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
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
Lord Bishop and before Maister Chauncellour three times and haue declared my fayth Deane And yet I know that M. Chancellor will say that thou art a ranke heretike Story Away with her Bish. M. Deane ye knowe that I may not tary nor you neither Let her keeper bryng her home to your own chāber soone at foure a clocke at after noone and if that ye find her reasonable then let her goe for I would that she were gone Then sayd the Deane with a good will my Lord and so she was sent vnto the place from whence she came vntill it was 4. of the clocke at afternoone ¶ The ix examination before the Deane before whom it pleased God to deliuer her WHen it was 4. of the clock at afternoone as the houre was appointed the Deane was set he asked her Art thou a foole now as thou wast to day Eliz. Sir I haue learned but small wisedome since Deane Doest thou thynke that I am better learned then thou Eliz. Yes sir that I do Deane Thinkest thou that I can do thee good Eliz. Yea sir and if it please God that ye will Deane Then I wyll doe thee good in deede What doest thou receyue when thou receyuest the Sacrament which Christ left among his Disciples the night before hee was betrayed Eliz. Sir that that his Disciples did receiue Deane What did they receyue Eliz. Sir that that Christ gaue them they receyued Deane What aunswere is this Was Christ there present Eliz. Sir he was there present for he instituted his owne sacrament Deane He tooke bread and he brake it and gaue it to hys disciples and sayd Take eate this is my body which shall bee broken for you When thou receiuest it doest thou beleeue that thou receiuest his body Eliz Sir when I receiue I beleeue that through faith I do receiue Christ. Deane Doest thou beleeue that Christ is there Eliz. Sir I beleeue that he is there to me and by fayth I do receyue hym Deane He also tooke the cup and gaue thanks and gaue it to his Disciples and sayd Drinke ye all hereof This is the cup of the new Testament in my bloude which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes When thou doest receiue it after the institution that Christ ordained among his Disciples the night before he was betraied doest thou beleeue that Christ is there Eliz. Sir by faith I beleeue that he is there and by fayth I do beleeue that I do receiue hym Deane Now thou hast answered me Remēber that thou sayest that when thou doest receiue according to the institution of Christ thou doest receiue Christ. Eliz. Sir I beleeue Christ not to be absent from his owne sacrament Deane How long wilt thou continue in that beliefe Eliz. Sir as long as I do lyue by the help of God for it is and hath bene my beliefe Deane Wilt thou say this before my Lord Eliz. Yea sir. Deane Then I dare deliuer thee Why thou Calfe why wouldst thou not say so to day Eliz. Sir ye asked me no such question Deane Then ye would stande in disputation how manye bodies Christ had Eliz. Sir in deed that question ye did aske me Deane Who shall bee thy Sureties that thou wylte appeare before my Lorde of London and me vpon Friday nexte Eliz. Sir I haue no Sureties nor knowe not where to haue Then spake the Deane vnto two women that stoode there who had earnestly sued for her saying women wil ye be her sureties that she shall appeare before my Lord of London and me vpon Friday next The Women Yea sir and it please you Deane Take heede that I finde you no more a brabler in the Scripture Eliz. Sir I am no brabler in the Scripture nor yet any man can burthen me therewith Deane Yes I haue hearde of you well enough what ye are Then sayde hee to the two Women what if a man should touch your conscience do ye not smell a little of heresie also The women No sir. Deane Yes a litle of the frying pan or els wherefore haue ye twaine so earnestly sued for her The one woman aunswered because that her children were lyke to perish and therefore God put me in mynd to sue for her Then sayd the other woman And I gate her chyld a Nurse and I am threatened to stande to the keepyng of her chylde and therfore it standeth me in hand for to sue to haue her out Deane Woman geue thankes vnto these honest women who haue so earnestly sued for thee and I promise thee so haue I. These great heretikes will receiue nothyng but in spirit and fayth and so he rose and departed Eliz. Sir God be praysed I thanke you for your goodnes and theirs also and so he went away vpon the friday next because she was acrased her two sureties wente thither and were discharged ¶ Elizabeth Lawson IN the towne of Bedfield and in the countie of Suffolk was dwellyng a godly auncient Matrone named Elizabeth Lawson about the age of lx yeares This Elizabeth was apprehended as an heretike by the Constables of the same towne named Robert Kitrich and Thomas Elas in the yeare of our Lorde 1556. because she woulde not go to Church to heare Masse and receyue the Sacrament and beleeue in it First they layd her in a dungeon and after that shee was caried vnto Norwich and from thence to Bury Gaole where at last she was condemned to be burnt In the mean tyme sir Iohn Sylliard had her home vnty hys house hee beyng high Shiriffe that yere where she was hardly kept and wrapped in irons till at length when they by no wise could mooue her co recant shee was sent to prison agayne with shamefull reuilings Thus she continued in prison the space of two yeares and three quarters In the meane tyme there was burnt her sonne and many other whereby she would often say Good Lord what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy children well good Lord thy blessed will be done not myne Not long after this most happily followed the death of Queene Mary after whom succeded our Queene that now is At which tyme this Elizabeth Lawson remained yet still in Bury prison till at last she was bayled vppon sureties or els she could not be deliuered For she beyng a condemned person neither the temporalty nor yet spirituall authoritie would discharge her without sureties Now she beyng abroad and her sureties made afrayd by wicked men sayd they would cast her againe in prison except she would see them discharged Then she got a supplication to go vnto the Queenes maiestie and came to a friend of hers to haue his counsail therein who willed her to stay a while because she was old the dayes short and the expenses great and Winter fowle for it was a little before Christmas to tary vntill Sommer In the meane tyme
the Riuer Now she good woman thinking to be so serued tooke thereby such feare that it brought the begynning of her sickenesse of the whiche at length she dyed Then at the last was she called before the Margraue and charged with Anabaptistry whiche shee there vtterly denyed and detested the error declaring before hym in Dutch her fayth boldly wythout any feare So the Margraue hearyng the same in the end beyng well pleased with her profession at the sute of some of her frends deliuered her out of prison but tooke away her booke and so shee came ouer into England agayne ¶ William Mauldon I Lightly passe ouer here the tedious afflictions of William Mauldon how in the daungerous time of the 6. articles before the burning of Anne Askew hee was scourged being young of his father for professing and confessing of true Religion and afterward being examined in auricular confession by the Priest hys bookes were searched for and so at length hee was presented vp by the same Priest in a letter written to the Byshop Which letter had it not bene burned by an other Priest to whose handes it came as the Lord would haue it it had vndoubtedly cost hym his life This one thinge in the sayde William Mauldon is to bee noted that being younge in those dayes of kinge Henry when the masse moste florished the aultars wyth the sacrament therof being in their moste high veneration that to mans reason it might seeme vnpossible that the glory and opinion of that Sacramente and Sacramentalles so highly worshipped and so deepely rooted in the hartes of so many could by any meanes possible so soone decay and vanish to naught yet notwithstanding hee being then so young vnder the age of xvii yeares by the spirite no doubt of prophesie declared then vnto his parentes that they should see it shortly euen come to passe that both the Sacrament of the altar and the altars themselues with al such plantations which the heauenly father did not plant should be plucked vp by the rootes and euen so within the space of very fewe yeares the euent thereof followed accordingly the Lorde therefore bee praysed for his moste gratious reformation ¶ Robert Horneby I Let passe lykewise the daungerous escape of Robert Horneby seruaunt sometyme and groome of the Chamber to Ladye Elizabeth shee being then in trouble in Queene Maryes dayes who being willed to come to Masse refused so to doe and therefore comming afterward from Woodstocke to Hampton Courte was called before the Counsayle by them committed to the Marshalsey and not vnlyke to haue susteyned further daunger had not the Lordes goodnes better prouided for him who at length by Doctour Martyn was deliuered ¶ Mistres Sandes THe lyke also may be testified and recorded of Mistres Sandes nowe wyfe to Syr Morice Bartlet then Gentlewooman wayter to the sayde Ladye Elizabeth being in the Tower Which Mistres Sandes denyed in lyke maner to come to Masse and therefore beside the heauye displeasure of her father was not onely displaced from her roume and put out of the house but also was in greate ieopardye of further tryall But the Lorde who disposeth for euery one as he seeth beste wroughte her way out of her enemyes handes by flying ouer the Seas where shee continued amongest other banished exiles in the Cittye of Geneua of Basil till the death of Queene Marye * The storye of Thomas Rose yet liuing a Preacher of the age of lxxvi yeares in the towne of Luton and Countye of Bedford THis Thomas Rose a Deuonshyre man was borne in Exmouth and being made Priest in that coūtrey was brought out of it by one M. Fabiā to Polsted in Suffolke where the sayd M. Fabian was Parson in short tyme after by his meanes was placed in the town of Hadley wher he first cōming to some knowledg of the gospel began first there to intreat vpon the Crede therupon to take occasiō to inueigh against Purgatory praying to Saints Images about the tyme that M. Latimer began first to preach at Cambridge in the tyme of Bilney Arthur .47 yeares ago or thereabout in so much that many imbracing the truth of Christes Gospell against the sayd Purgatory and other poynts and the number of them daily increasing the aduersaries beganne to stirre agaynst him in so muche that M. Bale who afterwarde became a godly zelous man was then brought to preach agaynst the sayd Thomas Rose so did This notwithstanding he continued still very vehement agaynst Images the Lorde so blessed his labours that many began to deuise how to deface and destroy them and especially foure men whose names were Ro. King Ro. Debnam Nic. Marsh and Ro. Gard. which vsually resorted to his sermons vpō his preaching were so inflamed with zeale that shortly after they aduentured to destroy the Roode of Douercourt which coste three of them theyr liues as appeareth before pag. 1031. The three persons which suffered and were hanged in chaynes wer offered theyr liues to haue accused the sayd Thomas Rose as of counsell with them which refused so to do and therfore suffered The sayd Tho. Rose had the coat of the sayd Roode brought vnto him afterward who burned it The Roode was sayde to haue done many great myracles and great wonders wrought by him and yet being in the fire could not help him selfe but burned like a block as in very deede he was At this time there were two sore enemies in Hadley Walter Clerke and Iohn Clerke two brethren these cōplayned to the Counsayle that an hundred men were not able to fetch the sayde Thomas Rose out of Hadley who then was vpon examination of his doctrine committed to the Commissaries keeping And in deede such was the zeale of a number towardes the truth thē in that towne that they were much offended that their Minister was so taken frō them and had therefore by force fet him from the Commissary if certain wise men hadde not otherwise perswaded which at length also with more quiet did set him in his office agayne which thing so angred the two brethren Walter Clerke Ioh. Clerk that they complayned to the counsaile as aforesayd wherupon a serieant at armes named Cartwright was sent from the counsayle who arested the sayd Thomas Rose brought him before the counsayle Then his aduersaries being called they layd to his charge that hee was priuy of the burning of the Rood of Douercourt and vpon this he was committed to the prison in the Bish. of Lincolns house in Holborne Bishop Langly the kinges Confessor and there remayned he in prison frō Shroftide till tyll Mydsomer very sore stocked tyll after Easter The stocks were very hye great so that day night he did lye with his backe on the ground vpon a litle straw with his heeles so hye that by meanes the bloud was fallen from his feete his feet wer almost without sense
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
was sent and deteyned vnto the Botchers stall I meane Byshop Stokeleyes Consistory there to heare not the opinion of Saynt Augustine and other auncient Fathers of Christes primatiue Churche of the sayde Sacramēt but either to be instruct and to heare the maymed and halfe cutaway Sacrament of Antichrist the Bishop of Rome with the grosse and fleshly imagination thereof or els to perish in the fire as he most constantly did after hee had before the Byshop of London Winchester and Chichester in the Consistory in Paules Church most plainely and sincerely confessed his doctrine and fayth in thys weighty matter c. pag. 1032. ¶ A note of William Plane IN the latter dayes of king Henry the eight aboute that time Anne Askew was in trouble one Doctour Crome was trauayled withall to recant for that he had preached somewhat agaynst thinges maynteined of the papistes in the Church And one M. Tracy hearing therof brought a letter secretly to one Plane dwelling in Bouge row and desired him to cary it to Doctor Crome which letter tended to the end to perswade him not to recant but to stand to the trueth When this good man William Plane had it as he was euer willing to further the truth so he gladly deliuered the same to Doctor Crome Which when he had receiued and read it he layd it downe vpon the table and after the sayd William Plane was gone an Arche Papist came thither to perswade him to recant and in trauelling with him he found the sayd letter on the boord which whē he had read it he examined him from whence it came so what thorow flattery and threatning he declared who was the messenger that brought it Then was William Plan◠sent for cast in the Tower where he lay miserably xiij weekes none admitted to come to him in which time he was extremely racked within halfe a finger breadth as farre as Anne Askew but they could neuer get of hym of whome he had the letter nor neuer for all theyr extremity would accuse any man so in the end he was deliuered out of the Tower and liued aboute three yeares after and so godly ended his life But vnto this day would that Tracy neuer enquire in what condition his wife and children were left although he was his Messenger in carying the letter but good Lord the straunge disease that grew vpon him by that extreme racking as it is odious to rehearse so I will wish thē to repentance that were the instruments of his tormentes if they be aliue warne other papists to the same in whom any cruelty hath bene in the like cause A note of Lady Iane. THe Lady Iane she whom the Lorde Gilford maryed being on a time when she was very yong at Newhall in Essex at the Lady Maries was by one lady Anne Wharton desired to walke and they passing by the chappell the Lady Wharton made lowe curtesie to the popish Sacrament hangyng on the aulter which when the Lady Iane saw meruailed why she did so and asked her whether the Lady Mary were there or not Unto whome the Lady Wharton answered no but she said that she made her curtesie to hym that made vs all Why quoth the lady Iane how can hee be there that made vs all and the Baker made him This her aunswere commyng to the Lady Maries eare she did neuer loue her after as is credibly reported but esteemed her as the rest of that christian profession ¶ The copy of Queene Maries letters to the Duke of Northfolke RIght trustie right entirely beloued Cosin we greete you well and hauing by the assistance of God and our louing subiects discomfited Wiate and the other rebels of our Countie of Kent who hauyng passed the Riuer of Kingston came backe agayne towards London were encountred aboue Charing crosse and there were ouerthrowen and the most part of them were there slame Wiate and three of the Cobhams Bret Kneuet Rudstone Iseley and other the chiefe Captaines taken prisoners Wee haue thought good as well to geue you knowledge hereof to the ende ye may with vs and the rest of our louyng subiects reioyce and geue God thankes for this our victory as also further to signifie vnto you that where the sayd rebell did alway pretend the matter of our mariage to be the cause of this vnlawfull stirre now playnely appeareth by good and substantiall examinations of diuers of the sayd traitours that whatsoeuer they pretended the finall meanyng was to haue depriued vs frō our estate and dignitie royall and consequently to haue destroyed our person which thing as we do ascertaine you of our honour to bee matter of truth so wee praye you to cause the same to be published in all places of that our countries of Norfolke and Suffolke to the intent our good and louing subiects thereof be no more abused with such false pretenses or other vntrue rumours or tales by whom so euer the same shall be set forth And now things beyng in this sort quieted we cannot but geue you thankes for the readinesse that you haue bene in with the force of our said countrey to haue serued vs if neede had bene praying you to do the like on our behalfe to all the Gentlemen and others with you with whom neuerthelesse we require you to take such orders as the force of our sayd countrey may be still in like readines to be employed vnder good substantiall Captaines to be chosen of the Gentlemen inheritours within the sayd shiere for our further seruice vpō one houres warning when so euer we shall require the same And in the meane tyme our pleasure is that ye haue good regard to the quietnes and good order of the country specially to the apprehension of spreaders of false and vntrue tales rumors wherby ye shall both deserue well of your whole country and also do acceptable seruice which we will not faile to remember accordingly Yeauen vnder our signe at our pallace of Westminster the 8. of Febr. the first yeare of our raigne In hast ¶ A Treatise of M. Nich. Ridley in the name as it seemeth of the whole Clergie to King Edward the vj. concernyng Images not to be set vp nor worshipped in Churches ⧠Certaine reasons which mooue vs that we cannot with safe consciences geue our assentes that the Images of Christ c. should be placed and erected in Churches FIrst the words of the Commandement Thou halt not make to thy selfe any grauen image c. And the same is repeated more playnely Deut. 27. Maledictus homo qui facit sculptile conflatile c. ponitque illud in abscondito c. That is Curied is the man which maketh a grauen or molten image c. and setteth it in a secret place and all the people shall say Amen In the first place these wordes are to be noted Thou shalt not make to thy selfe that is to any vse of religion In the latter place
God To holde you in hys hand Fare well my children from the world Where ye must yet remayne The Lorde of hostes be your defence Till we do meete againe Fare well my loue and louing wife My Children and my frendes I hope to God to haue you all When all thinges haue their endes And if you doe abide in God As ye haue now begonne Your course I warrant will be short Ye haue not farre to runne God graunt you so to end your yeares As he shall thinke it best That ye may enter into heauen Where I do hope to rest Written at the request of a Lady in her booke IF you will walke the way That Christ hath you assignde Then learne this little verse Which I haue left behinde Be feruent in the truth Although it beare the blame And eke apply your youth To sticke vnto the same That when the age is come And death beginneth to call The truth may be your staffe To stay you vp withall And though it bryng rebuke And cause you kisse the crosse Yet is it a reward To all that suffer losse For here we doe lay out The thinges that be but vayne But we are sure to reape The thinges that doe remayne For all that ye do lose Is but a sinnefull slime And lyke vnto a Rose That taryeth but a tyme. But if ye carry Christ And walke the perfect way Ye shall possesse the gold That neuer shall decay And all your fathers goodes Shal be your recompense If ye confesse the worde With double diligence Not onely for to heare His pure and perfite word But also to embrace The fire and eke the sword And if ye keepe this path And do not runne a croke Then shall ye meete the man That write this in your booke In that eternall Ioye That alwayes shall remayne Thus fare well faythfull frend Till we do meete agayne Legem pone TEache me O Lorde to walke thy waies My liuing to amend And I shall keepe it all my dayes Euen to my liues end Geue me a minde to vnderstand So shall I neuer starte But I shall keepe all thy preceptes Euen wholly with mine hart Make me to go a perfect pace In that I haue begonne For all my loue and my delight Is in thy wayes to runne Encline my hart vnto thy wayes Set thou thereon my thought And let me not consume my dayes To couet that is naught O quicken me in all thy wayes The world for to despise And from all fond and foolish toyes Turne thou away mine eyes O plant in me thy perfect word Which is to me so deare Lay vp thy lawes within my hart To keepe me still in feare And robbe me of that great rebuke Which I do feare full sore For all thy iudgementes and thy law Endure for euermore Behold O Lord in thy preceptes Is all my whole delight O quicken me in all my wayes That I may walke aright To hys brother AS nature doth me binde Because thou art my bloud According to my kinde To geue thee of my good That thou mayest haue in minde How I haue runne my race Although thou bide behynde But for a little space I yeaue thee here a pearle The price of all my good For whiche I leaue my life To buy it with my bloud More worth then all the world Or ought that I can note Although it be yclad In such a simple cote For when I had obtayned This pearle of such a price Then was I sure I gayned The way for to be wise It taught me for to fight My flesh for to despise To sticke vnto the light And for to leaue the lyes In sending out my seede With bondes and bitter teares That I might reape with Ioye In euerlasting yeares And haue for all my losse My trauayle and my payne A thousand tymes and more Of better goodes agayne And for because the good That hath bene gotte and gayned And that the Lordes elect Hath euermore obtayned Is closed in this booke Which I do geue to thee Wherein I haue my parte As thou thy selfe mayest see In which I hope thou hast A stocke also in store And wilt not cease to sayle Till God haue made it more I will thee to beware Be sure thou keepe it well For if thou do it lose Thy part shal be in hell And here I testifie Before the liuing God That I detest to doe The thinges that are forbod And as in iudgemente is My body to be brent My hart is surely sette Therewith to be content And sith it is his will To put in me his power Vpon his holy hill To fight agaynst this whore Full well I am content If he allowe it so To stand with all my might The whore to ouerthrow Euen with a willing minde The death I will outface And as I am assured The battayle to embrace That they which heare the truth How I haue past the pike May set aside theyr youth And learne to do the like And though it be my lotte to let her suck my bloud Yet am I well assured it shall do her no good For she is set to kill The thinges she thinkes accurst And shall not haue her fill of bloud vntill she burst And when that thou shalt see or heare of my disease Pray to the liuing God that I may passe in peace And when I am at rest and rid out of my paine Then will I do the like for thee to God agayne And to my woefull wyfe and widow desolate Whome I doe leaue behynd In such a simple state And compassed with teares and morninges many one Be thou her staying staffe when I am dead and gone My mouth may not expresse the dolours of my minde Nor yet my heauines to leaue her here behinde But as thou art my bone my brother and my bloud So let her haue thy hart if it may do her good I tooke her from the world and made her like the crosse But if she hold her owne she shall not suffer losse For where she had before a man vnto her make That by the force of fire was stranged at a stake Now shall she haue a king to be her helpyng hand To whom pertayne all thinge that are within the land And eke my daughter deare whome I bequeath to thee To be brought vp in feare and learne the A.B.C. That she may grow in grace and ruled by the rod To learne and lead her lyfe within the feare of God And alwayes haue in minde thy brother beyng dead That thou art lefte behynde a father in my stead And thou my brother deare and eke my mothers sonne Come forth out of all feare and do as I haue done And God shall be thy guide and geue thee such encrease That in the flames of fire thou shalt haue perfect peace Into eternall ioy and passe out of all payne Where we shall meete with mirth and neuer part agayne If thou wilt do my daughter good Be mindfull
of them a token a bowed grote and desire them for Gods sake to helpe vs with theyr prayers Haue litle Katherine in minde Commend me vnto all good friendes Continue in prayer Beware of vanitie Let not God be dishonored in your conuersation but like a good Matron keepe your vessel in holines The peace of God rest with you for euer Amen My brother Iuison sendeth to you a tokē to your mother a token and to Katherine a token iij. pence Iohn Launder sendeth you a peece of Spanish mony father Heralt a peece of vi d. William Androwes sendeth you a rase of Ginger and I sēd your mother one and a Nutmeg I send Katherine Comfites for a token to eate I haue sent you a keyclog for a token Your husband Robert Smith A letter sent to his frende THe eternall God keepe you in his feare I haue hearty commendations vnto you and your husbande beseeching almighty God to preserue you in well doing and in perfecte knowledge of his Christe that yee may be founde faultles in the day of the Lorde I haue heard saye that my frende is geuen ouer to vanitie it breaketh my hearte not onely to heare that he so doeth but also teacheth other that it is vnhurtful to goe to all abhominations whych nowe stand in the Idols temples neuerthelesse deare frende be ye not mooued to follow sinners for they haue no inheritance with God and Christe But looke that by going into the Idoll temple ye defile not the temple of God for light hath no felowship with darkenesse But looke what the Lord hath commaunded that doe For if not going to Churche were without persecution they would not learne you that lesson But all thing that is sweete to the flesh is allowed of the fleshly The Lord shal reward euery man according to his woorkes and he that leadeth into captiuitie shall go into captiuitie and hee that by the fleshly man is led in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption The Lorde Iesu geue thee his holy spirite Amen I haue sent thee an Epistle in metre whiche is not to be laid vp in thy cofer but in thy heart Seeke peace and ensue it Feare God loue God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength Thy frend and al mens in Christ Iesus Rob. Smith Scribled in much hast from N. the 12. of May. Robert Smith to all faithfull seruants of Christ exhorting them to be strong vnder persecution Content thy selfe with pacience With Christ to beare the crosse of paine Which can and will thee recompence A thousande folde with ioyes againe Let nothing cause thy heart to quaile Lanch out thy boate hale vp thy saile Put from the shore And be thou sure thou shalt attaine Vnto the port that shall remaine For euermore The burning of Steuen Harwood and Thomas Fust martyred for the testimonie of the Gospel ABout this time died also by cruell fire these two martyrs of God that is to saye Steuen Harwoode at Stratford and Thomas Fust at Ware Which both two as they were about one time burned with the fore mētioned Robert Smith and George Tankerfield although in sundry places so were they also examined and openly cōdemned togethers wyth them Their processe because it was ioyned all in one with the processe of Robert Smith other of the said company aboue mentioned I thought it superfluous againe to repeate the same saue that of Thomas Fust this is to be added that where as he in his last appering the 12. of Iuly was mooued by the Byshop to reuoke his opinion thus he answered No said he my Lorde for there is no truth commeth out of your mouth but all lyes Yee condemne men and will not heare the truthe Where can ye finde any annoynting or greasing in Gods booke I speake nothing but the truthe and I am certaine that it is the truthe that I speake This answere of hym onely I finde noted by the Register although howe slenderly these Registrers haue dealt in vttering such matters that is in omitting those thinges which moste woorthy were to be knowen by their doings it is easie to be seene But to be short after their answeres made both he Thomas Fust were for their faithfull perseuerance condemned together by the Bishop in his accustomed pitie as heretikes to be burned and so as before ye haue heard finished they their martyrdom the one at Stratford and the other at Ware in the moneth of August and yere abouesayd The constant Martyrdome of William Haile burned at Barnet OF the same companie of these x. aboue recorded whych were sent vp to Byshop Boner by sir Nicholas Hare and other Commissioners in the companie of George Tankerfielde and Roberte Smith was also Willyam Hayle of Thorpe in the Countie of Essex who lykewise being examined with the rest the 12. day of Iuly receiued with them also the sentence of cōdemnation Geuing thys exhortation with al to the lookers on Ah good people sayd he beware of this Idolatrer and thys Antichriste poynting The martyrdome of VVilliam Haile vnto the Bishop of London and so was he deliuered to the Sheriffes as an heretique to be burned who sente him to Barnet where about the latter ende of August hee moste constantly sealed vp his faith with the consuming of his bodye by cruell fire yeelding hys soule vnto the Lorde Iesus his onely and most sure redeemer George King Thomas Leyes Iohn VVade sickened in prisone and were buried in the fieldes YEe hearde before of ten sundry personnes sent oute of Newgate by Maister Hare and other Commissioners to be examined of Boner Bishoppe of London Of whome sixe already haue bene executed in seuerall places as hathe beene shewed whose names were Elizabeth Warne George Tankerfielde Robert Smith Steuen Harwoode Thomas Fust and William Haile Other three to witte George King Thomas Leyes and Iohn Wade sickening in Lollardes Tower were so weake that they were remooued into sundry houses wythin the Citie of London and there departed and cast out into the fieldes and there buryed by nighte of the faithfull brethren when none in the day durste doe it propter metum Iudaeorum The last that remained of thys foresayde company was Ioane Layshe or Layshforde the Daughter in lawe to Iohn Warne and Elizabeth Warne Martyrs but because shee was reprieued to a longer day her storie and Martyrdom we will deferre till the moneth of Ianuarie the next yeare following William Andrewe THe like catholike charitie was also shewed vpon William Andrew of Horsley in the Countie of Essex Carpenter who was brought to Newgate the firste day of Aprill 1555. by Iohn Motham Constable of Mauldon in Essex The first and principall promoter of hym was the Lorde Riche who sent him first to prisone An other great doer against him also seemeth to be sir Richard Southwel Knighte by a letter wrytten by him to Boner as
Wolsey being brought to the place of executioÌ„ and so bouÌ„d to the stake with a chain thither commeth one sir Richard Collinson a priest at that time desolate of any biding place or stay of benefice who sayd vnto Wolsey brother Wolsey the preacher hath openly reported in his Sermon this day that you are quite out of the Catholicke fayth deny baptisme and that you do erre in the holy Scripture Wherefore I beseech you for the certifying of my conscience wyth others here present that you declare in what place of the Scripture you do erre or finde fault Wolsey I take the eternall and euerlasting God to witnesse that I do erre in no part or poynt of Gods booke the holy Bible but hold beleue in the same to be most firme and sound doctrine in all poyntes most worthy for my saluation and for al other Christians to the end of the world Whatsoeuer mine aduersaries report by me God forgeue theÌ„ therfore With that coÌ„meth one to the fire with a great sheet knit ful of books to burne like as they had bene new ¶ The burning of William Wolsey and Robert Pygot Martyrs Testamentes O sayd Wolsey geue me one of theÌ„ Pigot desired an other both of them clapping them close to theyr brestes saying the 106. Psalme desiring all the people to say Amen and so receiued the fire most thankefully Witnesses and informers hereof Robert Scortred Robert Crane Edward Story Robert Kendall Richard Best c. Concerning the storye of William Wolsey I receiued moreouer from the vniuersity of Cambridge by a credible person and my faythfull frend William Fulke this relatioÌ„ which I thought in this place not vnmeete to be notified vnto the Reader in order and forme as foloweth There were burned at Ely two Godly Martyrs the one called Wolsey the other Pygot In these two appered diuers opinions of one spirit Pygot was mylde humble and modest promising that he would be coÌ„formable to his persecutors if they could perswade him by the Scripture The other Wolsey was stout strong and vehemeÌ„t as one hauing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the spirite and detested all theyr doinges as of whom he was sure to receiue nothing but cruelty and tyranny He was wonderfull ielous ouer his coÌ„panion fearing lest his gentle nature would haue bene ouercome by the flattering inticementes of the worlde and therefore the same day that they were burned when they would haue talked with him alone he pulled him away front them almost by force He was so desirous to glorify God with his suffering that being wonderfull sore tormented in the prison with the toothe ake hee feared nothing more theÌ„ that he should depart before the day of executioÌ„ which he called his glad day were come This Wolsey being in prison at Elye was visited by Thomas Hodilo Berebruer in Ely To him he deliuered certayne mony to be distributed as he appoynted part to his wife and part to his kinsfolkes and frends and especially 6. shillinges 8. pence to be deliuered to one Richard Denton Smith dwelling at Welle in Cambridgeshyre wtin the iurisdiction of the I le of Ely with this commendation that he maruelled that he taryed so long behinde him seing he was the first that did deliuer him the book of scripture into his hand and told him that it was the truth desiring him to make hast after as fast as he could This Thomas Hodilo both to auoyde daunger of the time and to haue a witnes of his doings herein deliuered the sayd summe of money to one M. Laurence preacher in Essex which then resorted often to his house to be distributed as Wolsey had appoynted which thing they performed riding from place to place And when this 6. shilling 8. pence was deliuered to Richard Denton with the commendation aforesayd his aunswere was this I confesse it is true but alas I can not burne This was almoste one whole yeare after Wolsey was burned But he that coulde not burne in the cause of Christ was afterward burned agaynst his will wheÌ„ Christ had geuen peace to his church For in the yeare of our Lord. 1564. On Tuesday beyng the 18. day of Aprill his house was set on fire while he went in to saue his goodes he loste his life with two other that were in the same house Witnessed by Thomas Hodilo and William Fulke Not much vnlike to this was also the example of M. West Chapleine to Bishop Ridley who refusing to die in Christes cause with his Mayster sayd Masse agaynst hys conscience and soone after dyed ¶ Doctor Nicholas Ridley and M. Hugh Latimer both Byshops Preachers and Martyrs of Christ with theyr doinges conferences and sufferinges described THe same yeare moneth and day in whiche the foresayd 2. Martyrs William Wolsey Tho. Pygot suffered at Eley the which was an 1555 October 16. folowed also at Oxford the slaughter of two other speciall singuler Captaines principall pillers of Christes Churche Mayster Kidley Bishop of London Mayster Hugh Latimer Byshop sometimes of Worcester of whose famous doinges memorable learning incomparable ornaments giftes of grace ioyned with no lesse coÌ„mendable sincerity of lyfe as all the Realme caâ—â—e witnes sufficiently so it needeth not greatly that we should stand exactly at this time in setting forth a full description of the same but onely to coÌ„prehend briefly in a few words touching the order of theyr liues so much as necessarily serueth to the due instruction of the reader maketh to the vse of this present history in declaring first theyr beginning bringing vp theÌ„ theyr studyes and actes in the Uniuersitye theyr prefermentes also by theyr studyes to higher dignity at last theyr trouble trauell in setting forth Religion and in mainteining the same to the shedding of theyr bloud And first to begin with the life of Mayster Ridley whose story here ensueth AMong many other worthy and sundry historyes notable acts of such as of late daies haue bene turmoileâ— murthered martyred for the true Gospell of Christe in Queene Maries raigne the tragicall story and life of Doctour Ridley I thought good to commend to Chronycle and leaue to perpetuall memorye beseeching thee gentle Reader with care and studye well to peruse diligently to consider and deepely to print the same in thy brest seeing him to be a man beautified with such excellent qualities so ghostly inspired and godly learned now written doubtlesse in the booke of life with the blessed Sayntes of the almighty crowned and throned amongest the glorious coÌ„pany of Martyrs First descending of a stocke right worshipfull he was borne in NorthuÌ„berlandshire who being a childe learned his Grammer with greate dexteritye in Newcastle and was remoued from thence to the Uniuersity of Cambridge where he in shorte space became so famous that for his singular aptnes he was called to hyer functions and Offices of the Uniuersity
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
in the scriptuâ—es in that signification yet in the worlde euen in the most famous assemblies of Christendome this Churche hath borne the greatest swinge This distinction presupposed of the 3. sortes of Churches it is an easy matter by a figure called Sinecdoche to geue to the mingled and vniuersall Church that which cannot truely be vnderstanded but onely of th one part therof But if any man will stiffely affirme that vniuersally doth so pertayne vnto the church that what soeuer Christ hath promised to the Churche it must needes bee vnderstanded of that I would gladlye knowe of the same man where that vniuersall Churche was in the tymâ—s of the Patriarches and Prophetes of 〈◊〉 Abraham and Moses at suche tyme as the people would haue stoâ—ed hym of Helias of Hieremy in the times of Christ and the dispersion of the Apostles in the time of Arius when Constantius was Emperour and Felix bishop of Rome succeeded Liberius It is worthye to be noted that Lira writeth vpon Mathew The church sayth he doth not stand in men by reason of theyr power or dignitie whether it be Ecclesiastical or secular For many princes and Popes and other inferioures haue bene â—ouÌ„d to haue fallen away froÌ„ God Therfore the church consisteth in those persons in whome is true knowledge and confession of the fayth and of the truth Euill men as it is in a glose of the decrees are in the Church in name and not in deede And S. Augustine contra Cresconium grammaticum sayth Who soeuer is afrayd to be deceiued by the darkenes of thys question let hym aske counsell at the same churche of it which Churche the scripture doth poynt out without anye doubtfulnes All my notes whiche I haue written and gathered out of suche authors as I haue red in this matter and such like are come into the handes of suche as will not let me haue the least of all my wrytten bookes wherein I am enforced to complayne of them vnto God for they spoyle me of all my laboures whiche I haue taken in my study these many yeares My memorye was neuer good for helpe whereof I haue vsed for the most part to gâ—ther out notes of my readyng and so to place them that thereby I might haue hadde the vse of them when the time required But who knoweth whether this be Gods will that I should be thus ordered and spoyled of the poore learning I had as me thought in store to thintent that I now destitute of that shoulde from henceforth learne onely to knowe with Paule Christ and hym crucified The Lord graunt me herein to be a good young scholer and to learn this lesson so well that neyther death nor lyfe wealth nor woe c. make me euer to forget that Amen Amen I haue no more to say in this matter for you your selfe haue sayd all that is to be sayd That same vehement saying of S. Augustine I would not beleue the Gospell c. was wont to trouble many men as I remember I haue read it well qualified of Philippe Melancthon but my memory is altogether slippery This it is in effecte The church is not a iudge but a witnes There were in hys tyme that lightly esteemed the testimony of the Churche the outward ministery of preachyng and reiected the outward word it selfe sticking onely to their inward reuelations Suche rashe contempte of the worde prouoked and drone S. Augustine into that excessiue vehemency In the which after the bare sound of the wordes he might seeme to such as do not attayne vnto hys meaning that hee preferred the Churche farre before the Gospell and that the Church hath a free authoritie ouer the same but that godly man neuer thought so It were a saying worthye to be brought forth agaynst the Anabaptistes whiche thinketh the open ministerye to be a thinge not necessary if they any thing esteemed such testimonies I would not sticke to affirme that the more part of the great house that is to say of the whole vniuersall Churche may easely eâ—re And agayne I would not sticke to affirme that it is one thynge to be gathered together in the name of Christe and an other thing to come together with a Masse of the holy ghost going before For in the first Christ ruleth in the latter the Deuill beareth the swinge and how then can anye thyng be good that they goe about From this latter shall our sixe articles come foorth agayne into the light they themselues being very darckenes But it is demaunded whether the sounder or better part of the Catholicke Churche may be seene of men or no Sainct Paule sayth The Lord knoweth them that are hys What manner of speaking is this in commendation of the Lord if we know as well as he who are hys Well thus is the text the sure foundation of God standeth still and hath his seale the Lord knoweth theÌ„ that are his and let euerye man that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquitie Nowe howe many are there of the whole Catholicke Churche of Englande whiche departe from iniquitie Howe many of the noble men how many of the Byshops or Clergy how many of the rich men or marchauntes how many of the Queenes councellours yea howe many of the whole Realme In how small rome then I pray you is the true church within the Realme of England And where is it And in what state I had a conceite of mine owne well grounded as they say when I began but now it is fallen by the way Generall councels represent the vniuersall Church haue this promise of Christ where two or three be gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of theÌ„ If Christ be present with two or three then muche more where there is so great a multitude c. But in generall councels Masse hath bâ—ne approoued and vsed Therefore c. Of the vniuersall Churche which is mingled of good and bad thus I thinke Whensoeuer they whiche be chiefe in it which rule and gouerne the same and to whome the rest of the whole misticall body of Christ doth obey are the liuely members of Christ and walk after the guidyng and rule of hys word and go before the flocke towardes euerlasting life then vndoubtedly Councels gathered together of such guides and pastours of the christian flock doe in deede represent the vniuersall Church and being so gathered in the name of Christe they haue a promise of the gifte and guiding of hys spirite into all truth But that any such counsell hath at any time allowed the Masse suche a one as ours was of late in a straunge tongue and stuffed with so many absurdities errours and superstitions that I vtterly deny and affirme it to be impossible For like as there is no agreement betwixt light and darcknes betweene Christ and Belial so surely superstition and the sincere religion of Christ wil worship and the pure
now that counsels haue sometime erred it is manifest How many counsels were there in the East partes of the world whiche condemned the Nicene councell and all those which would not forsake the same they called by a sclaunderous name as they thought Homonsians Was not Athanasius Chrysostome Cyril Eustachius men very well learned and of godly lyfe banished and condemned as famous heretickes and that by wicked councels How many thinges are there in the Canons and constitutions of the councels which the papists themselues do much mislike But here peraduenture one man wil say vnto me We wil graunt you this in prouinciall councels or councelles of some one nation that they may sometimes erre for asmuch as they do not represent the vniuersall churche but it is not to be beleued that the generall and full councelles haue erred at any tyme. Here if I had my bookes of the councels or rather suche notes as I haue gathered out of those bookes I coulde brynge something which shoulde serue for this purpose But now seeing I haue them not I will recite one place onely out of sainct Austen which in my iudgement may suffise in this matter in stead of many Who knoweth not sayth he that the holy scripture is so set before vs that it is not lawfull to doubt of it and that the letters of Byshops may be reproued by other mens wordes and by councelles and that the councels themselues whiche are gathered by prouinces and countries do geue place to the authoritie of the generall and full councels and that the former and generall councels are amended by the latter when as by some experience of thinges eyther that which was shut vpp is opened or that which was hid is knowne Thus much of Augustine But I wil plead with our Antonian vpon matter confessed Here with vs when as Papistry raygned I pray you how doth that booke whiche was called the Byshops booke made in the tyme of king Henrye theight wherof the byshop of Winchester is thought to bee eyther the first father or chiefe gatherer Howe doth it I say sharpely reproue the Florentine counsell in whiche was decreed the supremacy of the Byshop of Rome and that with the consent of the Emperor of Constantinople and of the Grecians So that in those dayes our learned auncient fathers and byshops of Englande did not sticke to affirme that a generall councell might erre But me think I heare an other man despising all that I haue broughte forth and saying these which you haue called councels are not worthy to be called councels but rather assemblies conuenticles of heretickes I praye you sir why doe you iudge them worthye of so slaunderous a name Because sayth he they decreed thinges hereticall contrary to true godlines and sounde doctrine and agaynst the faythe of christian religion The cause is waightye for the whiche they ought of right so to be called But if it be so that all counsels ought to be despised which decree any thing contrary to sound doctrine and the true word which is according to godlines forasmuch as the Masse such as we had here of late is openly agaynst the word of God forsoothe it must follow of necessitie that all such councelâ— as haue approoued such masses ought of right to be 〈◊〉 â—nd despised as conuenticles and assemblies of men 〈◊〉 stray from the truth An other man alleadgeth vnto me the authoâ—ity of the Bishop of Rome without which neither â—â—nne the Counsells sayth he be lawfully gathered neyâ—her being gathered determyne anye thinge concerning Religion But this obiection is only grounded vpon the ambytious and shameles maintenance of the Romish tirranny and vsurped dominion ouer the Clergy which tyrranny we Englishe men long agoe by the consent of the whole Realme haue expulsed and abiured And how rightely we haue done it a little booke set forth de vtraque potestate that is of both the powers doth clearely shew I graunt that the Romish ambition hath gone about to challenge to it self to vsurpe such a priuiledge of old time But the counsell of Carthage in the yeare of our Lord 457. did openly withstand it and also the councell at Milenite in the whiche S. Augustine was present did prohibite any appellations to be made to Byshops beyond the sea S. Augustine sayth the good men are not to be forsaken for the euill but the euill are to be borne with all for the good Ye will not say I trow that in our congregations all be euill I speake nothing of the goodnes or euilnes of youre congregations but I fight in Christes quarrel against the Masse which doth vtterly take away and ouerthrowe the ordinaunce of Christ. Let that be taken quite awaye and then the partition of the wall that made the strife shall be broken down Now to the place of S. Austen for bearing with the euill for the goodes sake there ought to be added other words which the same writer hath expressedly in other places that is if those euill men do cast abroad no seedes of false doctrine nor lead other to destruction by their example It is perillous to attempt any new thing in the Church which lacketh example of good men How much more perillous is it to commit any act vnto the whiche thexample of the prophetes of Christ and of thapostles are contrary But vnto this your facte in abstayning from the Churche by reason of the masse the example of the Prophetes of Christ and of thapostles are cleane contrarye Therefore c. The first part of the argument is euident and the second part I proue thus In the times of the prophetes of Christ and his Apostles all things were most corrupt The people was miserably geuen to superstition the priestes despised the law of God and yet notwithstaÌ„ding we neither read that the prophets made any schismes or diuisions and Christ himselfe haunted the temple and taught in the temple of the Iewes Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple at the 9. houre of praier Paule after the readyng of the lawe being desired to say something to the people did not refuse to doe it Yea further no man can shewe that eyther the prophetes or Christ and his Apostles did refuse to pray together with others to sacrifice or to bee partakers of the Sacramentes of Moses law I graunt the former part of your argument and to the second part I saye that although it contayne manye true thinges as of the corrupt state in the times of the Prophetes of Christ and the Apostles and of the temple being haunted of Christ and his Apostles yet notwithstanding the second part of your argument is not sufficientlye prooued For ye ought to haue proued that eyther the prophetes eyther Christ or hys Apostles did in the temple communicate with the people in any kind of worshipping which is forbidden by the lawe of God or repugnaunt to word of
of late yeares past Let vs bee hartye and of good courage therefore and throughlye comforte our selues in the Lorde Bee in no wise afrayd of your aduersaries for that which is to them an occasion of perdition is to you a sure token of saluatiō and that of GOD. For vnto you it is geuen that not onely ye shoulde beleeue on hym but also suffer for hys sake And when ye are rayled vppon for the name of Christe remember that by the voyce of Peter yea and of Christe our Sauiour also ye are counted with the Prophetes with the Apostles and with the holy Martyrs of Christ happy and blessed therefore for the glory and spirit of God resteth vpon you On their part our Sauiour Christe is euill spoken of but on your part he is gloryfied For what can they els do vnto you by persecuting you and working al crueltie villanie agaynst you but make your crownes more glorious yea beautifie multiply the same heape vpon them selues the horrible plagues and heauy wrath of God and therfore good brethrē though they rage neuer so fiercely against vs yet let vs not wish euill vnto thē againe knowing that whiles for Christes cause they vexe and persecute vs they are lyke mad men most outragious and cruell agaynst them selues heaping hot burning coles vpon their owne heades but rather let vs wish well vnto thē knowing that we are thereunto called in Christe Iesu that we should be heyres of the blessing Let vs pray therefore vnto God that he would driue out of their harts this darkenes of errours make the light of his truth to shine vnto thē that they acknowledging their blindnes may with al humble repentance be conuerted vnto the Lord together with vs confesse hym to be the onely true God which is the father of light his onely sonne Iesus Christ worshipping him in spirit and veritie Amen The spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ comfort your hartes in the loue of God and pacience of Christ. Amen Your brother in the Lord whose name this bearer shall signifie vnto you ready alwayes by the grace of God to liue and die with you ¶ To the breathren which constantly cleaue vnto Christ in suffering affliction with him and for his sake GRace and peace from God the father and frō our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplied vnto you Amen Although brethren we haue of late heard nothing from you neither haue at this present any newes to send you yet we thought good somthing to write vnto you wherby ye might vnderstand that we haue good remembraunce of you continually as we doubt not but ye haue of vs also When this messenger comming vnto vs from you of late had brought vs good tidinges of your great constancie fortitude and patience in the Lord we were filled with much ioy gladnes geuing thankes to God the father through our Lord Iesus Christe which hath caused his face so to shine vpon you and with the light of spirituall vnderstanding hath so lightened your hartes that now being in captiuitie bandes for Christes cause ye haue not ceased as much as in you lyeth by wordes but much more by deede and by your example to stablysh and confirme that thing which when ye were at libertie in the world ye laboured to publish and set abrode by the word and doctrine that is to say holding fast the worde of life ye shine as lightes in the worlde in the middest of a wicked and crooked nation and that with so much the greater glory of our Lord Iesus Christe and profite of your brethren by how muche Satan more cruelly now rageth and busily laboureth to darken the light of the Gospel And as for the darkenes that Satan nowe bringeth vpon the Church of England who needeth to doubt therof Of late tyme our Sauiour Christe his Apostles Prophetes and Teachers spake in the Temple to the people of England in the Englishe tongue so that they might be vnderstanded playnly and without any hardnesse of the godly and such as sought for heauenly knowledge in matters whiche of necessitie of saluation perteyned to the obteyning of eternall life but now those thinges which once were written of them for the edifiyng of the congregation are read in a strange tongue without interpretatiō manifestly agaynst saint Paules commaundement so that there is no man able to vnderstand them which hath not learned that strange and vnknowen tongue Of late dayes those heauenly mysteries whereby Christe hath ingrafted vs into his body and hath vnited vs one to another whereby also being regenerate borne anew vnto God he hath nourished encreased and strengthened vs whereby moreouer eyther he hath taught and set foorth an order amongest them which are whole or els to the sicke in soule or body hath geuen as it were wholesome medicines and remedies those I say were al plainlye set foorth to the people in their owne language so that what great and exceeding good things euery man had receiued of God what duetie euery one owed to an other by Gods ordinaunce what euery one had professed in his vocation and was bound to obserue where remedy was to be had for the wicked and feeble he to whom God had geuen a desire and willing hart to vnderstand those thinges might soone perceiue and vnderstand But now all these thinges are taught set forth in such sort that the people redeemed with Christes bloud and for whose sakes they were by Christe himselfe ordeined can haue no maner of vnderstanding thereof at all Of late for as much as we knowe not how to pray as we ought our Lorde Iesus Christe in his Prayer wherof he would haue no man ignoraūt and also the holy Ghost in the Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall songes which are set foorth in the Bible did teache and instructe all the people of Englande in the Englyshe tongue that they might aske such thinges as are according to the will of the Father and might ioyne their hartes and lyppes in prayer together but nowe all these thynges are commaunded to be hid and shutte vp from them in a straunge tongue whereby it must needes followe that the people neyther can tell how to pray nor what to pray for and how can they ioyne their hartes and voyce together whē they vnderstande no more what the voyce signifieth than a bruite beast Finally I heare say that the Catechisme whiche was lately set foorth in the Englyshe tongue is now in euery Pulpite condemned O deuilishe malice and most spitefully iniurious to the saluation of mankinde purchased by Iesus Christe In deede Satan coulde not long suffer that so great light should be spread abrode in the world he sawe well enough that nothing was able to ouerthrow his kingdome so much as if childrē being godly instructed in Religion should learne to knowe Christe whilest they are yet young whereby not onely chyldren but the elder sort also
Doctor Ridley to the letter abouesayd BLessed be God our heaueÌ„ly father which enclined your hart to haue such a desire to write vnto me blessed be he againe which hath heard your request hath brought your letters safe vnto my handes and ouer all this I blesse him through our Lorde Iesus Christe for the great comfort I haue receiued by the same of the knowledge of your state and of other our dearely beloued brethren and countreymen in those parties beyond the sea Dearely beloued brother Grindall I say to you and all the rest of our brethren in Christe with you reioyce in the Lord and as ye loue me and the other my reuerend fathers and concaptiues whiche vndoubtedly are Gloria Christi lament not our state but I beseech you and them all to geue to our heauenly Father for his endlesse mercies and vnspeakeable benefits euen in the myddest of all our troubles geuen vnto vs most harty thankes For knowe ye that as the weight of his crosse hath increased vpoÌ„ vs so he hath not nor doth not cease to multiply his mercies to strengthen vs and I trust yea by his grace I doubt nothing but he will so do for Christe our Maisters sake euen to the end To heare that you and our other brethren doo finde in your exile fauour and grace with the Magistrates Ministers and Citizens at Tigury at Frankford and other where it doth greatly comfort I dare say all here that do in deede loue Christe and his true woorde I ensure you it warmed my hart to heare you by chaunce to name some as Scory and Coxe c. Oh that it had come in your mynde to haue sayd somewhat also of Cheeke of Turner of Leauer of Sampson of Chambers but I trust in God they be all well And sir seeyng you say that there be in those parties with you of studentes and Ministers so good a number nowe therefore care ye not for vs otherwyse then to wish that Gods glory may be set forth by vs. For whensoeuer God shall call vs home as we looke dayly for none other but when it shal please God to say come you blessed be God are enough through his ayde to light and set vp againe the lanterne of his worde in Englande As concerning the copies ye say ye haue with you I wonder how euer they did and could find the way to come to you My disputation except he haue that whiche I gathered my selfe after the disputation done I can not thynke ye haue it truly If ye haue that then ye haue therwithall the whole maner after the which I was vsed in the disputation As for the treatise in English Contra transubstantiationem vix possum adduci vt credam operaepretium fore vt in latinum transferatur Caeterum quicquid sit nullo modo velim vt quicquam quocunque modo meo nomine ederetur donec quid de nobis dominus constituerit fieri vobis prius certo constiterit and thus much vnto your letters Now although I suppose ye know a good parte of our state here for we are forth commyng euen as when ye departed c. You shall vnderstande that I was in the Towar about the space of two monethes close prisoner and aâ—ter that had graunted to me without my labour the liberty of the Tower and so continued about halfe a yeare and then because I refused to allow the Masse with my presence I was shut vp in close prison agayne The last Lent saue one it chaunsed by reason of the tumult styrred vp in Kent there was so many prisoners in the Tower that my Lord of Canterbury M. Latimer Maister Bradford and I were put altogether in one prison where we remayned still almost to the nexte Easter and then we three Canterbury Latimer and I were sodenly sent a litle before Easter to Oxford and were suffered to haue nothing with vs but that we caried vpon vs. About the Whitsontide followyng was our disputations at Oxford after the which was all taken from vs as pen and inke c. Our owne seruauntes were taken from vs before and euery one had put to hym a straunge man and we eche one appoynted to be kept in seuerall places as we are vnto this day Blessed be God we three at the writing hereof were in good health and in God of good cheare We haue looked long agoe to haue bene dispatched for we were all three on one day within a day or two of our disputations of D. Weston being the head Commissioner condemned for heretikes and since that tyme we remayne as we were of hym left The Lordes will be fulfilled in vs as I do not doubt but by his grace it shal be to his glory and our endles saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Likewise the Lord hitherto hath preserued aboue all our expectation our deare brother and in Christes cause a strong Champion Iohn Bradford He is likewyse condemned and is already deliuered to the secular power and writtes as we haue heard say geuen out for his execution and called in agayne Thus the Lord so long as his blessed pleasure is preserueth whom he listeth notwithstanding the wonderfull raging of the world Many as we heare say haue suffered valiauntly confessyng Christes truth and nothyng yeeldyng to the aduersary yea not for the feare or paynes of death The names of them whiche I knewe and haue nowe suffered are these Farrar the Bishop of S. Dauides Hooper the Bishop of Worcester Rogers tuus olim comprebendarius D. Tailour of Hadley M. Sanders and one Tomkins a weauer and now this last day M. Cardmaker with an other were burnt in Smithfielde at London and many other in Essex and Kent whose names are written in the booke of lyfe whom yet I do not know West your olde companion and sometyme myne officer alas hath relented as I haue heard but the Lorde hath shortned his dayes for anone he dyed and is gon Grimbolde was caught by the heele and caste into the Marshalsey but now is at liberty againe but I feare me he escaped not without some becking and bowyng alas of his knee vnto Baall My deare friende Thomas Ridley of the Bulhead in Cheape which was to me the most faythfull friende that I had in my trouble is departed also vnto God My brother Shipside that hath maried my sister hath ben almost halfe a yeare in prison for deliuering as he was accused of certayne thynges I wene from mee but now thankes be to God he is at libertie agayne but so that the Bishop hath taken from him his Parke Of all vs three concaptiues at Oxford I am kept most strait and with least libertie Vel quia viro in cuius aedibus ego custodior vxor dominatur licet modo sit Prefectus ciuitatis mulier vetula morosa superstiosiss quae etiam hoc sibi laudi ducit quod me dicatur arctissime cautissime
of the harte and veritie wherein consisteth true Christian Religion and not in the outward deedes of the letter onely or in the glisteryng shewe of mans traditions or pardons pilgrimages ceremonies vowes deuotions voluntarie workes and workes of supererogation foundations oblations the Popes supremacie c. so that all these either were nedeles where the other is present or els were of small estimation in comparison of the other The tenour and effect of these his Sermons so far as they could come to our handes here foloweth ¶ The tenoure and effecte of certayne Sermons made by mayster Latimer in Cambridge about the yeare of our Lord. 1529. TV quis es which wordes are as much to say in Englyshe Who art thou These be the wordes of the Phariseis which were sent by the Iewes vnto sainct Iohn Baptist in wildernesse to haue knowledge of hym whom he was which woordes they spake vnto hym of an euill intent thinkyng that he would haue taken on hym to be Christe and so they woulde haue had him done with their good willes because they knewe that he was more carnall and geuen to their lawes then Christ in deede should be as they perceyued by their old prophecies and also because they maruayled muche of his great doctryne preachyng and baptising they were in doubt whether he was Christ or not wherefore they sayd vnto him who art thou Then answered sainct Iohn and confessed that he was not Christ. Now here is to be noted the great and prudent answere of saincte Iohn Baptist vnto the Phariseis that when they required of him whom he was he would not directly answere of himselfe what he was him selfe but he sayd he was not Christ by the which saying he thought to put the Iewes and Phariseis out of their false opinion beliefe towardes him in that they would haue had him to exercise the office of Christ and â—o declared farther vnto them of Christ saying he is in the middes of you and amongst you whoÌ„ ye know not whose â—atchet of his shoe I am not worthy to vnlose or vndoe By this you may perceiue that saint Iohn spake much in the lande and prayse of Christ his maister professing himselfe to be in no wise like vnto him So likewise it shal be necessary vnto all men women of this world not to ascribe vnto them selues any goodnes of themselues but all vnto our Lorde God as shall appeare herafter when this question aforesayd Who art thou shall be moued vnto theÌ„ not as the Phariseis did vnto saint Iohn of an euill purpose but of a good and simple minde as may appeare hereafter Now then according to the preachers mynd let euery man and woman of a good simple mind contrary to the Phariseis intent aske this question Who art thou this question must be moued to themselues what they be of themselues on this fashion What art thou of thy only and natural generatioÌ„ betwene father mother wheÌ„ thou camest into this world What substaÌ„ce what vertue what goodnes art thou of by thy selfe which question if thou reherâ—e often times vnto thy selfe thou shalt well perceiue vnderstand how thou shalt make aunswer vnto it which must be made on this wayes I am of my selfe and by my selfe coÌ„ming from my naturall father mother the childe of the ire indignation of God the true inheritour of hel a lumpe of sinne working nothing of my selfe but all towardes hell except I haue better helpe of an other then I haue of my selfe Now we may see in what state we enter in to this world that we be of our selues the true and iust inheritours of hell the children of the ire indignation of Christ working all towardes hell whereby we deserue of our selues perpetuall dampnation by the ryght iudgement of God and the true clayme of our selues which vnthrifty state that we be borne vnto is come vnto vs for our own desertes and proueth well this example followyng Let it be admitted for the probatioÌ„ of this that it might please the kynges grace now being to accept into his fauour a meane man of a simple degre and byrth not borne to any possession whom the kynges grace fauoureth not because this person hath of himselfe deserued any such fauoure but that the kyng casteth this fauoure vnto him of his owne mere motion fantasy and for because the kings grace will more declare his fauoure vnto him he geueth vnto his sayd man a thousand poundes in landes to hym and his heyres on this condition that he shall take vpon him to be the chiefe captayne and defendour of his towne of Calice and to be trew and faythfull vnto hym in the custodie of the same agaynst the Frenche men specially aboue all other enemies This man taketh on hym this charge promysing his fidelitie thereunto It chaunceth in processe of tyme that by the singuler acquaintaunce and frequent familiaritie of this Captaine with the French men these French men geue vnto this sayde Captayne of Calice a great summe of money so that he will be content and agreeable that they may enter into the sayde towne of Calice by force of armes and so thereby to possesse the same vnto the Crowne of Fraunce vpon this agreement the French men doe inuade the sayde Towne of Calice alonely by the neglygence of this Captayne Now the Kynges grace hearyng of this inuasion commeth with a great puissaunce to defende this his sayd Towne and so by good pollicie of warre ouercommeth the sayd French men and entreth againe into his Towne of Calice Then he beyng desyrous to knowe how these enemies of his came thyther he maketh profound searche and enquirie by whom this treason was conspyred by this searche it was knowen and founde his owne Captayne to be the very authoure and beginner of the betraying of it The King seeing the great infidelitie of this person dischargeth this man of his office and taketh from him and his heyres this thousande poundes possessions Thinke you not but the Kyng doth vse iustice vnto him and all his posteritie and heyres Yes truely the sayde Capitayne cannot deny hymselfe but that he hadde true iustice consyderyng howe vnfaythfully he behaued hym to his Prince contrary to his own fidelitie and promyse so likewyse it was of our fyrst Father Adam He had geuen vnto him the spirite of science knowledge to worke all goodnesse therewith this sayd spirite was not geuen alonely vnto him but vnto all his heyres and posteritie He had also deliuered him the Towne of Calice that is to say Paradise in earth the most strong and fayrest Towne in the worlde to be in his custodie He neuerthelesse by the instigation of these Frenche menne that is to say the temptation of the Feende dyd obey vnto their desire and so brake his promise and fidelitie the commaundemeÌ„t of the euerlasting kyng his maister in eatyng of the apple by hym inhibited Now then the kyng seyng this great treason in
will be more lothe not for anye infidelitie but for ignoraunce for I beleue as a christen man ought to beleue but peraduenture my Lord knoweth and wyll know many thyngs certaynely which perchaunce I am ignoraunt in wyth the which ignoraunce though my Lorde of London may if hee will 〈◊〉 discontent yet I trust my Lorde God will pardon it as long as I hurt no man withall and saye to hym with dilligent study and dayly prayer paratum cor meum Deus paratum cor meum so studying preaching and tarying the pleasure and leisure of God And in the meane season Actes viij as Apollo did when hee knew nothing of Christ but Baptismum Iohannis teach and preache myne euen christen that and no farther then I know to be true There be three Creedes one in my masse an other in my mattyns the thyrd common to them that neyther sayeth masse nor mattyns nor yet knoweth what they say when they say the Creede and I beleue all three wyth all that God hath left in holy writte for me and all other to beleeue yet I am ignoraunt in thynges whiche I truste hereafter to know 〈◊〉 I do now know thinges in which I haue bene ignorauâ—t at heretofore euer learne and euer to be learned to profitâ— with learning with ignorance not to noy I haue thought in times past that the Pope Christes Uicar had bene Lord of all the world as Christ is so that if he should haue depryued the kyng of hys Crowne or you of the Lordshyp of Bromeham it had bene enough for he could do no wrong Now I might be hyred to thyncke otherwyse not withstanding I haue both seene and heard scripture drawen to that purpose I haue thought in tymes past that the Popes dispensations of pluralities of benefices and absence from the same had discharged consciences before God forasmuche as I had heard ecce vobiscum sum qui vos aâ—dit me audit bended to coroborate the same Nowe I might be easely entreated to thinke otherwise c. I haue thought in times past that the P. could haue spoyled purgatory at his pleasure with a word of his mouth now learnyng might perswade me otherwise or els I woulde maruayle why he would suffer so muche money to be bestowed that way whiche so needefull is to be bestowed otherwise and to depriue vs of so many patrones in heaueÌ„ as he might deliuer out of purgatorye c. I haue thought in tymes past that and if I hadde bene a Fryer and in a cowle I could not haue bene daÌ„pned nor afeard of death and by occasion of the same I haue bene minded manye tymes to haue bene a Fryer namely wheÌ„ I was sore sick and diseased Now I abhorre my superstitious foolishenes c. I haue thought in tymes past that diuers Images of sayntes could haue holpen me and done me much good and deliuered me of my diseases now I know that one can helpe as much as an other And it pittyeth myne hart that my Lord and such as my Lord is can suffer the people to be so craftely deceiued it were to long to tell you what blindnes I haue bene in and howe long it were or I coulde forsake such folly it was so corporate in me but by coÌ„tinual prayer coÌ„tinual study of scripture oft coÌ„muning with men of more right iudgemeÌ„t God hath deliuered me c. Yea meÌ„ thinketh that my lord himself hath thought in tymes past that by Gods lawe a man might marrye hys brothers wyfe which nowe both dare thinke and say contrarye and yet this his boldnes might haue chaunced in Pope Iulius dayes to stand hym eyther in a fire or els in a fagot Whiche thing deepely considered and pondered of my Lord might something stirre hym to charitable equity and to be something remissable toward men which labor to do good as theyr power serueth wyth knowledge and doth hurt to no man with theyr ignorauncye for there is no greater distaunce then betweene Gods lawe and not gods law nor it is not so or so because any man thinketh it so or so but because it is so or so in deede therefore wee muste thynke it so or so when God shal geue vs knowledge thereof for if it be in deede eyther so or not it is so or not so though all the world hadde thought otherwyse these thousand yeares c. And finally as ye saye the matter is weightye and ought substantially to bee looked vpon euen as weighty as my lyfe is worth but howe to looke substantially vpon it otherwyse know not I then to pray my Lord God day and nyght that as he hath bolded me to preache hys truthe so hee will strengthen me to suffer for it to the edification of them which haue taken by the workyng of hym fruite thereby and euen so I desire you and all other that fauour me for hys sake lykewise to pray for it is not I wythout his mighty helping hand that can abide that brute but I haue trust that God will helpe me in tyme of neede whiche if I had not the Ocean sea I thinke should haue deuided my Lord of LoÌ„don and me by thys day For it is a rare thing for a Preacher to haue fauour at hys hand which is no preacher him selfe and yet ought to be I pray God that both he and I may both discharge our selues he in hys great cure and I in my little to Gods pleasure and safety of our soules Amen I pray you pardon me that I write no more dystinctly more truely for my head is so out of frame that it should be to paynefull for me to write it agayne and if I be not preuented shortly I intend to make mery with my Parishioners thys Christmas for all the sorrowe least perchaunce I neuer returne to them agayne and I haue heard say that a Doe is as good in wynâ—er as a Bucke in sommer * A letter of Syr Edward Baynton Knight aunsweryng to the letter of M. Latymer sent to him before MAyster Latimer after hartye recommendations I haue coÌ„municated the effect of youre letters to diuers of my frendes such as for Christen charity as they say rather desire in you a reformation eyther in youre opinion if it swerue froÌ„ the truth or at the least in your maner and behauiour in as much as it geueth occasion of sclaunder and trouble in let of your good purposes then anye other inconuenience to youre person or good name And for asmuch as your sayd letter misliked them in some parte and that I haue such confidence in your Christen breste as in my iudgement ye wil conformably and gladly both heare that may be reformed in you and also as it is worthy so knowledge and confesse the same I haue therefore desired them to take the payne to note theyr mindes in this letter whiche I send to you as agregate of theyr sayinges sent from me your assured frend and fauourer in that
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
and sundrye erroneous opinyons whiche the sayde Hugh Latymer and Nicholas Ridley dyd holde and mayntayne in open disputations had in Oxford in the Monethes of Maye Iune and Iuly in the yeare of our Lorde 1554. as longe before in the tyme of perdition and sithen The whyche opynions if the named persons woulde now recant geuynge and yealdyng themselues to the determination of the vnyuersall and Catholicke Churche planted by Peter in the blessed Sea of Rome that then the deputed Iudges by the sayd authority of theyr Commission should haue power to receaue the sayde penitente persons and forthwith minister to them the reconciliation of the holye Father the Pope but if the sayd Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley woulde stoughtly and stubburnely defend and mayntaine these theyr erroneous and assertions that then the sayd Lordes by theyr Commission should proceede in forme of Iudgement accordyng to the lawe of Hereticks that is degradyng them from theyr promotion and dignitie of byshops priests al other Ecclesiastical orders shoulde pronounce them as Heretickes and therefore cleane to cut them off from the Churche and so to yealde them to receaue punishementes due to all such heresy and schisme Wherefore the last of September the sayde two persones Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were ascited to appeare before the sayd Lordes in the diuinitie schoole at Oxforde at viij of the clocke At what time thether repayred the Lords placyng themselues in high seat made for publicke lectures and disputations accordynge to the vsage of that schoole beyng then fayre set and trymmed with clothe of Tissue and cushynges of Ueluet and after the sayde Lordes were placed and set the sayd Latymer Ridley were sent for and first appeared mayster Doctour Ridley and anone mayster Latymer But because it seemed good seuerally to examine them M. Latymer was kept backe vntill Doctour Ridley was throughly examined Therefore soone after the comming of Doctour Ridley into the schoole the Commission was published by an appoynted Notary and openly read But Doctour Ridley standing bare headed humblye expectinge the cause of that hys appearaunce eftsoones as he had heard the Cardinall named and the Popes holines put on hys cappe Wherefore after the commission was published in forme and sense aboue specified the Bishop of Lincolne spake in sense followyng Lincolne M. Ridley although neyther I neyther my Lordes here in respecte of our owne persones doe looke for cappe or knee yet because we beare represent such persones as we doe that is my Lorde Cardinalles grace Legate a latere to the popes holinesse as well in that he is of a noble parentage and therwith mayster Ridley mooued hys cappe with lowly obeysaunce descendyng from the regall bloud as in that he is a man worthy to be reuerenced with all humility for hys great knowledge and learning noble vertues and godly lyfe and especially in that he is here in Englande deputye to the popes holynesse it should haue becommed you at his name to haue discouered your head Wherefore excepte you will of youre owne selfe take the paynes to put your hand to your heade and at the nomination as well of the sayde Cardinall as of the Popes holines vncouer the same least that this your contumacy exhibited how before vs should be preiudiciall to the sayd moâ—â—e reuerende persones whiche thing we may in no case suffer you shall cause vs to take the payne to cause some manne to plucke off youre cappe from you To whome mayster Ridley makinge his petition for lycence aunswered Ridley As touching that you sayd my Lord that you of your owne persones desire no cappe nor knee but only require the same in consideration that you represent the Cardinalles graces persone I doe you to wit and thervpon make my protestation that I did put on my cappe at the naming of the Cardinalles grace neither for anye contumacye that I beare towardes your own persones neither for any derogation of honour towarde the Lorde Cardinalles grace For I know him to be a man worthy of all humilitie reuerence and honour in that he came of the most regall bloud in that he is a man indued wyth manifolde graces of learning and vertue and as touching these vertues and poynts I with all humilitie therwith he put of his cap and bowed his knee and obeysance that I may will reuerence and honour his grace but in that he is Legate to the Byshop of Rome and therewith put on his cap whose vsurped supremacy and abused authoritie I vtterly refuse and renouÌ„ce I may in no wise geue any obeysaunce or honour vnto him least that my so doing and behauiour might be preiudiciall to mine othe derogation to the veritie of Gods word and therfore that I might not onely by confession professe the veritye in not reuerencing the renounced authoritie contrarye to Gods worde but also in gesture in behauioure and all my doinges expresse the same I haue put on my cappe and for this consideration onely and not for anye contumacye to your Lorshipp neither contempt of this worshipfull audience neither derogation of any honour due to the Cardinall his grace both for his noble parentage and also his excellent quallities I haue kept on my cappe Lincolne M. Ridley you excuse your selfe of that with the whiche we pressed you not in that you proteste you keepe on your cappe neither for anye contumacie towardes vs which looke for no such honour of you neyther for anye contempt of this audieÌ„ce which although iustly they may yet as I suppose in this case do not require any suche obeysaunce of you neither in derogation of any honor but to my Lord Cardinalles grace for his regall discent at which worde M. Ridley moued his cap excellent quallities for although in all the premisses honour be due yet in these respects we require none of you but onely in that my Lorde Cardinals grace is here in England deputy of the Popes holinesse at whiche worde the Lordes and others put of their caps and mayster Ridley put on hys and therefore we say vnto you the second time that except you take the paynes your selfe to put your hande to your head and put of your cap you shall put vs to the payne to cause some man to take it from you except you alledge some infirmitie and sickenes or other more reasonable cause vpon the consideration whereof we may doe as 〈◊〉 thinke good Ridley The premisses I sayd onely for this end that it might as wel appeare to your Lordships as to this worshipfull audience why and for what consideration I vsed such kinde of behauiour in not humbling my selfe to youre Lordships with cap and knee and as for my sickenes I thanke my Lord GOD that I am as well at â—ase as I was this long season and therfore I doe not pretend that which is not but onely this that it might appeare by this my behauiour that I acknowledge
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
dignitie honour and estimation so necessary members sometime accounted so many godly vertues the study of so many yeares such excellent learnyng to be put into the fire and consumed in one moment Wel dead they are and the reward of this world they haue already What reward remayneth for them in heauen the day of the Lordes glory when he commeth with his saints shall shortly I trust declare Albeit I haue differred and put ouer many treatises letters exhortations belongyng to the story of the Martyrs vnto the latter appendix in the ende of this volume thinkyng also to haue done the lyke with these farewels exhortations followyng of D. Ridley yet for certain purposes moouing me thereunto and especially consideryng the fruitfull admonitions wholesome doctrine and necessary exhortations conteyned in the same I thought best here to bestow and consequently to adioyne the sayd tractations of that learned pastour with the lyfe and story of the authour Whereof the two first be in a manner of hys farewels the one to his kinsfolks and generally to all the faithfull of the number of Christes congregation the other more speciall to the prisoners and banished ChristiaÌ„s in the gospels cause the third containeth a fruitfull and a generall admonition to the citie of London and to all other with necessary precepts of christian office as by the tenour of them here followeth in order to be seene ¶ A treatise or a letter written by D. Ridley in steade of his last farewell to all hys true and faythfull friendes in God with a sharpe admonition withall vnto the Papistes AT the name of Iesus let euery knee bow both of thynges in heauen and thynges in earth and things vnder the earth and let euery tongue confesse that Iesus Christ is the lord vnto the glory of God the Father Amen As a man mynding to take a farre iourney and to depart from his familiar frendes commonly and naturally hath a desire to bidde his frendes farewell before his departure so lykewise now I looking daylye when I should be cauled to depart hence from you O all ye my dearely beloued brethren sisters in our Sauiour Christ that dwell here in this worlde hauing a lyke mynde towardes you all and blessed be God for such tyme and leasure whereof I right hartely thanke his heauenly goodnesse to byd you all my deare brethren sisters I saye in Christ that dwell vpon the earth after such maner as I can Farewell Farewell my deare brother George Shipside whom I haue euer found faythfull trusty and louyng in all sâ—ate and conditions and now in the tyme of my crosse ouer al other to me most frendly and stedfast and that which lyked me best ouer all other thynges in Gods cause euer hartye Farewell my deare sister Alice his wyfe I am glad to heare of thee that thou doest take Christes crosse which is layd now blessed be God both on thy backe and myne in good part Thanke thou God that hath geuen thee a godly and louyng husband see thou honour hym and obey hym accordyng to Gods law Honour thy mother in law hys mother and loue all those that pertaine vnto him beyng redy to do them good as it shall lye in thy power As for thy children I doubt not of thy husband but that hee which hath geuen him an hart to loue and feare God and in God them that pertaine vnto him shall also make hym friendly and beneficiall vnto thy children euen as if they had bene gotten of his owne body Farewell my welbeloued brother Iohn Ridley of the Waltoun and you my gentle and louing sister Elizabeth whom besides the naturall league of amitie your tender loue which you were sayde euer to beare towardes mee aboue the rest of your brethren doth bynde mee to loue My mynde was to haue acknowledged this your louyng affection and to haue acquited it with deedes and not with wordes alone Your daughter Elizabeth I bid farewell whome I loue for the meeke and gentle spirite that God hath geuen her which is a precious thyng in the sight of God Farewell my beloued sister of Unthanke with al your children nephewes and neeces Since the departing of my brother Hugh my mynd was to haue bene vnto them in stead of their father but the Lord God must and wyll bee their father if they will loue hym and feare hym and lyue in the trade of hys law Farewel my welbeloued and worshipful Cosins M. Nich. Ridley of Willimountswike and your wyfe and I thanke you for all your kindnes shewed both to me and also to all your owne kinsfolke and myne Good Cosine as God hath set you in our stocke and kindered not for any respect of your person but of hys aboundaunt grace and goodnesse to be as it were the belweather to order conduct the rest and hath also endued you with hys manifold gyfts of grace both heauenly and worldly aboue others so I pray you good Cosin as my trust and hope is in you continue and encrease in the maintenaunce of the truth honesty righteousnesse and all true godlinesse and to the vttermost of your power to withstand falshoode vntruth vnrighteousnesse and all vngodlinesses whiche is forbidden and condemned by the worde and Lawes of God Farewell my young Cosin Rafe Whitfield Oh your tyme was very short with mee My mynde was to haue done you good and yet you caught in that litle time a losse but I trust it shall bee recompensed as it shall please almighty God Farewel all my whole kinred and countreymen farewell in Christ altogether The Lord which is the searcher of secrets knoweth that according to my harts desire my hope was of late that I should haue come among you to haue brought with me aboundance of Christes blessed Gospell according to the duetie of that office and ministerie whereunto among you I was chosen named and appointed by the mouth of that our late peerelesse Prince K. Edward and so also denounced openly in his Court by his priuy Counsaile I warne you all my welbeloued kinsfolke countrymen that ye be not amased or astonied at the kynde of my departure or dissolution for I ensure you I thinke it the most honour that euer I was called vnto in all my lyfe and therefore I thanke my Lord God hartily for it that it hath pleased him to call me of his great mercy vnto this high honour to suffer death willingly for his sake and in hys cause vnto the which honour he hath called the holy Prophetes and dearely beloued Apostles and his blessed chosen Martyrs For know ye that I doubt no more but that the causes wherefore I am put to death are Gods causes and the causes of the truth then I doubt that the Gospell which Iohn wrote is the Gospell of Christ or that Paules Epistles are the very word of God And to haue a hart willyng to abide and stand in
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
of your being here I pray you tell me what was the cause of your sending hither for I promise you I knew nothing thereof as yet neither I woulde you shoulde thinke that I was the cause thereof and I maruell that other men wyll trouble me with theyr matters but I must be obedient to my betters and ywis men speake otherwise of me then I deserue Phil. I shewed him the summe of the matter that it was for the disputation in the conuocation house for the which I was agaynst all right molested Boner I maruell that you shoulde be troubled therefore if there was none other cause but this But peraduenture you haue mainteyned the same since and some of your frendes of late haue asked whether you doe stande to the same and you haue said Yea and for this you might be cōmitted to prison Phil. If it shall please your Lordshippe I am burdened none otherwise then I haue tolde you by the Commissioners who haue sēt me hither because I would not recant the same Boner A man may speake in the parliament house though it be a place of free speech as he may be imprisoned for as in case he spake wordes of high treason against the king or queen so it might be that you spake otherwise then it become you of the Church of Christ. Phil. I spake nothing which was out of the articles whiche were called in question and agreed vpon to be disputed by the whole house and by the Queenes permissiō and the Counsell Boner Why may we dispute of our fayth Phil. Yea that we may Boner Nay I trow not by the law Phil. In deed by the Ciuill law I know it is not lawfull but by Gods law we may reasō therof For S. Peter saith Be ye ready to render accompt vnto all men of that hope whiche is in you that demaund you of the same Boner In deede Saynt Peter sayth so Why then I aske of you what your iudgement is of the Sacramente of the Aultar Phil. My Lord Saynt Ambrose sayth that the disputatiō of faith ought to be in the congregation in the hearing of the people and that I am not bound to render account therof to euery man priuately vnlesse it be to edify But nowe I cannot shewe you my minde but I muste runne vpon the pikes in daunger of my life therfore Wherfore as the said Doctor sayd vnto Ualentinian the Emperour so say I to your Lordship Tolle legem fiet certamen Take awaye the lawe and I shall reason with you And yet if I come in open iudgement where I am bound by the law to aunswere I trust I shall vtter my conscience as freely as any that hath come before you Boner I perceiue you are learned I would haue such as you be about me But you must come be of the church for there is but one Church Phil. God forbid I should be out of the church I am sure I am within the same for I know as I am taught by the scripture that there is but one catholick church Vna Colūba vna Sponsa vna Dilecta One Doue one Spouse one beloued Congregation out of the which there is no saluation Boner How chaunceth it then that you go out of the same and walke not with vs Phil. My Lorde I am sure I am within the boundes of the Church whereupon she is builded which is the word of God Boner What age are ye of Phil. I am foure and forty Boner You are not now of the same fayth your godfathers and godmothers promised for you in the which you were baptised Phil. Yes that I thank God I am for I was baptised into the fayth of Christ which I now hold Boner How can that be there is but one fayth Phil. I am assured of that by Saynt Paule saying That there is but one God one fayth and one baptisme of the which I am Boner You were xx yeare ago of an other fayth then you be now Phil. In deede my Lorde to tell you playne I was then nullus fidei of no fayth a neuter a wicked liuer neither hoat nor colde Boner Why doe you not thinke that wee haue nowe the true fayth Phil. I desire your Lordship to hold me excused for answering at this time I am sure that Gods worde throughlye with the Primitiue church and all the aūcient writers doe agree with this fayth I am of Boner Well I promise you I meane you no more hurte then to mine owne person I will not therfore burthē you with your conscience as nowe I maruell that you are so mery in prison as you be singing and reioysing as the prophet saith Exultātes in rebus pessimis reioising in your naughtinesse Me thinketh you do not wel herein you should rather lament and be sory Phil. My Lord the myrth that we make is but in singing certayne Psalmes according as we are commaūded by S. Paule willing vs to be mery in the Lord singing together in Hymnes and Psalmes and I trust your Lordship can not be displeased with that Boner We may say vnto you as Christ said in the Gospel Tibijs cecinimus vobis non planxistis Phil. Here my Lorde stumbled and coulde not bring forth the text and required his Chapleines to help and put him in remembrance of the text better but they were mumme and I recited out the text vnto him whiche made nothing to his purpose vnles he would haue vs to mourn because they if they laughe sing still sorrowfull thinges vnto vs threatning fagots and fire We are my Lord in a darcke comfortlesse place therefore it behooueth vs to be mery least as Salomon sayeth sorrowfulnesse eate vp our harte Therefore I truste your Lordship will not bee angrye for our singing of Psalmes since Saynt Paule sayth If any man bee of an vpright minde let hym sing And we therefore to testifye that we are of an vpright minde to God though wee be in misery doe sing Boner I will trouble you no further as nowe If I can doe you any good I will bee glad to doe it for you God be with you good Mayster Philpot and geue you good night Haue him to the Sellar and let him drinke a cup of wine Thus I departed and by my Lordes Register I was brought to his Sellar doore where I dranke a good cup of wine And my Lords Chapleine M. Cousin folowed me taking acquayntance saying that I was welcome wished that I would not be singular Phil. I am well taught the contrary by Salomon saying Vae soli Wo be to him that is alone After that I was caryed to my Lordes Colehouse agayne where I with my sixe felowes do rouse together in the straw as chearefully we thanke God as other do in theyr beds of Downe Thus for the third fitte ¶ The fourth examination of M. Philpot in the Archdeacons house of London the sayd moneth of October
knowledge that your Lordship oughte to proceed agaynst me And here Mayster Doctour would say nothing Worcest Doe you not thinke to finde before my Lord here as good equity in your cause as before your owne Ordinary Phil. I canne not blame my Lorde of Londons equitye with whom I thanke his Lordship I haue found more gentlenes since I came then of mine owne Ordinary I speak it for no flattery this twelue moneth and this halfe before who neuer woulde call me to aunswere as his Lordship hath done now twise Sed nemo prohibetur vti iure suo but I ought not to bee forestalled of my right and therefore I challenge the same for diuers other considerations Boner Nowe you can not saye hereafter but that ye haue bene gently cōmuned withal of my Lordes here yet you be wilfull obstinate in your error and in your owne opinions will not shewe any cause why you will not come into the vnity of the Church with vs. Phil. My Lordes in that I doe not declare my minde according to your expectation is as I haue sayd because I can not speak without present daunger of my life But rather then you shoulde report me by this either ostinate or selfe willed without any iust ground wherupon I stand I will open vnto you somewhat of my minde or rather the whole desiring your lordships which seme to be pillers of the Church of Englande to satisfye me in the same and I will referre all other causes in the which I dissēt from you vnto one or two articles or rather to one which includeth them both in the which if I can by the scriptures be satisfied at your mouthes I shall as willingly agree to you as any other in all poyntes Boner These heretickes come alwayes with their ifs as this man doth now saying if he can be satisfied by the scriptures so that he will alwayes haue this exception I am not satisfied although the matter be neuer so playnly proued agaynst him But wil you promise to be satisfied if my Lordes take some paynes about you Phil. I say my Lord I will be satisfied by the Scriptures in that wherein I stand And I protest here before God his eternall sonne Iesus Christ my Sauiour and the holy ghost and his Angels and you here present that be iudges of that I speak that I do not stand in any opiniō of wylfulnes or singularity but onely vpon my conscience certainly informed by gods word from the which I dare not go for feare of damnatiō and this is the cause of mine earnestnes in this behalfe Boner I will trouble my Lords no longer seing that you will not declare your minde Phil. I am about so to doe if it please your Lordshippe to heare me speake Bathe Geue him leaue my Lord to speake that he hath to say Phil. My Lordes it is not vnknowne to you that the chiefe cause why you do count me and such as I am for hereticks is because we be not at vnity with your Churche You say you are of the true Church and we say we are of the true Church You say that who is out of your church is damned and we thinke verily on the other side that if we depart from the true church wheron we are graffed in Gods word we should stand in the state of dānatiō Wherfore if your Lordship can bring any better authorityes for your church then we can do for ours proue by the scriptures that the Churche of Rome nowe of the which you are is the true Catholick Church as in al your sermons writinges and argumentes you doe vpholde and that all christen persons ought to be ruled by the same vnder pain of damnation as you say and that the same Churche as you pretend hath authority to interprete the scriptures as it semeth her good and that all men are bound to folow such interpretations onely I shal be as conformable to the same Church as you may desire me the whiche otherwise I dare not therfore I require you for Gods sake to satisfy me in this Cole If you stand vpon this poynt onely you may soone be satisfied if you list Phil. It is the thing that I require to this I haue sayd I will stand and refer all other controuersies wherein I stand now agaynst you and will put my hād therto if you mistrust my word Boner I pray you mayster Philpot what faith were you of twenty yeares ago This man will haue euery yeare a new fayth Phil. My Lorde to tell you playne I thinke I was of no fayth for I was then a wicked liuer and knewe not God then as I ought to do God forgeue me Boner No were that is not so I am sure you were of some fayth Phil. My lord I haue declared to you on my cōsciēce what I then was and iudge of my selfe And what is that to the purpose of the thing I desire to be satisfied of you Boner Mayster Doctour Cole I pray you say your mind to him Cole What will you say if I can proue that it was decreed by an vniuersall coūcell in Athanasius time that all the christen church should folow the determinatiō of the church of Rome but I do not now remember were Phil. If you Mayster Doctour canne shewe me the same graunted to the Sea of Rome by the authority of the scripture I will gladly harken thereto But I thinke you be not able to shewe any suche thinge for Athanasius was President of Nicene councell and there was no such thing decreed I am sure Cole Though it were not then it might bee at an other time Phil. I desire to see the proofe thereof And vpon this M. Harpsfield Chauncellor to the Bishop of Londō brought in a booke of Ireneus with certaine leaues turned in and layd it before the Bishops to helpe them in theyr perplexity if it might be the which after the Bishops of Bath and Glocester had read together the Bishop of Glocester gaue me the booke Gloc. Take the booke M. Philpot and looke vppon that place and there may you see how the church of Rome is to be folowed of all men Phil. I tooke the Booke and read the place the which after I had read I sayd it made nothing agaynst me but agaynst the Arians and other Heretickes agaynst whome Ireneus wrote prouing that they were not to be credited because they did teach and folowe after straunge doctrine in Europa and that the chiefe Churche of the same was founded by Peter and Paule and had to this time continued by faythfull succession of the faythfull Bishoppes in preaching the true Gospell as they had receiued of the Apostles and nothing like to the late sprong Heretickes c. Whereby hee concludeth agaynste them that they were not to be heard neither to bee credited the whiche thing if you my Lordes be able to prooue nowe of the Churche of Rome then had
generatioÌ„ shall sit in the temple To the which Chichester replied not Dures The Church in the scripture is likened to a great fishers net which conteineth in it both good fishes bad fishes I trust you wil be of the better sort and leane to the truth Phil. My Lord it is my whole desire now to follow that which is good whatsoeuer I haue done in times past and to cleaue to gods truth Dures Do you so and then shall you do well It is almost night my L. of London I must needes be gone Lond Nay my L. of Duresme I must desire your Lordship and my L. of Chichester to tary a litle while And before he had so sayd the B. of Bathe went his way without saying any word What my L. of Bath will you be gone I pray you tary My Lordes I haue earnest matter to charge this man withall wherof I would your lordships to be made priuy and I haue them here written in a libel I pray you sit downe againe or els I will First I â—ay to him here that hee hath written in a Bible which I tooke from hym this erroneous saying Quod spiritus est vicarius Christi in terra i. The holy Ghost is Christes Uicare in earth Wilt thou abide by this saying of thine That the spirit is Christes vicar on earth Phil. My L. it is not my saying it is a better learned maÌ„s then myne For I vse not to write myne owne sayings but the notable sayings of other auncient writers as all the others be where ye find the same writen And as I remember it is euen the saying of Saint Bernard a saying that I neede not to be ashamed of neyther you to bee offended as my L. of Duresme and my L. of Chichester by their learnyng can discerne and will not recken it euill sayd Lond. No will Why take away the first syllable and it foundeth Arius Phil. That is farre fetched in deede if your Lordship will scan mens sayings in such wise you may finde out what you list Lond. But to helpe this I finde moreouer written wyth hys owne hand in another booke In me Ioanne Philpotto vbi abundauit peccatum superabundauit gratia that is In me Iohn Philpot where sinne did abound grace hath superabounded I pray you what superabundaÌ„t grace haue you more then other men So said Arius that he had the aboundance of grace aboue all other Phil. My L. you neede not to be offended with that saying more then the other for it is the saying of S. Paule hymself and I did apply it to my self for my comfort knowing that though my sinnes be huge great in the sight of God yet is his mercy grace aboue them all And concernyng Arius his adherents I defie them as it is well known I haue written against them Lond. Also I lay to thy charge that thou killedst thy father and wast accursed of thy mother in her deathbed as I can bring witnes hereof Phil. O Lord what blasphemy is this Hath your Lordship nothing of truth to charge me withall but as I may speake it with your honoures such forged blasphemous lyes If any of these can be prooued I will promise here to recant at Paules Crosse what you wil haue me I am so sure they are as great blasphemies as may bee obiected agaynst any man Ha my Lordes I pray you consider how my L. of London hath hitherto proceded against me for in deed he hath none other but such pretensed slaunderous lyes Chich. They be Parerga that is matters beside the purpose Dures My Lord I must needes bid you farewell Lond. Nay my Lord here is a letter which I shall desire your Lordship to heare ere you goe This man beyng in my kepyng hath taken vpon hym to write letters out of prison to peruert a yong Gentleman called M. Greene in my house call him hither and hath made a false report of his examination as you shall heare not beyng content to be euill himselfe but to make others as bad as himselfe He all to tare the letter when he saw my man went about to search hym but yet I haue pieced it agayne togither caused a copy to be written therof and he red the torne letter biddyng M. Christopherson and Morgan to marke the copy thereof The contents of the letter was the examination of M. Greene before the B. of London in the presence of Maister Feckenham Deane of Paules and of diuers others whose ready answers in the Scriptures and in the Doctors was wondred at of the Deane hymselfe and of many others as M. Fecknam did report and that he was committed to D. Chadsey and to haue his meat from the Bishops owne table How say you my Lords was this wel done of hym beyng my prisoner to write this And yet he hath written a shamefull lye that he was in D. Chadseys keping How say you M. Doc. Chadsey is it not a shamefull lye Chad. Yes my L. he was neuer in my keping London Art thou not ashamed to write suche shamefull lyes Come hether M. Greene did not I shew you this letter Greene. Yea forsooth my L. you shewed it me Lond. How thinke you my Lordes is not this an honest man to belye me Phil. Your Lordship doth mistake all things This letter as your Lordship may perceiue and all other that haue heard the same was not written by me but by a friend of myne certifieng me at my request how M. Greene sped at the B. of Londons hands and there is nothing in the letter that either I or he that wrote it neede to feare but that might be written as my report London Then tell me who wrote it if you dare Phil. No my L. it is not my duty to accuse my friend and specially seyng you will take all thyngs at the worst neither you shall neuer know of me who wrote it Your lordship may see in the end of the letter that my friend did write vnto me vppon the occasion of my appeale which I haue made to the whole Parliament house about such matters as I am wrongfully troubled for London I would see any so hardy to put vppe thine Appeale Phil. My L. I cannot tell what God will worke I haue written it speed as it may Lond My L. I haue vsed him with much gentlenes since he came to me How sayst thou haue I not Phil. If to lie in the vilest prison in this towne being a geÌ„tleman and an Archdeacon and in a colehouse by the space of v. or vj. weekes alredy without fire or candle bee to be counted gentlenes at your handes I must needes say I haue found gentlenes But there were neuer men so cruelly handled as we are at these dayes London Loe what a Uarlet is this Besides this my Lordes euen yesterday hee procured hys man to bryng a bladder of blacke Pouder I can
an hereticke and that shortly Phil. I feare nothing I thanke God you can doe to me But God shall destroy suche as thou art and that shortly as I trust Boner Haue him away this is a knaue in deed Phil. And I was had into the Wardrobe again by my keper and within an houre after was sent for to come before him and the bishops of Worcestâ—r and Bangor Boner Syr I haue talked with you manye tymes and haue caused you to bee talked with of manye learned men yea and honourable both Temporall and Spirituall and it auayleth nothing with you I am blamed that I haue brought thee afore so many for they say thou gloryest to haue many to talke withall Well nowe it lyeth thee vpon to looke to thy selfe for thy time draweth neare to an ende if thou doe not become conformable And at this presente we are sent from the Synode to offer you this grace that if you will come to the vnity of the Church of Rome with vs and acknowledge the reall presence of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar with vs all that is past shal be forgeuen and you receiued to fauor Worcest Mayster Philpot we are sent as you here haue heard by my Lord of London from the Synode to offer you mercy if you will receiue it And of good will I beare you I wishe you to take it whilest it is offered and bee not a singular man agaynste a whole multitude of learned men which now in fasting and prayer are gathered together to deuise thinges to doe you good There haue manye learned men talked with you why should you think your selfe better learned theÌ„ them all Be not of such arrogancy but haue humility and remember there is no saluatioÌ„ but in the church Bangor Me thinketh my Lorde hath sayde wonderfullye well vnto you that you shoulde not thinke your selfe so well learned but other men are as well learned as you neither of so good wit but other be as wise as you neither of so good memory but other haue as good memory as you Therfore mistrust your owne iudgement and come home to vs agayne I wis I neuer liked your Religion because it was set forth by violence and tyranny and that is no token of true Religion And I was that same maner of man then that I am now and a greate manye moe Mary for feare we held our peace and bare with that time Wherfore M. Philpot I would you did wel for I loue you therfore be content to come home with vs agayne into the catholicke church of Rome Phil. Where my Lorde as I may begin first to aunswere you you say that Religion is to be misliked which is set forth by tyranny I pray God you geue not meÌ„ occasion to thinke the same by yours at this day which haue none other argument to stand by but violence If you can shewe me by any good sufficient ground whereby to ground my conscience that the church of Rome is the true Catholicke church wherunto you cal me I wil gladly be of the same otherwise I can not so soone chaunge the Religion I haue learned these many yeares Bangor Where was your Religion I pray you an hundred yeares agoe that any man knew of it Phil. It was in Germany and in diuers other places apparant Worc. Iesus will you be still so singuler a man What is Germany to the whole world Boner My Lordes I pray you geue me leaue to tell you that I sent for him to heare masse this morning and wote you what excuse he made vnto me forsoothe that he was accursed alledging his own shame He playeth as the varlet Latimer did at Cambridge When the Uicechancellor sent for him who intended to haue excommunicated him for some of his heresies the Chancellor was coÌ„ming to hys chamber he hearing that the Chancellor was comming made answere that he was sick of the plague so deluded the Chancellor euen so this man sayth he is acursed because he will not come to masse Worc. My Lorde I am sure here doth behaue hymselfe like a father vnto you therfore be admonished by him and by vs that come now frendly vnto you and folow your fathers before you Phil. It is forbidden vs of God by the Prophet Ezechiel to folow our fathers neither to walke in theyr commaundementes Worc. It is written also in an other place Interroga patres Aske of your fathers Phil. We ought to aske in deed our fathers that haue more experience and knowledge then we of Gods will but no more to allow them then we perceiue they agree with the Scripture Worc. You will be a contentious man I see well and S. Paul saith that we neither the church of god haue no such custome Phil. I am not contentious but for the verity of my fayth in the which I ought to conteÌ„d with all such as do impugne the same without any iust obiection Worc. Let vs rise my Lord for I see we shall doe no good Boner Nay I pray you tary and heare the articles I laye to his charge And after he had recited them they arose after standing they reasoned with me a while Worc. Mayster Philpot I am very sory that you will bee so singular I neuer talked with none yet in my Dioces but after once coÌ„munication had with me they haue bene conteÌ„ted to reuoke theyr errors to teach the people how they were deceiued so do muche good as you may if you list For as I vnderstande you were Archdeacon of Winchester which is the eye of the Bishop and you maye doe much good in that countrey if you would forsake your errors and come to the catholicke church Phil. Wherwithall you so soone persuaded theÌ„ to your wil I see not Errour that I knowe I holde none and of the Catholicke Church I am sure I am Worc. The Catholicke Churche doeth acknowledge a reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament and so wyll not you Phil. That is not so For I acknowledge a very essentiall presence in the duely vsing of the sacrament Worc. What a reall presence Phil. Yea a reall presence by the spirite of God in the right administration Worc. That is well sayd and do you agree with the Catholicke church also Phil. I do agree with the true catholicke church Worc. My Lord of LondoÌ„ this man speaketh reasonably now Boner You do agree in generalities but wheÌ„ it shal come to the particularities you will farre disagree Worc. Well keepe your selfe here and you shall haue other learned Bishops to commoÌ„ further with you as my lord of Duresme and my Lord of Chichester whome I heare say you do like well Phil. I doe like them as I doe all other that speaketh the truth I haue once already spoken with them they fouÌ„de no fault with me Worc. Pray in the meane season for grace to God Phil. Prayer is the comfortablest exercise
the Bishop deliuered vnto Philpot two books one of the ciuill law and the other of the Canon out of the which he would haue proued that he had authority to proceede agaynst him in such sorte as he did M. Philpot then perusing the same and seeing the small and slender proofe that was there alledged sayd vnto the Bishop Philpot. I perceiue your law and Diuinity is all one for you haue knowledge in neither of them and I woulde ye did know your owne ignoraunce but ye daunce in a net and thinke that no man doth see you Hereupon they hadde much talke but what it was it is not yet knowne At last Boner spake vnto him and sayd Lond. Philpot as concerning your abiections agaynste my iurisdiction ye shall vnderstand that both the Ciuill Canon lawes make against you and as for your appeal it is not allowed in this case For it is written in the law A iudice dispositionem iuris exequente non est appellandum Phil. My Lord it appeareth by your interpretation of the law that ye haue no knowledge therin nor that ye do vnderstand the lawe for if ye did ye would not bring in that Text. Hereupon the Bishop recited a law of the Romaines that it was not lawful for a Iew to keepe a Christian man in captiuity and to vse him as his slaue laying then to the sayd Philpots charge that he did not vnderstand the law but did like a Iew. Wherunto Philpot aunswered Phil. No I am no Iewe but you my Lord are a Iewe. For you professe Christ and mainteine Antichrist you professe the Gospell maynteine superstition ye bee able to charge me with nothing Lond. and other Bish. With what can you charge vs Phil. You are enemies to all truth and all your doinges be noughte full of Idolatrye sauing the Article of the Trinity Whilest they were thus debating the matter there came thither syr William Garret knight then Maior of Londō Sir Martin Bowes knight and Thomas Leigh then Shiriffe of the same City and sat downe with the sayd byshops in the sayd Consistory where and what time bishop Boner spake these wordes in effect as foloweth Lond. Philpot before the comming of my Lord Maior because I would not enter with you into the matter wherewith I haue heretofore now intend to charge you with all vntill his comming I did rehearse vnto you a prayer both in English and in Latin which bishop Stokesly my predecessor vsed when he entended to proceede to geue sentence agaynst an hereticke And here they did agayne reade the sayd prayer both in English and also in Latin which being ended he spake agayne vnto him and sayd Lond. Philpot amongest other I haue to charge you especially with three thinges 1. First where you haue fallen from the vnity of Christs catholicke church you haue therupon bene inuited and required not onely by me but also by many diuers others catholicke Bishops and other learned men to return and come agayne to the same and also you haue bene offred by me that if you would so returne and confesse your errors and heresyes you should be mercifully receiued and haue so much fauour as I could shew vnto you 2. The second is that you haue blasphemously spoken agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse calling it Idolatry and abomination 3. And thirdly that you haue spoken and holden agaynst the Sacrament of the aulter denying the reall presence of Christes body and bloud to be in the same This being spoken the Bishop recited vnto him a certayne exhortation in English the tenour and forme wherof is this * Bishop Boners exhortation MAyster Philpot this is to be told you that if you not being yet reconciled to the vnity of the catholicke churche from whence ye did fall in the time of the late schisme here in this realme of England agaynst the sea Apostolick of Rome will now hartely obediently be reconciled to the vnity of the same catholicke church professing and promising to obserue keep to the best of your power the faith and christian Religion obserued and kept of all faythfull people of the same moreouer if ye whiche heretofore especially in the yere of our Lord. 1553. 1554. 1555. or in one of them haue offended and trespassed grieuously agaynst the sacrifice of the masse calling it idolatry and abominable and likewise haue offended trespassed agaynst the sacrament of the aulter denying the real presence of Christes body bloud to be there in the sacramēt of the aulter affirming also withal material bread and materiall wine to be in the sacrament of the aulter not the substaunce of the body and bloud of Christ if yee I say wil be reconciled as is afore and wil forsake your heresies and erroures before touched being heretical and damnable and will allowe also the sacrament of the Masse yee shal be mercifully receiued and charitable vsed with as muche fauoure as may be if not ye shal be reputed taken and iudged for an hereticke as yee be in deede Now do you chuse what ye wil doe you are counselled herein friendly and fauourable Ita est quod Ed. Boner Epis. Lond. The Bishoppes exhortation thus ended M. Philpot turned himselfe vnto the Lord Maior and sayd Phil. To you my Lorde Mayor bearing the sworde I am glad that it is my chance now to stand before that authoritie that hath defended the Gospell and the truth of gods word but I am sory to see that that authoritie whiche representeth the king and Queenes persons should now be chaunged and be at the commaundement of Antichrist And ye speaking to the Bishoppes pretend to be the fellowes of the Apostles of Christ yet be very Antichristes and deceauers of the people and I am glad that GOD hath geuen me power to stand here this daye and to declare and defend my faith which is founded on Christ. Therefore as touching your first obiection I say that I am of the Cotholicke church wherof I was neuer out and that your church whiche ye pretend to be the Catholicke churche is the churche of Rome and so the Babilonicall and not the catholicke church of that Church I am not As touching youre second obiection whiche is that I should speake agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse I doe say that I haue not spoken agaynst the true sacrifice but I haue spoken agaynst your priuate Masses that you vse in corners whiche is blasphemy to the true sacrifice for your sacrifice dayly reitered is a blasphemye agaynst Chrystes death and it is a lye of your own inuention And that abhominable sacrifice which ye set vppon the aulter and vse in your priuate Masses in steade of the liuing sacrifice is Idolatry and ye shal neuer proue it by Gods word therfore ye haue deceiued the people with that your sacrifice of the Masse which ye make a masking Thirdly where you lay to my charge that I
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
you are almost glutted with suppyng so much bloud and therefore you wyll let some of the leanest dye in prysonne which wyll then bee meate good enough for your barkyng beagles Harpsfield and hys fellowes but yet my Lord it were a great deale more for your Lordshippes honour if your chaplaines myght haue the meat roasted in Smithfield at the fire of the stake yea and when it is somethyng fat and fayre likyng for now they haue nothyng but skin and bones and if the dogges come hastily to it they maye chance shortly to be choked and then your huntyng wyll be hindered greatly if it be not altogether marred I heare say my Lord that some of the butcherly curres came of late to my house to seeke their pray that they go round about the citie as Dauid sayeth grinnyng and grudgyng that they haue not meat enough therefore belyke they haue kylled my poore brethren and sistern that haue lyen so long vpon the butcherly stall and eaten them vp for I heare say their friends could not be suffred to see them this three dayes more therefore I perceyue now that if I had come againe accordyng to my promise that your Lordship lyke a rauenyng Wolf or els some of your helhounds would quickly haue weried me but I see wel my appoynted time is not yet come therefore I wyll yet lyue and thanke him for my deliueraunce with continuall songs of laude and prayse Thus haue I ben bold to trouble your lordship with telling you the truth and the very cause that I came not vnto you again accordyng to my vnpurposed promise I trust your Lordship wil take this in good part and accept it as a lawfull excuse not doubtyng but your Lordship would haue done the lyke if you had bene in my case Now as concernyng the second part that caused me to write vnto your Lordship which is to answer vnto your subtile or rather cruell demaund of my iudgement of the death of that blessed Martyr of Christ Iesus good maister Iohn Philpot I will not aunswer your Lordship simply and plainly what perill so euer shall come thereof Truly my Lord I do not onely thinke but I am also most certayne and sure that he as a very man of God dyed a true Martyr and constant confesser of hys deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whoÌ„ he did most faithfully commit his sweete soule who will surely kepe the same with hym in ioy and felicitie for euermore Also my Lord I do verily beleeue and know that your Lordship hath committed an horrible and most cruell murder in the vniustly condemnyng and killyng of hym and that you shall make as heauy an account for hys bloud which shortly shall be required at your handes as euer your great graundfather cruell Caine did or shall do for his innocent brother Abell Moreouer because I am crediblye informed that your Lordship doth beleeue and haue in secrete sayd that there is no hell I certifie you that your Lordship did neuer any thyng in all your lyfe that so much did redounde to your Lordships dishonor and perpetual shame and infamy as your killyng the body of this blessed Prophet doth especially seeyng that he was none of your Dioces nor had not offended any of your Lordships diuelish and cruel lawes Uerily I heare almost euery body say in all places where I come that your Lordship is made the common slaughter slaue to all your fellows bitesheep Bishops I would say yea the very papists themselues beginne now to abhorre your bloudthirstines and speake shame of your tiranny Lyke tiranny beleeue me my Lord euery chylde that can any whit speake can call you by your name say bloudy Boner is bishop of London and euery man hath it as perfect vppon hys fingers endes as his Pater noster how many you for your part haue burned with fire and famished in prison they say the whole summe surmounteth to forty personnes within this three quarters of this yeare Therefore my Lord though your Lordship beleeueth that there is neither heauen nor hell nor God nor deuill yet if your Lordship loue your own honesty which was lost long agone you were best to surcese froÌ„ this cruel burnyng of true christian men and also from murderyng of some in prison for that in deed offendeth mens myndes most yea euen your olde friendes the rankest papists that be For say they Felix the Heathen ruler did not forbidde Paules friends to visite hym in prison and to bring hym necessary reliefe and therfore it is a very great shame and sinne to see a Bishop that beareth the name of a christian to be more cruell vpon his poore brethren then an Heathen Turke or Infidell This is mens saying in euery place not onely of this Realme but also of the most part of the world the common talke they haue of your Lordship therfore I thought to be so bold with your Lordship as to tell you of it thogh perchance you wil geue me but small thanks for my labor Well as for that I put it to your Lordships choise for I haue as much alredy as I looke for Finally my L. I will geue you to vnderstande that the death of this constant Martyr and valiaunt souldiour of Iesus Christ hath geuen a greater shake towards the ouerthrowyng of your papisticall kyngdome then you shall euer be able to recouer agayne this 7. yeres do the best ye can and set as many crafty dawbers to patch it vp with vntempered clay as you wyll yea though pratyng Pendleton that wycked Apostata apply all hys wily wits to helpe them Uerilye my Lord by all mens reports his blessed lyfe could neuer haâ—e done the lyke sorrow to Satans Synagoge whereof some say your Lordship is a mightye member as hys happy death hath done You haue broken a pot in deede but the precious worde conteined therein is so notably therewithall shed abroad that the sweete sauour thereof hath woonderfully well refreshed all the true household or congregation of Christ that they cannot abyde any more the stinkyng sauour of your filthy ware that came from the dunghill of Rome though your Lordships Iudasses do set them a sayle euery where to fill your bagges I put your Lordship out of doubt that if you do breake mo such pots you will marre your owne market altogether for I promise you most men beginne to mislike your diuelish doyngs and wonderfully to lothe your popishe pedlary wares Thus haue I accordyng to your Lordships commandements shewed you simply what I thinke of that good mans death whose bloud cryeth for vengeaunce agaynst your Lordships butcherly bloudy proceedings in the eares of the Lord of hostes who will shortly reuenge the same vpon your pilled pate and vpon the rest of all your pollshorne brethren the very marked cattell of the great Antichrist of Rome The measure of your iniquitie is filled vp to the brimme therefore will God shortly poure in double vnto your deserued
you rehearsed the articles of your fayth but to what end I pray you els but to cloke that inwarde heresie rooted in you that you might blind the poore simple and vnlearned peoples eyes For what will they say or thinke if they do not thus say Good Lord what meaneth these men to say that he is an hereticke they are deceiued this is a good Christian he beleueth as we beleue But is this sufficient to escape the name of an hereticke To the simple and vnlearned it is sufficient but for you that haue professed a greater knowledge and hygher doctrine it is not enoughe to recite your beliefe For vnlesse as Origine sayth yee beleeue all thynges that the Churche hath decreed besides you are no Christian man In the whiche because you doe halte and wyll come to no conformitie from henceforthe yee are to bee taken for an hereticke with whome wee ought neither to dispute neyther to reason whom we ought rather to eschew and auoyd Neuerthelesse althoughe I doe not entende to reason with you but to geue you vp as an abiect and outcast froÌ„ Gods fauour yet because yee haue vttered to the annoying of the people such pestilent heresies as may do harme among some rude and vnlearned I thinke meete and not abs re somewhat to say herein not because I hope to haue any good at your handes which I would willingly wysh but that I may establish the simple people whiche be here present least they being seduced by youre diabolicall doctrine may pearish thereby And first as it behoueth euery man to purge himselfe first before he enter with anye other where you accuse me of an othe made agaynst the Byshop of Rome I confesse it and deny it not and therefore do say with the rest of this Realme good and catholicke men the saying of the Prophet Pec cauimus cum patribus nostris iniustè egimus iniquitatem fecimus i. Wee haue sinned with oure fathers wee haue done vniustly and wickedlye Delicta inuentutis meae ignorantias meas ne memineris Domine i. The sinnes of my youth and my ignoraunces O Lord doe not remember I was then a young man and as young a scholer here in the vniuersitie I knew not then what an othe did meane and yet to saye the truthe I did it compulsed compulsed I saye by you Mayster Cranmer and here were you the authoure and cause of my periury you are to be blamed herein and not I. Now where you say I made two othes the one contrary to the other it is not so for the othe I made to the Popes holinesse appertayneth onely to spirituall thinges The other othe that I made to the king pertayneth onely to Temporall thinges that is to saye that I doe acknowledge all my temporall liuinges to proceede onely from the kinge and from none els But all menne may see as you agree in this so ye agree in the rest of your opinions Now sir as concerning the Supremacye whiche is onely dew to the sea of Rome a worde or two Althoughe there be a number of places whiche do confirme that christ appoynted Peter head of the Churche yet this is a moste euident place When Christe demaunded of his Apostles whom men called him they aunswered some Elias some a Prophet c. But Christe replyed to Peter and sayde Whome sayest thou Peter that I am Peter aunswered Tu es Christus silius Dei and Christ replyed Tu es Petrus super hanc Petram aedificabo aecclesiam meam The Doctours enterpreting this place super hanc Petram expounded it id est non solum super fidem Petri sed super te Petre. And why did Christ chaunge his name from Simon to Peter whiche in latine is a stone but onely to declare that he was onely the foundation and head of the Churche Agayne where Christe demaunded of Peter beyng amongst the rest of his Apostles 3. tymes a rew Petre amas me he gaue him charge ouer his sheep Pasce oues meas pasce agnos meos Whiche place Chrysostome interpreting sayth Pasce hoc est loco mei esto praepositus caput fratrum tuoruÌ„ To conclude when they came that required Didrachina of Christ he commaunded Peter to cast his net into the sea and to take out of the fishes mouth that hee tooke staterem hoc est duplex Didrachma da inquit pro te me Petre Whiche wordes do signifie that when hee had payed for them two he had payd for all the rest For as in the old law there were appoynted two heades ouer the people of Israell Moyses and Aaron Moises as chiefe and Aaron nexte head vnder him so in the new law there were two heads of the church which were Christ and Peter Christ is head of all and Peter next vnder him S. Austine in 75. questione Veteris noui Testamenti Saluator inquit qùum pro se Petro dari iubebat Didrachma pro omnibus ipsum dari censuit ipsum enim constituit caput eorum i. Our Sauiour Christ sayth S. Austine commaunding the tribute to be geuen for hym and for Peter meant thereby the same to be geuen for all other for hee appoynted hym to be head of them What can be more plaine then this But I will not tary vpon this matter Nowe as touching the Popes lawes where you saye they be contrary because the seruice which should be as you say in English is in Latine I aunswere who soeuer wil take the paynes to peruse the chapter which is the xiiii of the first to the Corinthians shall finde that his meaning is concerning preaching and Obiter onely of praying Againe where you say that the Popes holinesse dothe take away one part of the sacrament from the lay men Christ would haue it vnder both ye can saye no more but this Bibite ex eo omnes Drinke ye all of thys And what followeth Et biberunt ex eo omnes i. And all drinke therof Now if a man would be so proâ—erâ—e with you he might say that Christ gaue it onely to his Apostles in whose places succeeded priestes and not lay men And admit that Christ commaunded it to bee receaued vnder both kindes yet the Churche hathe authoritie to chaunge that as well as other Ye read that Christ calling his Apostles together sayd vnto them Ite praedicate Euangelium omni nationi baptizantes in nomine patris filij spiritus sancti i. Go preach the Gospell to euery natioÌ„ baptising them in the name of the father of the sonne and the holy ghost But the Apostles being desirous to publish christes name euery where did baptise onely in Christes name Agayne Christ before his last Supper washed his Apostles feete saying Si ego laui pedes vestros dominus magister vos debetis alter alterius lauare pedes i. If I haue washed youre feet being your Lord and mayster
Commons faythfull and true subiectes members of the same body politicke wherof her Grace is supreme head All our bodyes goodes landes and lyues are ready to do her Grace faythfull obedience and true seruice of all commaundements that are not agaynst God his worde but in these thinges that importe a denyall of Christ and refusall of his word and holy Communion we cannot consent nor agree vnto it For we haue bound our selues in Baptisne to be Christes Disciples and to keepe his holy word and ordinances And if we deny him before men he will deny vs before his heauenly Father and hys holy Aungels in the day of iudgement which we trust her benigne Grace will not require of vs. And we humbly beseeche her Maiestie that we be not enforced vnto it but as we serue her grace with body and goodes due obedience accordyng to Gods commauÌ„dement so we may bee permitted freely to serue God and Christ our Sauiour keepe vnto him our soules which hee hath with his precious bloud redeemed that so as Christ teacheth we may reÌ„der to Caesar that is due to Caesar and to God that is due to God For we thinke it no true obedience vnto the Queenes highnes or to any other Magistrate ordeined of God vnder her to obey in things coÌ„trary to gods word although the same be neuer so straitly charged in her Graces name The Bish. of Winchester hath truely taught in that point in his booke of true obedience that true obedieÌ„ce is in the Lord not agaynst the Lord as the Apostles aunswered before the Counsaile at Ierusalem coÌ„maundyng them no more to preache in the name of the Lord Iesus Iudge you sayd they whether it be right in the sight of God to heare you rather theÌ„ God And agayne they sayd We must obey God rather then man Wherefore wee learne that true obedience is to obey God kyng of all kynges Lord of all Lordes and for him in him and not agaynst him and his word to obey the Princes and Magistrates of this world who are not truely obeyed when God is disobeyed nor yet disobeyed when God is faythfully obeyed Tobias disobeyed not his king although contrary to his commaundement contrary to the vsage of all other when they went to Dan Bethel he went vnto Ierusalem worshipped in the teÌ„ple of the Lord. The three youÌ„g men in Babylon refusing king Nabuchodonosors commaundemeÌ„t pleased God more then the whole multitude that obeyed And Daniel that prayed to the God of heaueÌ„ contrary to kyng Darius coÌ„maundementes bare a more true faythfull hart to the king theÌ„ those wicked CouÌ„sellers that procured that wicked law or those that for feare of flattery obeyed it Which two pestilences feare flattery haue euer destroyed true obedience to God and man when wicked godlesse men that care not if the deuill were worshipped so they may get obteine riches promotioÌ„s and dignities and worldly glory turne to and fro as euery winde bloweth and weake and frayle meÌ„ fearing losse of goodes punishment or death doe outwardly in body that thyng that their hartes conscieÌ„ces inwardly abhorreth and so outwardly disobey God and in hart dissemble with man which dissimulation we thinke worthy hate of all men and most vncomely for Christian men Wherfore we humbly beseeche the Queenes Maiestie with pitie and mercy to tender the lamentable suite of vs her poore subiectes which be by this coÌ„maundement sore hurt wounded in our consciences and driuen to many miseries by the malicious attemptes of wicked meÌ„ suffer great wronges iniuries sclaunders losse of goods bodyly vexations We thinke not good by any vnlawful sâ—urre or coÌ„motion to seeke remedy 〈◊〉 intend by Gods grace to obey her maiesty in al things not against God his holy woorde But vnto such vngodly bishoplike commandements as are against God we answer with the apostles God must be obeied rather then man If persecution shall ensue whiche some threaten vs with we desire the heauenly Father according to his promise to looke from heauen to heare our crye to iudge betweene vs our aduersaries to geue vs faith strength and patience to coÌ„tinue faithfully vnto the end to shorten these euil daies for his chosens sake and so we faithfully beleeue he will Notwithstanding we trust the Quenes gracious and mercifull heart will not suffer such tyranny to be done against her poore innocent faithful and obedient subiects that daily pray vnto God for her which haue no remedie in this world but to sue vnto her highnesse our most gracious and benigne soueraigne whom we pray beseech for the deare bloud of Christ to pitie our lamentable case and hurt of conscience and to call backe all such commandements as are against Gods honour as the good Kyng Darius Assuerus Traianus Theodosius diuers other haue done and to permit the holy woord of God and true religion set foorth by our moste holy and innocent king Edward a very Sainte of God to be restored agayne vnto our Churches to be frequented amongst vs. So shal we grow and increase in the knowledge of God of Christ in true repentance and amendement of life so shal we exhibite true obedience to our lawfull Magistrates and all superiors ordained of God so shall loue charitye of late thorowe this commandement so decaied be againe restored the honor of her regall estate the more confirmed and established and godlinesse and vertuous life among her louing subiects increased and maintained And we most hartily pray you right honorable commissioners to be meanes vnto the Queenes highnesse and to her honourable Counsaile that thys oure humble sute may be fauourably tendered and graciously hearde and graunted And we shall not cease daye and nyghte to pray vnto the heaueÌ„ly Father long to preserue her grace all other magistrates in his feare and loue and in prosperous peace and wealth with long life honor Amen Your poore suppliants the louers of Christes true Religion in Northfolke and Suffolke The story of Iohn Harpole of the parish of S. Nicholas in Rochester Ioane Beach wydowe of Tunbridge Martyrs TOuching the examination of Ioane Beach widowe and of Iohn Harpole within the dioces of Rochester by Maurice B. of the sayde Diocesse remembraunce was made before in the story of Nicholas Hal pag. 1591. wherin was declared the foure articles Consistorial of the byshop obiected and laide as vnto the sayd Nicholas Hall and his company so also to this Ioane Beach wydowe whereof the first was this 1 That shee was of the parish of Tunbridge in the Dioces of Rochester 2 Item that all persons which preache teach beleeue or say otherwise or contrary to that their mother holye Catholike church of Christ are excommunicate persons and heretickes 3 Item that the sayde Ioane Beach hath and yet dothe affirme maintaine and beleue contrary to the sayde mother holye Churche of
God and with the infallible testimonies of holy scripture For although Gods mercy is ouer all his woorkes yet it doth not extende but onely to them that holde fast the confidence and reioysing of hope vnto the ende not being weary in well doing but rather waxing euery day stronger and stronger in the inward man Therfore in the Reuelation of S. Iohn wher it is entreated of the Beast and his image it is also sayde Heere is the sufferance of Saintes and heere are they that keepe the commaundements and the faith of Iesus Christ. Where by almighty God doth shewe plainely that he doth vse those wicked men as instruments for a time to try the pacience and faith of his peculiar people wythout the performance whereof we can haue no part among the liuing but as it is sayd in the same Reuelation The fearfull shall haue theyr parte in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone whyche is the second death But peraduenture ye will obiect say vnto me what shall we do Shal we cast our selues headlong to death I say not so But thys I say that we are all bounde if euer we looke to receiue saluation at Gods hande in thys case wholy to be obedient to hys determinate counsell foreknowledge expressed by the gift of the spirit in holy scripture and then to cast all our care vpon him who worketh all in all for the best vnto them that loue him and thus he geueth commaundement saying Come awaye from her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receue not of her plagues Nowe who hearing this terrible voyce of God which must needes be fulfilled will not wyth all speede and diligence applye him selfe to doe thereafter except such as will presumptuously tempt him And as touching such the Wise man sayeth Hee that loueth pearill and daunger shall pearish therein But they that be of the Faith of Abraham euen as he did so will they in all assayes and trials be obedient to the heauenly voyce how soeuer it semeth contrary to their owne naturall wil and carnal reason according to the sure worde of faith which saith Hope thou in the Lorde and keepe his way holde thee stil in the Lord and abide patiently vpon him Let not thy ielousie moue thee also to doe euill Come out from among them and ioyne not your selues to your vnlawfull assemblies yea do not once shew your selues with the least part of your body to fauour theyr wicked doinges but glorifye God as moste right is so well in your whole bodye outwardlye as inwardly in your spirite or els you can doe neither of both well for your body doth belong to God so well as youre spirite At the dreadfull day of iudgement we shall all receiue the workes of our bodies according to that we haue done whether it be good or bad Therefore what soeuer we doe we may not bryng the spirite in bondage to the body but contrariwise we must subdue the body and the will of the flesh to the spirit that the spirite maye freely accomplishe the will of God in all things for otherwise we shall neuer be partakers of hys promise with the true childrē of Abraham For as s. Paul sayeth They which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God If we shall liue according to the flesh we shall dye For to be carnally mineded is death but to be spiritually mineded is life and peace because that the fleshly mineded is enmitie to God for it is not obedient to the lawe of God neyther canne be So then they that are in the flesh can not please God Nowe chuse you which way you will take either the narow way that leadeth vnto life which Christ hymself and hys faithfull followers haue gone throughe before or else the broad path way that leadeth to destruction which the wicked worldlinges take theyr pleasure in for a while I for my part haue now wryttē thys short admonition vnto you of good will as God be my witnesse to exhort you to that way which at length you your selues shuld prooue and finde to be best yea and reioyce thereof And I do not onely wryte thys but I will also wyth the assistaunce of Gods grace ratifie and confirme and Seale the same wyth the effusion of my bloude when the full tyme shall be expired that hee hath appoynted whych so farre soorth as I maye iudge must needes be within these few daies Therefore I nowe bidde you all moste heartely farewell in the Lorde whose grace bee wyth youre spirite Amen Watch and pray watch and pray pray pray So be it Iohn Hullier Besides these letters the said Iohn Hullier leaft also a godly prayer whiche if any be disposed to peruse it is extant in the old booke of Acts to be found pag. 1515. The death and Martyrdome of sixe constant professours of Christ burned at Colchester for the testimonie of the Gospell the 28. day of Aprill NOt long after the death of Robert Drakes William Tymmes and the other Essex Martyrs executed in Smithfielde as is aboue specified followed in the same order likewise of martyrdome at one like fire in the town of Colchester where the most parte of them did inhabite sixe other blessed Martyrs whose names be these Christopher Lyster of Dagneham Husbandman Iohn Mace of Colchester Apothecarie Iohn Spenser of Colchester Weauer Symon Ioyne Sawyer Richard Nichols of Colchester Weauer Iohn Hamond of Colchester Tanner With these sixe was also ioyned an other whose name was Roger Grasbroke but he afterwarde submitted him selfe These aboue named the Byshoppe because he as it semeth by the short processe recorded by his register waxed now weary made a very quicke dispatche For soone after that they were deliuered vnto one Iohn Kingstone Bacheler of Ciuil law and then Commissarye to the Bishop by the Earle of Oxford other Commissioners as appeareth by a bil endented made betwene the Commissioners and the said Commissary for the receit of the sayd prisoners dated the 28. day of Marche Anno regni regis Reginae Philippi Mariae secundo tertio which is the yere of our Lord 1556. and by him sent vp vnto hys Lord and Maister the Bishop caused them to be broughte vnto hys house at Fulham Where in the open Churche iudicially were ministred vnto them the same Articles that were propounded vnto Bartlet Grene and others mentioned before To the whych they made their seuerall answeres agreeing altogether in one truthe as by the summe and effect thereof heere ensuing more plainly appeareth 1 To the first article they al consented and agreed Iohn Spenser adding further thereto that the churche malignant which is the Church of Rome is no parte of Christes Catholike church and that he neither hath nor dothe beleeue the doctrine and religion taughte and set foorth in the sayd Romish and malignant
to dispatche his handes of them but could not so dispatch his conscience before the iudgement of God from the guiltinesse of innocent bloud The pore men being now in the temporal officers haÌ„ds might not there be suffered long to remain therefore the 15. day of May very early in the morning they were caried from Newgate in a cart to Stratford the Bow most quietly in the fire praising God yelded vp their soules into hys handes throughe a liuely Faith in Iesus Christe whom vnto the ende they did most constantly confesse At their death Hugh Lauerock after he was chained casting away his crooche and coÌ„forting Iohn Apprice his fellow Martyr sayd vnto him be of good comfort my brother for my Lorde of London is our good Phisition Hee will heale vs both shortly thee of thy blindenesse and me of my lamenesse And so paciently these two good Saints of God together suffered The Martyrdome of a blinde man and a lame man at Stratford the Bowe Three women the same time burned in Smithfielde Katherine Hut Elizabeth Thackuell and Ioane Homes THe nexte day after the Martyrdome of thys lame and blinde maÌ„ aboue specified in the sayd moneth of May were brought to the fire 3. women wyth whom also was adioyned an other who being in the same constancy wyth them was likewise partaker of the sayde condemnation The names of these were Katherine Hut of Bocking Widowe Ioane Hornes of Billerica Maide Elizabeth Thackuel of great Bursted Maide Margaret Ellys of Billerica Maide How these with diuers other mo were persecuted and sent vp especially by Syr Iohn Mordant and Edmunde Tyrrell Esquier Iustices of Peace this their Letter following will declare A Letter sent vnto Boner Bishop of London from Sir Iohn Mordant Knight and Edmund Tyrrell Esquire Iustices of peace for the Countie of Essex OVr humble commendations to your Lordshippe these shall be to aduertise you that we haue sent vnto your good Lordship Ioane Potter the wife of Hughe Potter Iames Harrys seruaunt of William Harrys of Bromhill Margaret Ellys for that they be not conformable to the orders of the Churche nor to the reall presence of Christes body and bloude in the Sacrament of the aultare to vse your Lordships pleasure with them as you thinke good not doubting with the punishmeÌ„t of these and the other before sent to your Lordship but that the parishe of great Burstede and Billerica shall bee broughte to good conformitye Thus committing your good Lordship to the tuition of almightie God wee take our leaue From great Burstede this present second day of March 1556. Your Lordships to command Iohn Mordant Edmund Tyrrel After the receit of these Letters Bishoppe Boner entring to examination of these 4. women aboue named laid and obiected the lyke Articles to them as after his vsuall forme he vsed to minister and are before expressed Whereunto the sayd women likewise agreeing in the same vnitie of spirite and doctrine accorded in theyr aunsweares much agreeing vnto the other before them As first to the Article in the firste place obiected they consented and graunted beleeuing the sayde Article to be true in euery part thereof 2. To the second partly they answeared they could not tel what a Sacrament is Elizabeth Thackuell and Katherin Hut adding moreouer that matrimonie Baptisme and the Lords supper were Sacraments ordained in the churche but whether the other specified in thys article be sacraments as they heard them called ordained by God or not they could not tell Margaret Ellys being examined seuerally as the other were vpoÌ„ the same how many sacraments there were answeared as a yong mayde vnskilled in her simple ignoraunce that shee coulde not tell Howbeit she had heard she sayd that there was one Sacrament but what it was she could not tell c. 3 To the thirde likewyse they graunted that they were baptised by their godfathers and godmothers which godfathers and godmothers sayde Margaret Ellys did not then know so much as shee now doth knowe Katherine Hut adding wythall and saying that shee was baptised but what her godfather godmothers did then promise for her in her name shee could not tell c. 4 To the fourth article Margaret Ellys and Elizabeth Thackuel did graunt therunto Katherin Hut said moreouer that shee beinge of the age of 14. yeares was of the faith wherein shee was Christened and yet neuerthelesse the said faith in that age shee sayde was but a deade faith because shee did not then vnderstand what she did beleue Ioane Hornes added that shee being 11. yeares of age began to learne the faith set foorth in K. Edwards dayes in the which faith and religion she sayd she hath hetherto yet doth so wil hereafter continue God so assisting her 5 To the fift article they answeared and confessed according al in this effect that as touching the Masse they knew no goodnesse in it and as touching the Sacramente of the altar they beleeued that Christes natural body is in heauen and not in the sacrament of the altar And as concernyng the sea of Rome they acknowledged no such supremacy in that sea neither haue they any thing to do therewith 6 In aunswearing the sixt article they did all generally refuâ—e to be reconciled or vnited to the church of Rome or anye other Churche contrary to that wherein they nowe stoode and did professe 7 To the seuenth article they aunsweared likâ—wyse that they had so done sayde in all things as is in thys article contained Katherine Hutte adding moreouer the reason why for that sayd she neither the seruice in Latin Masse Mattens and Euensong nor the Sacraments were vsed and ministred according to gods word And furthermore that the Masse is an idoll neither is the true body bloud of Christ in the Sacramente of the aultare as they make men beleeue 8 Their aunswere to the eight Article declared that they were all and euery one sent vppe to Boner by syr Iohn Mordant knight and iustice of peace in Essex the Lord of his mercy send vs better Iustices I beseeche him for that they coulde not affirme the presence of Christes bodye and bloude to be truely and really in the Sacramente and for that they came not to theyr popish parish Church 9 To the ninth article they aunswered and confessed the premisses thereof to be true and denied not the same saue that Katherin Hut sayd that she was of Bocking in Essex of the peculiare iurisdiction of Canterbury and not of the diocesse and iurisdiction of London After these their answeres receiued they were produced againe about the 13. of Aprill to further examination and so at length to their finall iudgement where Katherin Hut widowe standing before the bishop boldly constantly stoode to that which she hadde sayde before neither yeelding to his faire promises nor ouerthrowne with his terrour Who being required of the Sacrament to say her minde and to
came to the ship to see hym many of them Some gaue hym a petycoate and some a shyrt some hosen and some money alwayes noting how he cast away his money and kept his booke And many of the women wept when they heard and sawe hym And Maister Gouernour of the English nation there had hym before hym and talked with hym of all the matter and pitieng hys case commaunded the Officer of the English house to goe with hym to the free oste houses amongst the English merchaunts and I with them and at three houses there was giuen him vj. pound x. shillyngs And so from thence hee went with me to Roane where the people also came to hym to see hym meruailing at the great workes of God And thus much concerning this poore man with hys new Testament preserued in the sea which testament the Popes clergy condemneth on the land ye haue heard as I receiued by the relation of the partie aboue named who was the doer thereof and yet alyue dwellyng in Lee well knowen to all merchants of London In which story this by the way vnderstand good Reader which rightly may be supposed that if this poore man thus found preserued in the sea with a new Testament in his bosome had had in stead of that a pixe with a consecrated hoste about hym no doubt it had bene rong ere this tyme all christendom ouer for a miracle so far as the Pope hath any land But to let the Pope with his false miracles go let vs returne againe to our matter begun adioine another history of much lyke condition testified likewise by the information of the sayd Tho. Morse aboue mētioned to the intent to make known the worthy acts of the almighty that he may be magnified in all hys wonderous works The story is thus declared which happened an 1565. about Michaelmas ¶ Another like story of Gods prouidence vpon three men deliuered vpon the Sea THere was a ship saith the sayd Tho. Morse whereof I had a part goyng toward the Bay for salt with two ships of Bricklesey which were altogether goyng for salt as before is sayd At what tyme they were within x. myle of the North Foreland otherwyse called Tennet the wynd did come so contrary to our ship that they were forced to go cleane out of the way and the other two shippes kept their course still vntill our ship was almost out of sight of them And then they sawe a thing driuyng vpon the sea hoysed out their boat and went vnto it and it was three men sittyng vpon a piece of their ship which had sitten so two dayes and two nights There had bene in their shippe eight men more which were drowned beyng all Frenchmen dwelling in a place in France called Olloronne They had bene at Danswike and lost their ship about Orford Nas as might be learned by their words They were men that feared God the one of them was owner of the ship Their exercise while they wer in our ship was that after the comming in they gaue thankes for their deliueraunce both mornyng and euenyng they exercised praier and also before after meat and when they came into Fraunce our ships went to the same place where these men dwelled and one of them dyd sell vnto our men their ships lading of salt and did vse thē very curteously and friendly and not at that tyme onely but alwayes whensoeuer that ship commeth thether as she hath bene there twise since he alwayes doth for them so that they can lacke nothyng I should haue noted that after our ship had taken vp those iij. men out of the Sea they had the wynd fayre presently and came and ouertooke the other two ships agayne and so they proceeded in their voiage together ¶ For the more credite of this story aboue recited to satisfie eyther the doubtfull or to preuent the quareller I haue not only alledged the name of the partie which was the doer thereof but also expressed the matter in his owne wordes as I of him receiued it the partie reporter hymself beyng yet alyue dwellyng at Lee a man so wel known amongst the Merchants of London that who so heareth the name of Thomas Morse will neuer doubt thereof And agayne the matter it selfe beyng so notoriously knowen to Merchaunts as well here as at Andwerpe that though hys name were not expressed the story can lacke no witnesses ¶ The death of William Slech in the Kinges Bench. THe last day of the sayd moneth of May in the yeare aforesayde Wil. Slech beyng in prison for the sayd doctrine of the Lordes Gospel and the confession of his truth died in the kyngs Bench and was buried on the backside of the sayd prison for that the Romish catholike spiritualtie thought hym not worthy to come within their Pope-holy churchyards neither in any other christian burial as they call it ¶ The story of foure men condemned at Lewys the 6. day of Iune IN Iune next followyng about the sixt day of the same moneth 4. Martyrs suffered together at Lewys whose names were these Thomas Harland of Woodmancote Carpenter Iohn Oswald of Woodmancote Husbandman Thomas Auington of Ardingly Turner Thomas Read To Thomas Harland I finde in the bishop of Londons registers to be obiected for not comming to church Whereunto he answered that after the Masse was restored he neuer had will to heare the same because sayd he it was in Latine whiche hee dyd not vnderstande and therefore as good quoth hee neuer a whit as neuer the better Ioh. Oswalde denyed to aunswere any thyng vntill hys accusers should bee brought face to face before hym and neuerthelesse sayd that fire and Fagottes coulde not make hym afraid but as the good Preachers which were in Kyng Edwardes tyme haue suffered and gone before so was he ready to suffer and come after and woulde bee glad thereof These foure after long imprisonment in the Kynges Bench were burned together at Lewys in Sussex in one fire the day of the moneth aforesayd ¶ The Martyrdome of Thomas Whood and Thomas Milles. IN the same towne of Lewys and in the same moneth likewyse were burned Thomas Whoode Minister and Thomas Milles about the xx day of the same moneth for resisting the erroneous and hereticall doctrine of the pretensed catholike church of Rome ¶ Two dead in the Kyngs Bench. IN the which moneth likewyse William Adherall Minister imprisoned in the Kyngs Bench there dyed the xxiiij day of the same moneth was buried on the backside Also Iohn Clement Wheelewright who dying in the sayd pryson in lyke sort vpon the dunghill was buried in the backeside two dayes after videlicet the xxv day of Iune ¶ A Merchauntes seruaunt burnt at Leycester THe next day followyng of the sayd month of Iune we read of a certaine yong man a merchants seruant who for the lyke godlynes suffred cruell persecution of the Papists and
was burnt at Leicester the 26. of the moneth of Iune aboue named ⧠Thirteene Martyrs burned at Stratford the Bowe NOt long after the death of the Merchaunts seruaunt before mentioned there followed in this happye and blessed order of Martyrs burned in one fire at Stratford the Bowe by London a xj men and two women whose dwellings were in sundry places in Essex whose names hereafter followeth Henry Adlington Laurence Pernam Henry Wye William Hallywell Thomas Bowyer George Searles Edmund Hurst Lyon Cawch Rafe Iackson Iohn Deryfall Iohn Routh Elizabeth Pepper Agnes George Unto whom the 6. of Iune an 1556. D. Darbyshiere Boners Chancellour in forme of law ministred the same Articles that were propounded vnto Tho. Whittle hys company mentioned before to the which they made their seuerall answers in simplicitie and in a good conscience The summe and effect whereof ensueth To the first they all answered affirmatiuely but Lyon Cawch added further that he beleued that the true fayth and religion of Christ is wheresoeuer the word of God is truly preached To the second Article they all answered in effect deniyng that there be 7. sacraments some affirmyng that in the Church of Christ there be but two sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Others referryng themselues to beleeue as the scripture teacheth them And other some refused to make aunswer because of theyr simplicitie To the third article they all answered affirmatiuely To the fourth Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely sauing Iohn Routh who sayd he would make no answer thereunto But Lyon Cawch added that he beleued the article to be true but it was because he had no better knowledge And Agnes George added that in king Edward the 6. his tyme she went from her old fayth and religion and beleued in the faith and religion that was then taught and set forth To the fift they all aunswered in effect affirmatiuely sauing Iohn Routh whose aunswer was that the Masse is such a thyng which cannot nor will not enter into hys conscience And Henry Adlington answered that for 9. or 10. yeres before he misliked the Masse and also the Sacrament of the aultar because they cannot bee prooued by the scriptures And as touching the authoritie of the Sea of Rome he beyng but xiiij yeares of age tooke an othe agaynst the same which othe he sayd he intended to keepe by the grace of God To the vj. they all aunswered affirmatiuely sauyng Iohn Routh and Wil. Halywel who both refused to answer because they knew not what they meant by this article But the two women added that they refused to bee reconciled to the fayth and religion that was then vsed in the Realme of England And Laurence Pernam added that he neuer refused to bee reconciled and brought to the vnitie of the catholike church of Christ. To the vij Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely but Wil. Halywell denied that euer he called the Masse Idolatry and abhomination And Henry Wye affirmyng the Article to be true yet he confessed hys infirmitye that he went to hys parish church and receyued before he was put in prison To the viij Article Edmund Hurst Rafe Iackson George Searles aunswered affirmatiuely Henry Wye sayd he was brought before certaine Iustices of Peace in Essex concernyng one Higbed his late maister and therevpon he was committed to Colchester Castell and from thence sent to London to the Bishop to be further examined Wil. Hallywell affirmed the like confession as Henry Wye did onely Higbed excepted Iohn Derifall said he was called before the Lord Rich and Maister Mildmay of Chelmesford and was by them sent to Boner Bish. of London to be further by hym examined Tho. Bowyer sayd he was brought before one M. Wiseman of Felsed by hym was sent to Colchester castle and from theÌ„ce was caried to Boner bishop of London to be by hym further examined Lion Cawch sayd that he was sent to come before the Kyng and Queenes Maiesties Commissioners and there before them appearyng three tymes was sent to Boner bishop of London to be by hym further examined Henry Adlington sayd that he commyng to Newgate to speake with one Gratwike there beyng prisoner for the testimony of Iesu Christ was apprehended and brought before D. Story and by hym sent to Boner bish of London to be by hym further examined Iohn Routh sayd that he was conuented before the Earle of Oxford and by hym sent to the castle of Colchester from thence conueyed to Boner B. of London to bee by hym further examined Laurence Pernam sayd that he was committed to Harford prison because he would not go to church and from thence sent to Boner B. of London to be by him further examined Agnes George sayd that she was committed to prison in Colchester at the commaundement of one M. Maynard an Alderman of the towne because she would not go to church and from thence was sent to Boner B. of London to be by hym further examined Elizabeth Pepper sayd she was apprehended by two Conâ—â—ables and an Alderman for that shee woulde not come to church and by them was sent to Boner B. of London to be by hym further examined To the ix Article they all beleued the premisses to bee true aboue by them confessed and that they were of the dioces and iurisdiction of London But Elizabeth Pepper added that she was of the towne of Colchester And Agnes George added that she was of the Parish of Barefold And Lyon Cawche added that he was then of the Citie of London by reason that he was at that present a merchant there Henry Wye Brewer was of the parish of Stantford le Hoxe and of 32. yeres of age William Hallywell was a Smith of the Parishe of Waltham Holle crosse and of the age of 24. yeres or theraboutes Rafe Iackson was a seruingman of Shepping Onger and of the age of 24. yeares Laurence Parnam was a Smith of Hodsâ—on within the parish of Amwell in the County of Hartford of the age of 22. yeres Iohn Derifall was a Labourer of the parish of Rettington in Essex and of the age of 50. yeres Edmund Hurst was a Labourer of the parish of S. Iames in Colchester and of the age of fiftye yeares and aboue Thomas Bowyer was a Weauer of Much Dunnemow and of the age of 36. yeares George Searles was a Tailor betwene 20. 21. yeres of age of the parish of White Nottle where he was taken and caried to the Lord Rich who sent hym to Colchester castle with a commaundement that no friend he had shuld speake with hym There he lay 6. weekes and was sent vp to London where he was sometyme in the Bishops colehouse sometyme in Lollards Tower and last of all in Newgate He was appreheÌ„ded in Lent about a fortnight before Easter in the place aforesayd Lyon Cawch was a Broker borne in
your fall shall tourne to hys glorye and youre profite For if you hadde not by this prooued the experience of your owne strength or rather your owne weakenes you would haue stande too muche in your owne conceite or perchaunce haue glorified in your selfe and haue despised and condempned other weake personnes that haue committed the like offence Therfore now you may see what the best of vs all can do if God leaue vs to our selues Which thing ought to moue you to be diligent to call earnestly vpon God for his grace and the strength of his holy spirite without the which we are not able to stande one houre to be most thankefull for the same when you haue it and then to be more circumspecte in time to come Therefore deare sister seeing that you haue done otherwise then the word of God and your owne cōscience would allow yet deare hart do you not thinke that God therfore wil cast you cleane away but know that he hath mercy enough in store for al them that truely repent and beleeue in him although the sinnes of them were as many in number as the sandes in the sea and as great as the sinnes of the whole worlde It is a greater sinne to mistrust the mercye and promises of God then to commit the greatest offence in the world Therefore good sister beware in any wise that you doe not once mistrust the promises of Gods mercy towardes you but knowe for a very surety that all youre sinnes be vtterlye forgeuen you for Christes sake be they neuer so many so grieuous or so great But now deare heart take heede and beware that you doe not cloake that sinne and increase the same daily in communicating with the wicked in their Idolatrie and deuelish doinges at their denne of theeues Do not I say deare sister come at any of their Antichristian seruice least by little and little you vtterly lose a good conscience and at length esteeme it for none offence as alas a great nomber doth at this day to the great pearill of theyr soules The Lorde be merciful vnto them and geue them grace to repent in time and tourne to the Lorde and then they shal be sure to finde mercy at the Lordes hand as doubtles you haue done praised be his name therefore Ah my deare sister you may nowe see the wordes of Christe verified vppon your selfe that a mans greatest foes shall be they of his owne household for your husband hath gotten you to do that which all the tyrants in the world could neuer haue made you to doe Doubtlesse he may be sory for it God geue him grace to repent or els without doubt it will be laid to his charge one day when he would not by his will heare it for all the goods in the worlde Well I thinke my brother Tymmes will wryte him a letter shortly that shall touche his conscience if hee haue anye conscience at all But now againe to you dere sister The thing that is done can not be vndone and you are not the first that hath offended neither are you so good and so holy as hath at a time slipt forth of the way Therfore I would not haue you to be so much discomforted as I heare saye you be as thoughe God were not able to forgeue you your offence as he was to forgeue his deare Saints that offended him in times past or as though God were not as mercifull nowe as euer he was Where as in very deede There is with the Lord as the Prophet sayth mercy and plentiful redēption and his mercy farre surmounteth all his workes and he neuer faileth any that put their whole trust and confidence in him howe great an offender or howe wicked a trespasser so euer he bee No he maketh their falles and backeslidings manye times to tourne to their profite and commoditie and to the settynge foorth of his glorye As doubtlesse deare sister yours shall doe if you put your whole faith hope and trust only in his infinite and eternall sweete mercies Oh what a suttel crafty lying serpent is that Sathan our old enemie that when he seeth that he can not make vs to continue in our wickednes to do him seruice would then bring vs into a doubting and mistrusting of the mercye of God whyche is the greatest offence that can be yea infidelitye is the roote and originall of all other sinnes Therefore my sweete sister geue no place to that cruell aduersary of mankinde who hath bene a lier and a murtherer from the beginning but stedfastlye beleeue the Lord who hath sent you word by me his most vnworthy seruāt that all your sinnes be pardoned forgeuen and cleane released for Iesus Christes sake our only Lorde and Sauiour To whome with the father and the holy Ghost be all honour glory praise thankes power rule and dominion for euer for euer Amen Farewell my deare sister and be of good cheare Beleeue in the Lorde and you shall liue for euer The Lord increase your faith Amen Amen Your poore brother and daily faithfull Oratour Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. Pray for me An other letter of Iohn Careles to A.B. a faithfull Minister of the Lorde containing certaine frutefull precepts of Matrimonie I Beseech the same euerlasting Lord my deare and faithful brother that blessed yong Tobias with his wife Sara brought them together in due time with reuerence and feare preserue and blesse you both and your seede after you that they may encrease the number of the faithful by thousandes and thousandes And as the Lord of his great mercy and fatherly prouidēce hath bene alwaies carefull for you and nowe hath for your comforte accomplished his good worke in coupling you with a faithfull mate so see that you be thankefull for his prouidence towardes you that it may euery way in you be an encrease of loue godlinesse yea of Christian ioye and gladnesse in these sorrowfull dayes but yet so that you mourne with the true mourners of Syon and be sorie yet in measure for the hurt of the same Pray also in faith for her prosperity that the Lord may builde vp the walles of Hierusalem againe Oh that the Lord would turne Syons captiuity as the riuer into the South Then shoulde our hearts be made glad and oure mouthes filled with laughter Then woulde the heathen hypocrites say the Lord hath done much for them Oh the Lord hath done great things for vs already wherof let vs heartely reioyce and praise his name therefore For though we nowe sowe wyth teares yet shall wee be sure to reape with gladnesse and as wee now goe foorth weeping bearing foorth good seede so shall we come againe with ioy and bring our sheaues full of corne Yea the death of the Martyrs which is most precious in hys sighte shal be the life of the Gospell spite of the Papists hearts Pray for me deare heart that I may
benefites not only for your election creation redemption and preseruation but also for his other temporal gifts wherwith he hathe indued you amongst the which the chiefe and moste excellent is as testifieth the holy Ghost your good godlye and faithfull louynge husbande For as the wise man sayeth Goods and possessions may come to a man by the death of his frendes but a good wife is the gift of God which the Lord will geue for a good portion to suche as feare him And the like is of a good husband as the Lord hathe nowe geuen you praised be his name therfore He hath not geuen you an ignorant froward churlish brawling wastfull rioting dronken husband wherwith he hath plagued many other as he myght also haue done you but he hath geuen you a moste godlye learned gentle louing quiet patient thriâ—tye diligent sober husband by whom he wil nourish cherish kepe and defend you instructe and teach you yea care and prouide for you and your childreÌ„ the which he wil also by him geue you such things as be necessary for you He hath not dealt so with euery body and yet he hath done this and much more for you my deare sister wil therto increase ioy and loue betwene you For as he delighteth in the loue godly agreement of man and wife together so is it he only that maketh them and all the whole houshold to be of one mind Vnto the which his gracious work he requireth your diligence and will vse you as his instrument and meane the more effectuously to accomplish the same And therefore I nowe require you to obserue this my simple counsel the which I haue here wrytten as a testimonial of my good will towardes you because I thinke in this life I shall neuer more see you Nowe as I haue shewed you how you shoulde be thankefull vnto God for his good giftes so I exhort you and as much as in me lieth charge you to be euermore thankfull vnto your deare louing husband who hath geuen him selfe vnto you whych is a more precious iewel in the Church of God then perchance you are yet aware of Thincke your selfe vnwoorthy to be matched with suche an instrument of God and also reuerence euermore the gifts of God in him and seeke with true obedience and loue to serue him in recompence of his true painful hart towards you Be lothe in any wise to offend him yea rather be carefull diligent to please him that his soule maye blesse you If at anye time you shall chaunce to anger him or to doe or speake anye thing that shall grieue him see that you neuer rest vntill you haue pacified him and made him merry againe If at any time he shall chance to blame you without a cause or for that you can not doe therewith whiche thyng happeneth sometimes of the best men liuing see that you beare it paciently and geue hym no vncomely or vnkinde woorde for it but euer more looke vppon him wyth a louing and chearefull countenaunce and rather take the fault vppon you then seeme to be displeased Be alwaies mery and chereful in his company but not with too muche lightnesse Beware in any wise of swelling powting or lowring for that is a token of a cruel and vnlouing heart except it be in respect of sinne or in the time of sickenesse Be not sorowful for any aduersity that God sendeth but beware that nothing be spilte or goe to waste through your negligence In any wise see that you be quicke and cleanly about his meat and drinke and prepare him the same according to his diet in due season Goe cleanely and wel fauouredly in your apparel but beware of pride in any wise Finally in woord and deede shewe your selfe wise humble merry and louing towardes him and also towardes suche as he doeth loue and then shall you leade a blessed life I could speake of many things the whiche I haue learned and prooued true by experience but I knowe that you will doe in all thyngs muche better then I can teache you because you haue that annoynting that teacheth you all thyngs who hath also geuen you an heart to obey and serue hym Yet I trust you will not be offended for this whych I haue wrytten but rather accept my good will towardes you whom I loue in the Lord as well as I do my daughter Iudith Thus as mine owne soule I commende you bothe to God desiring him to blesse you with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly thinges and also wyth the dewe of heauen and fatnesse of the earth that in all thynges you maye be made ryche in Iesus Christe our Lorde and onely Sauiour The Lorde increase and blesse the fruite of your bodyes that your children maye stande rounde about your table thicke fresh and lustie lyke the Oliue braunches God geue you both a long life that you maye see and blesse your childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation and teach them the true feare and loue of God and that faith for the which they shal be accepted in his sight God lette you see the prosperitie of Syon for whose lying in the dust let your hearts mourne The Lorde make perfecte your loue together in hym and alwaies encrease the same and bryng you bothe in peace to your graues at a good age And nowe I bid you bothe moste heartely farewell and I thinke I shall now take my leaue of you for euer in this life I beseeche you both to aide me with your continuall prayers as I wil not forgette you in mine that I may haue a ioyfull victorie through Iesus Christ To whose most mercifull defence I doe moste heartely for euer commende you to be kepte vnblameable vntill hys comming The which I beseeche him to hasten for his mercies sake Your owne vnfainedly Iohn Careles prisonner of the Lord. Heere endeth the Letters of Iohn Careles The hystorie and Martyrdome of a learned and vertuous yonge man called Iulins Palmer sometime fellow of Magdalene Colledge in Oxford with two other Martyrs to wit I. Gwin and Thomas Askine burned together in Newberie at a place there called the Sande pittes THe same moneth of Iuly in which Careles as before is declared was released out of prison by death in short time after about the 16. day of the sayd moneth of Iuly suffered these 3. godly and constante Martyrs aboue mentioned at Newbery in which number was Iulins Palmer sometime student and fellowe of Magdalene Colledge in Oxford and afterwardes Schoolemaister in the towne of Reading Concerning whose storie and Martyrdome here foloweth although not so much as he deserueth to be sayde yet so much as sufficiently may set foorth the great woorking of God in this yong man Iulins Palmer AS all Gods woorkes are wonderous in calling of all sorts of men to confirme hys truth and to beare witnesse vnto his assured and infallible woord which the aduersaries
but neuer without his white miniuer hoode such doctrine as was shamefull to heare saying Masse and carying about the pixe in high processions Furthermore leadyng the boy S. Nicholas with his miniuer hood about the streetes for apples and belly cheere And who so would not receiue him he made them heretikes and such also as would not geue his fagot to the bonfire for Queene Maries child And thus continued he at Ipswich the most part of Queene Maries dayes molestyng there good men some for not goyng to the Churche some for not beyng confessed some for not receiuyng c. till at length toward the end of Queene Mary he came to London and in this Queens time began to shewe himselfe againe a perfect protestant And thus much of Argentine Ex testimon Petri Moonaei ¶ The trouble of Peter Moone and his Wife and of other Godly Protestantes at Byshop Hoptons visitation in Ipswich IN the yeare of our Lord God 1556. The sceane or visitation being kept before Whitsontide in the Towne of Ipswich in Suffolcke by Doctour Hopton being then Byshop of Norwich and Myles Dunninges being then his Cauncellour diuers and sondry godly Protestantes through the accusation of euill men where sore troubled presented before him among whom were accused one Peter Moone a Taylor and Anne his wife for theyr disobedience to the law in not shewing theyr readinesse to come to the Church and to be partaker of such Romish obseruances as at that time were vsed And first the sayd Peter Moone was commaunded to come before the Bishop where he was examined of three sondry Articles to wit 1. Whether the pope were supreme head 2. Whether King Philip and Queene Mary were right inheritors to the crowne 3. And whether in the Sacrament of the aulter was the very body of Christ substācially and really there present Unto the which the sayde Peter being timerous and weake fearing more the face of man then the heauy wrath of God affirmed and in maner graunted vnto the demaūdes Whereupon the Bishop being in good hope that although he had not come to the Church nor receiued theyr Sacrament of the Aultar nor bene ready to doe his duetye as the law had commaunded yet there shewing his mind sayd that he liked well the man for such as haue bene sayd he earnest in euill thinges will also be earnest in that that is good and godly if once they be wonne Thus as this Spirituall father was commending his carnall child and rather preferring him to hell fire thē vnto the sincere word and commaundementes of GOD it chaunced amongest many others in the chamber was one of the portmen of the same towne named Smart an earnest member of theyr Romish law doing of a very conscience that he did who after the death of Queene Mary lyued not many yeares but rendred his life in godly repentaunce protesting that if God should suffer him to liue he woulde neuer be the man he had bene before what lawes so euer should come agayne so that before the time of hys sicknes he frequenting earnestly the Sermons in the same Towne by diuers godly learned woulde weepe as it had bene a childe being notwithstanding of courage as stout a manne as any was in Ipswich Such is the maruellous mercy of God in calling to his kingdome whom when he pleaseth This portman aforesayd perceiuing the Bishop thus as it were at an end with the sayd Moone and so he lyke to be discharged sayd vnto the Bishop my Lord in deed I haue a good hope in the man and that he will be conformable but my Lord he hath a perrillous woman to his wife For I will tell you my Lorde she neuer came to Churche yet since the Queenes reigne except it were at Euensong or when shee was Churched And not then vntill Masse were done Wherfore your good Lordship might do a good deed to cause her to come before you and to see if ye coulde do any good And therefore I beseech your good Lordshyp to commaund him to pray her to come before your Lordshippe At the which words Moone was somewhat styrred in that he sayde commaunde him to pray her to come before your Lordship And he sayd vnto him vnder my Lordes correction I speake I am as able to cōmaund her to come before my Lorde as ye are to commaund the worst boy in your house Yea my Lord sayd the other I cry your Lordship mercy I haue informed your Lordship with an vntroth if this be so But if he be so able as he saith he might haue commaunded her to haue come to Church in all thys time if it had pleased him Well sayde the Bishop looke ye come before me agayne at afternoone and bring your wife with you I will talke with her As my Lordes dinner at that time was seruing vppe Moone departed and taryed not to take parte thereof hauing such an hard breakefast geuen him before to digest At afternoone Moone delayed and wayted his time bethinking whē he might most conueniently come especially whē his accuser his wiues shoulde not haue bene there And accordinge to the commaundement came with his wife which was not so secretly but his accuser had knowledge thereof and came with all expedition in such poste speede that in a maner he was windlesse entring into the bishops chamber The Bishoppe hearing that Moone and his wife were come called for them and sayd to Moone is this your wife Moone Yea my Lord sayd he O good Lord sayd the Byshop how a man may be deceiued in a woman I promise you a man would take her for as honest a woman by all outward appearaunce as can be Why my Lorde sayde Moones wife I trust there is none that can charge me with any dishonesty as cōcerning my body I defy all the worlde in that respect Nay quoth the Bishop I meane not as concerning the dishonesty of thy bodye but thou hadst bene better to haue geuen the vse of thy body vnto xx sundry men thē to doe as thou hast done For thou hast done as much as in thee lyeth to plucke the King and the Queenes maiesties out of theyr royal seates through thy disobedience in shewing thy selfe an open enemy vnto Gods lawes theyr proceedinges Then began the Bishop to examine the said Moone agayne with the aforesayd Articles and his wife also And hearing her husband relēt did also affirme the same whiche turned vnto either of them no small trouble of minde afterwarde but yet neither were they like thus to escape but that in the meane time Dunning the Bishops Chaūcellour came vp in great haste and brought newes to the Bishop that there were such a number of hereticks come of which some came from Boxford some from Lanham about from the Cloth Country that it would make a man out of his wittes to heare them and there are amōg them both heretickes and Anabaptistes sayd
he And thus Doctour Dunning with his blostering wordes interrupting Moones examination went downe agayne as the deuill had driuen him to keepe his styrre among them to take order what should be done with them The Bishop beginning to bewaile the state of the coūtrey in that it was so infected with such a number of heretickes and rehearsing partlye theyr opinions to these that were at that time in the chāber Moones wife had a young childe whiche shee her selfe nursed and the childe beyng brought into the yeard vnder the Bishops chamber cried so that she heard it and then sayde My Lorde I trust ye haue done with me My childe cryeth beneath I must goe geue my childe sucke with such like wordes And the Byshop being as it were out of minde to talke with them any more sayd goe your way I will talke with you in the morning looke ye be here agayn in the morning with this they both departed And beneath in the stone Hall of the same house the Chauncellour Dunning being very busy about his bloudy busines espyed Moone and his wife comming must needes passe by the place where he stood and sayde Nay soft I must talke with you both for ye are as euill as any that are here to day To whom Moones wife aunswered My Lorde hath had vs in examination and therefore yee shall haue nought to doe with vs. Nay quoth he ye shall not so escape I must talk with you also Unto whō Moon answered In the presence of the more the lesse hath no power My Lord hath taken order with vs and therfore we are as his Lordship hath appoynted and must repayre before him agayne to morow At the which he let them go although he was earnestly procured by the party aboue specified to haue shewed his quality which was nothing els but tyranny So departed Moone and his wife without hurt of body but afterward when they with Peter the Apostle beheld the face of Christ they were sore wounded in consciences ashamed of theyr doings and also at the doore of desperation In so muche that when the sayde Moone came home to his house entring into a parlour alone by himselfe considering his estate and saw where a sword of hys did hang agaynst a wall was earnestlye allured by the enemy Sathan to haue taken it downe and therewith to haue slayne himselfe but God who casteth not away the penitent sinner repenting his fall with hart defended hys vnworthy seruaunt from that temptation and hath I trust left him to the amendement of life by the assistaunce of his holy spirit and to make him one amōg the elect that shal be saued The morow they both remayned and kept house with no small griefe of conscience wayting and looking wyth feare when to be sent for to the Bishop rather then offering theyr diligence to keepe the Bishops appoyntment but God so wrought that when the time drew neare that they feared calling forth the bels rong for the bishops departure out of the towne For the which they were not only glad but also many a good hart in Ipswich reioised and gaue thankes to God God for his mercy graunt that our sinne neuer deserue to prouoke Gods ire that the lyke dayes come agayne And if it so do God make them with all other weakelinges stronge and worthy souldiours to incounter with the ghostly enemyes the world the fleshe and the Deuill And boldely to stande to the confession of Christ and of his Gospel saying with the Apostles Whether it be right in the sight of god that we should obey you more then God iudge ye ¶ A tragicall lamentable and pitifull Hystory full of most cruell and tyranicall Murther done by the pretensed Catholiques vpon three women and an Infant to wit the mother her two daughters and the childe in the Isle of Garnesey for Christes true Religion the yeare of our Lord. 1556. Iuly 18. AMong all and singular Historyes touched in this Booke before as there be many pitifull diuers lamentable some Horrible and Tragicall so is there none almost either in cruelty to be compared or so farre of from all compassion and sense of humanity as this merciles fact of the Papistes done in the Isle of Garnsey vpon three women and an infant whose names be these as folow Katherine Cawches the Mother Guillemine Gilbert the daughter Perotine Massey the other daugther An Infant the sonne of Perotine But before I come to the purpose of this story it shall be necessary for the better explayning of the matter to begin first with the circumstances whereupon the first Originall and occasion did rise of this tragicall cruelty The case was this The xxvij day of May. an 1556. in the Isle of Garnsey which is a member of England in a towne there called S. Peters port was a noughty woman named Uincent Gosset who being euill disposed went the day aforesaid to the house of one Nicholas le Conronney dwelling in the towne of the sayd S. Peters Porte about ten of the clocke at night and there taking the key of the house lying vnder the doore entred into a Chamber towarde the streete where she espying a Cup of Siluer within a Cupbord tooke it away and so conueied her selfe out of the house agayne Who immediately after this fact done whether by counsell or by what occasiō els I haue not to say brought the sayd Cup to one Perotine Massey an honest woman dwelling in the sayd towne desiring her to lend her vj.d. vpon the same Perotine seing the cup or goblet suspecting as truth was the same to be stollen answered that she woulde not take it yet neuerthelesse hauing knowledge of the owner theerof tooke it to restore it agayne to whom it did apperteyn and to the end she should not cary it to another gaue her thē presently vj. d. Where moreouer is to be noted that Thomas Effart sayth and testifieth that knowledge was geuen by the sayde Perotine to Conronney touching the stealing of his piece who eftsoones vpō the misliking therof attached the sayd Uincent Gosset of the trespasse Who being apprehended and examined vpon the same immediatly confessed the fact desiring to haue one sent wyth her which was Collas de Loutre with vj. d. to fetch agayne the goblet where it was And so did The next day folowing the kinges officers being informed of the premises by one Nicolas Cary of the sayde towne Constable assembled the Iustices there to inquire and examine further as well vpon that facte of Uincent Gosset as vpon other griefes and things there amisse So that after declaration made by the officers and Constable before the Iustice for that the sayd Constable did report to haue founde certayne vessell of Pewter in the house of the foresayd Perotine Massey who then dwelt with her mother Katherine Cauches her Sister Guillemine Guilbert the which vessell did beare no marke and especially
for that there was a Peuter dishe whereof the name was scraped out theyr bodyes vpon the same were attached put in prison theyr moueable goodes taken by inuētory Within a few daies after these things this done past these 3. sely women abiding thus in durance in the castle made theyr supplication to the Iustices to haue iustice ministred vnto them videlicet If they had offended the law then to let them haue the law if not beseeching to graunt them the benefite of Subiects c. Which supplication put vp thereupon were they appoynted to come to theyr answere the fift day of Iune in the yeare aforesayd Uppon which day after straight examining of the matter and the honest aunswering of the cause by the sayde good woman at the last they submitted them to the report of their neighbours that they were no theeues nor euill disposed persons but liued truely and honestly as became Christian women to do the false and vntrue report of theyr accusers notwithstanding So the cause being thus debated after the inquirye made by the kinges Officers they were founde by theyr said neighbors not guilty of that they were charged wyth but had liued alwayes as honest women among them sauing onely that to the commaundementes of holy church they had not bene obedient c. Upon this triall verdit of the neighbours it was in fine adiudged firste that the sayd Uincent Gosset being atteinted of fellonye and condemned for the same should be whipped and after her eare being nailed to the pillory should so be banished out of the Isle without further punishment And as touching the other three women the Mother with her two daughters for theyr not comming to the Church they were returned prisoners agayn into the Castle the first of Iuly And thus farre concerning the true discourse of this matter with all the circumstaunces and appurtenaunce of the same in euery poynt as the case stoode according to the faythfull tenour and testimony of the Garnesey menne written with theyr owne handes both in Frenche and English tongue Wherein you see what false surmised matter was pretended agaynst these women and nothing proued and howe by the attestation of theyr neighbours they were fully clered of that facte and should by the temporall Courte haue bene dismissed had not the spirituall Clergy men picking matter of religion agaynst them exercised such extremitye in persecuting these miserable prisoners that in no case they could escape theyr bloudye handes till at length they had brought them as you shall heare to theyr finall ende For after the time of this declaration aboue mentioned made by the neighbours whereby they were purged of al other thinges being then known of theyr not comming to the Church the Bailiefes Lieutenaunt and the Iustice thinking the matter not to perteyne to them but to the Clergy forthwith wrote theyr letters or Mandate vnder theyr signes to the deane whose name was Iaques Amy and Curates of the sayd Isle The contentes wherof here foloweth ¶ A Letter sent from the Bailieffes Lieutenaunt and Iurates of Saynt Peters Port to the Deane and Curates of the Isle of Garnesey MAyster Deane and Iustices in your Court and iurisdiction after all amiable recommendations pleaseth you to know that we are informed by the deposition of certayn honest men past before vs in maner of an inquiry in the which inquiry Katherine Cawches and her two daughters haue submitted themselues in a certayne matter criminall Wherein we be informed that they haue bene disobedient to the commaundementes and ordinances of the Church in contēning and forsaking the masse and the ordinances of the same agaynst the will and commaundement of our souereigne Lord the king and the Queene Wherof we send you the sayd matter for as much as the matter is spirituall to the end you may proceed therein after your good discretions and as brieflye as you can possible and also that it perteined to your office recommēding you to God the which geue you grace to do that perteineth to right and iustice Written the first day of the moneth of Iuly the yeare of our Lord. 1556. After these letters and information thus addressed to Iaques Amy Deane and to other of the Clergy the sayde women were agayne commensed before the Iustice aforesaid with his assistances In the presence of whom they being examined of theyr fayth concerning the ordinances of the Romish church made their aunswere that they would obey and keepe the ordinaunces of the king Queene the cōmaundementes of the church notwithstanding that they had sayd and done the contrary in the time of K. Edward the 6. in shewing obedience to his ordinaunces and commaundementes before After which aunswere taken they were returned againe to prison vntill the other had an answere of their letter frō the deane his cōplices During which time the Deane curates gaue their information touching the sayd women and deliuered the same to the Bailiefe and Iurates cōdemning and reputing them for hereticks the women neither hearing of any information neither yet being euer examined at any time before of theyr fayth and religion Wherupon when the said Bailife Iurates vnderstood that the sayd Deane Curates had not examined the women of theyr fayth would not fitte in iudgement on that day but ordeined the women to come first before the Deane and Curates to be examined of their fayth And so the Officers at the commaundement of the Iustices did fetch and present them before the sayd Deane and Curates The which being accomplished and done they were examined a parte seuerally one from an other After which examination they incontinently were returned agayne into prison Then the xiiij day of the sayd moneth of Iuly in the yeare aforesayd after the examination aboue specified before Elyer Gosselin Bailiffe in the presence of Thomas Deuicke Pierres Martine Nicolas Cary Iohn Blondel Nicolas de Lisle Iohn Lauerchaunt Iohn le Feuer Pierres Bonnamy Nicolas Martin Iohn de la March Iurates Syr Iaques Amy Deane and the Curates dyd deliuer before the Iustice vnder the seale of the Deane vnder the signes of the Curates a certayne Act and Sentence the summe whereof was that Katherine Cawches and her two daughters were found heretickes and suche they reputed them and haue deliuered them to Iustice to do execution according to the Sentence of the which the tenour foloweth ¶ The Sentence AN. dom millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo sexto die verò .xiij. mensis Iulij apud Ecclesiam diui Petri in portu maris insula promotor per nos Dominum Decanum inquisitio facta fuit de fide Catholica super Sacramenta Ecclesiastica videlicet super Sacramentum Baptismi confirmationis poenitentiae ordinis Matrimonij Eucharistiae extremae vnctionis nec non super ceremonias Ecclesiae ac de veneratione honoratione beatae Mariae sanctorum de Missa eius efficacia
were burned he speaketh neuer a worde of theyr condemners and true murderers in deede Thirdly for so much as M. Harding is here in hande with infantacide and with casting away young childrens liues I woulde wishe that as he hath sisted the doynges of this woman to the vttermost who was rather murdered then a murderer so hee would with an indifferent eye looke on the other side a little vppon them of hys owne Clergy and see what he could finde there amongest those wilfull contemners of immaculate mariage Not that I do accuse any of incontinencie whose liues I knowe not but there is one aboue that well knoweth and seeth all thinges be they neuer so secret to man and most certainly will pay home at length wyth fire and brimstone when hee seeth his time I say no more and not so much as I might following herein the Paynters whiche when their colours will not serue to expresse a thing that they meane they shadow it with a veile But howsoeuer the matter goeth with them whether they may or may not be suspected touchyng thys crime aforesayd of infantacide most sure and manifest it is that they are more then worthely to be accused of homicide in murdering the children and seruauntes of God bothe men and women wines and maydes old young blinde and â—ame madde and vnmadde discreete and simple innocentes learned with the vnlearned and that of all degrees from the high Archbishop to the Clark and Sexten of the church and that most wrongfully and wilfully with such effusion of innocent Christian bloud as cryeth vp dayly to God for vengeance And therefore M.H. in my minde shoulde doe well to spare a little time from these his inuectiues wherewith he appeacheth the poore protestantes of murder whom they haue murdered themselues and exercise his penne wyth some more fruitfull matter to exhort these spirituall Fathers first to cease from murdering of their owne children to spare the bloud of innocentes not to persecute Christ so cruelly in his members as they do and furthermore to exhort in like maner these Agamistes and wilful reiecters of matrimony to take themselues to lawfull wiues and not to resist Gods holy ordinaunce nor encounter his institution with an other contrary institution of theyr own deuising lest perhappes they preuented by fragilitie may fall into daunger of suche inconueniences aboue touched which if they be not in theÌ„ I shall be glad but if they be it is neyther theyr rayling agaynst the poore protestantes nor yet theyr secret auricular confession that shall couer theyr iniquities from the face of the Lord when hee shall come to reueale abscondita tenebrarum iudicare saeculum per ignem And thus for lacke of further laysâ—re I end with M. H. hauing no more at this time to â—ay vnto him but wish him to feare God to embrace his truth to remember himselfe and to surcease from this vncharitable rayling and brawling especially agaynst the dead whiche cannot aunswer him or if he will needes coÌ„tinue still to be suche a vehement accuser of other yet that hee will remember what belongeth to the part of a right accuser First that his accusation be true secondly that no blinde affection of partialitiâ— be mixt withall thirdly whosoeuer taketh vppon them to carpe and appeache the crimes of other oughte themselues to be sincere and vpright and to see what may be written in their owne foreheades Whoredome and murder be greeuous offences and worthy to bee accused But to accuse of murder the parties that were murdered and to leaue the other persons vntouched whiche were the true murderers it is the part of an accuser which deserueth himself to be accused of partialitie As verily I thinke by this woman that if she hadde bene a Catholicke Papiste and a deuout follower of their Church as she was a Protestant she had neyther bene condemned theÌ„ aliue of them nor now accused being dead of M. H. But God forgeue him and make him a good man if it be his will Three Martyrs burned at Greenstead in Sussex NEre about the same time that these three womeÌ„ with the infant were burned at Garnesey suffered other three likewise at Grenestead in Sussex two men and one woman the names of whome were Thomas Dungate Iohn Foreman and mother Tree who for righteousnes sake gaue themselues to death and tormentes of the fire patiently abiding what the furious rage of man could say or worke agaynst them at the sayde Towne of Grenested ending theyr lines the xviij of the said month of Iuly and in the yeare aforesaide ¶ The burning and Martyrdome of Thomas More in the Towne of Leicester Iune xxvi the yeare .1556 AS the bloudy rage of this persecution spared neyther manne woman nor childe wife nor mayde lame blynde nor creple and so through all men and women as there was no difference either of age or sexe considered so neyther was there any condition or qualitie respected of anye person but whosoeuer he were that helde not as they did on the pope and sacrament of the Aultar were he learned or vnlearned wise or simple innocent all went to the fire As may appeare by this simple poore creature innocent soule named Thomas More retayning as a seruaunt to a Mans house in the towne of Leicester about the age of 24. and after in manner of an housbandman for speakyng certayne wordes that his Maker was in heauen not in the Pixe was thereupon apprehended in the countrey being with his frendes Who comming before his Ordinary first was asked whether he did not beleue his Maker there to be poynting to the high Aultar Whiche he denyed Then asked the Bishop how then sayd hee doest thou beleue The young man aunswered agayn as his Creede did teache him To whom the bishop sayde and what is yonder that thou seest aboue the aultar He aunswering sayd forsooth I cannot tell what you would haue me to see I see there fine clothes with golden tassels and other gay geâ—e hanging about the pixe What is within I cannot see Why Doest thou not beleue sayth the bishoppe Christ to be there fleshe bloud and bone No that I doe not sayd he Whereupon the Ordinary making short with him red the sentence and so condemned the true and faythfull seruaunt of Christ to death in sainct Margaretes Churche in Leicester who was burnt and suffered a ioyfull glorious Martirdome for the testimony of righteousnesse in the same Towne of Leicester the yeare of our Lord aboue mentioned .1556 about the 26. of Iune To this Thomas Moore we haue also annexed the aunsweres and examination of one Iohn Iackson before Doctour Cooke one of the Commissioners for that it belongeth much vnto the same time ¶ The examination of Iohn Iackson had before Doctor Cooke the 11. day of March An. 1556. FIrst when I came before him he railed on me and called me hereticke I aunswered and sayde
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
desiring him that he might not liue so long as to cal euill good and good euill or light darkenes or darkenes light and so departed he home toward hys house where by the way homeward as it is affirmed he took his death and shortly after departed according to his prayer after he had endured in prison xii weekes After this Ioane his wife continued still in prison with her tender infant till at last she was brought before that Bishop to be examined Whereunto what her aunswers were it is not certainely knowne Howbeit most like it is what soeuer they were they pleased not the Bishoppe as appeared by his ire increased agaynst the poore woman her long continuance in the prison together with her tender babe which also remayned with her in the Iayle partaker of her Martyrdome so long as her milke would serue to geue it sucke till at length the childe being starued for colde and famine was sent away when it was past al remedie and so shortly after dyed And not long after the mother also followed besides the olde woman whiche was mother of the husband of the age of 80. yeares and vpwarde Who being left in the house after their apprehēsion for lacke of comfort there perished also And thus haue ye in one story the deathe of foure together first of the old woman then of the husband after that of the innocent childe and lastly of the mother What became of the other nine children I am not perfectly sure but that I partly vnderstand that they were all vndone by the same This story is reported and testified as well by other as namely by Mistres Bridges dwelling in the same town and partaker then of the like afflictions and hardly escaped with her life A Shomaker suffering in Northamton IN the moneth of October folowing was burned at the towne of Northampton a Shomaker a true witnesse and disciple of the Lorde who accordinge to the grace of God geuen vnto him cleauing fast to the sounde doctrin and preaching of Gods woord renounced the vntrue and false coloured religion of the Romish sea wherein manye a good man hath bene drowned After whom not long after in the same month of October died also in the Castle of Chichester thre godly confessors being there in bonds for the like cause of Christes Gospel who also should haue suffred the like Martyrdom had not theyr naturall deathe or rather as it is to be suspected the cruel handling of the papists made them away before and afterward buried them in the fielde I reade moreouer that in this present yeare to witte An. 1556. was burnt one called Hooke a true witnes of the Lordes truthe at Chester ¶ Fiue famished in Caunterbury Castell by the vnmercifull tyrannie of the Papistes about the beginning of Nouember AS among all the Bishops Boner bishop of London principally excelled in persecuting the poore members and Saintes of Christe so of all Archdeacons Nicholas Harpesfield Archdeacon of Cāterburie as may by mans sight appeare was the forest and of least compassion only Dunning of Norwich excepted by whose vnmercifull nature and agrest disposition verye many were putte to death in that dioces of Canterbury not onely in the bloudy time of that Queene but some also in the blessed beginning of this our moste renowmed Queene that nowe is as by the grace of Christ heereafter shall appeare Of those that suffered in Queene Maries time within the foresayd diocesse of Canterburie some be recited already with the order and fourme set downe of suche Articles as then were most commōly ministred to the examinates by Thorneton Suffragane of Douer and the sayde Nicholas Harpsefielde and other as before in the volume of this hystorie may appeare pag. 1683. Now to proceede in the order and course of time where we left next followeth the moneth of Nouember In the beginning whereof were together in the Castell of Caunterburie 15. godly and innocent Martyrs of which number not one escaped with theyr life but either were burned or els were famished in prisone Of that which two sortes which is the easier death God knoweth it is hard to iudge Notwithstāding the truth is that of these 15.10 were burned and suffered in the fire of whom in the next booke more shall follow hereafter the Lord willing The other 5. were pined and famished most vnmercifully in the straite prisone of whome we haue heere presently to entreate Whose names were these Whiche two were yet vncondemned 1. Iohn Clearke 2. Dunston Chittenden These were condemned to bee burnt 3. W. Foster of Stone 4. Alice Potkins wife of Stapleherst 5. Iohn Archer of Cranbroke weauer Of these 5. prisonners the firste two were vncondemned the other thre last were condemned and should haue bene burned but suffered no lesse tormentes then if they had abidde the fire being macerate and pined to death by famine What theyr articles and answers were it needeth not heere to recite seeing all they in that time of Queene Mary commonly suffered for one maner sort of cause that is for holding against the 7. Sacraments against the realtie of Christes being in his supper for speaking against the churche of Rome and determinations of the same against Images set vp and woorshipped in the churche for not comming to the church and such other like c. First William Foster answearing to these and like articles sayde that he beleeued well in all the Articles of the Creede but to beleeue to be m0e Sacraments then two and to pray to Saintes either to profite vs or to praye for soules in purgatorie to profit them that faith and works doe iustifie or to alow the popish ceremonies in the church that he denied Moreouer hee sayde to carie Candels vpon Candelmasse daye were as good for him as to carye a dungforke and that it is as necessary to cary the galowes about if his father were hanged as the crosse To come to the church he cannot sayd he with a safe conscience Concerning fish daies and flesh daies hee graunted it good to put difference therein except where necessity required the contrary This William Foster was a labouring man of the age of xl yeares He was apprehended and imprisoned by Sir Thomas Moyle Knight Alice Potkins for the like confession was condemned to be burned for that she was not neyther would be confessed to the Priest for that shee receiued not the sacrament of the aultare because shee would not pray to saincts nor creepe to the Crosse. c. Being demaunded of her age she sayde that shee was xlix yeares olde according to her olde age according to her yong age since she learned Christ shee was of one yeares age and was committed by maister Roberts to prisone The answer and confession of Iohn Archer of Crambroke was muche in like sorte And although certayne of these vpon ignorant simplicitie swarued a litle in the
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
videlicet Doctor Perne Uicechauncellor Doctor Segewicke Doctor Haruy M. Francke Kust and an other who is here namelesse also with sir Iames Dyer the Recorder M. Chapman Euered sitting together in the Hal certaine were there called by the appoyntment of L. Hawes and charge giuen what should be done And first the Commission was read Then were all the high Constables called to bring in theyr precepts and sworne Also 2. of euery Parishe of 10. or 12. hundredes were sworne to inquire of heresie lollardie conspiracie seditious words tales and rumors against the King and Queene Item for hereticall and seditious bookes for negligences misdemeanour in the church for obseruation of Ceremonies for Ornaments and stocke of the church We sayd at the first that the Cardinall thought the Uniuersitie to haue neede of reformation The reason whye hee shoulde thinke so was this either because the same of long continuance since any man could remember had cast of the Yoke of the B. of Rome and cleaued to the wholesome doctrine of the gospel or els by reason that bothe for the late schisme not yet worne out of memorie and for the doctrine of Martine Bucer who not long before openlye in the sayd Uniuersitie interpreated holy Scripture they saw many so sore corrupted and spotted with thys infection that euen as when a fire is spred in a towne vnlesse a speedy remedy were adhibited out of hande it were not possible to their thinking to quench it many yeares after Who also feared if it were not looked to in time least this mischief should take rote and by litle and litle infect al the members next vnto it which yet were whole and sounde This was the yeare of our Lorde 1556. To the intent therfore to make a salue for this sore the Inquisitours of whome we spake before came vnto Cambridge the 9. day of Ianuarie And as they were yet on theyr iourney not farre from the towne diuers of the Masters Presidents of the colledges met them and brought them courteously first into the town and after to their lodging They were entertained in Trinity colledge by M. Iohn Christopherson Master of the same house and lately before elected B. of Chichester Notwithstanding they were desired some to one place and some to an other as occasion serued eyther to do theyr dueties or to shew theyr good wils Cole to the kings Colledge and D. Watson to S. Iohns But whether it were for the acquaintaunce of Christopherson or for the largenes of the house which semed most conuenient for theyr purpose they al tooke vp their lodgings in the sayd Colledge with M. Christopherson At theyr comming thether an Oration was made by a felowe of the house who in the name of all the rest with long Protestation declared that they were moste heartely welcome thether that he and his fellowes gaue them great thanks that it had pleased theyr lordships to haue so good opiniō of them as to chuse their house especially to lodge in whereby they had bothe encouraged them to stande in hope of some further beneuolence towardes them and also done great worship to theyr Colledge by theyr being there wherefore they should looke at theyr hand agayne for as much duetie and reuerence as lay in theyr power to perfourme To this Oration Watson made answer that this forewarde and earnest good willes and mindes of theyrs in doing suche curtesie was right thankefully taken both of hun and his exhortinge them to continue stedfastly in the same and to procede also when nede should require for it was so far from any of their thoughts to stop thē in this theyr race that they would rather haste them forwarde to runne throughe more speedely being not wtout good cause perswaded to conceiue good hope of their beneuolēce towardes them in asmuch as they would do for them what soeuer might tourne to theyr profit and commoditie Thys day for asmuch as it was towarde euening ere they came and the sunne was going down was nothing els done The next day being the 10. of Ianuarie they bestowed in recreating them selues after theyr iourney and in setting other things at a stay Neuerthelesse to the entent the same should not escape altogether without doing of somewhat they interdited the 2. Churches namely S. Maries where Martin Bucer and S. Michaels where Paulus Phagius lay buried These menne were dead a good while before Paulus Phagius had scarce yet shewed the proofe of his wit and learning when he departed to God 1549. Bucer lyued but a little after During which time somewhat by wryting but chiefly by reading and preaching openly wherein the old man being painfull in the woorde of God neuer spared himselfe nor regarded his health hee broughte all men into such admiration of him that neyther his frends could sufficiently praise him neither his ennemies in anye poynt finde fault with his singular life sincere doctrine A most certaine token wherof may be his sumptuous buriall solempnised with so great assistence and gladnesse of all the degrees of the Uniuersitie that it was not possible to deuise more to the settinge oute and amplifyinge of the same The whole maner and order of the doyng whereof beyng wrytten by M. Nicholas Carre a learned man in a little treatise to Syr Iohn Cheeke Knight wyth an Epistle full of consolation as concerning his departure added thereunto was sent afterwarde vnto Peter Martyr then abiding at Oxford From the burial of Bucer and Phagius vnto the cōming of these visitours were passed aboute 3. or 4. yeares more or lesse And from the time that that blessed Kynge Edward the vj. deceased vnto that day the Priests neuer ceased to celebrate theyr Masses and other kinde of Ceremonies in those places and that without scruple of conscience as farre as men could perceiue But after the time that these Commissioners came thether those things that before were accompted for sacred and holy beganne to be denounced for prophane and vnholy For they commanded that al those assemblies that should hereafter be made for the executing of holy Ceremonies should be remoued to the kings Chappell which is a place farre more stately then all the other Now was come the 11. day in the which the Uicechācellor of the Uniuersitie with the maisters and presidents of the Colledges and all the other Graduates of euerye house were commanded to appeare before the said Commissioners in their habites It was commanded that the scholers also should come in theyr surplises but that was not done They assembled in great nūber to Trinitie colledge hauinge the Uniuersitie crosse borne before them in the gatehouse a forme was sette and couered with cusshings and carpet on the ground for the visitours Where the Uicechancellor hauing on a Tishewe cope sprinkeled holy water on them and purposed to sence them but they refused it there which notwithstanding afterwarde in the Queenes Colledge and elswhere they
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
haue burned certayne of his Garde whome he had in prison for Religion at whose execution he had promised to haue bene himselfe in proper person in the middes of his tryumph at a tourney was wounded so sore in the head with a Speare by one of his owne Subiectes that ere it was long after he dyed In the which behalfe the dreadfull iudgementes of GOD were no lesse approued in our owne Countreymen For one that was a notable slaughterman of Christes Sayntes rotted aliue and ere euer he dyed such a rancke sauour stemed from all his bodye that none of his frendes were able to come at hym but that they were ready to vomit Another being in vtter dispayre well nighe of all health howled out miserably The third ranne out of his wittes And diuers other that were enemyes to the Churche perished miserablye in the end All the which thinges were most certayne tokens of the fauour and defence of the diuine Maiesty towades his Churche and of his wrath and vengeance towardes the Tyrauntes And for as much as he had made mention of the Bohemians he sayd it was a most apte example that was reported of theyr Capitayne Zisca who when hee should dye willed his body to be slayne and of his skin to make a parchment to couer the head of a drumme For it should come to passe that when his enemies hearde the sound of it they should not be able to stand agaynste them The like counsell he sayd he himselfe nowe gaue them as concerning Bucer That like as the Bohemians dyd with the skinne of Zisca the same should they doe with the Argumentes and doctrine of Bucer For as soone as the Papistes shoulde heare the noyse of hym theyr Gewgawes would forthwith decay For sauing that they vsed violence to such as withstoode them theyr doctrine conteyned nothing that might seeme to any man hauing but meane vnderstanding in holy Scripture to be grounded vpon any reason As for those thinges that were done by them agaynst such as could not play the madmen as well as they some of them sauoured of open force and some of ridiculous foolishnes For what was this first of all was it not friuolous that by the space of three yeares together Masse shoulde be songe in those places where Bucer and Phagius rested in the Lord without any offence at al and assoone as they tooke it to be an offence straight waye to be an offence if any were heard there or that it should not be as good then as it was before as if that then vppon the soddeyne it had bene a haynous matter to celebrate it in that place and that the fault that was past should be counted the greuouser because it was done of lenger time before Moreuer this was a matter of none effect that Bucer and Phagius onely should be digged vppe as who shoulde say that he alonely had embraced the Religion which they call heresy It was well knowne howe one of the Burgesses of the Towne had bene minded towarde the Popish Religion Who when he shoulde dye willed neither ringing of Belles Diriges nor any other such kinde of trifles to be done for him in his anniuersary as they terme it but rather that they should go with Instruments of Musicke before the Maior and coūsell of the Citty to celebrate his memoriall and also that yearely a Sermon shoulde bee made to the people bequeathing a piece of money to the Preacher for his labour Neither might he omit in that place to speak of Ward the paynter who albeit he wer a man of no reputation yet was he not to be despised for the religion sake which he diligently folowed Neyther were diuers other moe to be passed ouer with silence who were knowne of a certaynety to haue continued in the same sect and to rest in other Churchyardes in Cambridge and rather through the whole realme and yet defiled not theyr Masses at all All the which persons for as much as they were all of one opinion ought all to haue bene taken vppe or els all to haue bene let lye with the same Religion vnlesse a man would graūt that it lyeth in theyr power to make what they list lawfull and vnlawfull at theyr owne pleasure In the condemnation of Bucer and Phagius to saye the trueth they vsed to much cruelty and to muche violence For howsoeuer it went with the doctrine of Bucer certaynely they coulde finde nothing wherof to accuse Phagius in as much as he wrote nothing that came abroad sauing a few things that he had translated out of the Hebrew and Chaldy tounges into Latine After his comming into the Realme he neuer read he neuer disputed he neuer preached he neuer taught For he deceased so soone after that he coulde in that time geue no occasion for his aduersaries to take hold on whereby to accuse him whome they neuer hearde speake In that they hated Bucer so deadly for the allowable maryage of the Cleargy it was theyr owne malice conceiued agaynste him and a verye slaunder raysed by themselues For he had for his defence in that matter ouer and besides other helpes the Testimony of the Pope Pius the second who in a certayne place sayth that vppon waighty considerations Priestes wiues were taken from them but for more weighty causes were to be restored agayne And also the statute of the Emperour they call it the Interim by the which it is enacted that such of the cleargye as were maryed shoulde not bee diuorced from theyr wiues Thus turning his stile from this matter to the Uniuersity he reprooued in fewe wordes theyr vnfaythfulnes towardes these men For if the Lord suffered not the bones of the King of Edome being a wicked man to bee taken vppe and burnt without reuengement as sayth Amos let vs assure our selues he will not suffer so notable a wrong done to his godly Preachers vnreuenged Afterward when he came to the condemnation whiche we tolde you in the former action was pronounced by Perne the Uicechauncellour in the name of them all being somewhat more moued at the matter he admonished thē how much it stoode them in hand to vse great circumspectnes what they decreed vpon any man by theyr voyces in admitting or reiecting any man to the promotions and degrees of the Uniuersity For that which should take hys authority from them should be a great preiudice to all the other multitude which for the opinion that it had of theyr doctrine iudgement allowance and knowledge didde thinke nothing but well of them For it would come to passe that if they would bestow theyr promotions vpon none but meet persons let the vnmeet go as they come both the common wealth should receiue much commodity and profite by them and besides that they should highly please God But if they persisted to be negligent in doing thereof they should grieuously endommage the common weale and worthely worke theyr owne shame and reproch Ouer and besides that
the should greatly offend the maiesty of God whose commaundement not to beare false witnesse they should in so doing breake and violate In the meane while that he was speaking these and many other thinges before his audience many of the vniuersity to set out and defend Bucer withall beset the walles of the Church and Church porche on both sides with verses some in Latine some in Greeke and some in English in the which they made a manifest declaration howe they were minded both toward Bucer and Phagius Finally when his Sermon was ended they made common Supplication and prayers After thankes rendred to God for many other thinges but in especially for restoring of the true and sincere religion euery man departed his way For as muche as mention hath beene made of the death of the worthy and famous Clerke Martin Bucer of the burning of his boanes after his death it shall not be vnfruitful as the place here serueth to induce the testimony or Epitaph of Doctor Redman which came not yet in print vpon the decease of that man ¶ The Epitaph or funerall verse of D. Redman vpon the death of Mayster Bucer ET tu liuor edax procul hinc abscede maligna facessito inuidentia Et procul hinc nemesis procul hinc Momus abesto labes luesque mentium Daemonibus similes homines quae redditis almam foedatis atque imaginem Quam nostro impressit generi pater ille supremus similes sui dum nos creat Contemptrix odij mendacis nescia fuci Adesto sancta Veritas Dicito quis qualisque elatum funere nuper quem vidimus tam flebili Est in quam misera hac defunctus luce Bucerus lux literati dux Chori Doctrinae radios qui totum solis ad instar misit per orbem splendidos Hunc dirae nuper sublatum vulnere mortis lugubre flet Gymnasium Et pullata gemit maerens schola Cantabrigensis orbata claro sydere Ergo quasi obstructo doctrinae fonte querelas precesque nunc fundit Agnoscit nunquam se talem habuisse magistrum ex quo sit olim condita Non vnquam Cathedrae gauisa est praeside tanto tam nobili claro duce Cuius ingenij doctrinae munera summum virtutis ornauerat decus Integritas morum grauitas prudentia sermo semper dei laudem sonans Et sale conditus qualem vult esse piorum Apostoli sententia Accessit zelus feruens praesule dignus peccata semper arguens Nunquam desidiae aut languori deditus vllum indulsit otium sibi Credibele est nimio fatum accelerasse labore prodesse cunctis dum studet Sed frustra laudes auguste carmine nitor tam copiosas claudere Ergo Bucere scholae suggestus gloria sacri valeto etiam vel mortuus Aeternum in superis foelix iam viuito regnis exutus etsi corporis Terrenis spolijs huius miseri atque caduci Quod est sepulchro conditum Christus depositum reddet cum foenore magno Iudex breui quum venerit ⧠The despightfull handling and madnesse of the papistes toward Peter Martyrs wife at Oxford taken vp froÌ„ her graue at the commaundement of Cardinall Poole and after buryed in a dunghill ANd because the one Uniuersity shoulde not mocke the other like crueltye was also declared vpon the deade body of Peter Martyrs wife at Oxford an honest graue and sober matrone while she liued and of poore people alwayes a great helper as many that be dwelling there can right well testify In the yeare of our Lord. 1552. she departed this life with great sorow of al those needy persoÌ„s whose necessities many times often she had liberally eased and relieued Now when Brokes Bishop of Glocester Nicholas Oâ—maner Datary Robert Morwen President of Corpus Christi Colledge Cole and Wright Doctors of the Ciuill Law came thither as the Cardinals visitours they among other thinges had in Commission to take vp this good woman agayne out of her graue and to consume her carkas with fire not doubting but that she was of the same religion that her husband had professed before wheÌ„ he read the Kinges lecture there And to make a shewe that they would do nothing disorderly they called al those before theÌ„ that had any acquayntance with her or her husband They ministred an othe vnto them that they should not conceale whatsoeuer was demaunded In fine theyr answere was that they knewe not what religion she was of by reason they vnderstood not her language To be shorte after these visitours had sped theyr busines they came for they 〈◊〉 them to the Cardinall agayne certifying him that vpon due inquisition made they could learne nothing vpon which by the law they might burne her Notwithstanding the cardinall did not leaue the matter so but wrote downe his Letters a good while after to Marshall then Deane of Frideswides that he should dyg her vp and lay her out of christian buriall because she was interred nigh vnto S. Frideswides relicks sometime had in great reuerence in that Colledge Doct. Marshal like a prety man calling his Spades and mattockes together in the euening when he was well whitled caused her to be taken vp and buryed in a dunghill Howbeit when it pleased God vnder good Queene Elizabeth to geue quietnes to his Church long time persecuted with prison and death then Doctour Parker Archbishop of Canterbury Edmund Grindall Bishop of LoÌ„don Richard Goodricke with diuers other her Maiesties high Commissioners in matters Religion nothing ignoraunt howe farre the aduersaries of the trueth had transgressed the bouÌ„des of all humanity in violating the sepulchre or graue of that good and vertuous woman wylled certayne of that Colledge in the whiche this vncurteous touch was attempted and done to take her out of that vncleane dishonest place where she laye solemnely in the face of the whole towne to bury her agayne in a more decent honest monumeÌ„t For though of the body being once dead no great estimatioÌ„ were to be had how or where the bones were layde yet was some reuerence to be vsed toward her for sexe and womanhood sake Besides to saye the truth it was great shame that he which had trauelled so farre at king Edwardes request from the place wherin he dwelt quietly and had takeÌ„ so earnest paynes beyng an old man in reading and setting forth the truth al he could with learning to teach and instruct and so wel deserued of that Uniuersity should with so vngentle a recompence of ingratitude be rewarded agayne as to haue his wife that was a godly woman a strauÌ„ger good to many especially to the poore and hurtfull to none either in word or deede without iust deseruing beside theyr owne law not proceeding against her according to the order therof spitefully to be layd in a stincking dunghill To all good natures the fact seemed odious of suche as be
of diuine seruice 13 Item if there be any that doe practise or exercise any artes of Magike or Necromancy or do vse or practise any Incantations Sorceries or witchcraft or be vehemently suspected therof 14 Item whether any be maried in the degrees of affinity or consanguinitye prohibited by the Lawes of holye church or that do mary the banes not asked or do make any priuy contractes 15 Item whether in the time of Easter last any were not confessed or did not receiue the blessed sacrament of the aultar or did reuerētly behaue themselues in the receiuing thereof 16 Item whether any do keepe any secret conuenticles preachinges lectures or readinges in matters of religion contrary to the lawes 17 Item whether any do now not duly keep the fasting and embring dayes 18 Item whether the aultars in the Churches be consecrated or no. 19 Item whether the Sacrament be caryed deuoutly to them that fall sicke with light and with a little Sacring Bell. 20 Item whether the common scholes be well kept and that the scholemaisters be diligent in teathing and be also Catholicke and men of good and vpright iudgemēt that they be examined and approued by the Ordinary 21 Item whether any do take vpon them to minister the goodes of those that be dead without authority from the Ordinary 22 Itē whether the poore people in euery parish be charitably prouided for 23 Item whether there do burne a Lampe or a Candle before the sacramēt And if ther do not that then it be prouided for with expedition 24 Item whether infantes children be brought to be confirmed in conuenient time 25 Item whether any do keepe or haue in theyr custody any erroneous or vnlawfull bookes 26 Item whether any do withhold any mony or goodes bequeathed to the amending of the high wayes or any other charitable deede 27 Item whether any haue put away theyr wyues or any wiues do withdraw thēselues from theyr husbandes being not lawfully diuorced 28 Item whether any do violate or breake the sondaies and holy dayes doing theyr daily labors exercises vpon the same 29 Item whether the Tauernes or Alehouses vpon the sondayes and holy dayes in the time of Masse matins and Euensong do keepe open theyr doores and do receiue people into theyr houses to drink and eat and therby neglect theyr dueties in comming to the church 30 Item whether any haue or do depraue or contemne the authority or Iurisdiction of the Popes holynes or the See of Rome 31 Item whether any Minstrels or any other persons do vse to sing any songes against the holy sacramēts or any other the rites and ceremonies of the church 32 Itē whether there be any hospitals within your parishes whether the foundations of them be duely truly obserued and kept And whether the charitable contributions of the same be done accordingly 33 Item whether any goodes plate iewels or possessions be taken away or withholden from the sayd Hospitals and by whom ¶ A History of tenne Martyrs condemned and burned within the Dioces of Caunterbury for the testimony of Iesus Christ and trueth of his Gospell MEntion was made a little before of the persecution in Kent pag. 1860. Where we declared that fiftene were in the Castle of Canterbury imprisoned and cōdemned for Gods word Of the which fiftene moreouer we shewed declared fiue to be famished vnto death within the said castle and buryed by the high waye about the beginning of Nouember The other tenne in the first month of the next yeare folowing which was the yeare of our Lord. 1557. were committed vnto the fire and there cōsumed to ashes by Thornton called Bishop or Suffragane of Douer otherwise called Dicke of Douer and by Nicholas Harpsfield the Archdeacon of the sayd Prouince The names of these tenne godly and Christian Martyrs be these Iohn Philpot of Tēterden W. Waterer of Bedingden Stephen Kempe of Norgate W. Haye Hythe Thomas Hudsonne of Salenge Mat. Bradbridge of Tenterden Thomas Stephens of Bedingden Nich. Finall of Tenterden W. Lowicke of Crābroke W. Prowting of Thornhā What the ordinarye articles were commonly obiected to them of Canterbury Dioces is before rehearsed Pag. 1672. saue onely that to some of these as to them that folowed after as the time of theyr persecution did growe so theyr articles withall did encrease to the number of two twenty conteining such like matter as serued to the mainteinaunce of the Romish See To these articles what theyr answeres were likewise needed here no great rehearsall seeing they all agreed together though not in the same fourme of woordes yet in much like effecte of purposes first graunting the Churche of Christ and denying the Church of Rome denying the seuen Sacramentes refusing the Masse and the hearing of Latine Seruice praying to Saynctes iustification of works c And though they did not al answere vniformely in some smaller thinges as theyr learning serued them yet in the most principall and chiefest matters they did not greatly discord c. ¶ The burning of sixe Martyrs at Caunterbury Of these tenne Godly Martyrs of Christe sixe were burned at Canterbury about the fiftene of Ianuary that is Kempe Waterer Prowting Lowike Hudson and Haye Other two that is Stephēs and Philpot at Wye about the same moneth Other two which were Finall Bradbrige were burned both together at Ashford the xvj of the same The next moneth folowing whiche was Februarye came out an other bloudy Commission from the king and Queene to kindle vp the fire of persecution as though it were not hoate enough already the contentes of whiche Commission I thought here not to pretermit not for lack of matter whereof I haue too much but that the Reader may vnderstand how kinges princes of this world like as in the first persecutions of the primitiue Church vnder Ualerianus Decius Maximian Dioclesian Licinius c. so now also in these latter perillous dayes haue set out all theyr maine force and power with lawes policy authorit to the vttermost they coulde deuise agaynst Christe and his blessed gospel And yet notwithstāding al these lawes constitutions Iniunctions and terrible proclamations prouided agaynst Christ and his Gospell Christ yet styll continueth his gospel florisheth truth preuaileth kings and Emperors in their owne purposes ouerthrown their deuises dissolued theyr counselles confounded as exāples both of this of all times ages do make manifest But now let vs heare the intent of this Commission in tenor as foloweth ¶ A bloudy Commission geuen forth by King Philip and Queene Mary to persecute the poore members of Christ. PHilip and Mary by the grace of God king Queene of England c. To the right reuerend Father in God our right trusty welbeloued Counsellour Thomas B. Elye and to our right trusty welbeloued Williā Windsore knight L. Winsore Edw. North knight L. North and to our trusty welbeloued Counsellours Io.
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
that great Idolatry is sprong out of the carnall vnderstanding of the word of Christ This is my body yet dayly springeth to the great dishonour of God so that men worship a peece of bread for God yea and hold that to be their maker After this confession of their fayth and doctrine being written and exhibited they also deuised a letter withall in maner of a short supplication or rather an admonition to the Iudges and Commissioners requiring that Iustice and Iudgement after the rule of Gods worde might be ministred vnto them The copye of whiche theyr letter I thought here also to shew vnto the reader in forme as followeth * A letter or supplication of the prisoners to the Iudges TO the right honourable audience before whome these oure simple writinges and the confession of our fayth shall come to be read or seene we poore prisoners being fast in bandes vpon the tryall of our faythe whiche wee offer to bee tryed by the scriptures pray most hartily that for asmuch as God hath geuen you power and strength ouer vs as concerning our bodyes vnder whom we submit our selues as obedient subiects in al things due ye being officers and rulers of the people may execute true iudgement keepe the lawes of righteousnesse gouerne the people according to right and to heare the poore and helplesse in truth and to defend their cause God for his sonne Iesus Christes sake geue you the wisedom and vnderstanding of Salomon Dauid Ezechias Moyses wyth diuers others most vertuous rulers by whose wisedome most godly vnderstanding the people were iustly ruled and gouerned in the feare of God all wickednesse was by them ouerthrowne and beaten downe and all godlinesse and vertue did florish and spring O God whiche art the most hyghest the creator maker of all thinges and of all men both great and small and carest for all alike which doest try all mens workes and imaginations before whose iudgement seate shal come both high and low rich and poore we most humbly beseeche thee to put into our rulers heartes the pure loue and feare of thy name that euen as they theÌ„selues would be iudged and as they shall make aunswere before thee so to heare our causes to iudge with mercy and to read ouer these our requestes and confessions of our fayth with deliberation and a godly iudgement And if any thing here seemeth to your honourable audience to be erroneous or disagreeing to the scripture if it shall please your Lordship to heare vs patiently whiche doe offer our selues to the scriptures thereby to make aunswere and to be tryed in so doyng wee poore subiectes being in much captiuitie bondage are most bound to pray for your noble estate and long preseruation The request of these men being so iust and theyr doctrine so sound yet all this could not preuayle with the Bishop and other Iudges but that Sentence shoulde haue proceeded agaynst them incontinent had not the goodnes of the Lord better prouided for his seruauntes then the Bishoppe had intended For as they were now vnder the edge of the axe ready to be condemned by sentence it was thought otherwise by the Cardinall and some other wiser heades fearing belike least by the death of so many together some disturbance might rise peradueÌ„ture among the people and so was decreed among themselues that rather they shuld make some submission or confessioÌ„ such as they would themselues â—nd so to be sent home agayne as they were in deed howbeit diuers of them afterward wer apprehended and put to deathe But in the meane space as touching their submission which they made this it was as in forme here followeth ¶ The submission or confession of these aforesayd prisoners BEcause our sauiour Christ at his last supper took bread and when he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it vnto his Disciples and sayde Take eate this is my bodye whiche is geuen for you this doe in the remembraunce of me Therefore according to the wordes of our sauioure Iesus Christ we do beleue in the sacrament to be Christes body And likewise he tooke the cup gaue thankes and gaue it to his Disciples and sayd This is my bloud of the newe Testament which is shed for many Therefore likewise we do beleue that it is the bloud of Christ according as Christes Churche dothe minister the same Unto the whiche Catholicke Church of Christe we do in this like as in all other matters submit oure selues promising therein to liue as it becommeth good chrystian men and here in this realme to vse our selues as it becommeth faythfull subiectes vnto our most gracious king and Queene and to all other superiours bothe spirituall and temporall according to our bounden dueties The names of them which subscribed to this submission were these Iohn Atkine Alyn Symson Richard George Thomas Firefanne William Munt Richard Ioly Richard Gratwicke Thomas Winsley Richard Rothe Richard Clerke Stephen Glouer Robert Colman T. Merse William Bongeor Robert Bercocke Margaret Hide Elyn Euryng Christian Pepper Margaret feld Alyce Munt Ioane Winesley Cysly Warren Rose Alyn Anne Whitelocke George Barker Iohn Saxebye Thomas Locker Alyce Locker ¶ A story of fiue other godly Martyrs burned at one fire in Smithfield the 12. daye of Aprill TO proceede further in this story of persecuted martyrs next in order followe fiue other burned at London in Smithfield in the foresayd yeare of the Lord. 1557. April 12. whose names were these Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thyrtell Margaret Hyde and Agnes Stanley Who being some by the Lord Riche some by other Iustices of peace and Constables their own neighbours at the first accused and apprehended for not comming to their parish Churches were in the end sent vnto Boner Bish. of London and by hys commaundement the 27. day of Ianuary were examined before Doctour Darbyshyre then Chauncellour to the sayd Bishop vppon the former generall Articles mentioned pag. 1672. Aunsweres to the Articles WHose aunsweres thereunto were that as they confessed there was one true Catholick church wherof they steadfastly beleeued and thought the Churche of Rome to be no part or member so in the same Churche they beleued there were but two sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the supper of the Lorde Howbeit some of them attributed the title and honour of a sacrament to the holy estate of Matrimony which vndoubtedly was done rather of simple ignoraunce then of anye wilfull opinion and are thereof to be adiudged as before is admonished Moreouer they acknowledged themselues to be Baptised into the fayth of that true Church as in the thyrd article is specified And here in reading as wel of these Articles as also of the rest marke I beseech you the crafty subteltie of these Catholicke Champions who intermitting certayne poyntes of faith and of the true Church with the Idolatrous and superstitious mametry of theyr romyshe Sinagogue cause the poore and simple people
they brought in a false Ordinarye to sit vpon him so they pretended false articles agaynst him whiche were no part of his examinations but of their deuising to haue his bloud Sixtly and lastly hauing no other groūd nor iust matters agaynst him but onely for saying these wordes that which I sayd I haue sayde they red the sentence of death vpon him And this was the dealing of these men whiche needes will be reputed for Catholicke fathers of the spirituality succeders of the Apostles disciples of Christ pillers of the holy Churche and leaders of the people Of whose doynges and proceedinges howe agreable they are to the example of Christ and his Apostles I leaue to discusse referryng the iudgement hereof to them which know the institution of Christes religion and doctrine Now least peraduēture the disordered misrule of these Christmas Lordes will not be credited vppon the simple narration of the story yee shall heare the whole discourse of this processe registred by the hand of the Martyr hymselfe who as he could tell best what was done so I am sure would not testifie otherwise then trueth was according as you shall heare by his owne declaration here following ¶ The declaration of Steuen Gratwicke concerning his owne story and condemnation VPon the xxv day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1557. I. Stephen Gratwick came before the Bishop of Winchester D. White into S. Georges Churche in Southwarke at eight of the clocke in the morning and then hee called me before him and sayd vnto me B. Winchester Stephen Gradwick how standeth the matter with thee now Art thou contented to reuoke thy heresies the which thou hast mayntayned and defended here within my Dioces oftentimes before me and also vppon Sonday last ye stoode vp in the face of the whole Churche mayntayning your heresies so that you haue offended with in the libertie of my Dioces and now I being your Ordinary you must aunswere to me directly whether you will reuoke them or not the which I haue here in writing and if so be that you wil not reuoke them then I will excommunicate you and therefore note well what you doe for now I read here the Articles agaynst you And so whē he had ended he bad me answer vnto them Grat. My Lord these articles whiche you haue here obiected agaynst me are not mine but of youe owne making For I neuer had any of mine examinations written at any time and therefore these be the obiections that you laye agaynst me as a snare to get my bloud Wherefore I desyer your lawfull fauour to allow my lawfull appeale vnto myne Ordinary for I haue nothing to do with you And whereas you do burden me that I haue offended within your Dioces it is nothing so for I haue not interprised neyther to preache nor teache within your Dioces but was apprehended by mine own Bishop sent prisoner into your Dioces by the consent of the Coūsell mine own Ordinary therefore I so being in your Dioces you haue no cause to let my lawfull appeale And with that there came the Bishop of Rochester was receaued at the B. of Winchesters hands with much gladnes according to their determinate purpose before inuented And so followed the Archdeacon of Canterbury And then the Bishop agayne start vp as a man halfe rauished of his wittes for ioye embracing him with many gētle wordes and sayd that he was very glad of his comming making himselfe ignorant thereof as he thought it should appeare to me Then sayd Winchester B. Win. Syr I am very glad of your cōming For here I haue one before me who hath appealed vnto you being his Ordinary Then sayd the Archdeacon of Canterbury Arch. Cant. I know this man very well He hath bene diuers times before me And then I aunswered and sayd Gratw My Lorde I am not of his Dioces not by fiue miles for his Dioces reacheth on that parties but to the Cliffes of Lewes I dwelled at Bright Hempson fiue miles beyond in the Dioces of the Bishop of Chichester and therefore I am not of his Dioces Then the the Bishop of Winchester the B. of Rochester and the Archdeacon of Canterbury cast their heades together laughed and thē they sayd my Ordinary wold be here by and by so they sent forth for a counterfayte in steede of mine Ordinary and then I saw them laugh and I spake vnto them and sayd Grat. Why do ye laugh are ye confederate together for my bloud and therein triumph you haue more cause to looke waightely vpon the matter For I stand here before you vpon life and death But you declare youre selues what you are for you are lapped in Lambes apparell but I would to God ye had coates according to your assemblye here which is scarlet gownes for I do here perceiue you are bent to haue my bloud And then came rushing in their counterfayted Bishop who was the hyred seruaunt to deliuer me into the hands of the high Priest the Bishop hearyng him come with haste enquired of his man who was there and he sayd my lord of Chichester Then the Bish. with hast rose vp and sayd Wint. Ye are most hartily welcome and required him to sit downe and then sayd the Bishop of Winchester to me Loe here is your Ordinary What haue you nowe to saye vnto him Grat. I haue nothing to say vnto him If he haue nothing to say vnto me I pray you let me depart Then aunswered my Counterfeyt Ordinary and sayd Counterf Here you stand before my Lords and me in triall of your fayth and if you bring the trueth wee shall by compulsion geue place vnto you as it is to be proued by the word and your doctrine to be heard and placed for a truth Grat. Then I demaunded of him whether hee meant by authoritie or by the iudgement of the spirite of GOD in his members And he aunswered me by authoritie as well as by the spirite Grat. Then I sayd Nowe will I turne your own Argument vpon you for Christ came before the high priests Scribes and Phariseis bringing the truth with him beyng the very truth hymselfe which truth cannot lye yet both he and his truth was condemned and took no place with them And also the Apostles and all the Martyrs that dyed since Christ therefore I turne your owne argument vpon you aunswere it if you can Counterf Then he with a great hast of coller sayd vnto the Bishop of Winchester obiect some Articles agaynst hym for he is obstinate and would fayne get out of our handes therefore holde him to some particular so that other aunswere could I not haue of his argument Wint. Then the Bishop of Winchester began to reade hys obiections of his owne making agaynst me and bad me aunswere vnto them And I sayd Grat. No except you would set the law apart because I see you are
weake creatures with such manly stomacke and fortitude so constantly to withstaÌ„d the vttermost extremitie of these pitilesse persecutors as he did before strengthen the mother of the 7. sonnes in the Machabees as he hath done since with diuers sondry other godly womeÌ„ in these our later daies partly before mentioned partly to be meÌ„tioned hereafter heere presently may appeare by the martyrdome of these 7. here vnder folowing of the which were 4. women and 3. men burnt together at Canterb. the 31. day of the sayde moneth of Iune in the yere aforesaid whose names are these Iohn Fishcocke Nicolas White Nicolas Pardue Barbara Final Widow Bradbreges widow Wilsons Wife Bendens Wife As it were too tedious exactly and particularly to prosecute the seuerall storie of euery one of these godly Martyrs so I can not passe ouer vntouched the cruel and vnchristian handling of Alice Benden during her imprisonment according as I haue receiued by the faithfull relation of them which best were acquainted with her partly also some doers in the matter beinge her owne naturall brethren The storie is thus ¶ The order of the imprisonment and tragicall handling of Alice Benden wife of Edw. Benden of the parish of Stapleherst in the Countie of Kent for the testimonye of Christes Gospell FIrst Alice BeÌ„den was broght before one M. Roberts of CraÌ„broke in the said Countie the 14. day of Oct. in the yere of our lord 1556. of whom she was demaÌ„ded why she wold not go to the church And she answered that she could not so do with a good and cleare coÌ„science because there was much idolatrie committed against the glory of God For the which with many mocks and tauÌ„ts she was sent to prison where she lay 14. daies For on the 20. day of October her husband required his neighbors the welthy meÌ„ of Stapleherst to wryte to the Bishop of Douer who had the chiefe gouernment of the tyrannical sword in Kent for those daies which they did desiring him to seÌ„d her home Wherfore the B. called her before him asked her if she would go home go to the church Wherunto she answered If I would haue so done I nede not to haue come hither Then wilt thou go home and be shriuen of the parish Priest And she sayd no that would she not Well said he go thy waies home and go to the Church when thou wilt Wherunto she answered nothing But a Priest that stoode by sayd shee sayeth shee will my Lord. Wherefore he let her goe and shee came foorthwith home On the Saterday following her husbande willed her to goe to the Churche which she both then and else when refused to do Wherefore on the Sonday 14. daies after he going to the church came into the companie of diuers inhabitaunts of the same parish among whome thoroughe his fonde talke and behauior he procured her to be sent to Syr Iohn Gilforde who commaunded her to prisone againe yea and the more to vtter his owne shame thâ— said her husband tooke money of the Constable to carry her to prisone the pâ—ice of his wiues bloud meaning in deede to carry her to prison him selfe But she hauing muche more care of his honest and good report then he had regard as it is easie to see of his owne infamie and no lesse ashamed of his so rude and vnnatural doings chose rather to commit her selfe willingly into the hands of her enemies then that the world shoulde witnesse against her husband of so facinorous a fact Wherfore she went to the Constable desiring him to go with her But he answered that he could not so doe but graunted her his boy to go with her with whom she went to prison namely the castle of Canterburie according to the commaundement geuen Where this one thing is woorthy to be noted yâ— while she was in this prison she practised with a prison fellowe of hers the wife of one Potkin to liue bothe of them with ij pence halfpenie a day to trie therby how well they coulde sustaine penurie hunger before they were put to it For they had heard that when they should be remooued from thence to the Bishops prison their liuings should be but iij. farthings a peece a day and did in dede both so liue for xiiij daies ere shee were from thence remooued The 22. day of Ianuarie folowing her husband went againe to the bishop desiring hym to deliuer his wife out of prison but he saide shee was an obstinate hereticke and would not be reformed and therefore sayde that he could not deliuer her Then said he my Lord she hath a brother whose name is Roger Hal that resorteth vnto her If your Lordship could keepe him from her she would turne for he comforteth her geueth her money and perswadeth her not to returne or relent This occasion was not so soone geuen but it was as quickly taken and as cruelly put in execution For the Bishop commaunding her vppon the same to a prison called Mondaies hole there also he gaue strait charge that if at any time her brother came he should be taken apprehended This prison was wtin a Court where the Prebendes chambers were being a valt beneath the ground being before the window inclosed with a pale of height by estimation 4. foote a halfe and distant from the same 3. foote so that she looking from beneath might only see such as stood at the pale After this her Brother sought often for her with no les danger of life then diligence But for the vnknown situation of the place it being also but rarely vsed for a prison and the matter as closely kept as it was secretly dou he could neuer come to vnderstaÌ„d of her being there vntil through Gods merciful wil and vnsearchable prouideÌ„ce he coÌ„ming thether very rathe in a morning her keper being then gone to the church to ring for he was a bell ringer chaunced to heare her voyce as she powred out vnto God her sorowful complaints saying the Psalmes of Dauid and there could he none otherwise relieue her but by putting money in a loaf of bread and sticking the same on a pole and so reached it vnto her for neither with meate nor drinke he could sustaine her And this was 5. wekes after her comming thether Al the which time no creature was knowen to come at her more then her keeper Their lying in that prison was onely vpon a litle short straw betwene a paire of stockes a stone wall being allowed iij. farthings a day that is a halfe penye bread and a farthing drinke neither could she gette any more for her mony Wherefore she desired to haue her whole alowance in bread and vsed water for her drinke Thus did shee lye 9. weekes During all which time she neuer changed her apparel wherby she became at the last a most pitious and lothsome creature to beholde At
her first comming into this place she did greuously bewaile with great sorrowe lamentation and reasoned with her selfe why her Lorde God did with his so heauy iustice suffer her to be sequestred from her louing fellowes into so extreeme miserie In these dolorous mournings did shee continue til on a night as shee was in her sorrowful supplications in rehearsing thys verse of the Psalme Why arte thou so heauie O my soule And againe The right hande of the most highest can chaunge all shee receiued comforte in the middest of her miseries And after that continued very ioyfull vntill her deliuerie from the same About the 25. day of March in the yeare of our Lorde 1557. shee was called before the Bishop who demaunded of her whether shee would nowe goe home and go to the church or no promising her great fauour if she woulde be reformed and doe as they did To whom she answered I am throughly perswaded by the great extremitie that you haue already shewed me that you are not of God neither can your doings be godly and I see sayeth she that you seeke my vtter destruction shewing how lame she then was of cold taken for lacke of foode while she lay in that painful prison whereby shee was not able to mooue her selfe without great paine Then did the bish deliuer her frō that filthy hole and sent her to Westgate whereas after she had bene changed and for a while ben cleane kept her skin did wholy so pill scale off as if she had bene with some mortal venome poysoned Heere she continued till the latter end of Aprill At which time they called her before them and with others condemned her committing her then to the prisone called the Castle Where shee continued till the slaughter daye which was the 19. day of Iune when by terrible fire they tooke away her life When she was at the stake she cast her handkerchiefe vnto one Iohn Bankes requiring him to kepe the same in the memorie of her and from about her middle she tooke a white lace which she gaue to the keeper desiring him to geue the same to her brother Roger Hall and to tell hym that it was the last band that she was bound with except the chaine A shilling also of Phillip and Mary shee tooke foorth which her father had bowed and sent her when shee was first sent to prison desiring that her said brother should with obedient salutations render the same to her father againe shew him that it was the first peece of mony that he sent her after her troubles begon which as shee protested she had kept now sent him to do him to vnderstand that shee neuer lacked money while shee was in prison With this Alice Benden were burned also the residue of the other blessed Martyrs aboue named being seuen in number Who being brought to the place where they shuld suffer for the Lordes cause at Canterbury vndressed them selues ioyfully to the fire and being ready thereto they all like the communion of Saints kneled downe and made their humble praiers vnto the Lorde with such zeale and affection as euen the enemies of the Crosse of Christ coulde not but like it When they had made inuocation together they roase and went to the stake where being compassed with horrible flames of fire they yeelded their soules and liues gloriously into the handes of the Lord. The burning of seuen Martyrs at Caunterburie The troubles and examinations of Mathew Plase VNto these holy martyrs of Kent aboue specified wher of seuen suffered at Maidstone and seuen at Canterb. I thought not vnmeete heere also to be adioyned the examination of Mathew Plase a Weauer of the same Countie of Kent and a faithful christian Who being apprehended and imprisoned likewise for the testimonie of a good conscience in the Castell of Canterbury was brought to examination before the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield the Archdeacon as here is to be red and seene The examination and answeres of Mathewe Plase Weauer of the Parish of Stone in the Countie of Kent before Thornton Bishop of Douer Harpesfield Archdeacon Collins Commissarie other Inquisitours An. 1557. FIrst when I came before the bishop he asked me whether I were not of that Dioces and where I dwelt for that was my first Article Ans. I aunsweared I was of the Parishe of Stone in Kent and subiect vnto the King Queene of England Bish. Then he sayd I was indicted by xij men at Ashford at the Sessions for heresie Auns I sayd that was sooner sayd then prooued Bish. Then he sayde it was the truthe that he had spoken to me for he had whereby to prooue it Auns Then I desired him to let me heare it and I would answere to it Bish. But he sayd he would not so do but I should aunswere to my Article yea or nay Auns I said he could not for I was not at Ashforde and therfore he had nothing to lay to my charge But nowe I perceiue you goe about to lay a net to haue my bloud Arch. After many woordes betwixt the bishop and me the Archdeacon said peace peace we do not desire thy bloud but we are glad to heare that thou art no hereticke wyth many flattering woordes and said yet I was suspected of heresie and if I woulde be content to confesse howe I did beleeue as concerning those Articles they woulde gladly teache me Auns But I sayd I did not so thinke for I talked wyth one of your doctors and after long talke he would nedes know how I did beleeue in the Sacrament and I recited vnto him the text and because I would not make him an exposition he would teach me nothing yet I praied hym for my learning to wryte his minde if it were the truth I would beleeue him and this I did desire him for the loue of God but it would not be Arch. Then sayd he it was not so he durst sweare vpon a booke Auns I sayd it would be so prooued Arch. Then he stoode vp with a long processe and sayd he would tell me the truth and was sure that the same Doctour did beleeue as he did Auns I asked him how he knew that seing S. Paul doth say that no man knoweth what is in man but the spirite which dwelleth in him but if you wist what Christ meant by these woords I require mercy and not sacrifice you wold not kill innocents Bishop The Bishop began with me againe and charged me in the king and Queenes name and the Lord Cardinals to answere yea or nay to the Articles that followed Auns Then I commanded him in his name that should come in flaming fire with his mighty Aungels to render vengeance to the disobedient and to all those that beleued not the gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which should be punished with euerlasting damnation that he should speake nothing but the truth grounded vpon Christ and
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
leaped downe hauing no shoes on So I tooke downe a lane that was ful of sharpe synders and they came running after with a great crie with theyr swordes drawne crying Strike him strike hym Which woordes made me looke backe and there was neuer a one nigh me by a 100. fote and that was but one for all the rest were a great way behinde And I tourned about hastily to goe my way and stepped vppon a sharpe Sinder with one foote sauing of it I stepped in a great miery hole and fell downe withall and ere euer I coulde arise and get away he was come in with mee His name is Parker the wilde as he is counted in all Sussex But if I had had on my shooes they had bene like to haue gone away arrandlesse if there had beene 500. more if I hadde caught the plaine grounde once to the which I had not a stones cast But it was not Gods will for if it hadde I shoulde haue scaped from them all if there had bene tenne thousand of them Then they tooke me and led me home again to put on my shooes and suche geare as I had neede off Then sayde Iohn Fancouer Nowe your maister hath deceiued you You sayd you were an Angel and if you had bene an Angell whye did you not flee away from vs Then sayde I what be they that euer heard me say that I was an Aungel It is not the first lie by a thousande the they haue made of mee Angels were neuer begotten of men nor borne of women but if they had saide that they had heard me saye that I doe trust I am a Saint they hadde not said amisse What do you thinke to be a Saint Yea that I do and am already in Gods sight I trust in God for he that is not a Saint in Gods sight already is a deuil Therefore he that thinketh scorne to be a Saint let him be a deuil And with the woord they had brought me to mine owne doore where met with me my father and willed me to remember my self To whom I answeared I praise God I am wel remembred wherabout I go This way was appoynted of God for me to be deliuered into the handes of mine ennemies but woe vnto him by whom I am betraied It had bene good for that man that he had neuer ben borne if he repent not with speede The Scriptures are nowe fulfilled on me For the father shall be against the sonne and the brother shall deliuer the brother to death as it is this daye come to passe Then sayd one He doth accuse his Father a good childe in deede I accuse him not but say my minde for there was no man knewe me at home but my father my brother and one more the which I dare saye woulde not hurt me for all the good in this towne There was one George Bechinge that marryed one of my sisters he thoughte that I had meant him that he had betraied me and he said Brother I would you shuld not thinke that I was the cause of your taking To whō I answered that I ment him not I meant one that was nearer of my bloud then he was Then said one of Lause that had bene a gospeller stood from them when I was brought to a sessions to Lause and he said I thought you would haue ben an honest man when you were at Lause and I offered Hussey the sheriffe to be bound for you that you shuld go home to your wife and come to him againe Then I remembred what he was and saide Be you the Peauterer And he saide Yea. Then saide I It is happened to you according to the true Prouerbe as sayeth S. Peter The dogge is tourned to his vomit againe and the sowe that is washed to wallow in the mire and the ende of all suche will be worse then the beginning Then his mouth was stopped so that he had nothing to say All this while I stoode at my doore without for they would not let me goe in So I put on my shooes and my cloathes and then they putte on an harnesse aboute mine armes made of a dogs slip which reioyced my heart that I was counted woorthy to be boūd for the name of God So I tooke my leaue of my wife and children my father other of my friendes neuer thinking to see them more in this world For it was so thought of all the country that I should not liue 6. daies after my taking for they had so reported But yet I knew it was not as they would vnlesse God wold graunt it I know what God can do but what he wil do I know not but I am sure he wil worke al things for the best for them that loue and feare him So we dranke and went our way and came to Firle about 3. of the clocke And thus much touching the causes effecte of the troubles of Rich. Woodman Nowe let vs see his examinations which follow in this order The first examination of Rich. Woodman before Doctor Christopherson Bishop of Chichester Doctor Story Doctor Cooke and other FIrst you shal vnderstād that I was sent from the sheriffes to London the 12. day of Aprill in the yere of our Lord. 1557. and afterwarde vppon the 14. daye of the same moneth I was brought before the Bishop of Chichester and doctor Story and doctor Cooke So the sheriffs man deliuered my warrant and me to the bishop Then the bishop asked me what my name was My name quoth I is Richard Woodman Chichester I am sory for you and so are all the worshipfull men of your Countrey For it hath bene reported to me that you haue bene a man of good estimation in all the Countrey amongest the poore and riche till nowe of late Wherefore looke wel vpon your selfe your wife and children your Father and other of your frends and be ruled Thinke not your selfe wiser then all the Realme Be enfourmed and you shal haue theyr fauors all as muche as euer you had Wood. You haue charged me with many things wherin I haue neuer offended and if you will geue mee leaue I will shewe you Chichester Yes I pray you say your minde Wood. If it please you you haue charged me as thoughe I made my selfe wiser then all the Realme God doeth knowe I stande to learne of euerye man that will or can teache me the truthe And where as you say I haue beene wel estemed both of the poore and riche God doth know I knowe not that I haue geuen any iust offence either to rich or poore And as for my wife and children God doeth know how I loue them in him and my life also My life my wife and my children are all in Gods handes and I haue them all as I had them not I trust according to S. Paules woords But if I had x. M. pound of gold I had rather forgoe it all then them
deede these be the wordes of S. Paule Who so eateth of this bread and drinketh of this cuppe vnworthely eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because hee maketh no difference of the Lordes body that is because hee presumeth to eat the sacrament of the Lordes body without sayth making no difference betwixt the sacrament and other bread and drynke And that is S. Paules meaning and not that any man doth or can eate the body of Christ vnworthely For who soeuer eateth the body of christ hath euerlasting life as is aforesayd in the 6. of Iohn With which wordes one came from them to come to dinner in all the hast Gage I am sory I woulde fayne heare more of this talke but we shall haue an other day wel inough Lang. Nay M. Gage I will neuer talke with him more for he is the vnreasonablest man that euer I talked wyth in all my life Wood. Then M. Gage put of hys capp and desired hym that he would not refuse to talk with me and that it might not bee greeuous to hym For he sayde wee wyll seeke al the meanes possible to make him an honest man and to keepe him from burning if we coulde For if my brother and I had not bene he had bene burned ere this tyme. Thē there was great curtisie betwixt them Lang. Sir for your sake for my mayster your brothers sakes and for his fathers sake and other of his fryendes sakes that haue spoken to me many tymes with weeping teares I will doe the best to hym that I can but for no loue nor fauour that I beare to him I tell you truth Gage Woodman you heare what M.D. sayth When wyl you come agayne Wood. Euen when you will send for me For I am a prysoner and cannot come when I woulde Or if I shoulde desire to come it will cost me money and I haue none to geue but if you send for me it shall cost me none Gage Well I will send for you on Friday or Saterdaye at the farthest for to morow I must ride forth of towne I would fayne heare your talke Wood. Sir I would be very glad you should heare oure talke alway and I trust in God you shall heare me say no thing but the word of God shall be my warrant So M. Gage tooke his leaue and went his way to his lodgyng which was right in my way as I went vnto prisonward agayne and when hee came without my Lorde Mountagues gates there we met with one Hode of Buxted a Smith Then sayd M. Gage Gage Woodman I had forgot one thing that Hode hath brought me in remembraunce of as soone as I saw hym for hee heard when the tale was tolde me Gage Hode did not you heare when Smith of Framfield tolde me that hee sawe Woodman abroad in the Cittie at libertie Hoode Yea forsooth that I did Gage Yea surely and I was very glad for I had wel hoped you had bene conformable But I heard otherwise afterward agayne that you had leaue of the keeper to go abroad and speake openly in the streetes as you went vpp and downe Wood. In deede so the Marshall told me to day But in deed I was neuer abroad since I came to prison but whē I was sent for and in deede the same time I was abroad with my keeper comming from the Bysh. and as I was comming euen not farre from the Marshalsey I saw goodman Smith stād in a Wayne vnlading of Cheese I asked him how he did euen as I went by and neuer stayed for the matter and therupon it did rise So I departed frō them with my keeper to the Marshalsea agayne where I now am mery I prayse God therefore as a sheepe appoynted to be slayne * The fourthe examination of Richard Woodman had before the Byshop of Winchester the Byshop of Rochester and a certayn Doctour with diuers other Priests and Gentlemen the xxv day of May. Anno. 1557. Woodman I Was fet from the Marshalsea to the sayd Byshops and Priestes sitting in S. Georges Churche in Southwark by one of the Marshals men and one of the Sheriffes mē When I came before them and had done my duty to them as nigh as I could then sayd the Bishop of Winchester Winchester What is your name Wood. My name is Richard Woodman forsooth Winchester Ah Woodman you were taken and apprehended for heresie about a three yeares agone and were sente to prison in the kinges Bench and there remayned a long time Mine olde Lorde of Chichester being a learned famous man well knowne in this realme of England and almost throughout all Christendome I think came to prison to you and there and at other places called you before him diuers times trauayling and perswading with you many wayes because hee was your Ordinary to plucke you from your heresies that you held but he coulde by no meanes aduertise you Wherupon you were deliuered to the Commissioners and they could do no good with you neyther Then they sent you vnto my Lord of Lond. My Lorde of Lond. calling you before him diuers times labour was made vnto him of your frendes that you might be released My Lord hauing a good hope in you that you woulde become an honest man because he had heard so of you in tymes past yea you your selfe promising him that you would go home and recant your heresies that you held deliuered you sending also a letter of your recantation to the Commissary that he should see it done But as soone as you were out of his hands you were as bad as euer you were would neuer fulfill your promise but haue hid your selfe in the woodes Bushes Dennes Caues and thus haue continued euer since til it was now of late Thē the Sheriffe of that Shyre being a worshipfull man hearing thereof sent certayn of his mē took you in a wood so caried you to his house I cannot tell his name What is your Sheriffes name Wood. Forsooth his name is sir Edward Gage Winc. Well you were apprehended for heresie and beyng at M. Gages three weekes or more yee were gentlye entreated there he and other Gentlemen perswading wyth you diuers tymes little preuayled Then you appealed to the Bishop of Chichester that now is The Sheriffe like a worshipfull man sent you to him and he hath trauelled with you and other also can do no good with you whereupon we haue sent for you Wood. Then I spake to him For I thought he would be long before hee woulde make an end I thought hee was a yeare in telling of those lyes that he had told there agaynst me already Yea I kept silence from good wordes but it was great payne and griefe vnto me as Dauid sayd At length the fire was so kindled within my hart that I could not chuse but speake with my tongue for I feared least any of the company shoulde haue departed or
Amongest the doers wherof was the said maister Ualentine Dyngley witnes and reporter hereof as is afore declared We read in the story of Titus Liuius of king PorseÌ„na who after the burning of the righte hande of M. Scaeuola which came purposely to kill him beyng onely contented therewith sent him home to Rome agayne But thus to burne the handes of poore men and women whiche neuer meant any harme vnto them and yet not contented with that but also to consume theyr whole bodyes without any iust cause we find no example of such barbarous tyranny neither in Titus Liuius neither in any other story amongest the heathen But to returne to our Colchester Martirs againe as touching William Munt his Wyfe and burning of their daughter Rose Allins hand sufficient hath bene declared With the sayd William Munt and his family was ioyned also in the same prison at Colchester another faithfull brother named Iohn Iohnson alias Aliker of Thorpe in the County of Essex labourer of the age of xxxiiij yeares hauing no wife aliue but three yong children who also was with them indicted of heresy and so all these foure laye together in Colchester Castle The other sixe prisoners lay in Mote Hall in the sayde towne of Colchester whose names were First William Bongeor of the parish of S. Nicholas in Colchester Glasier of the age of lx yeares 2. Tho. Benold of Colchester Talow Chaundler 3. W. Purcas of Bocking in the County of Essex Fuller a yong man of the age of xx yeares 4. Agnes Syluerside alias Smith dwelling in Colchester widow of the age of lx yeares 5. Helene Ewring the wiâ—e of Iohn Ewring Myller dwelling in Colchester of the age of fiue and forty yeares or thereaboutes who was one of the two and twenty prisoners mentioned before pag. 1863. sent vp in bandes froÌ„ Colchester to London and after being deliuered with the rest repayred home to Colchester agayne to her husbande where notwithstanding she enioyed her liberty not verye long for shortly after her returne met with her one Rob. Maynard then Bayliffe of Colchester a speciall enemy to Gods Gospell who spying her came to her kissed her bade her welcome home from London Unto whome she considerately aunswered agayne and sayd that it was but a Iudas kisse For in the end quoth she I know you will betray me As in deed it came to passe for immediately after that talke she was apprehended by him againe there lodged with the rest in the towne prison as is aforesayde called the Mote hall 6. The sixt of this company was Elizabeth Folkes a yong mayd and seruaunt in Colchester of the age of tweÌ„ty yeares These sixe were imprisoned in the town prison of Colchester called Mote Hall as the other soure aboue specified were in the Castle Diuers examinations these good men had at sundrye times before diuers Iustices Priestes and Officers as M. Roper Iohn Kingstone Commissary Iohn Boswell Priest and Boners Scribe and others moe whereof the sayd Boswell made relation to Bishop Boner certifying him of their depositions as is to be read in our first book of Actes and Monumentes pag. 1607. Last of all they were examined again in Mote hall the xxiij day of Iune by doctour Chadsey Iohn Kingstone Commissary with other Priestes Boswell the Scribe in the presence of the two Bailiffes of Colchester Robert Browne Robert Maynard with diuers other Iustices both of the town country and other Gentlemen a great sort at which tyme and place and before the said persons they had sentence of condemnation read agaynst theÌ„ chiefely for not affirming the reall presence of the Sacrament in theyr Aultar The effect of theyr wordes therein was this or such like as here foloweth ¶ First the Lordes faythfull prisoners in Mote Hall WIlliaÌ„ Bongeor of the parish of S. Nicolas in Colchester Glasier sayd that the sacrameÌ„t of the aultar was bread is bread so remayneth bread for the consecration it is not the holyer but rather the worse To thys he did stand as also agaynst all the rest of their Papisticall doctrine and so had sentence read agaynst him Thomas Benold of Colchester Talow Chaundler affirmed the like in effect that the sayd WilliaÌ„ Bongeor dyd and so had sentence also read against him W. Purcas of Bocking said that when he receiued the sacrament he receiued bread in an holy vse that preacheth the remembrance that Christ died for him To this he stood and against other theyr popish matters and so also had seÌ„tence read agaynst him Agnes Syluerside alias Smith sayd that she loued no Consecration For the breade and wine is rather worse then better therby she sayd This good olde woman aunswered them with such sound iudgement and boldnesse to euery thing they asked her that it reioyced the heartes of many and especially to see the pacience of such a reuerende olde age agaynst the tauntes and checkes of her enemies To this she also stood and had sentence read agaynst her in like maner Helene Ewring aunswered the like in effect as the other did clearely denying all the lawes set forth by the Pope with her whole hart This good woman was somewhat thicke of hearing but yet quick in vnderstanding the Lords matters his name therfore be praysed Agaynst her also there was sentence read Elizabeth Folkes the young mayden being examined whether she beleued the presence of Christes body to be in the Sacrament substantially and really or no answered that she beleued that it was a substantiall lye and a reall lye At which wordes the Priestes and others chafed very much and asked her agayne whether after the Consecration there remayned not the bodye of Christ in the Sacrament And she aunswered that before Consecration and after it is but bread and that man blesseth without Gods word is cursed abhominable by the word c. Then they examined her of confession to the Priest of going to church to heare Masse of the authority of the Bishoppe of Rome c. Unto all which she answered that she woulde neyther vse nor frequent none of them all by the grace of God but vtterly detest and and abhorre them from the bottome of our hart and all such trumpery Then read they the sentence of condemnation against her In which time Doct. Chadsey wept that the teares trickled downe his cheekes So the sentence being read she kneeled downe on both her knees lifting vp her haÌ„ds eyes vnto heauen with seruent praier in audible voyce praysing God that euer shee was borne to see that moste blessed and happy day that the Lord would count her worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ and Lord sayd she if it be thy will forgeue them that this haue done against me for they know not what they doe Then rising vp she exhorted al those on the Benche to repentaunce especially those who brought her to prison as
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
As concerning the cause for the whiche she should dye she had no cause to confesse that but rather geue vnto God most humble prayse that he did make her worthy to suffer deathe for his worde And as concerning that absolution that they were able to geue vnto her being authorised by the pope she did defie the same euen from the bottome of her hart The which thing when the priests heard they said to the Sheriffe Well to morow her stoutnes will be proued and tryed For although perhaps shee hath now some friendes that whisper her in her eares to morow will we see who dare be so hardy as to come neare her and so they went theyr wayes with anger that theyr confession and absolution was nought set by All that night she was wonderfully chearefull mery with a certaine grauitie in so much that the maiestie of the spirit of God did manifestly appeare in her who did expel the feare of deathe out of her heart spending the tyme in prayer reading talking with them that were purposely come vnto her for to comfort her with the word of God About three of the clocke in the morning Satan who neuer sleepeth especially when death is at hand began to stirre himselfe busily shooting at her that fierye darte the whiche he is wont to doe agaynst all that are at defiaunce with him questioning with her how shee coulde tell that she was chosen to eternal life and that Christ dyed for her I graunt that he dyed but that he dyed for thee howe canst thou tell with this suggestion when shee was troubled they that were about her did councell her to follow the example of Paule Galathians 2. where he sayth Which hath loued me and geuen hymselfe for me Also that her vocation and calling to the knowledge of Gods word was a manifest token of Gods loue towards her especially that same holy spirite of God working in her hart that loue and desire towardes God to please him and to bee iustified by him through Christ c. By these and like perswasions especially by the comfortable promises of Christ brought out of the scripture Satan was put to flight and she conforted in Christ. About eight of the clocke maister Sheriffe came to her into her chamber saying these wordes Maistres Lewes I am come to bring you tidings of the Queenes pleasure the whiche is that you shall liue no longer but one houre in this world therefore prepare your selfe therunto 〈◊〉 stādeth you in hand At which wordes being so grosely vttered and so sodaynly by such an officer as he was she was somewhat abashed Wherefore one of her friendes and acquayntaunce standing by sayde these words Maistresse Lewes you haue great cause to prayse GOD who wyll vouchsafe so speedily to take you out of this worlde and make you worthy to be a witnesse to his truth to beare record vnto Christ that he is the onely sauiour After the which words spoken thus she sayde maister Sheriffe your message is welcome to me and I thanke my God that he will make me worthye to aduenture my life in his quarrell And thus maister Sheriffe departed and within the space of one houre he came agayn cum gladiis fustibus and when he came vp into the chamber one of her friendes desired him to geue him leaue to goe with her to the stake to comfort her the whiche the Sheriffe graunted at that time but afterwardes he was sore troubled for the same when she was dead Nowe when shee was brought throughe the towne with a number of bill menne a great multitude of people being present she being led by two of her frends whiche were M. Michaell Reniger and M. Augustine Bernher she was brought to the place of execution and because the place was farre off and the throng of the people great and she not acquaynted with the fresh ayre being so long in prison one of her frendes sent a messenger to the Sheriffes house for some drinke and after she had prayed three seuerall times in the whiche prayer she desired God most instantly to abolish the idolatrous Masse and to delyuer this realme from Papistry at the end of the whiche prayers the most parte of the people cryed Amen yea euen the Sheriffe that stoode harde by her readye to cast her in the fire for not allowing the Masse at this her prayers sayde with the rest of the people Amen when she had thus prayed she tooke the cup into her handes saying I drynke to all them that vnfaynedly loue the Gospell of Iesus Christ and wish for the abolishment of Papistry When she had dronken they that were her frends dranke also After that a great number specially the women of the towne dyd drynke wyth her which afterward were put to open penaunce in the Churche by the cruel Papistes for drinking with her When she was tyed to the stake with the chayne shee shewed such a cheerefulnes that it passed mans reason beyng so well coloured in her face and being so patient that the most part of them that had honest hartes did lament and euen with teares bewayle the tyranny of the Papistes When the fire was sette vppon her she neither struggled nor sturred but onely lifted vp her handes towardes heauen being dead very speedely for the vnder Sheriffes at the request of her friendes had prouided such stuffe by the whiche shee was sodenly dispatched out of this miserable worlde This amongest other thinges may not bee forgotten that the Papistes had appoynted some to rayle vppon her openly and to reuile her both as shee went to the place of Execution and also when she came at the stake Amongest others there was an olde Prieste whiche hadde a payre of writing tables to note bothe the names of the women that dranke of her cuppe as before you heard and also described her friendes by their apparell for presentlye hee could not learne their names and afterwardes enquyred for their names and so immediately after processe was sente out for them bothe to Couentrye and other places but God whose prouidence sleepeth not did defende them from the handes of these cruell tyrauntes Unto the whiche God with the sonne and the holy Ghost bee honour and glory for euer Amen * The Martyrdome of Rafe Allerton Iames Austo Margery Awstoo and Richard Roth burned at Islington IN searching out the certayne number of the faythfull Martyrs of God that suffered within the tyme raygne of Queene Mary I finde that about the 17. day of September wer burned at Islingtō nigh vnto London these 4. constant professours of christ Rafe Allerton Iames Awstoo Margery Austoo his wife and Richard Roth. Amongest the which it first appeareth that this Rafe Allerton was more then a yeare before his condemnation apprehended and brought before the Lorde Darcy of Chich. and was there accused aswell for that he woulde not consent and come vnto the
geue away and not himselfe vse that his authoritye and power geuen him of God or lawfully may without offence to God and his people after knowledge thereof hadde suffer himselfe by fraud or guile or by any other vnlawfull meane to be beguiled defrauded and spoyled thereof and whether any subiect of what dignity estate or calling soeuer he or they be without offence to God and to his kinge to the minishing or derogating of the supreme prerogatiue roial of his king or of any part therof may do ought or after knowledge therof had without offence to God to his king may conceale the same 9. Whether the holy written law of God be geuen of God vnto all men of what dignity estate or calling by office soeuer they be aswell thereby to gouerne all theyr Dominions Regions and Countryes and theyr people therin inhabiting as themselues and whether any law or lawes the holy law of God onely excepted not being made within any Dominion Region or Country whereas it or they be vsed may be lawfully vsed before it or they be as the lawfull law or lawes of the same Dominion Region oâ— Countrey by publicke and common order of the same Dominion Region or Countrey lawfully allowed and whether any subiect without offence agaynst God and his king within the Dominion of his king may lawfully vse any such lawe or lawes not so allowed Emanuell ¶ Ascribe vnto the Lord O ye mighty ascribe vnto the Lord worship and strength geue the Lord the honor of his name and bow your selues to the holy maiesty of the Lord. I will harken what the Lord God will say for he shall speake peace vnto his people that they turne not themselues vnto foolishnes This 6. of Aprill 1557. By me Richard Gibson ¶ The death and Martyrdome of Iohn Rough Minister and Margaret Mearing burned at London the 22. of December IN this furious time of persecution were also burned these two constant and faythfull Martyrs of Christ Iohn Rough a Minister and Margaret Mearing This Rough was borne in Scotland who as himselfe confesseth in his aunsweres to Boners Articles because some of his kinsfolke woulde haue kept hym froÌ„ his right of inheritaunce which he had to certaine landes did at the age of xvij yeares in despite and the rather to displease his frendes professe himselfe into the order of the blacke Friers at Sterling in Scotlande where he remained the space of xvj yeres vntill such time as the Lord Hamulton Earle of Arren and gouernour of the Realme of Scotland aforesayde casting a fauour vnto hym did sue vnto the Archbishop of Saynt Andrewes to haue him out of his professed order that as a Seculare Prieste he might serue hym for his Chapleine At which request the Archbishoppe caused the Prouincial of that house hauing thereto authority to dispence with hym for his habite and order This sute beyng thus by the Earle obteined the sayde Rough remayned in his seruice one whole yeare duryng which time it pleased God to open his eyes and to geue him some knowledge of his truth and thereupon was by the sayd gouernour sent to preach in the freedome of Ayre where he continued foure yeares and then after the death of the Cardinall of Scotland he was appoynted to abyde at S. Andrewes and there had assigned vnto him a yearely pension of xx pound from king Henry the eight Kyng of England Howbeit at last waying with himselfe hys owne dauÌ„ger and also abhorring the Idolatry and superstition of this countrey and hearing of the freedome of the Gospell within this Realme of England he determyned with himselfe not to tary any longer there And therefore soone after the battel of Muscle bourough he came first vnto Carliell and from thence vnto the Duke of Somerset then Lord Protectour of England and by his assignment had appoynted vnto him out of the Kinges treasurye xx poundes of yearely stipend and was sent as a Preacher to serue at Carliell Barwicke and Newcastell From whence after he had there according to the lawes of God and also of this Realme taken a countrey woman of hys to wife he was called by the Archbyshoppe of Yorke that then was vnto a benefice nighe in the Towne of Hull where he continued vntill the death of that blessed good king Edward the 6. But in the beginning of the reigne of Queene Marye perceyuyng the alteration of Religion and the persecution that woulde thereupon arise and feeling hys owne weakenes he fled with his wife into Friseland dwelte there at a place called Norden labouring truely for his liuing in knitting of Cappes hose and such like thinges till about the end of the moneth of October last before hys death At which tyme lacking yearne and other suche necessary prouision for the mainteinaunce of his occupation he came ouer againe into England here to prouide for the same and the x. daye of Nouember arriued at London Where hearing of the secret society and holy Congregation of Gods children there assembled he ioyned himselfe vnto them and afterwardes being elected theyr Minister and Preacher did continue moste vertuously exercised in that Godly felowshippe teaching and confirming them in the trueth and Gospell of Christ. But in the ende suche was the prouidence of God who disposeth all thinges to the best the xij day of December he with Cutbert Symson and others through the crafty and trayterous suggestion of a false Hipocrite and dissembling Brother called Roger Sergeaunt a taylour were apprehended by the Uicechamberlayne of the Queenes house at the SaraceÌ„s head in Islington where the Congregation had theÌ„ purposed to assemble themselues to theyr Godly and accustomable exercises of prayer and hearing the word of God which pretence for the safegarde of all the rest they yet at theyr examinations couered and excused by hearing of a playe that was then appoynted to be at that place The Uicechamberlayne after he had apprehended them caried â—ough and Symson vnto the Counsell who charged theÌ„ to haue assembled together to celebrate the Communion or Supper of the Lord and therefore after sundry examinations and aunsweares they sent the sayd Rough vnto Newgate but his examinations they seÌ„t vnto the bishop of London with a Letter signed with they handes the copy wherof foloweth ¶ A Letter sent from the Queenes Councell vnto Boner Bishop of London touching the examination of Iohn Rough Minister AFter our harty commendations to your good Lordship we send you here inclosed the examination of a Scottish man named Iohn Rough who by the Queenes Maiesties commaundement is presentlye sent to Newgate beyng of the chiefe of them that vpon Sonday last vnder the colour of comming to see a Play at the Saracens head in Islington had prepared a communion to be celebrated and receiued there among certayne other seditious and hereticall persons And forasmuch as by the sayde Roughes examination conteining the story and progresse
playne Cup of fornication and the whore of Babilon And as concerning the Sacrament of the aultar she sayd she beleued there was no such sacrament in the catholicke Church Also she sayd that she vtterly abhorred the authoritye of the Byshop of Rome with all the Religion obserued in the same Antichristes Church 6 Item she aunswered to the sixt Article as to the first before specified 7 Item that she hath refused to come to her Parish Church because the true Religion of Christ was not then vsed in the same and farther sayd that she had not come vnto the Churche by the space of one yeare and three quarters then last paste neither yet did meane any more to come vnto the same in these Idolatrous dayes 8 Item as touching the maner of her apprehension she said that Cluney the Bishops Somner did fetch her to the Bishop These aunsweres being then registered they were agayne with the sayd Articles propounded agaynste her the xx day of December and there being demaunded if she would stand vnto those her aunsweres she sayde I wyll stand to them vnto the death for the very Aungels of heauen do laugh you to scorne to see your abhomination that you vse in the Churche After the whiche wordes the Byshop pronounced the sentence of condemnation and then deliuering her vnto the Sheriffes she was wyth the forenamed Iohn Roughe caryed vnto Newgate From whence they were both together led vnto Smithfield the xxij day of the same Moneth of December and there most ioyfullye gaue theyr liues for the profession of Christes Gospell When the latter end of this history of Mayster Rough and Margarete Mearing was in finishing there came to our hands one necessary thing of the said Margaret Mearyng which wee thought not good to omit The matter is this Mayster Rough being chiefe Pastour to the congregation in the said time of Queene Mary as before ye haue heard of which companye this Margaret Mearyng was one did not well like the sayd Margaret but greatly suspected her as many other of them did besides because she would often times bring in straungers among them and in her talke seemed as they thought somewhat â—o busye c. Nowe what they sawe or vnderstoode further in her we know not but this followed the euill suspition conceiued of her Mayster Rough the Fridaye before hee was taken in the open face of the Congregation did excommunicate her out of the same company and so seemed with the rest to exclude and cut her of from theyr fellowship and society Whereat she being mooued did not well take it nor in good part but thought her selfe not indifferently handled amonge them Whereupon to one of her frendes in a heate she threatned to remoue them all But the prouidence of God was otherwise For the Sondaye after Mayster Rough being taken by the information of one Roger Sergeaunt to the Bishop of London as here after thou shalt heare was layd prisoner in the Gatehouse at Westminster where none of his frendes coulde come to him to visite him Then this sayd Margaret hearing therof gotte her a basket and a cleane shyrt in it and went to Westminster where she fayning her selfe to be his Sister got into the prison to him and did there to her power not a litle comfort him Then comming abroade agayne shee vnderstandinge that the Congregation suspected the said Sergeaunt to be his Promoter went to his house and asked whether Iudas dwelt not there Unto whom aunswere was made there dwelt no such No sayd she Dwelleth not Iudas here that betrayed Christ His name is Sergeaunt WheÌ„ she saw she could not speake with him she went her way So the Friday after she standing at Marke lane ende in London with an other woman a frende of hers sawe Cluney Boners Somner commyng in the Streete towardes her house Whome when she sawe she sayed to the other woman standyng with her whether goeth yonder fine felowe sayde she I thinke surely he goeth to my house and in viewing him still at the last she saw him enter in at her doore So immediately she went home and asked him whome hee sought Whereunto Cluney made answere and sayd for you you must go with me Mary quoth she here I am I will go with you and comming to the Bishoppe she was layde in prison and the Wednesday after burnt with Mayster Rough in Smithfielde as ye haue heard Anno. 1558. ¶ The Suffering cruell tormentes of Cutbert Symson Deacon of the Christian Congregation in London in Queene Maries dayes most paciently abiding the cruell rage of the Papistes for Christes sake NExt after the Martyrdome of M. Rough Minister of the Congregation aboue mentioned succeded in like Martyrdome the Deacon also of that sayde Godly company or Congregation in London named Cutbert Symson being committed to the fire the yeare of our Lord. 1558. the 28. day of March. This Cutbert Symson was a manne of a faythfull and zealous hart to Christ and his true flocke in so much that he neuer ceased labouryng and Studying most earnestly not onely how to preserue them without corruption of the Popish religion but also hys care was euer vigilant how to keepe them together wythout peryll or daunger of persecution The paynes trauayle zeale pacience and fidelity of this man in caryng and prouiding for thys Congregation as it is not lightly to be expressed so is it wonderfull to beholde the prouidence of the Lord by vision concerning the troubles of this faythfull minister and godly Deacon as in this here folowyng may appeare The Fridaye at nighte before Maister Rough Minister of the congregation of whom meÌ„tion is made before was takeÌ„ being in his bed he dreamed that he saw 2. of the Gard leading Cutbert Simson Deacon of the sayde congregation and that he had the booke about hym wherin were written the names of all them which were of the Congregation Whereupon being sore troubled hee awaked and called hys wife saying Kate strike lighte For I am much troubled with my brother Cutbert thys nyght When she hadde so done he gaue himselfe to reade in his booke a while and there feeling sleepe to come vpon him he put out the candle so gaue himselfe agayn to rest Being a sleepe hee dreamed the like dreame agayn awaked therwith hee sayde O Kate my brother Cutbert is gone So they lighted a candle againe and rose And as the â—ayd M. Rough was making him ready to go to Cutbert to see how he did in the meane time the sayd Cutbert came in with the book conteining the names accompts of the congregation Whom when Maister Rough hadde seene he sayd brother Cutbert ye are welcome for I haue bene sore troubled with you this night and so tolde hym his dreame After he had so done he willed him to lay the booke away from him and to cary it no more about him Unto which Cutbert aunswered he would not so doe
Roger Holland THe last examination of Roger Holland was when he with his fellow prisoners were brought into the consistorie there excommunicated all sauing Roger redy to haue their senteÌ„ce of iudgement geuen with many threatning words to feare them withall the Lord Strange syr Tho. Iarret M. Eagleston Esquier and diuers other of worship both of Cheshire Lankeshire that were Rog. Hollands kinsmeÌ„ and friends being there present which had beene earnest suters to the Bishop in hys fauour hoping of his safetie of life Nowe the Bishop hoping yet to winne him with his faire and flattering woordes began after this maner Boner Rog. I haue diuers times called thee before home to my house and haue conferred with thee and being not learned in the latine toung it doth appeare vnto me thou art of a good memorie of a very sensible talke but something ouerhastie which is a naturall disease to some men And surely they are not the worst natured men For I my selfe shall now and then be hastie but mine anger is soone past So Roger surely I haue a good opinion of you that you wil not with these lewd fellowes cast your selfe headlong from the church of your parents your frendes that are here very good catholikes as it is reported vnto me And as I meane thee good so Roger play the wisemans part and come home with the lost sonne and say I haue runne into the church of schismatikes and heretikes from the catholicke church of Rome and you shall I warrante you not only finde fauor at Gods hands but the Church that hath authoritie shall absolue you and put newe garments vppon you and kill the fatling to make thee good cheare withall That is in so doing as meate doth refresh and chearish the minde so shalt thou finde as much quietnesse of conscience in comming home to the church as dyd the hungry sonne that had ben fed afore with the hogs as you haue done with these heretikes that seuer them selues from the church I giue them a homely name but they be worse putting his hand to his cap for reuereÌ„ce sake then hogs For they know the church and will not followe it If I shoulde saye thus muche to a Turke hee woulde I thinke beleue me But Roger if I did not beare thee and thy friendes good will I woulde not haue sayde so muche as I haue done but I would haue let mine Ordinarie alone with you At these wordes his frendes that were there gaue the Bishop thankes for his good will and paines that he had taken in his and theyr behalfe Boner Wel Roger how say you nowe Do you not beleeue that after the Priest hath spoken the words of consecration there remaineth the body of Christ really corporally vnder the formes of bread and wine I meane that selfe same body that was borne of the virgine Mary that was crucified vpon the crosse that rose againe the third day Holland Your Lordship sayth the same body which was borne of the virgin Marie which was crucified vpon the Crosse which rose againe the third day but you leaue out which ascended into heauen and the Scripture sayeth he shall there remaine vntil he come to iudge the quicke and the deade Then he is not contained vnder the formes of bread and wine by Hoc est corpus meum c. Boner Roger I perceiue my paines and good will will not preuaile and if I shoulde argue with thee thou art so wilâ—ul as all thy fellowes be standing in thine owne singularitie foolish conceit that thou wouldest still talke to no purpose this 7. yere if thou mightest be suffered Aunswer whether thou wilt confesse the reall corporall presence of Christes body in the Sacrament or wilt not Holland My Lord although that God by his sufferaunce hath nere placed you to set forth his truth and glory in vs his faithful seruantes notwithstanding your meaning is farre from the zeale of Christ and for all your words you haue the same zeal that Annas and Caiphas had trusting to their authoritie traditions and ceremonies more then to the woorde of God Boner If I should suffer hym he would fall from reasoning to railing as a franticke heretike Lord Straunge Roger sayth the Lord Straunge I perceiue my Lorde woulde haue you to tell him whether you will submit your selfe vnto him or no. Boner Yea sayeth Boner and confesse this presence that I haue spoken of With this Roger turning him to the Lorde Strange and the rest of his kinsmen and frendes very chearefully kneled downe vpon his knees and said God by the mouth of his seruant S. Paul hath said Let euery soule submit him selfe vnto the higher powers and he that resisteth receiueth hys owne damnation and as you are â— Magistrate appoynted by the will of God so do I submit my selfe vnto you and to all such as are appoynted for Magistrates Boner That is well sayde I see you are no Anabaptist Howe saye you then to the presence of Chrâ—stes bodye and bloud in the Sacrament of the altare Holland I say and I beseeche you all to marke and beare witnes with me for so you shal doe before the iudgement seate of God what I speake for heere is the Conclusion And ye my deare frendes turning him to his kinsmen I pray you shew my father what I doe say that he may vnderstand I am a christian man I say and beleeue and am therein fully persuaded by the scriptures that the Sacrament of the Supper of oure Lorde ministred in the holye Communion according to Christes institution I beinge penitent sorie for my sinnes and minding to amend and lead a new life and so coÌ„ming worthely vnto Gods bord in perfect loue charity do there receiue by faith the body bloud of Christ. And though Christ in his humane person sitte at the right hand of his father yet by saith I say his death his passion his merites are mine and by faithe I dwell in him and he in me And as for the Masse transubstantiation the worshipping of the Sacrament they are meere impietie and horrible idolatrie Boner I thought so much sayth Boner suffering him to speake no more how he wold proue a very blasphemous hereticke as euer I heard Howe vnreuerently doeth hee speake of the blessed Masse and so read his bloudy senteÌ„ce of condemnation adiudging him to be burned All this while Roger was verye patient quiet and when he should depart he sayd my lord I besech you suffer me to speake 2. words The B. wold not hear him but bad him away Notwtstanding being requested by one of his frendes he sayd speake what hast thou to say Holland Euen now I told you that your authority was from God and by his sufferance and now I tel you God hath heard the praier of his seruaÌ„ts which hath ben powred forth with feares for his afflicted sainctes which daily you persecute as now you
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
litle other sustenance Which is credible inough if we consider their like practises vpon diuers before mentioned in this history as amongest other vppon Richard Smith who dyed through theyr cruel imprisonmeÌ„t Touching whom when a godly woman came vnto Doct. Story to haue leaue that she might bury him he asked her if he had any straw or bloud in his mouth but what he ment therby I leaue to the iudgement of the godly wise After the foresayd Fetty had thus layn in the prison by the space of xv dayes hanging in the stockes sometyme by the one legge and the one arme sometime by the other and otherwhiles by both it happened that one of his children a boy of the age of eight or nine yeares came vnto the Bishoppes house to see if he could get leaue to speak with his father At his comming thether one of the Bishoppes Chaplaynes met with him and asked him what he lacked and whome he would haue The childe answered that hee came to see his father The Chaplayne asked agayne who was his father The boy then tolde him and poynting towardes Lollardes Tower shewed him that his father was there in prison Why quoth the priest thy father is an hereticke The childe being of a bold and quicke spirit and also godly brought vp and instructed by his father in the knowledge of God answered sayd my father is no heretick but you are an heretick For you haue Balams mark With that the Priest tooke the childe by the hand caried him into the Bishops house whether to the Bishop or not I know not but like enough he did there amoÌ„gest them they did most shamelesly and without all pitty so whip and scourge being naked this tender childe that he was all in a gore bloud and then in a ioly brag of their Catholicke tyranny they caused Cluny hauing his coate vpon his arme to cary the childe in his shyrt vnto his father being in prison the bloud ruÌ„ning downe by his heeles At his comming vnto his father the child fel down vp-his knees and asked him blessing The poore man then beholding his childe seeing him so cruelly arrayed cryed out for sorrow and sayd Alas Wil who hath done this to thee The boy aunswered that as he was seeking how to come to see his father a priest with Baalams mark took him into the Bishops house and there was he so handled Cluny therwith violently plucked the childe away out of his fathers handes and caryed him backe agayne into the Bishops house where they kept him three dayes after And at the three dayes end Boner minding to make the matter whole and somewhat to appease the poore maÌ„ for this their horrible fact determined to release him and therfore caused him early in a morning to be brought out of Lollardes tower into his bedchamber where he fouÌ„d the B. basting of himselfe against a great fire at his fyrst entring into the chamber Fetty said God be here peace God be here and peace quoth Boner that is neither God speede nor good morrow If yee kicke agaynst this peace sayd Fetty then this is not the place that I seek for A Chaplayne of the Bishops standing by turned the poore maÌ„ about thinking to deface him said in mocking wise what haue we here a plaier whilest this Fetty was standing in the bishops chamber he espied hanging about the Bishops bed a great payre of blacke beades wherupon he said my Lord I thinke the hangman is not far off â—oâ— the halter pointing to the beades is here already At which wordes the Bishop was in a marueilous rage Then immediately after he espyed also standing in the sayd Bishops chamber in the windowe a little Crucifixe before which belike Boner vsed to kneele in the tyme of his hipocriticall prayers Then he asked the Bish. what it was and he answered that it was Christ. Was he haÌ„dled so cruelly as he is here pictured quoth Fetty Yea that he was sayd the Bishop And euen so cruelly will you handle suche as come before you For you are vnto Gods people as Cayphas was vnto Christ. The Bishop being in a great fury sayd thou art a vile hereticke and I will burne thee or els I wil spend al that I haue vnto my gowne Nay my Lord sayd Fetty yee were better to geue it to some poore body that he may pray for you But yet Boner bethinking in himselfe of the daunger that the childe was in by theyr whipping and what perill might ensue therupon thought better to discharge him whiche thing was accomplished Wherupon after this and suche talke the Bishop at last discharged him willing him to go home and cary hys childe with him whiche he so did and that with a heauy hart to see hys poore boy in such extreme payne and griefe But within 14 dayes after the childe dyed whether thorough this cruell scourging or any other infirmitie I know not therfore I referre the truth therof vnto the Lord who knoweth al secretes and also to the discreete iudgement of the wise reader But howe soeuer it was the Lorde yet vsed this theyr cruell detestable fact as a meanes of his prouidence for the deliuery of this good poore man and faythfull Christian his name be euer praysed therefore Amen The cruell handling and burning of Nicholas Burton Englishman and Marchaunt in Spayne FOrasmuch as in our former booke of Actes and Monuments mention was made of the Martyrdome of Nicholas Burton I thought here also not to omit the same the story being suche as is not vnworthy to be knowne as wel for the profitable example of his singular constancie as also for the noting of the extreme dealing and cruell reuenging of those Catholicke Inquisitours of Spayne who vnder the pretensed visour of Religion do nothyng but seeke theyr owne priuate gaine and commoditie with crafty defending and spoyling of other mens goodes as by the noting of this story may appeare The fift day of the moneth of Nouember about the yeare of our Lord God .1560 this Nicholas Burton Citizen sometyme of London and Marchaunt dwellyng in the Parishe of little Saint Barthelmew peaceably and quietly followyng his traffike in the trade of Marchaundise and beyng in the Citie of Cadix in the parties of Andolazia in Spayne there came into his lodgyng a Iudas or as they terme them a Familiar of the Fathers of the Inquisition Whom asking for the sayde Nicholas Burton fayned that hee had a Letter to deliuer to his owne handes by which meanes he spake with him immediatly And hauing no Letter to deliuer to him then the said Promoter or Familiar at the motioÌ„ of the Deuill his maister whose messenger he was inuented an other lye and sayde that he would take ladyng for London in such shippes as the said Nicholas Burton had fraited to lade if he would let any which was partly to know where he
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
as yet for those bookes that I had you Commissioners haue them all Martin Thou traitorly whore we knowe that thou haste sold a number of bookes yea and to whom and how many times thou hast beene here and where thou layest and euery place that thou hast bene in Doest thou thinke that thou hast fooles in hand Eliz. No syr you be too wise for me for I can not tel howe manye places I haue beene in my selfe but if I were in Turkey I should haue meate and drinke and lodging for my money Mart. Thou rebel whoore thou hast spoken euil woordes by the Queene and thou dwellest amongest a sort of traitours and rebelles that can not geue the Queene a good woorde Eliz. I am not able to accuse any man thereof nor yet is there any man that can approoue anye such things by me as ye lay vnto my charge For I know by Gods woorde Gods booke hath taught me what is my duetie to God and vnto my Queene and therefore as I sayd I am assured that no man liuing vpon the earth can approoue any such things by me Mart. Thou rebell and traitourly whoore thou shalt be so racked handled that thou shalt be an example to all such traitorly whoores and heretikes And thou shalt be made to sweare by the holye Euangelist and confesse to whome thou haste solde al and euery of these heretical bookes that thou haste solde for wee knowe what number thou haste solde and to whome but thou shalt be made to confesse it in spite of thy bloud Eliz. Here is my carkas do with it what ye wil and more then that ye can not haue Master Martin ye can haue no more but my bloude Then fared he as though hee had bene starke mad and sayd Martin Why callest thou me Martin Eliz. Sir I knowe you well enough for I haue bene before you ere now Ye deliuered me once at Westminster Martin Where diddest thou dwell then Eliz. I dwelled in the Minories Martin I deliuered thee and thy husband bothe and I thought◠then that thou wouldest haue done otherwyse then thou dost now For if thou hadst bene before any Bishop in England and said the woordes that thou didst before me thou haddest fried a fagot and thoughe thou didst not burne then thou art like to burne or hang now Eliz. Syr I promised you then that I woulde neuer be fed with an vnknowen tongue no more I will not yet Martin I shall feede thee well enoughe Thou shalte be fedde with that I warrant thee which shall be finally to thine ease Eliz. Doe what God shall suffer you to doe for more yee shall not And then he arose and so departed and went to the keepers house and sayd to the wife Whom haste thou suffered to come to this vile traitourly whoore and heretike to speake wyth her Then sayde the keepers wife as God receiue my soule here came neither mā woman nor childe to aske for her Mart. If any man woman or childe come to aske for her I charge thee in paine of death that they be layed fast and geue her one day bread and an other day water Eliz. If ye take away my meat I trust that God wil take away my hunger and so he departed and sayde that was too good for her and then was shee shutte vppe vnder two lockes in the Clincke where shee was before The third examination before Doctour Martin againe THen was shee broughte before hym in his Chamber within my Lorde Chauncellours house Who asked her saying Elizabeth wilt thou confesse these thynges that thou hast bene examined vppon For thou knowest that I haue bene thy frende and in so doing I wil be thy frende againe geuing her manye faire woordes and then demaunding of her how many Gentlemen were beyond the Seas Eliz. It is too much for me to tel you how many are on the other side Mart. No I meane but in Franckford Emden where thou hast bene Eliz. Syr I did neuer take accounte of them it is a thing that I looke not for Martin When shall I heare a true woorde come out of thy mouth Eliz. I haue tolde you the truth but because that it soundeth not to your minde therefore ye will not credite it Martin Wilt thou yet confesse and if thou wilt that that I haue promised I will doe and if thou wilt not I promise thee thou must goe euen hence to the racke and therfore confesse Eliz. I can say no more then I haue sayde Martin Well for as muche as shee will confesse no more haue her awaye to the Racke and then shee will be marred Then aunsweared a Priest that sate there and sayde Woman take an othe and confesse Wilt thou be hurte for other men Eliz. I can confesse no more then I haue Doe with my carkas what yee will Martin Did yee euer heare the like of thys Heretique What a stoute heretique is thys We haue the truthe and we knowe the truth and yet looke whether shee will confesse There is no remedie but shee muste needes to the Racke and therefore away with her and so commaunded her out of the doore and called her keeper vnto hym and sayde to him There is no remedie but this heretike must be racked and talked with him more but what it was she heard not Then he called her in againe and sayde Wilte thou not confesse and keepe thee from the Racke I aduise thee so to doe for if thou wilt not thou knowest not the payne yet but thou shalt do Eliz. Syr I canne confesse no more Do with my carkas what yee will Martin Keeper away with her Thou knowest what I sayde Let her knowe the paine of the Racke And so shee departed thinking no lesse but that she should haue gone to the Racke till shee sawe the keeper tourne towarde the Clincke againe And thus did God alienate their heartes and diminish their tyrānous power vnto the time of further examination for she was brought before the byshop the Deane and the Chauncellour and other Commissioners first and last thirteene times The fourth examination was before the Byshop of London Syr Roger Cholmley Doctour Cooke the Recorder of London Doctour Roper of Kent and Doctour Martin as concerning her faith c. FIrste shee being presented by Doctour Martin before the Bishop of London Doctour Martin beganne to declare against her saying The Lord Chauncellour hath sent you heere a woman which hath brought bookes ouer from Emden where al these bookes of heresie and treason are printed and hathe therewith filled all the lande wyth Treason and heresie neither yet will shee confesse who translated them nor who printed them nor yet who sent them ouer Wherfore my Lord Chācellor committeth her vnto my Lorde of London he to doe with her as he shall thinke good For shee will confesse nothing but that shee bought these said bookes in Hamsterdame and so
Officers could not tell what to say nor whom to accuse And thus much concerning the congregation of the faythfull assembling together at London in the time of Queene Mary The said M. Bentham an other time as he passed thorow S. Katherines intending to walke and take the ayre abroad was enforced by two or three men approching vpon him needes to go with them to a place whether they would lead him M. Bētham astonied at the sodeinnes of the matter and maruelling what the thing shoulde be required what theyr purpose was or whether they woulde haue him They aunswered that by the occasion of a man there found drowned the Crowners quest was called and charged to sit vpon him of the whiche quest he must of necessity be one c. He agayne loth to medle in the matter excused himselfe alledging that in such kind of matters he had no skill and lesse experience if it would please them to let him goe they should meete with other more meete for theyr purpose But when with this they would not be satisfied he alledged further that he was a scholer of Oxford and thereby was priuiledged from being of any inquest The Crowner demaunded the sight of his priuiledge He sayd if he woulde geue him leaue he would fetch it Then sayd the Crowner the queene must be serued without all delay so cōstrayned him notwithstanding to be with thē in hearing the matter Beyng brought to the house where the Crowner and the rest of the quest were sitting as the maner is a booke was offered him to sweare vpon M. Bentham opening the booke and seing it was a papisticall Primer refused to sweare thereupon and declared moreouer what superstition in that booke was conteined What sayde the Crowner I thinke we shall haue here an hereticke among vs. And vpon that after much reasoning amongest them he was committed to the custody of an officer till further examination by occasion wherof to all mens reason hard it had bene and ineuitable for M. Bentham to haue escaped had not the Lord helped where man was not able What folowed Incontinent as they were thus contending and debating about matters of heresye sodeynly commeth the Crowner of the Admiralty disanulling and repealing the order calling of that inquest for that it was as he sayde perteining to his office and therefore the other Crowner and his company in that place had nothing to do And so the first Crowner was discharged and displaced by reasō whereof M. Bentham escaped theyr handes hauing no more sayd vnto him * English men preserued at the taking of Calice THe worthy workes of the Lordes mercy toward hys people be manifolde and can not be comprehended so that who is he liuing in the earth almost who hath not experienced the helping hand of the Lord at some time or other vpon him Amōgst many other what a piece of gods tender prouidence was shewed of late vpon our English brethren and country men what time Calice was takē by the Tyrant Guise a cruell enemy both to Gods truth and to our English nation And yet by the gracious prouision of the Lorde few or none at all of so many that fauoured Christ and his Gospell in that terryble spoyle miscaried In the number of whome there was a godly couple one Iohn Thorpe and his wife which feared the Lord and loued his trueth who being sicke the same time and cast out into the wild fieldes harbourles desolate and despayring of all hope of life hauing theyr young infant moreouer taken from them in the sayd fieldes and caried awaye of the souldiors yet the Lord so wrought that the poore woman being almost past recouery of life was fet and caried the space welnigh of a mile by straungers whome they neuer knewe into a village where both shee was recouered for that night also the next day comming toward England they chaunced into the same Inne at the next town where they found theyr young child sitting by the fire side ¶ Edward Benet ONe Edw. Benet about the second yeare of the reigne of Q. Mary then dwelling at Quenehieth with one Grynocke a Baker was desired of one Tyngle prisoner then in Newgate to bring him a new testament He procuring one of M. Couerdals translatiō wrapt it in a handkerchiefe saying to George the keeper whiche asked hym what he had that it was a piece of pondred biefe Let mee see it sayd he Perceiuing what it was he brought him to Syr Roger Cholmley who examined him why he did so saying that booke was not lawfull so committed him to the Counter in woodstreet wher he continued 25. weekes Doctor Story comming to the prison to examine other Prisoners this Benet looking out at the grate spake to him desiring him to be good vnto him and to helpe hym out for he had lien long in prison To whom D. Story thē aunswering What sayd he wast not thou before me in Christes Church Yes forsooth sayd Benet Ah sayd Story thou doest not beleue in the Sacrament of the Aultar Mary I will helpe thee out come sayd he to the keeper turne him out I will helpe him and so tooke Benet wyth him and brought him to Cluney in Pater noster Row and bade him bring him to the Colehouse and there he was in the stockes a weeke Then the Bishoppe sent for him to talke with him and first asked him if he were shriuen No sayd Benet He asked him if he would be shriuen No sayd he Then he asked him if the Priest could take away his sinnes No sayd Benet I do not so beleue Then he and Harpsfielde laughed at him and mocked him asking him if he did not beleue that what so euer the Prieste here bounde in earth should be bound in heauen and what so euer he loosed in earth shoulde be loosed in heauen No quoth Benet But I beleue that the Minister of God preaching Gods word truely and ministring the Sacramentes accordyng to the same whatsoeuer he bindeth in earth shal be bound in heauen and what so euer he looseth c. Then the Bishop putting him aside sayd he should go to Fulham and be whipped Then came to him M. Buswell a Pries◠lying in the Colehouse in the stockes and brought Cranmers recantation saying that he had recanted My fayth sayth the other lyeth in no mans booke but in him which hath redeemed me The next saterday Benet with fiue other was called for to come to masse into the Chappell The Masse being done and they comming out fiue of thē went to prison and were after burned Benet being behind and comming toward the gate the porter opening to a company goyng out asked if there were no prisoners there No sayd they Benet standing in open sight before him with other seruing men whiche were there by reason that Boner made many priestes that day hauing one of his sleues and halfe the fore part of his coat
of taking and burning as by the relation of Melancthon writing and witnessing of the same may appeare in the wordes of hys owne story here folowing * The History of Simon Grinaeus collected out of Melancthons Commentaris vpon the x. Chapiter of Daniell WHen I was sayth he at the assembly holden at Spyre in the yeare of our Lord 1529. by chaunce Simon Grynaeus came thither vnto me from the Uniuersity of Hedelberge where he hearde Faber the Byshoppe of Vienna in a Sermon defend and maynteyne certayne detestable errors When the Sermon was done he folowed Faber goyng out of the Church and saluted him reuerently declaring vnto him that he was moued of a good zeale intent somewhat to say vnto him Faber was contented to talke with him Then Grinaeus sayde vnto him that he was very sorry that a man of such learning and authority shoulde openly mayntein such errors as were both contumelious against God also might be refuted by the manifest testimonies of the Scripture Irenaeus writeth sayd he that Polycarpus was wont to stop his cares whensoeuer he heard any erroneous wicked doctrine With what mind then thinke you woulde Polycarpus haue heard you argue and reason what it is that the mouse eateth when shee gnaweth the consecrated host Who would not bewayle such ignorance and blindnes of the Church With this Faber brake of hys talke as he was about to saye more and asked his name This man dissembling nothing gently tolde him that his name was Grinaeus This Faber as many well knew was alwayes tymerous and fearefull in the company of learned men Wherfore he fearing the learning eloquence and feruent zeale of Grinaeus specially in such a matter as this was fayned as though he had bene sent for by the king and that he had no leysure now to reason vpon this matter He pretended that he was very desirous of acquayntaunce and longer talke with Grinaeus intreating him that bothe for hys owne priuate cause and also for the common wealth he would come agayne the next day vnto him and so shewed him his lodgyng and appoynted him an houre when hee should come Grinaeus thinking that he had spoken vnfaynedly promised so to do When he was departed froÌ„ Faber he came straight way vnto vs and was scarsly set at the table for it was supper time reciting a part of his talk with Faber vnto me and others there present when as I sitting with my company was sodeinly called out of the Parler by a certayne auncient fatherly man who shewing a singular grauitye in hys countenance wordes and behauior spake vnto me said that the Sergeantes would by and by come vnto our lodging being sent by the kinges commaundement to carye Grinaeus to Prison whom Faber had accused to the Kynge commaunding that Grinaeus should straight wayes depart out of the towne exhorted me that we shoulde in no case delay the time and so bidding me farewell departed But what olde man this was neither did I know then nor afterward could vnderstand I returning agayne vnto my company bad them rise and told them what the olde man had sayd vnto me By and by we taking Grinaeus in the midst of vs caryed him through the street to the Riuer of Rhene whereas after he had stayd vpon the hether bank a while vntil Grinaeus with his companioÌ„ were caried ouer in a small boat returning agayne to our lodging we vnderstoode that the Sergeants had bene there when we were but a little way gone out of the house Now in what great daunger Grinaeus should haue bene if he had bene caried to prison by this cruelty of Faber euery man easily may coniecture Wherefore we iudged that that most cruell entent and purpose of him was disapoynted by Gods merciful prouidence And as I can not say what olde man it was that gaue me that warning euen so likewise the Sergeants made such quick speede that except Grinaeus had bene couered and defended by Aungels through the maruellous prouidence of God he could neuer haue escaped CoÌ„cerning the truth of this matter there be many good men yet aliue which both knowe the same and also were present at the doing thereof Therfore let vs geue thankes vnto God which hath geuen vs his Angels to be our keepers and defenders wherby with more quiet mindes we may fulfill and do the office of our vocation With such like examples of Gods mighty and mercyful custody the church of Christ in all ages doth abouÌ„d as by manifold experiences may appeare as well among the Germanes as also in all other places and ages but in no place more nor in time more plentifull then in this persecuting time of Queene Mary in this our Realme of Enland as partly hath bene already historyed and parte yet remayneth the Lorde willing moreouer hereunto to bee added ⧠Lady Katherine Duches of Suffolcke STephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester surmising the Ladye Katherine Baronesse of Willoughby and Cresby and Duchesse Dowager of Suffolcke to be one of his auncient enemies because he knew he had deserued no better of her deuised in the holy time of the first Lent in Queene Maries reigne a holy practise 〈◊〉 â—eueÌ„ge first by touching her in the person of her husbaÌ„d M. Richard Berty Esquyre for whom he sent an attachment hauing the great seale at his deuotion to the Sheriffe of Lincolnshyre with a speciall Letter commaunding moste straitly the same Sheriffe to attache the sayd Richard immediatly and without baile to bring him vp to London to his great Lordship M. Berty her husband being cleare in conscience and from offence toward the queene could not coniecture any cause of this straunge processe vnlesse it were some quarell for Religion which he thought coulde not be so sore as the processe pretended The Sheriffe notwithstanding the commaundement aduentured onely to take the bonde of M. Bertye with 2. sureties in a thousand pouÌ„d for his appearance to be made before the Byshop on good Friday folowing at which day M. Berty appeared the Bishop then lying at his house by S. Mary Oueryes Of whose presence when the Byshop vnderstood by a gentleman of his chamber in a great rage he came out of his gallery into his dining chamber where he found a prease of suters saying he woulde not that daye heare any but came forth only to know of M. Berty how he being a subiect durste so arrogantly set at light two former processes of the Queenes M. Berty aunswered that albeit my Lordes woordes might seme to the rest somewhat sharpe towards him yet he conceiued greate comfort of theÌ„ For whereas he before thought it extremity to be attached hauing vsed no obstinacy or contumacy now he gathered of those wordes that my Lord meant not otherwise but to haue vsed some ordinary processe albeit in deed none came to his handes Yea Mary quoth the Byshoppe I haue sent you two subpenas to appeare
immediatly and I am sure you receiued them for I committed the truste of them to no worsse man but to Mayster Solicitour and I shall make you an example to all Lyncolnshyre for your obstinacy M. Berty denying the receipt of any humbly prayed his Lordship to suspend his displeasure the punishment till he had good trial therof then if it pleased him to double the payne for the fault if any were Well quoth the Byshoppe I haue appoynted my selfe this day according to the holines of the same for deuotion and I will not further trouble me with you but I enioyn you in a thousand pouÌ„d not to depart without leaue and to be here againe to morow at 7. of the clocke M. Berty well obserued the houre and no â—ote â—ayled At whiche time the B. had with him M. Seriant Stampford to whoÌ„ he moued certayn questions of the sayd M. Berty because M. Serieaunt was towardes the Lorde Wriothesley late Earle of Southhampton and Chauncellour of England with whom the said M. Berty was brought vp M. Seriant made very frendly report of M. Berty of hys owne knowledge for the time of theyr conuersation together Wherupon the Bishop caused M. Berty to be brought in and first making a false trayne as God would without fire before he woulde descend to the quarrell of Religion he assaulted him in this maner Winch. The Queenes pleasure is quoth the Byshoppe that you shall make present payment of 4000. pound due to her father by Duke Charles late husband to the Duchesse your wife whose executor she was Bert. Pleaseth it your Lordshippe quoth M. Berty that debt is estalled and is according to that estallement truly aunswered Winch. Tush quoth the Byshop the Queene will not be bounde to estallementes in the time of Kettes gouernement for so I esteme the late gouernement Bert. The estallement quoth M. Berty was appoynted by king Henry the 8. besides the same was by speciall coÌ„missioners confirmed in king Edwardes tyme and the Lord treasurer being an executor also to the Duke Charles soly and wholly tooke vpon him before the sayd Commissioners to discharge the same Winch. If it be true that you saye quoth the Byshoppe I will shew you fauor But of an other thing M. Berty I will admonish you as meaning you well I heare euill of your Religion yet I hardly can thinke euil of you whose mother I know to be as Godlye and Catholicke as any within this Lande your selfe brought vp with a mayster whose education if I should disallow I might be charged as author of his errour Besides partly I know you my selfe and vnderstande of my frendes enough to make me your frend wherefore I will not doubt of you but I pray you if I may aske the question of my Ladye your wife is she now as ready to set vp the Masse as she was lately to pull it downe when she caused in her progresse a dog in a Rochet to be caried called by name or doth she think her lambes now safe enough which sayd to me wheÌ„ I vailed my bonnet to her out of my chamber window in the tower that it was mery with the lambes now the Wolfe was shut vp Another time my Lord her husband hauing inuited me and diuers Ladies to dinner desired euery Lady to choose him whom she loued best and so place themselues My Ladye your wife taking me by the hande for that my Lord would not haue her to take himselfe sayd that for so much as she could not sit downe with my Lord whom she loued best she had chosen me whom she loued worst Of the deuise of the Dogge quoth M. Berty she was neither the author nor the allower The wordes though in that season they sounded bitter to your Lordship yet if it should please you without offence to know the cause I am sure the one will purge the other As touching setting vp of Masse which she learned not onely by strong perswasions of diuers excellent learned men but by vniuersall consent and order whole vj. yeares past inwardly to abhorre if she should outwardly allowe she should both to Christ shew her selfe a false Christian and to her prince a masquing subiect You know my Lord one by iudgemeÌ„t reformed is more worth then a thousand transformed teÌ„porizers To force a confession of Religion by mouth coÌ„trary to that in the hart worketh damnation where saluation is pretended Yea mary quoth the Bishop that deliberation would do well iâ— she neuer required to come from an old Religion to a new But now she is to returne from a newe to an auncient Religion Wherin when she made me her gossip she was as earnest as any For that my Lord sayd M. Berty not long sithen she aunswered a frend of hers vâ—ing your Lordships speach that Religion went not by age but by truth and therefore she was to be turned by persuasion and not by commaundement I pray you quoth the Bishop thinke you it possible to persuade her Yea verely sayd M. Berty with the truth for she is reasonable enough The bishop thereunto replying sayd it will be a maruellous griefe to the Prince of Spayne and to all the nobility that shall come with him when they shall finde but two noble personages of the spanish race within this laÌ„d the Queene and my Lady your wife and one of theÌ„ gone from the fayth M. Berty aunswered that he trusted they should find no fruites of infidelity in her So the Bishop perswading M. Berty to trauell earnestly for the reformation of her opinion and offring large frendship released him of his bande from further appearaunce The Duchesse and her husband dayly more and more by their frendes vnderstanding that the Bishop meant to call her to an accouÌ„t of her fayth whereby extremity might followe deuised wayes how by the Queenes licence they might passe the Seas M. Berty had a ready meane for there rested great summes of mony due to the old Duke of Suffolke one of whose executers the Duches was beyond the Seas the Emperour himselfe being one of those debters M. Berty communicated this his purposed sute for licence to passe the Seas and the cause to the Bishop-adding that he tooke this time most meet to deale with the Emperour by reason of likelyhoode of Mariage betwene the Queene and his sonne I like your deuise well quoth the bishop but I think it better that you tary the Princes comming and I will procure you his letters also to his father Nay quoth M. Berty vnder your Lordships correction and pardon of so liberall speache I suppose the tyme will then be lesse conuenient for when the Mariage is coÌ„suÌ„mate the Emperour hath his desire but till then he will refuse nothing to win credit with vs. By S. Mary quoth the Bishoppe smiling you gesse shrewdly Well proceed in your sute to the Queene and it shall not lacke my helping hand M.
What sayest thou to the reall presence in the sacrament Rose I wist right well yee were made an instrument to seeke innocent bloud well ye may haue it if God permitte it is present and at hande for I am not come hither to lye but to dye if God see it good in defence of that whiche I haue sayd Wherefore ye may begin when ye shall thinke good for I haue sayd nothing but the trueth and y◠which in those dayes was of al men allowed for truth agaynst the which ye at that time durst not once whisper although ye now brag neuer so much Bish. Wel father Rose sayd he what soeuer hath ben done in times past shal not now be called in question so that ye now submit your self For not only you but all the whole realm hath bene out of the right way both high low spiritual tēporal but al notwtstāding haue submited thēselues acknowledged their faith Wherfore if ye wil be accoūted for an Englishman ye must likewyse submit your selfe Rose My L. I am an Englishman borne do most humbly require of the christian congregation of England to bee counted as a perticular member of the same with al due reuerence submit my self as in forme maner followyng That whatsoeuer law or laws shal be set forth in the same for the establishment of Christs true religion that according to the faith doctrine of the holy patriarchs prophets Iesus Christ his holy apostles with the faithful fathers of Christs primatiue church I do not only hold it beleeue it but also most reuerently obey it At which my assertion the B. seemed to be greatly reioiced said well then we shall soone be at a point But said he you shal take this for no day of examination but rather of communication so that ye shall now depart pawse your selfe vntill we call for you againe and so ended our first meetyng ¶ The third examination of Thomas Rose ON the Friday following I was called agayne into Christes church within their Ladies chapell as they termed it where was gathered a great part of the whole citie of Norwich after I was by my keper presented the B. began with a great protestation after many wordes demanded of me whether according to my former promise I would submit my selfe or no I answered as before I had done that according to my former protestation I would most gladly obey Then said the Chauncellor to vtter hys gentlenes I thinke ye do but fayne Rose The fault then said I shal be in your selfe and not in me For if ye burthen me with nothing but scriptures the fathers of Christes primatiue church then as I sayde before so I say agayne I shall most gladly obey Chanc. Well then seeyng you chalenge to be a member of the church of England your mother here for triall of obedience prouoketh you as mothers are woont to allure you to receiue this little gift at her hand Rose Forsooth sayd I if she offer it me as receyued of God my father I shal gladly receiue it as from the hand of my very true and ghostly mother Chanc. What say you to care confession is it not a law ecclesiasticall and necessary for the church of England Rose Some wayes it might be permitted some wayes not that because it had not his originall of God hys blessed word and yet I deny not but that a man beyng trobled in his conscience and resorting to a discreete sober christian learned man for the quieting of hys mind might well be permitted but to binde a man vnder payne of dānation once euery yeare to number his sinnes into the eare of a filthy lecherous priest is not of God neither cā be approued by his word Bish. Ah sirrha yee will admitte nothing but scripture I see well Rose No truely my Lord I admit nothing but scripture for the regiment of the soule for why faythe commeth by hearing hearing by the word of god and where the word of God is not there ought no beliefe to bee geuen For what soeuer is not of fayth is sinne and here they leaue of speaking any more of that matter But then M. Chancelor began to whet his teeth at me saying Yea but you haue here preached that the reall naturall and substantiall presence of Christ is not in the Sacrament of the altar what say ye to that Rose Uerily I say that you are a bloudy man seeke to quench your thirst with the bloud of an innocent therefore to satisfie you in that behalfe I say verily vnto you that euen so I haue here preached and althoughe contrary to law you charge me with the same yet will I in no wise deny it though iustly I might do it but stand thereunto euē to seale it with my bloud desiring all that be here present to testifie the same and beleue it as the onely truth Bish. I charge you all beleue it not Rose Yea But my Lord sayde I if ye will needes haue credence geuen you you must bring Gods word to maintayne your sayinges Bish. Why doth not Christ say This is my body and can there be any playner wordes spoken Rose It is true my Lord the words be as playne as can be and euē so be these where as it is said I am a dore a vine and Christ called a stone a Lyon and yet is hee naturally none of these For they be all figuratiue speaches as both the scriptures and fathers do sufficiently proue At which my saying the Bishop woulde haue had me stay saying I should haue an other day wherin I might take better aduisement Rose Not so my Lord sayde I for I am at a full point with my selfe in that matter and am right well able to proue both your transubstantiation with the reall presence to be agaynst the scriptures the ancient fathers of the primatiue churche For Iustinus which is one of the ancientest writers that euer wrote vpon the sacramentes wryteth in his 2. Apologie that the bread water and wine in the sacrament are not to be taken as other meates drinkes but bee meates purposely ordayned to geue thankes vnto God and therfore be called Eucharistia and also haue the names of the body and bloud of Christe and that it is not lawfull for anye man to eate and drinke of them but suche as professed the religion of Christ and liue also accordyng to theyr profession and yet sayth he the same bread drink is chaunged into our flesh and bloud and nourisheth our bodyes By which saying it is euident that Iustine ment that the bread and wine remayne still or els they coulde not haue bene turned into our fleshe and bloud and nourish our bodyes At which my saying they were not a litle troubled but enforced themselues to haue denyed the Doctor and would suffer me to speake no more but strait way
watch euery man declaring his opinion in that behalfe agreeing straightly and circumspectly to keepe her Then one of them whiche was the Lorde of Sussex swearing sayd my Lordes let vs take heede and doe no more then our commission will beare vs what soeuer shal happeÌ„ hereafter And further let vs consider that she was the king our Maistres daughter and therfore let vs vse such dealing that we may aunswere vnto it hereafter if it shall so happen for iust dealing quoth he is alwayes answerable Whereunto the other Lords agreed that it was well sayde of him and thereupon departed Being in the Tower within two daies commaundement was that she should haue Masse within her house One M. Yong was then her Chapleyne and because there was none of her men so well learned to helpe the priest to say masse the masse stayed for that day The next day two of her Yeomen who had gone long to schoole before and were learned had two Abcies prouided and deliuered them so that vppon the Abcies they should helpe the Priest One of the sayd Yeomen holdyng the Abcie in his hand pretending ignoraunce at Kirie â—leyson set the priest making as though he could aunswere that no farther It would make a pittiful and and a strange story here by the way to touche and recite what examinations and rackinges of poore men there were to finde out that knife that should cut her throat what gaping among my Lords of the clergy to see the day wherein they might wash their goodly white rochetes in her innocent bloud but especially the Bysh. of Winchester Steuen Gardiner then L. Chauncellour ruler of the rost who then within fiue days after came vnto her with diuers other of the counsell and examined her of the talke that was at Ashridge betwixt her and sir Iames Acroft concerning her remouing from thence to Dunnington Castle requiring her to declare what she ment thereby At the first she being so sodainly asked did not wel remember any such house but within a while well aduising her selfe she sayde In deede quoth she I doe now remember that I haue such a place but I neuer laye in it in all my lyfe And as for any that hath mooued me thereunto I do not remember Then to enforce the matter they broght forth sir Iames Acroft The B. of Winchester demaunded of her what she said to that man She answered that shee had little to say to hym or to the rest that were then prisoners in the tower But my Lordes quoth she you do examine euery mean prisoner of me wherein me thinkes you doe me great iniury If they haue done euill and offended the Queenes Maiesty let them answer to it accordingly I beseech you my Lords ioyne not me in this sort with any of these offenders And as concerning my goyng vnto Dunnington Castle I do remember that M. Hobby and mine officers and you sir Iames Acroft had such talk but what is that to the purpose my Lordes but that I may goe to myne owne houses at all tymes The L. of Arundell kneeling downe said your grace sayth true and certainly we are very sory that we haue so troubled you about so vayne matters She then sayd my Lordes you do sift me very narowly But well I am assured you shall not do more to me then God hath appointed and so God forgeue you all At their departure sir Iames Acroft kneeled downe declaring that he was sory to see the day in which he shuld be brought as a witnesse against her grace But I assure your grace sayd he I haue bene maruelously tossed and examined touching your highnesse which the Lord knoweth is very strange to me For I take God to record before all your honours I do not know any thing of that crime that you haue layd to my charge and will thereupon take my death if I should be driuen to so strait a triall That day or thereabouts diuers of her owne officers who had made prouision for her diet brought the same to the vtter gate of the Tower the common rascall souldiors receiuing it which was no small griefe vnto the Gentlemâ—n the bringers therof Wherfore they required to speak with the Lord Chamberlaine being then Constable of the Tower Who commyng before his presence declared vnto his Lordship that they were much afrayd to bryng her graces diete and to deliuer it vnto such common and desperate persons as they were which did receiue it beseeching his honor to consider her grace and to geue such order that her viands might at all tymes bee brought in by them which were appointed thereunto Yea Sirs said he who appointed you this office They answered her graces counsaile Counsaile quoth he There is none of them which hath to do either in that case or any thing els within this place and I assure you for that she is a prisoner she shall be serued with the Lieuetenaunts men as other the prisoners are Whereat the Gentlemen sayd that they trusted for more fauour at his hands considering her personage saying that they mistrusted not but that the Queene and her Counsaile would be better to her grace then so therewith shewed themselues to be offended at the vngratefull words of the L. Chamberlaine towards their Ladye and maistresse At this he sware by God strikyng hymselfe vpon the brest that if they did either fronne or shrug at him he wold set them where they should see neither sunne nor Moone Thus takyng their leaue they desired God to bryng hym into a better mynde toward her grace and departed from hym Upon the occasion wherof her graces Officers made great sute vnto the Queenes Counsaile that some might be appointed to bring her dyet vnto her and that it might no more be deliuered into the common Souldiours of the Tower Which beyng reasonably considered was by theÌ„ granted And thereupon were appointed one of her Gentlemen her clarke of her kitchin her two Purueiers to bring in her prouision once a day All which was done the Warders euer waiting vpon the bringers thereof The Lord Chamberlaine himselfe being always with them circumspectly and narowly watched and searched what they brought and gaue heede that they should haue no talke with any of her graces waiting seruauntes and so warded them both in and out At the said sute of her officers were sent by the commandement of the Counsaile to waite vppon her grace two Yeomen of her chamber one of her Robes two of her Pantry Ewry one of her Buttry another of her Seller two of her Kitchin one of her Larder all which continued with her the tyme of her trouble Here the Constable beyng at the first not very well pleased with the commyng in of such a company agaynst his will would haue had his men still to haue serued with her Graces men Which her seruaunts at no hand would suffer desiring his Lordship to be
contented for that order was taken that no stranger should come within their Offices At which answer beyng sore displeased he brake out into these threatnyng wordes well sayd he I will handle you well enough Then went hee into the kitchin and there would needs haue his meat rosted with her Graces meate and sayd that his Cooke should come thether and dresse it To that her Graces Cooke answered my Lord I will neuer suffer any stranger to come about her diete but her owne sworne men so long as I lyue He said they should But the Cooke sayd his Lordship should pardon hym for that matter Thus did hee trouble her poore seruants very stoutly though afterward he were otherwise aduised and they more curteously vsed at his handes And good cause why For he had good â—here fared of the best her grace payed well for it Wherefore he vsed himselfe afterward more reuerently toward her grace After this sort hauyng lyen a whole moneth there in close prison and beyng very euill at ease therewithall she sent for the L. Chamberlaine and the Lord Shandoys to come and speake with her Who commyng she requested them that she might haue liberty to walk in some place for that she felt her selfe not well To the which they aunswered that they were right sorye that they coulde not satisfie her graces request for that they had commaundement to the contrary which they durst not in any wise break Furthermore she desired of them if that could not be granted that she might walke but into the Queenes lodgyng No nor yet that they answered could by any meanes bee obtained without a further sute to the Queene her Counsaile Well sayd she my Lordes if the matter be so harde that they must be sued vnto for so small a thyng that friendship be so strait God comfort me and so they departed she remaining in her old dungeon still without any kynde of comfort but onely God The next day after the L. Shandoyes came again vnto her grace declaryng vnto her that he had sued vnto the counsail for further liberty Some of them consented therunto diuers other dissented for that there were so manye prisoners in the tower But in conclusion they did al agree that her grace might walke into those lodgings so that he and the L. Chamberlaine and three of the Queens Gentlewomen did accompany her the windowes beyng shut and she not suffred to looke out at any of them wherwith she contented her selfe and gaue him thankes for hys good will in that behalfe Afterwards there was libertie graunted to her grace to walke in a little garden the dores and gates being shut vp which notwithstanding was as much discomfort vnto her as the walke in the garden was pleasaunt acceptable At which times of her walking there the prisoners on that side straightly were commaunded not to speake or looke out at the windowes into the garden till her grace were gone out agayne hauing in consideration thereof their kepers waiting vpon them for that time Thus her grace with this small libertie contented her selfe in God to whom be prayse therfore During this tyme there vsed a little boy a mans child in the Tower to resort to their chaÌ„bers and many times to bring her grace floures which likewise he did to the other prisoners that were there Wherupon naughty suspicious heades thinking to make and wring out some matter therof called on a time the childe vnto theÌ„ promising him figges and apples and asked of him wheÌ„ he had bene with the Earle of Deuonshyre not ignoraunt of the childes wounted frequenting vnto him The boy answered that he would go by and by thether Further they demanded of him when he was with the Lady Elizabethes grace He answered euery day Furthermore they examyned him what the Lord of Deuonshyre sent by him to her grace The childe sayd I will go know what he will geue to cary to her Such was the discretion of the childe being yet but foure yeares of age This same is a craftye boye quoth the Lord Chamberlayne Howe say you my Lorde Shandoyes I pray you my L. quoth the boy geue me the figges you promised me No Mary quoth he thou shalt be whipped if thou come any more to the Lady Elizabeth or the Lorde Courtny The boy aunswered I will bryng my Lady my mistres more floures Wherupon the childs father was commaunded to permit the boye no more to come vp into theyr chambers The next day as her grace was walking in the gardeÌ„ the childe peeping in at a hole in the dore cryed vnto her saying mistres I can bring you no more floures Wherat she smiled but sayd nothing vnderstanding thereby what they had done Wherefore afterwards the Chamberlaine rebuked highly his father commaunding him to put him out of the house Alasse poore infant quoth the father It is a craftie knaue quoth the Lorde Chamberlaine let me see him heere no more The 5. day of May the Constable was discharged of hys office of the Tower and one Syr Henrye Benifielde placed in his rowme a man vnknowen to her grace and therefore the more feared which so sodaine mutation was vnto her no little amaze Hee brought with him an 100. souldiers in blew coates wherwith she was marueilously discomforted demaunded of such as were about her whether the Lady Ianes scaffold were taken away or no fearing by reason of their comming least she should haue played her part To whom aunswere was made that the scaffolde was taken awaye and that her grace needed not to doubt of any suche tyrannie for God woulde not suffer any such treason against her Person Wherewith beyng contented but not altogether satisfied shee asked what syr Henry Benefield was and whether hee was of that conscience or no that if her murdering were secretly committed to his charge he would see the execution thereof She was answeared that they were ignoraunt what maner of man he was Howbeit they perswaded her that God would not suffer such wickednesse to proceede Wel quoth shee God graunt it be so For thou O God canste mollifie all suche tyrannous heartes and disappoynte all such cruell purposes and I beseeche thee to heare me thy creature which am thy seruaunt and at thy commaundement trusting by thy grace euer so to remaine About which time it was spred abroad that her grace should be caried from thence by this newe iolly Captaine and his souldiours but whether it coulde not be learned Which was vnto her a great grief especially for that such a company was appoynted to her gard requesting rather to continue there still then to be ledde thence with suche a sort of rascals At last plaine answer was made by the L. Shandoyes that there was no remedye but from thence she must needes depart to the Manour of Woodstocke as he thought Being demaunded of her for what cause for that quoth he the Tower is like
sondrye incident to the same and especiallye touching the great stirres alterations which haue happened in other foreine nations and also partly among our selues here at home for so muche as the tractation heereof requireth an other Uolume by it selfe I shall therefore deferre the reader to the next Booke or Section insuing wherein if the Lorde so please to sustaine me with leaue and life I may haue to discourse of all and singulare suche matters done and atchieued in these our latter daies and memorie more at large Now then after these so great afflictions falling vpon this Realm from the first beginning of Queene Maries reigne wherein so many men women and children were burned many imprisoned and in prisones starued diuers exiled some spoyled of goodes possessions a great number driuen from house to home so many weeping eyes so many sobbing hartes so many children made fatherles so many fathers bereft of theyr wiues and children so many vexed in conscience and diuers against conscience coÌ„strained to recant and in conclusion neuer a good man almost in all the Realme but suffered something during all the time of this bloudy persecution after all this I say now we are come at length the Lord be praysed to the 17. day of Nouember which day as it brought to the persecuted members of Christ rest from theyr carefull mourning so it easeth me somewhat likewise of my laborious writing by the death I meane of Queene Mary Who being long sicke before vpon the sayd xvij day of Nouember in the yeare aboue sayde about 3. or 4. a clocke in the morning yelded her life to nature and her kingdome to Queene Elizabeth her sister As touching the maner of whose death some say that she dyed of a Tympany some by her much sighing before her death supposed she dyed of thought sorow Wherevpon her Counsell seing her sighing desirous to know the cause to the ende they might minister the more readye consolation vnto her feared as they sayd that she took the thought for the kinges Maiesty her husband which was gone from her To whom she answering againe In deed sayd she that may be one cause but that is not the greatest wound that pearseth my oppressed minde but what that was she would not expresse to them Albeit afterward she opened the matter more plainly to M. Rise and Mistres Clarentius if it be true that they tolde me whiche hearde it of M. Rise himselfe who then being most familiar with her most bold about her tolde her that they feared she took thought for king Philips departing from her Not that onely sayde she but when I am dead opened you shall find Calice lying in my hart c. And here an end of Queene Mary and of her persecution Of which Queene this truely may be affirmed left in story for a perpetual memorial or Epitaph for al kings and Queenes that shal succeed her to be noted that before her neuer was readde in story of any King or Queene of England since the time of king Lucius vnder whome in time of peace by hanging heading burning and prisoning so much Christian bloud so many Englishmens liues were spilled within this Realme as vnder the sayd Queene Mary for the space of foure yeres was to be sene and I beseech the Lord neuer may be sene hereafter ⧠A briefe declaration shewing the vnprosperous successe of Queene Mary in persecuting Gods people and how mightily God wrought agaynst her in all her affayres NOw for so much as Queene Mary during all the time of her reigne was suche a vehement Aduersary and Persecutour agaynst the sincere Professours of Christ Iesus and his Gospell for the which there be many which do highly magnify approue her doinges therein reputing her Religion to be founde and Catholicke and her proceedinges to be most acceptable and blessed of almighty God to the inteÌ„t therfore that all men may vnderstande howe the blessing of the Lorde God did not onely not proceed with her proceedings but coÌ„trary rather how his manifest displesure euer wrought agaynst her in plaguing both her and her Realme and in subuerting all her counselles and attemptes whatsoeuer she tooke in hand we will bestow a litle time therein to perpend and suruey the whole course of her doinges and â—heuaunces and coÌ„sider what successe she had in the same Which being well considered we shall finde neuer no reigne of any Prince in this Land or any other whiche had euer to shew in it for the proportion of time so many arguments of Gods great wrath displesure as was to be sene in the reigne of this Queene Mary whether we behold the shortnes of her time or the vnfortunate euent of all her purposes who seemed neuer to purpose any thing that came luckely to passe neither did any thing frame to her purpose what so euer she tooke in hande touching her owne priuate affayres Of good kinges we read in the Scripture in shewing mercy and pity in seeking Gods will in his word subuerting the monumentes of Idolatry howe God blessed theyr wayes encreased theyr honours and mightely prospered all their proceedinges as we see in king Dauid Salomon Iosias Iosaphath Ezechias with such other Manasses made the streetes of Hierusalem to swimme with the bloud of his subiects but what came of it the text doth testify Of Queene Elizabeth whiche nowe raigneth among vs this we must needes say which we see that she in sparing the bloud not onely of Gods seruauntes but also of Gods enemies hath doubled now the raygne of Queene Mary her sister with such aboundance of peace and prosperitie that it is hard to say whether the realme of England felt more of Gods wrath in Queene Maryes tyme or of Gods fauour and mercy in these so blessed peaceable dayes of Queene Elizabeth Gamaliell speaking his minde in the Counsaile of the Phariseis concerning Christes religion gaue this reason that if it were of God it should continue who soeuer sayd nay If it were not it could not stand So may it be sayde of Q. Mary and her romishe Religion that if it were so perfect and Catholicke as they pretend and the contrarye fayth of the Gospellers were so detestable and hereticall as they make it how commeth it then that this so Catholicke a Queene suche a necessarye piller of his spouse hys Church continued no longer till shee had vtterly rooted out of the land this hereticall generation Yea how chanced it rather yâ— almightye God to spare these poore heretickes rooted out Q. Mary so soone from her throne after she had reigned but onely v. yeares and v. monthes Now furthermore howe God blessed her wayes and endeuours in the meane tyme while shee thus persecuted the true seruauntes of God remayneth to bee discussed Where first this is to be noted that when shee first began to stand for the title of the Crowne and yet had wrought
to the Tower of London and there remained vntill Queene Elizabeth was proclaimed Queene at whych time he being deliuered fell sicke and dyed The common talke was that if he had not so sodēly ended his life hee woulde haue opened and reuealed the purpose of the chiefe of the Cleargy meaning the Cardinall whyche was to haue taken vp K. Henries body at Windsore and to haue burned it And thus much of doctor Weston The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of deathe were depriued and committed to prisones the Catalogue of whose names heere followeth In the Tower Nicholas Death Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chauncellour Thomas Thurlby B. of Ely Thomas Watson B. of Lincolne Gilbert Burne B. of Bath and Welles Richard Pates B. of Worcester Troublefield B. of Exetor Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Westminster Iohn Boxal Deane of Windsore and Peterborough Of Dauid Poole B. of Peterborough I doubte whether he was in the Tower or in some other prisone Ran away Goldwell B. of S. Asse Maurice Elect of Bangor Edmunde Boner B. of London in the Marshalsea Thomas Wood B. Elect in the Marshalsea Cutbert Scothish of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Louane and there died In the Fleet. Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpesfield Archdeacon of London and Deane of Norwich Nicholas Harpesfield Archd. of Cant. Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Hūtington W. Chadsey Archdeacon of Midlesex ¶ Concerning which Doctour Chadsey here is to be noted that in the beginning of king Edwards raigne he recanted and subscribed to 34. Articles wherein hee then fully consented and agreed with his owne hand wryting to the whole forme of doctrine approoued allowed then in the church as well concerning iustification by faith only as also the doctrine of the two sacramentes then receaued denying as well the Popes supremacie transubstantiation Purgatory Inuocation of Saints eleuation and adoration of the Sacrament the sacrifice veneration of the Masse as also all other like excrements of Popish superstition according to the kings booke then set foorth Wherefore the more maruel it is that he being counted such a famous and learned Clearke would shew himselfe so fickle and vnstable in hys assertions so double in hys doinges to alter hys Religion according to time and to maintein for truth not what he thought best but what he myght most safely defend So long as the state of the lord Protectour and of hys brother stoode vprighte what was then the conformitie of this D. Chadsey hys owne Articles in Latine wrytten and subscribed wyth hys owne hand doe declare which I haue to shewe if he will denye them But after the decay of the kings vncles the fortune of them turned not so fast but his Religion turned withall and eftsoones he tooke vppon hym to dispute agaynste Peter Martyr in vpholding Transubstantiation at Oxforde which a little before with his owne hād wryting he had ouerthrowen After this ensued the time of Queene Mary wherein doctor Chadsey to shew hys double diligence was so eger in his commission to sit in iudgement to bring poore mē to their death that in the last yeare of Quene Mary when the Lord Chauncellor Syr Thomas Cornwalles Lorde Clinton diuers other of the Counsell had sent for hym by a special letter to repaire vnto London out of Essex he wryting againe to the bishop of London sought meanes not to come at the Counsels bidding but to continue still in his persecuting progresse The Copie of whose letter I haue also in my handes if neede were to bring foorth Mention was made not long before of one William Mauldon who in king Henries time suffered stripes and scourgings for confessing the veritie of Gods true religion It happened in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth that the sayd W. Mauldon was bound seruaunt with one named Maister Hugh Aparry then a wheat taker for the Quene dwelling at Grenewich Who being newly come vnto him and hauing neuer a booke there to looke vpon being desirous to occupie himself vertuously loked about the house and founde a Primer in English whereon hee read in a winters euening Whiles he was reading there sat one Iohn Apowel that had ben a Seruing man about 30. yeres of age borne toward Wales whom the said M. Hugh gaue meat and drink vnto til such time as he could get a seruice And as the foresayd William Mauldon read on the Booke the sayde Iohn Apowell mocked hym after euery worde with contrary gaudes and flouting wordes vnreuerently in so muche that he coulde no longer abide him for grief of hart but turned vnto him and sayd Iohn take heede what thou doest Thou doest not mocke mee but thou mockest God For in mocking of his word thou mockest hym and thys is the word of God though I be simple that read it and therfore beware what thou doest Then Mauldon fell to reading agayne and still hee proceeded on in hys mocking and when Mauldon had redde certayne Englyshe Prayers in the ende he redde Lorde haue mercye vppon vs Christe haue mercye vpon vs. c. And as Mauldon was reciting these wordes the other with a start sodenly sayd Lord haue mercy vpon me With that Mauldon tourned and sayde what ailest thou Iohn He sayee I was afraide Whereon wast thou afraide said Mauldon Nothing now sayd the other and so he would not tel hym After thys when Mauldon and he went to bedde Mauldon asked him whereof he was afraide He sayde when you red Lord haue mercye vppon vs Christ haue mercy vppon vs me thought the haire of my head stoode vpright with a great feare which came vpon me Then sayd Mauldon Iohn thou mayest see the euill spirite could not abide that Christ should haue mercy vppon vs. Wel Iohn said Mauldon repent and amend thy life for God will not be mocked If we mocke and iest at his woord he will punish vs. Also you vse rebauldry woordes and swearing verye much therfore for Gods sake Iohn amend thy life So I will sayd he by the grace of God I pray God I may Amen said the other with other words and so went to bed On the next day about 8. of the clocke in the morning the foresaid Iohn came running downe out of his chamber in his shirt into the Hall and wrasteled with hys mistresse as he would haue throwen her downe Wherat she shriked out and her seruauntes holpe her and tooke hym by strength and caried him vp vnto his bed bound him downe to his bed for they perceiued plainely that he was out of his right minde After that as he lay almoste day and night his toung neuer ceased but he cried out of the deuill of hell and hys woordes were euer stil O the deuill of hell now the deuill of hell I would see the deuill of hell thou shalt see the deuil of hel there he was there he goeth with other words but
the Lordes quarell was afterward burned in his owne house with two mo pag. 1717. The wife of Iohn Fettye beinge the cause of the taking of her husband how she was immediatly vppon the same by Gods hand stricken wyth madnesse and was distracte out of her wittes read before pag. 2055. Thomas Mowse and George Reuet two persecutors were stricken miserably wyth the hand of God and so died pag. 1917. Also Robert Edgore for that hee hadde executed the office of a Parish Clearke against his conscience thoroughe anguish and grief of conscience for the same was so bereft of his wits that he was kept in chaines and bondes many yeares after pag. 1917. As touching Iohn Plankney fellow of new Colledge in Oxford Ciuilian and one Hanington both fellowes of the same house aforesaid and both stubburne Papistes the matter is not much worthy the memory yet the example is not vnworthy to be noted to see what little coÌ„fort grace commonly followeth the comfortlesse doctrine and profession of papistry as in these two yong men amongst many other may well appeare Of whome the one which was Plankney scholer somtyme to Marshal who wrote the booke of the crosse is commonly reported and known to them of that Uniuersitie to haue drowned himselfe in the riuer about Ruly at Oxford anno 1566. the other in a Well about Rome or as some do say at Padua and so beyng both drowned were both taken vp with Crucifixes as it is sayde of some hangyng about their neckes The more pitie that such young studentes did so much addicte their wittes rather to take the way of papistrie then to walke in the comfortable light of the Gospell nowe so brightly spreading his beames in all the worlde which if they had done I thinke not contrary but it had prooued much better with them Albeit I trust the Gospell of Christ beyng now receiued in the Queenes Court amongst the Courtiers and seruaunts of her Gard hath framed their lyues and maners so to lyue in the due feare of God and temperance of lyfe with all sobrietie and mercifull compassion towarde their euenchristen that they neede not greatly any other instructions to be geueÌ„ them in this story yet for so much as examples many tymes doe worke more effectually in the myndes and memories of men also partly considering with my selfe how these aboue all other sorts of men in the whole Realme in tyme past haue euer had most neede of such wholesom lessons and admonitions to leaue their vnordinate riote of quaffing and drinking and their Heathenish prophanatie of lyfe I thought here to set before their eyes a terrible example not of a strange and forreine person but of one of their owne coate a Yeoman of the Gard not fayned by me but brought to me by Gods prouidence for a warnyng to all Courtiers and done of very truth no longer ago then in the yeare of our Lord 1568. And as the story is true so is the name of the partie not vnknowen beyng called Christopher Landesdale dwellyng in Hackney in Middlesex The order of whose lyfe and maner of his death beyng worthy to be noted is this as in story here vnder followeth This foresayd Landesdale beyng maried to an auncient woman yet liuing hauing by her both goods lands notwithstandyng liued long in filthy whoredome with a yonger woman by whom he had two children a sonne a daughter and kept them in his house vnto the day of his death Also when he should haue bene in seruing of God on the Saboth day hee vsed to walke or ride about hys fieldes and seldome hee or any of his house came to the Church after the English seruice was againe receyued Besides this he was a great swearer and a great drunkard and had great delight also in makyng other menne drunken and would haue them whom he had made druÌ„kards to call him father and he would cal theÌ„ his sonnes and of these sonnes by report he had aboue fortie And if he had seene one that would drinke freely hee would marke hym and spende his money with him liberally in ale or wyne but most in wyne to make him the sooner drunken These blessed sonnes of his should haue great chere oftentymes both at his owne house and at Tauernes and not long before his death he was so beastly drunken in a Tauerne ouer against his dore that he fell downe in the Tauerne yard and could not arise alone but lay grouelyng till he was holpen vp and so caried home This father of drunkards as he was a great feaster of the rich and welthy of Hackney and others so hys poore neighbours and poore tenauntes fared little the better for hym except it were with some broken meate which after his feastes his wyfe would cary and send vnto them or some almes geuen at his doore Besides all this he did much iniury to his poore neighbours in oppressing the commons nere about hym which was a speciall reliefe vnto them so that his cattaile eat vp all without pitie or mercy There chaunced after this about two yeres before hee died a poore man beyng sicke of the bloudy flixe for very weakenes to lie downe in a ditch of the sayd Landsdales not a stones cast from his house where he had a litle straw brought him Notwithstanding the said Landesdale had backe houses and Barnes enough to haue layed hym in but would not shew hym so much pitie And thus poore Lazarus there lay night and day about sixe weekes ere he died Certaine good neighbours hearyng of this procured things necessary for his reliefe but he was so farre spente that he could not bee recouered who lay broyling in the hote sunne with a horrible smell most pitifull to behold This poore man a little before he died desired to be remooued to another ditch into the shadowe Whereuppon one of the neighbours commyng to Landesdales wyfe for a bundle of strawe for him to lye vppon shee required to haue hym remooued to Newyngton side because she said if he should dye it would be very farre to cary him to the Church Besides this there was a mariage in this Landsdales house and the gestes that came to the mariage gaue the poore man mony as they came went by him but Landesdale disdained to contribute any relief vnto him notwithstanding that he had promised to M. Searles one of the Queenes Gard who had more pitie of him to minister to him things necessary To be short the next day poore Lazarus departed this lyfe was buried in Hackney churchyard Upon whom Landsdale did not so much as bestow a â—inding sheet or any thyng els towards his buriall And thus much coÌ„cerning the end of poore Lazarus Nowe let vs heare what became of the rich glutton About two yeres after this the said Landesdale beyng full of drinke as his custome was came ridyng in great hast from London on s. Andrews day
in the euening an 1568. and as it is reported by those that sawe him reelyng too and fro lyke a drunkard with his hat in hys hand and commyng by a ditch there tumbled in headlong into the ditch Some say that the horse fell vppon him but that is not lyke This is true the horse more sober then the maister came home leauyng his maister behynde him Whether he brake his necke with the fall or was drowned for the water was scarsly a foote deepe it is vncertayne but certaine it is that he was there found dead Thus he beyng found dead in the ditch the Crowner as the manner is sate vpon him and how the matter was handled for sauyng his goods the Lord knoweth but in the end so it fell out that the goods were saued and the poore horse indited for his maisters death The neighbours hearing of the death of this man and considering the maner thereof said it was iustly fallen vpon him that as he suffered the poore man to lie and dye in the ditch nere vnto hym so his end was to die in a ditch likewise And thus hast thou in this story Christian brother and Reader the true image of a rich glutton poore Lazarus set out before thine eyes whereby we haue all to learne what happeneth in the ende to suche voluptuous Epicures and Atheistes which beyng voyde of all senses of Religion and feare of God yelde themselues ouer to all prophanitie of lyfe neither regardyng any honestie at home nor shewyng any mercy to their needye neighbour abroad Christ our Sauiour saith Blessed be the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy but iudgement without mercy shal be executed on them which haue shewed no mercy c. And S. Iohn sayth He that seeth his brother haue neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in hym c. Agayne Esay against such prophane drunkards and quaffers thus crieth out Wo be vnto them that rise vp early to follow drunkennesse and to them that so continue vntill night till they bee set on fire with wyne In those companies are Harpes and Lutes Tabrets and Pipes and wine but they regard not the workes of the Lord and consider not the operation of his hands c. Woe be vnto them that are strong to spue out wyne and expert to set vp dronkennesse The punishments of them that be dead be wholsome documents to men that be aliue And therfore as the story aboue exemplified may serue to warne all Courtiers and Yeomen of the Gard so by this that followeth I would wish all gentlemen to take good heed and admonition betime to leaue their outrageous swering and blaspheming of the Lord their God In the tyme and raigne of K. Edward there was in Cornewall a certaine lusty yong Gentleman which dyd ride in company with other mo GentlemeÌ„ together with their seruaunts beyng about the number of xx horsemen Amongst whom this lusty yonker entring into talke began to sweare most horribly blasphemyng the name of God with other ribauldry words besides Unto whome one of the company who is yet aliue and witnes hereof not able to abide the hearing of such blasphemous abhominatioÌ„ in gentle wordes speaking to him said he should geue answere and account for euery idle word The Gentleman taking snuffe therat Why sayd he takest thou thought for me take thought for thy winding sheete Well quoth the other amend for death geueth no warning for as soone commeth a lambes skin to the market as an olde sheepes Gods wouÌ„des sayth he care not thou for me raging still after this maner worse worse in words till at length passing on theyr iourny they came riding ouer a great bridge staÌ„ding ouer a piece of an arme of the sea Upon the which bridge this Gentleman swearer spurred his horse in such sort as he sprang cleane ouer with the man on his backe Who as he was going cryed saying horse man and all to the deuil This terrible story happening in a Towne in Cornewall I would haue bene afrayde amongest these storyes here to recite were it not that he which was then both reprehender of his swearing witnes of his death is yet aliue and now a Minister named Heynes Besides this also bishop Ridley theÌ„ bishop of London preached and vttred euen the same fact and example at Paules Crosse. The name of the Gentleman I could by no meanes obteyne of the party witnes aforesayd for dread of those as he sayd which yet remaine of his affinity 〈◊〉 kinred in the sayd country Hauing now sufficiently admonished first the Courtyers then the gentlemen now thirdly for a briefe admonition to the Lawyers we will here insert the strange end and death of one Henry Smith student of the law This Henry Smyth hauing a Godly Gentleman to his father an auncient protestant dwelling in Camden in Glocester shyre was by him vertuously brought vp in the knowledge of Gods word sincere religion wherin he shewed himselfe in the beginning suche an earnest professor that he was called of the Papistes pratling Smith After these good beginnings it folowed that he coÌ„ming to be a student of the law in the middle Temple at London there through sinister coÌ„pany of some especially as it is thought of one Gifford began to be peruerted to popery afterward going to Louane was more deepely rooted grouÌ„ded in the same and so continuing a certayne space amoÌ„g the papistes of a yong protestant at leÌ„gth was made a perfect papist In so much that returning from theÌ„ce he brought with him pardoÌ„s a Crucifixe with an Agnus dei which he vsed coÌ„monly to weare about his necke had in his chamber images before which he was woont to pray Besides diuers other Popish trashe whiche he brought with hym from Louane Now what ende followed after this I were loth to vtter in story but that the fact so lately done this present yeare ann 1569. remayneth yet so fresh in memorie that almost all the Citie of London not onely can witnesse but also doth wonder thereat The end was this Not long after the said Henry Smith with Gifforde his companion was returned from Louane beyng now a foule gierer and a scornfull scoffer of that religion which before he professed in his chamber where he lay in a house in S. Clements parish without Temple barre in the Euening as he was goyng to bedde and his clothes put off for he was found naked he had tied his shirt which he had torne to the same purpose about his priuy places and so with his owne girdle or ribond garter as it seemed fastned to the bedpost there strangled himselfe They that were of his Quest and other which saw the maner of hys hanging and the print where he sate vpon his bed side do record that he tâ—rust himselfe downe from his beddes side where he sate the
824. Dauid Beaton Archbishop of s. Andrewes in Scotland shortly after the beginning of M. George Wisard how hee by the iust stroke of God was slaine and wretchedly ended his lyfe within his owne Castle in the discourse of his story is euident to see who so listeth further to read of that matter pag. 1272. Ioannes Sleidanus in his 23. booke maketh relatiâ—â— of Cardinall Crescentius the chiefe President and moderator of the Councell of Trident ann 1552. The story of whom is certain the thing that hapned to him was straÌ„ge and notable the exaÌ„ple of him may be profitable to others such as haue grace to be warned by other meÌ„s euils The narration is this The 25. day of March in the yere aforesaid Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trident was sitting all the day long vntill darke night in writing letters to thâ— Pope After his labour when night was come thinking to refresh himselfe he began to rise and at his rising beholde there appeared to hym a mighty blacke dogge of a huge bignes his eyes flamyng with fire and his eares hanging low downe welneere to the ground to enter in and straite to come toward hym so to couch vnder the boord The Cardinall not a little amased at the sight thereof somewhat recouering himselfe ralled to his seruauntes which were in the outward chaÌ„ber next by to bring in a candle and to seeke for the dog But when the dog could not be found neither there nor in no other chamber about the Cardinall thereupon striken with a sodaine conceit of mynd immediately fell into such a sicknes wherof his Phisitions which he had about hym with all their industry and cunnyng coulde not cure hym And so in the towne of Uerona died this popish cardinall the Popes holy Legate and President of this couÌ„cel wherein his purpose was as Sleidane saith to recouer and heale againe the whole authoritie and doctrine of the Romish see and to set it vp for euer There were in this Councell beside the Popes Legates and Cardinall of Trident lxij Bishops Doctours of Diuinitie xlij And thus was the ende of that Popishe Councell by the prouident hand of the almighty dispatched and brought to naught Ex Sleidano Li. 23. This Councell of Trident being then dissolued by the death of this Cardinal was afterward notwithstanding recollected againe about the yeare of our lord 1562. against the erroneous proceedings of which Councel other writers there be that say enough So much as pertaineth only to story I thought hereunto to adde concernyng two filthy adulterous bishops to the sayd Councel belonging of whome the one haunting to an honest mans wife was slaine by the iust stroke of God with a Borespeare The other Bishop whose haunte was to creepe through a window in the same window was subtilly taken and hanged in a grinne layed for hym of purpose and so conueied that in the mornyng hee was seene openly in the streete hangyng out of the windowe to the wonderment of all that passed by Ex protestatione Concionatorum Germa aduersus conuentum Trident. c. Amongst all the religious order of Papists who was a stouter defender of the Popes side or a more vehement impugner of Martin Luther then Iohn Eckius who if his cause wherein he so trauailed had bene godly had deserued no doubt great fauour and condigne retribution at the hands of the Lord. Now for so much as we cannot better iudge of him then by his ende let vs consider the maner of his departing hence and compare the same with the end of M. Luther In the which M. Luther beyng such an aduersarye as he was to the Pope and hauyng no lesse then al the world vpon him at once first this is to bee noted that after all these trauailes the Lord gaue him to depart both in great age and in his owne natiue countrey where he was born Secondly he blessed him with such a quiet death without any violent hande of any aduersary that it was counted rather a sleepe then a death Thirdly as the death of hys body was myld so his spirit mynde continued no lesse godly vnto the end continually inuocating and calling vpon the name of the Lord and so commending his spirite to hym with feruent prayer he made a blessed and an heauenly ending Fourthly ouer and besides these blessings almighty God did also adde vnto him such an honourable buriall as to many great Princes vnneth happeneth the like And this briefly concernyng the ende of M. Luther as ye may read before more at large pag. 863. Now let vs consider and conferre with this the death of Iohn Eckius and the maner thereof which we find in the English translation of the history of Iohn Carion fol. 250. in these words expressed This yere saith he died at Ingold state Doctor Eckius a faithful seruant and champion of the Pope and a defender of the abhominable Papacie But as his lyfe was full of all vngodlines vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pitifull in so much that his last wordes as it is noted of many credible personnes were these In case the foure thousand guildens were ready the matter were dispatched c. Dreamyng belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Some say that the Pope had granted him a certaine Deanry which he should haue redeemed from the Courte of Rome with the foresayd summe Now what a heauenly ende this was of M. Eckius I leaue it to the Readers iudgement In the Citie of Andwerpe was as they terme hym there a Shoulted that is to say the next Officer to the Markgraue one named Iohn Uander Warfe a Bastard sonne of a stocke or kinred called Warfe of good estimation amongest the chiefest in Antwarpe Who as he was of nature cruell so was he of iudgement peruerse and corrupt and a sore persecutor of Christes flocke with greedines seekyng and sheddyng innocent bloud and had drouned diuers good men and women in the water for the which he was much commended of the bloudy generation Of some he was called a bloudhound or bloudy dog Of other he was called Shildpad that is to say Sheltode for that hee beyng a short grundy and of little stature did ride commonly with a great broad hat as a churl of the countrey This man after he was weary of his office wherein he had continued aboue xx yeres he gaue it ouer and because he was now growen rich and welthy he entended to passe the residue of his lyfe in pleasure and quietnes During which tyme about the second yeare after hee had left his office he came to Antwarpe to the feast called our Ladies Oumegang to make mery which feast is vsually kept on the Sonday followyng the assumption of our Lady The same day in the after noone about foure of the clock he being wel loden with wine rode homewards
in his wagon with his wife and a gentlewoman waiting on her and his foole As soone as the Wagon was come without the gate of the citie called Croneborgh gate vpon the wooden bridge beyng at that tyme made for a shifte with railes or barres on both sides for more safetie of the passengers halfe a mans heighth more the horses stood still and would by no meanes go forward whatsoeuer the guider of the wagon could do Then he in a drunken rage cried out to him that guided the wagō saying Ride on in a thousand deuils name ride on Wherat the poore man answered that he could not make the horses to goe forward By and by whyle they were yet thus talking sodenly rose as it were a mighty hurlewynd with a terrible noyse the wether beyng very faire no wynd stirring before tost the wagon ouer the barre into the towne ditch the ropes whereat the horses had bene tied beyng broken a sunder in such sort as if they had bene cut with a sharp knife the wagon also being cast vpsidedowne with the fore end thereof turned toward the towne agayne and he drowned in the mire and when he was taken vp it was found that his necke also was broken His wife was taken vp aliue but died also within three dayes after But the Gentlewoman and the foole by Gods mighty prouidence were preserued had no harm The foole hearing the people say that his Maister was dead sayd was not I dead was not I dead too This was done an 1553. Witnesse hereof not onely the Printer of the same story in Dutch dwelling then in Andwerpe whose name was Fraunces Fraet a good man and afterward for hatred put to death of Papistes but also diuers Dutchmen here now in England and a great number of English merchants which then were at Antwerpe are yet alyue Of the sodaine death of Bartholomeus Chassaneus or Cassanus persecutor read before pag. 943. Of Minerius the bloudy persecutor or rather tormētor of Christes saints how he dyed with bleeding in hys lower partes ye heard before pag. 953. And what should I speake of the iudge which accompanied the sayd Minerius in his persecution who a little after as he returned homeward was drowned and three mo of the same company killed one another vpon a strife that fell amongst them pag. 953. Ioannes de Roma cruell Monke whom rather wee may call a hell hound then persecutor what hellishe tormentes hee hadde deuised for the poore Christians of Angrongne the cōtents of the story before doth expresse pag. 216. Agayne with what like torments afterward that doublefold the Lord payd him home agayne who in hys rottyng and stinking death neither could find any enemy to kill hym nor any friend to bury him who neither could abide his owne stinking carion nor any man els to come neare hym Hereof read also in the same page and plate aboue specified Such a like persecutor also the same tyme was the lord of Reuest who likewise escaped not the reuenging hand of Gods iustice being striken after his furious persecution with a like horrible sicknes and such a furie and madnesse that none durst come neare him and so most wretchedly died Whereof read before pag. 943. Touching the like grieuous punishment of God vpō one Iohn Martin a persecutor read pag. 955. Erasmus in an Epistle or Apologie written in defence of his Colloquies inferreth mention of a certayne noble person of great riches and possessions who hauyng wyfe and children with a great familie at home to whom by S. Pauls rule he was bound in conscience principally aboue all other worldly thyngs to attend had purposed before his death to go see Ierusalem And thus all thyngs beyng set in order this Noble man about to set foreward on his iourny committed the care of his wife whom he left great with childe and of his Lordshippes and Castles to an Archbishop as to a most sure and trusty father To make short it happened in the iourney this Noble man to dye Whereof so soone as the Archbishop had intelligence in stead of a father he became a thiefe and robber seising into his owne handes all his Lordshippes and possessions And moreouer not yet contented with all this he layed siege agaynst a strong fort of his vnto the which his wife for safegard of her selfe did flee where in conclusion shee with the child that she went withall pitifully was slaine and so miserably perished Which story was done as testifieth Erasmus not so long before his tyme but that there remayned the nephews of the said Noble man then aliue to whom the same inheritance should haue fallen but they could not obtaine it What commeth of blynd superstition when a mā not conteining himselfe within the compasse of Gods worde wandereth in other bywayes of his owne and not contented with the religion set vp of the Lord wyll binde his conscience to other ordinaunces prescriptions and religious deuised by men leauyng Gods commaundements vndone for the constitutions and preceptes of men what ende and reward I say commeth thereof at length by this one example beside infinite other of the like sort men may learne by experience and therefore they that yet will defend Idolatrous pilgrimage and rash vowes let them well consider hereof It is rightly sayd of saint Hierome to haue bene at Hierusalem is no great matter but to lyue a godly and vertuous lyfe that is a great matter in very deede In the yeare of our Lord 1565. there was in the town of Gaunt in Flanders one William de Weuer accused imprisoned by the Prouost of S. Peters in Gaunt who had in his Cloister a prison and a place of execution and the day when the sayd William was called to the place of iudgement the Prouost sent for M. Gyles Brackleman principall aduocate of the Counsaile of Flaunders Borough maister and Iudge of S. Peters in Gaunt wyth other of the rulers of the towne of Gaunt to sit in iudgement vpon hym and as they sate in iudgement the Borough maister named M. Gyles Brackleman reasoned with the sayd William de Weuer vpon diuers articles of his fayth The one whereof was why the sayd William de Weuer denied that it was not lawfull to pray to Saintes and he aunswered as the report goeth for three causes The one was that they were but creatures and not the creator The second was that if he should call vpon them the Lord did both see it and heare it therefore he durst geue the glory to none other but to God The third and chiefest cause was that the creator had commaunded in his holy word to call vpon him in troubles vnto which commaundement he durst neither adde nor take from it The Borough maister M. Gyles Brackelman also demaunded whethere he did not beleeue that there was a Purgatory which he should go into after
this lyfe where euery one should be purified and cleansed He aunswered that he had red ouer the whole Bible and could finde no such place but that the death of Christ was his Purgatory with many other questions proceedyng after their order vntill hee came to pronounce hys condemnation But or euer the sayd condemnation was red foorth the iudgement of God was laid vpon the sayd Borough maister who sodainly at that present instaunt was striken with a Palsey that his mouth was drawen vp almost to his eare and so hee fell downe the rest of the Lordes by and by standing vp and shadowyng him that the people coulde not well see hym and also the people were willed to depart who beyng still called vpon to depart aunswered the place was so small to go out that they could goe no faster Then the Borough maister beyng taken vp was caried to his house and it is not yet vnderstood nor commonly knowen that euer he spake word after he was first striken but was openly knowen to bee dead the next day followyng And yet notwithstandyng that this was done about tenne of the clocke they burned the sayd William de Weuer within three houres after on the same day The 4. day of March 1566. the lyke example of the Lordes terrible iudgement was shewed vpon sir Garret Triest knight who had long before promised to the Regent to bring downe the preachyng For the which act as the report goeth the Regent agayne promised to make hym a Graue which is an Erle Of the which sir Garret it is also said that he commyng from Bruxels towardes Gaunt brought with him the death of the Preachers and beyng come to Gaunt the sayde sir Garret with other of the Lordes hauyng receiued from the Regent a Commission to sweare the Lordes and Commons vnto the Romish Religion the sayd sir Garret the 4. day of March aboue noted at night beyng at supper willed the Lady his wyfe to call hym in the mornyng one houre sooner then he was accustomed to ryse for that hee should the nexte day haue much businesse to doe in the towne house to sweare the Lordes and people to the Romish Religion But see what happened The sayd sir Garret goyng to bedde in good health as it seemed when the Lady his wife called him in the mornyng accordyng to his appoyntment was found dead in her bedde by her and so vnable to prosecute his wicked purpose The fift day of March 1566. which was the day that Sir Garret Triest appoynted to be there and the Lords of Gaunt were come into the Towne house as they had afore appoynted to proceed and to geue the othe accordyng as they had their Commission and Maister Martin de Pester the Secretary beyng appoynted and about to geue the othe as the first man should haue sworne the sayd Martine de Pester was striken of God with present death likewyse and fell downe and was caried away in a chaire or settell and neuer spake after Witnes hereunto Peter de Bellemaker Abraham Rossart Maerke de Mill. Lieuen Hendrickx Ian Coucke Roger Vanhulle Ioys Neuehans Lyauin Neuehans Wil. vanden Boegarde Ioys de Pitte About the borders of Sueuia in Germany not farre from the Citie of Uberlyng there was a certayne Monastery of Cistercian Monkes called Salmesnisie founded in the dayes of Pope Innocent 2. by a noble Baron named Guntherame about the yeare of our Lord 1130. This Celle thus beyng erected in processe of tyme was enlarged with more ample possessions findyng manye and great benefactoures and endowers liberally contributyng vnto the same as Emperours Dukes and rich Barons Amongest whome most especiall were the Earles of Montforte who had bestowed vpon that monastery many new liberties and great priuiledges vpon this condition that they shoulde receiue with free hospitalitie any stranger both horseman or footeman for one nightes lodging who so euer came But this hospitalitie did not long so continue through a subtile and diuelish deuise of one of the Monkes who tooke vpon hym to counterfeite to play the part of the Deuill ratling and raging in his chaynes where the straungers should lie after a terrible maner in the night tyme to fray away the gestes by reason wherof no stranger nor traueller durst there abide and so continued this a long space At length as God would it so happened that one of the Earles of the sayde house of Mountforte benefactours to that Abbey commyng to the Monastery was there lodged whether of set purpose or by chance it is not knowen When the night came and the Earle was at hys rest the Monke after his woonted maner beginneth his pageant to play the tame yea rather the wylde Deuill There was stampyng rappyng spittyng of fire roring thunderyng bounsing of boordes and ratling of chaines enough to make some man starke mad The Erle hearing the sodaine noyse and beyng somewhat peraduenture afraid at the first although he had not then the feate of coniuring yet taking a good hart vnto him running to his sword he layd about him well fauoredly and followyng still the noyse of the deuill so coniured him at last that the monke which counterfeited the deuill in iest was slayne in hys owne likenes in earnest Ex Gaspare Bruschio in Chronologia Monasteriorum Germaniae ⧠After the imprisonment of the congregation which were taken hearyng Gods word in S. Iames streete in Paris an 1558. as is aboue storied was a letter written to the king which was diuulgate abroad proouing declaring by diuers histories what afflictions and calamities from tyme to tyme by Gods righteous iudgement haue fallen vppon such as haue bene enemies to his people and haue resisted the free passage of his holy word In which letter forsomuch as beside the sayd examples much other good fruitfull matter is conteined worthy of all mē to be read and especially of Princes to bee considered I thought here good to copy out the whole as the Frenche booke doth geue it The translation of the which letter into English is after this tenor as followeth ¶ A Letter translated out of French into English written to K. Henry the 2. French kyng COnsider I pray you sir and you shall finde that all your afflictions haue come vpon you since you haue set your selfe agaynst those which are called Lutherans When you made the Edict of Chasteaubriant God sent you warres but when ye ceased the execution of your sayde Edict and as long as ye were enemye vnto the Pope and goyng into Almanie for the defence of the libertie of the Germaines afflicted for Religion your affaires prospered as ye would wishe or desire On the contrary what hath become vpō you since you were ioyned with the Pope agayne hauing receiued a sword from him for his own safegard And who was it that caused you to breake the truce God hath turned in a moment your prosperities into such afflictions that they touch not onely
leaue it to the reporte of them which in this matter know more then I here will vtter But notwithstanding al these cracks and threatnings of the king to see what the Lord can doe in making hygh kinges to stoupe euen the same day when the king was in his most rage agaynst these good men almightye God taking the cause in hand to fight for his Church so turned the matter that he made the great enemy of hys both with his mouth and with his hand to worke his own destruction with his mouth in commaunding with his hanâ— in geuing him the Lance into hys hand which the same day gaue him his deathes wound as by the sequele hereof in reading ye may vnderstand ¶ The stroke of Gods hand vpon Henry .2 French king KIng Henry being in the ParliameÌ„t house which was kept at the Fryer Augustines at Paris because the Pallace was in preparing agaynst the mariage of hys daughter and his sister and hauing heard the opinion in religioÌ„ of Anne du Bourg Counsaylour in the lawe a man eloquent and learned he caused the sayd Anne du Bourg and Loys du Faur Counsaylours to be taken prisoners by the Constable of Fraunce who apprehended them and delyuered them into the handes of the Countye of Mongommery the which caryed them to prison Agaynst whom the king being wrathfull and angry among other talke sayd to the sayd Anne du Bourg These eyes of mine shall see thee burnt And so on the 19. of Iune Commission was geuen to the Iudges to make his Proces During this meane while great feastes and banquets were preparing in the Courte for ioy and gladnes of the mariage that should be of the kinges daughter and sister agaynst the last day of Iune saue one So when the day tyme aboue prefixed was come the king employed all the morning in examining as wel the Presidentes as Counsaylours of the sayde Parliament agaynst these prisoners and other theyr companions that were charged with the same doctrine which being done they went to dinner The king after he had dyned for that he was one of the defendauntes at the Tourney which was solemnly made in S. Anthonies Streate neare to the prison where the foresayde Prisoners were committed hee entred into the Lystes and there in iusting as the manner is had broken many Staues right valiauntly as could be runnyng as well agaynste the Countye of Montgommery as other moe Whereupon he was highly commended of the lookers on And because he had done so valiauntly and was thought nowe to haue done enough hee was desired to cease with praise But he being the more inflamed with hearing of hys prayse woulde needes runne an other course wyth Montgommery who then refusing to runne agaynst the king and kneling vpon his knees for pardon not to run the king being egerly set commanded him vpon his allegeance to runne and as some affirme did also him selfe put the staffe in his hand vnto whose handes he had committed the foresayd prisoners a little before Montgommery thus being enforced whether he would or no to run agaynst the king addressed hymselfe after the best wyse to obey the kinges commaundement Whereupon he and the king met together so stoutly that in breaking theyr Speares the king was striken with the counter blowe so right in one of hys eyes by reasonne that the visour of his Helmet so sodenly fell downe at the same instaunt that the shiuers entred into hys head so that the braynes was peryshed thereupon so festred that no remedy could bee founde although Phisitions and Surgeons were sent for from all places in the Realme as also froÌ„ Brabant by king Philip but nothing auayled so that the xj day after that is the x. of Iuly 1559. he ended his life in great dolour hauing raigned xij yeares three monethes and ten dayes Some report that among other wordes he said that he feared he was strickeÌ„ for casting the poore christians wrongfully in prisoÌ„ but the Cardinal of Loraine standing by as he was alwayes at haÌ„d sayd vnto him that it was the enemy that tempted him that he should be stedfast in the fayth By this meanes the Hall which was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes did now serue for a Chappel to keep the corps being dressed with blacke mourning cloth night and day tâ—ere was nothing heard but mournyng and lamenting for the space of xl dayes About two yeares after this which was the yeare of our Lord .1561 there were certayne Gentlemen put to death at Amboise for taking armes agaynst the house of Guise Touching which Gentlemen this is to be noted that as one of theÌ„ should be brought to the place of executioÌ„ where the other lay dead before him he thrust his handes into the bloud of two of his companions which were there beheaded and then lifting them vp to heauen cryed with a loud voyce Lord behold the bloud of thy childreÌ„ thou wilt in time and place reuenge it Not long after the same the Chancellor Oliuier who was condemner of theÌ„ at the instigatioÌ„ and pursuit of the Cardinall of Loraine through great remorse of coÌ„science fell sicke and in a frensy casting out sighes vncessauntly afflicting himselfe after a fearefull and strauÌ„ge fashion for his vnrighteous sentence and more then barbarous cruelty shriked vpon a sodeyne with an horrible cry sayd O Cardinall thou wilt make vs all to be damned And within a very few dayes after he dyed Fraunces the second of that name king of Fraunce at the perswasion of the Cardinall of Loraine of certeyne others caused an asseÌ„bly of the Estates of the realm in the towne of Orleans among other things to mainteine the Papall See to the ouerthrow of those which would lyue after the sincerity of the gospel but being fallen sick shortly after in the foresayd place of a feuer through an Impostume in his left eare he dyed the fourth of Decemb. 1561. hauing raigned but one yeare and about fiue monethes It was sayd of this king Fraunces as the authour aboue mentioned reporteth that when he was drawyng toward his end the Cardinal of Loraine made him to say and pronounce these words which folow Lord forgeue me my trespasses and impute not vnto me the faultes which my ministers haue done vnder my name and authority Neither is it vnworthy of obseruation that after the father happened in much like sort by gods mighty iudgement vpon Carol. 9. his second sonne brother to Frances aboue mentioned in these our latter dayes who after the horrible and bloudy murder of the Admyrall other true professors of Christes Gospell both men womeÌ„ and children to the nuÌ„ber of many thousandes of diuers Cityes in so much that the prisoÌ„s streetes are said to be coloured with bloud smoking after such a cruell sort as in our time or country the like hath not hitherto bene sene by the terrible
strangler of his owne life Neither for the Apostles to pursue Iudas that betrayed their Mayster for he himselfe was his owne hangman no man els that his body brust and his guts brast out Senacharib had he not for his Persecutors his own sonnes and cost Ezechias nothing to be reuenged of him for his tiranny Antiochus and Herode although the Children of GOD whom they so cruelly persecuted layd no hand vpon them yet they escaped not vnpunished of Gods hand who sent Lyce and Wormes to be theyr Tormentours whiche consumed and eate them vp Pilate after he had crucified Christ our Sauiour within few yeares after was he not driuen to hang himselfe Nero after his cruell murders and persecutions stirred vp agaynst the Christians when he shoulde haue bene taken by the Romaynes God thought him not so worthy to be punished by the handes of them but so disposed the matter that Nero hym selfe when he could finde no frend nor enemy to kill him made his owne handes to be his owne cutthroat Dioclesianus with Maximinian his fellowe Emperour whiâ—â— were the Authours of the tenth and laste Persecution agaynst 〈◊〉 Christians being in the middest of theyr furious tyranny agâ—â—nst the name of Christ needed no mans helpe to bridle them anâ—â—lucke them backe for God of his secret iudgement put such 〈◊〉 in the mouthes of these Tyrauntes that they themselues 〈◊〉 â—heyr owne accorde deposed and dispossessed themselues of theyr â—â—periall function and liued as priuate persons all theyr liues afteâ— And notwithstanding that Maximinian after that sought to 〈◊〉 his Imperiall state agayne yet by Maxentius hys Sonne hee was resisted and shortlye after slayne What should I here speake of the cruell Emperour Maximinus who when he had set forth his Proclamation engrauen in Brasse for the vtter abolishing of Christ and his Religion was not punished by man but had Lice Vermin gushing out of his entrals to be his tormentors with such a rotting stinch layd vpon his body that no phisitions could abide to come neare and were caused to be slayne for the same pag. 82. Maxentius the sonne of Maximinian and Pharao the king of Egypt as they were both like enemies agaynst God and his people so dranke they both of one cup not perishing by any mans hand but both in like maner after were drowned with their harnes in the water Furthermore and briefely in this matter to conclude if the Kynges among the Iewes which were bloudy and wicked were not spared as Achaz Achab Iesabell Manasses Ioachim Sedechias with many other but hadde at length although it were long the hyre of theyr iniquity let not these bloudy Catholickes then thinke which haue bene Persecutors of Christes Sayntes that they being in the same cause as the other were aboue recited shall escape the same iudgement which the longer it is deferred the sorer many times it striketh vnles by due repentaunce it be preuented in time which I pray God it may Innumerable examples moe to the same effecte and purpose might be inferred whereof plentifull store we haue in all places and in al ages of men to be collected But these hitherto for this present maye suffice whiche I thought here to notify vnto these our bloudy children of the murdering mother church of Rome of whom it may well be sayd Manus vestrae plenâ— sunt sanguine c. Your handes be full of bloud c. Esay Chapter 1. to the intent that they by the examples of their other fellowes before mentioned may be admonished to followe the Prophetes counsell which followeth and biddeth Lauamini mundi estote c. Be you washed and make your selues cleane c. Esay 1. and not to presume to farre vppon their owne securitie nor thinke themselues the further of from Gods hand because mans hand forbeareth them I know and graunt that man hath no further power vppon any then God from aboue doth geue And what the lawes of this Realme could make agaynst them as agaynst open murderers I will not here discusse nor open that I could say because they shall not say that we desire their bloud to be spilled but rather to be spared but yet this I say and wishe them well to vnderstand that the sparing of their liues which haue bene murderers of so many is not for want of power in magistrates nor lack of anye iust lawe agaynst them whereby they might iustly haue bene condemned if it had so pleased the Magistrates to proceed as they might agaynst them but because almighty God peraduenture of so secret purpose hauing some thinge to doe wyth these persecuters hath spared them hitherto not that they shuld escape vnpunished but that peraduenture â—he will take his owne cause in his owne hand eyther by death to take them away as he did by Boner and by al Promoters in a manner of Queene Maryes time or els to make them to persecute themselues with their own handes or will stirre vp their conscience to be theyr owne confusion in such sort as the Church shall haue no neede to lay handes vpon them Wherfore with this short admonition to close vp the matter as I haue exhibited in these histories the terrible endes of so many persecuters plagued by Gods hand so would I wish all suche whome Gods lenitie suffereth yet to liue this wisely to ponder with themselues that as their cruell persecution hurteth not the sayntes of God whome they haue put to death so the pacience of Christs church suffering theÌ„ to liue doth not profite theÌ„ but rather heapeth the great iudgment of God vpoÌ„ theÌ„ in the day of wrath vnlesse they repent in tyme which I pray God they may And nowe to reenter agayne to the time and story of Queene Elizabeth where we left before In whose aduauncement and this her princely gouernance it cannot sufficiently be expressed what felicitie and blessed happines this Realme hath receaued in receauing her at the Lordes almighty and gracious haÌ„d for as there haue bene diuers kinges and rulers ouer this Realme I haue read of some yet I coulde neuer finde in Englishe Chronicle the like that may be written of this our noble worthy Queene whose comming in not onely was so calme so ioyfull and so peaceable without shedding of any bloud but also her reigne hetherto raygning nowe 24. yeares and more hath bene so quiet that yet the Lord haue all the glory to this present day her sword is a Uirgine spotted and polluted with no drop of bloude In speaking whereof I take not vpon me the part here of the morall or of the diuine Philosopher to iudge of thinges done but onely keep me within the compasse of an historiographer declaring what hath bene before and comparyng thinges done with thinges now present the like wherof as I sayde is not to be found lightly in Chronicles before And this as I speake truely so I would to be taken without flattery to be
barbarous nations of all countries and sortes of men were they neuer so wylde euermore made their prayes and sacrifices to their Gods in their owne mother tongue Which is a manifest declaratioÌ„ that it is the very light and voyce of nature ¶ Thus much vpon the ground of S. Paule and other reasons out of the Scriptures ioyning therewith the common vsage of all nations as a testimony of the lawe of nature Now for the second part of the assertion which is that the vse of a strange tongue in publike prayer and administration of sacraments is against the custome of the Primitiue church which is a matter so cleare that the deniall of it must needes proceed either of great ignorance or els of wilfull malice For first of all Iustinus Martyr describing the order of the communion in his tyme sayth thus Die solis vrbanorum ac rusticorum coetus fiunt vbi Apostolorum prophetarumque literae quoad fieri potest praeleguntur Deinde cessante lectore praepositus verba facit adhortatoria ad imitationeÌ„ tam honestarum rerum inuitans Posthaec consurgimus omnes preces offerrimus quibus sinitis profertur vt diximus panis vinum aqua tum praepositus quantum potest preces offert gratiarum actiones plebs vero Amen accinit That is to saye Uppon the Sonday assemblies are made both of the citizens and countreymen whereas the writings of the Apostles and of the Prophets are red as much as may be Afterwards when the Reader doth cease the head minister maketh an exhortation exhortyng them to folâ—ow so honest thyngs After this we rise altogether and offer praiers which beyng ended as we haue sayde bread wine water are brought forth Then the hed Minister offreth prayers and thansgeuing as much as he can and the people answereth Amen ☞ These wordes of Iustine who liued about 160. yeares after Christ considered with their circumstaunce declare playnely that not onely the Scriptures were red but also that the prayers and administration of the Lords supper were done in a tongue vnderstanded Both the Liturgies of Basil and Chrysostom declare that in the celebration of the Communion the people wer appointed to answer to the prayer of the Minister sometymes Amen sometymes Lord haue mercy vppon vs sometymes and with thy spirite and we haue our hartes lifted vp vnto the Lord c. Which aunswers they coulde not haue made in due tyme if the prayers had not bene made in a tong vnderstanded And for further proofe let vs heare what Basill writeth in this matter to the Clarkes of Neocaesarea Caeterum ad obiectum in Psalmodijs crimen quo maxime simpliciores terrent calumniatores c. As touching that is layed to our charge in Psalmodies and songs wherwith our slaunderers doe fraie the simple I haue thus to say that our customes and vsages in all Churches be vniforme and agreeable For in the night the people with vs riseth goeth to thâ— house of prayer and in trauaile tribulation and continual teares they confesse themselues to God and at the last rising agayne go to their songs or Psalmody where being deuided into two partes sing by course together both deepely weying and confirmyng the matter of the heauenly sayinges and also stirring vp their attention and deuotion of heart which by other meanes bee alienated and plucked away Then appoynting one to beginne the song the rest followe and so with diuers songes and prayers passing ouer the nyght at the dawnyng of the day altogether euen as it were with one mouthe and one heart they sing vnto the Lord a song of Confession euery man framyng to hymselfe meete wordes of repentaunce If you will flie vs from hencefoorth for these thynges ye must flie also the Egyptians and both the Libianes ye must eschew the Thebanes Palestines Arabians the Phenices the Syrians and those that dwell besides Euphrates And to be short all those with whome watchinges prayers and common singyng of Psalmes are had in honour ⧠Testimonies of S. Ambrose written vpon the 14. to the Corinth the first epistle Super illud qui enim loquitur linguis HOc est quod dicit quia qui loquitur incognita lingua c. This is it that he sayth because he which speaketh in an vnknowen tongue speaketh to God For he knoweth all thyngs but men know not therfore there is no profit of this thyng ¶ The same author afterwardes Super illud si benedixeris spiritu Hoc est si laudem dei lingua loquaris ignota c. Uppon these wordes if thou blesse or geue thanks with the spirit how shall he that occupieth the roume of the vnlearned say Amen at the geuyng of thankes seeyng he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest That is sayth Ambrose if thou speake the prayse of God in a tongue vnknowen to the hearers For the vnlearned hearing that which he vnderstandeth not knoweth not the end of the prayer and he answereth not AmeÌ„ That is as much to say as true that the blessing or thaÌ„ksgeuing may bee confirmed For the confirmation of the prayer is fulfilled by them which do answer Amen That all things spoken might be confirmed in the mindes of the hearers through the testimony of the truth ¶ Afterward in the same place vpon these wordes if any Infidell or vnlearned come in Quum enim intelligit intelligitur c. For when hee vnderstandeth and is vnderstanded hearing God to bee praysed and Christ to bee worshipped he seeth perfectly that the religion is true and to be reuerenced wherein he seeth nothyng to be done colourably nothyng in darkenesse as among the Heathen whose eyes are couered that they seyng not the thyngs which they call holy might perceyue themselues to be deluded with diuers vanities For all falsehood seketh darkenes and sheweth false things for true Therefore with vs nothing is done priuily nothing couertly but one God is simply praysed of whom are all things and one Lord Iesus by whom are all things For if there be none which can vnderstand or of whome hee may be tried he may say there is some deceit and vanitie which is therfore song in tongues not vnderstanded hee meaneth because it is a shame to open it Vpon this place Omnia ad aedificationem fiant Conclusio haec est vt nihil incassum in ecclesia geratur hocque elaborandum magis vt imperiti proficiant ne quid sit corporis per imperitiam tenebrosum Let all thyngs be done to edifie This is the conclusion that nothyng should be done in the Church in vayne and that this thyng ought chiefly to bee laboured for that the vnlearned also myght profite least any part of the body should bee darke thorough ignoraunce Agayne Si non fuerit interpres taceat in Ecclesia Hoc est intra se tacitè oret aut loquatur deo qui audit muta omnia In Ecclesia enim ille debet loqui qui
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
Gentleman He shall be sure cast away if we once bring him to CroydoÌ„ surely quoth the Gentleman before God I speake it if thou Perlebeane were of my mind we would neuer bring him thither Say you so quoth the Porter I knowe that you be of a great deale more credit then I am in this matter and therfore if you can deuise honestly or finde some reasonable excuse wherby we may let him goe prouide for himselfe I will with all my hart condescend to your deuise As for that quoth the gentleman it is already inueÌ„ted how which waies he shall conuey himselfe without any great daunger or displeasure taken towardes vs as the matter shal be handled You see quoth the gentlemaÌ„ yonder hill before vs named bristow cawsy 2. miles froÌ„ LoÌ„don there are great woodes on both sides when we come there we will permit Frith to go into the woodes on the left hand of the way wherby he may coÌ„uey himselfe into kent amoÌ„g his frends for he is a kentish man borne wheÌ„ he is gone we will linger an houre or twayn about the high way vntill that it somewhat draw towardes the night Then in great hast we will approch vnto Streatham which is a myle and a halfe of and an outcry in the Towne that our prisoner is broken from vs into the woodes on the right hand towardes Waynisworth so that we will drawe as manye as wee may of the Towne to search the country that way for our prisoner declaring that wee followed aboue a myle and more and at length loste him in the woodes because wee hadde no more companye and so wee wyll rather then fayle lye out one night in searching for him and sende worde from Stretham to my Lorde of Canterbury at Croyden in the euening of the prisoners escape and to what Coast hee is fledde So that by the morning if hee haue any good lucke at all hee will so prouide for himselfe that the Byshoppes shall fayle of their purpose I assure you quoth Perlebeane I like very well the deuise herein and therefore goe ye to Frith and declare what wee haue deuised for hys deliuery for nowe we are almost at the place When my Lorde of Caunterburyes gentleman came nyghe to the hill he ioyned himselfe in companye wyth the sayd Frith and calling him by hys name sayd Now Mayster Frithe let vs twayne commune together an other whiles you must consider that the iourney whiche I haue nowe taken in hande thus in bringing you to Croyden as a sheepe to the slaughter so it greeueth me and as it were ouerwhelmeth me in cares and sorrowes that I little passe what daunger I fall in so that I could finde the meanes to deliuer you oute of the Lyons mouthe And yet yonder good fellowe and I hâ—ue so deuised a meanes whereby you maye bothe easily escape from this great and Imminent daunger at hande and wee also bee rydde from any vehement suspicion And thereupon declared vnto Fryth the full processe discoursed before how euery thing in order should be handled When Frith had dilligently heard all the matter concerning hys deliuery he sayd to the gentleman Oh good Lorde wyth a smiling countenaunce is this the effecte of youre secret consultation thus longe betweene you twayne Surely surely you haue loste a great deale more labour in tymes past and so are you lyke to doe this for if you should both leaue me here and goe to Croyden declaring to the Byshoppes that you had lost Fryth I would surely follow as fast after as I might and bring them newes that I hadde founde and brought Fryth agayne Do you thinke quoth he that I am afrayde to declare my opinion vnto the Byshoppes of Englande in a manifest trueth You are a fonde manne quoth the Gentleman thus to talke As thoughe youre reasoning with them might do some good But I doe much maruell that you were so willing to flye the Realme before you were taken and nowe so vnwilling to saue youre selfe Mary there was and is a great diuersitie of escaping betweene th one and thother quoth Frith Before I was in deede desirous to escape because I was not attached but at libertie which liberty I woulde fayne haue enioyed for the maynteynance of my study beyond the See where I was a reader in the Greeke tong according to S. Paules Counsaile Howbeit now being taken by the higher power and as it were by almightye gods permission and prouidence deliuered into the hands of the Bishops only for religion doctrines sake namely such as in conscience and vnder paine of damnation I am bound to maynteyne and defend if I should now start aside and runne away I should runne from my God and from the testimony of his holy worde worthy then of an 1000. hels And therfore I most hartily thanke you both for your good willes towards me beseching you to bring me where I was appointed to bee brought for els I will go thether all alone And so with a chearfull mery countinance he went with them spending the time with pleasant godly communication vntil they came to Croyden where for that night he was wel entertained in the Porters lodge On the morow he was called before certayn Bish. and other learned men sitting in commission with my Lorde of Cant to be examined where he shewed himself passing ready ripe in answering to all obiections as some then reported incredible and contrary to al mens expectatioÌ„s And his allegations both of S. Augustine other ancient fathers of the Church was such that some of them muche doubted of S. Augustines authoritie in that behalf Insomuch that it was reported of suche as were nigh and about the Archbishop of Caunterbury who then was not fully resolued of the sincere truth of that article that when they had finished their examination with Frith the Archbyshoppe conferring wyth Doctour Heathe priuately betwene themselues sayd This man hath wonderfullye trauayled in this matter and yet in mine opinion hee taketh the Doctours amisse Well my Lord should D. Heth say there was no man that coulde auoyd his authorityes of S. Augustine Wherein sayd my Lord. Then Doctour Heth began to repeate the sayd authorities of Saynt Augustine againe inferring and applying them so strayghtly agaynst my Lord of Caunterbury that my Lord was driuen to this shotte anker and sayd I see by it quoth he to Heth that you with a little more studye will bee easely brought to Frythes opinion or such like wordes in effect And some Chapleines there were of my Lorde of Caunterburyes which openly reported that Doctor Heth was as able to defend Frythes assertion in the Sacrament as Fryth was himselfe This learned young man being thus throughly sifted at Croydon to vnderstand what he could say or do in his cause there was no man willing to preferre hym to aunswere in open disputation as poore Lambart was But nowe without regarde of learning or good knowledge hee
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
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
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
lawe Iohn Philpot agayne requireth to see their Commission and yet it could not be seene and that also agaynst the lawe Anno 1555. Decemb. The first appearing of Iohn Philpot before B. Boner B. Boners charitye sent to 〈◊〉 Iohn Philpot. B. Boner enterâ—teyning M. Philpot. B. â—oner made the common Inquisitor agaynst his will * Or els why were the questions there propounded 1. Peter 3. No man is bound to render accompte of his fayth priuately vnles it be to edifie Ambros. ad Valentianum One Church The fayth promised by his godfathers was the fayth of Christ after his Creede onely * And why then began you so hastely with him in the Sacrament of your altar B. Boner offended with M. philpots singing in prison The end of his first talke with B. Boner An other examination of Iohn Philpot before the Byshops And why do not you Bishops your selues pray also for them that are 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 The prayâ—â— of Iohn Philpot before the Byshopâ— B. Boner agaynst prayer B. Boner here seemeth 〈◊〉 skilfull 〈◊〉 his law 〈◊〉 in Church storyeâ— M. Philpot complayneth of his wrongfull imprisonment M. Philpot called in no sufficient assembly and therefore not bound to aunswere whereby to put himself in danger * Wilfull because 〈◊〉 wil not put himselfe wilfully into the Wolues mouth This 〈◊〉 was for 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 Parlaâ—â—â—â— B. Boâ—â—â— not 〈◊〉 Ordinary to Iohn Philpot. Note how 〈◊〉 men 〈◊〉 for 〈…〉 M. Philpot agayne appealeth froÌ„â— Boner to 〈◊〉 Ordinary No man is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 own â—ight due 〈◊〉 him Nay rather 〈◊〉 Catholicke 〈…〉 S. Paule 20. yeares before his conuersion S. Peter before his calling was of an other faâ—th then they were afterward and yet it followeth not that they would haue euery yeare a new fayth The determination of the primitiue Church and of the Church of Rome as it is now is not all one Athanasius misalledged A place of Irenaeus alledged The Church of Rome not now as it was then The Church of Rome neuer deceaued I find not in Eusebius that Peter should be Bishop of Rome 25. yeares but this is in Linus Hierom. lib. de viris illustr and in Abdias lib. 1. de vita Petri. Harke my Lordes wise parable Neyther you nor they are able in this case Reason why it is not lyke that in Athanasius tyme all men were bound to abide the determination of Rome Not the law but the Gospell gathered the Church together Ambrose 400. Priestes agaynst one Helias A good 〈◊〉 for Roâ—â— by a Romanist Whether the vniuersall Church may be â—â—â—ceaued 2. Thess. â— A defection prophesied of in the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Popeâ— Church which now is was neuer vniuersall Of this Florentinâ—â— Councell which was about the yeare 143â— read before The word or the Church iudge in controuâ—â—sies Iohn Philpots Prophesie of the increase of the Gospell Iohn Philpot put of to an other day Iohn Philpot to certaine that required him to wryte hys eâ—â—minationâ— The 〈◊〉 and â—â—learned pâ—â—cedings 〈◊〉 theâ—e Catâ—â—licks 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Christ. The 5. examination of M. Philpot. Iohn Philpot ready to 〈◊〉 his life iâ— Christes 〈◊〉 M. Philpots iust defence 〈◊〉 speaking in 〈◊〉 Parlament It were the paâ—â— of a charitable Bishop to maâ—e a matter better and not worse Iohn Philpot appealeth to the whole Parlament house This Bishop 〈◊〉 like would fayne haue bloud B. Boner here forgetteth himselfe Amb. li. 5. Epist. 30. EodeÌ„ contr Auxentium Our fayth not grounded vpon the ciuil law Iohn Philpot still standeth to his defeÌ„ce of the law in refusing the iudge not to be competent De officio ordinarij is a title in the 1. booke of the Decretales De foro competente is a title in the 2 booke of the Decretales M. Philpot returneth agayne to his question of the Church That Peter did build the church of Rome it is false for both the Scripture sayth that Peter was set ouer the circumcised and not ouer the Gentiles and also it is to be proued by Orosius Suetonius Tertullianus and other storyes that the fayth of Christ was in Rome in Tyberius tyme before Peter euer sawe Rome Catholicke The popes fayth hangeth vpon the multitude Fides catholicâ— secundum August Where M. Curtop â—â—â—deth this I cannot sayes but this I finde that Eusebius doth report that Irenaeus did reproue Victor Byshop of Rome for his rash Sentence in excommunicating the Churches of Greece concerning the obâ—eruation of the feast of Easter Euseb. lib. â—â— cap. â—â— Socr. lib. 5. cap. 22.7 Generall Counsells in which the Bishop of Rome was neuer taken for supreame head The church of Rome discenteth from the primatiue Church Transubstantiation is but a late plantation Iohn Philpot returneth againe to his issue Rome 〈◊〉 not the Catholickâ— Church 〈◊〉 why ComparisoÌ„ betweene the primaâ— Church and the Popes Catholicke Church The fayth 〈◊〉 the popes Catholicke 〈◊〉 now 〈…〉 For the further debaâ—â—g of this matter that Ciprian doth alow 〈◊〉 such 〈◊〉 reade the answere of M. Nowell to M. Dorman 〈◊〉 lib. 1. 〈◊〉 3. D. SauersoÌ„ 〈…〉 M. Philpot 〈◊〉 lib. 4. Epist. 2. Cap. 1◠〈…〉 Patriarches only be named to whom afterward the Patriarke of Constantinople was also ioyned Cyprian hath also these words following in the same epistle It was declared amongest vs and it is according to iustice and equity that euery mans cause should be heard where the fault was committed and to euery seuerall Pastor there is a portioÌ„ of the flocke appoynted to rule and gouerne for the which he must make an accopmt before God Cipri lib. 4. Epist. 2. How S. CyyriaÌ„ meaneth Christ to build his Church vpon Peter Cypria De simplicitate Praelatorum tract 10. in IoaÌ„ Hieronym ad Nepotianum Hieronim ad Euagium False scâ—auÌ„ders D. Story commeth in Happy are you when they reuile you and say all euill agaynst you for my names sake Math. 5. The Papistes will not be ruled by the scriptures without their own iudge Iohn 12. What say you now M. Doctor M. Doctour hauing not to aunswere falleth to rayling Gods iudgemeÌ„t and ciuill iudgement not lyke The iudgement of the Church how farre it serueth Prescription of â—yme Prescripâ—â—â— of time â—â—â—keth no 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 matters D. Story confesseth himselfe to be the chiefe diâ—patcher of all Gods Saintes that suffered in Q. Maryes tyme. Storyes cruelty Iohn Philpot left post alone The straight handling of Iohn Philpot in prison for all the Bishops faire words The 6. examination of M. Philpot before certain Lordâ— and the Bishop of LoÌ„don The words of Bishop Boner to M. Philpot. M. Philâ—â—â—â— aunswere to the Bishop Heretickes 〈◊〉 the priâ—â—iue Church onely 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 â— boner 〈◊〉 the can 〈◊〉 of M. Philpots 〈…〉 〈…〉 of the Parliament 〈◊〉 sayth 〈◊〉 Lord 〈◊〉 Whether the Conuocation be part of the Parliament 〈…〉 free 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 man 〈…〉 How Boner 〈◊〉 in the Sacrament 〈…〉 both the signe
1â— 2. Cor. â— An other 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 16. Math. 26. Marke 24. Luke 22. 2. Cor. 11. No sacrifice of the Masse is to be made for sinne Heb. 9.10 Luke 11. Apocalip 18. Peter 4.3 Apocalip 23. An other letter of Thomas Whittell to a godly womaâ— To be strong agaynst Sathan and not to feare persecution Good counsell not to forsake the Lord for persecution The story of M. Bartlet Grene gentleman and Martyr Ianuary 27. Bartlet Grene student at Oxford M· Grene conuerted by the Lecture of Peter Martyr Iohn 4. M. Grene studeÌ„t in the Temple at London A good note or lesson for young Lawyers to marke and follow What leaude company doth i. Agreement of mindes ioyning in vnitye of fayth growing vp in charitye is true and stedfast amitye Farewell my Bartrame and remember me that euer we may be like together fare wel at Newgate Ianuary 20. An. 1556. Large 〈◊〉 offered 〈◊〉 M. 〈◊〉 by Doctâ—â— Bartlet 〈◊〉 returne to the Church of Rome Friendship betweene Christopher Goodman and M. Grene. Occasion of apprehending of M. Grene came by letters intercepted M. Grene examined by the counsell of his fayth Iohn Bourne a stirrer of persecution A letter from thâ— Counseâ—l to Boner Post script M Grene presented before B. Boner M. d ee was â—et vnder band of recognisance for the good â—â—earing sorth comming till Christmas next after M. Grene committed 〈◊〉 to the Fleete and vpon what occasion D. Chadsey witnesseth agaynst M. Grene. Talke betweene M. Grene and the Commissioners Perswasion of M. Welch to M. Grene. Aunswere of M. Grene to M. Welche Modestye of M. Grene. Rom. 9. The spirite of God addicted neyther to person nor place The end of all controuersies is to know the true Church Markes of the true Church * By this instrument he meaneth Peter Martyr M. Grene seeking his knowledge of God with teares M. Welche replyeth to M. Grene. * Where Philpot was he meaneth to whom he wrote this letter Friendly entertaynment of M. Grene in Bishop Boners house for a time M. Grene had in priuate examination before the Bishop M. Grene vrged with the literall sense of the wordes this is my body Causes mouing M. Grene from the literall sense of the woedes aforesayd Argument Why the words of Christ of his body must be taken Spiritually Argument Reasons mouing M. Grene to take the wordes Spiritually not literally The last exâ—aminatioÌ„ of M. Grene. A draught of Mayster Grenes confession gathered by the Bishops Register Ex Regist. Transubstantiatioâ— denyed M. Grene refusing to heare massâ— Sacrifice of the Masse not maintaynable by Gods word M. Grene agaynst the Sacrament of the Altar Auricular confession refused M. Grene 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 â—rought 〈◊〉 the CoÌ„sistory â— Articles 〈…〉 M. Grene. M. Grene 〈…〉 Doctors 〈◊〉 with â—ifferent â—â—â—gement 〈◊〉 more agaynst the Papistes 〈◊〉 with them Chrisost. Ad popul Aâ—tioch * 〈…〉 vp 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 behind him but Christ aâ—cending 〈◊〉 â—ooke 〈◊〉 and also 〈…〉 him Chrisost. in 1. Cor. 10. 〈◊〉 not the 〈◊〉 which we 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Lordes body M. Grene 〈◊〉 a ranke Papist 〈◊〉 report of Peter Martyr Peter Martyr first 〈◊〉 froÌ„ Popery to the truth iâ— prayer and reading 〈◊〉 Doctors One holy Catholicke church True markes of the Church Disagreement noted amongest piofessors of the Gospell by Fecknam The Gospellers in words seeme to discent but in effect do agreeâ— with the worâ— Boner forbiddeth M. Grene to be called Maister Note the blind ignorance of Pendleton as though the kingdome of Christ was not gotten at the death of Christ. This Bishop belyke was the Bishop of Winchester In the old time excommunicatioÌ„ was the greatest penalty in matters of fayth and conscience Sentence geuen agaynst M. Grene. The wordes of M. Grene to his friendes by the way going to Newgate Verses of M. Grene written in his friendes booke The singular modesty and humble nature of M. Grene. The 〈◊〉 nature of M. Grene. A letter of M. Bartlet Grene to certayne of his louing friendes in the Temple What true frendship is True frendship is not measured by distance of place or of personâ— Loue onely coupleth together All other thinges fayle loue onely indureth for euer Loue vnfained neuer endeth The sute of M. Grene for the sauing of certayne poorâ— prisoners in Newgate An other letter of 〈…〉 to Miâ—tres Elizabeth Clarke 1. Tim. 5. â— Cor. 5. 1. Tim. 5. Psalm 3◠〈◊〉 2. Iudith 8. Ephesian 6. 1. Tim. 5. 1. Reg. 2. 1. Reg. 15. 1. Reg 8. â— Reg. 13. â— Reg. 1. â— Maâ—h 7. 1. Tim. 5. The office 〈◊〉 exercise of christen widowes 〈◊〉 the primâ—tiue Church * S. Ambrose tooke from the church gaue to the poore we take from the poore their tithes and improperations giue them to Churches and ministers where is nothing but singing and idlenes An other certayne writing of M. Bartlet Grene. A commendatioÌ„ of Lawyers Ex Regist. Tho. Browne Martyr Ianuary 27. Tho. Browne presented by the Constable of S. Brides Browne kneeleth among the trees at the Masse tyme. B. Boners words to Tho. Browne B. Boner charged to be a bloudsucker The aunswere of Thomas Browne to Bishop Boner Sentence read against Thomas Browne Iohn Tudson Martyr Ianuary 27. Of these articles read before pag. 215. The constant persisting of Iohn Tudson Sentence read against Iohn Tudson Iohn· Went Martyr Ianuary 27. Iohn Went withstandeth the Bishops perswasioÌ„s Iohn Went coÌ„demned Isabel Foster Martyr Ianuary 27. Isabell Foster constaÌ„t in confessing Christes Gospell The wordes of Isabell Foster of her last examination Isabell Foster condemned Ioane Lashford alias Ioane Warne Martyr Ianuary 27. The confession of Ioane Lashford before the Bishop Superfluous and Popish Ceremonyes The worthy constancye of a mayde The wordes of Ioane Lashford at her last examination The Sentence and condemnation of Ioane Lashford Ianuary 27. 〈◊〉 31. 4. Women and one man Martir Iohn Lomas Martyr The aunswere of Iohn Lomas at his examination The Sacrament of the Altar denyed Realty of Christ neyther vnder forme nor tressel Sentence against Iohn Lomas Ianuary 31. Confession auricular refused The Sacrament how to be receaued Penaunce is denyed to be a Sacrament Agnes Snoth condemned and committed to the secular power Anne Albright Martyr Auricular confession The wordes of Anne Albright to the Priestes Anne Albright denyeth the Sacrament of the Altar Condemnation of Anne Albright Ianuary 18. Ioane Sole Martyr Ionuary 31. Condemnation of Ioane Sole Ianuary 18. Ioâ—â—e Catmer martyr Ianuary 31. Persecutoâ—â— March 21. Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury and Martyr Thomas Cranmer a gentleman borne Of this Campeius and discourse of his legacy read before pag. 1049. Stephen Gardiner Doct. Foxe chiefe stirrers of the kinges diuorce D. Stephens D. Foxe D. Cranmer conferring together in the kinges cause D. Cranmers aunswere in the question of the kinges diuorce D. Cranmers deuise well liked of The king troubled about the diuorce D. Cranmers deuise reported
first proposition Iustinus Apol. 2. The first argument out of Iustine Martyr The second argument 〈◊〉 of Basil Basilius Epist 63. Ambrosius An other argument of Saint Ambrose Ambrose Ambrose Ambrose Ambrose Hieronimus Basil. ho. 4. hexam Chrisostome in i. ad Cor. cap. 14. Idemeodem loco in illa verba si ingrediatur infidelis aut indoctus An other argument out of Chrisostome Dionisius Ciprianus ser. 6. de or dominica Aug. in Psal. 18. Aug. de magist Nouel const â—13 The second dayes talke Bishopspes coÌ„mitted to the Tower Boner cast in the Marshalsey D. Storyes impudent wordâ— in the Parliament The wordes of D. Story 〈◊〉 the Parâ—iamâ—nt house This Martyr burnt at Vxbridge was M. Denley Referre this to the pag. 587. Referre this to the pag. 1032. Referre this to the page 1407. A letter of Q Mary to 〈…〉 Duke of Northfolkeâ— Exod. 20. Deut 27. Referre this to the page 1717. Reade before page 1295. col 2. Referre this to the page 1717. * The secular state ignominious disdained with the proude Clergye Referre this to the page before 1437. col 2. Referre this to the pag. 1512. Referre this to the page 1555. Reade before page 997. col 2. The story and Martyrdome of Thomas Hitton William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury The examination of Thomas Hitton before the Archbishop Tho. Hitton refuseth to sweare agaynst himselfe The constaÌ„cye of Tho. Hitton in his confession An other appearance of Thomas Hitton before the Archbishop The sentence of condemnation against Thomas Hitton 〈◊〉 elect Math. 20. Pauci qui saluabuntur Luke 13 2. Tim. 2 Cognouit Dominus qui sunt eius Sanctis qui sunt in terra et preclaris his toto animo delector Ego vos elegi e mundo Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo Ezechiel 33. 34. Ioannes 17. Augustine Quid paraâ— dentem et ventrem crede et manducasti Ecclesia cum paucis diebus hâ—buit quantum ad humanitatem modo fide tenet occulis non videt Referre and conferre this with the pag. 1â—37 Referre this to the page 1686. Referre this to the page 1898. Wisedome 5. Wisedome 4. Hebr. 11. Referre this to the pag. 1734. Referre this to the pag. 1893. This belongeth to the pag. 1894. Referre this to the pag. 1894. Referre this to the page 1916. Referre this to the page 1955. and to the yeare of the Lord 1556. Read before pag. 2034. Two notable deliuerances of William Woodman Gal. 1. Heb. 9.10 Christes 〈◊〉 Church seruice True Prophetes Math. 11. Psal. 23. Iohn 10. Hyrelinges A vayne people Esay 1. Ierem. 2. An euill hurtfull thing Israell A letter 1. Cor. 10. Lusters after euill thinges Marke 10. Confession of the Gospell Luke 12. Inuocation and prayer Psalme 86. Psalmes of Dauid are comfortable The Bible is a iewell 2. Cor. 6. Iohn 12. Iohn 1. Vanitie of this lyfe Worldly wisedome 1. Cor. 1. Spirite of Christ. Galat. 5. 1. Pet. 2. â— Tim. 2. 1. Thess. 5. Math. 3. Gen. 3. Gen. 8.9 Gen. 1â— Luke 19. Reade Beda and our Englishe Chronicles Sinne is the cause of plagues Ierem. 6. Eccle. 10. Exod. 20. High tyme to turne to God Ieremie 3. Ezech. 33. Cautions of the Author to the Reader This Nicholas Vnderwoode dwelleth now at Coton by Nunne Eaton and Laurence in Nunne Eaton Referre this to the pag. 1953. William Sarton Martyr burnt at Bristow Referre this to the pag. 2051. Prestes wyfe of Exceter Martyr Doctour Raynoldes Deane of Exceter and Maister Blackston treasurer of the Churche of Exceter popishe persecutours The Martyrdome of one Snel by Richmond Gods punishment vpon the Doctour that condemned Snel The marueilous deliueraunce of one Laremouth A letter of William Hunter to his mother a little before his burning Stories education and birthe Story a bloudy persecutour Story inuenting new tormentes for the Martyrs Story apprehended Story conueyed himselfe ouer the Seas where he continued a bloudy persecutour Story obtayned a commission to search for Enlishe bookes Story intendeth the ouerthrow of England A platforme layde to apprehend Story Story searched the Englishe shippes for bookes and is apprehended and brought into England Story a traytor hanged drawne quartered The cruell Massaker in Fraunce Persecution in the City of Oringe Anno. 1570. Persecution at Rhoane 40. slaine comming from a Sermon Persecution at Diepe The horrible Massaker at Paris The kinges dissembled pretence The names of all the fauourers of the Amirall discreyde A bloudy mariage betweene the kinges sister and Prince of Nauarre Anno. 1572. August 18. August 22. Amirall wounded with a pistolet shot out of a Window Amirall slaine in his bedde and throwne out of the Window 10. thousand slayne in 3. dayes Ex historia Rich. dinothi lib. 5. Petrus Ramus Lambinus with other slaine Commentaria de statu Galliae part 3. The spirite and charity of the Pope to be noted 28. of August S. Bartlemew bloudy day The great distresse of the Protestantes in Fraunce Gods helping hand at neede The towne of Rochell example to other townes The cityes of the Protestanteâ— take courage to defende themselues Bironius Rochelme stand to their deliuery Rochell first besieged by Bironius Anno. 1573. The whole power of Fraunce set agaynst Rochell The siegâ— of Rochel during 7. monethes 7. Assaultes agaynst Rochell Three notable examples of Gods great mercy in preseruing his seruauntes The 2. example The 3. miraculous worke of God in sending in fishe 132. Captaynes of the Kinges army slaine Peace concluded betweene the King and the Protestantes Duke Aniow the kinges brother made King of Poleland Peace agreed and concluded betweene the King and Protestantes of Rochel and certayne other Cityes Anno. 1573. â—unii 10. The death of Charles 9. French King and of the Cardinall of Lorayne The maner of Charles the French Kings death to be noted Ex Commentarijs de Statu Gallico part 4.
Smith Ye falsify the worde and racke it to serue your purpose For the wine was not onely the shewing of his passion but the bread also for our Sauiour sayth So oft as ye do this do it in remembraunce of me And S. Paule sayth So oft as ye eate of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall shewe the Lordes death till he come And here is as much reuerence geuen to the one as to the other Wherefore yf the bread be his body the cuppe must be his bloud and as wel ye make his body in the cup as his bloud in the bread Then vp rose my Lorde and went to the table where my Lorde Maior desired me to saue my soule To whome I answeared I hope it was saued thorow Christ Iesus desiring him to haue pity on his owne soule and remember whose sword he caryed At which I was caryed into the Garden and there abode vntill the rest of my frendes were examined and so were we sent away with many foule farewelles to Newgate agayne my Lord Bishop geuing the keeper a charge to lay me in limb◠¶ An other examination of Robert Smith before the sayd Bishop VPon Saterday at eight of the clocke I was brought to his chamber agayne and there by him examined as foloweth Boner Thou Robert Smith c. sayst that there is no catholicke Church here on earth Smith Ye haue heard me both speake the contrary and ye haue written it as a witnes of the same Boner Yea but I must aske thee this question how sayest thou Smith Must ye of necessity beginne with a lye it maketh manifest that ye determine to end with the same But there shall no Lyers enter into the kingdome of God Neuerthelesse if ye will be aunsweared aske mine articles that were written yesterday and they shall tel you that I haue confessed a Church of God as well in earth as in heauen and yet all one Church one mans members euen Christ Iesus Boner Well what sayest thou to auriculer confession is it not necessary to be vsed in Christes Church and wilt not thou be shriuen of the priest Smith It is not needefull to be vsed in Christes Church as I aunswered yesterday But if it be needefull for your Churche it is to picke mens purses And such pickepurse matters is all the whole rabble of your ceremonies for all is but mony matters that ye maynteyne Boner Why how art thou able to proue that confession is a pickepurse matter Art thou not ashamed so to say Smith I speake by experience For I haue both hearde and seene the fruites of the same For firste it hath bene we see a bewrayer of kinges secretes and the secretes of other mens consciences Who being deliuered and glad to be discharged of theyr sinnes haue geuen to Priests great summes of mony to absolue them sing Masses for theyr soules health And for ensample I beganne to bring in a pageant that by report was played at saynt Thomas of Acres and where I was sometime a childe waiting on a Gentleman of Northfolke which being bounde in conscience through the perswasion of the Priest gaue away a great summe of his goodes and forgaue vnto M. Gressam a great summe of money and to an other as much The priest had for his part a summe and the house had an annuitie to keepe him the which thing when his brother heard he came down to London after declaration made to the Counsayle how by the subtilty of the Priest he had robbed his wyfe children recouered a great part agayne to the value of two or three hundred poundes of Maister Gressam and his other frende but what he gaue to the house could not be recouered This tale began I to tell But when my Lord saw it sauored not to his purpose he began to reuile me sayde By the Masse if the Queenes maiesty were of his mynde I should not come to talke before any man but should be put into a sacke â—ogge tyed vnto the same so should be throwen into the water Smith To which I answered againe saying I know you speake by practise as much as by speculation for both you your predecessors haue sought all meanes possible to kyll Christ secretely record of M. Hunne whom your predecessor caused to be thrust in at the nose with hot burning needles and then to be hanged sayde the same Hunne to haue hanged himselfe and also a good brother of yours a Byshop of your professioÌ„ hauing in his prison an innoceÌ„t maÌ„ whom because he saw he was not able by the scriptures to ouercome he made him priuily to be snarled his flesh to be torne and plucked awaye with a payre of pinsers and bringing him before the people sayd the Rattes had eaten him Thus according to your othe is all your dealing and hath bene and as you taking vpon you the office doe not without othes open your mouth no more do you without murder maynteyne your traditions Boner Ah ye are a generation of lyers there is not one true word that commeth out of your mouthes Smith Yes my Lorde I haue sayde that Iesus Christ is dead for my sinnes and risen for my iustification and thys is no lye Boner Then made he his man to put in my tale of the gentleman of Northfolke and would haue had me recite it agayne which when I would not doe he made his man to put in suche summes as he imagined At the ende of thys commeth in M. Mordant knight and sate downe to heare my examination Then sayd my Lord. Howe sayest thou Smith to the seuen sacramentes Beleeuest thou not that they be Gods order that is to say the sacrament of c. Smith I beleue that in Gods Church are but two Sacramentes that is to say the sacrament of regeneration the sacrament of the Lordes supper and as for the Sacrament of the aultar and all your sacraments they may wel serue your church but Gods church hath nothing to do with them neither haue I any thing to do to aunswere them nor you to examine me of them Boner Why is Gods order chauÌ„ged in baptisme In what poynt do we dissent from the word of God Smith First in halowing your water in coniuring of the same in baptising children with annoynting and spitting in their mouthes mingled with salt and with many other lend ceremonies of which not one poynt is able to be proued in Gods order Boner By the masse this is the vnshamefast heretique that euer I heard speake Smith Well sworne my Lord ye keepe a good watch Boner Well M. Controller ye catche me at my wordes but I will watch thee as well I warrant thee Mordant By my troth my Lord quoth M. Mordant I neuer heard the like in all my life But I pray you my lord marke well his aunswere for Baptisme He dissalloweth therin holy
oyntmēt salt and such other laudable ceremonies which no Christian man will deny Smith That is a shamefull blasphemy agaynst Christ so to vse any mingle mangle in baptising young infants Boner I beleue I tell thee that if they dye before they bee baptised they be damned Smith Yee shall neuer bee saued by that beliefe But I pray you my Lord shewe me are we saued by water or by Christ Boner By both Smith Then the water dyed for our sinnes and so muste ye say that the water hath life and it being our seruaunt created for vs is our sauiour this my Lord is a good doctrine is it not Boner Why how vnderstandest thou these scriptures Except a man be borne of water and of the spyrit he can not enter into the kingdome of God And againe Suffer sayth our Sauiour these children to come vnto me and if thou wilt not suffer them to be baptised after the laudable order thou lettest them to come vnto Christ. Smith Where ye alleadge Saynt Iohn Except a man c. and will thereby proue the water to saue and so the deede or worke to saue and putte away sinnes I will send you to Saynt Paule which asketh of the Galathians Whether they receiued the spirite by the deedes of the law or by the preaching of fayth and there concludeth that the holye Ghoste accompanyeth the preaching of fayth and with the worde of fayth entreth into the harte So nowe if Baptysme preache me the washinge in Christes bloud so doeth the holy Ghost accompanye it and it is vnto me as a Preacher and not a Sauiour And where ye say I let the children to come vnto Christ it is manifest by our Sauiours wordes that ye let them to come that will not suffer them to come to him without the necessitye of water For he sayth suffer them to come vnto me and not vnto water and therefore if ye condemne them ye condemne both the merites and wordes of Christ. For our Sauiour sayeth Except ye turne and become as childrē ye cannot enter into the Kyngdome of GOD. And so broughte I out manye other ensamples to make manifest that Christ hath cleansed original sinne bringing in ensamples out of scriptures for the same Boner Then thou makest the water of none effect and then put away water Smith It is not sayth Saynt Peter the washynge awaye of the filth of the fleshe but in that a good conscience consenteth vnto GOD. And for to prooue that water onely bringeth not the holye ghost it is written in the 8. of the Actes that Simon receiued water but would haue receyued the holy ghost for money Also that the holy ghost hath come before baptisme it is written that Iohn had the holy ghost in his mothers wombe Cornelius Paule and the Queene of Candace seruant with many other receiued the holy ghost before Baptisme Yea and although your generation haue set at nought the worde of God and like swine turned hys wordes vpside downe yet must his Church keep the same in order that he lefte them whiche his Churche dare not breake and to iudge children damned that be not baptised it is wicked Mord. By our Lady syr but I beleue that if my childe dye without water he is damned Boner Yea and so do I and all Catholicke men good M. Mordant Smith Well my Lord such Catholicke such saluation Boner Well Syr what say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith Ye may call it the Sacrament of misorders for all orders are appoynted of God But as for your shauing annoynting greasing poling roūding there are no such thinges appointed in Gods book and therfore I haue nothing to do to beleue your orders And as for you my lord if ye had grace or intelligēce ye wold not so disfigure your selfe as ye do Boner Sayest thou so nowe by my troth and I wyll goe shaue my selfe to anger thee withal and so sent for his barber which immediatly came And before my face at the doore of the next chamber he shaued himselfe desiring me before he went to answere to these articles Boner What say you to the holy bread and holy water to the sacrament of annoynting to all the rest of such ceremonies of the church Smith I say they be bables for fooles to play withall not for the children of God to exercise themselues in and therfore they may go among the refuse Then went away Maister Mordant and my Lord went to shauing leauing there certayne Doctors as he called thē to assay what they could doe of whō I was baited for halfe an houre of whō I also asked this questiō Where were all you in the dayes of Kyng Edward that ye spake not that which ye speake now Doct. We were in England Smith Yea but then ye had the faces of men but nowe yee haue put on Lyons faces again as sayth S. Iohn Ye shew your selues now as full of malice as ye may be For ye haue for euery time a viser yea if an other king Edward shoulde arise ye would then say Downe with the Pope for hee is Antichrist and so are all his Angels Then was I al to reuiled and so sent away brought in agayne to come before these men one of them that baited me before asked me if I disobeyed confession Smith To whom I answered Looke in mine articles and they shall shew you what I allow Doct. Your articles confesse that you allow not auriculare confession Smith I allow it not because the word aloweth it not nor commaundeth it Doct. Why it is written thou shalt not hide thy sinnes offences Smith No more do I when I confesse them to almightye God Doct. Why ye can not say that ye can hide them frō God and therefore you must vnderstand the wordes are spoken to be vttered to them that do not know them Smith Ye haue made a good aunswere then must the priest confesse himselfe to me as I to him For I know his faultes and secretes no more then he knoweth mine But if ye confesse you to the Priest and not vnto God ye shall haue the reward that Iudas had for he confessed him selfe to the priest and yet went and hanged himselfe by and by and so as many as do not acknowledge theyr faultes to God are sayd to hide them Doct. What did they that come to Iohn to be baptised Smith The came and confessed theyr sinnes vnto almighty God Doct. And not vnto Iohn Smith If it were vnto Iohn as ye are not able to proue yet was it to God before Iohn and the whole Congregation Doct. Why Iohn was alone in the wildernes Smith Why and yet the scriptures say he had many Disciples and that many Phariseis and Saduces came to hys Baptisme Here the Scriptures and you agree not And if they confessed themselues to Iohn as ye say it was to all the Congregation as saynt Paule
rage and vehemency of this terrible persecution in Queene Maries dayes did chiefly lyght in London Essex Northfolke Suffolke and Kent as hath bene partly already declared yet notwithstandyng besides the same we finde but fewe partes of this Realme from this fatall storme but some good Martyrs or other there shed their bloud And first to begin with the Dioces of Lichfield and Couentry there we finde these two to bee condemned and also burned about the middest of the sayd month of September at the towne of Lichfield whose names were Thomas Hayward and Iohn Goreway ¶ The persecution and story of M. Robert Glouer Gentleman and of Iohn Glouer his brother in the Dioces of Lichfield VNto this present tyme and moneth of September pertaineth also the memorable Martyrdome of M. Rob. Glouer Gentleman in the Diocesse of Lichfield and Couentry Of whose apprehensiō and troubles because I cannot well entreate but I must also intermixt some mention of his brother Iohn Glouer for so much as this priuy Commission was chiefly sent downe for the said Iohn and not for Rob. Glouer albeit it pleased almighty God that Iohn escaped and Rob. in his stead was apprehended I thought therefore in one story to comprehēd them both in describing some part of their vertuous institution and order of lyfe and first to begin with Iohn the eldest brother Who beyng a Gentleman and heyre to his father dwellyng in the towne of Mancetor was endued with fayre possessiōs of worldly goods but yet much more plentifully enriched with Gods heauenly grace and inward vertues Which grace of God so working in him he with hys two other brethren Rob. and Wil. not onely receyued and embraced the happy light of Christes holy Gospell but also most zealously professed and no lesse diligētly in their liuyng conuersation followed the same much vnlike vnto our tablegospellers now adaies Virtutem qui verba putant vt lucum ligna as Horace sayth And as touchyng this foresayde Iohn Glouer who through his manifold afflictions seemed to haue a deeper taste and contemplation of spirituall thyngs ioyned with mortification from all worldly eares more then the other had although sufficient relatiō be made before in our first edition to be seene yet as concernyng his spirituall conflicts and the Lordes gracious workyng in hym because the consideration thereof is both worthy of memory and the example may worke experience peraduenture to the comfort of the godly it shal not be hurtful to reherse some part of the same So it pleased God to lay his heauy hand of inward afflictions and greuous passions vpon this mā that though he suffred not the paynes of the outward fire as his brother and other Martyrs did yet if we consider what inwardly in spirit and mynd this man felt suffred and that of so long tyme he may well be counted with his brother Rob. for a Martyr beyng no lesse desirous with hym of the same Martyrdome yea in comparison may seme to be chronicled for a double Martyr For as the sayd Rob. was spedily dispatched with the sharpe and extreme torments of the fire in a short tyme so this no lesse blessed Saint of God what and how muche more greuous pangs what sorrowfull tormentes what boyling heates of the fire of hell in hys spirit inwardly he felt and sustayned no speech outwardly is able to expresse Being yong I remember I was once or twise with him who partly by hys talke I perceiued and partly by myne owne eyes saw to be so worne and consumed by the space of fiue yeares that neither almost any brookyng of meate quietnes of sleepe pleasure of lyfe yea and almost no kynd of senses was left in hym And doubtlesse I haue greatly wondered oftentymes at the meruailous workes and operation of Christ shewed vpon hym who vnlesse he had relieued betymes his poore wretched seruant so far worne with some opportune consolation now and then betwixt it could not possible bee that he should haue susteined so vntollerable paynes and tormentes And yet the occasion thereof was not of so great moment and weight But this we see common among holy blessed men how the more deuout and godly they are hauing the feare of God before their eyes the more suspition and mistrust they haue of thē selues whereby it commeth to passe that often they are so terrified perplexed with small matters as though they were huge mountains where as contrary others there be whom most hainous very sore crimes in deed do nothyng touch or stirre at all The occasion of this was that he beyng first called by the light of the holy spirit to the knowledge of the gospell and hauyng receiued a wonderous sweet feeling of Christes heauenly kyngdom his mynd after that fallyng a little to some cogitation of his former affayres belongyng to hys vocation began by by to misdoubt hymselfe vpō the occasion of these words written in the 7. to the Hebrues For it cannot be that they which were once illumined and haue tasted the heauenly gift c. Upon the consideration of which words he fully perswaded himselfe that he had sinned verely against the holy Ghost euen so much that if hee had bene in the deepest pit of hell he could almost haue dispaired no more of hys saluation Here redily euery good man may iudge of hymselfe what terrors boylings conuulsions turmoiled in the meane tyme in his wofull brest although it be hard for any mā to iudge the greuousnes therof vnlesse he which hath experience of the lyke In comparing now the torments of all Martyrs with his paynes I pray you what paynes punishment and flames would not he willingly haue suffered to haue had some refocillation and tyme of refreshyng Who in suche intollerable griefes of mynd although he neyther had nor could haue any ioy of hys meate yet was he compelled to eate against hys appetite to the end to differre the tyme of his damnation so long as he might thinking with hymself no lesse but that he must needs be thrown into hell the breth beyng once out of the body Albeit Christ he thought did pity hys case and was sory for hym yet he could not as he imagined helpe because of the veritie of the word which sayd It cannot be c. And this I rehearse of hym not so much to open hys wounds and sorrowes as for that by his example all wee with hym may glorifie the sonne of God who suffereth none to be tempted aboue hys strength but so tempereth and seasoneth the asperitie of euyls that what seemeth to vs intollerable not onely he doth alleuate the same that we may beare it but also turneth it to our further commoditie then we can thinke Which well appered in this good seruaunt of God in no man more Who albeit as we haue sayd suffred many yeres so sharpe temptations strong buffetyngs of
Sathan yet the Lord who graciously preserued hym all the whyle not onely at last did rid him out of all discomfort but also framed hym thereby to such mortification of lyfe as the lyke lightly hath not bene seene in such sort as he beyng lyke one placed in heauen alredy and dead in this world both in word and meditation led a life altogether celestiall abhorryng in hys mynd all prophane doyngs Neither was his talke any thyng discrepant frō the fruits of his lyfe throwyng out neuer any idle vyle or vayne language The most part of hys landes he distributed to the vse of hys brethren and committed the rest to the guidyng of hys seruauntes and officers whereby the more quietly he myght geue hymselfe to hys godly study as to a continuall Saboth rest This was about the latter end of K. Henries raigne and continued a great part of the tyme of K. Edward 6. After this in the persecuting dayes of Queene Mary as soone as the B. of Couentry heard the fame of this Iohn aforesayde beyng so ardent and zealous in the Gospell of Christ eftsoones he wrote his letter to the Maior and Officers of Couentry to apprehend hym as soone as myght be But it chaunced otherwyse by Gods holy prouidence disposing all thyngs after hys owne secret pleasure who seyng his old and trusty seruaunt so many yeares with so extreme and many torments broken and dried vp would in no wyse heape too many sorrowes vpon one poore sillie wretch neyther would commit hym to the flames of fire who had bene already baked and scorched with the sharpe fires of inward affliction and had sustained so many burnyng dartes and conflictes of Sathan so many yeares God therefore of hys diuine prouidence thinkyng it too much that one man should be so much ouercharged wyth so many plagues and tormentes did graciously prouide that Robert his brother beyng both stronger of body and also better furnished with helpes of learnyng to aunswer the aduersaries beyng a Maister of Arte in Cambridge should sustaine that conflict and euen so it came to passe as ye shall heare For as soone as the Maior of Cauentry had receyued the Byshops letters for the apprehendyng of M. Iohn Glouer he sent forthwith a priuy watchword to the sayde Iohn to conuey away hymselfe Who with hys brother William was not so soone departed out of hys house but that yet in sight of the shiriffe and other the serchers came and rushed in to take hym accordyng to the bishops commandement But when the sayde Iohn could in no place be found one of the Officers goyng into an vpper chamber founde there Robert the other brother lying on hys bed sicke of a long disease who was by hym incontinent brought before the Shiriffe Which Shiriffe notwithstandyng fauouryng Robert and hys cause would in deed fayne haue dismissed hym and wrought what meanes he could saying that he was not the man for whome they were sent Yet neuerthelesse beyng feared wich the stoute wordes of the officer contendyng with hym to haue hym stayed tyll the bishops commyng he was constrained to cary him away agaynst his will and so layed hym fast while the Bishop came And thus much by the way of preamble first concernyng the woorthy remembraunce of maister Iohn Glouer Now to enter the matter which principally we haue in hand that is to consider the story and Martyrdome of M. Robert Glouer forsomuch as the whole narration of the same by his owne record and testimony in a writyng was sent vnto his wife concerning the maner of his ordering handling it shall therfore seeme best for the more credite of the matter to exhibite the sayd his owne letter the wordes and contents whereof here ensue as followeth ¶ A Letter of M. Robert Glouer to his wyfe conteinyng the whole discourse and description of hys troubles susteined in prison and of his sundry conflicts betweene the Bishop and him about Religion ¶ To my entirely beloued wyfe Mary Glouer THe peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstāding the sweete consolation comfort strength and boldnes of the holy Ghost be continually encreased in your heart thorough a feruent earnest and stedfast fayth in our most deare and onely Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen I thanke you hartily most louing wyfe for your letters sent vnto me in my imprisonment I red them with teares more then once or twise with teares I say for ioy gladnes that God had wrought in you so mercifull a worke first an vnfained repentance secondly an humble hartie reconciliation thirdly a willing submission obedience to the will of God in all thyngs Which whē I red in your letters iudged them to proceed from the bottom of your hart I could not but be thankfull to God reioysing with teares for you these his great mercies poured vpon you These your letters and the hearing of your most godly procedings and constant doyngs from tyme to time haue much relieued and comforted me at all tymes shall be a goodly testimony with you at the great day against many worldly and dainty dames which set more by theyr owne pleasure and pelfe in this world then by Gods glory litle regarding as it appeareth the euerlasting health of their owne soules or others My prayer shal be whilest I am in this world that god which of his great mercy hath begun hys good worke in you will finishe it to the glory of his name and by the mighty power inspiration of his holy spirit so strengthen stablish and confirme you in all hys wayes to the ende that we may together shew foorth hys prayses in the world to come to our vnspeakable consolation euerlastingly Amen So long as God shall lend you continuaunce in this miserable world aboue all things geue your self continually to prayer lifting vp as S. Paule saith cleane or pure hands without anger wrath or doubtyng forgeuing as he sayth also if you haue any thyng agaynst any man as Christ forgeueth vs. And that we may bee the better willyng to geue it is good often to call to remembraunce the multitude greatnesse of our owne sinnes which Christ daily and hourely pardoneth and forgeueth vs and then we shall as S. Peter affirmeth be ready to couer and hide the offences of our brethren bee they neuer so many And because Gods word teacheth vs not only the true maner of praying but also what we ought to do or not do in the whole discourse and practise of this lyfe what pleaseth or displeaseth God and that as Christ sayth The worde of God that hee hath spoken shall iudge in the last day let your prayer bee to this ende specially that God of hys great mercy would open and reueale more and more dailye to your hart the true sense knowledge and vnderstandyng of his most holy word and geue you grace in your liuyng to expresse the fruits thereof And for as much
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
equally disagreeing frō the other Christo. My Lorde it is but folly to reason with hym any further your Lordshippe shall but loose time for he is incurable Boner Well then let his keeper haue him away· And with that Doct. Chadsey led me a way by the which we coulde not passe and therfore came backe agayne through the byshops chamber where al these doctors were clustred together and as I was passing the Bishoppe tooke me by the gowne and sayd Wote you what M. Christoferson telleth me I pray you M. Christoforson rehearse the sentence in Latine and so he did The contentes thereof was that an hereticke would not be won Christo. S. Paule sayth Haereticum hominem post vnam atque alteram admonitionem deuita Flee an heretick after once or twise warning All the Doctors Yea my Lord it is best you so do trouble your Lordship no more with him Phil. You must first proue me iustly to be an hereticke before you vse the iudgement of S. Paule agaynst me for he speaketh of such as hold opiniō against the manifest word the which you cannot proue by me And because you want in your proofe be able to proue nothing agaynst me therfore you go about falsly to suppose me to be an heretick for the safegard of your owne counterfeit honesties but afore God you are the heretickes which so stoutly stubburnly mainteine so many thinges directly agaynst Gods word as God in his time shall reueale As I wēt out of his chāber the Bishop called me aside and sayd Boner I pray thee in good sadnes what meanest thou by writing in the beginning of the Bible Spiritus est Vicarius Christi in terris The spirit is the vicar of Christ on the earth Iwis you haue some speciall meaning therof Phil. My Lorde I haue none other meaning then as I haue tolde you alreadye that Christe since hys ascension worketh all thinkes in vs by his spirite and by his spirite doth dwell in vs. I pray you my Lord let me haue my bible with other lawfull bookes and writinges whiche you haue of mine whereof many of them be none of myne but lent to me by my frendes Boner Your Bible you shall not haue but I will perhaps let you haue an other after I haue perused the rest you shall haue such as I thinke good Phil. I pray your Lordshippe then that you would let me haue candle light Boner To what purpose I pray you Phil. The nightes be long I would fain occupy my selfe about somewhat and not spend my time idlely Boner You may then pray Phil. I cannot well say my prayers without light Boner Can you not say your Pater noster without a Candle I tell you sir you shall haue some meate and drink of me but candle you get none Phil. I had leauer haue a Candle then your meate or drinke but seeing I shall not haue my request the Lorde shal be my light Boner Haue him downe Chad. I will bring him to his keeper my Lord. M. Philpot I wonder that all these learned men whom you haue talked withall this day can nothing perswade you Phil. Why M. Doctor would you haue me to be perswaded with nothing or would you haue me builde my fayth vpon sand What do you all bring wherby I ought by any sufficient authority to be perswaded to you Chad. I am sory you will so wilfully cast away your selfe where as you might liue worshipfully Do you not thinke other haue soules to saue as well as you haue Phil. Euery man shall receiue according to his owne doinges Sure I am you are deceiued and mainteine a false religiō and as for my casting away I would my burning day were to morow for this delay is euery day to dye and yet not to be dead Chad. You are not like to dye yet I can tell you Phil. I am the more sory thereof But the will of God bee done of me to his glory Amen * 12. Examination of Iohn Philpot on Wednesdaye the fourth of December before the Bishop of London the Byshop of Worcester and the Byshop of Bangor IN the morning I was fet down to the wardrobe adioyning to the chappell and within a while after came three of the Bishops Chapleines vnto me saying Chapleines M. Philpot my Lord hath sent vs vnto you to desire you to come to masse certifying you that ther is a Doctor of Diuinity a Chapleine of my Lordes a notable learned man called Doct. Chadsey going to masse therefore we also pray you good M. Philpot be contēt to come it is hard hereby Phil. I wonder my Lorde woulde trouble you in sending you about this matter seing he knoweth I am a man by your law that can not heare masse because I stand excōmunicate Bishops Chap. Your excommunication is but vpon a contumacy and my Lorde will dispense with you if you wyl come Phil. My Lorde cannot for he is not mine Ordinary and I will not seeke any suche thing at his handes With thys aunswere they went theyr way And after Masse the Byshop called me before him into his Chappell and there in the presence of his Register after he had sayd his mynde because I would not come to Masse recited the Articles which he often times before had done in that behalfe with the depositions of the witnesses of whome some were not examined Boner Sir what cā you now say why I should not proceede to geue sentence agaynst thee as an hereticke Phil. Why my Lord will you proceede to geue sentence against me before your witnesses be examined that is plain agaynst your owne Lawe as all your doinges haue bene hitherto Boner See what a foole thou art in the lawe I neede not to recite the depositions of the witnes but if I liste for I know them well enough already Phil. It appeareth in deed you may do what you list Boner Tell me I say whether thou wilt answer or no whether if thou were absolued of thine excommunication thou wouldest come to masse or no Phil. I haue aunswered as much as I intend to do vntyll I be called to lawful iudgemēt and as concerning my cōscience I will not make you God to sit there as yet it is Gods part onely to be searcher of my hart Boner Looke how foolishly he speaketh Art thou GOD and yet doest thou not sit in thine owne conscience Phil. I sit not in mine owne conscience but I know it God there onely ought to sit and no man els Boner Thou art a noughty felowe and hast done muche hurt hast seduced other poore felowes here in prisō wyth the by thy comforting of them in their errors hast made them reioyce and sing with thee Phil. Yea my Lord we shall sing when you and suche other as you are shall cry Vae Vae Woe woe except you repent Boner What an arrogant Foole is thys I wyll handle thee like