the morow after Holy Roode day when wee shall meete at Chelmesford for the deuision of these landes I thinke Mayster Archdeacon you and Mayster Smith shal be fayn to ride with certaine of the Iury to those porcions and manours in your part of Essex and in like case deuide our selues to tread and view the ground with the Quest or els I thinke the Quest will not labour their matter and so doe you saye vnto Mayster Archdeacon Alice the wyfe of William Walleys of Colchester hath submitted herselfe abiured her erroneous opinions asked absolution promised to do her solemne penance in her Parish Church at Saint Peters on Sonday next and to continue a Catholicke a faythfull woman as long as GOD shall send her lyfe And for these couenauntes her husband standeth bounde in fiue pounde Which Alice is one of the nine women of this your Indenture and that shee is bigge with childe Wherefore she remayneth at home and this done in the presence of the Bayliffes Aldermen towneclarke And for that Maister Browne was certyfied there was no Curate at Lexdon he inquired who was the Farmer The aunswere was made Syr Fraunces Iobson Who is the Parson They of the Questmen aunswered Syr Roger Chostlow When was he with you Not this fourtene yeares How is your Cure serued Now and then Who is the Patron My Lord of Arundell And within shorte tyme after Syr Fraunces Iobson came with great curtesy vnto my Lord Darcies place And of all GentlemeÌ„ about vs I saw no more come in Sir Robert Smith Priest sometime Chanon of Bridlington now Curate of Appledote in the wild of Kent came to Colchester the 28. day of Aug. with his wife bigge with childe of late diuorced taken on suspition examined of the Lordes and M Browne tolde me that they haue receiued letters from the counsell for the attachment of certayn persons and eâ—peciallye of one Priest whose name is Pullen but hys right name is Smith doubting this Priest to be he the sayd Pullen although neither he nor his wife would confesse the same Wherfore he lyeth stil in prison but surely this is not PulleÌ„ If it please your Lordshippe to haue in remembraunce that the housholders might be compelled to bring euerye man his owne wife to her owne seate in the Churche in time of Diuine seruice it would profite much And also there be yet standing Hospitals and other of like foundation about Colchester whiche I haue not knowne to appeare at any visitation as the Maister and Lazars of Mary Magdalene in Colchester the Proctour of saynct Katherines Chappell in Colchester the hospitall or Beadhouse of the foundation of Lord H. Marney in Laremarny the Hospital and Beadman of little Horksley Thus presuming of youre Lordships goodnes I more then bold euer to trouble you with thys worldly busines beseeching almightye God to send your honorable Lordship a condigne reward From Eastthorp this present xxx of August We found a letter touching the Maryage of Priestes in the handes of the foresayd Syr Robert Smith Also I desired Mayster Browne the doer of all thinges to require the audience to bring in theyr vnlawfull writinges and bookes Who asked me if I had proclaymed the Proclamation I sayd yea Then he sayd openly on the Benche that they shoulde be proclaimed euerye quarter once And then take the Constables and Officers and they alone â—ake and punish the offenders accordingly By your poore Beadman Iohn Kingston Priest An Indenture made betweene the Lordes and the Iustices within specified and Boners Commissary concerning the deliuery of the prisoners aboue named THis IndeÌ„ture made the xix day of August in the third and 4. yeres of the raygnes of oure soueraigne Lord and Lady Philip and Mary by the grace of God King Queene of England Spayne Fraunce both Cicils Ierusalem and Ireland defenders of the fayth Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Burgundy Myllayne Brabant Countyes of Hasburgh Flaunders and Tirell betwene the ryght honourable Lord Iohn de Ueere Earle of Oxenford Lord high Chamberlayne of England Thomas Lord Darcy of Chiche Henry Tirel Knight Anthony Browne the King and Queenes Maiestyes Sergeaunt at lawe William Bendelowes Sergeaunt at lawe Edmund Tirel Richard Weston Roger AppletoÌ„ Esquiers Iustices of Ooyer and determiner of the peace within the sayd County of Essex to be kept of the one party and Iohn Kingstone clerke Bacheler at law Commissary to the Bish. of London of the other party witnesseth that Ro. Colman of Walton in the County of Essex labourer Ioan Winseley of Horseley Magna in the said County Spinster Steuen Glouer of Raylye in the County aforesayd Glouer Richard Clerke of much Holland in the sayd County Mariner William Munt of much Bently in the sayde County husbandmaÌ„ Tho. Winseley of much Horseley in the sayd County Sawyer Margaret field of Ramesey in the sayd County Spinster Agnes Whitlocke of Douercourt in the sayd Countie Spinster Alice Munt of much Bentley in the sayd Countye Spinster Rose Alin of the same towne and County Spinster Richard Bongeor of Colchester in the sayd County Corier Richard Atkin of Halstead in the sayd County Weauer Robert Barcocke of Wiston in the sayde Countye of Suffolke Carpenter Rich. George of Westbarhoult in the county of Essex laborer Rich. Iolley of Colchester in the said County Mariner Tho. Feeresanne of the same towne and County Mercer Robert Debnam late of Dedham in the said couÌ„ty Weauer Cicely Warren of Cocksall in the sayd county Spinster Christian Peper widow of the same town and County Allin Simpson Elene Euring Alice the wife of William Walles of Colchester Spinster and William Bongeor of Colchester in the sayd County Glasier being indited of heresie are deliuered to the sayde Iohn Kingstone Clerke Ordinary to the Byshop of London according to the statute in that case prouided In witnesse wherof to the one part of this Indenture remayning with the sayd Erle Lord and other the Iustices the sayd Ordinary hath set to his hand and seale and to the other part remayning with the sayd Ordinary the sayd Earle Lord and other the Iustices haue set to their seueral handes seales the daye yeares aboue written Oxenford Thomas Darcy Henry Tyrell Antony Browne William Bendelowes Edmund Tyrell Richard Weston Roger Appleton These xxii aforesayd prisoners thus seÌ„t from Colchester to London were brought at length to B. Boner As touching the order and maner of their comming brynging the sayd Boner himselfe writeth to Cardinall Poole as you shall heare * A letter of B. Boner to Cardinall Poole MAy it please your good grace with my most humble obedience reuerence and duetie to vnderstand that going to London vpon Thursday last and thinking to be troubled with M. Germaynes matter onely and such other common matters as are accustomed enough to wery a right strong body I had the day following to comfort my stomacke withall letters from Colchester that either
ouer I founde by the wordes therof that I had not offeÌ„ded because he was not lawfully authorised as the Bishop of London was certified by the handes almost of xxx men both Esquiers Gentlemen and Yeomen the chiefest in all that Countrey For he had not put away his wife and therefore the Statute took no place on me as I told you the other daye Wherefore my Lord of London seeing me hauing so muche wrong dyd like a good man to me in that matter released me Now when I had tolde you this matter you bad the Sheriffe haue me away You sayd you were glad I hâ—lde agaynst Priestes Mariages because I aunswered to the question you asked me The fat Priest My Lord do you not heare what he sayth by my Lord of London He sayth he is a good man in that he released him but he meaneth that hee is good in nothyng els Wood. What can you tell what I meane let euerye man say as he findeth he did iustly to me in that matter I saye if he be not good in any thing els as you say he shal aunswere for it and not I for I haue nothing to doe wyth others mens matters Winc. Well how say you howe liked you his preaching I pray you tell vs. Wood. That is no matter how I liked it How soeuer I liked it I offended not the Statute Wherefore you haue nothing to say to me for that I am sure Winc. Well how like you this then Here is youre owne hand writing I am sure you will not denye it Will you looke on it Wood. It is mine owne handy worke in deede the which by Gods helpe I will neuer denye nor neuer did yet I prayse God therefore Winchester And heare is good geare I tell you I praye you harken wel to it these be the wordes before the Commissioners How say you Doe you not beleeue as soone as the wordes be spoken by the Priest that there remayneth neyther bread nor wyne but onely the verye bodye of Christ both flesh and bloud as he was borne of the virgine Mary these were the wordes of the Commissioners And then thou saydest thou durst not saye otherwise then the scripture sayth I cannot finde sayde you that it is the body of Christ before it is receaued by fayth bringing in the xxii of Luke saying Christ sayde take eate this is my body so I cannot proue that it is his bodye before it is eaten Then sayd the Commissioners did not Iudas eate Christes body And if you can proue that Iudâ—s is saued sayd you I must graunt that he eate his body For christ sayth in the sixt of Iohn Who so eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloud hath eternall lyfe and I will rayse hym vp at the last day which words prooue said you that if Iudas eate the body of Christ he must needes be saued How say you now did Iudas eate the body of Christ or no Wood. Then I perceiued they went about nothyng but to catch words of me in his Dioces to condemn me with Though I should confound him neuer so much I perceiued that he was fully bent thereto To whom I answered and sayd I will answer you to no such thing for I am none of your Dioces Wherfore I will not answer to you Winchester Thou art within my Diocesse and thou hast offended within my Dioces and therefore I will haue to do with thee Wood. Haue to do with me and you will but I wil haue nothing to do with you I tell you plainly For though I be now in your Dioces I haue not offended in your dioces if I haue shew me wherein Winc. Mary here is thine owne hand writyng the which thou affirmedst in my Dioces Wood. I do not deny but it is myne owne hand writing but that prooueth neuer the more that I haue offended in your Diocesse for that doth but declare what talke there was betwixt the Commissioners and me the which you haue nothing to do withall Winchest No hold hym a booke and thou shalt sweare whether thou holdest it now or not whether thou wrotest it not in my Dioces as I thinke thou didst Lay thy hand on the booke Wood. I wil not be sworne for you for I am not of your Dioces and therfore you haue nothyng to doe with mee And as for the writing of that same I neuer wrote worde of it in your Dioces Lang. No did you not my Lord let me see I wyll finde where you wrote it Wood. Then he tooke it looked on it and anone he found that I was sent for out of the Kings bench to come before the Commissioners Lang. My Lord here you may see it was in the Kinges Bench the which is in your Dioces Wood. Although I were fet out of the Kings Bench that prooueth not that I wrote it there nor I did not I promise you truly The fat Priest Where wrote you it then Wood. Nay I owe you not so much seruice to tell you find it out as well as you can For I perceiue you go about to shed my bloud Winchester It is no great matter where it was written it is here and he denyeth not but he wrote it You shall heare more of it Here the Commissioners asked you whether Iudas did eate any more theÌ„ bare bread and you answered that he eate more then bare bread Whereupon they sent you away backe to the Kynges Bench agayne and asked you not what more for the whiche cause as you haue written here you had a hell burnyng in your conscience For you had thought they would haue sent a discharge to the Kinges Benche and so let me goe sayd you and Register my name in their bookes that I had graunted that Iudas did eate the body of Christe and so the Gospell should haue bene slaundered by me For the which cause I was in such case I could scantly eat drink or sleepe for that space as all my prison fellowes can testifie If al you I say that go to the Church of Sathan and there heare the detestable doctrine that they spit and spue out in their Churches and Pulpits to the great dishonor of God if all you I say that come there hadde such a hell burning in your conscience for the time as I hadde till I came before theÌ„ agayne had vttered my conscience more playnely I dare saye you woulde come there no more All this is your writing is it not how say you Woodman I do not deny but it was mine owne deed Winch. And I pray you where is there such spitting and spuing out of false doctrine as you speake of Wood. In the sinagogue of Sathan where God is dishonoured with false doctrine Winc. And I pray you where is one of them Wood. Nay that iudge your selfe I came not hether to be a iudge Winc. Wel here you haue affirmed that Iudas your M. eate more then bread
himselfe to them not vngentle so found he theÌ„ again to him not vnconformable Whervpon a certeine agreemeÌ„t pacificatory was concluded betwene them vpon conditions Which agrement the new Polone king eftsoones preferred to the Frenche King hys Brother not without some sute and intercession to haue it ratified The king also himselfe partly being weary of these chargeable warres was the more willing to assent therunto And thus at length through the Lordes great worke the kinges royal consent vnder forme of an Edict was sette downe in writing and confirmed by the king conteining 25. Articles In which also wer included certeine other Cittyes of the Protestantes graunting to them benefit of peace and liberty of religion This edicte or mandate sent downe from the king by his Heralde at armes Bironius in the kinges name caused to be solemnely proclaymed at Rochell an 1573. the x. day of Iune The yeare next folowing 1574. for two thinges seemeth fatall and famous for the death first of Charles the 9. the french king also most of all for the death of Charles Cardinall of Lorayne brother to Guise Of the maner of the Cardinals death I finde litle mentioÌ„ in stories Touching the kinges death although Ric. Dinothus sayth nothing for feare belike because he being a french man hys name is expressed and known but an other story whom the sayd Dinothus doth followe bearing no name sayeth thus that he dyed the xxv day of May vpon Whitson euen being of the age of 25. yeares and addeth more profluuio sanguinis illum laborasse certuÌ„ est Certayne it is that his sickenes came of bleeding And sayth further CoÌ„stans fert fama illum dum evarijs corporis partibus sanguis emanaret in lecto saepe volutatum inter horribilium blasphemiaruÌ„ diras tantaÌ„ sanguinis vim proiecisse vt paucas post horas mortuus â—uerit That is The constant report so goeth that his bloud gushing out by diuers partes of his body he tossing in his bedde and casting out many horrible blasphemies layed vpon pillowes with his heeles vpward and head downeward voyded so much bloud at his mouth that in few houres he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and testified may be a spectable and example to all persecuting kinges and Princes polluted with the bloud of Christian Martyrs And thus muche briefely touching the late terrible persecution in Fraunce ¶ The Conclusion of the worke ANd thus to conclude good Christian Reader this present tractation not for lacke of matter but to shorten rather the matter for largenes of the volume I here stay for this present time with further addition of more discourse either to ouerweary thee with longer tediousnes or ouercharge the booke with longer prolixity hauing hitherto set forth the Actes and Proceedinges of the whole Church of Christ namely of the Church of England although not in such particular perfectioÌ„ that nothing hath ouerpassed vs. Yet in such generall sufficiency that I trust not very much hath escaped vs necessary to be knowne touching the principall affayres doinges and proceedinges of the Church and Churchmen Wherein may be seene the whole state order discent course and continuaunce of the same the encrease and decrease of true religion the creeping in of superstition the horrible troubles of persecution the wonderfull assistaunce of the almighty in mainteining his truth the glorious constancy of Christes Martyrs the rage of the enemyes the alteration of times the trauelles and troubles of the Church from the first primatiue age of Christes Gospel to the end of Queen Mary and the beginning of this our gracious Queene Elizabeth During the time of her happy reigne which hath hetherto continued through the gracious protection of the Lord the space now of 24. yeres as my wish is so I would be glad the good wil of the Lord were so that no more matter of such lameÌ„table stories may euer bee offered hereafter to write vpon But so it is I cannot tel how the elder the world waxeth the longer it continueth the nerer it hasteneth to his end the more Sathan â—ageth geuing still new matter of writing bookes and volumes In so much that if all were recorded and committed to history that within the sayd compasse of this Queenes reigne hitherto hath happened in Scotland Flanders France Spayne Germany besides this our owne Countrey of England and Ireland with other Countryes moe I verely suppose one Eusebius or Polyhistor whiche Plinnye writeth of woulde not suffice thereunto But of these incidentes and occurrentes hereafter more as it shall please the Lord to geue grace and space In the meane time the grace of the Lord Iesus worke with thee gentle Reader in all thy studious readinges And while thou hast space so employ thy selfe to read that by reading thou mayst learne dayly to knowe that may profite thy soule may teach thee experience may arme thee with pacience and instruct thee in all spirituall knowledge more and more to thy perpetuall comfort and saluation in Christ Iesu our Lord to whome be glory in Secula Seculorum Amen FINIS ⧠A diligent Table or Index of the most notable and memorable thyngs contained in the whole volume of this Booke wherein if thou wilt finde any thing good Reader reuolue in thy mynde the letter wherewith the word beginneth and the number of the Page shall direct thee vnto it A ante B. A B. C. agaynst the Popes Clergie 841.843 Abuses in the Church require reformatioÌ„ not defection 1873 Abbey of Peterborow 133. Abbeis suppressed in England 1101. Abbey of Exceter 141. Abbey of Stowe built 184. Abbey of S. Edmundsbury 161. Abbeis and Nunries founded and vpon what causes 149.454 Abbey of S. Albons built and by whom 133. Abbey of Gisburne and Readyng buâ—lt 199. Abbey of Glastenbury 150. Abbeis dissolued in Englande by K Henry the 8. 1070. Abbeis burned ibid. Abbey lands restored by Q. Mary 1559.1560 Abbey of Bangor 119. Abbeis and Monasteries in England infinite built by Saxone Kings 133. Abbeis dissolued by Cromwell 1179.1180 Abbey of Couentry built 165. Abbey of Ely 133. Abbey of Gloucester built ibid. Abbey of Knouesburgh others built ibid. Abbeis and religious houses built for what causes 1180. Abbot of Carilocus his sodain and dreadfull death 2106. Abbot of Glastenbury 150. Abbots not instituted by Christ. 680. Abbot Capellensis cruelly handled for the Gospell 873. Abbot of Peterborow thrust out of the Court of Rome for denying the Popes kinsman a benefice 287. Abbot of Abbingdon amerced by the Pope in 50. markes for denying a benefice to an Italian 291. Abbot of S. Albones sueth to the Pope ibid. Abbot of Westminster more conformable to yeld and submit him selfe to the doctrine of the Protestants then the rest of the Papists in the disputation at Westminster 2125 Abdias authoritie suspected 35. Abiurers names in a table 1040.1041.1042.1277.1401 Abiuration of good men of Leicester .506 their penance ibid. Abiuration in the diocesse of
My body into dust Yet am I sure to saue a soule When death hath done hys worst And though I leaue a little dust Dissolued out of bloud I shall receaue it safe agayne When God shall see it good For my redeemer I am sure Doth liue for euermore And sitteth high vpon the heauens For whome I hunger sore Euen as the Deare with deadly wounds Escaped from the spoyle Doth hast by all the meanes he may To seeke vnto the soyle Of whome I hope to haue a crowne That alwayes shall remayne And eke enioy a perfect peace For all my woe and payne The God that geueth all encrease And seeketh still to saue Abound in thee that perfect peace Which I do hope to haue And I beseech the liuing God To hold thee in hys handes And wish thee euen with all my hart The blessing of my bandes Which I esteeme of hier price Then pearle or precious stone And shall endure for euermore When earthly thinges are gone For though the fire doe consume Our treasure and our store Yet shall the goodnes of the Lord Endure for euermore And where thou art a friend to him That is to me full deare That God of might make the amendes When all men shall appeare That hath shewed mercy to the meeke And rid them out of payne And thus the Lorde possesse thy spirite Till we do meete agayne If thou wilt haue a recompence Abide still in obedience ¶ The exhortation of Robert Smith vnto his children commonly set out in the name of maister Rogers GEue eare my children to my words Whome God hath dearely bought Lay vp my law within your harte And print it in your thought For I your father haue foreseene The frayle and filthy way Which flesh and bloud would follow fayne Euen to theyr owne decay For all and euery liuing beast Their crib do know full well But Adams heyres aboue the rest Are ready to rebell And all the creatures on the earth Full well can keepe their way But man aboue all other beastes is apte to go astray For earth and ashes is his strength His glory and his rayne And vnto ashes at the length Shall he returne agayne For flesh doth florish like a flower And grow vp like a grasse And is consumed in an houre As it is brought to passe In me the Image of your yeares Your treasure and your trust Whome ye do see before your face Dissolued into dust For as you see your fathers fleshe conuerâ—ed into clay Euen so shall ye my children deare Consume and weare away The sonne and moone and eke the starres That serue the day and night The earth and euery earthly thing Shal be consumed quite And all the worship that is wrought That haue bene heard or seene Shall cleane consume and come to naught Ar it had neuer bene Therefore that ye may follow me Your Father and your frend And enter into that same lyfe Which neuer shall haue end I leaue you heare a little book For you to looke vpon That you may see your Fathers face When I am dead and gone Who for the hope of heauenly thinges While he dyd here remayne Gaue ouer all his golden yeares In prison and in payne Where I among myne iron bandes Enclosed in the darcke A few dayes before my death Did dedicate this worke To you myne heyres of earthly thinges Which I haue left behynde That ye may read and vnderstand And keepe it your minde That as you haue bene heyres of that Which once shall weare away Euen so ye may possesse the parte Which neuer shall decay In following of your fathers foote In truth and eke in loue That ye may also be his heyres For euermore aboue And in example to your youth To whome I wish all good I preache you here a perfite fayth And seale it with my bloud Haue God alwayes before your eyes In all your whole ententes Commit not sinne in any wise Keepe his commaundementes Abhorre that errant whoore of Rome And all her blasphemies And drincke not of her decretals Nor yet of her decrees Geue honour to your mother deare Remember well her payne And recompence her in her age In lyke with loue agayne Be alwayes ayding at her hand And let her not decay Remember well your fathers fall That should haue bene her stay Geue of your portion to the poore As riches doth arise And from the needy naked soule Turne not away your eyes For he that will not heare the cry Of such as are in neede Shall cry himselfe and not be heard When he would hope to speede If God haue geuen you great encrease And blessed well your store Remember ye are put in trust To minister the more Beware of foule and filthy lust Let whoredome haue no place Keepe cleane your vessels in the Lord That he may you embrace Ye are the temples of the Lord For ye are dearely bought And they that do defile the same Shall surely come to nought Possesse not pride in any case Build not your neastes to hye But haue alwayes before your face That ye be borne to dye Defraud not him that hyred is Your labours to sustayne But geue him alwayes out of hand His penny for hys payne And as ye would that other men Agaynst you should proceede Do ye the same agayne to them When they do stand in neede And part your portion with the poore In mony and in meate And feede the faynted feeble soule With that which ye should eate That when your meÌ„bers lacketh meate And clothing to your backe Ye may the better thinke on them That now do liue and lacke Aske counsell at the wise Geue eare vnto the end Refuse not you the sweete rebuke Of hym that is your frend Be thankefull alwayes to the Lord With prayer and with prayse Desire you him in all your deedes For to direct your wayes And sinne not like that swinish sorte Whose bellies beyng fed Consume theyr yeares vpon the earth From belly vnto bed Seeke first I say the liuing God Set him alwayes before And then be sure that he will blesse Your basket and your store And thus if you direct your dayes According to this booke Then shall they say that see your wayes How lyke me you do looke And when you haue so perfectly Vpon your fingers endes Possessed all within your booke Then geue it to your frendes And I beseeche the liuing God Replenish you with grace That I maye haue you in the heauens And see you face to face And though the sword haue cut me off Contrary to my kinde That I could not enioy your loue According to my minde Yet do I hope when that the heauens Shall vanish like a scrole I shall receaue your perfect shape In body and in soule And that I may enioy your loue And ye enioy the land I do beseeche the liuing
worde because I am not woorthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so doyng but adde sinne to sinne What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell as Christ himself beareth witnesse Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods cōmandements When I am prouoked to pray the enemy may say vnto me I am not worthy to pray therfore I shall not pray so in lyke maner of all the commandements I shall not forbeare swearing stealing murthering because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God These be the delusions of the Deuill and Sathans suggestions which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of euery mans gift agaynst all assaults of the Deuill At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment I was called into a by chamber next to my prison to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers chaplains seruants except it were an old priest I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question He proceded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church which had continued so many yeares As for our church as hee called it it was not knowen he sayd but lately in kyng Edwards tyme. I professe my selfe to be a member of that church said I that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng said I though it beare no glorious shew before the world beyng euer for the most part vnder the Crosse and affliction contemned despised and persecuted My Lord on the other side contended that they were the Church Glouer So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem saying Templum Domini templum Domini The Church the Church c. Bish. And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried hold thy peace I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience to hold thy peace callyng me a proud arrogant heretike Glouer I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions I refused to aunswer him in corners requiryng that I myght make my answer openly He sayd I should aunswer hym there I stood with hym vpon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym Then I lifted vp my hart to God that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word Bish. The first question was this how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church Glo. The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper Bish. No more sayd he Glo. To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce a sure hope trust and confidence in the death of Christ to such ministers I grant that they haue authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word the remission of sinnes Here interruptyng me he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt because that matter was of no great waight or importāce although he in so doing did me wrong for I called it not a Sacrament Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr confession I sayd no. Bish. Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament Glouer I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacrifice nor Sacrament because sayd I you haue takē away the true institution which when you restore agayne I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor Moe examinations he had no doubt with the Byshop in the publike Consistory when he was brought forth to be condemned which also he would haue left vnto vs if either length of lyfe or laysure of tyme or haste of execution had permitted hym to finish that he intended but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do neither yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become Onely this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of hys concernyng the goyng to his death I can report that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord M. Rob. Glouer after he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world it so happened that two or three dayes before his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vpon hym Wherupon he fearing in himself lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred signifieng vnto hym how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne willed and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was yet seing his cause was iust and true he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same to play the man nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he sayd he was right certayne and sure therfore desired hym when so euer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should begin to touch his hart that then he would shew some signification thereof wherby he might witnesse with hym the same and so departed from hym The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome as hee was goyng to the place and was now come to the sight of the stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes that he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen saying in these words Austen he is come he is come c. that with such ioy and alacritie as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly
daunger to libertie of life then as one passing out of the world by any paines of death Such was the change of the meruailous workyng of the Lordes hand vpon that good man ¶ Cornelius Bongey felow Martyr with Mayster Robert Glouer IN the same fire with him was burned also Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Couentrey and condemned by the sayd Radulph Byshoppe of Couentry and Liechfield As concerning the Articles which were to him obiected the effect therof was this Firste it was articulate agaynste him that these three yeres last in the City of Couentry and Liechfield other places about he did hold mainteyne argue and teach that the Prieste hath no power here to absolue any sinner from his sinnes Secondly that by Baptisme sinnes be not washed away because he sayd that the washing of the flesh purgeth the flesh outwardly and not the soule Thirdly that there be in the Church onely two sacramentes that is Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Fourthly that in the sacrament of theyr popish aulter was not the reall body bloud of Christ but the substance of bread wine there remayning stil because S. Paul calleth it bread and wine c. Fiftly that he within the compasse of the sayd yeares time did hold maintayne and defend that the Pope is not the head of the visible church here in earth c. Sixtly that he was of the dioces and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Couentry and Liechfield c. Seuēthly that the premises are true manifest and notorious and that vpō the same there hath bene is a publick voice and fame as well in the places aboue rehearsed as in other quarters also about c. ¶ His aunsweres Unto the which articles he aunswering agayne to the first he graunted and to euery part therof meaning after the Popish maner of absolution The second he graunted first after reuoked the same To the thyrd also he graunted adding withall that in scripture there be no more conteined To the fourth touching the sacrament he graunted to euery part therof To the fift concerning the Pope likewise Also to the sixt he graūted and likewise to the seuenth Upon these articles and his answeres to the same the sayd Radulph the Bishop read the sentence and so cōmitted him also after the condemnation of Mayster Roberte Glouer to the seculer power Thus this foresayd Cornelius falsely condēned by the Bishop before mentioned suffered at the same stake wyth the Christian Martyr Mayster Robert Glouer at Couentry about the xx day of September ¶ The burning of Mayster Robert Glouer and Cornelius Bongey at Couentry ¶ Here foloweth the story of Iohn Glouer and William Glouer how they were excommunicate and cast out after theyr death and buried in the fieldes NOwe that wee haue discoursed the storye of Mayster Robert Glouer something also woulde bee touched of his other two brethrē Iohn and William Glouer Who albeit they were not called to finishe theyr course by lyke kinde of Martyrdome in the fire as the other did yet because for theyr constaunt profession of Gods Gospell vnto the latter ende they were exempted after theyr death cast out of the same Church as the other was I thought them not vnworthy therefore in the story to be ioyned together which in one cause and the same profession were not sūdered one from the other And first concerning Mayster Iohn Glouer the eldest brother what inward stormes and agonies he susteined by the ghostly enemy partly ye heard before described nowe what his bodily enemies wrought against him remaineth to be declared Whose rage and malice although god so restrained that they coulde litle preuayle agaynst him so long as his life endured yet after his decease hauing power vpon him what they did ye shall now vnderstand After the Martyrdome of mayster Robert Glouer although Iohn Glouer seing his brother to be apprehended for him had small ioy of his life for the great sorow of his hart wherewith he was sore oppressed and would gladly haue put himselfe in his Brothers stead if frendes had not otherwise perswaded with him shewing that in so doyng he might intangle himselfe but should doe his brother no good He thus in great care and vexation endured yet notwithstanding rubbing out as well as he could til at lēgth about the latter end of queene Mary there was a new search made for the sayd Iohn Glouer Whereupon the Sheriffes with theyr vnder Officers and seruauntes being sent to seek him came into his house where he and his wife were It chaūced as he was in his chamber by himselfe the Officers brusting into the house and searching other roomes came to the Chamber doore where this Iohn Glouer was Who being within and holding the latch softly with his hand perceiued and heard the Officers buskeling about the doore amongest whome one of the sayd officers hauing the string in his hand was ready to draw and plucke at the same In the meane time an other comming by whose voice he heard and knew bad them come away saying they had bene there before Whereupon they departing thence wēt to search other corners of the house where they found Agnes Glouer his wife who being had to Liechfilde there examined before the bishop at length after much ado was constrayned to geue place to their tyranny Ioh Glouer in the meane time partly for care of his wife partly through cold taken in the woodes where he did lye tooke an Agew whereupon not long after he left this life which the cruell Papistes so long had sought for Thus by the mighty protectiō of the almighty Lord how Iohn Glouer was deliuered and defended frō the handes of the persecuting enemies during all the time of hys life ye haue hearde Nowe what befell after his death both to him to William his brother it is not vnworthy to be remēbred Who after that he was dead buried in the churchyard without Priest or Clerke D. Dracot then Chauncellour sixe weekes after sent for the parson of the Towne demaunded howe it chaunced that hee was there buryed The parson aunswered that he was then sicke and knewe not of it Then the Chauncellour commaunded the parson to go home and to cause the body of the said Iohn Glouer to be taken vp to be cast ouer the wall into the hie way The Parson agayne answered that he had bene 6. weekes in the earth so smelled that none was able to abide the sauor of him Well quoth D. Dracot then take this byll and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soule and a twelue moneth after take vp his bones for then the fleshe will be consumed and cast thē ouer the wall that cartes and horses may tread vpon them and then will I come hallow againe that place in the churchyard where he was buried Recorded by the Parson of the towne who tolde the same to Hugh Burrowes dwelling at
sayd theyr brother Bishop Ridley but also carrishly without all order of law or honesty by extort power wrasted from them all the liuinges they had And yet being not therewith satisfied he sought all the meanes he could to worke the death of the foresayd Ship-side saying that he would make twelue godfathers to goe vpō him which had bene brought to passe in deed at what tyme he was prisoner at Oxford had not God otherwyse wrought his deliuerance by meanes of D. Heath Byshop then of Worcester Teste Georg. Shipsido Wherby all good indifferent Readers notoriously haue to vnderstand what great diuersity was in the disposition of these two natures Wherof as the one excelled in mercy and pity so the other agayne as muche or more excelled in churlish ingratitude and despitefull disdayne But of this matter enough Now concerning Gods vocation how Doctor Ridly was first called to the sauouring and fauouring of Christe and his Gospell partlye by his disputation before other his Treatises it may appeare that the first occasion of hys conuersion was by reading of Bertrams book of the Sacrament whom also the conferēce with Bishop Cranmer and with Peter Martyr did not a litle confirme in that behalfe Who now by the grace of GOD being throughly won and brought to the true way as he was before blind and zelous in his old ignoraunce so was he as constant faythfull in the right knowledge whiche the Lorde had opened vnto him as well appeared by his preachings and doynges duringe all the time of Kyng Edwarde and so long dyd muche good while authoritye of externe power might defend and hold vp the peace of the church and proceedinges of the Gospell But after that it pleased so the heauēly will of our Lord our God to bereue vs of the stay and to call from vs Kyng Edward that precious Prince as the whole state of the Churche of Englande was leafte desolate and open to the enemies hande so this Byshop Ridley after the comming in of Queene Mary eftsoone and with the first was layd handes vpō and committed to prison as before hath sufficiently bene expressed first in the Tower then after translated from thence with the Archebishop of Canterbury and mayster Latimer to Oxforde was with them inclosed in the common Gayle and prison of Bocardo while at lēgth being disseuered from them he was committed to custody in the house of one Irish wher he remayned till the last day of his death and martyrdome which was from the yeare of our Lord. 1554. till the yeare 1555. and 16. day of October Furthermore as touching his disputations cōflicts had at Oxford and also of his determination had at Cambridge also his trauels in perswading and instructing the Lady Mary before she was Queene his reasons conference likewise had in the tower at the Lieutenants boord enough hath bene sayd already Besides this other conferences hee had in prison both with D. Cranmer and M. Latimer as here foloweth to be read * A conference had betwixt Mayster Ridley and Mayster Latimer in prison vpon the obiection of Antonian meaning by that name some popish persecutour as Winchester alluding thereby to the story of Victor lib. 3. de persecut Aphri IN writing agayne yee haue done me an vnspeakeable pleasure and I pray that the Lord may requite it you in that day For I haue receiued great comfort at your wordes but yet I am not so filled withall but that I thyrste much more nowe then before to drinke more of that cuppe of yours wherein ye mingle vnto me profitable wyth pleasaunt I pray you good father let me haue one draught more to comfort my stomacke For surely except the Lord assist me with his gracious ayde in the time of his seruice I know I shall play but the part of a white liuered knight But truely my trust is in him that in mine infirmitye hee should try himselfe strong and that he can make the Coward in his cause to fight like a man Syr now I looke dayly when Diotrephes wyth hys warriours shall assault me wherefore I pray you good father for that you are an olde Souldiour and an experte warriour and God knoweth I am but a young Souldiour and as yet of small experience in these fittes helpe me I pray you to buckle my harnesse And now I would haue you to thinke that these dartes are cast at my head of some one of Diotrephes or Antonius souldiers The obiection of the Antonian All men maruell greatlye why you after the libertye which you haue graunted vnto you more then the rest do not go to masse which is a thing as you know now much estemed of all men yea of the Queene herselfe The aunswere Because no man that layeth hande on the plough and looketh backe is fitte for the kingdome of God and also for the selfe same cause why Saynt Paule woulde not suffer Titus to be circumcised which is that the truth of the gospell might remayne with vs vncorrupt Gala. the second and agayne If I builde agayne the thinges which I destroyed I make my selfe a trespasser This is also another cause least I should seeme by outwarde facte to allowe the thing which I am perswaded is contrary to sounde doctrine and so should be a stumbling stocke vnto the weake But woe be vnto him by whom offence commeth it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the middest of the sea Except the Lord helpe me ye say Truth it is For with out me sayth he ye can do nothing much lesse suffer death of our aduersaryes through the bloudy lawe now prepared agaynst vs. But it foloweth if ye abide in me and my woorde abide in you aske what yee will and it shall bee done for you What canne be more comfortable Syr you make aunswere your selfe so well that I cannot beter it Syr I beginne now to smell what you meane by trauelling thus with me you vse me as Bilney dyd once when he conuerted me pretēding as though he would be taught of me he sought wayes and meanes to teach me and so do you I thanke you therefore most hartely For in deed you minister armour vnto me whereas I was vnarmed before and vnprouided sauing that I geue my selfe to prayer for my refuge What is it then that offendeth you so greatlye in the Masse that ye will not vouchsafe once eyther to heare it or see it And from whence commeth this new religion vp on you haue not you vsed in times past to say masse your selfe I confesse vnto you my fault and ignorance but know you that for these matters I haue done penaunce long agoe both at Paules crosse and also openly in the Pulpit at Cambridge and I truste God hath forgeuen mee thys mine offence for I didde it vpon ignoraunce But if ye be desirous to knowe and will vouchsafe to heare what thinges
with the fore sayd Maister Bilney he went with hym to visite the prisoners in the Tower in Cambridge and beyng there among other prysoners there was a woman which was accused that she had killed her owne chylde which acte she playnly and stedfastly denied Whereby it gaue them occasion to searche for the matter and at length they founde that her husbande loued her not and therefore soughte all meanes he coulde to make her away The matter was thus A child of hers had bene sicke a whole yere at length died in haruest tyme as it were in a consumption Which when it was gone shee went to haue her neighboures to helpe her to the buriall but all were in Haruest abroade whereby she was enforced with heauinesse of heart alone to prepare the chyld to the buriall Her husband comming home and not louyng her accused her of murtheryng the child This was the cause of her trouble and M. Latimer by earnest inquisition of conscience thought the woman not guilty Thē immediatly after was he called to preach before king Henry the 8. at Windsore where after his sermon the kyngs maiestie sent for hym and talked with him familiarly At which tyme M. Latimer finding oportunitie kneeled downe opened hys whole matter to the kyng and begged her pardon which the kyng most graciously granted and gaue it hym at his return homeward In the meane tyme the woman was deliuered of a chylde in the prison whose Godfather was M. Latymer and maistres Cheeke Godmother But all that whyle he would not tel her of the pardone but laboured to haue her confesse the truth of the matter At length tyme came when she looked to suffer and Maister Latymer came as he was woont to instruct her vnto whome shee made great lamentation and moue to be purified before her suffring for she thoght to be damned if she should suffer without purification Then M. Bilney beyng with maister Latimer both told her that that law was made to the Iewes and not to vs and howe women bee as well in the fauour of GOD before they be purified as after and rather it was appointed for a ciuill and politike lawe for naturall honestye sake then that they should any thyng the more be purified from sinne thereby c. So thus they trauayled wyth this woman till they had brought her to a good trade and then at length shewed her the Kyngs pardon and let her goe This good act among many other at this tyme happened in Cambridge by M. Latimer and Maister Bilney But this was not alone for many mo lyke matters were wrought by them if all were known wherof partly some are touched before such especially as concerne M. Bilney mention whereof is aboue expressed But as it is commonly seene in the naturall course of thynges that as the fire beginneth more to kyndle so the more smoke aryseth withall in much lyke sort it happened with Maister Latymer whose towardnesse the more it beganne to spryng hys vertues to be seene and hys doynges to bee knowen the more hys aduersaries began to spurne and kindle against hym Concernyng these aduersaries and such as did molest him partly their names bee aboue expressed Among the rest of this number was Doct. Redman of whome mention is made before in the raigne of king Edward a man sauouring at that tyme somewhat more of superstition then of true religion after the zeale of the Phariseis yet not so malignant or harmfull but of a ciuill and quiet disposition and also so liberall in well doyng that few poore Scholers were in that vniuersitie which fared not better by his purse This Doct. Redman beyng of no little authoritie in Cambridge perceiuyng vnderstandyng the bold enterprise of M. Latymer in settyng abroad the word and doctrine of the Gospell at thys tyme or much about the same writeth to hym seeking by perswasion to reuoke the sayd Latimer from that kynde maner of teachyng to whom M. Latimer maketh aunswer agayne in few words The summe and effect of both their letters translated out of Latine here followe to bee seene ¶ The summe of the Epistle written by Doctor Redman to M. Latymer GRace be vnto you and true peace in Christ Iesu. I beseeche you hartily and require most earnestly euen for charities sake that you wyll not stand in your owne conceite with a mind so indurate nor preferre your owne singular iudgement in matters of religion and controuersies before so many learned men and that more is before the whole Catholike Church especially consideryng that you neither haue any thyng at all in the word of God to make for you nor yet the testimony of any autenticall wryter Nay nay I beseech you rather consider that you are a man and that lying and vanitie maye quickely bleare your eye which doth sometyme transforme it selfe into an Aungell of lyght Iudge not so rashly of vs as that wicked spirite hath tickled you in the eare Witte you well that we are carefull for you and that we wish you to be saued and that wee are carefull also for our owne saluation Lay downe your stomacke I pray you and humble your spirite and suffer not the Church to take offence with the hardnes of your hart nor that her vnitie and Christes coate without seame as much as lyeth in you should be torne a sunder Consider what the sayeng of the wyseman is and be obedient thereunto Trust not in your owne wisedom The Lord Iesus Christ c. ¶ The summe of M. Latymers aunswer to Doct. Redman REuerend M. Redman it is euen enough for me that Christes sheepe heare no mans voyce but Christ and as for you you haue no voyce of Christ agaynst me whereas for my part I haue a heart that is ready to harken to any voyce of Christ that you can bring me Thus fare you well and trouble me no more from the talkyng with the Lord my God After Maister Latymer had thus trauailed in preachyng and teachyng in the Uniuersitie of Cambridge about the space of three yeares at length he was called vp to the Cardinall for heresie by the procurement of certain of the sayd Uniuersitie where he was content to subscribe and graunt to such Articles as then they propounded vnto hym c. After that he returned to the Uniuersitie again where shortly after by the meanes of D. Buttes the kyngs Phisition a singuler good man and a special fauourer of good procedyngs he was in the number of them which laboured in the cause of the kyngs supremacie Then went he to the Court where he remayned a certaine tyme in the sayd D. Buttes chamber preachyng then in London very often At last beyng weary of the Court hauyng a benefice offred by the kyng at the sute of the L. Crumwell and D. Buttes was glad thereof seekyng by that meanes to bee rid out of the Court wherewith in no case he could agree and so hauyng a
discharge his coÌ„science durst so boldly to so mighty a Prince in such a daungerous case agaynst the kinges law and procâ—amation set out in such a terrible time take vpon him to write and to admonish that which no couÌ„seller durst once speak vnto him in defence of Christes Gospell Whose example if the Bishops and Prelates of this Realme for theyr partes likewise in like cases of necessity would followe as in deed they should so many thinges peraduenture woulde not be so out of frame as they be and all for lacke that the officers of Gods word do not theyr duty Finally this moreouer in the sayd letter is to be noted how blessedly almighty God wroughte with his faythfull seruaunt whose bolde aduenture and wholesome counsel though it did not preuayl through the iniquity of the time yet notwithstanding GOD so wrought with his seruaÌ„t in doynge his duetye that no daunger nor yet displeasure rose to him thereby but rather thankes and good will of the Prince for not long after the same he was aduaunced by the king to the Bishopricke of Worcester as is aboue declared Seing M. Latimer was so bolde and playne with the king as is afore specified no greate maruell if he did vse like freedome and playnes toward other meaner persons in admonishing them of theyr misorder especially if anye such occasion were geuen where trueth and equity requyred his defence agaynst iniurye and oppression For example whereof we haue an other Letter of his written to a certayne Iustice of peace in Warwickshyre who as he is long since departed so he shall be here vnnamed The letter although it may seme somewhat long and tedious yet I thought here not to ouerpasse the same for diuers sondry respectes first that the vertue and faythfull conscience of this good Pastor may appeare more at large also for that all other Bishops and pastors by this example may learn with like zeale and stomacke to discharge theyr duety and conscience in reforming thinges amisse and in pouderyng with the salt of Gods word the sores of the people Whiche thing if euery Bishop for his part within his Dioces had done in king Edwardes dayes in redressing such corruption of that time with like diligence as this man did verely I suppose that the persecution of queene Mary had not so plagued the Realme as it did but where as neuer man almost liueth in due order and yet neuer a Bishoppe will styrre to seeke redresse what can become of the Realme Item an other respecte is because of the Iustices and all other placed in roome and office which may take heed hereby not to abuse theyr authority to tread downe trueth and beare downe poore men with open wrong through extortion or partiality and finally that all iniurious oppressors whatsoeuer by the sayd letter may take some fruit of wholsome admonition What the argument and occasion was of this letter I shewed before The tenour and purporte thereof as it was written to the Gentleman is this as foloweth ¶ A fruitfull letter of M. Latimer written to a certayne Gentleman RIght worshipfull salutem in Domino And now Syr I vnderstand that you be in greate admirations at me and take very greeuouslye my maner of writing to you adding thereunto that you will not beare it at my hande no not and I were the best Byshop in England c. Ah Syr I see well I may say as the common saying is Well haue I fished and caught a Frog brought litle to passe with much ado You will not beare it with me you say Why syr what wil ye do with me You will not fight with me I trow It may seeme vnseemely for a Iustice of peace to be a breaker of peace I am glad the dotyng tyme of my foolishe youth is gone and paste What will you then doe with me in that you say you will not beare it at my hand What hath my hand offended you Perchaunce you will conuent mee before some Iudge and call mee into some court Deus bene vertat Equidem non recuso iudicium vllum Accusemus inuicem vt emendemus alius alium in nomine Domini Fiat iustitia in iudicio And then and there doe best haue best for club halfe peny Or peraduenture ye will set penne to paper and all to rattle me in a letter wherein confuting mee you will defend your selfe and your brother agaynst mee Nowe that woulde I see quoth long Roben vt dicitur vulgariter Non potero sane non vehementer probare eiusmodi industriam For so should both your integrityes and innocencyes best appeare if you be able to defend both your owne procedinges your brothers doinges in this matter to be vpright Et ego tum iustis rationibus victus libenter cedam culpam humiliter confessurus But I thinke it will not be But now first of all let me know what it is that ye will not beare at my hande What haue I done wyth my hande What hath my hand trespassed you Forsoothe that canne I tell no man better For I haue charitably monished you in a secret letter of your slipper dealing and such like misbehauiour O quam graue piaculum i. What a sore matter is this And will ye not beare so much with me Will ye not take suche a shew of my good will towardes you and towarde the sauing of your soule at my hand Oh Lord God who would haue thought that Mayster N. had bene so impudent that he would not beare a godly monition for the wealth of his soule I haue in vse to commit suche trespasses manye times in a yeare with your betters by two ot three degrees both Lordes and Ladyes of the best in the Realme and yet hitherto I haue not heard that any of them haue sayd in theyr displeasure that they will not beare it at my hand Are you yet to be taught what is the office liberty priuiledge of a Preacher What is it els but euen arguere mundum de peccato without respect of persons quod quidem ipsum est ipsius spiritus sancti peculiare in ecclesia munus officium sed non nisi per Praedicatores legitimos exequendum You could but ill beare belike to heare your fault openlye reproued in the Pulpit which can not beare the same in a secret sealed vppe letter written both frendly charitably and truely nisi forte acriter reprehendere peccata sit iam omni charitate amicitia veritate carere But Mayster N. if you will geue me leaue to be playne with you I feare me you be so plunged in worldly purchasinges and so drowned in the manifolde dregges of this deceiueable worlde that I weene you haue forgotten your Catechisme Reade therefore agayne the opening of the firste commaundement and then tell me whether you of me or I of you haue iust cause to complayne c. Item Syr you sayd further that I am wonderfully abused by
Ghost as he did by the bread thys is my body Then mayster Ridley recited saynct Austen whiche conferred both the sacramentes the one with the other but the Byshoppe of Lincolne notwithstanding therevpon recited the third article and required a directe aunswere To whom Ridley sayd Rid. Chryst as saynct Paule wryteth made one perfecte sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole worlde neyther can anye man reiterate that sacrifice of his and yet is the Communion an acceptable sacrifice to God of prayse and thanksgeuing but to say that thereby sinnes are taken away whiche wholy and perfectly was done by Christes passion of the whiche the Communion is onely a memory that is a great derogation of the merites of Chrystes passion for the sacrament was instituted that wee receyuing it and thereby recognising and remembryng hys Passion shoulde be partakers of the merites of the same For otherwise doth this sacrament take vpon it the office of Christes Passion whereby it might follow that Christe dyed in vayne ¶ The Notaryes penned this hys aunswere to be affirmatiuely Then sayd the Byshop of Lincolne Lin. In deede as you alledge out of Sayncte Paule Christ made one perfecte oblation for all the whole world that is that bloudy sacrifice vpon the crosse yet neuerthelesse he hath lefte this sacrifice but not bloudy in the remembraunce of that by the whiche sinnes are forgeuen the whiche is no derogation of Christes Passion ¶ Then recited the Byshop of Lincolne the fourth article To the which M. Ridley aunswered Rid. That in some part the fourth was true in some parte false true in that those hys assertions were condemned as heresies although vniustly false in that it was sayde they were condemned scientia scholastica in that the disputations were in suche sorte ordered that it was farre from any schole acte ¶ This aunswere penned of the Notaryes the Byshop of Lincolne rehearsed the fift Article To the whiche he aunswered Rid. That the premisses were in suche sorte true as in these his aunsweres he had declared Whether that al men spake euill of them he knew not in that hee came not so much abroad to heare what euery man reported ¶ This aunswere also written of the Notaryes the bishop of Lincolne sayde Lin. To morow at eyght of the clocke you shall appeare before vs in S. Maryes Churche and then because wee cannot well agree vpon your aunswere to the first article for it was long before hee was vnderstoode if it wyll please you to wryte youre aunswere you shall haue penne inke and paper bookes suche as you shall require but if you wryte any thing sauing your aunswers to these Articles wee will not receaue it so hee charging the Maior with him declaryng also to the Maior that he shoulde suffer hym to haue penne and inke dimissed M. Ridley and sent for Master Latimer who being brought to the Diuinitie Schole there taryed tyll they called for hym ¶ Maister Latimer appeareth before the Commissioners NOw after M. Ridley was committed to the Maior then the Bishop of Lincolne commaunded the Bailyffes to bring in the other prisoner who eftsoones as he was placed sayd to the Lordes Lati. My Lordes if I appeare agayne I pray you not to sende for mee vntyll you bee ready For I am an olde man and it is great hurt to myne olde age to tary so long gazyng vpon the colde walles Then the Byshop of Lincolne sayd Linc. M. Latimer I am sory you are brought so soone although it is the Bailyffes fault and not myne but it shall be amended Then Master Latimer bowed his knee downe to the ground holdyng his Hat in his hand hauing a kerchefe on his hed and vpon it a night cap or two and a great cap such as Townes men vse with two broad flaps to butten vnder the chin wearyng an olde thred bare Bristowe fryse gowne gyrded to his body with a peny leather gyrdell at the which hanged by a long string of leather his Testament and his spectacles without case depending about his necke vpon his brest After this the Byshop of Lincolne began on this maner Linc. M. Latimer you shall vnderstande that I and my Lordes here haue a Commission from my Lord Cardinall Poles Grace Legate a latere to this Realme of England from our moste reuerent father in God the Popes holynesse to examyne you vpon certayne opinions and assertions of yours whiche you as well here openly in disputations in the yeare of our Lorde 1554. as at sundry and diuers other tymes dyd affyrme mayntayne and obstinately defende In the whiche Commission be especially two poyntes the one whiche we muste desire you is that if you shall nowe recant reuoke and disanull these your errours and togeather with all this Realme yea all the worlde confesse the trueth we vppon due repentance of your part should receiue you reconcile you acknowledge you no longer a strayed sheepe but adioyne you agayne to the vnitie of Christes Church from the which you in the time of schisme fell So that it is no new place to the which I exhort you I desire you but to returne thyther from whence you went Consider M. Latimer that without the vnitie of the Church is no saluation and in the Church can be no erroures Therefore what shoulde stay you to confesse that whiche all the Realme confesseth to forsake that whiche the Kyng and Queene their Maiesties haue renounced and all the Realme recanted it was a common errour and it is nowe of all confessed it shall be no more shame to you then it was to vs all Consider M. Latimer that within these .xx. yeares this Realme also with all the worlde confesseth one Church acknowledged in Christes Church an head and by what meanes and for what occasion it cut of it self from the rest of Christianitie it renounced that whiche in all tymes and ages was confessed it is well knowen and might be now declared vppon what good foundation the sea of Rome was forsaken saue that wee must spare them that are dead to whom the rehearsall woulde be opprobrious it is no vsurped power as it hath bene termed but founded vppon Peter by Christe a lure foundation a perfect builder as by diuers places as well of the auncient fathers as the expresse worde of God may be proued With that M. Latimer which before leaned his head to his hand began somewhat to remoue his cap and kerchef from his eares The Byshoppe proceeded saying for Christe spake expresly to Peter saying pasce oues meas rege oues meas the whiche worde doth not onely declare a certayne rulyng of Christes flocke but includeth also a certayne preeminence and gouernment and therefore is the king called Rex à regendo so that in saying rege Christe declared a power whiche he gaue to Peter whiche iurisdiction and power Peter by hand deliuered to Clement and so in all ages hath
in euery village yea and almost in euery honest mans house alas now it is exiled and banished out of the whole realme Of late who was not taken for a louer of Gods word for a reader for a ready hearer for a learner of the same And now alas who dare beare any open countenaunce toward it but such as are content in Christes cause and for his wordes sake to stand to the daunger and losse of all that they haue Of late there was to be found of euery age of euery degree and kinde of people that gaue theyr diligēce to learne as they could out of Gods word the articles of the christian fayth the commaundementes of God and the Lordes prayer The babes and young children were taughte these thinges of theyr parentes of theyr maisters weekly of theyr Curates in euery church the aged folke whiche had bene brought vp in blindnes and in ignoraunce of those things which euery christian is boūd to know whē otherwise they could not yet they learned the same by oftē hearing theyr children and seruantes repeating the same but now alas and alas agayne the false Prophets of Antichrist which are past all shame do openly preach in pulpittes vnto the people of God that the Catechisme is to be counted heresy wherby theyr olde blindnes is brought home agayn for the aged are afraid of the higher powers and the youth is abashed and ashamed euen of that which they haue learned though it be Gods woord and dare no more meddle Of late in euery congregation throughout all Englād was made prayer and petition vnto God to be deliuered from the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities from al false doctrine and heresy now alas Sathan hath perswaded England by his falshoode craft to reuoke her olde godly prayer to recant the same prouoke the fearefull wrath and indignation of God vpon her owne pate Of late by strayt lawes and ordinances with the consent of the nobles and commonalty and full agreement counsel of the prelates and clergy was banished hence the beast of Babilon with lawes I say and with othes all meanes that then could be deuised for so godly a purpose but now alas all these lawes are troden vnder foote the Nobles the Commonalty the Prelates and Cleargy are quite chaūged and all those othes though they were made in iudgement iustice truth and the matter neuer so good doth no more hold then a bond of Rushes or of a Barley straw nor publicke periurye no more feareth them then a shadow vpon the wall Of late it was agreed in Englande of all handes according to Paules doctrine and Christes commaūdemēt as Paule sayth playnly that nothing ought to be done in the Church in the publicke congregation but in that toūg which the Congregation could vnderstand that all might be edefied thereby whether it were Common Prayer Administration of the Sacramentes or any other thing belonging to publicke Ministerye of Gods holy and wholesome word but alas all is turned vpside downe Paules doctrine is put apart Christs commaundement is not regarded For nothing is heard commonly in the Church but in a straunge tongue that the people doth nothing vnderstand Of late al men and women were taught after Christes doctrine to pray in that toūg which they could vnderstād that they might pray with hart that whiche they shoulde speake with theyr toung now alas the vnlearned people is brought in that blindnes again to think that they pray when they speak with theyr toung they can not tell what nor wherof theyr hart is nothing mindefull at all for that it can vnderstand neuer a whit therof Of late the Lordes Supper was duely ministred and taught to be made common to all that were true Christians with thankesgeuing and setting foorth of the Lordes death passion vntill his returning agayne to iudge both quicke and dead but now alas the Lordes table is quite ouerthrowne and that whiche ought to be common to all godly is made priuate to a fewe vngodlye without any kind of thankesgeuing or any setting foorth of the Lordes death at all that the people is able to vnderstand Of late all that were endued with the light and grace of vnderstanding of Gods holy misteries did blesse God which had brought them out of that horrible blindnes and ignorance wherby in times past being seduced by sathans subtleties they beleued that the Sacrament was not the Sacrament but the thing it self wherof it is a Sacramēt that the creature was the Creator and that the thing whiche hath neither life nor sense alas suche was the horryble blindenesse was the Lord himselfe which made the eye to see and hath geuen all senses and vnderstandinge vnto man but now alas Englande is returned agayne lyke a Dogge to her owne vomitte and spuing and is in worsse case thē euer she was For it had bene better neuer to haue knowne the trueth then to forsake the truth once receiued and knowne and now not onely that light is turned into darcknesse and Gods grace is receiued in vayne but also lawes of death are made by high Courte of Parliament maysterfully to mainteine by sword fire and al kind of violence that haynous Idolatry wherein that adoration is geuen vnto the liuelesse and dumbe creature which is only due vnto the euerliuing God yea they say they can and do make of bread both manne and GOD by theyr transubstantiation O wicked mention and Sathans owne broode Of late was the Lordes cuppe at his Table distributed according to his owne cōmaundement by his expresse wordes in his Gospell as well to the Laity as to the clergy which order Christes Churche obserued so many hundreth yeares after as all the auncient Ecclesiasticall writers doe testify without contradiction of any one of them that can be shewed vnto this day but now alas not only the Lords commaundement is broken his cup is denied to his seruauntes to whom he commaunded it shoulde be distributed but also with the same is set vp a new blasphemous kinde of sacrifice to satisfye and paye the price of sinnes both of the dead and of the quicke to the great intollerable contumely of Christ our sauior his death passion which was and is the one only sufficient and euerlasting auayleable sacrifice satisfactorye for all the Electes of God from Adam the first to the last that shall be borne in the end of the world Of late the commaundement of God Thou shalte not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor any similitude or likenes of any thing in heauen aboue or in earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth thou shalte not bowe downe to them nor worship them This commaundement of God I say was grauen almost euery where in Churches was learned of euery body both young olde whereupon Images that prouoked the simple and ignorant people vnto Idolatrie as
vppon thee for thine owne desertes Canst thou be content to heare thy faults told thee Alas thou hast heard ofte and wouldest neuer amende England thy faultes of all degrees and sortes of men of Magistrates of the ministers and of the common people were neuer more playnely tolde since thou barest that name then thou diddest heare them of late euen before the Magistrates in king Edwardes dayes but thou heardest them onely and diddest amend neuer a whitte For euen of thy greatest Magistrates some the kinges highnesse then that innocente that godly harted pereles young Christian Prince excepted euermore vnkindely and vngently agaynst those that went about most busely and most wholesomely to cure their sore backes spurned pryuely and woulde not spare to speake euill of them euen vnto the Prince himselfe and yet woulde they towardes the same preachers outwardly beare a ioly countenance and a fayre face I haue heard that Cranmer and an other whome I will not name were both in high displeasure the one for shewing his conscience secretly but playnly and fullye in the Duke of Somersettes cause and bothe of late but specially Cranmer for repugning as they might against the late spoyle of the Churche goodes taken away onely by commaundement of the higher powers wythout any lawe or order of iustice and without anye request of consent of them to whome they did belong As for Latimer Leuer Bradforde and Knoxe their tongues were so sharpe they ripped in so deepe in theyr galled backes to haue purged them no doubte of that filthy matter that was festred in theyr hartes of insaciable couetousnesse of filthy carnalitie and voluptuousnesse of intollerable ambition and pride of vngodly lothsomnes to heare poore mens causes and to heare Gods word that these men of all other these Magistrates then could neuer abide Other there were very godly men and well learned that went aboute by the wholesome plasters of Gods worde how be it after a more softe maner of handling the matter but alas all sped in like For all that could be done of all handes theyr disease did not minishe but dayly dyd encrease which no doubte is no small occasion in that state of the heauy plague of God that is poured vppon Englande at thys daye As for the common sorte of other inferiour Magistrates as Iudges of the lawes Iustices of peace Sergeantes common lawyers it may be truely said of them as of the most part of the Clergy of Curates Uicares Parsones Prebendaryes Doctours of the law Archdeacons Deanes yea and I may say of Byshoppes also I feare me for the moste parte although I doubte not but GOD had and hath euer whome hee in euery state knew and knoweth to be hys but for the most part I say they were neuer perswaded in theyr hartes but from the teethe forwarde and for the kinges sake in the trueth of Gods word and yet all these did dissemble and bare a copy of a countenaunce as if they hath bene sound within And this dissimulation Sathan knew well inoughe and therefore desired and hath euer gone about that the highe Magistrates by anye manner of meanes myght bee deceaued in matters of religion for then hee beyng of councell with the dissimulation in the worldlye knewe well enough that he should bring to passe and rule al euen after his owne will Hipocrisie and dissimulation sainct Hierome doth call well a double wickednesse for neyther it loueth the trueth whiche is one great euill and also falsely it pretendeth to deceiue the simple for an other thing This hipocrisie and dissimulation with God in matters of Religion no doubte hath wholy also prouoked the anger of God And as for the common people although there were manye good where they were well and dilligently taught yet God knoweth a great number receaued Gods true word and high benefites with vnthankfull harts For it was great pity and a lamentable thing to haue seene in many places the people so lothsomly and so vnreligiouslye to come to the holy Communion and to receaue it accordingly and to the common prayers and other Diuine seruice which were according to the true vayne of Gods holye word in all poyntes so godly and wholesomely set foorth in comparison of that blynde zeale and vndiscreete deuotion whiche they had afore tymes to those things wherof they vnderstoode neuer one whiâ— nor could be edified by them any thing at all And agayne as for almes deedes which are taughte in Gods word whereby we are certain that God is pleased with them and dothe and will require suche at oure handes whiche are a part of true religion as Sayncte Iames sayth and suche as he sayth himselfe hee setteth more by then by sacrifice as to prouide for the fatherlesse infantes and orphanes for the lame aged and impotent poore needye folke and to make publicke prouision that the pouerty that might labour shoulde haue wherwith to labour vppon and so be kept from shameful beggerry stealing in these works I say how wayward wer many in comparison I meane of that great prodigality whereby in times past they spared not to spend vpon flattering Fryers false Pardoners painting and gilting of stockes and stones to be set vp and honored in Churches playnely agaynst Gods worde And yet because no place is to be defrauded of theyr iust commendation London I must confesse for such godly workes in sir Rich. Dobs knight then Lorde Maior hys yeare began maruelous well the Lord graunt the same may so likewise perseuer continue yea and encrease to the comforte and reliefe of the needy and helpelesse that was so godly begunne Amen All these thinges doe minister matter of more mournyng and bewayling the miserable state that nowe is for by this it may be perceaued how England hath deserued this iust plague of God And also it is greatly to be feared that those good thinges what soeuer they were that had theyr beginning in the tyme when Gods woorde was so freely preached nowe with the exile and banishemente of the same will depart agayne But to returne agayne to the consideration of thys miserable state of Christes Churche in Englande and to leaue farther and more exquisite searchyng of the causes thereof vnto Gods secrete and vnsearchable iudgements let vs see what is best now to be done for Chrystes little flocke This is one maxime and principle in Chrystes law He that denyeth Christ before men hym shall Chryst deny afore hys father and all hys Aungels of heauen And therefore euery one that looketh to haue by Chryst our sauiour euerlasting lyfe let him prepare hymselfe so that he deny not hys mayster Chryst or els he is but a cast away and a wretche how soeuer he be counted or taken here in the world Now then seing the doctrine of Antichrist is returned agayne into this Realme and the higher powers alas are so deceaued and bewitched that they are perswaded it to be truthe and Christes true
Boner What De competente Iudice I will go fet thee my bookes There is a title in deed De officijs Iudâ—cis ordinarij Phil. Uerely that is the same De competente Iudice whiche I haue alledged With that he ran to his study broughte the whole course of the law betwene his hands which as it might appeare he had wel occupied by the dust they were embrued withall Boner There be the bookes finde it now if thou canst and I will promise thee to release thee out of prison Phil. My Lorde I stand not here to reason maâ—ters of the Ciuill law although I am not altogether ignorant of the same for that I haue bene a Student in the same sixe or seuen yeares but to aunswere to the Articles of fayth wyth the which you may lawfully burtheÌ„ me And whereas you go about vnlawfully to proceede I chalenge according to my knowledge the benefite of the law in my defence Boner Why thou wilt aunswere directly to nothing thou art charged withall therefore saye not hereafter but you might haue bene satisfied here by learned meÌ„ if you would haue declared your minde Phil. My Lorde I haue declared my minde vnto you and to other of the Byshops at my last being before you desyring you to be satisfied but of one thing wherunto I haue referred all other controuersies the whiche if your Lordships now or other learned men can simply resolue me of I am as contented to be reformable in all thinges as you shall require the which is to proue that the church of Rome wherof you are is the Catholicke Church Couen Why do you not beleue your Creed Credo Ecclesiam Catholicam Phil. Yes that I do but I cannot vnderstaÌ„d Rome wherwith all you burden vs to be the same neither like to it S. Asse It is most euident that S. Peter did builde the Catholicke Church at Rome And Christ sayd Tu es Petrus super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam Moreouer the succession of bishops in the sea of Rome can be proued from time to time as it can be of none other place so well which is a manifest probation of the Catholicke Church as diuers Doctors do write Phil. That you would haue to be vndoubted is most vncertaine that by the authority which you alledge of Christ saying vnto Peter Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my Church vnles you can proue the rocke to signifye Rome as you would make me falsly beleue And althogh you can prooue the succession of Bishops from Peter yet this is not sufficient to proue Rome the catholicke church vnles you can proue the profession of Peters fayth wherevpon the catholick church is builded to haue continued in his successors at Rome and at this present to remayne Bon. Is there any mo churches theÌ„ one catholicke church And I pray you tel me into what faith were you baptised Philpot. I acknowledge one holy Catholicke and Apostolicke Church wherof I am a member I prayse God and I am of that catholicke fayth of Christ where into I was baptised Couen I pray you can you tell what this word Catholicke doth signify shew if you can Phil. Yes that I can I thanke God The catholicke fayth or the Catholicke Churche is not as now a dayes the people be taught to be that which is most vniuersall or of moste part of men receiued whereby you do inferre our fayth to hang vpoÌ„ the multitude which is not so but I esteme the Catholicke Church to be as S. Austen defineth the same Aestimamus fidem Catholicam a rebus praeteritis praesentibus futuris i. We iudge sayth he the catholicke fayth of that whiche hath bene is and shal be So that if you can be able to prooue that your fayth and Church hath bene from the beginning taught and is and shal be then may you couÌ„t your selues Catholicke otherwise not And Catholicke is a Greeke word compounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth after or according and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a summe or principle or whole So that catholicke Church or Catholicke fayth is as much to say as the first whole sound or chiefest fayth Boner Doth S. Austen say so as he alledgeth it or doth he meane as he taketh the same How say you M. Curtop Curtop In deed my Lord S. Augustine hath such a saying speaking agaynst the Donatistes that the Catholicke fayth ought to be estemed of thinges in times past and as they are practised according to the same and ought to bee through al ages and not after a new maner as the Donatistes began to professe Phil. You haue sayd well M. Curtop and after the meaning of S. Austen and to confirme that which I haue said for the signification of Catholicke Couen Let the booke be sene my Lord. Bon. I pray you my Lord be coÌ„teÌ„t or in good fayth I will breake euen of let al alone Do you thinke the Catholicke Church vntill it was within these few yeres in the which a few vpoÌ„ singularity haue swerued froÌ„ the same haue erred Phil. I do not thinke that the Catholicke Church can erre in doctrine but I require you to prooue this Churche of Rome to be the Catholicke Church Curtop I can proue that Ireneus which was within an hundred yeares after Christ came to victor then bishop of Rome to aske his aduise about the excoÌ„munication of certayne heretickes the which he would not haue done by al likelihood if he had not taken him to be supreame head Couent Marke well this argument How are you able to aunswere to the same Aunswere if you can Phil. It is soone aunswered my Lorde for that it is of no force neither this fact of Ireneus maketh no more for the supremacy of the Bishoppe of Rome then mine hath done which haue bene at Rome as well as he and mighte haue spoken with the Pope if I had list and yet I would none in England did fauor his supremacy more then I. S. Asse You are the more to blame by the fayth of my body for that you fauor the same no better since all the Catholicke Church vntill this fewe yeares haue taken him to be supreame head of the Church besides this good man Ireneus Phil. That is not likely that Ireneus so tooke him or the primatiue Church for I am able to shewe seauen generall Councels after Ireneus time wherin he was neuer so taken which may be a sufficient proofe that the catholick primitiue church neuer tooke him for supreme head The other Bish. This man will neuer be satisfied say what we can It is but folly to reason any more with him Phil. O my Lordes would you haue me satisfied with nothing Iudge I pray you who of vs hath better authority he whiche bringeth the example of one manne going to Rome or I that by these many generall councels am able to proue that he
appeale to a higher Iudge as to the Lieutenaunt of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury for I know not who is bishop therof at this present With that the B. went away and my Baalamite kinsman looking big vpon me but sayd neuer a woord Thus I haue in hast scribled out all myne examinations hetherto that the same whiche hath bene done vnto me in darke myght come to lyght that the papistes vniust procedyngs and nakednes in their false religiō might be known to their confusion Iesus is Imanuel that is God with vs Amen 1555. * The 11. examination of Iohn Philpot had on S. Andrewes day before the Bishop of Duresme the Bishop of Chichester the Bishop of Bathe the Bishop of London the Prolocutor Maister Christopherson and Doct. Chedsey Maister Morgan of Oxford Maister Hussey of the Arches Doctor Weston Doctor Harpsfield Archdeacon M. Cosins and M. Iohnson Register to the Bishop of London in hys palace I Was commyng beyng sent for with my Keeper and the B. of London met me in his hall dore and full manerly he played the Gentleman Usher to bryng mee before the Lordes saying Lond. My Lordes I shal desire you to take some paynes with this man he is a gentleman and I would he should do well but he wil wilfully cast away hymselfe Dures Come hether sir what is your name Phil. My name is Philpot. Dures I haue heard of that name to be a worshipful stock and since you be a Gentleman doe as you may liue worshipfully among other Gentlemen What is the cause of your trouble now Phil. I told hym the cause as in my former examinations is expressed Dures Well all causes set apart will you now bee a conformable mā to the catholike faith and leaue all new fangled opinions and heresies Iwis I was in Germany with Luther at the beginning of these opinions can tell how they began Leaue them and follow the Catholique church throughout the whole world as the whole realme now doth Phil. My Lord I am of the Catholike fayth and desire to lyue and dye in the same but it is not vnknowen to your Lordshippe that I with others these xx yeres haue bene taught another maner of faith then you now goe about to compell vs vnto wherefore it is requisite that we haue a tyme to weigh the same and to heare how it agreeth with Gods word For fayth is not at a sodaine neither wonne neither remooued but as S. Paule saith Fayth commeth by hearyng and hearing by the worde Fides ex auditu auditus per verbum Chich. And if you will geue me leaue my L. I will shewe hym how he taketh the saying of S. Paul amisse as many other now adayes alledgyng the same do that they ought not to be compelled to beleue where as S. Paul meaneth of Infidels and not of the faithfull And so S. Augustine writyng agaynst the Donatistes sayth that the faythfull may be compelled to beleeue Philpot. Saint Bernard and if it please your Lordship doth take that sense of Saint Paule as I doe saying that Fides est suadenda non imponenda Faith must be persuaded to a man and not enioyned And Saint Augustine speaketh of suche as were first thoroughly perswaded by manifest Scriptures and yet woulde resist of stubborne wilfulnesse Chich. So Bernard meaneth of Infidels also Phil. No my Lord that he doth not for he wryteth not of the Infidels but hee writeth of such as were deceiued by errours Chichester My L. of Duresme I haue bene so bold to interrupt your Lordship of your tale I pray you now proceed on Duresme M. Philpot will you bee of the same Catholike faith and Church with vs you were baptised in and your godfathers promised for you and hold as we do and then may you be rid out of trouble I perceiue you are learned and it is pitie but you should do well Philpot. I am of the same Catholique fayth and catholique Church I was baptised vnto and in that wyll I liue and dye Dures That is wel said if you hold there you cannot doe but well Chich. Yea my Lord but he meaneth otherwyse then you do Are you of the same faith your godfathers and godmothers were or no Phil. I cannot tell what faith they were of certainly but I am of the faith I was baptised vnto which is in the fayth of Christ. For I was not baptised in the faith of my Godfathers but in the faith of Christ. Christo. S. Augustine saith that Infants are baptised in fide susceptorum In the fayth of their Godfathers Phil. S. Augustine in so saying meaneth of the fayth of Christ which the Godfathers do or ought to beleeue and not otherwyse Duresme How say you will you beleeue as we do and all the learned of the Realme or no and be of one church with vs Phil. My Lordes it is not vnknown vnto you that there hath bene alwayes two churches Chichest Nay that is not so there is but one Catholike church Phil. I shall desire your Lordships to heare out my tale to take my meanyng For I knowe there is but one true Church but always from the beginnyng there hath bene ioyned to the same true Church a false Church aduersarie to the true and that was declared at the first in Abell and Caine who persecuted and slew hys brother in whome as Saint Augustine witnesseth is represented the false true Church And after that as soone as God hath chosen his peculiar people and shewed vnto them his sanctuary holy statutes and will anone after arose the false Church and tenne of the twelue tribes of Israell deuided themselues from the true church of Iuda and Beniamin and made to themselues at Bethel set vp golden calues and yet pretended therewith to serue God and so abused his word Notwithstandyng God was displeased with them and ceased not hys wrath vntill he had vtterly destroyed them Chich. I will graunt you before the commyng of Christ there were two churches in the old law but in the newe law since Christes commyng you cannot shew it to be so by the scripture Phil. Yes my L. that I can if you will geue me leaue After Christ had chosē his xij Apostles was there not a Iudas in the new law and a Simon Magus And were not they of the false church Chich. Yea but I meane after the Gospell was written where can you find me two churches after Christ had ascended and sent the holy Ghost Phil. The Gospell was within 8. yeares after the ascension written by S. Mathew and the writyng therof is not materiall to the declaration of these two churches to haue bene always from tyme to tyme as by example it may be shewed and yet as euil as my memory is I remember in the new Testament is mention made of two churches as it appeareth in the Apocalyps and also S. Paule to the Thessalonians maketh mention that Antichrist with hys false
it hath bene frō the beginning from time to tyme as it appereth by stories as Christes true religion is now to be found here in Englād although hypocrisie hath by violence the vpper hād And in the Apocalyps you may see it was prophesied that the true Church should be driuen into corners and into wildernes and suffer great persecution Morgan A are you seene in the Apocalyps there are many strange thyngs Phil. If I tel you the truth which you are not able to refel beleeue it dally not out so earnest matters Me thinke you are liker a scoffer in a play then a reasonable doctor to instruct a man you are bare arsed dance naked in a net and yet you see not your owne nakednes Morgan What I pray you be not so quicke with me Let vs talke a little more coldly together Philpot. I will talke with you as mildely as you can desire if you wil speake learnedly and charitably But if you go about with taunts to delude truth I will not hyde it from you Morgan Why will you not submit your iudgement to the learned men of this Realme Phil. Because I see they can bring no good ground whereupon I may with a good conscience settle my fayth more surely then on that which I am now grounded vppon by Gods manifest word Morgan No do that is maruell that so many learned men should be deceyued Phil. It is no maruell by S. Paule for he sayeth That not many wyse neither many learned after the world bee called to the knowledge of the Gospell Morgan Haue you then alone the spirite of God and not we Phil. I say not that I alone haue the spirite of God but as many as abide in the true faith of Christ haue the spirit of God as well as I. Morgan Howe knowe you that you haue the Spirite of God Phil. By the fayth of Christ which is in me Morgan A by faith do you so I ween it be the spirit of the buttry which your fellowes haue had that haue ben burned before you who were dronk the night before they wēt to their death and I weene went dronken vnto it Phil. It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquainted with the spirit of the Buttry then with the spirit of God Wherefore I must now tell thee thou painted wall hypocrite in the name of the liuing Lord whose truth I haue told thee that God shal raine fire and brimstone vpon such scorners of his worde and blasphemers of his people as thou art Morgan What you rage now Phil. Thy foolish blasphemies hath compelled the spirit of God which is in me to speake that which I haue said vnto thee thou enemy of all righteousnes Morgan Why do you iudge me so Phil. By thine owne wicked words I iudge of thee thou blynd and blasphemous Doctour for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be iustified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned I haue spoken on Gods behalfe now haue I done with thee Morgan Why then I tel thee Philpot that thou art an heretike and shalt be burnt for thine heresy and afterwards go to hell fire Phil. I tel thee thou hypocrite that I passe not this for thy fire and fagots neither I thanke God my Lord stande in feare of the same my faith in Christ shall ouercome thē But the hel fire which thou threatnest me is thy portion and is prepared for thee vnlesse thou spedily repent and for such hypocrites as thou art Morgan What thou speakest vpon wyne thou hast tipled well to day by likelihood Phil. So said the cursed generation of the Apostles beyng replenished with the holy Ghost speaking the wōdrous works of God they said they were dronk when they had nothing els to say as thou doest now Morgan Why I am able to answer thee ywis I trow Phil. So it seemeth with blasphemies and lyes Morgan Nay euen with learnyng say what thou canst Phil. That appeared well at my disputation in the Conuocation house where thou tookest vpon thee to aunswer those few arguments I was permitted to make and yet wast not able to aunswere one but in thyne aunsweres did fumble and stammer that the whole house was ashamed of thee and the finall conclusion of all thine answers was that thou couldst answer me if I were in the scholes at Oxford Morgan What did I so thou beliest me Phil. I do not belye thee the booke of the report of the disputation beareth record therto and al that were present then can tell if they list thou saydst so And I tell thee playne thou art not able to answer that spirit of truth which speaketh in me for the defence of Christes true Religion I am able by the might therof to driue thee roūd about this gallery before me and if it would please the queenes maiesty and her Councell to heare thee and me I woulde make thee for shame shrinke behinde the doore Morgan Yea would you so Phil. Thou hast the spirite of Illusion and Sophistrye which is not able to counteruaile the spirit of truth Thou art but an Asse in the true vnderstanding of thinges pertayning vnto God I cal thee Asse not in respect of malice but in that thou kickest agaynst the trueth and art voyde of all godly vnderstāding not able to answere to that thou braggest in Morgan Why haue I not answered thee in all things thou hast sayd vnto me I take them to record Phil. Aske of my felow whether I be a theefe Cosins Harke he maketh vs all theeues Phil. You know that phrase of the Prouerbe that like will holde with like And I am sure you will not iudge with me against him speake I neuer so true and in this sense I speake it The strongest answere that he hath made against me is that you will burne me Morgan Why we doe not burne you it is the Temporall men that burne you and not we Phil. Thus you woulde as Pilate dyd washe your handes of all your wicked doinges But I pray you Inuocate seculare brachium call vpon the secular power to be executioners of your vnrighteous iudgementes And haue you not a title in your law De haereticis comburendis for to burne heretickes Harps I haue hearde you both a good while reason together and I neuer hearde so stout an hereticke as you are M. Philpot. Cosins Neither I in all my life Phil. You are not able to proue me an heretick by one iote of Gods word Harps You haue the Spirite of arrogancy I will reason with you no more And so he was departing and M. Cosins also And with that the bishop and Christoforsō came in agayne and sayd Boner Mayster Doctour howe doeth this man and you agree Morgan My Lord I doe aske him where his church was fifty yeares agoe Boner Are you not halfe agreed as one man sayd once to tway parties of whō the one was
strikers and my womanish backe to theyr burthens of reproofe and so in the strength of my God I truste to leape ouer the wall for his sweetenesse ouercommeth me dayly maketh al these poticary druggs of the world euen medicinelike in my mouth For the continuance wherof I beseech thee my deare fellow souldior make thy faythful prayer for me that I may with a strong and gladsome conscience finish my course and obtayne the reward though it be no whit due to my worke I am not content that you so often gratifie me with thankes for that which is none worthy but duty on my part small reliefe to you But if you would loue me so much that I might supply your lackes then would I think ye beleued my offers to be such as agreed with my hart And for the short charges ye speake of the meanes are not so pleasant if god who my trust is in will otherwise prepare but Salomō saith Al things haue here their time You to day I to morow so the ende of Adams line is soone ronne out The mightye God geue vs his grace that during this time his glory be not defaced through our weakenes Because you desire to shew your selfe a worthy souldiour if neede so require I will supply your request for the Scarfe yee wrote of that ye may present my handy worke before your Captayne that I be not forgotten in the odours of incense which our beloued Christ offereth for his owne to whom I bequeth both our bodies and soules Your owne in the Lord. F.E. Ouer and besides these letters the Bishops did also bring forth a supplication made by mayster Philpot vnto the high Court of Parliament whereof mention is made in the first of the two letters last mentioned the copy wherof doth here ensue as followeth To the King and Queenes Maiesties highnesse the Lordes spiritual and temporall and the commons of this present Parliament assembled IN most humble wise complayneth vnto this honorable Courte of Parliament Iohn Philpot Clarke that where there was by the Queenes highnesse a parliament called in the first yeare of her gracious raygne and after the olde custome a Couocation of the Clergy your suppliant then being one of the sayd Conuocation house and matters there rising vppon the vsing of the Sacramentes did dispute in the same knowing that there all men had and hath had free speach and ought not to be after troubled for any thinge there spoken and yet that notwithstanding not long after the sayd Parliament your sayd suppliant without any acte or matter was commaunded to prison to the kings Benche by the late Lord Chauncellour where he hath remayned euer sithens vntil now of late that my Lord the B. of London hath sent for your sayd suppliant to examine him being none of his Dioces vpon certayn matters wherein they would haue your Oratour to declare his conscience whiche the sayd bishop sayth hee hath authoritie to do by reason of an Acte of Parliament made in the first and second yeares of the king and queeenes Maiesties raignes for the reuiuing of three Satutes made agaynst thē that hold any opinion agaynst the Catholicke fayth whereby he affirmeth that euery Ordinary may Ex Officio examine euery mans conscience and for that your sayde Oratour hath and doth refuse that the sayd Bish. of London hath any authoritie ouer your sayd Oratour for that he is neyther Diocesane nor hath publyshed preached nor held any opinion against the Catholicke faith notwithstanding the said Bishop of London deteineth him in the Colehouse in the stockes without eyther bed or any other thing to lye vpon but straw and for that your sayde Oratour cannot appeale for his reliefe from the sayd Bishop to anye other Iudge but the same bishop may refuse the same by theyr law and therefore hath no succour and helpe but by this high Courte of Parliament for the explanatiō of the sayd Acte therefore it may please you that it may be enacted by the kinge and Queenes Maiesties the Lordes spirituall and temporall and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled and by the authoritie of the same that no Byshop nor Ordinary shall committe nor detayne in prison any suspect person or persones for the Catholicke fayth except he or they haue spoken written or done some manifest Act against the Catholicke fayth and the same to be lawfully proued agaynst euery such person and persons by the testimony of two lawfull witnesses to be brought afore the sayd person or persons so accused before he or they shal eyther be committed to prison or conuict for any such offence or offences the sayd former statute made in the sayd first second yeare of our said soueraigne Lord and Lady notwithstanding Whereby your sayde Oratour shal not only bee set at libertie diuers other mo remayning in prison but also the bloude of diuers of the Quueenes Maiesties true and faythfull subiectes preserued The condemnation of the worthy Martyr of God Iohn Philpot. THese bookes Letters Supplications and other matters being thus read the bishop demaunded of him if the booke intituled The true report of the disputation c. were of his penning or not Whereunto Philpot aunswered that it was a good and true booke and of hys owne penning and setting forth The bishops waxing now weary and being not able by any sufficient ground either of Gods worde or of the true ancient Catholicke fathers to conuince ouercome him fell by fayre and flattering speach to perswade wyth him promising that if he would reuoke his opinions and come home agayne to their Romishe and Babilonicall Church he should not onely be pardoned that which was past but also they would with al fauour and chearefulnes of hart receiue him agayne as a true member therof Whiche words when Boner saw would take no place hee demandeth of M. Philpot and that with a charitable affection I warrant you whether he had any iust cause to alledge why he shoulde not condemne him as an hereticke Well quoth M. Philpot your idolatrous sacrament which you haue found out ye would fayne defend but ye cannot nor neuer shall In the end the Byshop seeing hys vnmoueable stedfastnes in the trueth did pronounce openly the sentence of condemnation against him In the reading wherof when he came to these words Teque etiam tanquam haereticum obstinatum pertinacem impoenitentem c. M. Philpot said I thanke God that I am an hereticke out of your cursed Church I am no hereticke before God But God blesse you and geue you once grace to repent youre wicked doinges and let all men beware of your bloudy church Moreouer whiles Boner was about the middest of the sentence the bishop of Bath pulled him by the sleeue sayd My Lord my Lord knowe of him first whether hee will recant or no Then Boner sayd full like himselfe oh let me alone and so read forth the sentence And
while her husbande was in prison Where the keepers wife named Agnes Penycote had secretlye heated a key fire hoate and laid it in grasse on the backeside So speaking to Alice Coberley to set her the key in all haste the said Alice went with speed to bring the key and so taking vp the key in hast did pitiously burne her hand Wherupon she crying out at the sodein burning of her hand Ah thou drabbe quoth the other thou that canst not abide the burning of the key howe wiâ—e thou be able to burne the whole body and so she afterward reuoked But to returne agayne to the story of Coberley who being somewhat learned and being at the stake was somewhat long a burning as the wynde stoode After his bodye was skorched with the fire and hys leafte Arme drawne and taken from hym by the violence of the fyre the fleshe beinge burnt to the whyte boare at length he stouped ouer the cheyne and wyth the ryghte hande being somewhat starckned knocked vpon his brest softly the bloud and matter issuing out of his mouth Afterward when all they thought he had bene deade sodenly he rose right vp with his body agayne And thus muche concerning these three Salisbury Martyrs ¶ A discourse of the death and Martyrdome of sixe other Martyrs suffering at London whose names here folow ABout the xxiij day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1556. were burned in Smithfielde at one fire these sixe constaunt Martyrs of Christ suffering for the profession of the Gospell viz. Robert Drakes Minister William Tyms Curate Richard Spurge Shereman Thomas Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller They were al of Essex and so of the dioces of London and were sent vp some by the Lord Rich and some by others at suÌ„dry times vnto Stephen Gardiner B. of Winchester then Lord Chauncellor of England about the 22. day of March an 1555. Who vpon small examination sent them some vnto the kinges Benche and others vnto the Marshalsea where they remained almost all the whole yere vntill the death of the sayd Bishop of Winchester and had during that time nothing said vnto them Wherupon after that Doctor Heath Archbishop of Yorke was choseÌ„ to the office of Lord Chauncellorshippe foure of these persecuted brethren being now wery of this theyr long imprisonmeÌ„t made theyr supplication vnto the said D. Heath requiring his fauour and ayd for their deliueraunce the copy whereof ensueth * To the right reuerend father Tho. Archb. of Yorke Lord Chauncellour of England MAy it please your honorable good Lordship for the loue of God to tender the humble sute of your lordships poore Orators whose names are subscribed which haue lien in great misery in the Marshalsea by the space of x. monethes and more at the commaundement of the late Lord Chauncellour to their vtter vndoing with theyr wiues children In consideration wher of your Lordships sayd Oratours do most humbly pray and beseeche your good Lordship to suffer them to be brought before your honour and there if any man of good conscience can lay any thing vnto our charge we trust either to declare our innocency agaynst theyr accusations or if otherwise theyr accusations can be proued true and we faulty we are ready God helping vs with our condigne punishments to satisfy the law according to your wise Iudgement as we hope ful of fatherly mercy towardes vs and all men according to your Godly office in the which we pray for your Godly successe to the good pleasure of GOD. Amen This Supplication was sent as is sayd and subscribed with the names of these 4. vnder folowing Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell * Richard Spurge VPon the receipt and sight hereof it was not long after but Syr Richard Read Knight then one of the Officers of the Court of the Chauncery 16. day of Ianuary was sent vnto the Marshalsea to examine the sayd foure prisoners therefore beginning first with Richard Spurge vpon certaine demaundes receiued his answeres therunto the effect whereof was that he with others were complayned vpon by the Parson of Bocking vnto the Lorde Rich for that they came not vnto theyr Parish Church of Bocking where they inhabited and therupon was by the sayd Lord Rich sent vnto the late Lord Chauncellour about the xxij day of March last past videl an 1555. And farther he sayd that he came not to the Church sithens the first alteration of the English seruice into Latin Christmasse day then a tweluemoneth only except that because he misliked both the same and the Masse also as not consonant and agreing with Gods holy word Moreouer he required that he might not be any more examined vpoÌ„ the matter vnles it pleased the Lord ChauÌ„cellour that then was to know his fayth therein which to him he would willingly vtter * Thomas Spurge THomas Spurge being then next examined made the same aunswere in effect that the other had done confessing that he absented himselfe from the church because the word of God was not there truely taught nor the Sacramentes of Christ duely ministred in such sort as was prescribed by the same word And being farther examined of his beliefe concerning the sacrament of the aultar he said that if any could accuse him thereof he would then make aunswere as God had geuen him knowledge therein ¶ George Ambrose THe like answere made George Ambrose adding moreouer that after he had read the late Byshop of Winchesters booke intituled De vera obedientia with Boners preface thereunto annexed inueying both against the authority of the Bishop of Rome he did much lesse set by theyr doinges then before ¶ Iohn Cauell IOhn Cauell agreyng in other matters with them aunswered that the cause why hee did forbeare the comming to the Churche was that the Parson there had preached two contrary doctrines For firste in a Sermon that hee made at the Queenes first entrye to the crowne he did exhort the people to beleue the Gospell for it was the truth and if they did not beleue it they shoulde be damned But in a second Sermon he preached that the Testament was false in forty places which contrariety in him was a cause amongest other of his absenting from the Church ¶ Robert Drakes ABout the fourth day of Marche next after Robert Drakes also was examined who was ParsoÌ„ of ThuÌ„dersley in Essex and had there remayned the space of three yeares He was first made Deacon by Doctour Taylour of Hadley at the commaundement of Doctour Cranmer late Archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury And within one yeare after which was the thyrd of the reigne of kyng Edward he was by the sayd Archbyshop and Doctour Ridley Bishop of London admitted Minister of Gods holy word Sacramentes not after the order then in force but after such order as was after established was presented vnto the sayd benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich at the
reuoke her selfe vnto the fellowshyp of the Catholicke faith openly protested saying I deny it to be God because it is a dumme God and made wyth mans handes Wherein the good and faithfull Martyr of Christe firmely persisting so receiued her sentence being condemned of Boner to the fire which shee wyth great constancie sustained by the grace and strength of the Lorde and dyd abide for the cause and loue of Christ. Ioane Hornes maid producted likewise to her iudgement and condemnation wyth like firmnesse and Christian fortitude declared her selfe a true Martyr and folower of Christes Testament geuing no place to the aduersary but being charged that she did not beleeue the Sacrament of Christes body and bloude to be Christe himselfe of the which Sacrament contrary to the nature of a Sacrament the aduersaries are woont to make an idoll seruice to this shee protesting openly her minde sayde as followeth If you can make your God to shed bloud or to shew any cōdition of a true liuely body then will I beleeue you but it is but bread as touching the substaunce therof meaning the matter whereof the Sacrament cōsisteth and that you call heresie I trust to serue my Lord God in c. And as concerning the Romish sea she said my Lord speaking to Boner I forsake all his abhominatiōs and from them good lord deliuer vs. From this her stable and constant assertion when the Bishop was too weake to remooue her and too ignorant to conuince her he knockt her downe wyth the butcherly axe of hys sentence And so the holy Uirgine and Martyr committed to the shambles of the secular sword was offered vp with her other felowes a burnt sacrifice to the Lord In odorem bonae fragrantiae in the sauour of a sweete and pleasant smell As touching Margaret Ellis shee likewise perseuering in her foresayde confession and resisting the false Catholicke errours and heresies of the Papistes was by the sayd Boner adiudged and condemned but before the time of her burning came preuented by death in Newgate prison departed and slept in the Lord. No lesse strength in the grace of the Lorde appeared in the other maide Elizabeth Thackuell whose hearte and minde the Lorde had so confirmed in hys truth so armed with patience that as her aduersaries could by no sufficient knowledge of Scripture conuicte her affirmation so by no forceable attempts they could remooue her confession Whereuppon shee standing to the death being in lyke sorte condemned by the sayd vnbyshoplyke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gaue her life willingly and mildely for the confirmation sealing vp of the sincere truth of Gods woord The Martyrdome of three women Thomas Drowry a blinde boy and Thomas Croker Bricklayer Martyrs YEe heard a litle before of two men the one blinde the other lame which suffered about the 15. of Maye And heere is not to be forgotten an other as Godly a couple whiche suffered the like passion and Martyrdome for the same cause of Religion at Glocester of the which two the one was the blind boy named Tho. Drowrie mentioned before in the hystorie of B. Hooper whom the sayd vertuous Byshop confirmed then in the Lorde and in the doctrine of hys woorde With him also was burned an other in the same place and at the same fire in Glocester about the fifth of Maye whose name was Thomas Croker Bricklayer Concerning the which blinde boy howe long he was in prison and in what yere he suffered I am not certaine Of this credible intelligence I haue receiued by the testimonie of the Register then of Glocester named Ihon Tailer aliàs Barker that the sayde blinde boy at his last examination and finall condemnation was brought by the Officers vnder whose custodie he had remained before doctour Williams then Chauncellour of Glocester sittinge Iudicially wyth the sayd Register in the consistorie neare vnto the Southe doore in the neather ende of the Churche of Glocester Where the sayde Chauncellour then ministred vnto the sayde Boye such vsuall articles as they are accustomed in such cases and are sondry times mentioned in thys booke Amongest which he chiefly vrged the article of Transubstantiation saying in effect as followeth Chauncellor Doest thou not beleue that after the words of consecration spoken by the Priest there remayneth the very reall body of Christ in the Sacrament of the altare Tho. To whome the blinde Boy answeared No that I doe not Chauncel Then thou art an hereticke and shalt be burned But who hath taught thee thys heresie Thom. You M. Chancellor Chancel Where I pray thee Thom. Euen in yonder place Poynting with his hande and tourning towardes the Pulpet standinge vppon the North side of the Church Chancel When did I teache thee so Tho. When you preached there namyng the day a Sermon to all men as well as to me vppon the Sacrament You sayd the Sacrament was to bee receiued spiritually by fayth and not carnally and really as the papistes haue heretofore taught Chanc. Then do as I haue done and thou shalt lyue as I do and escape burnyng Tho. Though you can so easily dispense with your self and mocke with God the world and your conscience yet I will not so do Chanc. Then God haue mercy vpon thee for I will read the condemnatory sentence against thee Tho. Gods will be fulfilled The Register beyng herewith somwhat mooued stood vp and said to the Chancellor Register Fie for shame man will you read the sentence against hym and condemne your selfe away away substitute some other to geue sentence and iudgement Chanc. No Register I will obey the lawe and geue sentence my selfe accordyng to myne office And so he red the sentence condemnatory agaynst the boy with an vnhappy tongue and a more vnhappy conscience deliuering him ouer vnto the secular power Who the said v. day of May brought the said blinde boy to the place of execution at Glocester together with one Thomas Croker a Bricklayer condemned also for the like testimony of the truth Where both together in one fire most constantly and ioyfully yelded their soules into the hands of the Lord Iesus Ex testimo Io. Lond. ¶ Persecution in Suffolke Three burnt at Beckles May. 21. AFter the death of these aboue rehersed were three men burnt at Beckles in Suffolke in one fire about the 21. day of May anno 1556. Whose names are here vnder specified Thomas Spicer of Winston Labourer Iohn Deny and Edmund Poole This Thomas Spicer was a single man of the age of 19. yeres and by vocation a Labourer dwellyng in Winston in the County of Suffolke there taken in his maisters house in Sommer about or anone after the rising of the Sunne beyng in his bed by Iames Ling and Iohn Keretch of the same towne and Wil. Dauies of Debnam in the sayd Countie The occasion of his taking was for that he would not go to their popish church to heare Masse and receiue their
Flaunders and then resident at his taking in the citie of London of the age of 28. yeares or thereaboutes Henry Adlington was a Sawyer and of Greenested in the county of Sussex and of the age of 30. yeares ⧠The burnyng of xiij persones at Stratford the Bowe neare London whereof the two women went in among them to the stake vntyed Iohn Routh was a Laborer of the parish of Wieks in Essex and of the age of 26. yeres Elizabeth Pepper was the wyfe of Thomas Pepper Weauer of the parish of S. Iames in the towne of Colchester and of the age of 30. yeares or thereaboutes who when shee was burned at Stratford was a xj weekes gone with chylde as shee then testified to one Bosomes wyfe who then vnloosed her neckerchiefe saying moreouer when she was asked why she did not tell them aunswered Why quoth she they know it well enough Oh such be the bloudy hartes of this cruel generation that no occasion can stay them from their mischieuous murthering of the saintes of the Lord which truly professe Christ crucified onelye and alone for the satisfaction of theyr sinnes Agnes George was the wife of Richard George husbandman of West Barefold in the countie of Essex and of the age of 26. yeares This Richard George had another wife burned beside her in the Posterne at Colchester and himselfe lay in prison vntil Queene Elizabeth came to the raigne and then was deliuered When these xiij were condemned and the day apointed they should suffer which was the xxvij day of Iune anno 1556. they were caried from Newgate in London the said day to Stratford the Bow which was the place appointed for their martyrdome there deuided into two partes in two seuerall chambers Afterward the Shiriffe who there attended vpon them came to the one part and told them that the other had recanted and their liues therfore should be saued willing and exhorting them to do the like and not to cast away themselues Unto whom they aunswered that their faith was not builded on man but on Christ crucified Then the shiriffe perceiuyng no good to be done with them went to the other part and sayd lyke a lyer the lyke to them that they whome he had bene with before had recanted and should therefore not suffer death counsailing them to do the lyke and not wilfully to kill themselues but to playe the wise men c. Unto whome they aunswered as their brethren had done before that their fayth was not builded on man but on Christ and his sure word c. Now when he saw it booted not to perswade for they were God be praysed surely grounded on the rock Iesus Christ he then ledde them to the place where they should suffer and beyng all there together most earnestly they prayed vnto God and ioyfully went to the stake and kissed it and embraced it very hartily The eleuen men were tied to three stakes and the two women loose in the midst without any stake and so were they all burnt in one fire with such loue to ech others and constancie in our Sauiour Christ that it made all the lookers on to maruell The Lorde graunt vs the lyke grace in the lyke need accordyng to the good pleasure of his wil Amen In the company of these foresayd xiij were three more condemned to die whose names are here vnder specified Thomas Freeman William Stanâ—ard William Adams Which three answered to those Articles that were propounded vnto the sayd xiij in effect as they did And being thus in the handes of the secular power Cardinall Poole sent his dispensation for their lyues by what occasion I cannot safely say but by meanes therof they then escaped The copy of which dispensation because it is examplified in our first impression I shall desire the Reader to resort to the place of the pag. 1525. The sonday after these foresayd 16. were condemned Fecknam Deane of Paules preached at Paules Crosse where he declared that they had as many sondry opinions as they were sundry persons At the hearing wherof they drew out their faith and set to their hands as hereafter foloweth and directed the same to their friends the faythfull congregation as followeth ¶ Vnto all our dearely beloued friendes and the holy Congregation of Iesus Christ euen so many as loue God Grace bee with you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it BE it manifest to all vnto whome this our certificate shall bee seene that where vpon Saterday beyng the 13. day of Iune at Fulham before the B. of London 16. of vs whose names here vnder are subscribed were condemned to die for the most pure sincere truth of Christes veritie which most godlye truth hath bene from the beginning with the wicked aduersaries thereof continually defaced and is by the Deuill and hys impes euen at this present likewyse daily slaundered Vppon which occasion dearely beloued brethren we are mooued yea constrayned in the eares of all men to manifest our beliefe and also briefly the Articles wherefore we are condemned for the auoydyng of fals reportes and slaunderous tongues which myght happen by the most vngodly and vncharitable Sermon late preached at Paules crosse the 14. of the sayd moneth beyng Sonday by M Fecknam now Deane of the same Church where he in that most worthy audience defamed vs to be in 16. sundry opinions which were a thing preiudiciall to all christian veritie and for a true testimoniall thereof this here vnder written shall answer our cause and therfore we pray you that are of God to iudge The first we beleeue we were baptised in the fayth of Christes Church and incorporate vnto hym and made members of hys Church in the which fayth we continue And althoughe we haue erred for a certayne tyme yet the roote of fayth was preserued in vs by the holy Ghost which hath reduced vs into a full certaintie of the same and we do persist and wil by Gods assistance to the end Now marke that although the minister were of the Church malignant yet his wickednesse did not hurt vs for that he baptised vs in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost There was both the word and the element and our Godfathers and Godmothers renouncyng for vs the Deuill and all his workes and confessing the Articles of the Christian fayth for vs and also witnesses that we were baptised not in the fayth of the Church of Rome but in the fayth of Christes Church 1. Item there are but two Sacramentes in Christes Churche that is the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lordes Supper For in these are contayned the fayth of Christ hys Churche that is the two Testamentes the lawe and the Gospell The effect of the lawe is repentaunce and the effect of the Gospell remission of sinnes 2. Item we beleeue that there is a visible church
day Bernard was brought agayne before the B. who asked him if he did not remember himself since the day before that he was before hym Rog. Yes my L. I haue remembred my selfe very well for the same man I was yesterday I am this day I hope shal be all the dayes of my lyfe concerning the matter you talked with me of Then one of the Gard standing by sayd my Lord I pray you trouble not your selfe any more with him but let me haue the examining of hym I shall handle him after another sort I trow and make him a faire child or he goe you shall see So was he committed to him and brought by him to an Inne where were a great many of Priestes assembled together and there they fell all in flattering hym and perswading hym with gay intising wordes what they could but when therein they might not preuaile for that the lord assisted the good poore man then began they to threatē him with whippyng stockyng burnyng and such like that it was wonderfull the doe they made with him Unto whō Bernard sayd Friends I am not better then my maister Christ and the Prophets which your fathers serued after such sort and I for hys names sake am content to suffer the like at your hands if God shal so permit trusting that he will strengthen me in the same accordyng to hys promise in spite of the deuill and all his ministers So when they could not make hym to relent or yeld they sayd behold a right scholer of Iohn Fortune whom they had thē in prison Then caried they him to the B. who immediately condemned hym as an heretike and deliuered hym to the secular power This Roger Bernard was a single man and by hys vocation a Labourer dwellyng in Fransden in Suffolk who was taken in the night by M. Tamages mē because he would not go to church to heare their vnsauory seruice and so by them caried to prison ¶ Adam Foster ADam Foster of the age of 26. yeares husbandman beyng maried dwellyng in Mendlesam in the Countie of Suffolke was taken at home in his house a little before the sunne goyng downe by the Constables of the said town George Reuet Tho. Mouse at the commaundement of sir Ioh. Tyrrell of Gipping hall in Suffolke knight because he would not go to church and heare Masse and receiue at Easter except he might haue it after Christes holy ordinance When they came for hym they told hym hee must go with them vnto the Iustice. Unto whome Adam Foster sayd for Christes cause to saue hys conscience he was well contented so they led him to sir Iohn Tyrrell and he sent him to Aye dungeon in Suffolk from whence at length he was sent to Norwich and there condemned by B. Hopton Now after this taking the said Tho. Mouse George Reuet were striken with a great feare and sicknes wherby Mouse pined and consumed away euen vnto death although he was a man of a yong lusty age But George Reuet who was the said Mouses fellow and a great reader of the Scripture or as a man may terme it a talkatiue gospeller would not be premonished by the works of God but set his sonne to helpe the priest say Masse and to be clarke of the same towne of Mendleshā for lukers sake yet was there a faire warnyng geuen hym of GOD althogh he had not the grace so to consider it the which thing was this A yong man of the same parish newly maried called Robert Edgore beyng of a ripe wit and sound was clark in the sayd Church before the sayd Reuet set hys sonne in that rowme and executed the office a little yea alas too long against his owne conscience whereby at length the Lord so tooke away his wits that many yeares after hys poore and wofull wife good woman was cōpelled to keep him cheyned bound continually lest he should vnwares do himselfe or some other some mischiefe as many tymes the more piety he was ready enough to do This as I sayd woulde not admonishe Reuet but needs he must persist in his wicked purpose Notwithstāding at the length as many men were offended with hym in the Parish so honest women especially being mightely greued at his vngodly doings came to him said neighbour Reuet are ye not afrayde to let your sonne helpe the naughty Priest to say Masse and to serue that abhominable Idoll and he sayd no. Then said they we feare not to go to church and heare Masse seing you being a man that so much professe Christianity will let your sonne helpe the Priest say Masse c. At which wordes Reuet waxed angry and in his rage immediatly made his praier vnto god after this maner or with such like wordes saying O Lord if it be not thy will that my sonne should so doe then I beseech thee send some straūge token to let me vnderstand what thy good pleasure is therein c. So according to his petition within shorte space after his neighbors Bull came into his pasture and there he hauing a very proper gelding which was his felicity aboue any thing he had the Bull running vpon him did so wound gore him that immediately therof his gelding dyed and he therby nothing amended For although he knew and confessed that it was the Lordes hand vpon him for the sufferance of his sonne in that wicked vocatiō yet would he not take him frō it but permitted him still to vse and frequent the same agaynst his owne conscience At the last the Lord iustly sent vpon him a great swelling in his legges which did so grieuously vexe and trouble him by reason it swelled vpward that at length hauyng therby brought vpon him a very straūge sickenes he died most miserably in so impatient maner that it terrifyed all good hartes to heare therof The Lord graunt for Christes sake that we may obserue his iudgementes better to hys glory and our comfort Amen Ex testimonio quorundam Suffolcensium ¶ Robert Lawson RObert Lawsō was a single man of the age of 30. yeres and by vocation a linnen Weauer who was apprehēded in the night by one Robert Kereth at the commaundement of Syr Iohn Tyrrel of Gyppinghall in Suffolke Knight and so was immediately caried to Aye Dungeon in Suffolke where he remayned a certayne time and after was led to Bery The cause of his taking was for that he would not go to Church to heare Masse and receiue theyr popish Idoll When these three foresayd martyrs were caried to their deathes videl Roger Bernard Adam Foster and Robert Lawson at Bery after they had made theyr prayer beyng at the stake the tormentors attending the fire they most triumphantly ended theyr liues in such happy and blessed condition as did notably set forth theyr constancy and ioyfull end to the great praise of God and their commendatiō in him and
there is the reall substance of the body of Christ Fort. And I aunswered him that it is the greatest plague that euer came into England Bish. Why so Fort. I sayd if I were a Bishop and you a poore man as I am I would be ashamed to aske such a question For a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learne Bish. I am appoynted by the law to teach so are not you Fort. And I sayd Your lawe breaketh out very well for you haue burned vp the true Bishops and preachers and mainteined lyers to be in theyr steed Bish. Now you may vnderstand that he is a traytour for he denyeth the higher powers Fort. I am no traytour for S. Paule sayth All soules must obey the higher powers and I resist not the higher powers concerning my body but I must resist your euill doctrine wherwith you would infect my soule A Doct. Then sayd a Doctor my Lord you doe not well let him aunswere shortly to his articles Bish. How sayst thou make aunswere quickly to these articles Fort. S. Paule sayth Christ did one sacrifice once for all and set him downe on the right hand of his father triumphing ouer hell and death making intercession for sinnes Bish. I aske thee no suche question but make aunswere to this article Fort. If it be not GOD before the consecration it is not God after for God is without beginning and without ending Bish. Then sayd he lo what a stiffe hereticke is this He hath denyed altogether how sayest thou Is it idolatry to worship the blessed sacrament or no. Fort. God is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and trueth Bish. I aske thee no such question answere me directly Fort. I answere that this is the God Mauzzim that robbeth God of his honor Bish. It is pity that the grounde beareth thee or that thou hast a toung to speak Thē sayd the scribe here are a great many more articles Bish. Then sayde the Bishop Away with him for he hath spoken to much ¶ An other examination of I. Fortune ANd when I came to mine examination agayne the bishoppe asked me if I would stand vnto mine answere that I had made before and I sayd yea for I had spoken nothing but the truth And after that he made a great circumstance vpon the Sacrament Then I desired him to stand to the text he read the Gospell on Corpus Christi day whiche sayd I am the breade which came downe from heauen beleuest thou not this And I sayd yea truely And he sayd why doest thou deny the Sacrament Because your doctrine is false sayd I. Then sayd he how can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture And I sayd Christ sayd I am the bread and you say the breade is he Therefore your doctrine is false sayd I. And he sayd doest thou not beleue that the bread is he And I sayd no. Bish. I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fort. Hold that fast my Lord for that is the best Argumēt that you haue yet Bish. Thou shalt be burned like an hereticke Fort. Who shall geue iudgement vpon me Bish. I will iudge an hundred such as thou art and neuer be shriuen vpon it Fort. Is there not a lawe for the spiritualty as well as for the temporaltye and Syr Clement Higham sayde yes what meanest thou by that Fort. When a man is periured by the law he is cast ouer the barre and sitteth no more in iudgement And the Byshop is a periured man and ought to sit in iudgement of no mā Bish. How prouest thou that Fort. Because you tooke an oth by king Henries dayes to resist the Pope So both spirituall and temporall are periured that here can be no true iudgement Bish. Thinkest thou to escape iudgement by that no for my Chaūcellor shall iudge thee He took no oth for he was out then of the Realme M. Hygham It is time to weede out such felowes as you be in deed Bysh. Good fellowe why beleuest not thou in the Sacrament of the aultar Fort. Because I finde it not in Gods booke nor yet in the Doctors If it were there I would beleue it with al my hart Bysh. How knowest thou it is not there Fort. Because it is contrary to the second cōmaundement and seing it is not written in Gods booke why do you thē robbe me of my life Then the Bishop hauing no more to saye commaunded the Bailiffe to take him away And thus much touching the examinations of this man Now whether he died in fire or otherwise preuented with death as I sayd before I am vncertayne In the Registers of Norwich this I do finde that his sentence of condemnation was drawne and Registred but whether it was pronounced in the said Register it is not expressed according as the vsuall maner of the Notary is so to declare in the end of the sētēce Neuertheles this is most certayne that he neuer abiured nor recanted howsoeuer it pleased the Lord by death to call him out of this world ¶ The death of Iohn Careles in the Kynges Benche ABout this time the first day of Iuly amongest diuers other prisoners which dyed the same yeare in the Kinges Bench was also one Iohn Careles of Couentry a weauer Who though he were by the secret iudgemēt of almighty God preuented by death so that he came not to the full Martyrdome of his body yet is he no lesse worthy to be counted in honor place of Christes martyrs then other that suffered most cruell torments aswell for that he was for the same truthes sake a long time imprisoned as also for his willing mind zelous affection he had thereunto if the Lord had so determined it as well may appeare by his examinatiō had before Doct. Martin Which examination because it conteineth nothing almost but wrangling interrogations and matters of contentiō wherin Doctour Martin would enter into no communication about the articles of his accusation but onely vrged him to detect his felowes it shall not be greatly materiall therfore to expresse the whole but onely to excerpt so much as perteining to the question of predestination may bring some fruit to the Reader ¶ The effect of Iohn Careles examination before Doctour Martin briefly declared FIrst Doctour Martin calling Iohn Careles to hym in his Chamber demaunded what was his name To whom when the other had answered that his name was Iohn Careles then began Doctour Martin to descant at his pleasure vpon that name saying that it would appere by his conditions by that time he had done with him that he would be a true careles man in deed And so after other by talke there spent about much needelesse matter then he asked him where he was borne Careles Forsooth sayth he at Couentry Mart. At Couentry what so farre man How camest thou hither Who sent thee to the kinges Bench to prison Carel. I was
be counted worthy to so we some seede amongest the sweete Saintes of the Lorde that I may reape the same againe without ceasing at the haruest It is nowe sowing time of the yeare men saye in the countrey and I thinke that I shall make an ende of sowing before all Marche be past for I heare say that I shall prooue how my plough will enter into the stonie ground of the hard hearted Papists within these 4 daies I hope to holde fast and not to looke backe neyther for feare nor flattery vntil I haue made an ende of sowing and then will I set me downe and rest me and aske them all no leaue and looke for the liuely fruite and encrease thereof with ioye and gladnesse My deare brother the time approcheth neare I praise God therefore that I must put off this sinnefull tabernacle and goe home to my heauenly father where diuers of my deare brethren are all ready looking and wishing for me I beseeche you therefore that you will helpe me forewarde with your faithfull prayers as I know you doe for I doe feele the comfort and commoditye thereof That you haue obserued my simple counsel I am right glad and I trust in the Lord God you shall finde comfort in the same And that you may so doe in deede I haue bene so bold to wryte these few woordes vnto you because I shall see you no more in this corruptible life therefore marke them well First and aboue all things you must be very circumspecte to keepe the bande of loue and beware that there neuer spring vp the roote of bitternesse betweene you If at any time there happeÌ„ to rise any cause of vnkindnesse betweene you as it is vnpossible alwayes to be free from it see that you weede vppe the same with all lenitie gentlenesse and patience and neuer suffer your selfe nor youre wife to sleepe in displeasure If you haue cause to speake sharpelye and sometimes to reprooue beware that you do not the same in the presence of other but kepe your woordes vntil a conuenient time whych is the poynt of a wise man saith Salomon and then vtter them in the spirite of meekenesse and the groning spirit of perfect loue which you must also let sometimes to couer faultes and wincke at them if they be not intollerable What so euer losse and mischance shal happen vnto you take it paciently and beare it merely· and though the same shuld come partly through your wiues negligence yet let it rather be a louing warninge to take heede in time to come then a cause of sorow for that which is past cannot be holpen I knowe by mine owne experience that we are in this life subiecte to many inconueniences and that of nature we are prone to displeasure and ready to thinke vnkindnes for euery little trifle and specially with oure best friendes yea soonest with our louing wiues whiche bee moste lothest to displease vs. But let vs beware of this cankered corruption and consider that we ought most of all in loue to beare with them according to Christes example towardes his congregation for whome he gaue him self to clense it c. I had thought to haue treated thys matter at large but euen nowe I am interrupted and otherwyse letted I doubt not but you know your duetie therein a greate deale better then I can declare it vnto you and as you knowe it so will doe it but I loue to be bolde with you I entend to write also to your wife very shortly and so take my last farewel of you for euer in this worlde And thus in greate haste I am nowe constraind to make an end The blessing of god be alwais with you Your owne for euer Iohn Careles Pray pray pray with faith An other letter of Iohn Careles to Elizabeth wife of the sayde A.B. containing likewise certaine Godly preceptes of Matrimonie pertaining to her duetie THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christe the continuall aide strength and comfort of his moste holye and mightye spirite with increase of knowledge faith and perfecte feeling of Gods eternall mercy be with you my deare and faithfull louing sister E.B. and with your godly louing husbande my deare and faithfull brother to the full performaunce of that good whiche he hath so graciously begon in you that in all things you maye be made riche and blessed in him and your seede after you now and euer Amen As I haue bene long desirous to wryte vnto you my deare heart in the Lord not onely being thereto bound of duetie but also often prouoked of him to whome I owe my self and al that I am able to doe I meane euen that blessed of the Lordes owne mouthe whome God hathe ioyned with you in that holye and Christian state of Matrimonie euen so at the last I haue obtained time and occasion in some part to performe that whyche I haue long purposed And for as much as the Lorde of hys greate mercye and fatherlye care and prouidence ouer you hys deare childe hath nowe graciously accomplished that good worke amongs manye others which I as a frende of the bridegrome haue full heartely wished and often prayed for I thinke it good yea and my bounden duety to treate of such things as maye be profitable to preserue mutuall loue and faithful amity betwene you which I knowe Sathan wil chiefly labour to diminish if he can not altogether destroy the same lest by many ioyfull occasions you should be prouoked continually to praise God for his good gift which that enemye hath by all meanes sought to hinder from you As for al other things I know you are sufficiently instructed also haue a most learned coÌ„panion who is wel able further to teach you if nede do require But in this thing I know my experience is more then his Therfore my good sister first and before all things see that you do diligeÌ„tly consider that as euery good and perfecte gift pertaining to soule and body is geuen from aboue and coÌ„meth from the father of light euen so to whome â—o euer the Lord dealeth any of his benefits of them he doth chiefly require alwaies a thankfull heart for the same For els he will either take away his good gifts again or turne the same to their greate discommoditie and in the ende to the encrease of theyr damnation So detestable in his sighte is the sinne of ingratitude But to such as be thankfull for his benefites he doeth not only to the olde euer adde newe but also maketh the commoditie of his former giftes euer more and more to encrease vntill by them they are fullye perswaded and throughlye certified of hys euerlasting loue in Christ Iesu which is eternal life it selfe So much doth he of his great mercy delite in a thankfull heart Therefore I doe yet once againe earnestly require you that aboue all things you be thankefull to God for his
poore blinde womans life and deathe in suche sorte as is aboue prefixed hath bene confessed to be very true by diuers persons of worthy credite and yet liuing and also hath bene specially perused and examined by W. Baynbridge tofore mentioned Bayliffe then of Darbye who aswell of his own knowledge as by speciall enquiry and conference by him made with diuers others hath certified vs the same to be vndoubted besides the Testimoniall of Iohn Cadman Curate of the sayd towne and of other also vppon whose honesty well knowne and theyr report herein nothing differing from such as were best acquaynted with that matter I haue bene here the more bold to commit this story to posteritie for all good men to consider and to iudge vpon * Edwarde Sharpe ABout the beginning of the next month folowing whiche was September a certayn godly aged deuout zelous person of the Lords glory borne in Wiltshyre named Edward Sharpe of the age of lx yeares or thereabout was condemned at Bristow to the like Martyrdom where he constantly manfully persisting in the iust quarrel of Christes Gospell for misliking and renouncing the ordinaunces of the Romishe Churche was tryed as pure gold and made a liuely sacrifice in the fire in whose death as in the death of all hys other saynts the Lord be glorified and thanked for his great grace of constancy to whom be praise for euer Amen ¶ Foure suffered at Mayfield NExte after the Martyrdome of Edward Sharpe aboue sayd followed iiii which suffered at Mayfield in Sussex the xxiiii day of September anno 1556. Of whose names ii we finde recorded and the other two we yet know not and therefore according to our register here vnder they be specified as we find them Iohn Hart. Thomas Rauensdale A Shomaker And a Coriar Which sayd .4 being at the place where they shoulde suffer after they hadde made theyr prayer and were at the stake ready to abide the force of the fire they constantlye ioyfully yelded their liues for the testimony of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ vnto whome be prayse for euer and euer Amen The day after the Martyrdome of these foresayde at Mayfield which was the 24. of September an 1556. was a young man which by science was a Carpenter whose name we haue not put to death for the like testimonye of Iesus Christe at Bristowe where he yelding himselfe to the tormentes of the fire gaue vp his life into the handes of the Lord with such ioyfull constancye and triumphe as all the Church of Christe haue iust cause to prayse God for him The martyrdome of Iohn Horne and a woman NOw not long after the death of the sayde young man at Bristow in the same moneth were two mo godly Martyrs cōsumed by fire at Wotton Underhedge in Glocestershyre whose names are aboue specified which dyed very gloriously in a constaunt fayth to the terrour of the wicked and comforte of the Godly So graciously did the Lord worke in them that death vnto them was life and life with a blotted conscience was death ¶ A pitifull storye concerning the vnmercifull handling of W. Dangerfield and Ioane hys wife beyng in childbed taken out of her house wyth her sucking infant of 14. daies old layd in the common Iayle amongest theeues and murderers WHen I had written and finished the story of the Garnsey women with the young infant there with them burned and also had passed the burning of the poore blind woman Ioane Wast at Darby I well hoped I shoulde haue found no moe such stories of vnmerciful cruelty shewed vppon seely women with theyr children and young infantes but now cōming to the persecution of Glocester shyre about the partes of Bristow I finde an other story of such vnmercifulnes shewed agaynst a woman in child-bed as farre from all charitie and humanitie as hath ben anye other storye yet hetherto rehearsed as by the sequele hereof may appeare In the Parish of Wotton Underhedge not farre from Bristow was dwelling one W. Dangerfield a right honest and godly poore man who by Ioane Dangerfield his wife had ix Children and she nowe lying in childbed of the tenth Thys William after he had bene abroad from his house a certayne space for feare of persecution hearing that his wife was brought to bed repayred home to visite her as naturall duety required and to see his children she being now deliuered foure dayes before The returne of this man was not so soone known to some of his vnkinde vncharitable neighbours but they incensed with the spirite of Papistrye eftsoones beset the house about and there tooke the sayd W. Dangerfield caryed him to prison and so at length hee was brought to the Bishop being then Doctor Brookes in whose cruell handling he remayned a certayne space so longe till hys legges almost were freated off with yrons After the apprehension of the Husband the wife likewise was taken with her younge borne childe being but 14. dayes olde as is sayde out of her childbed and caryed into the common Iayle and there placed amongst theues and murderers where both shee and her poore innocent found so small charitie amongest the catholicke men that she neuer could come to any fire but was driuen to warm the clothes that she should put about the childe in her bosome In the meane season while they lay thus inclosed in seuerall prisons the husband and the wife the Bishop beginneth to practise not with the woman first as the serpent did with Eue but with the man craftily deceiuing his simplicitie with fayre glosing wordes falsely perswading him that his wife had recanted and asking him wherfore he should more stande in his owne conceate then shee being as well learned as he and so subtilly drew out a form of recantation wherewith hee deceiued the simple soule Whereunto after that he had once graunted that hee would consent although hee had not yet recanted they suffered hym to to go to his wife where shee laye in the common Iayle Then they with melting hartes opening their minds one to an other when he saw hys wife not released perceauing that he had not done well he declared vnto her the whole matter how falsely he was circumuented by the subtile flatteringes of the Byshop bearyng him in hand that certaynly she had recanted and thus deceiuing me sayde he brought this vnto me and so plucked out of hys bosome the copy of the recantation whereunto he had granted his promise At the sight whereof the wife hearyng what her husband had done her hart claue a sunder saying Alacke thus long haue we continued one and hath Satan so preuayled to cause you to breake your first vow made to Christ in Baptisme And so departed the saide W. and Ioane his wife with what heartes the Lorde knoweth Then began hee not a little to bewayle his promyse made to the Bishop and to make hys prayer to almighty God
number of Sacraments some graunting one sacrament that is the body of Christ hanging vpon the crosse some moe some lesse c. yet in the principal matter touching the doctrins of saluation for faith to stay vpon and in disagreing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish church they moste agreed Concerning the not praying to saints and for the deade in Purgatorie for not creepynge to the crosse for faith onely to iustifie for taking of an oth such other like he graunted as the other had done This father Archer by his occupation a Weauer of the towne of CraÌ„broke of the age of 50. yeres was attached and imprisonned by syr Iohn Gilforde knighte And thus haue yee the cause and imprisonment of these 5. godly prisoners Now as touching the cruelty of theyr death for that yee shal not surmise the suspicion or relation thereof to proceede of my selfe ye shall heare theyr own testimonie and certification by their owne letter thrown out of the prison concerning the vnmercifull dealing of the Catholicke tyrantes in famishing them as is aforesayde The woordes and copye of theyr letter is this The copie of a Letter wrytten and cast out of the Castle of Cant. by the prisoners there in bands for Gods word declaring how the Papistes went aboute to famishe them to death of the which companie fiue were famished amongest them all ready BE it knowen to all men that shall read or heare redde these our letters that we the pore prisoners of the Castle of Canterburie for Gods truth are kept and lie in cold yrons our keepers wil not suffer any meat to be brought to vs to comfort vs. And if any man do bring any thyng as bread butter cheese or any other foode the saide keeper wil charge them that so bring vs any thing except mony or raiment to carie it with them againe or els if he do receiue any foode of any for vs he doeth keepe it for himself and he and his seruaunts do spend it so that we haue nothing thereof and thus the keeper keepeth away our victuals from vs. In so muche that there are 4. of vs prisonners there for Gods truthe famished already and thus is it his minde to famish vs all and we thinke he is apoynted thereunto of the Bishops and priestes and also of the iustices so to famish vs and not onely vs of the saide Castel but also all other prisoners in other prisons for the lyke cause to be also famished notwithstanding we wryte not these our letters to that entent we moughte not aforde to be famished for the Lord Iesus sake but for this cause and entent that they hauing no law so to famish vs in prison should not doe it priuely but that the murtherers heartes should be openly knowen to all the world that all menne may know of what church they are who is their father Out of the Castel of Canterburie The trouble and vexation of good people in the Diocesse of Lichfield THese foresayde monethes of September Nouember and December as they were troublesome to diuers other places and especially to the Dioces of Canterburie by reason of the Archdeacon aboue named so likewyse they brought no little busines in the countrey of Lichfield and Couentrie by a cruel bishop there called Rafe Bane and a more cruell Chauncellor named Doctour Draycot through the fierce inquisition of whome great stirre was there amonge the people being called to examination for theyr Faith and many caused to beare fagottes Who althoâ—h they were not put to the torment of death yet because it may appeare what a number there is in the countrys of England abroade which in theyr hearts haue a misliking of the Popes Romish lawes and religion if for fear they durst vtter theyr mindes I thought to make a rehearsall of theyr names which in the foresayde Diocesse of Couentrie and Lichfielde were taken in suspicion and examined for theyr Religion And first amongst them that were detected and inioyned to the popish penance that is to beare a fagot candel and beades about in procession were Agnes Forman detected examined and by witnesse conuicted and bare a fagot the 12. of Septemb. Likewise Margery Kirry Thomas Norreis Thomas Stiffe William Kayme Robert Katrenes Thomas Smith Iohn Borsley the younger Iteâ— Iohn Waterhouse against whom came in witnesse and accusers Richarde Caterbanke I. Edge William Smith Robert Cooke laying against him for seldome coÌ„ming to the Churche for geuing no reuerence at the leuation of the Sacrament but looking vpon his booke for not kissing the paxe c. Robert Bissel Leonard West Richard Baily of the parish of Whiteacre These were depriued Nicholas Cartwright Doctor Richard Iurdian Priest Edmund Crokel Priest Thomas Whitehead Priest William Taylour Priest Anselme Sele Priest Richard Slauie Priest maryed Edward Hawes Priest maried Robert Aston Priest depriued Henry Tecka Priest depriued Rob. Mossey priest maried depriued Beside these were diuers other which in like sort were detected accused and examined although they bare no fagot but were dimissed as Richard Kempe Iohn Frankling William Marler Ielius Dudley Eustache Bysacre William Shene Antonie Afterwittel Tho. Steilbe Henry Birdlim William Mosley Iohn Leeche Iohn Richardson Anthony Iones alias Pulton Thom. Wilson Thomas Lynacres and Hugh Lynacres hys sonne Isabel Parker Martine Newman William Enderby Cicely Preston Thomas Saulter Ihon Stamford shomaker Richard Woodburne Thomas Arnall Shoomaker Iohn Robinson Hugh More Shoomaker Iohn Adale Thomas Arche Fraunces Warde Iohn Auines Richard Foxal Thomas Underdoune Rich. Weauer The next moneth following being October came vnder examination Ioyce Lewes gentlewoman of whome we deferre to speake vntil the next yeare at what time she was burned These forenamed persones with many moe folowing in the next yeare after although they did subscribe and relent through feare of death yet for thys cause I doe heere recite them that by them it myght appeare what a number there were not onely in the countrey of Lichfield but also in other parties in heart set against the Popes procedings if that feare rather then conscience had not compelled them to the contrary ⧠The conclusion of this XI Booke with a briefe storie of Syr Iohn Cheeke c. ANd thus haue yee the whole persecution of thys yere declared which was the yeare of our Lord 1556. and the fourth of Quene Maries raigne with the names and causes of all them which suffered Martyrdome within the compasse of the sayd yeare the number of all which slayne Martyred in diuers places of England at sundry times this yere came to aboue 84. persons whereof many were women wines widowes and maidens besides them which otherwise by secreate practise were made awaye or driuen out of goodes and houses or out of the Realme or els within the realme were put to penaunce and coacted by forceable violence to recante saue onely that I haue omitted the story of Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight
contented for frendshippe and curtesye sake not to fayle them in this theyr businesse Hauyng made this Preface he entered into the pith of the matter wherein he blamed greatly the barbarous crueltye of the Court of Rome so fiercely extended agaynst the dead He sayd it was a more heynous matter then was to be borne with to haue shewed such extreme cruelnesse to them that were aliue but for any manne to misbehaue himselfe in such wise towarde the deade was such a thing as hadde not lightly bene heard of Sauing that he affirmed this custome of excommunicating and curssing of deade folke to haue come first from Rome For Euagrius reporteth in his wrytinges that Eutichius was of the same opinion induced by the example of Iosias who slew the Priestes of Baall and burnt vppe the boanes of them that were deade euen vppon the Aultars Whereas before the time of Eutichius this kinde of punishment was welneare vnknowne neither afterwarde vsurped of any manne that euer he heard of vntill a nine hundreth yeares after Christ. In the latter times the whiche howe muche the further they were from that golden age of the Apostles so much the more they were corrupted this kinde of cruelnesse beganne to creepe further For it is manifestlye knowne that Stephen the sixt Pope of Rome digged vp Formosus his last Predecssour in that Sea and spoyling him of hys Popes apparell buryed him agayne in lay mans apparell as the call it hauing first cut off and throwne into Tyber his two fingers with which according to theyr accustomed maner he was woont to blesse and consecrate The whiche his vnspeakeably tyrannye vsed against Formosus within sixe yeares after Sergius the third encreased also agaynst the same Formosus For taking vp his dead body and setting it in a Popes chayre hee caused his heade to be smitten of and his other three fingers to be cut from his hand and his body to be cast into the ryuer of Tyber abrogating and disanulling all his decrees which thinge was neuer done by any man before that daye The cause why so great crueltye was exercised by the reporte of Nauclerus was this because that Formosus had beene an aduersarye to Stephen and Sergius when they sued to be made Bishops This kinde of crueltye vnharde of before the Popes a while exercised one agaynst an other But nowe or euer they had sufficiently felte the smarte thereof themselues they had turned the same vpon our neckes Wherefore it was to be wished that seeing it began among thē it might haue remayned still with the Authors thereof not haue bene spread ouer thence vnto vs. But such was the nature of all euill that it quickely passeth into example for others to do the like For about the yeare of our Lord 1400. Iohn Wicklyfe was in lyke maner digged vp and burnte into ashes throwen into a brooke that runneth by the towne where he was buryed Of the which selfe same sauce tasted also William Tracye of Gloucester a man of a worshipfull house because he had written in his laste will that he shoulde be saued onely by fayth in Iesus Christe and that there needed not the helpe of any manne thereto whether he were in heauen or in earth and therefore bequethed no legacye to that purpose as all other men were accustomed to doe This deede was done sithens we may remember aboute the 22. yeare of the raigne of Henry the 8. in the yeare of our Lord. 1530. Now seeing they extended suche crueltye to the dead he sayde it was an easye matter to coniecture what they would doe to the liuing Whereof we had sufficient tryall by the examples of our owne men these fewe yeares past And if we woulde take the paynes to peruse thinges done somewhat lenger ago we might find notable matters out of our owne Chronicles Howbeit it was sufficient for the manifest demonstration of that matter to declare the beastly butchery of the Frenche King executed vppon the Waldenses at Cabryer and the places nere thereabout by his captayne Miner aboute the yeare of our Lorde 1545. then the which there was neuer thing read of more cruelty done no not euen of the barbarous Paganes And yet for all that when diuers had shewed theyr vttermost cruelty both agaynste these and many others they were so farre from theyr purpose in extinguishing the light of the Gospell which they endeuoured to suppresse that it increased dayly more and more The which thing Charles the 5. then whom all christendome had not a more prudēt Prince nor the Church of Christ almost a sorer enemy easily perceiued and therefore when he had in his hand Luther dead and Melancthon and Pomeran with certayne other Preachers of the Gospell aliue he not onely determined not any thing extreamely agaynst them nor violated theyr graues but also entreating them gently sent thē away not so much as once forbidding them to publish openly the doctrine that they professed For it is the nature of Christes Church that the more that Tyrauntes spurne agaynst it the more it encreaseth and florisheth A notable proofe assuredly of the prouidence and pleasure of God in sowing the Gospell was that comming of the Bohemians vnto vs to the intent to heare Wickliffe of whom we spake before who at that time read openly at Oxford and also the goyng of our men to the sayde Bohemians when persecution was raysed agaynste vs. But muche more notable was it that we had seene come to passe in these our dayes that the Spanyardes sent for into thys Realme of purpose to suppresse the Gospell as soone as they were returned home replenished many partes of theyr Countrey with the same trueth of Religion to the which before they were vtter enemyes By the which examples it might euidently be perceiued that the Princes of this world labour in vayne to ouerthrowe it considering how the mercy of GOD hath sowne it abroad not onely in those Countryes that wee spake of but also in Fraunce Poole Scotland and almoste all the rest of Europe For it is sayd that some partes of Italy although it be vnder the Popes nose yet do they of late encline to the knowledge of the heauenly trueth Wherefore sufficient argument and proofe mighte be taken by the successe and encreasement therof to make vs beleue that this doctrine is sent vs from heauen vnlesse we will wilfully be blinded And if there were any that desired to be perswaded more at large in the matter hee might aduisedlye consider the voyage that the Emperor and the Pope with both theyr powers together made ioyntly agaynste the Bohemians In the which the Emperour tooke suche an vnworthy repulse of so small a handfull of his enemyes that he neuer almost in all his life tooke the like dishonour in any place Hereof also might bee an especiall example that death of Henry Kyng of Fraunce who the same day that he had purposed to persecute the Churche of Christe and to
triall of the text Winch. And then when the bish of Winchester sawe that I cared not whether of the Translations I had he stoode vp thinking to beguile some simple man that had a booke there bad him that had an English Testament to bring it in that he might get some hold at him that should bring a testament but God disappointed him therof so he flue away from his matter and began to raile vpon me said my subtill Arguments shuld not serue for if I would not answer directly I should neuerthelesse be excommunicated for sayd he I see a madde â—oy in thine head thou gloriest muche in thy talke and thinkest nowe the people are come about thee that thou shalt encourage them with thy constant heretical opinion For the last day when thou wast before me vpon Sonday in s. Mary Oueries church thou there reprouedst my sermon haddest a thousand by thee at the lest to bid God strengthen thee but now let me see him here that dare open his mouth to bid God streÌ„gthen thee he shall die the death that thou shalt die Grat. To that I answered my Lord I know your crueltie doth extend more largelier then your pity Good experience so I haue to say for you kepe men in prison â— yeare or two taking their bookes from them permitting theÌ„ not so muche as a Testament to looke vppon for theyr soules comfort the which all men oughte to haue and so you entreat them more like brute beastes then Christen men Winch. No syr we will vse you as we will vse the childe for if the childe will hurte himselfe with the knife we will kepe the knife from him So because you wil damne your soule with the woord therefore you shall not haue it Grat. My lord a simple argument you bring for to maintaine and couer your fault Are you not ashamed to make the woord the cause of our damnation I neuer knew any man but only you that did not affirm our sinnes to be the cause of our damnation and not the word as you say and therfore if your Argument be good then this is good also Because that some men do abuse drinke therefore the benefite of drinke should be taken from al men or any other such like good gift Winch. My lordes here we lose much time for this felow is peruerse speaking nothing but sophistrie and peruerse questions so that we can get no aduantage vpon him Then spake my Counterfait Ordinarie as one halfe a sleepe al this while yet somwhat with hast when he was awaked he began to tell his tale and sayde Counterf Read these articles against him once more and if he wil not answer them take him vpon his first words That which I said that I haue said Winch. Then the Bishop of Winchester began to reade them againe Grat. But I sayd vnto him I would not aunswere them because they were none of mine examinations but obiections of their owne making because they would haue my bloud But yet I said if they would set the lawe a part I would talke my conscience freely to them Counterf Then my counterfet Ordinarie began to speake againe charging mee with the saying of S. Peter that I should render account of such hope as was in me Grat. So can I do and yet shal I not please you for here I now render my hope as S. Peter willeth me I beleue only in Iesus Christ to haue my saluatioÌ„ in him by him and through him but I perceiue you would haue me reÌ„der my faith in such sorte as you may haue my bloud and therfore you bring good Scriptures and euil apply them Win. Why this felow is peruerted we shal get no more at his hands then we haue already therfore lette vs pronounce sentence against him for we do but lose our time Grat. Nay good my lordes seeing you wil nedes haue my bloud let me say a little more for my selfe Upon sonday last wheÌ„ I was before you you preached this which was a truth agreeable to the doctrine of the apostle s. Iames and said If any maÌ„ thinke himself a religious man in the meane time seduce his toung or hys heart the same mans religion is a vain religion and so my lord you staÌ„ding there in the pulpit in the mean time seduced your toÌ„g to slander vs pore prisoners being there present in yron bondes burdening vs with the sect of Arrians and with the sect of HerodiaÌ„s and with the sect of Anabaptists and with the sect of sacramentaries with the secte of PelagiaÌ„s And when we stoode vp to purge our selues therof you saide you would cut out our tonges cause vs to be pulled out of the church by violeÌ„ce But there you gaue your selfe a shrewde blow for your toungue in the meane time slandered your neighbor For I my Lord wil geue my life against all these heresies the which you ther burdened vs withall euen as I will geue my life against that wherein I now stand before you And with that he was raging angry and caught my condemnation and said Win. Thou wilt graunt here no more but this word that I haue said I haue said and here I gather mater enough to condemne thee for this is a confirmation of all that thou hast heretofore said Grat. Then I answered If you can proue that euer any of mine examinatioÌ„s were written it were inough but you haue nothiÌ„g agaiÌ„st me but obiectioÌ„s of your own makiÌ„g Win. Haue at thee now If thou wil not yelde I wil pronounce sentence against thee and so he proceded forth onward apace curssing and banning in Latin so that I told him If the people might heare it in English they would thinke you an vncharitable bishop Grat. And then I said stay my Lorde and note what you doe for you haue neither temporall law nor spiritual here against me in any cause Then stepped foorth a gentleman said vnto my Lord take hede what you do for he doth hear say that you haue no title nor cause why you should condemne him Then the bish looked about him againe and asked me if I would recant I asked him whereof I should recant Then saide the bish are you there nay then I knowe what I haue to do and so he proceded forth in reading my condemnation And there was an other gentlemaÌ„ which began to snap and snatch at me and then said I I would God I had knowen this or euer I had come from home I would surely haue put on breeche and not had my skin thus torne And all this while the Bishop red foorth still At last his chaplains cried stop stop my Lord for now he will recant and then the bishop asked me againe And I answered sayd my lord my faith is grounded more stedfastly then to change in a momeÌ„t it is no proces of time can alter me vnles my faith
followe 1 Rich. Woodman 2 George Steuens 3 W. Mainard 4 Alexander Hosman his seruaunt 5 Tomasin a Wood Mainards maide 6. Margerie Moris 7. Iames Moris her sonne 8. Denys Burgis 9. Ashdons wife 10. Groues wife Of the which noumber Richarde Woodman was the firste Concerninge whose apprehension firste by hys enemies and of hys deliueraunce oute of Byshoppe Bouers handes then of hys second taking againe by the procurement of hys father brother kinsfolkes and frendes also of hys sundrye examinations and couragious aunsweres before the Bishoppes and lastly of his condemnation and of his letters sent to his faithfull friendes heere foloweth to be declared by his owne woords and relation reported Which Rich. Woodman by his occupation was an Ironmaker dwelling in the Parish of Warbleton in the Countie of Sussex Dioces of Chichester of the age of 30. yeres and somewhat more The occasion of his first apprehension was this There was one Fairebanke who somtimes had bene a maried priest and serued the Cure of Warbleton where he had often perswaded the people not to credite any other doctrine but that which he then preached taught and set forth in K. Edwards dayes And afterward in the beginnyng of Q. Maries raigne the sayd Fayrebanke turnyng hed to taile preached cleane contrary to that which he had before taught Whereupon Richard Woodman hearyng hym in the Church of Warbleton so to preache contrary to hymselfe admonished hym of hys inconstancie how before tyme he had taught them one thing and now another and desired hym to teach them the truth For the which words he was apprehended and brought before M. Iohn Ashbornham M. Toston M. Culpeper and M. Robertes Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Sussex and by them committed to the Kyngs Bench where he continued from Iune the space almost of a yeare and a halfe and from thence was transferred by D. Story into Boners Colehouse where he remayned the space of a moneth before he came to examination At length the same day when M. Philpot was burned which was the 18. of December he with 4. other prisoners was deliuered and set at libertie by Boner himself Notwithstandyng shortly after he was sought for again and at last found out and taken by meanes of hys father brother and certaine other his acquainted friendes and so was sent vp agayne to London to B. Boner where he remayned in the Colehouse 8. weekes He was there sixe tymes examined and 26. tymes before so that his examinations in all were 32. from his first apprehension to his condemnation Touching the whole discourse wherof for so much as the matter is something strange and will peraduenture scarce find credit vpon my narration with thē which deny all thynges that lyke them not to beleeue ye shall heare himselfe speake and testify both of the maner of his troubles and also his owne examinations by himselfe recorded in order as followeth ⧠A true Certificate written by Richard Woodman of his taking how he was brought to the Shiriffes the xv of March 1556. and how long he was in prison and how he was there vsed till he was broughte before the Bishoppe of Chichester at blacke Friers in London with the order of his examinations followyng after the same GEntle Reader here you shall perceiue how the scriptures bee partly fulfilled on me beyng one of the least of his poore Lambes First you shall vnderstād that since I was deliuered out of the Bishop of Londons hands which was in the yeare of our Lord 1555. and the same day that M. Philpot was burned which was the 18. of December I lay in his Colehouse 8. weeks lacking but one day And before that I was a yeare and a halfe almost in the Kings Bench after my first apprehension for reproouyng a Preacher in the pulpit in the parish of Warbleton where I dwelt Wherfore I was at two Sessions before I was sent to prison and caried to two more Sessions whyle I was in pryson twyse before the B. of Chichester and fiue tymes before the Commissioners then sent to Londons Colehouse many tymes called before him as it appeareth by my examinations which I wrote the which examinations the B. of Chichester now hath for they were found in my house when I was takē wherin is conteined all the talke which I had before them aforenamed Also there be in London that had copies of the same of me when I was in the Colehouse And it pleased God to deliuer me with foure or more out of the butchers handes requiring nothing els of vs but that we shuld be honest men and members of the true Catholike Church that was builded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles Christ beyng the head of the true Churche the which all we affirmed that we were members of the true Church and purposed by Gods helpe therein to dye And hereupon we were deliuered but he willed vs many tymes to speake good of hym And no doubt he was worthy to be praysed because he had bene so faithfull an ayd in his maister the deuils businesse For he had burnt good M. Philpot the same mornyng in whose bloud his hart was so drunken as I supposed that he could not tell what he did as it appeared to vs both before after For but two dayes before he promised vs that we should bee condemned that same day that we were deliuered yea the morow after that he had deliuered vs hee sought for some of vs agayne yea and that earnestly He waxed dry after his great dronkennes wherfore he is lyke to haue bloude to drink in hel as he is worthy if he repent it not with speed The Lord turne all their harts if it be his will This haue I written chiefly to certifie all people how we were deliuered because many carnall Gospellers and Papists haue sayd that it was prescribed that we should be so deliuered because they thinke that God is subiect to man and not man to God For if they did they would not blaspheme hym as they doe or if they thought they should geue account for it Haue not many of them red how God deliuered Israel out of Egypt Daniel out of the Lyons denne Sydrach Misaach and Abednago out of the burnyng ouen with diuers other such like exāples yea God is the same God that he was then He is no older nor lesse in power as some count hym in wondring at his works Now to the matter After I was deliuered the Papists sayd that I hadde consented to them whereof they made themselues glad the which was the least part of my thought I praise God therefore as they well perceiued and knew the contrarye within a while For I went from parish to parish talked with them to the number of 13. or 14. and that of the chiefest in all the Countrey and I angred them so that they with the Commissioners complayned on
these examinations thus had and commensed betwene Richard Woodman and the Bishops he was as is afore told iudged by sentence of cōdēnation and so depriued of his life with whom also was burned 9. other to wit fiue men and foure women which were takē not past two or three dayes before theyr iudgement The names of all which being also before expressed here agayne folow in this order Richard Woodman George Steuēs William Maynard Alexander Hosman his seruant Thomasine a Wood his mayde Margerye Moris Iames Moris her sonne Denis Burgis Ashdownes wife Groues wife These persons here aboue named and blessed martyrs were put to death at Lewes the xxij of Iune ¶ The burning of x. Martyrs at Lewes Of the which number the viij last were apprehend as is sayd either the same daye or the second or third day before and so with the sayd Woodman and Steuēs were together committed to the fire in which space no writ could come downe from London to the Iustices for theyr burning Wherfore what is to be said to such Iustices or what reckoning they wil make to God and to the lawes of this Realme I referre that to them that haue to do in the matter The like whereof is to be found also of other Iustices who without any lawfull writte of discharge or order of law haue vnlawfully and disorderly burnt the seruantes of Christ whhose bloud the lawe both may and also ought to reuenge especially at Salisbury and also at Canterbury and Garnesey But concerning these matters though mans law do wincke or rather sleep at them yet they shall be sure Gods law wil find such murderers out at length I pray God the doers may repent betime ¶ One Ambrose dyed in Maydstone prison AFter these x. aboue named burnt at Lewes aboute the same time and moneth one Ambrose dyed in Maydstone prison who els should haue bene burned in the like cause and quarell as the other were The condemnation and Martyrdome of Richard Lush IN the Registers of Gilbert Bishop of Bathe Welles I finde a certificate made to K. Philip and Q. Mary of one Richard Lush there condemned geuen to the secular power to be burned for the cause of heresy whose affirmations in the sayde certificate he expressed in tenour and effect as foloweth FIrst for denying the verity of the body bloud of christ in the Sacrament of the Aultar 2 Item for denying auricular confessiō to be made to the Priest 3 Item for affirming onely to be three sacramēts to wit of baptisme of the supper and of matrimony 4 Item for refusing to call the Lordes Supper by the name of the Sacrament of the aulter 5 Item for denying Purgatory and that prayer almes profite not the dead 6 Item that Images are not to be suffered in the church and that all that kneele to Images at the Church be Idolators 7 Item that they which were burnt of late for religiō died Gods seruants and good Martyrs 8 Item for condemning the single life of Priestes and other votaries 9. Item for denying the vniuersall and catholicke church meaning belike the Church of Rome For these assertions as there are expressed he was cōdemned and committed to the Sheriffes and also a certificat directed by the Bishop aforesayd to the king and Q. Whereby we haue apparantly to vnderstand that the said Richard Lush thus condemned by Bishop Borne was there burnt and executed vnlesse peraduenture in the mean season he dyed or was made away in the prison wherof I haue no certeinty to expresse A note of Iohn Hullier Minister and Martyr burned at Cambridge COncerning the story of Iohn Hullier Martyr partly mentioned before pag. 1864. for the more ful declaratiō of the death and martirdome of that good man because the story is but rawly and imperfectly touched before for the more perfetting thereof I thought thereunto to adde that which since hath come to my hand as foloweth First Iohn Hullier was brought vp at Eaton colledge and after according to the foūdation of that house for that he was ripe for the vniuersitye he was elected scholer in the kinges colledge where also not tarying full the 3. yeares of probation before he was felow of the Colledge he after a litle season was one of the x. Conductes in the kinges colledge which was an 1539. Then at length in processe of time he came to be Curate of Babrame 3. miles from Cābridge and so went afterward to Linne where he hauing diuers conflictes with the papistes was from thence caried to Ely to D. Thuriby then bishop there who after diuers examinations sent him to Cambridge Castle where he remayned but a while From thence he was conueyed to the town prison cōmonly called the Tolboth lying there almost a quarter of a yere while at lēgth he was cited to appeare at great S. Maries on Palmsonday euē before diuers Doctors both Diuines Lawyers amongest whō was chiefest Doctor Shaxton also Doct. Young D. Sedgewike Doct. Scot Mitch and others Where after examination had for that he would not recant he was first condemned the sentence being read by D. Fuller Then consequētly he was disgraded after their popish maner with scraping crowne and handes When they had disgraded him he sayd cherefully this is the ioyfullest day that euer I saw and I thank ye all that ye haue deliuered and lightened me of all this paltry In the meane time whilest it was doyng one standing by asked Hullier what book he had in his hand Who aunswered a testamēt Wherat this man in a rage tooke it and threw it violently frō him Thē was he geuen ouer to the secular powers Brasey being Maior who carying him to prison agayne took from him all his bookes writinges papers On Maundy Thursday comming to the stake he exhorted the people to pray for him after holding his peace and praying to himselfe one spake to him saying the Lord strenthē thee Wherat a Sergeant named Brisley stayed bad him hold his toung or els he should repent it Neuerthelesse Hullier answered and sayd either thus or very like the effect was all one frende I truste that as God hath hitherto begon so also he will strengthen me finish his work vpō me I am bidden to a Maundy whether I trust to goe there to be shortly God hath layd the foundation and I by his ayd will end it Then goyng to a stoole prepared for hym to sit on to haue his hosen plucked of he desired the people to pray for him agayne and also to beare witnesse that he dyed in the right faith and that he would seale it with his bloud certifying them that he dyed in a iust cause and for the testimony of the verity and truth that there was no other rocke but Iesus Christ to builde vpon vnder whose banner he fought and whose souldiour he was and yet speaking he turned
Robert Maynard the Bayliffe and such like which Maynard commonly when he sate in iudgment vpon life and death would sit sleeping on the Bench many times so careful was his mind on his Office Further shee willed halting Gospellers to beware of bloud for that would cry for vengeaunce c. And in the end she told them all laying her hand on the Barre if they dâ—d not repent their wicked doynges therin that vndoubtedly the very barre should be a witnes agaynst them at the day of iudgement that they had there that day shed innocente bloud This Elizabeth Folkes the day before she was condemned was examined onely vpon this article whether she beleued that there was a Catholicke Church of Christ or no. Unto which she answered Yea. Then was she immediately by Bowsels meanes the Scribe deliuered vnto her vncle Holt of the same towne of Colchester to keep who caried her home vnto hys house shee being there might haue departed thence many tymes if she had wold for there was meanes offered to conuey her awaye But she hearyng that some doubted that shee hadde yealded to the Pope although it was most vntrue would in no wise content her selfe but wept and was in suche anguishe of minde and terrour of conscience that no remedye shee woulde to the Papistes agayne for any perswasions that could bee and commyng before them at Cosins house at the white Harte in Colchester she was at vtter defiaunce with them and their doctrine and so had as ye haue heard in the end a papisticall reward as the rest of her brethren had ¶ The Lordes faythfull prisoners in Colchester Castle WIlliam Munt of Muchbentley in Essex of the age of 61. yeares sayde that the sacrament of the Aultar was an abhominable Idoll and that if he should obserue any part of their popish proceedinges he should dysplease God and bring his curse vpon him and therfore for feare of his vengeaÌ„ce he durst not doe it This good father was examined of many thinges but God be thanked he stoode to the truth and in the end therfore had sentence of condemnation read agaynst hym Iohn Iohnson of Thorpe in Essex wydower of the age of xxxiiii yeares was examined as the rest and made answere in suche sorte as the Papistes counted them none of theirs and therefore condemned him with theyr bloudye senteÌ„ce as they had done the rest before This Ioh. Iohnson affirmed that in the receauing of the sacrament accordyng to Christes institution he receiueth the body of christ spiritually c. Alice Munt the wife of the sayde William Munt of the age of xli yeares being also examined as the rest sayd and confirmed the same in effect as her husband dyd and was therefore also condemned by their bloudy sentence in lyke maner Rose Allyn mayd the daughter of the sayd Alice Munt of the age of twenty yeares being examined of auricular confession goyng to the church to heare Masse of the Popish seuen sacramentes c. aunswered stoutlye that they stanke in the face of God and she durst not haue to do with them for her life neyther was she she sayde anye member of theirs for they were the members of Antichriste and so shuld haue if they repented not the reward of Antichrist Being asked further what she could saye of the Sea of the Bishop of Rome whethere she would obey hys authoritie or no she aunswered boldly that she was none of hys As for hys See quoth she it is for Crowes kytes owles and Rauens to swimme in such as you be for by the grace of God I shall not swimme in that See while I lyue neither will I haue any thing to doe therewith Then read they the sentence of condemnation agaynst her and so sent her vnto prison agayne vnto the rest where she song with great ioy to the wonder of many Thus these poore condemned Lambes beyng deliuered into the handes of the secular power were committed agayn euery one vnto the Prison from whence they came where they remayned with much ioy great comfort in continuall reading and inuocating the name of God euer looking and expecting the happy day of their dissolution In which time the cruell Papistes left not their mischieuous attemptes agaynst them although they would seeme now to haue no more to doe with theÌ„ for bloudy Boner whose throte neuer cryed ho shortly aâ—ter got a writ for the burning of the foresayd ten good creatures and to shewe the more dilligence in the cause he sent hys owne trusty man downe with it named Edward Cosin and with hym also his letter for the furtheraunce of the matter the thirtye day of Iuly the next month after the condemnation The writ being thus receiued of the sayde Bayliffes they hauing then no leysure thereaboutes appoynted the day of the executioÌ„ therof to be the second day of August next following And because the faythfull soules were in two seuerall Prisons as the Castle was for the Countrey and Mote Hall for the Towne therfore it was agreed among them that they in Mote Hall should be burnt in the forenoone and those at the Castle by the Sheriffe of the Shyre in the after noone as here thou mayest see it more playne how it came to passe accordingly ¶ The martyrdome of three men and three women at Colchester burned in the forenoone besides 4 other burned at after noone When all sixe were also nayled likewise at their stakes and the fire about them they clapped their handes for ioy in the fire that the standers by which were by estimation thousandes cryed generally all almost The Lord strengtheÌ„ them the Lord comfort them the Lord poure his mercies vpon them with such like wordes as was wonderfull to heare Thus yealded they vp theyr soules and bodyes into the Lordes handes for the true testimony of his trueth The Lord graunt we may imitate the same in the like quarrell if hee so vouche vs worthye for hys mercies sake Amen In like manner the sayde day in the afternoone was brought forth into the Castle yard to a place appoynted for the same W. Munt Iohn Iohnson Alice Munt and Rose Allyn aforesayd which godly constant persons after they had made theyr praiers and were ioyfully â—yed to the stakes calling vpon the name of God and exhorting the people earnestly to flee from Idolatry suffered their martyrdome with such triumphe and ioye that the people did no lesse showte therat to see it then at the other that were burnt the same day in the morning Thus ended all these glorious x. soules that day their happy liues vnto the Lord whose ages all did growe to the summe of 406. yeares or thereaboutes The Lord graunt we may well spend our yeares and dayes likewise to his glory Amen ¶ Iohn Thurston dyed in Colchester Castle BEfore you haue heard of the taking of one I. Thurston at Muchbentley in the house of one William Munt
fantastically as you teach vs to take them for then should we conspire with certaine heretickes called the Nestorians for they denie that Christ hadde a true naturall body and so me thinke you doe my Lord. If you wil affirm his body to be there as you say he is then must you needes also affirme that it is a fantasticall bodye and therfore looke to it for Gods sake and let these wordes go before Take yee and eate ye without which wordes the rest are sufficient but when the worthy receiuers do take and eat euen then is fulfilled the words of our Sauiour vnto him or euery of them that so receiueth Boner Ah I see well thou canste not vnderstand these woordes I will shewe thee a Parable If I should set a peece of beefe before thee and say eate is it no beefe And then take part of it away send it to my cooke and he shal change the fashion thereof and make it looke like breade What wouldest thou saye that it were no Beefe because it hath not the fashion of beefe Rafe Let me vnderstand a little further my Lorde shall the Cooke adde nothing therunto nor take nothing there from Boner What is that to the matter whether he do or no so long as the shape is changed into an other likenesse Rafe Ah will you so my Lord your Sophistrie will not serue the truth wil haue the victorie neuerthelesse as Esay sayth He that restraineth himselfe from euill must be spoyled And Amos hath suche like woordes also For the wise must be faine to holde their peace so wicked a time it is sayth he Neuertheles he that can speake the truth and will not shall geue a strait accounts for the same A Doctor By my Lords leaue here me thinks thou speakest like a foole Wilt thou be a iudge of the scripture Nay thou must stand to learne and not to teache for the whole congregation hath determined the matter long agoe A priest No by your leaue we haue a Church and not a congâ—egation You mistake that worde master Doctor Rafe Then sayd I to my fellowe prisoners standing by My brethren doe yee not heare howe these men helpe one an other Let vs doe so also But we neuer came all in together after that time but seuerallye one after an other Then was I caried away for that time The xix daye of May I was brought before the Bishop of Rochester and Chichester with others B Rochest Were you a companion of George Eagles otherwise called Trudgeouer My Lord of London telleth me that you were his fellow companion Rafe I know him very well my Lord. Rochest By my faith I had him once and then hee was as dronke as an Ape for he stonke so of drinke that I coulde not abide him and so sent him away Rafe My Lorde I dare saye you tooke your markes amisse It was either your selfe or some of your own companie for he did neither drinke Wine Ale nor Beere in a quarter of a yeare before that time and therefore it was not he forsooth The rest of mine examinations you shal haue when I am condemned if I can haue any time after my comming into Newgate the which I trust shall touch the matter a great deale more plainly for the pithie matters are yet vnwrytten Thus fare you well good frendes all Yea I say farewel for euer in this present world Greete yee one an other and be ioyfull in the Lord. Salute the good widowes among you with all the rest of the congregation in Barfold Dedham and Colchester This promise of hys being either not perfourmed for that he might not thereto be permitted or els if he did wryte the same not comming to my hands I am faine in the rest of his examinations to follow the only report of the Register who witnesseth that the 15. day of May. An. 1557. in the Byshops palace at London he was examined vppon certaine interrogatories the contents wherof be these FIrst that he was of the parish of Muchbentley and so of the Diocesse of London Secondly that the 10. daye of Ianuarie then last past M. Iohn Morant preaching at Paules the said Rafe Allerton did there openly submit himselfe vnto the Churche of Rome with the rites and Ceremonies thereof Thirdly that he did consent and subscribe aswell vnto the same submission as also to one other bil in the which he graunted that if he should at any time turn againe vnto his former opinions it shoulde be then lawfull for the Bishop immediately to denounce and adiudge hym as an hereticke Fourthly that he had subscribed to a bill wherein hee affirmed that in the sacrament after the woordes of consecration be spokâ—n by the Priest there remaineth still materiall bread and materiall wine and that he beleueth that the bread is the breade of thankesgeuing and the memoriall of Christes death and that when he receiueth it he receiueth the body of Christ spiritually in his soule but materiall bread in substaunce Fiftly that he had openly affirmed and also aduisedly spoken that which is contained in the sayde former fourth article last before specified Sixthly that hee hadde spoken against the Bishop of Rome wyth the Church and Sea of the same and also against the seuen Sacraments and other Ceremonies and ordinaunces of the same Churche vsed then wythin thys Realme Seuenthly that hee had allowed and commended the opinions and faith of M. Cranmer Ridley Latimer and others of late burned within this Realme and beleeued that theyr opinions were good and godly Eightly that he hadde diuers times affirmed that the religion vsed within this realme at the time of his apprehension was neither good nor agreeable to Gods woord and that he coulde not conforme himselfe thereunto Ninthly that he had affirmed that the booke of Common prayer sette foorth in the raigne of king Edward the vj. was in all partes good and godly and that the sayd Rafe and his company prisoners did daily vse amongst themselues in prison some part of the booke Tenthly that hee had affirmed that if hee were out of prison he would not come to Masse Mattins nor Euensong nor beare Taper Candle or Palme nor goe in procession nor would receiue holy water holy breade ashes or paxe or any other ceremonie of the Churche then vsed within this Realme Eleuenthly that he had affirmed that if he were at libertie he would not confesse his sinnes to any Priest nor receiue absolution of him nor yet would receiue the Sacrament of the altar as it was then vsed Twelfly that he had affirmed that praying to saints and prayers for the deade were neither good nor profitable and that a man is not bounde to fast and praye but at his owne wil and pleasure neither that it is lawful to reserue the Sacrament or to woorship it Thirtenthly that the sayd Allerton hath according to these his affirmations abstained refused to come vnto his parishe Churche euer
of God and whosoeuer commandeth lawes contrary to Gods laws I may not do them for losing of my soule but rather obey God then man And he sayd why doest thou not these lawes theÌ„ are they not agreeable to Gods law And I sayd no you cannot prooue them to bee Gods lawes Yes sayth he that I can Then sayd I if you can prooue me by the word of God that you should haue any grauen Images made to set in your churches for lay mens bookes or to worship God by them or that you should haue any Ceremonies in your church as you haue prooue them by the word of God and I will do them Then sayde hee It is a good and decent order to furnishe the Church as when you shall goe to dinner you haue a clothe vppon the table to furnish the Table before the meate shall come vppon it so are these ceremonies a comely decent order to be in the Church among Christian people These sayd I are inuentions and imaginations out of your owne braine without any worde of God to prooue them For God sayth looke what you thinke good in your owne eyes if I commaund the contrary it is abhominable in my sight And these ceremonies are agaynst Gods lawes For S. Paul sayth they be weake and beggerly rebuketh the Galathians for doyng of them Well sayd he If you will not do them seyng they bee the lawes of the realme you are an heretike and disobedient and therefore come home agayne and confesse your fault with vs that you haue bene in errour c. Wyll you doe so And I sayd no I haue bene in no error for the spirituall lawes were neuer trulier set forth then in my maister K Edwards tyme and I trust vnto God I shall neuer forsake them whiles I lyue Then came a Gentleman to me and sayd are ye wiser then all men and haue ye more knowledge then all men will you cast away your soule willingly my Lord and other men also woulde fayne you woulde saue your selfe therfore chuse some man where you will eyther spirituall or temporall and take a day my Lord wyll geue it you Then sayd I if I saue my lyfe I shall loose it and if I loose my lyfe for Christes sake I shall finde it in lyfe euerlasting And if I take a day wheÌ„ the day commeth I must say then euen as I do now except I will lye and therfore that needeth not Well then haue him away sayd the Bishop This aboue named Thomas Spurdance was one of Queene Maries seruauntes and was taken by two of his fellowes the sayd Queenes seruauntes named Iohn Haman otherwise called Barker and George Loosâ—n both dwelling in Codman in the Countie of Suffolke who caried hym to one maister Gosnall dwellyng in the sayd Codnam and by hym he was sent to Bury where he remayned in prison and afterward burned in the moneth of Nouember ¶ The story and Martyrdome of three constant witnesses of Christ. NOt long after the Martyrdome of the two good women at Colchester aboue named were three faythfull witnesses of the Lordes Testament tormented and put to death in Smithfield at London the 18. of Nouemb. in the yeare aforesayd whose names hereafter follow Iohn Hallyngdale William Sparow Richard Gybson Which three were produced before Boner B. of London the v. day of Nouem 1557. and had by hym and his Officers certaine Articles ministred the summe whereof hereafter followeth * Articles ministred by Boner vnto Iohn Hallingdale FIrst that the sayd Iohn Hallyngdale is of the Diocesse of London and so subiect to the iurisdiction of the Bishop of London Secondly that the sayd Iohn before the tyme of the raigne of K. Edward the 6 late K. of England was of the same fayth and religion that was then obserued beleeued taught set forth in the realme of England Thirdly that duryng the raigne of the sayd K. Edward the 6. the said Iohn Hallingdale vppon occasion of the preachyng of certaine ministers in that tyme did not abide in his former fayth and religion but did depart from it and so did and doth continue till this present day and so determineth to do as he sayeth tyll his lyues ende Fourthly that the sayd Iohn Hallyngdale hath thought beleeued and spoken diuers tymes that the sayth religion and ecclesiasticall seruice receiued obserued vsed now in this realme of England is not good and laudable but agaynst Gods commaÌ„dement and word especially concernyng the Masse and the seueÌ„ Sacraments and that he the sayd Iohn wil not in any wyse conforme hymselfe to the same but speake and thinke agaynst it duryng his naturall lyfe Fiftly that the sayd Iohn absenteth himselfe continually froÌ„ his owne Parish church of S. Leonards neyther hearing Mattins Masse nor Euensong nor yet confessing his sinnes to the Priest or receiuyng the Sacrament of the aultar at his hands or in vsing other Ceremonies as they are nowe vsed in this Churche and realme of England and as he remembreth he neuer came but once in the parish church of S. Leonard and careth not as hee sayth if he neuer come there any more the seruice beyng as it is there and so many abuses being there as he saith there are especially the Masse the Sacraments and the ceremonies and seruice set forth in Latine 6. Sixtly that the sayd Iohn when his wife called Alyce was brought in bed of a man child caused the said child to be christened in English after the same maner and forme in all poyntes as it was vsed in the time of the reigne of king Edward the 6. aforesayd and caused it to be called Iosue would not haue the sayd child christened in Latin after the forme and maner as it is nowe vsed in the Church and Realme of Englande nor will haue it by his will as he sayth to be confirmed by the Byshop Unto all whiche Articles the sayde Iohn Hallingdale made aunswere confessing them all and euery part of theÌ„ to be true and saying that he would not reuoke hys sayde aunsweres but stand vnto them according as it was in euery Article aboue written Furthermore the sayde Iohn Hallingdale being demaunded by the sayde Boner whether he did firmely beleue that in the sacrament commonly called the sacrament of the aultar there is really and truely the very body and bloud of our Sauiour Christ or nor made answere that he neither in the time of the sayd king Edward 6. nor at that present did beleue that in the sayd Sacrament there is really the very body and bloud of Christ. For he sayd that if he had so beleued he would as other had done haue receiued the same which he did not because he had and then did beleue that the very body of Christ is onely in heauen and no where els And furthermore the sayd Ioh. Hallingdale sayd that CraÌ„mer Latimer Ridley Hooper and generally all that of late haue bene burned for heretickes were
one time wyth the rest examined and brought before the sayde Byshop who aunswered no lesse in his Maysters cause then the other and therfore had the like rewarde that the other had which was the Byshops bloudy blessing of condemnation and deliuered also to the Seculare power who kept him with the other vntill the day of slaughter which hasted on and was not long after Thomas Hudson was of Ailesham in Norfolke by his occupation a Glouer a very honest poore manne hauing a wife and three children and laboured alwayes truly and dilligently in hys vocation being of thirtye yeares of age and bearing so good a will to the Gospell that he in the dayes of king Edward the 6. two yeares before Q. Maryes raygne learned to read Englishe of Anthony Thomas Norgate of the same Towne wherin he greatly profited about the tyme of alteration of Religion For when Queene Mary came to raygne and had chaunged the seruice in the Churche putting in for wheate draffe and darnill and for good preaching blasphemous crying out agaynst truthe and godlinesse he then auoyding all theyr ceremonies of superstition absented hymselfe from hys house and went into Suffolkl a longe tyme and there remayned trauelling from one place to an other as occasion was offered At the last hee returned backe agayne to Northfolke to his house at Aâ—lesham to comfort his wyfe and children being heauy and troubled with hys absence Nowe when he came home and perceiued hys contynuance there would be daungerous he and hys wife deuised to make hym a place among hys fagottes to hide him selfe in where he remayned all the day in steede of hys chamber reading and praying continually for the space of halfe a yeare and his wife lyke an honest woman being carefull for hym vsed her selfe faythfullye and dillygently towards him In the meane time came the Uicare of the Town named Berry who was one of the Byshoppes Commissaries a very euill manne and inquired of this sayd Thomas Hudsons wife for her husband Unto whom he answered as not knowing where hee was Then the sayde Berry rated her and threatned to burne her for that shee would not bewraye her husbande where hee was After that when Hudson vnderstoode it hee waxed euerye day more zelous then other and continually read sange Psalmes to the wonder of many the people openlye resorting to him to heare hys exhortations and vehement prayers At the last he walked abroad for certayne dayes openly in the Towne crying out continually agaynst the Masse and all theyr trumpery and in the ende commyng home in hys house he sate him downe vpon hys knees hauyng his book by hym reading and singing Psalmes continually without ceassing for three dayes and three nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof for Berry commanded openly to watche for hym and the Constables vnderstanding the same went cruelly to catche hym in the breake of the day the xxii of the moneth of Aprill Anno 1558. Now when Hudson saw them come in he sayd Now myne houre is come Welcome frendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to lyfe in Christ I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enhable me thereto for hys mercyes sake For his desire was and euer he prayed if it wer the Lordes will that hee might suffer for the Gospell of Christ. Then they tooke him and lead him to Berry the Commissarye whiche was Uicar of the towne and the sayde Berrye asked him first where hee kepte hys Church for foure yeares before To the whiche the sayde Hudson answered thus where so euer he was there was the church Doest thou not beleue sayth Berry in the sacramente of the aultar What is it Hudson It is wormes meate my beliefe saythe hee is in Christ crucified Berry Doest thou not beleeue the Masse to putte awaye sinnes Hudson No God forbidde it is a patched monstre and a disguised Puppet more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple At whiche wordes Berry stamped fumed and shewed himself as a mad man and sayd well thou villayn thou I wil write to the B. my good Lord and trust vnto it thou shalt be handled according to thy desertes Oh sir sayde Hudson there is no Lorde but God though there be many Lordes and many Gods With that Berry thrust hym backe with hys hand And one Richard Cliffar standing by sayde I pray you sir bee good to the poore man At which wordes Berry was more mad then before and woulde haue had Cliffer bound in a recognysaunce of 40. poundes for hys good abearyng bothe in worde and deede whiche his desire tooke no effecte Then he asked the sayd Hudson whether he would recant or no. Unto whiche wordes Hudson sayde the Lorde forbid I had rather dye many deathes then to do so Then after long talke the sayde Berry seeing it booted not to perswade with him tooke hys penne and inke and wrote letters to the Bishop thereof and sent this Hudson to Norwiche bound like a theefe to him whiche was 8. miles from thence who with ioy and singing chere weÌ„t thether as mery as euer he were at anye tyme before In prison he was a month where hee dyd continually read inuocate the name of God These three Christians and constaunt Martyrs William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson after they were as ye haue heard condemned the xix day of May. 1558. were caryed out of prison to the place where they should suffer whyche was without Byshoppes gate at Norwich called Lollards Pit And being al there they made their humble prayers vnto the Lorde That beyng done they rose and went to the stake and standing al ther with their chaynes about them immediately this sayde Thomas Hudson commeth foorth from them vnder the Chayne to the great wonder of many whereby diuers feared and greatly doubted of hym For some thought hee would haue recanted other iudged rather that he went to aske a further day and to desire conference and some thought he came forth to aske some of hys parentes blessing So some thought one thinge and some an other but hys two companions at the stake cryed out to him to comforte him what they coulde exhorting him in the bowelles of Christ to be of good cheare c. But this sweete Hudson felt more in hys heart and conscience then they could conceaue in him For alas good soule hee was compassed God knoweth with great dolour and griefe of minde not for hys death but for lacke of feeling of his Christ and therefore beyng verye carefull he humbly fell downe vppon his knees and prayed vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord who at the last according to hys olde mercies sent him comfort and theÌ„ rose he with great ioy as
a man new chaunged euen from death to life and sayd Now I thanke God I am strong and passe not what man can do vnto me So going to the stake to his fellowes agayne in the end they all suffered most ioyfully constaÌ„tly and manfully the deathe together and were consumed in fire to the terror of the wicked the comforte of Gods Children and the magnifiyng of the Lordes name who be praysed therfore for euer Amen Three godly Martyrs burned at Norwich After this the forenamed Commissarye Berry made great stirre about other which were suspected within the sayd towne of Aylsham and caused two hundred to creep to the crosse at Penticost besides other punishmentes which they sustayned On a tyme this Berry gaue a poore man of his parish of Marsham a blowe with the swingell of a flayle for a worde speaking that presently thereon he dyed and the sayd Berry as is sayd held vpp his hande at the Barre therefore Then after that in his parishe of Aylesham also ann 1557. there was one Alice Oxes came to his house and going into the Hall hee meeting her being before moued smote her with his fist whereby shee was fayne to be caryed home and the next day was founde dead in her chamber To write how many concubines and whores he had none would beleue it but such as knew him in the countrey he dwelt in He was riche and of great authoritie a great sâ—earer altogether geuen to women and persecuting the Gospell and compelling men to idolatry One Iohn Norgate a man learned godly and zelous who would not goe to their trashe but rather dye being sore hunted by the sayd Berry prayed hartely to God and the Lorde shortly after in a consumption deliuered hym Notwithstanding the rage of this wicked manne waxed more fiercer and fiercer Hee troubled sundry men burnt all good bookes that he could get and diuorsed many men and women for religion When he heard say that Queene Mary was dead and the glory of theyr triumph quayled the sonday alter being the xix of Nouember an 1558. he made a great feast had one of hys concubines there with whome he was in his chamber after dinner vntill Euensong Then went he to Church where hee had ministred Baptisme and in going from Church homeward after euensong betwene the churchyard and his house being but a little space as it were a churchyarde bredth asunder he fell downe sodainly to the ground with a heauy grone and neuer stirred after neyther shewed any one token of repentaunce Thys hapned his neighbors being by to the example of al other The Lord graunt we may obserue his iudgementes And those that had his great riches since his death haue so consumed with them that they be poorer now then they were before they had his goodes such iudgement hath the Lord executed to the eyes of all men At that tyme one Dunning Chauncellor of Lincolne which in some part of Queene Maryes dayes was ChaÌ„cellor of Norwiche and a very mercilesse tyrant as liued died in Lincolnshyre of as sodayne a warning as the sayd Berry dyed Thus haue I shewed thee good reader the constancie boldnes and glorious victory of these happy Martyrs as also the tyrannicall cruelty of that vnfortunate Commissary and his terrible end The Lorde graunt wee may all effectually honour the iudgementes of God and feare to displease his holy Maiesty Amen The persecution of mother Seman ABout this tyme or somewhat before was one Ioane Seman mother to the foresayd William Seman being of the age of 66. yeares persecuted of the sayde Syr Iohn Tyrrell also out of the towne of Mendlesham aforesayd because she would not goe to masse and receyue agaynst her conscience Which good old woman being froÌ„ her house was glad sometime to lye in bushes groues fieldes and sometyme in her neighhors house when shee could And her husband beyng at home about the age of 80. yeares fell sicke and she hearing thereof with speede returned home to her house agayn not regarding her life but considering her duetie and shewed her dilligence to her husband most faythfully vntill God tooke him awaye by death Then by Gods prouidence she fell sicke also and departed this lyfe within her owne house shortly after And when one M. Simondes the Commissarye heard of it dwelling thereby in a towne called Thorndon he commaunded straitely that she shuld be buryed in no Christian buriall as they call it where through her frendes wer compelled to lay her in a pit vnder a motes side Her husband and she kept a good house and had a good report amongest theyr neighbours willing alwayes to receiue straungers and to comfort the poore and sicke and lyued together in the holy estate of Matrimony very honestly aboue forty yeares and shee departed thys life willingly ioyfully with a steadfast fayth and a good remembraunce of Gods promise in Christ Iesus The persecution of mother Benet IN the sayde time of Queene Mary there dwelte in the towne of Wetherset by Mendlesham aforesayde a very honest woman called mother Bennet a widowe whiche was persecuted out of the same towne because she woulde not goe to masse and other theyr beggarly ceremonyes but at rhe last shee returned home agayne secretly to her house and there departed this lyfe ioyfully But Syr I. Tyrrell M. Simondes the Commissary would not let her be buryed in the Churchyarde So was she layde in a graue by the high way side The same good old woman mother Benet in the tyme of persecution met one of the sayd mother Semans neighbours and asked her how the sayd mother Seman did she aunswered that she did very wel God be thanked Oh sayd she mother Seman hath slept a great sleepe before me for she was neuer couetous that I could perceiue Her husband in his mirth would say vnto her O woman if thou were sparing thou mightest haue saued me an C. markes more then thou hast To the whiche shee woulde aunswere agayne gently and saye O man be content and let vs be thankefull for God hath geuen vs enough if we can see it Alas good husband would shee saye I tell you truth I cannot â—irken vp my butter and keep my cheese in the chamber and wayte a great price and let the poore want and so displease God But Husband let vs be riche in good workes so shal we please the Lord haue al good thinges geuen vs. c. This good wâ—man of that vice of couetousnesse of all that knew her was iudged least to be spotted of any infirmitie she had The Lord roote it out of the hartes of them that be infected therwith Amen ¶ The Martyrdome of three constant and godly persons burnt at Colchester for the defence and testimony of Christes Gospell THou hast heard good Reader of the forenamed three that were burnt at Norwich whose bloud quenched
Milles the same day that he was deliuered Boner came vnto the stocks where he lay and asked him how he liked his lodging and his fare Wel said Milles if it would please God I might haue a little strawe to lye or sit vpon Then said Boner thou wilt shew no token of a christian man And vpon this his wife came in vnknowyng vnto him beyng very great with child and lookyng euery hower for her lying downe entreating the Bishop for her husband saying that she would not go out of the house but there would lay her belly in the bishops house vnlesse she had her husband with her How saist thou quoth Boner thou heretike If thy wife miscarie or thy child or children if she be with one or two should perish the bloud of them would be required at thy hands Then to this agreement he came that he should hue a bed in the towne of Fulham and her husband should go home with her the morow after vppon this condition that his kinsman there present one Rob. Rousie should bring the sayd Milles vnto his house at Paules the next day Whereunto the sayd Milles sayd he would not agree except he might go home by and by At length his wife beyng importunate for her husband seyng that she would go no further but there remaine vnlesse she had her husband with her the bishop fearing belike the rumor which might come vpon his house thereby bade the sayd Milles make a crosse and say In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti Amen Then the sayd Milles began to say In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy ghost AmeÌ„ No no sayth Boner say it me in Latine In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti Amen Milles vnderstanding the matter of that Latine to be but good said the same and so went home with his wyfe his foresayde kinsman beyng charged to bring hym the next day vnto Paules either els sayd Boner if thou doest not bring hym thou art an heretike as wel as he Notwithstandyng the charge beyng no greater this kinsman didde not bring hym but hee of his owne voluntarie accord came to the said B. within a fewe days after where the B. put vnto him a certaine writing in Latin to subscribe vnto conteyning as it semed to him no great matter that he needed greatly to sticke at albeit what the bill was he could not certainly tell So subscribed he to the bill and returned home And thus much coÌ„cernyng the 22. taken at Islington The history and cruell handlyng of Richard Yeoman D. Taylors Curate at Hadley constantly sufferyng for the Gospels sake AFter the story of these 22. taken at Islington proceedyng now the Lord willyng we wil prosecute likewise the taking and cruell handlyng of Richard Yeoman minister Which Yeoman had bene before D. Tailors Curate a godly deuout old man of 70. yeres which had many yeres dwelt in Hadley well seene in the scriptures geuing godly exhortations to the people With hym Doc. Tailor left his cure at his departure But as soone as M. Newal had gotten the benefice he droue away good Yeoman as is before said set in a popish Curate to maintain and continue their Romish religion whiche nowe they thought fully stablished Then wandered he long time froÌ„ place to place moouing exhorting all men to stand faithfully to Gods worde earnestly to geue themselues vnto prayer with patience to beare the crosse now layed vpon them for their triall with boldnes to confesse the truth before the aduersaries with an vndoubted hope to waite for the crowne and reward of eternall felicitie But when hee perceiued his aduersaries to lye in waite for him hee went into Kent with a little packet of laces pinnes and points and such like things he trauailed from Uillage to village sellyng such things by the poore shyft gate hymself somewhat to the susteining of himselfe his poore wife and children At the last a Iustice of Kent called M. Moyle tooke poore Yeoman and set him in the stocks a day and a night but hauyng no euident matter to charge hym with he let hym go againe So came he secretly againe to Hadley and taried with his poore wife who kept him secretly in a chaÌ„ber of the Towne house commonly called the Guild hall more then a yere All the which tyme the good olde father abyde in a chamber locked vp all the day spent his tyme in deuout prayer and reading the Scriptures and in carding of wâ—ol which his wyfe did spin His wife also did go and beg bread and meat for herselfe and her children and by such poore meanes susteined they themselues Thus the saints of God susteined hunger and misery while the prophets of Baal liued in iollitie and were costly pampered at Iesabels table At the last person Newal I know not by what means perceiued that Rich. Yeoman was so kept by hys poore wyfe and taking with him the Bailiffes deputies and seruants came in the night tyme brake vp fiue dores vpon Yeoman whom he found in bed with his poore wyfe and children Whom when he had so found he irefull cried saiyng I thought I should find an harlot and a whore together And he would haue plucked the clothes of from them But Yeoman held fast the clothes and said vnto his wyfe wife aryse and put on thy clothes And vnto the person he sayd Nay Person no harlot nor whore but a maried man and his wife accordyng vnto Gods ordinance and blessed be God for lawfull matrimony I thank God for this great grace and I defie the Pope all his Poperie Then led they Rich. Yeoman vnto the cage set hym in the stocks vntill it was day There was then also in the cage an olde man named Iohn Dale who had sitten 3. or 4. dayes because whâ— the sayd Person Newal with his Curate executed yâ— Romish seruice in the Church he spake openly vnto him and said O miserable blind guides will ye euer be blind leaders of the blynd will ye neuer amend will ye neuer see the truth of Gods word wil neither Gods threates nor promises enter into you harts wil not the bloud of Martyrs nothing mollifie your stonie stomacks Oh indurate hard harted peruerse crooked generation O damnable sorte whom nothyng can do good vnto These and like words he spake in feruentnes of spirit against the superstitious religion of Rome Wherfore person Newall caused hym forthwith to be attached and set in the stockes in the cage So was he there kept til sir HeÌ„ry Doile a Iustice came to Hadley Now when poore Yeoman was taken the person called earnestly vpon Sir Henry Doile to send them both to prison Sir Henry Doile earnestly laboured and entreated the person to consider the age of the men their poore estate they were persons of no
Religion tooke such effect agaynst the enemye that within sixe dayes after Queene Mary dyed and the tyranny of all Englishe Papistes with her Albeit notwithstanding the sicknes and death of that queene wherof they were not ignorant yet the Archdeacon with other of Caunterbury thought to dispatch the Martyrdome of these men before ¶ The burning of fiue Martyrs at Caunterbury In the which fact the tyranny of this Archdeacon seemeth to exceede the crueltye of Boner who notwithstanding he had certayne the same time vnder his custodye yet he was not so importune in haling them to the fire as appeareth by father Liuing and his wife and diuers other who being the same time vnder the custody and daūger of Boner deliuered by the death of Queene Mary remayne yet some of them aliue These godly martirs in theyr prayers which they made before their martirdome desired God that theyr bloud might be the last that should be shed and so it was This Katherine Tynley was the mother of one Robert Tynley now dwelling in Maydstone which Robert was in trouble all Queene Maryes time To whom hys Mother comming to visite him asked him how he tooke this place of Scripture which she had seene not by reading of the Scripture for she had yet in maner no taste of Religion but had found it by chaunce in a Booke of prayers I will poure out my spirite vpon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesy your olde men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see visions And also vpon the seruantes and vpon the maydes in those dayes will I poure my spirite c. Which place after that he had expounded to her she began to take hold on the Gospell growing more and more in zeale and loue thereof and so continued vnto her Martyrdome Among such young women as were burned at Caunterbury it is recorded of a certayne mayd and supposed to be this Alice Snoth here in this story mentioned or els to be Agnes Snoth aboue storied pag. 1751. for they were both burned that when she was brought to bee executed she being at the stake called for her godfather and godmothers The Iustice hearing her sent for thē but they durste not come Notwithstanding the Iustice willed the messēger to go agayne and to shew them that they should incur no daunger therfore Then they hearing that came to knowe the matter of theyr sending for When the maide saw them she asked thē what they had promised for her and so she immediatly rehearsed her fayth and the commaundements of God and required of them if there were any more that they had promised in her behalfe and they sayd no. Then sayd shee I dye a Christian woman beare witnes of me and so cruelly in fire was she consumed gaue ioyfully her life vp for the testimony of Christes Gospell to the terrour of the wicked and comfort of the godly and also to the stopping of the sclaunderous mouthes of suche as falsly doe quarrell agaynst these faythfull Martyrs for going from that religion wherein by theyr Godfathers Godmothers they were first baptised ¶ The story and condemnation of Iohn Hunt and Richard White ready to be burnt but by the death of Queene Mary escaped the fire BEsides these Martyrs aboue named diuers there were in diuers other places of the Realme imprisoned whereof some were but newly taken and not yet examined some begon to be examined but were not yet condemned certayne both examined and condemned but for lacke of the writ escaped Other there were also both condemned and the writ also was brought downe for theyr burning and yet by the death of the Chaūcellor the bishop and of Queene Mary happening together about one time they most happely maruellously were preserued and liued many yeres after In the number of whom was one Iohn Hunt and Rich. White imprisoned at Salisbury Touching which historie something here is to be shewed First these two good men and faythfull seruauntes of the Lord aboue named to wit Iohn Hunt and Richarde White had remayned long time in prison at Salisburye other places therabout the space of two yeares and more During which time oft times they were called to examination manifold waies were impugned by the Bishop and the Priestes All whose examinations as I thoughte not much needefull here to prosecute or to searche out for the length of the volume so neither agayne did I thinke it good to leaue no memorye at all of the same but some part to expresse namely of the examination of Richarde White before the Bishop of Salisbury the Bishop of Glocester with the Chauncellour and other Priestes not vnworthy perchaunce to be rehearsed * The examination of Richard White before the Byshop of Salisbury in his chamber in Salisbury the 26. day of Aprill an 1557. THe Bishop of Salisbury at that time was Docor Capon The Bishop of Glocester was Doctor Brookes These with Doctour Geffrey the Chauncelour of Salisbury and a great number of Priestes sitting in iudgemēt Richarde White was brought before them With whome first the Bishop of Glocester which had the examination of him beginneth thus Bishop Brookes Is this the prisoner The chauncellour Yea my Lord. Brookes Frend wherefore camest thou hether White My Lord I trust to know the cause for the lawe saith in the mouth of two or three witnesses things must stand Doctour Capon Did not I examine thee of thy fayth whē thou camest hether White No my Lord you did not examine me but cōmaūded me to the Lollardes Tower and that no man should speake with me And now I do require mine accuser Then the Register said the Maior of Marlborow did apprehend you for wordes that you spake there for that I commaunded you to be conueyed hither to prison White You had the examination of me in Marlborow Say you what I haue sayd And I will aunswere you Geffray Thou shalt confesse thy fayth ere thou depart and therfore say thy minde freely and be not ashamed so to do White I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ because it is the power of God to saluation vnto all that beleue S. Peter sayth If any man do aske thee a reasō of the hope that is in thee make him a direct aunswere and that with meekenes Who shall haue the examination of me Chaunc My Lord of Glocester shall haue the examinatiō of thee White My Lorde will you take the paynes to wet your coate in my bloud be not guilty thereof I warne you before hand Brookes I will do nothing to the contrary to our law White My Lorde what is it that you doe request at my handes Brookes I will appose thee vpon certayne articles principally vpon the sacramēt of the aultar How doest thou beleue of the blessed Sacrament of the aulter Beleuest thou not the reall carnall and corporall presence of Christ in the same euen
haue done But within two or three dayes after he was brought forth into the Court where he beganne to demaunde hys goodes and because it was a deuise that well serued their turne without any more circumstance they bad him saye his Aue Maria. The party began said it after this maner Aue Maria gratia plena Dominus te cum benedicta tu in mulieribus benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Amen The same was written word by word as hee spake it and without anye more talke of clayming his goodes because it was booteles they commaunde him to prison agayne and enter an action agaynst him as an hereticke for asmuch as he did not say his Aue Maria after the romish fashion but ended it very suspiciously for he should haue added moreouer Sancta Maria mater Dei ora pro nobis pecca toribus by abbreuiating whereof it was euident enough sayd they that he did not allow the mediation of saintes Thus they picked a quarrell to deteine him in prison a longer season and afterwardes brought him forth into their stage disguised after theyr manner where sentence was geuen that he should loose all the goodes whiche he sued for though they were not his own and besides this suffer a yeares imprisonment ¶ The Martyrdome of an other Englishman in Spayne AT what tyme this blessed Martyr of Christe suffered which was the yeare of our Lord .1560 December 22. there suffered also an other Englishman with other xiii one of them being a Nunne an other a Fryer both constant in the Lord. Of which xiii read before pag. 934. * Iohn Baker and Willam Burgate Martyrs IOhn Baker and William Burgate bothe Englishmen in Cales in the countrey of Spayne were apprehended and in the Citty of Siuill burned the second day of Nouember ¶ Marke Burges and William Hoker Martyrs MArke Burges an Englishman Mayster of an English ship called the Minion was burned in Lushborn a citty in Portingale an 1560. William Hoker a young manne about the age of xvi yeares being an Englishman was stoned to death of certayne young men there in the Citty of Siuill for the confession of his fayth an 1560. But of these and such other actes and matters paste in Spayne because they fell not within the compasse of Q. Maryes raygne but since her tyme an other place shall serue hereafter the Lord willing to entreat more at large of the same when we come to the yeares and raygne of the Queene that now is where we haue more conueniently to inferre not onely of these matters of the Martyrs wherof somewhat also hath bene touched before pag. 907. but also of the whole Inquisition of Spayne and Plackarde of Flanders with the tragical tumults troubles happening wtin the last memory of these our latter dayes according as it shall please the mercy of the Lord to enable our endeuor with grace and space to the accomplishment therof ¶ A chapter or treatise concerning such as were scourged and whipped by the Papistes in the true cause of Christes Gospel ANd thus through the mercifull assistaunce and fauourable ayd of Christ our Sauiour thou hast as in a generall Register good Reader the story collected if not of all yet of the most part or at least not many I trust omitted of such good Sayntes and Martyrs as haue lost theyr lyues and geuen theyr bloud or dyed in prison for the testimony of Christes true doctrine and sacramentes from the time of the cruell Statute first geuen out by king HeÌ„ry the 4. Ex officio pag. 523. vnto this present tyme especially vnder the raygne of Queene Mary Now after this bloudy slaughter of GODS good sayntes and seruauâ—tes thus ended and discoursed let vs proceede by the good pleasure of the Lord somewhat like wise to entreate of such as for the same cause of Religyon haue bene although not put to death yet whipped and scourged by the aduersaryes of Gods worde first begynning with Richard Wilmot and Thomas Farefaxe who about the tyme of Anne Aschue wer pittifully rent tormented with scourges and stripes for theyr faythfull standing to christ and to hys truth as by the story and examination both of the sayde Rich. Wilmot and of Thomas Farefaxe nowe following may appeare The scourging of Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe AFter the first recantation of Doct. Crome for his Sermon which he made the fift Sonday in Lent at Saint Thomas Acons being the mercers Chappell his Sermon was on the Epistle of the same day written in the x. chap. to the Hebrues wherein he proued very learnedly by the same place of Scripture and others that Christ was the onely and sufficient Sacrifice vnto God the Father for the sinnes of the whole world and that there was no more sacrifice to be offered for sinne by the Priestes for as muche as Christ had offered his body on the Crosse and shed his bloud for the sinnes of the people that once for all For the which Sermon he was apprehended of Boner brought before Stephen Gardyner other of the Counsell where he promised to recant his Doctrine at Paules Crosse the second Sonday after Easter And accordingly he was there Preached Boner with all his Doctours sitting before him but he so Preached and handled his matter that he rather verified his former saying then denyed any parte of that which he before had Preached For the whiche the Protestantes praysed God and hartely reioysed But Byshop Boner with his Champions were not therewith pleased but yet notwithstanding they had hym home with them so handled him amongest the woluish generation that they made him come to the Crosse agayne the next Sonday And because the Magistrates shoulde now heare him be witnesses of this recantation which was moste blasphemous to deny Christes sacrifice to be sufficient for penitent sinners to say that the sacrifice of the Masse was good godly and a holy sacrifice propitiatorye and auayleable both for the quicke and the deade Because I saye that they would haue the nobles to heare this blasphemous doctrine the viperous generation procured all the chiefe of the Counsell to be there present Nowe to come to our matter at this tyme the same weeke betweene his first Sermon and the last and while Doct. Crome was in duraunce one Rich. Wilmot being Prentise in Bow lane being of the age of eighteene yeares and sytting at his worke in his Maysters shop the Tuesday in the moneth of Iuly One Lewes a WelchmaÌ„ being one of the Garde came into the shoppe hauing things to doe for himselfe One asked him what newes at the Court and he answered that the old hereticke D. Crome had recanted now in deede before the Counsell and that he should on Sonday nexte bee at Paules Crosse agayne and there declare it Then Wilmot sitting at his Maysters worke hearing hym speake these
the City He told him Then he asked what learning he had He sayde little learning and small knowledge Then deridingly he asked how long he had knowne Doct. Crome he sayd but a while about two yeares He sayd that he was a lying boy and said that he the sayd Wilmot was his sonne The other sayd vnto hym that was vnlike for that he neuer see his mother nor she him Cholmley sayd he lyed Wilmot sayd hee coulde prooue it to be true Then hee asked him how he liked his sermon that he made at S. Thomas of Acres Chappel in Lent He sayde that in deede hee heard him not He sayd yes and the other nay Then says he what say you to his sermon made at the Crosse the â—ast day heard you not that Wilmot Yes and in that sermon he deceaued a great nuÌ„ber of people Cholmley How so Wilmot For that they looked that he shoulde haue recanted his doctrine that he taught before and did not but rather confirmed it Cholmley Yea Syr but how say you now to him for hee hath recanted before the counsell and hathe promised on Sonday next to be at the crosse agayne how thinke ye in that Wilmot If hee so did I am the more sory for to heare it and sayd he thought he did it for feare and safegard of hys lyfe Cholmley But what say you was hys first sermon heresie or not Wilmot No I suppose it was no heresie For if it were S. Paules Epistle to the Hebrewes was heresie Paule an hereticke that preached such doctrine but God forbyd that any Christian man should so thinke of the holy Apostle neyther do I so thinke Cholmley Why how knowest thou that saynct Paul wrot those thinges that are in English now to be true wheras Paule neuer wrot english nor latine Wilmot I am certified that learned men of God that dyd seeke to aduaunce hys word did translate the same out of the Grecke and Hebrue into Latine and english and that they durst not to presume to altar the sense of the scripture of God and last will and testament of Christ Iesus Then the Lorde Mayor being in a great furye asked hym what he had to do to read such bookes and sayd that it was pitty that his mayster did suffer him so to doe and that he was not set better to worke and in fyne sayd vnto him that he had spoken euill of my Lord of Winchester Boner those reuerend learned fathers couÌ„cellours of this Realme for the which his fact he saw no other but he must suffer as due to the same And M. Cholmley sayd yea my Lord there are such a sort of heretickes trayterly knaues taken now in Essex by my Lord Rich that it is to wonderfull to heare They shall be sent to the Byshoppe shortly and shall be hanged and burned all Wilmot I am sory to heare that of my Lord Rich for that he was my godfather and gaue me my name at my Baptisme Cholmley asked him when he spake with him He sayd not these xii yeares Cholmley If he knew that he were such a one he woulde do the like by him and in so doyng he should do God great seruice Wilmot I haue read the same saying in the Gospell that Christ sayd to his Disciples The tyme shal come sayth he that whosoeuer killeth you shall think that he shal do God hygh seruice Well sir sayd Cholmley because yee are so full of youre Scripture and so well learned wee consider you lacke a quyet place to study in Therefore you shall go to a place where you shall be most quiet and I would wish you to study how you will answere to the Counsell of those thinges which they haue to charge you with for els it is like to cost you your best ioynt I know my lord of Win. wil haÌ„dle you wel enough wheÌ„ he heareth thus much TheÌ„ was the Officer called in to haue him to the Counter in the Poultrye and the other to the other Counter not one of them to see an other and thus remayned they viii dayes In the which time their Maisters made a great labor vnto the Lord Mayor and to sir Roger Cholmley to know their offences and that they might be deliuered At length they procured the Wardens of the company of Drapers to labour with them in theyr sute to the Mayor The Mayor went with them to the Counsell but at that time they could finde no grace at Winchesters hand Sir Anthonie Brownes but that they had deserued death and that they should haue the law At length through entreataunce he graunted theÌ„ thus much fauour that they should not dye as they had deserued but should be tyed to a cartes tayle and be whipped three market dayes through the Cittye Thus they came home that day and went an other day and the Mayor the Wardens of the company kneeled before them to haue this open punishment released for asmuche as they were seruauntes of so worshipfull a companye and that they might be punished in theyr own hall before the Wardens and certayne of the companye At length it was graunted with condition as some said as shal be hereafter declared Then were they sent before the Maysters the next day to the hall both theyr maysters being also present there were layd to theyr charges the heynous offences by them committed how they were both heretickes and traytors and haue deserued death for the same and this was declared with a long processe by the Mayster of the company whose name was M. Brooke declaring what great labour and sute the Mayor the Wardens had made for theÌ„ to saue theÌ„ froÌ„ death which they as he said had deserued from opeÌ„ shame which they shoulde haue had being iudged by the Counsell to haue bene whipped iii. dayes through the city at a cartes tayle and from these two daungers had they laboured to deliuer them but not without great sute and also charge For saith he the company hath promised vnto the Counsaile for this their mercy and fauour shewed towardes them being of such a worshipfull company a C. poundes notwithstanding we must see them punished in our Hall within our selues for those theyr offences After these and many other wordes hee commaunded them to addresse themselues to receiue their punishment Then were they put asunder and stripped from the wast vpward one after an other and had into the hal and in the middest of the hall where they vse to make theyr fire there was a great ring of Iron to the whiche there was a rope tyed fast and one of theyr feete thereto fast tyed Then came two men down disguised in Mommers apparell with visors on theyr faces and they beate them with great rods vntill the bloud did follow in their bodies As concerning this Wilmot he could not lye in his bead 6. nightes after for Brooke played the tyraunt with them So it was that with
euermore be praysed Amen ¶ Lady Kneuet in Northfolke AMong the number of the godly that were kept vnder the prouidence of the Lord in those perillous dayes I may not forget an auncient good Lady of much worship called Lady Anne Kneuet who till her death dwelte in Norfolke in a towne named Wimonâ—ham vj. miles from Norwich Which sayd good Lady in Queen Maries days beyng iudged by the common people more then an hundreth yeare of age and by her owne estimation well towards a C. kept her selfe from their popish church or hauyng any papisticall trash ministred in her house but only the seruice that was vsed in the latter dayes of K. Edward the 6. which daily she had sayd before her either by one M. Tollin who was then by Gods prouidence preserued in her house or els by one of her Gentlewomen or houshold seruant that could serue the place in the sayd M. Tollins absence Now this worshipfull Lady continuing in this maner of true seruyng of God she and her familie were many tymes threatened by messengers that the Bish. would visite her therfore Unto which messengrs she would always answer that if his Lordship sent word before what day he would come he should thereafter be entertained at her hand But God whose prouidence ruleth the ragyng seas neuer suffred them al that toyling tyme to molest her Although oftentimes wheÌ„ she had seruice before her there were very great enemies to the truth and of much authoritie that came in and kneled to prayer among them and yet had no power to trouble her therfore This good Lady gentle Reader kept good hospitalitie as any in that countrey of her liuyng She also succored many persecuted that came to her house in the said M. Maries dayes Were they neuer so simple they were esteined of her as the frends of the gospel and departed not froÌ„ her without money and meat Borne she was long before K. Edward the 4. dyed and ended her life in the Lord Iesus peace about the beginning of the 2. yeare of our most soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeths raigne as one fallyng into a most sweete sleepe Unto whom not vnworthely may bee compared the Lady Elizabeth Uane who likewyse beyng a great harborer and supporter of the afflicted Martyrs and Confessors of Christ was in great â—assards daungers of the enemies and yet notwithstandyng thorough the mercifull prouidence of the Lord remained still vntouched Of this Lady Uane thou shalt read before ¶ Iohn Dauis of the age of twelue yeares and vnder AN Dom. 1546. and the last yeare of King Henry the 8. Iohn Dauis a child of xij yeares vnder who dwellyng in the house of M. Iohnson Apothecarie in the toune of Worcester his vncle vsing sometymes to read of the testament and other good English bookes was complained of by Alice Iohnson his maistresse which Alice beyng an obstinate person consulted with one Tho. Parton one Alice wyfe to Nich. Brooke Organemaker with certaine of the Canons and M. Iohnson Chancellor to D. Heath their Bish. The meanes wherby he was entrapped was wrought by the foresayd Alice Brooke who procured Olyuer her sonne schoolefellow with the sayd Iohn Dauis to faine friendship with hym and vnder pretence to be instructed to see his English bookes and especially to gette some thyng of his writyng against the vj. Articles Which beyng had was soone brought to the Canons of the church and the Chauncellor Wherupon Tho. Parton whether beyng sent or of his owne mynd came to apprehend him and his Uncle was forced agaynst his will to bynde the poore boyes armes behynd him and so hee was brought to the Officers of the towne where he lay from the 14. of August till the last of September Then was he commaÌ„ded to the Free mans prison where one Rich. Howborough commyng to perswade him from burnyng willed hym to prooue first with a candle who then holdyng hys finger and the other the candle vnder it a good space yet as the partie hymselfe to me assureth felte no burnyng therof neither would the other that held the candle beleue hym a great while til he had looked and saw no skorching of the candle at all appeared Then was the child remooued from thence to an inner prison called Peepehole where the lowe Bailiffe called Rob. Youl l layd vpon hym a paire of bolts so that he could not lift vp his small legs but leanyng on a staffe slipt theÌ„ forward vpon the ground the coldnesse of which irons he feeleth yet in his anckles and shall so long as he lyueth with these bolts his lying was vpon the cold ground hauyng not one locke of strawe nor cloth to couer him saue onely two sheepe skins neither durst father nor mother or any of his friends come at hym Besides this and many great threates of the papists there was a mad man put to hym in the prison with a knife about hym wherewyth he oft tymes in his frantike rage profered to thrust hym in After this came to him one Iolyfe and N. Yewer two Canons which had his writings against the sixe Articles and his Ballet called Come downe for all your shauen crowne to see whether he would staÌ„d to that he had writen Which done with many great raging wordes not long after sate M. Iohnson the Chancellour in the Guild hall vpon the poore lad Where first were brought in hys accusers and sworne then were sworn also 24. men which went on his Quest and found hym guiltie but hee neuer came before the Chancellor Upon this he was sent to the common Gaole among thieues and murtherers there to tary the commyng of the iudges and so to be had straight to execution But the mighty mercy of the Lord who helpeth the desolate miserable when all other helpe is past so prouided for this silly condemned lad that the purpose of all his hard harted enemies was disappointed For before the Iudges came God tooke away Henry the 8. out of this lyfe By reason whereof the force of the lawe was then staied howbeit he was neuerthelesse arraigned beyng holden vp in a mans armes at the Barre before the Iudges who were Portman and Maruen Which when they perceiued that they could not burne him would haue hym presently whipped But M. Iohn Bourne Esquire declared to the Iudges how hee had whipping enough After that hee had lyen a weeke more in prison had hym home to hys house his wyfe annoynted his legs her selfe with ointment which then were stiffe and nummed with irons till at length when M. Bourne and his wyfe sawe they could not winne hym to the beliefe of their Sacrament they put him away least he should infect their sonne Anthony as they thought with heresie Thus Iohn Dauis of the age aforesayde in what damage he was for the Gospell ye see and howe the Lorde preserued hym ye vnderstand He endured in prisone from the 14. day of August till within seuen dayes
his course till at length he came to a steepe downe hil at the hedge end downe the which hil he ran from them for they could not ride downe the hill but must fetch a great compasse about and so this Thomas Sprat ran almost a mile and as god would got a Wood. By that tyme he came to the Wood they were euen at hys heeles but the night drew on and it began to rayne and so the malice of these persecutors was at an ende the Lord working for his seruauntes whose name be praised for euer and euer Amen Not long after this one of the two Blanchendens aforesayd which so cruelly sought the destruction of other was cruelly murdered by hys owne seruauntes ¶ Iohn Cornet HEre might also be recited the hard adueÌ„tures and sufferinges of Iohn Cornet and at lengthe his deliueraunce by Gods good working out of the same Who being a prentise with a minstrell at Colchester was sent by hys mayster about the 2. yeare of Queene Maryes raygne to a wedding in a towne thereby called Roughhedge where hee being requested by a companye there of good men the Constables also of the parish being present thereat so sing some songes of the scripture chanced to sing a song called Newes out of London whiche tended agaynst the Masse and agaynst the Queenes misproceedinges Whereupon the next day he was accused by the Parson of Roughhedge called Yackesley and so committed first to the Constable where both his mayster gaue hym ouer and hys mother forsooke and cursed him From thence hee was sent to the next Iustice named M. CaÌ„nall and then to the Earle of Oxford where he was first put in yrons chaynes and after that so manacled that the bloude spurt out of hys fingers endes because he woulde not confesse the names of them which allured hym to sing And marueile it was that the cruell Papistes were so contended that they sent him not also to Bishop Boner to suffer the extremitie of the fire But Gods gracious prouidence disposed otherwise for hys seruaunt For after hee was manacled the Earle coÌ„maunded hym to be brought agayne to the towne of Roughhedge there to be whipped till the bloud followed and to be banished the towne for euer and so hee was during all the time of Queene Mary ¶ Thomas Bryce IF our story should proceede so wide and so large as dyd the exceeding mercy of Gods prouidence in helpyng hys seruauntes out of wretchednes and thraldome of those bloudy dayes our treatise I thinke would extende to an endlesse processe For what good man or woman was there almost in all this tyme of Queene Mary who eyther in carying a good conscience out of the land or tarying within the realm could well escape the Papistes handes but by some notable experience of the Lordes mightye power and helpyng hand working for him What shoulde I here speake of the myraculous deliueraunce of Thomas Bryce who beyng in the house of Iohn Seale in the parish of Horting and the Bayliffe with other neighbours comming in sent by Sir Iohn Baker to search and apprehend hym knowing perfectly both hys stature and colour of his garments yet had no power to see or know him standing before their faces So mightely the Lorde did blinde their eyes that they asking for him and looking vpon him yet notwithstanding he quietly tooke vpp his bagge of books and so departed out of the house wythout anye hand layd vpon him Also an other time about the 2. yeare of Queene Mary the sayde Thomas Bryce with Iohn Bryce his elder brother comming then from Wesell meeting together at their fathers house as they iornyed towardes London to geue warning there to one Springfield whiche els was like to bee taken vnawares by his enemies wayting for him vpon Gaddes hill fell in company with a promoter which dogged them and followed them again to Grauesâ—ad into the towne and layed the house for them where they were and all the waies as they should go to the water side so that it had not bene possible for them to haue auoyded the present daunger of those persecutors had not the Lordes prouident care otherwise disposed for hys seruauntes through the Hostler of the Inne couertly to conuey them by a secret passage whereby they tooke Barge a mile out of the towne and so in the ende both the liues of them and also of Springfield was preserued through the Lordes gracious protection ¶ Gertrude Crockhey GErtrude Crokehey dwelling at S. Katherines by the Towne of London and being then in her husbandes house it happened in the yeare 1556. that the Popes childish S. Nicholas went about the parish Whiche shee vnderstanding shut her dore agaynst him not suffering him to enter into her house Then Doct. Mallet hearing thereof and being then Mayster of the sayd S. Katherines the next daye came to her wyth twenty at hys tayle thinking belike to fray her and asked why shee woulde not the night before let in S. Nicolas and receaue hys blessing c. To whom she aunswered thus Syr I knowe no S. Nicholas sayd she that came hether Yes quoth Mallet here was one that represented S. Nicolas In deede sir sayd she here was one that was my neighbours childe but not S. Nicolas for S. Nicholas is in heauen I was afrayde of them that came with him to haue had my purse cut by them for I haue hearde of men robbed by S. Nicolas clerkes c. So Mallet perceiuyng that nothing could be gotten at her handes went his way as he came and she for that time so escaped Then in the yeare 1557. a little before Whitsontide it happened that the sayde Gertrude aunswered for a childe that was baptised of one Thomas Saunders whyche childe was christened secretly in a house after the order of the seruice booke in king Edwardes time and that beyng shortly knowne to her enemies she was sought for Whiche vnderstanding nothing therof went beyond the Sea into Gilderland to see certayne landes that should come to her children in the right of her first husband who was a straunger borne being there about a quarter of a yeare at the lengthe comming homeward by Andwarpe shee chaunced to meete with one Iohn Iohnson a Ducth manne alias Iohn de Uilla of Andwerpe shipper who seeing her there went of malice to the Margraue and accused her to be an Anabaptist whereby shee was taken and caryed to prison The cause why this naughty manne did thus was for that he claymed of M. Crokhay her husband a peece of mony whiche was not his due for a ship that Mayster Crokhay bought of him and for that hee coulde not get it he wrought this displeasure Well she being in prison lay there a fortnight In the whiche time she sawe some that were prisoners there who priuily were drowned in Renish wine fattes and after secretly put in sackes and cast into
contented for that order was taken that no stranger should come within their Offices At which answer beyng sore displeased he brake out into these threatnyng wordes well sayd he I will handle you well enough Then went hee into the kitchin and there would needs haue his meat rosted with her Graces meate and sayd that his Cooke should come thether and dresse it To that her Graces Cooke answered my Lord I will neuer suffer any stranger to come about her diete but her owne sworne men so long as I lyue He said they should But the Cooke sayd his Lordship should pardon hym for that matter Thus did hee trouble her poore seruants very stoutly though afterward he were otherwise aduised and they more curteously vsed at his handes And good cause why For he had good â—here fared of the best her grace payed well for it Wherefore he vsed himselfe afterward more reuerently toward her grace After this sort hauyng lyen a whole moneth there in close prison and beyng very euill at ease therewithall she sent for the L. Chamberlaine and the Lord Shandoys to come and speake with her Who commyng she requested them that she might haue liberty to walk in some place for that she felt her selfe not well To the which they aunswered that they were right sorye that they coulde not satisfie her graces request for that they had commaundement to the contrary which they durst not in any wise break Furthermore she desired of them if that could not be granted that she might walke but into the Queenes lodgyng No nor yet that they answered could by any meanes bee obtained without a further sute to the Queene her Counsaile Well sayd she my Lordes if the matter be so harde that they must be sued vnto for so small a thyng that friendship be so strait God comfort me and so they departed she remaining in her old dungeon still without any kynde of comfort but onely God The next day after the L. Shandoyes came again vnto her grace declaryng vnto her that he had sued vnto the counsail for further liberty Some of them consented therunto diuers other dissented for that there were so manye prisoners in the tower But in conclusion they did al agree that her grace might walke into those lodgings so that he and the L. Chamberlaine and three of the Queens Gentlewomen did accompany her the windowes beyng shut and she not suffred to looke out at any of them wherwith she contented her selfe and gaue him thankes for hys good will in that behalfe Afterwards there was libertie graunted to her grace to walke in a little garden the dores and gates being shut vp which notwithstanding was as much discomfort vnto her as the walke in the garden was pleasaunt acceptable At which times of her walking there the prisoners on that side straightly were commaunded not to speake or looke out at the windowes into the garden till her grace were gone out agayne hauing in consideration thereof their kepers waiting vpon them for that time Thus her grace with this small libertie contented her selfe in God to whom be prayse therfore During this tyme there vsed a little boy a mans child in the Tower to resort to their chaÌ„bers and many times to bring her grace floures which likewise he did to the other prisoners that were there Wherupon naughty suspicious heades thinking to make and wring out some matter therof called on a time the childe vnto theÌ„ promising him figges and apples and asked of him wheÌ„ he had bene with the Earle of Deuonshyre not ignoraunt of the childes wounted frequenting vnto him The boy answered that he would go by and by thether Further they demanded of him when he was with the Lady Elizabethes grace He answered euery day Furthermore they examyned him what the Lord of Deuonshyre sent by him to her grace The childe sayd I will go know what he will geue to cary to her Such was the discretion of the childe being yet but foure yeares of age This same is a craftye boye quoth the Lord Chamberlayne Howe say you my Lorde Shandoyes I pray you my L. quoth the boy geue me the figges you promised me No Mary quoth he thou shalt be whipped if thou come any more to the Lady Elizabeth or the Lorde Courtny The boy aunswered I will bryng my Lady my mistres more floures Wherupon the childs father was commaunded to permit the boye no more to come vp into theyr chambers The next day as her grace was walking in the gardeÌ„ the childe peeping in at a hole in the dore cryed vnto her saying mistres I can bring you no more floures Wherat she smiled but sayd nothing vnderstanding thereby what they had done Wherefore afterwards the Chamberlaine rebuked highly his father commaunding him to put him out of the house Alasse poore infant quoth the father It is a craftie knaue quoth the Lorde Chamberlaine let me see him heere no more The 5. day of May the Constable was discharged of hys office of the Tower and one Syr Henrye Benifielde placed in his rowme a man vnknowen to her grace and therefore the more feared which so sodaine mutation was vnto her no little amaze Hee brought with him an 100. souldiers in blew coates wherwith she was marueilously discomforted demaunded of such as were about her whether the Lady Ianes scaffold were taken away or no fearing by reason of their comming least she should haue played her part To whom aunswere was made that the scaffolde was taken awaye and that her grace needed not to doubt of any suche tyrannie for God woulde not suffer any such treason against her Person Wherewith beyng contented but not altogether satisfied shee asked what syr Henry Benefield was and whether hee was of that conscience or no that if her murdering were secretly committed to his charge he would see the execution thereof She was answeared that they were ignoraunt what maner of man he was Howbeit they perswaded her that God would not suffer such wickednesse to proceede Wel quoth shee God graunt it be so For thou O God canste mollifie all suche tyrannous heartes and disappoynte all such cruell purposes and I beseeche thee to heare me thy creature which am thy seruaunt and at thy commaundement trusting by thy grace euer so to remaine About which time it was spred abroad that her grace should be caried from thence by this newe iolly Captaine and his souldiours but whether it coulde not be learned Which was vnto her a great grief especially for that such a company was appoynted to her gard requesting rather to continue there still then to be ledde thence with suche a sort of rascals At last plaine answer was made by the L. Shandoyes that there was no remedye but from thence she must needes depart to the Manour of Woodstocke as he thought Being demaunded of her for what cause for that quoth he the Tower is like
God vpon the persecutours of his people and enemyes to his word with such also as haue bene blasphemers contemners and mockers of his Religion LEauing now Queene Mary being dead and gone I come to them whiche vnder her were the chiefe Ministers and doers in this persecution the Byshops I meane and Priestes of the Clergy to whoÌ„ Queene Mary gaue all the execution of her power as did Queene Alexandra to the Phariseis after the tyme of the Machabees Of whom Iosephus thus writeth Ipsa solum nomen regium ferebat caeterum omnem regni potestatem Pharisaei possidebant That is She onely reteyned to her selfe the name and title of the kingdome but all her power she gaue to the phariseis to possesse c. Touching which Prelates and Priestes here is to be noted in lyke sorte the wonderfull and miraculous prouidence of almighty GOD which as he abridged the reigne of theyr Queene so he suffered them not to escape vnuisited first beginning with Stephen Gardiner the Archpersecutour of Christes Church whom he tooke away about the middest of the Queenes reigne Of whose poysoned lyfe and stincking end forsomuche as sufficient hath bene touched before pag. 1786. I shall not need here to make any newe rehearsall therof After him dropped other awaye also some before the death of Queene Mary and some after as Morgan Byshop of S. Dauids who sitting vppon the condemnation of the blessed Martyr bysh Farrar and vniustly vsurping his rowm not long after was stricken by Gods haue after such a strange sort that his meate would not go down but rise pycke vp agayne somtyme at his mouth sometyme blowne out of his nose most horrible to beholde so he continued till his death Where note moreouer that when Mayster Leyson being then Sheriffe at Byshop Farrars burning had fet away the cattell of the sayde Byshoppe from his seruauntes house called Matthewe Harbottell into his owne custody the cattell comming into the Sheriffes ground diuers of them would neuer eate meate but lay bellowing and roaring and so dyed This foresayd Byshoppe Morgan aboue mentioned bringeth me also in remembraunce of Iustice Morgan who sate vpon the death of the Lady Iane not long after the same fell mad and was bereft of his wittes so died hauing euer in his mouth Lady Iane Lady Iane. c. Before the death of Queene Mary dyed Doct. Dunning the bloudy and wretched Chauncellour of Norwich who after he had most rigorously condeÌ„ned and murthered so many simple and faythfull Sayntes of the Lord coÌ„tinued not longe himselfe but in the middest of his rage in Queene Maryes dayes dyed in Lincolnshyre being sodaynly taken as some say sitting in his chayre The like sodayne death fel also vpon Berry Commissary in Northfolke who as is before shewed in the story of Thomas Hudson foure dayes after Queene Maryes death when he had made a great feast and had one of hys concubines there comming home from the Church after Euensong where he hadde ministred Baptisme the same tyme betweene the Churchyard and his house sodeinly fell downe to the ground with a heauy grone and neuer styrred after neither shewed any one token of repentance What a stroke of Gods hand was brought vppon the cruell persecutour of the holy and harmeles sayntes of the Lord Byshop Thornton Suffragan of Douer who after he had exercised hys cruell tyranny vpon so many Godly men at Canterbury at length comming vppon a Saterday from the Chapter house at Caunterbury to Borne there vpon sonday following looking vpon his meÌ„ praying at the bowles â—ell sodeÌ„ly in a Palsey and so had to bed was willed to remember God Yea so I doe sayd he and my Lord Cardinall to c. After hym succeeded an othher Byshop or Suffragan ordayned by the foresayd Cardinall It is reported that he had bene Suffragan before to Boner who not 〈◊〉 after was made Bysh. or Suffragan of Douer brake his necke fallyng downe a payre of stayres in the Cardinals chaÌ„ber at Grenewich as he had receiued the Cardinals blessing Among other plentifull and sondrye examples of the Lordes iudgement and seueritie practised vpon the cruell persecutors of hys people that is not the least that followeth concerning the story of one William Fenning the effect and circumstance of which matter is this Iohn Cooper of the age of 44. yeares dwelling at Watsam in the County of Suffolke beyng by science a Carpenter a man of a very honest report a good house-keeper a harbourer of straungers that trauayled for conscience and one that fauoured Religion and those that were religious he was of honest conuersation and good lyfe hating all popish and papisticall trash This man being at home in his house there came vnto hym one William Fenning a seruing man dwellyng in the sayd Town of Watsam and vnderstanding that the sayd Cooper had a couple of fayre Bullockes did desire to buy them of hym whiche Cooper told hym that hee was loth to sell them for that hee had brought them vp for hys owne vse and if he shoulde sell them he then must be compelled to buy other and that he would not do When Fenning saw he could not get them for he had often assayed the matter he sayd he woulde sit as much in his light and so departed and weÌ„t and accused him of high treason The words he was charged with wer these how he should pray that if God would not take away Queene Mary that then he should wishe the Deuill to take her away Of these wordes did this Fenning charge him before sir Henry Doâ—ell knight vnto whome he was caryed by M. Timperley of HinchlesaÌ„ in Suffolke one Grimwood of Lowshaw CoÌ„stable which words Cooper staâ—ly denyed sayd he neuer spake them but that coulde not helpe Notwithstanding he was arrayned therfore at Berry before sir Clement Higham at a Lent assise and there this Fenning brought two noughty menne that witnessed the speaking of the foresayd wordes whose names were Richard White of Watsam and Grimwood of Higham in the sayd Countie of Suffolke Whose testimonies were receiued as truth although this good man Iohn Cooper had said what he could to declare himselfe innocent therein but to no purpose God knoweth For his life was determined as in the ende appeared by sir Clement Hyghams woordes who said he should not escape for an example to all heretickes as in deede hee throughly performed For immediatly he was iudged to be hanged drawn and quartered which was executed vpon him shortly after to the great griefe of manye a good heart Heere good Cooper is bereft of his life and leaues behinde him aliue his wife and 9. children with goodes and cattell to the value of 3. hundred markes the which substance was al taken away by the sayd sir Henry Doyel Sheriffe but his wife pore children left to the wide world in their cloathes and suffered not to enioy one pennie of that
most of the Deuill of hell Thus he lay without amendment about 6. daies that his maister and all his houshold was weary of that trouble and noyse Then his maister agreed with the keepers of Bedlem and gaue a peece of money and sent hym thether It seemeth that he was possessed with an euill spirit from the which God defend vs all This is a terrible example to you that be mockers of the word of God therfore repent amend lest the vengeance of God fall vpon you in like maner Witnes heereof William Mauldon of Newington The same William Mauldon chaunced afterwarde to dwel at a Towne 6. miles from London called Waltamstow where his wife taught yong children to read which was about the yeare of our Lorde 1563. and the 4. yeare of Queene Elizabeths raigne Unto this schoole amongest other children came one Benfieldes daughter named Dennis about the age of twelue yeares As these children sate talking together they happened among other talke as the nature of children is to be busy with many things to fall in communication of God and to reason among them selues after their childish discretion what he should be Whereunto some answered one thing some an other Among whom when one of the children had sayd that he was a good olde father the foresayd Denis Benfielde casting out impious woordes of horrible blasphemie what he sayd shee is an olde doting foole What wretched and blasphemous wordes were these yee heare Nowe marke what followed When William Mauldon heard of these abhominable woordes of the girle hee willed his wife to correcte her for the same Which was appoynted the nexte day to be done But wheÌ„ the next morow came her mother would nedes send her to the market to London the wenche greatly intreating her mother that she might not go being marueilously vnwilling thereunto Howebeit thorough her mothers compulsion shee was forced to goe and went And what happened Her businesse being done at London as she was returning againe homewarde and being a little past Hackney sodenly the yong girle was so stricken that all the one side of her was black and she speachles Wherupon immediately she was caried backe to Hackney and there the same night was buried Witnes of the same storie William Mauldon and his wife also Benfielde her father and her mother which yet be all aliue A terrible example no doubt both to old and young what it is for children to blaspheme the Lord theyr God and what it is for parentes to suffer their young ones to grow vp in such blasphemous blindnes not to nurture them betime in the rudimeÌ„ts of the christian Catechisme to know first their creation and then their redemption in Christ our Sauiour to feare the name of God and to reuerence his Maiestie For els what do they deserue but to be taken away by â—â—eathe whiche contemptuously despise him of whome they take the benefite of life And therefore let all young maides boyes and yong men take example by this wretched seely wench not only not to blaspheme the sacrede Maiestie of the omnipotent God their creator but also not once to take his name in vaine according as they are taughte in hys commaundementes Secondly let all Fathers Godfathers and Godmothers take this for a warning to see to the instruction and Catechising of their children for whom they haue bounde them selues in promise both to God and to hys Churche Which if the Father and godfather the Mother and godmothers had done to this younge girle verely it maye be thought this destruction had not fallen vpon her Thirdly al blinde Atheists Epicures Mammonists belly Gods of this worlde and sonnes of Beliall hypocrites infidelles and mockers of Religion which saye in their hearts there is no God learne also hereby not only what God is and what he is able to doe but also in thys miserable creature here punished in this world to behold what shall likewise fall on them in the world to come vnlesse they will be warned betime by such examples as the Lord God doth geue them Fourthly and lastly heere may also be a spectacle for all them which be blasphemous and abhominable swearers or rather tearers of God abusing his glorious name in suche contemptuous and despitefull sort as they vse to do Whome if neither the woorde and commaundemente of God nor the calling of the preachers nor remorse of conscience nor rule of reason nor theyr wytheringe age nor hory haires will admonish yet let these terrible examples of Gods districte Iudgement somewhat mooue them to take heede to them selues For if thys young maiden who was not fully 12. yeares old for her vnreuerent speaking of God and that but at one time did not escape the stroke of Gods terrible hande what then haue they to looke for which being men growen in yeares and stricken in age being so often warned preached vnto yet cease not continually with theyr blasphemous othes not only to abuse his name but also most coÌ„tumeliously and despitefully to teare him as it were and all his partes in peeces About the yeare of our Lorde 1565. at Bryhtwell in the County of Backshyre vppon certaine communication as touching the right reuerende Martyrs in Christ Byshop Cranmer Bishop Ridley and maister Hughe Latimer there came into an house in Abyngdon one whose name is Leuar being a Plowman dwelling in Bryhtwel afore sayd and sayd that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when he was burned And also in despite sayd that he had teeth like a horse At which time and hour as neare as could be gathered the sonne of the sayde Leauer moste wickedly hanged him selfe at Shepton in the Countie aforesayd within a mile of Abingdon These wordes were spoken in the hearing of me Thomas Ienens of Abyngdon Did not Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterburie geue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died him self before him being so stricken in his toung that neither he could swallow nor speake for a certain space before his death pag. 588. Frier Campbell the accuser of Patricke Hamelton in Scotlande what a terrible ende hee hadde reade before pag. 957. Haruey a Commissarie that condemned a poore man in Calice was shortly after hanged drawen and quartered pag. 1229. William Swallow the cruell tormentor of George Egles was shortly after so plagued of God that al the hair of his heade and nailes of his fingers and toes went off his eyes welneare closed vppe that hee coulde scante see Hys wife also was stricken wyth the falling Sickenesse wyth the whych Maladie shee was neuer infected before pag. 2010. Likewise Richard Potto an other troubler of the sayd George Egles vppon a certaine anger or chafe with hys seruauntes was so sodenlye taken with sicknesse that falling vpon his bed lyke a beast there he died neuer spake woorde pag. 2010. Richard Denton a shrinker from the Gospel while he refused to suffer the fire in
your selues when it shall come to iust triall of the matter and that theÌ„ it be not proued agaynst you that ye complayne without cause when the order and your maner towardes it shal be duely wayed I am willing and ready to heare you after the order taken and appoynted for you to reason therein and farther or contrary to that I cannot deale with you Lich. Cou. Let vs suffer no misorder or iniury herein but be heaâ—d with indifference that is to say conuenient and meet we should haue here L. Keper I praye you Syrs heare me and marke it you well It was concluded on by my Lordes of the counsell who you wel know of that theyr writing whiche ye are now so willing to haue heard should haue bene read the first day and then did we vnderstande that Mayster Cole had sayd what you would haue him and as much as you willed him to say and vpon that indifferency emonges I iudge ye were asked in the ende of Mayster Coles rehersall whether that whiche he spake was it ye woulde haue him say and ye graunted it Then whether ye would that he shuld say any more in the matter Ye answered no wherupon the other part was hard which you hearing then in deede without all good indifferencie or playne dealing ye pretended that ye had more to saye So marke you wyth how small equitie you vsed your selfe The B. We had in deede more to say if we might haue bene indifferently heard L. Keeper Geue me leaue I saye and looke what gaynes you should haue if your present request should be granted you that call so muche of indifferent vsing howe you shoulde vse those other men For many who are here presently were then away so would you haue your writyng now red to them whiche heard not this Marke ye whether it had not bene more fit that ye had prouided it against the first day when they orderly read theyrs sith to my knowledge and as farre as I haue hadde to doe in the matter you were of both sides I am sure warned at one tyme. Howbeit to satisfy your importunacie and earnestnes of this crying out to haue your first writing heard I might well allow if it so pleased the rest of the Queenes most honorable Counsell that you dispatching the worke on the second question appoynted for this daye and geue vs vp your writing for the first so that when the daye commeth that each of you shall aunswer the other in confirmation of the first question that then the same daye ye shall haue time to read this your first writing whiche ye now would so fayne read To this order all the Counsel willingly condescended Lich Co. Nay my Lordes they reading one and we two bookes in one day wee shoulde not haue time enough to read them both It would occupy to much time L. Keeper For my part I might well stay at the hearing of them both and I iudge the rest of the Counsell and lykewise the whole audience At whiche saying there was a shoute crying on all sides yea yea wee woulde heare it gladly Lincolne We cannot read them both at one time for theyr writing I am sure would require an houre and a halfe if so be it be so long as theyr laste was and then our aunswere woulde require no lesse time after the fyrste question L. Keeper I haue shewed you we could be well contented to tary out the time when it commeth thereunto Therefore ye neede not to be therein so curious and wee graunting you thus muche and yet ye will obey no orders I cannot tell what I shall say vnto you Lincoln We haue bene wonderfully troubled in the order of this disputation For first it was appoynted vs by my Lord the Archbishop that we shoulde dispute and that in Latine and then had wee an other commaundement that we should prouide a Latine writing and nowe at last we willed to bring forth our writinges in english At these wordes the Lord keeper of the great seale the Archbishop with all the Counsell muche mused and many murmured at such his wrong report of the order well taken Whereupon with an admiration the Lorde keeper aunswered I maruaile much of the vsing of your selfe in this poynt sith I am assured the order was neuer otherwise taken then that you shoulde bring forth in Englishe writing what you had to say for your purpose Hereupon the Byshops of Lichfield and Chichester to excuse my Lord of Lincolne sayd we so vnderstood the order my Lordes L. Keeper Howe likely is that sith that it was so playnely told you But to end these delayes I pray you follow the order appoynted and beginne to entreate of the seconde question Lich. Co. We were appoynted this day by youre honours to bring in what we had to say in the first question At the which saying the audience much grudged who heard the former talke contrary to such his reporte L. Keeper The order was taken for that your writinges were not ready the last time that ye shoulde yeld the same to these men meaning the Protestantes as soone as ye might and vpon the receipt of your writinges you shuld haue theyrs and this day ye should entreate of the second question and of the thyrd if that ye had leysure enoughe This was the order my Lordes except my memory much fayle me The same all the Counsell affirmed Lincoln We were willed then to bring in this daye oure writing for the first question also Lorde Keeper Ah syrs if ye bee so harde to bee satisfied and to encline to the trueth let my Lordes here say what was then determined B. Yorke Ye are to blame to stand in this issue for there was a playne decreed order taken for you to intreat of the second Question Wherefore leaue you your contention herein and shew what ye haue to say in the second Question L. Keper Go to now begin my Lordes Linc. Couen It is coÌ„trary to the order in disputatioÌ„s that we should begin Chester We haue the negatiue the affirmatiue therefore they must begin Lich. Couen· They must first speake what they can bring in agaynst vs sith that we are the defending part Chester So is the schole maner and likewise the maner in Westminster hall is that the plaintifes part should speak first and then the accused party to answere Lich. Couen I pray you let the proposition be read then let vs see who hath the negatiue part and so let the other begin L. Keper The order was taken that ye should begin Lich. Couen But then we should do agaynst the Schoole order L. Keper My maisters ye inforce much the schole orders I wonder muche at it sith diuers of those orders are ofte times taken for the exercise of youth and ought to mainteine a fashion and many prescriptions whiche we neede not here to recite much lesse obserue We are come hither to keepe the order of God and to set forth his truth
hee was a man altogether cast away in this worlde if hee did not looke wisely to himselfe And yet though his cause were neuer so daungerous he might somewhat in relenting to aucthoritie and so to geue place for a time helpe both hym selfe out of trouble and when oportunitie and occasion should serue preferre his cause which he then went about to defend declaring farther that he had many welwillers and friendes whiche woulde stande on his side so farre forth as possible then were able and durst do adding hereunto that it were great pitty that he being of such singuler knowledge both in the Latine Greeke both ready and rype in all kind of learning and that namely aswell in the Scriptures as in the auncient Doctours should now sodeinly suffer all those singuler giftes to perishe with him without little commoditie or profite to the world and lesse comfort to his wife and children and other his kinsfolkes friendes And as for the veritie of your opinion in the sacrament of the body and bloud of our sauiour Christ It is so vntimely opened here among vs in England that you shall rather do harme then good wherefore be wyse and be ruled by good counsell vntill a better oportunitie may serue This I am sure of quoth the gentleman that my Lord Cromwell and my Lorde of Caunterbury much fauouring you and knowyng you to bee an eloquent learned young man and nowe towardes the felicitie of your lyfe young in yeares olde in knowledge and of great forwardnes and likelihoode to be a most profitable member for this Realme will neuer permitte you to susteyne any open shame if you will somewhat bee aduised by theyr Counsayle on the other side if you stand stiffe to your opinion it is not possible to saue your lyfe For like as you haue good friendes so haue you mortall foes and enemies I most hartily thanke you quoth Mayster Frith vnto the generall both for your good will and for your counsayle by the which I well perceaue that you minde well vnto me howbeit my cause and conscience is suche that in no wise I may not nor cannot for no worldly respect without daunger of damnation starte aside and flye from the true knowledge and doctrine whiche I haue conceyued of the supper of the Lorde or the Communion otherwise called the sacrament of the aultar for if it be my chance to be demaunded what I thinke in that behalfe I must needes saue my knowledge and my conscience as partly I haue written therein already though I should presently lose xx lyues if I had so many And this you shall well vnderstand that I am not so furnished eyther of Scriptures or auncient Doctors Scholemen or other for my defence so that if I may be indifferently heard I am sure that mine aduersaryes cannot iustly cōdemne me or mine assertion but that they shall condemne with me both S. Augustine and the most parte of the olde writers yea the very Byshoppes of Rome of the oldest sorte shall also say for me defend my cause Yea mary quoth the gentleman you say well if you might be indifferently heard But I muche doubt thereof for that our Mayster Christ was not indifferently hearde nor shoulde bee as I thinke if he were nowe present agayne in the worlde specially in this your opinion the same beeing so odious vnto the worlde and wee so farre off from the true knowledge thereof Well well quoth Fryth then vnto the Gentleman I know very wel that this doctrine of the Sacrament of the Aultar which I holde and haue opened contrarye to the opinion of this Realme is very hard meate to be digested both of the Cleargye and Layety thereof But this I will say to you taking the gentleman by the hand that if you liue but twenty yeares more whatsoeuer become of me you shall see this whole Realme of mine opinion concerning this Sacrament of the Aulter namely the whole estate of the same though some sort of men perticularly shall not be fully perswaded therein And if it come not so to passe then account me the vaynest man that euer you heard speake with tongue Besides this you saye that my death woulde bee sorrowfull and vncomfortable vnto my frendes I graunt quoth he that for a small tyme it would so be But if I should so mollify qualifye and temper my cause in such sort as to deserue onely to be kept in prison that would not onely be a much long griefe vnto me but also to my friendes woulde breede no small disquietnesse both of body and of minde And therfore all thinges well and rightly pondered my deathe in this cause shall bee better vnto me and all mine then life in continuall bondage and penuryes And almightye GOD knoweth what he hath to doe with his poore seruaunt whose cause I now defend and not mine owne from the which I assuredly doe entend GOD willing neuer to start or otherwise to geue place so long as God will geue me life This communication or like in effecte my Lorde of Caunterburyes Gentleman and Fryth had comming in a Whery vpon the Thames frō the Tower to Lambeth Now when they were landed after some repast by them taken at Lambeth the Gentleman the Porter and Fryth went forward towardes Croydon on foote This Gentleman still lamenting with himselfe the harde and cruell destiny towardes the sayde Fryth namely if hee once came amongst the bishops nowe also perceiuing the exciding constancye of Fryth deuised with himselfe some waye or meanes to conuey him cleane out of theyr handes and thereupon considering that there was no mo persons there to conuey the Prisoner but the Porter and himselfe he tooke in hand to winne the Porter to his purpose Quoth the Gentleman vnto Perlebeane the Porter they twayne priuately walking by themseues wythout the hearing of Fryth you haue heard this man I am sure and noted hys talke since he came from the Tower Yea that I haue righte well marked him quoth the Porter and I neuer hard so constant a man nor so eloquent a person You haue heard nothing quoth the gentleman in respecte of his both knowledge and eloquence if he might liberally either in Uniuersity or pulpit declare his learning you woulde then much more maruell at his knowledge I take him to be suche a one of his age in all kind of learning and knowledge of tonges as this Realme neuer yet in mine opinion brought forth yet those singuler giftes in him are no more considered of our Byshops then if he were a very Dolte or an Idiot yea they abhorre him as a deuill therfore couet vtterly to extinguish him as a member of the Deuill without any consideration of gods speciall gifts Mary quoth the Porter if there were nothing els in him but the consideratiō of his personage both comly and amiable of naturall disposition gentle meek and humble it were pity that he should be cast away Cast away quoth the
the violater is mortal and deadly sinne After all maner of wayes and meanes attempted to drawe this poore man from Christ and his truth the bishop seeyng that hee could not preuayle determined to send hym to the bishop of Rochester and so did who assayed by all meanes possible to remooue him from his former professed truth But seyng all his endeuors frustrate and that he profited nothyng he signified the same to the Archbishop and withal both went himselfe vnto hym and caried the poore prisoner with him thether also In the afternoone of the same day the said Archbish. of Cant. the bish of Rochester and diuers others assistantes called the sayd poore man before them agayne and caused all the former Articles Interrogatories and demaundes to be red vnto hym in English to the end he should either haue reuoked the same or els recanted them altogether vsing both threates and faire promises to the performaunce thereof but all in vayne for his fayth was built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus and therefore vnable to be remooued with any stormes of persecution whatsoeuer In fine the Archbishop with mature iudgement you must beleeue consulting with the B. of Rochester and other proceeded to his condemnation reading the bloudy sentence of death agaynst him and so was he beyng condemned deliuered to the secular power who caried hym to the prison and soone after hee was burned for the testimonie of Iesus Christ as you may see more at large pag. 997.998 for whose constancie in the truth the euerlasting God be praysed Amen ¶ A note of a certayne good man troubled in Bulloyne the first yeare of king Edward the sixt for the Gospell THe examination of me William Hastlen Gunner in the Castle of high Bulloyne in the yeare of our Lorde 1547. and the first yeare of the reigne of king Edward the sixt As I was in the church at Bulloyne called the stals vpon the 10. of Aprill being Easter Tuesday reading of a godly booke called the lamentation of a Christian against the citizens of London betweene the houres of three and foure at after noone there came certaine men to me as I stoode at an alter in the Churche reading to my selfe and asked me what good booke I had and I sayd they should heare if they pleased theÌ„ they desired me to read out that they might heare and so did I very gladly but I had not read long but the Priestes and Clearkes were at theyr Latine Euensong and I reading mine English book there came a tipstaffe for me taking my two bookes from me and commaunded me to go with him for he sayde I must goe before the counsayle of the towne then went I forthwith with him and a little without the Church doore sir Iohn a Briges met vs and bad the tipstaffe cary me to sir Leanard Beckwith Knight to be examined and comming before his presence hee asked me what bookes they were that I had at the church and was reading of one of them openly in the Church to the people and I sayd so farre as I hadde read them they were good godlye bookes and he said they were heresie and with that he asked me how I did beleeue of the Sacrament of the aultar whether I did not beleue that to be the very body of Christ flesh bloud and bones and I asked him whether hee ment that that was in the pixe or no and he sayde yea euen that in the pixe and I said that since I had sure knowledge of scriptures I did not beleeue it to bee the body of Christ but a bare peece of bread nor by Gods helpe I will neuer beleue it otherwise to be then he sayd I was an hereticke asked me what I made of the sacrament and I sayd if it were duely ministred according to Christes institution that then I did beleue that the faythfull Communicantes in receiuing that blessed Sacrament did receaue into their inward man or soule the very body and bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ. Then sayd he doest thou not beleeue â—t to remaine the very body of Christ after the wordes of consecration pronounced by the priest and I sayd no. TheÌ„ said he what doest thou make of the Churche I said as it is now vsed it is a den of theeues and the sinagogue of Sathan thou hereticke sayd he there remaineth the very body of Christ. But I saide that Christ being God and man dwelleth not in temples made with mens handes much other communication had we at that time but thys was the effecte that daye Then hee asked me whether I would be forth comming till to morrow and I saide Sir if you think that I will not you may lay me where as I shall so be then he let me goe for that night and sayde we shall talke farther with thee to morrow so I departed home And about the space of two houres after Mayster Hountington the preacher which did muche good wyth his preaching in Bulloyne at that time came to me and sayde that hee heard me spoken of at my Lorde Grayes which was then Lord Debitie of the towne and Country of Bulloyne and I perceaue sayd he that you are in great daunger of trouble if you scape with your lyfe for there are some of the counsayle merueilously bent agaynst you I sayd the Lordes will be done well said he without you feele in your selfe a full purpose by Gods helpe to stand earnestly to the thing that yee haue spoken you shall doe more hurt then good wherefore said he if you will goe to Callis I will send you where you shall be well vsed and be out of this daunger Then I thanked M. Hountington saying I purpose by Gods assistance to abide the vttermost that they can do vnto me well then sayd he I can tell you you wil be sent for to morrow betimes before the whole Counsaile that is sayd I the thing that I look for Then rose I betimes in the morning and went into the market place that I might spye whiche way the Officer should come for me I had not taryed there longe but I spyed a tipstaffe and went toward him and asked hym whome he sought and he sayde a Gunner of the great ordinaunce in the Castle of Bulloyne and I sayd that I am he theÌ„ said he you must go with me to my Lords I said therefore I looked When I came there I saw my Lorde and the whole Counsaile were assembled together in a close parlour doing my duetie to them my Lord saide to me it is informed me that thou hast seditiously congregate a companye together in the Churche and there in the time of seruice thou didest read vnto them an heretical booke and hast not reuerently vsed silence in the time of the diuine seruice what sayest thou to this I sayd it please your honour I was in the church a good while before any seruice began and no body with me reading to my self alone vpon a booke
wife for a tyme because persecution was so hote that hee coulde no longer stay there and I at his instaunce let him haue a place with me but within a fortnight after the Papists espyed him and complayned of him to the Bishop of Rochester and the bishop sent his chiefe man called Raphe Crowch and he caryed him to Rochester before the Byshop the sayd Apleby stood in the defence of the trueth boldly and the Bishoppe sent both hym and his wife to the Iayle of Maidstone and there they were burned for the Testimony of the Gospell of God And the Friday fortnight after I was in the market at Rochester talking with an other man and the sayde Raphe Crowch was sent for me and he comming within a stones cast of me where I was talking with my neighbour George Smally and one William Stanley a papist dwelling also in Strowde met with the sayd Crowch and they two talked together a whyle and I doubted that they talked of me because many times in theyr talke they looked on me and then the said Raphe Crowch went ouer the streete to an other officer or constable whiche knewe not me and sent the sayde Constable for me and comming for me knowing my neyghbour George Smally tooke him in the steade of me and caryed him to the Byshop and when he came before hym the Byshop sayd to the officers this is not he knaue thys is not he knaue and the bishop checked the Mayor hys officers and sayd that they mocked him because he caryed the other man for me suche was the mighty prouidence of God to defend me and the Mayor the same night sent 40. Billes and menne with other weapons to beset my house to take me but the Lord kept me from them and deliuered me out of theyr handes to hym be glory therefore Amen The third time that the Lorde deliuered me was on Easter day next after I had bene at London all the Lent and on Easter euen at night I came home to Strowde to to my wife and a childe of three yeares olde tolde one of the neighbours that her father was come home And on Easter day after theyr popishe euensong was done came Maister Read Thomas Crowch brother to the abouesaid Raphe Crowch William Stanley Thomas Bettes Lionell Newman and Roger Braunche with a 60. people or there aboutes and searched my house very straightly for me but as Gods prouidence was there was mault a drying vppon the Kell and they searched so narrowly for me that I was glad to heaue vp a corner of the hayre wheron the mault lay and went into the Kell hole and there stood till they were gone and so I escaped from them but within an houre after there came a woman to my wyfe to borrow a brush and spyed me thorough the key hole of a dore and she carying tidinges abroad Immediately came a great company of men and beset my house rounde about and I said to my wife you see that these foure men seeke for my life that is Maister Read Thomas Crowch William Stanley and Thomas Bettes for I doe thinke that none of the rest will lay handes on me and therefore I pray thee wife follow these 4. men and talke lowde to them that I may heare so escape if they search on the backe side I may auoyd on the street side be of good comfort for our liues are in Gods hand and though there be little helpe here on earth yet there is help enough from heauen and when these men were searching on the backside I went into the streete among as I gesse an 100. people and none of them layd handes on me neyther sayde they anye thing to me so I went out of the towne lay there at an honest mans house at the parish of Cobham that night And at that same time also two of my neighbours honest men and of good wealth the one called Iohn Pemmet a fisherman the other named Iohn Bayly a glouer because they came not to theyr popish Church to buy none of their Idolatrous wares were complayned of to the Iustices who did binde them to aunswere for theyr fayth before the Iudges at the ascises whiche were holden at midsommer after as I remember at Rochester in the pallace yard and there was at that tyme a sayle cloth of a ship tyed to the top of the Byshops Pallace wall to keep away the sonne from the Iudges because it was hote and the winde blew and shooke the sayle so that when these two men were called to be examined and when they shoulde haue aunswered there fell from the top of the wall 3. or 4. great stones vpon the Iudges neckes so that some of thē whiche sate on the Benche were sore hurt and maymed so that they arose sodenly all amased and departed and the two men were deliuered From Tuddenham in Suff. the 25. day of Iuly 1583. Per me Gulielmum Wood Vicarium de Tuddenham The history of Iohn Alcocke THis Iohn Alcocke or Aucock of whome mention is made before pag. 1561. was a very faythfull and honest man by his occupation a woad setter singularly wel learned in the holy scriptures and in all his conuersation a iust and righteous man that feared God and studyed to do in deed that thing that he had learned in the scriptures Nowe after that sir Richard Yeaman was driuen away and the people on sondayes and other dayes came to the Church and had no man to teach them any thinge for as yet person Newall was not come to Hadley to dwel nor had gotten any Curate Besides that the lawes made by king Eward were in force and the latin mumblinges not yet receaued euery where Iohn Alcocke therefore tooke the english booke vsed by king Edward exhorting the people to pray with him and so red certain prayers in english before them and moreouer hee gaue them godly lessons and exhortations out of the chapters that he red vnto them For this the Bishoppe of Winchester Steuen Gardiner sent for him cast him into Newgate at London where after many examinations and troubles for that he woulde not submitte himselfe to aske forgeuenesse of the Pope and to be reconciled to the romish religion he was cast into the lower doungeon where with euill keeping and sicknesse of the house he dyed in prison Thus dyed he a martyr of Christes veritie whiche hee hartely loued and constantly confessed and receaued the garland of a well foughten battell at the hand of the Lorde His body was cast out and buryed in a dounghill for the Papists would in all thinges be like themselues therfore would they not so much as suffer the dead bodyes to haue honest and conuenient sepulture He wrote two Epistles to Hadley whiche followe here * The first Epistle of Iohn Alcocke GRace be with you and peace from the father and our Lord Iesus Christ which gaue himself for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present
euill world according to the will of God our father to whome be praise for euer and euer Amen Oh my brethren of Hadley why are ye so soone turned from them which called you in the grace of Christ vnto an other doctrine whiche is nothing els but that there be some which trouble you and entēd to peruert the gospell of the Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. Neuerthelesse though these shoulde come vnto you that haue bene your true preachers and preache an other way of saluatiō then by Iesus Christes death and passion hold them accursed Yea if it were an Aungell came from heauen and woulde tell you that the sacrifice of Christes body vpon the crosse oute for all euer for all the sinnes of all those which shal be saued were not sufficient accursed be he If he were an aungell or what soeuer he were that would say that our seruice in English were not right Gods seruice but will better allow that moste wicked mumming that you nowe haue Those what soeuer they be except they doe repent allow the Gospell of Iesus Christ they shall neuer come into that kingdome that Christ hath prepared for those that be his Wherefore my dearly beloued brethren of Hadley remember you well what you haue bene taught heretofore of the Lorde Gods true and simple Prophetes that onely did wish your health and consolation Do not my good brethren I pray you forget the comfortable worde of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe Come vnto me all you that are troubled and loden with the daungers that yeare in these stormy dayes and heare my wordes and beleue them and you shal see the vnspeakable comfort that you shal receue The Lord is my shepheard sayth the Prophet Dauid so that I cā want nothyng He feedeth his sheepe in greene pastures and leadeth thē vnto cleare and holsome waters of comfort I am that good Shepheard sayth our Sauiour Iesus Christe for I geue my lyfe for my sheepe and I knowe my sheepe and my sheepe know me but my sheepe will not know an hyerling for hee careth not but onely for his God the belly and so seeketh the destruction of theyr soules Therefore beware of hirelinges you that count your selues the sheep of Iesus Christ. Be sure that ye know his voyce and obey it and be not deceiued through straunge voyces but goe from them and earnestly abide by your professiō that you haue made in your baptisme and shrinke not from it For if you do you shall declare your selues to be a vayne people and without vnderstanding And for this cause doth God plague his people and suffereth them to be deceiued with false Prophets wicked men I pray you note what that Prophet Esay sayth to the people of those dayes because they were slipping from the Lord theyr God which had done so maruellous workes for them as you well do know in the historyes of the Bible Heare O heauen sayeth he and harken thou earth for the Lord hath spoken I haue nourished and brought vppe children but they haue done wickedly agaynst me The Oxe hath knowne hys owner and the Asse his maysters Cribbe but Israel hath receiued no knowledge My people hath no vnderstanding Alas for this sinnefull nation a people of great iniquity a froward generation vnnaturall children They haue forsaken the Lorde they haue prouoked his wrath are gone backeward Harken also what the Prophet Hieremy sayth Be astonyed ye heauens be afrayde and ashamed at suche a thing sayeth the Lorde for my people hath done two euilles They haue forsaken me the well of the waters of life and digged them brokē pittes that can hold no water Is Israel a bond seruaunt or one of the householde of the Lord Why then is he so spoiled Why then do they roare and cry vpō him as a Lyon Understand those thinges now in these dayes that the Prophet spake of thē O my brethren of Hadley Why commeth this plague vpon vs that we haue now in these dayes and other times Harken what the Prophets say commeth not this vpon thee because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God Thyne owne wickednesse shall reproue thee and thy turning away shall condemne thee that thou mayst know and vnderstand how euill and hurtful a thing it is that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and not feared him sayth the Lord God of hostes the holy one of Israell that is to say he that maketh Israell holy And vnderstande by Israell the children of God and those things that were spoken to the carnall Israel are spoken vnto vs that are or should be the spirituall Israell Grace be with you all Amen Yours Iohn Alcock Prisoner for Gods word in Newgate at London * The second Epistle of Iohn Alcock MY Brethren of Hadley note well what S. Paul said in the x. chap. to the Corinth Brethren I would you should not be ignoraunt of this that our fathers were all vnder the cloud and all passed through the Sea and were baptised vnder Moyses in the cloud and in the sea dyd all eate one spirituall meate and dronke of one spirituall drinke They dronke of that spiritual rocke that foloweth them which rocke was Christ neuerthelesse in manye of them had God no delight for they were ouer smittē in the wildernesse These are examples vnto vs tha◠we should not lust after euill thinges as they lusted that is to say we should stand forth to defend the verity of God which we do right well alas were it not for losse of goodes we do so much lust after them that we will rather say there is no God then we will professe his word to be truth to the losing of our goodes And our Sauiour Christ sayth he that is not content to forsake Father and Mother Wife and children house and lande corne and cattell yea and hys owne life for my truthes sake is not meete for me And if we bee not for our Lorde God then we muste needes be meete for the Deuill and we must needes be seruauntes to one of them If we bee not ashamed of the Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ but earnestly confesse it to the vttermost of our power thē are we sure to be confessed of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ and that before the Angels in heauen to be his seruants But if we will so lust to keepe our goodes and rather deny hym then to loose our goodes then doth it folow whose seruantes we are Therefore my deare brethren of Hadley beware that you doe not consent to any thing agaynst your conscience For if you do beware of Gods great wrath I exhort you therfore my beloued brethren in the Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ to stand fast in your profession and become not manifest runne awayes from the truth of our Lord God but stick earnestly to it and doubt not but our Lord God wil
my father contÃnueth here to the intent to heare some godly and ioyfull tidynges both for soule and body whiche I trust it shal be to your singular comfort and consolation and to the great reioysing of all other of my frendes Therefore I desire you gentle mother to admonish my brother vnto a godly life with dilligent attendance and to pray for me considering his bound duety that God may by your faythfull prayer ayd and strengthen me in this my prosperous iourney and course whiche I run trusting to obtayne a crowne of euerlasting life whiche doth euer endure No more vnto you at this time but God preserue you vnto euerlasting life So be it ¶ The Oration in effecte of Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England spoken in the Starre Chamber the 29. of December in the 10. yeare of the reigne of our Souereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland Queene Defender of the fayth c. And in the yeare of our Lord God .1567 Then being present Mathew Archbishop of Caunterbury William Marques of Northhampton Fraunces Earle of Bedford Lord Clinton Admirall of England William Howard Lord Chamberleyne Byshop of London Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Edward Rogers Knight Controler Sir Ambrose Caue Knight Chanc. of the duchy Sir William Cicill Knight principall Secretary Sir Fraunces Knolles Knight Vicechamberleyne Sir Walter Mildemay Knight Chauncelor of the Eschequer Lord Cattelene chiefe Iustice of the kings bench Lord Dyer chiefe Iustice of the common place Sir William Cordale Knight M. of the Rolles Iustice Weston Iustice Welch Iustice Southcotes Iustice Carowes IT is geuen to the Queenes Maiestye to vnderstand that certayne of her Subiectes by theyr euill dispositions do sow and spread abroad diuers sedicions to the derogation and dishonor first of almighty God in the state of Religion stablished by the lawes of this Realme and also to the dishonor of her highnesse in disprouing her lawfull right of supremacy amongest her subiectes And this that they doe is not done as in secrecy or by stealth but openly auouched in all companyes disputed on And thus by theyr bold attemptes seme not to obey or regard the authority of lawes nor the quiet of her subiectes As for example by bringing in and spreading abroad diuers leud libels and sedicious bookes from beyonde the seas and in suche boldnes that they do commend those writers in their sedicious bookes conteining manifest matter agaynste the estate established Which boldnesse of men so Vniuersally and euery where seene and heard cannot be thought to be done but by the comfort and ayd or at the least way winckt at by theÌ„ whoÌ„ the Queenes highnes hath placed in authority to repres these insolencyes And the Queenes highnes can not more iustlye charge any for this disorder then such who be in commissioÌ„s chosen to represse these disorders If it be aunswered me that they cannot see such opeÌ„ boldnes factious disorders I must say that they haue no eyes to see if they heare not of suche contemptuous talke and speeche I may say that they haue no eares I would haue those men iudge what will come of these vnbridled speeches in the end if reformatioÌ„s be not had therof What coÌ„meth of factions seditions we haue bene taught of late yeares what the fruites be which I beseech God long to defend vs from If such disorders be hot redressed by law then must force violence reforme Which when they take place may fortune fall assoone on theÌ„ that seeme to haue least consideration in this matter If force and violence preuayle then ye know that law is put to silence and cannot be executed which should onely maynteine good order If it be replyed agaynst me that to the suppressing of these open talkes there is no law which by speciall letter can charge any man offender I must say that whatsoeuer the letter of the law be the meaning of the law was and is cleane contrary to the liberty of these doinges If it be sayd that no man can be charged by the law except it can be proued agaynst him that his speeche and deedes be done maliciously what ye call malice I can not tel But if the bringing in of these sedicious bookes make meÌ„s mindes to be at variance one with one another destruction of mindes maketh sedicions seditions bring in tumults tumults worke insurrections and rebellion Insurrections make depopulations and desolations and bringeth in vtter ruine destruction of mens bodies goodes landes And if any sow the roote wherof these men come yet can be sayd that he hath no mallice or that he doth not maliciously labour to destroye both publicke priuate wealth I can not tell what act may be thought to be done maliciously And further if it be sayd to me that the man which should be charged with offeÌ„ce must be proued to haue done his acte aduisedly To that I answere If any bring in those hookes distribute them to others commend defend them yet can not be charged to haue done aduisedly I haue no skill of their aduisednesse If it be sayde that the law intreateth of such actes as be directly derogatory and of none other what is direct ouerthwarting the Law when the contrary thereof is playnely treated holden and defended and the truth by argumentes condemned It maye be sayd agayne that the worlde doth not now like extremitye in lawes penal and calleth them bloudy lawes As for extreme and bloudy lawes I haue neuer liked of them But where the execution of such lawes touching halfe a dosen offenders and the not execution may bring in daunger halfe a hundred I thinke this law nor the execution therof may iustly be called extreme and bloudy In such like comparison I may vtter my meaning as to make a difference betwene whipping hanging In deed though whipping may be thought extreme yet if by whipping a man may escape hanging in this respect not whipping bringeth in this bloudinesse and extremity and not the execution of the law And better it were a man to bee twise whipped then once hanged The paynes do differre but wise men will soone consider the diuersity The truth is to suffer disobedient subiectes to take boldnes agaynst the lawes of God their prince to wincke at the obstinate minds of such as be vnbridled in theyr affections to mainteine a forraigne power of the Byshop of Rome directly agaynst the Princes prerogatiue stablished by lawes is not this to hatch dissentioÌ„ to chearish sedition To extoll the writinges of such who by all their wittes deuise to supplant the princes lawfull authority If these doinges be not meanes to the disturbance vtter ruine of the Realme I know not what is good gouernance If these be not the sparkes of Rebellion What be they Thus much hauing spoken to your wisedomes I doubt not of your assenting with me the rather also because I vtter them vnto
was neuer so takē in many hūdred yeares after Christ as by Nicene Ephesine the first and the seconde Calcedone Constantinopolitane Carthaginens Aquiliense Couen Why will ye not admit the Churche of Rome to be the Catholicke Church Phil. Because it followeth not the primitiue Catholicke church neither agreeth with the same no more then an apple is like a nut Couent Wherin doth it dissent Phil. It were to long to recite all but two thinges I will name the supremacy and transubstantiation Curtop As for transubstantiation albeit it was set forth decreed for an article of fayth not much aboue 300. yeares yet it was alwayes beleued in the church Bon. Yea that it was Uery well sayd of you M. Curtop Phil. Ye haue sayde right that Transubstantiation is but a late plantation of the byshop of Rome you are not able to shew any auncient writer that the primitiue church did beleue any such thing and with this Curtop shrank away And immediately after the Ambassadour of Spayne came in to whom my Lord of London went leauing the other with me To whome I sayde my Lordes if you can shew me that this church of Rome wherof you are members is the true Catholicke Church I shall be content to be one thereof and as conformable to the same as you can require me in all things for I know there is no saluation but within the Church Couen Can you disproue that the Church of Rome is not the Catholicke Church Phil. Yea that I am able but I desire rather to heare of you for the proofe thereof And seing I cannot haue my request at your hāds neither be satisfied with any probable authority I will shewe you good proofe why it is not For if the primatiue Church were Catholicke as it was in deed and ought to be the form and scholemaysters of the Church to the worldes end then is not the church of Rome now the Catholicke church which dissenteth so farre from the same both in doctrine and vse of the sacramentes Couent How proue you that the Church of Rome nowe dissenteth in doctrine and vse of the sacramentes from the primitiue Church Phil. Compare the one with the other and it will soone appeare as ye may see both in Eusebius and other Ecclesiasticall and auncient writers Couent What haue you to say more why it is not the catholicke Church Phil. Because it is not by youre interpretation of Catholicke vniuersall neyther neuer was albeit you falsely perswade the people that it is so For the world being deuided in three partes Asia Africa and Europa ii partes therof Asia and Africa professing Christ as wel as we did neuer consent to the Church of Rome which is of Europa whiche is a sufficient testimony that your faith was neuer vniuersall Couent How proue you that Phil. At the Historiographers whiche write of the proceedinges of the Church doe testifie the same Besides that this present time doth declare that to be true which I say For at this present the Church of Asia and Africa doe not consent to the churche of Rome Yea and besides all thys most parte of Europa doth not agree neither allowe the Churche of Rome as Germanye the kingdome of Denmarke the kingdome of Poole a great part of Fraunce England and Zeland which is a manifest probation that your Church is not vniuersall And after this the Bishop of London called away the other Bishops and lefte with me diuers Gentlemen with certayne of his Chaplaynes as Doctor Sauerson an Englishman which had proceeded Doctor in Bonony who after began with me in this maner Doctour Sauer Mayster Philpot I remember you beyond sea since the time you reasoned with a Fryer a notable learned man commyng from Uenice to Padua in a barge Phil. I cannot forget that for the Fryer threatned me to accuse me of heresie as soone as he came to Padua for that I talked with him so boldly of the truth He was no suche learned manne as you name hym to be but onely in hys schole poyntes a good Purgatory Fryer Doct. Sauer Well he was a learned man for al that And I am sory to heare that you this day hauing cōmoned wyth so many notable learned men are no more conformable to them then you be Phil. I will be conformable to all them that be conformable to Christ in his word And I praye you good mayster Doctour be not so conformable to please men more then GOD contrary to your learning for worldly estimations sake Doct. Sauer No that I am not Upon what occasion shuld you thinke thus of me Phil. Upon no euill that I doe knowe of you Mayster Doctour but I speake as one wishing that you shoulde not be led away from the truth for promotions sake as many Doctours be now a dayes Doct. Sauer I haue heard your argumentes hetherto and me thinketh that a great many of the olde ancient writers be agaynst you in that you doe not allowe the churche of Rome neyther the supremacie for sainct Cyprian whiche is an old ancient writer doth allowe the byshop of Rome to be the supreme head of the Church Phil. That I am sure of he doth not For he writing vnto Cornelius then Byshoppe of Rome calleth hym but his companion and fellow Byshop neither attributed to hym the name either of Pope or els of any vsurped terms which now be ascribed to the Bishop of Rome to the setting forth of his dignitie Doct. Sauer You cannot be able to shewe that S. Cyprian calleth Cornelius his fellow Byshop Phil. I will wager with you that I amble to make that I can shew it you in Cyprian as I haue sayd Doctor Sauer I will lay none other wager with you but booke for booke that it is not so Phil. I agree thereto and I praye you one of my Lordes Chaplaynes to fet vs Cyprian hether for the tryal hereof And with that one of them went to my Lordes study and brought forth Cyprian by and by he turned to the fyrst booke of his Epistles the 3. Epistle and there would haue seemed to haue gathered a strong Argument for the supremacie of the Byshop of Rome because he sayth It goeth not well with the Churche when the hygh Prieste is not obeyed which supplyeth the stead of Christ after Gods word and the cōsent of hys fellow Byshops and the agreement of the people Doct. Sauer How can you auoyd this place which maketh so playnely for the Bishop of Romes supremacy Phil. It maketh not so playne mayster Doctour on your side as you gather as by and by I wil geue you to vnderstand But first I challenge the wager which wee made that your booke is mine For here you may see that hee calleth Cornelius his fellow byshop as he doth also in other places And now for the vnderstanding of that place you do misconstrue it to make the high Priest onely for the Bish. of Rome