13 Bil. his grieuous anguish after recantation ead Bilney repenteth ead Bil. smileth at the stake 14 Supplication of beggars 15 Fish hath the kings protection ead Poore seelie soules of purgatorie 16 Commission against English bookes ead Testament of Tindals translation ead Richard Bayfield ead Bayfield condemned 17 Crueltie ead Booke of wicked Mammon 18 Iohn Tewksburie recanteth ead Iohn Tewksburie repenteth Iohn Tewksburie burned eadem Edward Freese 19 Bread of sawdust ead Crueltie ead Valentine Freese his wife 20 Frier Royce burned ead Bishops commanded to trāslate the bible ead Iames Baynam ead Baynam submitteth 21 Baynam repenteth ead Baynam burned 22 Courage of a martir ead Iohn Benet ead Idol of Douercourt ead Images cast down ead Christes colledge in Oxford 23 Iohn Frith burned ead Sir Th. More pursueth Frith ead Friths treatise 24 Friths answere gotten ead Frith condemned ead Andrew Hewet ead Thomas Bennet Martir 26 William Tracy ead During Qu. Anne no great persecution 27 Commons against Clergy 28 Nothing from Rome ead Supreme head eadem Popes vsurping put downe eadem No conuocations without the kings writ eadem Oth of Cleargie to Pope abolished 29 More resigneth chancellorship ead King renounceth the Pope eadem Lady Elizabeth borne ead The Holy mayde of Kent 30 Gods iudgement ead Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury ead Preaching against Popes supremacie 31 Popes pardōs abolished ead Gard. booke De Obediētia with Boners notes ead Ruine of religious houses 32 Iewels reliques from abbeys eadem W. Tindall burned eadem Tindall translated the Testament 33 Tindals protesting agaynst transubstantiation 35 Q. Anne put to death ead The K. refuseth the generall councell at Mantua ead Some religious houses giuē to the king ead Articles of religion taught 36 Rebellion suppressed ead Prince Edward borne ead Queene Iane dieth ead Ruffelings against the king calmed eadem The kings articles ead Many holidais abrogated 37 Scripture in English ead Register Booke in euerie church eadem Religious houses rooted vp eadem 45. articles against Lābert 38 A wicked perswasion 39 Lambert disputeth eadem The king condemneth Lambert ead Cromwell readeth sentence against Lambert ead Cromwell craueth pardō of Lambert eadem Lābert a worthy martyr 40 Lamberts treatise of the Sacrament eadem Robert Packingtō going to praier is slaine ead Collins his dog burned ea Cowbridge eadem Putdew eadem William Lerton eadem Nicholas Peke 41 Notable courage of martyr eadem The king refuseth the councell eadem The kings farewell ead Search iniunctions 42 The king nusled by Winchester eadem Six articles a whippe of six strings eadem Treason felonie ead Cranmer against six articles eadem Against adultery c. of priests 43 Death for adulterie repealed eadem Cromwel maule of the pope eadem Life of Cromwell 44 Cromwell learnd the text of the new testamēt by hart 45 Cromwell serueth the Cardinall eadem English bible printed at Paris 47 Gardiner enemy to the Gospell ead Th. Mathewes bible ead Bible in English presented to the king 48 Bible of large volume ead Bishops promise to amend the bible but performe not 49 Doctor Barnes ead Duns Darbell put out of Cambridge ead Disputations of faith rare in Cambridge eadem Doctor Barnes cōuerted by Bilney 50 The white horse in Cambridge called Germany eadem D. Barnes arrested ead D. Barnes submitteth ead D. Barne escapeth out of prison 51 Acta Romanorum Pontificum eadem Doctor Barnes to the Tower 52 Barnes Garret Hierome burned 53 Vniust proceeding ead D. Barnes his foure requests to the king 54 Foure papistes executed about the supremacy ead Fauourers of truth ead Patrons of Popery eadem All prisons in London too litle for the persecuted ea Boner turneth and becommeth a persecutor 55 Six Bibles set vp in Paules eadem The Diuell in the necke ead Iohn Porter killed in pryson eadem Thomas Somers dieth in the Tower 56 Thomas Barnard Iames Morton martyrs ead A popish feare eadem Bartrams boy the Diuell in the monks cowle 57 Lady Anne of Cleue diuorced eadem Six put to death for supremacie 58 The K. misseth Crōwell ead White meates permitted in Lent eadem Marbeck pardoned 60 Filmer Parson Testwood burned eadem Notable martyrs ead The king pardoneth 61 Winchester out of fauour eadem False iudges accusers punished eadem Adam Damlip 62 Persecution in Calice ead Gods iudgement deliuerance of his people 63 The Lord Lisle dieth in the Tower eadem Gods iudgement vppon a false accuser 64 Lord Awdley friend to the afflicted eadem Rockwood a persecutor dispaireth 65 Gods iudgement ead Adam Damlip eadem Adam Damlip executed ea Gods iudgement 66 The rigour of six Articles 67 Noblemen and Gentlemen permitted to read the scripture eadem Six articles qualified ead Saxie hanged 68 Henry burned eadem Kerbie eadem Roper eadem A notable speach of the constant seruaunt of Christ eadem Doctor Crome recāteth ea Anne Askew 69 Anne Askew answereth parabolically boldly 70 Anne Askew condemned eadem Anne Askew sore racked 71 The King displeased with the racking of Anne Askew eadem Martyrs pardoned at the stake eadem Winchesters practise against the Queene 72 The King much altered 73 The Queene deliuered from danger ead Kings of England France agree for a perfect reformation 74 Sir George Blage condemned eadem The king dieth eadem Persecution in Scotland 75 Tenne articles against Iohn Brothwicke ead Thomas Ferrar ead Saint Frauncis homely vsed 76 Helene Stirke a notable martyr ead George Wiseheart 77 The meeke death of George Wiseheart eadem Gods iudgement eadem Adam Wallace learned the psalter without book ead Controuersie in Scotland whether the Lordes prayer should be sayd to sayntes or no. 78 The Frier biddeth to say the pater noster to the diuel eadem Walter Myll eadem A notable speech of the martyr 79 Style burned with the Apocalips about his neck 81 K. Edward raigneth 83 The K. would not at the emperours suit let the Lady Mary haue masse ead Sixe articles abolished ead Religion restored ead Peter Martyr at Oxford eadem Bucer and P. Phagius at Cābridge ead Thomas Dobbe 84 Commissioners ead A parlement eadem Rebellion 85 Muskleborow field 86 Boner shifteth and cauilleth 87 Boner exhibiteth against Latimer 89 Boner pronounced contumax 90 Boner depryued eadem L. protector eadem Altars taken downe 91 Ladie Maries popish practises restrained eadem Gardiners seditious behauiour 92 Gardiner sent to the tower ead Winchester depriued pag. 93 Doctor Redman a fauourer of the gospell ead W. Gardiner eadem Pendegrace 94 W. Gardiners cruell execution eadem Maruellous constancy of W. Gardiner 95 Protector put to death for fellony ead Lord Gilford Lady Iane maried 96 Iustice Hales eadem Queene Mary to the Councell eadem Q. Maries promise to mainteine religion 97 Ridley sent to the Tower ead Q. Mary breaketh promise eadem Popish bishops restored and other put downe ead Hooper committed to the Fleete ead Proclamation agaynst the word of God ead
Oxford notwithstanding he well supported Iohn of Gaunt Lord H. Percie fauourers of VVic and friended of the King and other as Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henrie Percie by whom he bare out the malice of the friers till the yere of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred seuentie seuen The opinions for which he was depriued in Oxforde The opinions of VVic were these That the Pope had no more power to excommunicate any man than an other and that to absolue is as much in any Priestes power as in his That when Ecclesiasticall persons doe sinne habitualiter continuing in the same still the Temporall powers may and likewise ought to take away from them that which hath béene before bestowed vpon them c. He touched also the matter of the sacrament prouing that in the same the accidents did not remaine without the substaunce both by the Scriptures and ancient Doctours About the yéere 1376. the Bishops still vrging and stirring vp their Archbishop Simon Sudbury which before had depriued him and afterward prohibited him not to stirre any more in those kind of matters had obtained by processe and order of citation to haue him brought before them wherevpon both place and time for him to appeare after their vsuall forme was to him assigned The Duke hauing intelligence that Wickliffe his Client should come before the bishops fearing that he being but one should be too weak against such a multitude calleth vnto him out of the orders of Friers foure Batchelers of diuinity out of euery order one to ioyne them with Wickliffe for the more surety Whē the day was come for Wickliffe to appeare which was Thursday the 19. of February Iohn Wickliffe accompanied with the Friers Wickliffe brought before the Bishops and with them also the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Henry Piercey Lord marshall of England the said Lord Piercey going before him to make roome and way where Wickliffe shoulde come such was the throng of the multitude in Paules Church which was the place appointed that the Lordes for all the puissaunce of the high Marshall scarce could with great difficultie gette way thorough In so much that the Bishop of London Wil. Courtney sonne to the Earle of Deuonshire séeing the stirre that the Lord Marshall kept in the Church among the people speaking to the Lorde Piercie said that if hee had knowen what masteries he would haue kept in the church he would haue stopped him for comming in there Whereupon grewe words At last after much wrastling they preased thorow and came to our Ladies Chappell where the Duke and barons were sitting together with the Archbishops and other Bishops before whom stood Iohn Wickliffe to know what should be laid against him To whom first spake the Lord Percie bidding him sit downe saying Wickliffe bid sit downe hée had many things to answere vnto and therefore had need of some soft seate But the Bishop of Lincolne cast into a fumish heat sayd he should not sit there neither said he was it according to law c. wherevpon grewe great heat of speach among them The Duke also taking part with the Lord Percie From braule to threates rebuked the Bishop who went so farre beyond the Duke in rayling that the Duke as the Author saith was ashamed because hée could not ouerpasse the Bishop in brawling and therefore fell to plaine threatning wherevpon the contention grew so great that the councell broken vp with scolding and brauling for that day was dissolued before nine of the clocke About this time a proude bishop of Norwich was wounded and sore hurt A prowde B. wounded with his traine dispersed at the towne of Lennam for that he presumed to take vpon him to cōmaund a mace or tipstaffe belonging to the chiefe gouernour of the towne to be carried before him Anno 1377. In the moneth of Iune 21. day died Edward 3. that after he had raigned 51. yéeres who of all the kings of the realme vnto king Henry the 8. K. Edward dieth the greatest brideler of the pope was the greatest brideler of the Popes vsurped power whereby Iohn Wickliffe was maintained with ayd sufficient Richard the second succéeded his father beyng but eleuen yéeres of age and in the same yéere of his Fathers decease was crowned at Westminster anno 1371. Wickliffe notwithstanding he were forbidden by the bishops continued yet with his fellowes going barefoot and in long friers gownes Wickliffe goeth barefoote preaching Articles out of Wickliffes preachings as their manner was preaching diligently to the people out of whose Sermons chiefly these articles were collected That the Eucharist is the body of Christ but figurately That Rome is not the head of churches and that Peter had no more giuen vnto him then other apostles That the pope had no more the keies then any other within the order of priesthood that the Lords temporall may take away the temporalities of the clergy offending habitualiter are bound vnder paine of damnation to take them away frō any Church so offending That the gospell is the onely sufficient rule of life That neither the Pope nor any other prelate of the church ought to haue prisons wherein to punish transgressors c. Which were collected with diuerse more by the Bishops and sent to Pope Gregory at Rome where the Articles beyng perused and read Wickliffes articles condēned for hereticall were condemned by 23. Cardinals to be hereticall An. 1378. pope Gregory sendeth his Bull by the hands of one M. Edmund Stafford directed vnto the vniuersitie of Oxford rebuking them sharply imperiously like a pope for suffering so long the doctrine of Wickleffe to take roote which Bull when it came to be exhibited to their hands The Popes bull against Wickliffe the Proctors and Maisters of the vniuersitie ioyning together in consultation stood long in doubt deliberating with themselues whether to receiue the Popes Bull with honour or to reiect it with shame Beside this Bull sent to the Vniuersitie of Oxford pope Gregory directed moreouer his letters the same time to the Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Sudbury and to the Bishop of London William Courtney with the conclusions of Iohn Wickliffe therein enclosed commaunding them by vertue of those his letters apostolicall and straightly inioyning them to cause the sayd Iohn Wickliffe to be apprehended and cast into prison and that the King and the Nobles should be admonished The Pope diligent against Wickliffe not to geue any credit to the doctrine of Wickliffe c. Besides this Bull to the Archbishop of Canterburie and the Bishop of London he wrote two other letters concerning the same matter to the same Bishops dearing the same date of day and yéere in the seuēth yéere of his papacie 11. Kalend. Iunij Moreouer besides all these buls letters he directeth an other Epistle bearing the same date vnto king Richard the 2. touching the same matter The articles included in the
the ende being found peruerse and stubborne and not able to iustifie himselfe or his doings after he had taken exceptions and cauilled against the witnesses he was depriued of his Bishopricke by the authoritie of the king and sentence geuen by the Archbishop of Canterburie Winchester depriued among other bishops and Iudges appointed for the cause From this sentence Gardiner appealeth to the king but all in vayne As S. Gardiner was the professed enemie of the Gospell so was Doctor Redman Doctor Redman a fauourer of the gospell in those dayes for his learning famous a fauourer of the same and at his death which was anno 1551. made profession thereof in the presence of M. Yong and others Anno 1552. W. Gardiner a Marchants seruant of Bristow the first day of September in the very solemnization of a marriage betwixt the sonne of the king of Portingall and the Spanish kings daughter in the presence of the princes and Cardinals and Bishops determined to haue stepped to the Cardinall at the Altar and to haue wroong the chalice out of his hands and to haue defaced their popish God but that the prease of people did hinder him So the next sunday where like pompe was vsed and no lesse Idolatry than before W. Gardiner W. Gardiner in the presence of the king and all his Nobles and Citizens with the one hand snatched away the cake from the priest and trode it vnder his féete and with the other ouerthrew the chalice which made them all amazed Then one drawing out his dagger gaue him a great wound in the shoulder and as he was about to haue stricken him againe to haue slaine him the king twise commaunded to haue him saued So by that meanes they abstained from murther After the tumult was ceased he was brought to the K. by whom he was demaunded of his Countrey and how hée durst doe such a déede To whom he declared that he was an Englishman and that for gréefe to sée such Idolatrie hée could not abstaine When they heard that he was an Englishman they were more earnest to know the Procurour The Idolatrie he answered wherwith they prophaned the Lords Supper only procured him They not content therewith vrged him with torments and caused a linnen cloth to be sowed round like a ball the which they with violence put downe his throte vnto the bottom of his stomach tyed with a small string which they helde in their hands and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence so plucking it vp and downe They cast also into prison all the rest of the Englishmen amongst whom one Pēdegrace Pendegrace because he was his bedfellowe was gréeuously tormented and examined more then the residue and scarcely was deliuered after two yeres imprisonment the other were much sooner set at libertie by the intercession of a certaine Duke At the last when al torments and tormentors were weried they asked him whether he did not repent his déede He answered as touching the déed if it were to do he should do it againe But he was sorie it was done in the Kinges presence to the disquiet of his minde After they had vsed al kinde of torments and saw there could be nothing more gathered of him and also that through his wound and paines he could not long liue they brought him thrée dayes after to execution And first of all bringing him vnto the Vestrie cut of his right hand which he taking vp with his left hand kissed Execution done vpon W. Gardiner with all manner of crueltie Then he was brought into the Market place where his other hand was cut of which he knéeling downe vpon the ground also kissed These things thus done his armes being bound behinde him and his féete vnder the horse bellie he was carried to the place of execution where there was a certaine engine from the which a great rope cōming downe by a Pulley was fastened about the middle of the Christian martyr which first pulled him vp then was there a great pile of wood set on fire vnderneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe not with his whole bodie but so that his féete onely felt the fire in which fire the more terribly he burned the more feruently hée praied At last when his féete were consumed the tormentors asked him if he did not repent exhorting him to call vpon our Lady and the Saints whereto he answered that he had doone nothing to repent of and that when Christ did cease to be our Aduocate then he would pray to our Lady The marueilous constancie of William Gardiner said Eternall God father of all mercies I beséech thée looke downe vpon thy seruant c. And when they sought by all meanes to stop his praying he cried out with a loud voice rehearsing the 34. Psalm Iudge me O Lord and defend my cause against the vnmercifull people He was not come to the latter end of the Psalme when the rope being burnt asunder he fell into the fire and so gaue ouer The very same night one of the kings ships was burned in the hauen being set on fire by a sparke of Gardiners fire driuen thither with the winde and the kings sonne who then was married died within halfe a yéere after the death of William Gardiner Anno 1552. 1552 Protector put to death for fellonie the 22. of Ianuarie in the sixt yéere of the reigne of Edward the Duke of Somersette Lord Protector was executed on Tower hill for felonie being accused and quitte of treason And the next yere after deceassed the king him selfe about the moneth of Iune Anno 1553. A Prince of such towardnesse as the worlde neuer had the like before by whom the remnants of Popish Idolatrie and superstition were abolished and the church restored to her sinceritie which died again with him and popery restored in the time of Mary who succéeded him The end of the ninth Booke The tenth Booke WHat time King Edward began to appeare more féeble and weake during the time of his sicknesse a marriage was concluded and also shortly also vpon the same solemnized in the moneth of Maie betwéene the lord Gilford sonne to the duke of Northumberland and the Lady Iane L. Gilford and Lady Iane maried together the duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother then being aliue was daughter to Marie king Henries second sister And when no hope séemed of recouery of the King it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the nobility but also of the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme that the King by this Testament did appoint the aforesaid Lady Iane to be Inheritrice to the crown of England passing ouer his two sisters Marie and Elizabeth To this order subscribed all the Kinges Counsell and chiefe of the nobilitie the Mayor of the citie of London almost all the iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Realme sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent Iustice
returneth to the yéere before 1553. vpon Friday the iiij of August Doctor Day was deliuered out of the Fléete The v. day Boner was deliuered out of the Marshalsea and one M. Edward Vnderhil cōmitted to Newgate Also the same day at night Doctor Cockes was committed to the Marshalsea And the same day Doctor Tonstall and Stephen Gardiner were deliuered out of the Tower and Gardiner receiued to the Quéenes priuie Counsell and made Lord Chancellor The xvj day of August M. Bradford M. Beacon and M. Veron were committed to the Tower Bradford Beacon and Veron to the Tower with whom also M. Sampson should haue béene cōmitted but was not found being diligently sought for at M. Elsenges house in Fléet-stréet where M. Bradford was taken Vpon the xix of August a letter was sent vnto sir Henry Tyrrell Anthony Browne and Edmund Brown Esquires praying them to commit to warde all such as shoulde contemne the Quéenes order of religion and did kéepe themselues from Church Vpon Sunday the xx of August Doctor Watson Winchesters Chaplaine preached at Paules and two hundred of the garde were there with their Halbards least the people should make a sturre against the preacher The xxj of August the Quéene set foorth a proclamation signifying that shée could not any longer hide the religion which she from her infancie had professed inhibiting in the same proclamation printing and preaching Vpon Sunday the xxvij of August the B. of Canterbury Sir Thomas Smith and the Deane of Paules were cited to to appeare the wéeke following before the Quéenes Commissioners in the Bishops consistory in Paules In the meane time it was falsly noysed abroad that the Archbishop to currie fauour with the Quéene should promisse to say Dirge Masse after the old custome for king Edward that he had already said masse at Canterbury A false rumor of the Archb. To stop these rumors the 7. of Sept. the Archb. set forth a letter which was also printed in purgation of himself The 13. of September Hugh Latimer was committed to the Tower The next day after that the Archb. was committed to the tower The first day of October which was the day of her coronation the Quéene gaue general pardon out of which were excepted all the prisoners in the Tower and in the Fléete and 62. more of which number maister Whitchurch and maister Grafton were two Vpon the 4. of October the Archbishop of Yorke was committed to the Tower The fift of October the Bishop of Lincolne Hereford and Westchester were discharged from the Parlement and Conuocation The 15. of October Laurence Saunders preacher at alhallowes in Bredstréete in the morning declared the abhominablenes of the masse about noone the same day hée was sent for by the Bishop of London and from thence committed to the Marshalsea The 26. of October the Vicechauncellour of Cambridge displaced D. Madew of the maistership of Clarehal because he was married and placed maister Swinborne The 28. of October the Papistes in the Kinges Colledge in Cambridge Kings Colledge Papists very forward not tarrying the making of any law had their seruice againe in the Latine tongue contrary to the law then in force About the last of December a priest at Canterbury said masse on the one day and the next day after he came into the pulpit and desired the people to forgiue him for he saide hée had betraied Christ and there made a long Sermon against the masse Vpon Saterday being the 13. of Ianuary D. Crome was committed to the Fléet and one maister Addington to the Tower The 20. of Ianuarie the court of first fruits and tenths were dissolued The 26. of Ianuary Iustice Halles was committed to the marshalsea and maister Rogers to Newgate About the 24. 25. of February such priestes within the dioces of London as were married were diuorced from their liuings and commanded to bring in their wiues within a fortnight that they might also be diuorced from them This the Bishop did of his owne power The 27. of February certain Gentlemen of Kent were sent downe to be executed among whom there were two of the Mantels the elder of which at his casting of the ladder brake the rope Then they would haue had him recant and receiue the sacrament of the altar and then they said he should haue the Quéenes pardon but he refused so to doe and chose rather to die Vpon the 18. day of March the Lady Elizabeth the Quéenes sister was brought to the Tower Ladie Elizabeth to the Tower In the moneth of May it was bruted that a disputation should be holden at Cambridge betwéene M. Bradford M. Saunders M Rogers and others of that side and the Doctors of both vniuersities on the other side like as had béene in Oxforde before This the godlye Preachers that were prisoners did accept so that the disputation might bee before the Queene or before the Counsell or before the Parlement houses or els if they might dispute by writing remembring the disorder at Oxford And they directed out of prison a declaration of their mindes by writing the seuenth day of May exhorting the people to submitte themselues with all patience and humilitie c. Anno 1554. Their names were Robert Menauen aliâs Robert Ferrar Rowlande Taylor Iohn Philpot Iohn Bradforde Iohn Wigorne and Gloce. Episcopus Iohn Hooper Edward Crome Iohn Rogers Laurence Saunders Edmunde Laurence I. P. T. M. Miles Couerdale agréeing also with them The xix of the same Moneth the Lady Elizabeth Sister to the Quéen was brought out of the Tower and committed to the custodie of sir I. Williams after Lord Williams of Thame who gently entreated her Lady Elizabeth sent to Woodstock and afterwarde she was had to Woodstocke and there committed to the kéeping of Sir Henrie Benefield who excéeded in harde dealing with her About the fifth of October and within a fortnight following there were about sixtye imprisoned in London for hauing and selling certain bookes which were sent ouer by Preachers that fledde beyond the Seas among whome was M. Brown a Goldsmith M. Sparke a Draper Randall Diuer a Stationer M. Beston a Marchant with many other The ninth of Nouember M. Barlowe late B. of Bathe and M. Cardmaker Barlowe and Cardmaker to the Fleete were brought before the Counsell in the Starrechamber and after communication commanded to the Fléete In this moneth or the moneth before Against writing of Scriptures on church walles Boner directeth his precepts against al writings of scripture on church walles About this time in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge and also of Oxforde many good wittes and learned men departed the Vniuersities because of the alteration of religion 24. places void together in S. Iohns colledge in Cambridge Of whō some of their owne accord gaue ouer some were thrust out of their Felowships some were miserably handled In so much that in Cambridge in the Colledge of saint Iohns there were 24. places voyde
A dagger hurled at the preacher ead Bradford to the tower 98 M. Iohn Rogers eadem Hooper appeareth 99 Couerdale appeareth ead Hooper to the Fleete ead Pet. Martyr returneth home eadem Latimer appeareth 100 Cranmer to the Tower ead French protestāts suffered to passe hence eadem Mary crowned eadem A parlement eadem Statutes repealed 101 Sir Iames Hales apprehended ead Sir Iohn Hales lamentable end eadem Disputation of sixe dayes eadem Disputation confuted 103 The Prolocutor interrupteth Philpot ead M. Elmer 104 Romish Church against reason ead Maister Philpot a harty man eadem Maister Philpots argument 105 Conuocation breaketh vp eadem Communicatiō of mariage betwixt Q. Mary and K. Philip 106 Doctor Crome to the fleete eadem Wiat beheaded ead Lady Iane and Lord Gilford beheaded eadem Gods iudgement vpō Morgan eadem Articles 107 About 800. flie beyond the seas eadem Lady Elizabeth and Lord Courtney sēt to the Tower ead Popes supremacie not obteined 108 Boners commendation of priesthood eadem Doctor Cranmer Doctor Ridley and M. Latimer sent to prison vnto Oxford 109 Disputers at Oxford ead Questions to be disputed of eadem Thirtie and three Commissioners ead Cranmer before the Commissioners eadem Vnitie with veritie ead Ridley appeereth ead Maister Latimer appeereth 110 Neither Masse nor the marybones nor the sinewes founde in the Scripture eadem A disorderly disputation 111 D. Ridley disputeth eadem D. Smith a turner and returner eadem Weston triumpheth before the victory ead Mayster Latimer disputeth eadem Weston crieth Vrge hoc 112 The martirs bid read on the sentence 113 Latimer would not beholde the procession ead The Prolocutor breaketh promise with M. Philpot. eadem The Prolocutor openeth Crāmer his letters to the Councell eadem Maister Bradford Thomas Beacon Neron to the to the Tower 114 A false rumor of the archbishop 115 In Kings Colledge Papistes very forward ead Lady Ellzabeth to the tower 116 Lady Elizabeth to Woodstocke 117 Barlow and Cardmaker to the fleete eadem Against writing Scriptures on Churchwalles ead Twenty foure places voyd together in S. Iohns colledge in Cambridge ead Cardinall Poole lādeth ead Absolutiō giuē to the Lords and commons 118 Purchases of abbey lands to be cōfirmed by the pope eadem M. Rose sent to the Tower eadem The act of popes supremacy eadem Qu. Mary with child ead Certaine euill praiers to bee treason 119 Iames George ead Cardmaker submitteth ead Sentēce against Tayler Saunders Bradford 120 M. Iohn Rogers martyr 121 M. Rogers diuinitie reader in Paules eadem Rogers condemned 122 Cruel Gardiner eadem Boner would not suffer maister Rogers to talke with his wife before his death eadem Maister Rogers first martyr of Queene Maries dayes eadem A prophecy of the ruine of the pope in England 123 Laurence Saunders ead Laurence Saunders constancy and his letters 124 Sweete saying of Laurence Saunders eadem Hooper burned at Glocester 125 Hooper preached once or twise a day eadem Hooper depriued 126 Hooper hardly vsed in pryson 127 Hooper and Rogers to the Counter eadem False rumors of Hoopers recanting 128 Hooper goeth cherefullie to death 129 Hooper refuseth his pardon ead Hooper a woorthie Martir ead D. Taylor martir ead All the prisons in Englande Christian schooles churches 130 Taylor Bradford Saūders condemned ead Master Tailor pleasant at the antichristian attire 131 D. Taylor maketh Boner afraid ead Doctor Taylor masked that he may not be knowen eadem Wormes deceiued by Doct. Taylor 132 Marueylous courage of Doctor Taylor 133 Doctor Taylors braines smit out at the fire ead Gardiner referreth to Boner the butchering of Gods Saints ead Miles Couerdale graūted to the King of Denmarke 134 Thomas Tomkins Martir eadem Tomkins his hande burned with a taper ead Tomk burnt in Smithfielde 135 Father compelled against the sonne ead Hunters mother encourageth him to constancie 136 Hunter encouraged by his brother 137 William Sarton ead M. Higbed and M. Causton burned 139 Pigot and Knight Martirs ead Iohn Laurence ead Robert Farrar B. of S. Dauids burnt 140 Farrars words to a gentlemā at his death 141 Rawlins White ead Rawlins God the Bishops God 142 Rawlins wedding garments 143 Rawlins a worthy martir eadem Rawlins perswasion 144 Pope excōmunicateth those that held abbey lands ead P. Iulius the monster dieth ead P. misseth his peacock 145 A blasphemous pope ead Gods iudgement ead Branch blamed for carrying Deū time vitiū fuge about his neck ead George Marsh 146 G. Marsh his great patience 148 Wil. Flower woūdeth a priest at masse 149 Ioy at Q. Maries deliuery of child 151 Cardmaker Warne Martirs 152 People encourage Cardm at his death 153 Iohn Ardley a valeant Martir ead Iohn Symson martir ead Iohn Tooly ead Haukes at his death geueth a signe to his frends 155 Diuers comfortable epistles written by Haukes ead Thomas Wats martyr 156 Queene Mary proued not with child eadem T. Mault should haue bin Q. Maries child 157 A Caueat for England ead Nicholas Chāberlain Tho. Sommer Wil. Bāford ead Bradford reioyceth at the newes of his martirdō 158 M. Bradfords word at the stake eadem I. Leafe of 19. yeeres of age burned with Bradford 159 Iohn Leafe a notable yoong martyr eadem Gods iudgement eadem Bradfords letters eadem A dead bodie summoned to appeere and answere 160 4. martirs in Canterbury ea Nicholas Hall Christopher Wade martyrs 161 Margery Polley comforteth Wade eadem Wades prayer eadem Dyrick Caruer burned 162 Iohn Lander eadem Thomas Iueson 163 Iohn Aleworth eadem Iohn Denley Iohn Newmā Patrick Packingam ead The martyr singeth in the fire 164 Richard Hooke eadem 6. godly martirs at Cant. ea George Tankerfield 165 A prety saying of the martyr 166 For patience of the martirs the people said that they had the Diuell ead Robert Smith ead Martyr giueth a signe 167 St. Harwood Thomas Fust William Hayle eadem Robert Samuell 168 Samuell hath a vision ead Rose Notingham eadem W. Allen eadem Roger Coo eadem Thomas Cobbe eadem Thomas Haywood Iohn Gateway 169 M. Iohn Glouer ead God send his spirit of comfort 170 Robert Glouer eadem Cornelius Bungey ead Olyuer Richardine 171 W. Wolsey Ro. Pigot ead M. Ridley 172 Sundry letters tractations M. Latimer eadem M. Latimer sometimes an earnest papist conuerted by Bilney eadem Doctor Buttes a fauourer of good men 173 Verses of Latimer at the giuing of holy bread holy water 174 Smithfield had long groned for M. Latimer 175 Latimer almost starued for cold in the tower ead Latimers sundrie letters eadem Sermō of piping and daunsing ead Master Latimer to the King for restoring of the Scriptures 176 Latimers new yeres gifte to to the king eod Ridley couereth his head at the name of the Pope eadem Ridley not suffered to aunswere 177 Ridley Latimer condemned 178 Ridley refuseth his pardon ead The behauiour of Ridley Latimer at the place of execution 179 Latimer prophecieth at the
stake 180 Diuers Letters Treatises ead Steuen Gardiner dieth ead Gods iudgement on Gardiner 181 Winchesters wordes at his death ead Iohn Webbe G. Roper G. Parker Martirs 181 Men of vpright mindes 183 Hastning of iudgement a pleasure to the martir 184 Sharpe aunswere to Boners message ead Philpots zeale against Morgan 186 Articles against Master Philpot 187 Boner condemneth Philpot 188 M. Philp. payeth his vowes in Smithfield ead 7. burned together in Smithfield 189 Thomas Whittle repenteth and is condemned ead Whittles letters ead Bartlet Greene ead Master Greene condemned 191 Master Greene at the Stake ead Tho. Brown ead Iohn Tudson ead Iohn Went ead Isabel Foster 192 Ione Lashford ead 5. martirs sing a psalm in the fire ead Cranmer Archb. of Canterburie 193 M. Cranmers aduice touching the disputatiō for the kings diuorce eadem Cranmer sent for to the K. 194 Embassage to Rome about the diuorce eadem None would kisse the popes foote but a great Spaniell of the Earle of Wiltshires eadem Cranmer goeth to the Emperour eadem Cranmer satisfieth Cornelius Agrippa eadem Cranmer made archbishop 195 King Edward godsonne to Cranmer eadem Bookes of Cranmer ead Cranmer not brought to against his conscience ead Cranmer would do no reuerence to the popes subdelegate 196 Periured persons for witnesses 197 The meaning of supreame head 198 The Archbishop condemned for not beyng at Rome when he was kept prisoner in England ead Boner derideth the Archbishop 199 The poore estate of the archbishop ead Cranmer setteth his hand to a recantation ead Q. Maryes speciall hate to Cranmer 200 Law of equality 201 The pitiful case of Cranmer eadem Cranmer bewaileth his recātation 202 Cranmer first burneth his hand wherewith he subscribed eadem Cranmer burned eadem The wicked can not discerne spirits eadem Why Cranmer desired life eadem Iohn Spicer William Coberley and Iohn Maundrell 203 Purgatorie the popes pinfold ead Six at one fire in Smithfield viz. Robert Drakes William Timmes Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge Iohn Cauell and George Ambrose 204 A short answere of Timmes 205 Commissioners into Norffolke and Suffolke 206 Iohn Harpoole and Ioane Beats eadem Iohn Hullier eadem Sixe martyrs at one fire in Colchester eadem Christopher Lister eadem Iohn Mace Iohn Spenser Iohn Hammon Simon Iayne Richard Nicholas 207 Hugh Lauercocke and Iohn appryce burned ead Lauercock comforteth his fellow eadem Thomas Drewry and Thomas Croker 208 Thomas Spicer Iohn Denny and Edmund Poole burned eadem The martyrs prayse God in the flame 209 Thomas Harland Iohn Oswald Th. Auington Tho. Read martyrs ead Also Iohn Milles Thomas Wood ead A merchants seruant at Leycester 210 Thirteene at one fire viz. Hēry Adlington L. Pernam H. Wye W. Halywell T. Bowyer G. Searls Edm. Hurst Lion Couch Rafe Iackson Iohn Deryfall Iohn Routh Elizabeth Pepper Agnes George eadem Subtlety of the Diuell ead Two women stand loose at the stake eadem Cardinall pardoneth certain condemned ead Roger Bernard 211 Adam Foster Robert Lawson ead A worthy answere of the martyr eadem Iohn Carlesse a worthy confessor 212 Iulius Palmer Iohn Guin Thomas Askin martyrs 213 Iulius Palmer expulsed the colledge in King Edward his time for Papistrie eadem Th. Thackhā a false dissembling hypocrite 214 The mother threateneth hir sonne Iulius Palmer fire faggot eadem Palmer at the stake 215 Palmer diuerse times in dāger of burning 216 For whom its easie to burne eadem The mother Katherine Couches and the two daughters Guillemme Gilbert Perotine Massey burned in Gernesey 217 Cruelty against the mother and hir daughters ead Maruellous cruelty eadem Thomas Dungate Iohn Forman and mother Dree burned 218 Thomas More ead Ioane Wast eadem Ione hir offer to the Iudges eadem Edward Sharpe 219 Foure at Mayfield in Sussex eadem A young man at Bristow eadem Iohn Horne a womā ead William Dangerfield ead Great cruelty 220 The wife encourageth hir husband eadem A shoomaker at Northampton ead Hooke eadem Fiue famished and ten burned at Canterbury 221 A witty and godly answere of Alice Potkins ead Put to death in the fourth yeere of Qu. Mary 84. persons eadem Sir Iohn Cheeke 222 The vniuersitie of Cābridge to be reformed 223 Inquisitors came to Cambridge eadem S. Maries and S. Michaels churches in Cambridge interdicted eadem Kings colledge refuseth the Inquisitors 224 Kings colledge neuer without an heretike ead Robert Brassey M. of Kings colledge ead Bucer Phagius digged out of their graues 225 Bucer Phagius corps burned 226 The holy cōmissioners depart from Cambridge ea Peter Martyrs wifes corps at Oxford 227 Iohn Philpot W. Waterer Steph. Kempe W. Haydhith T. Hudson Mathew Brodbridge Th. Stephēs Nich. Finall W. Lowicke W. Prowting burned ea Another bloudy cōmission 228 Cardinall Poole mercyfull ead Tho. Losebie H. Ramsey T. Tyroll M. Hyde Agnes Stanley 229 The valiant martyr eadem W. Morant King S. Gratewicke ead Vniust proceeding ead Faith surely grounded 230 Iohn Bradbridge W. Applebie Petronel Ed Allen K. his wife I. Mannings E. a blinde maide ead I. Fishcock N. VVhite N. Pardu B. Fynall widowe Bradbridge Wilsōs wife Bendens wife ead Husbande against the wife 231 Diet of the Martirs in prison ead 3. Farthinges a day the martirs allowance ead Alice Benden a cōstant martir ead God sendeth the spirite of comfort 232 The bishop wil neither meddle with patiēce nor charitie ead Tenne burned at one fire Richard Woodman G. Steuens R. Maynarde Alex Hoseman Thomasin a Wood Marg. Moris Denis Burgis Ashdons wife Groues wife ead Father against sonne 233 Boner droonk with Philpots bloud ead Quick dispatch 135 Simon Miller Eliza. Couper ead Elizabeth Couper repenteth her recantation 236 Wil. Mount Alice his wife Rose Allen ead A tragicall dialogue betwixt Tirrel Rose Allen 237 Tirannie ouercome with patience ead Iohn Thurstone and M. his wife ead W. Bongeor A. Siluerside T. Benold W. Purcas H. Ewring E. Folkes prisoners in Colchester 238 Sharp answere of the martir ead Eliz. Folkes ead Rose Allen condemned song for ioy 239 Notable speeche of the martir ead Geor. Eagles called Trudgouer 240 Richard Crashfield ead Frier and G. Eagles his sister 241 Ioyce Lewes ead Sathan troubleth the martir ead She drinketh to all that loue the gospel 242 Rafe Allerton Iames Austoo Margerie Austoo Richard Coth ead The couragious Martir eadem They feare the martyr in prison 143 Agnes Bongeor ead Margery Thurstone ead Iohn Knode ead The martyr refuseth pardon ead Iohn Noyes eadem Cecill Ormes 244 The constant martyr eadem Cecill Ormes at the stake eadem Sixteene martyrs in Sussex 145 Thomas Spurdance eadem Iohn Hollingdale 246 W. Sparrow eadem R. Gibson eadem Articles for articles ead Ioh. Rough ead M. Mearing eadem Maister Rough minister of the congregation at London 247 More reuerence to the pope then to the bread God ead Margery Mearings ready to suffer for Chrish 248 Cuthbert Simpson Hugh Fox Iohn Deuenish ead Cuthbert Simsō racked twise 249 Boner commendeth the patience of Cuthbert Simson eadem W. Nichol eadem W. Seaman eadem Tho. Carman Tho. Hudson ead W. Harris Rich. Day Christopher Gorge 251 A sharpe proclamation against godly books eadē Henry Pond Rayn Eastlād Robert Southam Mar. Richarby Ioh. Floyd Ioh. Holiday Roger Holland 252 A straight proclamation eadem R. Holland at the stake ead R. Milles S. Wight S. Carton I. Slade R. Denis VV. Pikes 253 Richard Yeoman 254 Thomas Benbridge eadem A notable conflict betwixt flesh the spirit of God 255 I. Cooke R. Myles A. Lane Iames Ashley eadem Alex. Gouch Alice Driuer ead Alice Driuer of an excellent spirit 256 Phil. Humfrey Iohn Dauid Henry Dauid 257 Priests wife eadem The wife persecuted of husband and children ead Christ the martyrs husband eadem A worthy martyr 258 Note eadem Iohn Sharpe Tho. Hall 259 Thomas Benion eadem Iohn Cornford Christopher Browne Iohn Herst Alice Snoth Kath. Knight ead The martyr excommunicateth the Papists eadem The husband accused by his wife 260 Balaams marke 261 Cruelty of Balaamites ead N. Burton burned in Siuell Aue Maria after the Romish fashion eadem Marke Burges W. Hooke 262 Iohn Dauies of twelue yeres old 263 The congregation in London eadem The ministers of that congregation eadem Those that fled from Ipswich for persecution 265 Ipswich a good towne ead The affliction of L. Eliz. 268 Lady Elizabeth falsly accused 269 An hundred Northren souldiers watch the Lady Elizabeth 270 The L. Eliz. had none other friendes but God 171 Lady Elizabeth prisoned in the Tower eadem The Lorde Chamberlayne hard to the Lady Elizabeth 272 Sir Henry Benefield eadem Lady Elizabeth to Woodstock 273 L. Elizabeth in great feare eadem Tanquam ouis eadem Sir Henry Benefield presumptuous and vnciuill 274 The Spaniards against murdering of Lady Elizabeth 275 L. Elizabeth deliuered out of prison eadem God deliuereth L. Elizab. 276 Elizabeth prisoner ead Gardiner dieth 278 Queene Mary dieth ead Popish prelates die thicke about the death of queene Mary 280 Iohn Whiteman a notable martyr 281 A conference for matters of religion 282 Three propositions to dispute of eadem The Papists flie from the agreement
AN ABRIDGEMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ACTS AND MONVMENTES OF THE CHVRCH Written by that Reuerend Father Maister Iohn Fox and now abridged by Timothe Bright Doctour of Phisicke for such as either through want of leysure or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history All day long are we counted as Sheepe for the slaughter Psal 44. How long Lord holy and true Apocal. Cap. 6. verse 10. Imprinted at London by I. Windet at the assignment of Master Tim Bright and are to be sold at Pauls wharf at the signe of the Crosse-keyes 1589. Cum gratia Privilegio Regia Maiestatis To the Christian Reader COnsidering the great vse and profite of that worthie worke of Actes and Monumentes written by Master Iohn Fox of blessed memorie and by reason of the largenes of the volume and great price how the most were bereaued of the benefite of so necessarie an Historie J often wished some man would take the paines to draw the same into an Abridgement that both those that are busied in affaires or not able to reach to the price of so great a booke might also haue vse of the historie with them that neither want leisure nor hability sufficient But seeing hetherto nothing done that way nor hearing of any that had it in purpose J vētured vpon the labor my self thus haue performed it for thy vse wherein J haue omitted nothing to my remembrance and as my iudgement serued me that is materiall to the historie so farre as the nature of an Abridgement would permitte As for Treatises Disputations Epistles and such like J leaue them to be read all together in the large Booke which I doe exhort thee gentle Reader the rather for my Abridgements sake to buy and vse For as the copiousnes of that notable worke hath hid the riche treasures of the same through charge of price and mens affaires So this my labour may geue thee an assay and appetite to know further whereof thou maist here take as it were the taste J assure thee in mine opinion there is not a booke vnder the Scriptures more necessarie for a Christian to be conuersant in There is no Burgesse of a Citie that hath care of his corporation but would be glad to know how in times past the world went with his Corporatiō that therby he may vnderstād the better how to be haue himselfe therein as occasion shall serue and not onely woulde desire to knowe the lawes of the same but also what examples haue any way beene geuen touching the same Euen so it becommeth much more Christians that are Citizens of the church of Christ and haue a communitie in that bodie to know not onely the lawes of this Citie which is the word of God but also what hath befallen either good or bad and euerye accident whereupon experience may arise by example and wisdome thereof to be put in vse accordingly We may read what hath befallen the worthiest Commonwealths in this world and what stormes they haue endured and all sunke vnder them This Common-wealth of the Church standeth for euer though the stormes that haue blowen vpon it haue beene more boysterous than any other state hath endured And by reason of cōtinuāce geueth great varietie of examples of Gods prouidence of his mercie of his fatherly chastizements and correction and of that holy faith which hath ministred inuincible strength of constancie patience to this heauenly state of Christes Church in the middest of all stormes of tryall And here mayst thou reade not onely what hath beene suffered of the olde Fathers of the church who haue with their bloud purchased vnto vs this freedome of the Gospell but of late times what thy father thy mother thy broher and thy friēd haue suffered for like testimonie wherby the sincerity of the Gospel standeth at this day When I say in this Abridgement thou maist reade these things J mean much more in the large volume where all such matters lie open at the full and whereto I pray thee let this my labour be as it were an introduction And if thy hability serue thee or any other disposition thereto J pray thee let not this booke withdraw thee For Abridgements in all kinde of learning haue byn vsed for such respects as J haue before mentioned besides the memorie embraceth them more readily and not to hinder great volumes Neither doo they of their own nature work such effect If slouth of some persons neglect them so are they punished therfore in wanting that belongeth vnto them to know yet through Abridgementes haue some furniture of that profitable instruction whereof otherwise they would be vtterly ignorant It is said Iustines Abridgement lost Trogus Pompeius Trogus peraduenture is lost but whether through Iustines Abridgement that hardly can be proued and had it not beene for Iustine we had lost with Trogus the history too The case is far otherwise since printing was knowen for who would lose a leafe of Liuie for any Abridgement Before it may be charge of written Copies might be some cause why the large volumes were not so vniuersall And I pray thee if the Author him self the fittest of all men being an History so meet euen for the meanest Christian especially in these times and conteyning recordes of such things as are els no where to be had had takē it in hand had it not byn thanks-woorthy Yet so had beene greater danger in decaying the booke at large in regard of the more sufficient performance of the worke than by this of mine I trust the matter needeth no An Abridgement of the first volume of the Ecclesiasticall history of Acts and Monuments of Martyrs The History is deuided into fiue partes 1 The first is of the suffering time of the Church 300. yeere after Christ 2 The growyng and florishing time of the same other 300. yeeres 3 The declining time other 300. vntill the losing of Sathan about the thousand yeere after Christ 4 The time of Antichrist which cōtinued in full swinge 400. yeeres 5 The time of reformation these later 288. yeeres IN the 17. of the raigne of Tiberius Nero Tiberius Nero. Christ Christ suffered the 34. yéere of his age Tiberius raysed no further persecutiō yet liued he seuen yéeres after the death of Christ and raigned in all 23. yéeres Him succéeded C. Caligula C. Caligula hée commaunded his Image to be set vp in the temple at Ierusalem and to be worshipped And after him succéeded C. Nero C. Nero. D. Nero. D. Nero. Claudius raigned 13. yéeres Domitius 14. In the latter end of whose raigne Peter Paule Peter and Paule were put to death for the faith of Christ Anno 69. About this time an 73. and 40. yéeres after the passiō of Christ the 3. yéere after the suffering of Peter and Paule the Iewes were destroied Titus Vespasian Iewes destroyed by Titus and Vespasian his father who succéeded Nero to the number of eleuen hundred
brethren in a Citie of Spaine called Complutum Likewise Symphronissa the wife of Getulus the martyr with her seuen children Symphronissa and her seuen children is said about the same time to suffer who first was much and often beaten and scourged afterward hanged vp by the haire of the head At last hauing an huge stone fastned about her necke was cast into the riuer And after that her seuen children with sundrye and diuers kindes of punishments were martyred by the Tyrants Getulus or Getulius was a minister or teacher in the Citie of Tibur who with Cerdelis Amantius and Primitiuus by the commaundement of Adrian were condemned to the fire The names of the seuen sonnes of Symphronissa were Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateus and Eugenius who by the commaundement of Adrian were tied to seuen stakes and so racked with a pulley and last of all thrust through Crescens in the neck Iulianus in the breast Nemesius in the heart Primitiuus about the nauell Iustinus cut in euery ioynt of his body Stateus runne through with speares Eugenius cut asunder from the brest to the lower partes and then cast into a déepe pit hauing the name by their idolatrous Priests entituled Ad septem Biothanatos After the death of whom Symphronissa the mother did likewise suffer Getulus The children of Symphorosa Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateas Eugenius Cerdelis Amantius Primitiuus Sophia and her two children Sophia with her two children Serapia and Salma did suffer vnder some tyrant about the the yéere 130. While Hadrian the Emperour was at Athens he purposed to visite the citie of Elewsina which he did where he sacrificing to the Gentiles gods gaue frée libertie to kill the Christians whosoeuer would Wherevpon Quadratus Quadratus Bishoppe of Athens and Aristides Aristides a philosopher of Athens and another Serenus Gramus Serenus a man of great nobilitie wrote Apologies for the Christians vnto the Emperour with such eloquence and learning laying out their innocencie that he directed his letters to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia Persecution asswaged in Asia willing him from hencefoorth to exercise no more crueltie vpon the Christians nor to condemne them for that cause Thus the Christians had some quiet for a time After Hadrian succéeded Antoninus Pius Anton. Pius who although he moued no persecution against the Christians yet the tumultuous rage of the heathen did not ceasse to disquiet the people of God The Emperours affection might appeare by a letter or edict of his to the Commons of Asia to stay their rage against Christians except they had committed anie thing against the lawes of the Empire willing them to consider the Christians patience in their tormentes and boldnesse in times of Earthquakes Persecution ceasseth and tempestes when as other tremble and quake for feare This edict was proclaimed at Ephesus in the publike assemblie of all Asia So by this meanes the tempest of persecution in those dayes began to be appeased After Antoninus Pius M. Antoninus Verus M. Antoninus verus succéeded with his brother Lucius Lucius about the yéere 162. These were sharp and fierse against the Christians and after Nero moued the fourth persecution The fourth Persecution IN Antoninus Verus time suffered many Christians with diuerse kinds of torments namely at Smyrna some of thē were whipped that the inward arteries veines appeared euen their very intrailes and bowels were séene after that were set vpon sharpe shels taken out of the sea edged sharp and certain nailes thorns laid for the martirs to go vpō sharpned pointed called obelisci And lastly were they thrown to beasts to be deuoured Among whō one Germanicus Germanicus very cōstantly suffred to the admiration of the enimies But most famous aboue the rest was the martirdom of Polycarpus Polycarpus disciple to the Apostles and 86. yéeres of age who had serued in the ministery about the space of 70. yéeres and was placed of S. Iohn in Smirna whose disciple he was He suffered about the yéere of our Lord 170. and in the 7. yéere of Antoninus Verus The manner of his death and martyrdome was thus These persecutions being begun in Smyrna Polycarpus was perswaded by certaine that were about him to conuey himselfe away and to hide him in a Village not farre from the Citie which hee did and there abiding with a fewe more of his companie was night and day in supplication for the peace of the Congregation Three daies before his apprehension hee sawe in a vision by night the bed set on fire vnder him and sodainly to be consumed And when he waked he interpreted it that he should suffer martirdome by fire At the last being found by the pursuers vnderstanding that they were armed he came frō the chamber where he was entertained thē with chéerful countenaunce and made them dine and required that hée might haue one houres respite to make his prayers which being grāted him he did it in such sort as they which heard him were astonied His prayers being ended they brought him to the citie vpon an Asse on a solemne feast day there met him Irenarchus Irenarchus Herodes Herodes and his father Nicetes Nicetes which causing him to come vp into the chariot where they sat perswaded him to do sacrifice Which when he refused with rough wordes they molested him and thrust him going downe the chariot that he might hurt or breake his legs but he went merily on to the place appointed To whome there came a voice from heauen that comforted him bad him be of good chéere as he was going to the place of iudgement Whither when hee came the Proconsul disswaded him from the faith and willed him to say with him and the rest Destroy these naughty men Then Polycarpus beholding with constant countenance the whole multitude and giuing a great sigh looked vp to heauen and said Thou thou it is that wilt destroy these wicked men meaning the Lord. Then the proconsul thus being earnest with him said vnto him take thine oath and I will discharge thée Deste Christ Polycarpus answered 86. yéeres haue I béen his seruant yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me how then may I speake euil of my soueraign Lord and king which hath thus preserued me Then the Proconsul vsed al maner of threatnings against him which when they could not preuaile Policarpus still denying with great constancie Philip the Gouernor of Asia was commaunded to let lose the Lion to Policarpus who made answere that he might not so doe because he had his pray alredy Then the people required with one voice that he would burn Policarpus aliue Which was perfourmed And hauing made himselfe readie to the stake they would haue nayled him thereto with Iron hoopes but he said let me alone as I am for hee that hath geuen mee strength to suffer and
farm The Realme of England and Ireland farmed of the Pope paying yéerly therfore to the court of Rome 1000. marks of siluer Thē took the K. the crown from his head knéeling vpon his knées in the presence of al his lords Barons gaue it to Pandulph the legate saying on this wise Here I resign vp the crown of the Realme of England into the popes hands Inocent the 3 put me wholly in his mercy ordinance The king resigneth the crown to the Popes Legate Then took Pādulph the crowne of K. Iohn and kept it 5. daies as a possession seisin taking of the 2. Realmes England and Ireland which also the king confirmed by a chart obligatory Whervpon he was the 2. of Iuly discharged from the interdiction wherein he had continued 6. yéeres 3. moneths Moreouer those that did stick to the K of the meaner sort they wer also fain to resort to the legate for absolutiō the other being faine to séeke to the pope Nowe notwithstanding this submission of the K yet did the Cleargy pretend farther against him and incensed his Barons insomuch that diuers of them desired of Philip the French king that he would giue them Lodouike his eldest sonne whom they would make their K. so that the king was faine to vse the popes aide against diuers conspiracies The Duke of Milaine and attempts against him till at the last the Barons vnderstanding by the vicount of Millain who lay on his death bed at London how Lodouike had sworne most cruelly to vse the English nation if he preuailed they sought for the kings fauor recōciliation which they obtained Ann. 1215. Innocent 3. held a synode at Rome called the councel of Lateran wherin he established by publike decree that the pope shold haue frō thēceforth the correction of al christian princes Strange decrees of the Pope that no emperor shold be admitted except he were sworn before also crowned of him he ordeined moreuer that whosoeuer he were that spake euil of the pope hée should be punished in hell with eternall damnation He then ordained a pixe for to couer the host and a Bell when he goeth abroad Transubstantiation Pope dieth and made the masse equal with Christes Gospel In this councell was also brought in transubstantiation he continued also the act of abiuring the wiues of priestes Anno 1216. died Pope Innocent 3. the 17 day of Iuly and was buried at Perusium in Italy After him succeeded one Cintucus otherwise called Honorius Honorius 3. a man of very great age yet liued he ten yéers and a halfe in the papacie and more The same yéere also king Iohn was poisoned as most writers testify at Swinsted abbey K. Ioh. poisoned by a mōke of that abbey of the order of the Cistercians or S Bernards brethrē called Simon of Swinsted The monk did first consult with his abbot The propesie of Caiphas shewed him what he minded to do alleaging for him self the porphecy of Caiphas 11. of Iohn saying It is better that one man should die then the whole people perish I am well contented saith he to loose my life so become a martyr that I may vtterly destroy this tyrant with that the Abbot did wéepe for gladnes much cōmended his feruent zeale The Monke then being absolued of his Abbot for doing this fact went secretly into the garden on the backside finding there a most venemous toad did so pricke him and presse him with his pēknife that he made him vomit all the poison that was within him this doone he conueyed it into a cup of wine with a flattering smiling countenance he said to the K. If it shall please your princely maiestie here is such a cup of wine as you neuer dranke better in your life time I trust this wassall shall make all Englād glad with that he dranke a great draught thereof the King pledged him The monk anon went to the priuie and there died The monke dieth his guts gushing out of his belly and had cōtinually from thenceforth 3 monks to sing masse for him cōfirmed by their general chapter The K. within a short space after feeling great griefe in his body asked for Simon the monk answere was made he was dead thē God haue mercy on me said the K. so went he to Newark vpō Trēt there died was buried in the cathedral church at Worcester betwixt S. Oswald S. Wolstane K. Iohn dieth an 1216. the 19. of October after that he had béene much vexed with the cleargy 18. yeeres sixe moneths and odde daies In the raigne of this king the Citizens of London first obteined of the K. to choose yerely a Mayor Next vnto King Iohn succéeded his sonne Hen. 3. Mayor in London being ix yeres of age and was crowned an 1216. at Glocester which was thē coūted the safest place in the land by Swallow the Popes Legate Yet notwithstanding Lewes the French kings sonne greatly molested him with certayne Lords and B. who hated his father K. Iohn til 1219 Lewes lost the field was driuen to séek peace so receued and absolued by the Cardinal who before had cursed him and all that took part with him and had geuen him 1000. l. in siluer for his charges so departed After the departure of Lewes Swal the Legate looketh to his haruest and maketh inquisition for all those Bishops that had taken against Henry the third and held with Lewes and caused them to fine for their fault and recouery of their seates Hugo of Lincolne 1000. markes and an 100. to Swalo the Legate Americus against images Priuat tithes Receiuing at Easter The bell and candle before the Sacramēt The Masse as from the pope Pope Innocent the third condemned Americus a learned bishop for an heretike for teaching against Images Also he brought into the Church the paying of priuate tithes and receiuing once a yéere at Easter he ordeined the reseruation of the Sacrament and the going with the bell and light before the Sacrament he ordeined also in the Councell of Laterane that the Canon of the Masse should be receiued with equal authority as if it procéeded from the Apostles themselues he brought in transubstantiation Also hee ordeined that none should marry within the third degrée The Pope stirreth vp dissention in the world He stirred vp Otho against the Emp. Philip because Philip was made Emperor against his will and afterward against the said Otho whom he made Emperour he raysed vp Fredericke king of Cecil and deposed Otho because he said he held certaine cities belonging vnto him Correction of Princes belōgeth to the pope He ordained also if any prince offended one another the correction should appertaine vnto the Pope In the history of Hermannus Mutius it is recorded that an 1212. in this Popes time diuers noble men and other in the Countrey of Alsatia 100. Alsatians burned
of the pope and of his filthie clergie calling him a murtherer of soules a spiller The Pope compared and a piler of the flocke of Christ more abhominable then the Iewes more cruell then Iudas more vniust then Pilate worse then Lucifer himselfe she prophecieth that the sea of Rome shall be throwne downe into the déepe like a milstone c. And that the Cleargy haue turned the ten commandements into two words Da pecuniam The x commādemēts turned into 2. words da pecuniam that is giue money About the same time also 1379. liued Catherina Senensis Katherina Senensis which hauing the spirite of prophecie much cōplained of the church of Rome prophecied before of the great schisme which then followed in the Church of Rome and endured al the councel of Constance the space of 39 of yeres and declared also before of the reformation of religion that nowe is Mathias Parisiensis of Antichrist Also about the yéere 1370. liued Mathias Parisiensis a Bohemian who wrote a large booke of Antichrist and prooueth him alreadie come and noteth the Pope to be the same besides other abuses in the Romish Church against which he doeth inueigh Shortly after anno 1384. liued Iohannes Mountziger I. Mountziger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme who preached against the worshipping of the Sacrament and was resisted by the Friers till the Senate and Councel of the Citie was faine to take vp the matter betwixt them About this time liued Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica Nilus Archb. of Thess and wrote a large worke against the Roman Church and layeth the fault of the Schisme betwixt the East and West Church vpon the Pope and very copiouslie reprooueth manie pointes of Poperie as his Supremacie c. About the yere 1371. liued Henricus de Iota H de Iota whome Gerson doth much commend and also his companion Henricus de Hassia H. de Hassia who in a certaine Epistle which he writeth to the Bishoppe of Normacia Iacobus Cartusiensis doth greatly accuse the Spirituall men of euery order yea and the most holiest of all the Pope himselfe of many and great vices He citeth also out of the prophecie of Hildegardis The deuils bellie full of the Popes voluptuousnes these wordes Therefore doeth the deuill himselfe speake vnto you Priestes daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men In so much that mine Eyes mine Eares my bellie and my veynes are euen filled with the froath of them and so foorth About the yere 1390. there were buried at Bringa 36. Citizens of Maguntia for the doctrine of Waldenses as Brushius affirmeth and Masseus recordeth of diuers 36. burned for the trueth 140. suffered for refusing the decretals to the number of an hundred and fourtie which in the Prouince of Narbone chose rather to suffer whatsoeuer gréeuous punishment by fire then to receue the decretals of the Romish Church contrarie to the vpright trueth of the Gospell Also foure and twentie suffered at Paris 24 suffer at Paris in the yere of our Lord 1210. And in the same author is testified that in the yere there were 400. vnder the name of heretikes and fourescore beheaded Prince Armericus hanged and the ladie of Castile stoned to death In the seuentéene yere of Edw. the third the Commons found great fault at prouisiōs comming from Rome wherby Strangers were dishabled within this land to enioy ecclesiasticall dignities and shewed how the Pope had graunted in most couert wise to two new Cardinals and namely to Cardinall Peragoth aboue one thousande markes of yearelie taxes They therefore required the king and Nobles to finde some remedie for that they neuer coulde nor woulde leaue those oppressions c. or els to helpe them to expel the popes authoritie by force Whereupon the king Lords and commons sent for the acte made at Carlil an 35. of the reigne of king Edward the first vpon like complaint thereby forbidding that any thing should be attempted or brought into the realme that should tend to the blemishing of the kinges prerogatiue or preiudice of the Lords The Act of prouision made or Commons And so at this time the statute called The act of Prouision was made by common cōsent which generally forbiddeth the bringing in of bulles or any such trinkets from the Court of Rome or vsing allowing or enioying of any such bill processe instrument c. The penaltie of which statute was as folowed in the next Parlement anno regni 18. the transgressors thereof to lie in perpetuall prison or to be forbidden the land and that all Iustices of Assise Gaole deliuerie or Oier and determiner may determine the same required withall that the same act and prouision should continue for euer And notwithstanding the bishops were neither named nor expressed with the other Lords of the Parlement yet it stood in full force notwithstanding In which Parlement were also diuers points enacted touching presentments of Ecclesiasticall dignities An act to continue for euer Decrees against the oppression of the Pope and Benefices Also in the Parlements the 20. 25. 38. 40. 50. 51. of the kings reigne were enacted decrées against the oppression of the Pope and his filthie and rauenous Cleargie besides diuers other against them Moreouer in the booke of the actes and rolles of the king it appeareth that he sent Iohn VVickliffe Reader at that time of the Diuinitie Lecture in Oxforde with certaine other Lordes and Ambassadors to treate a marriage betwéene his Daughter and Leonell Sonne vnto king Edward whereby is to be noted the good will which the King bare to Wickliffe and what small regard he had of the sea of Rome This Wickliffe liued in the raigne of King Edward the third in the yéere of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred thée score and eleuen and then withstood greatly the popes procéedings and the Popish clergy Hée was a man very well learned as testifieth of him Walden his most bitter and cruell enemy who in a certaine Epistle written to Pope Martin the fifth saith that hée was wonderfully astonished at this his most strong arguments with the places of authoritie that hée had gathered and the vehemencie and force of his reasons c. In Wickliffes time In VVickliffes time the worlde was in worst case was the worlde in most desperate state and in greatest blindnesse and ignoraunce both of the power of the Gospell and all other good learning and the Churche of Rome most cruell and voyde of all good gift and grace of GOD and religion turned to superstition Wickliffe first of matters of religion began with the Idolatrie committed in the Sacrament VVickliffe against images which he did not so soone attempt but the whole glut of monkes and begging Friers made against him and after them Simon Sudburie Archbishop of Canterbury tooke the matter in hand and for the same cause depriued Wickliffe of his benefice at
but hée giueth full remission of all manner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that would bestow any thing to the Monastery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield resorting to the said Church any of these daies following On maundy thursday goodfriday the feast of the Annunciation from the first ensuing to the latter But within the same yéere hée died and after him succéeded Iohn 23. Pope Iohn 23. In the time of Alexander great trouble grew in Bohemia by reason of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe which were embraced of diuerse but specially of Iohn Husse Iohn Husse by whose means the people began to grow to great knowledge wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that caused by by Iohn Husse to be cited vp to Rome when he came not directed his letters to the archb Swinco charging him to forbid that way condemne such as he should apprehend for heretikes except they would recant Against which Bull Husse obiected many things shewed how it stood against the word of God An appeale to the same better aduised and therefore saith he from this mandate of pope Alexander I doo appeale to the said Alexander being better aduised And so as he was prosecuting his appeale immediatly Alexander died Then Swinco when he saw that Iohn Husse contemned the bull and had no hope in Vinceslaus the king of redresse he wēt to complaine to Sigismund king of Hungary and brother to Vinceslaus with whom after hée had spoken immediatly he died for sorrow By reason of whose death the Gospell tooke roote among the Bohemians Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power against the Bohemiās which held not long for Iohn the 23. bent all his might against the Bohemians About the yéere 1412. Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady with certaine Auies to bee saide The tolling o Auies and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the same and for the ratifying hereof he directeth his mandate to the B. of London He graunted to euery one that shoulde say the Lords praier and salutation of the Angel fiue times at the morning peale with a deuout mind totiens quotiens 40. daies of pardon for saying Auies how oft soeuer 40. daies of pardon This Archb. was so proud that because the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie Bels steeple organs suspended by a proud Bishop he suspended both belles stéeple and organs til the ministers of such churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and mercie For this cause of ringing belles debate also fel betwéene the B. of Worcester and Pryor of the towne insomuch that the Archb. was saine to take vp the matter betwixt them such was the pompe and pride of Prelates in those daies Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney Predecessour to Arundell who because certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horse in cartes but in sackes did call and cite them before him sitting in his tribunal seate Pro littera A contention pro littera for litter that is for litter after his owne Latine and after their submission enioyned them penance that they going leisurely before procession Penance for bringing litter in sacks not in Carts euery one of them should carry openly his sacke or bagge stuffed with hay and straw so that the hay and straw might appeare hanging out of the mouths of the sacks being open the names of the poore men were Hugh Pennie Iohn Forestall Iohn Boy Iohn Wanderton William Hayward and Iohn White tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham In this kings time diuers actes were established against the authoritie of the Pope and excesse of his Cleargy In the first yéere it was obiected against Richard 2. that he procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope to confirme certaine statutes of his which seemed to the Parlement to tend to the disgrace of the crowne and dignity and against the liberties of the land In the 2. yéere it was required in the Parlement that all such persons as should be arrested by force of the statute made against the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled and fréely make their purgation In the eight yéere it was propounded that none shoulde sue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice collation or presentation of the same vnder paine of the statute of Prouisoes made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted Item in the same parlement it was put vp in petition that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parsons benefice not resident thereon wherevnto the king answered that Ordinaries shoulde doe their dueties therein or els he woulde prouide further remedy or staye their pluralities The 9. yéere of the kings raigne the commons required the king that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie to haue any benefice of any incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabitation wherof the processe is not foūded vpon Citation made within the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all their benefices vntil it be proued by due inquest in the court of the K that the citations whervpon such priuations inhabitations are granted were made within the realme if such ordinaries do or haue presented or others doe present to the contrary that thē they and their procurators c. incurre the pain conteined in the statute made against prouisoes ann 13. Richard 2. Also that no Popes collectour shoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme for first fruits of any ecclesiastical dignitie vnder paine of incurring the statute of prouisoes A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy Besides in the same parlement the commons of the land put vp a bill vnto the king to take the temporalties out of the spiritual mens hand The effect of the bill was that the temporalties disorderly wasted by men of the Church might suffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles fiftéene hundred knights sixe thousand two hundred Squires and an hundred houses of almes more then were in those dayes in the land And ouer all these charges the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers 20000. l. Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerelie rent 3000. markes euery knight 100 markes and foure Plow land euery Squire 40. markes by the yere with two plow land and euery almes house with ouersight of two true Seculars to euerie house and also with prouision that euerie Township should kéepe al poore people Towne-dwellers which might not labor for their liuing with condition that if mo fell in a towne than it was able to mainteine the said almes houses to reléeue such townes And to beare these charges they alledged by their bill that the Temporalties being in the possession of Spiritual men amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thousande markes by the yere whereof they affirmed to be in the sea
multitude for a time neither did it euer come to the hands of the L. Cobham The L. Cobham after he had a certaine space remained in the Towre sentence of death being giuen vpon him hée escaped it is not knowne by what meanes and fled into Wales The L. Cobham fleeth and escapeth where he continued by the space of foure yéeres Anno 1413. After the common computation of our English counting the yéere from the Annuntiation but after the Latine writers from Christes Natiuitie 1414. in the moneth of Ianuary sir Roger Acton knight Master Iohn Browne and Iohn Beuerley the preacher suffered martyrdome as some say in the field of S. Giles with other more to the number of 36. 36. martyrs if the stories be true they suffered before the Lord Cobham thrée yéeres They were hanged and burnt Some say Sir Roger Acton was hanged naked at Tyborne sauing that certaine partes of him were couered and after certaine daies a Trumpetter of the kings called Thomas Cliffe gate graunt of the King to take him downe and to bury him After the decease and martirdome of these aboue mentioned in the next moneth following in the same yéere the 20. day of February God tooke away the great enimie of his worde Thomas Arundell dieth and rebell to the king Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterburie who was so stricken in his tongue that he could neither swalow nor speake for a certain space before his death He continued Archb. eightéene yeres After him succéeded H. Chichesley an 1414. and sate 25. yeres a great enemie to the gospel About the same yere the king began the foundation of ij Monasteries one of the Friers obseruants on the one side of Thames H. Chichesley and theother on the other side of the same riuer called Shene and Sion dedicated vnto the Charterhouse Monkes with certaine Brigette Nunnes or Recluses to the number of 60. dwelling within the same precinct So that the whole number of these with priestes monks deacons and nunnes should equall the number of 13. apostles and 72. disciples The order of these was according to the description of the Apostle Coloss 1. Eate not taste not touche not c. Eate not taste not touch not To eate no flesh to touch no money to weare no linnen and so forth About Michaelmas the same yere the king began his parlement at Leicester in which the Commons put vp their bill againe which they had put vp before anno 11. Hen. 4. that the Temporalties wasted so disorderly by the Clergie might be conuerted to the vse of the king and of his Earles and knights c. In feare of which bill least the king should geue therunto his comfortable audience as testifyeth Robert Fabian and others certaine of the Prelates and other of the head Churchmen put the king in minde to clayme his right in France Wherupon Hen. Chichesley made a long Craft of the Cleargie and solemne Oration to the king to perswade him thereunto offering to him in behalfe of the Cleargie great and notable summes by reason whereof the bill was againe put of Now about this time Io. Husse preaching at his church of Bethlehem was accused therefore by some Husse accused to P. Iohn the xxiij for an heretike The Pope committed the whole matter to Cardinall Columna who hauing heard the accusation appointed a day for Iohn Husse to appeare in the court of Rome But the king Vinceslaus sent his Ambassadors to Rome to desire the bishop to quitte and cléere deliuer Iohn Husse from that sentence and iudgement In the meane season Iohn Husse also sent before the day appointed his lawfull procurations to the Court of Rome who with strong reasons did proue his innocencie till Columna woulde accept no reasons and so his Procurators appealed vnto the high Bishop H. excommunicated for an heretike But the appeale preuayled not but that he would excommunicate Iohn Husse as an obstinate heretike because he came not at his day appointed to Rome notwithstanding by reason of the appeale they had other Iudges appointed vnto them as Cardinall Aquildianus and Cardinall Venetus c. Which Iudges after they had deferred the matter a yere and a halfe they confirmed the sentence of Cardinall Columna and because his Procurators being commanded would not yeld to giue ouer their suite certaine of them were cast into prison and gréeuouslie punished the other leauing their businesse vndone returned againe into Boheme The Bohemians notwithstanding little cared for this but increased more and more in knowledge and lesse regarded the Pope Now after the death of Swinco the pope placed one Cōradus chiefe generall who with the doctors and diuines of the Vniuersitie of Prage greatly conspired and laboured against the trueth and drewe out articles whereunto they would haue Iohn Husse to consent Whereof when I. Husse and his adherents had word they also drewe out articles in his purgation Now in the meane time of this altercation betwéene them Pope Iohn raysed warre against Ladislaus king of Naples who had besieged the Popes townes and territories and gaue full remission of sinnes to all that would war on his side to defend the church Which Bul when it came into Boheme the king that fauoured the Pope gaue commandement that none should attempte any thing against those Indulgences But certaine of the faithfull could not abstaine but called the Pope Antichrist and spake against him Wherefore they were taken and beheaded Their names were Persecution in Boheme Iohn Martin and Stascon The people after their death tooke their bodies and with great solemnitie brought them vnto the Church of Bethlehem at whose funeralls diuers priestes fauouring that side song on this wise These be the saints which for the testament of God gaue their bodies c. And so they were sumptuously buried in the church of Bethlehem I. Husse preaching at the funerals and much commending them for their constancie Thus the citie of Prage was deuided Prage deuided the Prelates with the greatest part of the clergie most of the Barons which had any thing to loose helde with the Pope especially Stephen Paletz being the chiefe doer of that side on the contrary part the commons with part of the clergie and students of the vniuersitie went with Iohn Husse Vinceslaus the K. fearing the matter would grow to a tumult caused I. Husse to be remoued out of the citie and assented to the Popish Clergy in the 18. articles against Iohn Husse for the maintenance of the sea of Rome I. Husse now departing out of the citie went to his countrey where beeing protected by the Lord of the soyle he cōtinued preaching neither yet was he so expelled Prage but that somtimes he resorted to the church of Bethlehem and there also preached to the people Moreouer against the decrée of the Doctors Iohn Husse with his fellowes replied againe answering their articles with contrary articles and obiections wherto the Catholike
Doctors answered againe with a long and tedious processe the scope whereof principally tended to the defence of the principality of the pope Thus then maister Ioh. Husse being driuē out of Prage and moreouer being excommunicated that no masse might be said where he was present the people began mightely to grudge and crie out against the Prelates laying great and horrible vices to their charges The K. seing the inclination of the people The people against the Prelates being also not ignorant of the vices of the cleargie began to require great exactions of such as were knowen to be wicked liuers Whereupon such as fauoured Iohn Husse begā to accuse many In so much that by this meanes None controleth Husse Husse began to take vnto him more libertie and to preach in his church at Bethlehem and none to controll him Now Steuen Paletz and Andreas de Broda chiefe doers against Husse wrote vnto him sharpe and cruell letters The Pope also writeth letters to Vinceslaus the King for suppressing of Iohn Husse and his doctrine which was in the last yéere of his Popedome An. 1414. This yéere Sigismund the Emperour and Pope Iohn 23. Councell of Constance To pacifie the Schisme of three Popes called a sinod for the pacifying of the Schisme at Constance which was betwéene the thrée popes The first wherof was Iohn whom the Italians set vp the second Gregory whom the Frenchmen set vp the third Benedict whom the Spaniards placed This councell endured foure yéeres and had in it 45. A Councell that lasteth foure yeeres and had 45. Sessions Sessions In this councell all the matters were decided chiefly by foure nations English Germaine French and Italian out of which foure nations were appointed and chosen foure presidents to iudge and determine all matters of the Councelles the names of which foure were these Iohn the patriarch of Antioch for France Anthonie Archb of Rygen for Italy Nicholas Archb. of Genesuensis for Germany and Nicholas Bishop of Bath for England In this Councel nothing was decréed worthy of memorie but this onely that the Popes authority is vnder the Councell The Councell ought to iudge the Pope and that the councel ought to iudge the Pope and as touching the Communion in both kindes although the Councell did not denie it yet by the same Counsell it was decréed to the contrarie In this Councell Iohn did resigne his Papacie for the quiet of the schisme and the Emperor geuing him thanks kissed his féete Afterward the same Iohn repenting him that he had so done sought meanes to flie whereunto Frederike Duke of Austrich did assist him and when hee was nowe comming to Schafezonse P. repenteth of wel doing to goe into Italie the Emperour pursuing tooke him and proclaymed Frederike traytor and for that cause tooke away Cities from him but was at last reconciled againe The Pope being thus deposed was committed vnto the County Palantine and by him caried to the castle of Manheim where hée was kept prisoner by the space of 3. yéeres and afterward he was againe by Pope Martin admitted to the number of the Cardinals This pope Iohn was deposed by the decrée of the councel more then 40. most grieuous crimes proued against him 40. articles against Pope Iohn as that he had hired Marsilius Parmensis a physicion to poison Alexander his predecessor that he was an heretike a simoniake a lier an hipocrite a murtherer an inchanter a dice-player an adulterer a sodomite finally what crime was it wherewith he was not infected c. In the 14. Session came in the resignatiō of P. Gregory 12. The 37. Session did publish definitiue sentence against the 3. pope Benedict in the 39. they procéeded to elect a new pope on S. Martins éeuen they chose one Pope Martin therfore named him Martin who according to the custome was honorably brought by the Councell and the Emper. into the church of Constance vnto the monastery of S. Austine to be crowned The Emperor leadeth the popes horse the Emp. on foot leading his horse by the bridle on the right hand the marques of Brandēburgh prince elector also leading his horse on the left hand the P. himselfe riding in the midst on his palfrey The Councell being dissolued a cardinall was sent by the P. named Anthony to declare his Indulgēce vnto them who granted to euery point in that coūcel ful absolution once in their life so that euery one within 2. moneths after the hearing of this Indulgence should procure the same in forme of writing Also an other Indulgēce was graunted of full remission at the houre of death that was aswel vnderstood of the houshold as the Maisters thēselues but vnder this condition that from the time of notification of the same The popes Indulgence they should fast euery Friday for the space of one whole yéere for absolutiō in their life time And for absolution in the howre of death that they should fast an other yéere in like sort except some lawfull impediment so that after the second yéere they should fast out their liues end or els do some other good worke This beyng proclaimed the Synode brake vp and euery man departed 3940. Prelats at the Councell The nūber of prelates at this councell was 3940. wherof the number of B. Archb. was 346. Abbots doctors 564. Secular mē princes dukes erles knights esquires 16000. Common women belonging to the councell Common women belonging to the councell 450. 450. Barbers 600. Minstrels cookes iesters 329. So that the whole multitude which were viewed to be in the towne of Constance betwéene Easter Whitsontide where nūbred to be 60500. Now although this councell was thought principally to be called to appease the schisme yet a great part of the cause was the Bohemians and especially for Iohn Husse For before the Councell began the Emperour Sigismund sent certaine gentlemen Bohemians which were of his owne houshold giuing them in charge to bring Iohn Husse bacheler of Diuinitie to the Councell and that vnder his safeconduct to the entent he should purge himselfe of that which they had to lay against him Iohn Husse trusting vpon the Emperours safecōduct sent word to the Emperour that he would come to the Councell and with all caused certaine bils to be written in Latine Bohemian and Almaine language that if any one had to obiect ought against him hée should come to the councell and there he would answere him The same time also Iohn Husse sent his Procurators to the lord Bishop of Nazareth ordained by the Apostolicke sea inquisitour of heresie in the cities and dioces of Prage requiring that if he found any errour in him he would declare it openly The Bishop giueth good testimony of Husse But the Bishop gaue good testimonie of Iohn Husse and signified the same by his letters Iohn Husse also required of the Archbishop of Prage that if he knew any errour
be taken in this mans case vnto whome there is no faith nor credite to bee geuen How be it this they wil vpon the fift day of Iune next Iohn Husse shal be brought againe to Constance and there haue frée libertie to speake his minde fréely before the Councell and that they would louingly heare him but in the end the matter fel out farre contrarie to this promise The same day the barons Lords presented a supplication to the Emp. requiring him to further the supplication put vp to the councel to which what answere the Emp. made it is not certain but likely it was by processe of the matter that the Emp. was fayne to breake his promise The Emperor breaketh promise with H. touching the safeconduct which he promised Husse by reason as they pretended that no defence of safeconduct might be geuen vnto him that was suspected or iudged to be an heretike The fift day of Iune the Cardinals c. in the Couent of the Franciscans in Constance purposed in the absence of I. Husse to haue condemned him in those articles which they had drawen against him but for a Notarie named I. Meadoniewitz who loued Iohn Husse and went to M. Vencelat de Duba and Iohn de Clum and told them the matter who went and made report thereof to the Emperor The Emp. vnderstanding their intēt sent Lewes the countie Palatine of Heydelberge and the L. Frederike Burgraue of Noremberg to signifie vnto them which ruled the coūcel that nothing should be done in the cause of I. H. before it were hard with equity that they would sēd him al such articles as were laid against the sayd Husse which were either false or Hereticall and he would do so much that the said Articles should be examined by good and learned men Then according to the Emperours will the iudgement of the principals of the councell was suspended vnto such time as the said Husse himselfe were present Now Iohn Husse beyng brought forth beginning to answere Husse beginneth to answer for himselfe scarse had he opened his mouth but they all began to cry out against him that he had not leasure to speake one word besides some did outrage in words against him other some spitefully mocked him so that he seing himselfe ouerwhelmed with this rude barbarous noise that it profited nothing to speake he determined finally to hold his peace kéepe silence After that time they cried he is dumbe he is dumbe thinking they had won the field this is a signe he consenteth to these his errours But some more moderate then the rest misliking the dealing departed from the councell for that present and appointed to méete there againe the morrow to procéed in iudgement The next day which was the 7. of Iune in which the Sunne was almost wholy eclipsed somewhat after about 7. of the clocke the same flocke assembled againe in the cloister of the Friers minorites and by their appointmēt Iohn Husse was brought before them Husse appeereth againe accompanied with a great number of armed men thether went also the Emp. whom M. De Duba and Clum and the notarie named Peter did follow to sée what the end might be When they were come thether they heard the accusation of Michaell de Causis who first obiected against him the matter of reall presence that hée should mainteine after the wordes of consecration there remayned materiall bread which article Iohn Husse denied that euer hée mainteyned Vpon that matter there grew dispute among them Then was there read an article wherin was obiected that he mainteined Wicklifs errors which he also denied Besides diuerse false accusations were brought against him which doone and Palletz hauing endeuoured asmuch against him as malice would serue Iohn Husse was committed to the custody of the Bishop of Rigen vnder whom Ierom of Prage was also prisoner but before hée was led away the Cardinall of Cambray exhorted him to submit himselfe vnto the Councell and so did also the Emperour which if hée refused to doo he said he would sooner make the fire with his owne hands to burne him then he would suffer him to hold such opinions c. And so hauing thanked the Emperour for the safeconduit Husse not suffered to proceede in his answere and procéeding farther to make answere he was cut of and led away with the sergeants The morrow after which was the 8. of Iune the same company assembled againe at the Franciscans in this assembly was Iohn Husse De Duba De Clum and Peter the notary his friends In which assembly there were read against Husse 39. 39. articles against Husse articles the which they said were drawen out of his bookes Husse acknowledged all those that were faithfully collected of which sort there were but a fewe as That their is but one vniuersall Church the company of the predestinate That Paule nor Peter were euer mēbers of the Diuell although some their acts did resemble the malignant Church That no true member of the Church doth at any time fall away from the body That the Predestinate is alwaies a member of the Church although not in present iustice That there is no sensible signe that cā make a man the member of the Vniuersall Church That a reprobate man neuer is a member of the Vniuersall church That Iudas was neuer a true Disciple That the congregation of the Predestinate whether they bée in the state of grace or not according vnto present Iustice is the holy vniuersall Church That Peter neuer was neyther is the head of the vniuersall church That if he that is called the vicar of Christ doo not walke according to Christ he is the messenger of Antichrist That all those that vse simonie doo not know the duties of the keies and censures of the church That the papall dignitie is sprong from the Emperours authority That no man would reasonably affirme that any man is the head of any particular Church That it ought not to be beléeued that the Pope may be the head of anie particular Church vnlesse he be predestinate or ordained of God That the Popes power of Vicarship is but vaine Articles auowed of Husse if he do not conform his life according to Iesus Christ That the Pope is most holy onely if he doe follow Christ in humility gentlenes patience c. That the Cardinals are not the true successors of the apostles of Christ except they fashion themselues to the kéeping of Christs cōmandements That ecclesiasticall censure ought not to procéede to execution of death That the nobles of the world ought to compel the ministers of the church to kéepe the law of Iesus Christ That the Cleargies ecclesiastical obedience is inuented without warrant of the scriptures That he appealed from the Pope to Christ and did not estéeme the Popes curses That a vitious man liueth vitioustly and a godly man godlily That if a minister be wrongfully forbidden to preach
he ought not to obey for any commandement of power to the contrarie because it is a worke not of indifferency but of expresse commandement The next article was almost one with this That the ecclesiasticall censures are antichristiā which Husse denied to be vttred in that form That there ought no interditement or curse to be appointed vnto the people And these were the articles both alleadged out of his booke of the Church and by himselfe auouched before them Besides these there were other articles brought against him among which were 19. that brought him into prison That Paul according to present iustice was a blasphemer but the childe of God by predestination That Christ more loueth a predestinate man being sinful then a reprobate in what grace soeuer he be for the time That al sinful according to presēt iustice are not faithful That the words of Christ touching binding and losing except they bee well vnderstood bring much feare or much presumption That the binding and loosing by God is simply and plainly the principall That priests doe onely heap vp those things out of the scriptures which serue for their bellies That the Popes power when he doth wickedly is not to be feared That an euil Pope is not the successor of Peter but of Iudas That the Pope is the beast spoken of in the Apocalipse This he denied to haue béen vttered by him That it is lawfull to preach notwithstanding the Popes inhibition That the Popes commandement béeing not agréeable to the Gospel is not to be obeyed That the Cleargy and Laitie may iudge of the works of prelats That God himselfe doth suspend euery wicked priest from his ministery That the Cleargie supplanteth the Laye people c. To these Articles aboue mentioned were other also annexed which the Parisiens had set downe against him to the number of 19. The chiefe author wherof was one Gerson Chancellour of the Vniuersitie of Paris wherevnto hée had no time to answere Now when the foresaid articles were read with their testimonies the cardinal of Cambray with the rest exhorted Ioh. Husse to submit himself to the councel to suffer patiently that they would determine which was that he shold confesse himselfe to haue erred in the articles promise by oath neither to teach nor mainteine them moreouer openly recant all of them To this the Emp. moued him also with the rest to whom he answered that whatsoeuer were repugnāt to the scriptures being so proued vnto him he would recāt renounce otherwise durst he not do against his conscience after much debating Husse will not recant many false accusations Iohn Husse was caried to prison again Ioh. de Clum following cōforting him who after he was carried away the Emp. mightily inueyed against him The Emperor against Husse incited the Councel against him and his scholer Hierom of Prage to all seuerity as also against his friends and fauourers and so they departed out of the cloister and brake vp the assembly for that time The day before his condemnation which was the sixt of Iuly the Emperour Sigismund sent vnto him foure Bishops with M. Vincelat de Duba and Iohn de Clum to vnderstand of him what he would doo and when he was brought out to them and his minde demaunded he deliuered his resolution that he was ready to be reformed if it could be prooued by the scriptures that he had erred Which the Bishops counted an arrogant answere and commaunded him to be carried to prison againe The next day the Emperour with all the spirituall and temporall Lords held a generall Session in the head church of the city of Constance in which Iohn Husse was disgraded condemned deliuered to the ciuil power Husse disgraded condemned and deliuered to the seculars When Ioh. Husse was brought thither he fell downe vpon his knees prayed a long time In the meane while the B. of Lundy went vp and made a sermon when his sermon was ended the Procurer of the Councell rising vp named Henricus de Pyro required that the processe of the cause of Iohn Husse might be continued so procéed vnto the definitiue sentence then they alleadged other articles against him And last of all that he should say there should be a fourth person in the diuinitie whereto Iohn Husse saide O miserable and wretched man which am forced and compelled to feare such blasphemie slander Afterward the article was read how he appealed to Christ and that by name was called hereticall Whereunto Iohn Husse answered O Lord Iesu Christ whose word is openly condemned in this Councell vnto thée againe I make my appeale who H. appealeth to Christ when thou wast euill intreated of thine enemies diddest make thine appeale vnto God thy father committing thy cause to a most iust Iudge that by thy example we also being oppressed with manifold wrōgs iniuries should flie vnto thée Last of al was read the article touching the contempt of his excommunicatiō wherto after he had yelded a reasonable lawful answere one of the iudges read the definitiue sentence against him When the sentence and iudgement against him was ended Husse prayeth for his enemies is derided knéeling downe vpon his knées he said O Lord Iesu Christ forgiue mine enemies by whom thou knowest that I am falsly accused and that they haue vsed false witnesse and slanders against mée forgiue them I say for thy great mercies sake This his praier the greater part especially of the Priests derided At the last the 7. bishops disgraded him euery one taking a péece from him when they came to the rasing of his shauen crowne before the Bishops would go in hand with it there fell a great contentiō among them with what instrument it should be done with a razor or a paire of shieres The courage of Husse In the meane season Iohn Husse turning toward the Emperour said I maruel much that they being all of like cruell mind Cruelty of the bishops against Husse and stomake yet they cannot agrée of their kind of crueltie Notwithstanding at the last they agreed to cut of the skin of his head with a paire of shieres which being done they caused to be made a certaine crowne of paper almost a cubite high in the which were painted 3. ougly diuels of a wonderfull ougly shape and this title set ouer their heads Heresiarcha The which when he saw he saide My Lord Iesu Christ for my sake did weare a crown of thorns why should not I then for his sake againe weare this light crowne be it neuer so ignominious Truely I will doe it and that willingly When it was set vpon his head the Bishops said now we committe thy soule to the deuill But I said Ioh. Husse lifting his eyes toward the heauens doe committe my spirite vnto thy handes O Lord Iesu Christ to thée I commēd my soule which thou hast redéemed So after hee was committed to
the Bishops conuocation First Articles that it should not be lawfull for any Christian to fight against the Heretickes of Bohemia That hée should kéepe companie with Maister Clarke aforesaid That hée should disperse certaine bookes of Wicklifs as Trialogus c. That he spake against the Popes Indulgences which points he refused to abiure and therefore by the Archbishop was condemned to perpetuall prison after whose condemnation the Sunday next folowing the recantation of Thomas Granter Recantation and Richard Monke priestes aboue mentioned was read openly at Paules church after which Granter was put to seuen yéeres imprisonment vnder the custody and charge of the Bishop of London Edmund Frith also recanted who was the butler of Sir Iohn Oldcastell Besides these many other who likewise for religion were greatly vexed especially in the Dioces of Kent in the townes of Rumney Tenterden Woodchurch Kent well affected Cranbrooke Staplehurst Beninden Halden Roylnenden and others where as whole housholdes both man and wife were driuen to forsake their houses and townes for daunger of persecution Among whom in the certificate of Burboth the Archbishoppes officiall these are named William White priest Thomas Grensted priest Bartholmew Chronemonger Iohn Waddon Ioan his wife Thomas Euerden William Euerden Steuen Robin William Chineling Iohn Tame Iohn Facolin William Somer Marian his wife Iohn Abrahā Robert Munden Laurence Cooke which persons because they would not appéere were excōmunicated by the Archbishop and what hapned after vnto them it doth not appéere but like it is they were at length forced to submit themselues About the yéere 1417. the L. Cobham hauing now béene in Wales the space of foure yéeres the King proclaiming a great summe of mony to him that could take sir Iohn Oldcastle either quicke or dead the L. Powes brought him vp to London The L. Powes taketh the lord Oldcastle in Wales about the moneth of Decēber At which time there was a Parlement assembled at London for the reléefe of mony to be sent to the K. whom the bishops had set to worke to fight in France the records of which parlement doo thus say that on tuesday the 14. of December and the 20 of the parlement sir Iohn Oldcastell of Cowling being outlawed in the Kings bench and excommunicated before the Archb. of Canterburie for heresie was brought before the Lords and hauing heard his said conuictions answered not thereto in his excuse vpon which record and processe it was adiudged that he should be taken as a traytor to the king and caried to the Tower of London The lord Cobham condēned and from thence drawne thorough the citie vnto the new gallowes in S. Giles without temple barre and there hanged and burned hanging After the martirdome of sir I. Oldcastle motiō was made in the parlement that the L. Powes might be thāked worthily rewarded for his great labour in apprehending him All mischiefe imputed to the Lollards In this time all horrible mischiefs and facts if any were doone were imputed to the poore Lollardes The nobles of Boheme which before wrote vnto the councell of Constance Bohemians cited to the councell of Constance were therfore cited vp to the councel The letter of Sigismund answereth in the name of the whole councell excusing himselfe of Husses death Secondly he requireth them to be quiet and to cōforme themselues peaceably vnto the orders of the Romish church Also the Councell hearing and fearing some stir to arise among the Bohemians did make lawes to bridle them to the number of 24. 24. lawes to bridle the Bohemians As that the king of Bohemia should bée sworne to giue obedience and defend the liberties of the church of Rome That all Masters Doctors Priests shall be sworne to abiure the doctrine of Wickliffe and Husse in that councell condemned the rest being of like sorte The Bohemians notwithstanding these cruell articles contemning the vaine deuises of the Prelates Fathers of the councell ceased not to procéede in their league purpose begun ioyning themselues more strongly together This yere after the deposing of Pope Iohn The Popes goods 75000. li. spoiling of his goods which came to 75. thousand pounds of golde and siluer Pope Martin was elected Now the Pope comming vppon his palfry trapped with scarlet down to the ground and the Emperour on the right side and the Prince Elector on the left playing the footmen and holding the horses bridle vnto the market place there the Iewes according to the manner offered vnto him their lawes and ceremonies which the Pope receiuing cast them behind him The Iewes offer their ceremonies to the Pope saying Recedant vetera noua sunt omnia that is Let olde things passe euery thing is new Ex histor Alba. Ex Paralip Vrsperg The Pope now confirmed threateneth very grieuously the Bohemians both with apostolicall and secular arme Pope thretneth the Bohemians A solemne yearly memoriall of the death of Husse and Ierome Monasteries suppressed Captaine Nicholas but the Bohemians nothing moued therewith assembled together and first agréed to celebrate a solemne memoriall of the death of Iohn Husse and Hierome decréeing the same to be celebrated yéerely and afterward obtained certayne Churches of the king where they might fréely preach minister the sacraments vnto the congregatiō This done they suppressed diuers monasteries beginning first with the great monastery of the blacke friers 7. miles distant from Prage driuing the vitious priests and monkes out of them and so their number encreased vnder their Captaine called Nicholas Their number encreasing now more and more they went vnto their K requiring to haue more ample churches the king séemed willingly to giue eare vnto Nicholas intreating for the people and commanded them to come again the next day The people being departed the king turned himselfe to Nicholas remayning stil behind said The King thretneth Nicholas Thou hast begun a web to put me out of my kingdome but I will make a rope of it to hang thée Whervppon the K. presently departed into the Castle of Visegarde and within a while after entred into a new castle which he himselfe had builded 5. stones cast from thence sending Embassadors to his brother to require ayde These protestants being assēbled in the town of Prage holding their conuentions the king sent forth his chamberlain with thrée hundred horsemen to run vpon them but he hauing respect vnto himself fled Whē the news was brought vnto the king his cupbearer standing by said I knew these things would thus come to passe for which words the king would haue slaine him with his dagger had not they which stood by disswaded him with much adoe Immediatly the K. being taken with a palsey fell sicke and within 18. daies daies after hauing marked the names of them whom hée woulde haue put to death The kings cruel determination disappointed by his own departed his life before the Princes vnto whome hee had
thrée score together such as remaine vnderstroied by the sword whome they buy of them that spoile and robbe the christian countries which is lawfull for any of the Turkes army to do so that the tenth of the spoyle be reserued for the great Turke Of such as remaine for tithe if they bee aged of whom very few be kept aliue because little profit comes of them they be solde to the vse of husbandry and kéeping of beastes If they be young men or women they be sent to certayne places there to be instructed in their languages and artes as shal be most profitable for their aduantage and such are called in their tongue Saris. Saris. And the first care of the Turks is this to make them deny Christ and to bee circumcised and after that they are set and appointed euery man as he séemeth most apt either to the learning of their lawes or the feates of warre Some are brought vp to be placed in the number of the Ianizaries Ianizaries who are the Turkes Champions And if any of the young men or children shall appeare to excell in beautie him they so cutte that no parte of that which Nature geueth or man remayneth to be séene in all his bodie whereby during the freshnes of his age he is compelled to serue their abhomination and when age cōmeth then they serue in stead of Eunuches to wayte vpon Matrones or to kéepe horses and mules or els to be sculliās and drudges in their kitchens Such as be young maydens and beutifull are deputed for concubines they whiche bée of meane beautie serue for to doo their drudgery worke in their houses and chambers or els to spinne or such other labours but so as it is not lawfull for them either to professe Christians religion or euer to haue any libertie and thus are they vsed which fall to the Turke by tithe The other which are bought and sold among priuate subiects first are allured with faire wordes promises to take circumcision which if they will doo they are more fauourably intreated but all hope is taken away from them of returning into their country which if they but attempt the paine thereof is burning And if such come at length to libertie will marrie they may but then their children remaine bond to the Lord for him to sel at his pleasure therfore few marry of such as are wise among them They the refuse to be circumcised are miserably handled amont them Such captiues as be expert in any manuall art or occupation can better shift for themselues but they which haue no handicraft to liue vpon are in worse case and therfore such as haue béene brought vp in learning or be noble men and such other whose tender education can abide no hardnes are the least reputed of by him which hath the sale and kéeping of them and no cost is bestowed vpon them but they are caried about barehead and barefooted both sommer and Winter in frost and snow and if any be faint or sick in the way there is no resting for him in any Inne but first he is driuē forward with whippes and if that will not serue he is sette peraduenture vpon some horse and if his weaknes be such that he cannot sitte then is hee laide ouerthwart the horsebacke on his bellie like a calfe and if he chaunce to die they take of his garments such as he hath and throw him into a ditch Beside in the way they are all manicled by the hands least they shoulde harme their leaders For many times x. persons haue the leading of fiftie captiues and when the night commeth their féet also are fettered so that they lodge in no house but lie vpon the ground all night The yoong women haue a little more gentlenesse shewed them beyng carried in paniards on the day time but when the night commeth pittie it is so heare the miserable crying out by reason of the filthy iniuries they suffer by their carriers in so much that the yoong tender age of six or seuen yéeres as well of the one sex as of the other can not saue them from the filthy villanie of the beastly Turkes When the morning commeth they are brought foorth to the market to sale where the byer if he be disposed plucking of their garments veweth all the bones and ioyntes in their bodies And if hée like them he giueth his price and carrieth them away into miserable seruitude in so much that some Christian captiues haue béene yooked like Oxen to draw the plough The mayde seruaunts likewise are kept in perpetuall toyle in close places where neyther they come in sight of any man neither be they permitted to haue any talke with their fellowes seruaunts Such as are committed to kéepe beastes lie abroad both day and night in the wild fieldes and at spare houres are employed also in handy laboures Out of these miseries there is no way for them to flée especially they that are carried into Asia beyond the seas How the christian captiues vse to flee from their maisters or if any doo attempt so to doo hée taketh his time chiefly about haruest when he may hide himselfe all day in the corne or in the woods or marishes and find food and n the night onely hée fleeth and had rather bée deuoured of Wolues then to returne againe to his Maister In their flying they vse to take with them an hatchet and cordes that when they come to the sea side they may cut downe trées and bind together the endes of them and so where the sea Hellespontus is narrowest about Sestos and Abidos they take the Sea sitting vppon trées where if the winde and tyde doo serue luckely they may cut ouer in foure or fiue houres but the most part eyther prish in the floudes or are driuen backe againe vpon the coast of Asia or else be deuoured with wild beastes in the woods or perish with hunger and famine If any escape ouer the Seas into Europe by the way they enter into no towne but wander vpon the mountains following onely the North starre for their guide As touching such townes and prouinces as are wonne by the Turkes wherein Christians are suffred to liue vnder tribute First of all nobilities there they kill make away the churchmen and clergy hardly they spare the churches How the Turke vseth the churches of christians vnder his subiection but bels and all the furniture thereof either they cast downe or els turne to their blasphemous religion leauing to the christians certaine blind old chappels which when they decay it is permitted to repaire them again for great sums of mony giuē to the Turke neither be they permitted to vse any open preaching or ministration but onely in silence by stealth to frequēt together Neither is it lawfull for any christian to beare office within the citie or country nor to beare weapon nor to weare any garment like the Turkes and whatsoeuer blasphemy be
spoken against Christ it must be borne with silence or if one speake a word against the Turkes religion he shall be forced to be circumcised and then if he speake one word against Mahomet he shall be burned And if a Christian being on horsebacke doo méete or passe by a Masselman that is a turkish Priest he must light from his horse and with a lowly looke doo reuerence to him or if he doo not he is beaten downe from his horse with clubbes and staues Tribute payed of Christians to the Turke For their tribute they pay the fourth part of their substance gaine to the Turke beside the ordinarie tribute of the christians which is to pay for euery head within his familie a ducket vnto the Turke which if the parents cā not do they are cōpelled to sell their childrē into bondage others not able to pay go chayned in fetters from dore to dore begging to make vp their paiment els must they lie in perpetuall prison and yet notwithstanding when the Christians haue paide all dueties it remaineth frée for the Turkes to take vp among the Christians children whom they best like and them to circumcise and to carry them away being yong from the sight of their parents into farre places to be brought vp in the popes warres so that they may not returne to them againe but first are taught to forget Christ then their parents And albeit the same children doe afterward greatly degenerate from the faith of Christ yet many of them haue priuily about them the gospel of S. Iohn written In principio erat verbum c. in Gréeke and Arabicke for a remembrance And thus much touching the misery vnder the Turkes and their cruelties In the yéere 1499. in the time of one Perseuell manie were taken for heretikes in Kent Fagots borne and at Paules Crosse they bare fagottes and were abiured and shortly after the same yéere there went thirtéene Lollardes afore the procession in Paules and there were of them eight women and a young ladde and the laddes mother was one of the eight and all the thirtéene bare fagots on their necks before the procession Ann. 1506 in the dioces of Lincolne in Buckinghāshire William Smith being B. of the same dioces one William Tilseley was burned at Amersham in a close William Tilseley a martyr called Stanely at which time one Ioan Clark a married woman which was the onely daughter of the said Tilseley Cruelty against nature a faithful woman was compelled with her owne hands to set fire to her father And at the same time her husband Ioh. Clarke did penance at her fathers burning and bare a fagot as did also 20. mo which afterward were compelled to weare certain badges went abrode to do penance Penance as to Buckinghā William Page burned in the cheeke Aylesbury other townes nigh and also diuers of these men were afterward burned in the chéeke as William Page c. Some report that sixtie were put to beare fagots for their penance of whom diuers were inioyned to beare and to weare fagots at Lincolne 7. yéeres together c. In which number was also one Robert Bartlet a rich man who for his profession sake was put from his Farme and goods and was condemned to bee kept in the monastery of Ashrige where he ware on his right sléeue a square péece of cloth 7. yeeres together About the same time of the burning of William Tilseley as the Amersham men doe say or the next day after was one father Roberts burned Father Roberts burnt at Buckingham He was a miller and dwelled at Missenden and at his burning there was aboue twenty persons Fagots borne that were cōpelled to beare fagots and to do such penāce as the wicked pharisées did compell them After that by the space of two or thrée yéeres was burned at Amersham Thomas Barnard Thomas Barnard a husbandmā Iames Morden Iames Morden a labourer they two were burned at one fire And there was William Littlepage burned in the right chéeks Father Rogers and Father Reuer aliâs Reiue which after was burned Also there were 30. mo that were burned in their chéekes and bare fagots at the same time Father Rogers was in the Bishoppes prison fourtéene wéekes together night and day and was so cruelly handled with colde hunger yron that after his comming out of prison he was so lame in his backe that he could neuer go vpright as long as he liued Anno 1506. Thomas Chast Tho. Chast of Amersham was after other great afflictions strangled in the Bishoppes prison in Wooburn vnder W. Smith B. of Lincolne and was buried of the wicked wretches in the wood called Norland wood in the high way betwixt Wooburn and litle Marlow to the intent he should not be taken vp to be séene Tho. Norice martyr Anno 1507. one Thomas Norice was burnt for the testimonie of the trueth at Norwich being condemned by the B. the last day of March. Anno 1508. Elizabeth Samson of the Parish of Aldermanburie was compelled to abiure before Master William Horsey Chaunceller to the Bishop of London Shee spake against pilgrimages worshipping of Images and the Reall presence About this time was burned Laurence Glest L. Glest martir at Salisburie after they had kepte him in prison two yeres for the matter of the Sacrament At whose burning William Russell was burned in the chéeke After this there was a godly woman burnt at Chipping Sudburie by the Chaunceller Doctor Whittington who A woman burnt after she was burned and the people returning homeward a Bull brake loose from a Butcher that was in hande to haue slaine him singled out Doctor Whittington from all the people and hurting neither olde nor young tooke him alone gored him thorough and thorough carrying his guts Gods iudgement and trayning them with his hornes all the stréetes ouer to the great admiration of all the people This is testified by diuers credible witnesses An. 1485. The ix of March amongest other good men in Couentrie these nine hereunder named were examined before Iohn bishop of Couentrie and Lichfield in S. Michaels church and recanted Iohn Blumston for holding against purgatorie images Robert Crowther for the matter of the Sacrament the authoritie of the keyes and Images Iohn Smith for the Lords prayer Créed in English Robert Brown for images flesh-eating in Lent purgatorie auricular confession and satisfaction Thomas Butler for purgatorie and merites Iohn Falkes for images and that he did eate Cowmilke the first sunday in Lent c. Richard Hilman for the scripture in English for the matter of the sacrament c. In the yere of our Lord 1488. the thirde of April Margerie Goit wife of Iames Goit was constrayned by Iohn B. of Couentrie and Lichfield to recant concerning the reall presence In the raigne of K. Henrie 7. liued Iohannes Picus earle of Mirandula He
in the Scriptures and in the ciuil law altered againe the presidents mind and so the commission was called barke and the army retired which was come within a mile a half of the town of Merindol to do the execution God heareth their praiers The Merindolians hearing therof gaue thankes to God and determined to subiect thēselues vnto Gods will and to endure whatsoeuer affliction should be layd vpon them The fame of them and also of the arrest came to the king Francis eares who gaue commandement to the noble vertuous Lord monsieur de Langeay at that time his Lieutenant in Thurim a citie of Piedmount diligently to enquire the trueth of the matter who sent 2. deputies to enquire the which deputies made report of the vertue diligence of the poore Merindoliās in such sort that they had by their labour fructified Merindol that wheras before it was taxed but at 4. crowns before the destruction oppression which it suffered paid yeerly to the Lord 350. crowns besides other charges they declared also the great oppression which they had suffered Besides they had good testimonie giuen of their neighbors of Prouence what they held also also against the popes religion was truly reported and the copye of the arrest brought whereof the king was aduertised by monsieur de Langeay who vnderstanding these things King Frauncis pardoneth the Merindoliās sent letters to them of grace and pardon not to those onely which were condemned for lacke of appearance but also for all the rest of the countrey of Prouence which were accused and suspected in like case commanding the Parlement that they should not hereafter so procéed but if there were any that could be proued by sufficient information to haue swerued from christian religion that then hee shoulde haue demonstration made vnto him by the word of God out of the old and new testament so by gentlenes bée reduced to the church of God cōmanding also that those which were conuicted of heresie should abiure that all prisoners should be set at libertie which either were accused or suspected of Lutheranisme By vertue of which commandement letters of the king they were permitted to declare their cause Whervpon A confession of the Merindolians faith they made a cōfession of their faith which was presented first to the court of parlement afterward more at large with articles therunto annexed it was deliuered to the B. of Cabillon and to Cardinall Sadolet About this time the yéere 1542. the vicelegate of Auinion assembled a great number of men of war at the request of the B. of Cauailon to destroy Cabriers 1542 Cabriers when the army was come within a mile of Cabriers the Cardinall Sadolet went with spéede vnto the Vicelegate and shewed the articles of the confession of Cabriers Sadolet helped Cabriers and how they offered to bée informed wherin they had erred by the word of God whervppon at that time the army retired Afterward it was ordained by the court of Parlement that according to the kings letters Ioh. Durand counseller of the court of parlement with a secretary and the Bish of Cauaillon with a Doctor of diuinitie should goe vnto Merindoll and there declare vnto the Inhabitants the heresies which they knew to be cōteined in their cōfession to make them apparant by good and sufficient information And hauing so conuicted them by the word of god they should make them renounce and abiure the said heresies c. Whereupon Durandus signified the day that he woulde be present at Merindol that none of the Inhabitants might be absent At the day appointed the parties aboue mentioned came vnto Merindoll whereas also were present diuers Gentlemen and men of vnderstanding of all sortes There was called foorth Anthonie Mailard Examination of the Merindolians Bailiffe of the towne of Merindoll Ienon Romane and Michelin Maynard Sindiques Iohn Cabrie and Iohn Palenc Ancients of Merindoll and Iohn Brunerol vnder-bayliffe who requiring that they might because they were vnlearned answere by Aduocate were denyed either to answere by Aduocate or by wryting but only in their owne persons who notwithstanding did by Gods assistance so answere that the aduersaries were ashamed and durst put in no information of heresie against their articles But the B. spake a lōg tale in the Cōmissioners day and would declare nothing and the Doctor made a long tale in latin and would geue no otherwise any information against them Many that came thether to heare this disputation were much touched and moued to require copies of their confession and answeres Whereupon many were conuerted to the faith namelie 3. doctors who went about to disswade the Merindolians from the trueth whose ministerie God vsed afterwarde in the preaching of the Gospel Of whom one was D. Comband Prior of S. Maximinie afterwardes Preacher in the territorie of the Lords of Bern another was D. Semanti who was also a preacher in the Bayliwike of Touon the other was D. Herandi pastor and minister in the Countie of Newcastle After this the Inhabitantes of Merindoll were in quiet for a time vntill Iohn Miniers an excéeding bloudy tirant began a new persecution This Miniers being Lord of Opedie néere to Merindol first began to vexe the poore Christians by polling and extortion getting from them what he could to inlarge his own Lordshippe which before was very base For this cause he put 5. or 6. of his owne Tenants into a Cistern vnder the ground and cloasing it vp there kept them till they died for hunger pretēding that they wer Lutherans to haue their goods and possessions By this and such other practises this wretch was aduāced in a short space to great wealth and dignitie and at lēgth became the Kings Lieutenant generall in the Countrey of Prouence in the absence of the L. Grigitane then being at the Councell of Wormes in Germanie this wretch impudently and falsly geueth the king to vnderstand that they of Merindoll and Snatre about the number of twelue or fiftéene thousande were in the field in armour with Ensigne displayde entending to take the towne of Marcelle to make it one of the Cantons of the Suitzers By which lie he obteined the kings letters patentes and through the helpe of the Cardinal of Tournon commanded the sentence of the former arrest to be executed against the Merindoliās After this he gathered all the Kings armie which was then in Prouence ready to go against the Englishmen and tooke vp all besides that were redy to beare armour in the chéefe townes of Prouence and ioyned them with the army which the popes Legate had leuied for that purpose in Auinion and all the Countrey of Venice and employed the same to the destruction of Merindoll and Cabriers and of other Townes and Villages to the number of 22. geuing commission to his Souldiers to spoile ransacke burn destroy al together and to kil man woman child without al pity
sparing none Before he came to Merind he rāsakt burnt certaine townes namely La Roche S. Stephens ville Laure Lormarin la motte Cabrieretter S. Martin Pipu The cruelty of Antichrist and other places mo notwithstanding the arrest onely extended to Merindole where the most of the inhabitants were murthered and slayne without any resistance women and maidens rauished women with child and little infants most cruelly murdered the paps of many women which gaue sucke to their children cut of and the children staruing at the breasts of there dead mothers such crueltie as was neuer before séene The Merindolians séeing all on a flaming fire about them left their houses with women and children and other few and with them certaine ministers of their Churches Miniers in the meane time had deuided his army into two parts marching with the one partie himselfe towards Merindoll and hauing knowledge by espiall whether the Merindolians were fledde hée sent the other part of his armie to set vppon them on a sudden who came and found them assembled at prayers and spoyled them of all that they had pulling their garmentes from their backes Popish crueltie some they rauished some they whipped and scourged some they sold away like cattle c. The women were in number about fiue hundred In the meane time Miniers came to Merindoll where hée found none but a yoong man named Maurice Blanc Maurice Blanc who had yéelded himselfe to a Souldier promising him for his raunsome 2. French crownes Miniers would haue had him away by force but it was answered the souldier ought not to loose his prisoner Miniers therefore paying the two crownes himself tooke the yoong man caused him to be tied to an Oliue trée shot through with harquebushes and so cruelly martired the yoong man still calling on God so hée razed Merindoll and laid it euen with the ground Merindoll razed and layed euen with the ground When he had so done he laid siege to Cabriers which whē he could not ouercome by force he promised thē fairly if they would let him enter in swearing hée would harme none of them wherevpon the people let him in who when he was once entered Miniers breaketh his oth with Cabriers falsified his oth and first picked out about thirtie men caused them to be caried to a certaine medow bound and there to bée miserably cut and hewen in péeces of his Souldiers hée exercised also great cruelty ouer the women and caused fortie of them to be taken of whom many were with childe and put them into a barne full of hey and straw and caused it to be set on fire at foure corners kéeping them that would breake out with pikes and halberts there was a Souldier which being moued with pittie at the lamentation of the women opened a dore to let them out but as they were comming forth the cruell tyrant caused them to be slaine and cut in péeces opening their bellies Meruailous crueltie that their children might fall out whom they trode vnder their féete many were fledde into the wineseller of the Castle and many hidde themselues in caues whereof some were caried into the medow and there stripped naked were slaine other some were bound two and two together and caried into the hall of the Castle where they were slaine by the Captaines reioycing in their buchery That doone this tyrant commaunded captain Iohn de Guy with a band of ruffians to go into the church wher was a great number of women children and yoong infants to kill all that he found there he although at first refusing yet being threatned performed the same The number of them which were slaine 1000. slaine was a thousand persons men women and children the infants which escaped their furie were baptized againe of their enemies In token of this ioly victory the Popes officers caused a piller to be erected in the place of Cabriers in which was engrauen the yeare and daye of sackyng the towne by Iohn Miniers Lord of Oped and chéefe president of the Parlement of Prouence In this meane season they of Merindoll and Cabriers which had fled to the mountaines being in great necessitie of victuals procured certaine men which were in fauour with Miniers to intreate him they might depart safely onely with their liues although they had no more but their shirts to couer their nakednes Whervnto he answered not one of them shal escape my hands I will send them to dwell in hell among the diuels After this there was a power sent vnto Cossa Cossa destroyed which likewise they ouerran and committed there great slaughter Many of the inhabitants fled away and went into an Orchard where the souldiers rauished the women maidens and when they had kept them there a day and a night they handled them so beastly that they died shortly after They which escaped to the woods and went wandring by mountains were taken and set in gallies or els were slaine outright many which hid themselues in rocks and dark caues some were famished some smoothered with fire smoke put to thē And this was the destruction of Merindol Cabriers This cause was afterward in the time of Henry the second fiftie times pleaded to and fro by one called Aubrius Aubrius against Minerius and another named Robertus the defendant but it could not be determined and Minerius was let out of prison and restored to his possessions and libertie agayne vpon condition made to Charles Cardinall of Loraine that he should expell the true professors out of al prouinces which he after his restoring practised accordingly Gods iudgmēt vpon Minerius other persecutors till being stricken of God he died of a rotting in his guts his entrals being eaten with wormes yelding a horrible stēch Lewis de Vanie brother in law to the president the brother son in law to Peter Durand maister Butcher of the town of Aix flew one another vpon a strife that fel betwixt them and on them the same day the judge of Aix who accompanied Minerius in the same persecution as he returned home going ouer the riuer of Durance fell of his horse and was drowned Pantal. The histories of the persecutions and warres against the Waldenses in the valleies of Angroigne Lucern S. Martin Perouse and other in the countrie of Piedmount from the yeere 1555. till the yeere 1561. ALbeit these people had before this time certaine to preach the word of God minister the sacraments vnto them priuatly yet in the yere of our Lord 1555. in the moneth of August the Gospel was openly preached in Angroign for which cause they built thē a church in the mids of Angroign wherin assemblies were made sermons preached It happened at that time that one Ioh. Martin of Griqueras a myle from Angroign which vaunted euery where that he would slitte the ministers nose of Angroign was assaulted with a wolfe which bit of his nose that he
printers themselues which before they neuer intended and imprinted out the said Bible in London and after that printed sundry impressions of them but yet not without great trouble and losse through the hatred of Steeuen Gardiner and his fellowes Steeuen Gardiner alwaies an enemie to the Gospel In those dayes there were two sundrie Bibles in English printed and set foorth bearing diuers titles and printed in diuers places The first was called Thomas Mathewes Bible Th. Mathewes bible printed at Hamborough about the yere 1532. The Corrector of which Printe was Iohn Rogers the Printers were Richard Grafton and Whitchurch In the translation of this Bible the greatest doer was William Tindall who with the helpe of Miles Couerdale had translated all the bookes thereof except onely the Apocrypha and certaine notes in the Margent which were added after But because William Tindall in the meane time was apprehended before his booke was fullie perfected it was thought good to them that had the dooing thereof to chaunge the name of William Tindall because that name was then odious and to further it by a straunge name of Thomas Matthew Iohn Rogers being the same time corrector to the print who had then translated the residue of the Apocrypha and added also certaine notes thereto in the Margent and thereof came it to be called Thomas Matthewes bible Which bible of Thomas Matthewes after it was imprinted and presented to the Lord Cromwell and the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who liked very well of it Cromwell presented it to the king The Bible in English presented to the king and obtained that it might fréely passe to be read of subiects with his graces licēce So that there was printed on the same booke one line in red letters with these wordes Set forth with the Kinges most gracious licence This book did greatly offend the Bishops both for the prologues and especially for a table called of the common places of the Bible and the scriptures for the approbation of the same and chiefly about the supper of the Lord and priests marriages and the masse which there was said not to bée found in the Scripture After the restraint of this bible of Mathew another came to be printed at Paris anno 1540. which was called the bible of the large volume The Bible of the large volume The Printed that printed it was the former the ouerseer was Miles Couerdale who conferred Tindalles Translation with the Hebrewe and mended diuers places there In this Bible although the former notes of Thomas Mathew were omitted yet sundrie marks and hands were annexed in the margent which meant that in those places should be made certaine notes wherewith also the Clergie was offfended and Cromwel being dead complaintes were made to the king of the translation of the Bible and of the Preface of the same and then was the sale of the Bible cōmanded to be staied the B. promising to amend and correct it but neuer performed it The Bishops promisse to amend the Bible but performed it not Then Grafton was called for and troubled cast in the Fléete where hée remained sixe wéekes and before he came out was bound in 300.l neither to print to sell nor cause to be printed any mo bookes till the king and the clergie should agrée on the translation and thus was the Bible staied from that time during the reigne of king Henry the eight Anno 1541. D. Cutbert Barnes Doctor Barnes Thomas Garret and William Hierome were burned in Smithfield for the testimonie of Iesus Christ after the death of the lord Cromwell who whiles he liued was a great defence vnto diuerse that professed the truth but he being taken away many godly christians in diuerse places went to wracke Doctor Barnes after that he came from the vniuersitie of Louaine went to Cambridge where hée was made Prior and Maister of the house of Augustines at which time the knowledge of good letters was very scant in the Vniuersitie which Barnes thinking to redresse read in his house Terence Plautus and Cicero so that what with his labour and helpe of Thomas Parnell his scholer whom he brought from Louaine with him reading Copia verborum rerum he caused the house shortly to florish with good letters and made a great part of his house learned as M. Cambridge M. Field M. Coleman M. Burley M. Couerdall c. After these foundations laid he did openly read in the house S. Paules Epistles and put by Duns Dorbell Duns Dorbell put out of Cambridge and yet though he were a questionarie himselfe in short space made he diuerse good diuines obseruing disputations of necessarie points of faith in his house Disputations of points of faith rare in Cābridge in those daies also in the schooles when he should dispute with any man The first man that answered Doctor Barnes in the Scriptures was M. Stafford for his forme to be batchellour of diuinitie Which disputation was marueilous in the sight of the great blind Doctors notwithstanding all this till he was conuerted by Bylney D. Barnes conuerted by Bylney he remained in his superstition still The first Sermon that euer he preached according to the truth of the Gospell was the Sunday before Christmas day at S. Edwards church belonging to Trinitrie hall in Cambridge by the pease market whose theame was the Epistle of the same Sunday Gaudete in Domino c. For which Sermon he was immediatly accused of heresie by two fellows of kings hall Then the godly mē flocked and conferred together the house that they most commonly resorted vnto was the white horse which for dispite of them to bring Gods word into contempt was called Germany The White-horse in Cambridge called Germany This house was especially chosen because they of S. Iohns Kings and Quéenes Colledges might come on the backeside thether Doctor Barnes was accused in the regent house and constantly continued with much preaching of diuerse parties one against another in trying out Gods truth till within sixe dayes before Shrouetide then was there sent downe a Sergeant at armes called maister Gibson dwelling in Saint Thomas Apostle in London who suddainly arrested Doctor Barnes D. Barnes arrested in the Regent house and priuely they had determined to make searche for Luthers bookes and all the Germanes workes suddainly but by Doctor Farmans warning of Quéenes Colledge the bookes were conueyed away thirtie persons they had in speciall suspition Doctor Barnes was carried to Cardinall Wolsey and after hée had a while stood constant by the perswasion of Doctor Gardiner his secretarie and Foxe he relented and submitted himselfe Barnes submitteth himselfe and with fiue Stylliard men he bare his faggot at Paules the bishop of Rochester there preaching against Luther Doctor Barnes Notwithstanding his submission the Bishop commaunded hée shoulde be had to the Fléete againe and bée permitted to haue such libertie as other prysoners
Paulet Iohn Baker Rich Chauncellour of the Augmentation Winckfielde Vice-chauncellour There suffered besides those traytors in the time of king Henrie for the cause of Supremacie to the number of foure and twentie in all Such was the furious prosecuting of the commission for the vi Articles that in London a great number came into question and great trouble to the number almost of two hundreth persons and out of other quarters such a number were apprehended through this Inquisition that al the prisons in London were too little to holde them All prisons in London too litle to hold the persecuted in so much that they were fayne to lay them in Halles At the last through the meanes of the Lord Awdeley such pardon was obteyned of the king that the Lord Awdeley then Lorde Chauncellour being content that one should be bound for another they were all discharged Edmund Boner Boner turneth his opinion and becōmeth a persecutor who had before béen aduanced by Cromwell and preferred before another way being now B. of London shewed himselfe a most cruell executor of the commission in such sort that he burned Richard Mekins being but of xv yéeres of age for chauncing to speake against the Sacrament of the Altar as he had heard other say and other were caused to recant as Towling parson of S. Anthonies and Alexander Seaton a Scotish man and a worthy preacher this was Anno 1541. An. 1541. Iohn Porter a yoong man was by Boner cast into prison in Newgate for reading the Bible in Paules yet the king had commaunded it should be read and Boner himselfe in the daies of Cromwell appointed that vj. bibles of the great volume should be set vp in the church of Saint Paules in London for the people to read Six Bibles set vp in Paules to be read of the people Wherevpon great multitudes would resort thither to heare this Porter read Hereat Boner beyng grieued caused him to be put in the dungeon of Newgate where he was fettered in irons both legges and armes with a coller of iron aboute his necke fastened to the wall in the dungeon From this torment by suite of his brother and many other hée was released to be among the other prysoners fellons and murtherers whose blasphemie and wickednesse hée beyng not able to beare and therewith finding fault and giuing them instructions he was complained of and carried downe againe and layd in the lower dungeon of all and oppressed with boltes and irons It is thought that he was fettered with one Ingine in the pryson called The Deuill in the necke The diuell in the necke whiche is so deuised that within thrée or foure houres it breaketh and crusheth a mans backe or body in péeces Iohn Porter killed in pryson so that within six or eight dayes after being heard pitifully crying and groning he was found dead In the time of the Cardinall Thomas Somers an honest Merchant was in pryson in the Tower for hauing of Luthers bookes and penaunce beyng inioyned that hée should with thrée other Merchaunts ride with bookes into Cheapeside hanged about their neckes with a bason tinged on before them and there cast their Testamentes in the fire Now because he cast his booke ouer or through the fire and woulde not cast it into it Thomas Somers dieth in the Tower hée was complained of and cast againe into the Tower by the Cardinall where hée died In the diocesse of Lincolne vnder Iohn Longland and Doctor Dracot his Chancellour great persecution was about Buckingham and Amersham for the sixe Articles and the same time the Bishop burned two in one day the one named Thomas Barnarde Thomas Barnard Iames Morton martyrs and the other Iames Morton the one for teaching the Lordes prayer in English and the other for kéeping the Epistle of saint Iames translated into English In Oxford also the same time or much there about recanted one maister Barber a master of arts of that Vniuersitie a man excellently learned His cause was the matter of the Sacrament Not long before his recantation there was one maister Malarie maister of arts of Cambridge of Christs Colledge who for like opinions contrary to the Romish faith was conuented before the Bishoppes and in the end sent to Oxford there openly to recant and to beare his faggot to the terrour of the studentes of that Vniuersitie at whose recantation while Doctor Smith preached and treated of the Sacrament there rose a false imagination of firs that shoulde bée ouer their heades and suche impression it tooke in Doctor Smith that in manner hée first of all cried out in the pulpet A popish feare these are the traynes and subtilties of Heretikes agaynst mée Lorde haue mercie vppon mée Lorde haue mercie vppon mée c. Claymunde with other of the aged sorte that coulde not runne and make shift for themselues knéeled downe before the highe Altar committing themselues and their liues vnto the sacrament all ful of terror While the rest thronged thrust to get out of the Church among them there was a boy that séeing the dores so stopped with presse that he could not get out climed vp vpon the dore among them gate out ouer mens heads being vpon the doore he saw a Monke comming towardes him which had a great wide cowle hanging at his backe which the boy perceiuing leapes downe into the Monkes cowle the Monke at the first perceiuing nothing but after a while féeling his cowle heauie and hearing the voyce of the boy thought it had béene a diuell and began to coniure him in the name of God and all saints I commaund thée to declare what thou art that art behind my backe to whom the boy answered I am Bartrams boy Bartrams boy The diuell in the Monkes cowle But I saide the Monke adiure thée in the name of the vnseparable trinitie that thou wicked spirite doe tell mée who thou art from whence thou camest and that thou gette thée hence I am Bartrams boy sayde hée good maister let mée go and with that his cowle beganne to cracke vpon his shoulders the monke when he perceiued the matter tooke the boy out and discharged his cowle the boy tooke his legges and ran away as fast as he could and this was the perplexitie of the good Catholikes in that assemblie which rose vpon the crying of fire in the stréetes by one Hewster who sawe a chimney on fire and according to the custome cried Fire fire as hée passed by Saint Maries Church Nowe as touching the Heretike because hée had not done his sufficient penaunce there by occasion of this hurliburly therefore the next day hée was reclaymed into the Church of Saint Frisewide where hée supplied the rest of his penance that lacked An. 1541. By the sentence of the cōuocation house the Lady Anne of Cleue was diuorced Lady Anne of Cleue diuorced the king permitted to mary with the L. Katherine Hawarde and within a while she
of September and was committed to the tower close prisoner hauing his seruant Austine to attend vpon him The same day the Archbishop of Canterbury appearing before the Counsell was commaunded to appeare againe the next day at after noone in the starre chamber where hauing charged him with treason and spreading abroade seditious libels Cranmer to the Tower he was committed from thence to the tower there to remaine till farther iustice at the Quéenes pleasure The 15. of September there was a letter sent to maister Horne Deane of Durham for his appearance and another the 7. of October for his spéedy appearance The 16. of Septem there were letters sent to the maiors of Douer and Rye to suffer all French protestants to passe out of this Realme French protestants suffered to passe hence except such whose names should be signified to them by the French Ambassadour The first day of October Quéene Marie Mary crowned was crowned at Westminster and the tenth day of the same moneth beganne the Parlament A parlement with a solemne masse of the holie Ghost in the pallace of Westminster To the which among other Lords should come the Bishops which yet remained vndeposed which were the Archbishoppe of Yorke Doctor Taylor of Lincolne Iohn Harley Bishop of Hereford of the Bishops Doctor Taylor and maister Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie and taking their place amongest the Lordes after they sawe the masse beginne not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the companie for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne béeing examined and protesting his faith was vpon the same commanded to attend Who not long after at Anker wicke by sicknesse departed Maister Harley because he was married was excluded both from the Parlement and from his Bishopricke This statute repealed Statutes repealed all the statutes made in the time king Henrie the viij for Premunire and statutes made in king Edward the vj. time for the administration of common bread and the Sacraments in the English tongue In this meane while many men were forward in erecting of Altars and Masses in Churches and such as would sticke to the Lawes made in K. Edwards time till other were established some of them were marked and some presently apprehēded Among whom sir Iames Hales Sir I Hales of kent apprehended and imprisoned a knight in kent and Iustice in the common place was one Who notwithstanding he had ventured his life in Q. Maries cause yet for that he did at a Quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in king Edwards time and Henrie the eight for the supremacie and religion he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Counter and Fléet and so cruelly handled and put in feare by talke that he thought to ridde himselfe out of his life by wounding him selfe with a knife and afterward was contented to say what they willed him Whereupon he was discharged but after that he neuer rested The lamentable end of Sir Iames Hales till he had drowned him selfe in a Riuer halfe a mile from his house in Kent During the time of the parlament the Cleargie had also their Conuocation with a disputation appointed by the Q. commaundement at Paules about the 18. of October In which Conuocation Harpsfield preached and D. Weston Deane of Westminster was chosen Prolocutor The disputation continued vj. dayes Disputation of vi dayes about the matter of the Sacrament wherein D. Weston was chéefe on the popes part The first day D. Weston inueyeth against the Catechisme and booke of Common prayer of king Edward and signified that on Friday next the xx of October it should be lawful for all men fréely to speake their consciences in matters of Religion The Friday being come in steade of disputation the Prolocutor exhibited two seuerall Billes vnto the House the one of the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament and the other that the Catechisme was not set out by the houses consent requiring all to subscribe to these Billes as he himselfe had done To which motion all did assent sauing the Deane of Rochester the Dean of Exceter the Archdeacon of Winchester the Archdeacon of Hertforde and the Archdeacon of Stow and one other And while the rest were subscribing Iohn Philpot stoode vp and declared that the Catechisme was set out by the assent of the house and as touching the poynt of naturall presence that it was against reason that men should subscribe before the matter were discussed and withall desired the Prolocutor that he would be a meane to the Counsell that some of those that were the setters out of the same catechisme might be brought into the house to shew their learning that moued them to set forth the same and that D. Ridley M. Rogers with two or thrée more might be licensed to be present at this disputation and to be associated with them The bishops made answere it was not for them to cal such persons vnto the house since some of them were prisoners but they would be Petitioners in this behalfe to the Counsell and in case that any were absent that ought to be of the house they willed them to be taken in vnto them if they listed After this they minding to haue entered into disputation worde was geuen that the Lorde great Master and the Earle of Deuonshire woulde be present at the Disputation and therefore the Prolocutor deferred the same till the next Mundaye at one of the Clocke at after Noone At which time many Nobles being assembled to heare the Disputation the Prolocutor sayde that they of the house had appointed this Disputation not to call the trueth in doubt the which they had all subscribed sauing fiue or sixe but that those gainesayers might be resolued Then hée demaunded of Master Haddon whether hée woulde reason against the questions proposed To whome he answered hée would seing the request for those learned men to assist would not bée graunted and so aunswered M. Elmer and said that little or nothing it might auaile for the trueth since now all they were determined to the contrarie After this he demaunded of Maister Cheney who allowed of the presence but denied the transubstantiation Master Cheney answered he would gladly haue his doubts resolued on that point and so propounding his doubts the Prolocutor assigned M. Mooreman to aunswere By this meanes Maister Elmer was driuen to stand vp and so M. Philpot who reasoned against M. Mooreman and grauelled him Then stood vp the deane of Rochester M. Philpot who disputed of the real presence whom Weston answered and Watson tooke his parte Vpon whome Philpot replieth againe and in the end the disputation grew to be confused The disputation confused by reason many would take vpon them to answere On Wednesday the xxv of October Iohn Philpot according to the appointment was ready to dispute about the reall presence and was ready to enter into a Latine oration made to interpret the question this the Prolocutor
be put in practise beyng not directly against the Statutes and Lawes of the Realme 2. That no Bishop or Prelate doo vse the clause Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That no sacramentarie be admitted to benefice 4. That all Bishoppes do labour especially in the Clergie to suppresse heresies 5. Against bookes writings 6. Against priests mariages and that such as would depart from their wiues should be vsed more fauourably and admitted to the same function But in another place and for want of priests that one priest should serue two places That processions be vsed that holy daies and fasting daies be frequented that the ceremonies be vsed confirmation of children be put in practise and the like prescript also with articles was sent from the Quéene to the Lord Maior of London About the same yéere and time when Doctour Boner set foorth this prescript there came from the Quéene a Proclamation against straungers such as professed the Gospel Vpon this Proclamation not onely the strangers in King Edwardes time receiued into the Realme for religion among whom Peter Martir Iohn Alasco vncle to the king of Poleland but many Englishmen fled some into Frizeland some to Cleueland some to high Germanie wel neare to the number of 800. persons Neare 800. persons flie beyond the seas In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whō the Quéene at her first entrie deliuered out of the Tower and Ladie Elizabeth also the Quéenes sister were both in suspition to haue béene of Wiats conspiracie Lady Elizabeth and Lord Courtney sent to the Tower and for the same this March were apprehended and committed to the Tower And although Wiat at his death cleared them both as vnacquainted with the matter yet Gardiner practised to bring them both within the compasse of the same and the Lord Shandoys ioyned therein with him Not long after this a parliament was holden at Westminster in Aprill where the Quéene propounded concerning her marriage to king Phillip and restoring the Popes supremacie Her marriage was agréed vppon but the supremacie would not be obtained as then The Popes supremacie wold not be obteyned The same time when this parliament was summoned the Quéene summoned a conuocation of Bishops writing vnto Boner whom she made Vicegerent in stead of Cranmer being in the Tower after the manner of a new stile leauing out supreme head Likewise Boner giuing her certificate vpon the same leaueth out Authoritate illustriss legitime suffultus which parcels both at the length were taken away at that Parlement In this Conuocation Boner extolling the office of priesthood breaketh out into such an hyperbolicall prayer Boners commendation of Priesthood that they were to be honoured before all kinges of the earth Princes and nobles for said he a Priest is higher then a king happier then an Angell maker of his creatour c. and in some sort like to the virgin Marie for as by speaking sixe wordes fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum shee did conceiue Christ so the Priest by the wordes of Consecration doeth chaunge the bread into the body of Christ Anno. 1554. The x. of March a letter was sent to the Léeftenant of the Tower to deliuer the bodies of Master Doctor Cranmer the Archbishop of Caunterburie Master Ridley and M. Latimer to Sir I. Williams to be conueied by them both to Oxford The xxvj of March there was a letter sent to sir Henrie Doel and one Foster to attach the bodies of D. Taylor parson of Hadley and of Henrie Askew and to sende them vp to the Counsell About the tenth of Aprill Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer sometime B. of Worcester Cranmer Ridley and Latimer sent prisoners to Oxford were cōueied as prisoners from the Tower to Windsor and from thence to the Vniuersitie of Oxford there to dispute with the Diuines and learned men of both Vniuersities about the presence substance and sacrifice of the Sacrament Their names were these Disputers at Oxford Of Oxford D Weston Prolocutor D. Tresham Doctor Cole D. Oglethorpe D. Pie D. Harpsfielde M. Fecknam Of Cambridge Doctor Yong. Vicechauncellour D. Glinne D. Seaton D. Watson D. Sedgewick D. Atkinson The questions whereon they should dispute Questions to be disputed of were these 1. Whether the naturall bodie of Christ be really in the sacrament after the wordes of consecration be spoken by the Priest 2. Whether any substance doe remaine after the words sauing the bodie and bloud 3 Whether the Masse be a sacrifice propiciatorie On Saterday being the xiiij of April after dinner the Commissioners and Disputers went all to Saynt Maries church in Oxford and there after a short consultation in a Chappel they came all into the quire and sate all on seats before the Altar to the number of 33. persons 33. Commissioners Cranmer brought before the Commissioners Vnitie with Veritie And first they sent to the Mayor that he should bring in D. Cranmer whō he brought with a great number of rustie Bilmen And being come the Prolocutor exhorted him to vnitie To whom the Archb. modestly answered he would embrace it gladly so it were ioyned with veritie And after a discourse of the same in fewe words the Prolocutor caused the questions to be propounded vnto him and required him to subscribe thereunto Which the Archb. refusing the Prolocutor first willed him to write his minde of them that night and saide moreouer he should dispute on them and caused a copie of the Articles to be deliuered vnto him assigning him to answere thereunto on munday next and so charged the Maior with him againe to be had to Bocardo where he was kept before Then was D. Ridley Ridley appeareth brought who hearing the articles read vnto him answered without any delay and said they were all false and being asked whether he would dispute he answered that as long as God gaue him life they should not onely haue his heart but also his mouth and Penne to defende his trueth But hée required to haue time and bookes They sayde he coulde not And that he should dispute on Thursdaye and till that time he shoulde haue Bookes Then gaue they him the Articles and bad him write his minde of them that night and so he did Then they commanded the maior to haue him from whence he came M. Latimer appeareth Last of all came in Master Latimer who after his deniall of the Articles had Wednesday appoynted for disputation He alleadged age sicknesse disease and lack of bookes wherefore he refused to dispute but he sayd he would declare his minde in wryting or by woordes and woulde stande to all that they coulde laye vpon his back complayning that hee was permitted neither to haue penne nor Inke Neither the Masse nor maribones nor sinowes therof in the scripture nor any Booke sauing the new Testament in his hand which he said he had read ouer seuen times deliberatelie and yet
of executiō Who considering the shortnes of time his saying was that although the day were neuer so long yet at the last it ringeth to euensong c. About ij of the clocke he was brought to the place called Romeland a gréene néere the west end of the abbey church After he had prayed at the stake he said with a chéerfull voice that although he had a sharp dinner yet he hoped to haue a ioyful supper in heauen While the reeds were set about him a priest came to perswade him to beléeue in the sacrament But Tankerfield cried vehemētly I defy the whore of Babilon fie on the abhominable idol Whereat the maior was sore offended and said though he had but one lode of fagots in the world he would geue them to the burning of him There was a certaine knight by that went vnto Tākerfielde and tooke him by the hand and said good brother be strong in Christ This he spake softly and Tankerfield said Oh sir I thanke you I am so I thank God Fire being put to him The patience of the martirs caused the people to say they had the deuil he embraced the flame and bathed his hands therin and so gaue vp his soule into the handes of Christ Whose patience was such that certaine superstitious olde women did say the deuill was in him and in all such Heretikes and therefore they could not almost féele any payne Robert Smith Robert Smith was brought to Newgate the fifth of Nouember in the first or second yere of the Q. by I. Mathew yoman of the gard by the commandement of the Counsell First he was seruant to sir Th. Smith prouost of Eaton frō whence he was preferred to a clerkship of x. l in Eaton Hée was much confirmed in the truth by the preachings readings of one M. Turner of Windsor and others Wherfore at the cōming in of Mary he was depriued of his clerkship and not long after their examinations wherein boldly and wisely he behaued himselfe in the cause of Christ he was condemned in the consistorie the xij of Iuly and from thence was had to Newgate with other of the brethren He wrote diuerse letters in prison to sundry fréends Hée suffered at Vxbridge the viij of August Being at the stake he comforted the people willing them to thinke well of his cause and not to doubt but his body dying in that quarrell should rise againe to life And said he I doubt not but God will shewe you some tooken therof At length he being well nigh halfe burnt and blacke with fire The martyr giueth a signe clustered together as in a lumpe like a blacke cole all men thinking him for dead suddainly rose vpright before the people lifting vp the stumpes of his armes and clapping the same together and so hanging ouer the fire slept in the Lord. About this time died Stephen Harwood Stephen Harwood at Stratford Thomas Fust Thomas Fust at Ware both for the testimonie of Iesus Also about the end of August William Haile Williā Haile was burned at Barnet and constantly suffered for the truth George King Thomas Lewes and Iohn Wade sickened in Lollardes tower died and were cast into the fieldes and buried in the night by the brethren So also William Andrew died in pryson who was brought to Newgate Anno 1555 by Ihon Motham Cōstable of Maulden in Essex The principall promoter of him was the Lord Rich. The xxxj of August suffered Robert Samuell preacher minister at Barfold in Suffolke his chéefe persecutor was M. Foster a iustice of Cobdock a litle from Ipswich where he caused M. Samuell to be apprehēded put in the goale of Ipswich frō whence being remoued to Norwich he fell into the cruell hands of the bishop Doctor Hopton Dunnings his chancellour who first caused him to be chained bolt vpright to a great post in such sort that standing onely on tiptoe hée was faine to stay vp the whole waight of his bodie besides he so pined him with hunger thirst his allowance being only two or thrée mouthfuls of bread and thrée sponefuls of water for his dayly sustenance that his body was so dried vp that he could not make one drop of vrine to relieue his thirst He had diuerse visions during the time of his imprisonment Samuell hath a vision which he for modesties sake concealed Sauing this one he declared that after he had béene pined iij. daies he fell in a sléepe or slumber one clad all in white séemed to stand before him which ministred vnto him comfort in these wordes Samuell Samuell be of good chéere and take a good hart vnto thée for after this day shalt thou neuer hunger nor thirst Which came so to passe accordingly As hée came to the fire a certaine mayde came vnto him and kissed him her name was Rose Nottingham Rose Nottingham Next after the suffering of Robert Samuell Robert Samuell about the beginning of September was burned Williā Allen W. Allen. in Walsingham laboring man At his suffering such was his credite among the Iustices by reason of his well tried conuersation among them that he was suffered to go vntied to his suffering and there with patience and constancie gaue witnes to the truth by shedding of his bloud The same yéere in the moneth of Septēber Roger Coo Roger Coo. of Melford in Suffolke a sheareman and an aged father after sundry conflicts with his aduersaries was committed to the fire at Yexford in the countie of Suffolke Hée was condemned the xij of August by the bishop of Norwich With the aforesaid was also condemned Thomas Cobbe Tho. Cobbe of Hauerhill butcher and was burned in the towne of Tetford in the moneth of September About the vj. of September Robert Catmer of Hith Robert Streater of Hith Anthony Burward of Calete George Brodbridge of Bromfield Iames Tutley of Brēchley were condemned by Thornton S. of Douer About the mids of Septemb Thomas Hayword Th. Hayword Iohn Gareway Ioh. Gareway suffered at the towne of Lichfield for the testimonie of the trueth About this time there was a godly gentleman M. Iohn Glouer M. Ioh. Glouer in the dioces of Lichfield and Couentry whom the B. by his letters charged the maior of Couentry to apprehend But so soon as he had receiued the letters he sent a priuie watchword to Iohn to escape and shift for himselfe who with his brother William was not so soon departed out of his house but that yet in the sight of them the Sheriffe and other searchers came in to take him But when Iohn could not be found one of the officers going into an vpper chamber foūd there Robert the other brother a maister of art in Cābridge lying sicke of a long disease which was by him incontinent brought before the sheriffe by whom he was committed to the gaole forthwith Not being called to his answere he was moued to
and behynde hym kneeled Maister Latimer as earnestly calling vppon GOD as hee Doctour Smith who recanted preached a Sermon scant in all a quarter of an houre against them in the meane while that they were a preparing to the fire M. Ridley being in his shirt stood vpon a stone at the stake and held vp his hands and saide Oh heauenly father I giue vnto thée most hearty thankes for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée euen to the death c. Then the smith tooke a chaine of yron and brought the same both about D. Ridleyes and Latimers middles and as hee was knocking in the staple maister Ridley tooke the chayne in his hand and shaked the same for it did gyrd in his bellie and looking aside to the smith saide Good fellow knocke it in hard for the flesh will haue his course Then his brother brought both him and maister Latimer gunpowder which he said he would take as sent from God then brought they a fagot kindeled with fire and laide it downe at Ridleyes féete Latimer prophecieth at the stake To whom maister Latimer spake in this maner be of good comfort M. Ridley and play the mā we shal this day light such a candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shal neuer be put out And so the fire was giuen vnto them When Doctor Ridley sawe the fire flaming vp towardes him he cried with a woonderfull loude voyce In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum Domine accipe spiritum meum And after repeated often in English Lorde Lorde receiue my spirite maister Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side Oh father of heauen receiue my my soule who receiued the flame as it were imbracing it and soone died M. Ridley by reason of the euil making of the fire had his nether partes all burnt before the vpper parts were touched and endured great torment with much patience so they both slept in the Lorde faithfull witnesses of his trueth Diuers letters and treatises Maister Ridley wrote diuers letters and treatises of exhortation The next moneth after the burning of Ridley M. Ridley and Latimer which was the moneth of Nouember died Stephen Gardiner Stephen Gardiner dieth a man of an vnconstant mind a man hated of God and all good men He was during the time of Queene Anne an enemie to the Pope but after her decease the time carried him away that hée became a Papist till agayne in King Edwardes time hée beganne to rebate from certaine pointes of poperie Agayne after the decay of the Duke of Sommerset he quite turned to poperie and became a cruell Persecutour Hée hauing intelligence of the death of Ridley and Latimer deferring his dinner til thrée or foure of the clock at after noone commeth out reioysing to the olde Duke of Norfolke who tarried for his dinner till then at Gardiners Gods iudgement vpon Gardiner house and said Now let vs goe to dinner And being set downe began merely to eate and had eaten but a fewe bittes when the sodaine stroke of Gods terrible hande fell vpon him so that immediatly he was taken from the table and brought to his bed where he so continued xv dayes and then died his tongue being blacke and swolne in his head When Doctor Day Bishop of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with words of Gods promises with frée iustification in the bloud of Christ our Sauiour repeating the Scriptures vnto him Winchester Winchesters words at his death hearing that what my Lorde saide he will you open that gap now then farewel all together To me and to such other in my case you may speake it but open this window to the people then farewel all together Next after the death of Master Ridley and Master Latimer followed thrée other couragious Souldiers of Iesus Christ Iohn Webbe Gentleman George Roper and Gregorie Parke Iohn Webbe I Webbe G. Roper G. Parker Martirs was brought before the suffragan of Douer the sixtéenth day of September before the other two long after Which beside sundrie other times the the iij. day of October were all thrée together brought before the said Iudge and by him condemned And about the ende of October or in the latter end of Nouember as it is otherwise found they were brought out of prison to their martirdome who by the way said certaine Psalmes mournfullie Roper was a young man of a fresh colour courage and complexion The other two were somewhat more elderly Roper comming to the stake and putting off his gowne fet a great leape So soone as the flame was about him he putte out both his armes from his bodie like a Roode and so stoode stedfast continuing in that maner not plucking his armes in till the fire had consumed them and burnt them off And thus these woorthie Martirs at Canterburie gaue witnesse to the trueth The xiij of December died William Wiseman in the lolards Tower a Clothwoorker of London Some thought that through famine or other euill handling hee was made away After his death he was throwen into the fields and charge geuen that none should burie him But the brethren buried him in the night In the same yeare about the vij of September Iames Gore deceased in prison at Colchester being captiue for defence of the trueth Master Iohn Philpot after he had béene imprisoned by the Lord Chauncellour a yere a halfe for his frée spéech in the conuocation house was the second of October an 1555. called for before the Quéenes Commissioners M. Cholmeley Master Roper Doctor Storie and one of the Scribes of the Arches at Newgate Sessions Hall Where they had nothing particular to charge him with by the Lawe neyther would he otherwise answere So they sent him againe to prison Afterwardes hee was commaunded to appeare the xxiiij day of October which he did And after much railing against him and many threatenings they sent him to the B. of Londons Colehouse where he found Tho. Whittle Priest in the stockes who once through infirmitie had relented to the Papistes but féeling remorse and torment in his conscience went to the B. Register desiring to sée his bill againe Which as soone as he had receiued he tare in péeces and after that was ioyfull receiued comfort Whē the B. heard thereof he beate him and pulled a greate péece of his beard from his face and cast him into prison Which he endured ioyfully for Christes name Boner vnderstanding of master Philpots imprisonment sent him bread and meate and drinke with faire wordes and promise of fauour And within a while after one of his Gentlemen was sent for him and brought him to the presence of Boner Who vnderstanding by Master Philpot the cause of his trouble to haue risen by his speach in the cōuocation house said he would not as then burthen him with his conscience and said moreouer that he meruailed they were so merrie in prison
singing and reioycing To whom M. Philpot answered that they sang Psalmes and that hée trusted he would not be offended therewith since S. Paul saith If a man be of an vpright minde Mē of vpright mindes let him sing and we therefore said he to testify that wee are of an vpright mynd to God though we be in miserie do sing So he was had againe to the Colehouse where he had other sixe companions of the same affliction He was examined in all 14. seuerall times the fourth time in the Archdeacons house of London in the moneth of October before the Byshops of London Bath Worcester and Glocester with whom after dispute of the church of Rome and authoritie therof he was againe dismissed The Byshops rose vp and consulted together and caused a writing to be made whertoo they put their handes So he was againe carried to his Colehouse M. Philpot thought then they conspired his death The 5. examination was before the Byshops of London Rochester Couentrie saint Asses with another Doctor Storie Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with other Chaplens and gentlemen of the Quéenes Chamber and others in the Gallerie of the B. of Londons pallace Where Boner because he said hee minded on the morrow to sit in iudgement on him exhorted him to play the wise mans part and to conforme himselfe To whom Philpot answered he was glad iudgement was so nigh but refused Boner as not being his ordinarie After much dispute of the Romish church and reuilings of Doctor Storie against Maister Philpot he was had againe to the Colehouse the Byshop of London promising him fauour and that he had in his hands to do him good To whō Philpot answered my Lord the pleasure that I will require of you is to hasten my iudgment and so to dispatch me out of this miserable world vnto my eternall rest To hasten iudgement a pleasure to the Martyr The B. for all his faire promises performed no kinde of curtesie vnto him for a whole fortnight after he had neither fire nor candell nor good lodging The sixt examination was before the Lord Chāberlaine the vicont Hereford the L. Ritch the L.S. Iohns the Lord Windsore the L. Shandoys sir Iohn Brydges lieftenant of the Tower with the B of London and Doctor Chadsey The sixt of Nouember Anno 1555. Before whom he was reasoned with touching the Romish Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar The Lordes temporall being halfe amazed at that which they heard and not giuing M. Philpot an euill word The vij examination was had the xix of Nouember before the B of London and Rochester the Chauncellor of Litchfield and Doctor Chadsey The next morning Boner sent for maister Philpot to come to Masse A sharpe answere to Boners message To whose messenger he answered his stomacke was too weake to digest such raw meates of flesh blood and bone The next day the B. sent againe for him and ministred false articles against him and could bring no witnesse but would haue had his prison fellows sworne against him Which because they refused they were put in the stockes and also M. Philpot with them where they sate from morning till night The Sunday after at night betwixt 8. and 9. the Byshop came to the Colehouse himselfe and caused maister Philpot to be had into another place of imprisonment and there caused him to be searched but the searcher missed of his last examination which he had written yet tooke two Letters from him whiche were of no greate importaunce The viij examination was before the B. of London of Saint Dauis maister Mordant and others in the B. chappel where the B. would haue had him answered onely yea or nay to certaine Articles Which Philpot would not but made his appeale which the Bishop said he would stay in his owne handes So was he had againe to the colehouse The 9. time he was examined of the B. alone with his Chaplains the next day after in the Wardrope Where maister Philpot woulde not heare so much as Articles read against him refusing Boner as béeing not his ordinary At the last they fell to reason of the Sacrament of the altar and the masse the Bishop and diuers of his Chaplaines setting vpon maister Philpot. To whom hée gaue no place nor cause of triumph but sufficiently mainteined the trueth therein So for that time he was dismissed to his prison againe And the next day the tenth time was examined of the B his register and others and charged with the booke of Catechisme made in king Edwards daies and certain conclusions agréed vpon both in Oxford and Cambridge c. But M. Philpot refused him for ordinary would not answere but appealed to him that was in place of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury because he knew not of his imprisonment who was then Archbishop The 11. examination was on S. Andrewes day before the Bish of Duresme of Chichester of Bath of London the Prolocutor maister Christophorson Doctor Chadsey maister Morgan of Oxford maister Hussey of the Arches Doctor Weston Doctor Harpesfield maister Coosins maister Iohnson register to the B. of London these disputed against maister Philpot touching the true Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar and of the antiquity of the religion which maister Philpot professed Of which companie maister Morgan behaued himselfe aboue all the rest most insolently against him who asked maister Philpot howe hée knew that hée had the spirite of GOD scoffingly To whome Philpot aunswered by the faith of Christ which is in mée Ah by faith doe you so sayth Morgan I weene it bee the spirite of the buttery which your fellowes haue had which haue beene burned before you who were drunken the night before they went to their death and I weene went drunke vnto it To whome Maister Philpot aunswered It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquaynted with the spirite of the the butterie M. Philpots zeale against Morgan then with the spirite of God Wherefore I must needes tell thee thou paynted wall and Hypocrite In the name of the liuing GOD whose trueth I haue tolde thee that God shall raigne fire and brimstone vppon suche scorners of his worde and Blasphemers of his trueth as thou art Morgan What you rage nowe Philpot. Thy foolishe blasphemies haue compelled the spirite of God which is in mée to speake that which I haue saide vnto thee thou enemie of all righteousnesse By thine owne wordes doe I iudge thée thou blinde and blasphemous Doctour for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be iustified by thy wordes thou shalt be condemned I haue spoken on Gods behalfe and nowe haue I done with thée Morgan Why then I tell thée Philpot thou art an heretike and shalt bée burned for thine heresie and afterwarde goe to hell fire Philpot I tell thee thou hypocrite I passe not this for thy fire and fagot neyther I thanke GOD my Lorde stande in feare of the same my
nothing said vnto them till Doctor Heath was chosen Chauncellour to whom foure of these prisoners made their supplication requiring fauour and deliuerance Vpon the receipt hereof Syr Richard Reade knight one of the officers of the Court of Chauncery was sent the sixtéeen of Ianuary vnto the marshalsea to examine those foure Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell The effect of which was that they were complayned vpon for not comming to the Church by the parson of Barking vnto the L. Rich which they confessed to be true and declared what moued them to absent themselues About the iiij day of March next after Robert Drakes Parson of Thundersley in Essex was also examined In Quéene Maries dayes there were two sermons preached in Master Tirrels Wooddes the one named Plumborowe-woodde and the other Bechers-wood and an hundred at once were at the Sermons The Sermons were preached by Master Timmes Deacon and Curate of Hocley in Essex This preaching the saide Master Tirrell tooke for a hainous matter charged one Gye which was his heardman that frequented Sermons and the societie of the godly to fetch M. Timmes vnto him Who made excuse and saide he could not finde him Then stepped foorth another of his men one Richard Shierife that with the Constable went and fetcht him to M. Tirrel Who had talke with him alone thrée houres together and ended his talke with Master Timmes A short answer of master Timmes in a heate calling him traytorly knaue Why said Timmes in king Edwards daies you did affirme the trueth as I doe now Affirme quoth Tirrel Nay by Gods bodie I neuer thought it with my heart Wel saide Tim. then I pray you M. Tirrel beare with me for I haue béene a traytor but a while but you haue béene a traytor vj. yeares After this he was sent to the B. of London and from him to the B. of Winchester and so to the kings Bench. When he came to the Bishop of London there was with him the B. of Bangor before whom he behaued him selfe in such sorte as the Constables that brought him reported that they neuer heard the like In the Kings bench he was mightely strengthned by the good men which he found there with the other fiue The xxi of March hee was brought to publike examination First in the Bishops Pallace at London where hée enquired of him touching the Sacrament of the Altar Whereunto he answered contrarie to the Popish doctrine and was reasoned with of the B. Chaplens with no great authoritie of scriptures or fathers The xxiij day of the same moneth next after the Bishop sent againe for Timmes and Drakes and ex officio obiected articles And on the xxvi day of the same moneth he ministred also the same Articles to the other foure To which Popish articles they answered negatiuely And in conclusion the xxviij of March they were all brought particularly to the Consistorie before the Bishoppe of London to bée condemned for heresie Where when he required Timmes and the rest to recant he replyed vnto him that he himselfe had written against the vsurped power of the Bishoppe of Rome hauing prefixed his Preface to Winchesters booke De vera obedientia After much debate partly of Bishop Boner and partly of one Doctor Cooke Doctor Pendleton to peruerte the constant Professour of Iesus Christ when they could not preuaile against him they condemned him as an Heretike to be burned And procéeded against the other v godly men fellow Prisoners with M. Timmes who all together the xiiij of Aprill suffered for witnessing to the trueth About this time or somewhat before came down certain Commissioners assigned by the Quéene and Counsell into Norfolke and Suffolke Commissioners into Norfolk and Suff. to enquire of matters of Religion Vnto which Commissioners there was a Supplication put vp by some well disposed men in those quarters praying them to haue pitie and compassion praying God to moue the Queenes heart according to the examples of Darius Assuerus Traianus Theodosius c. to call back those commandementes and Commissions which had passed against the Saints of God The first day of April this present yere Iohn Harpoole Iohn Harpool of the Parish of Saint Nicholas in Rochester and Ioane Beates Ioan Beats widowe were condemned by Maurice the Bishop of Rochester and suffered death by fire in the same Towne for the testimonie of Iesus Christ against the Sacrifice of the Popish Altar Next after these ensued the death of Master Iohn Hullier Iohn Hullier Conduct in the kings Colledge at Cambridge who suffered vnder Doctor Thurlebie bishop of Elie and his Chancellour for the sincere setting forth of Gods Gospell the second of April Not long after the death of Robert Drakes and William Timmes and the other Essex martirs vi other blessed martirs suffered al at one fire in the towne of Colchester whose names were these Christopher Lister Sixe martirs at one fire in Colchester Chr. Lyster of Dagneham husbandman Iohn Mace Iohn Mace of Colchester Apothecary Iohn Spēser Iohn Spenser of Colechester weauer Iohn Hammon Iohn Hammō of Colchester Tanner Symō Iaine Symon Iayne sawier Richard Nicholas Richard Nicholas of Colchester weauer With these 6. was also ioyned another named Roger Grasbrooke but he submitted himselfe Of these that B. made a quicke dispatch for soone after they were deliuered to one Iohn Kingstone bacheler of the ciuill Law and then commissary to the B. by the Earle of Oxf. other commissioners and by him sent vp to his Lord and M. The B. caused them to be brought vnto his house at Fulham where in the open church were ministred vnto them articles touching the Romish church the masse transubstantiation and other the Popes trumperie To which when they answered according to the veritie of the Gospell they were of him condemned and sent to Colchester where the 28. of April most chéerefully they suffered to the great encouragement of others for the testimonie of Iesus The sixtéenth day of Maye Hugh Lauerock Hugh Lauore of 68 yeeres of the parish of Barking painter of the age of sixtie eight a lame creeple and Iohn Ap Price Iohn ap Price a blinde man were burned at Stratford Bow for the constant profession of the Gospell against the superstition of Antechrist being condemned by Boner At their death Hugh Lauerocke Lauerock comforteth his felow after he was chained casting away his crooch and comforting Iohn Ap Price his felow Martir said vnto him Be of good comfort brother for my Lord of London is a good Phisition he will heale vs both shortly Thée of thy blindnes and me of my lamenes And so patiently they suffered together The next day after the martirdome of these two there suffered in the fire in Smithfield iiij womē Katherin Hut of Barking widow Ioane Hornes of Bellerica maide Elizabeth Thackuis of great Burstead maide Margaret Ellis of Billerica maide
his bodie touched the ground After all this hee was brought before the Mayor of Reading and there those false Brethren which before had robbed his studie obiected against him Treason Sedition Murther and Adulterie c. Which when they coulde not proue they laide vnto his charge the writings that they had stolne out of his Studie Wherefore once againe he was called out of pryson and appeared before the Mayor and Byrd the officiall and two other Iustices to render an accompt of his faith And when they had gathered of his owne mouth sufficient matter to entrap him they deuised a byll of instructions against him to be directed to Doctor Geffery who had determined to hold his visitation the next tuesday at Newbery beyng the sixtéenth day of Iuly So he was sent to Newbery and came thether on the Munday at night and with him Thomas Askins his felow prisoner where they found Iohn Grome their faithfull brother in the Lord. So the xv of Iuly the prysoners appeared before Doctor Geffery and other Commissioners where after reasoning of the authoritie and vniuersalitie of the church of Rome and of the presence in the Sacrament c. when no allurements nor perswasions would preuayle they were all thrée condemned and burned together Being at the place of their martyrdome Palmer comforteth his fellowes with the promises of God and pronounced with an audible voice the xxxj Psalme But the other two made their prayers secretly to almightie God all thrée falling to the ground and as Palmer beganne to rise there came behind him a popish priest exhorting him to recant to whome Palmer Palmer at the stake answered Away away tempt me no longer away I said from mée all yée that worke iniquitie for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my teares And foorthwith they put of their rayment went to the stake and kissed it and when they were bound to the post Palmer said good people pray for vs that we may perseuere to the end and for Christes sake beware of popish teachers for they deceiue you Which as hée spake a seruaunt of one of the Bayliffes threwe a faggot at his face that the bloud gushed out in diuerse places Thus fire being put to them they all crying Lord Iesu strengthen vs Lord Iesu assist vs Lord Iesu receiue our soules they ended this mortall life Palmer was about 24. yeares old when he suffered The last time of his being at Oxford one Barwicke then fellow of Trinitie Colledge a rancke papist began to reason with him and perceiuing him to be earnest and zealous said vnto him in the hearing of Maister Thomas Perrey others there present Well Palmer well now thou art stoute and hardie in thyne opinion but if thou were once brought to the stake I beléeue thou wouldest tell me another tale I aduise thée beware of the fire it is a shrewd matter to burne Truly said Palmer Palmer diuers times in daunger of burning I haue bene in daunger of burning once or twise and hetherto I thanke God I haue escaped it but I iudge verily it wil be mine end at the last welcom be it by the grace of God In déed it is an hard matter for them to burne that haue the minde and soule linked to the bodie as a théefe is tyed in a paire of Fetters But if a man be once able through the helpe of Gods spirite to separate and deuide the soule from the bodie for him it is no more maisterie to burne then for me to eate a péece of bread For whom it is easy to burne About the same moneth of Iuly Agnes Wardal of the towne of Ipswich a vertuous woman and one that hated the Romish trash was persecuted by Richard Argentine a phisition in the towne Phillip Vlmes Edmond Leach Iohn Steward and Mathew Butler malicious enemies of Gods children But by Gods great prouidence they escaped their handes and was deliuered In the same moneth also Peter Mone a Tailer of the towne of Ipswich with his wife were called before the B. kéeping visitation at Ipswich and through frailtie yelded to the Byshop Whereof after they fsll into great griefe of conscience when they came home to their house and looking when they should be sent for againe to the B. the next day who had appointed them then to appeare The time appointed drawing nigh they heard the belles ring for the B. departure out of the towne So they escaped farther trial Against these was one Richard Smart a Portman of the towne an earnest member of the Popish Church but afterwardes he repented him thereof with teares In the Isle of Gernesey 3. women Katherine Couches Catherine Couches Guillemme Gilbert Perotine Massey The mother and 2. daughters at Gernsey the mother and one Guillemme Gilbert and Perotine Massey her daughters were burned for the cause of the Gospel refusing to come to Church Notwithstanding they protested to hold nothing against the Popish Church neither was there heard any information against them neither were they examined before of their religion at anye time yet were they condemned by Syr Iames Amy Dean and the Curates of the Isle to be burned for Heretikes Which when the Bayliefes and Iurates vnderstood howe they had not examined them of their faith yet condemned them for heretikes they would not sit in iudgement that day but ordeyned they should first bée examined of them Which being done an Act and sentence was deliuered against them to the former effect that they should be executed as heretikes no accuser hauing béene heard against them Cruelty against the mother and her 2. daughters and the innocent parties protesting they would entirely obey the ordinances of the Church So sentence being giuen against them by Elier Gosseline Bailieffe notwithstanding they had appealed from the same to the king Quéene and Councel yet were they the 18. of Iuly all burned together at 3. stakes the mother in the middest the eldest daughter on the right side and the youngest on the left They were first strangled but the rope brake before they were dead so the poore women fell into the fire Marueilous cruelty Perotine great with child brast asunder by the vehemencie of the fire and her infant being a faire manchild fell into the fire and eftsoones taken out of the fire by one W. Howse was laid vppon the grasse from thence it was had to the prouost and from him to the Baylife Whose censure was that it should be caried backe and cast into the fire so was the child baptized in his owne blood to fil vp the number of the saints Néere about the same time that these 3. women with the infant were burned there suffered for the doctrine of the Gospel at Gréenstéed in Sussex two men Thomas Dungate Tho. Dungate and Iohn Foreman Iohn Forman and one woman called mother Dree the 18. of Iuly About the 26. of Iune one Tho. Moore Tho. More of the age of
Carewe to Bruxels with king Philips safe conduct to passe and repasse by the meanes of the Lorde Paget and Sir Iohn Mason who pledged for his safe conduct king Philippes fidelitie But in his returne when hee had brought the Lorde Paget on his way from Bruxels towarde England he with Sir Peter Carewe was taken by the prouost-marshall spoyled of their horses and clapped into a Carte their legges armes and bodies tied with halters to the bodie of the Carte And so shipped being blindfolded vnder the hatches and brought to the Tower of London Where at the length Sir Iohn Cheeke Sir I. Cheeke was brought to recant and was drawen vnwares to sitte in place where the poore Martirs were brought before Boner and other Bishops to be condemned The remorse whereof wrought such effect in him that not long after he left this mortall life repenting him greatly of his fall before his death The ende of the eleuenth Booke The twelfth and last Booke CArdinall Poole thrée yéeres after his returne into England aduised himselfe of the reforming of the Vniuersitie of Cābridge The vniuersitie of Cambridge to be reformed To performe which charge were chosen Cutbert Scot not long before cōsecrated B of Chester Nicholas Ormanet an Italian archpriest of the people of Bodalon in the dioces of Veron professed in both lawes bearing the name of Lord Pope his Datary T. Watson elected B. of Lincoln Iohn Christophorson elected B. of Chichester and Henrie Cole prouost of the Colledge of Eaton The 9. of Ianuary Anno 1556. Inquisitors came to Cambridge The inquisitors aforesaid came to Cambridge took vp their lodgings all of them in Trinity colledge with M. Christophorson maister of the Colledge The next day after their comming they interdicted two Churches namely S. Maries Q. Maries and S. Michaels Churches were interdicted where Martin Bucer and S. Michaels where Paulus Phagius was buried now thrée or foure yéeres past During which time vnto that day the Priests neuer ceassed to celebrate masses and other ceremonies in these Churches and that without scruple till the comming of these Commissioners Who commaunded hereafter that the assemblies which should be made for executing of holy ceremonies should be remoued to the kings Chappell On the xj day the Vicechancellor of the Vniuersitie with the Masters of houses and the rest of the Graduates were commanded to appeare before the Commissioners in their habites so did in the gatehouse of Trinitie colledge which was adorned for the Commissioners Where the vicechācellor aforesaid hauing on a tissue cope sprinkeled the Commissioners with holy water and purposed to cense thē but they refused it there Which notwithstanding afterward in the Quéenes Colledge and elswhere they refused not There M. Iohn Stokes oratour of the Vniuersitie welcomed them with an oration whereto the B. of Chichester answered with thankefull acceptation of the curtesie of the vniuersitie and so declared the cause of their commission From thence they were brought to the kinges Colledge where was songe a masse of the holy Ghost From thence they went to the interdicted Church of saint Maries wher Pecocke preached against heresie and heretickes naming Bylney Cranmer Latimer Rydley c. That being ended they procéeded to their visitation which Robert Brassey maister of kings Colledge a worthy aged man woulde not admit in his colledge Kings colledge refuseth the inquisitors because the visitation of his house was wholly reserued to the B. of Lincolne Which exception they tooke all in great displeasure The 12. of Ianuary they resorted to kings colledge for that Colledge time out of mind had béen counted neuer to be without an heretike or twaine The M. of that Colledge maister Brassey K. colledge neuer without an heretike Robert Brassey a good old man maister of K. Colledge maketh his exception againe to their visitaon but it would not serue In that Colledge some there were that refused to take their oath because they had giuen it to their Colledge before and also would not be brought thereby to accuse themselues yet at the length with much a doe they were contented to be sworne Thrée daies long lasted the Inquisition There after this it was aduised that the Vniuersitie should themselues first decrée against Bucer and Phagius and after make Supplication to the Commissioners for the confirming of this decrée So the Vniuersitie authorised their Vicechancellour to be the common factor for the Vniuersitie Which Supplication being put vp to the Commissioners the xiij day was of them graunted and afterwarde confirmed by the whole consent of the Vniuersitie and signed with the common seale the fourtéenth day by the Vice-Chaunceller by Doctor Yong Doctor Haruey Swineborne Marpetide c. After they had all dyned together at master Bacons maister of Gonwell hall by and by they carried it to the Commissioners to their Lodging Their condemnation being openly read then was it desired to send out processe to cite Bucer and Phagius to appeare or any other that would take vpon thē to plead their cause against the next mūday So the next day processe went out to cite the offenders But when neither of the parties accused would appeare at the time appointed although they might at the first haue condemned them yet a second processe was published and sentence deferred till the 26. of the same moneth On which day the Maior was also warned with his bretheren to bée present to behold what should bée determined When they had taken their places there was exhibited to the commissioners the processe that was lastly published to cite them This being done the B. of Chester maketh a spéech reciteth the sentence out of a scroll and condemned Bucer Phagius Bucer and Phagius digged out of their graues of heresie After sentence thus read he commaunded their bodies to be digged out of their graues first to be disgraded from holy orders he deliuered them to the secular power All this being ended they dispatch a purseuante to aduertise the Cardinall what they had done and required the writ de comburendo And while he went on his message they willed all suspected bookes to be brought for to be burned with the corps of Bucer and Phagius The purseuante being returned with the writ vpon the receipte thereof they appointed the 6 day of Februarie for the accomplishment of the matter So the Vicechanceller on that day taking with him Marshall the common notarie went first to saint Michaels church where Phagius was buried there he calleth foorth Andrew Smith Henry Sawyer and Henry Adams men of the same parrish and bound them with an oth to digge vp Phagius bones and to bring them to the place of execution Marshall tooke their othes receyuing the like of Roger Smith and William Hasell the towne Sergeants and of Iohn Capper warden of the same Church for doing the like with Bucer Their cofins being taken vp they were lincked with a chaine to a post on the market
Knode a shoemaker condemned of William Bynsley Bachelor of law Chancelor to the B. of Peterborow and deliuered to the sheriffe Sir Tho. Tresham whose officers burned him without the Northgate in the stone pits One Iohn Rote a Popish Priest Vicar of S. Giles in Northampton standing by did declare vnto him The martyr refuseth pardon that if hée would recant he had his pardon for him To whom he answered that he had his pardon by Iesus Christ This yéere the 12. of Sept. suffered Iohn Noyes Iohn Noyes of Laxfield in the same towne in the county of Suffolk Shoemaker He was apprehended by M. Tho. Louel Wolfren Dowsing and Nichol. Stonnard of the same towne and brought before the Iustices and the sheriffe who the next day cast him into Aye dungeon where he lay a certaine time then was caried to Norwich where the B. condemned him in the presence of his Chancelor D. Dunnings Sir William Woodhouse Sir Th. Woodhouse M. Geor. Heyden M. Spencer VVilliam Farrar Alderman of Norwich c. Being condemned he was sent againe to Aie prison and vpon the 21. of September about midnight was brought from thence to Laxfield to be burned where comming to the place of martyrdome he said the 50. Psalme with other praiers and being bound to the stake hee saide feare not them that can kill the body but feare him c. So the fire being kindled he with patience finished his course and gaue testimonie to the Gospel of God The 23. of September was Cecil Ormes Cecil Ormes burned at Norwich for the testimony of the trueth of Christ betwixt seuen and eight of the clock in the morning She was taken at the death of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper for that she saide she woulde pledge them of the same cuppe that they dranke on The 23. of Iuly she was called before the Chauncelour sitting in iudgement with maister Bridges and others who offered her if shee woulde goe to Church and keepe her tongue and saie nothing agaynst them libertie Which she refused saying if shée should doe so GOD woulde surely plague her Therefore doe with mée saith she what yee will and saide if hée condemned her hée shoulde not bee so desirous of her sinfull fleshe as shée woulde by Gods grace bée content to giue it in so good a quarrell The constant martyr So hee pronounced his bloodie sentence against her and deliuered her to the sheriffes Thomas and Leonard Sotherton This Cecil Ormes had before recanted for which shee fell into great anguish of mind and had gotten a letter made to giue vnto the Chancellor to let him know she repented her recantation c. But before she exhibited her hil she was taken Being brought to the place of execution where Miller and Cooper were burned and the same stake shée layed her hande thereon Cecil Ormes at the stake and kissed it and saide Welcome the swéete crosse of Christ and so gaue her selfe vnto it After the tormentors had kindeled the fire to her she saide my soule doth magnifie the Lorde and my spirite reioyseth in God my Sauiour And quietly as she had béene in a slumber ended this mortall life In the dioces of Chichester many were condemned and martired for the witnesse bearing to the truth whose names were these Iohn Freeman of East Grinsted I. Foreman Iohn Warner I. Warner of Berne Christian Glouer C. Glouer of the Archdeaconrie of Lewes Thomas Athoth T. Athoth Priest Thomas Auington T. Auington of Ardinglie Dennis Burges D. Burges of Buxsted Tho. Rauensdale T. Rauensdale of Rie Iohn Milles I. Milles. of Hellinglesh Nicholas Holden N. Holden of Withiam Iohn Harte I. Hart. of Withiam Margery Morice M. Morice of Hethfield Anne Trie A. Trie of East-gréenstéed Iohn Oseward I. Osewars of woodmancote Iames Morice I. Morice of Hethfielde Thomas Dowgate T. Dowgate of East-gréenestéed and Iohn Ashdon I. Ashdon of Ketherfielde The greatest doer then against these martirs and sitters vpon their condemnation were these Christopherson the B. after Day Richard Briseley Doctor of Law and Chancellour of Chichester Robert Taylor Bachelour of Law his Deputie Tho. Backarde Ciuilian Anthonie Clarke Albane Langdale Bachelour of Diuinitie In the Moneth of Nouember was Thomas Spurdance T. Spurdance one of Quéene Maries seruants burned at Burie He was taken by two of his felowes Iohn Hammon otherwise called Barker and George Lawson both dwelling in Codnam in the Countie of Suffolke Who carried him to one Master Gosnall dwelling in Codnam and by him was sent to Burie Hee was first examined by the Bishoppes Chauncellour and then by the Bishoppe himselfe and by him condemned Being before the Bishoppe he was exhorted by a Gentleman that stoode by him to take a day and to aduise himselfe Vnto whom he made answere If I saue my life I shall lose it and if I lose my life for Christes sake I shall be sure to finde it in euerlasting life And if I shoulde take a day when the day commeth I must say then euen as I doe now except I will lie and that néedeth not The same yere the eightéene day of Nouember were these thrée burned in Smithfielde Iohn Hollingdale I. Hollingdale William Sparrowe W. Sparrow and Richard Gibson R. Gibson William Sparrowe had recanted before and afterwarde did greatly repent him for the same saying vnto Bishoppe Boner that it was the worst déede that euer he had done And said vnto him moreouer That which you call heresie quoth he is good and godlie and if euery haire of my head were a man I woulde burne them all saide hée rather then I would goe from the trueth Note As Boner ministred his Popish Articles vnto M. Gibson euen so likewise did he againe propounde other Articles vnto Boner Articles for articles As whether the Scriptures were sufficient to instruct to saluation From whom authoritie commeth and what it is Whether any but Christ is Lorde ouer faith By what markes Antichrist is to be knowen so forth to the number of nine In the ende Boner deliuered them to the Secular power and the eyghtéenth day of Nouember they chéerefullie witnessed the trueth in the flames of fire The xxij of Decēb. Iohn Rough Minister a Scotishmā Marg. Mearing M. Mearing were burned for the gospel in smithfield Iohn Rough I. Rough. had béene of the order of the black Friers xvi yeares and at the request of the Lorde Hāmleton Earle of Arran and gouernour of Scotlande the Archbishop caused the Prouinciall of that house hauing thereto authoritie to dispense with him for his habite hood and so he took him to be a Secular Priest to serue in his Chappell In whose seruice he remayned a whole yere In which time God did open his eyes to sée the trueth and was sent by the same Gouernour to preach in the fréedome
age of foure and fiftie yéeres dwelling in the Dioces of Exceter not farre from Lawceston burned at Exceter for the testimonie of the truth Shée was persecuted of her husband and children The wife was persecuted of husband and children and condemned by the Bishop whose name was Troubleuile Among other communication when the Bishop had said let this mad woman bée put downe to prison till we send for her husband she answered him no I haue but one husband which is here already in this cittie meaning Christ and in prison with me from whom I will neuer depart Christ the martyrs husband After that saying they thought good to giue her a moneths libertie to prooue if she might thereby be chaunged during which time of her libertie it happened that shée entring into Saint Peters church beheld there a cunning Dutchman how he made new noses to certaine fine Images which were disfigured in King Edwards daies What a mad man art thou said she to make them new noses which within a few dayes shall also loose their heads The Dutchman accused her and layd it to her charge And moreouer she sayd vnto him thou art accursed and so are thine Images He called her whore Nay sayd shée thine Images are whores A worthy martyr and thou art a whore hunter for dooth not God say You go a whoring after straunge Gods figures of your owne making and thou art one of them Then was shée sent for and clapt fast At the last when they perceiued her to bée past remedie and had withstood all their threatnings and flattery shée was deliuered to the temporall power Of whom shée was exhorted yet to call for grace and to leaue her fond opinions and go home to thine husband sayd they thou art an vnlearned Woman thou art not able to answere to such high matters Note I am not sayd shée yet with my death I am content to be a witnesse to Christes death and I pray you make no longer delay with mée my heart is fixed I will neuer otherwise say nor turne to your superstitious dooings Then the Byshop did say the Diuell did lead her No my Lord sayd shée it is the Spirit of God which leadeth mée and which called mée in my bedde and at midnight opened his truth vnto mée for once especially at midnight praying to God for strength and assistaunce shée found it plentifully In the end after shée had receyued sentence of death shée lifted vp her voyce and thanked God saying I thanke thée my Lord God this day haue I found that I haue long sought After iudgement giuen agaynst her they promised to spare her life if shée would yet recant Nay that will I not said shée God forbid that I should loose the life eternall Note for this carnall and short life I will neuer turne from my heauenly husband to my earthly husband from the fellowship of Angels to mortall children And if my husband and children bée faithfull then am I theirs God is my Father God is my mother God is my sister my brother my kinsman God is my friend most faithful so being brought to the place of slaughter she méekly suffered calling vpon the name of God saying God be merciful to me a sinner God be me mercifull to me a sinner The 7. of May were burned at Bristow being condemned by M. Dalbney the Chancelour Richad Sharp Weauer of Bristow and Thomas Hall Tho. Hall Shoemaker of the same towne Sharpe Ioh. Sharpe by the perswasion of the Chancelor had recanted and afterward felt such anguish of minde and conscience that shortly after comming to his parish Churche called Temple he came to the quire doore and said with a loude voyce Neighbors beare me record that yonder Idoll pointing to the altar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied the Lorde my God Wherupon he was apprehended and burned with the other at one stake which they chéerefully suffered embracing the flame The 27. of the same moneth Tho. Benion Tho. Benion was burned at Bristow being condemned by the same Chauncellour Dalbney The 10. of Nouember suffered fiue of Gods children at Canterburie being hastened to the fire by the bloody Archdeacon notwithstanding he had heard in what danger Q. Mary was Their names were Ioh. Cornford Ioh. Cornford of Worthā Christoph Brown Christopher Browne of Maidstone Iohn Herst Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Alice Snoth Katherin Knight Kath. Knight aliâs Tilney an aged woman Against these when sentence should be read and they excommunicated one of them Iohn Cornford stirred with a vehement spirite of the zeale of God procéeding in a more true excommunication against the Papists in the name of them all pronounced sentence against them in these words following In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ The martyr excommunicateth the Papists the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite and the authority of his Apostolike church c. proceding with his excōmunication against all mainteiners of the false church Which sentence tooke such effect against the enemy that within sixe daies after Quéene Mary died and the tyranny of all English Papists with her Note Alice Snoth or Agnes Snoth who was burnt before being at the stake called for her Godfather and Godmothers whom when the maide saw she asked them what they had promised for her and so immediatly rehearsed her faith and the commaundements of God and required if there were anie more that they had promised in her behalfe and they said no. Then said she I die a Christian woman beare witnes of me And so was she with fire consumed These godly martyrs in their praiers which they made before their martirdome desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and so it was There were diuers of Gods children in prison which by the death of Quéene Marie escaped some after sentence of death pronounced Of which sort were Iohn Hunt and Richarde VVhite who after two yéeres captiuitie were condemned by Doctour Geffery the Bishops Chancellour The Sheriffe béeing vrged very vehemently to burne them refused because they had no writ Which comming down not long after one M. Michael Syr Anthony Hungerfords vndersheriffe a godly man took it burnt it saying I will not be guiltie of these mens blood Within foure daies after the Chauncellour dieth and the confessors of the Gospel remained in prison till the happie daies of Queene Elizabeth There was a godly man named Iohn Fette a Tailor of 42. yéeres dwelling in the parish of Clarkenwell accused by his owne wife The husband accused by his wife imprisoned by the B. in Lollards tower where he suffered great extremity hanging in the stocks This poore man had a childe of 8. or 9. yéeres olde that came to visite his father to whom a Priest of the Bishops house said why thy
eadem Emilianus eadem The martir comforted ead Arethusians 65 Marcus Arethusus ead The tēple of Venus destroyed eadem The persecution of the primitiue Church endeth eadem A moneth for a Saboth of yeres ead Sathan bounde vp til Wickliffe 66 Constantine borne in England eadem Helena daughter of K. Coilus eadem Constantines mother ead Constantine a father of the Church eadem Nicene councell eadem Constātine teacheth his soldiers a praier eadem Appeale graunted by Constantine 67 Prouision for learning ead The scriptures writtē for the vse of the church eadem Constantine baptised a little before his death eadem The rest of this history concerneth chiefly England Scotland 68 Englād receiued the gospell in Tyberius time eadem Easter kept in England after the maner of the East church eadem The gospell came into England from the East not from Rome eadem K. Lucius the first Christian K. of England eadem Fugatius Damianus ead Eleutherius 69 Almost all Christianitie destroied in England ead Guetelinus Archbishop of London eadem 271. of the nobilitie of Engl. slaine by the Saxons ead The first persecutiō in England by Dioclesian 70 The second by Gnauius and Melga eadem Vrsula eadem 11000. virgins eadem The third by Hengist ead Aurelius Ambrosius restoreth the churches eadem Gurmundus eadem Ethelbert eadem Gospel receiued of the Englishmen eadem Austen sent into Englād by Gregory B. of Rome ead I le of Tenet eadem Berda Lebardus 71 Godly conuersation miracles eadem None compelled to beleeue the abbey of S. Peter S. Paule in Canterbury ead Questions resolued from Rome 72 Bishops liuings how to bee bestowed eadem Clarkes may marry ead Diuerse ceremonies ead Degrees for marriage ead A pall from Rome 73 Mellitus eadem Austens oake eadem Brittaines Scots refuse the Easter of Rome 74 Abbey of Bangor eadem Austens pride offendeth the Britains eadem 1100. Monkes of Bangor slaine eadem Dinoe eadem Laurentius eadem Gregory dieth eadem Austen dieth eadem Strife about Primacy 75 Patriarke of Alexādria wold be vniuersall eadem The title of Seruus seruorum Dei ead Sabinianus first vniuersal bishop eadem Phocas giueth first title of vniuersall bishop eadem Ethelbert dieth eadem A vision 76 Edwine baptized eadem Paulinus the first archbishop of Yorke 77 Oswald a notable K. ead Kinigilsus conuerted Bernius 78 The sea of Winchester ead Weda conuerted ead Wolferus conuerted ead Sigbert baptized 79 Finanus eadem The questiōs of Easter ead Hilda eadem Cedda eadem A rude reason of the K. 80 The bones of Aidanus ead Southsex conuerted ead Great famine 81 The art of fishing taught eadem Wilfride restored eadem Wilfride expulsed again ead Mahomet beginneth ead Turkes conquered the Saracens 82 Theodorus eadem Latine seruice and Masse first brought into Engl. ead The archbishop plaieth Rex eadem A prouincial Synod at Thetford eadem The sixt generall councell at Constance eadem Marriage forbidden ead The first Latine masse at Cōstantinople eadem King Iua made a monke after an abbot 83 Aldelmus eadem Iohn of Beuerley eadem The right obseruing of Easter now first receiued of Picts Brittaines ead Shauen crownes eadem The K. thāketh God for the priests shauen crownes 84 The deuise of Ethelburga the Queen eadem The Queene becommeth an Abbesse eadem Peter-pence eadem Celulfus a learned king eadem Diuers learned men flourish eadem Bedaes Anglorum historia eadem Beda 85 Beda translated the Gospell of Iohn into English ead The king made a monke eadem A noble library in Yorke by a bishop eadem The lords prayer and Creed in the English tongue 86 Cuthbert 87 Pope Boniface an Englishman ead Boniface a great mainteyner of Nunnes eadem Religious fathers permitted to carry Nunnes about with them a preaching ea Libda and Tecla eadem Childerike deposed by the pope eadem Detestable doctrine of Boniface 88 Great maisteries wrought against the Emperours by popes eadem Philippicus the Emperour lost both his eyes and the empyre eadem The clause for reliques memoriall offerings and offeringes for the dead eadem The priests vesture eadem Constantinus the first gaue his feete to bee kissed of the Emperour eadem Lambrith to Lichfield 89 The king giueth the tenth of his goodes to the church eadem Romescot or peter-pēce ea The donation of Pipine the traytour and murtherer 90 Inuention of Organes eadē Pope deposed and his eyes put out ead Pope striueth for images eadem Images Lay mens kalender eadem Cost vpon images eadem Strife for Gregories masse 91 A miracle falsely interpreted eadem The empire translated to the French eadem A. B. C. Monasteries ead Irene the Greeke Empresse a mainteiner of Images 92 The cruelty of Irene ead The Emperours eyes pulled out by his mother ead Monasteries erected and founded in England eadem Common schooles at Cambridge 93 The first Nunne in North ūberland ead King Edgar builded 40. abbeyes 94 The church freed from tributes 95 Diuers faxon kings become monks ead Queenes became Nuns ead Vnder the Britains the Metropolitan sea at London 96 Cuthbert forbiddeth funenerals to be made for him ead 34. popes in the time of 17. archbishops ead The lande brought into one monarchy and called Anglia ead A Bishop made king of England ead Lands giuē to the church ea Peterpence throughout all England 97 Generall councels called by Emperour ead Against excesse of apparell in the cleargy 98 Against the dicing and whoring of the popes cleargy eadem Siluer and golde not to bee worne in shooes ead Feast of al saints first erected ead Alteration of popes names ead Swines snoute ead Gilberta a woman pope ead The pope trauaileth with childe ead Dirge for the dead 99 Popes decrees equall with the apostles writings ead A prelate called God eadem Polonians Sclauonians exempt from latine seruice eadem Against priestes marriages eadem Huldrich of Auspurgh ead The Emperour beginneth to decay the pope to swell eadem King Edmund slaine by the Danes 100 Alfred first taketh vnction from the pope ead K. of danes christened 101 Alfrede a notable king ead Time notablie spent by the king eadem Grantchester founded by Beda 102 Paris began frō Grātchester eadem Alfred very learned eadem The psalter trāslated by Alfred 103 The K. carefull to furnish the land with knowledge ead Neotus ead Iohannes Scotus ead Scotus booke de Corpore condemned eadem Sco. slain by his scholers 104 Dauids psalms alwaies with the king eadem 9. popes in 9. yeres ead P. Steuen rageth against the body of Formosus 105 Barbarous crueltie against Formosus eadem Cādles on cādlemas day 106 A pope set vp by Theodora a famous harlot ea Pope smothered ead Pope poisoned ead Mōks called Cluniacēses ea The K. authoritie sufficient in electing of bishops 107 The kinges daughter set to spinning ead The K. sonnes first Philosophers then gouernors ea Empire translated frō Frāce to Germanie ead Attaching of theeues 108
How the temporalties of the clergy should bee bestowed eadem Boniface impudēt in selling of pardons 404 Order against the Schisme eadem P. Gregorie the 12. 305 P. Gregory periured ead 200000. Christians slaine in a popish quarrell ead The K. writeth to the P. ead Pope Alexander 5. 306 Three popes together ead Pope Iohn 23. eadem Iohn Husse eadem Appeale better aduised ead Pope Iohn bendeth all his power against the Bohemians eadem The tolling of Auies 307 40. daies pardon for saying of Auies eadem Steeple belles and organes suspended eadem Contention for litter ead Penance for bringing litter in sackes and not in cartes eadem A bill put into the Parlement to take temporalties from the clergie 308 The kinds of popish feastes 310 Notes of principall soules feasts eadem Lord Cobham 311 Inquisitors for heresie ead Processe to L. Cobham ead Lord Cobhams answere to the king 312 Pope knowne by the scriptures to be Antichrist ead The king forsaketh L. Cobham eadem Confession of L. Cobhams faith 313 L. Cobham arrested by the kings cōmandement 314 L. Cobhams answere ead L. Cobham mocked 315 L. Cobham condemned ead A worthy martyr eadem Lord Cobham escapeth 316 36. martyrs eadem Thomas Arūdell dieth ead Henry Chichesley eadem Eate not tast not touch not 317 Craft of the clergy eadem Husse accused eadem Husse excommunicated for an heretike eadem Persecution in Boheme 318 Prage deuided 319 The people against the Prelates eadem None to control Husse ead A Councell at Constance to pacifie the schisme of three popes 320 A councell lasted 4. yeares had 45. sessions eadem Coūcell ought to iudge the pope eadem The pope repenteth wel doing eadem 40. articles against P. Iohn 321 Pope Martin eadem The Emperour leadeth the popes horse eadem The popes Indulgence ead 3940. Prelates at the Councell 322 450. cōmon womē belonging to the Councell ead Good testimony of Iohn Husse eadem Wenecelate de Duba 323 Iohn de Clum eadem I. Husse commeth to Constance eadem I. Husse kept in prison 324 I. Husse falleth sicke ead Articles against Husse ead An aduocat denied to Husse 325 Husse cruelly hādled in prison eadem The Emperor breaketh promise with Husse 326 Husse aunswereth for himselfe 327 Husse appeareth again ead Husse not suffered to proceed in his answere 382 39. articles against Husse eadem Articles auowed of Husse 329 Iohn Husse will not recant eadem The Emp. against Husse ead Husse disgraded condēned and deliuered to the seculars 331 Husse appealeth to christ ead Husse derided for praying for his enimies 332 The courage of Husse eadē The Bishops cruelty against Husse eadem The behauiour of Husse at his death 333 The ashes of Husse cast into the Rhine 334 Treatises of Husse in prison eadem Hierome of Prage commeth to Constance eadem Treason against Hierome of Prage 335 Ierom carried to prison ead Peter the notary Vitus ea Ierome falleth sicke 336 Ierome abiureth eadem New accusations against Ierome eadem D. Naso a great enimy to Ierome eadem New articles against Ierom. 337 Ierome constant eadem Ierō grieuously fettered ead Ierome prophecieth eadem Ierome condemned 338 Ierome singeth after his cōdemnation eadem Ierome singeth at the stake eadem Letters of the nobles of Boheme to the counsel sealed with 54. seales 339 Iohn Claidon eadem Richard Turming eadem The lantern of light 340 The causes of persecutiō ead Sharp constitutions 341 Iohn Barton Robert Chappel eadem Chappel submitteth eadem Articles inioined Chap. ead Diuers caused to abiure 342 Collection to mainteine the popes warre against the Bohemians eadem William Clerke eadem William Russell eadem Radulph Mungin eadem Kent wel affected 343 The L. Powes taketh the L. Oldcastle in Wales 364 L. Cobham condēned ead All mischiefe imputed to the Lollards ead Bohemians cited to the coūcell at Constance eadem Lawes to bridle the Bohemians ead 75000. li. the P. goods 345 The Iewes offer their ceremonies to the pope ead Pope threateneth the Bohemians eadem Yeerely memoriall for the death of Iohn Husse and Ierome of prage ead Monasteries suppressed ead Captaine Nicholas ead The king threatneth Nicholas eadem The kings cruel determination disappoynted by his owne death 346 Zisca eadem Tabor builded by Zisca ead Zisca putteth the Emperor to flight 337 Zisca loseth his eye eadem Iohan. Premōstratensis his cōpanions put to death ea Dissention betwixt prage Zisca 348 Reconciliation ead Zisca dieth ead The epitaph of zisca eadem Zisca buried in a hallowed place in despite of the P. 349 The popes bull against the partakers of Wickliffe Husse or Hierome eadem Procopius eadem Conradus ead Orphans ead 3. armies flie before they see their enimies 350 40000. horse against the protestants 351 The popish army flee before they see their enimies ead 50. towns destroyed ead Councel at Basill ead Ambassage of the Bohemiās to Basill 352 Peter an English man ead Foure poyntes wherein the Bohemians dissent frō the church of Rome ead A disputation continued fifty dayes eadem Henry the 5. prince of priests 353 The names of Archb. of Cāterbury ead William Taylor 354 William Taylor recāted ead Foure heretical points of W. Taylor 355 William Taylor condemned and burned ead Iohn Florence eadem I. Florence his articles ead Submission 356 Penance eadem Richard Belward eadem His articles eadem Iohn god de Cell eadem Sir Hen. Pie eadem William White priest 357 Great vexatiō for the truth of Christ eadem Father Abraham 358 William White priest ead Iohn Weddon priest ead Many abiure eadem William White Wickliffes scholler 359 White burnt in Norwich ea Crueltie eadem Richard Houedon 360 Th. Baghley Paul Craw. ea Thomas Rhedon burned at Rome eadem Pope Eugenius ead Persecution about germany 361 Eugenius began the coūcell at Basil ead Order for the times of general councels ead The troublesō councel at Basil continued 17. yeres ead Contention between the P. the fathers of the coūcel 362 Nicholaus Casnanus 363 Eugenius pronoūced an heretike relapse ead 8. verities ead Disputation of sixe daies against Eugenius 364 Panormitan defender of Eugenius ead Iohn Segonius ead Panormitane wil haue the P. Lord of the church 365 Seruant of seruants the most honourable title of the pope ead The councel aboue the P. ea Card. Arelatensis 366 Great discord in the Councel 367 Nicholas Amici ead Panormitan obstinate ead Policie of Arelatensis 368 Arelatensis concludeth ead Bishop of Lubeck 369 B. of Lubeck fauoureth the trueth 370 Promoter of the faith 371 Prayers with teares 372 The princes ambassadoures yelded ead Eugenius deposed 373 Death of pestilence at the Councel ead Oath of the Electors to the pope ead The manner of choosing the pope 374 Amideus Duke of Sauoy eadem Sigismund dieth 375 Rochezanus dieth eadem Disputations vpon the Bohemians articles eadem Vincelaus eadem Vldericus eadem Peter Paine eadem Rhagusius eadem The Bohemiās offēded ead Popish disputers
S. Paule and wrought so with feare of death with him Ierom abiureth that he abiured in the cathedrall Church in open Session and gaue assent that Iohn Husse was iustly condemned and put to death after which they caused him to be carried againe to the same prison but not so straightly chained as he was before Now Palletz and de Causis hearing of this and vnderstanding that he made this abiuration onely to escape their hands together with certaine Friers of Prage put vp new accusations against maister Hierom New accusations against M. Hierome whose malice did appeare so much against him that the Cardinall of Cambray and the Cardinall de Vrscons the Cardinall of Aquilegia and of Florence with his iudges also considering the great iniurie done vnto him laboured before the whole Councel for his deliuerie Which when they were about his enimies among them one Doctor Naso greatly vrged the matter against M. Hierome Doct. Naso a great enemy of Hierome insomuch that he said vnto thē I greatly feare least that you haue receiued some rewardes either of the K. of Boheme or of these heretikes The Cardinals thus rebuked gaue ouer Master Ieroms cause and his enemies obteined to haue other Iudges appointed as the Patriarch of Constantinople who had condemned M. Iohn Husse and was a great enemie to M. Hierome and another Germane Doctor But Ierome refused those priuate Iudges and required open audience which in hope hee would confirme his recantation before them was graunted vnto them Anno 1416. May 25. M. Ierome was brought into open audience in the cathedrall church of Constance where the commissioners in the behalfe of his aduersaries obiected against him 107. new articles and because the time would not suffer to answere New articles against M. Ierome they appointed him the third day after the residew of the articles he answered most learnedly and eloquently and put to silence his aduersaries At length came in false witnesses that testified against him whom he againe most pithily and eloquently confuted All this while the popes councell did wait whē he should make recantation and craue pardon But he persisting still in his constant Oration did acknowledge no error neither gaue any signification of recantation And at last entred into the praise of M. I. Husse and finally concluded that all such articles as I. Wickliffe I. Husse had written and set foorth against the enormities pompe disorder of the prelates Ierome constant he would firmely and constantly defend vnto the death greatly condemning his fact in that he did consent vnto the condemnation of M. I. Husse Wickliffe The coūcell whispered together said by these his words it appéereth he is at a point with himself Then was he caried again into prison hauing bin in prison before 340. daies grieuously fettered Ierome grieuouslie fettered by the hands armes féete with great chaines fetters of yron The saturday next before the Ascention day early in the morning he was brought with armed men into the church to haue iudgement where they perswaded him to reuoke the testimony and praise he gaue of I. Husse Wickliffe which he would not in any sort doo then a certaine B. named the B. of Landy made a certaine sermon exhortatory against Maister Hierome perswading to his condemnation After the Sermon ended M. Ierome againe said vnto them you will condemne me wickedly vniustly but I after my death will leaue a remorse in your conscience and a naile in your harts Et cito vos omnes vt respondeatis mihi M. Ierome prophecieth coram altissimo iustissimo Iudice post centum annos That is Here I cite you all to answere vnto me before the most high and iust Iudge within an hundreth yeeres Finally when no persuasions would moue him to recant they gaue sentence of condemnation against him Ierome condemned which sentence being giuē a great miter of paper was brought painted about with red Diuels the which when he beheld and saw throwing his hood vpon the ground he tooke the miter and put it on his head saying my Lord Iesu Christ when he suffered for me most wretched sinner did weare a crown of thorne vpon his head and I for his sake in stéede of that crowne will were this miter crowne And afterward he was laid hold on by the secular power and when he was led out of the church with a chéerefull countenance and lowde voice M. Ierome singeth after his condemnation lifting vp his eies to heauen he began to sing Credo in vnum Deum as it is accustomed to be song in the church after that other certaine Canticles of the Church At length comming to the place of execution where as M. Iohn Husse before had suffered death innocently knéeling downe by the picture of Master Iohn Husse which was there prepared to burne him hée made a certaine deuout prayer Whiles hée was a praying they tooke him vp and stripped him and bound him to the Image and when they begun to lay wood about him M. Ierome singeth at the stake he began to sing Salue festa dies and the Hymne beyng ended he song againe with a lowde voice Credo in vnum Deum vnto the end that beyng doone hée said vnto the people in the Germane tongue to this effect Déerely beloued brethren euen as I haue now song so doo I béeleue and no otherwise and this Créede is my whole faith notwithstanding now I die for this cause for that I would not consent and agrée to the Councell and with them affirme hold that M. Iohn Husse was by them iustly condemned for I doo know well that he was a true preacher of the gospell of Christ When the wood was begunne to bée set on fire hée song In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum When that was ended and he beganne vehemently to burne hée said in the Bohemian tongue O Lord God father almighty haue mercy vpon me and be mercifull to mine offences for thou knowest how that sincerly I haue loued thy truth He was by reason of the stoutnes of his nature long in burning After he was dead they brought his bedding books hood c. burned them all to ashes in the same fire which after they did diligently gather cast into the riuer of Rhine Thus much touching Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prage whose historie was written by a Bohemian who was present and a beholder of the action In the meane time while Hierome was in trouble and brought before the councel the nobles of Boheme Letters of the nobles of Boheme to the Councell and Morania greeued with their dealings directed letters vnto this barbarous Councell of popishe murderers greatly blaming them for their fact and defending both maister Iohn Husse and maister Hierom ending their letters in this sort the premisses notwithstanding we setting apart al feare mens ordinances prouided to the
contrary wil mainteyn defend the law of our Lord Iesu Christ and the deuout hūble and constant preachers thereof euen to the shedding of our blood dated at Sternberg ann 1415. c. Round about the same letters were 54 seales hāging and the names of them whose seales they were 54. seales to the letter subscribed An. 1414. by Henry Chichley Archb. of Cāterbury much was the affliction and trouble of good men here in England which cruelty Iohn Claydon Iohn Claydon currier of London Richard Turming Rich. Turming first tasted of The 17. day of August an 1415. Iohn Claydon did personally appeare arrested by the mayor of London for suspition of heresie before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury in Paules Church who being demaunded Constancy denied it not but frankly confessed that for 20. yéeres space he had bin suspected therof for which also he had suffered 2. yéeres imprisonment at Conuey thrée yéeres in the Fléete out of which prison he in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth was brought before L. Iohn Scarle then Chancelour to the king and there did abiure all heresie and errour And being demanded of the Archbishop confessed that since his abiuration he had in his house written English bookes of religion and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē Which confession being made the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity William Lindwood Doct. of both lawes and other Clearkes to bee examined And in the meane time Dauid Beare Alexander Phillip and Balthasar Mero were taken for witnesses against him and were committed to bee examined to maister Iohn Escourt general examiner of Cāterbury This done the Archb. continued his session til munday next in the same place which was the 20. day of the same moneth and maister Escourt publikely exhibited the witnesses which being read there were after that read diuers tractations found in his house out of which especially out of a booke called the Lantern of light The Lanterne of light that Claidon at his owne costs caused to be written by one called Ioh. Grime being examined diuers points were gathered and noted for heresie Articles First that the Pope was Antichrist and the enimy that sowed tares among the lawes of Christ That the Archbishops and Bishops speaking indifferently are the seats of the Beast Antichrist That the Bishoppes license for a man to preach the worde of God is the Character of the Beast That the Court of Rome is the head of Antichrist and the Bishoppes the bodie That no reprobate is a member of the Church That Christ did neuer plant priuate religions That the materiall Churche shoulde not bée decked with golde The causes of persecution That Priestes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes and vnsatiable begging of Friers were the twoo chiefe causes of the persecution of Christians That almes were to be giuen to the honour of GOD onely of goodes iustly gotten to bée giuen to one that is in charitie and to those that haue néede That often singing in the Church is not founded on the scripture That bread and wine remaine in the Sacrament That all Ecclesiasticall suffrages doe profite all godly persons indifferently That the Popes Indulgences bee vnprofitable That the Laytie is not bound to obey the prelates in what so euer they command except the prelates doe watch to geue God a iust accompt of their soules That Images are not to bée sought to by pilgrimages For these articles the archb with the rest did condemne and burne I. Claydons bookes and procéeded to a definitiue sentence of condemnation against him and shortly after hée was had to Smithfield where méekly he was made a burnt offering vnto the Lord an 1415. R. Fabian addeth that Richard Turning Baker was the same time also burned in Smithfield The next yere 1416. the archb of Canterburie in his Conuocation holden at London maketh sharper constitutitions then were before Sharper constitutions then before against the Lollards During the time of which Conuocation two priestes noted for Heretikes were brought before the Bishops the one Iohn Barton and the other Robert Chappel Iohn Barton Robert Chappell Barton because he had béene excommunicated and so stoode 6. or 7. yeres before vpon articles of religion yet sought no reconciliation which being proued against him he was committed to Philip B. of Lincoln to be kept in prison til otherwise it were determined R. Chappel otherwise Holbech sometime chaplen to the L. Cobham because he being vnder excōmunication 3. or 4. yeres did yet in contēpt of the keyes continue saying masse preaching sought no reconciliation So the session brake vp for the time which was about the end of May 1416. The 12. of Iulie next following Chappel submitteth Chappel appeared againe and submitting himselfe with much a doe receiued pardon and was in stead of penance enioyned certayne articles to publish at Paules Crosse As Articles enioyned Chappel that Prelates might lawfullie holde Temporall Lawes That it were vniust and vnlawfull for temporall men vpon any occasion to take away the Prelates temporalties notwithstanding the abuses of them That peregrinations are auaileable to the remission of sinnes That to worship Images doth profite Christians That auricular confession is necessarie That though a priest be in mortall sinne yet may he make the body of Christ That Priestes ought not to preach without the Bishoppes licence That priuate religions are profitable to the vniuersall Church That hee woulde promise and sweare neuer to holde any thing against the premisses Diuers caused to abiure After the setting out of the constitutions of H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterburie diuers godly men were sore vexed and caused outwardly to abiure as Iohn Tayler of the parish of S. Maries at Querne William Iames Master of art and Phisitian who had long time remayned in prison also Iohn Duerfer Iohn Gourdeley of Lincolnshire wel commended for his learning Katherin Dertford a Spinster the Parson of Hyggley in Lincolnshire named M. Robert William Henrie of Tenderden Iohn Gall a Priest of London Richard Monke Vicar of Chesham in Lincolnshire with other mo Collection for the P. to war against the Bohemians During the time of the Conuocation prouinciall Pope Martin had sent down to the cleargie of England for a subsidie to be gathered of the Church to mainteine the Popes warre against the Lollards of Bohemia Also another subsidie was demanded to persecute William Clarke master of arte in Oxford who sayling out of England was at the councell of Basill disputing on the Bohemians side and thirdly another subsidie was also required W. Clarke W. Russel to persecute William Russel which was Wardē of the Gray Friers in London who the same time was fledde and there escaped out of prison Among the rest which were at this time troubled for their faith was Radulph Mungin R Mungin priest against whom it was articulated at
24. seruant in a mans house in Leicester was condemned and burned because hée said his maker was in heauen and not in the pixe About the same time the 11. of March Iohn Iackson was examined of Doct. Cooke concerning the Church and Sacrament of the altar In which quarrel the godly confessor behaued himselfe boldly and wisely against the Bishop Who when no other argument would serue he commanded him to prison againe but what became of him it is vncertaine The first day of August Anno 1556. Ioan Wast Ioan Wast a blind woman a blinde woman from her birth of the age of two twenty was condemned and burned in the towne of Darbie for maintayning the doctrine in King Edwardes daies They that sate vpon her were Sir Rafe Bayne Bishoppe of the dioces Doctour Dracot his Chauncelour Syr Iohn Port Knight c. Shée being prest and halfe astonied through their terrours and threates and desirous as it seemed to prolong her life offered vnto the Bishoppe then present if hée woulde before that companie take it vppon his conscience that the doctrine which hée would haue her to beléeue concerning the Sacrament was true and that he would at the dreadfull day of iudgement aunswere for her therein as Doctour Taylor in diuers of his Sermons did offer shée woulde then further aunswere them Her offer to the Iudges Which when it would not bée stood vnto the poore woman perceiuing the same answered againe that if they refused to take of their conscience that it was true which they would haue her to beléeue shée would answere no further but desired them to doo their pleasure And so after certaine circumstances they pronounced sentence agaynst her and deliuered her to the Bayliffes of the towne of Darbie to be put to death where chéerefullie she suffered in the fire for the testimonie of the truth whiche shée before had professed This poore blinde mayde would hyre with mony such as would not fréely do so much for to read certain chapters of the New Testament vnto her and would bargayne with them how often to read one chapter vpon a price Although shée was borne blind yet could shée without a guide goe to any Church in the towne or to any other place or person that vsed to reade vnto her or had anie godlie exercises The 8. of September suffered Edward Sharpe Edw. Sharpe borne in Wiltshire of the age of 60. yéers at Bristow where he constantly mainteined the quarrel of Christ against Antichrist to the death The 24. of September suffered 4 men Iohn Hart Foure at Mayfield in Sussex Tho. Rauensdal a Shoemaker and a Collier al foure together at Mayfield in Sussex for the testimony of Iesus c. The next day after was a young man put to death at Bristow for the like testimonie A young man at Bristow Not lōg after whose death suffered the xxvij of September Iohn Horne I. Horne and a woman and a woman at Wootton Vnder hedge in Glocestershire In the parish of Wootton Vnder-hedge William Dangerfield W. Dangerfield after he had béene a space from home for feare of the crueltie of the time being a professor of the Gospell repayred to his wife lying in childbed of the tenth childe who was not so soone come home but was espied and apprehended and had to prison by the cruel sentence of D. Brookes bishop In whose cruel handling he remayned so long till his féele were almost freited off with Irons After the apprehension of the husband the wife also was taken with hir yong borne childe being but fourtéene daies old out of her childbed and carryed into the common gaole and there placed among théeues and murtherers Great crueltie where both she and hir infant could neuer come to fire but shée was driuen to warme the clothes that she should put about the childe in hir bosome While they both lay thus inclosed the B. subtilly got promise of the husband to recant declaring vnto him that his wife had so done already which was vntruth So they suffered him vpon that promise to go to his wife To whom he declared with a sorrowful hart how hée had bin circumuented and pulled out of his bosome a copie of his recantation The wife encourageth her husband wherto he had granted his promise At the sight wherof his wiues heart claue asunder saying hath Sathan so preuailed c. So hee departed from hir with teares and praied GOD he might not liue so long as to call euill good and good euill so going homeward to his house he took his death and shortly after dyed according to his prayer After this Ioane his wife continued in prison with her infant which being starued in prison with cold and famine the milke of the mother failing through euill vsing was sent away when it was past all remedie and shortly after died And not long after the mother died also besides an old woman of 90. yeres mother of her husband being lefte alone in the house comfortlesse In the Moneth of October next following suffered a Shoomaker A Shoomaker at Northhampton at Northhampton for the stedfast professing of the trueth After whom not long in the same moneth died thrée godly Confessors in the Castle of Chichester and were buried in the fieldes In the same moneth was burned also one Hooke Hooke a true witnesse of the Lord at Chester As Boner was the cruellest among the bishops so Harpsfield among all the archdeacōs except Dunning of Norw was the cruellest by whose meanes there were now xv Professors of the Gospel together in prison in Canterburie Castle Whereof fiue were famished to death Fiue famished and x. burned at Canterbury and ten burned The names of the famished were these Iohn Clarke Dunstan Chittenden vncondemned Walter Foster of Stone Alice Potkins wife of Staplehurst Iohn Hurst of Cranbrock Weauer condemned to be burned Alice Potkins A wittie and godly answere of Alice Potkins being asked of her age said she was 49. yeres olde according to her old age and according to her young age since she learned Christ she was of one yeares age In the moneths of September Nouember and December in the Dioces of Couentrée and Lichfield much trouble fell to diuers persons for the profession of the Gospel through the crueltie of the Bishoppe named Rafe Bane and a more cruell Chauncellour called Doctor Draicotte By whose meanes many persons were driuen to beare fagots in those quarters Thus endeth the fourth yere of Quéene Maries Reigne In which yeare the number of the slaine for the Gospell The ende of the fourth yere of Q. Marie Eightie foure persons put to death in the fourth yere of Q. Marie came to 84. persons Besides such as fled and priuately by practises were made away About this time Sir Iohn Cheeke sometime Schoolemaster to King Edward the sixt being in Germanie out of all danger would néedes take his iourney with Sir Peter