set in the stockes the next market day and whipt about the market naked But his Maister one William Iaruis did after craue friendship of the Constables and they dyd not set him in the stockes till Sonday morning and in the after noone they did whip hym about the market wyth a dog whip hauyng three cords and so they let hym go Some doe geue that Iohn Iaruis was whipped for saying that Nich. Cadman was Noyes Hastler that is such one as maketh and hasteth the fire The copy of a certaine letter that he sent to comforte his Wyfe at such tyme as he lay
one time wyth the rest examined and brought before the sayde Byshop who aunswered no lesse in his Maysters cause then the other and therfore had the like rewarde that the other had which was the Byshops bloudy blessing of condemnation and deliuered also to the Seculare power who kept him with the other vntill the day of slaughter which hasted on and was not long after Thomas Hudson was of Ailesham in Norfolke by his occupation a Glouer a very honest poore manne hauing a wife and three children and laboured alwayes truly and dilligently in hys vocation being of thirtye yeares of age and bearing so good a will to the Gospell that he in the dayes of king Edward the 6. two yeares before Q. Maryes raygne learned to read Englishe of Anthony Thomas Norgate of the same Towne wherin he greatly profited about the tyme of alteration of Religion For when Queene Mary came to raygne and had chaunged the seruice in the Churche putting in for wheate draffe and darnill and for good preaching blasphemous crying out agaynst truthe and godlinesse he then auoyding all theyr ceremonies of superstition absented hymselfe from hys house and went into Suffolkl a longe tyme and there remayned trauelling from one place to an other as occasion was offered At the last hee returned backe agayne to Northfolke to his house at Aâ—lesham to comfort his wyfe and children being heauy and troubled with hys absence Nowe when he came home and perceiued hys contynuance there would be daungerous he and hys wife deuised to make hym a place among hys fagottes to hide him selfe in where he remayned all the day in steede of hys chamber reading and praying continually for the space of halfe a yeare and his wife lyke an honest woman being carefull for hym vsed her selfe faythfullye and dillygently towards him In the meane time came the Uicare of the Town named Berry who was one of the Byshoppes Commissaries a very euill manne and inquired of this sayd Thomas Hudsons wife for her husband Unto whom he answered as not knowing where hee was Then the sayde Berry rated her and threatned to burne her for that shee would not bewraye her husbande where hee was After that when Hudson vnderstoode it hee waxed euerye day more zelous then other and continually read sange Psalmes to the wonder of many the people openlye resorting to him to heare hys exhortations and vehement prayers At the last he walked abroad for certayne dayes openly in the Towne crying out continually agaynst the Masse and all theyr trumpery and in the ende commyng home in hys house he sate him downe vpon hys knees hauyng his book by hym reading and singing Psalmes continually without ceassing for three dayes and three nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof for Berry commanded openly to watche for hym and the Constables vnderstanding the same went cruelly to catche hym in the breake of the day the xxii of the moneth of Aprill Anno 1558. Now when Hudson saw them come in he sayd Now myne houre is come Welcome frendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to lyfe in Christ I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enhable me thereto for hys mercyes sake For his desire was and euer he prayed if it wer the Lordes will that hee might suffer for the Gospell of Christ. Then they tooke him and lead him to Berry the Commissarye whiche was Uicar of the towne and the sayde Berrye asked him first where hee kepte hys Church for foure yeares before To the whiche the sayde Hudson answered thus where so euer he was there was the church Doest thou not beleue sayth Berry in the sacramente of the aultar What is it Hudson It is wormes meate my beliefe saythe hee is in Christ crucified Berry Doest thou not beleeue the Masse to putte awaye sinnes Hudson No God forbidde it is a patched monstre and a disguised Puppet more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple At whiche wordes Berry stamped fumed and shewed himself as a mad man and sayd well thou villayn thou I wil write to the B. my good Lord and trust vnto it thou shalt be handled according to thy desertes Oh sir sayde Hudson there is no Lorde but God though there be many Lordes and many Gods With that Berry thrust hym backe with hys hand And one Richard Cliffar standing by sayde I pray you sir bee good to the poore man At which wordes Berry was more mad then before and woulde haue had Cliffer bound in a recognysaunce of 40. poundes for hys good abearyng bothe in worde and deede whiche his desire tooke no effecte Then he asked the sayd Hudson whether he would recant or no. Unto whiche wordes Hudson sayde the Lorde forbid I had rather dye many deathes then to do so Then after long talke the sayde Berry seeing it booted not to perswade with him tooke hys penne and inke and wrote letters to the Bishop thereof and sent this Hudson to Norwiche bound like a theefe to him whiche was 8. miles from thence who with ioy and singing chere weÌ„t thether as mery as euer he were at anye tyme before In prison he was a month where hee dyd continually read inuocate the name of God These three Christians and constaunt Martyrs William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson after they were as ye haue heard condemned the xix day of May. 1558. were caryed out of prison to the place where they should suffer whyche was without Byshoppes gate at Norwich called Lollards Pit And being al there they made their humble prayers vnto the Lorde That beyng done they rose and went to the stake and standing al ther with their chaynes about them immediately this sayde Thomas Hudson commeth foorth from them vnder the Chayne to the great wonder of many whereby diuers feared and greatly doubted of hym For some thought hee would haue recanted other iudged rather that he went to aske a further day and to desire conference and some thought he came forth to aske some of hys parentes blessing So some thought one thinge and some an other but hys two companions at the stake cryed out to him to comforte him what they coulde exhorting him in the bowelles of Christ to be of good cheare c. But this sweete Hudson felt more in hys heart and conscience then they could conceaue in him For alas good soule hee was compassed God knoweth with great dolour and griefe of minde not for hys death but for lacke of feeling of his Christ and therefore beyng verye carefull he humbly fell downe vppon his knees and prayed vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord who at the last according to hys olde mercies sent him comfort and theÌ„ rose he with great ioy as
a man new chaunged euen from death to life and sayd Now I thanke God I am strong and passe not what man can do vnto me So going to the stake to his fellowes agayne in the end they all suffered most ioyfully constaÌ„tly and manfully the deathe together and were consumed in fire to the terror of the wicked the comforte of Gods Children and the magnifiyng of the Lordes name who be praysed therfore for euer Amen Three godly Martyrs burned at Norwich After this the forenamed Commissarye Berry made great stirre about other which were suspected within the sayd towne of Aylsham and caused two hundred to creep to the crosse at Penticost besides other punishmentes which they sustayned On a tyme this Berry gaue a poore man of his parish of Marsham a blowe with the swingell of a flayle for a worde speaking that presently thereon he dyed and the sayd Berry as is sayd held vpp his hande at the Barre therefore Then after that in his parishe of Aylesham also ann 1557. there was one Alice Oxes came to his house and going into the Hall hee meeting her being before moued smote her with his fist whereby shee was fayne to be caryed home and the next day was founde dead in her chamber To write how many concubines and whores he had none would beleue it but such as knew him in the countrey he dwelt in He was riche and of great authoritie a great sâ—earer altogether geuen to women and persecuting the Gospell and compelling men to idolatry One Iohn Norgate a man learned godly and zelous who would not goe to their trashe but rather dye being sore hunted by the sayd Berry prayed hartely to God and the Lorde shortly after in a consumption deliuered hym Notwithstanding the rage of this wicked manne waxed more fiercer and fiercer Hee troubled sundry men burnt all good bookes that he could get and diuorsed many men and women for religion When he heard say that Queene Mary was dead and the glory of theyr triumph quayled the sonday alter being the xix of Nouember an 1558. he made a great feast had one of hys concubines there with whome he was in his chamber after dinner vntill Euensong Then went he to Church where hee had ministred Baptisme and in going from Church homeward after euensong betwene the churchyard and his house being but a little space as it were a churchyarde bredth asunder he fell downe sodainly to the ground with a heauy grone and neuer stirred after neyther shewed any one token of repentaunce Thys hapned his neighbors being by to the example of al other The Lord graunt we may obserue his iudgementes And those that had his great riches since his death haue so consumed with them that they be poorer now then they were before they had his goodes such iudgement hath the Lord executed to the eyes of all men At that tyme one Dunning Chauncellor of Lincolne which in some part of Queene Maryes dayes was ChaÌ„cellor of Norwiche and a very mercilesse tyrant as liued died in Lincolnshyre of as sodayne a warning as the sayd Berry dyed Thus haue I shewed thee good reader the constancie boldnes and glorious victory of these happy Martyrs as also the tyrannicall cruelty of that vnfortunate Commissary and his terrible end The Lorde graunt wee may all effectually honour the iudgementes of God and feare to displease his holy Maiesty Amen The persecution of mother Seman ABout this tyme or somewhat before was one Ioane Seman mother to the foresayd William Seman being of the age of 66. yeares persecuted of the sayde Syr Iohn Tyrrell also out of the towne of Mendlesham aforesayd because she would not goe to masse and receyue agaynst her conscience Which good old woman being froÌ„ her house was glad sometime to lye in bushes groues fieldes and sometyme in her neighhors house when shee could And her husband beyng at home about the age of 80. yeares fell sicke and she hearing thereof with speede returned home to her house agayn not regarding her life but considering her duetie and shewed her dilligence to her husband most faythfully vntill God tooke him awaye by death Then by Gods prouidence she fell sicke also and departed this lyfe within her owne house shortly after And when one M. Simondes the Commissarye heard of it dwelling thereby in a towne called Thorndon he commaunded straitely that she shuld be buryed in no Christian buriall as they call it where through her frendes wer compelled to lay her in a pit vnder a motes side Her husband and she kept a good house and had a good report amongest theyr neighbours willing alwayes to receiue straungers and to comfort the poore and sicke and lyued together in the holy estate of Matrimony very honestly aboue forty yeares and shee departed thys life willingly ioyfully with a steadfast fayth and a good remembraunce of Gods promise in Christ Iesus The persecution of mother Benet IN the sayde time of Queene Mary there dwelte in the towne of Wetherset by Mendlesham aforesayde a very honest woman called mother Bennet a widowe whiche was persecuted out of the same towne because she woulde not goe to masse and other theyr beggarly ceremonyes but at rhe last shee returned home agayne secretly to her house and there departed this lyfe ioyfully But Syr I. Tyrrell M. Simondes the Commissary would not let her be buryed in the Churchyarde So was she layde in a graue by the high way side The same good old woman mother Benet in the tyme of persecution met one of the sayd mother Semans neighbours and asked her how the sayd mother Seman did she aunswered that she did very wel God be thanked Oh sayd she mother Seman hath slept a great sleepe before me for she was neuer couetous that I could perceiue Her husband in his mirth would say vnto her O woman if thou were sparing thou mightest haue saued me an C. markes more then thou hast To the whiche shee woulde aunswere agayne gently and saye O man be content and let vs be thankefull for God hath geuen vs enough if we can see it Alas good husband would shee saye I tell you truth I cannot â—irken vp my butter and keep my cheese in the chamber and wayte a great price and let the poore want and so displease God But Husband let vs be riche in good workes so shal we please the Lord haue al good thinges geuen vs. c. This good wâ—man of that vice of couetousnesse of all that knew her was iudged least to be spotted of any infirmitie she had The Lord roote it out of the hartes of them that be infected therwith Amen ¶ The Martyrdome of three constant and godly persons burnt at Colchester for the defence and testimony of Christes Gospell THou hast heard good Reader of the forenamed three that were burnt at Norwich whose bloud quenched
Roger Holland THe last examination of Roger Holland was when he with his fellow prisoners were brought into the consistorie there excommunicated all sauing Roger redy to haue their senteÌ„ce of iudgement geuen with many threatning words to feare them withall the Lord Strange syr Tho. Iarret M. Eagleston Esquier and diuers other of worship both of Cheshire Lankeshire that were Rog. Hollands kinsmeÌ„ and friends being there present which had beene earnest suters to the Bishop in hys fauour hoping of his safetie of life Nowe the Bishop hoping yet to winne him with his faire and flattering woordes began after this maner Boner Rog. I haue diuers times called thee before home to my house and haue conferred with thee and being not learned in the latine toung it doth appeare vnto me thou art of a good memorie of a very sensible talke but something ouerhastie which is a naturall disease to some men And surely they are not the worst natured men For I my selfe shall now and then be hastie but mine anger is soone past So Roger surely I haue a good opinion of you that you wil not with these lewd fellowes cast your selfe headlong from the church of your parents your frendes that are here very good catholikes as it is reported vnto me And as I meane thee good so Roger play the wisemans part and come home with the lost sonne and say I haue runne into the church of schismatikes and heretikes from the catholicke church of Rome and you shall I warrante you not only finde fauor at Gods hands but the Church that hath authoritie shall absolue you and put newe garments vppon you and kill the fatling to make thee good cheare withall That is in so doing as meate doth refresh and chearish the minde so shalt thou finde as much quietnesse of conscience in comming home to the church as dyd the hungry sonne that had ben fed afore with the hogs as you haue done with these heretikes that seuer them selues from the church I giue them a homely name but they be worse putting his hand to his cap for reuereÌ„ce sake then hogs For they know the church and will not followe it If I shoulde saye thus muche to a Turke hee woulde I thinke beleue me But Roger if I did not beare thee and thy friendes good will I woulde not haue sayde so muche as I haue done but I would haue let mine Ordinarie alone with you At these wordes his frendes that were there gaue the Bishop thankes for his good will and paines that he had taken in his and theyr behalfe Boner Wel Roger how say you nowe Do you not beleeue that after the Priest hath spoken the words of consecration there remaineth the body of Christ really corporally vnder the formes of bread and wine I meane that selfe same body that was borne of the virgine Mary that was crucified vpon the crosse that rose againe the third day Holland Your Lordship sayth the same body which was borne of the virgin Marie which was crucified vpon the Crosse which rose againe the third day but you leaue out which ascended into heauen and the Scripture sayeth he shall there remaine vntil he come to iudge the quicke and the deade Then he is not contained vnder the formes of bread and wine by Hoc est corpus meum c. Boner Roger I perceiue my paines and good will will not preuaile and if I shoulde argue with thee thou art so wilâ—ul as all thy fellowes be standing in thine owne singularitie foolish conceit that thou wouldest still talke to no purpose this 7. yere if thou mightest be suffered Aunswer whether thou wilt confesse the reall corporall presence of Christes body in the Sacrament or wilt not Holland My Lord although that God by his sufferaunce hath nere placed you to set forth his truth and glory in vs his faithful seruantes notwithstanding your meaning is farre from the zeale of Christ and for all your words you haue the same zeal that Annas and Caiphas had trusting to their authoritie traditions and ceremonies more then to the woorde of God Boner If I should suffer hym he would fall from reasoning to railing as a franticke heretike Lord Straunge Roger sayth the Lord Straunge I perceiue my Lorde woulde haue you to tell him whether you will submit your selfe vnto him or no. Boner Yea sayeth Boner and confesse this presence that I haue spoken of With this Roger turning him to the Lorde Strange and the rest of his kinsmen and frendes very chearefully kneled downe vpon his knees and said God by the mouth of his seruant S. Paul hath said Let euery soule submit him selfe vnto the higher powers and he that resisteth receiueth hys owne damnation and as you are â— Magistrate appoynted by the will of God so do I submit my selfe vnto you and to all such as are appoynted for Magistrates Boner That is well sayde I see you are no Anabaptist Howe saye you then to the presence of Chrâ—stes bodye and bloud in the Sacrament of the altare Holland I say and I beseeche you all to marke and beare witnes with me for so you shal doe before the iudgement seate of God what I speake for heere is the Conclusion And ye my deare frendes turning him to his kinsmen I pray you shew my father what I doe say that he may vnderstand I am a christian man I say and beleeue and am therein fully persuaded by the scriptures that the Sacrament of the Supper of oure Lorde ministred in the holye Communion according to Christes institution I beinge penitent sorie for my sinnes and minding to amend and lead a new life and so coÌ„ming worthely vnto Gods bord in perfect loue charity do there receiue by faith the body bloud of Christ. And though Christ in his humane person sitte at the right hand of his father yet by saith I say his death his passion his merites are mine and by faithe I dwell in him and he in me And as for the Masse transubstantiation the worshipping of the Sacrament they are meere impietie and horrible idolatrie Boner I thought so much sayth Boner suffering him to speake no more how he wold proue a very blasphemous hereticke as euer I heard Howe vnreuerently doeth hee speake of the blessed Masse and so read his bloudy senteÌ„ce of condemnation adiudging him to be burned All this while Roger was verye patient quiet and when he should depart he sayd my lord I besech you suffer me to speake 2. words The B. wold not hear him but bad him away Notwtstanding being requested by one of his frendes he sayd speake what hast thou to say Holland Euen now I told you that your authority was from God and by his sufferance and now I tel you God hath heard the praier of his seruaÌ„ts which hath ben powred forth with feares for his afflicted sainctes which daily you persecute as now you
do vs. But this I dare be bold in God to speake which by his spirit I am moued to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time you shal not molest his church And this shal you in short time well perceiue my deare brethrē to be most true For after this day in this place shall there not be anye by hym put to the triall of fire and fagot And after this daye there was neuer none that suffered in Smithfielde for the testimonie of the gospell God be thanked After these woordes spoken saith Boner Roger thou art I perceiue as madde in these thy heresies as euer was Ioan Butcher In anger and fume thou woldest become a railing Prophet Thoughe thou and all the sorte of you would see me hanged yet I shall liue to burne yea I wil burne all the sort of you that come in my handes that wil not worship the blessed sacrament of the altare for all thy pratling and so he went his way Then Roger Holland began to exhort his frendes to repentance and to thinke wel of them that suffered for the testimonie of the Gospel and with that the B. came back charging the keeper that no man shoulde speake to them without his licence and if they did they should be cōmitted to prison In the meane season H. Pond and Roger spake stil vnto the people exhorting them to stande in the truthe adding moreouer that God woulde shorten those cruel and euil daies for his elect sake The day they suffred a proclamation was made that none should be so bold to speake or talke any word vnto them or receiue any thing of them or to touche them vpō payne of imprisonment without either bale or mainprise wyth diuers other cruell threatninge woordes contained in the same Proclamation Notwithstanding the people cryed out desiring God to strengthen them and they likewyse still praied for the people and the restoring of his woorde At length Roger embracing the stake and the reedes said these woordes Lord I most humbly thanke thy Maiestie that thou hast called mee from the state of death vnto the lighte of thy heauenlye worde and nowe vnto the fellowship of thy Sainctes that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of hoastes And Lord into thy handes I commit my spirite Lord blesse these thy people and saue them from Idolatrie and so ended his life looking vp into heauen praying and praising God with the rest of his fellowe Sainctes For whose ioyfull constancie the Lord be praised The Martyrdome of vj. which suffered at Brainforde for the true testimonie of Iesus Christ. NOt long after the death of the fore named vij godlye Martyrs that suffered in Smithfielde were vj. other faithfull witnesses of the Lordes true Testament Martyred at Braynforde vij miles from London the xiiij day of Iuly 1558. which sayd sixe were of that companie that were apprehended in a close harde by Islington as is aboue specified and sent to prisone Whose names and articles proponed to them with their answers vnto the same hereafter followeth Robert Milles. Stephen Corton Robert Dynes Stephen Wight Iohn Slade William Pikes or Pikers a Tanner These vj. forenamed Martyrs gentle Reader hadde their articles ministred to them by Thomas Darbishire Boners Chancellor at sundrye times as Robert Mules the 20. day of Iune Stephen Wight the 21. day of the said moneth Ste. Cotton and Iohn Slade the 22. day Robert Dines and William Pikes the 23. day At which said times though they were seuerally examined yet had they all one maner of articles ministred to them yea th◠selfe same Articles that were ministred to Iohn Holiday Hēry Pond and their companie aforesayd Which sayde articles I leaue the reader to looke for in page 1967. and think it not necessarye anye more to rehearse them but onely to proceede with their aunsweres to the same which briefly and in summe hereafter followeth The answeres of the forenamed persons to the Articles aforesayd 1 TO the first Article they all graunted the same and added thereto for going to Church that Robert Milles and Stephen Wight came not there for 3. quarters of a yere before and Iohn Slade William Pikes not since the Queenes raigne Stephen Cotten not for a twelue moneth before and Rob. Dynes not for two yeares before The 2.3.4.5 and 6 Articles they all answeared in effecte as the forenamed Iohn Holiday Henry Ponde and their companye did pag. 1931 sauing they added that as their rites customes ceremonies are against the worde of God so will they obserue and keepe no parte of the same Stephen Wight added further that he receiued not their Sacrament of the aultar for two yeres before nor Iohn Slade and William Pikes since Queene Maries raigne nor Stephen Cotton for a twelue moneth before nor Robert Dines for three yeres before To the 7. article they all graunted the same in euerye parte like vnto the aforenamed Henry Pond and his companye page 1931 sauing Rob. Dines added that it was no part of his beliefe To the 8. Article they all graunted the same in euery part as the forenamed William Holliday and his companye page 193◠but Robert Milles added therto that he wil not come to church nor allowe their religion so long as the crosse is crepte too and worshipped and Images are in the Church Iohn Slade affirmed in effecte as Robert Milles did adding further that there be not 7. Sacraments but 2. Sacraments which is Baptisme the Supper of the Lord. Stephen Cotton woulde no further allowe the Popish religion then it agreeth with Gods woorde and Robert Dines affirmed in effect the like to Stephen Cotton also To the 9. and 10 articles Robert Milles Iohn Slade Steuen Cotton answered that they do not allow the popish seruice then set foorth because it is against the truthe and in a straunge language which the common people vnderstand◠not Robert Dines and William Pikes will neither allow nor disallowe the Latine seruice because they vnderstād it not And Steuen Wight would make no directe aunswer to the articles at all and to the 11.12.13 and 14. articles we finde no answeres recorded of the said Steuen Wight but of the rest of his fellowe prisoners wee finde answers to those articles which hereafter followe To the 11. article Robert Milles Iohn Slade and Steuen Cotton answered that concernīg the bookes faith and religion specified in this article they doe allowe them so farre foorth as they agree with Gods word c. Robert Dines would make no answer thereto because he thoughte himselfe vnmeete to iudge thereof and William Pikes doeth not remember that hee hathe misliked the seruice and the faith and religion set foorth in king Edward the sixt his time To the 12. they graunt that if they might receiue the sacrament as they did in king Edward the sixt daies they would with all their heart so doe To
their condemnatiō And thus these foure blessed Martyrs seruants of Christ innocently suffred together at s. Edmundsbury as is aforesayd about the beginnyng of August not long before the sicknes of Queene Mary ¶ The Martyrdome of two godly persons sufferyng at Ipswich for the Gospell of Christ and his euerlastyng testament named Alexander Gouche and Alice Driuer MAister Noone a iustice in Suffolk dwelling in Martlesham huntyng after good men to apprehend them as he was a bloudy tyraunt in the dayes of triall at the length had vnderstanding of one Gouche of Woodbridge Driuers wyfe of Grosborough to bee at Grosborough together a little from his house immediately tooke his mē with hym and went thether and made diligent search for them where the poore man and woman were compelled to step into an hay golph to hide themselues frō their cruelty At the last they came to search the hay for them and by gaging thereof with pitchforkes at the last found them so they tooke them led them to Melton Gaole where they remainyng a tyme at the length were caried to Bury against the Assise at S. Iames tide and beyng there examined of matters of fayth did boldly stand to confesse Christ crucified defiyng the Pope with all his papisticall trashe And among other thyngs Driuers wife likened Queene Mary in her persecution to Iezabell and so in that sense callyng her Iezabel for that sir Clement Higham beyng chiefe Iudge there adiudged her eares immediately to be cut off which was accomplished accordingly and she ioyfully yelded her selfe to the punishment and thought her selfe happy that she was coūted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ. After the Assise at Bury they were caried to Melton Gaole agayne where they remained a tyme. This Alexāder Gouch was a man of the age of 36. yeares or thereabouts and by his occupation was a Weauer of shredding Couerlets dwellyng at Woodbridge in Suffolke borne at Ufford in the same Countie Driuers wife was a woman about the age of 30. yeares dwelt at Grosborough where they were taken in Suffolke Her husband did vse husbandry These two were caried from Melton Gaole to Ipswich where they remayned were examined The which their examination as it came to our hands hereafter followeth The examination of Driuers wyfe before Doct. Spenser the Chauncellor of Norwich FIrst she comming into the place where she should bee examined with a smiling countenance Doct. Spenser said Why woman doest thou laugh vs to scorne Driuers wyfe Whether I do or no I might well enough to see what fooles ye be Doct. Spenser Then the Chauncellour asked her wherfore she was brought before hym and why she was layed in prison Dry. Wherefore I thinke I neede not to tell you for ye know it better then I. Spens No by my troth woman I know not why Dry. Then haue ye done me muche wrong quoth shee thus to imprison me and know no cause why for I know no euill that I haue done I thank God and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I haue done iustly Spenser Woman woman what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar Doest thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud after the words be spoken of consecration Driuers wife at those words helde her peace made no answer Then a great chuffeheaded priest that stood by spake and asked her why shee made not the Chauncellour an aunswere With that the sayd Driuers wyfe looked vpon hym austerely and sayde Why Priest I come not to talke with thee but I come to talke with thy Maister but if thou wilt I shall talke with thee commaunde thy Maister to holde his peace And with that the Priest put his nose in hys cappe and spake neuer a worde more Then the Chauncellor bade her make aunswere to that he demaunded of her Dry. Sir sayd she pardon me though I make no aunswer for I cannot tell what you meane thereby for in all my lyfe I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture Spens Why what scriptures haue you read I pray you Dry. I haue I thanke God read Gods booke Spens Why what maner of Booke is that you call Gods booke Dry. It is the old and new Testament What call you it Spens That is Gods booke in deed I cannot deny Dry. That same booke haue I read thoroughout but yet neuer could find any such sacrament there for that cause I cannot make you aunswer to that thing I knowe not Notwithstanding for all that I will grant you a Sacrament called the Lords supper and therfore seyng I haue graunted you a Sacrament I pray you shew me what a sacrament is Spens It is a signe And one D. Gascoine beyng by confirmed the same that it was the signe of an holy thing Dry. You haue sayd the truth sir sayd she It is a signe in deede I must needes graunt it and therefore seyng it is a signe it cannot be the thyng signified also Thus farre we do agree for I haue graunted your owne saying Then stoode vp the sayd Gascoine and made an Oration wyth many fayre wordes but little to purpose both offensiue odious to the myndes of the godly In the ende of which long tale he asked her if shee did not beleeue the omnipotencie of God and that he was almighty and able to performe that he spake She answered yes and said I do beleeue that God is almighty and able to performe that hee spake and promised Gasc Uery well Then he sayd to his disciples Take eate this is my body Ergo it was his body For he was able to performe that he spake and God vseth not to lye Dry. I pray you did he euer make any such promise to his disciples that he would make the bread his body Gasc Those be the wordes Can you deny it Dry. No they be the very wordes in deed I cannot deny it but I pray you was it not breade that hee gaue vnto them Gasc No it was his body Dry. Then was it his body that they did eat ouer night Gasc Yea it was his body Dry. What body was it then that was crucified the nexte day Gasc It was Christes body Dry. How could that be when his disciples had eaten him vp ouer night except he had two bodies as by your argument he had one they did eate ouer night and another was crucified the next day Such a Doctor such doctrine Be you not ashamed to teach the people that Christ had two bodies In the 22. of Luke He tooke bread and brake it and gaue it to his disciples saying Take c. and do this in the remembraunce of me Saint Paule also sayeth 1. Cor. 11. Do this in the remembraunce of me for as often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shall shewe the Lordes death
theirs God is my father God is my mother God is my Sister my Brother my Kinsman God is my frend moste faythfull ¶ The cruell burning of a woman at Exeter Touching the name of this woman as I haue nowe learned she was the wife of one called Prest dwelling in the Dioces of Exeter not farre from Launceston ¶ The Persecution and Martyrdome of three godly men burnt at Bristow about the latter yeares of Queene Maries reigne IN writing of the blessed Sayntes which suffered in the bloudy dayes of queene Mary I had almost ouerpassed the names and story of three godly Martyrs whiche with theyr bloud gaue testimony likewise to the gospell of Christ being condemned and burnt in the town of Bristow The names of whom were these Richard Sharpe Thomas Benion Thomas Hale First Richarde Sharpe Weauer of Bristowe was brought the 9. day of Marche an 1556. before M. Dalbye Chauncellour of the Towne or City of Bristow and after examination concerning the sacrament of the aultar was perswaded by the sayde Dalbye and others to recant and the 29. of the same moneth was enioyned to make his recantation before the Parishioners in his parish Churche Which whē he had done he felt in his cōscience such a tormenting hell that he was not able quietly to worke in his occupation but decayed and chaunged both in colour and liking of his body Who shortly after vpon a sonday came into his parish Church called Temple after high masse came to the queere doore sayd with a loud voyce Neighbors beare me recorde that yonder Idoll and poynted to the aultar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied my Lord GOD. Then the Constables were commaunded to apprehende him but none stepped forth but suffered him to goe out of the Church After by night he was apprehended and caried to Newgate shortly after he was brought before the sayd Chauncellor denying the sacrament of the aultar to be the body bloud of Christ sayd it was an Idoll and therfore was cōdemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby He was burnt the 7. of May. 1557. and dyed godly paciently and constantly confessing the articles of our fayth ¶ Thomas Hale Martyr THe Thursday in the night before Easter .1557 came one M. Dauid Herris Alderman Iohn Stone to the house of one Thomas Hale a Shoomaker of Bristowe caused him to rise out of his bedde brought hym foorth of his dore To whō the said Tho. Hale said You haue sought my bloud these two yeares now much good do it you with it Who being committed to the watchmen was caried to Newgate the 24. of April the yere aforesaid was brought before M. Dalby the Chancelor committed by him to prison after by him condemned to be burnt for saying the sacrament of the altar to be an Idoll He was burned the 7. of May with the foresayd Rich. Sharpe godly paciently and constantly embracing the fire with his armes Two Godly Martyrs burned at Bristow Richard Sharpe Thomas Hale were burned both together in one fire and bound backe to backe Thomas Benion THomas Benion a Weauer at the commaundement of the Commissioners was brought by a Constable the thirtenth daye of August 1557. before Mayster Dalbye Chauncellour of Bristow who committed him to pryson for saying there was nothing but bread in the Sacrament as they vsed it Wherefore the twenty day of the sayd August he was condemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby for denying fiue of theyr Sacramentes and affirming two that is the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptisme He was burnt the seuen and twenty of the sayd moneth and yeare and dyed godly Thomas Benion burned at Bristow constantly and patiently with confessing the articles of our christian fayth ¶ The Martyrdome of fiue constant Christians which suffered the last of all other in the time of Queene Mary THe last that suffred in Queene Maries time were fiue at Caunterburye burned about sixe dayes before the death of Queene Mary whose names follow here vnder written Iohn Corneford of Wortham Christopher Browne of Maydstone Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Katherine Knight otherwise called Katherine Tynley an aged woman These fiue to close vp the finall rage of queene Maries persecution for the testimony of that word for whiche so many had died before gaue vp theyr liues meekly and paciently suffering the violent malice of the Papistes Which Papists although they then might haue either well spared them or els deferred theyr death knowing of the sicknesse of Queene Mary yet such was the implacable despite of that generation that some there be that say the Archdeacō of Canterbury the same time being at London vnderstanding the daunger of the Queene incontinently made al post hast home to dispatch these whom before he had thē in his cruell custody The matter why they were iudged to the fire was for beleuing the body not to be in the sacrament of the aulter vnlesse it be receiued saying moreouer that we receiue an other thing also beside Christes body which we see and is a temporall thing according to S. Paule The thinges that be sene be temporall c. Item for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue Christes body Because no man hath the sonne except it be geuen him of the father Item that it is Idolatry to creepe to the crosse and S. Iohn forbidding it sayth Beware of Images Itē for confessing that we should not pray to our Lady and other Sayntes because they be not omnipotent For these and such other articles of Christian doctrine were these fiue committed to the fire Agaynst whom whē the sentence shoulde be read and they excommunicate after the maner of the papistes one of them Iohn Cornford by name styrred with a vehemēt spirit of the zeale of god proceeding in a more true excōmunication agaynst the papistes in the name of them all pronounced sentēce against them in these wordes as folow In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite the authority of his holy catholick Apostolick church we do geue here into th◠handes of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of all those blasphemers hereticks that do mainteine any error agaynst his most holy word or do cōdemne his most holy truth for heresy to the mainteinaunce of any false Churche or fayned Religion so that by this thy iuste iudgement O most mighty God against thy aduersaries thy true religion may be knowne to thy great glory and our comfort and to the edifying of al our natiō Good Lord so be it Amen This sentence of excommunication beyng the same time openly pronounced and registred proceeding so as it seemeth from an inwarde fayth and hartye zeale to Gods trueth and
Religion tooke such effect agaynst the enemye that within sixe dayes after Queene Mary dyed and the tyranny of all Englishe Papistes with her Albeit notwithstanding the sicknes and death of that queene wherof they were not ignorant yet the Archdeacon with other of Caunterbury thought to dispatch the Martyrdome of these men before ¶ The burning of fiue Martyrs at Caunterbury In the which fact the tyranny of this Archdeacon seemeth to exceede the crueltye of Boner who notwithstanding he had certayne the same time vnder his custodye yet he was not so importune in haling them to the fire as appeareth by father Liuing and his wife and diuers other who being the same time vnder the custody and daūger of Boner deliuered by the death of Queene Mary remayne yet some of them aliue These godly martirs in theyr prayers which they made before their martirdome desired God that theyr bloud might be the last that should be shed and so it was This Katherine Tynley was the mother of one Robert Tynley now dwelling in Maydstone which Robert was in trouble all Queene Maryes time To whom hys Mother comming to visite him asked him how he tooke this place of Scripture which she had seene not by reading of the Scripture for she had yet in maner no taste of Religion but had found it by chaunce in a Booke of prayers I will poure out my spirite vpon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesy your olde men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see visions And also vpon the seruantes and vpon the maydes in those dayes will I poure my spirite c. Which place after that he had expounded to her she began to take hold on the Gospell growing more and more in zeale and loue thereof and so continued vnto her Martyrdome Among such young women as were burned at Caunterbury it is recorded of a certayne mayd and supposed to be this Alice Snoth here in this story mentioned or els to be Agnes Snoth aboue storied pag. 1751. for they were both burned that when she was brought to bee executed she being at the stake called for her godfather and godmothers The Iustice hearing her sent for thē but they durste not come Notwithstanding the Iustice willed the messēger to go agayne and to shew them that they should incur no daunger therfore Then they hearing that came to knowe the matter of theyr sending for When the maide saw them she asked thē what they had promised for her and so she immediatly rehearsed her fayth and the commaundements of God and required of them if there were any more that they had promised in her behalfe and they sayd no. Then sayd shee I dye a Christian woman beare witnes of me and so cruelly in fire was she consumed gaue ioyfully her life vp for the testimony of Christes Gospell to the terrour of the wicked and comfort of the godly and also to the stopping of the sclaunderous mouthes of suche as falsly doe quarrell agaynst these faythfull Martyrs for going from that religion wherein by theyr Godfathers Godmothers they were first baptised ¶ The story and condemnation of Iohn Hunt and Richard White ready to be burnt but by the death of Queene Mary escaped the fire BEsides these Martyrs aboue named diuers there were in diuers other places of the Realme imprisoned whereof some were but newly taken and not yet examined some begon to be examined but were not yet condemned certayne both examined and condemned but for lacke of the writ escaped Other there were also both condemned and the writ also was brought downe for theyr burning and yet by the death of the Chaūcellor the bishop and of Queene Mary happening together about one time they most happely maruellously were preserued and liued many yeres after In the number of whom was one Iohn Hunt and Rich. White imprisoned at Salisbury Touching which historie something here is to be shewed First these two good men and faythfull seruauntes of the Lord aboue named to wit Iohn Hunt and Richarde White had remayned long time in prison at Salisburye other places therabout the space of two yeares and more During which time oft times they were called to examination manifold waies were impugned by the Bishop and the Priestes All whose examinations as I thoughte not much needefull here to prosecute or to searche out for the length of the volume so neither agayne did I thinke it good to leaue no memorye at all of the same but some part to expresse namely of the examination of Richarde White before the Bishop of Salisbury the Bishop of Glocester with the Chauncellour and other Priestes not vnworthy perchaunce to be rehearsed * The examination of Richard White before the Byshop of Salisbury in his chamber in Salisbury the 26. day of Aprill an 1557. THe Bishop of Salisbury at that time was Docor Capon The Bishop of Glocester was Doctor Brookes These with Doctour Geffrey the Chauncelour of Salisbury and a great number of Priestes sitting in iudgemēt Richarde White was brought before them With whome first the Bishop of Glocester which had the examination of him beginneth thus Bishop Brookes Is this the prisoner The chauncellour Yea my Lord. Brookes Frend wherefore camest thou hether White My Lord I trust to know the cause for the lawe saith in the mouth of two or three witnesses things must stand Doctour Capon Did not I examine thee of thy fayth whē thou camest hether White No my Lord you did not examine me but cōmaūded me to the Lollardes Tower and that no man should speake with me And now I do require mine accuser Then the Register said the Maior of Marlborow did apprehend you for wordes that you spake there for that I commaunded you to be conueyed hither to prison White You had the examination of me in Marlborow Say you what I haue sayd And I will aunswere you Geffray Thou shalt confesse thy fayth ere thou depart and therfore say thy minde freely and be not ashamed so to do White I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ because it is the power of God to saluation vnto all that beleue S. Peter sayth If any man do aske thee a reasō of the hope that is in thee make him a direct aunswere and that with meekenes Who shall haue the examination of me Chaunc My Lord of Glocester shall haue the examinatiō of thee White My Lorde will you take the paynes to wet your coate in my bloud be not guilty thereof I warne you before hand Brookes I will do nothing to the contrary to our law White My Lorde what is it that you doe request at my handes Brookes I will appose thee vpon certayne articles principally vpon the sacramēt of the aultar How doest thou beleue of the blessed Sacrament of the aulter Beleuest thou not the reall carnall and corporall presence of Christ in the same euen
wordes and reioysing in the same began to speake vnto hym saying that he was sory to heare these newes For sayd he if Crome should say otherwise then he hath sayd then is it contrary to the truth of Gods worde and contrary to his owne conscience which shall before God accuse hym Lewes aunswered and sayd that he had Preached taught heresy and therefore it was meete that he should in such a place reuoke it Wilmot tolde him that he would not so say neyther did he heare hym Preach any doctrine contrary to Gods worde written but that he proued his doctrine and that sufficiently by the Scriptures Lewes then asked him how he knew that Wilmot Aunswered by the Scripture of God wherein he shall find GODS will and pleasure what he willeth all men to do and what not to do and also by them he should prooue and trye all doctrines and the false doctrine from the true Lewes sayde it was neuer mery since the Bible was in Englishe and that he was doth an hereticke and a traitour that caused it to be translated into Englishe meaning Cromwell and therefore was rewarded according to his desertes Wilmot aunswered agayne what his desertes and offences were to his Prince a great many do not knowe neyneyther doth it force whether they do or no once he was sure that he lost his lyfe for offending his Prince and the law did put it in execution Adding moreouer concerning that man that he thought it pleased GOD to rayse hym vp from a low estate and to place him in hyghe authority partly vnto this that he should do that as all the Bishops in the Realme yet neuer dyd in restoring agayne Gods holy worde which being hyd long before from the people in a straunge tongue now comming abroad amongest vs will bring our Byshops Priestes sayde he in lesse estimation among the people Lewes asked why so Wilmot sayde because their doctrine and liuing was not according to his word Then sayde Lewes I neuer heard but that all men shoulde learne of the Byshops and Priests because they are learned men and haue bene brought vp in learning all the dayes of their liues Wherefore they must needes know the truth and our fathers did beleue their doctrine and learning and I thinke they did well for the worlde was farre better then then it is now Wilmot aunswered I will not say so For wee muste not beleue them beause they are Bishops neyther because they are learned neither because our forefathers did follow theyr doctrine For I haue read in Gods booke how that Byshoqpes and learned men haue taught the people false doctrine and likewise the Priestes from time to time and in deede those people our forefathers beleued as they taught and as they did thinke so did the people thinke But for al this Christ calleth thē false Prophetes theeues and murtherers blinde leaders of the blinde willing the people to take heede of them least they should both fal into the ditche Moreouer we read that the Byshoppes Priests and learned men haue bene commonly resisters of the trueth from time to time and haue alwayes persecuted the Prophetes in the old lawe as theyr successours did persecute our Sauiour Christ and hys Disciples in the newe lawe We must take heed therefore that we credite them no further then God will haue vs neyther to followe them nor our forefathers otherwise then he commaundeth vs. For almighty God hath geuen to all people as well to kings and Princes as Byshoppes Priests learned and vnlearned men a commaundement and law vnto the which he willeth all men to be obedient Therfore if any Bishop or Prieste preache or teache or Prince or Magistrate commaunde any thing contrary to his commaundement we must take heede how we obey them For it is better for vs to obey God then man Mary sir quoth Lewes you are a holy Doctoure in deede By Gods bloud if you were my man I woulde set you about your busines a little better and not to look vpon bookes and so woulde your Mayster if hee were wise And with that in came his mayster and young man wyth hym which was seruaunt with M. Daubny in Watling streete His mayster asked what the matter was Lewes sayd that he had a knauish boy here to his seruaunt and how that if he were his he would rather hang him then keepe him in his house Then his Mayster being somewhat moued asked his fellowes what the matter was They sayde they began to talke about Doct. Crome Then hys Mayster asked hym what hee hadde sayde swearyng a great othe that he would make hym to tell hym He sayd that he trusted he had sayd nothing whereby either he or M. Lewes may iustly be offended I pray you quoth Wilmot aske him what I sayd Mary sir sayd Lewes thys he sayd that Doct. Crome did preach and teach nothing but the truth and howe that if he recant on Sonday next he would be sory to heare it that if he do he is made to doe it agaynst his conscience And more he sayth that we must not follow our Bishops doctrine and preaching For sayth he they be hinderers of Gods word and persecutors of that and how Cromwell dyd more good that traytour in setting foorth the Bible then all our Byshops haue done these hundreth yeares thus reporting the matter worse then he had sayd Then sayde Wilmot that in many thinges hee made his tale worse then it was His Maister hearyng of thys was in a great fury and rated him saying that eyther he would be hanged or burned swearing that he would take away all his bookes and burne them The younge man Mayster Dawbnies seruant standing by hearing this beganne to speake on his part vnto Lewes and his talke confirmed all the sayinges of other to be true This young man was learned his name was Tho. Fayrefaxe Lewes hearing this young mans talk as wel as the others went his way in a rage vnto the Court. On the morowe they heard newes so that the sayde Wilmot and Tho. Fayrefaxe were sent for to come to the Lord Maior The messenger was M. Smart Sword-bearer of London They came before dinner to the Mayors house and were commaunded to sit downe at dinner in the Hall and when the dinner was done they were both called into a Parlour where the Mayor and Syr Roger Cholmley was who examined them seuerally that one not hearing the other The effect of their talke with them was this Syr Roger Cholmley sayd vnto the foresayd Wilmot that my Lorde Mayor and hee had receiued a commaundement from the Counsell to send for hym and his companion and to examine them of certayne thinges which were layde vnto theyr charge Then sayd Mayster Cholmley to hym Syrra what Countreyman art thou He aunswered that he was born in Cambridgeshyre and in such a towne Then he asked him how long he had bene in
the City He told him Then he asked what learning he had He sayde little learning and small knowledge Then deridingly he asked how long he had knowne Doct. Crome he sayd but a while about two yeares He sayd that he was a lying boy and said that he the sayd Wilmot was his sonne The other sayd vnto hym that was vnlike for that he neuer see his mother nor she him Cholmley sayd he lyed Wilmot sayd hee coulde prooue it to be true Then hee asked him how he liked his sermon that he made at S. Thomas of Acres Chappel in Lent He sayde that in deede hee heard him not He sayd yes and the other nay Then says he what say you to his sermon made at the Crosse the â—ast day heard you not that Wilmot Yes and in that sermon he deceaued a great nuÌ„ber of people Cholmley How so Wilmot For that they looked that he shoulde haue recanted his doctrine that he taught before and did not but rather confirmed it Cholmley Yea Syr but how say you now to him for hee hath recanted before the counsell and hathe promised on Sonday next to be at the crosse agayne how thinke ye in that Wilmot If hee so did I am the more sory for to heare it and sayd he thought he did it for feare and safegard of hys lyfe Cholmley But what say you was hys first sermon heresie or not Wilmot No I suppose it was no heresie For if it were S. Paules Epistle to the Hebrewes was heresie Paule an hereticke that preached such doctrine but God forbyd that any Christian man should so thinke of the holy Apostle neyther do I so thinke Cholmley Why how knowest thou that saynct Paul wrot those thinges that are in English now to be true wheras Paule neuer wrot english nor latine Wilmot I am certified that learned men of God that dyd seeke to aduaunce hys word did translate the same out of the Grecke and Hebrue into Latine and english and that they durst not to presume to altar the sense of the scripture of God and last will and testament of Christ Iesus Then the Lorde Mayor being in a great furye asked hym what he had to do to read such bookes and sayd that it was pitty that his mayster did suffer him so to doe and that he was not set better to worke and in fyne sayd vnto him that he had spoken euill of my Lord of Winchester Boner those reuerend learned fathers couÌ„cellours of this Realme for the which his fact he saw no other but he must suffer as due to the same And M. Cholmley sayd yea my Lord there are such a sort of heretickes trayterly knaues taken now in Essex by my Lord Rich that it is to wonderfull to heare They shall be sent to the Byshoppe shortly and shall be hanged and burned all Wilmot I am sory to heare that of my Lord Rich for that he was my godfather and gaue me my name at my Baptisme Cholmley asked him when he spake with him He sayd not these xii yeares Cholmley If he knew that he were such a one he woulde do the like by him and in so doyng he should do God great seruice Wilmot I haue read the same saying in the Gospell that Christ sayd to his Disciples The tyme shal come sayth he that whosoeuer killeth you shall think that he shal do God hygh seruice Well sir sayd Cholmley because yee are so full of youre Scripture and so well learned wee consider you lacke a quyet place to study in Therefore you shall go to a place where you shall be most quiet and I would wish you to study how you will answere to the Counsell of those thinges which they haue to charge you with for els it is like to cost you your best ioynt I know my lord of Win. wil haÌ„dle you wel enough wheÌ„ he heareth thus much TheÌ„ was the Officer called in to haue him to the Counter in the Poultrye and the other to the other Counter not one of them to see an other and thus remayned they viii dayes In the which time their Maisters made a great labor vnto the Lord Mayor and to sir Roger Cholmley to know their offences and that they might be deliuered At length they procured the Wardens of the company of Drapers to labour with them in theyr sute to the Mayor The Mayor went with them to the Counsell but at that time they could finde no grace at Winchesters hand Sir Anthonie Brownes but that they had deserued death and that they should haue the law At length through entreataunce he graunted theÌ„ thus much fauour that they should not dye as they had deserued but should be tyed to a cartes tayle and be whipped three market dayes through the Cittye Thus they came home that day and went an other day and the Mayor the Wardens of the company kneeled before them to haue this open punishment released for asmuche as they were seruauntes of so worshipfull a companye and that they might be punished in theyr own hall before the Wardens and certayne of the companye At length it was graunted with condition as some said as shal be hereafter declared Then were they sent before the Maysters the next day to the hall both theyr maysters being also present there were layd to theyr charges the heynous offences by them committed how they were both heretickes and traytors and haue deserued death for the same and this was declared with a long processe by the Mayster of the company whose name was M. Brooke declaring what great labour and sute the Mayor the Wardens had made for theÌ„ to saue theÌ„ froÌ„ death which they as he said had deserued from opeÌ„ shame which they shoulde haue had being iudged by the Counsell to haue bene whipped iii. dayes through the city at a cartes tayle and from these two daungers had they laboured to deliuer them but not without great sute and also charge For saith he the company hath promised vnto the Counsaile for this their mercy and fauour shewed towardes them being of such a worshipfull company a C. poundes notwithstanding we must see them punished in our Hall within our selues for those theyr offences After these and many other wordes hee commaunded them to addresse themselues to receiue their punishment Then were they put asunder and stripped from the wast vpward one after an other and had into the hal and in the middest of the hall where they vse to make theyr fire there was a great ring of Iron to the whiche there was a rope tyed fast and one of theyr feete thereto fast tyed Then came two men down disguised in Mommers apparell with visors on theyr faces and they beate them with great rods vntill the bloud did follow in their bodies As concerning this Wilmot he could not lye in his bead 6. nightes after for Brooke played the tyraunt with them So it was that with
Lord Bishop and before Maister Chauncellour three times and haue declared my fayth Deane And yet I know that M. Chancellor will say that thou art a ranke heretike Story Away with her Bish. M. Deane ye knowe that I may not tary nor you neither Let her keeper bryng her home to your own chāber soone at foure a clocke at after noone and if that ye find her reasonable then let her goe for I would that she were gone Then sayd the Deane with a good will my Lord and so she was sent vnto the place from whence she came vntill it was 4. of the clocke at afternoone ¶ The ix examination before the Deane before whom it pleased God to deliuer her WHen it was 4. of the clock at afternoone as the houre was appointed the Deane was set he asked her Art thou a foole now as thou wast to day Eliz. Sir I haue learned but small wisedome since Deane Doest thou thynke that I am better learned then thou Eliz. Yes sir that I do Deane Thinkest thou that I can do thee good Eliz. Yea sir and if it please God that ye will Deane Then I wyll doe thee good in deede What doest thou receyue when thou receyuest the Sacrament which Christ left among his Disciples the night before hee was betrayed Eliz. Sir that that his Disciples did receiue Deane What did they receyue Eliz. Sir that that Christ gaue them they receyued Deane What aunswere is this Was Christ there present Eliz. Sir he was there present for he instituted his owne sacrament Deane He tooke bread and he brake it and gaue it to hys disciples and sayd Take eate this is my body which shall bee broken for you When thou receiuest it doest thou beleeue that thou receiuest his body Eliz Sir when I receiue I beleeue that through faith I do receiue Christ. Deane Doest thou beleeue that Christ is there Eliz. Sir I beleeue that he is there to me and by fayth I do receyue hym Deane He also tooke the cup and gaue thanks and gaue it to his Disciples and sayd Drinke ye all hereof This is the cup of the new Testament in my bloude which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes When thou doest receiue it after the institution that Christ ordained among his Disciples the night before he was betraied doest thou beleeue that Christ is there Eliz. Sir by faith I beleeue that he is there and by fayth I do beleeue that I do receiue hym Deane Now thou hast answered me Remēber that thou sayest that when thou doest receiue according to the institution of Christ thou doest receiue Christ. Eliz. Sir I beleeue Christ not to be absent from his owne sacrament Deane How long wilt thou continue in that beliefe Eliz. Sir as long as I do lyue by the help of God for it is and hath bene my beliefe Deane Wilt thou say this before my Lord Eliz. Yea sir. Deane Then I dare deliuer thee Why thou Calfe why wouldst thou not say so to day Eliz. Sir ye asked me no such question Deane Then ye would stande in disputation how manye bodies Christ had Eliz. Sir in deed that question ye did aske me Deane Who shall bee thy Sureties that thou wylte appeare before my Lorde of London and me vpon Friday nexte Eliz. Sir I haue no Sureties nor knowe not where to haue Then spake the Deane vnto two women that stoode there who had earnestly sued for her saying women wil ye be her sureties that she shall appeare before my Lord of London and me vpon Friday next The Women Yea sir and it please you Deane Take heede that I finde you no more a brabler in the Scripture Eliz. Sir I am no brabler in the Scripture nor yet any man can burthen me therewith Deane Yes I haue hearde of you well enough what ye are Then sayde hee to the two Women what if a man should touch your conscience do ye not smell a little of heresie also The women No sir. Deane Yes a litle of the frying pan or els wherefore haue ye twaine so earnestly sued for her The one woman aunswered because that her children were lyke to perish and therefore God put me in mynd to sue for her Then sayd the other woman And I gate her chyld a Nurse and I am threatened to stande to the keepyng of her chylde and therfore it standeth me in hand for to sue to haue her out Deane Woman geue thankes vnto these honest women who haue so earnestly sued for thee and I promise thee so haue I. These great heretikes will receiue nothyng but in spirit and fayth and so he rose and departed Eliz. Sir God be praysed I thanke you for your goodnes and theirs also and so he went away vpon the friday next because she was acrased her two sureties wente thither and were discharged ¶ Elizabeth Lawson IN the towne of Bedfield and in the countie of Suffolk was dwellyng a godly auncient Matrone named Elizabeth Lawson about the age of lx yeares This Elizabeth was apprehended as an heretike by the Constables of the same towne named Robert Kitrich and Thomas Elas in the yeare of our Lorde 1556. because she woulde not go to Church to heare Masse and receyue the Sacrament and beleeue in it First they layd her in a dungeon and after that shee was caried vnto Norwich and from thence to Bury Gaole where at last she was condemned to be burnt In the mean tyme sir Iohn Sylliard had her home vnty hys house hee beyng high Shiriffe that yere where she was hardly kept and wrapped in irons till at length when they by no wise could mooue her co recant shee was sent to prison agayne with shamefull reuilings Thus she continued in prison the space of two yeares and three quarters In the meane tyme there was burnt her sonne and many other whereby she would often say Good Lord what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy children well good Lord thy blessed will be done not myne Not long after this most happily followed the death of Queene Mary after whom succeded our Queene that now is At which tyme this Elizabeth Lawson remained yet still in Bury prison till at last she was bayled vppon sureties or els she could not be deliuered For she beyng a condemned person neither the temporalty nor yet spirituall authoritie would discharge her without sureties Now she beyng abroad and her sureties made afrayd by wicked men sayd they would cast her againe in prison except she would see them discharged Then she got a supplication to go vnto the Queenes maiestie and came to a friend of hers to haue his counsail therein who willed her to stay a while because she was old the dayes short and the expenses great and Winter fowle for it was a little before Christmas to tary vntill Sommer In the meane tyme
God brake the bond shortened her iourney for hee tooke her home to hymselfe out of this lyfe in peace This good old woman long before she went to prison had the fallyng sicknesse and told a friend of hers one Symon Harlston after she was apprehended that she had it neuer more but liued in good health ioy of hart through her Lord Christ. She had a very vnkinde man to her husbande who while shee was in prison solde away her raimente and would not helpe her and after she was out of prison shee returned home vnto him yet would he shew her no kindnesse nor helpe her neither and yet the house land that he dwelt in he had by her wherfore as long as she lyued she was found of the congregation The said Elizabeth Lawson also had a sister wyfe to one Rob. Hollon of Mickfield in the same countie of Suffolk which likewise was persecuted and driuen out from house to house a yong man her sonne with her because they would not go to the church to heare masse receyue the sacrament of the aultar ¶ Thomas Christenmasse and William Wattes IN this perillous rage of Queene Maries raigne were two men persecuted one called Tho. Christenmas the other Wil. Wats of Tunbridge in Kent As these trauailed from place to place not resting two nights together in one place it happened them on a tyme to come to Rochester in Kent where as they entryng into the Towne euē at the Townes ende met with a little Damosell of eyght yeares of age but whether she went they knewe not It was then night and they wery and fayne therfore would haue lyen in the same town but could not tell where they feared so the bloudy Catholickes At last they deuised to aske the Damosell whether there were any heretikes in the towne or no and she said yea They asked her where She aunswered them At such an Inne tellyng them the name and where the Inne was Shortly after as they were gone from her they bethought themselues better and God so moouyng their hartes they went to the childe agayne and asked her how she knew that the Innekeper of whome shee spake before was an heretike Marrie quoth she well enough and his wyfe also How knowest thou prety mayden said they I pray thee tel vs. How know I sayd she Marrie because they go to the church and those that will not holde vp their handes there they will present them and hee hymselfe goeth from house to house to compel them to come to Church When these two men heard this they gaue God prayse and auoyded that house takyng the warnyng of that Mayde of good bringyng vp as it should seeme to be Gods maruelous prouidence towards them ¶ Another escape of William Wats THis foresayd William Wats dwelling in Queen Maries dayes at Seale in Kent the last yere of her raigne saue one was apprehended by his enemies and brought by the Constables before the Bish. and Iustices at Tunbridge where the B. and Iustices would haue perswaded hym all they coulde to turne from the truth howbeit in vayne for they could not remooue him although they spēt all the forenoone therabouts with many flattring words so mercifull was the Lord vnto hym Now when dinner tyme was come as they shoulde rise they committed the prisoner to the constables againe and so rose vp to go to diner The Constables tooke Wats and led him to a vitailing house where after they had wel filled themselues they fel a sleepe supposing their prisoner to be sure enough vnder their handes Wats wife beyng then in the house with her husband and very carefull for his well doyng seyng the Constables thus fast a sleep desired her husband to depart and go thence for so much as the Lord had made such away for hym Unto which her words he would not consent althogh she perswaded him all that she could At the last they replieng one against an other a strāger heard them and asked her what the matter was that shee was so earnest with her husbande The wyfe tolde hym Then sayde the straunger vnto Wats these words Father goe thy wayes in Gods name and tary no longer the Lorde hath opened the way vnto thee Wherevpon the sayde Wattes went hys way and his wyfe departed from hym and went home to her house at Seale thinkyng her husband had gone another way Nowe as she was goyng in at her dore tellyng her friendes of hys deliueraunce immediately came the sayd Wattes in also and they all beyng amased thereat willed hym in all haste to get hym away for they thought there would bee search for hym immediately Then Wats sayd he would eate meate first and also pray which he did and afterward departed thence So soone as he was out of the dores and had hid hymselfe in an holly bush immediately came the said constables with thirtie persons into the sayd house to search for him where they pierced the Fetherbeds broke vp hys Chestes and made such hauocke that it was wonderfull and euer among as they were searchyng the Constables cryed I will haue Wats I will haue Wats I tel thee I wil haue Wattes but God be thanked Wats could not be found And when they saw it booted not to search for hym in the ende they tooke his wyfe and set her in a payre of stockes where she remayned two dayes and she was very bolde in the truth and at the last deliuered thorough the prouidence of God whose name be glorified in all his workes Amen * Iohn Glouer of Manceter Gentleman WHat a fatherly and manifest prouidence of the Lord likewyse did appeare in the preseruyng of M. Iohn Glouer in the Diocesse of Couentry and Lichfield in the Towne of Manceter first at the takyng of Robert hys brother At which tyme although the Commission came downe for hym yet so God ordered the matter that hys brother beyng sicke was apprehended and yet hee beyng whole escaped wherof mention is made before pag. 1709. And agayne another tyme how miraculously the mercifull prouidence of the Lorde wrought his escape oute of his enemies handes they beyng at his chamber dore and drawyng the latch to search for hym and how hys wyfe the same tyme was taken and sent to Lichfielde read before pag. 1714. ¶ One Dabney THere was at London a certaine honest godly person a Painter named Dabney whom Iohn Auales in the tyme of Queene Mary had brought before Boner to bee examined for his fayth It happened the same tyme. as the sayde Dabney was there that the Bishop was occupied with examination of other so that hee was bidde to stand by and to wayte the Bishops laysure Uppon the same or not long after sodainely commeth worde to the Bishop to prepare hym in all speede the generall procession taried for hym The Bishop hearyng that settyng all businesse aparte bustleth hymselfe with all speede
euermore be praysed Amen ¶ Lady Kneuet in Northfolke AMong the number of the godly that were kept vnder the prouidence of the Lord in those perillous dayes I may not forget an auncient good Lady of much worship called Lady Anne Kneuet who till her death dwelte in Norfolke in a towne named Wimonâ—ham vj. miles from Norwich Which sayd good Lady in Queen Maries days beyng iudged by the common people more then an hundreth yeare of age and by her owne estimation well towards a C. kept her selfe from their popish church or hauyng any papisticall trash ministred in her house but only the seruice that was vsed in the latter dayes of K. Edward the 6. which daily she had sayd before her either by one M. Tollin who was then by Gods prouidence preserued in her house or els by one of her Gentlewomen or houshold seruant that could serue the place in the sayd M. Tollins absence Now this worshipfull Lady continuing in this maner of true seruyng of God she and her familie were many tymes threatened by messengers that the Bish. would visite her therfore Unto which messengrs she would always answer that if his Lordship sent word before what day he would come he should thereafter be entertained at her hand But God whose prouidence ruleth the ragyng seas neuer suffred them al that toyling tyme to molest her Although oftentimes wheÌ„ she had seruice before her there were very great enemies to the truth and of much authoritie that came in and kneled to prayer among them and yet had no power to trouble her therfore This good Lady gentle Reader kept good hospitalitie as any in that countrey of her liuyng She also succored many persecuted that came to her house in the said M. Maries dayes Were they neuer so simple they were esteined of her as the frends of the gospel and departed not froÌ„ her without money and meat Borne she was long before K. Edward the 4. dyed and ended her life in the Lord Iesus peace about the beginning of the 2. yeare of our most soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeths raigne as one fallyng into a most sweete sleepe Unto whom not vnworthely may bee compared the Lady Elizabeth Uane who likewyse beyng a great harborer and supporter of the afflicted Martyrs and Confessors of Christ was in great â—assards daungers of the enemies and yet notwithstandyng thorough the mercifull prouidence of the Lord remained still vntouched Of this Lady Uane thou shalt read before ¶ Iohn Dauis of the age of twelue yeares and vnder AN Dom. 1546. and the last yeare of King Henry the 8. Iohn Dauis a child of xij yeares vnder who dwellyng in the house of M. Iohnson Apothecarie in the toune of Worcester his vncle vsing sometymes to read of the testament and other good English bookes was complained of by Alice Iohnson his maistresse which Alice beyng an obstinate person consulted with one Tho. Parton one Alice wyfe to Nich. Brooke Organemaker with certaine of the Canons and M. Iohnson Chancellor to D. Heath their Bish. The meanes wherby he was entrapped was wrought by the foresayd Alice Brooke who procured Olyuer her sonne schoolefellow with the sayd Iohn Dauis to faine friendship with hym and vnder pretence to be instructed to see his English bookes and especially to gette some thyng of his writyng against the vj. Articles Which beyng had was soone brought to the Canons of the church and the Chauncellor Wherupon Tho. Parton whether beyng sent or of his owne mynd came to apprehend him and his Uncle was forced agaynst his will to bynde the poore boyes armes behynd him and so hee was brought to the Officers of the towne where he lay from the 14. of August till the last of September Then was he commaÌ„ded to the Free mans prison where one Rich. Howborough commyng to perswade him from burnyng willed hym to prooue first with a candle who then holdyng hys finger and the other the candle vnder it a good space yet as the partie hymselfe to me assureth felte no burnyng therof neither would the other that held the candle beleue hym a great while til he had looked and saw no skorching of the candle at all appeared Then was the child remooued from thence to an inner prison called Peepehole where the lowe Bailiffe called Rob. Youl l layd vpon hym a paire of bolts so that he could not lift vp his small legs but leanyng on a staffe slipt theÌ„ forward vpon the ground the coldnesse of which irons he feeleth yet in his anckles and shall so long as he lyueth with these bolts his lying was vpon the cold ground hauyng not one locke of strawe nor cloth to couer him saue onely two sheepe skins neither durst father nor mother or any of his friends come at hym Besides this and many great threates of the papists there was a mad man put to hym in the prison with a knife about hym wherewyth he oft tymes in his frantike rage profered to thrust hym in After this came to him one Iolyfe and N. Yewer two Canons which had his writings against the sixe Articles and his Ballet called Come downe for all your shauen crowne to see whether he would staÌ„d to that he had writen Which done with many great raging wordes not long after sate M. Iohnson the Chancellour in the Guild hall vpon the poore lad Where first were brought in hys accusers and sworne then were sworn also 24. men which went on his Quest and found hym guiltie but hee neuer came before the Chancellor Upon this he was sent to the common Gaole among thieues and murtherers there to tary the commyng of the iudges and so to be had straight to execution But the mighty mercy of the Lord who helpeth the desolate miserable when all other helpe is past so prouided for this silly condemned lad that the purpose of all his hard harted enemies was disappointed For before the Iudges came God tooke away Henry the 8. out of this lyfe By reason whereof the force of the lawe was then staied howbeit he was neuerthelesse arraigned beyng holden vp in a mans armes at the Barre before the Iudges who were Portman and Maruen Which when they perceiued that they could not burne him would haue hym presently whipped But M. Iohn Bourne Esquire declared to the Iudges how hee had whipping enough After that hee had lyen a weeke more in prison had hym home to hys house his wyfe annoynted his legs her selfe with ointment which then were stiffe and nummed with irons till at length when M. Bourne and his wyfe sawe they could not winne hym to the beliefe of their Sacrament they put him away least he should infect their sonne Anthony as they thought with heresie Thus Iohn Dauis of the age aforesayde in what damage he was for the Gospell ye see and howe the Lorde preserued hym ye vnderstand He endured in prisone from the 14. day of August till within seuen dayes
warning euery one to come to the Church the next Sonday following If they woulde not come they shoulde appeare before the Commissary out of hand to render account of theyr absence But the women hauing secret knowledge of this before kept themselues out of the way for the nonce to auoyd the sūmons or warning Therefore when they were not at the Church at the day appoynted the Commissary did first suspend them according to the Bishop of Romes lawe and within three weekes after did excommunicate them Therefore when they perceiued that an Officer of the Towne was sette to take some of them they conueying themselues priuily out of the towne escaped all daunger ¶ The Congregation in London NO lesse maruellous was the preseruation of the congregation in London which from the first beginning of Queene Mary to the latter end thereof continued notwithstynding whatsoeuer the malice deuise searching and inquisition of men or streitnes of lawes could work to the contrary Such was the mercifull hand of the Lord according to his accustomed goodnes euer working with hys people Of this great bountifull goodnes of the Lord many and great examples appered in the congregation whiche now I speake of How oft and in what great daūgers did he deliuer them First at the Blacke Friers when they should haue resorted to Syr Thomas Cardens house priuy watch was layd for them but yet through the Lordes vigilant prouidence the mischiefe was preuented and they deliuered Agayne howe narrowly did they escape about Algate where spies were layd for them had not Thomas Simson the Deacō espied them and bid them disperse thēselues away they had bene taken For within two houres the Constable comming to the house after they were gone demaunded of the wife what company had bene there To whom she to excuse the matter made aunswere agayne saying that halfe a dosen good fellowes had bene there at breakefast as they went a maying An other time also about the great conduit they passing there through a very strayt Alley into a Cloth workers loft were espied and the Sheriffes sent for but before they came they hauing priuy knowledge thereof immediatly shifted away out of the Alley Iohn Auales standing alone in the Mercers Chappell staring at them An other like escape they made in a ship at Billinsgate belonging to a certayne good man of Ley where in the open sight of the people they were congregated together yet through Gods mighty power escaped Betwixt Ratcliffe and Redriffe in a ship called Iesus Ship twise or thrise they assembled hauing there closely after theyr accustomed maner both Sermon prayer cōmunion and yet through the protection of the Lorde they returned although not vnspied yet vntaken Moreouer in a Coopers house in Pudding Lane so neare they were to perill and daungers that Iohn Auales comming into the house where they were talked with the good man of the house and after he had asked a question or two departed God so working that either he had no knowledge of them or no power to apprehend them But they neuer escaped more hardly thē once in Thames street in the night time where the house being besette with enemies yet as the Lord would they were deliuered by the meanes of a Mariner who being at that present in the same cōpany and seing no other way to auoyd pluckt of his slops and swam to the next boate and so rowed the company ouer vsing his shooes in steed of owres so the ieopardy was dispatched I haue heard of one who being sent to thē to take their names and to espy theyr doinges yet in being amongest them was conuerted and cryed them all mercy What should I speak of the extreame and present daūger whiche that Godly companye was in at the taking of maister Rough theyr minister and Cutbert Simson their Deacon had not the Lords prouidence geuen knowledge before to maister Rough in his sleepe that Cutbert should leaue behinde him at home the booke of all theyr names which he was wont to cary about him whereof mention is made before pag 2034. In this Church or congregation were sometyme xl sometymes an hundred sometimes two hundred sometymes mo and sometymes lesse About the latter tyme of Queene Mary it greatly increased From the first beginnyng which was about the first entry of Queen Maries reigne they had diuers ministers first M. Scamler then Thom. Fowle after him M. Rough then M. Augustine Bernher and last M. Bentham Concerning the deliuerance of which M. Bentham beyng now B. of Couentry and Lichfield Gods mighty prouidence most notably is to be considered For how is it possible by mans estimation for the sayd M. Bentham to haue escaped had not the present power of the Lord passing all mens expectation bene prest and redy to helpe his seruaunt in such a straite The story and case is this At what tyme the vij last burned in Smithfield mentioned in this booke before pag. 2039. were condemned brought to the stake to suffer came downe in the name of the king and Queene a proclamation beyng twise pronounced openly to the people first at Newgate then at the stake where they should suffer straightly charging and commanding that no man should either pray for them or speake to them or once say God helpe them It was appointed before of the godly there standyng together which was a great multitude that so soone as the prisoners should be brought they should goe to them to embrace and to comfort them and so they did For as the sayd Martyrs were comming toward the place in the peoples sighte beyng brought with bils glaues as the custome is the godly multitude and Congregation with a generall sway made toward the prisoners in such maner that the byllmē and the other officers beyng all thrust backe could nothyng do nor any thing come nigh So the godly people meetyng and embracing and kissing them brought them in their armes which might as easily haue conueied them cleane away vnto the place where they should suffer This done and the people geuing place to the Officers the proclamation with a loud voyce was read to the people containyng as is before sayd in the K. Queens name that no man should pray for them or once speake a word vnto them c. Maister Bentham the minister then of the congregation not sparyng for that but as zeale and Christian charitie mooued hym and seeyng the fire set to them turnyng his eyes to the people cried and sayd We know they are the people of God and therefore we cannot choose but wish well to them and say God strengthen thē And so boldly he sayde Almighty God for Christes sake strengthen them With that all the people with a whole consent and one voice folowed and sayd Amen Amē The noyse whereof was so great and the criers thereof so many that the
Officers could not tell what to say nor whom to accuse And thus much concerning the congregation of the faythfull assembling together at London in the time of Queene Mary The said M. Bentham an other time as he passed thorow S. Katherines intending to walke and take the ayre abroad was enforced by two or three men approching vpon him needes to go with them to a place whether they would lead him M. Bētham astonied at the sodeinnes of the matter and maruelling what the thing shoulde be required what theyr purpose was or whether they woulde haue him They aunswered that by the occasion of a man there found drowned the Crowners quest was called and charged to sit vpon him of the whiche quest he must of necessity be one c. He agayne loth to medle in the matter excused himselfe alledging that in such kind of matters he had no skill and lesse experience if it would please them to let him goe they should meete with other more meete for theyr purpose But when with this they would not be satisfied he alledged further that he was a scholer of Oxford and thereby was priuiledged from being of any inquest The Crowner demaunded the sight of his priuiledge He sayd if he woulde geue him leaue he would fetch it Then sayd the Crowner the queene must be serued without all delay so cōstrayned him notwithstanding to be with thē in hearing the matter Beyng brought to the house where the Crowner and the rest of the quest were sitting as the maner is a booke was offered him to sweare vpon M. Bentham opening the booke and seing it was a papisticall Primer refused to sweare thereupon and declared moreouer what superstition in that booke was conteined What sayde the Crowner I thinke we shall haue here an hereticke among vs. And vpon that after much reasoning amongest them he was committed to the custody of an officer till further examination by occasion wherof to all mens reason hard it had bene and ineuitable for M. Bentham to haue escaped had not the Lord helped where man was not able What folowed Incontinent as they were thus contending and debating about matters of heresye sodeynly commeth the Crowner of the Admiralty disanulling and repealing the order calling of that inquest for that it was as he sayde perteining to his office and therefore the other Crowner and his company in that place had nothing to do And so the first Crowner was discharged and displaced by reasō whereof M. Bentham escaped theyr handes hauing no more sayd vnto him * English men preserued at the taking of Calice THe worthy workes of the Lordes mercy toward hys people be manifolde and can not be comprehended so that who is he liuing in the earth almost who hath not experienced the helping hand of the Lord at some time or other vpon him Amōgst many other what a piece of gods tender prouidence was shewed of late vpon our English brethren and country men what time Calice was takē by the Tyrant Guise a cruell enemy both to Gods truth and to our English nation And yet by the gracious prouision of the Lorde few or none at all of so many that fauoured Christ and his Gospell in that terryble spoyle miscaried In the number of whome there was a godly couple one Iohn Thorpe and his wife which feared the Lord and loued his trueth who being sicke the same time and cast out into the wild fieldes harbourles desolate and despayring of all hope of life hauing theyr young infant moreouer taken from them in the sayd fieldes and caried awaye of the souldiors yet the Lord so wrought that the poore woman being almost past recouery of life was fet and caried the space welnigh of a mile by straungers whome they neuer knewe into a village where both shee was recouered for that night also the next day comming toward England they chaunced into the same Inne at the next town where they found theyr young child sitting by the fire side ¶ Edward Benet ONe Edw. Benet about the second yeare of the reigne of Q. Mary then dwelling at Quenehieth with one Grynocke a Baker was desired of one Tyngle prisoner then in Newgate to bring him a new testament He procuring one of M. Couerdals translatiō wrapt it in a handkerchiefe saying to George the keeper whiche asked hym what he had that it was a piece of pondred biefe Let mee see it sayd he Perceiuing what it was he brought him to Syr Roger Cholmley who examined him why he did so saying that booke was not lawfull so committed him to the Counter in woodstreet wher he continued 25. weekes Doctor Story comming to the prison to examine other Prisoners this Benet looking out at the grate spake to him desiring him to be good vnto him and to helpe hym out for he had lien long in prison To whom D. Story thē aunswering What sayd he wast not thou before me in Christes Church Yes forsooth sayd Benet Ah sayd Story thou doest not beleue in the Sacrament of the Aultar Mary I will helpe thee out come sayd he to the keeper turne him out I will helpe him and so tooke Benet wyth him and brought him to Cluney in Pater noster Row and bade him bring him to the Colehouse and there he was in the stockes a weeke Then the Bishoppe sent for him to talke with him and first asked him if he were shriuen No sayd Benet He asked him if he would be shriuen No sayd he Then he asked him if the Priest could take away his sinnes No sayd Benet I do not so beleue Then he and Harpsfielde laughed at him and mocked him asking him if he did not beleue that what so euer the Prieste here bounde in earth should be bound in heauen and what so euer he loosed in earth shoulde be loosed in heauen No quoth Benet But I beleue that the Minister of God preaching Gods word truely and ministring the Sacramentes accordyng to the same whatsoeuer he bindeth in earth shal be bound in heauen and what so euer he looseth c. Then the Bishop putting him aside sayd he should go to Fulham and be whipped Then came to him M. Buswell a Pries◠lying in the Colehouse in the stockes and brought Cranmers recantation saying that he had recanted My fayth sayth the other lyeth in no mans booke but in him which hath redeemed me The next saterday Benet with fiue other was called for to come to masse into the Chappell The Masse being done and they comming out fiue of thē went to prison and were after burned Benet being behind and comming toward the gate the porter opening to a company goyng out asked if there were no prisoners there No sayd they Benet standing in open sight before him with other seruing men whiche were there by reason that Boner made many priestes that day hauing one of his sleues and halfe the fore part of his coat
to Inne offring large mony for small lodging they were refused of all the Inholders suspecting Mayster Bertye to bee a Launceknight and the Duches to be hys woman The Childe for cold and sustenaunce cryed pittifully the mother wept as fast the heauens rayned as fast as the cloudes could poure Mayster Bertie destitute of all other succour of hospitalitie resolued to bring the Duchesse to the porche of the great churche in the towne and so to buy coales victualls and straw for theyr miserable repose there that night or at least till by Gods helpe he might prouide her better lodging Mayster Berty at that time vnderstoode not muche dutche and by reason of euill weather and late season of the night he could not happen vppon any that coulde speake english Frenche Italian or Latine till at last goyng towardes the Church porch he heard 2. striplinges talkyng Latin to whom he approched and offered thē two stiuers to bring him to some Wallons house By these boyes and Gods good conduicte hee chaunced at the first vppon the house where Mayster Perusell supped that night who had procured them the protection of the Magistrates of that towne At the first knocke the goodman of the house himselfe came to the dore and opening it asked Mayster Berty what he was Maister Berty sayd an englishman that sought for one M. Peruselles house The Wallon willed M. Bertie to stay a while who went backe and told Mayster Perusell that the same english gentleman of whome they had talked the same supper had sent by likelihoode his seruaunt to speake with hym Whereupon M. Perusell came to the dore and beholding Mayster Bertie the Duchesse and theyr childe their faces apparelles and bodyes so farre from their old forme deformed with durt wether heauines could not speake to them nor they to him for teares At length recouering them selues they saluted one an other and so together entred the house God knoweth ful ioyfully Mayster Berty chaunging of his apparrell with the goodman the Duchesse with the good wife and theyr childe with the childe of the house Within fewe dayes after by M. Peruselles meanes they hyred a very fayre house in the towne and did not let to shew themselues what they were in such good sort as their present condition permitted It was by this tyme through the whole towne what discurtesie the Inholders had shewed vnto them at their entrie in so muche as on the Sonday following a preacher in the Pulpit openly in sharpe termes rebuked that great inciuillitie towardes straungers by allegation of sundry places out of holye scriptures discoursing how not onely Princes sometyme are receiued in the Image of priuate persons but Angels in the shape of men and that God of his Iustice woulde make the straungers one daye in an other lande to haue more sense of the afflicted hart of a straunger The time was passing foorth as they thought themselues thus happily setled sodainly a watchworde came from sir Iohn Mason then Queene Maries Ambassador in Netherland that my Lorde Paget had fayned an errant to the Bathes that waies and whereas the Duke of Brunswick was shortly with x. ensignes to passe by Wesell for the seruice of the house of Austricke agaynst the frēch king the sayd Duchesse and her husband shoulde be wyth the same charge and company intercepted Wherfore to preuent the cruelty of these enemies M. Berty with his wife and childe departed to a place called Winheim in high Dutchland vnder the Palsgranes Dominion where vnder his protection they continued tyll their necessaries began to fayle them and they almost feynting vnder so heauy a burden began to fayle of hope At what tyme in the middest of theyr dispayre there came sodeinly letters to them from the Pallatine of Uilua and the kyng of Poole being instructed of theyr hard estate by a Baron named Ioannes Alasco that was sometyme in England offering them large curtesie This puruison vnlooked for greatly reuiued theyr heauye spirites Yet considering they shoulde remoue from manye theyr countrymen and acquaintaunce to a place so farre distant a Country not haunted with the English and perhappes vpon their arriuall not finding as they looked for the end of their iourny should be worse then the beginning they deuised thereupon with one M. Barloe late Byshoppe of Chichester that if he would vouchsafe to take some payns therein they woulde make him a fellowe of that iourny So finding him prone they sent with him letters of great thankes to the king and Pallatine and also with a fewe principall Iewelles which onely they had lefte of many to solicite for them that the king woulde vouchsafe vnder his seale to assure them of the thing whiche hee so honourably by letters offered That sute by the forewardnes of the Pallatine was as soone graunted as vttered Upon whiche assurance the sayd Duchesse and her husband with their familye entred the iorney in Aprill 1557. from the Castle of Wineheim where they before lay towardes Franckford In the which their iorney it were long here to describe what daungers fell by the way vpon them and theyr whole company by reason of theyr Lantgraues Captain who vnder a quarrell pretensed for a spaniell of M. Berties set vppon them in the high way with his horsemen thrusting their bore-speares through the wagon where the Children and Women were M. Bertie hauing but 4. horsemen with hym In the which brable it happened the Captaynes horse to be slayne vnder him Whereupon a rumour was sparsed immediately thorough townes and villages about that the Lantgraue captayne should be slayne by certayne Wallons which incensed the ire of the countrymen ther more fiercely against M. Bertie as afterward it proued For as he was motioned by his wife to saue himselfe by the swiftnes of his horse and to recouer some towne there by for his rescue hee so doing was in worse case then before for the townsmen and the Captaines brother supposing no lesse but that the Captayne had bene slaine pressed so egerly vpon him that he had bene there taken and murthered among them had not he as God would spying a ladder leaning to a wyndow by the same got vp into the house and so gone vp in to a garret in the top of the house where hee with his dagge and rapyre defended himselfe for a space but at lengthe the Burghmayster comming thither with an other Magystrate which could speake latin he was counselled to submit himselfe to the order of the law Mayster Bertye knowing himselfe cleare and the Captayne to be aliue was the more bolder to submit himselfe to the iudgement of the law vpon condition that the Magistrate woulde receiue hym vnder safe conduct and defend him from the rage of the multitude Whiche being promised M. Bertie putteth him selfe and his weapon in the Magistrates hande so was committed to safe custodye while the trueth of hys cause should be tryed Then
the Riuer Now she good woman thinking to be so serued tooke thereby such feare that it brought the begynning of her sickenesse of the whiche at length she dyed Then at the last was she called before the Margraue and charged with Anabaptistry whiche shee there vtterly denyed and detested the error declaring before hym in Dutch her fayth boldly wythout any feare So the Margraue hearyng the same in the end beyng well pleased with her profession at the sute of some of her frends deliuered her out of prison but tooke away her booke and so shee came ouer into England agayne ¶ William Mauldon I Lightly passe ouer here the tedious afflictions of William Mauldon how in the daungerous time of the 6. articles before the burning of Anne Askew hee was scourged being young of his father for professing and confessing of true Religion and afterward being examined in auricular confession by the Priest hys bookes were searched for and so at length hee was presented vp by the same Priest in a letter written to the Byshop Which letter had it not bene burned by an other Priest to whose handes it came as the Lord would haue it it had vndoubtedly cost hym his life This one thinge in the sayde William Mauldon is to bee noted that being younge in those dayes of kinge Henry when the masse moste florished the aultars wyth the sacrament therof being in their moste high veneration that to mans reason it might seeme vnpossible that the glory and opinion of that Sacramente and Sacramentalles so highly worshipped and so deepely rooted in the hartes of so many could by any meanes possible so soone decay and vanish to naught yet notwithstanding hee being then so young vnder the age of xvii yeares by the spirite no doubt of prophesie declared then vnto his parentes that they should see it shortly euen come to passe that both the Sacrament of the altar and the altars themselues with al such plantations which the heauenly father did not plant should be plucked vp by the rootes and euen so within the space of very fewe yeares the euent thereof followed accordingly the Lorde therefore bee praysed for his moste gratious reformation ¶ Robert Horneby I Let passe lykewise the daungerous escape of Robert Horneby seruaunt sometyme and groome of the Chamber to Ladye Elizabeth shee being then in trouble in Queene Maryes dayes who being willed to come to Masse refused so to doe and therefore comming afterward from Woodstocke to Hampton Courte was called before the Counsayle by them committed to the Marshalsey and not vnlyke to haue susteyned further daunger had not the Lordes goodnes better prouided for him who at length by Doctour Martyn was deliuered ¶ Mistres Sandes THe lyke also may be testified and recorded of Mistres Sandes nowe wyfe to Syr Morice Bartlet then Gentlewooman wayter to the sayde Ladye Elizabeth being in the Tower Which Mistres Sandes denyed in lyke maner to come to Masse and therefore beside the heauye displeasure of her father was not onely displaced from her roume and put out of the house but also was in greate ieopardye of further tryall But the Lorde who disposeth for euery one as he seeth beste wroughte her way out of her enemyes handes by flying ouer the Seas where shee continued amongest other banished exiles in the Cittye of Geneua of Basil till the death of Queene Marye * The storye of Thomas Rose yet liuing a Preacher of the age of lxxvi yeares in the towne of Luton and Countye of Bedford THis Thomas Rose a Deuonshyre man was borne in Exmouth and being made Priest in that coūtrey was brought out of it by one M. Fabiā to Polsted in Suffolke where the sayd M. Fabian was Parson in short tyme after by his meanes was placed in the town of Hadley wher he first cōming to some knowledg of the gospel began first there to intreat vpon the Crede therupon to take occasiō to inueigh against Purgatory praying to Saints Images about the tyme that M. Latimer began first to preach at Cambridge in the tyme of Bilney Arthur .47 yeares ago or thereabout in so much that many imbracing the truth of Christes Gospell against the sayd Purgatory and other poynts and the number of them daily increasing the aduersaries beganne to stirre agaynst him in so muche that M. Bale who afterwarde became a godly zelous man was then brought to preach agaynst the sayd Thomas Rose so did This notwithstanding he continued still very vehement agaynst Images the Lorde so blessed his labours that many began to deuise how to deface and destroy them and especially foure men whose names were Ro. King Ro. Debnam Nic. Marsh and Ro. Gard. which vsually resorted to his sermons vpō his preaching were so inflamed with zeale that shortly after they aduentured to destroy the Roode of Douercourt which coste three of them theyr liues as appeareth before pag. 1031. The three persons which suffered and were hanged in chaynes wer offered theyr liues to haue accused the sayd Thomas Rose as of counsell with them which refused so to do and therfore suffered The sayd Tho. Rose had the coat of the sayd Roode brought vnto him afterward who burned it The Roode was sayde to haue done many great myracles and great wonders wrought by him and yet being in the fire could not help him selfe but burned like a block as in very deede he was At this time there were two sore enemies in Hadley Walter Clerke and Iohn Clerke two brethren these cōplayned to the Counsayle that an hundred men were not able to fetch the sayde Thomas Rose out of Hadley who then was vpon examination of his doctrine committed to the Commissaries keeping And in deede such was the zeale of a number towardes the truth thē in that towne that they were much offended that their Minister was so taken frō them and had therefore by force fet him from the Commissary if certain wise men hadde not otherwise perswaded which at length also with more quiet did set him in his office agayne which thing so angred the two brethren Walter Clerke Ioh. Clerk that they complayned to the counsaile as aforesayd wherupon a serieant at armes named Cartwright was sent from the counsayle who arested the sayd Thomas Rose brought him before the counsayle Then his aduersaries being called they layd to his charge that hee was priuy of the burning of the Rood of Douercourt and vpon this he was committed to the prison in the Bish. of Lincolns house in Holborne Bishop Langly the kinges Confessor and there remayned he in prison frō Shroftide till tyll Mydsomer very sore stocked tyll after Easter The stocks were very hye great so that day night he did lye with his backe on the ground vpon a litle straw with his heeles so hye that by meanes the bloud was fallen from his feete his feet wer almost without sense
that hathe anye distinction of members but such a body as occupieth no place but is there they know not how necessity compelled me to confesse mine ignoraÌ„ce in that behalfe although in very deede they perceiued not my meaning therein neither was it in my thoughte they should so doe For by this their confession and my silence afterward I perceiued their horrible blasphemies And me thought in this I had well discharged at that time my conscience in causing them in open audience to confesse the same and so I graunted a presence but not as they supposed For onely I sayd that Christ after the worde pronounced is present in the lawfull vse and right distribution of his holye Supper which thing I neuer denied nor anye godly man that euer I heard of For sayde I Eusebius Emissenus a man of singulare fame and learning aboute 300. yeares after Christes Ascension saieth That the conuersion of the visible creatures of bread and wine into the body and bloude of Christ is like vnto our conuersion in Baptisme where nothing is outwardly chaunged but al the chaunge is inwardly by the mightye woorking of the holy Ghoste which fashioneth and frameth Christe in the heart and mind of man as by the example of Peter preaching to the people Actes 2. By which he so pâ—erced theyr consciences that they openly with most earnest repentaÌ„ce confessed their sinnes saying Men brethren what shall we doe Repent and be baptized euery of you said Peter in the name of Iesus Christ so that at this Sermon there were which turned vnto Christ three thousand persones in whome Christ was so fashioned and framed as that he did dwell in euery one of them and they in him and after the like maner sayd I is Christ present in the lawfull vse and right distribution of his holy Supper and not otherwise For although I sayd according to the truth the Christ dwelt in euery one of these persones rehearsed yet meant I nothing lesse then that he in them should haue a grosse carnall or fleshly dwelling And no more meant I as knoweth God hym carnally or naturally to be in the Sacrament but according to the Scriptures and my former protestation that is to the spirituall nourishment of all such as woorthelye come vnto that holy Supper receiuing it according to his holy Institution And thus I ended whych the Papistes moste maliciously and sclaunderously named a recantation whyche I neuer meant nor thought as God knoweth Now after I had thus concluded my speache the Bishop taking me by the hand sayd Father Rose you may be a woorthy instrument in Gods church and we will see to you at our comming home for hee was aboute to take hys iourney in visitation of his Diocesse and they feared much at this very time least Queene Marie should haue miscaried in childe trauaile which was looked for beynge then accounted very greate with childe so that they were not so fierce as they had bene and doubted very muche of some sturre if I shoulde haue suffered and therefore were glad to be rid of me so that by any colourable meanes for theyr owne discharge it might be so that the night folowing I was onely committed to mine olde lodging On the morowe when the Bishop was ready to ride forth in visitation he called me before him and perceiuing that sir William Woodhouse did beare me great fauoure sayde he was sorie for me and my expenses and therefore wished that I were somewhere where I might spend no more money till his retourne Why my Lord quoth Syr William Woodhouse he shall haue meate and drinke and lodging with me til your returne againe seeing you now breake vp house and hereuppon I went home wyth Syr William that good Knight who most gently entertained me and I had great libertie Uppon thys the Papisticall priestes of the Colledge of Christes Church in Norwich for that they sawe me at libertye in Sir Williams absence who also was then from home a fortnighte blased it abroade that sir William was bounden for me in body 〈◊〉 lands At his comming home therfore I asked sir William if he were so bounden for me and he denied it Then sayd I syr but for the reuerence I beare to you I might haue ben an hundred miles from you ere this But I trust now sir seeing you be not bounden for me I may go visite my frends Go where you wil said sir William for quoth he I tolde the bishop I would not be his gailer but promised onely meate drinke and lodging for you Shortly after vppon the deuise of some friendes I was closely conueyed to a friendes house where almost a moneth I was secretly kept til rumours were ouer For at the Bishops returne searching was for mee in so muche as all houses where it was knowen I had bene acquainted were searched and the shippes at Yarmouth At the length the Bishop sent to a Coniurer to know of him which way I was gone and he answeared that I was gone ouer a water and in the keeping of a woman And in very deede I was passed ouer a small water and was hid by a blessed woman and godly widowe whiche liued in a poore cottage the space of iij. weekes till all the great heate was ouer Then was I conueyed to London and from thence passed ouer the seas where I liued till the death of Quene Marie and that it pleased GOD for the comforte of his Churche and restoring of all poore exiles and prisonners for his names sake to blesse thys Realme wyth the gouernement of our noble Queene whome God to the glory of his owne name and the defence of his Churche according to his good will and pleasure long preserue and continue ouer vs. Amen ⧠A briefe discourse concernyng the troubles and happy deliueraunce of the Reuerend Father in God Doct. Sandes first Bish. of Worcester next of London and now Archb. of Yorke KIng Edward died the world being vnworthie of hym the Duke of Northumberland came downe to Cambridge with an armie of men hauyng Commission to proclaime Lady Iane Queene and by power to suppresse Lady Mary who tooke vpon her that dignitie and was proclaimed Queene in Northfolke The Duke sent for D. Sandes being Uicechancellor for D. Parker for D. Bill and M. Leauer to suppe with hym Amongst other speaches he sayd Maisters pray for vs that we speede well if not you shall be made Bishops and we Deacons And euen so it came to passe D. Parker and D. Sandes were made Bishops and he and Sir Iohn Gates who was then at the Table were made Deacons ere it was long after on the Tower hill D. Sandes beyng Uicechancellor was required to preach on the morrow The warning was short for such an Auditorie and to speake of such a matter yet hee refused not the thing but went into his chamber so to bed He rose at 3. of the clocke in the mornyng tooke his Bible in his
as both may be to the glorye of God the discharge of the storie the profite of the Reader and hurte to none suppressing the names of some whome heere although I could recite yet I thought not to be more cruell in hurting their name then the Queene hath bene mercifull in pardoning their liues Therefore now to enter into the discourse of thys tragical matter first here is to be noted that Queene Marye when shee was first Queene before shee was crowned would goe no whither but would haue her by the hande and send for her to dinner and supper but after shee was crowned shee neuer dined nor supped wyth her but kept her aloofe from her c. After this it happened immediatly vpon the rising of sir Thomas Wiat as before was mentioned pag. 1418.1419 that the Ladye Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney were charged with false suspition of Syr Thomas Wyates rising Whereuppon Queene Marye whether for that surmise or for what other cause I know not being offended with the sayde Elizabeth her sister at that time lying in her house at Ashridge the next day after the rising of Wyat sent to her three of her Counsailours to wit Sir Richard Sowthwel syr Edwarde Hastings then maister of the horse and Syr Thomas Cornwalles with their retinue and troupe of horsemen to the number of 200. and 50. Who at their sodaine and vnprouided comming founde her at the same time sore sicke in her bedde and very feeble weake of body Whither wheÌ„ they came ascending vp to her graces priuie Chamber they willed one of her Ladies whome they mette to declare vnto her grace that there were certaine come from the court which had a message from the Queene Her grace hauing knowledge therof was right glad of their comming howbeit being then very sicke and the night farre spent which was at 10. of the clock she requested them by the messenger that they would resort thither in the morning To this they answeared and by the sayde messenger sent woorde againe that they must needes see her and would so do in what case soeuer she were Wherat the Lady being against went to shewe her grace theyr woordes but they hastely folowing her came rushing as soone as shee into her graces chamber vnbidden At whose so sodaine comming into her bed chamber her grace being not a litle amased sayd vnto them 〈◊〉 the hast suche that it myghte not haue pleased you to 〈…〉 morrow in the morning They made answere that they were righte sorye 〈◊〉 her in that case And I quoth shee am not glad to see 〈◊〉 here at this time of the night Whereunto they answered that they came from the Queene to doe their message and duetie which was to this effecte that the Queenes pleasure was that she shoulde be at London the 7. day of that present moneth Whereunto shee sayde Certesse no creature more glad then I to come to her maiestie being right sorie that I am not in case at this time to waite on her as you your selues doe see and can well testifie In deede we see it true quoth they that you doe say for which we are very sorie Albeit we â—ette you to vnderstande that our Commission is such and so straineth vs that we must needes bring you with vs eyther quicke or dead Wherat she being amased sorowfully said that their Commission was very sore but yet notwithstanding she hoped it to be otherwise and not so strait Yes verely said they Whereupon they called for two Phisitions Doctor Owen and Doctor Wendy demaunded of them whether she might be remoued from thence with lyfe or no. Whos 's aunswere and iudgement was that there was no impediment to theyr iudgement to the contrary but that shee might trauayle without daunger of lyfe In conclusion they willed her to prepare agaynst the morning at nine of the clocke to goe with them declaring that they had brought with them the Queenes Lytter for her After much talk the messengers declaring how there was no prolonging of times daies so departed to theyr chamber being entertained and cheared as appertained to their worships On the next morow at the time prescribed they hadde her forth as shee was very faynt and feeble and in suche case that shee was ready to swound three or foure tymes betweene them What shoulde I speake here that cannot well bee expressed what an heauy house there was to behold the vnreuerend and doulefull dealyng of these men but espcially the carefull feare and captiuitie of their innocent Lady and Mistresse Now to proceed in her iourney from Ashrydge al sick in the Litter she came to Redborne where she was garded all night From thence to S. Albones to Syr Rafe Rowlets house where she taryed that night both feble in body and comfortles in minde From that place they passed to Maister Doddes house at Mymmes where also they remayned that night and so from thence she came to Highgate where she being very sicke taryed that night and the next day During whiche time of her abode there came many Purseuantes and messengers from the court but for what purpose I cannot tell From the place she was conueied to the Court whereby the way came to meete her many Gentlemen to accoÌ„pany her highnesse which were very sory to see her in that case But especially a great multitude of people ther were standing by the way who then flocking about her Luter lameÌ„ted and bewailed greatly her estate Now when she came to the Court her grace was there straight wais sâ—â—t vp and kept as close prisonner a fortnight which was till Palme sonday seeing neither King nor Queene nor lead nor frend all that time but only then the Lord Chamberlaine Syr Iohn Gage and the Uicechamberlaine which were attendant vnto the dores About whiche time Syr William Sentlowe was called before the Counsaile To whose charge was laid that he knew of Wyats rebellion Which he stoutly denied protesting that hee was a true man both to God his Prince defying al traytors and rebels but being straitly examined he was in coÌ„clusion committed to the Tower The Friday before Palme sonday the B. of Winchester with xix other of the Counsaile who shall bee here namelesse came vnto her grace from the Queenes Maiestie and burdened her with Wiates conspiracie which she vtterly denied affirmyng that she was altogether gilt lesse therin They beyng not contented with this charged her grace with busines made by sir Peter Carew and the râ—st of the Gentlemen of the West country which also she vtterly denying cleared her innocencie therein In conclusion after long debating of matters they declared vnto her that it was the Queenes will pleasure that she should go vnto the tower while the matter were further â—ried and examined Whereat shee beyng agaste said that shee trusted the Queenes Maiestie would bee more gracious Lady vnto her and that her highnesse would not
watch euery man declaring his opinion in that behalfe agreeing straightly and circumspectly to keepe her Then one of them whiche was the Lorde of Sussex swearing sayd my Lordes let vs take heede and doe no more then our commission will beare vs what soeuer shal happeÌ„ hereafter And further let vs consider that she was the king our Maistres daughter and therfore let vs vse such dealing that we may aunswere vnto it hereafter if it shall so happen for iust dealing quoth he is alwayes answerable Whereunto the other Lords agreed that it was well sayde of him and thereupon departed Being in the Tower within two daies commaundement was that she should haue Masse within her house One M. Yong was then her Chapleyne and because there was none of her men so well learned to helpe the priest to say masse the masse stayed for that day The next day two of her Yeomen who had gone long to schoole before and were learned had two Abcies prouided and deliuered them so that vppon the Abcies they should helpe the Priest One of the sayd Yeomen holdyng the Abcie in his hand pretending ignoraunce at Kirie â—leyson set the priest making as though he could aunswere that no farther It would make a pittiful and and a strange story here by the way to touche and recite what examinations and rackinges of poore men there were to finde out that knife that should cut her throat what gaping among my Lords of the clergy to see the day wherein they might wash their goodly white rochetes in her innocent bloud but especially the Bysh. of Winchester Steuen Gardiner then L. Chauncellour ruler of the rost who then within fiue days after came vnto her with diuers other of the counsell and examined her of the talke that was at Ashridge betwixt her and sir Iames Acroft concerning her remouing from thence to Dunnington Castle requiring her to declare what she ment thereby At the first she being so sodainly asked did not wel remember any such house but within a while well aduising her selfe she sayde In deede quoth she I doe now remember that I haue such a place but I neuer laye in it in all my lyfe And as for any that hath mooued me thereunto I do not remember Then to enforce the matter they broght forth sir Iames Acroft The B. of Winchester demaunded of her what she said to that man She answered that shee had little to say to hym or to the rest that were then prisoners in the tower But my Lordes quoth she you do examine euery mean prisoner of me wherein me thinkes you doe me great iniury If they haue done euill and offended the Queenes Maiesty let them answer to it accordingly I beseech you my Lords ioyne not me in this sort with any of these offenders And as concerning my goyng vnto Dunnington Castle I do remember that M. Hobby and mine officers and you sir Iames Acroft had such talk but what is that to the purpose my Lordes but that I may goe to myne owne houses at all tymes The L. of Arundell kneeling downe said your grace sayth true and certainly we are very sory that we haue so troubled you about so vayne matters She then sayd my Lordes you do sift me very narowly But well I am assured you shall not do more to me then God hath appointed and so God forgeue you all At their departure sir Iames Acroft kneeled downe declaring that he was sory to see the day in which he shuld be brought as a witnesse against her grace But I assure your grace sayd he I haue bene maruelously tossed and examined touching your highnesse which the Lord knoweth is very strange to me For I take God to record before all your honours I do not know any thing of that crime that you haue layd to my charge and will thereupon take my death if I should be driuen to so strait a triall That day or thereabouts diuers of her owne officers who had made prouision for her diet brought the same to the vtter gate of the Tower the common rascall souldiors receiuing it which was no small griefe vnto the Gentlemâ—n the bringers therof Wherfore they required to speak with the Lord Chamberlaine being then Constable of the Tower Who commyng before his presence declared vnto his Lordship that they were much afrayd to bryng her graces diete and to deliuer it vnto such common and desperate persons as they were which did receiue it beseeching his honor to consider her grace and to geue such order that her viands might at all tymes bee brought in by them which were appointed thereunto Yea Sirs said he who appointed you this office They answered her graces counsaile Counsaile quoth he There is none of them which hath to do either in that case or any thing els within this place and I assure you for that she is a prisoner she shall be serued with the Lieuetenaunts men as other the prisoners are Whereat the Gentlemen sayd that they trusted for more fauour at his hands considering her personage saying that they mistrusted not but that the Queene and her Counsaile would be better to her grace then so therewith shewed themselues to be offended at the vngratefull words of the L. Chamberlaine towards their Ladye and maistresse At this he sware by God strikyng hymselfe vpon the brest that if they did either fronne or shrug at him he wold set them where they should see neither sunne nor Moone Thus takyng their leaue they desired God to bryng hym into a better mynde toward her grace and departed from hym Upon the occasion wherof her graces Officers made great sute vnto the Queenes Counsaile that some might be appointed to bring her dyet vnto her and that it might no more be deliuered into the common Souldiours of the Tower Which beyng reasonably considered was by theÌ„ granted And thereupon were appointed one of her Gentlemen her clarke of her kitchin her two Purueiers to bring in her prouision once a day All which was done the Warders euer waiting vpon the bringers thereof The Lord Chamberlaine himselfe being always with them circumspectly and narowly watched and searched what they brought and gaue heede that they should haue no talke with any of her graces waiting seruauntes and so warded them both in and out At the said sute of her officers were sent by the commandement of the Counsaile to waite vppon her grace two Yeomen of her chamber one of her Robes two of her Pantry Ewry one of her Buttry another of her Seller two of her Kitchin one of her Larder all which continued with her the tyme of her trouble Here the Constable beyng at the first not very well pleased with the commyng in of such a company agaynst his will would haue had his men still to haue serued with her Graces men Which her seruaunts at no hand would suffer desiring his Lordship to be
contented for that order was taken that no stranger should come within their Offices At which answer beyng sore displeased he brake out into these threatnyng wordes well sayd he I will handle you well enough Then went hee into the kitchin and there would needs haue his meat rosted with her Graces meate and sayd that his Cooke should come thether and dresse it To that her Graces Cooke answered my Lord I will neuer suffer any stranger to come about her diete but her owne sworne men so long as I lyue He said they should But the Cooke sayd his Lordship should pardon hym for that matter Thus did hee trouble her poore seruants very stoutly though afterward he were otherwise aduised and they more curteously vsed at his handes And good cause why For he had good â—here fared of the best her grace payed well for it Wherefore he vsed himselfe afterward more reuerently toward her grace After this sort hauyng lyen a whole moneth there in close prison and beyng very euill at ease therewithall she sent for the L. Chamberlaine and the Lord Shandoys to come and speake with her Who commyng she requested them that she might haue liberty to walk in some place for that she felt her selfe not well To the which they aunswered that they were right sorye that they coulde not satisfie her graces request for that they had commaundement to the contrary which they durst not in any wise break Furthermore she desired of them if that could not be granted that she might walke but into the Queenes lodgyng No nor yet that they answered could by any meanes bee obtained without a further sute to the Queene her Counsaile Well sayd she my Lordes if the matter be so harde that they must be sued vnto for so small a thyng that friendship be so strait God comfort me and so they departed she remaining in her old dungeon still without any kynde of comfort but onely God The next day after the L. Shandoyes came again vnto her grace declaryng vnto her that he had sued vnto the counsail for further liberty Some of them consented therunto diuers other dissented for that there were so manye prisoners in the tower But in conclusion they did al agree that her grace might walke into those lodgings so that he and the L. Chamberlaine and three of the Queens Gentlewomen did accompany her the windowes beyng shut and she not suffred to looke out at any of them wherwith she contented her selfe and gaue him thankes for hys good will in that behalfe Afterwards there was libertie graunted to her grace to walke in a little garden the dores and gates being shut vp which notwithstanding was as much discomfort vnto her as the walke in the garden was pleasaunt acceptable At which times of her walking there the prisoners on that side straightly were commaunded not to speake or looke out at the windowes into the garden till her grace were gone out agayne hauing in consideration thereof their kepers waiting vpon them for that time Thus her grace with this small libertie contented her selfe in God to whom be prayse therfore During this tyme there vsed a little boy a mans child in the Tower to resort to their chaÌ„bers and many times to bring her grace floures which likewise he did to the other prisoners that were there Wherupon naughty suspicious heades thinking to make and wring out some matter therof called on a time the childe vnto theÌ„ promising him figges and apples and asked of him wheÌ„ he had bene with the Earle of Deuonshyre not ignoraunt of the childes wounted frequenting vnto him The boy answered that he would go by and by thether Further they demanded of him when he was with the Lady Elizabethes grace He answered euery day Furthermore they examyned him what the Lord of Deuonshyre sent by him to her grace The childe sayd I will go know what he will geue to cary to her Such was the discretion of the childe being yet but foure yeares of age This same is a craftye boye quoth the Lord Chamberlayne Howe say you my Lorde Shandoyes I pray you my L. quoth the boy geue me the figges you promised me No Mary quoth he thou shalt be whipped if thou come any more to the Lady Elizabeth or the Lorde Courtny The boy aunswered I will bryng my Lady my mistres more floures Wherupon the childs father was commaunded to permit the boye no more to come vp into theyr chambers The next day as her grace was walking in the gardeÌ„ the childe peeping in at a hole in the dore cryed vnto her saying mistres I can bring you no more floures Wherat she smiled but sayd nothing vnderstanding thereby what they had done Wherefore afterwards the Chamberlaine rebuked highly his father commaunding him to put him out of the house Alasse poore infant quoth the father It is a craftie knaue quoth the Lorde Chamberlaine let me see him heere no more The 5. day of May the Constable was discharged of hys office of the Tower and one Syr Henrye Benifielde placed in his rowme a man vnknowen to her grace and therefore the more feared which so sodaine mutation was vnto her no little amaze Hee brought with him an 100. souldiers in blew coates wherwith she was marueilously discomforted demaunded of such as were about her whether the Lady Ianes scaffold were taken away or no fearing by reason of their comming least she should haue played her part To whom aunswere was made that the scaffolde was taken awaye and that her grace needed not to doubt of any suche tyrannie for God woulde not suffer any such treason against her Person Wherewith beyng contented but not altogether satisfied shee asked what syr Henry Benefield was and whether hee was of that conscience or no that if her murdering were secretly committed to his charge he would see the execution thereof She was answeared that they were ignoraunt what maner of man he was Howbeit they perswaded her that God would not suffer such wickednesse to proceede Wel quoth shee God graunt it be so For thou O God canste mollifie all suche tyrannous heartes and disappoynte all such cruell purposes and I beseeche thee to heare me thy creature which am thy seruaunt and at thy commaundement trusting by thy grace euer so to remaine About which time it was spred abroad that her grace should be caried from thence by this newe iolly Captaine and his souldiours but whether it coulde not be learned Which was vnto her a great grief especially for that such a company was appoynted to her gard requesting rather to continue there still then to be ledde thence with suche a sort of rascals At last plaine answer was made by the L. Shandoyes that there was no remedye but from thence she must needes depart to the Manour of Woodstocke as he thought Being demaunded of her for what cause for that quoth he the Tower is like
further to be furnished Shee being desirous to knowe what hee meant thereby demaunded wherewith He answeared with such matter as the Queene and Counsail were determined in that behalfe whereof he had no knowledge and so departed In conclusion on Trinitie Sonday being the 19. day of Maye shee was remooued from the Tower the Lorde Treasurer being then there for the lading of her Carâ—es and discharging the place of the same Where Syr Henry Benifielde being appoynted her Gailer did receiue her wyth a companie of rakehelles to Garde her besides the Lorde of Darbies bandâ— wayting in the Countrey about for the mooneshine in the water Unto whome at lengthe came my Lorde of Tame ioyned in Commission with the sayd Syr Henry for the safe guiding of her to prisone and they together conueied her grace to Woodstocke as hereafter followeth The first day they conducted her to Richmond where she continued al night being restrained of her owne men whych were lodged in oute Chambers and Syr Henrye Benifields souldiours appointed in their roumes to geue attendance on her person Wherat she being maruelously dismaid thinking verely some secret mischief to be a working towards her called her Gentleman Usher and desired him with the rest of his company to pray for her For this night quoth she I thinke to die Wherwith he being stricken to the heart sayde God forbid that any such wickednes should be pretended against your grace So comforting her as well as he coulde at last hee brust oute into teares and went from her downe into the Courte where were walking the Lorde of Tame and Syr Henrye Benifielde Then he comming to the Lorde of Tame who hadde profered to him muche friendship desired to speake wyth him a woord or two Unto whome he familiarly sayde he should with all his heart Which when Syr Henry standing by heard he asked what the matter was To whom the Gentleman Usher answeared no great matter Syr sayd he but to speake with my Lord a woord or two Then when the Lorde of Tame came to him he spake on this wise My Lord quoth he you haue ben alwayes my good Lord and so I beseech you to remain The cause why I come to you at this time is to desire your honor vnfainedly to declare vnto mee whether any daunger is meant towardes my Mistresse this nighte or no that I and my poore fellowes may take suche part as shall please God to appoynt for certainely we wil rather die then she should secretely and innocently miscarie Mary sayde the Lord of Tame God forbid that any such wicked purpose should be wrought and rather then it shuld be so I with my men are ready to die at her foote also and so praised be God they passed that dolefull nighte wyth no â—â—â—tle heauinesse of heart Afterwards passing ouer the water at Richmond going towardes Wyndsore her grace espied certaine of her poore seruauntes standing on the other side whiche were very desirous to see her Whom when she beheld turning to one of her men standing by she sayde yonder I see certaine of my men goe to them and say these woordes from me Tanquam ouis So she passing forward to Windsore was lodged there that night in the Deane of Windsores house a place more meete in deede for a Priest then a Princesse And from thence her Grace was garded and brought the next night to M. Dormers house where much people standing by the waye some presented to her one gifte and some an other so that sir Henry was greatly moued therwith and troubled the poore people very sore for shewing their louing hearts in suche a maner calling them rebels and traitors with such like vile woordes Besides as she passed through the villages the townes men rang the bels as being ioyful of her comming thinking verely it had bene otherwise then it was in deede as the sequele prooued after to the sayd poore men For immediately the saide syr Henry hearing the same sent his souldiours thether who appreheÌ„ded some of the ringers setting them in the stockes otherwise vncourteously misusing other some for their good willes On the morrow her grace passing from maister Dormers where was for the time of her abode there a straight watch kept came to the Lord of Tames house where she lay all the night being very princely entertained bothe of Knightes and Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Whereat Syr Henry Benifield grunted and was highly offended saying vnto them that they coulde not tell what they did and were not able to answere to their doings in that behalfe letting them to vnderstand that shee was the Queenes Maiesties prisoner and no otherwise aduising them therefore to take heede and beware of after clappes Wherunto the Lord of Tame answered in this wise that he was wel aduised of his doings being ioyned in Commission as well as he adding with warraÌ„t that her grace might and should in his house be merry The next day as she should take her iourney froÌ„ Richmond toward Woodstocke the Lord of Tame with an other Gentleman being at Tables playing and droppyng vie crownes the Ladie Elizabeth passing by stayed and sayde she would see the game plaied out which sir Henry Benifield would scarse permit The game running longe about and they playing drop vie crownes come on sayth he I will tarie sayth she and will see this game out After this sir Henry went vp into a chamber where was appointed for her grace a chaire two cushions and a foote carpet very faire princelike wherein presumptuously he sate and called one Barwike his maÌ„ to puâ— of his bootes Which as soone as it was known among the ladies and Gentles euery one mused therat and laughed him to scorne obseruing his vndiscrete maners in that behalf as they might very well When supper was done he called my L. and willed him that all the Gentlemen and Ladies should withdraw themselues euery one to his lodging meruailing much that he would permit there such a coÌ„pany considering so great a charge committed to him Sir Henry quoth my Lord content your self all shal be voyded your men and all Nay my souldiours quoth sir Henry shall watch all night The Lord of Tame aunswered it shall not need Well sayd he neede or neede noâ— they shall so do mistrusting belike the company whiche God knoweth was without cause The next day her grace tooke her iourney from thence to Woodstocke where she was inclosed as before in the Tower of London the souldiors garding and wardyng both within and without the walles euery day to the number of three score and in the night without the wals xl during the tyme of her imprisonment there At length shee had gardens appointed for her walke which was very comfortable to her grace But alwayes when she did recreate her selfe therein the dores were â—ast locked vp in as straite maner as they were in the Tower beyng at the least v.
were stricken from the shoulders Whereunto the Spanyards answeared saying God forbid that their king and master should haue that minde to consent to such a mischiefe This was the curteous aunswer of the Spanyardes to the Englishmen speaking after that sorte against theyr owne country From that day the Spaniardes neuer left of their good perswasions to the king that the like honour he shoulde neuer obtaine as he shoulde in deliueryng the Lady Elizabeths grace out of prison wherby at leÌ„gth she was happely released from the same Here is a plaine and euident example of the good clemencie and nature of the King and his Counsellers towards her grace praised be God therefore who mooued their heartes therein Then heereuppon shee was sente for shortlye after to come to Hampton Court But before her remoouing away from Woodstocke we will a litle stay to declare in what dangers her life was in during this time shee there remained first thorough fire which began to kindle betweene the boardes and seeling vnder the chamber where shee lay whether by a sparke of fire gotten into a cranye or whether of purpose by some that meant her no good the Lord doth knowe Neuerthelesse a woorshipfull Knight of Oxfordshire whyche was there ioyned the same time with Syr Henry Benifield in keeping that Ladye who then tooke vp the boardes and queÌ„ched the fire verely supposed it to be done of purpose Furthermore it is thought and also affirmed if it be true of one Paule Peny a Keeper of Woodstocke a notorious ruffin and a butcherly wretch that he was appoynted to kill the sayd Lady Elizabeth who both sawe the man being often in her sight and also knewe thereof An other time one of the priuie chamber a great man about the Queene and chiefe darling of Steuen Gardider named master Iames Basset came to Blandenbridge a mile from Woodstocke with 20. or 30. priuie coates and sent for Syr Henrye Benifielde to come and speake with him But as God would which disposed all things after the purpose of his owne will so it happened that a lyttle before the sayd Syr Henry Benifield was sent for by post to the Counsell leauing straight woord behinde him with his brother that no man what so euer hee were thoughe comming with a Bill of the Queenes hand or any other warrant should haue accesse to her before his retourne againe By reason wherof it so fell out that M. Benifields brother comming to him at the Bridge would suffer hym in no case to approche in who otherwise as is supposed was appoynted violently to murther the innocent Lady In the life of Steuen Gardiner wee declared before page 1787. howe that the Ladie Elizabeth beynge in the Tower a Wrytte came downe subscribed wyth certaine handes of the Counsell for her execution Which if it were certaine as it is reported Winchester no doubt was deuiser of that mischieuous drift and doubtlesse the same Achitophel had brought hys impious purpose that daye to passe had not the fatherly prouidence of almightye God who is alwayes stronger then the deuill stirred vp M. Bridges Lieutenaunte the same time of the Tower to come in hast to the Queene to geue certificate therof and to knowe further her consent touching her sisters deathe Whereuppon it followed that all that deuise was disappoynted and Winchesters deuelish plat forme which hee sayd he had cast through the Lordes great goodnesse came to no effecte Where moreouer is to be noted that during the prysonment of this Ladye and Princesse one M. Edmunde Tremaine was on the Racke and maister Smithwike diuers other in the Tower were examined and diuers offers made to them to accuse the giltlesse Ladie being in her captiuitie Howbeit al that notwithstanding no matter could be prooued by all examinations as shee the same time lying at Woodstocke had certaine intelligence by the meanes of one Iohn Gaâ—er who vnder a colourable pretence of a letter to mistres Cleue from her father was let in and so gaue them secretely to vnderstande of all thys matter Whereupon the Lady Elizabeth at her departing out from Woodstocke wrote these Uerses with her Diamond in a glasse windowe Much suspected by me Nothing prooued can be Quoth Elizabeth prisoner And thus much touching the troubles of Lady Elizabeth at Woodstocke Whereunto this is more to be added that during the same time the Lorde of Tame had laboured to the Queene and became surety for her to haue her from Woodstocke to his house and had obtained graunte thereof Whereupon preparation was made accordingly and all things ready in expectation of her comming But through the procurement either of M. Benifield or by the doing of Winchester her mortall enemie letters came ouer night to the contrary wherby her iourney was stopped Thus this woorthy Ladie oppressed wyth continuall sorrowe coulde not be permitted to haue recourse to any frendes she had but still in the hands of her enemies was left desolate and vtterly destitute of all that might refresh a doulefull heart fraughte full of terrour and thraldome Whereupon no maruell if she hearing vpon a time out of her garden at Woodstocke a certaine milkemaide singing pleasantly wished her selfe to be a milkemaid as she was saying that her case was better and life more merier then was hers in that state as shee was Now after these things thus declared to procede further there where we left before Syr Henry Benifield and hys souldiours wyth the Lorde of Tame and Syr Rafe Chamberlaine garding and waiting vpon her the firste night from Woodstock she came to Ricot In which iourney such a mighty wind did blow that her seruants were same to holde downe her cloathes about her In so much that her hoode was twise or thrise blowen from her head Whereupon shee desirous to retourne to a certaine Gentlemans house there neare coulde not be suffered by Syr Henry Benifield so to doe but was constrained vnder an hedge to trimme her head aswell as she could After thys the next nighte they iourneyed to M. Dormers and so to Colbroke where shee lay all that nyghte at the George and by the way coÌ„ming to Colbroke certaine of her graces Gentlemen and Yeomen mette her to the noumber of three score muche to all theyr comfortes which had not seene her grace of long season before notwythstandinge they were commaunded in the Queenes name immediately to depart the towne to both their and her graces no little heauinesse who coulde not be suffered once to speake with them So that night al her men were taken from her sauing her Gentleman vsher three Gentlewomen two Gromes and one of her Wardrope the souldiours watching and warding aboute the house and shee close shut vp within her prison The nexte day following her grace entred Hampton-court on the backeside into the princes lodging the doores being shut to her and she garded with souldiours as before say there a fortnight at the
824. Dauid Beaton Archbishop of s. Andrewes in Scotland shortly after the beginning of M. George Wisard how hee by the iust stroke of God was slaine and wretchedly ended his lyfe within his owne Castle in the discourse of his story is euident to see who so listeth further to read of that matter pag. 1272. Ioannes Sleidanus in his 23. booke maketh relatiâ—â— of Cardinall Crescentius the chiefe President and moderator of the Councell of Trident ann 1552. The story of whom is certain the thing that hapned to him was straÌ„ge and notable the exaÌ„ple of him may be profitable to others such as haue grace to be warned by other meÌ„s euils The narration is this The 25. day of March in the yere aforesaid Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trident was sitting all the day long vntill darke night in writing letters to thâ— Pope After his labour when night was come thinking to refresh himselfe he began to rise and at his rising beholde there appeared to hym a mighty blacke dogge of a huge bignes his eyes flamyng with fire and his eares hanging low downe welneere to the ground to enter in and straite to come toward hym so to couch vnder the boord The Cardinall not a little amased at the sight thereof somewhat recouering himselfe ralled to his seruauntes which were in the outward chaÌ„ber next by to bring in a candle and to seeke for the dog But when the dog could not be found neither there nor in no other chamber about the Cardinall thereupon striken with a sodaine conceit of mynd immediately fell into such a sicknes wherof his Phisitions which he had about hym with all their industry and cunnyng coulde not cure hym And so in the towne of Uerona died this popish cardinall the Popes holy Legate and President of this couÌ„cel wherein his purpose was as Sleidane saith to recouer and heale againe the whole authoritie and doctrine of the Romish see and to set it vp for euer There were in this Councell beside the Popes Legates and Cardinall of Trident lxij Bishops Doctours of Diuinitie xlij And thus was the ende of that Popishe Councell by the prouident hand of the almighty dispatched and brought to naught Ex Sleidano Li. 23. This Councell of Trident being then dissolued by the death of this Cardinal was afterward notwithstanding recollected againe about the yeare of our lord 1562. against the erroneous proceedings of which Councel other writers there be that say enough So much as pertaineth only to story I thought hereunto to adde concernyng two filthy adulterous bishops to the sayd Councel belonging of whome the one haunting to an honest mans wife was slaine by the iust stroke of God with a Borespeare The other Bishop whose haunte was to creepe through a window in the same window was subtilly taken and hanged in a grinne layed for hym of purpose and so conueied that in the mornyng hee was seene openly in the streete hangyng out of the windowe to the wonderment of all that passed by Ex protestatione Concionatorum Germa aduersus conuentum Trident. c. Amongst all the religious order of Papists who was a stouter defender of the Popes side or a more vehement impugner of Martin Luther then Iohn Eckius who if his cause wherein he so trauailed had bene godly had deserued no doubt great fauour and condigne retribution at the hands of the Lord. Now for so much as we cannot better iudge of him then by his ende let vs consider the maner of his departing hence and compare the same with the end of M. Luther In the which M. Luther beyng such an aduersarye as he was to the Pope and hauyng no lesse then al the world vpon him at once first this is to bee noted that after all these trauailes the Lord gaue him to depart both in great age and in his owne natiue countrey where he was born Secondly he blessed him with such a quiet death without any violent hande of any aduersary that it was counted rather a sleepe then a death Thirdly as the death of hys body was myld so his spirit mynde continued no lesse godly vnto the end continually inuocating and calling vpon the name of the Lord and so commending his spirite to hym with feruent prayer he made a blessed and an heauenly ending Fourthly ouer and besides these blessings almighty God did also adde vnto him such an honourable buriall as to many great Princes vnneth happeneth the like And this briefly concernyng the ende of M. Luther as ye may read before more at large pag. 863. Now let vs consider and conferre with this the death of Iohn Eckius and the maner thereof which we find in the English translation of the history of Iohn Carion fol. 250. in these words expressed This yere saith he died at Ingold state Doctor Eckius a faithful seruant and champion of the Pope and a defender of the abhominable Papacie But as his lyfe was full of all vngodlines vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pitifull in so much that his last wordes as it is noted of many credible personnes were these In case the foure thousand guildens were ready the matter were dispatched c. Dreamyng belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Some say that the Pope had granted him a certaine Deanry which he should haue redeemed from the Courte of Rome with the foresayd summe Now what a heauenly ende this was of M. Eckius I leaue it to the Readers iudgement In the Citie of Andwerpe was as they terme hym there a Shoulted that is to say the next Officer to the Markgraue one named Iohn Uander Warfe a Bastard sonne of a stocke or kinred called Warfe of good estimation amongest the chiefest in Antwarpe Who as he was of nature cruell so was he of iudgement peruerse and corrupt and a sore persecutor of Christes flocke with greedines seekyng and sheddyng innocent bloud and had drouned diuers good men and women in the water for the which he was much commended of the bloudy generation Of some he was called a bloudhound or bloudy dog Of other he was called Shildpad that is to say Sheltode for that hee beyng a short grundy and of little stature did ride commonly with a great broad hat as a churl of the countrey This man after he was weary of his office wherein he had continued aboue xx yeres he gaue it ouer and because he was now growen rich and welthy he entended to passe the residue of his lyfe in pleasure and quietnes During which tyme about the second yeare after hee had left his office he came to Antwarpe to the feast called our Ladies Oumegang to make mery which feast is vsually kept on the Sonday followyng the assumption of our Lady The same day in the after noone about foure of the clock he being wel loden with wine rode homewards
this lyfe where euery one should be purified and cleansed He aunswered that he had red ouer the whole Bible and could finde no such place but that the death of Christ was his Purgatory with many other questions proceedyng after their order vntill hee came to pronounce hys condemnation But or euer the sayd condemnation was red foorth the iudgement of God was laid vpon the sayd Borough maister who sodainly at that present instaunt was striken with a Palsey that his mouth was drawen vp almost to his eare and so hee fell downe the rest of the Lordes by and by standing vp and shadowyng him that the people coulde not well see hym and also the people were willed to depart who beyng still called vpon to depart aunswered the place was so small to go out that they could goe no faster Then the Borough maister beyng taken vp was caried to his house and it is not yet vnderstood nor commonly knowen that euer he spake word after he was first striken but was openly knowen to bee dead the next day followyng And yet notwithstandyng that this was done about tenne of the clocke they burned the sayd William de Weuer within three houres after on the same day The 4. day of March 1566. the lyke example of the Lordes terrible iudgement was shewed vpon sir Garret Triest knight who had long before promised to the Regent to bring downe the preachyng For the which act as the report goeth the Regent agayne promised to make hym a Graue which is an Erle Of the which sir Garret it is also said that he commyng from Bruxels towardes Gaunt brought with him the death of the Preachers and beyng come to Gaunt the sayde sir Garret with other of the Lordes hauyng receiued from the Regent a Commission to sweare the Lordes and Commons vnto the Romish Religion the sayd sir Garret the 4. day of March aboue noted at night beyng at supper willed the Lady his wyfe to call hym in the mornyng one houre sooner then he was accustomed to ryse for that hee should the nexte day haue much businesse to doe in the towne house to sweare the Lordes and people to the Romish Religion But see what happened The sayd sir Garret goyng to bedde in good health as it seemed when the Lady his wife called him in the mornyng accordyng to his appoyntment was found dead in her bedde by her and so vnable to prosecute his wicked purpose The fift day of March 1566. which was the day that Sir Garret Triest appoynted to be there and the Lords of Gaunt were come into the Towne house as they had afore appoynted to proceed and to geue the othe accordyng as they had their Commission and Maister Martin de Pester the Secretary beyng appoynted and about to geue the othe as the first man should haue sworne the sayd Martine de Pester was striken of God with present death likewyse and fell downe and was caried away in a chaire or settell and neuer spake after Witnes hereunto Peter de Bellemaker Abraham Rossart Maerke de Mill. Lieuen Hendrickx Ian Coucke Roger Vanhulle Ioys Neuehans Lyauin Neuehans Wil. vanden Boegarde Ioys de Pitte About the borders of Sueuia in Germany not farre from the Citie of Uberlyng there was a certayne Monastery of Cistercian Monkes called Salmesnisie founded in the dayes of Pope Innocent 2. by a noble Baron named Guntherame about the yeare of our Lord 1130. This Celle thus beyng erected in processe of tyme was enlarged with more ample possessions findyng manye and great benefactoures and endowers liberally contributyng vnto the same as Emperours Dukes and rich Barons Amongest whome most especiall were the Earles of Montforte who had bestowed vpon that monastery many new liberties and great priuiledges vpon this condition that they shoulde receiue with free hospitalitie any stranger both horseman or footeman for one nightes lodging who so euer came But this hospitalitie did not long so continue through a subtile and diuelish deuise of one of the Monkes who tooke vpon hym to counterfeite to play the part of the Deuill ratling and raging in his chaynes where the straungers should lie after a terrible maner in the night tyme to fray away the gestes by reason wherof no stranger nor traueller durst there abide and so continued this a long space At length as God would it so happened that one of the Earles of the sayde house of Mountforte benefactours to that Abbey commyng to the Monastery was there lodged whether of set purpose or by chance it is not knowen When the night came and the Earle was at hys rest the Monke after his woonted maner beginneth his pageant to play the tame yea rather the wylde Deuill There was stampyng rappyng spittyng of fire roring thunderyng bounsing of boordes and ratling of chaines enough to make some man starke mad The Erle hearing the sodaine noyse and beyng somewhat peraduenture afraid at the first although he had not then the feate of coniuring yet taking a good hart vnto him running to his sword he layd about him well fauoredly and followyng still the noyse of the deuill so coniured him at last that the monke which counterfeited the deuill in iest was slayne in hys owne likenes in earnest Ex Gaspare Bruschio in Chronologia Monasteriorum Germaniae ⧠After the imprisonment of the congregation which were taken hearyng Gods word in S. Iames streete in Paris an 1558. as is aboue storied was a letter written to the king which was diuulgate abroad proouing declaring by diuers histories what afflictions and calamities from tyme to tyme by Gods righteous iudgement haue fallen vppon such as haue bene enemies to his people and haue resisted the free passage of his holy word In which letter forsomuch as beside the sayd examples much other good fruitfull matter is conteined worthy of all mē to be read and especially of Princes to bee considered I thought here good to copy out the whole as the Frenche booke doth geue it The translation of the which letter into English is after this tenor as followeth ¶ A Letter translated out of French into English written to K. Henry the 2. French kyng COnsider I pray you sir and you shall finde that all your afflictions haue come vpon you since you haue set your selfe agaynst those which are called Lutherans When you made the Edict of Chasteaubriant God sent you warres but when ye ceased the execution of your sayde Edict and as long as ye were enemye vnto the Pope and goyng into Almanie for the defence of the libertie of the Germaines afflicted for Religion your affaires prospered as ye would wishe or desire On the contrary what hath become vpō you since you were ioyned with the Pope agayne hauing receiued a sword from him for his own safegard And who was it that caused you to breake the truce God hath turned in a moment your prosperities into such afflictions that they touch not onely
not to alleadge for themselues any reason they assay to make odious to your maiesty the Lutherans as they call vs and say if their sayinges take place ye shall be faine to remaine a priuate person that there is neuer change of religion but there is also chaunge of princedome A thyng as false as when they accuse vs to be Sacramentaries and that we deny the authoritie of Magistrates vnder the shadow of certaine furious Anabaptists which Satan hath raysed in our tyme to darken the light of the Gospell For the histories of the Emperours which haue begun to receiue the Christian religion and that which is come to passe in our tyme shew the contrary Was there euer Prince more feared and obeyed then Constantine in receiuing the Christian Religion was hee therefore put from the Empire No he was thereby the more confirmed established in the same and also his posterity which ruled themselues by his prouidence But such as haue fallen away and folowed mens traditions God hath destroyed and theyr race is no more knowne in earth So much doth God detest them that forsake him And in our time the late kinges of England and Germanye were they coÌ„strayned in reprouing superstitions which the wickednes of the time had brought in to forsake their kingdomes princedomes Al men see the contrary and what honor fidelity and obedience the people in our time that haue receiued the reformation of the Gospell do vnder theyr princes and superiors Yea I may say that the princes knew not before what it was to be obeyed at that time when the rude and ignoraunt people receiued so readily the dispeÌ„sations of the Pope to dâ—iue out their owne kinges and naturall Lordes The true and onely remedy sir is that ye cause to be holden a holy and free Counsell where ye shouâ—d be chiefe and not the Pope his who ought but onely to defende their causes by the holy scriptures that in the meane while ye may seeke out meÌ„ not corrupted suspected nor partial whoÌ„ ye may charge to geue report faythfully vnto you of the true sence of the holy scriptures And this done after the example of the good kinges Iosaphath Ezechias Iosias ye shall take out of the Churche all Idolatry superstition abuse which is found directly contrary to the holy scriptures of the old and new testament by that meanes ye shall guid youâ— people in the true pure seruiâ—e of God not regarding in the meane time the cauilling pretenses of the papists which say that such questioÌ„s haue bene already answered at generall Counsels for it is knowne well enougâ— thaâ— no Counsell hath bene lawfull since the Popes haue 〈◊〉 the principality tyranny vpon mens soules but they haue made them serue to their couetousnes ambition and cruelâ—y 〈◊〉 the contrariety which is amoÌ„g those couÌ„sels maketh enough for their disproofe beside a hundred thousand other absurdities agâ—inâ—â— the word of God which be in them The true proofe for such matters is in the true holy Scriptures to the which no time nor age hath any prescription to be alledged agaynst theÌ„ foâ— by them we receiue the Counsels founded vpon the worde of God and also by the same we reiect that doctrine which is repugnant And if ye do thus Syr God will blesse your enterprise he will encrease confirme your raigne and Empyre and your posterity If otherwise destruction is at your gate and vnhappy are the people which shall dwell vnder your obedieÌ„ce There is no doubt but God will hardeÌ„ your hart as he did Phaâ—aos and take of the crowne from your head as he did to Ieroboam Nâ—dab Baza Achab and to many other kinges which haue folowed mâ—ns traditions agaynst the commaundemeÌ„t of God and geue it to your enemies to triumph ouer you and your children And if the Emperour Antonine the meek although he were a Pagan Idolater seing himselfe bewrapt with so many wars ceased the persecutioÌ„s which were in his time agaynst the christians and determined in the ende to heare their causes and reasons how muche more ought you that beare the name of moste Christian king to be carefull and diligent to cease 〈◊〉 persecutions agaynst the poore Christians seing they hâ—ue not tâ—oubled nor doe trouble in any wise the state of your kingdome your affayres considering also that the Iewes be suffeâ—ed through all Christendome although they be mortall enemies oâ— our Lorde Iesus Christ which we holde by common accorde and consent for our God Redeemer and Sauiour and that vntill you haue heard lawfully debated and vnderstand our reasons takeÌ„ of the holy Scriptures and that your Maiestye haue iudged if we bee worthy of such punishmentes For if we be not ouercome by the worde of God the fires the sworde nor the câ—â—â—â—lest tormentes shall make vs afrayd These be the exercises that God hath promised to his of the which he foretolde shoulde come in the laste times that they should not be troubled when such persecutions shall come vpon them Translated out of the French booke intituled Commentaries of the state of the Church and publicke weale c. pag. 7. ¶ The story and end of the french king WHosoeuer was the authour or authours of this letter aboue prefixed herein thou seest good Reader good counsell geuen to the king if he had the grace to receiue it and had folowed the same no doubt but Gods blessing working with him he had not onely set that Realme in a blessed staye from much disturbaunce but also had continued himselfe in all florishing felicity of princely honour and dignity For so doth the lord commonly blesse and aduaunce such kinges Princes as seeke hys honor and submit their wils to his obedience But coÌ„monly the fault of kinges and Potentates of this world is that being set about with Parasites either they seldom heare the truth told theÌ„ or if they do yet will they not lightly be put from theyr owne willes disdayning to be admonished by their inferiors be theyr counsell neuer so holsom godly Which thing many times turneth them to great plages calamitie as by plentiful exaÌ„ples of kings destroyed wouÌ„ded imprisoned deposed drowned poysoned c. may wel to theÌ„ that read histories appeare but especially in this preseÌ„t example of Henry French king the seconde of that name is in this our age notoriously to be considered Who bâ—ing well warned before as may seeme would not yet surcease his cruell persecution agaynst the Lordes people but rather was the more hardened in hart and inflamed against them in so muche that he sayd to Anne du Bourg one of the high Court of Parliament in Paris threatning hym that he would see him burne with his own eyes Further how his purpose was to extende his power and force likewise agaynst other places moe in persecutyng the Gospell of Christe and professours thereof to the vttermost of his abilitie I
your selues when it shall come to iust triall of the matter and that theÌ„ it be not proued agaynst you that ye complayne without cause when the order and your maner towardes it shal be duely wayed I am willing and ready to heare you after the order taken and appoynted for you to reason therein and farther or contrary to that I cannot deale with you Lich. Cou. Let vs suffer no misorder or iniury herein but be heaâ—d with indifference that is to say conuenient and meet we should haue here L. Keper I praye you Syrs heare me and marke it you well It was concluded on by my Lordes of the counsell who you wel know of that theyr writing whiche ye are now so willing to haue heard should haue bene read the first day and then did we vnderstande that Mayster Cole had sayd what you would haue him and as much as you willed him to say and vpon that indifferency emonges I iudge ye were asked in the ende of Mayster Coles rehersall whether that whiche he spake was it ye woulde haue him say and ye graunted it Then whether ye would that he shuld say any more in the matter Ye answered no wherupon the other part was hard which you hearing then in deede without all good indifferencie or playne dealing ye pretended that ye had more to saye So marke you wyth how small equitie you vsed your selfe The B. We had in deede more to say if we might haue bene indifferently heard L. Keeper Geue me leaue I saye and looke what gaynes you should haue if your present request should be granted you that call so muche of indifferent vsing howe you shoulde vse those other men For many who are here presently were then away so would you haue your writyng now red to them whiche heard not this Marke ye whether it had not bene more fit that ye had prouided it against the first day when they orderly read theyrs sith to my knowledge and as farre as I haue hadde to doe in the matter you were of both sides I am sure warned at one tyme. Howbeit to satisfy your importunacie and earnestnes of this crying out to haue your first writing heard I might well allow if it so pleased the rest of the Queenes most honorable Counsell that you dispatching the worke on the second question appoynted for this daye and geue vs vp your writing for the first so that when the daye commeth that each of you shall aunswer the other in confirmation of the first question that then the same daye ye shall haue time to read this your first writing whiche ye now would so fayne read To this order all the Counsel willingly condescended Lich Co. Nay my Lordes they reading one and we two bookes in one day wee shoulde not haue time enough to read them both It would occupy to much time L. Keeper For my part I might well stay at the hearing of them both and I iudge the rest of the Counsell and lykewise the whole audience At whiche saying there was a shoute crying on all sides yea yea wee woulde heare it gladly Lincolne We cannot read them both at one time for theyr writing I am sure would require an houre and a halfe if so be it be so long as theyr laste was and then our aunswere woulde require no lesse time after the fyrste question L. Keeper I haue shewed you we could be well contented to tary out the time when it commeth thereunto Therefore ye neede not to be therein so curious and wee graunting you thus muche and yet ye will obey no orders I cannot tell what I shall say vnto you Lincoln We haue bene wonderfully troubled in the order of this disputation For first it was appoynted vs by my Lord the Archbishop that we shoulde dispute and that in Latine and then had wee an other commaundement that we should prouide a Latine writing and nowe at last we willed to bring forth our writinges in english At these wordes the Lord keeper of the great seale the Archbishop with all the Counsell muche mused and many murmured at such his wrong report of the order well taken Whereupon with an admiration the Lorde keeper aunswered I maruaile much of the vsing of your selfe in this poynt sith I am assured the order was neuer otherwise taken then that you shoulde bring forth in Englishe writing what you had to say for your purpose Hereupon the Byshops of Lichfield and Chichester to excuse my Lord of Lincolne sayd we so vnderstood the order my Lordes L. Keeper Howe likely is that sith that it was so playnely told you But to end these delayes I pray you follow the order appoynted and beginne to entreate of the seconde question Lich. Co. We were appoynted this day by youre honours to bring in what we had to say in the first question At the which saying the audience much grudged who heard the former talke contrary to such his reporte L. Keeper The order was taken for that your writinges were not ready the last time that ye shoulde yeld the same to these men meaning the Protestantes as soone as ye might and vpon the receipt of your writinges you shuld haue theyrs and this day ye should entreate of the second question and of the thyrd if that ye had leysure enoughe This was the order my Lordes except my memory much fayle me The same all the Counsell affirmed Lincoln We were willed then to bring in this daye oure writing for the first question also Lorde Keeper Ah syrs if ye bee so harde to bee satisfied and to encline to the trueth let my Lordes here say what was then determined B. Yorke Ye are to blame to stand in this issue for there was a playne decreed order taken for you to intreat of the second Question Wherefore leaue you your contention herein and shew what ye haue to say in the second Question L. Keper Go to now begin my Lordes Linc. Couen It is coÌ„trary to the order in disputatioÌ„s that we should begin Chester We haue the negatiue the affirmatiue therefore they must begin Lich. Couen· They must first speake what they can bring in agaynst vs sith that we are the defending part Chester So is the schole maner and likewise the maner in Westminster hall is that the plaintifes part should speak first and then the accused party to answere Lich. Couen I pray you let the proposition be read then let vs see who hath the negatiue part and so let the other begin L. Keper The order was taken that ye should begin Lich. Couen But then we should do agaynst the Schoole order L. Keper My maisters ye inforce much the schole orders I wonder muche at it sith diuers of those orders are ofte times taken for the exercise of youth and ought to mainteine a fashion and many prescriptions whiche we neede not here to recite much lesse obserue We are come hither to keepe the order of God and to set forth his truth
these words And setteth it in a secret place for no man durst then commit idolatry openly So that conferring the places it doth euidently appeare that images both for vse of religion and in place of perill for idolatry are forbidden God knowyng the inclination of man to Idolatry sheweth the reason why he made this generall prohibition Ne fortè errore deceptus adores ea colas That is to say Least peraduenture thou beyng deceiued should bow downe to them and worship them This generall lawe is generally to be obserued notwithstanding that peraduenture a great number cannot be hurt by them which may appeare by the example followyng God forbade the people to ioyne their children in mariage with strangers addyng the reason Quia seducit filium tuum â—e sequatur me That is For she will seduce thy sonne that he shall not follow me Deut. 7. Moses was not deceyuâ—d or seduced by Iethroes daughter nor Booz by Ruth beyng a woman of Moab And yet for all that the generall law was to be obserued Thou shalt ioine no mariage with them And so likewise Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image c. Deut. 4. God geueth a speciall charge to auoyde images Beware saith he that thou forget not the couenaunt of the Lord thy God which he made with thee so make to thy selfe any grauen image of any thing which the lord hath forbidden thee for the Lord thy God is a consumyng fire and a iealous God If thou haue children and nephews and doe dwell in the land and beyng deceiued do make to your selues any grauen image doyng euill before the Lord your God and prouoke him to anger I do this day call heauen and earth to witnesse that you shall quickly perish out of the lande which ye shall possesse ye shall not dwell in it any longer tyme but the Lord will destroy you scatter you amongst all nations c. Note what solemne obtestation God vseth and what grieuous punishments he threateneth to the breakers of the second commaundement In the tabernacle and temple of God no image was by God appointed openly to be set nor by practise afterwards vsed or permitted so long as religion was purely obserued so that the vse and execution of the lawe is a good interpreter of the true meaning of the same If by vertue of the second commaundement Images were not lawfull in the temple of the Iewes then by the same commaundement they are not lawfull in the Churches of the Christians For beyng a morall commaundement and not ceremoniall for by consent of writers only a part of the precept of obseruyng the Saboth is ceremoniall it is a perpetuall commandement and byndeth vs as well as the Iewes The Iewes by no meanes would consent to Herode Pilate or Petronius that Images should bee placed in the temple at Hierusalem but rather offred themselues to the death then to assent vnto it Who besides that they are commended by Iosephus for obseruyng the meanyng of the law would not haue endangered themselues so farre if they had thought images had bene indifferent in the teÌ„ple of God For as S. Paule sayth 2. Cor. 6. Quid templo Dei cum simulachris c. Ioseph Antiq. libr. 17. cap. 8 lib. 18. cap. 5. 15. Gods Scripture doth in no place commend the vse of Images but in a great number of places doth disallowe and condemne them They are called in the booke of Wisedome the trap snare of the feete of the ignorant It is sayd the inuention of them was the beginnyng of spirituall fornication And that they were not from the beginnyng neither shall they continue to the end In the xv chap. of the same booke it is sayd Vmbra pictura labor sine fructu c. And againe they are worthy of death both that put their trust in them that make them and that loue them and that worship them The Psalmes and prophets are full of like sentences and how can we then prayse the thing which Gods spirit doth alwayes disprayse Furthermore an Image made by a father as appeareth in the same booke for the memoriall of his sonne departed was the first inuention of images and occasion of Idolatry Sap. 14. How much more then shall an image made in the memory of Christ and set vp in the place of religion occasion the same offence Euseb. Eccles. histor lib. 7. cap. 18. Images haue their beginning froÌ„ the heathen of no good ground therfore they cannot be profitable to Christians Whereunto Athanasius agreeth writing of Images agaynst the Gentils Athanas. con gentes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say The inuention of Images came of no good but of euill and what so euer hath an euill beginning can neuer in any thing be iudged good seing it is wholly nought S. Iohn sayth my little children beware of Images but so set them in Churches which are places dedicated to the seruice and inuocation of God and that ouer the Lordes table being the highest most honorable place where most daunger of abuse both is and euer hath bene is not to beware of them nor to flee from them but rather to embrace and receiue them Tertullian expounding the same wordes writeth thus Lib. de corona militis Filioli custodite vos ab idolis non iam ab idolatria quasi ab officio sed ab idolis i. ab ipsa effigie eorum That is to say Little Children keepe your selues from the shape it selfe or forme of them Images in the Churche either serue to edify or to destroy if they edifye then is there one kinde of â—â—ification which the scriptures neither teach nor commauÌ„d but alwayes dissalow if they destroy they are not to be vsâ—d for in the church of God all thinges ought to be done to edify 1. Cor. 14. The commaundement of God is thou shalt not laye a stumbling blocke or stone before the blinde and cursed 〈◊〉 he that maketh the blinde wander in his way The simple vnlearned people who haue bene so long vnder blinde guides are blind in matters of religion and inclined to error and idolatry Therfore to set images before them to stumble at Nam laquaei pedibus insipientium sunt that is They bee snares and â—rappes for the 〈◊〉 of the ignoraunt or to lead them out of the true waye is not onely agaynst the commandement of God but deserueth also the malediction and curse of God Sap. 14. The vse of images is to the learned confirmed in knowlege neither necessary nor profitable To the superstitious a confirmation in error To the simple weak an occasioÌ„ of fall and very offensiue and wounding of theyr consciences And therfore very daungerous For S. Paul sayth 1. Cor. 9. offending the brethren and wouÌ„ding their weake consciences they sinne agaynst Christe And Math. 18. Woe be to him by whom offense or occasion of falling coÌ„meth it were better that a milstone were tyed about hys necke
that is agreable to Gods worde and no heresie in it that I red and when it drewe toward seruice time there came men to the church and some of then comming to me whoÌ„ I knewe not asking me what good booke I had I sayd it was a new booke that I haue not yet read it ouer then they prayed me that I would read so that they might heare some part with me and so I did not calling pointing nor assembling any company to me And for the seruice being in latine that for the strangenes of the tongue besides muche superstition ioyned with it was not vnderstood of the most part of them that saide or soung it much lesse of them that stood by and did heare it where as by the word of God all thinge in the Churche or congregation shuld be done to the edifying of the people and seeing I could haue no such thing by theyr seruice I did endeuour to edifie my selfe and other that were desirous of reading of godly bookes And because the Churche is so abused contrary to the worde of God being beset round about with a sorte of abhominable Idols before whome no man ought to kneele nor doe no maner of reuerence because the scriptures doth curse both the Idoll and the Idoll maker and all that doth any worship or reuerence vnto them or before them for that cause I vsed no reuerence there Well sayd my Lorde I woulde thou couldest aunswere to the rest as well as thou hast done to this but I feare me thou canst not for it is tolde me that thou hast spoken agaynst the blessed sacrament and I said and it please your Lordship that did I neuer in al my life nor neuer wil doe by the grace of God With that my chief accuser sir Leonard Becksmith knight sayd to me diddest thou not say to me yesterday that thou diddest not beleue the sacrament of the aulter after the wordes of consecration by the priest to be the very body of Christ flesh bloud bones as it was borne of the virgine Mary It is true in deede that I sayd so for neyther do I beleue it to remayne Christes body nor neuer will by the grace of God beleue it so to be for I beleue that christ with that body that was conceaued and borne of the virgine Mary did ascend vp into heauen and there according to our beliefe he sitteth on the right hand of God the father and from thence that body shal come at the day of iudgement to iudge the quick and the dead and yet in the meane while I beleue that the sacrament duely ministred according to Christes institution that the faithfull receauers of this sacrament lifting vp the eyes of theyr minde into heauen where Christes body is that they do receaue in that sacrament into theyr soule or inward man the very body of our sauiour Iesus Christ yea and I beleeue further that Christ concerning his diuine power or the power of his godhead is whersoeuer two or three be gathered together in his name that he is in the middest euen amongest them and that hee is so with his faythfull flocke euen to the worldes end then they layed theyr heades together and had priuie talke after that two of them said to me that it was rancke heresie that I did beleue it to remayne bare bread after the Priest had consecrated it and not to beleue it to be the very body of Christ I was worthy to be burned then sayde I earnestly vnto theÌ„ thinke you not though I be a vile abiecte in your sight and he that is most busie among you to seek my bloud but that my bloud shall be required at hys or theyr handes Then had they priuy talke together againe after the which my Lord sayd vnto me thou hearest that they here lay heresie to thy charge and I am a manne of warre haue no skill in such high misteries wherefore thine accusers say that thou must suffer here as an hereticke that all the rest of the garrisene may beware by thee that they fal not into the like heresie and so cast away themselues Then sayd I I appeale from this Counsayle to the Counsayle of England then sayd my Lord I am very glad that thou hast appealed to the Counsayle of England for there are learned menne and Diuines that can skil of such matters thether shalt thou be sent or it be long Then was I caryed to sir Iohn Abriges house and hauing pen and incke I was bidden to write mine articles which were in effecte those poyntes of Religion that you haue heard before in my examination then on the morow being Thursday and the fiftene of Aprill I was brought to the prison in the towne called the Marshalsea where I was very gently vsed for a good gentleman one Maister Waghan was the keeper there at that time but surely when I was apprehended I had not so much as one peny to helpe my selfe with for we had bene longe vnpayd furthermore I thought in that towne of warre that there was very few or none that fauoured the word of God for I looked for no helpe there but to be hated and despised of all menne there for I knewe not past two or three there that hadde any loue to the Gospell till I was in prison and then there came very many souldiours vnto me that I neuer knew before and gaue me mony so that I hadde as good as a three pound geuen me in a smale tyme that I was in prison The fourthtene day of May toward night I was sent into Englande one Mayster Messenger and one other man brought me to London euen the same day being sonday at night and 15. daye of May there was a great talke ouer all the Cittye of one Doctor Smith that recanted that daye they brought me to the Marshalsea and there left me I hearing no more of them that brought me thether but Mayster Huntington as a faythfull minister of Iesus Christe that gaue me warning before of all this trouble came from Bullyn to London causing my Articles to be seene so that by his paynefull dilligence to the Counsayle for me after that I had bene there little more then one â—oneth I was dyscharged forth of prison and bed get me home to Bullin to my liuing agayne But surely if I hadde not appealed to the Counsayle of Englande I hadde bene burned in Bullyn for it was tolde me of them that knew muche in that matter that it was already determined shortly to haue bene accomplyshed if I had not appealed for the whiche deliueraunce I geue prayse to the euerliuing God ¶ This was layed in Queene Maryes Closet vpon her deske agaynst her commyng vnto her prayers O Louesome Rose most redolent Of vading flowers most fresh In England pleasant is the sente For now art thou peerelesse This Rose which beareth such a smell Doth represent our Queene O listen that I may you tell Her colours fresh and
electis Salutem Esdr. 4. ¶ Hoc Seculum fecit altissimus propter multos futurum autem propter paucos ¶ The almighty Lorde hath made this worlde for many but the world or life or come but for a few MOst certayne it is dearely beloued that Christes elect be but few in comparisō of that great number which go in the broad way to euerlasting perdition whiche lyfe after the flesh louing this present euill world deny God in word and deed whose eies are blinded and their harts hardened Most certaine it is also that our Sauior Iesus Christ hath and knoweth his owne whose names are written in the booke of life redemed with the most precious bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ. So that the eternall Father knoweth them which be his The almighty and eternall God graunt that we may haue the testimony of our conscience and the spirit of god to beare record with our spirites that we be his elect children walking in the spirite not fulfilling the lustes of the flesh but as Christes members hauing Christ Iesu fixed before our eyes he being to vs the true way the infallible verity the eternall life Christ hath geuē vs example let vs folow him as deare children for Gods delight is to beholde his Saintes which be in the earth Let vs put on the whole armour of God and walke in the light in these euill dayes in the whiche Sathan in his Aungels seeketh whom he may deuour The almighty Lorde deliuer vs from the mouthes of those vnshamefast dogs They truely seeke ours and not vs vnto the Lord. Esdras sayth and writeth truely the world is made for them and they for the world Dearly bought let vs remember Christ which sayth I haue chosen you out of the world you shal be hated of al worldly men Did euer the couetous Idolaters Oppressors or Whoremongers loue vs Nay they loue Masse Mongers which say peace peace when there is no peace Nay either then flatter the eares or els they say no thing as dum dogges not able to barke of whom be you ware of for though they come in sheepes clothing they be rauening Wolues whose damnation sleepeth not from whose captiuitye the holy will of God saue and preserue you Amen Dearely beloued we hauing the record of our conscience that we be very members in Christes body separate from that malignant Antichristes Church Let vs reioyce in conscience and in the Lord hauing heauenly hope in al his promises which be eternall and most sure to vs in Christ our Sauiour who looseth none of all them whom the eternall Father hath geuen him but at his appearing to be our mercifull Iudge shall rayse vs vppe at that last day for the trumpe of God shall blow and be heard of all Adams posterity sounding Venite ad iuditium Come vnto iudgement come and be iudged Let vs therfore be prepared hauing the wedding garment yea the whole armour of God the mariage garment cleare Lampes that is pure hartes and burning heauenly light in the same Let vs prepare our selues richly to restore to our Lord and Mayster our talentes with the increase of heauenly liuing and occupying then without all doubt we shall heare that most blessed wish of our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ who shall then say reioyce good seruauntes I will make you Stewardes ouer many thinges Enter into the euerlasting rest and kingdome whiche hath bene prepared for you from the beginning This is the Kingdome of Iesus Christ whiche at this present is in Babilon and banished to the desert the troublesome waters of Sathan in the Antichrist and his shauelings spiewed out of Christs mouth The Lord be our ayde auenger and deliuerer when his holy will is Amen Dearely bought with the most precious bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ that we be not deceiued by the Antichrist let vs ponder wey marke and study the heauenly doctrine of our Sauiour Christ in his last Supper the text is Bene dixit dixit bene gratias egit he spake heauenly and well he gaue thankes he tooke bread brake it gaue it to his Disciples saying take eate this Sacramentall bread and me the breade of life whiche came downe from heauen which geueth life to the worlde take true fayth heauenly hope kindled with christen charitie thankes geuing for my death let these heauēly vertues enter in your soules then enter I. This is my body This is the true eating of my body which is geuen to the death of the crosse for the ransome and sinnes of Gods elect Likewise after supper he tooke the cup hee spake well gaue thankes and gaue it them saying drinke ye all of this drinke I say by this infallible veritie and euerlasting word ioyned and anexed with this cup my bloud which is shed from before the beginning of the world for many in remission of sins he or shee that thus dwelleth in me and I in him eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Sainct Augustine sayth why preparest thou thy tooth and belly beleeue and thou hast eaten Sainct Barnarde saith when fayth hope christian loue and thankes geuing for Christes death enter in a Christian Christ entereth and agayn S. Augustine sayth vpon these wordes of Christ you shal alwayes haue the poore with you but me shall ye not haue alwayes with you The Church had him but a few dayes touching his humanitie nowe they haue him by fayth with these eyes they do not see him O Iesus Christ thou sonne of the liuing God whiche art in the bosome of thy father God with God the very Image of God the father eternall geue vs victory ouer this Antichrist in thy most precious bloud Be faythfull to the ende and oure sauiour shall crown vs in glory let vs sanctify the name of God in thought word and deede I say vnto the Papist and will not flatter our God is in heauen whome they will not see And is no such little prety mattere as their God the Pope faineth him to be Pray for all the preachers of the veritie that God may geue vs grace and constancie They sing and say they haue him in a string tye not the dog so for feare of hanging To all the faythfull whose names in generall in the booke of lyfe by Christ are written all The godly thought and patient minde doth liberty in prison finde Who so to patience can attayne shall finde in prison is no payne Thrall trouble bownd or free as pleaseth God so shall all be Wherefore I neuer will forsake what pleaseth God lay on my backe Iohn Meluine preacher and priprisoner in Newgate ¶ A note concerning the trouble of Iulius Palmer lately come to my handes To his assured friend and brother in Chryst Mayster Perry preacher at Beuerstone geue these MAyster Perry after my harty commendations in the Lord Iesus Christ vnto you and your wife c. wheras you haue written vnto me
wife for a tyme because persecution was so hote that hee coulde no longer stay there and I at his instaunce let him haue a place with me but within a fortnight after the Papists espyed him and complayned of him to the Bishop of Rochester and the bishop sent his chiefe man called Raphe Crowch and he caryed him to Rochester before the Byshop the sayd Apleby stood in the defence of the trueth boldly and the Bishoppe sent both hym and his wife to the Iayle of Maidstone and there they were burned for the Testimony of the Gospell of God And the Friday fortnight after I was in the market at Rochester talking with an other man and the sayde Raphe Crowch was sent for me and he comming within a stones cast of me where I was talking with my neighbour George Smally and one William Stanley a papist dwelling also in Strowde met with the sayd Crowch and they two talked together a whyle and I doubted that they talked of me because many times in theyr talke they looked on me and then the said Raphe Crowch went ouer the streete to an other officer or constable whiche knewe not me and sent the sayde Constable for me and comming for me knowing my neyghbour George Smally tooke him in the steade of me and caryed him to the Byshop and when he came before hym the Byshop sayd to the officers this is not he knaue thys is not he knaue and the bishop checked the Mayor hys officers and sayd that they mocked him because he caryed the other man for me suche was the mighty prouidence of God to defend me and the Mayor the same night sent 40. Billes and menne with other weapons to beset my house to take me but the Lord kept me from them and deliuered me out of theyr handes to hym be glory therefore Amen The third time that the Lorde deliuered me was on Easter day next after I had bene at London all the Lent and on Easter euen at night I came home to Strowde to to my wife and a childe of three yeares olde tolde one of the neighbours that her father was come home And on Easter day after theyr popishe euensong was done came Maister Read Thomas Crowch brother to the abouesaid Raphe Crowch William Stanley Thomas Bettes Lionell Newman and Roger Braunche with a 60. people or there aboutes and searched my house very straightly for me but as Gods prouidence was there was mault a drying vppon the Kell and they searched so narrowly for me that I was glad to heaue vp a corner of the hayre wheron the mault lay and went into the Kell hole and there stood till they were gone and so I escaped from them but within an houre after there came a woman to my wyfe to borrow a brush and spyed me thorough the key hole of a dore and she carying tidinges abroad Immediately came a great company of men and beset my house rounde about and I said to my wife you see that these foure men seeke for my life that is Maister Read Thomas Crowch William Stanley and Thomas Bettes for I doe thinke that none of the rest will lay handes on me and therefore I pray thee wife follow these 4. men and talke lowde to them that I may heare so escape if they search on the backe side I may auoyd on the street side be of good comfort for our liues are in Gods hand and though there be little helpe here on earth yet there is help enough from heauen and when these men were searching on the backside I went into the streete among as I gesse an 100. people and none of them layd handes on me neyther sayde they anye thing to me so I went out of the towne lay there at an honest mans house at the parish of Cobham that night And at that same time also two of my neighbours honest men and of good wealth the one called Iohn Pemmet a fisherman the other named Iohn Bayly a glouer because they came not to theyr popish Church to buy none of their Idolatrous wares were complayned of to the Iustices who did binde them to aunswere for theyr fayth before the Iudges at the ascises whiche were holden at midsommer after as I remember at Rochester in the pallace yard and there was at that tyme a sayle cloth of a ship tyed to the top of the Byshops Pallace wall to keep away the sonne from the Iudges because it was hote and the winde blew and shooke the sayle so that when these two men were called to be examined and when they shoulde haue aunswered there fell from the top of the wall 3. or 4. great stones vpon the Iudges neckes so that some of thē whiche sate on the Benche were sore hurt and maymed so that they arose sodenly all amased and departed and the two men were deliuered From Tuddenham in Suff. the 25. day of Iuly 1583. Per me Gulielmum Wood Vicarium de Tuddenham The history of Iohn Alcocke THis Iohn Alcocke or Aucock of whome mention is made before pag. 1561. was a very faythfull and honest man by his occupation a woad setter singularly wel learned in the holy scriptures and in all his conuersation a iust and righteous man that feared God and studyed to do in deed that thing that he had learned in the scriptures Nowe after that sir Richard Yeaman was driuen away and the people on sondayes and other dayes came to the Church and had no man to teach them any thinge for as yet person Newall was not come to Hadley to dwel nor had gotten any Curate Besides that the lawes made by king Eward were in force and the latin mumblinges not yet receaued euery where Iohn Alcocke therefore tooke the english booke vsed by king Edward exhorting the people to pray with him and so red certain prayers in english before them and moreouer hee gaue them godly lessons and exhortations out of the chapters that he red vnto them For this the Bishoppe of Winchester Steuen Gardiner sent for him cast him into Newgate at London where after many examinations and troubles for that he woulde not submitte himselfe to aske forgeuenesse of the Pope and to be reconciled to the romish religion he was cast into the lower doungeon where with euill keeping and sicknesse of the house he dyed in prison Thus dyed he a martyr of Christes veritie whiche hee hartely loued and constantly confessed and receaued the garland of a well foughten battell at the hand of the Lorde His body was cast out and buryed in a dounghill for the Papists would in all thinges be like themselues therfore would they not so much as suffer the dead bodyes to haue honest and conuenient sepulture He wrote two Epistles to Hadley whiche followe here * The first Epistle of Iohn Alcocke GRace be with you and peace from the father and our Lord Iesus Christ which gaue himself for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present
be vnto you a strong defence and refuge in the needfull time Bow downe thine eare O Lorde sayth Dauid and heare me for I am poore and in misery Bee mercifull vnto me O Lord for I will call dayly vpō thee comfort the soule of thy seruaunt for vnto thee O Lord do I lift vp my soule For thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercy vnto all thē that call vpon thee Geue eare Lorde vnto my prayer and ponder the voyce of my humble petition All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee O Lord shall glorify thy name For thou art great and doest wonderfull things thou art God alone Teach me thy wayes Oh Lord and I will walke in thy truth O knit my hart vnto thee that I may feare thy name I will thanke thee O my God with all my hart and will prayse thy name for euer O you Christen people of Hadley comfort your selues one another in these notable psalmes of dauid the whole bible Embrace the notable iewell of our Lord God the bible endeuor your selues to walke the way that it doth teach you My good brethren we as helpers sayth S. Paule doe exhort you that ye receiue not the grace of God in vayne For behold now is the accepted time now is the daye of saluation Let vs beware that we take sure hold while we haue time for time will away While wee haue the lighte walke in it least when ye would desire it ye can not haue it Understand the light to be the knowledge of Christe to obey that is to haue the light For that cause came our Sauiour Iesus Christe to make himselfe knowne vnto those that did receiue him He gaue power to be the sonnes of God and so to bee made inheritours of his kingdome which shal neuer haue end who would not be glad to become the kinges sonne that he therby might be partaker of the kingdome that neuer shall haue end O vayne man what art thou that will refuse euerlasting life for a day or two or an hower thou canst not tell howe short Open thine eies see thine owne cōfort refuge to christ O flie refuse this worldly wisedōe for worldly wisedom doth shut out the wisedome of God For the word of the crosse is foolishnesse vnto them that perish but vnto vs whiche are saued it is the power of God For it is written I will destroy the wisedome of the wise and will cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent Where are the wise where are the Scribes where are the disputers of this worlde hath not god made the wisedom of this world foolishnes For in so muche as the worlde by the wisedome thereof knew not God in his wisedome it pleased God through foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleue For the Iewes require tokens and the Greekes aske after wysedome but we preach Christ crucified sayth S. Paule to the Iewes an occasion of falling and vnto the Greekes a people that are wise in theyr owne conceites to them is the preaching of Christ crucified foolishnesse But vnto them that are called both Iewes and Greekes we preach Christ the power of God and the wisedome of God For the foolishnes of God is wiser then men and the weaknes of God is stronger then men Brethren looke vpon your calling how that not many wise men after the fleshe not many mighty not many of high degree are called But that which is foolish before the world hath God chosen that he might confound the wise and that which is despised before the worlde hath he chosen and that whiche is nothing that he might destroy that which is ought that no flesh should reioyce Of the same are ye also in Christe Iesu whiche is made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnes and sanctifying and redemption according as it is written he that reioyseth should reioyce in the Lorde that your fayth should not stand in the wisedome of men but in the power of God We speake of this wisedome among them that are perfecte not the wisedome of thys world nor the rulers of this world which go to nought but we speake of the wisedome of God which the carnall man doth not vnderstand The naturall man perceiueth nothing of the spirite of God It is foolishnes with hym But God hath opened it to vs by his spirite For the spirite searcheth out all thinges Wherefore my deare Brethren trye your selues well whether ye haue the spirite of Christ or no. If you haue the spirite of Christ then are ye dead concerning sinne but ye are aliue vnto god through Iesus Christ. If this spirite dwell in you then will ye increase and go forward in your profession not feare what flesh may do vnto the carkasse Therefore stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and bee not wrapped vp agayne in the yoake of bondage that is to say to go from God by wicked life or serue God an other way then he hath commaunded in his holy word I truste you go forward my deare Brethren and Sisterne in your promise that you made to your Lorde God in your baptisme I pray God open vnto you the knowledge of hym selfe and lighten the eyes of your vnderstanding that ye may know what is the hope of your calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritaunce is vpon the Sayntes For ye are the chosen generation the kingly Priesthoode that holy nation that peculiar people that should shewe the vertues of him which hath called you out of darcknes into his maruellous light that is to say to feare God and to worke righteousnesse and so to receiue the end of your fayth the saluation of your soules This is a true saying if we be dead with Christ we shall liue with him also If we be patient we shall also reigne with him If we denye him he also shall denye vs. If we beleue not yet he abydeth faythfull he can not deny himselfe The very God of peace sanctify you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit soule and bodyes be kept blameles vnto the cōming of our Lord Iesus Faythfull is he that hath called you which will also do it Brethren pray for vs and great all the brethren among you By me your brother in the Lord and Sauiour Christ Iohn Alcocke Prisoner in the Lorde at Newgate ⧠Geue glory to God GOd be mercifull to thee O England send thee great number of such faythfull Fathers and godly Pastors as Doctor Taylour was to guide thee feede thee and cōfort thee after thy great miseries and troubles that thou hast suffered vnder the tyrannous captiuitye and rage of the Romaine Antichrist and such rauening Wolues as haue without all mercy murdered thy godly and learned preachers and geue all men grace to consider that suche horrible plagues and mutations haue iustly
for her godly zeale to the truth detestatioÌ„ of papistry 2145.2146 Crosse in this life a token of Gods election .1652 oughte paciently to be borne of euery true Christian man .1835 what fruit it bringeth ibid. Crosbowmaker his story 1229. Creed not made al by the Apostles 684.685 Crosmans wife her trouble deliuery 2073 Cromwell his notable Story his rare commendation .1177 hys voyage to Rome with his actes there .1178 receiued into the Cardinalles seruice complayned of to the king made knight M. of the Roles and Earle of Essex .1179 he was a great suppressor of Abbeyes 1181. his Oration to the Byshoppes .1182 his curtesy to his olde frendes .1186 appreheÌ„ded and crimes laid agaynst him 1187. his death 1190 Cromwell the onely preferrer of Boner 1088 C V. Cup debarred in the administratioÌ„ of the Lordes supper 1778 Custome for woll raysed 388 Custome letteth Edwine to bee Christened 121 Custome and Ueritye a Dialogue betwene them 1388 Custome without truth agaynst truth what 121 Custome of sinne a perilous and daungerous matter 1932 Cuspinianus girdeth the pope 304 Cutbert Symson his story .2031 his fingers grated thorow wyth an arrow racked .2032 his visioÌ„ 2033. articles ministred agaynst him .2033 his martirdome 2034 Cutbert Archbishop of Caunterbury his synodall decrees 128 Cuthlake a Popish Saint .125 his lying miracles ibid. Cursse of the pope hurteth not but rather profiteth the godly 545.546 Cursing with booke bell and candle 202.1038 Curssinges of Papistes taken for great blessinges 1038 Curde Martyr burned at Northhampton 202â— C Y. Cyprian his Apollogy for the christians 68 Cyprian banished for the Gospell and writeth to the chrisâ—iaâ—s out of exile exhorting them to constancy in the trueth .66 his countrey and education he was elect Byshop of Carthage his modestye patience visions and moste constaunt Martyrdome for the truth of Christes Gospell .69 his Sentences 70 Cyprians diuers of that name 71 D. A. DAbney his trouble happy deliuerance 2071. Dale a popishe promoter eaten wyth lice 2101. Dale troubled for the gospels truth and dyed in prison 2045.2046 Dalaber his story 1195.1196.1197.1198 Damiâ—ta taken of the Christians 273.268 Damasus the 2. Pope 168. Damasus subdued of the Sarazens 737. Damlip persecuted in Calice .1223 his martyrdome 1229. Danes and their story 135. they inuade England ibid. Danes driuen froÌ„ Norfolke Chester and diuers other places .142 at the last expelled England 163. Danes by conspiracy slayne thorough out all England 161. Danes field at Merton 141. Dane gilt released 199. Dane gilt 160. Dante 's an Italian writer against the Pope 390. Dandalus submitteth himselfe for his crueltie 368. Daruell Gatheren a filthy idoll in Wales 1100. Daughter compelled to set fire to her father 774. Dangerfield and his wife theyr tragicall history 1953. Dauies a childe vnder 12. yeares of age condemned for the sixe articles and preserued 2073. Dauid of Wales 119. Dauid king of Scottes inuadeth England and is taken prisoner 386. Dauid beaten a persecutor his fearfull dâ—ath 1272. Dauids stocke feared of the Empyre of Rome .40.48 is sought for and murthered ibid. Day martyr his story 2037 D. E. Dead men excommunicate by the Pope 393. Death of Martyrs the life of the Gospell 1932. Death of Charles 9. frenche kyng with the Cardinall of Lorayne 2154. Death of Hus and Hierome of Prage reuenged 656. Death of king Lucius 107. Debnam hanged for taking downe Douer Court Roode 1031. Decius Emperoure a persecutor 59.60 Decius a tyraunt a cruell persecutor of poore Christians his death 66. Declaration of the preachers in prison 1469. Decretall Epistles confuted 58. Decree that no secular man should geue any spiritual liuing 169. Decree beginning ego Ludouicus proued false 5. Decrees of the councell of Basill godly 696. Decrees of Fabianus forged 60 Decrees of Anselme 194. Decrees of Laterane councell in Rome 230. Decree of Spyres resisted by the Protestantes 872. Decrees of Pope Urbanus 185. Dedication of Churches 53. Dedication of Churches 1404. Degradation of an archbishop wiâ—h the order and ridiculous manner thereof 2133.2134.2135 Degradation froÌ„ the order of deaconship subdeaconship Benet and Colet exorcising readership dorekeeper or sextonship 2134.2135 Degradation of Thom. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury 2133.2134.1883 Degradation ridiculous of the popes best maner 517. Degradation of M. Hooper 1768. Degradation popishe the manner thereof 879. Deicham why so called 115. Degrees in the Church distincted 21. Degrees of Mariage forbid by the Pope 859. Degrees prohibited by the lawes of God to mary in 1053 Defence of Richard Hunne against Syr Thomas More and Alanus Copus 811. Defence of the Lord Cobham agaynst Ala. Copus 568. Defence of M. Bilney agaynst sir Thomas More 1008.1009 Deposition concerning the murthering of Richard Hunne 810. Defence of Wickliffe by Ioh. Hus in Prage 451.452 Defence of the Garnesey story agaynst M. Harding 1946.1947 1948. Defender of the fayth no meete title for any man 1754. Defection of the Romish Church from the old fayth and church of Rome 23.29 Demaundes for the Papistes to aunswere vnto 17. Denyers returne agayne to theyr former profession 37. Denie Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1912. Denis Burgis Martyr his story 1983.1994 Denley martyr his story and martyrdome 1683.1684.1686.1688 Denton burned in his owne house 2103. Deposition agaynst M. Bilney 1000. Derifall his story and martyrdom 1914.1915.1916 Description of Lollardes Tower with the sondry kindes of tormentes therein 1703. Descension of Christ into hell 873 Deuotion without knowledge is hurtfull 1114. Deuill and the pope alike 1890. Deuenish martyr 2033.2034 Deuill tame his story 2108. D. I. Diadumenus Emperour 57. Dialogue betweene Tho. Bilney and frier Brusiard 1002. Dialogue betweene custome and truth 1388. Dicke Adams his confession of the truth at the gallows dehortation from papistry 2145 Didacy a crafty Fryer temptyng Iohn Hus. 600. Didimus a good christian souldier martyr preseruer of Theodora her chastitie 63. Diet of Norenberge 854. Difference betweene Byshoppes and Priestes how it is come 1066. Difference betweene the Churche of Rome that nowe is and the Churche of Rome that was 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.12.14.20.281.107 Difference betweene Priests and Monkes 150.1181 Difference betweene the Greeke Churche the Romayn church 286.287.186 Difference about the celebration of Easter 44.45.54 Difference betweene the law and the Gospell 26. Difference betweene Peter and the Pope 1120. Difference betweene Christes naturall body and the sacrament thereof 1145. Difference betweene the Papistes and the Protestantes in the reall presence of the Lordes supper 1761 Dignities ecclesiasticall in the haÌ„ds of strangers valued 429 Dighton murtherer of his Prince 728 Dionisius Corinthius an ecclesiasticall writer 53 Dionisius willed by God to flie persecution 62 Dionisius Areopagita hys booke de Hierarchia suspected 53 Dionisius bishop of Alexandria with others banished his story .72 his death 73 Dionisius bishop of AlexaÌ„dria writeth to Fabius 61 Dionisius Alexandrinus his Epistle to Germanus 62. Dines Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Dioclesian Emperor a tyrant raiser
true obedience ibid. Obiection of a late English writer in defence of the Popes supremacie confuted 13 Obiections of the papistes agaynst the Protestantes refusing their religion answered 2.3 O C. Ockam of Windsor his knauery abhominable periury 1218 Octobonus the Popes Legate his conuocation at London 335 O D. Odo Archb. of Cant. 151. his lying miracles ibid. O. E. Oecolampadius his historye and death· 873 O F. Offa and Kenredus make themselues monkes at Rome 129 Offrings bestowed vpon harlots 1048 Offrings in the church 1404 Offices of the law and of the gospel compared 977 Offertorie of the Masse 1402 Office of a christian magistrate 8. Officials how inconuenient in the church their corruptions 86 Officers of the court temporal compared with the Officers of the court spirituall 19 Office of a kyng described 166 Office of the ecclesiasticall minister 8. Ofrike king of Denmarke ariueth in England 141 O L. Old man and new man what their continuall war together is 1655 Oliuer Chancellor punished for his cruelty to Gods saints 2112 O M. Omnipotencie of God denied by the brood of cursed Papists 1650 Omnipotencie of God how to bee vnderstood .1808 doth not prooue Christes body to bee really in the sacrament 1951 Omnipotencie of Christ proueth no reall presence in the Sacrament 1686 O P. Opus tripartitum a booke shewyng the enormities of the clergy 200 O R. Ordinances of Lent fast falsly ascribed to Telesphorus 53 Orders of priesthoode amongest the papists inuented by the Deuill 1105. Order defined 21 Orders religious described in a table 260 Order and disposing of this booke of Acts and Monuments 30 Orders of Iesuites examined 4 Order kept in the church what true order is 21 Orders made merchaundise by the Pope and Prelates 610 Order taken in the parliameÌ„t house for Queene Maries child 1480 Orders in the church which lawful 21 Ordo Cluniacensis beginneth 146. Orchanes the second Emperour of the Turkes how he came to hys Imperiall dignitie his story 7â—8 Organes in temples mans deuise .536 suspended for not ringyng of the bels 555 Organes in the church 1404 Orem his sermon before pope Urbane 5. 411.412.416 Ormes her story and martyrdome 2023 Origene kept from martyrdome by his mother .54 his great praises ibid. his scholers Martyrs .54 his fall and persecution hys repentance hys blemishes 60 Originall sinne how it remaineth in vs how taken away by Christ. 1995 Originall sinne originall iustice 26. Oriall colledge in Oxford built 374 Oration of the Lord Keeper 2150 2151 Oration of K. Henry 8. to the parliament house .1233 with notes thereof 1234 Oration of the Emperour to Iohn Hus. 608 Oration of Armachanus agaynste the Friers 410 Oration of the Lord Peter in the parliament of Fraunce with answere of the Prelates 353 Oration of Doctor Bassinet 946 OratioÌ„ of Boner in praise of priesthood 1426 Oration of Becket resigning hys Bishopricke to the Pope 213 Oration of the Earle of Arundel to the Pope 213 Oration of Queene Mary in guild Hall 1418 Oration of K. Edgar to the Clergy 169 Oration of the Bishop of Aix most cruell and bloudy 945 Oration of the souldiers to the Emperour 80 Oration of Iohn Hayles to queene Elizabeth at the beginning of her raigne 2115.2116.2117.2118 Oration of Peter de Uineis in the Emperors behalfe 306.307 Oration of M. Acworth Oratour of the Uniuersity of Cambridge at the restitution of Bucer and Paulus Phagius agayne 1964 1965.1966 Oration of K. Henry 8. his Embassadors before the Emperour in defence of the kinges mariage 1074 O S. Oswold a zelous king preached the Gospell to the people 114.121 Oswoldus Archbishop of Yorke a fauourer of Monkery 150 Oswold Martyr his story 1914 Osmond Martyr his story martyrdome 1602 Osborne Martyr his story ibid. Osbright his adultery 140 Oswine trayterously murthered 122 Os Porci the name of a porkish pope 140 O T. Othe of the Bishops of Englande agaynst the Pope 1057 Othe of Henry 4. Emperor to pope Hildebrand 180 Othe betwene the french king and king Richarde at theyr first going to holy land 242.251 Othe of the Clergy to the king 1053 Othes with theyr differences how lawful how not which be against charity which not 1608 Othes of Queene Mary sworne to the Pope and the realme contradictory 1891.1892 Othes how farre tollerable .1118 how farre lawfull 500 Othes of Byshops to the Pope 229.1053 Othe of the french king 362 Otho the firste Emperour of the Germains .149 deposed .264 set vp agayne ibid. Otho Cardinall the Popes Legatt pouleth England is reiected in Scotland 286 Otho Duke of Brunswicke and his wife theyr fidelity to the Emperour 314 Otho Cardinall his actes in England .265.266 kept out of Scotland and pouâ—eth England 286 Otho Byshop of Constance rebuked of the Pope for not displacing maried priestes 175 Otho Cardinall feared in Oxford 267 Oâ—tomannus his life and firste aduauncement 738 O W. Owle defacyng the Pope and hys Councell gathered together at Constance 592 O X. Oxford prouisions 329 Oxford scholers their skirmish amongst themselues 393 Oxford famous for sincere religion 526 Oxford Commissarie his iurisdicon ouer the assise of breade and ale 393 Oxford at variaunce with the vniuersitie of Cambridge 328 Oxford at variance with the towns men Scholers conquered the towne interdicted 393 Oxe gathered a christians body beyng slayne together amongst the Turks 758 O Y. Oyle and creame by whom it was first inuented and brought into the chucch of God 60.1405 P. A. PAcie Martyr his sto and martyrdome 989 Pacience commeÌ„ded 486 Packington the Bishop of Londons Merchaunt 1019 Palmer his story .1934 persecuted and apprehended .1937 his condemnation most glorious martyrdome 1939.1940 Palmes bearyng 1043 Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople excommunicate and why 351 Palestina not holy for Christ hys walkyng there 425 Pamphilius bish of Cesarea martyr 78 Panormitan in the councell of Basill 668.669 Pandolphus the Popes Legate made Bishop of Norwiche .255 his Epistle in commendation of Frederike .2 Emperour 316 Pandolph accursed King Iohn by the commaundement of his maister the Pope 252 Papa in olde tyme a common name to all bishoppes of higher knowledge and learnyng then others were 8.12 Papacy reduced from Fraunce to Rome 418 Papists their wretched ends 2114 Papists neuer afflicted deepely in conscience 20 Papistes vsurpe the name of the church that falsly .1806 haue all one manner of solution of all arguments namely fire fagot 1929.1930 Papists three executed for treason 1201 Papists and Protestants their disputation at Westminster 2120.2121.2122.2123.2124.2125 Papists stronge heretikes 1258 Papists periured 271 Papistes their tottering fayth .22 their erroures touchyng good workes ibid. Papistes in their decrees contrary to themselues 11 Paphnutius his defence of priestes and their mariages in the councell of Nice 1118 Pardons by Pope Boniface the 8. 342 Pardon of Queene Elizabeth to the Garnesey men that murthered the 3. blessed sayntes of God for the Gospell 1945.1946 Pardons of the pope blasphemous
and the law there end peruerted by the Papistes 25.26.27 Woorkes of manne vnperfecte .23 in what respect called good 26. Workes wich good in the Popes Churche 25. Word of God hath his authoritie of God not of the Churche 1824. is the foundation and pillar of the Churche and not the Churche of the word 1824.1825 Worlde committed as well to the rest of the Apostles as to Peter 15. Worshipping of sainctes and how 1108. Worshipping of Images disproued by Ridley 2128.2129.2130.2131 Worcester burnt 197.198 Wolsey Cardinall of Rome and Archbishop of Yorke his history .986 hys pryde and ambition 989.987· a great rayser of warres .987 conueyeth twelue score thousand poundes out of England .988 his ambicious letter to Gardiner to bee made Pope .990 his fall with the causes thereof .994 depriued of hys chancellership cast into a premunire and hys goodes confiscate .994 arested poisoned himselfe 996 Woman burned at Shipping Sad bery 775. Wolfangus Schuche his story and martyrdome 883. Wolferus first christened king of Mercia 122. Wolues first destroyed and driuen out of England 155.74 X I. XIstus 2. Bishoppe of Rome and Martyr with his sixe Deacons 71. Xistus Byshoppe of Rome .52 hys trifling ordinances ibid. Y E. YEoman martyr hys story persecution apprehension condemnation martyrdome 2045.2046 Yeare in olde time counted from Michaelmas to Michaelmas 368. Yeare of Iubiley reduced to the 50. yeare 374. Y O. Yong her troubles examination and deliueraunce 2065.2066.2067.2068.2069.2070 Yorke burned by the Danes .140 burned agayne with the minster also .171 Minster thereof built 172. Yorkeshyre men rebell .1308 suppressed and some executed 1309. Z E. ZEale without knowledge what it breedeth 1114 Zelinus 11. Emperour of the Turks made Emperoure without hys fathers will .745 and poysoneth hys father .746 his tyrannous raygne ibid. Zepherinus Byshoppe of Rome his ordinaunces suspected to bee falsified 56. Zenon martyr 62. Zenon a noble man of Rome with 10000. moe put to death for the truth 40. Zenokius Martyr 78. Z I. Zisca hys story .645 hee was a xi times victor in the field .648 his skiâ—ne made in a drumme .648 hys pollicies in warres .646.647 hys Oration to his souldiers .647 hys death and epitaph 648. Z V. Zuricke and Barne forsake theyr league with Fraunce 870. Zuinglius his lyfe and story .866 hys consent and difference with Luther in doctrine and opinions .848.863 hys comming to Tigury .848 slayne in Battayle 872. afterward burned 873. Zurickes law against filthy Adultery .869 reformeth Religion 867. FINIS ⧠The end of the Table ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Daye dwellyng ouer Aldersgate beneath S. Martins ⧠Cum Gratia Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis An. Dom. 1583. ¶ The Description of Windsore Castle ⧠The condemning of Anthony Person Marbecke Testwood and Filmer with the burning of the sayd Person Testwood and Filmer vnder the Castle of Windsore here liuely described Read pag. 1219. Marbecke saued by the Kynges Pardon Robert Smith of London Martyr Robert Smith actiue in the art of paynting The first examination of Rob. Smith before B. Boner Confession not neede fall Reiectio criminis ingeniosa diuina The Sacrament of the Altar Boners argumeÌ„t to proue the Sacrament Steuen Harwod examined before the Bishop Robert Smith examined by the Bishop Where was the visible Church amongest the Protestants Where was the visible Church amongest the Apostles Here he would not aunswere me to the Church of Iury but flyeth to the 5. of Corinth How Boner layeth snares to catch the innocent The church of Christ is not vniuersally in one particular place Talke betweene Robert Smith and the Bishops Chapleyne Absurditye graunted by the Catholickes that the body of Christ goeth into the belly and â—o so into the draughte ComparisoÌ„ betweene the Iewes that spit in Christs face and Papists which let fall him into the draught Note this Catholicke doctrine which reâ—â—â—bleth the body of Christ to the incomprehensible 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The questioÌ„ 〈…〉 what Christ is 〈◊〉 to doe 〈◊〉 the SacrameÌ„t but what â—e 〈…〉 Rob. Smith brought agayne before the Bishop and the Lord Mayor B. Boner excuseth himselfe of blouddines B. Boner pâ—â—ued to be cruell bloudy By this question it may appeare whether the B. sought bloud or no. The Papists deaâ— God hauing body without bloud Euen as the bread is the body so is the cup the bloud Rob. Smith commaunded of Boner into Limbo An other examination of R. Smith Boner beginneth with an vntruth The Church Auricular confession is but a pickepurse matter The inconueniences of auricular confession A false practise of a Priest vnder confession Example of terrible cruelty shewed vpon a poore innocent Anno 1555. August Syr Iohn Mordant Knight 2. Sacramentes Baptisme in what poyntes it is abused by the Catholickes This was spokeÌ„ more to confound the opinion of water then to let children to haue water The water of Baptisme a preacher and not a Sauiour The element of water in Baptisme bringeth not the holy Ghost The holy Ghost receaued of some before Baptisme The Sacrament of orders Boner shaueth himselfe in anger of Robert Smyth Holy bread Holy water Aâ—nnoynting Talke betwene Rob. Smyth and the Doctors Against auricular confession Confâ—ssing vnto â—ohn in the wilderneâ—â— was not to him but before him â—o God Anno 1555. Iuly The maruerlous boldenes of Robert Smith geueÌ„ him of God agaynst Christes enemyes The last examination of Robert Smith before B. Boner with his condeÌ„natâ—on in the Consistory Syr Iohn Mordant came in after this story was tolde The wordâ— of Robert Smith to the Lord Mayor Here my brother Tankerfield recited the story of my Lord Byshops Cooke Boner no Saint This Maior was Synâ—oh Lion Here my brother Tankerfield pulled out of his bosome a testament requiring iudgement by the same but it would not be heard This Sheriffe was M. Woodrofe Iustice required in the Bishops Consistory but could not be had A lawfull request not heard The Bishops sentence beginneth with a wrong name Where finde the Catholickes in the scripture to put any to death for their conscience sake Robert Smith wrongfully condemned by the Byshop The wordes of Robert Smith agayne to the Lord Mayor The godly behauiour of Robert Smith and his fellowe in pryson Prob 5. Esay 1. Sapien. 2. Genes 3. â— Peter 3. Sapien. 13. Iohn 7. 1. Corin. 2. 1. Tobi. 11. Iohn 9. Apoc. 14. Exoduâ— 22 Math. 15. Math. 25. 2 Cor 9. Luke 12. Iohn 1. 2. Cor. 6. Math. 7. Heb. 13. 〈◊〉 13. Math. 6. Math. 6. Prou. 4. Siâ—â—â— 30. Tobi. 3. 2. Pet. 3. This letter is thought of some to be M. Hoopers partly for that in one copy amongest diuers it is entitled vnto him and also by the phrase and maner of writing it may be well coniectured so to be Apo. 17. Psalâ— 115. Math. 7. Ephe. 2. 2. Tim. 2. Ephe. 6. Phil. 2. Heb. 12. Col. 1. Pet. 5. Apoc. 6. 1. Cor. 1. 1. Cor. 10 1. Pet 3. Luke
13. Act. 2. Psalme 51. 1. Reg 17. Psal. 6. 2. Cor. 6. Heb 8. Psalm 32. Psalm 117. Psalm 52. Psalm 65. Gene. 12. Psalm 33. Gene. 4. Gene. 21. Gene. 11. Phil. 3. Psalm â— 1. Corin. 3. Psalm 74. Iob. 5. Apoc. 12. Apo. 8. Psal. 145. 1. Corin. 6. 1. Cor. 8. Heb. 9. Actes 3. Heb. 1. 1. Pet. 3. Ephes. 1. Ephes. 2. Rom. 8. Ephes 2. 1. Iohn 2. Col. 1. 1 Cor. 2. Ephe. 2. 〈◊〉 2. Gala. 3. Act. 10. Luke 9. Iohn 14. Psal. 15. Ephe 4. Col. 5. Math. 10. Marke 8. Phil. 3. Luke 8.14 Romans 7. Ephe. 1. Gala. 4. Phi. 3. Heb. 6. 1. Cor. 2. Heb. 11. Phi. 3. Math. 3. Iohn 8. Psalm 34. Heb. 4. Iude. 1. Psalm 76. Math. 20. Luke 21. Math. 10. 1. Pet 2. Math. 10. Sapi. 3. Psalm 7. Exod. 13. Esd. 3 13. 2. Mach. 7. Iacob 4. 1. Peter 5. Apo. 9. Heb. 12. Iacob 2. 2. Cor. 12. Esdras 36. Romans 2. 1. Cor. 1. Luke 15. Ephes. 4. Osâ— 13. Rom. 12. Phil. 2. Luke 8. Marke 4. Psalme 8. Psalm 4. Ieremy 12. Ieremy 18. Math. 12. Iob. 12. Pro. 15.21 Psal. 24.30.78 Marke 6. Math. 10. Apo. 5. Iohn 16. The Martyrdome and comfortable death of Rob. Smith of Vxbridge An. 1555. August 8. A token of comfort and resurrection geuen by R. Smith at his Martirdome A letter of Robert Smith to his wyfe full of ghostly instruction Be good to thine enemy A double hedge to the tongue Cast out the moâ—e in thine owne eye first Coueâ— not to be rich Blessed be the mercifull An other letter of R. Smith to his wyfe Commendation of Peter the keeper An other letter of R. Smith to his wyfe Beholde here the CoÌ„munion of Saintes Anno 1555. August An other letter of Robert Smith to a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Steuen Harwood Thomas Fust Martyrs The aunsâ—ere of Thomas Fust to Byshop Boner The condeÌ„nation and Martyrdome of Steuen Harwood and Tho. Fust. Anno. 1555. August William Haile Martyr Thâ— Martyrdome of WilliaÌ„ Haile at Barnet about the ende of August Anno. 1555. Hailes wordes to the people Ex Regist. 3. Martyrs sickened in prison buryed in the fieldes George King Thomas Leyes Iohn Wade Martyrs The story of Ioane Layshford hereafter followeth among the Martyrs of the next yeare William Andrew buryed in the fieldes The L. Rich the first sender vp of W. Andrew A letter of Syr Richard Southwell to Bishop Boner W. Andrew twise before B. Boner W. Andrew through strayte handling dyed in Newgate W. Andrew buryed in the fieldes Mayster Foster Iustice persecutor of Christes people Robert Samuell in K. Edwardes dayes a godly Preacher Robert Samuell remoued from the ministery Robert Samuell woulde not consent to the wicked decree of Q. Mary to put away his wyfe Robert Samuell apprehended in his house by night Robert Samuell put in Ipswich Gayle Robert Samuell remoued to Norwich The cruelty of Dunninges the bloudy Chauncellour An other memorable 〈◊〉 of Samuell in prison Two godly 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Brueâ—â— wyfe the other a 〈◊〉 wâ—fe apprehended Eccle. 9. Eccle. 4. Esay 4. Complaynt agaynst England and that not vndeserued Math. 8. English people rightly resembled to the Gergesites Marke 5. Rom. 10. Aboundance of goodes is a thing perilous Gene. 19. Anno 1555. September Math. 19. Iob. 3. Esay 10 God hath alwayes a remnant whom he pullysheth with hard aduersaryes 1. Cor. 4. Two men in one God abhorreth Apoc. â—â— 1. Pet. 1. No true quietnes in Sathans seruice The miserable madnes of worldly men lamented 2 Câ—r 4. Iohn 1â— Transitory pleasures of this lyfe not to be passed vpon Psalm 58. Luke 16. Colos. 3. Heb. 13. Iohn 7. Ephes. 5. 1. Pet 4. Luke 14 2. Para 3. 2. Cor. 5. Ioyes layd vp in Christ to mans sense inestimable Samuell prophesieth of the destruction of the persecutâ—rs 1. Rev. 25. The bloud of Gods Martyrs preacheth with more fruite then did their mouthes Luke 1. God long looketh for repentance and we waxe worse and worse Esay 3. Wickednes of England declared Esay 3. England worthely rebuked Ieremy 5. He bewayleth the state of England Iohn ◠〈◊〉 to the aâ—flicted 〈◊〉 Math. 10. 〈◊〉 10. Christ himselfe suffereth in his members 〈◊〉 Esay 5. Ephe. 5. Gods promâ—se is immutable O mery last day â— Tim. 2. Christes Saintes be here in Butchers hands Psal. 16. Precious is the death of Goâ—s Saintes 2. Tim. â— An other letter of 〈…〉 3. Marke 8. One God Three persons Ephes. 1. Actes 17. Psalm 176. The 2. Article Heb. 1. No merites of saluation but onely in Christ. Esay 48.43 Gene. 1.22 Esay 53. Actes 10. Math. 8. The Catholick Church is the communion of Saintes Iohn 10.8 Galath 1. 1. Tim. 3. Remission of sinnes onely by the merites of Christ apprehended by fayth Confirmation of our resurrection Iohn 10. Iohn 1· Phil. 3. Iohn 12. 1. Cor. 15. Iohn 5. Rom 10. 〈◊〉 13. The â—â—ing of death pluckt out Hiâ— confession touching the Saâ—ramentes Sacramentes are confirmations of Goâ—s grace and acceptation â—he Sacrament oâ— Baptisme The Sacrament of the Lordes Supper Gods word to 〈◊〉 Gods word to the eye Actes 1.3 Christes body present in the Sacrament to our spirituall eyes How the body of Christ is spiritually to be 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. Heb. 9. Rom 5. Phil. 3. Iohn 6. Ephe. 5. Gala. 2 Marke â— W. Allen Martyr The Martyrdome of W. Allen at WalsinghaÌ„ Anno. 1555. September Roger Coo Martyr Talke betwene Roger Coo Hopton B. of Norwich Roger Coo to his accuser The Bishop of Rome The Sacrament of the Lordes Supper Daniell 9. * Well spoâ—en and lyke the Popes clarke The Martyrdâ—me of Roger Coo at Yexford Anno. 1555. September Tho. Cobbe of Hauerhill in Northfolke Martyr Examinatiâ—â—â— of Tho. Cobbe The reall presence of Christ only in heauen The Martyrdome of Thomas Cobbe at Thetford Anno. 1555. Septemb. Examinationâ— of these fiue Martyrs Examination aunsweres of Catmer Examination aunsweres of Streater Burward examined Brodbridge examined Thomas Tuttie examined with his aunswere to the same Thomas Hayward Iohn Goreway Martyrs The MartyrdoÌ„e of Thomas Hayward and Iohn Gâ—râ—way at Liâ—hfielâ— Anno. 1555. September The story of M. Robert Glouer Martyr and of M. Iohn Glouer his brother Iohn Glouer Robert Glouer William Glouer 2. godly brethren and zealous professors of the Gospell Touching further mention of 〈◊〉 Iohn Gloâ—â—◠〈◊〉 in the first edition The inward conflictes and exercises of M. Iohn Glouer Iohn Glouer a double Martyr A heauy Crosse of inward tormentes layd vpoÌ„ Iohn Glouer The first occasioÌ„ of Iohn Glouers inward afflictioÌ„ Heb. 7. No griefe lyke to the griefe of conscience Heb. 7. Christ a mercifull helper in temptation and hard distresses Iohn Glouer by the grace of Christ reâ—stored agayne to perfect tranquilitye The Mayor of Couentry sendeth a priuy watchword to Iohn Glouer M. Robert Glouer apprehended lying sicke in his chamber A letter of M. Robert Glouer to hâ—s wyfe certifâ—ing hâ—s troubles 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 apprehenâ—ion The worldly wantonâ—â—â—
stake D. Ridley ready to aunswere D Smithes Sermon but â—â—uld not â—e suffered D Marshall Vicechaâ—â—â—cellour of Oxford stoppeth D. Ridleys mouth B. Ridley committâ—â—â— his cause to Gâ—d M. Latimerâ— wordes when he could not be suffered to answere D Smith * This was no Popish Tippet 〈◊〉 made 〈◊〉 to keepe 〈◊〉 necke warme D. Ridley geueth away his apparrell other 〈◊〉 to the peâ—ple 〈…〉 him M. Latimer standing at the staâ—e in his shirte D Ridley 〈…〉 The death and Martyrdome of D. Ridley The lamenting hartes of the people at the Martyrdome of these two Saintes The first farewell of B. Ridley to his friendes Commendation of George Shipside his brother in lawe To his brother Iohn Ridley To his sister in lawe of vnthanke wife to Hugh his brother To his Cosin M. Nicholas Ridley To his Cosin Rafe Ridley To all his kindred B. Ridley appoynâ—ed to be B. of Durham Martyrdome Gods singular and rare promotion 1. Peter 4. A blessed thing to suffer death for Christ. If 〈…〉 dye wâ—â—h his 〈◊〉 vpoÌ„ theeâ—es for worâ—â—ly gooâ—â—s how mâ—ch more then to dye in Chriâ—â—es â—uarell vpoâ— the enemye of his Church Deut. 7. Iohn 15. To dye in any right whatsoeuer it be is to dye in Gods cause To dye in the truth against theeues and to dye for the truth agaynst Christes enemyes compared Truth taught in the Church of England True ministration of the Lordes Supper Seruice in thâ— vulgare toâ—gue Luke 22. 〈…〉 Chriâ—â— is contrary to Gods word is a subuersion of 〈◊〉 godlines and destruction to mans soule Comparison betweene Popishe persecutors and strong theeues Popish persecutors when they are false theeues yet will they be called true Catholickes The fight with spirituall theues is worse then with temporall theeues Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6. The weapons of a christian warriour D. Ridley 〈◊〉 to the Sea of Durham The cause of Martyrs is the common cause of Christ and of 〈◊〉 his elect Saintes Let no man foâ—â—acke to dye 〈◊〉 a blessed 〈◊〉 common quarell To his friendes in Cambridge Benefites sheweâ— to D. Ridley in Cambridge Pembroke hall in CaÌ„bridge Commendation of Pembroke hall to be a letter forth euer of the Gospell D. Ridley learned the Epistles of S. Paule Peter without booke in Pembroke hall D. Ridley called into Kent by Archbishop Cranmer To the parishe of Herne in Kent The godly Lady Phines in Herne parish To the metrapoliticke sea of Canterbury To the sea of Rochester To Westminster To the sea of London B. Ridley deposed 〈◊〉 the sea of London without right or iudgement The Sea of London worthely 〈◊〉 â— Ridleys 〈…〉 the Episcopall 〈◊〉 of London To the city of London Commendation of 〈◊〉 Richard 〈◊〉 Alderman Knight The creating of the hospitall by B. Ridley 〈◊〉 Richard Dobbes 〈◊〉 of London Commendation of Syr George Barnes Maior of London Bridewell obtayned of King Edward by Syr George Barnes to set poore people a worke To the Citizens of London To the higher house and temporall Lordes of the Parlament Gal. 3. A good warning or lesson to the temporall Lordes Ezech. 3. Luke 6. Ignorance will not excuse the temporalty being seduced in religion The Lordes of the Parliament be fallen from Christ to Christes enemy Act. 2â— Many good meÌ„ in the sea of Rome So long as the Sea of Rome folowed the rules of the Apostles it might be called Peter or Paules chayre The Church receaued of the Apostles of Christ Christ of God Tertull. The sea of Rome hath degenerated from the Apostles rules and hath set vp an other religion That is hath excercised an other power Hath ordeyned strange lawes If true doctrine maketh sea Apostolicke then coÌ„trary doctrine maketh the sea to be Antichrist Apocalip 17. Apocalip 11. Kinges coÌ„mitting adultery with the whore of Babilon what it meaneth Apoc. 17. Daniel â— He speaketh to the Lordes teÌ„porall Psalme 4. If the vnity of the Popes Church standeth vpon necessity of saluation why did the Lordes of this realme abiure this vnitye in K. Henry K. Edwardes dayes If it be otherwise why then doe they periure themselues turning to it agayne 〈◊〉 6. An other farewell of 〈…〉 c. 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 1 〈…〉 2. Matâ— 5. Luke 21. Luke 6. Math. 10. Math. 10· Math. 10. To confesse Christ and not to feare danger 2. Cor. 4. 1. Peter 3. The causes why the Apostles so reioysed in their affliction 1. Corin. 2. 2. Cor. 12. 2. Tim. 1. The glory of Paule wherein it consisted 2. Tim. 2. â— Tim. 3. Gal. 4. The waye to heauen is by afflictions Heb. 11. Heb. 12. Reasons to moue vs to pacience vnder the Crosse. Prouerb â— Heb. 1â— 2. Cor. 5. 2. Cor. 5. 1. Cor 1. Phil. 1. Luke 25. Rom 9. 1. Iohn 3. Apoc. 14. To couet to be with Christ and not to fearâ— death Iohn 11. Iohn 5. 2. Peter â— 2. Cor. 5. Act. 14. Luke 16. Luke 12. The state of the Church of England described 〈◊〉 The lamentable chaÌ„ge of religion in the Church Ieremy 4. 1. Cor. 14. Ignorance a prayer Abuse â—n the Lordes Sâ—pper The Sacrament turned out of his right vse kind Idolatry in worshipping the creature for the creator The cuppe debarred from the ministration of the Lordes supper Blasphemous sacrifice for sinne Deuter. 5. Idolatry is stockes and stones The whore of Babilon with her cup of abominations expounded Apoc. 17. 2. Peter 2. The misticall marchaundise of the Babilonicall strumpet All thinges at Rome for money Verses agaynst Pope AlexaÌ„der Abominations and wicked abuses of the Sea of Rome declared The true word of God the office of the same declared Note here that these Scriptures were written by M. 〈◊〉 in the Marâ—eâ—t but were not in the copy which we â—llowed Act. â—0 Cranmer and Ridley 〈◊〉 in the Duke oâ— Sâ—mersets câ—use Cranmer repugning agaynst the spoyle of the Church goodes Latimer Bradford Leuer Knoxe The corrupt 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 K. Edwardes tyme. Hipocrisie a double euill The slackenes that was in that tyme to good workes Gods plaâ—â—â— vpon England iustly deserueâ— He exhortet◠〈◊〉 constant confeâ—sion of Christ Punishment of heretiques 〈◊〉 gentle in the olde tyme and how it was vsed Counsell geuen in these dayes of persecution what to doe Such as remayned out of captiuitye counsayled to voyde the realme The abominatioÌ„ of desolation set vp in England Christ coÌ„maundeth to flye to the mountaynes Apoc. 18. 2. Cor. 6. Counsell to depart the realme Doubtes whether to flye or to tarry debated Presumptuous prouocation rash running into daunger forbidden Euseb. Eccle. lib. 4. cap. 15. 〈…〉 dwelling in â—ngland 〈◊〉 a good 〈◊〉 eyther with out daunger of conscieÌ„ce oâ— perill of lyfe Iâ—â—ent no excuses to câ—oâ—e sinne Confession of 〈◊〉 must goe with belief of 〈◊〉 To trust in God what it is 1. Corin 3 2. Cor. 6. Rom. â— To beare the beastes markeâ— what it is Apoc. 13.14.10 The literall taking of the Scripture 〈◊〉 the Iewes 〈…〉 The Popes
and thing sigâ—â—â—fied Both the sigâ—â— and the thing signified in 〈◊〉 respectes 〈◊〉 the Sacrament Ye say ye seekâ— not his lyfe and yet ye 〈◊〉 to aunswere 〈◊〉 that ye aske 〈◊〉 be his death The protestatioÌ„ of Iohn Philpot before the Lordes Two thinge wherein the Clergy deceâ—ueth the whole realme The Papistes haue neytherâ— the Sacrament of the Lordes body nor the true Church Papistes vnto 〈◊〉 vsurpe the name of the Church M. Philpot offereth himselfe to stand against 10. of the best learned in the realme in proofe of his cause The Popes Catholickes when they haue no iust reason wherewith to perswade they fall to rating to charge men with stubbernes Psalme 8. Scriptures alledged How the letter killeth and whom 2. Cor 3. Iohn 6. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 2. M. Philpots request to the Lordes Iohn Philpot wil not be iudged by his aduersaryes but by the hearers so far as they shall iudge by Gods worde The true order of iudgement vsed in the primatiue Church B. Boner bewrayeth his owne ignoraunce B. Boner dare not fetch out his booke â— Boner â—â—â—â—pheth 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Iudge 〈…〉 law 〈…〉 the â—earing of 〈◊〉 oâ—â—â—â—wise 〈◊〉 â—greeâ—â—â—â— to the wordâ—s so 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 no power to â—dge the â—â—aning of Gods word â—â—â—trary to ◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—ection of the Lord 〈◊〉 why the wordes 〈◊〉 the scripâ—â—â— aâ—e not 〈◊〉 be taken â—his is my body Aunswere to B. Boners â—â—iâ—ction The place 〈…〉 â—he bread 〈◊〉 I will true is my 〈◊〉 c Aâ—nswere 〈◊〉 the Lord â—iches obâ—â—ction Papistes â—ater cosins â—â— the Capemaiâ—es 〈◊〉 hath neyther 〈…〉 150. B. Bonerâ— vnâ—euerent and blasphemous speaking of God The omnipotâ—â—cye pretended in vayne Christ in the Sacrament really present to the receauer What he calleth really B. Boner to weake for Iohn Philpot. The Lordes fall to drinking Lord Rich biddeth M. Philpot drinke Chadsey beginneth to dispute with M. Philpot. * 1. Vntruth * 2. Vntrth. 4. Vntruthes of Chadsey at onâ— clappe * 3. Vntruth * 4. Vntruth M. Philpot answereth D. Chadsey Iohn Philpot interrupted in his aunswere Prayse be to the Lord for so he hath Chadsey proueth the Sacrament by the 6. of Iohn * So is there twise Ego too and yet but one naturall body Iohn Philpot aunswereth with protestation A question of Iohn Philpot. Blasphemy to say that these wordes onely this is my body make a reall presence Cypri lib. â— Epistol 3. These wordes blesse take and eate be as substanciall pointes of the Sacrament as this is my body Hereof reade more in the examinations of M. Bradford M. Doctor taken with the maner The wâ—rds of Chrâ—â—â— this is 〈◊〉 body â—â—â—cept a 〈◊〉 speake 〈…〉 body Sacraments without their vse be no Sacramentes The Sacrament of the Lords body without receauing is no Sacrament As Baptisme â—â— no baptisme but to the child 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 by so 〈◊〉 Sacrament of the body is no Sacrament but to them that worthely receaue My Lor◠〈◊〉 better 〈…〉 Capon 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Sacraâ—â—â—â— M. Philpot standeth vpon his conscience the feare of God B. Boner proceedeth Ex officio with Maister Philpot. 2. Vntruthes in the Bishops articles Iohn Philpot chalengeth the priuiledge of his ordinary ryght Spiritual things are not subiect to temporall powers and therefore the temporall commissioners had no power to remoue him into an other mans dioces A man is not baptised into his godfathers fayth nor his godmothers fayth but into the fayth of Christes church Iohn Philpot proueth his church to be from Christ. No rule better then Antiquity Vniuersalitie Vnitie to proue the true fayth Church of the Protestantes Because you dare not S. Cyprian meaneth euery church to haue his owne gouernour not all churches to be vnder one Cypri lib. 1. Epist. 3. The place of S. Ciprian explaned The Bishop of Rome no more head of the Church then the B. of LondoÌ„ Peter had no more authoritye ouer the church then euery one of the Apostles Peter beareth but a figure of the Church B. Boners diuinity lieth much in the ciuill lawe Cyprian The place of Cyprian expounded B. Boner goeth to the Parlament M. D. 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Peter 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 In Nice counsell 〈◊〉 B. o◠〈◊〉 was no 〈…〉 The scholer of Oxford shrinketh away The 〈◊〉 side notable to proue the Church to be the holy catholick church 3. Blind coniectâ—â—â— out of 〈◊〉 epistle of Austen to 〈◊〉 prouing the Sea of Rome to be supreaâ—e head The 〈…〉 Bishop from 〈…〉 tyme. The 〈…〉 may be cal The â—cope of S. Augustines argument is 〈…〉 the Church of Rome therfore 〈…〉 in the doctrine because it hath 〈…〉 Bishops from the Apostles but 〈…〉 Donatistes to be schismatickes 〈…〉 Churche of Rome continuing 〈…〉 the doctrine of the Apostles 〈◊〉 still succession of 〈◊〉 the Apostles tyme yet they 〈…〉 the vnitye of that Churche 〈…〉 other Churche of their owne The Argument is this 〈…〉 from that Churche which 〈◊〉 succession of Bishops 〈…〉 Apostles and keepeth the 〈◊〉 still in fayth and doctrine is 〈◊〉 the vnitye of the Churche and to 〈…〉 The Donatistes doe so from the Church 〈◊〉 hauing no iust cause of doctrine 〈◊〉 to doe 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 〈…〉 to their dinner afterward as they haue as iâ— they had eaten neuer a bit of meate before Iohn Philpot refuâ—eth to aunswerâ— but in open iudgement Iohn Philpot commaunâ—ed to be set in the stockes in the Colehouâ—e An other dayes talke of the Bishop with Iohn Philpot and other prisoners Iohn Philpot denyeth to come before the Bishop for feare of some priuy practise Iohn Philpot brought to the Bishop by violence Note here the iust dealinges of these Bishops This Bishop of Lincolne was D. White Iohn Philpot being Archdeacon excommunicated B. White for preaching falâ—ed doctrine Matter made of a knife sent to Iohn Philpot in a Pigs belly Articles agayne put to Iohn Philpot. B. Boner of mere power and authoritye pronounceth himselfe to be Philpots Ordinary False articles fayned aâ—aynst Iohn Philpot. B. Boner taken with an vntruth Other prisoners called in to beare witnes agaynst Iohn Philpot. The prisoners refuse to be sworne agaynst M. Philpot. B Boner agayne doth agaynst the lawe Note how the Bishops make Anabaptistes B. 〈◊〉 seeketh 〈◊〉 An other priuate talke or coÌ„ference betweene him and the Bishop B. Boner vewing his Colehouse He meaneth SteueÌ„ Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Good couÌ„sell geuen to B. Boner Iohn 〈…〉 a cloâ—e tower ioyning to Paules Church The 8. 〈◊〉 of â— Philpot. Articles 〈◊〉 Philpot 〈…〉 M. Philpot. B. Boner doth without order oâ— lawe The 9. examination of Iohn Philpot before the Bishop and his Chapleyns Iohn Philpot still standeth to his former plea to aunswere before his owne Ordinary Iohn Philpot will not heare his articles read Talke of the Sacrament This argument in the 2 figure concluding affâ—â—matiuely doth not holde by Logyke The Bishop being brought to a narrow straite
world Exhortation to obedience Exhortation to brotherly loue Exhortation to rich men of this world mouing them to charitable almes Luke 18. 1. Iohn 3. The Archb. declareth the true confession of his fayth without all colour or dissembling The Archb. rereuoketh his former recantation and repenteth the same The Archb. refuseth the Pope as Christes enemy and Antichrist The Archb. stâ—â—deth to his booke written agaynst Winchester 〈…〉 Papists â—â—ceaued The Papists in a great chase agaynst the Archb. Cranmers aunswere to the Papists Cranmer pulled downe froÌ„ the stage Cranmer led to the fire â— Ely 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 to the Archbishop The Archâ—â—â—â—op tyed 〈…〉 stake Cranmer â—â—tteth his 〈◊〉 hand wâ—ich subscribed first 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 The last wordes of Cranmeâ— at 〈◊〉 death The Fryers lying report of Cranmer Archb. Cranmer the middle Martyr of all the Martyrs burnt in Q Maryes tyme. A writâ—ng or letter of the Archb. sent to Queene Mary The king and Queene make themselues no better then subiectes complayning of their owne subiect vnto the Pope The first cause why the Archb. would not make aunswere to the Popes delegate is to auoyd periury The second cause is that the Popes lawes are contrary to the Crowne and lawes of England The othe of the King Iustices and the duety of Subiectes Dist. 10. Constitutiones Extran De Sentâ—â—ti et reindit Nouerit The Popes lawes and the lawes of England do vary how and whereiâ— Cases wherin the popes lawes repugne agaynst our lawes Prouision agaynst the popes lawes by Premunire The prouiso of the Pope agaynst our Premunire Marke this well * The Clergyes duety in the Parlament The Clergy of England more addicted to the Pope then to their true alleageance to their Countrey The Pope commaundeth both agaynst God naturall reason The SacrameÌ„t ought to be receaued in both kindes of all Christians Ex Theophilo Alexandrino The excuse of the Papistes why they take away the cup. Misorder in the Pope in assoyling the disobedieÌ„ce of Subiects toward their Princes Note the saying of Gregory The deuill and the Pope are lyke Emperours and kinges made the Popes footmen The Pope is Antichrist that is Christes enemy True markes proâ—iâ—g that the Pope is Antichrist Note this conclusion The cause why the Archb. spake and wrote thus Math. 10. The Sacrament A double error of 〈◊〉 Papistâ—s in the 〈◊〉 of the sacrâ—meÌ„t Cranmer 〈◊〉 to the iuâ—ged by the old Church The Papistes not able to bring forth one olde author aboue a thousand yeares to make with the Sacrament With the substance the vse also changed of the Sacrament The Papists make Christ 2. bodyes Neyther truth nor comfort in the Popes doctrine of the Sacrament Marke the errours of the Papists in their doctrine of the Sacrament The Protestantes doctrine of the Sacrament more comfortable then the doctrine of the Papistes An other respecte why the Archb. refused B. Brookes to be his iudge Double periury in B. Brookes A peece of an other letter to the Queene Contradiction in the Queenes othes sworne both to the Realme to the Pope in one day This Constantinus was Stephen Gardiner as constant in deede as a Wethercocke who thus named himselfe writing agaynst this good Archbish. An other letter of the Archb. to Mistres Wilkinson Math 3. Iohn 4. Math. 5. 2. Cor. 12. A letter written to D. Cranmer his felloweâ— by D. Taylour Many professe God ad ignem exclusiue that is in wordes outward profession but few sticke to him ad ignem inclusiuè that is in deede and in suffering for his sake Agnes Potten Ioane Trunchfield Martyrs The opinions of these two Matrons and Martyrs The streÌ„gth of God in weake vessels The burning of Agnes Potten reuealed to her before in her sleepe â—he story 〈◊〉 Iohn Maundrell Mâ—â—ndrell â—â—â—rted 〈◊〉 Tinâ—â—â—l Testament Mâ—â—ndrell 〈…〉 and â—â—arer of Gods word Maâ—ndrell 〈◊〉 for speaking agaynst holy bread and holy water Maundrell 〈◊〉 to open 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Henryes â—â—yes Maundrell 〈◊〉 and Coberley 〈…〉 Maundrell Spicer Coberly seÌ„t to Salisbury D. Capon B. of Salisbury Confession of their beliefe Sacrament of the Aultar Agaynst the Popes supremacye Christ onely Supreame head of his Church vnder him euery Prince in his own dominion Purgatory Images Sentence read agaynst these 3. Martyrs March 23. Maundrell Spicer Coberly brought to the place of Martyrdome The wordes of Maundrell Alice Coberley being indurance how she was brought by the keepers to reuoke Aprill 14. 6. Martyrs burnt in Smithfield at one stake These Martyrs were sent vp by the Lord Rich by M. Tyrrell and others A supplication to the Lord Chauncellour Names subscribed to the supplication Richard Spurge examined The Parson of Bocking accuser For not coÌ„ming to the Popish Church Thomâ—â— Spurge â—â—â—â—mined Not coâ—ming 〈◊〉 Church why Sacramâ—â—â— of the 〈◊〉 George Ambrose examined Iohn Caâ—â—ll examined The causâ—â— why Iohn Cauell came not to Church The Parson of Bocking false and contrary to his owne doctrine Robert Drakes Parson of Thundersley examined Drakes placed in the benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich. The first occasion of taking W. Tyme M. Tyrrell offended with Sermons preached in his woodes 〈◊〉 Gye 〈◊〉 Tyrrell◠〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 man Talke betweene the Bishop of Winchester and W. Tyms These 5. Martyrs were R. Drakes Tho. Spurge Richard Spurge Cauell Ambrose Their examinations before the B. of London Sacrament of the Aultar March 2â— Drakes and W. Tyms with the rest agayne exmined March 2â— B. Boners wordes to W. Tyms Math. 18. 1. Tym. 5. The aunswere of W. Tyms to B. Boner B. Boners wordes One of the prisoners aunswereth to B. Boner W. Tyms agayne aunswereth B. Boner charged with periury and inconstancye Boners preface to Winchesters booke De obedientia B. Boner excuseth himselfe by feare Tyms agayne replyeth to the Bishop An hunters parable against W. Tyms wisely applyed The answere 〈◊〉 Tym◠〈…〉 B. Boners reason Robert Drakes answereth Boner replyeth Tyms â—â—swereâ—â— to Boner Boner denying the principleâ— of diuinitye Esay 59. B. Boner calleth for more helpâ— D. Pendleton studieth for talke Articles aunswered by William Tyms His baptisme by his godfathers Onely â— Sacraments The true visible Church Winchesters booke De obedientia The Masse blasphemous Sacrament of the Altar an Idoll The Popes Church The Sea of 〈◊〉 the Sea of 〈◊〉 Sentence 〈◊〉 against W. Tyms The aunâ—were of R. Draâ—â—â— Sentence geuen against 〈◊〉 The aunswâ—re of T. Spurge Sentence 〈◊〉 agaynâ—t Tho. Spurge R. Spurge 〈◊〉 Ambrose A letter of W. Tyms to Agnes Gâ—ascocke An other letter of Will Tyms to Mistres Glascocke An other letter of W. Tyms to certayne godly women of his Parish Anno 1556. March An other letter of Will Tyms to his friendes in Hocley An other letter of W. Tyms to the faythfull brethren in his parish A letter of W. Tyms to his sisters in the Lord Colfoxe Glascocke 1. Pet. 5. 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 1â— Stephen for the same Gospell put to death
the Sea The summe of his money cast into the Sea restored him agayne An other 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 Seas 〈…〉 vpon a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—hippe 〈◊〉 dayes 〈◊〉 two 〈◊〉 in the Sea May. 31. 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Beâ—ch 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 〈◊〉 6. â— Martyrs 〈…〉 Eâ— Regist. Aâ—â—swere 〈◊〉 Thomas â—arland Aunswere of Iohn Oswald Iune 23. 2. Martyrs burnt at Lewes Iune 23. William Adhâ—rall Iune 25. Iohn Clement Iune 26. A marchaunteâ— seruaunt Iune 27.13 Martyrs suffering at Stratford the Bowe Aunswere to their articles Aunswere to the 2. article Aunswere to the 3 article Aunswere to the 4. article Aunswere to the .5 article Aunswere to â—he 6. article Aunswere to the 7. Article To the 8. article heir answeares To the 9. article their aunsweres Henry 〈◊〉 W. Hallâ—â—well Rafe Iackson Laurence Pernam Iohn Derisall Edmund Hurst Thomas Bowyer George Searles Lion Cauch Henry Adlington Anno 1556. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Ex Regist. A letter or Apologye of the Martyr purging themselues of the false sclaunder of M. Fecknam Vniforme agrement in ther fayth The profession of their Baptisme Sacramentes of the Church The visible Church The Sea of Rome The Masse Transubstantiation denyed 13. of these were Martyrs as is before sayd Iune 14. Rafe Bane B. of Couentrye and Lichfield a cruell persecuter Marying in Lent punished Iune 26. Thomas Iohnson for swearing by the holy Masse did pennauce Thomas Flyer slayne in Gods quarrell Iune 27. Thomas Parret Iune 26. Martyn Hunt Iohn Norice Confessours Iune 30. Roger Bernard Martyr Roger Bernard refuseth auricular confession Note the Catholicke charitye of this prelate An other examinatioÌ„ of Roger Bernard One of the Garde taketh Bernard to schoole A wholesome company of Caterpillers Roger Bernard condeÌ„ned by the Bishop of Norwich Bernard taken by Tamages men Iune 30. Adam Foster Martyr George Reuet Thomas Mouse Syr Iohn Tyrrell persecutors Gods stroke vpon wilful persecutors A youngâ— man 〈…〉 Clarke agaynst his conscience Anno 1556. Iuly 〈…〉 straunge token 〈◊〉 dyed 〈◊〉 strange 〈◊〉 The Lordes 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Martyr Robert Kereth a persecutor 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Bernard Adam Foster Robert Lawson at Bâ—ry Anno 1â—â—6 Iune â—◠〈◊〉 examiâ—â—â—ion of 〈…〉 before â— Parker 〈◊〉 M. Foâ—â—er The Sacrament of the Aultar M. Foster threatneth Iohn Fortune to be whipped Psal. 49. The Pope likened to a Belwether or a Master Bee Poysoned Popes Ceremonyes of the Church Math. 15. Gal. 4. Math. 15. It is pitty that popish prelates cannot lye An other examination of Iohn Fortune Sacrament of the Aultarr Catholicke prelates obsequious to higher powers so long as they make for their dignity but when they do otherwise then they excommunicate them Heb. 10. Dan. 11. Other talke betweene Iohn Fortune and the B. of Norwich Iohn 6. The B. of Norwich charged with periâ—ry The death of Iohn Fortune Iuly 1. The death of Iohn Careles prisoner in the Kinges Bench. Iohn Careles examined before D. Martyn The effect of Iohn Careles examination How Iohn Careles was brought to the Kinges Bench. Iohn Careles examineâ— vpon predestinatâ—â—n Doct. Marâ—â—â— declareth his Commission Why Doct. Martyn woulde not 〈…〉 the Sacrament Careles opinion of Gods election Doctour Martyn 〈◊〉 Careles iudgement of Godâ— election A wrong fayth of Predestination beleeâ—â—ng to be elected in respect of good 〈◊〉 D. Martyn pretendeth fauor to Careles More variety in the Popes 〈◊〉 Church then is amongest the Protestantes Doctour Martin taketh his leaue gently of Careles Iohn Careles dyed in prison and was buryed in the fieldes A letter of Iohn Careles to M. Philpot. 1. Reg. 1. Iohn Careles raysed vp by the Lord out of great heauines This comfort receaued of M. Philpot read in M. Philpots letters pag. 1726. Ierem. 10. Ierem. 26. Ierem. 1. Ierem. 1â— Math. 7. The circumspect behauiour of M. Philpot Iohn Careles aduise to M. Philpot Psal. 68. I. Careles care turned into ioy Gods gracious worke through M. Philpots letter Iohn Careles drunken with ioy of the spirite 2. Reg. 6. Careles accused to the Councell by certayne backe friendes in Couentrye Note how comfortably the Lord worketh in 〈◊〉 prisoned Saintes Gods prouidence towad his people An other 〈◊〉 of Iohn Careâ—â—â— to his wyfe Here is a 〈◊〉 marke 〈…〉 Chriâ—â—â—an forsaâ—iâ—g wyfe 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈◊〉 Christes 〈◊〉 Math. 10. Good counâ—â—â—â— geuen 〈…〉 wyfe 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 Lord. The 〈◊〉 duety 〈◊〉 â—ringing 〈…〉 chilâ—â—en A sweete letter of Iohn Careles to M. Bradford a little before his Martirdome He mourneth for the losse and lacke of M. Bradford in the Church He reioyceth for the honour of M. Bradfords Martyrdome Iohn Careles taketh his leaâ—e of M. Bradford Testimony of Gods spirite Iohn Careles doth Gods message to Master Bradford Power and practise of the keyes of the Gospell A comfortable letter of M. Bradford to Iohn Careles Practise of the keyes of the Gospell An other letter of Iohn Carles to the constant brethren in Newgate condemned Example of true loue charitye among the Martyrs The enemyes not able to withstand the wisedome of God in his Saintes but compelled to bydde them hold their peace Iohn Careles longeth to dye a Martyr in the Gospells causâ— Of the Martyrs 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Tyms read before pag 1895. 〈…〉 both the Spurges 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 pag. â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—19 Psal. 103. Triumph of Martyrs Gen. 3. Apoc. 11. An other letter of Iohn Careless wherein he doth animate Grene Whittell and the rest of that company vnto their Martyrdome Apoc 11. To dye in the Lord and for the Lord. Of this Barthelet Grene read before pag. 1846. Luke 12. Of this Thomas Whittell read before pag. 1833. Luke 21. Apoc. 16. Of Ioane Warner read before pag. 1850. He meaneth Elizabeth Foster pag. 1750. Math. 25. Iohn 5. B. Boner called the slaughter slaue of England Psal. 60. 4. Reg. 2. An other letter of Iohn Careles priuately written to his bâ—dfellow W. Tyms Gods children neuer tempted aboue their strength He confirmeth W. Tyms being condemned to the day of his Martyrdome It is the nature of Gods children to be tempted Math. 4. Sathans tempting tooles 2. Cor. 2. Two principal pelletâ— of Sathan whereby he assaulteth Gods seruauntes 1. Feare of sinne and death and infâ—delity of Gods 〈◊〉 Remedy agaynst feare and infideâ—â—tye Anno 1556. Iuly The second 〈…〉 Remedy agaynst the â— Peller Eâ—ay 64. An other 〈◊〉 of Iohn Careâ—â—â— to M. Coâ—ton a faythfull 〈◊〉 and fauourer of the Gospel Gods great 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Note how God sometyme geueth comfort by weaker vessels Iohn Careles nothing touched with feare of death or of the fire but onely of his sinnes An other letter of Iohn Careles wherein he comforteth the afflicted minde of a certayne good brother mourning for lacke of Gods feeling Psalm 57. Psalm 45. Comfort for a sicke conscience Math. 9. Psalm 42. Gods loue goeth not by our deseruinges but by fayth in Iesus Christ onely is the cause why his father loueth vs. Why God somtyme hydeth himselfe from vs. Heb. 12. Eccle.
church This article of the K. Quâ—â—e is no 〈…〉 his Catholicke Creede And yet he sayd before that he went not aboute to seeke his bloud Iudgement without truth Mathew Plaise confesseth his minde of the Sacrament Capernaicall doctrine Christ called it his body Ergo he made it his body It followeth not For a thing may be called yet no nature chaunged Anno 1556. Iune False alleaging the Scriptures They sayd that Christ called it his body but they sayd not that it was his body Comparison betweene turning Moyses rod and the bread into Christes body not lyke The opinion of the Papistes much lyke to the Capernaits Iune 22. 10. Godly Martyrs The lyfe story of Richard Woodman Anno â—557 〈◊〉 Râ—â—hard â—oâ—dman 〈…〉 of his 〈◊〉 trouble Râ—chard Woodman agâ—yne apprehended 〈…〉 of Richard Woodman The first appreâ—ension 〈◊〉 Richard Woodman Woodmen purgeth himselfe of false sclander False surmises agaynst Richard Woodman Woodman complayned of to Syr Iohn Gâ—ge Lord Chamberlayne Warrantes sent out to attach Woodman L. Chamberlayne sendeth to take Woodman at his plough Woodman arested Feare comming vpon WoodmaÌ„ at his first taking Woodman comforted in his spirite after his feare Woodman asketh for their Warrant How God worketh for his seruauntes The vnorderly doinges of the Papiâ—tes in attaching men without any warrant Woodman refusâ—th to goe with them vnlesse they shewe their warrant Gods great worke how the persecutors which came to take Woodman went away without him Woodman escapeth the handes of his takers Woodmans house agayne searched for him Woodman lodged sixe weeâ—es in a woode All the countâ—y and Sea coastes lâ—yd for woodman Woodman deliuered by his owne brother into his enenemyes handes Auri sacra fames quid non Mortalia cogis pectora Virgil. Brother bewrayeth the brother Woodmans house agayne beset and searched Woodman put to his shiftes The part of a trusty wife to her husband This belyke was his brother Woodman at length after long seeking found out George 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 Woodman A Pewterer of 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 coate â—oodman 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 â—ounde 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Woodman 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 of his â—â—fe and 〈◊〉 The name of this place 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 could 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 Firle Richard Woodman brought before the B. of Chichester D. Story and D. Cooke Richard Woodman preferreth the kingdome of Christ before lyfe or wyfe all worldly respectes Woodman appealed to his Ordynary D. Story a great spiller of bloud by his owne confession The Papistes in doubte whether they haue the spirite of God D. Story in a fury He is no true Christian that hath not the spirite of God Anno 1556. Iune 1. Cor. 7. Whether Paule was sure to receâ—ue the spirite of Christ. 1. Cor. 7. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. Gâ—l â— 2. Tim. 8. The Papistes bewray their owne blyndnes Richard Woodman glad to goe to the Marshalsâ—â— The liuing God is a pâ—â—ne of heresie among the Catholickes Story scorneth at the holy Bible Barne 6. D. Story set to schoole in the Scriptures Psal. â—4 If the liuing God in heauen doe make an heretick 〈◊〉 maketh 〈◊〉 the dead God on the Aultar Storyes rule to know an hereticke that is a true Christian When D. Story cannot confute them by learning he confuteth them by imprisonment No but if he should say the Sacrament of the aultar worshipped might he be then he were a perfect Catholicke The Lord hereticall our Lord Catholicke with the Papistes Fallacia equiuoci He that erreth from the church which church erreth not in in the right fayth his fayth cannot be good in deede Woodman charged with his owne writinges Richard Woodman 5. tymes before the Commissioners Anno 1557. 〈◊〉 â—oodman 〈…〉 church A man may 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 preaâ—â—â— â—eading 〈◊〉 Scripture letteth 〈◊〉 man to 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and â—â—â—under Woodman 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Church The Bishop 〈…〉 The Bishop biddeth Woodman to dinner Talke betweene Richard Woodman and the Bishop about Priestes mariage Paule if he were not maryed yet he had power to marry as well as the other had 1. Cor. 9. 1. Cor. 7 Priestes ought to haue wyues rather then to burne by Sainct Paules doctrine Gene 2. 1. Tim. 3. Bishops and Deacons were maryed in the Apostles tyme. Papistes â—olde that Byshops Deacons hauing wiâ—es before might keepe them still but not hauing before might not afterward mary Paul confesseth himselfe after his Apostleship to haue power to maâ—y The Bishops fayâ—e wordes to Richard Woodman Richard Woodman complayned of by vnlearned Priestes which could not certyfie him in matters of religion A Byshoplyke diâ—ner without any talke of Scriptures D. story a man without reason 7. Sacramentes denyed Two onely Sacramentes Richard Woodman caryed to the Marshalsey Luke 22. The deuills members persecutors of the Christians Iob. Psal. 1â— Rom 14. Richard Wooâ—mâ—â— to the faythfull brethren Psal. 103. Those that feare God hang not or man The inseparable knot of loue betweene Christ and his members Christians ought to geue there liues for defence of the Gospell if they be thereto called The second examination of Rich. Woodman before D Christopherson Bishop of Chichester Doct. Story c. Prouing of 7. Sacramentes Christopherson not yet consecrated 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the examination 〈…〉 â—â—ether â—â—trimony 〈◊〉 Sacrament Ephe. 5. S. Paules words be these â—his misteâ—y is greatâ— c. In the Greeke text S. Paule calleth it misterium What is a mistery and what difference there is betweene a mistery and a Sacrament Argument A thing signified a thing signifying can not bee at one tyme in respecte of it selfe in one subiecte Matrimony is a holy thing it selfe signified Ergo Matrimony cannot be a Sacrament signifying a holy thing The hose in a hosiers stalle may be a signâ— signifying moe hose to be within but it is noe signifying signe of it selfe Neyther againe is euery signe of an other thing to be called a Sacrament Chichester proueth Matrimony to be a SacrameÌ„t by a payre of hose Letters written in the booke speaking properly be one thing the testament worde of God is an other thing And yet by vse of speach the booke of the testament is called the testament as bread and wine be called the body bloud of the Lord. Heb. 13. The Bishop of Chichesteâ— rightly aunswered of his man according to his queston Aiâ— Aio Sacrament of the Aultar The aultar how it is to be taken and where it is Math. 18. Math. 5. Christ the true and onely Aultar The place of Math. â— expoundâ— Heb. 13. The Catholickes will not haue the worde to iudge Woodman referreth himselfe to the true Church Doctrine preiudiciall to Christes passion to say that the Sacrament of the Aultar doth pacyfie the wrath of God The Catholickes make themselues Priestes not after the order of Aaron but of Melchisedech The Catholickes 〈◊〉 the Sacrament doth a â—â—gne signiâ—â—â—â—g and the thing it 〈◊〉 signiâ—ied Another 〈◊〉 wordes 〈◊〉 make 〈◊〉 Sacrament of Baptisme 〈…〉 childe 〈◊〉 to be â—â—ptised The word water and
childe 〈◊〉 Baptiâ—me So the word bread and the receauer 〈◊〉 the Sacrament of the Lordes body The fayth of the receiuer maketh it the body If Iudas did eate the body of Christ theÌ„ must he be saued Whether bread remayne in the Sacrament The true confession of Richard Woodman touching the Sacrament Sap. â— The zeale of Gods spirite in Richard Woodman D. Story commeth in D. Story commaundeth Richard WoodmaÌ„ agayn to the Marshalsey The third examination of Richard Woodman before D. Langdale and M. Iames Gage May. 12. False lyes and lewde reportes Woodman warned to appeare Woodman taketh his leaue of his fellowes Woodman deliuered to one of the Lord Mountagues men Religion esteemed by auncitors Grandfathers and by place Multitude not to be followed in doing euill To doe as most men doe and to doe as a man ought to doe are two things Hard trusting any man in thiâ— world Woodmanâ— blamed foâ— aunswerinâ— with Scriptures D. Langdales talke with Richard Woodman vpon what occasion by whose procurement Woodman charged with his owne hand writing Richard Woodmans writing â—et vpon the the Church dore vpon what occasion Woodman required of M. Sheriffe and other his frendes to talke with D. Langdale D Langdale Paâ—â—on of Buxsteede where Woodmanâ— father dwelt Woodmans friendes desirous to heare him and D. Langdale talke together 〈◊〉 Byâ—hop was 〈◊〉 Christoâ—â—erson Wâ—odman 〈…〉 D. Langdale to 〈…〉 â—â—odman 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 cause 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—â—mned 〈◊〉 Doctour â—â—â—â—dale 〈…〉 â—â—ptisme 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈…〉 by D. Langdale 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 Richard Wood-mad chargeth D. Langdale with ignorance in the scriptures Fayth not Baptisme saueth Not lacke of Baptisme but lacke of fayth condemneth Baptising of water is not the cause of fayth The Catholicks do hold the contrary A Catholicke paradoxe The purpose of Gods election standeth by grace and not by reason of workes Doctor Langdales ArgumeÌ„t Children dying without Baptisme may be saued Ergo children haue no originall sinne Absurde doctrine Aunswere This righteousnes by Iesus Christ commeth vpon all men not in taking away imperfections of nature but in not imputing the imperfections of man to damnation We are made free by the death of Christ not from falling but from damnation due by the lawe for our falling Originall sinne Iohn 3. Psal. 23. Perfect doctrine Iames. 1. Iohn 3. Phil. 2. Adams free will nothing Fayth was before baptisme D. Langdale seemeth to be put to silence Children dying without baptisme are not therefore damned speaking absolutely Children beare not the offences of their fathers 1. Pet. 3. Gene. 6 * Nay rather in the fayth of their Parentes Neyther is it the fayth of the Godfathers and Godmothers that sanctyfieth the child but their dilligence may helpe him in seeing him catechised False doctrine of D. Langdale Fyrste where he sayth the keeping of the law is altogether Secondly that the keping of the lawe standeth in the outward signes Thirdly that children dying before Baptisme are damned Fourthly that childreÌ„ be baptised in the fayth of their Godfathers and Godmothers c. Many called but fewe chosen Luke 12. Gods elecâ—â—on stanâ—eth not by 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 but by the fewest â—ath 7. Luke 12. 〈◊〉 3. Math. 2. 〈◊〉 Argumentes 〈…〉 to be 〈…〉 taketh 〈◊〉 agaynst â—â—odman 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Iames 〈…〉 talke with Woodâ—â—n D. Langâ—â—le comâ—â—â—ayneth to 〈◊〉 Gage of Woodman causeles Woodman falsely beâ—â—ed D. Langdale denieth originall sinne yet accuseth Woodman for the which he is culpable himselfe Woodman knoweth no Sacrament of the Aultar vnlesse they take Christ to be the Aultar Woodmans iudgement of the Sacrament D. Langdale seeketh a knot in a rushe Whether the Sacrament be be the body of Christ before it be receaued Luke â—2 Eating goeth before the wordes of consecrating D. Langdale driuen to his shiftes D. Langdale afrayd to aunswere to Richard Woodman The Catholicks hold that Iudas did eate the body of Christ. Argument Who so euer eateth the fleshe of Christ hath euerlasting lyfe Iohn 6. Iudas did eate the fleshe of Christ Ergo Iudas hath euerlasting lyfe S. Paules words misalleaged by D. Langdale 1. Cor. 11. Making no difference of the Lordes body expounded * Christ speaketh of eating his fleshe simply without any determination of vnworthynes that is simply who soeuer beleueth in Christ he shal be saued neyther is any vnworthines in beleeuing in Christ. Note well the working of this mans charitye to doe for a man more at request then for any compassion of the partye Lewde tales and false lyes raysed vpon Woodman The 4. examination of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester c. This olde Byshop of Chichester was Doct. Daye Vntrue For B. Boner deliuered him of his owne accorde at the burning of Philpot vpon other causes False and vntrue Syr Edward Gage Shrieffe of Sussex Woodman charged with false matter Winchester 〈◊〉 in iâ—dging Richard Woodman cleareth himselfe of recantation The honest dealing of B Boner with Woodman herein This was Doct. Day The cause and maner how Woodman was â—eliuered by B. Boner Wherefore Woodman appealed to his Ordinary The cause why Woodman was first apprehended Rich. Woodman and his fellowe prisoners falsely accused and belied of the B. of Winchester in the pulpit Speaking to the curate in the pulpit made heresie Woodman cleareth himselfe from breach of the Statute Note the prety shift of this Catholick Prelate WoodmaÌ„ falsly taken to speaâ—e agaynst Priestes mariage A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry Richard Woodman sauing him selfe from his enemyes by theyr owne lawe The fift examination of Richard WoodmaÌ„ before the B. of Winchester and diuers other Iune 15. Anno. 1557. The wordes of the statute No breach of this Statute why The Priest scannetâ— vpon the meaning of Woodman See how neerly these men seeke matter agaynst him whereby to trap him Luke â—â— Wâ—odman charged with his aunsweres before the Commissioners at his last examination D. White B of Winchester bent to haue the bloud of Woodman Richard Woodman appealeth from the B. of Winchester to his owne Ordâ—nary Woodman refuseth to sweare or aunswere before Winchester being not his Ordinary * The Bishops Argument The deuill is maister in helâ— Woodman felt a burning hell in his 〈◊〉 Ergo the deuill was Woodâ—â—â— Maister * Aunswere Hell is takeÌ„ in Scripture two wayes 〈◊〉 for the place where damned spiâ—â—â— and soules be tormented for euer 〈…〉 this lyfe or els for Gods correcâ—â—â— and anguish of the soule in this life 〈◊〉 somtime is felt so sharpe that it â—â—â—embled to hell it selfe As where 〈◊〉 The Lord bringeth to hell and 〈◊〉 out agayne c. Tob. 13. The 〈◊〉 of hell haue found me c. Psal. â—â— 1. Cor. â— Rich. Woodman agayne refuseth to sweare or aunswere before the Bishop being not his Ordinary A charitable commaundemeÌ„t of a Catholicke Prelate vnder paine of excommunication no man to say God strengthen him The
sixt examinatioÌ„ of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester diuers other in the Church of S. Mary Queryes Richard Woodman agayne refuseth Winchester to be his iudge Truth taken for heresie M. Roper Commissioner and witnes agaynst Woodman Woodmans hand writing brought in agaynst him Woodman first released and yet called to accompt agayne agaynst all good order Sacrament of the Aultar Woodman made an Anabaptist because he will not sweare before him that is not his Ordinary All truth is heresie with these men Woodmans confession of the Sacrament Mistically 1. Cor. 1. What is Mistically Woodman agayne appealeth to his Ordinaâ—â—â—lye M. Christopherson B. of Chichester his Ordinaâ—â— not yet consecrated Woodman for hiâ— feruent speach rebuked This fatte Priest well seene in the Scriptures Ephes 1. Iesus Christ onely Sauiour of 〈◊〉 soule and not man Good woâ—â—eâ— not disallowed Phil. 2. The Archdeacon of Canterbury made Ordinary by the Cardinall to examine Richard Woodman Richard â—oodman â—â—alengeth 〈◊〉 Iudges 〈◊〉 â—e all 〈◊〉 coates 〈◊〉 chaungeâ—â—â—ges The free speach of Woodman 〈◊〉 the Byshops and Priestes Winchester about to read the Sentence Read in the first examination of Woodman pag. in the 2. edition 2176. No man can receiue the body of Christ vnworthely 1. Cor. 11. The place of S. Paule 1. Cor. 11. expounded What it meaneth to make no difference of the Lordes body Winchester readeth sentence against WoodmaÌ„ and cannot tell wherefore Richard Woodman condemned caryed to the Marshalsey being not suffered to speake Phil. 2. Math. 24. Math. 5. God asketh more theÌ„ the hart onely Iames. 2. Phil. 2 Math. 5. Rom. 10. Confessing with the mouth and beleeuing in hart must goe together Anno 1557. August Apoc. 1. Math. 18. Apoc. 13. Sclaunderers of the Gospell Luke 12. Math. 3. Math. 25. Luke 13. Luke 14. Math. 25. Math. 10. Math. 5. Richard Woodman vâ—xed of his own friends Iohn 10. 1. Iohn 4. The manifold troubles which Woodman hath passed through Woodmaâ— comforteâ—â— in his troâ—â—bles Luke 21. Math. 10. Experiencâ— of the Lorâ— to keepe promise with his people 1. Cor. 13. Certayne Iustices charged for burning of Christes people without any lawfull warrant oâ— writte Anno 1557. Iune Ambrose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 articles 〈…〉 this to the story of Iohn Hâ—â—lier â—artyr pag 〈…〉 â—â—ory of Iohn Hulâ—â—â—â— with 〈…〉 Iohn Hulâ—â—â—â— first 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 Colledge 〈…〉 Linne 〈…〉 Hâ—llier disgraded Brasey Mayor of Cambridge Brisley Sergeant persecutor Hulliars stedfast trust in God Hullier preparing himselfe to the stake Three notorious Papistes in Trinitye Colledge Boyes Proctour of Cambridge The Martyrdome of Iohn Hullier Bookes burned with Hullier The last wordes of Iohn Hullier at his death Papists of Cambridge forbid the people to pray for Hullier Referre this to Thomas Rede Martyr pag. 1807. Anno 1557. August Iuly 13. Simon Miller a Marchant Martyr The wordes of Simon Miller to the people The cause why Simon Miller was taken Simon Miller examined before Doctour Dunning Simon Millers confession espyed in his shoe Simon Miller dismissed to his house at Linne Simon Miller returneth agayn to his confession is condemned Elizabeth Cooper Martyr Elizabeth Cooper reuoketh her recantation in the open Church The Shrieffe agaynst his will enforced to lay handes vpon Elizabeth Cooper Elizabeth Cooâ—â—â— strengthned 〈◊〉 the stake by Simon Miller August 2. The Martyrdome of 10. godly Martyrs 5. men and 5. women at Colchester W. Mount Alice his wyfe Rose Allin her daughter Thomas Tye Priest a wicked Promoter A supplication of the persecutors to the L. Darcy Cruell persecutors Thomas Tye a false brother a bloudy persecutor Tyeâ— letter 〈◊〉 Biâ—hop Boner W. Simuell Iohn Baker W. Harries persecutors The taking of W. Munt his wyfe and Rose Allin their daughter Talke betweene Edmund Tyrrell and Rose Allin Tyrrell burneth Rose Allins hand The patience of the faythfull The deuill payeth the persecutors their wages Shee reuengeth not euill for euill Helene Ewring apprehendâ—â— the second tyme. Robert Maynard a great enemy to the Gospell William Bongeor Thomas Benolde W. Purcas condemned Agnes Siluerside condemned Helene Ewring condemned Elizabeth Folkes condemned A substanciall lye A reall lye D. Chadsey wept Elizabeth Folkes prayseth God at her owne condemnation Elizabeth Folkes prayeth for 〈…〉 Sleeping Maynard Elizabeth 〈◊〉 might haue eâ—caped and â—ould not W. Munt condemned â—â—hn Iohnâ—on condemâ—â—d Alice Munt â—ondemned Rose Allen. 〈◊〉 Allins answeres Rose Allin condemned W. Munt Alice his wyfe Rose Allin their daughter Iohn Iohnson burnt the same day at afternoone The age of these Tenne made the summe of 406. Iohn Thurston a confessor of Christ. August â— George Eagles Martyred The paynefull trauell of George Eagles Quo non mortalia pectora cogis auri sacâ—a fames Virg. Aeneid 1. George Eaâ—gles inditâ—ment Richard Potto Inâ—older at 〈◊〉 Cocke 〈◊〉 Chelmsâ—â—rd 〈◊〉 iust punishment 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 persecuâ—â—â— W Swallowes wyfe punished with the falling sicknes Gods iudgemeÌ„t vpon Richard Potto an other persecutor of George Eagles August 5. The examinatioÌ„ of Rich. Crashfield before DuÌ„ning Chauncellor of Norwich Sacrament of the Aultar An other examination of Richard Crashfield Worshiping of Images Confessiion to the Priest Playing on the Organes Pâ—ay 56. Luke 19. An other examination of Richard Crashfield The Popes Church taketh Christes office out of his hand Note here the ignorance of these Catholicke men in the Scriptures An other examinatioÌ„ of Richard Crashfield 1. Cor. 10. Vnbloudy Sacrifice of the Masse The Martyrdome of Richard Crashfield Anno. 1557. August 5. August 20. One Frâ—ar the sister of George Eagles â—urned at Rochester The story of Mistres Ioâ—ce â—ewes Martyr Mistres Lewes instructed by M. Iohn Glouer Mistres Lewes impâ—isoned Mistres Lewes a yeare in prison after her condeÌ„nation Anno 1557. September Mistres Lewes refuseth to be confessed of the Priestes Temptations of Mistres Lewes before her death and Martyrdome Ioyce Lewes comforted in he temptations Ioyce Lewes brought to the place of Martyrdome Her prayers Women put to pennaunce for pledging Ioyce â—ewes The Martyrdome of Mistres Ioyce Lewes September 17. The story of Rafe Allerton Rafe AllertoÌ„ attached Thomas Tâ—e Priest 〈…〉 Tâ—e examination of 〈◊〉 Allerton He meaneth belyke Bâ—neâ— and his fâ—lloâ—es 4. Esdr. 16. Three sortes of religion in England The place of Esdraâ— explaned Anno 1556. September Allâ—â—ton charged with his oâ—ne hand writing Syr Thomas Tye lately turned to his â—omeâ— thirsteth for bloud Allerton apprehended contrary to the lawes of the realme Allerton charged with Relaps Allerton brought agayne before Boner certaynâ— Lordes Transubstantiation Bishop Boners parable 〈◊〉 5. 〈…〉 Rafe Allerton Persecutours Information geuen agaynst Rafe Allerton by Syr Thomas Tye Priest a wicked 〈◊〉 4. Esdr. 16. A letter of Rafe Allerton Psal 37. Esay 59. A letter of Rafe Allerton Post scriptum Anno 1557. 〈◊〉 Examination of Iames Austoo Margery his wyfe Anno 1556. September Margery Austoo terrified in prison Examination of Richard Roth. A letter of Richard Roth.
a Popish Iustice. The trouble and escape of Henry Browne out of his enemyes handes Glaues wyfe maintayner of Popery and a persecutour Iustice Lelond writeth to the Constables to apprehende Henry Browne Henry Browne troubled for burning of Beades in Queene Elizabethes tyme. Like Maister lyke men A lamentable thing when such Iustices beare rule ouer Christian congregations Henry Browne vnder suertyes dismissed for a tyme. The punishment of Gods stroke vpon an obstinate persecutor Examination of William Wood. W. Wood charged for not comming to church .3 causes why William Wood durst not receiue the Sacrament of the Aultar Ezech. 5. William Woods question propounded to the Doctours The naturall quantitye of Chriâ—t not in the Sacrament The Papistes could not agree in their owne doctrine W Wood deliuered as was S. Paule by the contention of the Phariseys and Saduces The Story of Simon Grineus Ex Commentariis Phil. Melanct in cap. 10. Daniell Iohn Faber Bishop of Vienna persecutour Obsequium amicos Veritas odium parit Faber gently admonished of Grinaeus for his Sermon Godly warning seÌ„t by an old man to Grinaeus Grinaeus accused and pursued Grinaeus warned to flye escapeth Gods mercyfull prouidence in defeating the cruell purpose of persecutors The olde hatred of Stephen Gardiner Byshop of Winchester agaynst the Duchesse of Suffolke M. â—ich Bertie husband to the Dâ—chesse attached by the Byshop of Wynchester M. Bertâ—e appeareth before B. Gardiner Talke betweene B. Gardiner and M. Bertie The deuotion of B. Gardiner to good Friday M. Bertie attached for debt of 4000. poundes due to the Queene Kette Captaynâ— of the rebells in Northfolke in K. Edwardes tyme. A Dogge clothed in a Rochet vnder the name of B. Gardiner It is mery with Lambeâ— when wolues be tyed vp Purgation of the Lady Duchesse for not comming to Masse Religion goeth not by age but by truth M. Bertye released from his band of appearing Wayes practised how to conuey the Duchesse ouer the Seas with the Quâ—enes licence M. Bertye deuiseth cause to passe ouer into Flaunders M Bertye licensed by the Queene to passe the Seas Preparation made how to 〈◊〉 the Duâ—hesse ouer the â—eas M. Cranwell a 〈◊〉 friend to Maâ—ster Bertye The Duchesse with her company departeth the realme The maâ—er of the Duchesse â—â—â—ing out of her house The Duchesse with her company taketh Barge Pursute after the Duchesse The Duchesse retayned in M. Goslings house by Leigh vnder the name of his daughter The hard aduenture of the Duchesse vpon the Seas The Duchesse landed in Brabant M. Bertye with the Duchesse his wyfe ariued at Santon The free towne of Wesell in Cleueland A proteâ—tion procured for the Duchesse of the Magistrates of Wesell M. Bertye and the Duchesse in daunger of taking by the B. of Arras at Santon An other escape of the Duchesse and her husband The hard distresse of the Duchesse by euill wether The hard intertainment of M. Bertye and the Duchesse of their entring into Wesell Gods prouidence in tyme of 〈◊〉 The meeting of W. Perusell the Duchâ—sse of Wesell The Citizens of wesell admonished by their Preacher of their hardnes toward straungers A friendly part of Syr Iohn Mason towardes the Duchesse A trayne layd for the Duchesse by the Lord Paget and the Duke of Brunswicke M. Bertye and the Duchesse remoue to Wineheim vnder the Palsgraueâ— The helping hand of the Lord agayne in their necessitye Ioann Alasco a meanes to the king of Poole for the Duchesse of Suffolke The Duchesse inuited into Pooleland by the kinges letters M. Barlow a messenger from the Duchesse to the king of Poole The Pallatine of Vilua a great friend to the Duchesse The Duchesse taketh her iourney toward Pooleland The troubles happening to the Duchesse in her iourny to Pooleland M. Bertye with the Duchesse honourably intertayned of the king of Poole A story of Thomas Horton Minister The story of Thomas Sprat William Porrege M. Brent Iustice in Kent a persecutour The two Blachendens in Kent persecutours Thomas Sprat almost taken in the way by the Iustice. Thomas Sprat called of the Iustice but would not come God alwayes stronger then the deuill Thomas Sprat gotteth ouer the hedge from his persecutoâ—â— William Porrege escapeth The Lord disposing the way of his seruauntes Thomas Sprat deliuered by Gods helpe from his aduersaryes The troubles of Iohn Cornet how he was deliuered Yackesley Parson of Roughhedge persecutour The mother agaynst her own sonne Cornet whipped out of the towne and so banished Thomas Bryce preserued God blynded the eyes of them which â—â—ught for Thomas Bryce that they could not see him An other 〈◊〉 of Thomas 〈◊〉 and his brother Thomas Iohn Bryce 〈◊〉 by Gods good 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 The trouble and deliueraunce of Gertrude Crokchay This Doct. Mallet is now Deane oâ— Lincolne An other trouble of the sayde Gertrude in Dutchland Cruelty in â—â—aunder 〈◊〉 secretly agaynst the Christians Gertrude returneth into England A story of William Mauldon W. Mauldon accused and scourged for true religion The Prophesis of M. Mauldon in K. Henryes tyme for the fall of Masse and Sacrament of the Aultar Robert Horneby through Gods working preserued Mistres Sandes now Lady Bartlet preserued from persecution The story of Thomas Rose yet liuing Three offered to haue their liues saued to accuse Tho. Rose but would not Thomas Rose arested by a Sergeant at Armes The cruel handling of Thomas Rose by the Papistes Thomas Rose set at libertye by Doctour Cranmers meanes Tho. Rose Chaplaine to the Lord Cromwell The mighty prouidence of God in preseruing Tho. Rose from his enemyes Tho. Rose agayne deliuered Tho. Rose apprehended The 1. examination of Tho. Rose Tho. Rose 〈◊〉 of Winchester Tho. Rose 〈…〉 Winchesters sclaunder Tho Rose committed to the Tower The 2. examination of Tho. Rose before the B. of Winchester How Thomas Rose submitteth himselfe The 3. examination of Thomas Rose Auricular confession Nothing but scripture to be admitted for the regiment of the soule Transubstantiation and Reall presence agaynst the Scriptures the auncient fathers of the primitiue Church The Papistes affirme the reall body of Christ to be in the Sacrament but they know not how The last appearaunce of Thomas Rose before the Bishop Actes 2. How Christ is present in the Sacrament Pâ—pistâ—â—â—râ—estes 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 abroad lyes The blessed prâ—tection of almighty God in preseruing the Lady Elizabeth in her manifold daungers and troubles The troubles of Lady â—lizabeth in Queene Maryeâ— tyme. The history of the Lady Elizabeth Syr Richard Sâ—â—thwell Syr Edward Hastinges and Syr Thomas Cornwalles sent to fetch vp Lady Elizabeth with whom also afterward was sent the Lord Williâ—m Haward c. The 〈◊〉 of the knights A straye Commission from the Queene to bring the Lady Elizabeth either quicke or dead The gentlenes of Q. Mary to send her horselitter to bring her sister to trouble Lady Elizabeth taketh her iourney toward the Queene Lady Elizabeth brought vp to London Syr
William Sentlow committed to the Tower Lady Elizabeth charged with Syr Thomas Wyats conspiracye Lady Elizabeth châ—rged with the 〈◊〉 of Peter Carâ—w Lady Elizabeth threatned to goe to the Tower Lady Elizabeth 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 to the Lordes Lady Elizabethes seâ—uâ—untes 〈◊〉 from her The Queenes mâ—n and wayting womâ—n attendant vpon Lady Elizabeth The hard dealing of a certayne Lord with the Lady Elizabeth The Earle of Sussex gentle to the Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth writeth to the Queene but it would not serue Lady Elizabeth sent to the Tower The wordes of Lady Elizabeth entâ—ing the Tower The Christian prayer of Lady Elizabeth The Lord of Sussex speaketh for Lady Elizabeth The Bishop of Winchester â—nemye to Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth 〈◊〉 by the B. of Winchester The friendly speach of the â—aâ—le of Arundell to the Lady Elizabeth Syr Iames Acroft examined touchiâ—g the Lady Elizabeth These were not the offiâ—erâ— of the â—ower but such as went in white greene Lady Elizabeth 〈…〉 the Tower Displeasure betâ—eenâ— the 〈…〉 and Lady Elizabethes men Lady Elizabeâ—hes wayringmen in the Tower Lady Elizabeth â—â—nyed the lâ—bertye 〈◊〉 the Tower Liberty graunted 〈◊〉 Lady Elizabeth to walâ—â— in a little garden Suspicious heades A young childe 〈◊〉 for bringing flowers to the Lady Eâ—izabeth The Conâ—â—â—ble of the Tower discharged of his office Syr Henry Benifield with his company placed about the Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth in great feare and doubt of lyfe Lady Elizabeth in doubt of Syr Henry Benifield Lady Elizabeth remoued from the Tower to Woodstocke Lady Elizabeth â—ecluded froÌ„ her seruâ—untes Lady Elizabeth in diâ—payre of her selfe Lady Elizabethes Vâ—her talketh with the Lord of Tame The gentle haâ—t of the Lord of Tame to Lady Elâ—zabeth Tanquam ouis â— Like a sheepe to the slaughter Lady Elizabeth honourably receaued and beloued of the people The gentle entertaynement of Lady Elizabeth at the Lord of Tames house M. Benefield grudging at the gentle entertaynement of Lady Elizabeth The rude and vngentle manly behauiour of Syr Henry Benifield Lady Elizabeth commeth to Woodstocke The strayte watch kept at woodstocâ—e A mery story concerning the sâ—râ—yte keeping of the Lady Elizabeth The straytenes of Syr Henry Benifield merely noted Lady Elizabeth with much ado suffered to write to the Queene The cruell dealing of Syr Henry Benifield to the Lady Elizabeth reprooued The letters of the Lady Elizabeth sent to the Queene D. Owen and D. Wendye Q. Maryes Phisicions sent to the Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth requested to submit her selfe to the Queene Counsell of the Papistes to mary the Lady Elizabeth to a Spanyard Wicked counsell geuen of the Lord Paget agaynst the Lady Elizabeth Spanyardes more fauorable to Lady Elizabeth then some English men Lady Elizabeth in daunger of fire Lady Elizabeth in daunger of killing An other conspiracye of murder agaynst Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth preserued by the Lordes prouidence from execution in the Tower Winchesters platforme ouerthrowen Whereof read before pag. 1787. Verses written by Lady Elizabeth in the glasse Window Lady Elizabeth not suffered to come to the Lord of Tames house Lady Elizabeth wisheth her selfe to be a milke-mayde Lady Elizabeth 〈◊〉 from Woodstocke to Hampton Courte Lord William Haward gentle and hnourable to Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth requested by Winchester to submit her selfe to the Queenes mercy Lady Elizabeth standeth to be tryed by the lawe Talke agayne betweene Winchester and Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth denyeth to confesse any fault done to the Queene Lady Elizabeth sent for to the Queene Lady Elizabeth brought to the Queenes bed chamber Talke betwene the Queene and Lady Elizabeth Small comforte at the Queeneâ— hand toward her sister King Phillip thought to be a friend to Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth by Gods prouiden◠〈◊〉 at libeâ—â—ye Syr Henry Benifield discharged Mistres Ashley sent to the Fleete â— GentlewomeÌ„ of â—â—dy Elizabâ—the sent to the â—ower 〈…〉 wondâ—rfull working of the 〈◊〉 prouidence 〈…〉 of Lady Elizabeth Lady Elizabeth dâ—liuereâ— by the 〈◊〉 of Stephen Gardiner How the Lord here beganne to worke for Lady Elizabeth A note of a story 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 oâ— the Papistes toward Lady Elizabeth Robert Farrer 〈…〉 to Lady â—lizabeth Robert Farrer 〈◊〉 agaynst Lady Elizabeth The paâ—te of a good trusty seruaunt Robert Farrerâ— complayned of to the CoÌ„missioners but 〈…〉 was â—ad How Bysh. Boner and D. Story beare with him that rayled agaynst Lady Elizabeth Note the vngodly lyfe of these Catholickeâ— Lady Elizabeth proclamed Queene the same day that Quene Mary dyed The Lord make England thankfull to him for his gâ—eat benenâ—es 〈◊〉 17. Q Mary 〈◊〉 Q Elizabeth beginneth her 〈◊〉 The maner of Q. Maryes death Q. Mary 〈◊〉 â—â—ought 〈◊〉 the losse 〈◊〉 Calice More Engâ—â—â—â— bloud 〈◊〉 in Q Maryes 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 was in 〈…〉 her The raygne 〈◊〉 Queene â—ary now 〈…〉 it was 〈◊〉 to her râ—â—lme to her 〈◊〉 in al 〈◊〉 Q Mary 〈◊〉 had 〈…〉 any 〈…〉 about Comparison betweene the raigne of Q. Mary and Queene Elizabeth Gamaliels reason Actes 5. Q. Mary prospered so long as she went not against the Lord. Q. Maryes promise to the Gospellers broken The ship called the great Harry burned Q. Maryes maryage with a straunger Q Mary disappoynted of her purpose in Crowning king Phillip Q. Mary stopped of her will in restoring Abbey landes The victory of K. Edward 6. in Scotland The ill lucke of Q. Mary in losing of Calice The 11. king of the Conquest got Calice and the 11. agayne after him lost it The ill lucke of Queene Mary in her childebyrth Q Mary left desolate of king Phillip her husband The ill lucke of Q Mary with her husband The finall ende and death of Q. Mary Q. Mary raygneâ—â— 5. yeares 5. monethes The shortnes of Queene Maryes raigne noted An admonition 〈◊〉 Christian rulers A treatise of Gods seuere punishment aagaynst câ—â—ell pâ—â—secutors and enemyes to his 〈…〉 De 〈◊〉 lib. 13. The death of Stephen Gardiner read before pag 1786. 〈…〉 S. Dauids A note of 〈…〉 Iustice Morgan 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 D Dunning 〈◊〉 Chauncelâ—our 〈◊〉 wiâ—â— sodaine â—â—ath The sodayne death of Berrâ—y a CoÌ„missary in Northfolke Gods stroke vpon D. Thornton Byshop or Suffragan of Douer An other 〈…〉 he had 〈◊〉 the Carâ—inallâ— blessâ—â—â—â— The Iudgement of God vpon Grimwood A terrible example of Gods seuere punishment vpon one Nightingall Parson of Crondall in Kent D. Geffrey Chauncellour of Salisbury M. Woodâ—â—â—fe a cruell Sheriffe plagued Read before pag. â—624 The betrayer of George Eagles plagued Gods punishment vpon M. Swingheld and other which bewrayed one Angels wyfe A story of Burton Bayliffe of Crowland how he was plagued for setting vp Masse Burton earnest in seâ—â—ing vp the Masse The stinking death of a Popish Massemonger Of the Martyrdome of Iames Abbes read before pag. 1683. A story to be noted of all rayling persecutours The Shrieffes seruaunt vyly rayling agaynst Iames Abbes. A fearefull example of Gods righteous iudgment against the Sheriffes seruaunt
rayling agaynst Iames Abbes. Example how Popery bringeth to desperation Clarke hanged himselfe The sodaine death of Troling Smith Dale the Promotor eaten with lyee Coxe the Promotor sodainely dyed Alexander the cruell keeper of Newgate dyed a rotten death The sodaine death of Iames Alexanders sonne Iohn Peter Alexanders sonne in lawe rotted away Iustice Lelond perâ—ecutour pâ—agued Robert Baulding persecutor Beard the Promotor Robert Blomfield persecutor The iudgement of God vpon Iohn Rocâ—â—wood Lady Honor and George Bradway persecutors in Calice Richard Long drowned himselfe The iust punishmeÌ„t of God vpoÌ„ Syr Rafe Ellerker persecutor The sodaine death of D. Foxford Pauâ—er a persecutor hanged himselfe The stinking end of Stephen Gardiner proueth Popery and not the Gospell to be the doctrine of desperaration Gods iust stroke vpon Iohn Fisher B. of Rochester and Syr Thomas More 2. Mach. 3. Of Valerianus read before pag. 74. Bishops that dyed before Q. Mary Byshops tâ—â—t dyed 〈◊〉 Q. Mary * Note that B. Tonstall iâ— Q Maryes tyme was no great bloudy persecutour For Maister Russell a Preacher was before him and D. 〈◊〉 his Chauncellour would haue had him examimined more particularly The Bishop stayed him saying hetherto we haue had a good report among our neighbours I pray you bring not this mans bloud vpon my head A note of D. Weston D. Weston out of fauour with the Papists D. Weston taken in adultry D. Weston appeâ—led to Rome The death of Doctour Weston Catholicke Bishops after Q. Marâ—es death depriued imprisoned Note that some of these Bishops afterward through the goodnes of Q. Elizabeth were dispersed and suffered to be kept in their friendes houses A note of Doct. Chadsey 34. Articles of D. Chadsey D. Chadsey subscribed to the reformed religion in King Edwardes time D. Chadsey mutable and inconstant in his religion The egernes of D. Chadsey in punishing the poore Martyrs Wil. Mauldon Prentise with M. Hugh Apparry at Grenewich A terrible example of Gods iudgement to be noted of all such as be contemners and mockers of God and his worde Gods punishmâ—nâ— vpon a young 〈◊〉 of 12 yeares 〈◊〉 blaspheming the Maiesty of God Blâ—sphemy punished A lâ—sson to children and young gyrles A leâ—â—â—n to all Athenites Epicures and Infideâ—â—â— A lesson to all blasphemers swearers Leuar of Abingdon a blasphemer of Gods Martyrs plagued Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury Fryer Champbell plagued Gods iudgment vpon Haruy a persecuting CoÌ„missary Gods iust plague vpon William Swallow Gods iust plague vpoÌ„ Richard Potto Richard Denton burned in his owne house Fettyes wyfe stricken with madnes Two Papistes of 〈◊〉 Colâ—â—â—ge in Oâ—ford 〈…〉 A story of a Courtyer oâ—e of the Garde which happened An. 1563. Admonitioâ— to Courtiers An example of Christopher Landeâ—dale one of the Garde for all Courâ—â—ers to looke vpon Landesdale a feaster of the rich and vnmercifull to the pore Poore Lazaruâ— lying by the rich mans doore Yet the â—icâ—e glutton was better for he suffered Lazarus to lye at his gates The death of poore Lazarus in the ditch The end of this vnmercifull 〈◊〉 in the ditch The image of the rich glutton and poore Lazarus Math. 5. 1. Iohn 3. A warning to gentlemen A fearefull example of 〈…〉 Gentle exhortatioÌ„ neglected The terrible ende of a swearer The miserable ende of Henry Smith a Lawier of the midle Temple after he was peruerted from the Gospell Note what leude company doth in corrupting good natures M. Smithes Images and Agnus dei Henry Smith a Lawyer hanged himselfe in his chamber after what maner One Williams a Lawyer and a rayler agaynst the Gospell fell madde Of the miserable end of this Twyford read before pag. 1258. DeclaratioÌ„ of foreine examples Hofmeister sodainely stricken with death going to Ratisbone What inconuenience commeth by thâ— Popes desperate doctrine The miserable ende of Guarlacus reader in Louane The story of Arnoldus Bomelius student aâ— Louane Note what euill instruction company doth An horrible example of Arnoldus Bomelius which killed himselfe with his owne dagger AdmonitioÌ„ to our Louanians Iacobus Latomus of Louane Iacobus Latomus an â—nemy to the Gospell brought to madnes and desperation The terrible wordes of Latomus in his desperation Gods will in his word to accept our fayth onely for iustification Obedience to Gods will rewarded Disobedience to Godâ— will punished The chiefe fountayne of all mischiefe in the world A Fryer of Munster stricke with lightning A Taylours seruaunt in Lipsia Gods punishment vpon a certaine Popish gentleman vnnamed Sadoletus Cardinall The Commendator of S. Antony plagued Abbot of Carilocus sodainely dead Dauid Beaton Archbyshop of Scotland persecutour slayne in hiâ— owne Castle Ex Ioan Sleidano lib. 23. The terrible iudgement of God vpon Cardinall Crescentius President of the Counsell of Trident. An. 1552. The wretched end of Cardinall Crescentius President of the Counsell of Trent Two aduouterous Byshops of Trident Counsell iustly slaine in adultery D. Eckius the Pâ—pes stout Champion· The end of Martyn Luther compared to the end of Eckius The maner of Iohn Eckius death Eckius last wordes Eckius dyeth dreaming of his Guildenâ— Ex appendice Hist. Ioan. Carionis Gods iudgment vpon one Iohn Vander Warfe Shoulted of Antwarpe a persecutour Shilpad a kinde of Shelfishe fashioned like a Tode with a hard and a broad shell vpon his backe Our Ladies druncken feast Fraunces Fraet the Printer and witnes hereof a good man Martyr Bartholomeus Cassaneus plagued Minerius plagued of God A Iudge with 3. persecutours plagued by Gods iudgment The terrible vengeaunce of God vpon Iohn de Roma a terrible persecutor Read before pag. 216. The Lord of Reuest plagued Iohn Martin plagued Erasm in Epistola Apologetica De vtili Coloquioâ— Gods punishment vpon a noble gentleman in going a pilgrimage Admonition False deuotion a perylous thing Agaynst Idolatrous pilgrimage A wonderfull example of Gods â—udgment at Gaunt Anno. 1565. Three causeâ— why Saintes are not to be prayed vnto Purgatory denyed The iudgement of God vpon Giles Brakelman the borough Maister William de Weuer Martyr burnt at Gaunt Anno. 1565. An other terrible example of Gods iudgment agaynst Syr Garret Trieste gentleman and then Alderman of Gaunt a persecutour Anno. 1566. An other example of Gods iudgement vpoÌ„ Marten de Pester one of the principall Secretaryes of Gaunt Anno. 1566. These men of Gaunt are witnesses hereof A story of a tame deuil conâ—â—â—ed in an Abbey in Sueuia A subâ—ill deuise of the Monkes to fray away their gestes The punishmeÌ„t of God vpon a Monke that would counterfeite the deuill Ex Gaspare Bruschio in Chronologia Monasteriorum Germaniae Read afore pag. 890. The doinges of Henry 2. French king agaynst the Lutherans neuer prospered with him This truce was betweene the French king the Emperour which the Pope caused to be broken The cruell purpose of the Duke of Guise disappointed The wicked vowe of the Constable of Fraunce defeated Lord Ponchet Archbishop of Tours The maruelous
Gods spirite in vs accordyng to the rule of the Gospell he that coÌ„formeth not him selfe to the same in godly conuersation may iustly treÌ„ble doubt that he is none of the elect children of God but of the viperous generation and a child of darkenesse For the children of light will walke in the workes of light and not of darkenes though they fall they do not lye still Let all vayne excusations be set a part and whiles ye haue light as Christ commaundeth beleue the light and abide in the same lest eternall darkenesse ouertake you vnwares The light is come into the world but alas men loue darkenesse more theÌ„ the light God geue vs his pure eyesalue to heale our blindnes in this behalfe O that men and women would be healed and not seeke to be wilfully blinded The Lord open their eyes that they may see how dauÌ„gerous a thyng it is to decline from the knowledge of truth contrary to their conscience But what sayd I conscience many affirme their conscience will beare them well enough to do all that they do and to go to the Idolatrous Church to seruice whose coÌ„scieÌ„ce is very large to satisfie man more then God And although their conscience can beare them so to do yet I am sure that a good conscience will not permit them so to doe which caÌ„ not be good vnlesse it be directed after the knowledge of Gods word and therfore in Latin this feelyng of mynde is called Conscientia which souÌ„deth by interpretation as much as with knowledge And therfore if our conscience be led of her selfe not after true knowledge yet we are not so to be excused as S. Paul beareth witnes saying Although my coÌ„science acseth me not yet in this I am not iustified And he ioineth a good coÌ„science with these 3. sisters charitie a pure heart vnfayned fayth Charitie keepeth Gods commaundements a pure hart loueth and feareth God aboue all vnfayned fayth is neuer ashamed of the profession of the Gospell whatsoeuer damage he shal suffer in body therby the lord which hath reuealed hys holy will vnto vs by hys word graunt vs neuer to be ashamed of it and geue vs grace so earnestly to cleaue to hys holy word and true church that for no maner of worldly respecte we become partakers of the workes of hipocrisie which God doth abhorre so that we may be found faythfull in the Lords Testament to the end both in hart word and deede to the glory of God and our euerlasting saluation Amen Ioh. Philpot prisoner in the Kinges Benche for the testimony of the truth 1555. * To hys deare frend in the Lord Iohn Careles prisoner in the kinges Benche MY dearely beloued brother Careles I haue receaued youre louing letters full of loue and compassion in somuch that they made my hard hart to weepe to see you so carefull for one that hath bene so vnprofitable a member as I haue bene and am in Christes church God make me worthy of that I am called vnto and I pray you cease not to pray for me but cease to weep for him who hath not deserued such gentle teares and prayse God with me for that I now approch to the company of them whose want you may worthily lament God geue your pittiful hart his inward consolation In deede my deare Careles I am in thys world in hell and in the shadow of death but he that hath brought me for my desertes downe vnto hell shall shortly lift me vpp to heauen where I shall looke continually for your commyng others my faythfull brethren in the kinges Benche And though I tell you that I am in hell in the iudgement of this world yet assuredly I feele in the same the consolation of heauen I prayse God and thys lothsome and horrible prison is as pleasaunt to me as the walke in the garden of the kinges Bench. You know brother Careles that the way to heauen out of this life is very narrow and wee must striue to enter in at a narrowe gate If God do mitigate the ouglenes of myne imprisonment what will he do in the rage of the fire whereunto I am appoynted And this hath happened vnto me that I might be hereafter an ensample of comfort if the like happen vnto you or to any other of my deare brethren with you in these cruell dayes in the which the deuill so rageth at the faythfull flock of Chryst but in vayne I trust against any of vs who be perswaded that neither lyfe neither death is able to seperate vs from the loue of Christs Gospell which is Gods high treasure committed to your brittle vessels to glorifie vs by the same God of hys mercye make vs faythfull stewardes to the end and geue vs grace to feare nothing what soeuer in hys good pleasure we shal suffer for the same That I haue not written vnto you eâ—st the cause is our strayt keepyng and the want of light by night for the day serueth vs but a while in our darke closet This is the first letter that I haue writteÌ„ since I came to prison besides the report of mine examinations and I am fayne to scribble it out in hast Commend me to al our faythfull brethren and bid theÌ„ with a good courage looke for theyr redemption frame themselues to be harty souldiours in Christ. They haue taken his prest money a great while and now let them shew themselues readye to serue hym faythfully and not to fly out of the Lordes campe into the world as many do Let them remeÌ„ber that in the Apocalips the fearfull be excluded the kingdome Let vs be of good cheare for our Lord ouercame the world that wee shoulde doe the like Blessed is the seruaunt whome when the Lord commeth he findeth watching O let vs watch and pray earnestly one for an other that we be not led into teÌ„ptation Be ioyful vnder the crosse prayse the Lord coÌ„tinually for this is the whole burnt sacrifice which the Lord delighteth in CoÌ„meÌ„d me to my father Hunt and desire him to loue and continue in the vnitie of Christs true Church which he hath begon and then shal he make me more more to ioy vnder my crosse with him Tel my brother Clements that he hath coÌ„forted me much by his louing token in significatioÌ„ of an vnfayned vnitie with vs let him encrease my ioy vnto the end perfectly The Lord of peace be with you al. Salute al my louyng frends M. Mering M. Crooche with the rest and specially M. Marshal his wife with great thaÌ„ks for his kindnes shewed vnto me Farewel my deare Careles I haue dalied with the deuil a while but now I am ouer the shoes God sende me well out Out of the Colehouse by your brother Iohn Philpot. An other letter to Iohn Careles profitable to be read of all them which mourne in repentaunce for theyr sinnes THe God
of all comfort and the father of our Lord Iesus Christ send vnto thee my deare brother Carles the inward consolation of hys holy spirite in all the malicious assaultes and troublous temptations of our common aduersarye the deuill Amen That God geueth you so contrite a hart for your sins I cannot but reioyce to beholde the liuely marke of the children of God whole propertie is to think more lowly and vily of themselues then of any other and oftentymes doe set theyr sinnes before them that they might the more hee stirred to bring forth the fruites of repentance learne to mourne in this world that in an other they might the more be stirred to bring forth the fruites of repentance learne to mourne in this worlde that in an other they might bee glad and reioyce Such a broken hart is a pleasaunt sacrifice vnto God O that I had the like contrite hart GOD mollifie my stony hart which lamenteth not in suche wyse my former detestable iniquities Praysed be God that he hath geuen you this sorrowful hart in respect of righteousnesse I pray you let me be partaker of these godly sorrowes for sin which be the testimony of the presence of the holy ghost Did not the sword of sorrow pearce the hart of the electe blessed mother of our Lord Did not Peter weepe bitterly for his sinnes which was so beloued of christ Did not Mary Magdalen wash the feet of our sauiour with her teares receaued therwithall remission of her seuenfold sinnes Be of good comfort therefore myne owne deare hart in this thy sorrow for it is the earnest peny of eternal consolation In thy sorrow laugh for the spirite of God is with thee Blessed be they sayth Chryst that mourne for they shall be comforted They went forth and wept saythe the prophet such shall come agayne hauing theyr gripes full of gladnes And although a sorrowfull hart in consideratioÌ„ of his sinne be an acceptable sacrifice before God whereby wee are styrred vp to more thankfulnes vnto God knowing that much is forgeuen vs that we might loue the more yet the maÌ„ of God must keep a measure in the same least he be swallowed vp by too much sorow S. Paul would not the ThessaloniaÌ„s to be sory as other meÌ„ which haue no hope suche a sorrow is not coÌ„meÌ„dable but worketh daÌ„nation is far froÌ„ the childreÌ„ of God who are coÌ„tinually sorrowfull in god wheÌ„ they look vpoÌ„ their owne vnworthines with hope of forgeuenes For God to this end by his spirite setteth the sinnes of his elect still before them that where they perceiue sinne to abound there they might be assured that grace shall superabound bringeth them down vnto hell that he might lift theÌ„ vp with greater ioy vnto heauen Wherefore myne own bowels in Christ as long as you are not voyd altogether of hope be not dismayd through your pensâ—â—e hart for your sinnes how huge so euer they haue bene for God is able to forgeue more then you are able to sinne yea and he will forgeue hym which with hope is sory for his sins But know brother that as oft as we doe go about by the helpe of Gods spirite to do that is good the euill spirite Sathan layeth hard wayt to turne the good vnto euil goeth about to mixe the detestable darnell of desperation with the godly sorrow of a pure penitent hart You be not ignoraunt of hys malicious subtletie and howe that continually he assaulteth the good which the grace of God planteth I see the battel betwixt you and hym but the victory is yours yea and that dayly For you haue layde hold vppon the anker of saluation whiche is hope in Christe the which will not suffer you to be made ashamed Be not discomforted that you haue this conflict but be glad that God hath geuen you the same to try your faith that you might appeare dayly worthy of the kingdome of God for the whiche you striue God beholdeth your stryuing faith against Sathan is pleased with your mighty resistance The spirite which is in you is mightyer then al the aduersaries power TeÌ„pt he may lying awayt at youre heelees geue you a fall vnwares but ouercome hee shall not yea he cannot for you are sealed vp already with a liuely fayth to be the childe of God for euer whoÌ„ God hath once sealed for hys owne hym he neuer vtterly forsaketh The iust falleth 7. times but he ryseth agayne It is maÌ„s fraylty to fall but it is the propertie of the deuils child to lye still This strife against sinne is a sufficient testimonye that you are the childe of God for if you were not you shoulde feele no such malice as he now troubleth you withal WheÌ„ this stroÌ„g Goliah hath the hold al things be in peace which he possesseth because he hath you not hee will not suffer you vnassaulted But stand fast hold out the Buckler of fayth with the sword of Gods promises smite hym on the scalpe that he may receiue a deadly wound and neuer be able to stand agaynst you any more S. Iames telleth you that he is but a coward saying Resist the deuill and he will flye away It is the will of God that he should thus long tempt you and not go away as yet or els he had done wyth you long ere this He knoweth already that he shal receiue the foyle at your hands and encrease the crowne of your glory for he that ouercommeth shall be crowned Therefore glory in your temptations since they shall turne to your felicity Be not afraide of your continuall assaults which be occasions of your daily victorie The woorde of God abideth for euer In what houre soeuer a sinner repenteth him of his sinnes they be forgeuen Who caÌ„ lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Do you not perceiue the manifest tokens of your election First your vocation to the Gospell and after your vocation the manifest gifts of the spirite of God geuen vnto you aboue many other of your condition with godlinesse which beleueth and yeldeth to the authority of the scriptures and is zealous for the same Seeing you are Gods owne dearling who can hurt you Be not of a deiecte minde for these temptations neyther make your vnfained frends to be more sorrowful for you then neede doth require Since God hath willed you at your baptisme in Christ to be carelesse why doe you make your selfe carefull Cast all your care on him Sette the Lorde before your eyes alwaies for he is on your right side that you shall not be mooued Behold the goodnesse of God toward me I am careles being fast closed in a paire of stockes which pinche me for very straitnes and wil you be careful I wil not haue that vnseemely addition to your name Be as your name pretendeth for doubtles you haue none other cause but so to
that haue died in the Lord from the beginning of the world Is not this more then an 100. fold Is not the peace of God which we in this world haue through faithfull imitation of Christ which the world can not take from vs x. M. fold more then those thinges that moste highly be esteemed in the worlde without the peace of God Al the peace of the world is no peace but mere anguish and a gnawing fury of hel As of late God hath set example before our eyes to teach vs how horrible an euill it is to forsake the peace of Christes truth which breedeth a worm in conscience that neuer shall rest O that we would way this with indifferent ballances Then shoulde we not be dismaied of this troublous time neyther sorrow after a worldly manner for the losse which we are now lyke to sustaine as the weake faithlesse persones do which loue theyr goods more then God and the things visible aboue those which be inuisible but rather would heartely reioyce and be thankful that it pleaseth God to call vs to be souldiours in his cause against the woorkes of hypocrisie and to make vs like vnto oure Sauiour Christ in suffering whereby we maye assure our selues of his eternall glory For blessed are they sayth Christ that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake And as S. Paule witnesseth to Timothe If we die with Christ we shall liue with Christ and if we deny him he will deny vs. O that wee woulde enter into the veile of Gods promises Then should we wyth S. Paule to the Phillippians reiect all and count all things but for drosse so that we may gaine Christ. God which is the lightener of all darkenesse and putter awaye of all blindnesse annoynte oure eyes with the true eyesalue that wee might beholde his glory and our eternall felicitie which is hidden with Christ and prepared for vs that doe abide in his Testament for blessed is that seruaunte that whome the maister when he commeth as Christ sayde doth finde faithfull Let vs therefore watch and pray one for an other that we yelde not in any poynt of our Religion to the Antichristian Synagogue and that we be not ouerthrowen of these temptations Stande therefore and be no cowardes in the cause of your saluation for his spirite that is in vs is stronger then he which in the worlde doth nowe rage against vs. Let vs not put out the spirit of God from vs by whose might we shall ouercome our ennemies and then death shall be as greate a gaine to vs as it was to the blessed Apostle S. Paule Why then doe ye mourne why do ye weepe why be ye so carefull as though God had forsaken you hee is neuer more present with vs then when we be in trouble if we doe not forsake hym We are in his handes and no bodye can doe vs anye iniurie or wrong without his good will and pleasure He hath commaunded hys aungels to kepe vs that we stomble not at a stone without his diuine prouidence The Deuill can not hurt anye of vs and muche lesse any of his ministers without the good will of our eternall father Therefore let vs be of good comfort and continuallye geue thankes vnto God for our estate what so euer it be for if we murmure against the same wee murmure against God who sendeth the same Which if we doe we kicke but against the pricke and prouoke more the wrath of God against vs which by pacient suffering otherwise would sooner be turned into our fauor through faithfull prayer I beseeche you with S. Paule to geue your bodies pure and holy sacrifices vnto God He hath geuen vs bodies to bestowe vnto his glory and not after our owne concupiscence If manye yeares God hathe suffered vs to vse oure bodies which bee his temples after the lust of the flesh in vaine delightes not according to his glory is it not our duetie in the latter end of our life the more willingly to yeelde vnto Gods glory our bodies with all that wee haue in demonstration of true repentaunce of that we haue euill spent before Cannot the ensample of the blessed man Iob horribly afflicted cause vs to say The Lord hathe geuen it the Lorde hath taken it blessed be the name of the Lord Euen as it hath pleased the Lord so is it come to passe If we cast oure whole care likewise vpon God he will turne our misery into felity as well as he did to Iob. God tempteth vs now as he did our father Abraham commaunding him to slaye his sonne Isaac in sacrifice to him which Isaac by interpretation doth signifie mirth and ioy Who by his obedience preserued Isaac vnto long lyfe and offered in his stead a Ramme that was tied by the hornes in the brambles Semblably we all are commanded to sacrifice vnto God our Isaac which is our ioy and consolation the which if we be ready to do as Abraham was our ioy shall not pearish but liue and be encreased although our ramme be sacrificed for our Isaac which doth signifie that the pride and cōcupiscence of our flesh entangled thoroughe sinne with the cares of this stinginge world must be mortified for the preseruation and perfecte augmētation of our mirth ioy which is sealed vp for vs in Christ. And to withstande these present temptations wherewithall we are nowe encombred ye can not haue a better remedy then to set before our eyes howe our Sauiour Christ ouercame them in the desert and to follow his ensample that if the deuill hymselfe or any other by him willeth you to make stones bread that is to take suche a worldly wise way that yee may haue your faire houses landes and goodes to liue on still yee must say that man liueth not onely by bread but by euery woorde that procedeth out of the mouth of God Againe if the deuill counsailleth you to cast youre selues downe to the earth as to reuoke your sincere beliefe and Godly conuersation and to be conformable to the learned men of the world pretending that God will be wel enough content therewith yee must aunsweare that it is wrytten that a man shall not tempt his Lord God Further if the deuill offer you large promises of honoure dignitie and possessions so that yee will worshippe Idols in hys Synagogue ye must say goe behinde me Sathan for it is otherwise wrytten that a man must worship his Lorde God and serue him onely Finally if your mother brother sister wife childe kinsman or frend do seeke of you to do otherwaies then the word of God hath taught you ye must say with Christ that they are your mothers brothers sisters wiues children and kinsmen whiche doe the wil of God the father To the which wil the Lord for his mercy conforme vs all vnfainedly to the end Amen Your louing and faithful brother in Christ in captiuitie Iohn Philpot. An. 1555· To his friend and faithfull
brother in the Lord Maister Robert Harrington GEntle M. Harrington I can not tell what condigne thanks I may geue vnto God for you in respecte of the great gentlenesse and paine which you haue taken for the reliefe of me and of other our afflicted brethren in Christe God be praised for his mercy whose louing prouidēce we haue seene towardes vs by such faithful stewardes as you ben towards a great many Blessed be you of God for the louing care whiche you haue taken for his poore flocke God hath reserued your reward of thanks in heauen and therfore I goe not about to render you any least I might seeme to iudge that you looked for that heere which is reserued to a better place I thanke God for that I haue found by your faithfull and diligent industry God forgeue me my vnworthinesse for so great benefites God geue mee grace to serue him faithfully to runne out my race with ioy Glorious is the course of the martyrs of Christ at this day Neuer had the electes of God a better time for theyr glory then this is Nowe may they be assured vnder the crosse that they are Christes disciples for euer Mee thinke I see you desiring to be vnder the same The flesh draweth backe but the spirite sayeth it muste be brought whether it would not Here is the victorie of the world here is true faith and euerlasting glory Who is he which desireth not to be foūd faithfull to his maister And now is the time that euery faithfull seruant of Christ hath iust oportunitie to shew himselfe a glorious soldior in the Lordes sight Nowe doe the Amalechites inuade the true Israelites that the Israelites might with spede be glorified I neede not for want of vnderstanding to admonish you hereof but as a willing souldiour in Christ to exhort you so to runne as you may get the victory and that speedely with vs. A man that is bid to a glorious feast wisheth his frend to go with him to be partaker thereof God doth cal me most vnworthy amōg other to drink of the bridecup of his sonne wherby we shal be made worthy as many of our brethrē haue ben before vs to sit at the right hād at the left hand of Christ. O what vnspeakable cōdition is that May any worldly thing stay vs from the desire therof Since we seeke the kingdome of God why do we not apprehend it being so neare offered vnto vs Let vs approch neare vnto God and God will draw neare vnto vs. God drawe vs after him that we may all runne after the sauour of his sweete oyntmentes Christe annoynt vs that we may be suppled in these euil daies to run lightly vnto the glory of the Lord. Shame imprisonment losse of goods and shedding of our bloud be the iust price which we must willingly bestow for the same Wherfore dearly beloued in the Lord let not the great charges keepe you backe frō bying this glory for the reward is x. thousand fold greater then the price That you haue married a wife whome God blesse I can not excuse you from this Marte but you must bryng your wife for a vsurie to the Lorde whose pleasure is in godly yokefelows I wish you to be as I am except these horrible bandes but yet most comfortable to the spirit assuring you that we are made woorthy thorough Christ of the kingdome for the which we suffer Praised be the Lorde for the affliction which we suffer and he geue vs strength to continue to the ende Commend me to M. Heath tel him that I woulde wish him with me to prooue howe apt he is to cary the crosse of Christ. I praye for his continuāce in Christ as for mine owne Commend me to his wife and to mistres Hal certifying them that I am brought to the gates of hel that I might neuer enter into the same but be raised vp from hel to heauen through the word that sanctifieth vs. Commend me to M. Elsing his wife and thank them that they remēbred to prouide me some ease in prison tell them that though my Lordes Colehouse be but very blacke yet it is more to be desired of the faithfull then the Queenes palace God make her a ioyful mother preserue them both to the comfort of gods people Thus for this time farewel dear brother Written in posthast because of strait keeping This daye I looke to be called before the Commissioners againe Pray deare brother for the spirite of wisedome to remaine with me Commēd me to your wife and I thanke you both for your tokens Your token I haue sent to your wife and my token vnto you is my faithfull hart with this letter Commend me to all my frends and tell them I thanke God I am chereful in Christ wishing thē to feare God more then man and to learne to despise earnestly the vanities of this worlde desiring you all to pray for me that I may end my iourney with fidelitie Amen Iohn Philpot. Here followeth an other letter of M. Philpot to the Lady Vane which because for the length I could not wholy insert I haue excerpted certaine specialties thereout as followeth THe principall spirite of GOD the father geuen vnto vs by Christ Iesus our mercifull Sauiour confirme strengthen and stablish you in the true knowledge of the gospel that your faithful heart worshipfull and deare sister in the Lord may attaine tast with all the Saincts what is the height the depth the length and the breadth of the sweete crosse of Christ. Amen c. O happy are you amōgst all other women that haue found this precious stone which is hidden in the gospell for the which we ought to sell all other thinges and to purchase the same O happy woman whose heart God hathe mooued and enlarged to be in the profession thereof Other seeke worldly goodes hohours and delightes but you seeke with a good vnderstanding to serue God in spirite and veritie This is the gate that leadeth to heauen this is your portion for euer By this you shall see God face to face which sight is vnspeakeable ioy by this shal ye see a full sight of all the beautiful heauenly powers and of all the celestiall Paradise By this shal ye know them that you neuer knewe and be ioyous and gladde wyth those whiche you haue knowen heere in God world without end c. Ah I lament the infidelitie of Englande that after so great light is stept into so huge darkenesse againe The seruaunt that knoweth his maisters will and doeth it not shall be beaten wyth many stripes Ah great be the plagues that hang ouer England yea though the Gospell shoulde be restored againe Happye shall that personne be whome the Lorde shal take out of this worlde not to see them Ah the great periurie which menne haue runne into so wilfully against God by receiuing Antichrist againe and his wicked
greene The loue of God within her hart Shall beutifie her grace The feare of God on the other part Shall stablish her in place This Loue and Feare her colours are Whereby if she be known She may compare both nie and farre Unable to be ouerthrown The loue of God it will her cause Unfained if it bee To haue respect vnto his lawes And hate idolatrie If that she haue the feare of God And be thereto right bent She will do that he her bode And not her owne intent O noble Queene take heed take heed Beware of your owne intent Looke or you leape then shall you speed Haste maketh many shent Remember Saule that noble king What shame did him befall Because that vnto the Lords â—idding He had no lust at all The Lord hath bid you shall loue him And other Gods defye Alas take heéde do not beginne To place Idolatry What greater disobedience Agaynst God may be wrought Then this to moue mens conscience To worship thinges of nought What greater folly can you inuent Then such men to obey How can you serue your owne intent Not foreseing your owne decay And where as first ye should mainteine Your Realme in perfect vnity To rent the peoples hartes in twayne Thorow false Idolatry Is this the way to get you fame Is this to get you loue Is this to purchase you a name To fight with God aboue Is this your care to set vp Masse Your Subiectes soules to stroy Is this your study no more to passe Gods people to anoy Is this to reigne to serue your will Good men in bondes to keépe And to exalt such as be euill And for your grace vnmeét Such as made that fond diuorce Your mother to deface Are nighest you in power and force And most bounden vnto your Grace Well yet take heéd of had I wist Let Gods word beare the bell If you will reigne learne to know Christ As Dauid doth you tell What great presumption doth appeare Thus in a weéke or twayne To worke more shame then in vij yeare Can be redrest agayne All is done without a law For will doth worke in place And this all men may seé and know The weakenes of your case That miserable masking Masse Which all good men doth hate Is now by you brought vp agayne The roote of all debate Your Ministers that loue Gods worde They feéle this bitter rodde Who are robbed from house and goodes As though there were no God And yet you would seeme mercifull In the midds of Tyranny And holy whereas you mayntayne Most vile Idolatry For feare that you should heare the truthe True preachers may not speake But on good Prophetes you make ruthe And vnkindely them intreate Him haue you made Lord Chauncellor Who did your bloud most stayne That he may sucke the righteous bloud As he was wont agayne Those whome our late king did loue You doe them most disdayne These thinges doth manifestly proue Your colours to be but vayne Gods word you cannot abide But as your Prophetes tell In this you may be well compared To wicked Iesabell Who had 400. Prophettes false And fiftie on a rought Through whose false preaching Poore Ely was chased in and out Gods Prophetes you do euill entreate Balles Priestes defend your grace Thus did the Iewes put Christ to death And let go Barrabas Hath God thus high exalted you And set you on a trone That you should prison and deface His flocke that maketh mone The Lord which doth his flock defend As the Aple of an eye Of this full quickly will make an end And banish crueltie Therfore my Counsell I you take And thinke thereof no scorne You shall finde it the best counsell Ye had since you were borne Put away blinde affection Let Gods word be vnpere To try out true religion From this euill fauoured geere Finis ê™ W.M. as it is supposed * The instruction of king Edward the sixt geuen to Sir Anthony Seyntleger Knight of his priuie chamber being of a corrupt iudgement of the Eucharist Vpon this saying of an ancient D. of the Catholicke Church Dicimus Eucharistiam Panem vocari in scripturis Panis in quo gratiae actae sunt c. IN Euchariste then there is bread Wherto I do consent Then with bread is our bodyes fed But farther what is ment I say that Christ in flesh and bloud Is there continually Unto our soule a speciall food Taking it spiritually And this transubstantiation I Beleue as I haue read That Christ sacramentally Is there in forme of bread S. Austen sayth the word doth come Unto the element And there is made he sayth in somme A perfect sacrament The Element then doth remayne Or els must needes ensue S. Austens wordes be nothing playne Nor cannot be found tâ—ue For if the words as he doth say Come to the element Then is not the element away But bides there verament Yet who so eateth that liuely foode And hath a perfect fayth Receiueth Christes flesh and bloud For Christ himselfe so sayth Not with our teeth hys flesh to teare Nor take bloud for our drinke To great an absurditie it were So grossely for to thinke For we must eate hym spiritually If we be spirituall And who so eates hym carnally Thereby shall haue a fall For he is now a spirituall meate And spiritually we must That spirituall meate spiritually eate And leaue our carnall lust Thus by the spirite I spiritually Beleeue say what men list None other Transubstantiation I Beleeue of the Eucharist But that there is both bread and wyne Which we see with our eye Yet Christ is there by power diuine To those that spiritually Do eate that bread and drinke that cup Esteemyng it but lyght As Iudas did which eate that soppe Not iudgyng it aryght For I was taught not long agone I should leane to the sprite And let the carnall flesh alone For dyd it not profite God saue hym that teachyng me taught For I thereby did winne To put me from that carnall thought That I before was in For I beleeue Christ corporally In heauen doth keepe his place And yet Christ sacramentally Is here with vs by grace So that in this high mysterie We must eate spirituall meate To keepe hys death in memory Least we should it forget This do I say this haue I sayd This saying say wyll I This saying though I once denaid I will no more to dye FINIS ¶ This yong Prince became a perfect schoolemaister vnto old erroneous men so as no Diuine could amende hym and therfore this piece is worthy of perpetuall memory to his immortall fame and glory ¶ When Queene Mary came to her raigne a friend of maister Sentlegers charged him with this his Pamphlet Well ê™ he content your selfe I perceiue that a man may haue too much of Gods blessing And euen here Peter began to deny Christ such is mens frailtie ¶ A note of a Letter of one Iohn Meluyn Prisoner in Newgate * Christi
enemye He was also so called that departed from the Christians to the Iewes and Gentiles The Summe of M Grindals letter to B. Ridley An aunswere of B Ridley to M. Grindals letter sent from Franckford Experience of Gods strength toward his Saintes in their imprisonment B. Ridley prisoner in the Tower halfe a yeare and more Canter Ridley Latimer Bradford prisoners together in the Tower Canter Ridley Latimer remoued to Oxford D. Weston condemner of Canter Ridley and Latimer Writtes for the burning of Iohn Bradford called in agayne Names of Martyrs This West when he had relented and sayd Masse agaynst his conscience shortly after pined away and dyed for sorrow * Note how Boner here requited the kindnes of B. Ridley shewed to his mother All the statutes of reformation in Cambridge broken and all thinges reduced agayne into the olde sâ—ate of Popery B. Ridley 〈◊〉 for Q. Mary Protomartyr is the first martyr whom he â—o called because he was the first that suffered here in those bloudy dayes The story of M. Hugh Latimer Martyr M. Latimer first set to schoole M. Latimer sent to Cambridge M. Latimer a long tyme was a zealous and superstitious Papist M. Latimer declamed in Cambridge agaynst Melancthon Latymer conuerted by M. Bilney Râ—ad M. Lâ—timers owne confâ—â—sion in his first Sermon vpon the Pater Noster M. Latimer a Papisâ— turned to a zealous Christian. M. Latimer beâ—commeth a Preacher in Cambridge Enemyes styrred in Cambridge agaynst M. Latimer M. Latimers Preâ—ching of the Cardes in Cambridge The difference betweene true false religion Hartes trompe Two maner of killinges D. Dewface playeth at dice with M. Latimer Note these great reasons of the Catholicks why the Scriptures should not come in English Answere of M. Latimer to D. Bucknhams Sermon An other barking Fryer agaynst M. Latimer Math. 5. Answere of M. Latimer to an other rayling Fryer Sapien. 5. * Actes 2. D. West Bishop of Eley forbidding M. Latimer to Preach Bilney and Latâ—mâ—â— ioyned 〈◊〉 A story of a certayne woman 〈…〉 by M. Latimer M. Latimer obteyned pardon of the king for a woman wrongfully condemned Purification of women D. Redman against M. Latimer A letter of D Redman to M. Latimer Aunswere of M. Latimer to D. Redman M. Latimer called vp to the Cardinall D Buttes a worthy fauourer of Gods worde M. Latimer 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 in West Kington M. Latimer troubled 〈…〉 our 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Lady The superstitious rudenes of blinde Priestes Matter deuised agaynst M. Latimer by Popiâ—â—e Priestes Doct. Powell Doct. Wilsone D. Sherwood Hubberdine D. Warham Archb. of Canterbury Doctor Stokesly B. of London troublers of M. Latimer M. Latimer appealed from the Bishop of Londons citation to his owne Ordinary M. Latimer molested by Warham Archb. of Canterbury and Stokesley B. of London M. Latimers letter to the Archbishop· Indigna Episcopoâ—um aâ—tio contra Latimerum Quid in religione corrigenduÌ„ Discrimen inter mandata dei et precepta hominum Multa tolerat deus quae tamen non era preceptuâ—us vt fierent Multa toleraâ— posâ—unt quum fiuntâ— quae tamen vt fie eâ—t necessitateÌ„ nullam habent Articles propounded to W. Latimer to subscribe vnto M. Latimer whether he 〈…〉 it is 〈◊〉 The crafty handling of the Bishops 〈◊〉 examining M. Latimer Ex verbis Latimeri 〈◊〉 â—â—ptious question put to M. Latimer by the â—ishops M. Latimer rescued by the king Maister Latimer aduaunced to the Bishoprickâ— of Worcester by the king The pastorall diligence of M Latimer in his dioces The time vnstable for B. Latimer to worke in Wordes vsed iâ— Bishop Latimers dioces in geuing holy water Wordes vsed in geuing holy bread The behauiour of Bishop Latimer in his office The troubles of M. Latimer in his Bishopricke Ex verbis Latimeri pro concione B. Latimer accused to King Henry for his Preaching M. Latimer answereth his accuser The wordes of B. Latimer to 〈◊〉 King The Kings harte reserted toward B. Latimer B. Latimer taketh the poore mans part agaynst his oppressor Bishop Latimer at the comming in of the sixe articles resigned 〈◊〉 Bishoprick M. Latimer kept silence till the time of King Edward The whole life of M. Latimer full of tribulations M. Latimer almost slayne with the fall of a tree M. Latimer cast into the Tower M. Latimer restored by K. Edward to liberty of Preaching Diuerâ— Sermonâ— of M. Latimer in K. Edwards time M. Latimer Preaching before K. Edward The diligent traueling of M. Latimer in King Edwardes time The early waking of M. Latimer to his bookâ— M. Latimer 〈…〉 Q. Maryes 〈◊〉 M Latimer 〈◊〉 vp 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 M. Latimer 〈◊〉 vp to Londâ—n not câ—â—peâ—led M. Latimer â—â—refull 〈◊〉 imprisonâ—â—nt M. Latimers 〈…〉 Octob. 16. Three requestes of M. Latimers prayer Once agayne once agayne M. Latimers prayer for Q. Elizabeth All three requestes of M. Latimer graunted of the Lord. The vnthankefulnes of England Gods gratious helpe in tyme of neede vpon the realme of England Q Elizabeth graunted of God to England God for Christs sake so graunt A letter of M. Latimer to M. Moricâ— Note the dissâ—bling inconstancy of Popish Priestes Inhibition procured against M. Latimer not to preach Hubberdine and Powell preach agaynst M. Latimer What the Papistes do geue to our Lady Our Lady not without sinne Papists depraue when they cannot disproue Difference betwixt Images Saintes Maister Latimers errour in those dayes Pare away the skurfâ— and cleane take all Poperye away Aue Maria. Aue Maria no prayer Whether the fier in hell be a materiall fier or spirituall The worme of conscieÌ„câ— is so called by a metaphoricall speach M. Latimer had leauerâ— be in Purgatory theâ— in Lollers Tower Causes declared why it is better to be in Purgatorye then in Lollers Tower As they did with HuÌ„ne Chrisost. What is the greatest payne to damned sâ—â—les Prouision of Purgatory bringeth many to hell What the Waspe is that stingeth the Papistes and maketh theÌ„ to swell The Popes pardoning out of Puâ—gatory a vayne inueÌ„tâ—â—n Suffrage Masse 〈…〉 Authority of â—eyes This bloud of Hailes was proued before the â—ing and openly 〈◊〉 at 〈…〉 by the Byshop of Rochester that theÌ„ was to be but the â—â—oud of a 〈◊〉 Two certifâ—â—ations of 〈◊〉 remissiâ—â— out of 〈…〉 The bodyly 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 proâ—â—â—eth little Warning against false prophets D. Wilson agaynst M. Latimer why Hubberdine a great rayler agaynst M. Latimer D. Powell a stout Preacher of Popery Scripture applied of the Papistes A note touching Hubberdine Hubberdine a right Image of Hipocrisie Hubberdine a great rayler agaynst the seruants of Christ. A dauncing Sermon of Hubberdine Hubberdine dauncing in the Pulpit fell with the Pulpit and brake his leg Aunswere of the Church-wardens D. Sherewood writeth agaynst M. Latimer Praelatos omnes esse latrones This letter is an aunswere of M Latimers 〈◊〉 this that goeth beâ—oâ—e Euill will neuer sayth well Diffaâ—â—tion â—ay my Lord wilâ— none of 〈◊〉 Bilney coÌ„mended
No man so 〈◊〉 but he may learne The copy of Syr Edward BayntoÌ„s letter to M. Latimer These friendes of M. Bayâ—toÌ„ seeme to be some Popish Priestes and enemyes to the Gospell as Powell Wilson Sherwood Hubberdine c. The Papistes will not haue vnity disturbed Papistry coloured with authority of holy fathers M. BayntoÌ„ will follow the most number Note the proceedynge of the Popeâ— Church which would not haue the people certayne of Gods truth and religion Errour and false doctrine would fayne lye still in peace and noâ— be stirred Vnity in the Lord in Baptisme in fayth The Chayne of christen charity Answere of M. Latimer to M. BayntoÌ„s letter The Bee The Spinner Euery thing as it is taken Had I wist Example of a true diligent pastor M. Latimer vnfurnished with outward helpe M. Latimer blamed for saying he was sure of the truth which he preached As God alone knoweth all truth so some truth he reuealeth to be certaine to his seruauntes 〈◊〉 presumption in a Preacher being certayne of that which he Preacheth to shew it to the people Let not man Preach except that he be certayne of that which he preacheth Euery true christian ought to be certayne of his fayth The doubting doctrine of the Catholickes Argumentes Aunswere i. The 〈…〉 the most 〈◊〉 certayn◠〈◊〉 Certaâ—ne knowledge Clâ—are knowledge M. Latimer not 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 Which 〈…〉 had knowledg without any 〈…〉 while thâ—y knowing the will of God doe nothing theâ— after 1. 〈…〉 that alâ—o which he 〈…〉 as not to haue it And also seing it is true that Gods 〈…〉 will not dwell in a body subiect to sinne albeit he abound in carnall wisedome to much yet the same â—â—rnall and Philosophicall vnderstanding of Gods 〈◊〉 is not the wisedome of God which is hidde from the wiâ—e and iâ— reuealed to litle ones Euery Preacher ought to be suâ—e of the truth There be many truthes whereof a good man may well be ignoraunt There be many thinges in Scripture in the profundities whereof a man may wade to farre Agaynst preachers which take vpon theÌ„ to define great subtilties and highe matters in the Pulpit Vayne subtilties and questions to be declined Simple and playne preaching of faith and of the fruites thereof Foolishe humilitye A meane betweene to hie and to low Not euery thing wherâ—â—pon disseÌ„tion comâ—eth iâ— the 〈…〉 He 〈…〉 Pope and his Papists which 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 K. Henry and 〈◊〉 brâ—thers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken where 〈◊〉 is geuen The church of the Galathians Erasmus in 〈◊〉 epistle set before the Paraâ—â—rase in â—â— Cor. To pretend vnitye vnder the title of one Lord is not inough Chrisost. Hom. 49. in Mat. cap. 24. To be in vnity of fayth except the fayth be sound is not inough i. If we beleeue we shew the truth in working i. He that beleueth God attendeth to his commaundementes Hieron Tom. 5. in Hierem. Cap 26. How true preachers should order themselues when the wicked Priestes be against them Hieron Tom. 6. in Naum cap. 30. i. The people which before were brought a sleepe by their Maners must goe vp to the mountaynes not such mouÌ„taines which smoke when they are touched but to the mountaines of the old and new testament the Prophets Apostles and Euangelistes And when thou art occupyed with reading in those mountaines yf then thou find no instructors for the haruest is great and the workemen be few yet shall the diligent study of the people be flying to the mountaines and the slouthfulnes of the Maisters shal be rebuked i. Which witâ— mouth onely confesse Christ to come in flesh Naughty seruauntes not feeding but smitting their fellow seruauntes eating and drinking with the drunken which shall haue their portion with hypocrites i. Because they confesse Christ in flesh and naughty they are called because they deny him in their deedes not geuing meat in due season and excercising maistershippe ouer the flocke August in Ioan. Tract 3. Both Christians and Antichristians confesse the name of Christ. i. Let vs not stand vpon our talkes but attend to our doinges and conuersation of life whether we not onely do not put our indeuour thereto but also perswade our selues as though it were not necessary for vs to accomplish such thinges c. but that it is inough to beare rule and authoritye ouer them and to bestow our selues wholy vpon secular matters pleasures pompe of this world In the people is required a iudgmeÌ„t to discerne whether they tooke of their ministers chalke for cheese The blind eateth many a flye Intollerable secularitye and negligence in Churchmen Better is in the Church a deforme disagreement so that Christ be truely preached then vniforme ignorance agreeing in Idolatrye i. If ye loue me keepe my commaundementes i. He that knoweth my preceptes and doth them he loueth me The state of Curates what it is The true honour of Christ turned to Piping playing and Singing He that wilâ— be busie with Vâ— Vobis let him looke shortly for coraÌ„ nobis Iohannes do tuâ—â—e Cremata The Pope great Maister Lord and king ouer all the world i. He came into his owne and his owne receaued him not Iohn 1. The Popes dominion Purgatory Worshipping of Saintes i. I shall haue neede of great patience to beare the false reportes of the malignaÌ„t church A priuye nippe to such as haue many cures and are resident to none i. I must needes suffer and so enter so perilous a thing it is to liue vertuously in Christ. An other â—â—tter of M. â—aâ—imer to â— Henry August ad Caâ—ulaâ—uÌ„ Chrisost. M. Latimer tâ—uched in conscience 〈◊〉 write to the king 〈…〉 to truth Math. 23. The subtile wilines and practises of the prelats 〈…〉 2. 〈…〉 12. 1. 〈◊〉 2. 〈…〉 1. 〈◊〉 12. Math. 7. The rule of Christ. The pouerty of Christes life expressed The poore conâ—dition of Christs life is an example to vs to cast down our pride nor to set by riches It is not agaynst the pouertye of the spirite to be rich What is to be poore in spirite and what not Priuy enemyes to spirituall pouertye Against Monkes and Fryers and Prelates of the spiritualtye Math. 17. Subiection to superiour powers Ambition of the spiritualtye Math. 7. Math. 15. Christ promiseth no promotions but persecution to his followers Math. 1â— Iohn 16. Math. 10. Gods word only is the weapon of Spirituall Pastors The Apostles were persecuted but neuer no persecutors Phillip 1. Persecution a sure marke of true preaching The worde of the Crosse. Iohn 3. Crafty pretenses of the Prelates to stoppe the reading of holy Scripture Belly wisedome Perswation to let the Scripture to be read in Englishe Sinister counsell about Princes Wicked 〈…〉 his owne deâ—struction Vnder the 〈…〉 Christes Gospell Obiection preuented and aunswered The cause and causeâ—s of 〈◊〉 kinges Proclamation against â—he reading of Scripture booke in 〈◊〉 He meaneâ—h oâ— Cronmer Cromwell one or two moâ— agaynst whom the Bishop of Winchester his faction
Wardall driuen by persecution to serue in a shippe Agnes Wardall persecuted by D. Argentine and his mates Vnmercifull seekers of a poore womans bloud The Lord blesse euery good man and woman from such wicked spirites He sleepeth ne sluâ—breth not that keepeth Israell Psalm 120. Agnes Wardall hydeth her selfe in a presse from the handes of her persecutors Example of a faythfull maâ—de to her Miâ—â—res The house searched for Agnes Wardall Gods maruellous protection wâ—rking for his seruaunt The boy and the mayde sent to the cage Agnes Wardall in daunger to be smothered Gods meâ—cyfull helpe in the tyme of neede Iohn Bate cryer of Ipswich a spitefull enemy against Godâ— people An other escape of Agnes Wardall by Gods good prouidence George Manning an honest man The doings and conditions of D. Argentine described D. Argentine in King Edwardes tyme a Protestant D. Argentine in Q. Maryes time a foule Papist a persecutor Peter Moone 〈◊〉 to B. â—â—pton â— Articles 〈◊〉 to Peter Moone Peter Mâ—one 〈◊〉 iâ— the Biâ—â—opâ— artiâ—â—es 〈◊〉 infirâ—â—tye 〈◊〉 of Smart of Ipswich Râ—ch Smart 〈◊〉 Ipswich repenteth 〈◊〉 Popery 〈◊〉 his death Smart accuâ—eth Mooâ—â— wyfe 〈…〉 to bring 〈◊〉 wyfe before the bâ—â—hop Moone and his wyfe brought before the Bishop B. Hopton preferreth 20. men committing adultery before one woman transgressing The Popes ordinaunces Moones childe a parte of Godâ— prouidence in their deliuerance from further trouble Moones aunswere to the Bishops ChauÌ„cellour Moone and his wyfe escaped from the Bishop and his Chauncellour Moone and his wyfe confounded in conscience for their denyall Moone seeketh to kill himselfe but by Gods mercifull prouidence was preserued Gods prouidence in sending away the Bishop Testified and recorded by Peter Moone Anno 1556. Iuly The Martyrdome of three women with a young Infant burned in the Isle of Garnesey Iuly 18. The first occasion of the trouble of these women Nicholas Cary Constable occuser Katherine with her two daughters imprisoned in the Castel Katherine with her two dauâ—â—â—ters stand the iudgeâ—ment of their neigâ—â—bours The threâ— women quit of 〈◊〉 and dishoâ—nestye New trouble agaynst the three women for not comming to the Church Iaques Amye Deane of Garnesey persecutor A letter of the Bayliffes to the Deane of Garnesey Rash information geuen before the cause was heard * The three women willing to be conformed to the Queenes ordinaunces were not withstanding condemned The wilfull sentence and murther of Ellyer Gosseline Bailiffe against the three innocent women in Garnesey The mother the two daughters made their appeale to the King Queene but could not be heard A supplication Iaques Amy the 〈◊〉 Deane dispossessed of his liuings The submissions of the Garnesey men confessing their trespasse against the Garnesey women aforesaid The copye of the Quenes pardon to them of Garnsey Defence of 〈◊〉 Garnesey 〈…〉 M. Harding The cruell dealing of the Garnesey men agaynst these three women Mayster Harding in his Reâ—oynder agaynst M. Iewelâ— pag. 184. Two crimes obiected agaynst Perrotine Massey Maister Harding in his Reioynder fol. 1â—â— pag 2. Perrotine vntruely accused of whoredome M. Harding requireth of others to doe that which he is not able to do himselfe Dauid Ioreâ— husbaÌ„d to Perrotine Massey Perrotine maryâ—ed where by whom Perrotine falsly accused of murder Vide supra pag. 1129. col 1. A story of yong infantes murdered in Lenton Abbay found in the 8. yeare of Queene Elizabeth Pope Ioane murderer of her childe How and by what reason M. Harding proueth Perrotine to be a murderer Lady Iane thouâ—ht to be with child at her death The lawe beneficiall to women claming the benefite of their belly Vnlawfull proceeding in the death of Perrotine Perrotine defended by simple ignoraunce Lacke in the Iudges The Priest to blame Reioynder fol. 185. pag. 1. M. Hardinges ground onely vpon coniectures Perrotine as he did not open her being with childe so neither did she euer deny it The state of M. Hardings accusation M. Harâ—â—ges Argument The Argument aunswered Arguments â—â—ignes 〈◊〉 â—ow they 〈◊〉 The 7. coniecture The conclusion of this defence Exhortation to M. Harding Murder in the spirituall clergy noted· God knoweth what spilling murdering of infantes there is in the world Agamistae of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth men vnmaryed or agaynst mariage The partes of a 〈◊〉 accuser 〈…〉 Martyrâ—â—me of two 〈◊〉 and one woman at â—â—â—nestede in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 26. The burning of Thomas Moore a simple inâ—nocent 〈◊〉 Leicester Thomas Moore examined before the Bishop The church Aâ—though 〈◊〉 call 〈◊〉 Papists 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 you 〈…〉 of the Church The buildâ—nges of the Papistes 〈…〉 Referre this to the pag. â—â—83 〈◊〉 Iohn Newmans wordes in 〈◊〉 to D. Thomâ—â—â— The examination and aunsweres of Iohn Newman which is to be referred to the pag. 1683. This cup is the new Testament is a figuratiue speache What is a figuratiue speache Collins reasoneth with Newman Whether Iudas receiued the body of Christ or no D. Thornton reasoneth with Iohn Newman The omnipotency of Christ doeth not proue him to be really in the Sacrament Absurdity in the Popes doctrine The humanity of Christ may not be in all places Note the grosse ignoraunce of this Suffragan Argument in the 2. figure Argument in the 3. figure August 1. Ioan Waste a blynde woman and Martyr The lyfe conuersatioÌ„ of Ioan Waste Anno 1556. August Ioan Waste â—â—awen by the spirite 〈◊〉 God to the loue of Religion The earnest 〈◊〉 of Ioane Wast 〈◊〉 â—earne 〈◊〉 Scriptures Iohn Hurt 〈◊〉 Iohn Pemerton 〈◊〉 to Ioane Wast A notable 〈◊〉 of God 〈◊〉 woman Ioane Wast both blynd and vnlearned yet was perfect in the Scriptures The Articles obiected to Ioane Wast The aunswere of Ioane Waste to the Articles Well argued Because Christ is omnipotent Ergo there is no bread in the Sacrament The offer of Ioane Waste to the Bishoppe if he would take vpon his conscience to aunswere before God for his doctrine Note here the difference betweene the conscience of the Protestant and of the Papist The Bishop and his Chauncellour durste not take vpon their conscience to aunswere before GOD for their doctrine Sentence pronounced agaynst Ioane Waste The writte brought downe for the burning of Ioane Waste Doctor Draycot appointed to Preache at the burning of Ioane Waste D. Draycottes rayling Sermon agaynst Ioane Waste Blessed are you when men shall reuile you say all euill agaynst you for my names sake Math. 5. Ioane Waste brought to the place of execution The Martyrdome of Ioane Waste Anno 1556. September 8. The Martyrdome of Edward Sharpe at Bristowe September 24. The Martyrdome of fowre at Mayfield in Sussex Iohn Hart Tho. Rauensdale A shomaker and a Coriar September 25. The Martyrdome of a Carpenter at Bristowe September 27. The Martyrdome of Iohn Horne and a woman at Wotton vnderhedge in Glocestershire The cruell handling of W. Dangerfield and Ioane his wyfe in prison No 〈◊〉 in Pope to be 〈◊〉 W.